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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 28, 1914)
B THE MORNEfG OREGONIAX, MONDAY, DECEMBER 28, 1914. POBTUXD, OREGON Sntered at Portland, Oregon, Fostofflce as second-class matter. Subscription Rate Invariably In Advance: (By Mall.) Pally, Banday Included, one yaar S.OO Xally, Sunday Included, six months . .... 4.25 lJsily, Sunday Included, three month ... 2.Z5 XaUy, Sunday Included, ona monta . -JJ Xaily, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Ually, without Sunday, six months Jjaily, without Sunday, three-months ... l-'S Dally, without Sunday, one monta -P" Weekly, one year J-0 fcunday, one year fcundny and Weekly, ona year . a.0 (By Carrier.) XMtlly, Sunday Included, one year ....... I-?0 Jjaily. Sunday Included, one month ...... .'3 now to Remit Send postofflce money or cer, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postoffloe address In lull, including county and state. Fostcare Kate 12 to 18 pases. 1 cent; 18 Co i2 pages, 2 cents; 84 to 48 pases, S cents: CO to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to' 76 pages, a cents; 78 to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree Cm lln, Mew York. Brunswick building; Chi sago, Stenger building, San Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Com pany, T42 Market street. IOitTLA?fI, MOXDAI, DEC is, 1914. i otrrxooK for tee - xttw tear. The United States will enter the Mew year with nearly every obstacle to prosperity out of the "way and with many stimulants to prosperity In full operation. The farmers have been paid high prices for large crops. Many lines of industry are working- full force full time to supply war material, sales of which up to December are estimat ed at $500,000,000. Export demand, for iron and steel is steadily increas ing, and horns demand will surely in crease since the railroads have been enabled by the rate advance to resume buying. General construction and building have revived and will add to the demand. Merchants in the grain belt are settling old accounts and are buying more freely to met liberal buy ing by their customers. An expanding demand for every commodity seems to te the natural consequence. There i3 every reason in basic con ditions why business should flow In a full stream. With all its faults, the Underwood tariff is fastened upon the country for at least two and probably four or five years. Hence our manu facturers must adapt their business to It and make the best of it. They are being aided In this adjustment by the war, which has cut off a large meas ure of foreign competition at home and has offered to them a. splendid opening in foreign markets. Opening of the regional banks has inspired con fidence in financial conditions, has coincided with, If it has not aided in, the opening of a period of easy money and has assured the country of a vol ume of money corresponding to the volume of business. The anti-trust laws are the last legislation affecting business to be attempted by Congress for at least another year and probably during this Administration. Business men are, therefore, safe in adapting their methods to those enactments. The advance in railroad rates estab lishes the principle that public regu lation is not inconsistent with a fair profit on capital. That the spirit of this decision is generally abroad is noted by the Boston correspondent of the New York Evening Post in the remark that there is "an increasing tendency on the part of courts and public service commissions to stress the fact that .business enterprises, must be allowed sufficient profit to attract new capital." Reopening of the Stock Exchange has been followed by a considerable volume of European selling, but the minimum prices set by the exchange have prevented sales from becoming as extensive as was feared. On the other hand, the London agreement that banks should be at liberty to call loans whenever the collateral rose to the level of July 27 has prevented a rise to that level, since such a rise would bring a flood of selling orders. Thus the market has been operating under a maximum as well as a mini mum price list. London admits that, even within these limits, there have been realizing sales from Europe, part ly from the Continent, partly under the agreement mentioned and partly because banks desired to increase their liquid resources. Assurance given by the rate decision that railroads will be permitted to earn fair income and that Industries dependent on railroad pros perity will profit by the advance may well check the foreign selling move ment. The ease of the money market Is mien that the open market rate has declined more rapidly than the redis count rate set by the reserve banks, which have reduced the rate in the first month of operation from 6 to 5 per cent, and yet have made an insig nificant amount of rediscounts. The low rates are a recognition of a period of easy- money, but this has been caused by small demand. As business revives, demand will grow, but the Federal reserve system provides that volume of money shall grow in pro portion and secures us against gold exports unless an adverse trade bal ance warrants. We are more likely to Import than to export gold in the coming year. Our exports in the expiring year reached the unprecedented total of $200,000, 000, but our balance of exports over imports of commodities is growing so fast as more than to offset our foreign debts. This balance in November was $79,200,000, in October $57,300,000, and