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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 17, 1914)
8 TTIE HORNING OREGONTATi", TUTTRSDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1914. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, Fostoff Ice as second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably In Advance: (By Mall.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year . ... ...9.00 ally, Sunday Included, six months ..... -s.25 XJally, Sunday included, three months ... 2.23 raily, Sunday Included, one month ..... -T5 Pally, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Dally, without Sunday, six months ...... 8.25 Dally, without Sunday three months ... 1-75 Pally, without Sunday, one month ...... Weekly, ons year ............. 1.60 6unday, one year a.&O Sunday and Weekly, one year - -0 By Carrier.) Daily, Sunday Included, one year $9.00 pally, Sunday included, one month ...... .75 How to Remit Send Fostofflce money or. der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address In XuU, Including county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 18 pages, 1 cent: 18 to at pages, 2 cents: 84 to 48 pages, 8 cents: W to flu pages, cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents; "8 to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Kastera Business Office Verree 6c Conk In, New York, Brunswick building; Chi cago, Stenger building. - Man Francisco Office R. X Bldwell Com Pany. 742 Market street. PORTLAND. THURSDAY, DEC. 17, 1914. A RATIONAL MILITARY POLICY. Opponents of general military train ing for National defense either mis understand or wilfully misrepresent that policy. They assume that It fs proposes to create a large standing array on the lines of those of Europe and to Impose on this country a bur den of military expenditure similar to those which European nations carry. It Is proposed to Increase the standing army, Jjut the main feature of the plan is to put a large number of men through a short course of training and at all times to have on hand enough arms, ammunition and equipment for all such men; also to provide" enough trained officers for the entire army and reserve on a war footing. . General Leonard Wood fairly out lined the plan In his speech at New York, and ex-Secretary of War Stim son's and Secretary of War Garrison's views are in general harmony with It. General Wood spoke of increasing the regular army to 500,000 men, probably with a shorter term. Mr. Stimson pro poses a moderate Increase in the army as the foundation for a large volun teer army. . Mr. Garrison favors addi tion of -25,000 men to the army by recruiting the present organization to full strength, but he would "use the standing army as a school through which to pass men who come Into it, with the knowledge that, if they are proficient, they can be discharged at any time after a year or eighteen months," and he would thus build up a reserve. He says he has proved that by intensive military training profi cient soldiers can be made in twelve months. This statement is corrobo rated by a statement in a London spe cial dispatch to The Oregonian that "the men of Kitchener's new army and territorials have shown themselves to be ready for the firing line months before Kitchener had intended to send them to France." Recruiting for that army only be gan at the opening of August, so that none of the green recruits have had even six months' training and - many must have had much less, but they nave been drilling ten or twelve hours a day and have a good seasoning of veterans. .' Men thus trained could constitute a first reserve, subject to a brief annual drill. Behind them could be organ ized a second reserve on the lines sug gested by General Wood and com posed of men who would undergo training for a brief period each year. These would compose the citizen sol diers of whom so much has been said. , We need not go to the great military monarchies of Europe -for examples to follow In thus organizing for National defense. Examples are to be found in the peaceful republic of Switzerland and in the self-governing British colo nies, which are republics in all re spects except In name. Australia and New Zealand have adopted compulsory training. They begin training boys at the age of 12 and continue to the age of 25, but In each year they require no more than sixteen days' service. Swiss training begins at the age of 20 and, says the London Times, "opens with a continuous recruit training of sixty-five days for infantry and ninety days for cavalry, followed by repeti tion courses of eleven days every sec ond year for fourteen years." South Africa registers all males between 16 and 25 and calls for a certain number of volunteers from each area. If the number of volunteers is Insufficient, the government has the right to ballot for the men required, but it has proved unnecessary to exercise this power. Training extends over four years and is Limited to thirty days in the first year and to twenty-one days in each succeeding year. The Australasian systems are ex pected to provide a force of 150,000 men when they have had their full effect. They enabled Australia to con tribute 20,000 and New Zealand 8000 men to the British army in the present war. South Africa, by calling out the home defense force, released 6000 im perial troops, suppressed the DeWet rebellion and Invaded German South west Africa. After two years' experi ence the Australasian colonies reached the conclusion, says the Times, "that national military service was a dis cipline beneficial to the race" and re gard It "as so self-evident as not to be worth discussing that the only possible way to secure either the numbers or the efficiency required for national - defense lies In the enforcement of the . duty of military training upon the whole 'body of citizens." The increase in cost of a military force enlarged on the lines suggested would not be nearly proportionate to the increased number of men. By shortening the term in the active army we should secure a much larger num ber of trained men at small additional . expense. Mr. Stimson, when Secre tary of War, showed that over $5,500,- . 