THE MORNING OREGONTAIf, MONDAY", DECEMBER 21, 1914.
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1DKTLAM), MOJfDAr, DEC. 81.
A- OFFER OF HOPE.
The understanding reached betweep
Secretary Lane and Senator Chamber
lain and Representative Slnnott rela
tive to Irrigation funds for Oregon
seems to be pretty much In the nature
of a compromise. Secretary Lane does
not recede from his position that Ore
gon, although having matched and al
ready expended In Irrigation an
the amount previously allotted by
the Government for co-operative
work, has technically failed to co
operate. He will not permit the ex
penditure of the $450,000 already al
lotted unless a further $450,000 be
appropriated by Oregon. But, on the
other hand, in recognition of the fact
that Oregon has been discriminated
against In expenditures from the rec
lamation fund. Secretary Lane la will
ing that Congress directly appropriate
$450,000, or a larger sum if neces
sary, for Independent work in Oregon.
Oregon, of course, had full liberty
to go to Congress with a request for
an appropriation without consulting
Secretary Lane, but his approval of
the appropriation asked will doubtless
be helpful in obtaining it.
It is pretty well established that
state co-operation with the Govern
ment in any development does not
mean co-operation in the full meaning
of the word. Rather, state and Gov
ernment co-operation means that they
shall make available like sums and
that the Government shall have full
authority to say where, in what do
tail, and how soon, the full amount
shall be expended.
Presumably the central idea of co
operation in reclamation work and the
main purpose of the Reclamation
Service are to reclaim land in an in
telligent and practical way. It is not
charged that Oregon has wasted or
even unwisely expended the $450,000
it has devoted to the Tumaio project.
The state has completed one unit of a
feasible project with its own money,
understanding that if it thus showed
its interest and good faith in reclama
tion work the Government would
spend a like amount. But the objec
tion is raised in. Washington that the
Government was not consulted as to
the manner of expending the state's
money. The fact that no showing
has, been made that more land wou!
have been reclaimed or as much lan
reclaimed at a cheaper price by such
consultation is ignored. The good that
has been accomplished is overshad
owed by a technicality, and immediate
and certain enlargement of that good
is denied because of the technicality.
The understanding in view of which
Oregon expended $450,000 on the
Tumaio project, and prior discrimina
tion in the allotment of reclamation
funds showing the use in other states
of so large a proportion of the money
paid by Oregon citizens for Govern
ment lands, ought to make a strong
case in Congress, in behalf of the di
rect appropriation which will be re
quested. Oregon will be asking for
the return of only a small part of the
money taken out of this state and for
recognition in substantial form of its
own efforts and -expenditures in behalf
of what the Government has elected
to make a Federal function.
AMKKICAX RAILROAD POLICY.
Granting: of the advance in railroad
rates emphasizes the position of the
Interstate Commerce Commission as
the arbitrator between shipper and
carrier, which it took up when it au
thorized a slight Increase to tne Mast-
ern roads at the end of July. That
function was lost to sight during the
earlier years of the commission's his
tory, for then its principal work was
to redress wrongs done by the rail-
reads, which fact gave rise to the be
lief that it 'existed only to serve the
shipper. The commission Is now
coming forth in its true light as a body
designed to do Justice between two
classes.' The public Interest is now
seen to be serVcd r- much by securing
remunerative rates to the carriers as
by preventing the exaction of excessive
or discriminative rates from the
-nipper.
The present increase In. rates must
however, be regarded as only an emer
gency measure. The. commission has
heretofore pointed out to the railroads
neglected sources of revenue and neg
letted economies by which they may
Increase their net income. Financial
and traffic conditions were so suddenly
disturbed by the war that immediate
relief was needed without awaiting
the result of action on these sugges
tions. . Physical valuation of railroad
nroperty. which is now making rapid
progress, uniform accounting of ex
penses and a consideration of the con
dition of the money market and of
traffic conditions will in a few years
enable the commission to arrive at a
basis on which rates can be adjusted
in such a manner as to assure the
shipper of reasonable rates and the
railroads of income adequate to pay
interest on bonds, to pay fair dividends
and to maintain and improve their
property.
When the commission has all the
requisite information to guide It, part
or all of "the recent increase in rates
may be revoked; but whatever is done
the public can feel assured that it will
not be required tt5 pay dividends on
fictitious values, while theMnvestor in
railroad securities can feel assured o
obtaining current interest on his cap
ital. The railroads will then be able
to raise the money needed to
meet the growing demands of an
increasing population in & fast-devel
oping Country. We shall have a fair
trial of the Ameiican policy or per
mitting the transportation system to
tie owned by private corporations un
der public supervision, in contrast with
! the policy adopted by other countries
of government ownersnip. xne Amer
ican policy has given us the best serv-
Ice in the world at the lowest rates
for such service. There Is no cause
to doubt that it will maintain that
standard and will dispose of legitimate
criticisms as fast as they appear.