in September $16,900,000, August having shown a balance against us. Our export balance is still below the figures for corresponding months of 1913, but is decreasing rapidly. In October it was $81,600,000 under that for October, 1913, but in November the difference was only $17,700,000 and December may show an increase. The only influence likely to prevent im ports and cause exports of gold is heavy liquidation of foreign security holdings, which is not yet in sight. The favorable trade balance is being swollen rapidly month by month by the resumption of cotton exports to Europe. Two million bales have been shipped and this total may be enlarged before the new year, the chief diffi culty bein now to find ships. Cotton exports in November were less than half those in November, 1913, but in the first week of December "they were 80 per cent of the total for the same period of last year, and the second week showed an increase of 12 per cent. With exports of cotton again normal and those of foodstuffs and manufactures above normal, while im ports are far below normal, the favor able trade balance may soon grow to such proportions as to Justify gold im ports, even after offsetting consider able unloading of American securities by Europe. Our wheat crop for 1914 is estimat ed by the Government to have been worth $878,680,000-on the basis of De cember 1 prices, or $202,000,000 more than the most valuable previous crop. The cotton crop was estimated to be worth $306,000,000 less than that of 1913, but the others among the twelve great crops showed such an Increase as to reduce the total falling off In value compared with 1913 to only $21,. 000,000. The December report on Winter wheat showed a condition 9 per cent lower than in December, 1913, but an increase of 11 1-8 per cent in acreage, indicating that the to tal yield in 1915 will about equal that of 1914, though estimates based on December reports are unsafe. -Reduction of European production of wheat by the war holds out prospects of a large decrease in the world's total and of consequent high prices and large foreign demand. Steel has been recovering from de pression, foreign sales having grown from the low level of August to a point beyond the average for the first six months of 1914. December orders showed a decided improvement over November and renewed demand for railroad and building materials has made manufacturers unwilling to take orders at present prices except for im mediate delivery. As to general business, Boston be lieves that for months to come the vol- j ume will be below normal, but that the period of disintegration has ended and that of reconstruction begun. In manufactures Philadelphia reports that a reassuring turn followed the rate decision, though business con tinues backward, but that city looks for a large export business. For the Pacific Coast all these con ditions warrant predictions of a ready market for foodstuffs, an Increased demand for lumber, renewal of rail road construction and more capital for general development. FORETASTE OF' FUTURES TROUBLE. The abortive Insurrection in the Philippines is but a foretaste of what may be expected if the Filipinos are given full control of the government before they have completed their edu cation in democracy. The Administra tion proposes to cut short this educa tion, for the pending bill would hand over the government to a Filipino Senate and Assembly and Filipino heads of departments. The United States would retain no control over the government except through the limited veto of the Governor and the absolute veto of the President. When these people have an early prospect of obtaining almost complete control of their own affairs, they plot rebellion for the purpose of obtaining complete Independence. What may we then expect if we hand over control of both the legislative and executive branches of the government to them? They would surely use their power to organize a revolt designed to wipe out the last sign of American supremacy. The mass of the Filipino people are content with American rule, for it re lieves them from oppression, but the politicians clamor for independence that they may be free to renew op pression and to perpetuate slavery. Those persons who imagine that the Filipino politicians would be restrained by gratitude from this course Ignore facts of recent history. When the Spanish war broke out, Aguinaldo proposed to the junta at Hongkong that arms should be obtained from the United States to be used first against the Spaniards and then against the Americans. The rebellion against us in 1899 was to have begun with a wholesale massacre of Americans in Manila, just as was the recent abortive rebellion to have begun wtih a mas sacre on Christmas eve. The policy which to men like Secre tary Bryan appears magnanimous, to the Oriental mind appears weak. It wins not gratitude, but contempt. The Oriental yields to nothing but superior force, and, when the Occidental yields anything to him, the Oriental inflates himself with the idea of his omnipo tence and imagines that the Occidental released his grip because he was too weak to hold on. Only by such grad ual yielding of power while keeping a strong hand on the reins as character ized the former administration of the Islands can we give them self-government without instigating efforts to drive us out completely. CITY POTTERS DETESTED. On rehearing in the case involving the constitutionality, of the motor vehicle law the Supreme Court has handed down an opinion more