000 a year could be saved by abolish ing useless army posts and concentrat ing the Army at brigade posts. This saving would help to pay the extra cost of maintaining the enlarged regu lar Army and the reserves. As regards expense, it Is not a question of mate rial increase in the total, but of spend ing the money where it will do the most good. Frequenters of theaters and restau rants where music is rendered will note a growing patriotism manifested by groups that rise when the "Star Spangled Banner" is played. The only difficulty is that so few of these patriots appear to know the National air when they hear It, and hence they arise at the wrong time. The spectacle of persons standing fervently through "Hail Columbia" and other airs is very common. As a matter of fact, it Is required that only the "Star Spangled Banner" should be received with, such homage, and this when played in its entirety rather than as a part of a medley. Learn the air, and heed it. To stand at the right time is a pretty display of patriotic spirit. To stand at the wrong time is merely a display of ignorance. WHY INDEED? If Villa authorized the killing of priests, the violation of nuns. If he ordered the rob bery and desecration of churches, if he has suppressed religion, the Journal, in common with all good citizens, deplores and condemns him. Does Father Black contend that Presi dent Wilson has done less? Does Father Black contend that President Wilson Is any thing else but shocked by these outrages? Portland Journal. Oh, no doubt, no doubt. He has been so deeply shocked that he has sought to bear the burden of his grief all alone (or with Secretary Bryan) and keep the knowledge of all Mexi can outrages and unfairness from the country. Else why the careful and systematic policy of suppression as to Mexico by the State Department? The President was shocked, too, at the supposed murder of Madero by Huerta, and said so. But has he de nounced Villa for his murders? Or has he encouraged Villa despite his murders? This also is from the Journal: It must be borne In mind that Mexico is not a province or a part of the "United States. It is an independent republic. Pres ident Wilson is not Its ruler. The Mexican people have a right to fight each other. We have no right to order them to stop their wars any more than they had a right to order us to stop our Civil War. Why, then, did President Wilson institute his ruinous policy of interna tional meddling by setting out to elimi nate Huerta? JOHN BCX.IS CONFIDENCE SHAKEN. The bombardment of English coast towns by German cruisers must have shocked the British nation from that sense of security from foreign attack In which it has reposed for many cen turies. Only once since the Norman conquest has a foreign foe landed on English soil, except when In time of civil strife one party called In foreign aid. That one exception occurred in 1798, when a small French force landed on the coast of Pembrokeshire and was captured. For nearly 900 years Great Britain has believed that no foreign ship could attack her coast, that no foreign army could land in her domain. , Now she is awakened. German cruisers have stolen across the sup posedly well-mined and well-guarded North Sea, under the sheLter of fog, and have shelled towns and killed or maimed scores, perhaps hundreds, of British subjects. The result may be a rush to arms, a boom in recruiting for Kitchener's army, abandonment of the football field for the camp. Per haps the press censor had that result in mind when he permitted the news to be published so promptly and so fully. He should know better than any man that only a sense of imminent danger will arouse the British masses to action or stir the sluggish British temper to anger,. THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION. The great Rockefeller Foundation has abandoned the policy of secrecy which it pursued for some time and has taken the public into its C4nfl dence. In a recent report it discloses both the amount of its wealth and the various sources. The Foundation now has an endowment of $103,930, 817, from which the current income is $5,500,000. It has found use for more than $6,000,000. In other words, the foundation is drawing upon the future a little. This it' is at perfect liberty to do, since the deed of gift allows the trustees to spend both Income and capital if they think best "for the well-being of man throughout the world." Just now the Foundation, has begun a world-wide investigation of the re lations between capital and labor which will require a long time and cost much money. It will look par ticularly into the affairs of the Col orado mines, where Mr. Rockefeller Is Interested as an absentee landlord. Some have thought that he might have saved himself and the country a good deal of trouble if he had taken a little personal interest in those pos sessions of his and In the men who worked there. MAKE OUR IIOLD PERMANENT. Several South American writers