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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1914)
TIIE MORNIXG OREGOXIAX, FRIDAY. DECEMBER 18. 1914. PORTLAND, OBEGON. Sntered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce as second-class matter. Subscription Bales Invarlablr In Advance: (By Mall.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year f 8.00 Daily, Sunday Included, six months ..... 4.25 Daily. Sunday Included, three months ... 2.25 pally. Sunday Included, one month. ..... ,75 Pally, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Daily, without Sunday, six months 8.r Pally, without Sunday, three months ... l."5 Pally, without Sunday, one month W Weekly, one year . 1.00 Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and Weekly, one year -6U (By Carrier.) Pally. Eunday Included, one year i......$8.00 Paily, Sunday Included, one month ...... .75 Haw to Remit Send Postofflce money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk, (jive postofflce address In lull. Including county and state. Postage Bates 18 to 18 paces, 1 cent; 18 to j2 pases. 2 cents; 84 to 48 pages, 3 cents; fio to 60 page. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents: 78 to U2 paces, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Kasterm Business Office Verree ft Conk lin. Jiew York. Brunswick building; Chi cago, Eteorar building. Das Francisco Office R. X Bldwell Com pany, 742 Market street. PORTLAND, FRIDAY, PEC. IB., 1914. HISTORIAN AGAINST PIU5SIDE5.T. Woodrow Wilson, the) historian, la quoted by Courtlandt Nicoll in a let ter to the New York Tribune to prove the utter inadequacy of the provisions for National defense proposed by .Woodrow Wilson, the President. Mr. -Nicoii snows plainly Dy quotations from Mr. Wilson's "History of the American People" the effects of pur suing the policy President Wilson now advocates in the War of 1812, the Mex ican War, the Civil War and the Span ish War. He quotes these two passages from Mr. Wilson's recent message, as ex pressing the President's opinion of military preparedness: And what is It that it is suggested re should be prepared to do? To defend our selves against attack? We have always tound means to do that, and shall find them whenever it is necessary, without calling our people away from their necessary tasks to render compulsory military service in times of peace. If aBked, "Are you ready to defend your selves?" we reply. "Most assuredly, to the utmost"; and yet we shall not turn America Into a military camp. Pet us remind ourselves, therefore, of the only thing we can do or will do. We must depend iu every time of National peril in the future as in the past, not upon a stand ing army, nor yet upon a reserve .army, but upon a citizenry trained and accustomed to arms. . Historian Wilson is then quoted as telling how President Madison loved peace and strove to avert war in 1812, while, American ships were being seized and confiscated, and as saying: Madison did not want war. The United States were not strong enough particularly now that the party in power had disbanded its Army and Navy and reduced its revenues to a minimum. The President's principles clearly forbade war, besides. He wished to fight with the weapons of nominal peace embargoes and statutory restrictions (p. 207). Of the declaration of war in that year the historian said: "It was a foolhardy and reckless risk that Con gress ; was taking," and he thus de scribed the Nation's unreadiness: The course of war did little to Improve matters. The Government had neither the means nor the organization to conduct it. The President was authorized to increase the Regular Army from 6000 to 25,000 men and to call for 60,000 volunteers and to employ 100,000 from the militia of the states. .But volunteers were not to be had for the ask ing, and officers were even harder to get than men p. 219). On the coasts, English fleets swarmed thicker and thicker, until almost every port as effectually closed. Finding no opposing force to attack, their crews made frequent descents unon the defenceless settlements. -which they burned and plundered (p. 2-0). Air. Wilson said that not until two years after the declaration of war had we managed to collect an army "trained by the hard process of war itself, which from that time on to the conclusion of peace in the following year gave an excellent account of it self." Of the Mexican war the historian said that war was declared on May 13, 1846, but that: "Until Autumn all things stood as they were between the belligerents while an army was made ready." He said that for the first year the Civil War "lingered and was desul tory," for "a year was needed to sup ply administrative means and make men and methods ready on the one side as on the other." Of the Spanish War the same his- 'torian said: It was a war of impulse, as anyone might see who noted how unprepared the country was for what it had suddenly undertaken. The TtAfula. A ,-rvi 1- r . i ....... . -. . ...numbered about 28,000 officers and men. It fell to volunteers as much as to regulars to assume the burdens of .the field, as in the war for the Union and the war against Mexico, fifty years ago. The Regular Army was increased to more than 42,000 before the month of May was out; but the new men were, of course, mere recruits and the volun teers mustered faster than the regulars (voL v, p. 270). He told of the miserable confusion and blundering at Tampa and in Cuba, which, he said, was "stupid and irri tating" at Tampa, but was "deeply Those wars were fought, those blun ders made, by a people which relied, as Mr. Wilson urges us to rely now, "not upon a standing army, nor yet upon a reserve army, but upon a citi zenry trained and accustomed to arms." It is true, as President Wilson says, that "we have always found means to