explic itly defining the exclusive powers con ferred on cities and towns by the home rule amendment to the constitution. The. home rule amendment gives to cities and towns exclusive power to amend or repeal their own charters or the ordinances enacted in pursuance thereto. This power, It is stated in the amendment, is subject to the criminal laws of the state. The motor act was held unconstitutional in the original opinion because it attempted to regu late automobile traffic within Incor porated cities. On rehearing it was pointed out that the motor act prescribed penal ties for violations and was, therefore, a criminal statute and within the authority of the Legislature to enact. At the time the original opinion was rendered the fact that the Supreme Court apparently ignored the criminal features of the law gave rise to some undue alarm as to the validity of crim inal statutes of a more serious char acter. It was said that the construction given the amendment erected a state within a state wherever an incorpor ated city existed. In the later opinion the Supreme Court does not depart from its former ruling, but passing on the criminal phase of the motor act holds that the Legislature is restrained only from legislating in criminal matters affect ing those subjects that are purely local and municipal in character. As to being miniature states, more over, the court points out that sover eignty remains in the people, who speaking through the Initiative, may legislate on all matters unless re strained by the Federal or state con stitution. This very effectually dis poses of one lawyer's contention that the prohibtlon amendment recently enacted by vote of the people will be inoperative in certain cities that have adopted liquor legislation to the con trary. One perplexity that the court fore sees and mentions in the opinion will be to define the boundaries of purely municipal legislation. But this per plexity is disposed of as being the "handmaid of many legal rules that either entwine or shade into each other without regard to the layman's dislike for complexity in legal Juris prudence." But we are inclined to believe the lawyers will pay more attention to it than the laymen. The distinction be tween purely municipal legislation and that necessary to proper government of the state at large ought not to be difficult for common sense to distin guish. But there are always lawyers ready to discard common sense for technicality in hope of saving a client or winning his case. It CANT KB DOVE. The "wet" forces in the State of Washington have not yet learned that it is as true of direct legislation as it is of actual warfare that a divided army is more easily defeated than one which preserves its unity. Several proposals have been made for eliminating some of the more dras tic features of the new prohibition amendment in that state, and it is in dicated that the breweries and hotels will unite on one which, if adopted, will enable the breweries to exist and permit the hotels to serve liquors with meals, but will not save the saloons. The Legislature will be asked to submit some such measure next Fall to a special election. The saloon inter ests In the meantime are preparing a petition asking the Legislature to sub mit an alternative measure limiting the number of saloons, raising the licenses and more severely regulating the liquor traffic. A special election with two such measures on the ballot would be a waste of money. It is obvious that the saloons and all the voters they could influence would work against the hotel-brewery measure and offset all the votes that the latter combination could hape to win over from the dry majority. Nor is it within the bounds of human nature for the hotel and brewery interests to submit to as saults from the saloon interests with out fighting back and thus Join the drys in defeating the saloon bilL These observations are not offered as advice to the brewery, hotel and saloon interests of Washington, but to press home what must ultimately be come an axiom of direct legislation. Competitive measures almost Invaria bly defeat each other. It is practically impossible to obtain an intelligent expression of prefer ence between alternative measures submitted at the same election. Every principle advanced has its opponents, each of whom will vote against both measures. Nearly every voter favor able to the main Issue involved will find some reason in the details to vote against one or the other, casting an affirmative vote only for the bill which most nearly accords with his own ideas. . The odds are overwhelm ing in favor of the defeat of both, even though the main purpose of both may fulfill the desire of a majority of the voters. starving: the navt. So far as the Democratic party has provided at all for Increase of the Navy, it has limited its action to mak ing a showing by building more bat tleships. It has not built enough of these, setting at naught the advice of the General Board, but It has been even more seriously derelict in not providing ships of other types for of fense and defense, and it has been culpably negligent in not providing auxiliaries, without which the battle fleet's activity would be much re stricted and might be crippled. As our Navy now ' exists, it is topheavy with big ships. In order to establish a properly proportioned Navy, we should continue to build battleships at the rate recommended by the Gen eral, Board, but we should also build a much larger number of other ships and thus make up for the neglect of the past. The General Board pronounces the destroyer "next in importance to the battleship," and says that "a well-balanced fighting fleet" should have "four destroyers to one battleship.'