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THE MOIIXIXG OREGOXTAN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1914.
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PORTXAND, WEDNESDAY, DEC, 16, 1814.
REMKDIES FOR SOCIAL EVIL.
Study of the causes of sexual vice
among- women has led the Wisconsin
commission to the same conclusion
as was reached by The Oregonlan
when the subject was under discus
sion in this state that , the wage
question has no material relation to
a girl's downfall. The Wisconsin
commission finds that the use of
intoxicating liquor is the greatest
cause of commercialized vice and
that contributory causes are: Public
dance-halls,- roadhouses, poorly light
ed parks and public places, lack of
responsibility by parents, non-enforcement
of laws by public officials, lack
of public amusement and recreation
facilities, and automobiles.
The remedies recommended include
many which have already been adopt
ed in Oregon. Chief among them are
added a morals court, a state white
slave law, a state police department,
private associations to aid the police,
prohibition of liquor sales in dance
halls and stricter regulation of liquor
traffic, dance-halls and lodging
houses, policewomen, women on
boards of all children's institutions,
increase of the age of consent, in
dustrial home and hospital for
women, special classes for subnormal
children in schools, social neigh
borhood centers, amusements super
vised by municipalities, rooms for
domestic servants to receive com
pany, limitation of servants' hours of
labor, protection of rights of labor
and insurance against poverty. Bills
to- put. many of these, recommenda
tions in effect have already been
drafted. -
While these preventive and cura
tive measures may nearly all be good,
it is impossible to .escape-the conclu
sion that spread of what is euphemis
tically, termed the social evil is pri
marily due to relaxation of parental
control over girls and to that prudery
which keeps girls in ignorance of
facts about their sex - knowledge
of which ' would keep many of
them from making the first false
step. A mother will not admit to
herself the possibility that her own
girl will go wrong, therefore does
not exercise that supervision over her
daughter which will keep her in the
right path. A mother is unwilling to
believe her daughter may deceive her,
therefore does not suspect that, when
the girl goes out for the evening
with a friend," she has gone with a
man who will take her to a dance
hall and befuddle her with liquor in
order to accomplish her ruin. The
mother is unwilling to suspect that,
when her girl has gone to a city and
writes home that' she is at work,
earning good wages and "having a
good time," the wages are those of
sin and that the good time involves
moral and physical ruin.
It may be impossible for mothers,
particularly poor mothers of working
girls, to "chaperone" their daughters
as in former times. But they can
keep a closer watch on their daugh
ters during that critical period of
eyolution from girlhood to woman
hood. They can guide their daugh
ters in the selection of safe associates
and amusements. Above all, they can
instruct their daughters as to the ele
mentary facts of sex, that the girls
may not go out into the world un
armed against .the wiles of the male
tempter. They can warn their girls
of the consequences of misconduct so
plainly as to inspire wholesome, dread
of these consequences and aversion
for any man who seeks to mislead.
Thus forewarned and forearmed, a
girl may go from home for an even-
ng or even may go to a distant city
ith reasonable confidence on her
own part and on that of .her parents
that she will escape the pitfalls which
await the too innocent and the
unwary. ...
The social evil is not a product of
low wages, though far be it from -us
to defend those who limit a girl's
earnings to the bare minimum of
subsistence; it is mainly a product of
parental neglect to guide and instruct
their children. A girl who earns good
wages "will aa readily go astray, if not
started right by her parents, as one
who earns only the minimum wage.
To one who blindly follows the flow
ery path to a prostitute's grave, the
highest wages paid for honest work
never seem enough.
It is well to remove Intoxicants and
other evils which often accompany
public amusements, as the Wisconsin
commission proposes, and to exercise
a considerable degree of public super
vision over them, but amusements
provided by municipalities should not
conform too closely to the restric
tions demanded by the "unco guid
and the rigidly righteous," for then
they will fail of their purpose. They
will repel the Innocently pleasure
loving young people, who desire a
certain degree of free play for thefr
youthful tastes and spirits, and will
attract only those who adhere so
strictly to the) narrow path of recti
tude that they are in little or no dan
ger from the evils against which the
community wishes to guard.
After everything has been done by
the. parents and the community to
guard the young against evils which
are included within the term "the
social evil.' a residue of girls will still
go astray. Some are naturaly vicious
and dissolute, but very many more
are mentally or morally defective to
such a degree that they either know
not that they offend or are unable to
resist the impulse or repel the sug
gestion of their associates. The only
place for them is the industrial home,
where they may be protected against
themselves and against those social
parasites who would enslave them.
The community will then be protect
ed against those hideous diseases
which such women would spread
abroad If left at large. It Is the duty
of the community to combat the so
cial evil, not only for the moral good
of its members, but for Its own phy
sical conservation. Sexual vice de
stroys not only its victims, but,
spreading - like a dark stain, it de
stroys the life and health of a large
proportion of the innocent members
of the whole community. Its reduc
tion to the lowest possible minimum
Is a duty of self-preservation on the
part of each city, each state and the
Nation.
