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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 19, 1914)
THE MOTIXTXG OREGONTAN, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, J914. amis . PORTLAND, OREGON. ) Entered' at Portland, Oregon, PostofUce as ecoud-ulas matter. , Bulcrlptloo Rate Invariably in Advance: (Bj Mall.) Pally, Sunday Included, ooe year . . .. ;..f 8.00 lally, Sunday Included, six months . .... 4.25 Bally, Sunday included, three montha ... 2.5 Ually. Sunday included, one montn 5 Ually, without Sunday, one year 00 - Jjaily, without Sunday, alx montha ...... Z.'4S Jjally, without Sunday, three montha ... 1. 3 lJaily. without Sunday one month Weekly, one year 1.60 Sunday, one year 2.50 fcuuuny andyfVeekly. one year -o N (By Carrier.) T'ally, Sunday Included, one year .$9.00 Jjaily, Sunday included, one month ...... .25 Hvtr to Kemit Send Fostofflce money or. er, expre&a order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give poatoffica address in full. Including county and state. Pottage Kates 12 to IS pages. 1 cent; 18 to b2 pages, U cents; 84 to 48 pages, S cents; B0 to 8u pages. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pagea, 3 cehta; 78 to U2 pages. cents. Foreign post age, double rates. . Eastern Business Office Verree & Conk lln. New York, Brunswick building; Chi cago, Stenger building. ban Franclm Oft ice ft. X Bldwell Com pany, 742 Market street. POBTLWD, SATURDAY, DEC. 19. 1914. THE QUALITY OF MEKCY. The note of the holiday season as it Approaches can hardly ba called gray. The world is permeated by a spirit of solemnity.-. There Is a common feeling . that the human race Is passing through . crisis in its history and that funda mental changes are impending. "With this feeling goes a new spirit of sym pathy. The desire to help the weak, to befriend the hapless,-to retrieve for the victims of misfortune some part of their woeful lot Is almost universal and as the holidays draw near it be comes more and more active. If Is difficult now for a man to re fuse a coin to a beggar on the street whatever risk there may be of its thriftless use. The waif shivering in the frost without an overcoat and scarcely shod appeals irresistibly to the heart of the passer-by. We hear les3 reproach than ever before for the human wrecks who have perhaps caused their own misery and far more ' of the Christlike will to forgive and help in the hope that good deeds may bring their own reward in the better ment of him who receives. Blessed is lie that gives and blessed Is it to be able to give. Fortune is good to some, to others her aspect is severe and often her favors are dis tributed without much regard to merit. Give ear to the voice of mis ery. Turn not away from him that asketh. In Lowell's poem the Savior masked himself in the rags of a beg gar. God walks the street clad in the habiliments of woe and want. Cast your bread on. the waters and cast it with a liberal hand. It will be re membered where memory falls not. lit the everlasting books it will count .for your credit. "I was hungry and ye fed me, sick and In prison and ye visited me," said he that spoke for the best In us and he explained his meaning in those golden words, "Inasmuch as ye fcave done it unto the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Turn not away from him that asketh. Let God direct the use of your gift. "He knows about it all, he - knows, he knows." t - Z A TOKEN OF FUtEVDSHXP. International amenity has Just been enriched by a new book from Japa U riese sources. The Futnams publish it. The engaging title is "Japan to Amer ica," and it shuns the rocks on which some of our recent advisers from other countries have gone to wreck. There is no arrogant assumption of infal libility in Jhe volume, no disparaging comparisons between the superior Jap anese and the vastly Inferior Ameri can Government. In view of Profes sor Acel's dismal predictions in The Independent of coming trouble be tween Japan and the United States th.ia book is timely. Professor Acel warns us that we shall have to fight an alliance be tween England and Japan before a great while. The prospect is not pleas ing when one thinks of the wide ex panse of ocean over any part of which the. bellicose Japanese "might sail to attack us. What fleet could guard the Pacific from Behring Strait to the South Pole? Counting ten vessels to the mile it would , need some 60,000 iwith 60,000,000 men on board if we should make the moderate allowance of a thousand to a ship. Let us fer vently pray that Japan may keep the peace. This book assures us that she will. It is written by "political leaders and representative citizens of Japan" and edSted by the distinguished man of letters, Naoichl Masaoka, Its tone is as irenic as possible. One of, the writers says that "the true difference of mankind Is not in the color of the skin nor in the frame of the body, but in culture." And by culture this wise thinker does not mean military train ing but homely, old-fashioned educa tion in the arts and sciences. This makes all the difference of the slight est consequence that there is between one human being and another. , The illuminating writer proceeds with his argument in this way: "In a good sense we are Japanizing Chris tianity," just as they have