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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1915)
fT the aronxrxG oregonian, Saturday, jaxtjary .23, iois. PORTLAND. OREGON. Entered at Portland. Orea-cu, Postofflce . as second-cl&ma matter: Subscription ilalea Invariably In advance: (By MalL) ' . 2allr, Sunday included, one year - -v.. J Lailx. Sunday included, six montbs ..... .2b Ialy, Sunday Included, three monUu ... 2.23 riailr. Sunday included, one month ..... Xaily, without Sunday, one year Xiaiiy, without Sunday, si months ...... 8.20 Xaily, -without Sunday, three months ... 1.74 Xjaiiy, without 8uaday, one month "Weekly, une year ............ ...... Sunday, one year ...................... -dt' unday and Weekly one year (By Carrier.) Daily. Sunday included, one year ...... .99- Xfaily. Sunday included, one month ..... -? How to Remit Send Postofflce money or U der, express order or personal check on your J" local bank. Stamps, com or currency are at sender's risk. Cive poatoffice address in full, t' Including- county and state. Z, Poetajte Rates 12 to la pages, 1 cent: IS to 32 pages. 2 cents; 31 to 48 pages, 8 cents; 0 to 00 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 0 cents: ;a to 92 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post Ik age, double rates. C Eastern Business Office Verree A Conk- " 11 n. New York, Brunswick building: Chicago, fctenger building. Mn Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Com-' pan, iti alarket street. , 5 rORTXAXD. SATURDAY, JAN. S3, 1015. I . t 5 : r A HINT THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN. ; The controversy between the United c States and Great Britain in regard to J the steamer Dacia is a hint of the J great risk which this country would J run of being- drawn into the war if 5 Congress should pass the ship-pur- r chase bill. It has been the evident purpose of the Administration to buy it r the interned German ships, If the ahip-purchase bill became law. This country would thus relieve the owners of the heavy expense of main- taming tnese snips in idleness ana i would aid Germany by converting what is now a dead asset Into a live r asset. Great Britain evidently con- tends that American purchase of the ships would be a species of interven- tion on behalf of her enemies, depriv - ing her of the benefits of naval supre- candidates. The only thing to be said Pleasing theory. It was long ago pro macy, gained by the costly establish- about the explanation is that it does mulgated by Haeckel, as all the world merit of superior naval strength and not explain. It is incredible, absurd, knows, and is commonly taught by the by hard-won victories. Formal announcement by the Brit- lsh Embassy that if the Dacia goes to 1 sea she will be captured evinces a clear purpose to make a test case on the disputed point in the British prize court. As the Dacia . is ostensibly owned by American citizens, a de- cision adverse to them would simply be a loss to individuals. Were the United States Government to buy Ger man ships, the dispute would be be tween the two Nations. Britain would feel under the necessity either of sub mitting to what she considers a viola- tion of her rights as a belligerent or of seizing the ships in full knowledge that the consequence would be serious diplomatic controversy and possible war with this country-. When the British government by its ctlon calmly intimates its acceptance of this alternative, the plain inference I to be drawn is that it would not flinch J from a fight, notwithstanding that Britain Is already at mar with two of I the greatest military powers of the world and with one of the second rank. In the Dacia case Great Britain sees I an opportunity first to settle judicially I a. disDuted noint in international law. I r Ti ,l rv nri,liir tn . M.nil. -' . ' 1 1 . LI U 11 I Ul 1U ireSUcUMS. UeilUlUE U IS i ; decision, on what Britain considers her rihi. rnnrrrm Khonlrl Ink. th hint ' ' " I Dy postponing consideration or tne , ship-purchase bill until the Dacia case I Is judicially decided. If the decision should be adverse to the American ' contention, the bill might as well be abandoned altogether, even from the standpoint of its supporters, for the Government could then buy German ships only with full knowledge that a serious dispute with Britain would en sue. Neutral ships could be bought only at an exorbitant price and their purcnase wouia not relieve tne iamme i oi tonnage, wnicn can De mmgatea J only by building more ships. If Congress were to authorize the .founding bv the Government of ships for commercial use without revising tne snipping laws in sucn manner as i t to render profitable the building and T! operation or snips oy private parties , also, the Government would be com-1 y mittea to engage indefinitely in tne j: shipping business. It could not Bell i Its ships to private corporations with- out enormous loss, if at all, for the purchasers would be saddled with the r high cost of operation caused by our snipping laws, fco long as tnese laws remain uncnangea, mere win De no C more Inducement for capital to engage 5 in the shipping business than there has SA been hitherto; in fact with the Gov- 5 ernment as a competitor there will be much less inducement. The Administration can go ahead Wltn its sniDDintr noucv onlv at risk of 4 fatIous differences with Great Britain, C France and Russia and bv uDholdlntr t -- i principle of