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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 1915)
TIIE OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 2G, 1915. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce as iec-:wd-clas matter. Subscription Rates Invariably in advance: (By Mall.) I'aily. Fnndar included, one year Tal;y, Sunday included, shs-months 4.2a raiu- Sundav included, three months ... 2-2o If-illv. Sunday included, one month . latty, without t'unday, one year Tailv. without Sunday. six month! .. Innlv, vithout Sunday, three months Xallv. without Sunday, one month .. XVeeKlv, nne year Sunday, one year - Sunday and Weekly one year (By Carrier.) Pally, Fwiday Included, one year X)alv. Sunday Included, one month . . . 6.WB .. S.28 1 . . .0 .. 2.50 . . 3.50 ..$9-00 Km to Remit Send Postoffice money or jer, expreea order or personal cheek on your lo-al bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender s risk. Give postorrice auaress in ims including county and state. rmu-a Rules 12 to 18 pares. 1 cent: 18 A r! . ,,). s. ,a ah mr',i S cents AO to o nicis. 4 oents: 62 to 76 paces. & cents: 7S to 92 pages, a cents. Foreign post are, double rates. " Eautem Business Office V eree ft Conk lin. New York. Brunswick building: Chicaao. fctenger building. Saa Franrtseo Office B. J. Bidwell Com pany. 74 Market street. FORTLND, TUESDAY, JAXCARY IS, Ml OUR POSITION AS A NEITRAX. . President Wilson's defense of his Interpretation of this country's duty . as a neutral in the present war will commend itself to the sober sense of the Nation. The best evidence that he has leaned neither to the one side nor to the other is the fact that his action " has provoked some criticism from both sides. With half the world en- paged in war, the United States is in the. position of a man who is called upon to walk, a chalk-line between two rows of spectators, every one of whom is keenly watching for him to swerve to one .side or the other. Knowledge that he is thus watched by 'deeply Interested critics has made him the more careful to give none of them Just cause for complaint. Xever since the days of Napoleon has this Nation been called upon to maintain a strictly neutral position amid a war of such magnitude. The difficulty of the task has been vastly enhanced by many causes. Modern Invention has so greatly improved communication and has so increase intercourse among the nations that opportunities for friction are many times multipied. New implements of warfare, such as submarines, aero planes, mines and torpedoes, have ren dered necessary new applications of old principles of international law. The same statement is true of teleg raphy, telephony and wireless, which were unknown a century ago. Perhaps the greatest incentive to strict impartiality on the part of our . Government is the change in the composition of our population which has come about in the last cen tury. In 1800 the bulk of our pop ulation was of British descent, and immigration was small and almost en tirely from Northern Europe. We now have a polyglot population drawn from every nation of Europe and from several nations of Asia. Millions of these citizens have come so recently or live in such clannish communion with their own nationality that the ties of sentiment which bind them to their native country have not been severed; in fact, have been scarcely weakened. All are intensely eager for the triumph of their own former compatriots and are ready to protest passionately against any leaning to the side of their racial foes. The United States Government is thus placed In a most delicate position, and it is a tribute to the President's scru pulous partiality that complaints of violation of neutrality lrora passion :ite partisans have been so few and have, without exception, proved base less. Knowledge that the sympathy of the great majority among the American people favored the Anglo-Franco-Eus-sian alliance doubtless had its influ-. ence in prompting the President to protest emphatically, though in a friendly spirit, against the British treatment of contraband goods. The spectacle of many cargoes of war sup plies going from this country to the enemies of their native land could not fail to irritate Americans of German or Austro-Hungarian birth or descent and the President's protest consti tuted such forcible evidence of impar tiality as must have calmed the spirits of these people. On the other hand, his recognition of the allies' right to the advantage accruing from naval supremacy deprives them of cause of complaint. The President is entitled to. and will have, the support of the Nation in maintaining our position as a friend of all the belligerents and in steering a course which shall give just cause of offense to none. TILE SOUTH FAVORS SELECTION. Ill his announced opposition to the literacy test provided in the immigra tion hill President Wilson finds him self opposed no"! only to a powerful element in the North and West but to the prevailing sentiment in the South. The dominant element of his nvii party is thus out or harmony with him on a non-partisan question. The