in the World's Wori-for December, which Is devoted exclusively to the effects of the war on trade with the southern continent, call attention of Americans to certain conditions with which we must comply in order to make perma nent whatever additions to our trade are made during the war. The Peruvian Minister says he has had numerous inquiries from Ameri cans to this general effect: "How can we increase our trade with you?" and he remarks: There Is no consideration shown to our countries; there is not a single word about "How can we establish closer relations be tween you and us? How can we facilitate your interests? How can we do things for you that will also benefit us?" But it is al ways one sided. Under the abnormal conditions cre ated by the war we may be able to increase our exports to Peru without materially Increasing our Imports thence, but such an Increase would be unnatural and only temporary. The opportunity to buy from a country to which she could also sell would no sooner he restored than Peru would, abandon the one-sided relations with us and begin trade wtih that country. Foreign commerce is essentially recip rocal because both countries pre fer it so and because it can be con ducted more economically under those conditions. A ship taking American good3 to Peru must earn a higher freight rate it she returns in ballast than if she! brings a return cargo. The cost of our goods to Peru would there by be enhanced and the competing nation, which buys as well as sells, would take the business away from us. The war has made as imperative a necessity for the South American countries to find a market for their products as to find new sources of supply. The Minister from 'Bolivia, for example, writes that the exports of his country went principally to England, Germany and France; that "everything was prosperous, the out put of the mines increasing and gen eral conditions favorable" when the war struck paralysis into the business of his country. Bolivia wants a mar ket for those exports which formerly went to Europe, and, unless we supply that market, Bolivia will be neither willing nor able to buy much from us. Another point is made by the Pa ruvian Minister, who says: Tou must not delude yourselves in the belief that this is to be a permanent trade. Remember that trade follows the loan and that Europe has many millions invested in those countries, and do not lose sight of the fact that the whole life of the people of those nations Is more Interwoven Into the European life than into yours, with which they have little In common. After describing the opportunity opened by the war for both continents to expand their trade and predicting n appreciable Increase in our traie with South Amerii a in consequeuco, he warns us that "when normal condi tions are re-established In Europe, those countries will regain their pre eminent position in those markets." He then tells us that what Europe did for us and is now doing for the east coast of South America by furnishing capital for development, the United States should now do for the west coast of South America. He says that Peru's principal trade should be with the United States; that Peru's raw ma terials should be shipped to the United States instead of to Europe and re turned as manufactured articles; and that the United States should supply capital and men for Peru's develop ment. It is thus apparent that we are en tering upon no light task if we wish to increase our trade with South Amer ica permanently. We must not only sell but buy there. In order to retain our hold on the market, we must ob tain control of existing enterprises by buying control of their stock and we must provide capital for new enter prises. By thus taking a leaf out of Europe's book we can beat Europe In the game of competition for South American commerce. JEFFERSON DAVIS AGAIN. Some little Incredulity has been ex cited among readers of The Oregonian by certain statements published In a recent editorial on Jefferson Davis. Naturally the statements were not made without authority and one gen tleman demands rather peremptorily what It was? The article in question was based upon William E. Dodd's "Statesmen of the Old South," a book which is obtainable at the public library. . Mr. Dodd is professor of American history at the University of Chicago and Is an acknowledged au thority In his subject. We shall quote from his interesting work to answer the questions asked by our corre spondents, f The first is, "What is your authority for saying that Seward was a slave holder?" On this point Professor Dodd says, "Davis knew that Seward was himself the owner of slaves and he had never held him a sincere man. Seward despised Lincoln, though he consented to sit in the new Cabinet," and so on. This is from page 231. The same correspondent questions our statement that Davis shunned the thought of war up to the last moment, but there seems to be no doubt about It. Professor Dodd refers to a letter which Davis published in the Charles ton Mercury for November 10, 1860, "declaring against secession." This happened after Lincoln's election was certain. He goes on to say that Davis again opposed secession at a meeting of the Mississippi Congressional dele gation in the following December, add ing that he "was absolutely sincere in his desire to avert war, and when he had been made President of the Con federacy he exhausted every resource to bring about a peaceful settlement and even attempted a reconstruction of the Union." Another question refers to the friendship between Davis and Presi