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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 22, 1914)
lO THE MORXIXG OREGOJiTAN, THUIISDAT, OCTOBER 22. 1914. PORTLAND, OBEGON. Entered At Portland, Ores on. Postotflcs Second-class matter, Subscription Bate Invariably m Advance: (By Mail.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year ...... .fs.00 Dslly, Sunday Included, six months -j laijy, Sunday Included, three months ... Daily, Sunday Included, one month ,Jj Daily, without Sunday, one year aw ally, without Sunday, alx months ...... a- Laily. without Sunday, three months .... Daily, without Sunday, one month ,-rr Weekly one year Sunday, one year J-r Sunday and Weekly, one year ........... (By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year . ..--$-00 pally, Sunday included, one month ..... II ow to Remit Send Postofflce money or fler. express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address In lull. Including county and state. Footage Bates 12 to 18 pases, 1 cent; 18 to 82 pases, 2 cents: 3 to 48 pases, S cents; 60 to 60 pases, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pases. a cents; 78 to 02 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Offices Verrse Conk lln. Mew York. Brunswick building. Chi cago, Stenger building. San Francisco Office K. X Sldwell Co.. T-42 Market street. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, OCT., 28, 1814. our psychology in this desirable particular. It is high time that the United States should cut loose from Europe's apron strings and begin to "walk alone. Every push the war gives away from support that we do not need will be a benefit to us. ' A FRIENDLY WARNING. Justification for the seizure of the American steamer John D. Rockefel ler by a British warship is not easy to find. She is a neutral vessel bound from the neutral port of Philadelphia to the other neutral port of Copen hagen with a cargo of illuminating oil, which had not been declared contra band by any notice sent to the United States Government prior to the seiz ure. Illuminating oil has since been declared contraband, but that should not affect a cargo already afloat and consigned from one neutral port to another. The only reason offered for this seiz ure is that the cargo was consigned to Copenhagen for reshipment to some German port and that the oil is capa ble of being used as a munition of war. The first point remains to be proved. The second point cannot hold jrood in view of the failure to declare Illuminating oil contraband before the Tessel was seized. Seizure of the Platuria can be jus tified only by the plea that the recent transfer from German to American registry is a subterfuge and that the cargo is contraband or that the dec laration of London made in 1909 is in effect. If the vessel is owned by Americans, it has the rights of neu trals unless the cargo should be proved contraband. The convention of Lon don upholds a belligerent in refusing to recognize transfer of a hostile ship ' to a neutral flag within sixty days of a declaration of war. It has been stated that this declaration has"- not been ratified by either Great Britain or the United States, but James Brown Scott, an authority on inter national law, says that it was signed by the British delegates with the ap proval of the Cabinet and does not require ratification by Parliament. Representative Temple said in the House that the declaration had been ratified by the Senate, though ratifi cations had not been exchanged. He also said that France and Great Brit ain had announced their intention to put it into effect, and that the prac tice of nations would make it interna tional law. Italy put it in effect dur ing the Tripolitan war also. Should that declaration not be irt effect, there would still be cause for seizure if it could be proved that the Platuria was still owned by Germans, but it is very doubtful whether this can be proved. The vessel is owned by the Standard Oil Company, which has long pursued the policy of own ing everything used in its business pipe lines, tank cars, steamships, even wagons and that company probably owned it under the German flag, but if the Platuria had been owned by Germans at that time, it is not likely that the Standard would have risked loss of a valuable cargo by making only a bogus purchase. The Standard is never short of money to buy a steamship, and doubtless could make money on the investment. Great Britain seems to have gone to the ex treme limit in these two cases. To a dispassionate American mind It would seem good policy from the standpoint of British interests for Great Britain not to push its vigilance to such extremes in preventing goods from reaching Germany. A few ar bitrary seizures might easily change a neutral opinion in America to one of antagonism toward Britain. When the time comes to end the war, American public opinion may have much influ enc6 in deciding the terms. It would be greatly to Britain's advantage to have this opinion friendly to her. In the interest of Great Britain, hef cruis. crs would be better employed in run ning down the Emden and the Lelp- sic. which are harrying and sinking British ships, than in seizing the ships of a, so far, friendly Nation. HARMONY. My opponent believes in harmony. I be lieve in fighting. If the Legislature tries put over wasteful and extravagant legis- lstlon X will be very far from harmonious. will probably