South has declared against ad mission of ignorant immigrants from Southern Europe by the vote of .its commissioners of agriculture and immigration in conference at Tampa in 190S; by resolutions of the Vir ginia ami Tennessee Legislatures: by the abolition of immigration bureaus in North Carolina and South Carolina, and by instruction to agricultural boards in those states not to seek im migrants; also by the demand of the Farmers' Agricultural and Co-Operative Union, having a large Southern membership, for the literacy test. The South objects to immigrants from Southeastern Europe and Asia because they have not the same ob jection to interbreeding with the ne groes as have the Northern races. Therefore, their coming would com plicate the race problem. This objec tion is not limited to the whites. Hooker Washington opposes the blend ing of his race with whites or the type in question. There would be an in crease or negro half-breeds to up plant those who are proud of Anglo Saxon or French descent. The South now has its socially inferior class marked off by color, and it wishes to retain that mark of distinction. These are some reasons given by Prescott F. Hall for the South' desire to restrict immigration. He gives an other reason which may surprise many Northerners, who have become accus tomed to consider race suicide a vice peculiar to the native stock and to consider immigrants prolific in chil dren. This is. that race suicide in the North dates from the large immigra tion between I $40 and 1S50. increas ing as the. quality of immigration de teriorated, and affecting not only the original settlers but the earlier immi grants. The white birth rate of the South, he says, always has been fiigh. Since the full development of the EouUi depends on the attraction, of im migrants as well as on increasing the efficiency of the negroes. It would seem Incumbent on the South to wel come immigrants of some kind. As people of the Northern races are not inclined to go South the only alterna tive is to take those from Southern Europe. Probably the South hopes, through the literacy test, to select im migrants of a higher type from that region, people of intelligence, ambition and sufficient race pride not to mingle with the negroes trtid thus to fortify the white race in control of the South. GETTING BACK TO JiOBM.VL. 'The large use of the initiative is due to the shortcomings of the Legis lature," solemnly declares a journal istic monitor of the representative body at Salem. Perhaps. But the overuse of the initiative is an evil which no legislatia" failure can just ify or explain. It has long been fash ionable for demagogues, political and journalistic, to denounce our Legisla tures for various crimes of omission and commission, and the result has been that in recent years representa tive government has been in low es teem. In Oregon we have for some years had a thorough test of the initiative, beginning with the popular enactment of laws which the Legislature had im properly rejected and culminating in a grand biennial rush of all sorts of schemers, dreamers and law-tinkers to the Initiative with offerings which no Legislature would accept and which the public has fallen into the habit of rejecting. At the recent election in Oregon the people voted down twenty-five out of twenty-nine measures. It has come to .pass in this state that there must be a sound reason for putting a bill on the ballot, through the initiative or the referendum, or It will get no con sideration. The busy law-menders and constitution-upsetters who circulate petitions and undertake a campaign for anything without a definite and obviotis call from the people are wast ing money, time and effort. The public confidence in a Legis lature has been in a considerable measure restored. But whether com pletely restored or not, the real cor rective for bad Legislatures is neither the initiative nor complete abolition, but good legislators. THE AUTOMOBILE SHOW". There is but little need of urging people to take an interest in the auto mobile show at the Armory. Wher ever anything new in the way of auto mobiles Is to be seen there the crowd is sure to gather and remain. The show, attracts both for utility and beauty. Never before have the lines of the cars been so artistic, never has the machinery been so efficient. The progress of the automobile in reliabil ity and power is one of the wonders of the age.. The four-cylinder engine is gradually giving way to those of six and eight cylinders. The lines of the cars are departing more and more from the type of the horse vehicle. By inevitable steps the automobile is as suming a form of its own perfectly adapted to its motive power and ca pacities. There is a choice for every body at the show. All tastes and all varieties of income can be suited. The number of Americans who are plan ning long road tours next Summer is very large. We dare say hundreds of families will visit the show with this thought In mind. Their purpose will be to select a car which promises the maximum of service and comfort on a long trip. The purchaser of almost any stand ard car is sure