HOORAY FOR NEUTRALITY.
On Monday, December 7, The Ore
gonlan published a report of a lecture
on the European war from the Ger
man standpoint, delivered in Portland
by one of Germany's noted educators,
Eugen Kuehnemann.
A few days later The Oregonlan re
ceived the following appreciative com
munication: WInlock. Wash.. Dec lO, 114. Gentle
men: Tou have been fighting the battles of
England and France and her aavage allies
against Germany with an ardor worthy of
a better cause. In so doing you trample on
the feelings of German-Americans in every
Issue. If you are inclined to he fair at all
I ask you to give our side a hearing, etc.
C. H. 8PANUTH.
The letter of Mr. Spanuth was pre
served because of an expectation
which was promptly fulfilled by re
ceipt of the following courteous and
broad-minded communication:
Twlsp, Wash., Dee. II, 1914. Editor The
Oregonlan, Sir: The prominence given in The
Oregonlan to the addreaaea by a Herr Pro
fessor, tumbled into America hisaing hot
from the Fatherland, is an outrage to the
feelings of your impartial and would-be
readers. THOS. S. BLTTH.
Two gentlemen with such intelligent
conception of what constitutes news
paper neutrality ought to meet and
exchange ideas. It is therefore a mat
ter of . profound regret that the
breadth of the State of Washington
separates them. ,
OUR MILS. JKLLVBYS.
Probably never before 'in Portland
did solicitations for charitable enter
prises come from so "many sources.
Probably Portland is no less fortunate
than any other city of its size in the
number of its worthy unfortunates.
Probably no other city is doing more
for its own destitute and is still re-,
membering bountifully the stricken
peoples of Europe.
Under ordinary conditions it is dif
ficult to discriminate among charities,
but it would seem that in times such as
these, when lack of sustenance among
the war sufferers is brought to the
attention of a country itself enduring
a hard Winter, philanthropy ought
to be confined to providing necessities.
.The Oregonlan has been invited V
foster a movement to purchase testa
ments for soldiers in the trenches.
It . has been requested to lend its
efforts to collect cigars, cigarettes and
tobacco for the French and Belgian
soldiers.
It is urged to promote contributions
of Christmas remembrances for the
negro children of the South.
It was asked to - aid in sending
Christmas toys to the children of the
nations at war.
The efforts of the promoters of
these enterprises are well meant. Each
suggests a thing that it would be nice
to do. But are not some of our phil
anthropists a little on the order of
Mrs. Jelly by? Are they not centering
their thoughts on Borrloboola-Gha to
the exclusion of more pressing duties?
It is practically forgotten or ignored
that throughout a wide district of
China there are famine and starvation
today.
' This Is not a specific appeal to re
member China, It is written to carry
the thought tHat if America relieved
all the bitter, pressing want that ex
ists in the world today there would
not be much left wherewith to buy
tobacco, toys or testaments for our
selves or anyone else.
. ECONOMY BECOMING AX ISSUE.
The definiteness of ex-President Taft's
suggestions for bringing economy and
efficiency into our National expendi
tures contrasts with the vague exhor
tations of President Wilson to - Con
gress that it be economical, but not
too economical, In spending money.
There is no probability whatever that
the present Congress will be too eco
nomical, and the President's warning
not to be so is likely to be seized upon
as an excuse for throwing economy to
the winds. It falls into the same
category aj-he Irishman's warning to
the mob which was hesitating how to
punish its'ifeJJitive "Don't nail his ear
to the pump." The mob immediately
decided that that was the very thing
to do.
Congress hitherto has not felt' the
need of a budget system, because all
revenue was raised by indirect taxa
tion. As the people paid taxes un
consciously, they were indifferent to
the amount Congress spent and conse
quently Congress was indifferent. But
the income tax now dips directly into
many men's pockets, and Congress has
so overshot the mark in its reckless
spending that further direct taxes have
become necessary to wipe out the def
icit. Though nothing can be hoped
for from the present moribund Con
gress, its successor would better take
heed to Mr. Taft's plan for the formu
lation of an annual budget by co
operation between the executive and
legislative branches of the Govern
ment. If it should . not, National
economy may become an Important is
sue in the next National campaign.
ROADS THROUGH FORESTS.
