8
THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIA, TTTESDAT, DECE3IBEK 8, 1914.
a
i
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PORTLAND. TUESDAY, DEC, 8, 1914.
MR. WILSON OBJECTS.
President Wilson's objection to
Representative Oardner's proposed
inquiry into the Nation's unprepared
ness for defense is as flimsy an at
tempt to avoid a great public duty
as could be imagined. He considers
Mr. Gardner's plan "an unwise way
of handling a question which might
create very unfavorable international
impressions." "What can that mean
except that to put this Nation in
proper state of defense would arouse
the suspicion of some one or more
other nations? '
The only nations whicH could Just
ly entertain such suspicions would be
those which harbored evil designs
against the United States. The sooner
we arm for defense against them the
better, without regard to their sus
picions of our purpose. No nation
which intends to live at peace with
us should or will be perturbed by our
purely defensive measures. A good
citizen takes no alarm when his
peaceable neighbor buys a revolver
for defense against burglars; only
the burglars are alarmed. Let them
be so. The more alarmed they are the
better for the safety of our homes.
So, if by looking to our National
defenses, we alarm some burglar
nation, we should be gratified by the
fact, for then our purpose is half
gained.
Mr. Wilson professes to favor the
fullest inquiry by Congress, but that
is not enough. Congress already
knows all that it need know; so do
the heads of departments and bu
reaus and officers of the Army and
Navy. Executive chiefs and Army
and Navy officers have informed
Congress again and again that we are
practically defenseless, but have pro
duced no impression. The only voice
to which Congress will harken is that
.of public opinion. Until that voice
speaks in unmistakable tones, Con
gress will keep the Army e.t its pres
ent diminutive size, scattered among
posts in the Indian country, without
training in large bodies, without
enough artillery or ammunition, with,
out equipment for a sudden activ
ity in time of war, without enough
men to man Coast defenses; Congress
.will keep the Navy only 50 per cent
efficient, short of men, ammunition,
auxiliary ships, well-located yards
and docks; Congress will continue to
pour money into useless Army posts
and obsolete Navy yards, waterless
Southern creeks and public buildings
in villages until the people call a halt
on such waste and demand that the
public revenue be expended first on
the primary purpose of all govern
ments the public defense.
The talk about arming for defense
being militarism is buncombe. This
Nation wishes to attack no nation,
but it refuses to live in a fool's para
dise and to cry "peace" when there
is no peace. We are told that the
moral law will conquer. It will if
backed by the greatest and best
armies, led by the best Generals,
equipped with the best weapons and
backed by the most money. We be
lieve that moral law will triumph
ultimately in any case, but we prefer
to hasten its triumph by backing right
with might. We cannot preserve
peace by being rich and defenseless;
we can by being prepared to defend
our riches.
A time when the most advanced
nations of the world are tearing at
each other's throats and trampling
on treaties is no time to prate pretty
platitudes about peace. It is a time
for every nation to look to its armor.
i BRYAN'S VIEW OF HIS OFFICE.
Certain conclusions are justified by
the synopsis of Louis Seibold's article
in the New York World, which is
published in another column.
Mr. Bryan does not regard public
office as a public trust, to quote the
words of a greater Democrat than he.
He regards it as an opportunity to
reward his political friends at the
public expense and thereby to build
up a Bryan machine in the Govern-
!ment departments and to advance his
own political fortunes.
He considers that the acceptance
of the highest Cabinet office imposes
no obligation to devote his time to
his duties. He appears at the De
partment for only a few days at a
.time, and then devotes his attention
to the distribution of jobs among his
followers.
In his estimation the test of fit
ness for public office is not ability to
serve the public, but past service
rendered to him personally and the
prospect of like service in the future.
He does not regard the newspapers
as the accepted channels through
which the public should be informed
of those affairs with which he is en
trusted. He regards their represent
atives as men prying into official se
crets, and persistent seeking after
information Is rebuked as an attempt
to argue or to draw inferences. This
does not accord with President Wil
son's promise to do business in the
open.
just such secretlveness about for
eign affairs in Europe has been con
demned as largely responsible for the
present war. In some countries the
people have no voice in the decision
between peace and war, though they
must pay for war with their lives and
fortunes. Even in democratic Great
Britain, though Parliament alone has
authority to declare war. diplomatic
negotiations are secret. The Cabinet
may thiJs secretly commit the nation
beyond recall, leaving Parliament no
honorable course except war. Mr.
Bryan's methods tend in the same
direction. Though he is more likely
to commit the Nation to a dishonor
able peace than to an honorable war,
he may bind the Nation so far that
Congress, with which the final de
cislon rests, would have no freedom
of action. This is not democratic,
nor is it safe.
whose Bcrr?