use my prerogative, the veto. to protect the already overburdened tax payer. rr. C. J. Smith, in Albany speech, October 19. I happened to be Governor of this state when Dr. Smith was a member of the State Senate. I never found him wanting in the interests of progress or the cause of Just and right. Senator Chamberlain at Salem, October 20. The forgiving and the forgetting nature of . Senator Chamberlain is beautifully 'illustrated In this lovely tribute. He fails to recall that State Senator Smith voted against but four f the twenty-four bills which Gover nor Chamberlain vetoed. Was Dr. Smith acting for or against the "in terests of progress and the cause of just and right" when he disagreed so often with the Governor? But the Chamberlain tribute is no more touching than the Smith tribute to himself as one who is opposed to harmony." The most consistent har mony Senator the Legislature has seen, bar none, was Smith of Uma tilla. He is on record for practically all the wasteful and extravagant acts of every Legislature from 1903 to 909. But if he promises to be out of har- many as Governor with the Legisla ture, there is no question that he will be in complete harmony with the Chamberlain-West machine. IT MEANS MAJORITY RULE. The form of ballot adopted for the Portland recall election and now up held by the Supreme Court is exactly what it ought to be. The question of the fitness of the officer against whom a recall is di rected Is the main issue. Unless it be squarely voted upon it develops into a hazy, abstract proposal subordinated to considerations of friendship or other Inclination for one of the can didates, i Heretofore the conception of a re call election has been that it is simply requirement that the incumbent hall run against one or more candi dates for his office before his term has expired. It may so happen that plurality in such an election may cause the removal of an officer when the majority would prefer that he remain in office rather than have the candidate who received the plurality succeed him. For example, A may be elected by 40 per cent of the vote, while B, the incumbent, receives 30 per cent and C 30 per cent, when as a matter of fact all who voted for C would have preferred to see B remain in office than have A elected. This is not so likely to happen un der the preferential system in use in Portland, but the Supreme Court de cision establishes the ballot form adopted in Portland as the proper one in all recall elections. That form in sures that an officer will not hereafter be recalled unless a majority of the voters so desire. ate his own utterances, and The Ore gonian has insisted that he said what he said. That is all there is to the complaint about "misrepresentation." When The Oregonian had readily said that as a newspaper it would com. pletely report the Booth-West meet ing, Mr. Booth thought it proper to seek to secure a similar advance state ment, promising full and impartial consideration, from the West paper, the Journal. That delectable newspa per refusnd to make any agreement. It would not engage itself to the prin cipals in the debate to do anything. However, the partisan and prejudiced news policy of the West organ is not of concern to The Oregonian. It is generally known that it doffs not print the political news at any time, and it prints very little else. It merely ex ploits its favorites and garbles, dis torts and eviscerates in its accounts the sayings and doings of the others. The Booth-West debate will be an interesting and unique affair. Both principals are entitled to fair play. The public wants to know what is said and done. They will get it, on this occasion, as on all others, from The Oregonian. HOW LONG IN OREGON t Where was James Withycombe born ? Why all this mystery t Why hide the fact that he was born in England? Medford Mall-Trlbune. No other newspaper In Oregon has had the raw effrontery to seek to make an issue out of Mr. Withycombe's long-ago English nativity. Not an other. But this vicious and nasty lit tle Medford paper doesn't hesitate at anything, except the truth. - The further statement is made by the Medford paper that ''Information regarding James Withycombe's birth and citizenship is carefully elimlnat- d from the official pamphlet issued by the Secretary of State." The state pamphlet sought to cover Mr. Withy combe's forty-three years' fine record in Oregon. That would seem to be adequate. But if all dates, and places. and other vital statistics are to be given, let us turn to page 24, of the official pamphlet, where we find a handsome portrait of Dr. Smith, and among other complimentary things. this paragraph: Born in- 18B4, Dr. Smith's early years were spent on an Ohio farm, where he worked to secure means for an education, lie attended Starlin Medical College. Columbus, Ohio, and graduated at Bellevue niversny, rtew xorjc in isau. Why all this mystery? Where was Charlie Smith born? Are reports true that he also came from Canada, where Governor West was born? JUDGE BENNETT'S ROLE. Judge Bennett is performing his duty as a citizen and as a defeated candidate when he supports Dr. Smith, the. Democratic nominee, for Governor. Judge Bennett is probably not enjoying himself a great deal on the stump; but he takes his medicine. He is the victim of the Chamberlain West-Smith machine; but he is an old warrior and not given to showing his sores in public. He knows, as all other informed