defend ourselves," but what a price we have paid for our unreadi ness.. In the war of 1812 we suffered two years of disaster and the humilia tion of the burning of Washington before we got ready. In the Mexican and Spanish wars we owed our im munity from disaster to the greater unreadiness of our foe, not to our own It is not to be expected that anv modern military nation will conduct . campaigns for two years in such man ner as chiefly to train our raw levies for war by war, as In 1812, nor that .we can declare war in May and begin it at our leisure In the Fall, as with Mexico. Every army engaged in the present war was ready to fight at the word "go," and so must we be if we , hope to hold our own against any pos sible enemy. Our "citizenry" must not merely be "trained and accustomed to , arms," but must be trained, organized and equipped as armies, In order that we, with many times Belgium's re- - sources, may not share the fate of xt:igium. GRASPING BASEBALL MAYERS. The Issue between Jack Coombs and the Philadelphia American League baseball club is typical and significant in the circles of the National game A few years ago, to quote a contem porary, Coombs was "an Important young man with a salary-earning abil ity In his pitching arm." He has now lost that ability from an accident and he Is summarily "released" without even a loanK you. As far as the league authorities are concerned their relation with the play ers is one purely of money. While a man makes profit for them they keep him. When his earning power ceases they scrap him remorselessly, as Jack Coombs knows to his sorrow. And yet the baseball magnates are howling dolefully because the players have be gun to exhibit "a sordid and grasping spirit." Are they not excusable for trying to lay by a little while they have the chance? For every one of them the evil days are not far off when there will no longer be anything to grasp. MOKE WITLESS WAITING. Colonel Goethals, Governor of the Panama Canal zone, cables a peremp tory request for two torpedo-boat de stroyers; but the Administration fid dles, fidgets and fudges, and wants to know what dreadful thing the Gov ernor intends to do with them. He replies that the neutrality of the canal zone is being violated and he desires to enforce it. . Dear, dear! Here is another violent man of war proposing to use the in strumentalities of force to uphold the dignity and protect the sovereignty of the United States. Colonel Goethals, being trained to arms and having mas tered the vocabulary of . physical power, will surely use those torpedo boats to get the Administration into trouble with some foreign power. The real way to avoid international com plication's according to the President is to do nothing but talk and ham string and red tape any temerarious official who seems willing to do any thing else. The Panama incident is illustrative of the timidity, vacillation and un certainty of the President and his advisers. We have a Navy, but it is not to be used. We have an Army, but it must not fire back. Why doesn't the Administration send the torpedo-boats, or the cruisers, and inquire afterwards what th"ey are to be used for? Isn't there time, while they are on their way, to get a report from Colonel Goethals? FOR A MEMORY TEST. Now that those admiring citizens who are awed by the President's vast literary genius have had eight or nine days to digest his latest message to Congress, it may be well enough to inquire of them what he said. He announced, to be sure, that the brass oand campaign- against Big Business was over, and that there ought to be a merchant marine, under Government ownership. But what else? What else than easy words, percolating through hazy or well-concealed thoughts and complaisant common places? What else but a distinct and impressive failure to discuss the things really in the public mind? If the President has a foreign pol icy, he kept it to himself. If he has any new excuse for his turn-and-run Mexico policy, or any explanation for the Vera Cruz fiasco, he thoughjt the time not opportune to make it. If he has a peace programme, it is buried in the innermost recesses of his most secret thoughts or Secre tary Bryan's. If he has an explanation of the de ficiency tax, euphemistically called a war tax, what is it? If the Government is headed toward bankruptcy through falling off in revenues and rise in expenditures, or toward opulence and a Treasury sur plus through increase of Income, what did he have to say about it? -If he has a plan for economy in public administration, what is it? If he proposes to give Colombia $25,000,000 as a solatium - for the "theft" of Panama, where did he avow it? If he approves the Bryan scheme of giving $3,000,000 to Nicaragua, why did he not say so? Who knows what he really meant about military preparedness when he' talked vaguely about a "citizenry trained to arms"? In the old days, a message reviewed results and defined policies. .Now it is a new style of stump Epeech. PR. M.iVO AND CANCER. Dr. William J. Mayo, the Minnesota surgeon whose renown is world-wide, spoko on 'cancer before the Chicago University Club the other day. His remarks were reported in the Tribune. At .the outset of his speech Dr. Mayo classed cancer with syphilis and tu berculosis as "one of the three great plagues of mankind." They are the great physical plagues. Disciples of the New Thoughfe might say, perhaps, that they arethjfe Jpodily expressions of three greater .wchological plagues, vice, poverty and ignorance. According to Dr. Mayo, the facts of the mortality from cancer have not been exaggerated, though probably the disease is no more prevalent now than in former ages. It is so much a dis ease of later life that it is compara tively rare among savages who do not commonly live to be very old. That is all the difference. One