dent Pierce. As to thi3, Professor Dodd says, "Franklin " Pierce was a personal - friend of Davis and Caleb Cushing, who was a still closer friend, was also very close to the President elect. Cushing and Pierce talked over Southern men and Davis was their choice." This was, of course, subse quent to the Mexican War. Davis exerted his influence upon that war while he was chairman of the Senate committee on military affairs. MR. GARRISON ON PREPAREDNESS. The attention of those persons who imagine that any Increase of our. Na tional defense is unnecessary, and that those who advocate such an increase are either unreasoning alarmists or are inspired by desire to embark the American Nation on a career of mili tarism, is called to the excerpts from the annual report of Secretary of War Garrison, which are published In an other column of this page. No person who dispassionately reads Mr. Garri son's words can fairly accuse him of advocating militarism as it is common ly understood and as he correctly de fines it. Nor can any person who has a true conception of the meaning of current events question the truth of what he says about the duty of this Nation to be ready to defend itself. There Is a marked contrast between Mr. Garrison's calm, clear statement of the case and the halting, half-apologetic utterances of President Wilson In his annual message. Mr. Garrison expresses his deliberate convictions with firmness and without equivoca tion. Mr. Wilson admits his duty with evident unwillingness and as though he would act only against his convic tions and under protest. On a ques tion whereon may hang the National existence at no distant day it is not difficult to decide who would be the better guide. AN INDEPENDENT JEWISH STATE. Looking forward to the partition of the Turkish Empire as a result of the war, many advocates of the restora tion of the Jews as a self-governing nation in Palestine indulge hope that their dream is about to be realized. These hopes are based on expectation that Germany and her allies will be defeated and that the policy of the victors will coincide with the hopes of Jewish nationalists. Great Britain is said to desire the erection of a neutral state in Syria as a bulwark against invasion of Egypt from the northeast. Russia is said to desire a solution of her Jewish problem by providing the Jews with a country of their own. If she should make Poland an autonomous kingdom under the Czar's sovereignty, the large Jewish population of that country would be an embarrassment, of which she could rid herself by encouraging the Polish Jews to emigrate to-a coun try of their own. The greatest obstacle to establish ment of a Jewish state might arise among the Jews themselves. The strict Zionists would be content with noth ing short of restoration of the an cient theocratic state. This would not please those Jews who prefer a gov ernment divorced from religion, nor the Christians to whom Palestine is hallowed ground, nor. the large num ber of Moslems who might wish to remain in the country, but who would not submit to or help to support a government identified with an alien faith. These discordant elements would Insist on a purely political gov ernment under which all. religions would enjoy equality. Many Zionists have broken away so completely from the idea of re-establishing the old ro-liglo-polltical state in its original home that they are willing to establish an Independent Jewish state In any other part of the world, simply as a refuge from .persecution and as a rallying polnt for Jewish nationalism. Were a Jewish state, actually cre ated, we should see how far toleration in nearly all countries has succeeded in changing the Jews from a nation into a religious denomination by as similating them with the people among whom they. live. The rehabilitation of the maligned English sparrow goes on apace. We learned of his suffering meekness long ago. He is almost Teutonically pa tient under imposition. Now comes the flattering news that he is the long sought farmer's friend. A sparrow's crop recently examined contained weevils, army worms and dozens of other pests. In the end virtue is sure to be praised, even if It has to die to establish its reputation. "On that day of desolation, lady, I was captive made, bleeding for my Christian nation by the walls of high Belgrade." That was in the old Turk ish wars when Belgrade was the out post of Europe. Now two Christian nations are fighting over it and the Turks look on with complacent smiles thinking how superior the Koran is to some other books they could mention. There is talk of building a great automobile road from Chicago to Florida's coral strand and big hotels. Motor travel from the lake region to the land of flowers has become heavy of late years and it follows many routes, none of them ideal. One good through road taking in the prin cipal points of Interest on the way Is what the motorists clamor for. Critics say that of all peoples on earth "Americans have the least agree able sneaking voice." Teachers of English have appointed a committee to help ua down from that bad emi nence. When they are through with us perhaps our speech will be some thing better than the "daub of unap plied tone" which one expert calls it. It is now charged that the Navy cannot provide full guarantees for the protection of the Canal. Indeed not. A couple of squads might take it from the flanks or an aeroplane might de stroy the locks with a few well di rected missiles. As a last resort, after having issued several more final warnings which are not being