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POKTIxAXD. WEDNESDAY, IDC. 80. 1B14.
; 1 OCB RIGHTS AS A 'EUTIIAL.
President Wilson's protest to Great
t. Britain against unreasonable search,
seizure and detention of neutral ships
jr and cargoes will receive the united
approval of the American people. The
United States has suffered directly
enough damage from a war which is
i- not its affair without being injured in
y directly through interference with its
foreign commerce by belligerents. The
1 protest to Great Britain sounds the
keynote of our position when it says
f that commerce between neutral na
tions constitutes the normal relations
of peace and not - war, and that the
presumption of guilt cannot rest on
neutral shippers, but the burden of
proof must be imposed on the belliger
ent who interferes.
The nations had failed to agree
on a definition of contraband and of
the rights , of neutrals acceptable
both to belligerents and to neutrals,
and now It rests with each neutral to
decide what rights it will concede'lo
belligerents for their protection against
violation of neutrality by citizens of
the neutral. Great Britain has as
sumed the right to decide this point
as a belligerent, but it rests with the
United States to say how far this
Nation will submit to British exercise
of assumed rights without resistance.
There is no reason to fear that con
troversy on this point may lead to
war, for both nations have the best of
all possible reasons for not fighting.
Yet Great Britain is evidently going
as far as she safely can without pro
voking this Nation to arms, and Mr.
Wilson does well in warning her that
she has already passed the line of
Bafety and would better draw back.
The United States Government does
not deny the right of belligerents to
search neutral ships for contraband
destined to an enemy's port, nor does
It deny the right of belligerents to sat-'
lsfy themselves that contraband con
signed to a neutral port Is not really
destined for an enemy. This country
does contend, however, that these
rights can and should be exercised
with the least possible degree of In
terference with neutral commerce. We
maintain that it has not been so exer
cised, for on mere suspicion neutral
ships bound for neutral ports have
been taken far out of their course to
Britten ports, unloaded In the process
of search and In many cases found
Innocent of violating neutrality.
Every reasonable effort has been
made by the United States Govern
ment to satisfy Great Britain of the
non-contraband nature of cargoes be
fore ships sail, that expense and delay
might be avoided, and other neutral
countries have co-operated. Italy has
placed an embargo on exports of cop
per to belligerents, yet ships loaded
with that metal for Italian ports have
been diverted from their course and
their cargoes seized, while ships
bound for Scandinavia have not been
molested. .
It has been agreed that a British
Consul's certificate attached to a ship's
manifest. should be accepted as proof
of the character of the cargo, but
ships having such certificates have
nevertheless been detained. Either the
British government has not lived up
to its agreement or there is such con
fusion of counsel in London that the
Admiralty neglects to carry out agree
ments made by the Foreign Office.
The President's warning will have a
salutary effect if it results in better
teamwork between these two depart
ments. ' The necessity of more scrupulous
care In not unduly obstructing neutral
commerce has become Imperative
through the great enlargement of the
list of absolute contraband. Since
none of the belligerents Is bound by
. either the Hague treaty or the Lon
don declaration defining contraband,
each makes a list of Its own. Great
Britain and her allies have transferred
r some commodities from the non-contraband
or the conditional contraband
to the absolute contraband list, as de-
fined In the London declaration. They
have thus simplified their own work
m- and evaded financial liability, for they
i nave themselves accepted the prlncl
- pie that compensation must be paid
for conditional contraband seized by
i them and for detention of vessels due
to search which proved unwarranted.
! Changed conditions of warfare have
. brought about enlargement of the con
; traband list. For example, a century
i ego every country. Including England.
i produced enough food to supply Its
wn people and food was only war
material when sent to a hostile army
; for Its own consumption. At this time
i practically every European nation lm
; ports a large part of its food supply.
l armies include practically the whole
male population of military age and
J "war consists not only In fighting bat
In starving a whole nation into sub
mission, many materials, such as
I copper and chemicals, are now of the
j first Importance as war material which
f ormerlywwere never thought of in this
i
connection.
. This great expansion of the field of
i contraband to Include not only all the
; many materials now used in war, but
; every commodity the deprivation of
j fvhlch would help to cripple a nation",
renders the more necessary that this,
t the greatest among neutral nations,
should take a firm stand for exercise
; "With moderation of the right of search
5 and seizure by belligerents and against
extremes in that regard. If the mere
, suspicion of a belligerent's naval com
; wander that a cargo bound from one
i neutral country to another may ulti-
j mately reach an enemy is to be cause
for seizure, neutral commerce will
J soon be paralyzed. Neutrals may then
consider that, since they must suffer
V so severely by other nations' wars, they
. may as well make common cause
r against the nation which Inflicts such
Injury npon them. In order that its
. doctrines may -be abrogated once for
all and that by Its defeat the war may
be sooner ended and commerce may
resume Its normal course.
As Great Britain must be awake
to this possibility, ther la good ground
to expect tkat our protest, backed, as
It doubtless will be, by protests of other
neutral powers, will have Its desired
effect.