One of the few rays of sunshine
which" have shone from the present
Administration on the West radiates
from the report of Secretary Houston,
of the Agricultural Department. He
haA taken pity on the "sparse local
population of pioneer settlers who find
themselves surrounded by a wilder
ness largely consisting of National
forest land." He is the first executive
officer in charge of National forests
who has taken cognizance of the fact
that, as they "pay no taxes and serve
no purpose toward developing the
country," the Government should con
struct roads. Unlike Glfford Finchot,
with whom every settler is an object
of suspicion, Mr. Houston regards set
tlers as "the advance guard of civiliza
tion." Mr. Houston admits that the Na
tional forests are actually a burden on
residents' in their vicinity, for, while
contributing nothing, they add to the
cost of connecting settlements with
roads by interposing wide stretches
of land through which highways
must be built. He proposes an
appraisement, of the forests and on
that basis the expenditure of Govern
ment funds on road construction. The
cost would constitute an advance to be
refunded from the 35 per cent of for
est receipts already allotted for roads
and schools. By making the National
forests more accessible, roads would
render the timber more readily mar
ketable and would thus hasten the
day when the Government would re
coup the sums of money it advanced.
The roads once built, the annual Gov
ernment contribution to the road fund
should suffice to maintain, extend and
improve the roads. As the policy of the
Government is to continue the forests
as a permanent source of timber sup
ply, they would yearly contribute to
the roads the allotted 35 per cent of
revenue.
It is cheering to see that the Gov
ernment is disposed to recognize the
obligations of the position it has as
sumed as a great landlord. .
'. THE "WAR OF FAITH."
' The declaration of a "holy war" by
the Moslems is a curious, but, from
accounts so far, a largely ineffective
ceremony. The Hamburger Fremden
blatt recently published Its text as sup
plied by its Constantinople corre
spondent. The fetwa, or call to holy
arms, it is said, is kept in the state
room of the old palace where the
mantle of the prophet Mohammed is
also kept. It is drawn in the form of
a catechism and was read out in vthe
Fatih mosque in Constantinople.
It follows:
Question If several enemies unite against
Islam, if countries bound to its. precepts are
plundered, if the Mohammedan population
is maFacred and imprisoned and if then
the defender of the- faith, the padishah of
Iplam. In pursuance of the sacred words of
the Koran, declares the holy war, has this
war summons binding force on all Mos
lems, young and old. foot and horse? Has
every Mohammedan all over the Islamic
world to show his zeal with Hf and limb
and his anxiety to wage the Jihad, or war
of faith?
Response Yes.
Question And the Moslem subjects of
Russia. France and England as well' as of
the helpmates o the three countries which
attack the caliphate with battleships and
military hosts and thus try to crush Islam
must they. too. wage Jihad, the "holy
war," against the governments to which
they are subject?
. Response Yes, they must.
Question All those that shrink from
taking part in the Jihad at a time when all
Moslems are called to arms do they ex
pose themselves to the divine wrath, to
damnation and to the deserved punish
ment ?-
Response Yes, they do.
Question Are the Moslem subjects of the
above named powers that are at war with
the Islam government committing a-heinous
Bin In taking part in their rulers war,
even if those rulers compel them to do so,
otherwise threatening; them with death and
with the destruction of their whole family?
Response Yes. they are.
Question If in the present war Moslems
live under the flag of England. France,
Rupsla, Servia or Montenegro or any other
nation that is their auxiliary and helps
them, but are warring against Turkey's
allies viz, Germany and the dual mon
archy do such deserve God's anger because
they damage holy Islam and the caliphate?
Response Yes, they do.
Egypt has 10,269,445 Mohamme
dans who were expected by some to
give a unanimous war whoop and
Jump to arms at Turkey's call. They
have not done so because they have
somewhat modernized their religion.
It has been transformed from blind
faith in Sultan and ceremonial to in
telligent faith in the Almighty. The
Egyptian Mohammedan is no longer
a fanatical savage. He Is & peaceful,
money-making citizen.
A FORBIDDEN SACRIFICE.
One of the prisoners 5n the New
Tork penitentiary, John Frank Hickey
by name, is serving a life sentence for
a heinous crime. He was convicted of
the murder of one boy and it was sus
pected that he had killed several. No
doubt when -he was sentenced he was
a man wholly given over to'evil ways.
But the hardest heart sometimes grows
soft, a soul saturated with crime oc
casionally purifies itself and begins to
ask how its past may be redeemed.
Hickey - has experienced such a
change. He wants to make restitution
for the wrongs he has done, and Bince
he cannot recall the dead to life he
aspires to help the living. He has
offered his body to the scientific in
vestigators of cancer to experiment
upon. He asks them to inoculate him
with the cancer virus in order that
they may definitely decide whether
or not this terrible disease can ke
communicated in that way. The Attorney-General
of New York has ruled
that Hickey"s wish must not be grati
fied because inoculation with the can
cer virus would be "a sort of suicide
committed with the sanction of the
state."
We dare say this dictum is perfectly
legal, but that does not prevent it
from being- archaic and silly. The
state, as a contemporary patly observes,
would allow Hickey to sacrifice him
self to save a drowning person from
the water, or to snatch a child from
the Jaws of 'a mad dog, but he is
not permitted to risk his life in an
experiment which would help to save
not merely one life but millions. He
would be praised for rescuing life by
a single brilliant act of heroism, but
he, must not rescue the entire human
race from a haunting horror which
pursues generation after generation.