to receive, full value for hie money. In no direction has commercial integrity achieved more admirable results than in the manu facture of automobiles The adver tisements of the various machines are, as a rule, strictly true and few prom ises are made to purchasers which are not kept to the letter. Those who cantafford to buy expensive machines will find luxury in all its vehicular forms at the show. Those whose means aire limited need not feel that this deprives them of comfort and safety on a tour. There are cheap cars which give .marvelous service They are light, economical to run and extremely durable. Some of the moderate-priced cars are quite as satis factorv'uDon the road as the more expensive ones if a person will only think so. Automobile enjoyment, like some other things, is largely a matter of nsvchology. It is fascinating to witness varied means of pleasure and utility which the manufacturers have placed at the disposal of the public and the amount of potential service which can be purchased for a very moderate sum of money. The time has come when men of limited means have begun to ask themselves, not if thev can afford a car, but if they can afford to be without one. The auto mobile has ceased to figure as a lux ury. It is a necessity of modern life. It sets a family free in so many direc tions, it enlarges and enriches life in so many ways, it proviues so mucu health, comfort and pleasure for so little outlay. The day has. passed when the automobile leaves its owner In the lurch on the road far from home or when the cost of maintenance bankrupts a moderate purse. It is as dependable as old Dobbin ever was and a thousand times more satisfac tory. To many the chief interest of the show will lie in the trucks, tractors ami other vehicles for commercial use and heavy work. The truck has fully demonstrated its capabilities on tire city streets. It is replacing the horse for all kinds of heavy hauling, as well as in the fire and police departments. But that is only part of the story. The gasoline truck has shown that it has a great mission in the development of country life.,. On the dirt roads in rural sections it is capable of hauling heavv loads with great economy. It has in some cases been able to cpm-N pete on even terms with the railroads, offering the great advantage to the farmer that It comes to his door for freight. Milk, fruit and all kinds of farm produce now come to the city markets in trucks at a substantial saving to the .producers. Nor must we forget the astonishing develop ment of the farm tractor designed to replace horses at the plow and har row. These machines are no longer cumbersome and inordinately expen sive. Tractors of compact construc tion are now on the market which are admirably adapted to work on farms of 160 acres or less. They move about tn the same space as a team of horses and do the required work with far greater economy. The gas engine In its manifold applications - is trans forming rural life not less completely than the life of the city. There is hardly a progressive farmer to be found now-a-days who does not own at least one engine, while some have two or three. Farmers are also rap idly availing themselves of the speed and comfort of the automobile. It Is no longer a rarity except in the re motest sections where the roads are execrable. The parallel progress of the automobile and the good roads propaganda needs ' no mention here. The one can not thrive without the other. - LEARNING TO RELY ON OURSELVES. The necessities produced by the war have compelled many American man ufacturers to make articles which they formerly Imported but can no longer import. We are learning how many things we can make as well and as cheaply for ourselves as other nations can make them for us. We are also learning that we have within our own borders many materi als for manufacture of commodities which we have hitherto imported. Since we can. no longer Import these commodities, our manufacturers, pro moters, prospectors and inventors are turning their genius in new direc tions. The consequence promises to be that, when the war is ended, Euro pean manufacturers will discover that not only have they lost their Ameri can customers, but that the Americans have taken away many of their cus tomers in other countries. There are ways in which Oregon can get into this business of boom ing the "made in U. S. A." idea. Pot ters are finding clay suitable for mak ing the finest porcelain, which can no longer be obtained in sufficient quan tity in Europe, and they are going Into the manufacture of fine pottery In New Jersey and Ohio. Oregon has clay rjf many kinds and may as easily find porcelain clay in the Cascades as other states have found it in the Appa lachians. The war has done for us what the Underwood tariff faired to do. It has stimulated us to reach out for a grip on foreign trade and to supply our selves with those articles for which we have relied on other countries. It has opened the way to our economic inde pendence. PERFECTING CO-OPERATION. An interesting meeting of fruit growers was held at Hood River Janu ary 19. Its purpose