"VINDICATED."
The lay mind will have a great deal
of difficulty in understanding the
merits of the dispute over the Peni
tentiary revolving fund. The Supreme
Court has brought its profound legal
acumen to a solution of the problem,
and has divided, four to three.
Four Judges Join in an opinion that
Governor West, Treasurer Kay and
Secretary Olcott had a right to expend
the moneys in the revolving fund as
they pleased so long as the state was
the beneficiary of the expenditures.
Three Judges are equally emphatic in
the belief that the actio a of the three
state officers comprising the Peniten
tiary board was unlawful Seven
judges agree, however, that there Is
legally no such thing as a "revolving
fund."
It should be explained that the re
volving fund was created out of funds
derived from the sale of bricks made at
the State Penitentiary, and from rents
derived from the state's foundry plant.
As a part of his Justly famous prison
policy. Governor West caused these
moneys to be diverted to other uses
at the prison, without authority of the
Legislature. By a majority of one he
is "vindicated." But it was a close
call.
REAPPORTIONTdCEXT DITH C CLTIJCS.
The Oregonlan is in accord with the
opinions expressed by Mr. Davey in his
letter today on reapportionment to the
extent that it believes that in one of
the houses of the Legislature every
county should have an individual
member. This opinion The Oregonlan
has expressed numerous times. But It
is not likely that a reapportionment
can be adopted at the coming session
of the Legislature.
There is a constitutional limitation
on the membership of each house.
Each now has Its maximum number
and reapportionment on a rigid popu
lation basis of the members of the
House would be undesirable while the
total membership is confined to sixty.
It is not expressing a desire for greater
representation, but merely stating a
mathematical fact when it is said
that Multnomah County does not have
representation in the House in pro
portion to Its population. But to
give Multnomah larger representation
would deprive some of the counties of
much larger area of direct representa
tion, and, as Mr. Davey says, at a time
when they need it most.
On the other hand a reapportion
ment on the basis of a member to each
county with the surplus distributed
among the more populous counties
would be as harmful to the latter as
would reapportionment on a rigid pop
ulation basis be to the counties of large
area and small population. Distribu
tion of twenty-five members among
the populous counties would not give
adequate representation to each.
It is doubtful If any reapportion
ment plan that will be generally satis
factory can be devised so long as the
membership of the House is limited to
sixty and that of the Senate to thirty.
It is an interesting historical fact
that the creation of the National
House and Senate In the existing form
grew out of an identical controversy
between the large and small states.
The small states were appeased by giv
ing them equal voice in the delibera
tions of the Senate and the large states
were satisfied by granting them an
apportionment of House members on
a population basis. In view of the
admirable qualities of the plan as
demonstrated by the experience of
Congress it Is strange that the states
have not more closely adapted it to
their Legislatures.
misinformed.
How In the world the Philadelphia
Inquirer managed to extract from Ore
gon Information unknown to a single
Individual in this state Is one of the
mysteries of standpat journalism. It
Informs its readers that "Oregon, the
home of the initiative, referendum and
recall and of the direct primary, is
getting tired of fts fads and now pro
poses to returS to the older order. The
voters, if one can Judge by the senti
ment aroused and the pledges of mem
bers of the Legislature, will repeal the
direct primary law and either repeal
or greatly modify the initiative, refer
endum and recall statutes."
The best way to feel the pulse of
public sentiment In Oregon i3 to ex
amine the votes on measures in the
last election. As to pledges by mem
bers of the Legislature to repeal any
of the statutes mentioned, there are
none. .
Among the twenty-nine measures
voted upon last month was one pro
viding for a modified return to the
convention system of nominating can
didates for office. It was the worst
defeated measure on the ballot. -The
ratio against it was more than six to
one. One of the next worst defeated
measures was one that proposed to
curtail the initiative power in the en
actment of certain legislation.
Those who do not approve of direct
legislation, the recall or the direct
primary will have to look elsewhere
than Oregon for a material sentiment
opposed to the principles named. If
Oregon adopts legislation affecting
any one of them it will be no more
than enactments designed to prevent
frauds which have arisen under their
operation, but frauds that could hardly
have been foreseen In the absence of
experience.
A SCGCESTION TO DRAMA I-KAGUES.
In the ever stimulating Tale Re
view William C. De Mille says a good
word for the "Commercial Drama.'
He distinguishes sharply between "lit
erary merit" in a play and "dramatic
merit." Of course a play may have
both, but if it lack9 literary merit it
may still be good from the dramatic
point of view, which is the point of
view of audiences at the theater. They
buy their seats not for the sake of
hearing poetry or listening to witty
dialogue or eloquent speeches, so much
as to see a drama unfolded before
them. If this can be done without
uttering a solitary word, well and
good. Pantomimes have always been
popular and the movies do not lack
patronage for all their ' adamantine
silence.
Mr. De Mllle seems to think that
drama leagues miss the mark some
what by their resolute loyalty to liter
ature. They demand of the stage first
and always standard" prose or poetry.
