Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 28, 1914)
s TITE 3IORXIXG OREGONIAN", SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2S, 1914. PORTLAND. OBEGOS. JBntered at Portland. Oregon. Fostoflce a Sscond-class matter. Subscription Rate Invariably In Ad vane : (By MalL) , Pally. Sunday Included, one year ..98.00 Daily. Sunday included, six months ..... 4.25 Xaily, Sunday Included, three months ... 3--;o Dally, Sunday Included, one mooUt Xally, without Sunday, one year -.- 6.00 XJaily, without Sunday, six months . 8.23 Ially, without Sunday, three months ... 1-75 DMly, without Sunday, one month -CO Weekly, one year ................. 1.60 Buhday, one year . 2-00 Sunday and Weekly, one year ... U.aO By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year ...... .i9.00 Jjaily, Sunday Included, one month .. -75 iiow to Remit Send Postoffice money or der, express order or personal checlc on your local banlc Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's r.sk. Give postoffice address In full, Including; county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to U2 pages, 2 cents; 84 to 48 pages. 8 cents; f.O to 6t pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages. 6 -cents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree A Conk 11 n. New York, Brunswick building. Chi cago, Stenger building. San Iranclseo Office R. J. Bldwell Co., 42 Market street. PORIIASD, BATUBOAT, NOV., 28, 1914. HAK-PrNG ON THE 8AME STRING. George W. Perkins, like his political partner. Colonel Roosevelt, continues to harp on the. same old string- of the efficiency of great corporations. In a communication to the New York Times he describes President "Wilson's policy as a "theory of emancipating business and setting up a new free dom along the lines of competition and returning business to the condi tions in vogue In the days of our (forefathers." He says that many men In public life "are still thinking of and harping on the economics that they learned a quarter of a century ago from textbooks written in the day of the ox team and the sailing vessel." Jtefercing to the Invention of a wire less long-distance telephone, he re marks: It Is Inventions like this that unshackle business, that give us a new freedom, a srreat expansion, and it la perfectly ridic ulous to try to buck against It. There is only one way to stop It, vis.: By making It a penal offense to use the telegraph, the telephone or the wireless. Mr. Perkins is at his old game of setting up a man of straw In order to knock It down. No man proposes to prevent the conduct of business on the large scale rendered possible by steam and electricity. No man proposes to return to the ox-team and the sailing vessel. "We concede that modern in vention enables us to do business more economically on a large scale. But we deny that the full, economi cal use of modern invention requires that from 50 to 90 per cent of a single Industry be controlled by a single cor poration and that competition be eliminated. "We deny that efficiency is thereby promoted; on the contrary, we maintain that great monopolistic corporations such as Mr. .Perkins has organized have gone a long distance beyond the point where the larger unit promotes efficiency. We main tain that the greatest stimulant to ef ficiency is competition, and that, un der competition, business units will naturally grow to the maximum size which is consistent with efficiency, while those which have exceeded that elze will collapse under the pressure of competition. Mr. Perkins says further: Monopoly la not the question. Private monopoly, if It exists anywhere, can be reached by the common law. The Question )s as to so regulating and controlling large interstate Industrial business enterprises that they may be made to serve the people wisely and well, that the good that is in them may be preserved and the evil in them eradicated. The "large Interstate Industrial business enterprises" which Mr. Per kins has created are monopolies or are, like the steel trust, the center of a monopolistic combination. Irre spective of whether it Is practicable ecr to regulate these combinations "that they may be made to serve the people wisely and well," the people prefer to be served by competing en terprises, not by regulated monopo lies. However well monopoly might appear to be regulated, it would still be a damper on Individual initiative and invention, to which we owe the great discoveries that Mr. Perkins uses as an excuse for monopoly. All the secrets of science have not by any means been discovered, and we wish to continue the stimulus to invention afforded by the opportunity to win such prizes as Mr. Edison has won. Inventors would have no such stimu lus if some overshadowing monopoly were to frighten capital from aiding them and were to buy the Invention at their own price. The criticism to be made of Presi dent Wilson's anti-trust laws is not that they aim to destroy monopoly but that they are weak tools where with to do the work. The Democratic party threatened utter destruction of monopoly .and imprisonment of the magnates. It has merely slapped monopoly on the wrist and has told the magnates "they really must behave. I A LUCKY EDITOR. The Indiana editor who was com mitted to prison for criticising a grand jury In his paper seems to have fared rather hardly. - Grand juries are not uniformly so supernally wise that they ought to be exempt from criticism. If the public Is to be compelled to gaze upon their work in silent and reverent awe without a word of protest, crimi nal administration may sink even deeper in the mire than It now wal lows, which Is saying a good deal. The state Judge before whom the editor was haled found that he had commit ted contempt of court by passing slighting remarks upon the grand Jury's work or