BAD ASSASSIN; GOOD MURDERER.
Father O'Hara's letter today ex
presses briefly and plainly the thougtit
that is in the mind of those who criti
cise and condemn the Administration's
Mexican policy, or lack of Mexican
policy.
The protest is against the distinc
tion made between cutthroats. Right
thinking men cannot, in any event.
countenance moral support and en
couragement given a murderer who
wades to power through the blood of
thousands and leaves pillage and
rapine in his wake. Much less can
they countenance such encouragement
when it comes from those who as
sumed an exalted aloofness from an
other murderer who gained control of
Mexico by assassinating two men, in
stead of thousands.
There has never been a demand
from a responsible source that an
army be sent to Mexico to subdue the
warring factions. There is, however,
a firm desire for vigorous protection
of American lives and property, which,
as demonstrated at Vqra Cruz, may be
attained without entering upon organ
ized, continued warfare. But at the-
moment there is a stronger demand,
as a result of Mr. Roosevelt's revela
tions, that this country abandon its
friendly attitude toward Villa, and
give a murderous bandit a murderous
bandit's due, insofar as moral force
will do it.
THE RECOUNT FOR SHERIFF.
There is a common assertion among
the newspapers clamoring for a
shrievalty recount that the public will
be required to pay nothing. For ex
ample, one paper says:
If the county were to be put to any ex
pense. . . . many taxpayers might feel
that this is not the time to spend the pub
lic money to satisfy the doubts of anybody.
no matter how well founded they seemed to
be. But the examination of the ballots will
not cost the taxpayers a dollar. All of that
money must be put up from private Bources.
If the money were put up from pri
vate sources, there might be no valid
objection to a recount; but Mr. Word
is not going ahead in pursuance of the
newspaper programme. His first ef
fort is to avoid putting up a bond to
cover costs, but to arrange that the
county shall pas', whether he wins or
loses. The expense of a recount, run
ning through many weeks, will be
large. Somebody must pay it. It will
be the public, if Mr. Word has his
way.
There Is another sample newspaper
argument:
For some reason or other The Oreronian
Is desperately afraid of the recount. Why
should any reputable newspaper fear to
have spread out so that everybody may see
them thq votes cast at an honest election ?
Mr. Word does not charge that fraud was
committed, to beat him; he simply asserts
his belief that by Inadvertence ballots
marked for him were counted for someone
else.
From the long Word complaint fhls
paragraph is taken:
That the clerks and Judges of Precinct
Number one (1) of Multnomah County, Ore
gon, counted one hundred four (104) votes
for contestee, and one hundred thirty-eight
(138) votes for contestant, but that said
count was erroneous iud that in truth and
In fact ninety (UO) votes were cast in satd
precinct for contestee. and one hundred
fifty-two (1F2) votes for contestant, and also
that ten (10) void ballots were counted In
favor of contestee.
The same charge (with new figures
substituted) is made with monotonous
regularity for every Multnomah
County precinct, 326 in all. The
whole staggering mass of detailed al-
egation against the competency of
every Multnomah County judge and
clerk of election, and against the In
tegrity and honesty of the count in
every precinct, is supported by the
oath of Thomas M. Word. The enor
mity of the 'charge is amazing. Is it
credible that Mr. Word can even be
lieve that in every precinct, 326 in all,
the votes were cast one way and
counted another? The very expres
sion of the wholesale suspicion is an
offense and an insult to every man
and woman who served on the elec
tion board in Multnomah County. Yet
Mr. Word has made an oath to it all,
giving specifications covering 326 cases
of "erroneous" count. If his com
plaint Is not tantamount to a declara
tion that a gigantic conspiracy to
cheat and defraud him, involving a
thousand or more election officers, ex
isted on election day, we do not un
derstand the English language.
xoe regumaii is not iiprencnsive
about a recount. It can be and is "on
cerned only in the honesty of the elec
tion machinery and the verity of the
returns in any election. Any dofeat-3.1
candidate for office is entitled to a re
count under the prescribed forms of
law. But he is entitled to ro more.
WAR IN EUPHRATES YAXAJEY.
One of the several theaters of hos
tilities in the war to which little at
tention has been paid, but on which
events may be fraught with great con
sequences, is the Euphrates. Valley,
in Asiatic Turkey. While the Russians
have penetrated from the Caucasus
into the upper end of this valley, the
British Indian troops have driven the
Turks from the lower end of this val
ley and have seized Bussorah, the
most important part of that region.
If hostilities should be pushed from
both directions, the forces of the allies
may meet midway of the valley and
occupy the whole of Mesopotamia.