Japanized European learning and mechanics. It is rather to their credit, one would Imagine, that they are not disposed to swallow Western culture without mas tication but incline, with Lord Bacon, .' "to chew and digest it." This kindly token from Japan, our old friend and pupil. Is singularly welcome In these dark days of strife. CAESAR'S DUE, In the December Forum James Howard Kehler makes a proposal which will probably appear novel to most of his readers. But it is not a . genuine novelty nor Is it original with Mr. Kehler, though we do not mean to suggest that he has improperly bor- rowed it. His project is to rename the Federal War Department, calling it hereafter the Department of Peace. . The Secretary of War Is to be known t as Secretary of Peace and our Na ; tional war policies are to become ' peace policies both in fact and in name. There is to be a general beat ing of swords Into plowshares at Washington If Mr. Kehler's plan is adopted. We do not expect any Immediate move in that direction by our Federal . ' authorities. Whether desirable or not the project is one that must for the present be classed as visionary. Some time it may be realized. It is perhaps a thing worth hoping for and judi ciously working for. But if the work should bring no tangible results for a century or two, nobody ought to feel disappointed. The point we want to make Is that Mr. Kehler's Deautiful dream first re vealed itself to the soul of a Portland philosopher, or poet. He dips his net more or less deeply into both seas and not invariably without - catching fish. E. P. Rosenthal, of Portland, should have the credit, be it less or more; of first proposing to rename our War Department. He gave it the title of Peace Department in his unpub lished play, "In Hell and Out." To reassure readers we hasten to inform them that the1 name is far more lurid than the contents of the play. In any case it is desirable that Portland should make sure of such glory as justly belongs to it in this connection. WITH THE BRAKES OFF. The great financier who heads the Treasury Department of the United States Mr. McAdoo makes the con soling estimate that the total Federal expenses for the year 1916 will be $18,000,000 less than for the previous year. Interesting, indeed, if true. It is another of the great things the Wil son Administration is going to ac complish. But let us see if the record of past achievement in paring Government expenses justifies any great confidence in the Secretary's hopeful statement. The total ordinary expenses of the United States Government for the fis cal year ended' June 30, 1909, were $642,800,000. The total ordinary expenses for 1910 were 651, 200,000; for 1911. $654,100, 000; for 1912, J653.000.000. The total ordinary expenses for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1913 (Taft and Wilson) were $681,743,000. Of this increase $21,500,000 was for pen sions, through the liberality of a Re publican Senate and a Democratic House. The total ordinary expenses of the United States Government for the fis cal year ended June 30, 1914 (Wilson), were $714,000,000. A Democratic Congress was saved during the current year by a stubborn Republican minority from making an inexcusable Increase of expenditures through the creation of a river-and-harbor pork-barrel. The spenders are in full control at Washington. OTB DCTI. If the United States Government had rec ognized Huerta we would have become Just, lyvopen to the charge of being an ally of that drunken despot and what he stood for. Pendleton East Oregonlan. Nonsense! Huerta was recognized by all the great European powers, in accordance with diplomatic usage. No charge that they were allies of a drunken ,despot can justly be made; nor has it been made anywhere, ex cept at Pendleton. Perhaps the inter national practice of dealing with de facto governments, whatever they are and however constituted, so long as other countries afe not involved, will be changed, now that Pendleton has been heard from. If acknowledgment of the fact that Huerta was President of Mexico made the United States a partner of his crimes, then the United States and every other civilized government were the accomplices of the assassins of King Alexander and Queen Draga, in Servia, In 1903; and they were co conspirators with every petty tyrant and usurper who, through regicide or common murder, reached the throne or the Presidency of a South American republic. If it be said that the United States has a special relationship toward, and a special responsibility for, Mexico before the world, it may; fairly be asked why we do not do' our duty? 13 HAGUE TREATY VIOLATED? Germany is accused of having vio lated the rules of war adopted by the Hague peace conference when her cruisers bombarded the towns on the east coast of England. The charge is based on one of the clauses of the Hague conventions, which reads that It is forbidden "to 'attack or bombard towns, villages, habitations or build ings which are not defended." The second Hague conference adopted a new convention forbidding the bom bardment of undefended "ports, towns, villages, dwellings or buildings" unless after a formal summons the local aur thoritles decline to comply with requi sitions for provisions or supplies nec essary for the