heeded, President Wilson is sending General Scott to ask the Mex ican factions at Naco if they will not please be good. In the East they are being frozen to death now, whereas a few weeks ago the heat was doing the killing. Once again let us be grateful that we are comfortably domiciled in Oregon. Admiral von Spee is said to have ex pressed the wish before leaving Ger many that he would meet many Eng lishmen at the bottom of the sea. Well, he's there. Reading the naval news the ghost of John Paul Jones smiles reminlscently and appreciatively. "That reminds me," says he to the shades, "of a little incident." Where is the old-fashioned man who came down town in cold weather with a tippet around his neck and a Santa Claus glow on his cheeks? If the Administration hadn't tem porized with the Mexicans month af ter month perhaps American warnings might carry some weight. Retrenchment may be necessary, but this is a poor time to discharge- the city laborer, who in days of prosperity does not get much pay. Designating fire-alarm boxes by arc lights Is a good idea; but every householder should know the location of "his" box. Just how to elevate the colored race is now a matter of great concern. Ele vator service will have something of the desired effect. When the- suffering little1- Belgians have licked the color off the toys from America they will be ready for sub stantial food. After going thus far we shall expect the Administration to do something besides stall and bluster at Naco this time. Secretary Garrison shows an amaz ing capacity for his position, despite his party and official associations. It is a long time since Portland had a movement toward telling the con ductor to "keep the change." Wilson's interest in the negro is like that of the man "awful Borry," but who does not help matters. More heads of families are out of employment than in many years. So get busy and help out. The allies say they will run the Ger mans out of Belgium. They are wel come to the job. Reinforcements for the border sounds very much like stalling for time. . But think what would happen to our own coast line In event of war. It was more like May than Decem ber in Portland yesterday. British dreams of a ravaged coast line have come true. There are -a good many big dogs after the Dresden. The German sally is meant to, keep Britain guessing. Those German shells hammered British tradition. . About four inches of snow would be proper just now. Servia is not big, but she has driven out the Invader. Where is the French fleet in all this ruction? The aristocratic dog is known by his blanket. Is the auto well blanketed these cold nights? Do something for someone and do It now. The Easd wid is doig its worst. Seasonable Reflections By Deaa Collins. Oh, green lie the meadows and. valleys. And tenderly blue is-the sky; His legions the buttercup rallies; The lark carols down from on high; Pink-tipped are the hillsides with clo ver. And blossoms with honey brim over; And mellow and sweet is the year. Perhaps in Australia not here. The sun smites the grass Into spring ing; And rich grow the blades of the corn; Full-throated the robins are singing; The blossom is white on the thorn; Mankind is awake to its gladness, Hearts beat to the mid-Summer mad ness, 'TIS the crest of the wave of the year. In Borneo, maybe not here. The scythes in the long grass are swishing; The blackbirds do clink on the rail; The light-hearted laddies go fishing; And lightly the white swallows sail; The world seems the tint of mid-Summer; Men chortle, "This life is a hummer"; And red blows the rose far and near. Perhaps in Hawaii not here. Bright blazes the sun through the case ment, Perhaps in Manila but here The mercury scoots for the basement. And we hang a big muff on our ear; '"Tie mid-Summer, mid-Summer," gaily The birds down in Chile sing daily; But with the nose turning blue and forlorn, I steal down the stairway discreetly. While the ice on the faucet hangs , . neatly, And crank up the furnace each morn. WAS SEWARD A SLAVEHOLDER! Statement la Called In Question by Van couver Man. VANCOUVER, Wash., Dec 14. (To the Editor.) The Oregonian today con tains an excellent article on "Jefferson Davis and Secession," which was of es pecial interest because of late years the resplendent military figure of General Lee has cast a shadow over the civil leader of the Southern Confederacy. And the artrcle was all the more praiseworthy because, it seems to me, a clearer insight into the real meaning of any important movement can be ob tained by studying the characters and careers of the civil leaders rather than Its merely military figures. By some the case of George Washington might be considered an, exception to this rule, but it should be remembered that Washington was both a civil and mili tary leader. But the following sentence in the above-mentioned article reads extreme ly strange and startling: "Seward de spised the new President (Lincoln) and was himself a slaveholder." William H. Seward, that persuasive and magnetic statesman, the early and gallant leader of the ardent anti-slavery Republicans, a slaveholder! Surely this,must be a mistake, an unguarded slip of the pen. A less startling statement was the fol lowing: "When Pierce became ' Presi dent he made Davis, an old friend of his. Secretary of War. The ambitious Southerner thus enjoyed the privilege of planning the final Mexican cam paigns and reaped the renown of a suc cessful, aggressive war." This is seem, ingly contradicted by the well-known fact that Pierce did not become Presi dent until 1853, four