The United States is making a
conscientious effort to remain neu
tral, in name and in fact, between the
warring nations of Europe. It is an
aspiration The Oregonlan commends;
and it calls all its readeres to wit
ness that It has been an Impartial
observer of and commentator upon
the events of the world's tragedy. But
it feels Justified, nevertheless, in ex
pressing its wonder that Professor
Kuehnemann, an authorized voice
of Germany in America, has seen fit
in Portland to explain Germany's at
titude toward Belgium in the follow
ing terms:
Eelgium has made war by her own wlU
and not by the win of Germany, and It Is
cheap sentimentality to find more cause for
sorrow over the sufferings of Belgium than
over the sufferings of any of the other peo
ple involved in this great war. Belgium
chose badly, thinking that England could
win, and has herself to thank -for her fate.
In the prisoners' camps In Germany the Bel.
glans reproach the French and English for
having failed to come to their help in time,
as they promised, and in this they are en
tirely right.
When war was declared the circumstances
were such that for Germany to respect the
neutrality of Belgium was signing her own
death warrant. Belgium was a fortress be
tween England and France against Ger
many. There was no longer any historical right
for the existence of Belgium's neutrality
any more: and It was fatal to the develop
ment of Germany.
Belgium's neutrality had become for Ger
many her death warrant, and there is no
guarantee on earth that can bind an indi
vidual or a nation to its own death war
rant. This is remarkable language. If
we understand Professor Kuehne
mann correctly it is "cheap senti
mentality" for the American people
to offer succor to the starving and
ruined people of Belgium. Should
they stop the measures of relief go
ing on everywhere in this country and
let the Belgians suffer the whole con
sequences of their mistaken opposi
tion to the Germans in their resist
ance of the invader and their defense
of their own firesides?
If it is right that the Belgian non
combatants should starve and die,
why does Germany not refuse to per
mit their rescue by America?
If it is wrong that they should
starve and die, why does not Ger
many feed them and relieve them?
NEW TORE'S 'SCANDALOUS BIRTH RATE.
Our wise men are worrying again
over New York's birth rate. It is
disgracefully low, so much lower than
those of Berlin, London and Paris
that the whole country ought to feel
scandalized over it. Berlin produces
forty children to the thousand of
population annually, London thirty
five, Paris 25, while New York con
tributes but twenty.
The reason offered for this derelic
tion is the influx of immigrants.
What should we do without the ig
norant and convenient foreigner to
load our sins upon? Immigrants
are commonly supposed to be rather
prolific, but this virtue evidently re
quires them to be married. Now
most of New York's incoming for
eigners are single. Hence their com
parative unproductiveness. Still they
do have some children, the Germans
fewest of all, the French next. Then
the Irish, the Italians and the Poles
come in order.
The New York statistics show that
the most prolific of our foreign im
migrants are those who profess the
Catholic faith. Sidney Webb found
the same to be true of English work
ing-class families not long ago. There
thus appears to be some subtle con
nection between lack of religion and
sterility.
OUR WATCHWORD.
A group of anxious American citi
zens waits upon Secretary Bryan, and
lays before him the facts about rav
aged homes, murdered men, ravished
women, tortured priests, violated
churches, blackmailed banks, wasted
fields, ruined villages, despoiled
cities, an oppressed and helpless peo
ple and a devastated and revolution
torn country Mexico. He asks them
if they have property or investments
In Mexico, and, if they have, he re
fuses to act on the plea that they are
interested and prejudiced persons.
who expatriated themselves by aban
doning the United States.
When Secretary Bryan learns simi
lar stories f rdrrL other citizens who
have no immediate interests in Mex
ico, he wants to know why we
should meddle in affairs not our own
But we have meddled, and we have
mournfully muddled the Mexican
situation.
How long will the American peo
ple tolerate the unprecedented and
inexcusable policy of suppression by
our State Department?
How long will ' they continue, by
silence, or half-hearted approval, to
subscribe to the un-American doc
trine that the line of least resist
ance in our foreign affairs euphoni
ously known as "watchful waiting"
is worthy the traditions and the
ideals of a great people?
Is duty seen and not done, but
weakly evaded, to be hereafter the
watchword of the American Nation?
BENEFITS OF BREATHING.
The long-cloistered Mrs. Potter
Palmer has returned to Chicago " so
ciety. The light of her countenance
again shines upon the friends whom
she bereft of it years ago in order to
meditate in solitude upon the vanity
of pink teas and bridge. Her return
was celebrated by a lecture in her
art gallery by an intimate friend of
hers. Dr. Emily Noble. This distin
guished physician delivered herself
upon the subject of breathing, which,
as she sees it, is the most important
of all our bodily functions.
Most of us breathe improperly ac
cording to Dr. Noble, and in this
opinion she is confirmed by many
great and erudite prophets of health.
We do not take air enough into our
lungs and what we do admit stingily
and scantily does not flow in as
rhythmically as it should. It is not
mere breathing but rhythmic breath
ing that makes a man healthy,
wealthy and wise. Some of the ben
efits of ideally perfect breathing Dr.
Noble detailed to her aristocratic
audience under the benignly approv
ing countenances of the works of art
on Mrs. Palmer's gallery walls.