Conventionally, the New York Attorney-General
is unimpeachably right,
we suppose, and he will be lauded by
old-fashioned people who do not keep
pace with the march of events. But
the intelligently progressive mind of
the world will deplore his view -of the
matter.
HIGHER EDUCATION IN WASHINGTON.
Newspapers in the State of Wash
ington are publishing remarkable in
formation bearing upon the expense
of the "higher education" for the last
few years. Education of the "higher"
variety, state university and college,
have beer names to conjure with
north of he Columbia as they have
south oi it. Money has been poured
into the treasuries of the Institutions
without much thought of conse
quences. Some of it has been wisely
used. Some of it has been dissipated
in extravagance and waste, as money
always is when it comes easily and
goes without adequate responsibility. .
In 1905 the University of Washing
ton received $298,690 from the Legis
lature. In 1913 it asked for almost
five times as much, to-wit. $1,013,869,
and received it. The appetite for cash
in that Institution, as in many others,
grows with what It feeds upon. Much
the same story is told of the normal
schools and the State College at Pull
man. Ten years ago they were satis
fied with - comparatively modest ap
propriations. Now they demand exor
bitant sums. i
. The Belllngham Normal School may
stand as a sample of all. In 1905 it
had an appropriation of $80,000. In
1913 it received $198,656. The total
amount appropriated for the higher
education in 1905 was $663,690. In
1913 it had risen to $2,317,856. It is
only fair to say that extravagance in
education has merely kept pace with
the same thing in other departments
of the state government. In 1905 the
total expenses of the State of Wash
ington barely exceeded $3, 000, 000; in
1913 they considerably exceeded
$9,000,000.
The phenomenon of reckless expen
diture is not confined to any one state.
It has run about the same course
In Oregon and in many others.
The authorities have made ducks and
drakes of the taxpayers' money under
many a fair pretext. Now it has been
"higher education," now the Inspec
tion of food, now this commission or
r -
that one. But names and pretenses
have not mattered. The result has
been always the same extravagance,
waste and Increasingly burdensome
taxes."
The poet Cowper sent Benjamin
Franklin a copy of his first book. The
great American wrote to thank him,
saying that, although he had long
ago stopped reading poetry, there was
something in the book "so new, easy,
correct and clear" that he liked it.
Time lias confirmed Franklin's judg
ment. Cowper will always be liked by
sensible people.
When the Mayflower coasted Cape
Cod heavy forests clad the shore to
the water's edge, but they are gone
now. The new ship canal has awak
ened ""fresh interest In the historic
peninsula and efforts are under way
to reforest it. There is no reason why
they should not succeed. The reclama
tion of the Danish heaths was far
more difficult.
A united Scandinavia would present
a formidable front even to such
powers as Russia and Germany. The
population is comparatively small, but
the men are brave and hardy. The
Scandinavian countries dread the
Czar and the Kaiser about equally.
They would round out either empire
to the complete admiration of the
militarists. -
In the grounds of the Pan-American
Union at Washington an Aztec garden
has been reproduced with its curious
pools, rockwork art aviary. Nothing
could be more truly characteristic.
The Aztecs were Americans, and
pretty good ones, long before some
of us thought of seeking these shores.
From an accounts the Rotary Club
clinic in the Selling building has been
of invaluable service to deserving un
fortunates. Apparently it must be
closed after Christmas for lack of
money to keep it going. Who will
intervene with a generous donation to
save a noble charity?
The Republic of Panama shows
Itself a. well-behaved member of the
family of nations by contracting a
loan of $3,000,000. No country Is
really respectable until it gets Into
debt. Solvency would be a disgrace
in a community of bankrupts.
It comes out that our troops in
the Philippines were ready for a
mysterious attack from an external
foe last year. Official disclosures fall
to note the source of danger, but it
is safe to suspect the wild man of
Borneo.
The spirit .of gambling is inherent
and widespread, from the boy play
ing marbles "for. keeps" to the grown
up punching holes for cigars. Stopped
one way It breaks out in another. Vig
ilance to suppress is necessary.
Women who are older than they
look, seeking to eliminate the ques
tion of age as a requisite to registry,
will have their trouble for naught.
Equal suffrage means political equal
ity without favors.
Colonel : Goethals wants additional
defensive forces for the Panama Canal.
Send him an armored scow and a
platoon of infantry something com
mensurate with our military policy,
you know.
The naval captain who is serving as
Secretary Daniels' aide and who is
quite satisfied with our state of naval
preparedness should be in some other
profession. He has missed his own
calling.
Austrian newspapers are looking to
ward America to promote peace.
That word peace must sound awfully
nice in the ears of Austrians, who,
by the way, precipitated the little
mess.