But as a matter of fact those excellent
thing ar sure incidentals' to a coed
play. They do no harm, to be sure,
but it Is not always clear that they do
any good.
"The masses," says Mr. De Mllle
with keen Insight, "Invariably support
drama On its elemental merits and do
not deny its worth in its own field be
cause it may lack worth in the field
of literature." Since dramatic merit
Is truly an elemental thing discernible
to the instinctive multitude, he sees a
danger to the theater In those "play
going committees" which pass upon
plays for the whole league and would
like to pa6s upon them for the whole
town. Their point of view is sectional.
They are "class conscious" as far as
intelligence and taste are concerned
and thus are unfit "to -give a verdict
which Is fair to the real popular value
of the play."
Perhaps our drama leagues would
be improved by the membership of a
few bootblacks and banana peddlers.
If the art of the theater is to be uni
versal should not that class of people
have a voice in framing Its canons?
TAKE SALT WITH THEM.
It was a harrowing story that a resi
dent of Eugene, Or, received in a
somewhat roundabout way, about the
fate of a prisoner of war In Europe.
This prisoner, who had been fighting
with the allies, was captured by the
Germans. As the story runs, he was
permitted to write to relatives. In the
text of his missive he told of good
treatment, but incidentally suggested
that the stamp on his letter be pre
served, as it might become valuable.
This led to a removal of the stamp and
the revelation of a message written
thereunder that both his feet had been
amputated as penalty for attempting
to escape.
Since the incident was published, the
attention of The Oregonlan has been
directed to a similar story printed
in a Winnipeg newspaper. All the
details were the same, except that the
prisoner wrote under the stamp that
the Germans were starving him.
And -now comes a German with sev
eral newspapers from home which
contain the same sad tale. This time
It was a Bavarian who wrote from a
Russian prison camp. He, too, sug
gested that the stamp be preserved as
a valuable souvenir. Under the stamp
on his letter was a message. It. was
the same dreadful story of having had
his feet cut off for attempting to
escape.
The developments speak but one
moral. That is that stories of atro
cities coming from the seat of the war
are not often to be believed.
MfKKMAN'8 CHRISTMAS GUT.
General Sherman's Christmas pres
ent to President Lincoln fifty years
ago was the city of Savannah. He had
actually gained possession of the place
on December 22, but, having no direct
wire to the north, he could only send
the news indirectly and it reached
Washington some days after its date.
This curious document reads, "I beg
to present you as a Christmas gift the
City of Savannah, with 15 0 heavy guns
and plenty of ammunition, also about
25,000 bales of cotton."
Hardee .had been summoned to sur
render on December 17, but refused
to do so. Perceiving, however, that
Sherman was cutting off his avenues
of retreat, he made a hasty escape on
the night of December 20 with 15,000
men. In his haste the Confederate
General left his big guns uninjured
and Sherman was able to put them to
good use afterward. He took formal
possession of Savannah. December 22.
The change of rulers was an excel
lent thing for the city. The National
commander established a good patrol
and speedily restored law and order.
So much confidence did his measures
inspire that various distinguished Con
federates appealed to him for favors
to themselves or their relatives.
General Hardee, for instance, com
mended his brother to Sherman's pro
tection, while the wife of one of Har
dee's division commanders was in
trusted to his care by her husband.
During Sherman's march to the sea
many fabulous tales of his "atrocities"
had circulated through the South. He
was commonly spoken of as a "Hun"
or something worse and no crime was
too horrible for his troops to commit.
The purpose of these fictitious stories
was, of course, to arouse resentment
In the South and promote enlistments
In the army. All that they really ac
complished was some needless emblt
terment of feeling which made the
final reconciliation a little more diffi
cult than it might have been.
Provisions were scarce In Savannah
when it fell into Sherman's hands, but
there was plenty of cotton, which he
authorized the Mayor to sell In the
North. The funds thus raised to re
lieve the pressing wants of the city
were substantially increased by sub
scriptions at the North. War In those
days did not mean the total lapse of
human feeling.
A PKOMIsrXO PROJECT.
In Franklin County, Washington,
particularly in Pasco, a campaign to
have the reclamation service take up
what is known as the Palouse Irriga
tion project and carry it to completion
is under way. Some may remember
that ten years ago last Spring a sur
vey was completed of the project and
another of the Tleton project and that
It was a toss up which would be the
first undertaken. There being many
more people in the upper Takima Val
ley than around Pasco the Tleton
project was adopted and is now nearly
completed.
The Palouse project is one of the
most attractive ever investigated by
the reclamation service. The price of
water will be high, perhaps around
$100 an acre, but the land cost will be
very low, cone of It probably exceed
ing $10 an acre. The Northern Pa
cific Railway Company owns about 40
per cent of the 53,500 acres it is pro
posed to reclaim and the company
offers to put this in at $5 an acre.
The lands in the project all He In
Franklin County, adjacent to Pasco.