One of them is the defeat of the
tuberculosis germ. Correct breath
ing. Dr. Noble assures the world, will
prevent this dread foe of mankind
from even beginning his fatal career
In the lungs. Children breathe cor
rectly by nature and it seems there
fore as if the little dears ought to be
immune from tuberculosis. The only
reason why they are not must be the
improper breathing habits they learn
from nurses and ignorant servants.
Another crowning benefit of plenty
of breath is the disappearance of fat.
The woman who habitually keeps her
lungs supplied with oxygen need fear
no fat, either on the end of her nose
or around her waist. Oxygen, simple
and cheap as it is, does away with
the need of anti-fat medicines of all
sorts and even makes corsets super
fluous.
In our opinion Dr. Noble will go
down in history as a benefactor of
her race if all she says is true. It is
idle to object that we have all of us
been breathing for lo, these thou
sands of years and our miseries still
thrive. We haven't been breathing in
the right way;
PUBLIC INTEREST FORGOTTEN'. .
Inquiry Into the Colorado coal min
ers' strike by the Industrial Relations
Commission has brought to light the
extremes to which each party to the
controversy has gone. There are re
spects in which one is as unreasona
ble as the other. On the miners' side
we find men who strike because dis
charge of men who attended the
funeral of a "scab" is refused. On
the employers' side are men who
will not permit a union organizer
among their employes, who control
the civil government of their district
and who procure continuance for a
long time of a Coroner's Jury, which
almost Invariably exonerates employ
ers from blame for accidents to min
ers. Amid such bitter and unreasonable
contention the larger public Interest
is entirely lost to sight. By the quar
rels of miners and mine-owners a
great industry is paralyzed, a whole
state reduced to anarchy and a bur
den of debt imposed upon it. A higher
power needs to step in, as an old
fashioned schoolmaster would step
between two fighting schoolboys, force
an agreement and see that it is ob
served.
The arbitration and mediation law,
which has prevented several railroad
strikes, -would still more beneficially
be applied to mining and other in
dustries. If those who refuse to ac
cept the verdict of a conciliation
board cannot be compelled to yield,
they should at least be held up to
public reprobation. They might be
brought to their senses by stern, un
sympathetic administration of the
law, so that severe punishment would
follow the slightest breach of the
peace. Counties which have proved
their incapacity to elect to office men
who will impartially administer the
law prove themselves unfit for self
government and need to be brought
under the rule of the state at large.
' WAR LOSSES. '
A conservative, but even so an ap
palling, estimate of the toll of the
European war has been prepared by
Edward Bunnell Phelps, editor of the
American Underwriter. Primarily the
purpose of Mr. Phelps" article is to
instill the wisdom of life Insurance
into the people. He estimates that
the chances of a soldier surviving
one year of warfare are better than
the chances of a civilian 25 years of
age to live to the age of 36. Thus
the effort is to emphasize the inexor
ablenes3 of mortality expectancy by
comparing it with the horrors of
armed conflict.
The ratio of total dealths from all
causes in the European war is placed
by Mr. Phelps at 90.1 per 1000 per
annum. This ratio is calculated by
averaging the ratios of deaths per
1000 per annum in the four princi
pal wars of the last half century
the American Civil War, the Franco
German war, the Anglo-Boer war
and the Russo-Japanese war. It is
admitted that this ratio is probably
low. The death rates traceable to
wounds and disease have decreased
in the three conflicts since our Civil
War. The ratio of killed in battle,
on the other hand, was greater in the
Franco-German and Russo-Japanese
wars, but the improvements in sani
tation and army medical and surgi
cal methods have succeeded In re
ducing the total death rate.
But Mr. Phelps points out that
newly-devised and more destructive
war mechanism, practically continu
ous combat, and the German mass
fighting that characterized the early
stages of the present war, may
counterbalance the promises of de
creased mortality. The estimated
death rate of 9 per cent a year is
impressive, however low it may be.
Just what it will total in a year of
fighting depends of course on the
number of men engaged. Six million
Is the figure he selects for the prob
able average number of combatants
engaged during the first year of the
war. Applying to this estimate the
average death rate of 9 per cent inci
dent to the last four wars and the
total losses at the end of twelve
months would be 540,000.
This total can best be conceived
by formulating a contrast. The pre
sumptive mortality of male adults in
the entire United States, with its
peaceful 98,000,000 population, for
the calendar year Is 530,000. These
figures include all males 20 years old
and upward the young, the men in
their prime and the aged. Add 10,000
to this total, then remember that the
war deaths are among men from 18
to 35 years only; recall, too, that both
death rate and number of men en
gaged are conservative estimates, and
the American living in peace and
fair measure of prosperity may be
able to realize one of the awful con
sequences of war.
AUTO TRUCKS AND ROADS.