immediate use of the naval force before the place in ques tion. But theirtiay not be bombarded on accounts! failure to pay money contributions. The prohibition does not apply to military works, depots of arms or ships of war in a harbor. The British maintain that only Hartlepool was defended and that therefore the bombardment of Whitby and Scarborough was a violation of the Hague convention. Even at Har tlepool the Germans did not confine their attack to the forts, but dropped shells all over the town. There seems to have been a military camp in the suburbs of Scarborough, but the at tack was not confined to it. Shells were fired at ."undefended dwellings or buildings" in all three towns. The Hague treaty forbids bombardment of undefended places unless requisitions are refused fter formal summons, but no summons was given and no requi sition made. The German Embassy to the United States contends that the bombardment did not violate the Hague convention on the ground that "Hartlepool is for tified, while Scarborough and Whitby are defended, like all other British coast 'places, either byTegular troops, coast guns or volunteers." It holds that the attack on the English towns was as fully Justified by the rules of war as was the British-French bom bardment of Belgian coast places, for these places are not fortified, but are defended by German troops. The question then is whether the placing of troops and artillery in the vicinity of a town justifies the bom bardment of any - part of the town without notice, even of such historic buildings as Whitby Abbey, Scarbor ough Castle and the churches, or the hotel3, dwelling houses and stores, or the lumber yards and gas works, or the streets, where fifteen schoolboys were killed in one group at Hartle pool. The only valid excuse for not confining the attack to the military encampments or the artillery em placements is that it was impossible to distinguish the points occupied by the troops or. that the Germans marksmanship was defective. If they cannot offer either excuse, the natural conclusion is that they were indiffer ent what part of the towns they hit. The same excuse that may be made for indiscriminate shelling of English towns might serve for the same treat ment of Belgian towns occupied by the Germans. But there has been wholesale migration of the native population, artillery has been placed along the sea-front and whole towns are used as quarters for the troops. There is some difference, but war is indifferent to nice distinctions. In this war Hague conventions are thrown to the winds and the motto is: "Any? thing to injure the enemy." K. HENRY WEMME. - There is something substantial in the character of a. boy who severs home ties and goes without resources into a far country with the Idea of bettering his condition. And that something usually crops out to the ad vantage of his new associates as well as himself, if he has been actuated by true ambition and not by reckless in clination to rover- E. Henry Wemme was one of many once penniless immigrants who have risen to positions of Influence and re spect in the United States. He was of that type which found Its expression in our own youth in the pioneer days, when the West was a far country of unknown hardships but possible wealth. Our pioneers and early im migrants were men of sturdy stock, ready to endure temporary depriva tion for future well-being, ambitious, and prone to make opportunity if none threw itself in their way. One of Mr. Wemme's strong char acteristics was self-confidence. The trait was not on the order of egotism which claims for its possessor supe rior attainments. It was a conscious ness of his own capabilities. In his early days lack of practical experience in a particular employment did not discourage him from seeking a Job therein. He frequently found himself in strange roles, but Industry and the adaptability of youth Invariably car ried him through. Maturity found' him in Portland es tablished in business with eyes wide open to opportunity. His was not a character that could be stampeded of depressed. When a countless throng obeyed the lure of Alaska gold he sold them tents. When the disaster of fire overtook nearby cities he. was on the ground with temporary canvas shel ters. When his adopted country was plunged into war for which it was un prepared he was one of those who profited" by supplying its omissions. Not luck, but ready recognition of op port yolties and ability to seize them guido-af his footsteps. The profits of his business he'.