These lands are, in their present state,
practically worthless worse than
worthless, because they form a sort of
desert, which is a drawback to the
community. With water they will
prove as productive as any lands in the
West. This has been demonstrated by
the reclamation of like lands adjacent
which have a productive value of from
$150 to $300 an acre. 1
In looking at the price the reader
must remember that the purchaser
pays no Interest on the cost of water.
Aside from this he pays only one pay
ment of 5 per cent in the first five
years when the filing is made. Then
comes a lapse of five years without any
payment; then 5 per cent for- five
years, followed by ten payments of 7
per cent. Really the price Is more
attractive than a cash payment of $50,
and below a payment of that amount
if 8 per cent Interest were to be
charged.
The Palouse Project Club, composed
of th leading; cltiaen of Franklin
County, is doing everything possible to
have the project undertaken. The
president of that club, J. R. McKeand,
recently spent several days In Port
land among the business men, all of
whom are enthusiastic for the work to
begin. Portland has a large trade in
that section; with this , project com
pleted it would have ten times as
much.
Pasco, when this land is reclaimed,
will become a much larger and more
prosperous city. Of this there can be
no doubt. It may be hoped for the
sake of the citizens of that place, who
have so long and patiently awaited a
rift in the clouds,-that the Secretary
of the Interior may recommend to
Congress the beginning of work and
thus assure the Pasco people of a
brighter future.
The tyrant Man has been somewhat
tamed of late, but he still shows his
native propensities when he dares.
What but pure tyranny Is the order
forbidding tipsy ladies to dance on the
tables New Tear's eve? They can't
dance on the floor for fear of stum
bling over tipsy gentlemen. With the
table tops forbidden they can't dance
at all. And what Joy is there in the
New Tear to a boozy lady unless she
can dance?
There is an association of women
graduates from college comprising
2000 members which is doing valuable
work to assist college women In their
careers. It has thus far placed 846
educated women in twenty-eight fields
of work.' In the association are alum
nae of nine colleges, -Bryn Mawr,
Barnard, Mount Holyoke, Radcliffe,
Cornell, Smith, Vassar, Wells and
Wellesley.
Dean Randall, of Brown University,
pronounces the manners of his stu
dents "deplorable" on the campus, at
table and in the drawing-room. Good
manners are not generated by the cul
tivation of muscle alone. A college
student who educates his biceps to the
neglect of his heart and brain must
naturally be expected to have the
manners of a prizefighter.
The United States $20 gold piece Is
said to be the most beautiful coin In
the world. A contemporary speaks of
this artistic gem as "a particular fa
vorite." Many others have noticed the
same popular fondness for It and have
themselves participated In the esthetic
glow. It is marvelous how in our
deepest souls we all love art.
In the January Atlantic Washington
Gladden predicts trouble before a
great while over the question of ap
portioning the school fund among the
denominations. According to the emi
nent minister, some of them are re
solved to force the Issue and secure,
to that extent, a union of church and
state.
Norway's "jubilee album" commem
orates one hundred years of national
freedom. That country won Its free-dom-in
1814 and full Independence In
1905. The album, published in Chris
tiana, contains beautiful pictures of
persons and scenery, with a short his
torical sketch of Norway.
Kind and thoughtful Italians. Not
only do they build our railroads, keep
our shoes polished, our stomachs filled
with peanuts and our souls thrilled
with music, but now they offer to pro
tect us from the monstrous Turk. Ver
ily, this is almost too much.
Mr. Bryan declares with great em
piiasis that there Is no truth In the
report that he will retire. Tet in spite
of his denials we feel entirely Justified
in predicting his retirement some two
years hence.
Now an eminent Eastern authority
says brain workers break down early
because of improper food. But he
should remember that many brain
workers must eat what they can
procure.
It is quite possible that the Mexican
commander (Relayed withdrawal from
Naco for a few days in order to enjoy
a bit more of the delightful Mexican
sport of killing Americans.
Federal law cannot be broken or
even bent with impunity, as will
learn the railroad man who rode
across the Willamette on another's
transportation.
Maytorena now delays leaving the
border. As We said before, any settle
ment of boundary troubles based on
spineless diplomacy Is bound to be
Inconclusive.
In peaceful Mexico an amusing little
difference Is occurring between Senors
Villa and Zapata, who are unable to
agree Just iwhat army officers shall be
executed.
If Mr. Bryan were allowed to use
bad language he might better express
himself about the rumor he is to leave
the Cabinet: but It never would do.
Dobbin and the old gray mare never
will run awav with the Nebraska
farmers who refuse to sell horses for
use in the European war.
It is hard fate to be a peaceable cltl
zen riding in a streetcar and be killed
by a bullet from the gun of an officer
chasing a malefactor.
Mr. Taft opposes a dry Nation at
the Bar Association. Which announce
ment, to our notion, constitutes dry
humor.
Npbody expects the San Francisco
fair to be closed on Sunday. The Bay
City has not the closed habit.
Drinking must stop at 1 o'clock New
Tear's morning, with no limit on the
headache that follows.