persons know, that as the nominee he would have had behind him an enthu siastic and united party, while his successful opponent is sadly handi capped by a divided party; but he keeps his own counsel. He knows also that as the candidate he might reasonably have expected to be elect ed, and that in all human probability Dr. Smith will not be; but he cheer fully faces the inevitable. Judge Bennett accepts the arbitra ment of the Democratic voters of the state, and acknowledges his obligation to abide by the result. In the Re publican primary we see the same spectacle. It has not always been so, and is not in every Instance so at this time. It ought to be. OUR GROWING INDEPENDENCE. The war seems likely to encourage United States independence along many lines. The European resources upon which we have been in the habit of relying and which have retarded the spirit of self-help have now been cut off in so many directions that it will be wonderful if we do not learn to produce supplies of our own. This applies not only to material things, but to the domain of art and litera ture as well. It is more than probable that a genuine United States develop inent in painting, music, fiction and so on will come to light before many years in consequence of the self-reli ance which the war will force upon us. In some departments of industry this advance movement is already ap parent. -The Federal Department of Agriculture has sent out a circula which discusses the effect of the war upon horse-breeding. Americans have usually preferred imported animals to those of native stock. Something o the glamour which surrounds foreign tenors and sopranos hangs also around Percheron stallions. Our breeders, as we learn from the Government docu ment, have been willing to pay $2000 ror a foreign animal, while for one bred at home and quite as good in every way they would give no more than $1200 or $1500. There is every thing In a name, at least for some people. Now the supply of foreign stock is curtailed. From France and Bel gium it has been cut off entirely. From England, the land of Shires and Clydesdales, it has been greatly dimin ished. We shall have to depend, for a while at least, upon domestic breed ing animals. The Department of Ag riculture assures us that no harm will result. As a rule the foreign-bred animals are not a bit better than those we produce at-home. Our domestic stallions are equal to any that can be found in foreign parts if ye can only bring ourselves to appreciate their - merits. The war will help reform BOOTH-WEST DEBATE. Governor West has been driven into acceptance of Mr. Booth's challenge for a joint public discussion of Mr. Booth's qualifications to be United States Senator. First he sought to avoid the issue by raising objections to the time and the conditions, offer ing the flippant counter-suggestion that Mr. Booth appear at a West meeting, where upon request he would be given an opportunity to reply Then, being pressed farther, he of fered other stipulations, among them that The Oregonian should print verbatim account of whatever he, as well as Mr. Booth, might have to say, The Oregonian is not a principal in the Booth-West controversy; besides no self-respecting newspaper any where would unreservedly bind Itself to turn over control of its columns to Governor West, Mr, Booth or anyone else. But The Oregonian has no doubt about its duty to the public and it has furnished the folloujng statement as to its policy in reporting tne ueua.Lt . The Oregonian will make on Saturdthy morning an adequate and impartial report of the Booth-West meeting. It would be Dhysically and mechanically impossible print a stenographic report of the meetln unless all the copy should be delivered to The Oregonian by 12 o clock midnight; (This will be foond to be impossible). On Sunday morning, however. The Oregonian will print impartially and completely in th exact language of Governor West and i: the exact language of Mr. Booth whatever may have been said at the Booth-West meeting that is pertinent to Mr. Booth' campaign or the subject under discussion, which is Mr. Booth's qualifications to be Senator. It will give the same space to each speaker. Now there is "complaint from West sources that "The Oregonian sets itself up to judge what is pertinent." Most emphatically it sets itself up to judge what is pertinent for publication in its own columns. It will not be deterred from performing its function as newspaper by the effort of Governor West to obtain its pledge to spread over its pages all the things he has to say, printable and unprintable, about all matters, relevant and irrelevant. and about any person, friend or foe. Nor is it influenced by the astoundin misstatement of the Governor that its news reports are doctored, nor by th persistent and calumnious falsehood of his pliant newspaper organ, the Evening Journal, that The Oregonia "places words in the mouth of the Governor he never said." The Gover nor has sought on occasion to repudi fool with money that he does not know what to do with and sharpers buzz round him like bees round a fra grant flower. Usually, like' the busy bee, they fly away richly laden with spoil. COUNTRY SERVED IN SAME OLD WAY Present Democratic CeBrreu, na Others, Briauxs on Trouble. PORTLAND. Oct 21 (To the Ed itor.) In the letter Issued a few days ago to Representative Underwood Presi dent Wilson went so far astray in de- It will