wisdom, or perhaps both. Contempt of court is assuming a meaning so wide in our days that it begins to require some little circum spection to keep clear of its guilt. The most discreet person may unwittingly plunge into contempt of court by ut tering irreverent observations about the Kaiser If a citizen of foreign birth happens to have a suit on trial in court at the time. Anything Is con tempt of court which a bad-tempered Judge wants to construe in that way. For the Indiana editor, whose name was Clogston, the sky was not wholly darkened by the state judge's edict of commitment. There happened to be at hand a superior potentate iwho promptly came to his rescue. The situation was laid before Judge An derson of the Federal bench, who at once Issued the sovereign writ of ha beas corpus. By its irresistible virtue Mr. Clogston was rescued from his dungeon dark. The matter was gone over again by an unprejudiced mind and he was set free. It Is an additional satisfaction to earn that Judge Anderson threatens to hurl judicial thunders against any state official who troubles the editor more. As long as Judges disagree the liberties of the citizens are compara tively safe, but suppose they should cease to combat one another and unite to tyrannize over the multitude? Who then would fly to our rescue with writs of habeas corpus and empty the dungeon? THE END OF THE GREAT WAR. . The betting In London la said to be 10 to 6 that the great European war will be ended by March 31, 1915. The Insurance Institution "known as Lloyds is said to be accepting risks on those terms. . It Is to be assumed that the expec tation of Lloyds is that the end will come with Germany's defeat. Great Britain has repeatedly declared that the war cannot end until Germany shall have been decisively beaten. The British idea seems to be that Germany must be crushed now. But can Germany be overwhelmed in four months? Is Germany crushed even if she shall be driven out of France and Belgium and out of Rus sia? Will Germany, driven back to defense of hen own soil, be exhausted so utterly by March 31, 1915, that she will asknowledge defeat? It would appear to be probable that Germany will continue the struggle. If she can, until she has won or until she has extorted terms from her ad versaries that will protect her own sovereignty and will ayert the pay ment of large Indemnities to Belgium and to her other foes. If she must yield unconditionally In the end, it seems most Improbable that that date. so fateful for Germany, will be reached in four months. THE OIL WELL A GAMBLE. Nearly everybody who has lived for several years in the West will recall that at some time drilling for oil was undertaken in his neighborhood. Al most Invariably, too, hopes were aroused by the discovery of traces of petroleum. The facts that it is not unusual to find oil in small quantities and that fortune awaits its discovery in paying volume make oil-well drill ing peculiarly susceptible to specula tion. ' It may be accepted as true that most of the recent discoveries of new oil fields have been made by pro moters rather than through scientific efforts of financially sound operators. Yet Investment in an oil prospect Is the sheerest gamble. The failures outnumber the successes a thousand fold. No person honestly devoted to the development of the Northwest will at tempt to influence a halt in the pros pecting for oil In Thurston County, the Willapa Harbor region and other sections of Western Washington which has had some measure of encour agement. But it Is proper to warn the unwary that disclosure of a trace of oil Is by no means uncommon; that investment in stock of a company which has not found oil In paying quantities Is a gamble; that such is a dangerous Investment for persons whd cannot afford a loss if there be one; and that discovery of a new and prof itable oil field Invariably calls Into activity unscrupulous promoters who have no honest intent to develop in dustry but seek only to mulct as many as possible while excitement runs high. Oil speculation Is for those who can afford to take a chance. Even they should carefulfy Investigate that they may not simply line the pockets of men who make a profession of trading on the credulity of. the public. UNSHACKLED SHIPPING BUSINESS. President Wilson's determination to push the scheme for Government pur chase of merchant ships, to be ope rated In foreign trade by a Government-controlled corporation, Is ex plained In Washington dispatches by his dissatisfaction with the small number of ships which have been transferred to the American flag un der the new registry law. The ra tional course would be to ascertain why this number Is so small, and then to remove the cause. So full is the Administration of confidence that it can do anything, that it proposes to own and operate vrarchant ships in face of the Imperfections in its han dling of other business. Before adding one more to the too numerous func tions of the Government, the Admin istration should exhaust all other means. Ships In large numbers will not be operated under the American flag un til they can do so on the same terms as under a foreign flag. Under the British flag a ship can operate at will in either the foreign or the coastwise trade of Great Britain. Under the American flag the same ship would be excluded from thelAmerican coast wise trade, though free to engage in the British coastwise trade. The Sen ate, at the Instance of Pacific Coast members, inserted a provision in the registry bill admitting to trade be tween our two coasts foreign-built ships under American register, but ex cluding them from trade on either coast exclusively. This amendment was violently opposed by those Sena tors and Representatives, both Repub lican and Democratic, whose solici tude for the interests of the