We are hearing less and less from
the armies as they become snowed-ln
In their trenches.
The Oregon goes Into commission
Saturday. Everybody make a silent
noise. i
In Barre, Vt., the Ice Is as solid as
the granite with the mercury at 52 be
low. Time to start the Ineubator, The
early pullet lays the high-priced eggs.
Our mild little difference with Eng.
land la musle to German ears.
Time new tor Hobsen to flaunt the
yellow peril ax-oln,
Half a Century Ago
From The Oregonlan, December 30, 1864.
Major-General Phil Sheridan, who is
Just now a "particularly bright star"
in the military firmament, was sta
tioned at Fort Yamhill, in Oregon,
about 60 miles south of Portland, for
four or five years before the present
conflict. He served there durins the
Indian wars of 1855 and 1856. He still
owns a large farm in that vicinity.
We learn from Governor Glbbs he
has appointed Henry Catley, of Fort
Dalles, to be the Regimental Quarter
master of the First Oregon Infantry
now being organized.
General D. D. Colton's famous horse
Fleet, valued at 14000, died recently at
Bay View Park, Ban Francisco.
Barney Gutekanet has issued a notice
asking all in arrears for board at the
Delmonico restaurant to pay up, and at
the same time asks all who have bills
against him to present them.
I. C. Levy and Sol Rosenfeld have an
nounced the dissolution of the co
partnership of the firm of I. C. Levy
& Co., of Walla. Walla, Washington
Territory, and Boise County, Idaho.
In a communication to the Common
Council last night E. J. Northrup de
clined the appointment as Councilman
of the Third Ward. S. M. Gllman was
elected later-
Company C, First Oregon Infantry,
was mustered Into service at Salem.
December 27, and passed through this
city yesterday on its way to Vancou
ver. This company consists of 83 men,
and Is officered as follows: Clark P.
Crandall, Captain; Thomas Reynolds,
First Lieutenant; Charles IS. Rowland,
Second Lieutenant.
LESS THEORY) MO HE BENEFITS.
Work of Commonwealth Conference
Thought Misdirected, by Writer.
H ARRI S BURG, Or.. Dec. 28. (To the
Editor.) While attending a dairy
men's meeting at Junction I ran up to
Eugene and took in a little of the
Commonwealth Conference. We dairy
men have had a hard time to conduct
our business and market our products
under all the provisions of the laws.
There was no talk at our meetings
about any new laws, boards or com
missions. I was surprised to hear
serious propositions made at Eugene
for more labor laws and regulations,
when at the election In November we
voted down every labor law offered.
First were read three proposed new
laws conferring greater powers upon
the State Labor Commissioner. On top
of that was an elaborate bill that
seemed to have the right of way, with
speakers from Washington and New
York to back it up, for a general sys
tem of state employment agencies. In
Washington the people voted to pro
hibit employment agencies collecting
a fee from the laborer seeking em
ployment, and in future the employer
or the farmer will pay the fees lor
finding a man a job. If the farmers
knew before election what they know
now they would have defeated that
proposition along with 10 others that
were sent to the Junkpile. It was
drawn out by some heartless person
present that the free public employ
ment bureaus that are to be estab
lished in the state of Washington are
to cost $50,000 to operate each year.
It was stated that a bill was passed
for this purpose by one house of the
Oregon Legislature, but as it carried
only $10,000 a year to put it into ef
fect it was killed. .The sum was too
pitiful, in the opinion of Mr. Stack,
president of the State Federation of
Labor, who was at the conference. It
Is to be tried again in Oregon on the
basis of not less than 125,000 a year.
State Labor Commissioner Hoff,
who was present, spoke sarcastically
of the poor, down-trodden taxpayer
who did not want to do anything for
the unemployed. He said he was now
a considerable taxpayer, and this new
bureau, if it cost $50,000 a year, would
only add 3 cents on a thousand dol
lars not even the price of one cigar.
He wished he had more taxes to pay.
As Mr. Hoff sets $3000 or $3600 a year
from the taxpayers, and collects about
$20,000 more in fees from the indus
tries, every creamery having to pay
his inspectors, it is mighty fine for
him to talk In this sarcastic manner.
The fact has come about that the man
or woman who has property, or a bus
iness or an Industry, is the one who
is up against it about as hard as the
unemployed. I did not notice any of
the laboring class at the conference.
The Oregon Electric agent told me
when I bought a ticket home and tried
to get the reduced fare that only 12
persons had been certified to him as
attending the conference, and I had
to pay full fare.-:,
I heard the discussion about creat
ing districts and bonding them to de
velop hydro-electrio power plants.
