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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 11, 1914)
10 TTTE '3IORNTNG OREGOXTAX, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1914. ' PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, postofllee as i second-class matter. Subscription Kate, Invariably In Advance: i (By MalL) pally, Sunday Included, on year SH 0 pally, Sunday Included, six moatbi a-liS IDally, Sunday Included, three months... . 3-5 pally, Sunday Included, one month. . pally, without Sunday, one year 6.00 gaily, without Sunday, si months....... 8.25 ally, without Sunday, three months.... 1-'S Pally, without Sunday, on month...... Weekly, one year., ............... 1-50 Sunday, one year. ............... ... ... 2.60 eunday and Weekly, one year. ....... .. 3.30 ! (By Carrier.) Pally, Sunda- Included, one year. . . v . 9a- pally, Sunday Included, one month..,-. -?a Mow to Remit Send Postofllce money or aer, express order or personal check on your looal bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofllce address In full. Including county and. state. I footage Rates 12 to 18 pages. 1 cent; 18 to .42 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 4t pages. S cents; AO to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 78 pages. 6 cents; 78 to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rotes. Eastern Business Office Verree at Conk Bn, jsew York, Brunswick building; Chi ccjic. xtenger building. ban Francisco Office R. J. Bid weU Corn ran y. H2 Market street. PORTLAND, FRIDAY, DEC. 11. 1914. ., MR. GARRISON ON MILITARISM. j After reading the vast amount of mushy sentiment which has been oured forth by the) extreme pacifi cists, who brand as militarism every movement to put the Nation in a proper state of defense. It is refresh ing to read the perfectly sane discus Bion of the subject by Secretary of War Garrison In his annual report. If Se were actually a militarist, he could not retain his place in the same Cabi net as Secretary. Bryan. He is a prac tical pacificist, who would have the -Nation equipped to preserve its peace by the only means effective against some nations namely, force. He con trasts strongly with those dreamers who would ignore the existence of armed and aggressive nations else where dreamers who would rely for defense on treaties, which those na tions contemptuously term "scraps of paper." ; Mr. Garrison tells us that "every one desires peace," but that peace is "not always, or even often, solely within one's own control," and that "eternal vigilance is the price which must be paid in order to obtain the desirable things of life and to defend them." He applies this principle to the Nation by saying: All governments must therefore have force physical force 1. e., military force, for these purposes. The question for each nation when this matter is under considera tion Is, How much force should It have and of what should that force consist? - After explaining our National re pugnance for a large standing army by the fact that in our early history "military force connoted military despotism," he says that "no reason able person in this country today has the slightest shadow of fear of mili tary despotism," and that citations from the works of the founders of the republic showing this fear "are en tirely inapplicable and do not furnish even a presentable pretext for oppos ing proper military preparation." He then discusses militarism as follows: "It also seems proper, in passing, to refer to the frame of mind of those who use the word "militarism' as the embodiment of the doctrine of brute force and loosely apply It to any or ganized preparation of military force, and therefore deprecate any adequate military preparation because it is a step in the direction of the contemned militarism.' It is perfectly apparent to any one who approaches the mat ter with an unprejudiced mind that what constitutes undesirable militar ism as distinguished from a necessary, proper, and adequate preparation of the military resources of the nation depends upon the position in which each nation finds itself, and varies . with every nation and with different conditions in each nation at different times. "Every nation must have ade quate force to protect itself from do mestic Insurrections, to enforce its laws, and to repel invasions: that is, every nation that has similar charac teristics to those of a self-respecting man. (The Constitution obliges - the United States to protect each state against invasion.) If it prepares and maintains more military force than is necessary for the purposes just named, then it is subject to the conviction, in the public opinion of the world, of having embraced "militarism," unless it intends aggression for a cause which the public opinion of the world con ceives to ba a righteous one. To the extent, however, that it confines its military preparedness to the purposes first mentioned, there is neither war rant nor justification in characteriz ing such action as "militarism." Those who would thus characterize it do so because they have reached the con clusion that a nation today can prop erfy dispense with a prepared military force, and therefore they apply the word to any preparation or organiza tion of the military resources of the nation. Not being able to conceive liow a reasonable, prudent, patriotic man can reach such a conclusion, I can not conceive any arguments or statements that would alter such a state of mind. It disregards all known facts, flies in the face of all experience, and must rest upon faith in that which has not yet been