-invested shrewdly in Portias real estate and in time he JolnYe ranks of the -affluent. Buc-sst will long be remembeTed to Mr. Wemme's credit that with success he .did not develop a desire to grasp frnd hoard to the exclusion of all else. His public spirit was manifested in good r"oads activities and other enter prises for the general benefit. Friends and associates he aided generously but inconspicuously and the final chapters of his life were closed under a deter mination to give for the benefit of the community which had prospered him some thoughtful memorial of liis suc cess. Mr. Wemme was a citizen whose abilities and usefulness will not be forgotten. ANOTHER OBSTACLE REMOVED. Another great obstacle to American prosperity has been rolled away by the decision of the Interstate Commerce Commission permitting an advance of 5 per cent in freight rates on almost all commodities by the Eastern rail roads. This decision is practically sure to be followed by like action on similar applications from Western and Southern roads. For the Eastern roads it assures an addition of $30,000,000 in net income, and for the roads of other sections it assures a proportion ate increase so soon as action is taken In their cases. This additional income will enable the railroads to pay dividends propor tionate to current earnings of capital in other business and will render them fully able to pay interest on bonds. It will thereby strengthen their credit to such a point that they will be able to borrow capital for improvements alfd extensions. It will enable them to maintain their . existing roads 'at full efficiency. They will thus become buyers of material and employers of labor on an enlarged scale. Thousands of unemployed will find work in im proving track and terminals and con structing new roads. Thousands more will be employed in making rails and steel and in building cars and engines, in purchase of which railroad have economized during the lean year now closed. From 30 to 35 per cent of the product of steel mills is consumed by railroads, and a general -revival of ac tivity in the steel Industry may, there fore, safely be predicted. All other conditions were already favorable to the raising by railroads of the capital they need. Although the war has entirely cut off the normal supply of European capital for invest ment In the United States, the money market is easy. Gloomy forebodings that reopening of the Stock Exchange would be followed by a stampede of Europeans to sell American securities, and that a slump In prices would re sult, have been falsified by events. There appears to have been large sales, particularly by Germany, but buyers have been so ready that de clines In price have been slight, and the rate decision was no sooner an nounced than a decided advance fol lowed. These facts indicate bpth full confidence among Americans In American Investments and the exist ence of ample capital in this country to buy European offerings. Several sources provide this capital. There has been a large accumulation of money which would ordinarily have been Invested in securities during the period when the exchange was closed. The release of hundreds of millions of dollars of bank reserves and the pro vision of new credit facilities by the opening of Federal reserve banks have mobilized credit and made money cheaper. By lowering current interest rates this has enhanced the value of securities, and helps to explain the fact that many stocks have risen above the "pegged value" at which they are held. The balance of trade has turned strongly in our favor, enabling us to pay with our excess of exports for many of the securities sold by Europe and warranting the prediction that in January-we shall begin importing gold. It is due to abnormal conditions that the steel trade is the last to revive, for revival usually begins at that point. Prosperity has reached every other industry in the East, particu larly the textiles and those which sup ply war material. Sale ot good crops at war prices has made farmers liberal buyers. But the steel industry has lagged" behind, with a monthly de crease in the trust's tonnage of un filled orders and with Pittsburg mills operating at only 35 per cent of ca pacity. This condition may be as cribed to an almost total cessation of buying for railroads and for building. The rate decision will soon bring the railroads Into the market and the ease of money will stimulate building. and set enterprise generally in motion. The worst block to the creation of a favorable foreign trade balance was the almost total cessation of cotton ex ports, but this has been removed and they are increasing daily. On Decem ber 7 the total was 79,500 bales, com pared with 21,200 bales for the entire month of August, and the shipments for November were 50 per cent of those for .November, 1913, compared with little more than 10 per cent in August and September. Owing to the record crop of 16,700,000 bales and to the demoralization due to the war, the price is the lowest in fifteen years, having reached 7 Vs. cents, but the loan pool, which will lend 6 'cents a pound, will combine with Increased exports to prevent further decline. Home de mand will spring up and the grower may conre out whole. - . Release of our financial resources by the Federal reserve banks comes at an opportune time for expansion of our foreign trade. Not only will man ufacturers, need capital to enlarge their plants, but countries which buy from us will look to us for capital to develop them, in. order that they may become our customers. The South American countries, finding their Eu ropean supply cut off' wish to borrow as well as to buy from us, and China asks us to make the $125,000,000 loan which cannot now be made by the joint action of the European powers. It is the rule of such investments that trade follows the loan. South America and China will buy rails, locomotives, cars, electric apparatus and machinery from us and will pay for them and pay interest on loans in the shape of raw material, to