Such a thing was voted on in Hood
River County, and was voted down
about five to one by the farmers who
wqre to be benefited. Then the state
ment was made that there were al
ready three horsepower of electricity
developed in Oregon for one that was
used. It seems to me like trying to
run two creameries where there are
only cows enough for one. It makes
high-priced butter and no dividends
for the dairymen. There was also ex
pression by some of the labor speak
ers present against foreign immigra
tion via the Panama Canal. The great
est trouble we have in conducting
dairies Is to get men to milk cows, to
handle green feed and clean stables,
and do the work around a dairy farm
Only foreigners are willing to do a
day's work in this line at a price that
we can afford to pay. Of course, no
dairy can be run on the eight-hour
day. 'I was In Portland trying to get
some help recently and found few
foreigners among the crowds of tin
employed. Americans prefer to live
in the city on nothing to going into
the country to work even for fair
wages, and not many of them make a
good hand. The foreign laborer Is
willing to go Into the country and
work at any kind of labor. We could
use many thousand foreign laborers
In Oregon in the dairy industry If we
could get them. I did not notice any
Italians among the unemployed at
Portland that I saw.
If the Commonwealth Conference
would quit agitating for more labor
laws and bonding acts and new com
missions, and help us to get the kind
of laborers we need, it would be far
more acceptable.
TEAT-PULLER.
Old Names for Hawthorne Avenue. .
PORTLAND, Dec. 29. (To the Edi
tor.) Was Hawthorne avenue. In Port
land, ever known by any other name?
How long has It been Hawthorne ave
nue? SUBSCRIBER.
At one time the part of Hawthorne
avenue extending through Kenworthy's
Addition was called Asylum street. It
was changed to Hawthorne avenue by
the East Side City Council April 16,
1888. At later dates the outer portions
of the avenue were known by different
names. Through Taborslde Addition It
was known originally aa Munroe street;
through Mansfield Addition and Stan
ley Addition as Lewellyn street, and
through isouth Falrlawn Addition as
Rogers street. All these names were
ehanged at different datea riot long
after 1888, Through all ether additions
the street has alwaya been ealled Haw
thorne avenue, according to the plats
OA XU .c K11
2fO CURE-ALL FOR SOCIAL EVIL.
Religion Moat Potent Preventive, bat
It Can Only Be Curtailed.
PORTLAND, Dec. 29. (To the Edi
tor.) The social evil question is al
ways interesting and useful to study.
I favor the views of "A Penitent" over
those of Mr. Heckethorn, both of
which recently appeared In The Ore
gonlan. Mr. Heckethorn no doubt Is
correct as to the reasonableness or ra
tionality of his ideas of "original sin."
but "A Penitent" may be as correct,
although clothing her conception in
terms which have been adopted by the
religiously inclined folk. Because re
ligion uses technical terms for ideas
and facts which may be expressed in
general language does not make them
erroneous. Who knows but that origi
nal sin, spoken of as such religiously,
may not be the mere natural inherent
""physical equation" conceived of by
Mr. Heckethorn? Rather, then, than
have a discussion on between these two
people over terms, it Is well that they
come together and do constructive
thinking. Personally, I am just obsti
nate enough to demand straight words
as to whether Adam ate an apple or
what he did.
It is my belief that this social evil
has no cure-all, as "A Penitent" says.
"A Penitent's" ideas are certainly worth
listening to. Experience Is hard to
beat; the heart has been chastened by
It. It is also very probable that the
laws underlying the propagation of the
race have something to do with it, as
Mr. Heckethorn suggests. Both of these
views can exist at the same time. The
question really is. Is this thing an evil?
If so, what kind, natural or artificial?
To a student, it is permissible to say
that it is, as tho name suggests, "a
social evil." Aside from the needs of
system for organized society, it is not
a thing of evil. Even in different types
of society, it has different meanings.
For instance, to set up a home in Port
land, Or., with two wives and 16 con
cubines would be a social evil. It
would not In Turkey. Going still fur
ther away from American society, for
a man to steal half a dozen women and
keep them would be positively degen
erate. Yet, this is not the case in some
parts of Africa, let us say. There are
lands where wives and huslyinds are
held In common. This would be a so
cial evil in Oregon. So much for the
social phase of the question.
Aside from this social structural idea,
there remains only primeval natural
ness. Nature apparently cares little
about who is who, so long as the wnos
are healthy. Nature also is careless
of expenditure In the propagation of
plants, animals or minerals. The more
the better, for there will be more to
survive from a given number, s
Is it also not acceptable that there
are those living now who, through the
medium of their inherited flesh, possess
more of the primal strengths or errors
call them what you will of nature
than others?
Briefly, are there not some who are
better producers of children than
others? Undoubtedly, and such are
praised by the governors of the race.
When are they praised? Only when
they have bowed their heads to the
laws and customs of their age and
geographical location. At all other
times their propensities are termed "so
cial evils." This is the gist of it. Let
us be frank in our Investigations.
Now, as to just how to Induce these
wild people, untamed folk, to conduct
themselves entirely according to the
desires of all the others, is the real
thing to learn. Once we have found
this out then we can secure their
friendly co-operation and the social
evil will disappear. It is evident that
this is the side to hit upon; the other
side, the natural side, will never be
prevented. Would nature consider for
a moment absolute stopping of her
laws? Foolish!