man in every thirteen of those now on earth may expect to die of cancer and one woman in every seven. The chances of being stricken are therefore heavy for any person no matter who he may be or how hygienically he may live. Nobody knows what causes cancers. Dr. Mayo does not believethat lo cality has anything to do with their occurrence. Formerljr it was sup posed that the disease was unusually common in parts of New Tork and rare in Minnesota, but investigation has shown that this is nothing but a popular superstition. In the long run cancer is just as common in one place as another. Nor is it contagious. The stories of cancers running through families from parent to child and so on are pure fiction. Nothing of the kind happens. Dr. Mayo goes so far as to say that a person's chances of escaping cancer are a little better than the average if he lives in a house with somebody that has the disease. From the humanitarian standpoint this Is encouraging, since it makes for better attention to the afflicted. Fear sometimes makes woeful work with family affection. It Is also en couraging to learn from Dr. Mayo's remarks, that cancer is not hereditary. On the other hand certain occupations are undoubtedly promotive of cancers. In this baleful group fall those trades which entail habitual irritation at some point of the body. Dr. Mayo mentions that workers in pitch and coal tar are exceptionally exposed to the danger of cancer for this reason. The one cause of cancer thus far definitely ascertained is local irrita tion. This Is the reason why smokers of clay pipes so often have cancer of the lips. Cigarette smokers run the same risk. "As soon as a tobacco user feels his beloved drug burning his Hps and tongue," says Dr. Mayo, "it Is time for him to look out." The irri tation of gallstones is also a frequent cause of the disease and no doubt the enormous prevalence of cancer of the stomach may be traced to the same source. Perhaps 35 per cent of all cancers are in the stomach. The ray of hope in this mass of misery is the fact that cancer is easily curable if it is taken in time. Dr. Mayo repeats the advice that cannot be reiterated too often, "Go to your physician as soon as you discover any sign of irritation about warts, moles, tumors and injuries however slight which fail to heal promptly." From all these sources cancers may grow. The sure and cer tain remedy is the surgeon's knife, of which nobody should be afraid. PROFESSOR SMITH'S QUESTIONS. Not long ago The Oregonian pub lished a set of geography questions which were originally printed In the Springfield Republican. Our comment upon them was not altogether lauda tory. We ventured to say that the questions were, upon the whole, rather poor ones. The matter has won some attention from the professor of geol ogy at Eugene who today contributes a letter to The Oregonian upon it." In his opinion our disparagement of the Republican's questions was warranted and he submits a set of his own which come up to-a higher standard. Geog raphy is just about worthless as a school study, unless it trains other fac ulties besides the verbal memory, which can be developed far better by learning good poetry and prose than by poring over senseless, maps. We mean that the maps are senseless to the ordinary school child. Some of Professor Smith's questions are agreeably stimulating to the intelligence.- . . Take- the seventh, for in stance, "What is the .principal factor influencing the differences, "between Asia and Europe In the matter of pop ulation, commerce and history?" Of course there is such a factor, some predominant . fact either physical or psychological. What can it be? We can imagine a class of pupils giving themselves up to this problem with enthusiasm under the guidance of a deft teacher. Professor Smith's twenty-eighth question is another-'particularly good one, "In what parts of the world is Spanish the commercial language?" Nobody can answer it .without know ing something of the significance of the phrase "commercial language." There are literary languages, commer cial languages and diplomatic lan guages. The teacher could scarcely keep the children from learning some thing about all of them before the sub ject was finally quieted. We hope Professor Smith's ideas of geography will permeate widely through .the public schools. GERMANY'S SI UK. Dr. Lyman Abbott's Outlook for De cember 9 publishes two articles which are supposed to present Germany's case in the European war. One of them is by Dr. Franz Erich Junge, a graduate of Erlangen University, who is by profession an engineer. He often visits the United States and is here now on professional business. He is nat urally thought to be singularly capable of speaking for Germany and winning the good will of Americans. The sec ond Outlook article Js by Dr. Ervin Acel, managing editor of the Hungar ian American Reformed Daily. Dr. Junge thinks it is very interest ing to see the people of the United States "mounting the pulpit of public opinion and teaching the German peo ple how they have failed to live up to the standard of humanity set by America." He compares the effective ness of popular government with that of German monarchy much to our dis advantage. "It is a reflection upon the intelligence of trained observers," he says, "o speak seriously of popular government in practice." It is all very well in theory, of course. Dr. Junge does not like our Ameri can idealism much better than our government. "We all know the fal lacy of government by numbers," is one of his remarks. Concerning ideal Ism he opines that it is not "consistent with the rule of reason to introduce moral considerations of abstract jus tice into the settling of international disputes, with which the waging of war has never had anything to do." Dr. Junge believes that "the United