doubtful equity which i might rise up to plague us hereafter, V The United States is not only miser- - ably unprepared for war and is not ; oniy unconcernea in tne main issues - at stake, but the composite character x. or our population renders it impossible r for us to take either side without do- ing violence to the feelings of a large section or tne American people. The shipping bill is a departure from that wise auuuae or neutrality wnicn tne President assumed at the outbreak of the war. In the interest of peace he ( "hould return to hta former position. INSIDIOUS EXTRAVAGANCE. a tiiiiiiKe in me siaie 5 nscai Den on 1 , lt I Ail Uioon ajuiiiiiiivriiu a. c aat-j- Is desirable in connection with thel,. o-i, n,..i. movement to . repeal all conUnuing appropriations Once the fiscal year Is altered so that appropriations made by one Legislature do not expire be- I ivia tui; feuiueeuiug jegiiature con1 J venf the argument that an exception should be made of this or that appro- f priation in the general repeal will lose force. j As stated numerous times, the abol- Vlshment of continuing annrnnrlatlons Is an abolishment of the form, not of I the substance. A continuing appro- nrlation needs no renewal hv irr-d. inr Legislatures. It U hnrior. In the I r-tatutes, where it became a fixed ob- empty enough to become the devil's liiration of which the 1-ot-Ulaf .,ra Inn lu-mUhnra nor ran his malejtv find I often takes no account when deter- "mining the limit of its total appro- prlations. The plan of the repeal is that such of the continuing appropriations as I are meritorious shall be renewed as biennial appropriations at each aes- I slon. Thus they will in effect be con- J tlnuing appropriations as at present, but they will come before each legis lative session for affirmative action and not contribute to extravagance. If the close of the fiscal period is changed to a date subsequent to the adjournment of the Legislature there will be just as thorough knowledge of what each enterprise may depend upon in the matter of public money as at present. The argument that a . particular continuing appropriation avoids logrolling can be applied with equal force to every other continuing appropriation. If members are inclined to logroll they will logroll. If some member's district derives an advantage from a continuing appropriation, that is no indication , that his district does not desire something more, - The seques- than 260 have set sail on the trou tration of the continuing appropriation I blous seas of matrimony. Whereat Mr. gives the member an opportunity to logroll for and sometimes obtain addi- Uonal appropriations, which he would not obtain if the Legislature realized how much money the new appropria- tions added to the annual appropria- tions would take from the taxpayers. FLADf DUTY. District Attorney Evans has an im perative duty to sell for a Grand Jury investigation of the obvious frauds in Precinct 37, made at the recent elec tion. It is too plain for dispute that a criminal plot to mutilate a large number of ballots existed, and it is equally plain that the object was to divert many votes from one candidate for Sheriff to another. Some one, or several some ones, are guilty of . a grave crime; and they should be ex- nnaiwl '-' r, ,1 nnntchul rnX. . ,VT i . , , , . The facts are that out of a total of S00 odd votes cast for Sheriff in Pre- cinct 37. a total of 123, originally marked for Mr. Hurlburt, were changed and marked for Mr. Word. Seventy- one of these questionable ballots were rejected by one election (night) board; but fifty-two of them, were ac- cepted without question by the other (day) board. The explanation is of- fered that a large number of voters who had by mistake voted for Mr. Hurlburt changed their minds, erased their markings, and then voted for i word. In other words, one-third or "" uegauvtif, u.u ainaci.- I more of the voters in Precinct 37 arellve force would be exerted. This force said to have made the same blunder on this particular office, but there is I no suggestion or evidence that they I were inspired to commit such extra- 1 ordinary errors for or against other and imnossible. It cannot be ac- cepted. The scandal of Precinct 37 rises I above the contentions of rival candi- dates for Sheriff. It is not now a question as to how the recount shall come out. nor whether Mr. Hurlburt shall win over Mr. Word, nor whether these ballots belong to Mr. Word or Mr. Hurlburt. It may be that the frauds were rjemetrated in the interest of Mr.Word; or it may be that the intimation that there was a dirty and criminal effort in this way to discredit Mr. Word is correct. That phase of the matter mav be left out of consideration for the present. The fact remains that there has been a criminal assault upon the integrity of the ballot. The- revelation has come partly as a result of the shrievalty re- count and partly, as the culmination of rumors previously extant. It cannot be ignored. The District Attorney and the Grand Jury have a dutv to nerf orm. SATISFACTOKY. Governor WeViEd "other. That withy- combe was the candidate of The Oregonian. ul that " h w" elected Governor that paper would control his appointments, since h i naurnral nn tmn Hoi . mm t, mnnamrm that there was considerable foundation for cnarges. .ote a tew or tne appoint- ments alreaflv mart, hv the nw , rn,,r- George Palmer Putnam, private secretary. former reporter on The Oregonlan and rep- resentatlve of that n&Der at Bend. Captain White to be Adjutant-General. bunaay editor of ine uregonian. H"7.,Yein.,,; And now comes the intimation that Walter U Tooie, Jr., Dallas correspondent of The uregooiao, is to receive tne appointment o. I Of course the Itemizer Is not in a post- tion to say who first suggested the names g"? 