Boys of the school that had to close
because the Janitor forgot to order
fuel will consider him a "brick." A
brief vacation while the skating Is
good is just right.
President Wilson will arise at 3 A.
M. on New' Year's day to open the
San Diego Fair. Which is just about
the hour many of our citizens will be
going to bed.
Four million allies are preparing to
break loose in February, says an of
ficial report, Which is enough to
give the Kaiser a couple of nervous
breakdowns.
Now the Austrians are retreating
before the Servians. "Victory and de
feat, action and reaction, seem to
mark the course of the whole war. .
Give the Kaiser credit for playing
square. Two officers who jumped
parole were ordered back to Holland.
German honor is an asset.
Summer or Winter, Oregon crops
are always the best. The ice harvest
in the Grand Ronde River is the
record for quality.
The bright Canadian boy . emigrates
and makes a. name and fortune. One
just dead became the oil king of
Austria.
Hobson is in his happy element once
more. The present military agitation
has enabled him to trot out the yellow
peril.
A Chicago policeman has made
$100,000 in real estate and retired.
He watched tho. market as a side line.
England is not so large that au
thorities cannot uncover a. German
wireless station. Yet they fail.
Berlin admits with pardonable rea
son the Russians at Warsaw were too
numerous to mention.
Now the allies have adopted a Mex
ican method. They will crush the
Germans manyana.
The rat hatchery at the City Park
Is growing too fast for its accommo
dations. Nothing less than outbreak of
measles can sbore O. A. C. ahead of
U. of O.
It Is a poor specimen who does
nothing for the poor these festive days.
However, this sunny weather has
got something of a sting in it.
Von der Goltz considers Belgium
"normal." So is a graveyard.
Weather of the Medicine Hat brand
extends clear to Florida,
Half a Century- Ago
From The Oregonlan December 15, 1864.
John Barrows, Esq., at Albany, and
N. O. Parrish & Co.. at Salem, are
authorized to receive and receipt for
subscriptions to The Dally and Weekly
Oregonlan.
We learn from the Statesman that
J. C. Peebles, County Judge, has de
cided - that the specific contract law
does not apply to contracts made prior
to its passage. (Judge Shattuck. of
the Supreme Court, has decided to the
contrary).
The London Times thinks as Lincoln
has probably "sown his wild oats" and
found out the folly of troubling Eng
land, that his election is no bad thing
after all. This appears to be a case
where the Lord "tempered the wind to
the shorn lamb."
Surgeon Watkins returned from
Salem yesterday. From him we learn
that the company raised in Benton and
Polk counties will be mustered into the
service of the United States Army as
Company A, Oregon Infantry. Gov
ernor Gibbs has appointed the follow
ing officers to command the company:
Charles Lafollett, Captain; William J.
Shipley, First Lieutenant: W, R. Dun
bar, Second Lieutenant. The Marion
County company now numbers 83 men
It is above the minimum and soon will
be ready to be mustered into service
C. P. Crandall probably will be com
missioned Captain, T. H. Reynolds
First Lieutenant and Mr. Roland Sec
ond Lieutenant.
A fine schoolhouse was recently
erected in school district No. 21. East
Portland, and at present it' is occupied
with a flourishing school of some 45
pupils under the instruction of Air.
Garick. Mr. and Mrs. James B. Ste
phens donated the block for the school
Under the influence of the impetus
lately given recruiting in this county
Captain Powell is getting on nicely in
raising his company. In Clackamas the
people are quite jubilant at the suc
cess of Captain F. O. McCown. and
send word that if the Governor re
quires t the county will double the
number.
The gallery of Buchtel & Cardwell
has lately received a valuable addi
tion from the depth of the ocean in
the line of corals and shells, a finer
collection than which it would be hard
to find.
Dr. George Simpson Ramsey, once an
excellent physician in practice at Eu
gene City, distinguished as a chemist
and who has written some things that
have won him a reputation as a poet.
died Tuesday night at the asylum from
nervous exhaustion. He had been an
inmate of the institution for four years.
Superintendent Huntington arrived
last night en route to San Francisco
in connection with business of the In
dlan Department.
TIMID POLICY BY TIMID MAN
Responsibility of the President (or Sit
uation, in Mexico.
Chicago Citizen (Democratic).
Our National Administration Is now
on the defensive. It was easy enough
to parry the attacks of Catholics who
are supposed to be unduly sensitive to
certain crimes. But when Theodore
Roosevelt takes up the question in the
name of humanity a different complex
ion is put upon the situation. The for
mer President's Indictment will ring
round the Nation, and beyond.
We have met many people who think
Mr. Wilson a competent chief. We have
never been able to agree with the view.