The action of the Washington
County officials against auto trucks
is so extraordinary that it requires
comment. Very likely the authorities
had the best of reasons for the order
virtually banishing auto trucks from
the Washington County highways,
but upon its face it looks sinister and
there should be no delay in offering
the public a 'full explanation. The
plea that auto trucks injure the roads
more than other vehicles sounds
plausible, but It will not bear exam
ination. The ordinary farm wagon with Its
narrow tires works more injury to
the country roads than any auto
truck usually does. These wagons,
even with light loads, cut down
through the surface, form ruts and
entail the destruction of any road
they travel upon. Moreover, they are
often excessively laden. A narrow
tired farm wagon with a heavy load
is the most destructive vehicle that
uses the country highways. If the
Washington County authorities really
desired to protect the roads it seems
as if they should have taken action
against these wagons. They might
at least have required the use of wide
tires, which are as cheap as the nar
row ones and far less injurious to the
road bed.
The auto truck business which Is
ruined by the order of the Washing
ton County authorities has become
extensive in recent months and is of
the greatest benefit to the farmers
whom It serves. A well-informed
freighter says it deprives Portland of
at least 1000 gallons of milk a day.
Of course it also deprives the dairy-1
men of the income from this milk.
One of them Is feeding milk to his
hogs. He cannot afford to haul It
to the station and then pay the
freight to Portland. The auto truck
received it at his farm yard. These
trucks were penetrating to all parts
of the farming country and building
up a service which was of inestimable
benefit both to producers and con
sumers. It is said that their charges for
transportation to Portland cut under
those of the railroads somewhat and
persons who are cynically disposed
discern In this fact the real ground
for the extraordinary order of the
Washington County . authorities.
Without approving of such suspicions
we cannot help observing that the
order needs some better explanation
than has yet been given for it.
The auto truck is a perfectly ' legiti
mate vehicle and it has come to stay.
It Is a scientific invention peculiarly
suited to develop the business of rural
producers and It Is inexcusable to de
prive them of its benefits. No doubt
auto trucks help to tear up the roads,
but other vehicles help also. The
remedy is not to exclude them from
the highways, but to build roads
which are suited to modern traffic
The Washington County fathers and
their Imitators remind us of a good
woman who was defending a graft
ing road supervisor. "His roads," she
argued, "would be all right If the
farmers would only keep off from
them with their loads of wood." The
dear creature forgot what roads are
for.
The crying need of this part of the
world is easy and swift intercommu
nication. Motor trucks supply this
requisite of civilization better in many
respects than any other vehicle yet
invented. Quite properly, however, as
they become more of a competing
factor with the railroads, we may put
them under the same state supervi
sion. To permit a line of autos par
alleling a railroad to make rebates to
arge customers, carry passengers
free in order to get their freight,
alter rates without notice and at their
own pleasure and do like acts which
the railroad may not lawfully do, is
to promote unfair competition. There
is no charge intended herein that the
auto lines have yet been guilty of the
practices forbidden the railroads.
Such incidents, however, may be ex
pected as competition grows keener.
But to bar the auto trucks. from the
county roads is to stand in the way
of progress.
The society to study and educate
exceptional children which is to be
organized next Friday at Superin
tendent Alderman's office deserves
all encouragement. Some children
are exceptional for lack of wit, others
because they have more than usual.
Both classes fare rather badly In the
ordinary class routine.
The question of an outlet through
the Gulf of Mexico for the Mississippi
Valley and Western Canada is up
again. It will grow more insistent
as the use of the canal develops. The
gulf is the natural doorway to the
world for those regions and sooner
or later they will learn how to use it.
Dr. John W. Cook Is quoted in
the School Bulletin upon "the ideal
teacher." One of her traits is, he
says, "to be forever open-eyed upon
the wonder of the world." Would we
all were, for it means poetry, art, re
ligion, love. Having eyes we see not,
having ears we hear not.
In the old days the butcher boy
was a reckless driver, wow tnat ne
runs a power machine there is no
limit to his endeavor. That occasion
ally a patrolman is hit has ho signlfl-
fance. The housewife wants the meat
in a hurry; let the officer get out of
the way.
Consolidation is the watchword of
the modern world. The Commercial
Club and the Chamber of Commerce
can do more and better work united
than by keeping apart. The Bame is
true of rural schools-. They grow
stronger and better as they consoli
date.
It is becoming more and more ap
parent that the American people do
not approve of the Wilson-Bryan
Mexican policy. Which is fortunate,
as indicating that the American peo
ple have not yet lost their spirit and
sagacity in short, their Americanism.
Report that Lodz has been taken
by the Germans comes as a startling
surprise just at a time when Petro
grad had the Russians hovering about
the outskirts of Berlin.
The National League says the de
fenseless condition of the United
States is appalling.- That is, to every
one even remotely acquainted with
the facts.
According to the Labor Commis
sioner's report, there are about 11,000
Orientals . in Oregon, a very small
percentage of the population. Why
worry?
Greece has been invited to take a
hand in the game, and a3 she has
done little fighting for some time, she
likely 'will accept.