made mani fest. "Equally useless. In my view, is the discussion frequently Indulged in as to whether military preparation tends or does not tend to avoid war. I term such discussion "useless" because, so far as we are concerned, whatever con clusion might be reached thereon would not affect our duty. Since it Is not in mind to suggest any military preparation of the Nation's resources beyond that absolutely essential under existing conditions, the question of whether more extensive preparation for the purpose of avoiding war would have that effect or not is futile. . . . , "Whatever the future may hold in the way of agreements between na tions, followed by actual disarmament thereof, of international courts of ar bitration, and other greatly-to-be-de-sired measures to lessen or prevent conflict between natioiT and nation, we all know that at present these con ditions are not existing. We can and will eagerly adapt ourselves to each beneficent development along these lines; but to merely enfeeble ourselves in the meantime would, in my view, be unthinkable folly. By neglecting and refusing to provide ourselves with the necessary means of self-protection and self-defense we could not hasten or in any way favorably Influence the ultimate results we desire in these respects." This calm discussion of the broad distinction between preparedness for defense and militarism is commended to the consideration of those who ehrlek "militarism" at every sugges tion that the Nation must take ade quate steps for its own protection. They may then be in the proper frame cf mind to appreciate- the wisdom of Mr. Garrison's recommendations for the increase of our mobile army, for the creation of a reserve for both the regular Army and the National Guard and for the provision of enough trained officers for the enlarged force. There is nothing about these recom mendations to arouse the slightest fear that they would embark this Na tion on a wild career of militarism. They embody such provision for Na tional defense as is made by peaceful nations like Sweden, Norway and Switzerland. Whatever small sacrifice of time Is made by those of our citi zens who undergo- military training will be largely, if not wholly, com pensated by its concomitant advan tages. On this point Mr. Garrison says: Inquiry among those who have employed men who have been discharged with good records from the Army shows that they esteem them as among their very best em ployes; and there Is no doubt that any community would be economically benefited by the presence In It of strong, vigorous young men who have learned. In the only school which really teaches that Is. .ex perience the qualities of self-control, obedi ence to discipline, and determination to carry out the task which has been set tor one. If the Nation goes sanely to work on the lines laid down by the Secre tary of War, It will enjoy the confi dence arising from knowledge that it is secure against danger from without, but need have no fear that its trained soldier-citizens will become a danger within. DEEDS. NOT WORDS. President Wilson's gentle Injunction upon Congress to be economical, but not too economical, in its appropria tions, is but a series of well-chosen words and neatly-rounded sentences, meaning nothing whatever. Congress is solicited to be careful, but not too careful, for "the people of the United States do not wish to curtail the activ ities of this Government; they wish, rather, -to enlarge them; and with every enlargement, with the mere growth, indeed, of the country itself, there must come of course, the inevit able increase of expense." This may be either a veiled apology for the excesses of the past session or a suave intimation that there will be no restraining Presidential hand on the present session, provided Congress men are reasonably discreet. But whatever it is, it is not a frank ac knowledgment that Congress, through its "profligate waste of money wrung from the people by oppressive taxa tion" see Democratic National plat form appropriated at its last session $100,000,000 more than the previous Republican Congress at its regular session. There is no word of warning about the critical condition of the Govern ment's finances, no explanation of the war tax, no reproof for the pork bar rel, no call upon the Democratic ma jority to fulfill its pledges of economy. Fine phrases cease after awhile to be convincing. Deeds, and not words, are due from the President and from Congress. PET THERE BE NO EMERGENCY FRAUD. It is not likely that the Legislature vill attach an emergency clause to the law putting into statutory force the prohibition constitutional amendment. There is another and honester way of preventing a deliberate hold-up until November, 1916, of the prohibition enactment. It lies in a special refer endum election in 1915 similar to that authorized by the Legislature two years ago. There Is not a true emergency in the adoption of a prohibition statute. The law, if it follows the explicit or der of the people, will not become ef fective until January 1, 1916. .To add a clause providing that a law which does not become operative for ten or eleven months shall be in effect im mediately would be more than para doxical: it would be fraudulent. There has been criticism of the Leg islature in the past for attaching the emergency clause when an emergency did not exist and some have professed with indignation to see therein a cov ert desire to prevent referendums. But no man or organization has yet dared openly to assume authority to say that one law may properly be withheld from popular vote by the subterfuge