shipbuild ers exceeds their desire for develop ment of an American merchant ma rine. There are several other particulars In which ships sailing under the American flag are at a disadvantage in competition with those which fly foreign flags. The American method of survey shows a larger tonnage and thereby increases harbor dues and ca nal tolls. More men must be employed and higher wages paid. All these added expenses combine to render operation of ships under the Ameri can flag in normal times an act of pure patriotism, the penalty of which is bankruptcy. Foreign-built ships under American register should be given the same freedom to engage in either foreign or coastwise trade as they would en joy under a foreign flag. The restric tive laws should be modified so that they can operate at the same cost. The Alexander seamen's bill, which abol lshes Imprisonment of seamen for de sertion, would force foreign ships ply ing to American ports to pay Amerl can wages and would thus equalize labor cost. When these changes were made there would be some encourage ment to place foreign-built ships un der the American flag and to keep them - there i after the war. There would then be no excuse for the Gov ernment to engage in the shipping business. One of Mr. Wilson's great aims has been to emancipate business and he has boasted - of a large measure of success. Let him emancipate the ship ping business. It needs less, not more, Government Interference. . THE GOOD AVD HAITY CROEXBS. "Be good and you will be happy," says the old maxim and Mr. Croker's long and virtuous career exemplifies its truth. He began his public life as a ward politician in New York, serv ing In this capacity as an active and loyal agent of Tammany. When his ability had been sufficiently demon strated in one humble sphere after another the promising young Croker was promoted. From station to sta tion he rose, always more trusted by the ruling powers and always meeting every expectation, until he himself be came chieftain of the great oligarchy of freebooters which deals out power and glory in the Empire State.- From the beginning Mr. Croker de cided all his life problems by the question, "Which course will pay best?" He once confessed with laud able pride to a friend that "his own pocket had been the object of all his public activities." In mature life, covered with honors and laden with wealth, he retired from Tammany to become lord of a baronial castle In Ireland. Now he consummates his felicity by taking a beautiful bride to comfort his declining years and in herit the fortune which he -acquired by his many virtues. His career should be an Inspiration to ambitious youth. . THE WIRELESS TELEPHONE. Peter Cooper Hewitt, grandson of Peter Cooper, the famous philanthro pist of a former generation, has Just completed some remarkable improve ments in the wireless telephone. He Is a comparatively young man, as we gather from an account of his work in the New York Times, and has inher ited great wealth, but this does not prevent him from making his abilities as useful as he can to the human race. His genius runs in the direction - of natural science. Five laboratories of his own construction afford him ample opportunity to carry on his experi ments and It Is to electrical science that he has mainly devoted himself. Like many another inventive mind of our generation Mr. Hewitt seems to believe that in electricity and its laws the great mechanical improvements of the future are involved. The wireless telephone is an old dream of ingen ious men. They have aspired to make it keep march with the wireless tele graph, but have not up to the present succeeded very well. The reason has been that while the wireless telegraph is actuated by an alternating current it requires a direct current to trans mit sound. The Hertzian waves, upon which all wireless transmission of Intelligence fundamentally depends, are set in mo tion by alternating currents. Hence we understand the difficulties sur rounding wireless telephony. Mr. Hew itt has, it Is said, overcome most or all of them by a wonderful applica tion of the vacuum tube. This old scientific toy has already been made to yield the most unexpected results In our day. It is more or less Intimately connected with the marvels of the X rays and with all sorts of radiant en ergy. Mr. Hewitt puts a little mercury In the bottom of his tube so that the vacuum may be charged with its vapor. The tube thus prepared ex erts the remarkable effect of trans forming an alternating current of electricity into a direct one. On the other hand, if we may believe the re ports, it transforms a direct current into an alternating one. In this way It overcomes the chief difficulty that has stopped the progress of wireless telephony. Mr. Hewitt has now brought this art pretty near to perfection accord ing to his own account. He has in vented a receiver iwhich magnifies the transmitted sound so greatly that mu sic can be conveyed to a theater au dience without trouble. He says, fur thermore, that by his devices It is as easy to propagate sound across "the At lantic as to send the dots and dashes of the Morse alphabet. One of his most interesting inven tions is an apparatus for receiving wireless telegraphic signals in script. This, says Mr. Hewitt, will render se cret codes comparatively useless, since almost any cryptogram can be un raveled by a competent analyst once It has been committed to writing. Thus science first complicates the affairs of mankind and then proceeds to unravel the web it has woven. RACE DISCRIMINATION CONDEMNED. The President's excuse for segrega tion of the negro employes In the Government departments at Wash ington does not go down with his newspaper supporters any better than It did with the negro delegation or with the newspapers which habitually