We are willing to admit that he is hon
est and painstaking; we accept his ca
pacity in questions of finance: but
never have we been able to see any
genius in the man. He cannot rise, in
our opinion, to the requirements of a
grave situation, such as the present
Mexican condition furnishes. His weak
ness is especially manifest in the well-
known fact that he not only does not
want war, but even shrinks in mortal
terror from it. No true man wants
war, but no wise statesman will let it
be known that he will bear anything
rather than resort to it. This were to
invite tho contempt of hostile -peoples,
something it seems which Mr. Wilson
has done. As to Mr. Bryan well, we
ought not to have forgotten that he is
largely a joke.
Mr. Roosevelt' appeal to American
manhood is just what the Nation re
quires. Of course, we may expect a
lengthy reply from our rhetorical Sec
retary of State, bu this will not changa
me situation.
Perhaps some Catholic organizations
that, after looking into the situation,
felt there was nothing for them to do.
may again take heart of grace. The
trouble with organizations is that,
while they possess many earnest and
self-sacrificing' men, they also have
wiseacres who affect superior know!
edge and insist upon do-nothing cau
tion. The rank and file are abashed
by the assumption of inside informa
tion. toxvicno.
If I ever write a poem I know it will
be long.
There is so much that's beautiful to
put into a song:
So many hints from Nature I could
refuse no part
Nor reject a wave of tenderness that
had swept a human heart.
I should want to weave in flowers; I
should try to catch the note
Of the" bird when it is pouring Spring
time gladness from its throat.
I should want to laud the hero who
swings the mighty arm.
And more sweetly sing the praises of
one who brings great calm.
I'd hurl the javelins of wrath at our
native bores
Who think this country is less grand
than those of other shores;
They'd steal the stars from Liberty to
make a diadem
For some high and mighty potentate
who wouldn't look at them.
I should want to paint the sunsets,
when they are so golden bright
That seemingly the "gates ajar" have
let out floods of light;
Then I would tell the mourner that
heaven must be near.
Even though a skeptic might chance
to overhear.
Now poetic themes are crowding, eacn
one eager for the touch
Not of Midas, but a poet beauty
means so much.
And. so I say it over (conviction grow
ing strong).
It I ever write a poem I know It will
be long.
. i SARAH A. DAVIS.
Hood River, Oregon.
She'd Mad Experience.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
In Sunday school one afternoon, the
superintendent announced the hymn, "I
want to be an angel." and when the
others began to sing, it was noticed
that little Jessie was conspicuously
silent.
"What is the matter, my dear?"
kindly asked the teacher. "Why don't
you sing, 'I want to be an angel?" "
"Because. Miss Mary.", was the rather
startling rejoinder of the child, "I
don't want to be one."
"Don't want to be one!" exclaimed
the horrified teacher. "Why do you
say that?"
"Because," calmly answered Jessie,
"they have to play on the harp, and
I have had trouble enough taking my
piano lessons."
PRESS OPINIONS OK THB MESSAGE
President Wilson Meets Demand for
National Defense With Fine Phrases.
New York Sun.
Those in favor of an inquiry are just
as anxious for the continuance of peace
with all the world as President Wilson
is, and they no more desire a large
standing army than he does. At the
most Congress would supply the defi
ciencies of the Army and Navy pointed
out in official reports which have been
disregarded.
Let Patriotism Be Not Swerved.
New York Herald.
In his message delivered yesterday
President Wilson presents no facts and
no argument that should swerve a pa
triotic Congress from the duty devolv
ing upon it to provide for a sane and
complete investigation into the whole
question of National defense. This is
what the American people desire, and
they are entitled to it.
To Pnt I.Id on Means Explosion.
New York American.
The opponents of an inquiry into our
National defenses are as foolish as the
President is in thinking that to refuse
an Inquiry will still the agitation. To
clamp down the lid, as he is endeavor
ing to do, will but increase the force
of the inevitable explosion. To say
that the people must not look into the
state of their defenses is to justify the
suspicion that the matter emphatically
needs looking into.
Cold Reasoning Applied.
New York Evening Post.
Mr. Gardner had expressed the fear
that the President would lay "the cold
hand of death" upon his pet project.
But all that Mr. Wilson lays upon it is
the cold hand of reason. Of that, Gard
ner has much more cause to be afraid
than of death. So have the people
vaguely excited about the asserted
helplessness of the country to defend
Itself. To tnem all the President says;
"Come and let us reason together."
His discussion of National defense is
eminently reasonable, looking before
ana after.
It Is Ckastsnqnas 'Diplomacy.
Philadelphia Bulletin.
The plea of postponement, based on
the hope that- the United States may
piay an important part in bringing the
warring nations of Europe together in
peace negotiations, and the fear that
suggestions of peace would come with
bad grace from a nation bristling with
military preparation, is of a kind with
much else of the Chautauquan diplo
macy and naval policy which has char
acterized the Administration.
In altruistic desire for the peace of
Europe this nation cannot afford to
neglect itself and its own necessities.
Thought Fixed by Party Politics.