of an emergency clause while preven tion of a popular vote on another law by the same means is morally wrong. Nobody can now definitely say what the people of Oregon desire shall be the scope of the prohibition statute Nobody knows whether the majority desires only that the brewery and sa loon be abolished or wjiether the ma jority desires that, in addition to abol ishment of manufacture and sale, dis tribution shall be made so difficult that consumption In the home shall be minimized. If the people have a right .to express themselves on any question they have the right to express them selves on this. They have not yet done so. A law fixing a date next Fall when a special referendum election may be held contingent upon the filing of a referendum petition against any law passed by the Legislature, is quite likely to prevent a referendum on the prohibition law if that law is framed with honest intent by the Legislature. Its approval will be considered secure. resentment will exist toward any ele ment which forces the state to pay the cost of a needless election, and the chance of its rejection will not be worth fighting for. If the referendum however, be applied the question will have been settled before the prohibi tion amendment becomes effective. NOW A LAW-MAKING BODY. Had the old system of electing Sen ators been still in vogue, the legisla tors-elect of Oregon would have been buttonholed by the boosters for the several candidates, and would have been deliberating, scheming and cau cusing on the Senatorship from elec tion day until long after the opening day of the session. Instead, they are now deliberating and conferring on what laws are needed by the state, on how they can increase the efficiency of the state machinery and at the same time reduce the cost. In short, the Legislature now con fines itself to its proper duties Instead of being primarily a convention for the election of a Senator with law-making as a side issue. What is true of Oregon is true of other states which elected Senators in November. The work of electing Senators is finished and there Is no danger that time will be wasted in caucusing, -balloting and deadlocks. The now system, in which Oregon was a piortwer. Is obviously so superior to the old that the people of the older states already wonder why they did not adopt It sooner. Yet some fine, old, crusted conservatives are still In the Senate who predicted dire calam ity as the sure result of this change. What they really feared was a dimi nution of Senatorial dignity. Senatorial courtesy and the other flubdub, which made the Senate resemble a luxurious club. That body has doubtless lost some dignity and courtesy, but it had some to spare. In its place we have more attention to the affairs of the people and a greater readiness to leg islate for their benefit. A COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS. An Eastern contemporary gives an interesting account of the plans for a community Christmas which have been formed at Montclalr. N. J. Bands of singers from the various churches, are to revive the simple carols which made Christmas gay in the olden time. Of course other musical sources might be drawn upon as well as the churches and no doubt it would be well to do so In a town as large as Portland, since a real community Christmas ought to include every va riety of human interest and effort. The Christmas tree at Montclair will be loaded with gifts somewhat more substantial than candy and pop corn and a general spirit of festivity and friendliness will pervade the town. There is something very attractive in these plans.- The community Christ mas, is a far more appropriate cele bration of the great festival than pri vate rejoicings can be. FPANS OF THE BY-PRODTJCTS COMMIT. , TEE. The by-products committee appoint ed by the fruitgrowers' congress at Spokane has issued a programme of operations which promises much for the future prosperity of the Pacific Northwest. The keynote of its plans is co-operation. The existing agencies for marketing fresh fruits should work In closer harmony with one another. New canneries and evaporating plants should be founded on a strictly co operative basis. There should be central selling agency to dispose of their entire product. Such is the widely beneficial scheme outlined by the by-products commit tee whose chairman, W. H. Paulha mus, is a man of long experience in the fruit industry and the founder of one of the most brilliantly successful co-operative organizations in the coun try. A meeting to promote co-opera tion among the distributing organiza tions is called at Seattle on January 23 There will be another meeting at Port- land on January 25 to take up the sub ject of a central selling agency for by product plants. The central selling agency. It is to be observed, will have jurisdiction over by-products only. The utmost which the committee expects from the distributing organizations for fresh fruits is closer co-operation than now exists. This would naturally lead to more judiciously-planned marketing campaigns and better prices for pro ducers. The committee proposes a constitution for the central by-products selling agency which is simple and apparently efficient. There is to be a board of control, representative in character, composed of one member from each plant participating in .the project. Both already existing plants and those to be subsequently built are invited to enter the organization. There will of course be a great variety of duties falling upon the board of con trol, but its most important task, as the committee indicates, will be