years after the Mexican campaigns. But while these Inadvertent inaccurracies should be noted and corrected it would be un generous to omit stating that. In my opinion, the article mentioned is most intelligently and thoughtfully written and will be found worthy of commenda tion and thoughtful reading by students of American history. GLENN N. RANCK. WAR HAS ITS QUEER PARADOXES Destructive Areata Have Been Devel oped to Knd Widespread Destruction. Ohio State Journal. It was thought by Alfred Nobel, the originator of the Nobel peace prize, that if war was made shockingly destructive it might arouse the world against it. And so, it is said, he discovered dyna mite and sought by that to make war deplorably cruel, and, therefore, un popular. This is what the papers say, and they say further that Mr. Nobel is Interested in several factories that pro duce terrible explosives, and that the money paid for peace triumphs comes from the manufacture of explosives. And it is further eaid that the dynamite venture inspired Baroness Von Suttner to write her book, "Lay .Down Tour Arms," which inspired the Czar of Rus sia to call the first Hague conference. How all these strange events hang together! One can hardly believe the report. And yet If one could trace all the good that evil encourages he would be astonished. Religion, charity, art, public advancement, receive much of their support from vice, intemperance and crime. It would be a fine sociologi cal problem to find out how much of the good of this world is done by the evil. Let some one solve the problem and see how much the right depends upon the wrong how much war is dis couraged by making explosives profit able. " Seward on tlie Slaves. SALEM, Or., Dec. 14. (To the Edi tor.) In an editorial on Jefferson Davis, published yesterday, you say: "Seward despised the new President and was himself a slaveholder." What is your authority for saying that Sew ard was a slaveholder? I remember well the campaign of 1861, and was a Seward man up to and at the time of the convention which nominated Abra ham Lincoln, which I certainly would not have been if there had been even the smell of slavery upon his garments. You also say: "Up to the last moment he (Davis) shunned the thought of war." Be that as it may. I remember well of reading the report of a speech made by Jefferson Davis in response to a serenade given him at the .St. Charles Hotel in the city of New Orleans soon after Lincoln's election. In which he said in substance that there would be no war as the North would not fight, and if it did he could take 50.000 South ern troops and march from the Gulf to the Lakes. D. WEBSTER. Department of "Hot Staff. Philadelphia Record. -In some parts of the Canadian back country the recurrence of boiled sal mon, broiled salmon, falmon cutlets and salmon steak at every meal be comes, after a few weeks, a trifle monotonous. To the native palate, brought up on it, tnls constant reap pearance of the eel f-aame dish is a matter of course; but to tho newly arrived tourist it grows at last into a feeble joke. "Is there nothing else for breakfast?" said one such victim of Colonial hospi tality, as a whole fish and a pot of mustard were laid before him on the table. "Nothing else!" replied the host In surprise. "Why. there's salmon enough there for six. ain't there?" "Yes," responded the guest, mildly; "but I don't care for saimon." "Well, then fire into the mustard," was the rejoinder. Who Can Anawer This? PORTLAND. Dec. 16. (To the Edi tor.) I would like to know whether there were any Chinese in Oregon prior to 1850. Also when were the first Chinese in Northern Oregon. Surely some pioneer remembers this or has letters or papers that will give the in formation. I have tried every available source of information without success. A. H. BURTON. WHY WB SHOULD BE PREPARED Secretary Garrison Lays Down Princi ples Governing National Defense. It would be premature to attempt now to draw the ultimate lessons from the war in Europe. It is an .Imperative duty to heed so much of what it brings home to us as is incontrovertible and not to be changed by any event, leav- i lng for later and more detailed or com- I prehensive consideration what its later development and final conclusions may Indicate. It is of course not necessary to dwell on the blessings of peace and the hor rors of war. Everyone desires peace Just as everyone desires health, con tentment, affection, sufficient means for comfortable existence and other similarly beneficent things. But peace and the other states of being just men tioned are not always or even often solely within one's own control. Those who are thoughtful and have courage to face the facts of life take lessons from experience and strive by wise conduct to. attain the desirable things and by prevision and precau tion to protect and defend them when obtained. It may truthfully be said that eternal vigilance is the price which must be paid in order to obtain the de sirable things of life and to defend them. No reasonable person In this country today has the slightest shadow of fear of military despotism, nor any interfer ence whatever by military force in the conduct of civil affairs. The military and the civil are just as completely and permanently separated In this country as the church and state are. The sub jection of the military to the civil is settled and unchangeable. It is perfectly apparent to anyone who approaches the matter with an un prejudiced mind that what constitutes undesirable militarism as distinguished from a proper and adequate prepara tion