was, of course, to promote co-operation in disposing of the fruit crop which is all-import ant to that section. It seems that the six large selling agencies through which the apple crop goes to market have been underbidding each other in order to make sales. By this process the growers manifestly suffer loss. Underbidding may be necessary when markets are disarranged as they were this season but there should be no oc casion for it in normal circumstances. The Hood River growers met to con sider how they might bring pressure to bear upon the selling agencies for the sake of sustaining prices and en hancing the orehardists' returns. By this we are reminded that co-operation presents various phases. At We natchee it has probably developed far ther than at any other point in' this part of the world. The producers In that fruitful region seem to have ef fected arrangements with the selling agencies which ensure them fair re turns even in bad seasons like the present. At Hood River this desirable end has not yet been attained, though growers are striving toward it intelli gently. In other parts of Oregon and Wash ington co-operation ranges through many stages of imperfection. In al most every community something has been in. the way of organization but there are still a few where the pro ducers cling to isolated marketing and therefore completely at the mercy of the middlemen. It is a fact of com mon observation that prosperity and co-operation go hand in hand through out the Pacific Northwest. Find a community where the growers are closely organized both for scientific production and for intelligent market ing . and there also will be found abundant prosperity. Co-operation means comfortable homes, good schools and churches and lives rich In human values. The ab sence of co-operation means poverty, mossbackism and mortgages. Hood River's effort to place co-operation on a better basis deserves every encour agement. Whatever is accomplished in that direction will be for the good, not merely of one community, but of the whole Oregon country. GIRDED FOR A LONG STRUGGLE. The war is about to enter upon a new' phase. Each of the belligerents on the continent will add tb its forces the 1915 levies, and Great Britain will throw into the field. Kitchener's Army of fully 1,000,000 men and will add continually to it as new units are trained and equipped for service. Ger many can probably put 1.000.000 new men of the 1915 levies in the field. France can add two-thirds as many and both will probably draw heavily on last reserves. Russia, from her vast population, can add to her armies many more than can her allies. Aus tria's resources seem to have been al ready fully developed in order to beat back the invader. Turkey may be able to addi somewhat to her forces, but to what extent is problematical. The undeveloped military resources upon which the anti-Teuton allies will draw are evidently far greater than those at the Command of Germany and her allies. The almost certain entry of Roumania and the probable entry of Italy into the conflict against Germany, Austria and Turkey will still further increase the odds against the latter. In order to maintain an equal ity of numbers the Teuton powers must draw far more heavily than their enemies on that part of their male population which has passed military age. As regards extent of hostile terri tory occupied, neither side seem,s to have much advantage, but as regards military value of such .territory the advantage lies with Germany. Her forces have crippled Relgium and are far closer to the vita's of France and Britain than are the Russians to the vitals of either Germany, Austria or Hungary. The London Daily Mail, discussing the situation In the west only, says: Five months of the war reveal the en emy with ft derided territorial balance in his favor, his soil virtually uninvaded, and himself in possession ot large areas, amount ing in one cage to practically the whole of a country belonging to the allies. The Mail tells its readers "there is nothing whatever to be gained by blinking the magnitude of the under taking to which the allies are commit ted." It says the task in 1915 is "to clear the whole of France of the enemy and to regain Belgium," which will demand "an enormous effort." Even then the allies will "still be a long war from destruction of Prussian militarism, a task that can only be car ried out by the invasion of Germany." In the same Issue the Mail publishes the first of a series of letters from a man whom it sent through Germany, who "epeaUs German perfectly.' and who has strong pro-British opinions, to secure "a comprehensive and thoroughly Impartial picture of the Fatherland in. war-time." This man tells the British people they are In dulging "perilously In the ostrich pol icy"; that they should "abandon the notion that Germany is already groggy and tottering." and that while he foresees "future disaster for Ger many, "disaster is neither at hand now nor even measurably in sight. He terms "stupid" three views per sistently circulated in England: "that Germany has reached the end of her tether in military resources; that