be' resold to them in fin ished shape. ' , Oregon and' the neighboring states will Isurely share In the revived pros perity. Railroads for which we have long waited will be completed and will employ much labor and consume much lumber. Demand for lumber in the East and Middle West will surely in crease. There is a prospect that'Con struction of the Government railroad in Alaska will begin next year and that development of coal mines under the new leasing law will begin at the same time. Emigration to the north ern territory will be renewed and will create heavy traffic for the Portland Alaska steamer line. The leasing bills are likely to pass Congress in some shape at this session and will open the way for development of the unequaled water-power of the Columbia basin and of the great areas of non-metallic mineral land in this region. The gen eral activity In business will expand the market for the fruit, grain, wool, hops, dairy products and livestock of Oregon. While Europe resounds with the din of war, the United States will be a land of peace, plenty and prosperity. If Carranza's statement is true that his soldiers shoot "away from, not towards the boundary at Naco, he need not worry. Our artillerymen are good enough marksmen to hit the place whence the bullets come. If that place be the Maytorena camp, Carranaz should not complain. It must be a tax to the memory of Frenchmen to remember the new names given their streets, bridges and squares every time their country changes allies almost as difficult as it is for Lillian Russell to recall the names of all her husbands. The British boast that they have put out a new cruiser in less than eleven months. Their good work may be un done in as many seconds if the new cruiser goes buzzing around. too pro miscuously in the North Sea. Berlin is wild with Joy about the latest victory over the Russians and will hold a gpeat public celebration. Better not put the celebration off too long. Those Russians have wonderful powers of recuperation. When giving a slap to the express companies, it Is well to remember they do a lot of deadheading for char itable purpose, and the parcel post does not. Oh, please, Mr. Mexican, will xyou not be so exceedingly kind as to quit killing off Americans in America? We think it horrid of you. However, we imagine that residents along the English coast line will not be the most comfortable people in the world henceforward. The boy who hopes to get a pair of skates Christmas stands- ready to dis count the good intentions while the skating is good. Hood River County will spend a few thousands In exploiting resources next year, and Hood River is pretty well known as it is. New Tork should not be terror stricken by a few lions,, having- had long experience with a great .man eating tiger. The Germans say the recent raid on the British coast was merely a mild beginning. Pleasant news for the English. The "greater events" promised Eng land bV the Germans must be raids by Zeppelins. Now why doesn't the British fleet retaliate by assaulting Heligoland? Old tightwad has declared a mora torium until after the holidays. The children are already keyed up to a high pitch of excitement. There are many coldest days in the year. Put on more fuel. Fancy a raid on this coast and the climb to Mount Hood! Seattle Is reaping the whirlwind with its unemployed. No wonder the Czar returned to the castle at Petrograd. Tomorrow Is jackrabblt day in most of Umatilla County. The spug- movement seems to have died of innutrition. These are hard days for dreamers of the Bryan type. The sun Is about as warm as an Icicle these days. Dollar-ten wheat at Pendleton la easy money. The railroads get their Christmas gift early. " Today Is Children's day in the stores. Do your belated shopping early. On to Naco.. Not.' Stars and Starmakers BY LEONE CASS BAEK. See where an actress has married her late husband's tailor. Probably her at tachment started in sympathy, which, is a family relation of love. The deceased may have been a difficult proposition to fit or possibly to suit. Mary Edgett Baker has been reading of the threatened water famine In Salem, and thinks trie Salem folk should do their Christmas bathing early. For just one fleeting week Elsie Janla will dip Into vaudeville. The brief plunge will take place shortly at the Orpheum Theater, Los Angeles. Miss Janls is now on the Paciflc Coast, where she has just concluded posing for her first film picture. The movies seem to Interest her keenly, and she. has written two scenarios right out of her own head. What Is still more important is the fact that the Hobart Bosworth Company has contracted to produce them with Miss Janla in the principal roles. The single week in vaudeville will interrupt her period of posing. see Imagine the bitterness rankling in the soul of that New York chorus girl who isi being &,ued by her dressmaker for payment on aaf300 gown she is now too fat to wear. see 1 His pockets bulging with American gold. Harry Lauder, the Scotch come dian, has sailed for home. On last Friday night he concluded an eight weeks' tour of the principal cities under William Morris' direction, and neither of them is poorer for the enterprise. Lauder is sailing at this time chiefly to bid his son good-by before the latter