States has committed itself to the same policy of veiled materialism of which the nations of Europe have been guil ty" and he laments that our statesmen and scholars should proclaim "the su periority of patent principles" which they have rejected in practice. "We all have the instinct of empire or world predominance," declares Dr. Junge, a sentiment in which he differs a' little from Professor Kuehnemann, who told us that Germany neither ex pects nor wishes tq attain to "world predominance." Like most other defenders of Ger many Dr. Junge finds it advisable to stand up boldly for militarism which "develops noble virtues." "Never In times of peace does suffering appeal so strongly to our sense of compas sion" as it does in war. Possibly be cause there is not so much of It to ap peal. Dr. Junge might have rounded out his argument by adding that never in times of peace does blood flow so freely as in war nor pain and misery stalk so wantonly Up and down the earth. This mature judgment upon our system oaf government is that "the great republic did not keep In practice what it promised in theory." What human institution ever does? Dr. Acel decides that America "com mits an unpardonable mistake in sym pathizing with the allies and in not siding with Germany." His reason is that very soon after this war is over the United States will have to fight Japan in alliance with England. We should be far wiser in his opinion to Join with Germany now and crush the monster before It grows to Its full stature. Possibly Dr. Acel, like many other Germans, makes too little of the friendship between the United States and England which is built upon com mon history, sentiments, literature and interests. With an open frontier, of 3000 miles between us undefended by a solitary fortress we are not likely to quarrel without the best" of reasons. Certainly not when we remember that our immense trade would be annihi lated the instant hostilities broke out. Dr. Acel thinks it does not matter whether Germany "did right or did wrong" In going to war. The main point Is that "the very interests of the United States require a victorious Germany and a humbled Japan and England." Good Judges think that it does matter a great deal whether Ger many did right or wrong and many of them deny that it is best to "humble" any nation. The wisest American opinion stands for the substantial in tegrity of all the European countries, big and little. Germany has not thus far been particularly happy in her spokesmen to America. They do not present her case with that winning as pect which effects mos! with an ideal istic people. For Americans with all their external materialism are deeply Idealistic. They believe with all their hearts in democracy, international Jus tice and the wickedness of war. There is no vision to which the American people cling more passionately than to that of peace maintained upon endur ing foundations of right. . Patriotism of the great body of workingmen in this country, as op- posed to the anti-governmental social ist minority, is well represented by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor. Per sistent attempts have been made to commit union labor to opposition to existence of the Army- and National Guard, and to blacklist any union man who enlists in either military body. Mr. Gompers has successfully resisted all such attempts at the Federation's conventions and gave utterance to sound principles when he said before the National Civic Federation Conven tion in New Tork: As long as other nations arm themselves to the teeth we must be fairly and reason ably ready to protect ourselves. I doubt very much it soon we shall not find the need to develop a citizen soldiery not a standing army, but trained men. People who enjoy pitying the unfor tunate can feel no lack of opportunity these days. There are those school-, children killed in England as an "act of war" and those Austrian boys drowned by a mine which wrecked their training ship and the starving Belgians, and so forth. Verily war does stimulate the tender emotions, but at what a price. Modern war vessels have adopted the protective device of the cuttle fish and improved upon it. . The ocean dweller emits a Jet of black liquid when pursued and in its friendly gloom escapes. The fleeing warships strew their wake with mines. Medea used the limbs of her murdered rela tive for a somewhat similar purpose. If the New York policemen had been somewhat less ready with their guns they might not have had so much trouble with those escaped lions. A piece of raw meat would have been more effectual than bullets. There are emergencies, rare ones no doubt, when persuasion effects more than violence. The "National Forward to the Land League" will learn by bitter experi ence that there Is just one way to at tract men to farms. That way is to provide the farmer with a profitable market and cheap credit. Once he has those prerequisites he will seek the land of his own accord and stay there. A writer in an esteemed contempo rary says Shakespeare and Moliere were cynics of the same sort as the late Ambrose Bierce. A man's taste is his own and he has the right to do his best with It, but what queer conse quences sometimes follow. It is odd that cholera should rage among the Belgians at this season, since it is supposed to be a hot weather disease. Insanitary conditions set it going at almost any season, probably, but an epidemic is scarcely to be feared before Spring. As to moral effect, the British say the German raid on their coast will merely arouse the National spirit. However, we feel that the element of alarm will not be without its advan tages to the German cause. Early independence of the Philip pines is again- being agitated. On the theory that we get rid of the islands before they are taken away from us there is