to standardize pack and produce. With out this prime essential it is hopeless ever to expect remunerative prices for orchard by-products. More depends upon uniformity and unvarying cer tainty of the output than upon any other factor. Without a central marketing agency such as the by-products committee projects we do not believe that the cannery and fruit-drying business in its various forms can become prosper ous within a lifetime in this part of the country. Isolated plants may achieve good results through unusual ly prudent management and excep tional local advantages, but the indus try will, upon the whole, languish as long as it remains in its present cha otic condition. Prices will be ruinous ly cut. the output will be undepend able in character and quantity and much of it will find no market. Con ditions such as these offer no induce ments to immigrants or investors and promise nothing but poverty to those who have sunk their means in fruit growing. We feel confident that every Intelligent orchardist will do his ut most to encourage the project of a central selling agency and will see to it that hfs local organization sends a delegate to the meeting at Portland on January 2 5. The by-products commitee has also planned a campaign to conquer new tenjiitory. Aware of the unpleasant fact that many sections have no plants for saving by-products, it has under taken to help found them wherever they may be needed. The plans which It has matured for this' useful work are wise. In the past great harm has been done by more or less unscrupulous promoters who have visited fruit-producing sections, led the growers into schemes for building canneries and so forth, sold the shares of stock at prices highly satisfactory to themselves and then decamped, leaving to the local men the problem of managing the plants and seeking markets. Such promoters' usually raise expectations which cannot be fulfilled and they do not help a particle in the real diffi culties which the growers have to con tend with. Hence the by-products committee "unalterably opposes the sale of stock in by-products plants by promoters." It favors the strictly co operative method and no other. To communities which are willing and ready to found such plants It offers personal assistance. It will, send rep resentatives into any such district to help the growers organize and will take the lead In raising funds for the enteTprise. The essential preliminary to a suc cessful campaign for funds is of course co-operation among all the local or ganizations for marketing fresh fruits as well as readiness on the part of local business men to invest in the undertaking. The indebtedness in curred to found a by-products plant should be gradually paid off by a sink ing fund supplied from the net earn ings of the business. Under a con servative arrangement of this nature there should be no insuperable diffi culty in raising whatever money is needed. The committee proposes that the rest of the profits, ba they great or small, shall return to the growers and that all contracts for supplying fruit shall be drawn upon a strictly co-operative plan. The aim, in short. Is to make the growers the ultimate owners and managers of the concern. The committee believe that through a campaign of this kind every fruit district of the Northwest can develop a successful by-products plant and we see no reason to question their Judg ment in the matter. To avoid discour aging mistakes they offer to conduct a preliminary survey of any section which desires to establish such an enterprise and report impartially upon the prospects- The door of new op- portunlty is thus opened generously to every section of the Northwest where fruit is grown. Nothing but hopeless inertia and deplorable indifference to their own best interests can prevent the growers from taking the full bene fit of the advantages offered. Says Secretary Bryan: "If pre paredness prevented war there would be no war in Europe, for they were prepared." Great Britain was not pre pared and her ministers, knowing it. exerted themselves so strenuously for peace that they deluded Germany which also knew Britain was unpre pared into assuming that she. would sot fight. There is every reason, therefore, to believe that British un preparedness caused this war and that British preparedness could have prevented it. Dr. Charles M. Sheldon predicts complete National prohibition by the year 1920. At present there are forty eight states, of which fourteen have declared for more or less effective pro hlbtion. About six states a year must come Into the fold to fulfill Dr. Shel don's prophecy. That rata would ex ceed anything .of the kind hitherto observed. Edward Garnett revives the irritat ing old comparison between English and American fiction in the December Atlantic. Being a Britisher, Mr. Gar nett thinks his countrymen superior. Americans who answer him take the contrary view. The controversy is stupid. The best novel for any man is the one he likes best. When Przemysl has been captured and recaptured half a dozen times more there will be nothing left of it but the name. The belligerents can then cheaply win their great victories by sending the name back and forth by special messenger and agreeing that whoever has it for the moment holds the city. Germany with all her militarism had only 667 homicides in 1906 to our 65 97. England had that same year 318 and France 847. The reason for our pre-eminence is patent. With us the law is a trickster's juggling ball. In other countries it is a serious de fense of society. An English traveler in America ad vises us to erect