Ger many is downhearted and sick of the entire business: that Germany, in con sequence of the exorbitant price of food, is on the verge of starvation. . He says that "not a single one of these allegations has- any foundation in fact." He thinks Germany has al ready 5.000.000 men in the field and yet "the country literally swarms with unused soldiers; they are drilling everywhere men of the ideal fighting age." - He predicts that "by the Spring of 1915 Germany will have at call an entirely new army of at least 1,000, 000 trained men." He says "there must be at least another 3,000,000 men who have had military training men not yet forty-five years of age." While this observer finds that "the overweening optimism" with which Germany began the war has subsided. that country still believes victory is assured, though "more dearly bought than was at first thought." He has an imDression that this "confidence is perhaps more affected than real" and that in private "the Germans are do ing considerably more heart-searching than is manifest from their "dress- parade cheeriness." He adds, how ever: But over and above all this, unquestion ably, is unity and determination unmistak able to wage the fight through to the fin ish to carry it on to victory, if possible; to destruction and doom if need be. Let no Englishman make any mistake about this. The Germans are going down fighting. There will be no whimpering surrender, in my opinion; no peace that is not forced upon them by the iron arbitrament of defeated arms, ' As to food, he says "there have been increases in the. prices of nearly all necessities of life, but food is in no respect whatever scarce." The Ger mans avoid waste, but the notion that they are starving or practicing "Spar tan self-denial is utterly without foundation." "War," he says, "has not even remotely begun to alter the face of things in the way of disfigure ment or disintegration." Commenting on this article and on others of the same purport, the Mall believes that '"sooner than yield their soil the Germans wilt mobilise almost their entire male population, and will fight with the determination that en abled' Frederick the Great for seven years to confront all Europe in arms and beat it." It believes that long be fore then "economic exhaustion will compel Germany to throw up the sponge" and that "only numbers, backed, up by unconquerable endur ance, will suffice to force her to that state of prostration." All of this justifies the conclusion that Kitchener's judgment was sound when he predicted that the war would last at least three years and that it would really begin next May. He re gards, the tremendous fighting which has filled the last six months as only preliminary to the really decisive bat tles. Wonderful are the perversions of peace time. A single Chinese killed by highbinders draws space on the front page. A mere regiment of 1S00 men wiped out in an action in Europe would hardly draw a three-line dis patch. Evidently Italy has changed her mind about jumping into the war. No doubt the earthquake had a sobering influence on the Italians, in which event the earthquake may have been more of a blessing than a curse. No matter how hard he tries to ex plain . away his "scrap of paper" speech, that phrase from the German Chancellor will always ring ur-fjleas-antly in the world's ears whei, the Belgian Invasion is brought up. The latest German raid on the Eng lish coast resulted in disaster for the Germans. There is one thing that can be said for the Briton. The same stunt can't be pulled off on him with impunity time after time. Von Behncke is rather nice in stat ing facts. He says "the enemy discon tinued the engagement after three hours' time," . and, lacking anything from the Admiralty, the engagement may be likened to a draw. While a local professor assures us that the race, following its present pace, will die in 300 years, he neglects to name the precise hour at which the demise will occur. A mere matter of oversight, we take it. Although we all know the Dacia will sail and that she will be seized, yet, to be sure, we'll all be properly sur prised, horrified and aroused when the incident actually comes to a head; Although the Upper Columbia is blocked- by ice the sun continues to hover pleasantly about Portland and an overcoat is not absolutely neces sary. The story that English airmen had destroyed 400 German war autos needs for confirmation the name of the man wfco counted them. Oregon Democracy will have a real organ in the Salem Messenger under R. A. Harris, something the party has long needed. i The entire Turkish air fleet has been destroyed. The Turks should know better than to, adopt such sub tleties. Kitchener and the French Minister of War have held a conference and it may be surmised who did the talking. Iceland has gone "dry" and the in habitants now can pronounce the name of its capital without stuttering. sooner or later, though, the Legis ture will get right down to business. Cheer up! it was 18 above zero in Portland half a century ago today. But will the continuing appropria tions continue? Give the tons men credit for being good shots. Those who hab golds should bray for rain. This is a grand time to swat the fly. Sunnv, Portland,. Half a Century Ago. From The Oregonian January 26. 