surprise many to read that I scribing the beauties of "his policies" the Federal Supreme Court is a more progressive body and nearer the peo ple than many lower courts. The jus tices are usually mature men when appointed and they pass away rather speedily. Thus the personnel of the court is subject to frequent renewal and with new men fresh ideas are im ported, while a single fossil may per vert justice on some lower bench for half a century. that he said "the people of the country have been served by this Congress as they have never been served before.". With that respect that is always due the President of the United States, it is well to remark. Just the same, that the people of the country have been served this way by every Democratic Con gress with which it has been afflicted for a full half century. In his message to Congress In 1857 President Buchanan said: "In the midst of unsurpassed plenty we find our manufactures retarded, thousands of It is predicted by enthusiasts that I useful laborers out of employment, and the Pacific Highway will be in excel lent order from San Diego to Vancou ver, B. C, by the middle of next Sum mer and all the way to Alaska within a year or two. Maybe it will, but if the enthusiasts were well acquainted with some road supervisors along the highway we fear their ardor would abate a little. Eastern apple growers have their troubles, too. They are getting from $1.75 to $2.50 a barrel for their crop, while last year the price ran from S3 to $3.25. Big orchardists in the Shen andoah Valley who obtained $25,000 each for their crop last year are not I saying that, the country in a deplorable condition.' Precisely that condition prevails at this time, solely because the present Democratic Congress has served the country" as that other one did in Buchanan's time attacked the indus tries of the people, opened our markets to the laborers of the world and pro duced business stagnation in every direction naturally. And the Democratic Congress in 1893 "served the country" in exactly the same way. The very anticipation of its work on a threatened free-trade plat form caused President Cleveland to call an extra session of that body in August of that year, and in his message to it he detailed in the most woeful manner the frightful condition then prevailing. 'although the country is marketing it this year. This is sad readings but misery loves company. With President Wilson making up with Henry Watterson and with. ex- President Taft renewing friendship with "Pure Food" Wiley, these are days of reconciliation. If the rulers of the five great warring nations would take the hint and embrace each other, how much bloodshed and weep- I Cleveland complained of were aggra- rich in natural resources and is blessed with abundant crops," "suddenly," not by degrees, but "suddenly" securities had lost their values, financial institu tions had been wrecked, men were out of employment everywhere and busi ness chaos was to be seen and felt in every direction. Then that Democratic Congress be ban to "serve the country" as it had promised to, as the present one h done, and the same conditions that ing might be saved. A contemporary gravely assures us that nations do a great many things "which men never do." Thus nations commit such crimes and follies as waging war and sacking cities, "but men never." We had always sup posed that nations were men, or at least men and women. But live and learn. The State Department has "de manded" that the Britons release an American ship captured by them. If they do not why we shall be forced to change our demand to a request and then forget the matter. vated and continued until a Republican Administration was inaugurated in 1897, as everybody knows. President Wilson's memory is at fault. Every Democratic Congress we have had during the last 50 years has served the country as the nresent one has always producing business stagna tion and throwing out of employment thousands of useful laborers, as both Buchanan and Cleveland pointed out, and the country is suffering the same wide-spread depression again. After awhile, perhaps, the working: men of the country will learn that when we open our markets to the com petition of the laborers of the world we invite disaster to our own people as surely as that two and two make four. Oh, yes; the country has been "served" this way before. T. T. GEER FEAR OF WAR IS CAUSE OF WAR Need Is (or Unconquerable Sentiment Agalaat Armed Conflict. HILLSDALE, Or., Oct. 18. (To the Editor.) I have read the letter of "A Student" in answer to Mr. Charles E. Kietching, relative to the value of a navy in preserving peace, and 1 should like to correct some of the errors in "Student's" reasoning. If it is true that nations war upon one another because they consider themselves prepared and equipped to conquer an unprepared antagonist, is it not also true that they make war through fear of the growing military power of a prepared antagonist? Why are some of our statesmen today advo cating a strong Navy for this country? is it because we have been attacked, or because we are afraid? Tou see it when we are afraid that we talk war and preparedness for war, not necessarily when we are brave or when we have actual cause for war. Nations that are equipped for war fear each other, and the slightest diplo matic slip or difference of opinion is made an excuse for proving which is the strongest. For how can a