'lsn pretty'safe Vgue. that the appoin,mentJ, ,re all -satisfactory- to The Oregonlan. From the Dallas Item- . .. I For the information of our bucolic neighbor, the Itemizer, and of others to whom the subject may seem in- I teresting, the statement will be made mm. mo I for these appointments, or any of urem. mcio .a,c.UvU or solicitation irom ine uregonian or irivn anyone pra'us " " gonlan, for Mr. Putnam, or Captain White, or Mr. Wells, or Mr. Tooze. The Oregonian is not a patronage broker, and is not seeking political rewards for members of its family, or' an mmr. uououess -wuven.ur uiuiyuimn made these appointments because they were meritorious. Mr. Putnam's employment as correspondent at Bend was entirely incidental to his occu- pation as editor of a Bend newspaper. Mr. Tooze is a lawyer at Dallas, and UKe several nunurea oinera uiruusu- out Oregon represents The Oregonian as - local correspondent. We know . , I notnmg aoout nis potaiDie selection to De juage-Auvocate. Hbeen awav from home on the nieht of Captain White was appointed Ad- jutant - uenerai Decause ne nas tne conuuencB oi tue i """n- has a line recora wun mat organiza- tion. tie is a tnorougn uiuaeni oi mu- itary affairs, an informed technician and an experienced and competent of- ncer. ijovernor vy nn ycom ob oora no service to The Oregonlan by causing nis retirement "om 4uo Oregonlan has not been informed as to the influences active in urging Mr. Wells' candidacy, but it knows that he is an active ".u i" " ,"""" man, and thinks ho will make a good fn-m m tea 4 ! trtT M eonB. r- .otisfnr-torv iier-anso thav Rre suitable, and augur well for the f Governor Wlthvcombe's j,i,,i fnr ih reason. MR. taft AND MATRIMONY. Mr. Taft has discovered several pleasing traits in the Hebrew Tech-I niral whool for crirls at Brookl5-n. 1 One is the circumstance that the girls are k'ept at their books or other work from 8 in th mornine till 4 in the aftornnnn Their r, rains are not left I any mischief for their idle hands to do. because their hands are never idle, Mr. Taft was also Dleased. as he told the school in his engaging address, to I learn that the girls had exceptionally I brief vacations. The principal purpose I of many schools seems to be to give the pupils vacations when not iving them athletics. The Hebrew Techni- heirs, saying: "The old man's money cal school is a shining exception to was sweat for and hoarded up for this lamentable rule. - them." "Our girls and boys," said Mr. Taft, The murderers were executed on "have entirely too much vacation." May 17, 18S5, on a public square in He is doubtless right and yet one Salem in the presence of at least 1000 sometimes feels constrained to look spectators. Ex-Governor T. T. Geer upon vacation its a blessed relief from in "Fifty Tears in Oregon," from the monotonous uselessness of school, which this story of the case is con When they are out at play the pupils densed. says that whole families went learn more or less from the teamsters to Salem and ate lunches in their and motor men they meet, so that wagons standing on the street. In or compared with life in school that of der that they might not miss any de- j the streets is decidedly intellectual at I times. But what pleases Mr. Taft most in the Hebrew Technical school, if we may believe his own words, is the persistent celibacy of the graduates, Of these there are 27,000 but no more Taft offers up a hymn of thanksgiving, He weeps to see so many girls, in current life, plunging headlong into I marriage for the sake of a home or I a living, and too often failing to find I either. In his opinion it would be far, I far better for them to live out their lives in maiden meditation fancy free and spend their earnings for their own comfort. It is plain as a pikestaff that Mr. Taft cares nothing for the welfare of 'the great white race." How Is that majestic entity to be maintained in power and splendor if our girls cease to marry and become mothers? 'Per haps, however, he believes that happy individuals are, after all, preferable to powerful races. An Individual can enjoy and suffer. A race, which is a I mere creature of the Imagination, can do neither. ELECTRICITY AND LOTE. 1 If l'fe is nothing more than a group of electro-chemical phenomena there 13 no fauIt to e found with Professor Alvin Heckethorn's theory of love, Like all the other passions it is merely an example of electro-chemical attract Uon r repulsion. Between two hu- man beings both negatively charged there would naturally.be repulsion, as there is between the negative poles of tw0 magnets, ana tney would there. fore hato each other. On the other hand, if one were positively charged I is vulgarly called love but it might as I well have been called molasses, in some cases even better perhaps. I We dare say Professor Heckethorn claims but little originality for his materialistic thinkers of all countries, 'I If the phenomena of life originate in matter, of course love can be no ex. I ceptlon to the rule. It must uumpea in wun ine rest. Bernard Shaw taught in his Man and Superman that love between th sexes is one of nature's