.' It therefore recommended that six teen destroyers be included in the 1916 programme. Secretary Daniels made provision for only six in his es timate, notwithstanding his admission that "the opinion of the General Staff is entitled to great weight." Stress is laid by the General Board on the fact that "for several years all leading navies have been striving to perfect a submarine ... to ac company the fleet and act with It tac tically." It says that the one great difficulty has been overcome and it recommends provision for three, which with one already authorized would give four .and "be the beginning of a powerful arm of the fleet." Mr. Dan iels admits that during the present war the submarine "has astonished the world by Its ability to sink cruis ers and other craft." These feats "must have been performed by seagoing sub marines, for they were performed far from the base, but the Secretary ignores the distinction and enters upon a discussion of submarines- in general without discriminating be tween the seagoing and the coast de fense type. He boasts about the rela tive strength of our submarine flo tilla, ignoring this important distinc tion, and then recommends one sea going boat of this type for""the 1916 programme, cutting down the General Board's estimate two-thirds. Of coast defense submarines, of light draft that they may operate in -shallow waters, the General Board recommends six teen, but the Secretary cuts the num ber down to Beven or more. Our greatest deficiency is in the construction of cruisers and scouts, of which, the General Board says, none have been provided since 1904. It continues: This leaves the fleet peculiarly lacking In this element so necessary fur Information In a naval campaign and of such great value in clearing the sea of torpedo and mining craft, in opening and protecting routes of trade for our own commerce and In closing and prohibiting such routes to the commerce- of the enemy. Force is added to these observations by a consideration of the work done by cruisers in the war. German cruis ers have damaged British commerce to an extent out of all proportion to their numbers, though they had no bases and were compelled to get coal from captured ships and by subter fuge. British cruisers have finally run them down and sunk them. German cruisers have bombarded English coast towns after a rapid dash across the North Sea and have acted as "mother ships" to submarines and mine-layers, which have done great execution. Except for these raids, British cruisers have kept the German fleet bottled up, have kept the English channel clear for transports, have sunk many German ships and have cleared the seas for British commerce. Yet Mr. Daniels rejects the General Board's recommendation that four scout cruis ers 'be provided and recommends none. The General Board's advice as to air craft, given a year ago, has been almost totally ignored. It then pro posed the purchase of fifty aeroplanes, one fleet dirigible and two small dirigibles, but it says the Navy now has only twelve aeroplanes, "not more than two of which are of the same type and all reported to have too little speed and carrying capacity for serv ice work." The Board says: In view of the advance made In areo nautica during the past year and the demon stration now being made of the vital Im portance of a proper air service to both land and sea warfare, our present condition can be described as nothing less than de plorable. Air craft are the eyes of both armies and navies, and It Is difficult to place any limit to their offensive possi bilities. In our present condition of nnpre paredness In contact with any foe possessing a proper air service our scouting would be blind. Mr. Daniels glories in the achieve ments of aeroplanes at Vera Cruz and shows full realization of the possibili ties of air craft as demonstrated in the war. He admits that "the devel opment In the manufacture of these craft in this country needs to be stim ulated." He has established a flying school at Pensacola and has ordered foreign aeroplanes to be tested in order to determine which type Is best, but the war has prevented delivery. He has ordered a larger number In this country, has organized a volun teer air militia and promises to "de velop this branch of the naval service steadily and rapidly," but he makes no definite recommendation, while the General Board asks for $5,000,000 and declares the need urgent. The Navy is declared by the Gen eral Board to be "very deficient in gunboats," only a very limited num ber of the thirty we have being avail able for general service. Three have been withdrawn from the naval militia "because of the crying need for more gunboats" and "it has been necessary to detail battleships, large cruisers and destroyers to do gunboat duty." The Board recommends that a beginning be made by building four gunboats, but Mr. Daniels asks Congress for only one. Gunboats have been doing good service in bombarding the Germans along the Belgian coast, where the water is too shallow to permit larger ships to come within effective range, but this lesson of the war is ignored. The Senate has received a report from the Commerce Department showing that 101 foreign vessels of 361,078 gross tons had been admitted to American register under the new registry law between August 18 and