people live at peace in its fullest sense, know ing that some other power can enforce unreasonable demands? So long as physical strength is made the criterion of superiority, so long there will be war. In a school, for in stance, a boy has, figuratively speaking, won for himself the title of "war lord." He is a bully, physically powerful, but utterly lacking in manly principle, else he would not be a bully. Another boy appears on the scene who gives every evidence of being as strong as he, the bully. If physical prowess as a means of getting what one wants be the standard of excellence in that school, there can be no peace until those two boys fight it out until the test is made. But if physical strength be admired and sought after from the standpoint of health and for the power it gives its possessor to help those weaker than himself; if the sentiment of that school be strongly opposed to its exercise in such a way as to injure another, then those boys will be friends and will use their strength for good causes. It is just so with nations. What we need is an unconquerable sentiment against war. not an unconquerable Navy or Army. Let us spent our millions for the promotion of peace instead of the building of men-of-war and the manu facture of big guns. Let us have an alliance of all civilized nations, a peace pact so strong that none dare break it; a universal disarmament that will forever destroy men's fear of war. Destroy the fear of war and you de stroy war itself. MART H. FORCE. Twenty-Five Years Ago THE REAL DANGER. If it be true, as some opponents of the nonpartisan judicial y bill fear, that a horde of incompetents, seir- seekers and men not in sympathy with law enforcement, would apply for of fice under its terms, it is perhaps per tinent to suggest that whether the bill passes or is defeated, the Oregon bar might find it profitable to purge its membership. Frankly we were not aware that a horde of such undersir- able individuals had succeeded in get ting within its sacred precincts. If the bill passes there is likelihood that there will be a number of inex perienced but ambitious lawyers who will seek to profit by its liberal pro visions. Washington once had a non partisan Judiciary law that was equal ly liberal. It brought many candidates into the field, but capable lawyers of judicial turn of mind did not show greater reluctance to become candi dates then than they did before. The law has been changed. There is now a sifting process. But on the Supreme Court ticket this year is the name of one candidate thought by most of his fellow-members of the bar to -be at least temperamentally unfit. He had previously been defeated under the more liberal statute, but now he has survived the first sifting of the more rigid law. The change did not wholly eliminate the undesirables. But the law on the Oregon ballot would be improved by the inclusion of preferential voting system. That provision the Legislature is at full lib erty to add if it sees fit. The character of the current cam paign has emphasized the need for re moval of the judiciary from party pol itics. Fortunately the candidates for udicial positions have so far quite generally escaped personal abuse and invective. But as to other candidates, there is what has the soiled thumb marks of an organized effort to dis courage for mere sake of party poll tics any future offer by men of worth and substance of their names as can didates of the dominant party. If it succeeds there is no reason to hope that the next assault will not be upon judicial candidates. Slander, calumny and coarse invec tive such as have been directed against honest, conscientious, intelligent citi zens who have dared to brave the Democratic machine are far more to be feared as tending to keep good men out of future elections than is mere competition for honors by inconse quential officeseekers. There is a slight decrease in the price, of some foodstuffs which went soaring when war broke out. If this good movement keeps up we may be able to resume a regular eating sched ule once more. "Confidence is the only thing need ed to restore business nrosnerirv." sag's Wilson, with enough votes to make a Republican majority in every Congressional district, he failed to add. The "peace" conference In Mexico may move to "a safer place" on ac count of Villa's attitude. Then they must contemplate leaving Mexico al together with their conference. The commander of the Third Aus trian corps has been removed from command because of a severe cold. Which settled in the region of his ped al extremities, we take it With approach of cold weather the nocturnal hold-un shows activity. A few well-dJrected shots by victims qnick on the trigger will do much to dishearten the industry. The next few weeks will demon strate the suitability of women for service on election boards. Their en deavor should be confined, when pos sible, to daylight duty. QUERIES AS TO NORMAL SCHOOLS Pertinent Facta As to Their Pnst Use fulness Are Desired. PORTLAND, Oct. 21. (To the Ed itor.) I will appreciate it it some of the advocates of the re-establishment of state normal schools at Weston and Ashland will inform the public from authentic records kept by those schools when they were formerly in operation on the following points: 1. What percentage of the students attending were residents of Oregon? 2. What percentage of the students attending were residents of the county in which the school was located? 