a monument to the first of our plumbers. He thinks our numerous bathrooms form our best title to fame. What the monument shall be he does not specify, but a groaning citizen parting with his last penny might perhaps be fairly sym bolical. If electricity for light can be drawn from ' the sky without paying toll the prospects for the power companies are not brilliant. We do not imagine, therefore, that they will offer Roy Thompson. a reward to keep' up his experiments at San Francisco. He is too- perilously near success. There should be a promising market for Oregon apples In the Argentine Republic, which is a great stock coun try. The efforts of the Federal offi cials to find new fruit markets there may be expected to yield good results if they are properly seconded here. But would the artillerymen actually be permitted to fire back on the de fiant Mexicans, or is this merely an other Wilson-Bryan bluff intended to soften public wrath at their un-American attitude In such matters? A new aeroplane nas been perfected in Italy which carries 8300 pounds. Almost strong enough to Cote one of those Gerniau field officers we have seen pictures of.. When the cow jumps over the moon she merely makes the little dog laugh; but when the cat Jumps over the lamp she sets the house afire. Moral: Fire the cat early. Recruiting of the United States Army to full war strength Is now ad vocated. Which would give us four squads instead of three and three quarters. Senator Kenyon has introduced a resolution that the United States in vite warring Europe to declare a truce during the Christmas holidays. Piffle. Those staunch defenders who per sist that our military policy is strong must use strong in the sense that it is sometimes applied to butter. Howeve'r, the Administration has given these sharp warnings to the Mexicans before and they have been disregarded with impunity. While Berlin avers that the Russian offensive is fully spent, it must be ad mitted that the Russians have a few more to spend. By eliminating booze it is estimated that the Czar loses $38,000,000 the first month. But it's worth it to the Russians. Admiral Fletcher says the United States Navy is prepared to meet any naval power except Great Britain Bunk! A repentant eloper of the male sex Is a rather pitiable object, since re morse alw-ays follows loss of nerve. After reading the orders to our bor der artillery no doubt Bryan had a couple of nervous chills. Senator Kenyon's twenty-day truce would allow the enemy to bring up more guns. Eugenics at the next state fair will be confined strictly to the dumb brutes. ' Stamping Chinese eggs will make them real "Shanghai berries." If the Dresden knows where she is going, she is on theway. British officers say an Invasion is quite possible. Quite. As a nature study, nothing equals a poultry show. Possibly the Kaiser's malady Is sim ple "nerves." Two weeks to Christmas. Shop early and often. Really, it Is time for a little weather. Edison's other name Is Phoenix. Three weeks to swearlng-off day. Just two weeks more to do it In. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan Dec. 10, 1664. A gold watch was lost by D. F. Brad ford near his residence on December 7. Considerable) fault is being found among our citizens, on the escape of two criminals from justice, by the im position of small fines. James Dobson, arraigned for the third time in three months, his last crime the drawing of a pistol on an officer, and he is already under bonds of $500 to keep the peace, was let go on a $300 fine, and that was paid in legal tenders, . when he would. it committed, have been sent to the penitentiary for two years. Of course. he left immediately on the steamer for California. When gone, it was found out that his own name was not on the bond, and it Is doubtful it his sureties are of any value. Then there Is Ferd Patterson, who destroyed the furniture of a rooming- house and then took a knife and slashed the hair off the head of one of the wo men inmates, was held on a $500 bond greenbacks of course, and then imme diately left for Dallas, and it Is doubt ful If he will come back. If there Is anything left to prove the detestable state- of the pavement on Front street above Yamhill. It Is the fact that four hay wagons have upset and another buggy was smashed there recently. It Is no wonder that the Cali fornia Stage Company employs a steamboat on this end of the line. As somewhat indicating the demand for wood sawed stove length a steam machinery saw has been rigged up on the wharf at the foot of Alder street by Mr. Wilson, of the Third Ward. We predict that steam sawing will prove a successful business. I f ftrrt i 1 1 on and Brady, the pedestrians, were still walking at the Bank ex change last evening. The limbs of the former were still swollen. We are not posted as to how much money the win ning party expects to get, but we think it a foolhardy method of testing en durance. AID TO MURDERS HIS CRITICISM Roosevelt's Article on Mexico Grossly Misrepresented by Portland Paper. PORTLAND Dec. 9. (To the Editor.) In last Tuesday's Portland Journal we find an editorial on Theodore Roose velt's article anent the Wilson-Bryan policy in the affairs of Mexico. How that paper, having failed to print that communication, dare condemn Mr. Roosevelt for his noble stand and serv ices rendered to decency and humanity, and attempt to distort and misrepresent wantonly Mr. Roosevelt's lucid state ments, is beyond belief, if it were not a fact. What does that paper mean? Should the murdering of all classes of people, ravishment of American women as well as others, highway