This region was the most fruitful in
Asia in ancient times and supported
great empires, among which Babylon
and Ninevah became famous, but
Turkish misrule has made it almost
entirely barren. Plans for its recla
mation had been made by British in
vestors several years ago and con
tracts for the first work, consisting of
a barrage on a branch of the Eu
phrates, were signed in 1912. The
plans drawn by Sir William Wiilcocks
contemplate the Irrigation of 3,500,000
acres, at a cost o about $130,000,000,
and the total irrigable area is about
12,500,000 acres. If the Turkish blight
should be removed from the country
and if this work should be carried out,
we may see Mesopotamia recover its
ancient fame as one of the most fer
tile and populous regions of the earth.
Asiatic Turkey has been the scene
of the hottest rivalry between Ger
many, Great Britain and France. The
Bagdad 'railroad has been, in large
part, constructed by the Germans from
Anatolia through Asia Minor and
down to the Euphrates Valley to Bag
dad, work being prosecuted from both
directions. Aleppa is on a branch
running from Adana, in Southeastern
Asia Minor, to the Euphrates, and a
French line runs from that city
through Syria. The war promises to
decide whether the regeneration of
Western Asia is to be in British, Rus
sian and French hands or in those of
Germany.
What's the use of an army? We
only need General Hugh L. Scott to
talk to the bellicose In order to Insure
peace. His salary might be raised to
$50,000,000 a year and we should still
save that amount by hiring him and
disbanding the Army.
EVTL8 OF SINGLE CROP,
The plight to which the South has
been brought by its devotion to a sin
gle crop may be the opening of a new
era. In the very year when it has
produced the greatest cotton crop in
history its market has been tempora
rily destroyed and is only now being
revived. Cotton has been dragged from
its throne as king and is now a drug
on the market at or -below -cost of
production.
The South may now take to heart
the lesson learned elsewhere that it is
not safe for any section of the country
to plunge on a single crop. Oregon
and Washington are learning that the
growing of other grains, of beet and
other root crops and of alfalfa with
that of wheat is the sure road to soil
conservation and permanent prosper
ity. These states, also, produce fruit,
hops, dairy products and livestock.
The failure of one crop cannot now
reduce the whole inland empire to
poverty, as It did in the nineties. By
turning to other crops besides cotton,
the South may now play safe and may
escape the necessity of calling on the
Nation for help. Corn-growing is al
ready increasing, and other crops can
be grown as profitably.
The main difficulty in the way of
diversified farming in the South Is the
lack of the right kind of labor. The
negroes are the South's main reliance,
and they know little beyond cotton.
Education with special reference to ag
riculture is needed for diversified
farming according to modern methods.
This will come gradually from Tus
kegee and like institutions, and the
South will serve its interests best by
promoting education of the negroes.
DO NOT EXCLmB PATRIOTS.
The Senate has struck out of the
immigration bill a pernicious provi
sion, which was proposed by the com
mittee. This amendment would , have
excluded jiot only aliens who had been
convicted of or admitted the commis
sion of crimes, but those who were
accused of crimes. It would have pre
vented this country from becoming the
refuge og any person fleeing from
tyranny against which he had rebelled,
for it would suffice for an European
government to accuse him of some
non-political crime. That trick was at
tempted by Russia fn the case of a
man involved in, the disorders of 1905
who had fled to this country.
Our extradition treaties furnish am
ple means of securing the return to
a foreign country of persons accused
on sufficient evidence of a non-political
crime, and we should not, with
out discrimination, exclude all per
sons whom a foreign government
chooses to accuse. Caution in this re
spect is the more essential because thb
courts have held the decision of an
immigration inspector after private in
quiry to be final.
There is probability that as the re
sult of the war there will be consid
erable transfers of territory from one
nation to another, and any inhabitant
of annexed territory who might write
or speak against the change could bo
indicted on a trumped-up charge. Had
the rejected provision been adopted,
such a person would be automatically
excluded, though this Nation is largely
made up of such persons or their de
scendants. Were Germany formally
to annex Belgium, that provision
might exclude the most patriotic Bel
gians who aroused the wrath of the
conquerors.
EDWIN MARKHAM ON OREGON".
Edwin Markham's new book on
California will corns from the press in
good time to catch the wave of inter
est in the Panama exhibition. Cali
fornia and San Francisco with their
natural and artificial wonders will be
the goal of great travel next Summer.
We dare say thousands of the sight
seeing pilgrims will fortify themselves
by reading Markham's book. The
work does not confine Itself to Cali
fornia. There is a good deal in- it
about Washington and Oregon also.
Residents here will smile wishfully to
read of that part of Oregon where the
August and January temperatures
have not "varied over thirteen de
grees" for the last eighteen years and
wonder where it can be. Mr. Mark
ham erred by not locating it more
specifically. The pioneers will relish
his account of the old days when
shoals of salmon crow ding one another
out upon the banks of the Columbia
"overturned a stage coach" and the
annual migrations of red'-wlnged black
birds and pigeons darkened the skies.
All of them now sleep with the snows
of yesteryear.