leaves for the front. The son Is a Lieu tenant in a Scotch regiment, and has asked for & family reunion before of fering himself as a target for German bullets. Just before Lauder boarded the steamer he and Mr. Morris signed a new contract covering a period of years. Lauder will return to America late in the Winter or early in the Spring to make a 20 weeks' tour which will In clude visits in the Summer to Newport, Narragansett Pier and other watering resorts. A second tour of 40 weeks will follow the succeeding year, after which Morris will present the comedian in his own play, "Twenty Years Ago." Lots of the "dead ones" have turned out to be "live guys" in these Christ mas contributions. e Alice Patek, two years ago ingenue with the Baker Players, Is coming to this Coast in Jack Lait's comedy "Help Wanted." The company will play in Joliet, 111., on Christmas day. Alice's home is in Denver." Her father, Alfred Patek, who is now retired, used to be managing editor of the Denver Post. It is because of a direct individual appeal for help that Mrs. Patrick Camp bell will repeat her performance of "The Second Mrs Tamiueray" at Wal- lack's, in New York, this afternoon. The proceeds are to go to the hos pltal at Le Touquet, in France, where the wounded of the allies are being cared for. Mrs. Campbell by her mar riage with George Cornwallis West be came the sister-in-law of the Duchess of Westminster. The hospital, although small, is the nearest one to the firing line in France, and It has been entirely equipped and furnished by the Duchess and her friends. It is one of the few charitable organizations of .a private nature in Europe. Mrs. Campbell has received several requests by cable both from her hus band and his sister, the Duchess of Westminster, to do something toward the support of the hospital. The op portunity came when the cast which appeared' in "The Second Mrs. Tan- queray" for the benefit of the commit tee of mercy volunteered to repeat the performance. e " A plain gold ring was found in the shoe of an Albany, Or, horse, and a Portland lady Immediately telegraphed her" belief that it might be her weddli ring lost 15 years ago. She must have pictured the horse as having pastured meanwhile and inces santly in the evergreen fields of her own honeymoon. In Boston, where Madame Olga Petrova is appearing in Panthea, that lady of the hectic hair and East Omaha temperament who Is safely married to Doctor John Stewart, of Cincinnati, who doesn't mind one bit what his wife says in . print well, Madame Olga has heaved a sigh for self-motherhood, and, naturally, has heaved it in print where it will do her the most good. She wants a child, but it must be all her own, and no man can have a part in It. Yet she adores her husband. "People should say at the altar," she exclaimed. " Let us love while we can.' and make no further promises. Such promises are not reasonable. They are silly. "How shall a woman know what or whom- she will love a year in advance. Today I like a simple diet. Tomorrow I may crave ephemeral sweets. Per haps next day my soul will cry for caviar. How shall I know? "When a man and a woman have tired of the bond between them . let them part good friends. Let them not wrangle eternally in a loveless mar riage. "I often wish there were some way I might have a child of my very own without having half of it belong, to a man. I am quite an egotist enough to desire it. "Do not consider me a man-hater. On the contrary, I like men. They amuse me very much. My ideal, however, would be a woman's soul In a man's body.. "This is not personal, please," she cried in alarm. "I have a most at tractive husband. He is a clever sur geon with wonderful hands." The suspense Is ended, for Henry Miller has selected the actress to play the Ruth Chatterton role in "Daddy Long-Legs" when he brings that piece on tour to this Coast, with himself in the title role. The award goes to Renee Kelly, who triumphed over a score of applicants" eager to win the part. Miss Kelly came into fame recently in "The Garden of Paradise,'' at the Park Theater. She made the role of the Queen in that play second in charm only to that at Emily Steven's mer maid. Maine la Dry." VADER. Wash., Dec. 17 (To the Editor.) Did the State of Maine go wet last election or did it stay dry? H. C. BECKER. There was no prohibition election in Maine in 1914. The state is "dry.f Twenty-Five Years Ago srom The Oregonlan of December IT, 1SS3. Washington Senator Mitchell's Chi nese exclusion bills appear to have caused a great deal of comment in the House. The bills are held by some to be even more radical than anything Blaine ever dreamed of. Representa tive Mclvinley. in an able speech yes terday, showed himself a lit leader. Chicago The jury In the Cronin case, empaneled three months ago yesterday, returned a verdict and found John F. Beg-g-s( not guilty; found John Kuntz guilty as charged of manslaughter and fixed the punishment at three years in prison, ami fouud Daniel Coughlin, Pat rick O'Sulllvan and Martin Burke guilty of murder in the manner as charged, and fixed their penalty as imprison ment for their natural ltves. W. T. Shanahan is receiving a line of the now famous Hard man pianos. J. B. Edwards, of the Fairhaven (Wash.) Plaindealer. is visiting