robbery and all sorts of crimes be condoned be cause it Is a Democratic Administra tion that commits them, or at least helps to commit them? If party spirit goes to that extent, it Is blind and par tisan. - Mr. Roosevelt does not In the least give us to understand that he advocates Interference in the internal affairs of Mexico. He straightly accuses the pres ent Administration of deadly Interfer ence in a most hypocritical manner. The Journal appears to overlook all that. Mr. Roosevelt 6hows clearly to an un prejudiced mind from strong documents that Messrs. W ilson and Bryan had been assisting Carranza and Villa, J: wo reoels and murderers or a worse type than Huerta; that Wilson and Bryan had been carrying on a campaign of secret warfare -by Interfering in In ternal Mexican affairs, helping the rebels and murderers. Mr." Roosevelt charges that Messrs. Wilson and Bryan were cognizant of the cruelties and bar parities pra-cticea upon nexicans ana Americans and still aided those who committed all these unspeakable crimes; hence Wilson and Bryan are re sponsible for those crimes, and. no amount of hypocrisy can wash them clean therefrom. Mr. Roosevelt Is de serving great praise for his noble stand for law. order and humanity. The writer of this has been a Demo crat, inheriting this policy from his father. Then, however, the Democrats were made of different fiber. The fol lies of a spineless and weak Adminis tration," as we have It now, are enough to change or cause to have changed one's preferences. FATHER GREGORY. The Baa m tbe War. Henry Varlaii, In New York World. Paris cable As a heavy London motor omnibus dashed toward a British Camp. Press dispatch from the rront. They're doing things in Piccadilly, Flanders and Brabant: They're fighting hand-to-hand for every dune. See the Pickelhauben hacking Thomas Atkins, after sacking Louvaln and Namur and Arras and Bethune! Down there at Mlddelkerk, all the way to M-uoort. Shells are shedding shrapnel as troopers run amock. Hear the big guns booming Prom sun-UD to Kloominfn While the thousands grip in 'death of battle hock! "Oood Lord! wot's that?" there's a bus from Piccadilly Dashing through the mud while shells are tailing last. "HI there. Charing Cross! Get a 'oas. a bally oss!" "Go to 'elll" the driver yells, dashing madly past. "Just like old Lunnon!" says the Tommy In tne trencnes. Fishing for a cigarette to hand It to his pal. wno just gives a cry. Falls in the-slush to die. Stuttering out a message to be given to his "gal." "Close up your ranks!'" comes the order irom tne Major; "Ready, boys; steady, boys; give 'em cold steel : ' Never mind the wounded! There the charge Is sounded: Back and forth the warriors through the red mud reel. Then back to the trenches all the weary nleht long. Listening to the guns and the wail of him tnat aie3. Snatching fitful slumbers To these mournful numbers. While the ghosts that hover round fill the air with signs. "HI there! wot's that?" 'tis the bus from Piccadilly. Creeping from the rear through the reddened mucay lane. "Bully beef and coffee "ot, Knff to warm the bloomln' lot!" "Hi there, charing Cross!" Thomas Atkins laughs again. Law Applies to All. THE DALLES, OrM Dec. 9 (To the Editor.) A says people of the love law and free love marriages do not have to pVocure a marriage license. B saya they cannot be married legally without a license. Which is right? A SUBSCRIBER. , Laws requiring the procurement of license oetore marriage apply to all cults. A Street Observation. Cleveland Plain Dealer. "Papa, why does the pretty lady frown?" . "Because, my son, the men watch her when she goes down the street.'" "Then, papa, why does the homely lady frown .' "Because they don't.'" How tbe Bees Gave 2?olata. Boston Transcript. Farmer (to country boarders) Sorry that you young folks got stung. How"d it happen? Spokesmen Well, you see, we were Btanding beside the beehive wondering how. the bees made honey. I guess they must have overheard us, for they came out and gave us a few points. WHAT OF IDLE BR.USWORKF.nS! Correspondent Snggests Scope of Ens nloymeat Effort Include Then, Too. PORTLAND, Dec 10. (To the Edi tor.) At the meeting held at the Com mercial Club last week the) general condition of unemployment Etema to have been pretty thoroughly discussed, and while no action further than a provision for a working committee of seven has thus far been announced, it is certainly to be hoped that some means may soon be found by which the man or woman who is willing to work may be put in touch with the op portunity to maintain their self-respect through the medium of honest employment. A thorough survey of the local situ ation would no doubt be a surprise to all. and such a survey should be the basis of any plan for the readjust ment of the employment problem. This survey could -be most readily made by the establishment of a central bureau, where those out of employment may have an opportunity to list their quali fications and needs without embarrass ment, and have these classified to the end that those out of employment long est or most In need shall have prefer ence as they may deserve. This bureau might be established in the room used for the registration of voters at the Courthouse, with separate departments for clerical, mechanical and common labor, and a still further distinction between male and female registration. As this registration is gotten under way a canvass should be made of every business institution in the city to as. certain if some help could not be add ed, at least temporarily, to relieve this pressure. The committee lust an nounced