Religion possesses the most potent
powers for the prevention of the social
evil. Science, allied with religion and
all leaders of religious bodies who are
wise enough to assume the proven
things of science, will be the next great
power. Briefly, only education can de
velop a uniformly obedient social citi
zenry, and the chances are that such
an ideal state cannot be developed and
there will always remain inferior and
superior (speaking socially) members.
Some will have large appetites and
some small. There will be strong folk
and weak ones.
Let us consider these things with
reason and not with narrow prejudice.
Only by so doing will we intelligently
understand how to remold and make
use of our "social evil." It cannot be
destroyed; it can only be curtailed (for
social benefit), for nature's laws are
ever working. IMPENITENT.
SAME STORY" IS TOLD BY GERMAN
Amputation of Escaping I'rlsonfr's Feet
Charged to Russians In Letter.
PORTLAND, Dec. 29. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonlan, December 28,
you give space to a report from a Red
Cross nurse in Paris. Miss Hilda Mayo,
to her brother In Eugene, Or. I ask
you to correct this article according
to my statements.
This report outdoes every other news
about alleged German atrocities so
far invented. Miss Mayo tells of a
near relative whose legs were cut off
in a German prison as penalty for at
tempting to escape. How horrible,
if true! But fortunately we Germans
know better! Would you ever believe
that your American soldiers had com
mitted such cruelties? No. Then I ask
you, why do you always take It as
matter of fact when blamed on the
brave German soldier?
This very same letter which Miss
Mayo claims to have received from a
relative was printed by Various Ger
man papers (Frankfurter Zeitung and
others) weeks ago and the original
came from the pen of a poor German
soldier whose legs were cut off in a
Russian prison. Every word of Miss
Mayo's story is a mere translation of
the letter of this poor German lad to
his parents.
This .is a fact, for which I am will
ing to furnish absolute proof. I am,
very truly yours. RICHARD ADAM.
344 Alder street, Portland, Or.
Savannah, Not Atlanta.
HUBBARD, Or., Dec. 28. (To the
Editor.) In your editorial on "Thomas
and Hood," December 23, you say "that
Sherman had carried Fort McAllister by
storm and was besieging Atlanta."
In "Knapsack Notes," by George
Sharland. Company B, Sixty-fourth Illi
nois Infantry, under date of November
15, 1864, he writes: "This being the day
appointed to bid a final adieu to the
Gate City." In the same paragraph he
says: "The lesson of destruction is soon
to be signally displayed. Already can
be heard in the distance the thunder
of explosion; the ministers of Its wrath
are hurrying on the work of Its de
struction. Destruction it dealt for
many a day. and now it is reaping the
result and double measure Is dealt out
in all Its stern reality."
Again, on December 13, Mr.- Sharland
writes: "This is the day that witnessed
the grand assault and capture of Fort
McAllister." Then, under the same
date, he writes that "the Fourteenth,
Twentieth and the greater part of the
Fifteenth corps were left to attend well
to the progressive siege of Savannah,
and see to the military welfare of the
Johnnies."
To those of us, like the writer, of
three score and ten, such mistakes
count for little, but to the younger gen
erations it might cause them to stumble
In their history lessons.
In passing let me mention that the
Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry was the
first regiment to be armed with the
Henry repeating rifle, carrying 17
rounds In the magazine. The Johnnies
said Sherman' men loaded on Sunday
and shot all week. J. S. YODER.
The Oreg-ontan acknowledges that,
through a Up e-t the pen, the name At
laAtat waa uae.4. la f-iao t SaiYs.no.skii,
Twenty-Five Years Ago J
From The Oregonlan, December 29, 1SS9,
Nearly 2000 people saw the glove
contest between James J. Corbett, of
San Francisco, and Dave Campbell, of
Portland, last night at Mechanics' Pa
vilion. Referee Donaldson declared It
a draw, although It was the general
opinion that it was Campbell's victory.
It was Corbett's fight up to the end of
the seventh, but in the eighth, ninth
and tenth rounds Campbell had decid
edly the better of it.
Union, Or. A telegram from Baker
City announces the death of Judge
Luther B. Ison, of the Sixth Judicial
District of this state.
E. Gilliam, who has just made an In- .
spection of the sheep ranches of Uma
tilla County, estimates there are 210,
307 head of sheep in that county.
Professor George A Dawes will lec
ture Sunday evening at Central Hall
on the "Mission of Liberalism." Pro
fessor Dawes is recently from the
East.
Lyle W. Gilllland. for some years .
connected with the First National
Bank, died yesterday at Santa Barbara,
CaL For several years Mr. Gilllland
was librarian of the Portland Library
Association.
Day Clerk Pendegaet of the Esmond,
now sports a fine ebony cane with a
gold head. It was presented to him by
Guy W. Cole, treasurer of Columbia
County.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Mears. of Spo
kane Falls, are visiting In Portland for
a few days.