3. What percentage of the students attending were residents of the town in which the school was located? 4. What percentage of the students attending the schools finished the courses and graduated 5. hat percentage of the students graduated passed examinations and se cured licenses to teach? - 6. What percentage of those securing licenses followed teaching a year or two only asv a means of temporarily gaining a livelihood, while fitting them elves for some other calling? 7. What percentage of those securing licenses followed teaching permanently as a profession? I would like to have the numbers un der each question given as well as the percentages. Answers will enable vot ers to determine whether the schools really accomplished the purpose of edu cating teachers who are actually teach ing, rather than serve the communities where they were located as high schools, maintained at state expense. I know this information is, or was (and certainly should be), in possession of Els;ht-hour Law nnd Railroad Men. VANCOUVER, Wash., Oct. 17. (To the Editor.) Please advise what effect the so-called eight-hour law, which is to be voted on in Washington and Ore gon, on November 3, will have on train and engine men on either inter or intra state railways. E. L. T. The Federal law on the same sub ject would prevail except on an intra state road which . handled no inter state traffic. The federal law applies to intrastate railroad men even though their runs are entirely within one state. provided the road on which they are employed is engaged in interstate commerce. The Mexicans will guarantee the safety of everyone if troops are with- I those schools, as I gathered it at one drawn from Vera Cruz. Of course. anything guaranteed by the Mexicans is all right. Cape Haytien strives bravely to keep on the war map with its usual heavy firing, but it is shoved into a corner by the big fight in Europe. time when all the normal schools were before the Legislature demanding an propriations for maintenance. C. W. HODSOX. -i- BELOVEI) BV COLLEGE STUDENTS, One Telia of Good Impression Made by Dr. Withycombe at O. A. C PHILOMATH, Qrv'.Oct 20. (To the Editor.) The m&cious and unwar ranted attacks upon Dr. Withycombe during this political campaign prompt me to make the following statements I was a student at the Oregon Agri cultural College when Dr. James W ithycombe was elected to a chair in the faculty of the aforesaid institution. In those days there were chapel ex erclses every morning and the faculty took turns in leading the exercises. We students were imnrAMnH with The "want-ad" page is the market the manner in which Dr. Withycombe place of the world. The Mayor of conducted his share of the chapel serv- New York found a suitable man for a ice. If vodka Is anything like the old style North End booze, as has been said, the Russian drinkers are to be congratulated on its suppression. The German cruiser Emden is still doing business in Asiatic waters. Pos sibly the Japs will get her when there are no more islands to seize. $5000 job by advertising. RARE BOOKS AND SWl.VDLERB. ,. From all accounts the "rare book' business continues to prosper. It holds its own with patent medicines and green goods remarkably well. Its prosperity, like that of other hum hugs, depends upon the vanity and ignorance of simpletons. Rare books costing kom (10,000 up to $50,000 are usually sold to weak-minded widows and "gentlemen of culture." The bait most often used to hook the victim is a promise to resell tne invaluable treasures before a great while at an enormous advance. This wins the victim's cupidity. The "art" aspect of the purchase wins his vanity. The Federal Government i trying a criminal case in the East which origi nated in one of these "rare book" swindles. Among the victims of the sharpers was a widow who agreed to pay $52,000 for an extraordinarily ar tistic set of rubbishy volumes. The swindler who fooled her was intro duced to her by Governor Wells, of Utah. Think of the morals of a state Governor who would be guilty of such a trick. No doubt he played his part in the game thoughtlessly, but he can not escape responsibility by pleading ignorance and good intentions- When a man gives a letter of introduction he ought to know what he is about. Another victim was a "gentleman of culture" living in an old and highly aristocratic Massachusetts town. His numerous ancestors had left him a distinguished' name and plenty of "money, but they had somehow omit ted to transmit the ordinary share of good sense. The book sharpers flat tered his pride of culture, the silliest pride in the world and the easiest to humbug, and finally worked off an invaluable set of volumes for "the low price of $3600." It was worth about 50 cents. Swindles of this sort have been ex posed over and over again, but they go on just the same as ever. -Given a It is just as well to be frank about It. A vote for Mr. Booth is a vote for the best man as well as a vote for better times. I remember well the remark of one young man when he said, "That is the kind of a man I like to see. He can give a prayer straight from the heart.1 We were always impressed with the sterling character, splendid enthusiasm and sincerity of purpose of Dr. Withy combe. He is a man with a great bif heart and a broad mind. He has cer tainly labored consistently for a higher citizenship and tne material prosperity or