December 12. A large proportion of these vessels was already owned by American corporations, such as the Standard Oil Company and the steel trust, hence the transfer does not in volve any change of ownership In such cases. There will never be any considerable-increase in the number of vessels flying the American flag in normal times until we revise our ship ping laws. President Wilson deliber ately turns aside from this effective cure to the dangerous makeshift of Government operation of merchant ships. The non-partisanship of Democrats is reserved for Republican states where they are trying to get office or for occasions when they need Repub lican votes to pass Democratic bills. President Wilson, in his search for suitable men to compose the Federal Reserve Board, picked eight Demo crats and no Republicans. He found the Civil Service Commission com posed of two Democrats and one Re publican, his Republican predecessors having kept it free from partisan taint at the expense of their party. He re moved the Republican and one Demo crat and appointed a Democrat and a Progressive. The Board thus reor ganized has been examining candidates for fourth-class postofflces. Should the Russian armies reach Cracow and the line of fortified towns which guard Germany's eastern bor der they would need heavy guns In or der to reduce those fortresses. As Russia is probably as deficient in gun ners as In guns,, it would not be sur prising if some of the Japanese artil lerymen who fought against Russia at Port Arthur and Mukden should fight for Russia in Poland and Galicia and bring Germany face to face with "the yellow peril." Will there be any ships of the bel ligerent powers in the Panama Canal marine parade? That depends on whether the British navy first captures or sinks the remaining German raid ers. It would spoil the festivities if the Dresden or Karlsruhe were to meet the British ships on emerging from the canal and begin a battle. General Hugh L. Scott's success In stopping hostilities at Naco by conver sation was largely due to the presence of American forces ready to shoot. That is the kind of conversation Mex icans can understand, in any language. It is as well that the Socialist peace conference Is confined to neutral na tions. Socialists from belligerent na tions could only attend by obtaining leave of absence from the firing line. As Commissioner Brewster's scheme of perfection includes polished shoes, a "shiner" is to be installed in the City Hall. Can the work be done dur ing city time? The Norwegian bark Padang dodged news of the war by having no wire less. In no other way can a man cut himself off from the world by going to sea. The attention of the great pacificist, W. J. Bryan, is invited to the pacify ing effect of American guns on the Turkish mob in Syria. Armies nowadays burrow like moles or fly like birds. They show great repugnance to fighting on the surface of the earth. Who would not prefer even an Ore gon east wind to the frigid zephyrs which are, blowing over the Middle West? There is Intense hunger among the Mexican poor, only they do not know how to appeal to the nearest neighbor. Escalators are coming. The esca lator is a relief to the wearied shop per and not an amusement feature. What will menageries do for wild animals when all the Hagenbecks Shall have been killed in war? Actual fighting men now' number 18,500,000, a figure almost too large for comprehension. The French and English reply to German Zeppelin raids is that two can play at that game. A revolt of Hindus will put them out of the British frying pan into the German fire. Who' will remain at large to run the state if all the Indiana politicians are imprisoned ? Fog disheartens the bomb-dropper, butjenables him to get away. Helena of Italy is matching with the Czarina. - Ode to the Departing Year By Dean Collins. Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky; Unto the whole wild world ring out, In tones insistent, clear and high! The Old Year, now about to -go. Hath caused much trouble here below Ring out wild bells and chase him out. Ring out, wild bells, till clangor piled On clangor, shakes the atmosphere. You have good reason to be wild At all the passing year hath done. At last, we have him on the run. Let's not let up on this Old Year. Ring out the recent money pinch. And ring for better times to come. Ring hard, or else, it is a cinch That I and certain chaps I know Will shortly be compelled to go Declare a moratorium. Ring out Incessant talk of war: I do not like the martial god; Somehow I've lost all lnt'rest for The dope from London and Paree; The Berlin news is nix to me; Ditto the wires from Fetrograd. This gaffer Year's a, shameless cuss. And riotous was his career With war, confusion, panic, fuss Ring them all out relentlessly; Invertebrate diplomacy. Ring it out, too. with this Old Year. Ring out, wild bells, the ancient Year; For he hath surely made us mad. Nineteen fifteen, it doth appear Across the door-mat would advance. So ring him in and take a chance Let's hope he's better than his dad. CdRNEH GROCERY STATESMANSHIP Gathered in Winter in Hollister's store Down at the Corners I reckon there's more Argument wasted in Jawbony fight. An' chawln' tobacker chawed every night. By us fellers, by Jove, Settln' 'round the big stove. Than back there in Congress a thunder in' sight. "This 'ere prohibition," said. Archibald Jones, In what you might designate spread eagle tones, "Is groin' to make the dry fellers dis cover The whole durned, expansive, drouth