Ellsworth Stepp, of Portland, and
Miss Ina Lane, of Chehalis, Wash.,
were married Christmas eve. at the
Christian Church, Rev. -David Wetzell
officiating.
Charles F. Seal, of Port Townsend.
and Miss Margaret A. Humphreys, of
Liverpool, England, were married at an
impressive ceremony at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. William Wadhams. on
West Park street, Thursday night last
Miss Emily Bauer is visiting her
parents in Walla Walla for a few days.
The engagement of Dr. Otto Blns
wanger and Miss Guda liraverman, of
San Francisco, is announced.
PRESENT APPORTIONMENT UNFAIR
Mr. Davey Points Out Meascrness of
Representation of Eastern Oregon.
BURNS. Or., Dec. 25 (To the Edi
tor.) I have read with much interest
an article in The Oregonian on the mat
ter of county representation in the
Oregon Legislature, and have studied
the table of present population with
some curiosity as to the method by
which the given results were reached.
One would naturally suppose that the
vote cast in the several counties would
bear some proportionate relation to the
population, and if so, I am at a loss to -know
why Harney County should be
given such a poor rating of population
alongside its neighbors. To illustrate.
let me submit a table showing the total
vote cast In each as certified to by the
Secretary of State and the population
you credit to each:
County Vote. Popu'n.
Crook 5.7.r2 17.1U9
Grant H.ilXS .05
Harney 2.ati4 4.44
Lake l.lir.4 r.llS
Malheur 4,!i5 1;;.113
Morrow . . 1,!I4.' 4,-!"2
Multnomah T7.K4S 277.1S:l
fciherman 1,37'J 4.07
Wheeler 1.173 H.S72
If figured on the same proportion as
Grant County, Harney should be cred
ited with 6500; on proportion with
Wheeler it would be 5900; on proportion
with Lake it would be 7300; on propor
tion with Crook It would be 7000, and
on proportion with Multnomah it would
be 8275. I would like to see Harney
County get a fair show. Her popula
tion is increasing at as good rate as
any other part of the state.
But tho position J wish to take is
not so mucli a criticism of the figures
presented as of the political proposi
tion behind them. I believe that In a
growing, developing state like Oregon
the theory of legislative representation
in accordance with population is not
the wisest or best, especially in the
House. I think the basis of represen
tation should be one member for each
county, dividing the surplus among the
more populous counties proportionately.
This would give direct representation:
would obviate trades and wire-pulling
In elections and in periodical redisrict
ing, and would secure a body of men
more representative of the entire peo
ple of the state. Under a strict rule
of apportionment according to popula
tion and any other rule is a farce
a few centers of population can control
the whole legislative proceeding with
out reference to the sparsely populated
sections, whose interests and move
ments for development may bo sadly
neglected.
Seventeen counties of Oregon, cover
ing two-thirds of Its geographical ex
tent, are now represented by 13 mem
bers of the House out of 60, and eight
members of the Senate out of 30, and
yet there is no part of the state need
ing so much legislative attention and
encouragement as this Immense empire,
nor Is there any part where such en
couragement will bring such good re
sults tn the future of the common
wealth, because here lie the natural re
sources, the mineral wealth, the water
powers, the virgin soil, the timber and
everything to make profitable the plant
ing of capital and its human accom
paniment, the product of which will
flow into the lap of our metropolitan
communities and secure them the pros
perity which they cannot otherwise
maintain. FRANK DAVEY.
The population figures were esti
mates made by the Portland Commer
cial Club, but not based solely on the
vote cast In each county.
Frank's Trial Believed Fair.
PORTLAND, Dec. 2!. (To the Ed
itor.) You say that "Leo M. Frank's
case is of National importance." This
Is true. In a sense. To the race to
which he belongs It Is of Importance,
or seemingly so. To others who know
the circumstances of his trial and con
viction, it is of the same Importance
as that of any other offending culprit,
not more.
The people of Atlanta are the same
as the people of Portland. Or., or Port
land. Me., or of any other place. Leo
M. Frank was not "tried by a mob";
he was tried, and convicted, by a jury
of American citizens selected from a
citizenship Just as high of standard
not higher, but just as high as that
of any other city of its size.
The story about the Judge being "In
timidated" would seem humorous to
any Atlantan. If anyone should say
that Judge McGinn was intimidated, or
that a co-member of his bench was
scared Into doing a wrong. It would
appear ridiculous, would It not? And
It would be just that. No court or
Judge thereof In Atlanta was "Intimi
dated" by a "mob," or otherwise, and
to one who has been a citizen of that
city It Is, I assure you, quite ridicu
lous. I feel that the Atlanta Jury dia Its
duty as It conscientiously saw It- Ob
stacles which bar the way of Justice
are not always "intimidation." A far
Btronger, and higher, barrier Is erected
at times, and Its uses are more prac
tical and of greater efficacv.
Berkley Hotel. JOHN BUCK.
Home and Lunch Counter.
Exchange.
Then there is the kind of home cook
Ins which would drive a dyspeptic to a
lunch counter.