oppose him. They see through and' expose the shallow pretense, that seg regation is not discrimination, Is not a denial of that political equality which the Constitution guarantees to the negroes. The New York World says: The President thinks that this is not a political question, but he is wrong. Any thing that is unjust, discriminating and un American in government is certain to be a political question. Servants of the United States Government are servants of the United States Government, regardless of race or color. Whether the President thinks so or not, the segregation rule was promulgated as a deliberate discrimination against negro employes. Worse still, it is a small, mean, petty discrimination, and Mr. Wilson ought to have set his heel upon this presumptuous Jim-Crow government the moment it was established. He ought to set his heel upon It now. It Is a reproach to his Administra tion and to the great political principles which he represents. . The Hartford Courant calls atten tion to Mr. Wilson's solicitude for the submerged 85 per cent of Mexico, "a foreign country, in regard to which official sympathy and interference would fairly be supposed to be less direct and less intensive than in the case of our own people, similarly 'sub merged' here as there." It says both he and Mr. Bryan "have been deaf, dumb and blind in regard to our own negroes, who are not allowed to exer cise political rights which they pos sess, constitutionally, and who are systematically working to fit them selves more and more for the proper and useful exercise of these rights." The Springfield Republican, which, like the world, usually supports the President, rejects the President's ex cuse that segregation Is necessary to prevent racial friction and drags the real motive to light when it says: The so-called friction arises from a race prejudice which, in a large section of the Republic, has been the underlying motive for a ceaseless assault upon the political and civic rights of the negroes under the Con stitution of the United States. The black race cannot avoid being further humiliated and discredited if the Federal Qoverrment pursues a segregation policy. What nations regard as their honor a race must aevelop and crystalize in the dignity of Its political status and in the respect with which it Is treated by the world. The New .York Tribune describes the case of the negroes as "but one more excellent Illustration of the wide and deep ditch which lies be tween Mr. Wilson's words and his deeds." It says that "he, as much as his most adorning admirer, Is utterly deceived by the fine words and neat phrases which fall from his pen." It adds: The negroes are only a few more victlmc of a theorist gone astray. Some time Mr. Wilson may learn that his theories are not the sum total of all wislora and that by listening to a critic without losing his tem per he may even improve them a little. He may also learn that the finest spun theory, supported by the prettiest casuis tries, is not worth very much unless it is executed in a spirit rt fair play and com mon sense. The Springfield Union comments: A second time president Wilson has lost his temper in dealing with a delegation demanding equal rights. .quai rights ap parently has no place in the "new freedom' expounded by President Wilson. The President shows the petulance of a man who is not accustomed to have his actions called Into question and who Is "stumped" by a bright schoolboy who proves him to be wrong. His reply to the negro delega tion has the appearance of an excuse invented for a course dictated by ex pediency and ' against principle. In other words, he knew segregation to be wrong, but he believes himself powerless to prevent it without thwarting his purposes on other and, in his opinion, more important mat ters. His anger at Mr. Trotter's ex posure of his flimsy excuse shows him falling back on the pedagogue's au thoritative refusal to discuss - the matter. He can stop discussion in the White House, but .he cannot stop it in the country. Those who oppose race dis crimination in public office will con tinue to talk, and Mr. Wilson will hear from them, whether he likes it or not. Railroad ties are only one of the things' Europe will want from the United States to repair the damage done by war. We shall be called upon to supply a large proportion of all the material needed In reconstruction, for we have the goods. It seems impossible that an entire corps of Germans, making 6 0,000 pris oners, would surrender to Russians. To be sure, they were entirely sur rounded. What the Kaiser will do to them, " once back in Germany, Is a problem. The British may be forced to sup press football in order to secure en listment of able-bodied young men. Which shows that there is consider able of a difference between being a football hero and having real courage. As to the Kaiser's reported plan to invade England we fancy he is in no especial hurry. Also it must be re called that he has not yet kept that long-deferred dinner engagement in Paris. Carranza's capital. It Is a handy place to take the steamer for Eurooe. whither Diaz and Huerta have gone before him. While a number of cases of severe Injury from football are recorded, we Imagine that the victims of serious indigestion are a thousand times more numerous. Congress spent more money the past year than during the one pre ceding. What, else can be expected of a pork-serving Democratic Con gress? It Is appropriate that the ex-chlef of the Tammany braves should marry a Cherokee princess, but why did Mr. Croker not take an Indian as his first wife? Rear Admiral Blue says promotion in the Navy is too slow. Still, as a Rear Admiral while yet In his prime, he should not feel so blue about It. The Turkish shots at Smyrna were fired to save life, according, to