Oregon The electorate of Oregon should be proud of the opportunity to select Another casualty list of 1012 Brit- I James Withycombe as Governor of our Inh officers is nublished. The flow of oeiovea uregon. At least the Russians are not mak ing the mistake this time of having their troops commanded by old Gen eral Vodka. ROBERT H. GELLATLY. Approprlntion for Insane. DALLAS, Or., Oct. 19., (To the Edi tor.) Can you -give me the amount given by the taxpayers to the Western Oregon Insane Nisylum for 1913; also an estimate of the value of the- land Germany has decided to permit the I buildings, machinery and chattels held promotion is kept rushing during war time. Berlin estimates the loss to the al lies at three-quarters of a million, which is light as war figures go. exportation- of sugar to neutral coun tries. By what route, please? While Europe distributes medals for slaughter, Portland distributes them for dahlias. Begin early to arrange to entertain out-of-town guests for the second week in June. by the asylum in 1913? - W. J. BOOSEY. The appropriation for the Insane Asylum at Salem for 1913 and 1914 was $507,000. According to the State Board of Control no estimate of the value of the land, buildings and chat- Iteis of the Institution has been made. and it would be difficult to arrive at one. om The Oregonian, October SO, 1SS9. Baker. Or The Baker City and Can yon stage was held up yesterday morn ing at 6 o'clock near Union Creek. The mail sacks were robbed of all regis tered matter. Salem. George Barker was ar raigned here yesterday on a charge of having robbed Samuel Stott. of Port land, during fair week. William Zen holm, of Multnomah County, and A. K. Gregg, of Lake County, were appoint ed notaries public by Governor Pen noyer. San Francisco William Sproule. of the Southern Pacific Company, is slated to become second assistant general freight agent of the company as the result of the resignation of J. C Stubbs as general traffic manager and the official changes that will be conse quent. Tucson. Aris. Judge T. L. Stiles, re cently elected to the Supreme bench of Washington Territory, who had been Indicted, apparently through political connivance, on six charges of embez- -zlement, etc. while acting as the as signee of Hudson & Company, was vin dicated completely here today when the trial was called, and In a compara tively short time all the indictments dismissed. Washington The Government has decided to investigate the subject of smokeless gunpowder. The beautiful residence of J. It. Smith, at Mount Tabor, is nearing com pletion. Commenting on the cheese furnished at the barbeque yesterday. Pioneer A. J. Dutur. now of Wasco County, took occasion to remark that he was the first cheesemaker in Oregon, and that he took the first premium for cheese at the first county fair held in Mult nomah County, in 1860. Manager J. P. Howe, of the New Park Theater, returned yesterday from Victoria, B. C, where he leased a the ater. He now controls between 12 and 15 Northwest theaters. James McDevitt. the 15-year-old son of Thomas B. McDevitt. died yesterday as the result of being shot a week ago by the colored Pullman porter. H. E. Gibbs. Beerbohm Tree made his first ap pearance as King John a few days ago at the Sydenham Crystal Palace. Prince Hatzfeldt and Miss Clara Hun tington, daughter of C. P. Huntington, will be married soon, it is announced from London. Rev. H. Knowles. of MeMinnville, fell into the cellar of the new Holman Fliedner building, on Fourth street. Friday night and was painfully injured. Half a Century Ago. World's Gold Supply. PORTLAND. Oct. 16. (To the Edi tor.) (1) What is the estimated wealth of the world? (2) What is the estimated amount of gold in the world? ONE OF YOUR READERS. The only estimate readily available is the total for the United States, Great Britain, Ireland, France, Ger many, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Portugal and Switzerland and is $444,800,000,000. (2) The stock of gold in, the prin cipal countries of the world oh January 1, 1912, according to' the report of the director of the mint, aggregated $7,- 074,100,000. How He Began Life. New' York Times. "I understand you began your life as a newsboy," observed the friend ad miringly. "No, replied the millionaire. one has been fooling you. 1 life as an infant." "Some began Effect of a Wet Blanket. London Echo. Hokus I never knew such a wet blanket as Flubdub. Pokus That's right. If that fellow should jump from the frying-pan into the fire, he would put out the fire. Play Witn a Happy Ending. Houston, Tex.. Post. "Did the play have a happy end ing?" "You bet it did. Some one in the gallery hit the villain square in the face with a tomato." Discussion on the War. Puck. Regy Van Velvet Isn't this war dis tressing? Mrs. Wayupper Oh, I don't know the European season was about over, anyway. From The Oregonian, October 22, 1S64. About 7 o'clock last night a party of men on horseback rode through Front street in this city, hurrahing for Jeff Davis, cursing Abe Lincoln, and defy ing any person who should cheer for Lincoln. They had just enough "tan glefoot" In their systems to make them give vent to their rebellious feelings. Marshal Hoyt and Deputy Sheriff Arn old pursued the men. but were unable to find them at the stable where they left their horses. W. A. Daly, an old Oregonian, and for many years, in the pioneer days, a printer in this establishment, has