Edwin Markham duly recounts how
Jonathan Carver saw this land in a
distant vision of the Imagination and
Invented for It the mysterious name
Oregon. Why does not somebody con
coct a plausible theory for the origin
of this word? It is so much like a
dozen others in various languages that
the correct etymology seems to hang
just ahead of one in the air. Markham
contents himself with timidly suggest
ing "Aragon" and believes It might
have been conferred by the old Span
ish adventurers. We receive the sug
gestion with a doubtful "perhaps." He
does his full duty by the quotation
from "Thanatopsls," passes Lewis and
Clark with a hasty salute and descends
upon the splendid days of Dr. Mc-
Loughlin, "the grand old man who
like another Mount Hood, dominated
that world of forest and water." This
is the most poetical characterization of
the kindly doctor we ever read and
it has the unusual poetical merit of
being strictly true. It will interest
Markham's readers to learn that he
was himself born in Oregon; at Ore
gon City, in fact, when that town
promised to be the commercial center
of the state. His people came overland
from Michigan in 1847 and the poet
was born five years later, in 1852.
It is pleasant 'to read Markham's
Intelligent notice of Jason Lee, who is
sometimes slightingly mentioned by
authors as a missionary to the good-
for-nothing Willamette Indians and
nothing more.- He says that "Lee's
work was the seed of Americanism in
the far Northwest. He was a man of
extraordinary zeal, a man afire with a
dream. . . . Like a wise man he
saw that religion must have an earth
hold, so in connection with his mis
sionary work he established several
farms and was the first Oregonlan to
turn to agriculture. He employed
every hour of his time in spreading
his gospel of religion and building the
ramparts of civilization." Markham
quotes T. T. Geer, who says that it is
impossible "to go beyond Jason Lee
in Oregon history. Back of him there
is a void, no schools, no churches, no
agriculture, no home." All this is so
Jason Lee comes more and more con
splcuously to the fore as the one big
American figure In Oregon's, pioneer
history. Remembering the full justice
he has done Jason Lee, we can easily
pardon Markham for dealing out the
"Whitman myth" as if it were really
historical. "It is believed," he says,
that Whitman's "earnest pleading
saved Oregon to the Union and has
tened her rise to statehood in 1859."
Markham does not forget to give his
readers some account of Oregon as
the state appears today. He speaks
of Portland as the "dominant" city,
compliments the University and Agri
cultural College and reminds the world
of the "Oregon system" with its fruit
In the shape of woman suffrage. Pro
hibition came, a little too late for spe
cific mention, but he pays his respects
to The Oregonlan, which "has the
aspect of a state institution," some
what like "the Times of London or
the Transcript of Boston." "visitors
are cautioned against overlooking the
Rose Festival and they are urged for
their own good to climb to Council
Crest "because from this lofty eleva
tion you can see the city of Portland
below you spread out trim and trig
like a corner of New England." He
adds that "the clean busy streets, en
girdled by groves of fir and cedar, are
brightened by rose gardens that are
roses all the year." The blooms are
particularly bright and fragrant this
December. It is a pity that the expo
sition pilgrims cannot see them in
their Wintry glory,
Markham grows eloquent over Ore
gon's scenery. "Both Oregon and
Washington," he writes, "can satisfy
the heart's desire for beauty of sea,
of lake, of peak, of forest. Everlast
ing, snows are on their mountain tops
and glaciers girdle the mountain
sides." He writes of the caverns in
Southern Oregon that "when lighted
by the torch of the explorer these
chambers take on a strange splendor
and seem as though they might be the
secret but spacious halls for the coun
cils of Kings." The Klamath country
wins still more ardent praise from
him. Crater Lake, its crowning glory,
is the great wonder of Oregon and
one of the great wonders of the globe.
Here is the truncated cone of Mount
Mazama that once stood tall and beau
tiful until his summit was suddenly
blown off by subterranean forces. A
great tragedy was enacted here before
ever the towers of Ilium vanished in
flame was enacted here in the old
abyss of the centuries, but has its
record only in the kalends of Chaos."
This is fine language; but not an atom
too fine for the subject.
But what of the voters? They howl about
bad government. They wail about taxes.
They shriek for economy. They groan and
they ululate. -They snarl ana tney ki
the elr, and they fill the land with their
lamentations. Portld Journal.
Thus our unhappy neighbor elo
quently reproaches a defenseless elec
torate for its heinous offense in elect
ing C. M. Hurlburt, Republican and
undesirable, over Roscoe P. Hurst,
Democrat, and friend of the Journal
and Governor West. The Journal, The
Oregonlan and other Portland news
papers joined in the effort to elect Mr.
Hurst; but they failed. Can it be that
the united influence of all Portland
newspapers, aided by the whole Dem
ocratic party, and all supporters of
good government, is not enough to
elect a Journal-West candidate?
The efforts of the Bachelors' Club
of Sliver Lake to secure brides from
the East are commendable, but this
is a "Made In Oregon" year and surely
there are plenty of young women in
Lake County of proper age, disposition
and other requirements to qualify.