in Port land for a few days. The Lurline was shattered some by the high winds near Rooster Rock yes terday. A portion of the roof and her pilothouse were blown off. Erastus Young, auditor of the Union Paciric, was in Portland yesterday to look over the. transfer of the company's accounts. Thomas F. Osborne Is the newly elected secretary of the Portland Board of Trade. He has appointed Frank Motter as his assistant. Two large elephants from Asia ar rived in Portland yesterday, and will be taken by Professor Madden, who is Joe MacMahon's father-in-law, to Wood- burn, the Winter quarters. The show will oi&n in the Spring, probably in Portland. ' Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Bacon, of Oregon City, are in town at the Holton. Al Hayman, lessee of the new Mar quam Grand Theater in Portland, ar rived yesterday and announced his policy for the new theater. Mr. Hay man is a veteran New York and San Francisco manager, and said he would open the season with grand opera in English. HELP OUT THE OREGON WORKMAN Position of Bollder' Exchange on Source of Stone Supply Outlined. PORTLAND, Dec. 17. (To the Edi tor.) When I asked the manager of a certain firm to join the Builders" Ex change, an organization that has in it absolutely nothing contrary to the Sher man law, he said: "Join the Builders' Exchange? I wouldn't dare join tho church.--We have just arranged to pay a big fine for belonging to an organiza tion that I thought was perfectly all right. tut evidently in the eyes of Uncle Sam it was not. And. believe me, when Uncle Sam gets after you. you will go some if you fool him. -When 1 waff on the witness stand I sought to set things out in the best light pos sible, but all the Government needed from me was a confirmation of what was already In the attorney's posses sion, for their agents had been in our employ and had all the dope they need ed from our books and records, so we got right down"ftn our knees and put up our little hands and prayed: 'Dear Uncle Sam. we'll pay the fine: we'll be good: we'll do anything you say, only please don't send us to the peni tentiary.' No, thank you, not now. See me later. I may join then." So with this stone for the Dalles Federal building. Uncle Sam will no doubt look- up the matter very carefully and the best thing will be done in each instance. But I may be allowed to say, in view of the active campaign for the Oregon stone and the outside contractor, as against the outside stone and the Ore gon contractor, that the Builders" Ex change stands for the local contractor and local labor every time and all the time as a working proposition, on the basis that the labor entering into any job is far more important in both the number of men and families benefited, and also in the amount of money in volved. I ask if it is not better Oregon policy to use $15,000 outside stone an $30,000 to $35,000 local labor than to force the use of $15,000 in stone from a local quarry that has not been worked, as the owner has stated, for 16 years, and may not be completely equipped with machinery, necessitating hand quarry ing and cutting at an additional cost to the contractor of at least as much as tho outside stone could be purchased all cut and machined, ready for placing and an outside contractor who will doubtless employ hia own crew of skilled laborers and take the credit of the job, as well as the money, away from our state. Isn't it about time that we woke up to the fact that labor is the most im portant item entering into any build ing and see to it that while our Harry and George are milling around In Washington that they are forcibly re minded that Oregon laborers elected them to office and Oregon labor pays their salary? J. S. SEED. President. O..G. HUGHSON, Secretary Builders' Exchange. Doctors and Duty. PORTLAND. Dec. 17 (To the Edi tor.) I would like to ask if there is not a law which compels physicians to visit the sick when they are sum moned to'do so. Recently, at midnight, it was my duty to call for a physician on account of my 9-ycar-oId son, who contracted acold that day. The cold went to the throat and tonsils and a high, raging fever developed during the night, which caused him to have convulsions. I called four physicians without result.' The first gave as an excuse. "Too tired; been out all day." Second, "Just got home and would rather I would put it off until morning." Third. "Not feeling any too well." Fourth, no an swer to telephone. So I gave it up as a bad job and had to be my own doctor, and fortunately luck was in my favor, and he was much better next day. I met one of these physicians next day and asked him why he did not come the night before. He said if be had needed the money very bad he cer tainly would have been there. SUBSCRIBER. New Alaska Railroad. HOOD RIVER, Or.. Dec. 18. (To the Editor.) Please state where I can get more information in regard to this new railroad to be built in Alaska next Spring. Also, does the Government in tend shipping men from Portland, and what wages will be paid? A. L. C. The proposed Government railroads in Alaska have not yet been located; time construction will begin and conditions as to employment are ye indefinite. Construction preparations and need for workmen will doubtless be recorded by the newspapers