the Turks,' as a chauffeur toots his, horn to warn a heedless pedestrian. Petrograd and Berlin . continue to suffer from a different viewpoint as to the progress of the clash in Eastern Prussia and Western Poland. French losses up to November 1 were fixed at 180,000 men killed, 370,000 wounded and 167,000 missing. Sherman was right. Perhaps when the football season ends the British football fans may turn their minds to the less Important matter of war." Kitchener says the enemy Is checked. If so, who did It, the Kitch ener squad or the French army? John Bull loses a ship now and then, but he Is still ready to back his army and navy with his money. After selling his horses at good prices the American farmer will have money to buy an automobile. Turkey 13 not going to pay interest money to belligerents if she can avoid it. She needs a drubbing. With Argentina inviting American drummers, those who can talk Span ish will be at a premium. Clear the mouth of the Sandy and let the smelt run. The little fish is a necessity in this region. South American nations want thel belligerents to keep away. We don't blame 'em. The electrocution of Albert Nachtl gall shows that "familiarity breeds contempt." It is reported that the Kaiser has been rebuked by the Mikado. This is too much. There's nothing left to distract our attention from the war until Christ mas week. Smelt are running early In the Cow litz, iwhich must be a sign of some thing. The British appear to be having a hard time with their navy; Also, make your New Year's reso lutions early. Get busy now with your Christmas shopping. Anyway, Germany has had rather a hard week, Half a Century Ago From The Morning oregonian of Novem ber 28. 1SG4. The San Francisco Flag states that the schooner Sarah Louisa has just ar rived from Washington Territory with the largest cargo of oysters that ever was received that port. It con tained upwards of 4000 bushels. Rev. H.' M. Waller performed at the marriage of Joshua L. Purvlne to Miss Mary V. Walker, all of Spring Valley, Polk County. William D. Magill, formerly of Orion, Wis., died in this city Novem ber 27. The funeral will take place from the residence of John Rankin, 29 First street, at 1:30 P. M. today. We learn that Lieutenant LaFbllette has not only filled the quota of Polk County but has gone five beyond it, having enlisted 45 men and there is a prospect that this number will be still further Increased. The citizens have raised a special bounty or expense fund of$1200, which has no doubt been a potent aid to the exertions of Lieu tenant LaFollette. If the Lieutenant makes as energetic an officer in the service as he does in recruiting he win prove a valuable officer. We learn from the Idaho Statesman of the 15th inst. that Mr. C. E. Tllton, of the firm of Ladd & Tllton of this city, had arrived by overland stage at Boise from Salt Lake on his route to Portland. Mr. Tilton would visit Owyhee before continuing his journey westward. We were startled in this vicinity Sat urday night with three or four district reports of thunder. The thunder was accompanied by a few faint flashes of lightning making the sky like the remembrance of the storms back East. slstant assessor to pay up the special income tax. PROPHET FORESEES VINDICATION Fall of Nationalism Once Predicted Now Held to Be Under Way. ESTACADA, Nov. 27. (To the Edi tor.1) Any person in this age of the World who is only an Englishman or Frenchman or Dutcnman or Turk or nationalist of any kind, and nothing more, ought to 'be killed off. The face of the earth is going to be cleaned up and cleared off for a new, race of people, not nationalists, but cosmopoli tans, children of men and children of God. There is no commandment in the Bible that says "Love your country." Why should anyone fall in love with a few square miles or square feet of clay? The Bible teaches love God and love your fellow man. But the com mandments of God have been set aside and the laws of men substituted. The people of each country have been taught to hate and fight those of every other country. The church has been unable to com bat these un-Cfcristian teachings because the church In every country is subject to the state. Indeed there is no church at all in reality. What we call churches are. but factions or divisions, frag ments of a broken vessel from which the wine of. life has long been spilled. In 1897 and 1898 I printed in Cor vallis the New Dispensation leaflets. In the first number and continuously I predicted that the whole present world system of disorder would break up in universal war and that there would he an end of men-made institu tions and the establishment of a -new theocracy. - I tried to call attention to the obvi ous fact that there is a law more potent than the acts of Parliaments or Legisla tures, that there is a universal pur pose that makes toward good, that justice is inevitable, that the loolkiller must find his own and the devil must get his. due. But no one paid any attention. I was like the prophet who called on Jehu. After he had gone out. one of Jehu's friends asked "Wherefore did this mad fellow come to thee?" Now Jehu is abroad again, driving furiously, and the prophets are madder and more numerous than ever. I am not as mad" as I used to be. I am quite optimistic now. Things are coming my way. I can say I told you so. J. L. JONES. TRAITS THAT GERMAftS POSSESS Estimate of People Leads to Hope That Nation May Become Republic. PORTLAND. Nov. 26. (To .the Ed itor.) With no thought of expressing a partisan view of the present conflict of the nations in Europe, may I; as an American, give some idea of the Ger man character as It has apeared to me? A highly refined materialism is the distinguishing characteristic of Ger man life.. In the temper of the people are two . essential conditions