some justification for this, but on no other. The Swiss are complaining because we have sent them no Christmas pres ents. Verily, Santa Claus appears to have removed his legendary headquar ters from the North Pole to the United States. Count Bernstorff, the German Am bassador, says dum-dum bullets for the British are being made in the United States. That chap has one brainstorm right after another. First the Mexicans were told that they must quit firing across the Amer ican border or be fired upon. Now they are being asked to please be so kind and obliging as to desist. A Seattle evening newspaper is re ported to have lost $400,000 of some body's money in less than two years. But consider the satisfaction and the glory! Carranza and Villa forces are en gaged in another series of bloody bat tles. By the way, why is Mr. Bryan so strangely silent on the subject of late ? The auto bank robber in the East is not a success, like his Western brother a-horseback. He cannot guide his machine and shoot up the city. Southern coal operators are at work developing trade relations with South America, a field hitherto held by Wales. Waking up at last. There is a "second-story" man working this city who is practical. He uses a ladder. No one would suspect a man caYrying a ladder. The Chief of Staff has been sent to theborder to ask the Mexicans if they will not please be good.- If this fails, what ruse next? The man In the trenches will re ceive for his Yuletide greeting a set of frostbitten toes and a serenade of shrapnel. But the man who thinks this Is cold weather ought to take a spin to sunny California. Regular July weather, this. We re fer, of course, to July at the South Pole. A few more days remain in which to make your peace with Santa Claus. The Czar is on his way home. An other battle must be Imminent. Come on, now, and do something for someone, old tlght-fisL - The raid was the Kaiser's little joke to spur British enlistment. Funston has gone home to hold the baby during the holidays. By and by Great Britain will get real mad and whip-somebody. The raiding cruisers got their vic tims coming and going. The German shells could not reach the footballers. 1 Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian December 16. 1SS!). Washington There is considerable controversy on in the capital over the wearing of decollette gowns at the so cial functions of the capital, the social year being at hand. Mrs. Harrison will not wear decollette dresses at state dinners and occasions, and yet said she did not disapprove of them. Mrs. Dolph, of Oregon, has written her views, say ing: "In a. general way I am In favor of decollette dresses. There is, of course, no intrinsic harm in wearing them, but fashion can be carried to such a point that it offends good taste and, sometimes, I am sorry to say, good breeding. Like most other things in this world, it is not objectionable if not immodest If a lady has a pretty neck and shoulders, the dressmaker is inclined sometimes" to make dresses lower than her patron would desire." London Prince Albert Victor, eldest son of the Prince of Wales, has been implicated in the now notorious West End scandal of London. The English people are aroused, and there is talk their indignation may reach the point where they will move for a republic and a complete overthrow of the upper classes of government. Paris Sarah Bernhardt is making elaborate preparations for her appear ance as Joan of Arc. This will be the first great role of a virtuous heroine in which she has appeared. Prince Murat has accepted Miss Cald well's terms and they will be married. Miss Caldwell is the American heiress who put her foot down when the Prince ought to acquire more control of her money than she was inclined to give in return for the title. They will be married soon. During the ante-nuptial arrangements many attorneys have been engagea.-The Prince needs about $500,000,lt Is repotted. -tobring him out of financial embarrassment.- ' C; Samuel Wilder Pease, who formerly resided In Portland and who is well known here, is now holding a position of responsibility with the Nicaraguan Canal Company in New York. Edward A. Abbey, of Corvallis, has just returned from the East, where he was interviewed by a reporter of the Cleveland (O.) Plaindealer on the prog ress of the Willamette Valley. IT IS MORE THAN MEMORY TEST Geography Is Properly Taught In Its Larger Relations. UNIVERSITY OF OREGON, Eugene, Dec. 16. (To the Edttor.) I was very much pleased with your recent editorial on the question ot geographical knowl edge as displayed by the Seven Wise Men of Springfield. I venture to sub mit herewith 30 questions which seem to me not only more worth while an swering, but which call for a different conception of the science of geography. It is of very little moment to the world outside of the Mississippi Valley how Iowa is bounded and nearly every one knows where Pilsener and Bud weiser can be bought, even If they don't know where the original places are located. Daimatia is not as im portant to tile world as Graustark. The knowledge of the North African Cali phate belongs not to geography, but to history. And so on throughout the list. Unless geography Is taught in Its larger relations, it degenerates into a mere test of the memory and a pastime for pedants. Thirty Questions In Geography. 1. Trace the course of the Gulf Stream and state its influence on the climate of the countries near which it flows. 2. If you were to travel south on the meridian of New York, what part of South America would you touch ? 3. Where is Bngland's -greatest strong hold in the Orient? 4. Where and what Is the "date line?" 5. What are the differences in latitude and climate between ltome and Vladi vostok? 6. What is the shortest steaming coursa between -San Francisco and Yokohama? 