when the information i3 available. St. Petersburg: to JP-troKrd. PORTLAND, Dec. 15. (To the Editor. Kindly inform me the date and known cause for the chango In name of St- Petersburg to Petroprad. SUBSCRIBER. The " name of r!t. Petersburg was changed to Petrograd about Septem ber 1, 1914, by Imperial order, to elimi nate its Germanic construction. The order was an outgrowth of the war. ' Half a Century Ago From The Oregonlan December 10, 18fti. The Christian Commission enter tainment will be held this coming Tues day ami Wednesday evenings in Turn Verein Hall on First street. During the day the hall will be open as a salesroom. On Tuesday there will be an old folks' concert and a reading by Lisle Lester, which will be her first appearance here. W. W. Chapman, administrator of the estate of James L Loring, deceased, has gtven noliceVthat the Loris Lorin estate property will be sold at auction at 1 1 o'clock January 7, 1865. in front of the Multnomah County Courthouse. " Charles Hull and Miss Isora Taylor were married estwrday at the resi dence of Joseph Jones by Rev. D. Rut ledge. The taking of the testimony in the important c.ee of Stark vs. Stark, suit in chancery to set aside Stark's patent to a part of the Portland land claini and apply the town site law, will be gin today at the Clerk's office. There is much valuable property at stake and an array of legal talent will be in evi dence. Attorney Chapman will act for th plaintiff and for the defendants will be Wait & Kelly, rage & Grovcr, and Attorney b-tron. J. W. J. Pierson, the successful agent for tho Grovcr & Baker Sewing Ma chine Company, has been projecting a grand raffle for the holidays. A. B. Richardson lias received a large assortment of Bohemian glassware. r In consequence of a press on the ad vertising columns. The Oregoniau is compelled to isiue a supplement this morning. James Costello died yesterday at his home. Mr. Costello had been ailing for some time, but his demise so suddenly was unexpected. R. W. Ralston has poster) a reward of $200 for the apprehension of Fred Thornton, 19 years old, who has been missing since the morning Mr. Rals ton's place was robbed. About $1000 in coin was taken from the Bank Ex change December 1-. Form for Invitation Cards. ROSEBURG. Or., Dec. 17 (To the Editor.) Kindly advise whether the enclosed card would be correct form to mail to guests I wish to invite "to an informal "500" party. If not, please advise what should be written on the card. Also if cards are to be loft at a large reception, when and where should they be given? When one enters or at any time while one is a guest in the house'.' Are children stationed at the door to receive the cards of the guests or is It quite as correct to deposit the cards in the card receiver which is usually in the hall, any time during one's call? A READER. Card should read: To meet Mrs. Alfred Burns, Mrs. George E. Edgerton. Monday, December tenth. "500" S o'clock. 1. Leave cards when entering for a reception. A receptacle is usually pro vided for this purpose. 2. Sometimes children are stationed at the door to receive cards, frequently a maid does it. Information as to Peru. PULLMAN. Wash.. Dec. 17. (To the Edltor.1 If possible, please send me information pertaining to the advan tages and disadvantages of the Peru country for stock industry. If you cannot send information, please give me reference to place where it can be secured. KOY C. TALLMAN. Ask your member of Congress to ob tain Consular reports for you on the subject. Death of Mark. Twain. PEOLA, Wash.. Dec. 17.--(To the Edi tor.) Please state when and where Mark Twain died. G. P. MOORE. Mark Twain died in Redding, Conn., April 21. 1910. CHRISTMAS FEATURES for TOMORROW Sisters of Santa Claus An elaborately illustrated full page article on tbe Yuletide sea son. Something new and refresh ing in the way of a Christ mas offering. The Grateful Condor. A full page, with many illustra tions, symbolical of the spirit of Christmas. Yonng and "" old """"will find delight in this page. -Uncle Ltikens' Christmas. A rollicking tale of a Christmas day adventure. s Merry Christmas. An elaborate drawing for the chil dren together with a page f other Christmas stories and articles for the little ones. Dolly Dip's Christmas. The jolly tango maid has a Christ mas party of her own. Full page in colors, with verse and music. Homes For the "War Striclsen. This is a problem which the United States will attempt to solve. An outline of the plan for bringing the stricken workers of Europe to unoccupied American lands is given in detail. Illustrated. Aeroplanes in Peace and War. A comprehensive illustrated article on aerial navigation b3r Madame Blierot-Johnson, famous woman aviator. All the Comforts of War. Another of Richard Conover's ar ticles xn the men in the field. He .shows that all is not suffering and hardship in the battle area, thanks to modern ingenuity. The 1915 Fair. Interest in San Francisco's great exhibition is increasing as the opening date approaches. One full page in The Oregonian tomorrow wilt be devoted to a reproduction of some of the notable paintings, works of sculpture and examples of architecture that will lend charm to the fair. ' Scores of other Features to meet every taste. Order today of your newsdealer.