New York Mail.
The events of vast and world-para
lyzing influence which are today
marKing an epoch in civilization have
not carried Mr. Wilsons horizon be
yond his party's interests, prejudices
and policies. They fix the limits of
his thought. He has not one sugges
tlon to make that has the quality of
leadership, of mastery of tne present
or of forceful, unifying and encourag
ing planning for the future. In truth,
he makes no suggestion at all, except
that "we shall learn and profit by
every experience and every new cir
cumstance." .
Plen for Security Is Popular.
Washington Herald.
We do not know whether the lead
ers of the Democratic party or
the Republican party, or of any
other particular political party have
discovered it, but the movement that
has been started by the organization
known as the 'National Security
League is one that has struck square
ly in accord with popular sentiment
and constitutes a force that will have
to be reckoned with in the months im
mediately at hand. It has been evoked
by the spontaneous growth of a popu
lar conviction from one end of the
United States to the other.
No Safety in Untrained Numbers.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
Successful warfare depends upon
trained soldiers. This is no disparage
ment of the volunteer, who is the raw
material of the world's best armies.
But we must recognize that training
and experience promote perfection in
fighting, as in every other occupation.
In this country we have raw material
for the greatest fighting force the
world ever saw. But that material must
be worked into shape before it can' be
depended on in war. Let nobody imag
ine that numbers and courage alone
spell victory In battle. The hosts that
are willing to fight for their country
must be taught how to fight for it.
Administration Forces Disappointed.
New York Mail.
The President must realize by this
time that he will have great difficulty
in lining up his party in opposition to
the reasonable demand of the people
for such preparedness as will assure
National security. His inadequate
treatment of this overwhelming issue
in his message left the leaders of the
Administration forces in the Senate
disappointed, almost dumfounded, but
they were quick to rally. On recover
ing from the shock of the presidential
defense of National unpreparedness
they quickly and publicly lined up on
the side of a vigorous American policy
of strengthening the Nation's defenses.
Nobody Wants Great Army.
New York Times.
In what he has to say upon the sub
ject of National defense the President's
words leave upon the mind the im
pression that he has become convinced,
but won't admit it. We find the cus
tomary platitudes. But Mr. Wilson sees
the need of adequate means or defense,
the need of timely preparation, and he
outlines the measures necessary to be
taken.
That is the very substance of the de
mand. We must have not a great stand
ing army, which nobody wants, but In
"a citizenry trained and accustomed to
arms," the potentiality of a big and
efficient army, adequate for our pro
tection. Real Issue Dodged.
New York Tribune.
With' his usual bland manipulation
of phrases, the President dodges the
whole issue raised by those who are
asking for Investigation. "We must
depend in every time of National per
il," h says, "not upon a standing
army, nor yet upon a reserve army,
but upon a citizenry trained and ac
customed to arms." But that is not the
situation at all. We must depend, to
ward off foreign attacks, first on th
Navy and next upon the standing and
reserve armies which can be mobilized
at once to defend the coast. The "cit
izenry" could not come Into play until
after an enemy had made a lodgment
in the United States. Then the dam
age would already have been done.
Conditions to Be Met Now Known.
New York World.
The most important words In the
President's message are those relating
to business.
Through the long period of anti
trust agitation the spokesmen of the
great business interests of the country
repeatedly said that business could ad
just itself to any conditions if it only
knew what those conditions were to
be. It now knows.
The stable conditions that trade and
commerce and finance petitioned for
have been achieved so far as it is
within the province of an Administra
tion to achieve them. A new era has
begun, and it can continue as long as
every man charged with the responsi
bility for the management of a great
corporation remembers that "the pub
lic interest is part of his own interest."
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonlan, December 14. 1S89.
Washington Thomas Potter, a well-
known citizen, died yesterday at the
age of 83. He was one who helped to
draw Lafayette's carriage Into Wash
ington from Baltimore in 1824.
Olympia The flag on the Statehcuse
floats at half mast in honor of tho
memory of Or. Thomas T. Minor, of Se
attle, the first of the 75 men who
framed the state constitution for Wash-
ingrton to cross the great river. Dr.
Minor, with G. Morris Haller and Louis
Cox, left Seattle on Thanksgiving day
for a fishing and hunting trip on Up-
Sound Points, and never returned. It
is supposed they were all drowned At
one time Dr. Minor was Mayor of Se
attle and in 1874 married Sallie Mont
gomery, a sister of J. B. Montgom
ery, of Portland. H leaves a fortune
to his two daughters. Mr. Minor had
been a delegate to the conventions that
nominated Garfield, Blaine and Harri
son.
Citizens of Scio, Or., are arranging
to build a motor line fronf that place
to connect with the Oregon Pacifio
Railroad.
t Calvift E. Nelson, a former resident
o'f Union, died at Mineral City, Idaho,
last Monday evening.