stricken land over. That they made a mistake In a-makin' the break They'll chaw straw instead o' prosper ity clover An' find it dry eatin. Why, darnlt, look 'ere. When the income is snatched offn licker an' beer. An' the licenses stopped that we git from saloons. They'll find themselves whlsselln' dif ferent tunes; They'll git the big tax Where the hen got the ax, An' 'twill stuff 'em plum full o' regret able prunes." "Yer 'way off yer base," said Ezeklal Plumb, "There's plenty more things they kin tax 'stead o' rum There's luxuries plenty the taxes kin hit That only the rich kin afford fur to git. An' cash kin be got Fur the Treasury pot "Thout a-hlttin' us commoner people a bit. Don't you think I am right, Mr. Editor Whiter Then Editor White, as had come out from town On a business mission to try to run down Some delinquent subscribers, replied: "We have thought A man in our lofty position should not Discuss public questions of moment save through Our thought-moulding medium, the Weekly Bazoo, Where thousands could gather the rich golden grain We sow from the bin of our masterful brain. But this we will say. In a general way. That mayhap some money now squan dered for rum. And other vile stomach destroyers, might come To aid in the work we endeavor to do With our gifted pen through the afore said Bazoo. If every booze fighter residing within The reach of our trenchant, industrious pen Would Join our subscribers our glad heart would dance With pleasure one dollar a year in ad vance And if any of you honored gentle- . men think The investment a good .one please pass up the chink." Quick the subject was changed to the Wienerwurst trust And the editor faded away In disgust. And Hollister said. With a wag o' the head: "I'd orter have told him you spouters of gas That's tackelin" questions clear out o' your class Couldn't skin up a dollar among you, I swear You're dang shy o' cash but flush with hot air Or mebbe you'd ante up what he called chink 'Stead o' standln' me oft fur the cider you drink." James Barton Adams. Information mu to Ginseng, ALBANY, Or., Dec. 25. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly give me the address of our U. S. Minister to China. I desire to write him relating to the Chinese root ginseng. S. S. A. For information of this kind do not write to the U. S. Minister, but to one of the American Consuls. The most esteemed variety of ginseng Is grown in Cores. If your inquiry pertains to cultivation simply, address "To the American Consul at Seoul, Corea," but quicker returns can probably be had by asking Representative W. C. Hawley, Washington, D. C to procure consular reports or Agricultural Department bul letins on the subject for you. Maine Is Dry. VANCOUVER, Wash.. Dec. 26. (To the Editor.) Is the State of Maine dry, and if so. how long has it been dry? Has it ever been wet, and if so, how long? SUBSCRIBER. Maine's first prohibition law was enacted in 1846. It was strengthened in 1851 and prohibition was made a constitutional amendment in 1884. The state has never abandoned the principle since its first adoption. Baca: Stamping Discontinued. PHOENIX, Ariz, Dec 22. (To the Editor.) In some of the towns I have been in the time and date of the ar rival of the letters are stamped on the envelope and some are not. Why is this? And is it obligatory on the part of the postmaster to do so? G. C. K. Back-stamping was discontinued all over the country, to facilitate distribu tion, two years ago. No License Is Required. PORTLAND, Or., Dec. 28. (To the Editor.) Kindly tell me whether fire men and stationary engineers require a license in the State of Washington. COJNSTANT HEADER, ALL ARE ENTITLED TO SAFETY Government' Whleu Palls to Protect Citizens on Border Is I nworthy. HOOD RIVER, Or., Dec. 26. (To the Editor.) I would like to say a few words in commendation in regard to Mr. Garrison's recent article relating to our present military establishment. For the strong, bold and comprehensive statement as to the military technic of our beloved country his statement is worthy of the admiration of any pa triotic citizen. How strange, indeed, will his article seem when brought into comparison with some foolish and childlike statements which very re cently emanated from some of our leading public men. I wish in this communication to call particular attention to Mr. Bryan, Sec retary of State. He seems to be the champion of a certain class of Ameri cans who would, for a passing foolish sentiment flagrantly neglect to have the United States prepare the proper means for self defense to maintain our very existence in the common family of nations. If I may be permitted to turn back a few pages of our recent history, I can refresh the minds of many of my fellow-countrymen of the many erroneous positions of our peace loving Secretary of State, who has ever taken a stand against the soldiers of the United States, accusing them of things of which they never even dreamed. In 1900 Mr. Bryan went the length and breadth of the land of ours, crying out to the people that Mr. McKinley's policy in the Philippines was im perlalsm, and that that little handful of loyal officers and soldiers of the Eighth Army Corps were accessories and copartners in the great imperial plot which could forever throttle free government in the United States. But how truly false and wrong this great peace advocate has been demonstrated in the light of following events. Fif teen years have passed. That formid able army has been mustered out and taken places