The divorce mill ran lively Satur
day, eleven wives being given decrees
and sent onward rejoicing. The reel
ings of the eleven husbands were not
recorded, but can be guessed.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Clews, Jr., hav
ing each had an experience in divorce,
should be able to go through the pro
ceedings again like experts, if occa
sion should arise.
If snow falls to delight the boy who
has a sled and the man who owns a
sleigh, the ground will be Just rlgltt
to make the pleasure last a while.
Mr. Bryan must be tremendously
agitated by the German Ambassador's
showing of dum-dums, and Mr. Bryan
Is a military man of record, too.
Malheur people are preparing to re
sume drilling for oil and If eventually
they do not find it the sole reason will
be that it is not there.
Feed the birds, even the despised
sparrow. The example in persever
ance set by the pest is worth some
thing to somebody.
How sadly has Princeton wandered
from the precepts of its former presi
dent when Its students ask for military
instruction.
Taft says the recall makes jellyfish
of officials. That might be believed
where people have not enjoyed the ex
perience.
That Troutdale man who sheared
his "sheep in December is not having
his hair cut with clippers, it is safe to
say.
It has come to a pretty pass when a
bull must carry lamps in order to
escape being knocked out by an auto
Secretary Bryan should really de
liver one of his peace lectures to Rep
resentatlves Moon and Heflln.
As the allies gain a few hundred
yards a day, they realize that It is a
long, long way to Berlin.
Apples will be fine at Hood River
next year. The mercury dropped to JO
above the other night.
Washington will have three holidays
in a row. Who would not hold down
a Job in that state?
That 5 per cent Increase in rates
was all the roads needed to push the
optimistic button.
A white Christmas and the jingle of
bells will just suit Santa Claus when
he visits this city.
The question, who is winning In Po
land, depends on the origin of the dis
patches. It will he a merry Christmas in the
rail mills, carshops and locomotive
works.
Austrians pared the cheese rather
thin to float the latest war loan.
Even the great Morgan get stung in
a railroad deal once In a while.
Never mind the weather,
is on the way tomorrow.
Summer
Half a. Century Ago
From The Oregonlan, Dec. 20, 1864.
Navigation on the Columbia closed
yesterday, 10 days earlier than any
season in the memory of the oldest
inhabitant. The state of the river from
Portland to the Cascades is such that
officers of the Wilson G. Hunt decided
not to attempt a passage today.
On Saturday a lady passing along
Front street Just above Morrison got
her hoops and dress hitched to a box
and almost tore the delicate articles
from her person. Scarcely a day passes
without something of this kind hap
pening, and yet no effort is made to
clear the sidewalks.
The steamer Sierra Nevada, which
sailed for San Francisco yesterday,
carried $272,000 treasure, shipped by
parties as follows:
Wells, Fargo A Co $225,000
Laaa & niton.... az.uw
Others 15,000
Total $272,000
Sherman's victory In front of Sa
vannah was complete. With 20,000 men
he drove the rebels from their trenches
and utterly routed them, taking 1200
prisoners. Our troops were too tired
to follow up the advantage and the
enemy retired within the fortifica
tions of Savannah.
Richard Cobden addressed a great
meeting at Rochedale, England. Novem
ber 23. Adverting to the war in
America, he asked why the South, as
in other cases of rebellion, did not put
forth its grievances.. The reason was,
he thought, that it had but one. and
that was the perpetuation and exten
sion of slavery.
The . Dalles. Dec. 19. Passengers
down from Walla Walla yesterday re
port .the roads pretty tolerably rough
and the weather anything but warm
and pleasant in the upper country.
A dividend of 30 cents a share has
been declared on the capital stock of
the John Day Gold and Silver Mining
Company, and will be paid at the of
fice of President H. D. Green.
AFTER MANY TEARS.
"I'd just got my pension, your honor,
and thought it'd do me no harm.
My eighty-year bones bein' chilly, to
take in a bit somethinsr warm.
And while I was sippin' hot toddy old
Comrade O'Brien came in
And asked me to Join him with some
thing, and I took a hot toddy
again.
The two of us then got a-talkln' of
days when we toted a gun;
The marches and camps 'way down
yonder, and the desperate fightin'
we done.
And- one toddy follered another till my
legs reached a rubbery stage.
And when I got back to my senses I
found myself locked in a cage.
"What regiment? Ninth Indiana, in
Cap Baker's Company A.
Say, there was a soldier, your honor. I
had quite a time with one day;
'Twas at the big battle of Shiloh in a
desperate charge that we made.
Our regiment bein' pushed forward
again a whole rebel brigade.
When we got near their line chargin'
bay'nets the Colonel 'twas leadin'
us saw
He'd bit off a chunk o hard fightin'
'twas more than his soldiers
could chaw.
And ordered a fallirn' back over the
field strewn with wounded and
dead.
And it wasn't no leisurely movement
we hit the high places, by Ned!
"While the
yellln'
treat.