The West Oregonlan, published at
Myrtle Point, Coos County, is the latest
venture in the Journalistic field in tho
state.
R. II. Kemp, of Spokane Falls, sends
a copy of The Oregonian that passed
through the recent great fire at that
place, tightly sealed in a copper box
and placed in the cornerstone of the
Frankfurt block that was laid April 25,
1888. The Oregonlan lay on the top of
all the other articles in the box, but
was only slightly scorched.
Lou Smith, stage manager for Cor-
dray's museo and theater, while eiH
gaged in a friendly wrestling bout
Thursday evening had the misfortune)
to break his leg, between the ankla
and knee. Dr. Rand attended his in-
Juries.
A. C. Brown, of Eugene, patentee ot
the new revolving harrow, was at tha
Quimby yesterday. Mr. Brown, who has
just returned from the East, has made
arrangements with an Indiana manu
facturer to put the harrow on the mari
ket.
The new Grace Methodist Episcopal
Church, at the corner of Tenth and Tay
lor streets, will be dedicated Sunday.
The dedication sermon will be preached,
by the Rev. R, C. Houghton at 11 A. M.
Rev. E. W. Caswell, the former pastor,
and Rev. G. W. Izer. of San Francisco,
will assist In the services. Rev. Mr,
Izer will preach in the evening.
KIND OF WAR THAT IS rSEFd.
Effort to Abolish Poverty Better Than
Militarism, Says Writer.
PORTLAND. Dec 15. (To the Edi
tor.) The article by E. G. Hopson.
supervising engineer of the United
Stated reclamation service. In The Ore
gonian Sunday, is to be commended as
a frank, straightforward and truthful
statement regarding business and so
cial conditions and the danger of un
employment. It is a timely warning
and should be heeded. His relation to
public works should be a guarantee of
his knowledge In regard to employ
ment and his suggestions as to reliev
ing the situation may well be con
sidered. He admits, however, that
even if active steps be immediately
taken, there can be but partial relief
from the situation this Winter. When
he deprecates alms, I assume it Is be
cause he deprecates the necessity for
alms, which necessity according to his
forecast, must continue partially to
exist, even if his remedies are applied
at once.
Men want work, not charity, but
they can with self respect, accept relief
when their necessities compel, so long
as they are assured that the com
munity is doing its best to organize
works f public Improvement that
ultimately will give them steady em
ployment. Such action as Mr. Hopson
proposes would loosen the tension and
remove to a large degree the "danger"
he points out,
I beg to take issue, however, with
Mr. Hopson when he complains that
we "have to meet war taxes for a
war for which we are not responsible
in any sense." When we have sown
and cultivated the thorns and thistles
of militarism ourselves are we not
responsible? Preparation for war only
leads to war. We are talking of arming
for "defense." That is what the na
tions of Europe have done, and we see
the result. Our defense against other
nations should be our Just dealings
with them. Our safety as a republic,
should be justice to our people. The)
remote causes of war. greed and
selfishness, are rooted in all nations,
our own included. We, like other na
tions, have been sowing, the wind and
are reaping the whirlwind. War against
our fellows seems to be a primal In
stinct. In our evolution It must be)
converted into a war against the evils
which oppress them.
To carry out the works which Mn,
Hopson suggests would be to wage a,
useful war; a war to abolish poverty,
THOMAS 11 AW ICES.
l: ma tills Is First.
UMATILLA, Or., Dec 14. (To tha
Editor.) In The Oregonlan recently
you published a paragraph statins
that a certain town in the Willamette)
Valley had just completed a modern,
fireproof school building containing;
inclines instead of stairs. The as
sertion wa9 made that this was ths
first school building built in the state)
containing inclined planes for stairs
ways.
Allow me to refute that assertion
Umatilla, Or., has a modern fireproof
building of re-enforced concrete erected
in 1912. This building has Inclined
planes to reach the second floor. Unless
some town can show a prior construe-
tion. give Umatilla the credit,
Umatilla, also has the distinction -of
having the first town school in Uma
tilla County to fulfill all the require
ments of a Standard school adopted by
the Board of Education. August 5. 1914,
W. A. FORD, Principal.
DeBnitlon of "Santa Clans.
Pathfinder.
Modern Child No. Ethel, there isn't
any Santa Claus; he's just your own
father and mother.
Kthel An' ain't they no Satan,
neither?
Modern Child (up in her eugenics)
No, he's just your father and mother,
too.
Let the Children
Read the Advertising
Very likely they are doing It
anyhow, for children are quick to
see things. But if not, encourage
them to do so. -
It Is good Information for then
and it may give you a clue to what
they want In their stockings or un
der the sparkling tree.
Newspaper advertising is at all
times good constructive Informa
tion. At this season of the year it Is
not only at its flood tide In volume,
but teeming with the things most
calculated to excite a child's Inter
est suggestions for Christmas. '