at length received an office. He has spent most of his life joined to the idols of Democracy, and is now elected to the position of Clerk of Boise County, Idaho. Cedar Creek. Va.. Oct 19. General Sheridan reports that his army was at tacked near this city before daylight this morning. His left was turned and driven back with the loss of 20 pieces of artillery, v General Sheridan was at Winchester at the time. Hastening to the field, he reformed his troops, and repulsed the enemy. Edward Pickett, aged 37 years, died on October 17 at the residence of John Graham, near Hillsboro. I will pay $100 for any information that will lead to the discovery of the mean, cowardly and contemptible scoundrel who is in the habit of disfig uring my building at First and Stark streets. Signed: William Cree. The accident that left Turn Verein Hall without a .roof a short time ago, has resulted In good, if anything. The society may now congratulate itself upon the appearance of its building. Governor Gibbs has received a tele gram at the state capital from Major- General McDowell, saying he shall ex pect a regiment of Oregon volunteer infantry to be raised as soon as pos sible. This is probably under the neces sities that will soon exist in this mili tary district at the expiration of the volunteer enlistments. Japan continues to occupy islands in the Pacific. Just what she said she would not do. There must be a bad system bookkeeping in the . Idaho Treasury. IS 10 Vote On Prohibition. PORTLAND, Oct. 21 To the Editor. Kindly inform me If the question of state-wide rjrohibition has ever been ' I submitted to the people of Oregon as a State I whole, and if so what the vote was. SUBSCRIBER. The Hizen is waiting to make two bites of the little Geier off Honolulu. The Republican ratification will be celebrated a week from Tuesday. An Austrian force has just repulsed a body of Russians. At last! tj The Panama Canal is open. Apply for passage at either end. The question was submitted in two state-wide measures in 1910. "On the constitutional amendment the vote was: Yes, 43.540; no, 61,221. On the general statute the vote was: Yes: 42.651; no, 63.564. Oregon had previously defeated pro hibition in 188$. Now they're after the steel trust It'll be a hard case. Ghent CONDON. Orl, Oct 18. (To the Edi tor.) mease print tne correct pro nunciation of the word '"Ghent," a city in Belgium. SUBSUKIBIbK. Gent "g" as in go. WAR. In dread review a mighty train of ghosts From limbs sweeps the columns of the slain. Forgotten shades of vast unnumbered hosts The rank and file of war's unholy stain. From every clime they troop with hollow tread; From every age since man began to slay; The hapless earth a "bivouack of the dead," A solemn stage for horror's dread array. . Here crested Knights appear in rusted mail Who braved death to win a monarch's smile; There heralds bold "salute" with trump - and hall Grim warriors dark from Illlum's ruined pile. In lurid tones the eternal chorus runs. A hurled stone, a club, a feathered shaft. The cruel spear, the sword, the shock of guns. Cunning matched with cunning, craft with craft. O precious gift. O joyous thrill of life So cheaply held; the races rush to death. Their courage vaunt in desolating strife And dyes with blood fair nature's dewy heath. Glory? Fame? Alas, what worth are theyr In yon lone trench where stricken bodies lie. No more for them the joyous warmth of day: Eternal "taps" has hushed the battle cry. Yet hope exists the world may -wise grow: Let reason rule, let love and pity sway That man may seek the nobler streams that flow Through verdant fields to peace and brighter day. ULU. M. SASU3, i Portland, Or, Legality of Election. PORTLAND, Oct 21. (To the Edi tor.) How . can Commissioner Daly submit, under the law. and the Mc Nary and Grant ordinances, the pro posed water act ordinance? Do not said ordinances provide that all initi ative and referendum ordinances must be filed with the Auditor 30 days be fore being acted on? Can a special election be held under the charter? Section 22, old charter. 1903, was repealed. The new charter contains no specific and direct author ity to hold special elections. Mr. Daly's ordinance was not Hied witn tne Audi tor 30 days before calling the special election. S. 8. SMITH. An amendment authorizes the filing of an ordinance for submission to the electorate not less than 15 days prior to the day of election. The City At torney states that there is ample pro vision for calling: a special election. Temple of Childhood. PORTLAND, Oct 21. (To the Ed itor.) Please inform me as to where a person would send a child's picture to be placed in the buildina; of children's pictures at the San Francisco Exposi tion. C. H. Fpr all particulars address Temple of Childhood, Underwood Building, San Francisco. Give the Child A Hobby! Hobbys are good for the active child. An interest in photography, in fishing, in sports, in book collect ing, keep energies directed in whole some, constructive channels. The love of the arts, of music, of reading, can be inculcated early in life. There are many suggestions that will appeal to the child's particular bent among tho merchandise the stores are showing. They are frequently told about in the advertising in the daily news paper. Glance through the advertising columns of The Oregonian and you may find the very suggestion that will add to your child's happiness and well-being. 1