7. What is the principal factor influenc ing the differences between Asia and Europe in the matter of population, commerce and history? 8. Why does Mercator's projection give an erroneous idea ot the relative sizes of countries? 9. What are the relative positions ot the North Pole and Xorth Magnetic Pole? 10. What are the principal harbors on the Pacific Coast of North America and their relative Importance? 11. Where Is Mount Lassen and what kind of a mountain la it? 3 2. Where is Guam. 13. Where is the largest north-flowing river of North America; of the United States? 14. Locate approximately the following: Malta; the Crimea; the Gold Coast; the Ivory Coast; Singapore; Formosa; Cape Race; Sarawak. ' 15. What countries had possessions In New Guinea before the present war; now t IS. What are the principal tropical products? 17. What and how, long was the original Mason and Dixon's lme? 18. Where Is the Grand Canyon of tha Colorado? 19. Name three transcontinental (so called) railroads In tha United 8tates and through what states do they run? 20. Where Is the approximate center of population In the United States? 21. Name the United States National parka 22. Trace the course approximately of tne "j-an juine" in tne -Eastern United .States, and what is its industrial Import ance? -3. Trace approximately tho course of tne Trans-Siberian Railway. 24. What a the approximate population of Australia, and what Is its dlntrlbnrinn t 25. What is the geographical signif icance of (1) Cumberland Gap, (3) the Dardanelles, (3) the "Iron "Gate," (4) the Pillars of Hercules?" 26. What is the quickest mall route from Manila to London? 27. On the regular steamship route be tween San Francisco and Australia what groups of islands do you see? 23. In what parts of tha world Is Spanish the commercial language? 29. Where are the three largest oil fields in tha world? 30. What are the following cities noted for: Osak; Klmberly; Baku; Pittsburg; Aguas Calienes; Nome; Portland, Or.; De troit; ol. Pierre; vooiuargie; Spitzenbergen; Lhasa; Mukden; Virginia City? WARREN D. SMITH. Why This Discrimination T PORTLAND, Or., Dec. 17. (To the Editor.) Can someone tell mo why the urniea stales .Department of Agricul ture demands that we aDole men atamn the- "net weight" on a box of apples and does not require the same on food stuffs such as wheat, shorts, oats, etc.? There is no question In my mind but that buyers (consumers) of feed are Deing ternoiy worsted, for my own ex perience has proved that no two bags of the same feed ever weigh alike and yet it Is almost Invariably sold by the Dag-, in several cases I checked ud what the store man thought was the "supposed' weight and found that a shortage of from 1 per cent to 4 per cent was tne rule. SUBSCRIBER. ' 1 Steps to Obtain Copyright. ASTORIA. Or., Dec 16. (To the Edi tor.) (a) What steps are necessary to obtain a copyright for a book, (b) Are the services of a lawyer neces sary? READER. 1) Write the Copyright Office, Li brary of Congress. Washington, D. C., for application form. Publish the book with copyright notice and promptly after publication send two copies of the best edition with appli cation to the Copyright Office, includ ing $1. (2) No. . Thinking of Something Pleasant. London Opinion. Photographer (taking plain-looking girl and her escort) Now try not to think of yourselves at all think of something pleasant. DRUG STORE LAW NOT FEASIBLE Alcoholic Liquors Mast Be Kept or the III Will Suffer. BUXTON, Or.. Dec 16. (To the Edi tor.) The prohibition amendment is the will of the people by a handsome majority and every fellow with a bugle wants to have a finger in the pie and manufacture a law that will make her airtight with a vengeance. The object and understanding of the proposed law was the abolition of the saloons, but if this proposal had for its object the abolition of liquor in the State of Ore gon we poor mortals who voted prohi bition were terribly misinformed. The great majority given the measure was due to the disgraceful manner in which saloons were run throughout the state, arid not to the proper use of liquor. If any of the Multnomah airtight squad will investigate they will find that a large percentage of prohibition voters are never without liquor in the house. I operate , a small drug store estab lishment in connection with my prac tice, but do not sell liquor, nor do I intend to, but I am absolutely opposed to regulating drug stores anjl physi cians as proposed by Portland drug gists, and fail to see how their pro posed clause can take away the right of any physician to prescribe liquor. This is a nice time for them to raise their hands in holy horror. Why now? Why not ages ago? Naturally, the drug store will have to furnish liquor on prescription when required by the sick, and the sales will be greatly augmented, ' as many who need it is a medicine at the present time resort to the saloon rather than to the druggist, as it can be obtained with more dispatch and less trouble. If the question were left to the phy sicians of the state, two-thirds of them would say liquor properly applied Is a medicament par excellence, and I would vote in the majority, as I have seen unquestioned good results from its administration in certain cases. I do not question but that many radical prohibitionist physicians would take is sue with "mwi-but. I am not disposed to argue with biased 'minHH aa j have learned by experience. TheTfgreat-ar-. guraent is that many drugs will" take the place of liquor, but you know that graveyards are filled by means of sub stituted drugs and substituting drug gists. I want to send, up my little wail that I am opposed to the clause protecting drug stores from opposition. If any drug store goes into business in the same block with another and sells whisky without a prescription from a regular