patience and a capacity for taking- pains. Thev have the- quality necessary for taking "three steps in a bushel basket" if that is the thing to do. There is no question of the solldaritv of the German people: they are one nation. "They have cast their life on a mode) of their own choosing. The art of Germany, for Instance, shows no sign of striving after the ideals of the Italian masters, or anybody else. Their aim is to produce the real In art as it has never been produced before. They care little for the flights of genius, the epic or the ode. The German likes short sermons and long sausages. They are "bent on experimental science: they have a genius for things that taKe time and staying power. They look at facts, brutal as a fact may be, and see nothing beyond facts. Thought must bear the yoke and be subservient to the needs of life; it must occupy itself with realities and not soar above nor beyond reality. Their conception of themselves as -a nation has inspired thorn with fndus trial and political thrift; and the pres ent war is the outcome of an ener getic desire to have elbow-room at the table. Their independent attitude of mind, the result of, prosperity, is what has set -all Europe in a ferment- That they are a thorough people goes without saying; whether it be a question of theology, agriculture or war, they., never do things by halves. No one 'can approach them In anything they set themselves to do. If I were an artist and wished to paint stability incarnate, I would select a typical German village, where every woman is virtuous and industrious, and where no man Is idle, nor lacking in heroism. but ready to die an obscure death for the rights of the Faderland. I can only wisn mat Germany may soon be a re public, c. E. CLINE. Worst Culprit Escapes. PORTLAND, Nov."" 26. (To the Ed itor.) Having been Interested in the case -of little (Margaret Frykman. I would like to ask if there has been any thing done with the married woman that led her astray? In my thoughts she is the one that ought to be punished, as I, for one mother, have a daughter that I have to protect. But can we mothers of children watch and follow them to school? We do the best we can and In struct them what is right and wrong, but what can we do when a woman like that Entices the child away from home? Is there no law to protect our children from the clutches of such a people? A DEVOTED MOTHER. Warning to a Chauffeur. Atlanta Constitution. Motorist (to chauffeur) Be careful about running over anybody here abouts, James. This Is a prohibition county, and most everybody has a bot tle in his pocket. BIO CONTRIBUTION IS PROPOSED. Correspondent Presents Peace Plan In Which U. S. Aids With Money. KELSO. Wash., Nov. 26. (To the Ed itor.) The able and timely editorial in the Independent. "The Way to Dis arm; A Practical Proposal," has given new vigor to the peace movement and has again aroused to action many dis couraged peace advocates. From the comments on the plan proposed, as given in the Independent of October 26, I quote the following by Mr. Arthur T. Hadley: I have my doubts whether the attempt of the United States to take the lead In the matter will promote the result desired, but It will be time enough to consider that question after the wax is over and we know what are the feelings of the different parties toward us. As a rule belligerents who have fought a contest to a finish dislike to have people who have not been fighting inter fere in the negotiations; and if there Is anything- which is hated all through Europe just now, independently of National affilia tions. It is the Hague conferences. Many sincere peace advoctes are of the opinion that "in the Interest of permanent peace the warring nations must fight It out until one side or the other has won a de cisive victory." Now, is it wise that the present bar barous war should be fought to a fin ish? This would merely be a tem porary exhaustion. In pleasing con trast with the above quoted comments, the Christian Endeavor World of Oc tober 29 contains the following: It is never too early for the right kind of peace. ... It peace is brought about now. when neither side has won a decisive victory, then neither side will feer dis honored by the event and neither ( side will be exalted. A basis may then be laid for a rational system of Kuropean government, which will be an agreement among equals, and not a rule Imposed by superiors upon conquered inferiors. Apparently all the European powers at war are striving to win and hold the good will of the United States. Our efforts to treat all- the belligerents fairly and to maintain an attitude of neutrality has 'won the respect of all the nations. We are a composite na tion and hold as respected citizens thousands of Germans, Britons, Frenchmen, Belgians. Japanese, Rus sians, Servians and Montenegrins peoples now at war. We, as Americans, are interested in .these nations. Many of their people are our neighbors and fellow citizens the fellow possessors of the wealth of our country. Is It not our duty, therefore, to help end this distressful war? How? Not by appeals, not by force. But through acts of substantial helpfulness and sin cere offers of assistance. In this -way: Let President Wilson, through Congressional authority.