Johnnies. a-shootln' and
was follerin' up our re-
We passed Baker layin' there wounded
and tryin' to rise to his feet
I knowed 'twas the horrors of prison.
or worse, If we left him behind
And as quick as a flash of greased
lightnin'. or quicker, I made up
my mind.
I was young then, and husky, your
nonor. and was strong in both
body and limb
And I throwed Baker over my shoulder
and run like the devil with him
And while them reb bullets was hissin'
like venomous snakes in the air
I got him clear back out o' danger and
in the field hospitals care.
"His wound was a bad one, your honor
a ball had cut into his breast
Somewhere, we was told, in the region
of where his brave heart had its
nest,
And he had to go out o' the service un
fitted for duty, and say.
If he's yet in the land o' the Ilvln he's
cussm his luck to this day.
My savin' him got me promotion, and
I kep' cllmbin up till one day
I put double bars on my shoulders as
captain of Company A,
And after that day It was always my
leadin ambition and aim
To be gallant and brave as the captain
a rebel put out o the game.
"Don't hit me too heavy, your honor.
It's a good many years since I
had
A load in my system sufficient to put
my legs to the bad;
t know I deserve to be punished, but
I am a-hopin' you'll not
Be hard on a veteran soldier whose
pension is all that he's got.
The judge left his seat, and the people
assembled were filled with sur
prise
To see two old veterans standing and
staring in each other s eyes.
The crystal teardrops of remembrance
coursing down each old time-
wrinkled face
As the Judge of the court and the cul
pi-it were locked in each other's
embrace.
But the mystery was solved In a mo
ment by the grizzled old veteran,
who
Cried out In a voice all a-tremble:
"Captain Baker! My God, is it
you!
James Barton Adams,
Rifle Clubs In America.
MOSIER, Or.. Dec 18. (To the Edl
tor.) In answer to Mr. Hartman, of
Winberry, Or., who. In today's Orego
nian, commends the Sweedlsh system
of encouraging rifle practice, which
gives that Small country, with scarcely
5,0000,000 people, 170,000 well-trained
sharpshooters.
The United States has inaugurated
a similar and a better system, by act
of Congress, April, 1914. The War De
partment will now issue to civilian
rifle clubs affiliating with the Na
tional Rifle Association of America
Krag rifles and free ammunition to the
extent of one rifle to each five mem
bers and an additional rifle for every
man qualifying as "sharpshooter" or
"expert," and 120 rounds of ammuni
tion per man per year.
Club members may purchase then
their respective clubs' ordnance sup
plies at the same prices as furnished
the Army or militia. For example:
Krag carbines, $2.50; Krag rifles, $5;
New Springfield, ' $13.61; Krag ammu
nition, which retails at $5 per hundred,
$15 per thousand; New Springfield
ammunition, which retails at $6 per
hundred, $25 per thousand. Packing
and transportation to be paid by the
purchasing club.
Many other valuable privileges go
with club membership which space
here forbids enumerating. Clubs may
be organised with a minimum mem
bership of 10. For exact and com
plete particulars write Lieutenant
Albert S. Jones, secretary. National
Rifle Association cf America, 1025
Woodward building, Washington, D. C.
- A. J. EVANS,
Secretary Mosier Rifle Club.
ARM V FOR MEXICO IS NOT ASKED
Demand Is That Administration Cease
to Treat With Terrorists.
PORTLAND, Dec. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) The meeting held, on- last Sun
day in St. Francis Hall was called for
the purpose of taking action in regard
to the reign of terror in Mexico, and
the sympathy of our Government for
the terrorists. The meeting was a rep
resentative gathering of Catholics from
the different churches and organizations
of the city. They were law-abiding
citizens and good Americans, and con
ducted themselves in an orderly and
dignified way.
Judge Munly's references to the Pres
ident were marked by restraint, respect
and consideration for his high office.
After a reference to the President's
high motive in his treatment of Huerta,
the policy of the Administration towards
the constitutionalist leaders was sub
jected to criticism. The feeling pre
vailed at that meeting that the same
motives which caused the President to
reject Huerta should actuate the Ad
ministration with regard to the terror
ist leaders now responsible for the
deviltry In that unhappy land. That
meeting put itself on 'record as op
posed to the policy of friendly recog
nition of and co-operation with them.
Those assembled, and not Judge Munly,
take responsibility for the proceedings
of that meeting.
It is Inexplicable to them also that
Christian gentlemen at the head of our
Government should not, when knowl
edge Is brought home to them of the
savage deeds of these miscreants, cease
to treat with them, cease to co-operate
with them. Carranza has now defied
the Government. Villa is still in favor.
The Catholic people ask for no Army
to go to Mexico. All that they wish
is that the moral force. of our Na
tional Government should be exercised
against all such, and not in" their favor.
This course should meet the approval
of all good citizens without regard to
religion or politics. Judge Munly dis
tinctly disavowed any appeal to war.
and approved of the President's desire
for peace.