phenomena, nKe the attraction of gravitation ana the repulsion of like magnetic poles, He attributes its' origin to a myster- iou entity that he denominates the "fe force," which must necessarily be or an electro-chemical nature. These intricacies have thus long been we'l understood by the learned It would be interesting, and posslb- 'y profitable, if Professor Heckethorn would let up a little on points of this kind in his next scientmc lecture ana tel' inquiring youths how they can make themselves either positively or negatively attractive as circumstances may require. Preliminary to this he should invent a tester such as we com I monly apply to dry ignition cells to see whether they are dead or not. By I such an Instrument, subtly applied the suitor could determine accurately whether his girl were positive or nega. tive and regulate himself accordingly We sincerely trust that Professor Heckethorn will soon devote his evi dently great scientific attainments to this pressing problem. OREGON'S FAMOUS MURDER TRIAL. One of the most famous murder trials in the historv of Oresron was of George Beale and G. Baker ior ine Killing oi uamei ueianey, which was mentioned in the "Half a Century . . . - r,. , , .. last xnursaay. i ne muraer was remars- ahlp hera.iLRA fif th sensation caused y the event and by the conviction and execution of the murderers; because they were convicted on purely circum- stantial evidence: because after pro. testing their innocence until within a ri.. , Th. ..., th(lv fiJ,n , ,-.- nt. ot,a th. In the trial rose to high political of- fice one of them makln& nia reputa- tlon by nia success m this case, Delaney was an old farmer living six mjies south of Salem. At dusk on January 9 lg65 he was called from h, home Bhot "and klned and his nouse wag robbed of a Jarge sum of money the murderers' faces being blaL.kened. Hls. 6oIe companion for some time had been a negro boy, who alarmed the neighbors. Suspicion ,,,, t ft saiptn sainnn- keeper wh0 had worked for several years on Deianey's farm and had fre- quently expressed to his friends the b f t t , - monev were .v. ,v, -., , tr v.-a predicted that the old man would be ,... - .,,,. ,t ,,, j 1I1U1 ur;i di C441U A t cv- oaiu iitu t, vuuiu h. rt. wIthnllt .mvr-v. Bnnla hnd ,h mrAor --j tho r-lrfiimstiines ,ed to hls arrest and to that of Baker, a butcher. Beale was prominent as a MasoIli stood well in the community h- aoat o,,,.- ,rnHw Th t-ig, beean on March 20. 1865 and Iasted a week. Kufus Mallory, lk . rrmrhir-torl th prosecution and established such a reputation that in the next year he .,-.-, , rm,,, T?i-hard .,, im nnri eleven years later reCeived the same honor. Beale was defended by David Logan, a leader of the Republicans, who was nominated once for Senator and twice for Representative. The trial judge was Reuben P. Boise, who sat on the Oregon bench for fifty years. The chain of circumstantial evidence was so complete as to be con sidered conclusive, and the jury found the prisoners guilty without delay. When .asked if there was any reason why he should not be sentenced, Beale answerer ln" mere nau Deen taise swearing against him. that everybody seemed to think he ought to die, but that he expected to meet Delaney in tne otner woria ana to say to mm. "Delaney, it was not me that killed TOU." He said: "I am an innocent man. Give me time. Judge Boise, and I can Prove my innocence. I know I Can. Judge Boise approved the finding of the Jury and disposed of Beale s pro- testations by saying: ""whTwUi ' murder" Vm !ie .Uut'it They aiway, declare themselves innocent. I never knesr it to mi. He advised the murderers to confess and to make restitution to Deianey's tails. Mr. Geer had been living with Beale's family and walked seven miles from his grandmother's house to. see the execution. He relates that Sam Headrick, the Sheriff, after the trap was sprung, "dropped to his knees rh prayer for a moment, as if to ask for giveness for the performance of his distressing public duty." In their confessions Beale and Baker said their intention was merely to call out Delaney, cover him with a gun, tie him, and rob him, but that Baker, who was drunk, aimed his gun at the old man. Beale, fearing that he might shoot, shouted, "Don't shoot," but Baker thought he said, . "Shoot," fired at once and killed Delaney. The Jury's action in convicting the men on , a perfect chain of circum stantial evidence and Judge Boise's action In discrediting Beale's denial were thus justified. Justice was swift in those days, for execution followed in little more than four months after the crime. There seem to have been no delays for appeals, for petitions for pardon or for commutation of sen tence, as there are in these days, when sympathy forgets what is due the in nocent, who have been murdered, and is poured forth generously for the murderer. The New York City officials" are pre paring a memorial to the Legislature in favor of woman suffrage. Their experience with women in public life, slender1 as it is, has won them to the cause. Woman suffrage is a great success wherever it has been tried. The arguments against it evaporate very quickly in the sunshine of ex perience. The married women teachers' ques tion wriggled its perplexed way from office to office in New York' until at last it reached the final authority, Commissioner Finley. He has decided in favor of the married women as common sense dictated. The good precedent may shake up fossiliferous brains iq other cities. Samuel TJntermeyer says the Rock efeller foundation is a "hotbed of rad. icalism." The same calamity hap pened at Chicago University, which reminds us of Psalm 146:9, "The way of the wicked he turneth upside down.'