Harvard is the greatest institution
of learning. She has played twenty-
seven games of football In three years
and lost none.
Congress may dispense another bil
lion or so. Bet more goes for pork.
though, than for -National defense.
With Congress back on the Job it
is peculiarly important to shop early
while you have a few pennies left.
Don't overlook the stock show. The
Northwest is the great potential stock
country.
With Congress again In session
there might be worse luck for the
country.
Christmas shopping and then tax
time. Really it keeps us busy dis
bursing. ' Now is the time to provide for
someone else to have a merry Christ
mas. But what West giveth the Legisla
ture may take away.
And then Greece roasted Turkey.
The livestock show Is a live one.
Looks a little like snow.
Then and Now
Thirty - eight
years ago Sunday
the first scientific
cremation in the
United States took
place at Washing
ton. Pa. The poi
neer cremator was
Dr. F. Julius Le
Moyne, and the
subject was the
body of Baron de
Palm. But the
American prece
dent had been set
83 y-ears before
when under penal
ty of losing a
legacy of 60,000
pounds if he re
fused, the son of
Henry Laurens,
South Carolina's
Revoluti onary
patriot, consigned
his father's body
to a funeral pyre.
The ghastly ex
perience of seeing
his Infant child
come to life just
before burial in
the earth is said
to have been re
sponsible for
Laurens' demand
to be ' cremated.
The origin of
cremation is lost
in the days of un
recorded history.
It was practiced
sporadically by
the pre-Christian
civilizations, ex
cept in those
countries whose
religion, just as
do some religions
today, forbade its
practice. The
P a r s e e s were
worship pers of
Today about 1
per cent of the
800,900 individuals
who die in the
United States an
nually are inciner
ated in the 30 or
more cremate
r 1 u m s located in
more than half of
the states. Ten
years ago the
ratio was about
one-half of 1 per
cent. The move
ment toward uni
versal cremation is
gradually spread
1 n g throughout
the world. Europe
has nearly 100
cremator iums,
Germany dispos
ing of 8S58 bodies
by cremation in
1912. Conceded to
be the place of
r e s u r r e ction of
the ancient prac
tice, Italy leads
the world in- per
centage of crema
tions, while during
1912 the City of
St. Gall, Switzer
land, reported that
of the bodies of
5 3 5 individuals
who died there,
201 were thus dis
posed of. England
is leaning toward
the practice. The
a u t h o r i ties of
Westminster Ab
bey, the repository
for Great Britain's
heroes, recently
prohibited the
burial of more
bodies there. They
must be cremated.
Cremation is be
coming a neces
s 1 1 y , especially
around the large
centers of popula
tion, declare advo
cates of the prac
tice. At the rate
at which ceme
teries are increas
ing around such
cities as New York
and London, each
of which require
Are, but prohibited
cremation because
of the opinion that
the lire was thus
polluted. The
Greeks and the
Romans practiced
cremation, while
the Egyptians
considered it an
act of paganism
ana disposed of
their dead by
earth burlaL The
revival of the
practice in Europe
in the 17th cen
tury was greeted
with horror by the
medieval peasants.
Kings prohibited
it under penalty
of torture. Sir
Henry Thompson
introduced crema
about 24 acres of
additional land an
nually to bury the
dead. It has been
predicted that the
cities of the living
will be veritably
encompassed b y
"cities of the
dead." Humanity
Is reluctant to
give up the age
tion into Great
long practice of
Britain shortly
inhumation, some
anti-cremationists
declaring that
"when the body is
consumed by heat
the soul is at the
same time de
stroyed." Legal
minded objectors
also point out
that "it destroys
all evidence of
crime where mur
der by poison has
been committed."
In the reply the
cremationl sts
argue"that crema
tion is the only
hygelnic, sanitary
and economic
method of dispos
ing of our dead."
after the closing
of the American
Civil War. Using
reverberating
furnace, he re
duced a body
weighing 144
pounds to four
pounds of lima
dust within 50
minutes. Encour
aged by Thomp
son's success. Dr.
i-.e iioyne installed
an improved in
cinerator in a
small one - story
brick structure on
a hill overlooking
the town of Wash
ington. Three
years after his
pioneer cremation.
ne aied and was
cremated in his
own institution.
AMERICAN ART ESTEEMED ABROAD
It Ilaa Solidity and Style Purely Mod
ern, Says Mr. Trulllnger.
PORTLAND, Dec. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) Your editorial in regard to "Our
Troublesome Art" is very interesting.
Having lived in the Latin Quarter in
Paris some 6 '4 years, I am very fa
miliar with the art of Europe and
the American art exhibited there, and
I assure you that the Americans are
foremost of all foreigners exhibiting
in the salon. The American art has
not only solidity, but style that is
purely modern.
Our painters are as highly esteemed
as any others in Europe, but at home
they are passed over with Ignorant
contempt. It Is with them the same
as with American musical composers.