It is too late at this day to question
the patriotism of Catholics. It must
not be forgotten that among the first
who gave up their lives In the defense
of the flag at Vera Cruz was a Catholic;
that out of the 17 who fell, six were
Catholics. Nor can it be said that
Catholics have, at any time in any war
in which this country has been in
volved, failed to do their patriotic duty.
It is painful and discouraging to note
that outrages which vie in ferocity and
barbarity with those of the French
revolution should have failed to elicit
a public expression of abhorrence at
Washington, or stir the people of this
land, until Colonel Roosevelt's letter
called attention to the same. If Catho
lics failed to give him expression of
their gratitude for the service rendered
their sorely tried brethren in Mexico,
they would be less than human. That
their words of sympathy for the unfor
tunate victims of the lust and greed
and blood-thirstiness of the barbarian
Indian assassin. Villa, should fail to
receive a hearty response from any one
professing a love for civil and religious
liberty, is still more painful and dis
couraging. EDWIN V. O'HARA.
The Voter Who Did Kot Think.
PORTLAND, Dec 19. (To the Edl
tor.) I presume that more genuine
thinking has been given the prohibition
question since the Portland Retail
Druggists' Association uttered their
proclamation a fortnight since.
Their resolution to stand from un
der, expounding , the bald fact that
they refuse to be the goat this time,
as has been, customary in the past by
meekly accepting any imposition that
the public has seen fit to saddle on
them.
Many a weak-kneed brother is now
lamenting that he understood the pro
hibition measure to mean only the
abolition of the common saloon, and
now that the physicians have declared
that they will stand aloof by amputat
ing the booze prescription, the wise
heimer who was saying that "I know
where I can get it" is due for some
rude reversals since both the doctor
and druggist will ascend above the
scurrilous suspicion that would prevail
unless they established such an ulti
matum. We hope that the airtight squad will
make prohibition mean just what was
intended it should; and the mercenary
individual who whetted up his sclme
ter in anticipation of annexing oodles
of the tranquil mazuma will find -himself
holding the sack.
It may be true that drug substitu
tion has contributed to populating the
cemeteries; but it must be remembered
that old King Alcohol also has legions
of representatives in the silent cities,
not to mention the attrlbutary grief
and suffering that it has deflected
upon the innocent.
Yes, indeed, fellow prohibitionists (?)
the fiat will go forth at the specified
time, indorsed by that handsome ma
jority and with its edicts so sagely
commandered that those who injudi
ciously or maliciously Ignore Its man
dates will soon be brought to realize
that prohibition means the abolition of
alcoholic beverages beyond the bound
aries of Oregon Just as was Intended
by the ballot. Sympathetically yours,
THOMAS WRIGHT, Ph. Q.
No. 251 Halsey street, city.
Let Those Who Have. Spend.
PORTLAND, Dec. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) I read with interest the attitude
of the several matrons regarding the
simplicity of social functions.
Simplicity in itself is beautiful, but
when you say it assists the needy, it
certainly is a great mistake. There is
no better way for giving assistance
than entertaining as many do in the
absence of entertainments. The poor
charwoman receives the extra work;
the florist discharges help for most of
the flowers and plants are used for
decorating; the modiste discharges her
help she has no work and can not
keep the girls; the caterer employs
none; so you see there are all ranks
who will not have work.
I should like to see more elaborate
even lavish entertainments than
ever. The needy wish to work for their
money. . AN OREGONIAN.
OREGON WEATHER.
Say! This weather is surely good
Just like living on old Mount Hood.
If 'twould only get colder' and freeze
up tight
Why, I tell you, then it would be all
right
Then let us have a foot of snow
So the boys with - sleds can have a
show;
To hear the sleigh bells merry Jingle
And your nose get cold and your ears
just tingle.
O say! Wouldn't it all be simply
great
'Twould make a record for our old
state;
She and good New England would be
together
With this splendid crispy, wintry
weather. B. KUNYON.
Thursday.
PORTLAND, Dec 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly tell me on what day of
the week June . isus, reii.
MRS. F. W.
Twenty-Five. Years Ago
From The Oregonlan, Dec. 18, 1SS9.
Washington. President Harrison has
announced new treaty negotiations
with Canada, which will greatly In
crease the list of extraditable offenses.
Embezzlement will be one included.
Salem. W. C. Riggs was killed accl-
dentallv. according to the Coroner's
Jury that Investigated the killing.
which occurred near Sublimity last
night. He was shot accidentally by
Oran Hammond.
The Thomas Kay Woolen Mills Com
pany has filed supplementary articles
of incorporation. Squire Farrar,
Thomas Kay and C. P. Bishop are the
directors.
r? T Smith Vina rtnrnArl from SDO-
kane Falls, where he went in the In
terest of the railroad affairs under
his management.