.' Utah's House of Representatives must have been in a paradoxical mood when, in order to entrust the meas ure to gentlemen with "dry" sympa thies, a prohibition bill was referred to the committee on irrigation. It is now possible to telephone from the Coast to New York city. As soon as the line is extended a few miles farther we shall be able to ring up the Kaiser and get his views of the situation, most likely. One must give California credit for a few good things. She hanged a man yesterday for wife-murder. Some states are so barbarous as to consider this sort of crime a diversion. Not so the Golden State. Reduction of the size of the loaf is less desirable than increase of price. A 6-cent loaf will bring more frequent use "of the penny, which is the only coin that can induce thrift. Of course, now that Britain is ugly about it, we can trust Bryan to get away from the subject without delay. Our rights in the matter are quite a secondary consideration. The Czar says his name was forged to an order for cessation of the war. But even had the signature been gen uine it would hardly have had the effect in question. Republican Senators will make a hard fight on the ship purchase bill. Yes, the folly of the Democrats must be stopped somewhere short of utter ruin. The London Spectator expresses a fear of war with the United States. Not. unless the British invade the United States and fire on the capital. If the British should attack us and win, the question arises, would they allow us equal rights with British shippers in use of the Panama Canal? All schedules for French duels have been declared off until after the war. Needless postponement. No one ever gets hurt in a French duel. One verv imDortant imDlement for war appears to have been overlooked by all sides and that is a steam-propelled grave-digging machine. "Love," said a local lecturer the other night, "is a psycho-chemical electro-magnetic phenomenon." Gosh! Put out the light! There is but one thing prettier than a full-rigged clipper ship and that is picture of her loading foreign in Portland Harbor. Naval note: The Oregon Naval flo tilla was attacked in the Senate straits at Salem and sunk after a sharp en gagement. Those San Francisco carpenters who dislike to work in the rain are a finicky set. The Oregon mechanic likes it. Great Britain fifty years ago winked at what she now denounces. She had the goods to sell. So have we. The newest President of Mexico has served for nearly five days now. Some' thing must be amiss. If the Dacia sails the British will seize her. The Dacia will sail. So there you are. Just as a man is not a hero to his valet, many ministers are not saints to their wives. Roof gardens are not popular in London. There is less danger in the rathskellar. Britons on the firing line are said to amuse themselves running down hares. Even the bottlewashers' nnion is put oat of business ,when a state goes "dry." - Even body make a guess at the date of the hundred million. These are sad, sad days for money appropriating bills. Miss Clark was Douglas. . "some runner" in Will the Dacia make history? My- Best Audience By Dean Colli as. I cannot see why men should haste About from day to day; Their nervous force Is run to waste In hustling thataway After the social things, of life. The club, or cabaret; My soul disdains such vapid strife; 'Tis no good game to play. For if one sticks where men do meet In ever changing horde. Someone in house or club or street Is certain to be bored. I'd rather linger with my soul Within some Hartford lunch. Communing with a buttered roll, A salad or some punch. - My soul a bully comrade Is, ' With whom to loaf about; It does not talk of shop or biz. Until it wears me out. In fact, I do not recollect That I have ever beard It use behavior incorrect Or answer back a word. When I am talking with my soul I find it listens well. And swallows every statement whole Of whatsoe'er I tell: Religion, politics or play Are not "pooh-poohed" nor "pshawed" My soul, whatever I may say. Is certain to applaud. And that Is why, while others seek The mob to sway and roll, I'd rather, any day or week. Hold converse with my soul; For men will argue, talk and fuss And Interrupt me ao. My soul is such a friendly cuss. And never bored, you know. GUPT CLUBS MAINTAIN MOXOPOLT. Writer Charges) I'll at Existing; Laws) Favor AVr-ttlthy Sportsmen. GOBLE, Or., Jan. 21. (To the Editor.) I noticed in The Oregonlan where Representative Gill is introducing a bill to amend the game laws, while we do not take exception to the bill ho is in troducing, we are not altogether pleased when be winds up his remarks by say ing he has consulted the members of the Portland hunting clubs and finds that the provisions of his bill are en tirely satisfactory in every way. Another Instance of this kind made its appearance in our State Game War den's suggestion of game law reforms in 1913, and still others that have ap peared in your columns from time to time. Now, what we want to know, are these men working for the state of Ore gon, or are they laboring in the inter ests of the "Portland Gun Club?" One would suppose the latter, when he re members that Mr. Gill's