should have this bureau under their jurisdiction. Some may say. "Why have another labor bureau when we already have a municipal employment office?" but, so far as the personal experience of the writer goes, the municipal office as conducted at present is rather a joke. On one .day of the past week a visit was made to this Institution to see if any assistance could be gained in lo eating a situation, but after waiting tor a nair hour and not even having an opportunity to state the object of the visit, he left the room in disgust. Not only was it impossible to receive any attention, but the room was close and dingy and had the appearance of not having been swept for a month. Two tiny wickets are provided for the trans action of business, but at the time of the visit mentioned even these were closed, and one female attendant was the sole occupant of the space behind the grating and she was seated at a desk at the rear of the room, entirely unconscious, to all appearances, of the number of people who were seeklne- In formation or an opportunity to register as applicants for work. Practically all the plans so far an nounced for the relief of the unem ployed have had to do with find in c- sometning for the man who must work with his hands, but attention should also be directed to the fact that the man who works with bis brain, such as the bookkeeper or the salesman suffers Just as keenly from a period of unemployment as the common laborer, and In. most cases his financial neces sities are Just as great, if not greater. as a matter of fact, out of 22 e ployment agencies listed in the Pacific telephone directory for August. 1914 just one in addition to the Y. M. C. A has been giving any attention whatever to employment in clerical positions, and tnat one nas since been discontinued That there are also many bralnwork- ers out of employment in Portland at present a survey such as succested would show, and being one of their number and knowing by personal con tact and experience just how helDless many ot mem are, has led the writer to mate a special nlea in their behalf Many of these brainworkers are highly trained in their respective lines and are willing'and anxious to work, but as stated before, there is at present no enective means by which they may be put in touch with vacancies as thev occur and must depend either on the lnnuence ot friends to learn of such openings or tramp from office to office in the vain search for some chance to earn an existence. How many of these people also may be in actual want or iorcea to seeK temporary aid from ner- sonal friends can probably never be known, for- this class of labor has no organization looking to their interests only such as a wide free-masonry of personal association fostered by the laut uu oirus or a leather flock to gether," and being gentlemen by both instinct and training, these men, rather than acknowledge their poverty and want to the world, prefer to suffer in silence and bear their lot as best thpv can. They might go for days without a meal, but to talk to them you would never Know it, ror their natural In clination is to keep their troubles to themselves. Some philanthropist might win a chance to wear a crown of gold in the great hereafter if he would in augurate a plan by which a deserving young man might, during such a period of adversity, borrow enough "on his honor" to clothe him properly and al low him to eat three square meals a day until such a time as he may be able to secure a - position permitting him to repay the loan in easy install ments. A BRAINWORKEK. ALARMING PHRASE DISCOVERED Judze Lowell Inquires Into Meaning of Resolutions on Laws. PENDLETON, Or., Dec. 9. (To the Editor.) I have read in The Oregonian the resolutions recently adopted by the board of governors of the Portland Commercial Club, and while in accord with the appeal for economy, I am at a loss to understand the cryptic lan guage of a portion of the address to the Legislature. What Is meant by the following: i To repeal legislation which, though ex alted in purpose, has proved destructive in effect; to adopt an attitude of encourage ment towards transportation, public utility, manufacturing and business enterprises; and to. support only such legislation as will foster the Investment of capital, stimulate Industry and Increase material prosperity, so there will be better markets for Oregon products, more profit for the producers and more enmpolyment - and better wages for labor. The brilliant secretary of the organ ization which promulgates this re markable declaration last week hon ored this city with his presence at the State Woolgl-owers' Convention, and secured the adoption of substantially the same resolution by that body. The English is perfect, the diction elegant, but the language is so mys terious as to arouse curiosity. Natur ally, men are asking what laws have proven destructive in effect? Whether there is to be a return of the "invisible government"? If there is to be us"b ered in another era of legislation for cold business. regardless alike of humanity and of public interest? Have the hands of time been turned back ward upon the dial plate of progress as a result of the late election? Is hu manity again to be forgotten and money again enthroned? When either the Oregon Legislature or the Federal Congress begins to re peal the salutary industrial, regula tory and humane legislation- of the past decade, I apprehend that the men responsible for such reactionary move ment may well prepare to face polit ical oblivion. STEPHEN A. LOWELL, Reports Are False. PORTLAND. Dec. 10 (To the Edi tor.) There are reports of Belgian chil dren having their hands cut off by Ger mans. Are any such acts known to be true or simply false reports? M. WHITE. Stories of such atrocities have been carefully investigated by American correspondents abroad without authen ticating one of them. Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonlan. Dec. lO, 1SS9. California has been awarded $500,000 and Nevada $430,000 for their share in suppressing the rebellion. Oregon's share in the war claims has not been determined by the Government, Chicago President Harrison and party from Washington arrived here yesterday to tak part In the dedica tion or the great Chicago Auditorium building. A committee of citizens head ed by Mayor Cregier met the Washing ton delegation. The new Auditorium is said to be a triumph in accoustlcs. Thomas Sontar. who says he Is an absconder from Scotland, and who gave nimseii up at the jail, was visited yes terday by many of his countrymen in Portland, Subsequently they took him away, but what they propose to do with him Is not known, and yet the police do not know what to do as they have no right to detain him. having given him a bed in the Jail merely as an accommodation. J. Buchtel. of East Portland, on re turning from a hunting trip a few days ago, left two fine ornithological speci mens with the Museum of the Oregon Alpine Club. One was a wood duck and the other a day owl. H. D. Fleming anrt his wife and four children from Ohio, registered at the Meredith yesterday. They came West to meet Mr. Fleming's brother. Sheriff r'leming, of Vancouver. Clarke County, Wash. The brothers had not met in SO years and their reunion was a happy one. Work was begun on the Waverly- Woodstock electric line yesterday. Bids for the construction of the Union Pacific's branch from La Grande, across the Grand Ronde Valley to Elgin, a dis tance of 20 miles, were opened yester day by C. J. Smith, general manager. The contract was not awarded, as It was necessary to make some Inquiries as to certain bidders. The Marquam Grand Theater will be opened with "Shenandoah" about Janu ary 15, it is announced. Treaties and Land Tenure, PORTLAND. Dec. 10. (To the Edi tor.) A contends that the United States regulates the laws of states regarding the sale of land to Japanese, while B's contention is that any state is inde pendent of the United States in regard to the sale of its land to Japanese, or making laws to that effect- Which is right? A. W. NBWBEG1N. It has been assumed but never defi nitely settled that a land tenure law which violates the provisions of a treaty entered into by the Government is void. For that reason Oregon's law forbid ding ownership of land by Chinese has never been enforced. It may be said that a state may pass any law relative to sale of land which does not contro vene the Federal Constitution, a treaty or its own constitution. According to ex-President Taft Congress may as sume authority to prevent state enact ment of laws which violate treaty obli gations, but this has not been done, and superiority of treaties over state laws is still a mooted question. Our Worldly-Wise "Fonts. PORTLAND, Dec. 10. (To the Edi tor.) After reading in The Oregonlan about the tests given to Tronson by Miss Grace Lyman regarding his san ity, I asked my 10-year-old boy, who is considered very bright by his teacher, what he would think was wrong if he saw a preacher, a doctor and a lawyer going into our neigh bor's house. He quickly answered he would think the lady was sick, needing the doctor, the daughter was to be married, needing the preacher, and that the lawyer came along to find out how soon the bride would want a divorce. A READER. - Peaceful but Prepared. PORTLAND, Dec. 10. (To the Edi tor.) The following is an editorial paragraph in The Oregonian; Swlthzerland, like the United States, Is at peaca with the world and "enjoys" its manifold blessings. Yes. very true, but little Switzerland was able, when the war broke out, to put within a couple of days 300,000 soldiers on their border and still have Ihem there and. If necessary, could have -increased it to half a million. Can the United States do this? ARNOLD KELLER. 414 Commercial Club Building. Yes. LAUREL, Or.. Dec 9. (To the Edi tor.) Can a merchant force a collec tion from the owner of real estate where he has furnished powder, etc., to a contractor to clear the land of stumps? E. T. TURNER. Messengers of Santa Claus A delightful front page" in Bril liant Colors Which Breathes the Spirit of the Yuletide Season. Christmas in Many Lands. An illustrated article of how the merry day is observed in the far corners of the globe. . Christmas in Camp. A page article, with many illus trations, narrating memorable Christmas days spent by warring armies in the field. Revolutionizing Farm Methods. The story of a remarkable agri cultural movement which is being spread rapidly throughout the rural districts of the United States. Women and War. An illustrated account of sorrow and suffering in the Sultan's do main. Torpedo Cruisers. Hudstin Maxim describes a new type of fighting craft, which he says will render dreadnoughts ob solete and gain complete dominion of the seas. Winter Campaigning. A reproduction of three famous paintings of the Franco-Prussian war. Dolly Dip. The second appearance of the re freshing tango maid. A page in colors, with verse and music. . The Music Lesson. The tenth in the series of free piano lessons is in 'the keys of E-flat and C-minor. Fairies' Christmas. An illustrated story for the chil dren. Many Other Features to Meet Every Interest. Order early of your newsdealer.