- say to all of the warring nations, "The United States of America cannot longer withhold expressions of grief and sym pathy for the warring nations of Eu rope, and we sincerely desire in the interest of humanity and in the name of civilization that a truce be de clared for the consideration of the fol lowing proposals: A. The United States of America agrees under certain conditions to contribute and donate 100.000.000 (or more If Congress agrees) to a fund for the restoration and immediate relief of the cities and districts of Belgium, of France, of Germany, of Austria, of Russia that have been despoiled through the present war. B. The nations now at war shall agree to submit their present international dif ferences and all claims to a board of arbi tration commissioners, whose ' decision shall be final and binding upon all the nations concerned. .Said board of arbitration com missioners to have the handling and distri bution of the fund donated by the United States. C. That an invitation be extended to all of the 4 6 sovereign nations of the world to join a League of peace. . That the League of Peace be formed on the following principles. First The nations of the league shall mutually agree to respect the territory and sovereignty of each power. Second All questions that cannot be set tled by diplomacy shall be arbitrated. Third The nations of the league shall provide a periodical assembly to make all rules to become law unless vetoed by a nation within a stated period. Fourth The nations shall dlBarra to the point where the combined forces of the league shall be a certain per c?nt higher than those of the most heavily armed na tion or alliance outside the league. Detailed rules for this pro rata disarmament shelf bo formulated by the assembly. ' Fifth Any member of the league shall have the right to withdraw on due notice, or may be expelled by tho unanimous vote of the others. It will be noted that the editor's ad mirable suggestions regarding the con stitution of the League of Peace are embodied in the above, and to him be longs the credit- In the present condition of the na tions at war the belief - is that thev would welcome an opportunity to come to a truce and cease the world slaughter. In regard to tho appropriation of a vast Bum of money by the Government for the purposes outlined, is there an American who would oppose or unwill ingly grant this expenditure? Vast sums are spent through the Red Cross to ease the suffering of those at war. Is it not more humane to expend money to stamp out tne scourge? On the principle that every man with a heart in him should adopt a "do- everything-pollcy" to stop the present was, tne above suggestions are offered. JOHN L. HARRIS. HAPPY PROMISE NOT A THREAT Talk of Stopping Street Improvements "Heard With Joy by Writer. PORTLAND, Nov. 27. (To the Edi tor.) In the Oregonian a few days ago there was a letter from "A "Victim" which must appeal to every property owner. Not long since, when It was reported what a great sum of money was then delincfuent upon the ten year bonded assessment the "powers that be" said: "Well, if people don't pay up their assessments wnen they are due better than they have done in the past we will stop ordering any future improve ments." I imagine that must have given all property owners a scare. Just think; stop burdening us If we don't "pay up." If the officials only could know how people are struggling to keep from losing their property which represents the saving of years they would stop. In one district where I did own a lot, unfortunately, they began by grad ing streets: then that was followed by proposed assessments and then as sessments on a trunk sewer. Since that time 27 pebple, to my knowledge, lost their places. Did they stop the improvements which meant disaster and loss to so many? No! They con tinue to send "assessments" for that sewer and now contemplate putting sewers and laterals all through that locality. What happens? People are giving up. I know of nine families that have stopped the payments on their places saying that they cannot meet them. And if it be true In this one locality, of which I know, for I am In it, unfortunately, what must It be all over the city? There is this one thing about it. Not one improvement. I verily believe, rn ten would take place if the taxpayers had their "say" about the matter. But it is just as "A Victim" says. Not long since I had occasion to have an address changed and. I found the no tices of the proposed assessments and "assessments" were already, made and ready to mall out and had been for weeks. What is the use of the ob jection? It is already fixed and the people are the victims. ONE WHO KNOWS. A Use for Their Husbands. New York Globe. A popular society woman announced a "white elephant party." Every guest was tu unng sometning tnat sne could not find any use for and yet too good to throw away. The party would have been a great success but for the unlooked-for development which broke it up. Eleven of the 19 women brought their husbands, - Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian of November 27. 1SSK. The purses being raised at Seattle and Spokane Falls to induce John L. bullivan to visit those cities "profes sionally" suggests the need of the early passage of a law to punish and prevent prizefighting. Mr. Ernest Holgate and Miss Eva Finley were married at the residence of Mr. Wren at Fairview by Rev. J. G. Tate November 24. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving everybody Is buying turkeys. and Do not forget the meat pie sale at Trinity Church, Fifth and Oak streets, today. , The new Brush lights put'in on First and Third streets are very bright and a T--i , . 1 -i r- -. 1 . . . 