resolution Is an exact duplicate of that adopted by the hunting club convention held in Portland not long ago. Tnese distinguished gentlemen have. through legislation and money, a mon opoly on all the ducks, and not being permitted to sell them, they slaughter them in numbers reaching millions for the pleasure of shooting and seeing the ducks fall. They then peddle them among their friends to build up their influence. These same gentlemen then fill up the papers by telling us what a great thing they are doing for us by feeding the ducks and how much more plentiful they are becoming every year. They have robbed us of the privilege of hunting ducks, in addition to taking the ducks from our very doorstep. And if these duck kings are molested by a poacher, we Kindly take him in tow. place him in our county official's hands, pay the cost of the case, while the duck king goes ahead with the duck killing. The average Oregonian .who pays his license never has a taste of duck, nor even a shot at one the whole season through, unless he breaks the law, even though he Uvea in a natural duck lo cality. This Injustice is stirring up In the rural districts a strong feeling of dis content which has grown steadily, un til the last season, when it became manifest by a greater disregard of the law and even bloodshed. We wind up these few remarks by saying that If these "duck slaughterers" think there is any justice in the present game laws, in regard to Mucks, let the proposition of baiting ducks be referred to the people and see. A SUBSCRIBER. More Investigation Needed. YAMHILL, Or., Jan. 20. (To the Edi tor.) Abert and Summer Lakes, in Lake County, Oregon, which It Is proposed shall be leased for a term of 40 years for their saline contents, have a water area of 130 square miles. We are not yet fully Informed as to their true value, as our examinations so far have neither been full nor final, and until we do know just what we have and what is best to do about it, we had better go slow, as this is a matter of far too great importance to be decided off-haTTd by our legislators In the short spactflof time at their dis posal and with the limited information obtainable at present. This may be better understood when we consider that the Searles Lake, Call fornia, examination occupied three years.- Perhaps we might not wish to lease or sell when we learn all the facts in the case. Our Oregon Bureau of Mines and Geology has already proved to be rst-class and paying institution, fully deserving of our hearty support In its present independent form, and to this Bureau ought to be intrusted the work of fully informing us as to what values we have in this case and what it is best to do with them. There are other good reasons for pro ceeding with caution in this matter, and it Is hoped that our legislators will leave the final decision for their sue cessors. meanwhile arranging for l complete investigation and report by the Oregon Bureau of Mines and Geol ogy, granting abundant funds for the continuation of the very valuable serv ices already rendered to the state by this .Bureau. RICHARD BAIRD. A. Petition. On Mother Europe's troubled breast Her babes lay bruised and torn. By war's fierce strife and tumult rent By earthquakes fearful ravage bent She bows her head to mourn. But not alone her grief she bears For far o'er ocean's blue Her loyal sister country's heart Though many, many miles apart Throbs with affection true. America has heard the call Of need and dire distress. And from her ricb and boundless store She seeks to aid those children dear The prey of war's duress. Her daughters fair, both young and old, Now ply the needles bright. And weave, with many a tender thought. The garments by those stitches wrought To comfort In the fight. Her prayers are for those ones bereft Of husbands, fathers dear, And brothers, too Oh. cruel war! Today, as merciless as of yore. v e. pray thy end be near. And on that devastated waste May homes anew arise. Where love and peace and harmony May assuage this fell calamity And dreadful sacrifice. EDITH J. PERNOT. - Parla Streetcar Gossip. Buffalo (N. T.) Express., "Since the war began the women have been taking the places of the men on the Paris streetcars." "Well, they'd do it here, but the men are too ill-mannered to get up." Twenty-Five, Years Ago. From The Oreconlan, January U. 1810. The Senate today held up the rivers and harbors bill, providing for the Jet ty work at the mouth of the Colum bia, although the bill passed th House. The Mitchell bill for $80,000 for a new lighthouse tender passed the Senate. Olympia Let the people of Washing ton rejoice! The early adjournment movement has captured the House, and it baa accepted Stevenuon's Joint reso lutlon fixing the time for final ad journment at February 27. II. F. Gibson has sold his interest In the drug store of Gibson Singleton to Dr. J. C Smith, and will move to Puget Sound. Mr. Gibson is a son-ln law of K. P. Earhart. Rev. D. O. Ghormley has Just visited Rev. Calvin P. Shields, pastor of Mis pah Presbyterian Church, and found mm mucn improved. . Professor James Corbett. the profes sional boxer, leaves for San Francisco soon. He will begin training for his fight with MCAuiaie. The 131st anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns will be celebrated at Masonic Hall tomorrow evening. There will be a concert and ball. William M. Whldden, architect of the Portland, who went back to Boston