of .the military resources of the nation depends upon the position In which each nation finds Itself and var ies with every nation and with differ ent conditions of each nation at differ ent times. Every nation must have an adequate force to protect itself from domestlo insurrections, to enforce its laws, and to repel invasions. That Is, every na tion that has similar characteristics to those of a self-respecting man. If it prepares and maintains more military force than necessary for the purposes just named, then it is subject to the conviction in the public opinion of the world of having embraced mili tarism unless It intends aggression for a cause which the public opinion of the world conceives to be a righteous one. To the extent, however, that it con fines its military preparedness to the purposes first mentioned, there is neither warrant nor justification in characterizing such action as "militar ism." Those who would thus characterize it do so because they have reached the conclusion that a nation today can properly dispense with a prepared mili tary force, and therefore they apply the word to aay preparation or organiza tion of the military resources of the nation. Not being able to conceive how a reasonable, prudent, patriotic man can reach such a conclusion, I cannot 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 manifest 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 conclusion 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 ab solutely essential under existing condi tions, the question of whether more ex tensive preparation for the purpose of avoiding war would have. that effect or not is futile. Unless this nation has reached the conclusion that it has no need for the preparation of its military resources for the purposes I have above enumer ated, then we must earnestly address ourselves to the question of such prop er preparation. I have reached no such conclusion, and in fact am of the firm conviction that no reasonable, prudent man who faces facts could reach such a conclusion. Unless and until the Con gress of the United States, representing the people of .the country, places on record the conclusion of the people to the contrary,- my duty Is to set forth the facts and the necessities growing out of the facts, and suggestions as to the ways and means of fulfilling such necessities. Whatever the future may hold in the way of agreements between nations, followed by actual disarmament there of, of International courts of arbitra tion, and other greatly-to-be-desired measures to lessen or prevent conflict between nation and nation, we all know that at present these conditions are not existing. We can and will eagerly adapt ourselves to each ben eficlent development along these lines; but to merely enfeeble ourselves in the meantime would, in my view, be un thinkable folly. By neglecting and re fusing to provide ourselves with the necessary means of self-protection and self-defense we could not hasten or In any way favorably influence the ulti mate results we desire in these re spects. When one has reached the conclusion, as I have, that a minimum of military preparedness is essential, the question of its cost is secondary and cannot be permitted to be the determining factor. No citizen will or can aroperly object to the expenditure of money for vital national purposes. ROOSEVELT'S STAND IS INDORSED Criticism of Weak Wllaon Mexican Policy Lauded at Banquet. LA GRANDE, Or., Dec. 15. (Spe cial.) At a banquet held in Pendleton last Sunday night, after an initiation held by the Knights of Columbus and at which there was an attendance of about 200 men and 100 ladies, the Mex ican situation was touched on by one of the speakers and the sentiment was so strong that it caused a petition to be drawn up ond signed by every per son present, to be forwarded to Mr. Roosevelt, indorsing the manly stand that he has taken in the making public of the barbarous outrages committed by the outlaws in Mexico who are now trying to control the destinies of that country against all the rules of Chris tianity and humanity. The petition follows: Baker, Or.. Dec 13., 1914. We, the under signed, priests and laymen of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker City, Oregon, de sire to voice our sentiments of appreciation and gratitude for the noble stand taken by you before the whole American people in the cauee of civil and religious liberty. In favor of the persecuted and maligned catholic priests, nuns and' laity of Mexico, In your open letter on the situation as set forth In press dispatches of recent date. Your strong words have done an Im mense service to the causa of truth and jus tice by unmistakably voting the attention ot our - whole peoplo on the outrages perpe trated and being still perpetrated In that faction-rent country. "We thank God that America has such a manly and right-loving; statesman to admin ister stem and merited rebuke to Villa, Carransa and all such self-appointed perse cutors of our faith and to fix responsibility for the beginning and tho continuance of tliose crimes where it riphtly belongs. . CHAS. J. O'REILLY, Bishop of Baker City. (Here follow signatures of about 300 men and. 10o women.) Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian, December 15, 1S89. M. B. Leavltt, lessee of the Bush street theater, has arrived at San Fran cisco from New York and will leave soon for Portland to arrange for the production of "The Spider and Fly." New York The Brotherhood baseball players are gleeful tonight because of a legal opinion just rendered to them by David M. Newburger upon the valid ity of the reserve clause in the con tracts. The ruling is that the reserve clause is invalid. Miss Mattie Kelly gave a delightful party at her home. 404 Fifth street, last Thursday night. Miss Emma Hack ney and Miss Kate Cason entertained with vocal solos and Misses Stella Kel logg. Grace Sweeney. Maggie and Josie "Kohler and Mattie Kelley were heard in some delightful instrumental selec tions. Mrs. S. M". Kelty, of Lafayette, "who has been visiting relatives in this city and East Portland during the week, re turned to her home yesterday. Miss Emma Davidson, of Cathlamet, Wash., has been visiting Mrs. U. B. Scott, wife of Captain Scott, of East Portland, for a few days. A. L. Mills, of Colfax, Wash, is vis iting in this city for a few days. Mrs. W. A. Cuslck, of Salem, accom panied by her daughter. Miss Ethel, spent part of the week visiting in the city. Stuart Gordon leaves this morning for Toronto, where he will wed Miss Grace Armour, daughter of Chief Jus tice Armour, of the Province of Onta rio. The wedding will take place on New Year's afternoon, after which the couple will leave immediately for Post land. At the eighth annual meeting of t!fe Arlington Club the following officers were elected: D. P. Thompson, presi dent; W. S. Gibson, first vice-president; Theodore B. Wilcox, second vice-president; F. Alleyn Beck, secretary; George Good, treasurer, and C. H. Prescott, Frederick Townsend, Henry Failing, D. D. Oliphant and John Kelly, directors. Horace E. Gibbs, convicted of murder in the second degree for the killing of Young McDevItt. was sentenced to im prisonment for life in the penitentiary I at Salem Saturday. District Attorney McGinn had previously been informed by counsel for defense that no new trial would be asked for. The father of Gibbs is ex-Judge Gibbs, of Little Rock, Ark. Tomorrow night he has kindly con sented to address the colored as well as the white citizens of Portland at the A. M. E. Zion Church on "The Past, the Present and Future of the Negro in America." Judge Gibbs Is one of the leading colored men of the" country. Judge Gibbs spoke in court yesterday at the sentencing of his son, saying he sympathized with the. elder McDevitt, but that he was sure his son had no intent to kill. . Half a Century Ago From the Oregonian Dec 18. 1864. A drove of prize cattle for the Christ mas market were creating considerable attention at the east landing of the Stark-street ferry yesterday, when they several times stampeded, swain Into the river about the boat, etc., be fore they were secured on board. They were fine stock for beef. A man applied at & Chlnest wash house on Alder street yesterday for clean linen or vengeance. Falling to obtain the former, he started upon the work of demolition of the premises. His conduct attracted the attention of the police and Officer Saunders ar rested him. - He was so violent that It became necessary to put him iu irons. Paris. Dec. 12. The government of the Confederate States has called under arms all able-bodied citizens from 16 to 60. It is difficult to decide what such a steD most proves, the heroism of the South or its exhaustion. It must conauer or die. A communication declining the posi tion conferred upon him as Council man of the Third ward was received from W. S. Ladd at the last meeting of the Citv Council last night- The communication was accepted. An attemot to set fire to the Pioneer Hotel block was made by unknown persons at an early hour yesterday morning. There Is no doubt that the intent of the Incendiaries was to plunder the buildinars. The fire ocr curred in the readine-room of the Pio neer Exchange saloon. On Saturday evening Miss Julia Morgan will take a benelit at the Wil lamette Theater. It will be the last appearance of this popular troupe in Portland. W. C. Morgan will walk the rope, head down, from the stage to the too of the dress circle. A. B. Stewart and other hunters of the city propose to devote a few days to the killing of game for use at the Christian Commission Fair next week. The wires being down between Salem and Oregon City will account for there being no telegraphic news in our columns this morning. J. L. Gumbinner, Front street, ad vertises that he will sell his entire stock at San Francisco cost price. An ordinance appropriating ?600 for the purchase of a new truck for the hook and ladder company passed ot the meeting of the Common Council last night. Menaage for the Waiting; World. Washington (D. C.) Star. "I think," said Senator Sorghum, "that I will go upon the lecture plat form." "Have you a message for the world?" "yes. I've got the message, all right. But I can't satisfy myself whether it is marked 'collect.' " Questioning Her Lover. Ladies Home Journal. Lucille Karl, I want to ask you one question. Karl Why, what Is it, sweetheart? Luclle Karl, if you had never met me, would you have loved me just the game? Yes. niatnt the Stenographer. Philadelphia Ledger. "How do you know that Chaucer dic tated his old English to a stenogra pher?" "Ixok at the way It's spelled. "You Can See It At " When people begin telling each other what they can see at your store you are on the way to suc cess. Here is one way to get them to do it LINK YOUR STORE WITH THK NEWS., When a manufacturer advertises his product in this paper IT IS f-ffiws. People will want to see it and will talk about it. Put the goods In your window. Let the people know where they can see them and you will be sur prised how quickly you get the rep utation for being one of the city's live storekeepers.