1S65. H. C. Coulson. clerk of Multnomah County has advertised for sealed bids on the construction of the new Court house for this county on block 58 Port land. 'The contract' price will be paid in com. The lowest bidder will be ac cepted, if the two sureties offered are sufficient. The new schooner the Triumph, has been launched at Utaalada, W. T. She is of 144 tons. Washington Fire broke out January 24 in the Smithsonian Institute build ing above the picture gallery. There were some 230 Stanley pictures in the gallery and five or six were saved. The large library in the west wing was not damaged. The exact loss is not estimated but it will be considerable. New York A special dispatch to the New Tork Express says that ex-Preai-dent Pierce is expected here hourly. He is, it is believed, one of the peace commissioners. Grace, the only daughter ot Sylvester and Mary Pennoyer, died January 25 at the age of 14 months. The funeral will take place this morning, A petition circulated by M. F. Roberts at Camp Russell near Salem to which all the signers agreed not to touch intoxicating liquor during the service in the United States Army has been signed by more than 76. The pledge reads: "We the undersigned do hereby pledge our word and sacred honor that we will not use any in toxicating liquors or play any game of cards during the period of our serv ice in the united States Army. The finest day's sport of the season was enjoyed at crystal lsk yester day, where the ice is in fine condi tion for skating. Of the gentlemen who were adjudged the finest skaters, we might list. Lieutenant Kappus, first; Harvey Hodge, second; R. -H. Law, Charles E. Calef. Marshal Hoyt and Mr. Ferguson. Miss A., Miss C. and Miss M. were among the best women skaters. Colonel C. H. Larrabie has furnished statement of the weather's antics from October 15 to January 24, which would tend to show that the weather for Oregon is better than the reputa tion is even among our own residents: Clear rlays. 4'J Fair, cloud with sunshine 1h Kainy, sun not appearing 2- Showery and sunshine !' Misty, some fog morning and evening.. 8 The thermometer yesteruay morning stood 18 above zero. One of the most popular ditties of the day and which is sung by every boy and played by every band, sup planting "Dixie" and "Old John Brown" is "When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again, Hurrah, Hurrah." WOHEJi POLITICIANS TARGET Married Voter of Fair Sex Says Let Men Run tee Government. PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 24. (To the Editor.) We have read the very beau tiful letter of Mrs. M. L. T. Hidden ap pearing in The Oregonian recently. We feel that Mrs. Hidden has a perfect right to her theories, and that she is indeed an American citizen, provided for in the Constituton of the L'nited States. The old adage "Man's work is from sun to suifc. Woman's work is never done." applies fully to tnls case under con sideration. There are very -few of us women who have more time for poli tics than to go to the polls and vote. Even to do that we have to leave the dishes unwashed and the baby In care of a woman who has been to the polls 'and voted while we took care of her baby. Under these average circum stances we do not feel that we could do much more of the work of men. They marry us becouse we have modesty, purity and other purely feminine traits which have in the first place attracted them to us. They don't expect to hand over to us or to our representatives the reins of office or public life and themselves constitute a kind of third sex. It will be best for women if they strike a true balance of power and continue the old plan of winning influence with chicken casserole and a la Maryland. There are many of the women ot Oregon who appreciate the vote as an honor - conferred upon us by the men, and so much do we appreciate it that we will not run for the offices men are entitled to as the ones to pro vide for their families. We need the men in their legitimate sphere and we will not know what to do with them if we try to do their work and ours too. Women should put the soft pedal on all that talk about any woman being as good as any man and on that basis claiming their vices and their pastimes. The fabric of the Nation needs men and women too, and elimination of either sex will bring disster. A widow or a woman with de pendent ones, as aged relatives or minor children to provide for. and with abilities to hold an, office could be given a suitable appointative office under a male head, -but very few women have either the health or the endurance to hold properly the head of an important department in any city. Let the men run the political affairs and the women the home and the cradle and things will be all right. A MARRIED WOMAN VOTER. "TORCH OF KNOWLEDGE" IS KEY Alvln Heekethorn Explnina "Tester" In Electricity of Love. PORTLAND. Jan. 25. (To the Edi torsRelative to the interesting sug gestions in your fair editorial