1 i . n. . . , 1 V. -Ill fll 1 V I. 111171) L U V Ci I II C 1.1 X i lights and are not so given to flicker- iiis. a lot more or these lights will be hung today and the new lights at the railroad depots will be burning to night. Each month's work of the City Board of Charities is proying the usefulness of this benevolent institution. The re port for October shows that there were 66 applicants for help, of which num ber 59 were males. Mr. J. D. Coleman returned from a two months' trip through the East on trfe fast mall train yesterday morning. He reports that the . new train is a flyer and says everyone he met In the East stated they would come to Ore gon. The Portland Laundry Company, Fourteenth and Jefferson streets, had a disastrous fire last night, causing a loss of J1000 to the owner of the structure. W. S. Chapman, and a loss of $15,000 to the laundry company. NO HOPE FOR -ABSOLUTE PEACE Material World Will Always Be Sub ject to Wars far Principle. PORTLAND, Nov. 27. (To the Edi tor.) Much appears in the papers now adays relative to the terriilc war being waged. Assertions are made that this awful slaughter will be the last of the wars; that the human heart of human ity will turn from such orgies. Let us hope it will diminish the number of wars, but I do not believe that it will prevent some wars, nor reduce their ferocity. Of late years we have heard much of the gentility which modern warfare will be characteristic of. Certain rules of The Hague were passed, and the growing international desires among civilized nations would prevent such things as destruction of private- prop erty; there would be no prize money upon the seas nor booty upon the land. As one great writer on international law put It; "the waging of warfare with the least destruction to the enemy." Fine thoughts! Recently 1 was perusing the eulogy which Hammurabi, King of Babylon, gave 'himself in 2250 -U. C. when he signed his books of law. Much men tion was made of the nations he had conquered. No doubt they were terrirlc wars, with tire and sword, rapine, rob bery and torture.- As soon as he could assume control of all the world, such wars would stop, he probably promised his people. Since then it has been but a brief run In human history to today, and Alexanders, Hannibal.s, Attilas. Caesars. Napoleons, t; rants. Nelsons. Diaz', Krugers and Togos have come and gone. The dawn of peace has been Just over the hill from the present war. Why. with the present state of finan cial obligations, mutual business ar rangements and the dawning of a broader mentality this war simply could not happen. The very weapons would cut it short to a few months at the most. Some one mentioned recently that Eu rope would never recover her former state,- and that savagery."" revolution, disorder and lawlessness would follow, and other dark ages appear upon the face of that unhappyContinent. Such is possible. despite the developed knowledge of the forces of nature, the invention of modern machines and the interlocking directorates of civilization. One by one nations fall Into the mael strom and are swallowed up. When the high-power ritles and their charges are gone there remains the sword, and when the siege funs are broken there are battering rams Today they are fight ing in Hat-bottomed boats. Hand gren ades have come Into style in modern warfare again. The bayonet is recalled from the garret and storehouses. Hand-to-hand fighting is an every-day affair. We all know war is a sad thing, and no one better than those who have been to war. But there are things which the nations and individuals will never refuse to fight for. and those are prin ciples. When it becomes certain that two nations have a principle at stake, which neither can sacrifice, then you will have a war. Chemistry may invent powders that annihilate, mechanics ma chines that destroy, all the accuracy which science may loan to the fray may be usable, subterranean bombs, -submarine torpedoes, aerial' guns and poisons, lire, barbed wire and elec tricity may all be used, but it wiM not stop the tlesh and bone cast against them. Flesh and bone will be cast prodigally to destruction but the spirits within will not flinch. When a prin ciple is at stake the spirits of men will not refuse the sacrifice. War will al ways be. Absolute peace is only to be found away from the material world. The very connictions of the material universe are inherent in matter, and the embodied soul will only find peace In another plane of existence. The writer of scientific fiction can step from modern Europe with its for mer civilization scattered about an entire continent, and that the old coun try, as we have called it, and project himself back to the days when the two Americas were the abode of a wonder ful civilization, strange as !t may have been. When laws and Princes, armies and colleges were found scattered about the shores of the Pacific, and the lakes, and other places. When a society ex isted which were as conversant with all the facts of existence that we have to day, and when instruments were used which we have not even thought of. Then, with a war such as Europe has today, the segments of empire, of law and order disintegrated and isolated neighbors crowded together, eventually falling into a semi-barbaric state. The last vestiges being the states of the Incas. the Aztecs and Toltecs, still ex isting 'when this continent was dis covered. Is it not possible that the life of the world may not have been so? May it not be again? But why should we worry? JOHN M'NULTY. War-Time Geography. New York Globe. , The class had taken up the subjects of the rulers of the world. The Presi dent of the United States, ttie King of England and their powers and functions had been discussed. Suddenly the teacher said: "Now, Willie, what's a KaiserV "A Kaiser," replied the absent-minded Willie, whose strong point was geography instead of rolitlc&l history, "Is a stream of hot water -springin' up and diBturbin" the earth." Mission of a Watering Can. Norfolk (Va.) Ledger-Dispatch. Owing to the shallowness of a cer tain harbor the ships trading to and from it have to be built with a light draft. Commenting on this fact one day, a facetious individual remarked to the skipper of a steamer: v "I reckon, cap.tain. you would think nothing of running your ship across a meadow on a dewy night?" "Nothing at all." came the reply; "though, to make sure, I might send a man ahead with a watering can,"