In Portland we have a pianist whom
I heard some three months at his
work, while living in 8 Bis Rue Cam
pagne Premiere, Paris, and I am con
vinced that this genius (Richter) plays
well enough for the most critical in
Portland, for he was well received in
Paris and much spoken of in the
press.
Portland has much fine talent In the
arts. It can be stimulated to the point
of appreciation by your timely remark,
"One thing might be done everywhere
to help along in the cause and that
is the artistic treatment of school
rooms. The barrack aspect of these
child prisons is inexcusable. It would
require only a little money to trans
form them from dens of ugliness to
bowers of beauty, but it would require
a great deal of good taste and probably
that is why it is not done.
I, for a mechanic's wages, will deco
rate a schoolroom. The subject I will
submit to those who have the work in
charge. JOHN TRULLINGER.
Germans Woolly Confident.
PORTLAND, Dec. 7. (To the Editor.)
In The Oregonlan I find certain
statements to have been made by
person coming from Berlin stating that
the Germans know that they will be
ultimately defeated. This is most pre
posterous and deceiving. I have re
cently been In Germany, and many
thousands of others from the States
have also. We all received, the one
impression that Germany's -conviction
of final success was universal and ab
solute. The patriotism and enthusiasm
are supreme. All Germany wants is fair
play; state the truth and the Germans
will be thankful. Germany is a grand
nation, most peace loving and most en
lightened. This I hate learned in my
visit in Europe, and this others who
have been there have also learned.
FATHER GREGORY.
An Important "Tip- to the Jury.
London Tit-Bits.
The great John Philpott Curran was
once addressing a jury in an important
case. During his speech he observed
that the Judge shook his head. Fear
ing the gesture should have an adverse
influence on the Jury, Curran warmed
up for the moment and said:
"I see, gentlemen, the motion of his
lordship's head, but, believe me, If you
remain here many days you will see
that when his lordship shakes his head
there's nothing in it."
Barbers In New Zealand. .
London Tit-Bits.
Barbers in New Zealand have a min
imum wage scale of $14 a week.
Loss in Battle of Sedan.
London News.
Of 267,000 men in the battle of Sedan,
25,970 were killed or wounded.
Million Eggs Lost In Breakage.
Baltimore American.
The New York market loses a million
egg3 a year by breakage.
BRYAN AS SECRETARY OF STATE.
Fev Day. at Office. Devoted to Offlce
eekera Public Affairs Kept Secret.
A detailed description of W. J. Bry
an's activities and inactivities as Sec
retary of State, written by Louis Sei
bold and published by the World, the
leading Democratic paper of New York,
leads to certain conclusions, which are
by no means flattering to Mr. Bryan.
From October 14 to November 28 he
devoted ten days, ostensibly, to the
affairs of his department. From Oc
tober 14 to November 10 he was mak
ing political speeches; from November
10 to November 17 he was at the State
Department; -from November 17 to No
vember 24 he was on his Florida es
tate; November 25 and 27 he spent at
the Department, Thanksgiving inter
vening; on the evening of November
27 he went to Ann Arbor. His public
duties apparently occupied ten days
in a period of 46 days.
The word "apparently" is used ad
visedly, for the World says:
- Until Mr. Bryan's departure for Florida a
considerable portion of hte time each day
has been given to the receotion of Political
friends and to tireless efforts to land them
in Jobs.
On the day before he started for
Florida "an American engaged in bust
ness In South America was compelled
to wait for more than two hours while
Mr. Bryan discussed patronage with
political retainers." This gentleman
is quoted as saying that "by force of
proximity" he was "compelled to hear
fragments of the conversation." There
were five of these political retainers,
each "looking for a Job" and all
"friends since '96.' They flattered Mr.
Bryan until he "blushed like a school
girl and he "beamed appreciatively'
upon them when they promised future
political support. "All of them," says
this eyewitness, "departed with mani
fest satisfaction over their prospects
for being stacked up, against the Na
tional payroll."
The principal part of Mr. Bryan's ac
tivity during his brief stays in Wash
ington is shown to have been the pro
curement of Jobs for Bryan men. He
did not stop at his own department,
but forced his friends into other de
partments, stepping on the toes ot
other cabinet officers and of Congress
men who had candidates of their own
for the same Jobs. " Estimates of the
extent of his "raid on the public crib"
range from 300 to 800 places and Mr.
Leibold says: "It is not improbable
that the score would total more than
half of the maximum estimate." He
continues:
Apparently' not a single branch of the
public service has been overlooked by the
Secretary of State in his quest for Jobs for
"Bryan men" the Diplomatic, Consular, De
partmental, Postofflce, Army. Navy. Cus
tomss. Internal Revenue, Civic and Insular
in foreign possessions. One pt Mr. Bryan's
most active exploiters manifested a com
mendable degree of pride a day or two ago
in declaring that "W. J. has got a man in
every branch of the Government service."