in the walke of civil life. Some of this mighty, imperialistic army can be found in most any com munity in the State of Oregon, quietly going along attending to their affairs in almost all lines of business. So thus our worthy Secretary of State's predic tion of evil has come to naught. When Oliver Cromwell's great army was discharged many writers of that time predicted that this large body of soldiers would become a. menace to the English people. But the historians of that time tell us a very different story. It is so reported that a person traveling about the island and per chance in some quiet hamlet came across a tradesman or a workman who was unusually thrifty and industrious. You would be quite safe in venturing an opinion that this diligent man was one of Cromwell's old Ironside soldiers, for they invariably commanded the re spect and admiration of all who came in contact with them. It was this body of men who wrung the liberties of the common people of England from the hands of tyrants and placed England in the front ranks of the nations of the earth. This samo story was suns by some of the press in the United States at the close of the great Civil War. But again how truly was the error demonstrated. In a few weeks after the grand review in Washington, this vast army of a million men stacked their muskets and joined the great tide of citizens, and were soon swallowed up in the great strain of business ac tivity. Their record for the past 50 years is something of which any true American may Justly feel proud. From this army came four Presidents of the United States and a long list of some of the most famous men of this age. 'Mr. Chief Justice White of the Supreme Court of the United States was a Con federate soldier. All of these every day facts go to substantiate Secretary of War Garrison's statement that good soldiers make good citizens. The dally papers stated Just a few days ago that 42 persons have been wounded and some killed along the Mexican border, all of whom were peaceful citizens. Among those in jured were women and children. Two of those killed were United States sol diers on border patrol. And next comes the most disgraceful affair put into print this astounding news that the American soldiers have intrenched to protect themselves from the friendly bullets of the Mexican belligerents. This move, to my mind, so humiliating to my point of view that to describe my feelings in this matter, words fail me entirely. The very thought is hu miliating to the last degree. General Sherman, in his '"Personal Memoirs," states that he knew full well the day before the Battle of Shlloh that he would be attacked by the Confederates on the following morning, yet he pos itively refused to allow his men to in trench. He wished to demonstrate to his soldiers that they were there to fight and to take the offensive in the enemy's country. This recent pro cedure on the Rio Grande is enough to cause that stern old soldier to turn over in his casket. Perhaps our worthy Secretary of State sees a fine piece of statecraft in this recent affair. But to a man who loves and respects his own Government, it seems like the distant strain of the funeral dirge op its sol emn march to the cemetery to lay away the last vestige of National pa triotism. My idea of the Government that we most need is this: First, to protect every citizen's life, liberty and prop erty on land or on sea, wherever ths dominion of Government may be. I maintain that it is the duty of the United States Government to grant equal protection to all of her citizens at all times. The child that plays In Its mother's dooryard on the Mexican border is entitled to the same degree of safety and protection as the babe that plays in the shadow of the Bunker Hill Monument. And any government which falls short of such protection Is not worthy of the name of government amongst men. I will always hold my self subject to call to the colors if necessary to maintain such conditions. ROY D. SMITH. ROADSIDE GIFTS. BY JOSEPHINE HAMMOND. Roadside gifts on Life's Foot-way, Pick ye, pluck ye while ye may. TELL US. MASTER, WHAT ARE THEY ROADSIDE GIFTS ON LIFE'S FOOT WAY? MINTED GOLD AND PLACE OF MIGHT? SKILL TO MAKE THE WRONG READ RIGHT? Nay, nay These come not on Life's Foot-way. Flush of dawn on furrowed seas; Sting of salt o'er wind-swept leas; Cadenced sough of swaying trees; Blaze of logs in camp or home; Tang of earth in fresh-turned : loam ; Boom of waves that break in foam; Yea, yea These the gifts on Life's Foot-way. Gleam of dew-set buds in Spring; Fragrance rare the May-bloom bring; Lilt of songs the robins sing; Shine of star in rose-dust glow; Odors sweet where night winds blow; Lisp of children praying low; Day by day Come these gifts on Life's Foot-way. Sights and sounds and odors sweet Dally grace with daily meat. AND THE PRICE THAT WE MUST PAY - FOR THESE GIFTS ON LIFE'S FOOT WAY? Love's the coin that buys for aye Roadside gifts on Life's Foot-way. (Copyright by Josephine Hammond.). Twenty-Five Year Ago From The Oreionlaa, December 27, 1S89. R. B. Albertson, City Attorney of Seattle, has received a very unique and valuable Christmas present from his father. Judge J. W. Albertson. of North Carolina. It consists of a com mission granted Mr. Albertson's great grandfather, Elias Albertson. by Pres ident George Washington, as Inspector of revenue for the Port of Newblggin Creek. N. C. The commission is dated March 8. 