licensed physician, then the new competitor Is breaking the law and should be prosecuted. If any phy sician promiscuously peddles whisky prescriptions he Is an object for the State Medical Examining Board. No lawt can be enforced unless you have the proper officials who are true to their oath of office, and if they are not true to that oath, use your law to put them out. Law enforcement should be kept In mind when voting for any proposed of ficial, and it is something we sadly fall to do and will continue to do until con ditions are arranged so that the voter can keep in closer touch with those in power. Talk about your Painless Parker den tal trust. Why not say something about the proposed Multnomah County drug trust? G. F. VIA, M. D. REPUBLICANS HAVE) MOST JOBS Correspondent Able to Kind Few Democrats Among Appointments. PORTLAND, Dec. 17. (Tq the Edi tor.) In The Oregonian appears the following editorial paragraph: Some of the more hysterical Democratic Job holders are now beginning to see prospec tive applicants for their places behind every bush and shadow and are uttering wild cries for help. Should not the West-Republican office holders be also included In the list ot the panic-stricken at Salem? As a matter of fact, leaving out the county attorneys appointed under the amended law of 1913, Governor West has appointed Just five Democrats to salaried positions in the state govern ment during the past four years. There are Just two Democrats in the State house drawing salaries who were ap pointed by the Governor. One is the Insurance Commissioner and the other Is one of the Tax Commissioners. By actual count more than 85 per cent of Governor West's appointments have been Republicans. Both of hia private secretaries were Republicans, neither ever registering as anything else. The Corporation Commissioner is a Republican, and practically all of his help are of the same party faith. There Is not a Democrat drawing a salary In the entire Fish and Game Commission. There Isn't a Democrat appointed by the Governor connected with the peni tentiary in an official place, nor In any other state institution at Salem. There Is one Democrat in the Industrial Ac cident Commission, and two Republi cans, all appointed by the Governor. The Commissioner of Banks and all of his assistants are Republicans. When there was a vacancy In the Secretary of State's office Governor West prompt ly appointed a Republican. Likewise when there was a vacancy In the office of the State Superintendent of Schools, the Governor could find no one in the Democratic party big enough for the job and named a Baker County Re publican. It was these West-Republican officeholders In the departments and institutions that helped out the Governor so effectively in naming his candidate for Governor In the primaries last M.y. The Oregonian Is wrong. It is not the Democrats that are panic-stricken over the prospects of losing their jobs when the new administration comes in at Salem as ' there are next, to none to lose their jobs. But there are scores of West-Republicans holding down fat places who are getting mighty uneasy. R. L. THOMPSON. 736 East Forty-second street. North, s AMERICA'S POSITION HUMILIATING. Administration's Military and Mexican Policy Are of a Kind. OREGON CITY, Or, Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) I am a constant reader of The Oregonian, and will say it Is a pleasure to read your editorials on the policies of the Wilson Administration, espe cially those concerning the Mexican sit uation, and the naval and military pol icy of Wilson and Bryan. It is humil iating, to say the least, to see one's country made the laughing stock of the nations of the earth. An article in The Oregonian by Mr. H. E. Kline is my viewpoint exactly. It is a shame and an outrage for the present Administration to subject the American people to such humiliating experiences as we have undergone in Mexico. If landing a force of men and capturing a city is not an act of war, then what is? And to cap it off, we sneaked out of Mexico like a whipped cur out of a kitchen. I never thought it possible that the American lived who would place his country in such a light before the world. Our absolute unreadiness to defend ourselves In case of a conflict, and the policy of the Democratic Administra tion to keep us so, is, as Mr. Kline says nothing short of criminal negligence. As a Secretary of State, Bryan is a huge joke, and his policies have no place in the programme of a world power. Keep up your good work. MARVIN A. CLARK. Map of Jfew Coanty. PORTLAND, Dec 17. (To the Edi tor.) Will you be so good as to give in The Oregonian, either Sunday or before, the boundaries of the new coun ty of Jefferson? GEO. F. MARKHAM. The Oregonian published a map of Jefferson County November 12, 1914. j Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian, December 17, 1864. Golden opportunities occur now and then in the lives of individuals and in the history of the state, and once af forded and unimproved may pass away never to be kndwn again. In this con-, nection we would call attention of the people of Portland and The Dalles and tributary country to the opportunities of the Upper Columbia country. A friend writes that those connected with the Jf. E. Church at The Dalles and its friends there gave a donation party to Rev. B. C. Lippencott, pastor of the M. E. church, on Thursday even ing, December 8. the receipts of which amounted to the handsome sum of 1 913. S. J. McCormlck. of this city, has re ceived his commission from the head center of the Fenian Brotherhood of the United States, as state center for the year 1865 for the state of Oregon. Noah Chapman and Miss Cinda A. Teal, of Wasco County, were married at Vancouver, Wash., December 1, by Justice of the Peace J. F. Smith. At the benefit for Julia