Below is a partial list of the Bryan
men whom Mr. Bryan has put in of
fice or attempted to put there:
Henry M. Pindell, Peoria, 111., nom
inated for Ambassador to Russia, but
nomination declined after exposure of
fact that he was to have been Am
bassador In nr.me only and for but one
year.
John Lind, Minnesota, confidential
commissioner to Mexico.
J. E. Osborn, Wyoming, Assistant
secretary of State, an "appointment
that astonished persons trained in dip
lomatic service."
George Fred Williams, Massachusetts,
Minister to Greece, who meddled in Al
banian affairs and aspired to be King
of Albania-
Cone Johnson, of Texas; R. F. Rose
and W. B. Fleming, foreign trade ad
visers in State Department.
R. L. Metcalf, editor of the Com
moner, was appointed a member of the
Isthmian Canal Commission at 314,500
a year to get him out of the way of
Mr. Bryan s brother Charles, as a
candidate for Governor of Nebraska,
and when that body became obsolete
he was made a member of the cere
monies cemmiUee which is to conduct
the celebration of opening the canal.
This job expires next January and e
new job may be found for him.
W. F. Kelly, Lincoln, Net)., assistant
solicitor of the State Department,
thought he had no experience in . de
partmental affairs.
E. C. Sweet, clerk to Mr. Bryan, ap
pointed to oblige A. L. Tolbert, the
Secretary's former law partner, . who
Is chief of the Modern Woodmen.
John H. James, Urbana, O., who
wrote newspaper articles boosting Mr.
Bryan during all his campaigns, ap
pointed chief of division of lnforma
tion. State Department. at$3000 a year.
C. M. Hitch, Georgia, assistant chief
of division of Latin-American affairs.
F. P. Lockhart, Texas, assistant
chief of Far Eastern division.
Cotter T. Bride, with whom Mr.
Bryan lived when a Representative,
was proposed, for united States
Marshal of t.he District of Columbia
by Mr. Bryan, but was rejected by the
Department of Justice. He was given
a job in the local municipal service.
the refuge of those whose sponsors
cannot get them into the departments.
J. L Taminosian relies on Mr. Bryan
to procure him a job in the Immigra
tion Service, though the position is
under the civil service law. He ad-
tted this in asking the Nebraska
Supreme Court to permit him to resume
his real name. Mohammed Nadir.
Mr. Bryan interfered in many fights
for Postofflce appointments, thereoy
stirring up factions and causing defeat
of Democratic Representatives. He
tried unsuccessfully to get Representa
tive Ansberry's man appointed post
master at Wauseon, O., causing a row
with Representative Sherwood which
cost Mr. Ansberry his seat. His inter
ference in postoffice fights at Canton
and Zanesville, O., split the party and
lost it a Representative.
He induced Postmaster - General
Burleson to appoint F. W. Brown post
master at Lincoln, Neb., though Rep
resentative McGuire had recommended
A L. Johnson, and then he tried to
conciliate Mr. McGuire with a check for
$25 for campaign expenses. Mr. Mc
Guire returned the check and lost the
election.
Finlay Howard, of Nebraska, was
boosted for auditor of the Treasury,
but failed because of admitted unfit
ness. Mr. Bryan found him a job with
the Canal Zone government.
Representative Foster, of Illinois, ac
cused Mr. Bryan of mixing in a post
office fight in his district and the
Secretary backed out.
Dr. A P. Fltzslmmons, of Nebraska,
was made executive secretary of the
Philippine Commission as a reward for
singing Mr. Bryan's praises.
By procuring the appointment pf
Louis Murphy, of Dubuque, as Col
lector of Internal Revenue, Anthony
Van Wagenen as District Attorney and
Jerry Sullivan as a member of the
board of general appraisers he split
the Democratic organizaton in Iowa
and is said to have caused the defeat
of the party candidate for Senator.
C. J. Smyth, or omana, was made
special counsel in the Department of
Justice at Mr. Bryan's Instigation.
An official of the Canal Commis
sion is quoted S3 having offered to
bet $100 that "Bryan has dumped more
than a hundred men into the various
departments of the Panama service."
There were no takers.
Stenographic reports of the dally
conferences between Mr. Bryan and
that newspaper correspondents show
him to be either ignorant or secretive
concerning the affairs of his depart
ment. His replies to questions are
evasive and, if correspondents try to
extort definite information, he replies:
"You come here to argue. You are
not here after facts." Or he says:
"That question has an inference. I
have tried to avoid questions that have
inferences in them." Or he says: "I
can't say," which may mean: "I could
tell you. but I will not."
Twenty-Five Years Ago
(From The Oregonlan December 7, 188.)
Mrs. Seneca Smith, wife of Judge
Seneca Smith, was killed yesterday,
and Mrs. N. B. Burtch very seriously
injured when their driving horse took
fright at steam escaping from a valve
at Front and Grover streets, and threw
both of them out on the pavement.