last September to look after work there, returned to Portland yesterday, It is more than likely he will live in Portland. Watts, the artist, and husband of Ellen Terry, Jias decided to give his paintings about 50 in number, and In cluding portraits of some of the most celebrated men of tne time, to the Brit ish Gallery. Cleveland has made it known that It the tariff reformers demand it he will lead them again. C. L. Ltndell has been appointed post master at Vesper, Or. The Realty Exchange held a lively meeting yesterday, when the "blan ket" street railway franchise came up for discussion. J. Carroll McCaffrey. M. S. Griffin, W. T. Hume and J. O. Warner were among the speakers. The outcome was the adoption of a resolu tion opposing the "blanket" franchise. The resolution was sent to the Council. ONES NEED IN SCHOOL ATHLETICS WalklnK Diilla Better Than Violent Exercises, Now Practiced. GOLD HILL, Or., Jan. 21. (To th Editor.) I have often thought of the possibilities for various forms of phys leal culture suggested by the timely article of Mr. Kline, of Berkeley, Cal., In The Oregonlan of January Is. The drooping shoulders, crooked spines flat chests, with rolling, swinging or shambling walk to correspond, are everywhere in conspicuous evidence among all classes and both sexes. A good walker Is the exception. How many young folk, and we might add old folk, know that the motive power of correct walking is located in the .Instep, and that the swinging of arms and body and throwing of the head forward in walking' are all due to the fact that the natural propelling power of the Instep has been Ignored until it is threatening to disappear? With the body In an erect position arms down, etc., the attempt to pro pel the body forward will soon dis close the location of the true motive power. A walking drill, independent of a military sense, would be of In calculable benefit to the rising gener ation, and should be an obligatory part of school work. The Sb-called athletics which have grown up in the higher schools, espe cially, do not correct any of the evils mentioned above, and as they are in tended to lead to fierce contests which overdo the heart and shorten life, are a serious menace to the students' well being. The walking drill would In clude all classes and both sexes, and If it resulted in nothing more than straightening spines and permanently expanding lungs, the physical culture would be beyond price. But this drill could also be made basis of a military drill, to be given to the older male students, which would go far to solve the - perplexing queB tion now agitating our rulers, viz., our preparedness for self-defense, besides the benefits of physical culture. The military spirit means exact obedience to rules of discipline, which should pre cede the exercises. J. R. KENDALL. MORE WORK AND LESS IMITATION. City Commission Charaed With De- votlnar Attention to Trifles. PORTLAND. Jan. 22. (To the Edi tor.) What is the matter with our Commissioners? Can It be that they do not see the pressing neds of our city, and are spending time and energy over unnecessary rules and regulations, bothering folk who have a little busi ness, and driving away those who would like to reside here and help the city? I know of three fine, useful families who have moved back East In the last month. They feel they must regulate our traffic, when there Is far too little of It seriously to endanger the child or the aged. This aping or large cities which have more population in one ward than we have in our whole city by regulating pedestrians, is about as absurd as it would be to reproduce the Paris sewers. -Instead of forever Imitating, why don't our Commissioners quit their blind following of the blind, and origi nate what will give our beautiful city deserved distinction. We must have factories to employ the thousands who now are idle in our city. We must give such Inducements in the way or Bites, bonuses and low cost of living that nternrisinsr manufacturers win reel that they must aVail themselves of the privileges we afford. Sunnose the Commissioners did not pass another of those great ordinances they saddle us wun every monui. "!- . I . . thm pose ior one year mc.v ui vm. "improvement talk" and just plugged every day to secure manufacturing es tablishments ior rorumo. u not seem that at the end of the year would be a good aeai oetter oit ana OUT good City nearer iujiiuk its population? Luiin.i, Vnfalr Jitney Tactlca. PORTLAND. Jan. 22. (To the Ed- irnr T don't like the "Jitney Dus. it is not because I oppose an innovation; not because I am interested In any way n the P. R., L. & P. Co.; not Decause T love the streetcar company. One day I boarded a "Jitney - to try the novelty. The driver kept his Dus .lii-eotlv in front of a streetcar, thougn there was ample room between rail and curb. While the bus held back the car the bus conductor stepped outside ana barked" for business. That display of unfair competition, to say nothing of the irresponsibility ot tne dus com pany, "aueerea' it who me. didn't play fair for trade. Let me ask: Do tne jitney peuiuu pay enough or anything for franchise to aid In maintaining pavements, as does the electric line? X. Y. Z. Prnne and Plural. KNOB, Wash., Jan. 15. (To the Editor.) Does the prune grow on a tree by that name, and Is it therefore a prune, wnetner green, ripe, irein, canned or dried? Or is the prune sim ply a dried plum? A. H. AlAUbUUKl. Commercially