J. E. Hedges, of Tualatin, 75 years
old, and a pioneer of 1851, is seeing
today after being blind in both eyes
for several years, due to hard cata
racts. On November 5 the operation
was performed by Dr. E. C. Brown and
yesterday Mr. Hedges received his
glasses and read from The Morning
Oregonlan. Mr. Hedges, until today had
been unable to guide himself about
even in his own home. Now he sees
comparatively well.
The First Regiment Oregon National
Guard has elected C. J. Wheeler secre
tary; D. J. Moore, treasurer, and the
following committee on the state: Ma
jor B. B. Tuttle, H. L. Wells, E. W.
Moore and Ben Smith.
It has been discovered that Mark
Twain's wife has written a book under
a fictitious name.
The Czar of Russia has issued an
edict forbidding applause in the the
aters of St. Petersburg. It lnterfere3
with his slumber during an after-dinner
performance.
S. A. D. Puter, the timber land agent
who had a narrow escape from con
viction for making fraudulent loca
tions, is again In the toils of the law,
this time on charges of larceny pre- '
ferred by C. li Clark, C. G. Newcastle.
W. L. Hetich. J. W. Campbell. John
Marshall and H. J. Morrison.
G. W. Bell, one of Yamhill's solid
farmers. Is in town for a few days.
Mr. and Mrs. J. T. McDonnell have
returned from their honeymoon and
will take up their domicile with Mrs.
McDonnell's parents for the Winter.
Strange Lack of Feeling.
PORTLAND, Dec. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) It is unfortunate that effort is
being made to becloud the Issue in the
matter of protests against the Mexican
outrages. It is not fair to treat Colonel
Roosevelt's letter calling attention to
these outrages as a pro-Catholic utter
ance Nor is it fair to treat Catholics
with suspicion and call them f on, en tors
of war because they meet to discuss
and denounce the torture and mutilia
tion of their non-combatant brethren
in Mexico. I am not a Catholic, but I
have read the Roosevelt article and
other accounts of the scenes that have
accompanied constitutionalist military
successes, and I marvel that any mo
tives whatever can restrain Americans
from united protest and effective ac
tion. President Wilson disapproved Huer
ta's assassination of Madero, and with
out declaring war eliminated Huerta.
Very well, then why is it to incite
war to demand that thl3 Government
shall cease to countenance crimes in
Huerta's successor that are infinitely
worse than murder?
We don't ask a man's church connec
tion before we rescue him from a burn
ing building. A few years back we
found unendurable the spectacle of
General Weyler's reconcentrado camps
in Cuba, and I do not recollect that
our sympathies were in the least
abated because the victims were Cath
olics. But even "Butcher Weyler" was
guilty of no such reign of terror as
that now existing in Mexico, and un
der the apparently complacent eye of
Washington.
Turkish atrocities stir our Indigna
tion. Russian persecution of the Jews
arouses our righteous wrath. But here
are things done equal to any knovrn
to history, done just over our border,
done by men whom our Government
has assisted to power. Here we have
a responsibility. It would be coward
ice, or worse, to evade it.
LOR A C. LITTLE.
Prescription Boose Also Fills Grave".
PORTLAND, Dec. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian appears a let
ter from Dr. G. T. Via, who appears to
be terribly worked up over tiie Port
land druggists' stand on the liquor
question. We are accused of forming
a "drug trust."
I may say that we have formed a
"trust," for decency and sobriety
and to put the kibosh on bootlegging
doctors.
The doctor truthfully says that grave
yards are filled by druggists who dis
pensed something just as good, but
there are also larger ones filled by
men who got their booze on doctors'
prescriptions. 55. M. CHASE.
A TOAST TO TUB MUTS.
Here's to the Muts! God bless them,
"Men united to serve;"
They give their time, their thought,
their help
To the poor without reserve.
How many a heart will lighter bo.
How many bodies warm.
With food and clothes and fuel
To guard from" Winter's storm.
To the eyes of many worthy
We know will come a tear.
When they receive "Muts' " welcome
offerings
With a touch of Christmas cheer.
How many a little child will laugh,
And clap its hands with glee.
When it gets Its gift from Santa
Off the "Muts' " own Christmas tree.
There may not be much In names.
But here's to "Muts" great and small.
For the good they do their fellows
God bless them one and all. ,
H. M. B.
Philosophy of n Beggar.
Sydney Bulletin.
Mendicant Can you spare a pore
bloke a trifle, mister? Minister
What! A big able-bodied man like
you begging? Mendicant Well, yer
got to be big an strong ter beg these
days wlvout gettln' "urt.
Food Education
The manufacturers of standard
pure food products are doing a great
work in educating the American peo
ple. They are raising the standards ot
living they are missionaries of good
health.
These pure food manufacturers are
swiftly and certainly driving out the
fakir and the dopester.
Advertising is their weapon, and
newspaper advertising their most
profitable one.
People have come to have faith In
the qualities of the food products
advertised in their newspaper and in
the merchants who sell them.