Mrs. Smith struck the back of her head
against an electric light pole, break
ing her neck. Mrs. Burtch struck the
sidewalk on her face, causing a con
cussion of her brain.
The regular monthly meeting of the
Oregon Immigration Commission was
held last Tuesday. Those present were:
Charles H. Dodd, president; H. W. Cor
bett. Ellis G. Hughes. T. F. -Osborn,
William McFall and Wallace Struble.
Washington, D. C Dec. 6. The spe
cial committee charged with Investi
gating the office of sergeant-at-arms
met this morning, Silcott's defalca
tions, it is said, amount to nearly
$72,000.
E. J. Glass, observer for the signal
office in this city, has been ordered
to Moorhead. Minn., to take charge of
an office there.
New Orleans, Dec. 6. When the fam
ily of Jefferson Davis had partially
recovered from the shock of his death,
dispatches were sent to Miss Winnie
Davis, who Is in Paris with Mr. Pulit
zer; to Mr. Davis' son-in-law in Colo
rado City, and to Governor Lowry, of
Mississippi. Mrs. Hayes, Davis' daugh
ter, was due here yesterday, but was
detained.
Washington, D.ec. 6. Among the can
didates for Judge of the United States
Court in the new state of Washington
are H. G. Struve. C. H. Hanford and
Thomas H. Humes, of Seattle; Priteh
ard. of Tacoma, and S. G. Hyde and
Judge Calkins, of Spokane Falls.
Fargo. N. D., Dec 6. At a meeting
of the recently organized Dempsey Ath
letic Club, held this evening, it was
decided to offer a purse of $40,000 for
a fight to r finish between Sullivan
and Jackson.
To take testimony In securing busi
ness for Puget Sound points, Messrs.
Moore, Fee and Bullitt left here for
Omaha today.
Our Inconsistencies
By T. T. O.
(With apologies to Dean Collins.)
Old John Henry Botts. of Puhhlnhead
Station,
Was chewing his quid with great ani
mation.
And his mind was so centered In deep
cogitation
That he permitted a fly, in its peregri
nation.
To sleep on the doormat without inun
dation
By a fatal discharge of expectoration.
So he delivered himself of this disser
tation
On the trend of affairs in his home
state and Nation.
can't 'zactly make out, ner quite
understand
The meanin' of men who raise their
right hand.
And swear they belong to this party
or that.
And tben go and vote like they talked
through their hat.
Thay's thousands and thousands of
purty good men
Who believe in pertectln' the American
hen.
That go and cripple her right in her
nest
By forcin' her down to the Chinaman's
test.
'We boast the big timber 'gainst all o'
the earth.
And tell the whole world to come
measure its worth,
But if a home man buys the trees in
the stump
We call him down hard as an unworthy
chump.
"And we rush to the Round-up each
Fall in a run,
Showin' respect to the Cowboys and
the things they have done.
And then open our markets, with a
wink and a hunch.
To them New Zealand fellers and the
Australian bunch.
"We growl like old sin when them
furriner yaps
Come over among us and crowd out
our chaps;
fiut we ship in their stuff In endless
supply
And buy it all up 'thout battin' an eye.
"With a chip on our shoulder on the
Fourth o' July,
You can see that we're ready to do or
to die;
And we'll wallop the daylights outen'
any- galoot
Who refers to Old Glory with a slight
or a hoot.
"Such a thing couldn't happen in no
neck o' the woods
But your Uncle "d be thar to deliver
the goods
Yet them Greasers can prod us with
murderous hate x
As we sleep on our job while we watch
fully wait.
"But when Huerta got gay and per-
ceeded to shoot us.
Old Woodrow, plum riled, said "Old
Boy, you'll salute us.'
So Funston went down with a passel
o' ships,
Staid awhile and come back 'thout
openin' his lips.
"Then we got some highbrows, called
the A., B. and C,
And tweedle de dum and vs. tweedle
de dee
Was the nut that engaged their dy-ploma-see
As they fiddled along down to X., Y.
and Z.
"So there's Dias and Huerta and Mr.
Carranza,
All driftin" along well, I'll be dod
swizzled"'.
At thls'point old John Henry, with sur
prised exclamation.
Saw the fly on the mat, and the glee
ful temptation
To swat him a swat to impede his mi
gration.
Quite severed the thread of his calm
contemplation.
And he embalmed the poor insect with
out hesitation.
As he called his dog Tlge and walked
out of the Station.
Denmark's Trade In Carrots.
London Tit-Bits.
Denmark In 1913 grew 11,379,347
bushels of carrot,
When Your
Money Talks
It asks for substantial value for
Itself.
When a storekeeper seeks to per
suade you to take something "Just
as good" as the standard article you
asked for he is arguing against your
pocket-book.
Something Just as good Is usually
such only in the Imagination of the
dealer.
Your money is entitled to what
it seeks full substantial value.
When you ask for an article you
saw advertised in this paper, GET
WHAT YOU ASK FOR.
0