Morgan to night it is probable it will be the only time our citizens will have an oppor tunity to see the wonderful and terrifio act of W. C. Morgan, who will make an ascension from the stage to the top of the theater by a single rope. Johnny Mason, the champion clog dancer, will make his appearance, also. The President has written a letter to Sheridan, thanking him on behalf of himself and the .Nation for his (Sheri dan's) splendid work In the Shenandoah Valley the past month. Eggs have been showing a tendency to drop in price, but today we are quot ing them at 60 cents a dozen. Potatoes are quoted at 1 1.25 to $1.38. G. W. Vaughn has Inserted an ad vertisement in which he calls atten tion to the fact that he has been paid in greenbacks for the rent of his fine brick building at Morrison and Front streets. - . FOLLY LIES IN TJNPREPAREDNE 9 S4 History of Spanish American Wi Ought to Teach Grave Lesson. BUXTON, Or, Deo. 16, (To the Edi tor.) After reading your editorials and letters from many citizens on our lack of preparation for National defense, I wish to express my hearty approval of your patriotic efforts In this respect. It seems to me little short of trea son for those In power to lead the peo ple to believe we are capable of main taining our position as a first-class power, when we are In such a deplor able state of preparation. Recent discussion of this subject has brought out the information we are be hind in ships of the first line, still shorter on capable officers and men and woefully short of torpedoes and other ammunition. We can all remember what happened to Secretary Alger at the outbreak of the Spanish war, when we were In no danger of invasion. It was simply a case of finding out after war was de clared what we should have known before. Now as to this European struggle, some of those powers are going to be short of outlying possessions at the finish. As Africa Is pretty well par titioned. Is it too much to suppose they will turn to South or Central America next? What Is our Monroe Doctrine worth without a navy to force others to respect It7 A short time back England and France politely asked us what we were going to do about Mexico. If they did not have their hands full at present, they would perhaps Insist on knowing. Now, It Is only reasonable to suppose some of those countries. In view of Mexico's chaotic condition and our lack of preparation, would land an armed force on Mexican soil. Then what could we do about It? The same holds good with South and Central America. As It Is. we do not need a large army, as armies are rated today, if we have a powerful navy, which this country is well able to supply. On the other hand. If a strong mili tary power should gain a foothold on American soil, we then would be forced to maintain a large Army. As our armed force stands today, we will have to uphold the Monroe Doctrine by re quests that others do not violate the same, which will be about as effective as the methods by which we have forced Mexico to respect our border. It is a shame, but none the less a fact, this country is fast losing the) respect of other powers. Give us 10 years more of the same policies and wo will see & China on each side of the) Pacific. JUST A LABORER. CITIZENS ARB TRAINED TO ARMS Sweden's Inexpensive Plan Weald Giro TJs Prepared Force of 3,000,000. WINBERRY, Or.. Dec 16. (To tha Editor.) A lesson to us from the pres- ent great war Is teaching us that wo, ought to be better prepared for defense, not only against the possible attack: from one great power, but from two or more. When our President made his "Mobile Declaration" warning Europe to stay out of America, he included all Europe, of course, but how could ho hope to enforce such a rule with the military means we now have? We can never be sure of dominating America unless we have a great army and Navy. Think of what would be our plight if we, instead of "the other fellow" had to face either the "Triple Alliance" or the "Triple Entente!" A great stand ing army is out of question here, but why not make military preparedness popular amongst all the people; for instance, like In Sweden. There, Inde pendent of the regular army, sharp shooter organizations flourish in nearly every community .with membership from all classes and on the most com radelike terms and make shooting, practice and competition for prizes part of social or popular gatherings. The government encourages this activity by providing free ammunition and at times free rifles, under restrictions, and each year is a great meeting at the capital of the best shots from all over the country competing for many prizes. Entertainment is often provided by ladies' clubs, theatricals, lotteries and sport events and of late hundreds of machine gun squads have been organ ized and provided with machine guns by private donations. In place of being a burden on the people these organizations cause little loss of time and no outlay of money to in any way embarrass a member, but on the other hand causes interesting and pleasant pastime in sparetime and create much neighborly unity and good will. The plan provides Sweden, whose population is only a little in excess of 5,000,000, with about 170,000 well trained and equipped sharpshooters, which, if practiced in the United States, on the same scale, would give us 3,000 000. ARTHUR HARTMAX. Doc. Yak to Have a Merry Chrlstman. HARRISBURG, Dec. 16. (To the Ed itor.) Is Doc. Yak going to get a crowbar for Christmas? I think it would be nice to have Santa Claus bring him one to get out of Jail with. I am eight years old and am a reader of The Oregonian. WARD R. DAVIS. The Oregonian cannot promise that Santa Claus will bring Doc. Yak a crowbar, but Ward can rest assured that Santa will not forget Doc. Yak and that the imprisoned patriot will have a merry Christmas.