1792, and bears the auto graphs of George Washington and of Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of State. W. S. Grady, Jr, a brother of the late Henry W. Grady, editor of the Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution, la now at Toledo. Or. He was until recently a clerk on the Slletz Reservation, having come to Oregon for his health. Like the great editor who died a few days ago, W. S. Grady, possesses marked Journal lstlo ability. At Corvallis last Saturday evening F. S. Craig, editor of the Corvallis Gazette, suffered a most peculiar stroke of paralysis. While he was talking with some friends about paralysis be was suddenly seen to totter and fall to the ground. He was u: able to move a muscle. Medical attention was sum moned quickly and it was some time before he could move to speak. The employes of the Oregon Furni ture Factory gathered at the office of their foreman. A Rueppell, and pre sented him with a cane as a token of their esteem and in appreciation of his courtesy and fairness toward all of the employes. A movement is on foot a start a popular athletio club in Portland with headquarters at the Mechanics' Pavil ion. If W. J. Morgan receives suffi cient encouragement. Professor Cor bett probably will remain in Portland to .take charge of the club. Charles Miller, who was reported in the Baker City papers as lost in the snow, is alive and well in Portland. He was In the mine In the Greenhorn Mountains when the snow came and stayed longer than he intended. His friends sent a man out to hunt for him, which probably gave rise to the report. Sol Blumauer, of the firm of Hexter, May & Co., is recovering from an at tack of typhoid, which has kept him confined for several weeks. W. J. Faubion, of La Camas, and Miss A. C. Long, of Cole's Addition, were married at a "surprise" ceremony at the Evangelical Church in East Port land Christmas eve. It had been an announced there would be a wedding as a part of the evening's programme, but the names were kept secret, there by causing much speculation and in terest. W. D. Pape, City Treasurer of East Portland, has returned from Puget Sound. Julian Hawthorne has been making an earnest endeavor to obtain accurate information concerning men of promi nence and events In the history of this state, which he is using in his history of Oregon. Half a Century Ago From Tho Oresonlan of December 28, 18(14. The London Times has established an unenviable reputation for itself during the progress of the American conflict, not more by Indulging In a series of prophetic visions of Federal defeat and Confederate success than by a contin ual venting of miserable spite against our nationality and our cause. Invari ably the Times has missed it. Lisle Lester will go to Salem today and will read there on Thursday. We hope the people there will remember the Pacific Monthly, a magazine repre senting the Pacific Coast and striving to cultivate a worthy taste for home literature; and also that they will not forget to hear the reading of the editress. Captain Borland, we learn from a friend writing from Canyon City, has raised 36 men of the 70 demanded of the new county of Grant. James O'Meara is retiring from the editorial charge of the Eugene City Review. Alfred Wilson, of Yamhill County, raised a fine crop of potatoes tlie last season. We are informed that lot) pounds, nearly two bushels, were taken from a single hill. They are of the Red Kidney variety. The public of Portland has had an opportunity the last two nights to wit ness the excellent acting of those dis tinguished artists, Mr. and Mrs. Kean, and a remarkable cast in "Macbeth' and "Hamlet." The excellence of Miss Chapman and Messrs. Cathcart and Ev erette must also be acknowledged. A regiment of Belgian grenadiers has volunteered for Mexico on condi tion that they are to form the body guard of their Princess Charlotte of Belgium, now Empress of Mexico, and to be styled "Grenadiers de l'lmpera trlce." The New Year's ball will be given at Pioneers' Hall Monday night, January 2. It promises- to be the most brilliant social event of the season. The gen eral managers are A. B. Richardson and William Vincent. The managers are E. G. Randall, L C. Fuller, Joseph Buchtel, Captain Turnbull, J. W. Cook, J. W. J. Pearson, George Amidon. Charles Andrews, D. H. Wilcox. John Burns (Salem). H. II. McCord and R. S. McLeran. The floor managers will bo W. M. Blaln and H. H. Johnston. Mr. Brandeis' Address. PASCO, Wash.. Dec. 25 (To the Edi tor.) Please publish the postofnee ad dress of Louis Brandeis. Is he an at torney? E. R. C. Louis D. Brandeis Is a lawyer. His office address is 161 Devonshire street, Boston, Mass. Marriage Would Be Void. SHERIDAN, Or., Dec. 26. (To the Editor.) Please tell me if the marriage would be legal if a woman got a di vorce in Oregon and went to Washing ton and got married before six months had expired. A SUBSCRIBER. Making Friends for Your Store The readers of this newspaper are members of a numerous fam ily. Many of them are customers of your store, some of them your personal friends. If you watch the trend of these people's minds you will find they have faitb in this newspaper that they are influenced by it. Is it not natural that when these members of our newspaper family see in our columns the manufacturer's advertisement of a standard article their curiosity will be aroused? They will want to see the article they have been reading about and if they see it in your window they will step inside your store. We don't have to tell you that wear and tear on your store door hinge makes you no poorer. i