speaking, .prunes grow en prune trees, but, botanfcally speak ing, prunes are the fruit of the plum tree. Half Century Ago. From The Oregonlan, January 23, 1 Xew York A Savannah letter says: "The Union sentiment la Increasing In consequence of the mildness of Sher idan's policy and Geary's administra tion of affairs in the city. No restric tion is plai'ed on trade except In cot ton and articles contraband of war." Advices from Vera Cru and from the City of Mexico have been' received. Ma:-.:r:tilim has written a letter to hls Minister Knradi'ra. reaffirming his views as to the church and announcing that though there Is to be a full and free toleration of relisious opinion, yet th-s stave religion will be Catholic. It is etuted In Mexico that the Imperial irovernmont will be recognUed by the Lulled States In March. Lord Lyons has returned to Enuland in ill health, and It is hardly prohaM that he will ever axaln assume the po sition he has so long held as Minister from the Court of Great Britain to the United States. During the whole prog ress of the rebellion we have nover had occasion to suspect Lord Lyons of want of sympathy with our Nation or any Intention or desire to encouraue our foes. It has been rcmnrkable that while we have so much cause of com plaint against the Knu-ltKh prople, tlielr Minister has so fully retained the aoud will and respect of our own Nation. A band of Spokane Indiana have con. Kregated below Garden Field, near thta city, and are making the ulahla hide ous with their ribaldry. They began a fight ainomr themselves Saturday and one was killed. The leader, Indian Hrorkte. was taken Into custody br Officer Sanders. The Washington Territorial Legisla ture hns "wiped out" Skamania County, Washington Territory, and alded M greater portion uf It to Clarke County. Free concerts and pretty waiter rlrl are two of tlio attraction at llenrf Wagner's Harmony liall. Fourth and Pine streets. A writer In the Allantlo Monthly for December has contri!uted an article of several thounnnd words on tho Colum bia Hlver and Portland. He fays lie cannot understand why Portland was founded on the Willamette Klver nor why the name "Willamette" Is accent ed on the penult and not on the ulti mate. Answered With Ktory. New York Herald. "Uncle Joe" Cannon was asked today what he thought of the outlook for tlie Republican party In 1916, and be an swered with a story. 'A black man was arrested for horse stealing while I was Prosecuting At torney In Vermilion County," he said. nd wan placed on trial after being duly indicted. When his day In court came he was taken bofore the Judge and I solemnly read the charge in the indictment to him. " 'Are you guilty or notT I arked. "The black man rolled uneasily In his cllnlr. 'Well, boss,' he finally nald. ain't dat the very thing we're about to try?' Duration of Iloer War. RAINIER, Or., Jan. 18. (To the Edi tor.) To settle a dispute, would yon kindly Inform me as to the date and duration of the Boer War? A maintains that the war started In the early part of 1898 and ended In the latter part of 1900, while B malntalran that it started in 1898 and ended In the early part of lmis. FRANK BRAN DEN, Care V. S. Dredge Multnomah. The Boer War beiran October Iv, 1899, and ended May ill, 1902. Salary for Ileelna; Weeds. Puck. Inquisitive Motorist Hey, Bub, what do you get for hoeing those weeds? Bub Nothln' If I do, an' If I don't. Sunday Features. If I Were a Man A number of comely and ambi tious misses tell just what they would do had they been born of the so-called sterner sex. They also pose in costumes showing them in the male characters of their dreams. A full page with a dozen striking photos. At the Front. Xavier Sager, French artist and soldier, sends in another set of drawings from the firing line, where he is on duty. He is In pleasant frame of mind this time and reveals some of the lighter sides of campaigning. Dolly Dip in Chinatown. An elaborate page in colors showing this favorite in a new ad venture. Verse, and the score of a lively air. The U. S. War College. An illustrated page on the work of army officers who are learning the finer points in the exact sci ence of modern wnrfare. Peace-Time Heroes. A record of the 34 American heroes whose bravery under trying conditions has won for them rec ognition from tho Government, Illustrated with photographs. Hired Hands of War. Richard Conovcr narrates the story of historic bodies of troops which have hired themselves out for use on the battlofieldR. With out sentiment or interest they have fought for gold and the pure love of fighting. Pacifying the Mexicans. The story of General Scott, Chief of Staff and dashing cavalry lead er. who was sent recently to talk the Mexicans out of their trenches along the American boundary. Defending the Hill. A full page reproduction in col ors of one of Detaille's most fa mous military paintings. The Children's Page. Illustrates fables and stories and a new puzzle department. Housewives of the Future. Portland has a community house. conducted as a part of the public school system, in which girls are taught every phase of housekeep ing. An illustrated article 6hows them learning to do every-day tasks in a scientific way. Oregon at San Francisco. New photographs show details of Oreeon's fine building at the Pan ama-Pacific Exposition. It is de scribed by a member of The Ore gonian staff. Scores of Other Features. Order TODAY of your newsdealer.