upon "Electricity and Love," In The Ore gonian January 23. permit me to say that "tester" to which you refer is the Torch of Knowledge, and youths may ignite it by applying to it pages from biology, psychofoy anil physiology. There are a few physiological laws concerning the "testing" of the posi tive, and negative affinities of hus bands and wives which are absolutely essential to their health and happiness. Unfortunately these laws are totally unknown to the laymen, and I have met only three physicians In my life time who had taken the trouble to post themselves upon this Important sub ject. One of these was a woman physi cian who had been wrecked in one matrimonial venture upon this very same psysiological rock before she realised the necessity of "erecting a lighthouse" thereon. We can hope for no improvement in the health and morals of humanity un til the ban upon promulgating knowl edge concerning the fountain-head of life is removed. Then the Inquiring youth will be equipped with the Torch of Knowledge that will prove an un erring "tester" as to whether the one of his choice is his positive or nega tive. ALVIN HECKETHORN. Pny for Enallsa Private. VANCOUVER. Wash., Jan. 25. (To the Editor.) Kindly inform me through vour paper If Lieutenant Becker, or tbe New York police force, was executed, and the date. 2. What is the pay of a private sol dier in the Canadian army. C. A. H. Ex-Lieutenant Becker, of the New Tork police force, has not been execut ed as yet. The pay of a private in the English service is approximately JS5.18 a year. The pay varies for the same grade un der different conditions,. DATA OX STATE SEAL GIVES "Way Revert Biifkr Asks llarvry Gor. don Starkweather, Addlner Facta. MILWAUKEE, Or., Jan. 14. (To the Editor.) In recent issues of the press we notice that a movement is on foot to change tbe state seal and to substl tute therefor a worked-over copy of the territorial seal. Ons ot the advo cates of this plan quotes the late Judge Deady as having favored it. but a care ful study of the Journal of the constitu tional convention -"fails to show such an attitude. . The trouble with most of these crit ics la they do not seem to know the slgnlfclance of the different features of the state seal. Anything we do not understand is likely to appear meaningless. By consulting the journal of the con stitutional convention for the afternoon session of September 1$, 1837, we find that the RtntA seal was riealarned bT Harvey Gordon? .a pioneer of 184. We find that the departing ship la a Brit ish man-of-war. and the arriving vessel is an American steamer representing the early settlements and the cessation of tha Joint occupancy of this country by Great Britain and the United States. The sheaf, the plow and the plck-ax denote the pursuits of husbandry and mining. Could anything be more appropriate for the state seal than' the covered wagon, which typifies the early set tlement of the state? If tha matter could be submitted to a vote of the pioneers of Oregon I am sure that they would vote to retain the covered wagom To Mr. Gordon's copy ot the aeal was added an elk. Indicating that our moun tains are alive with noble game. Now, who would want to replace this mon arch of the mountain and plain by a poor mud-daubing beaver? We move that this matter be submitted to a vote of the B. P. O. E. Thomas J. Dryer, a distinguished pio neer, moved that adoption of the seal, and it has been in use ever since the state's admission to the Union. It seems a little out of place at this late date to talk Of changing this pioneer emblem. The territorial seal had Its place In our history, and so had the territory; both have given way when the state was admitted, and .why should we re- HARVEY GORDNSTARKWEATHER. - 1 - - V AXMAL DRAWS OTICB TO CITY From Loa AnscelTa" and Minneapolis Come Favorable Comment. PORTLAND. Jan. 25. (To the Edl tor.)You have published comments from Oregon contemporaries on the annual edition of Tne Oregonian. Per haps this quotation from a letter from a Los Angeles triend would interest 0"I owe you a letter and thanks for the great big newsy Portland New Year s number of The Oregonian which I greatly enjoyed." And. also from this bitter from a Min neapolis friend: "I beg to acknowledge rei-eipt of tin copy of the special edition of The Ore gonian, for which please accept ray thanks. It certainly Is 'some' paper. I am surprised to see so many Im mense buildings that you have in Portland. It surely must have im proved since my Inst visit." Although a native Mlnnesotan I came to uregon un eo y stay. I came In the rainy eaon w see It at its worst. (? 1 continually ... ntinr to the East. This year I sent 15 of The Oregonian's Annuals. They have brought forth more than ordinary acknowledgments. I'RIC PARADB IS WASTED Festival Clty Should ot Abandon Feature la Opinion. PORTLAND. Jan. 2i. To the Edi tor.) I have heard it said lately that the electric parade Is " to be discon tinued at this year s Hose Festival. Tn mv mind the electric paraae is oy far the best part of the whole pro gramme and no aouut tne one amo tion that holds the osowus in town Jiii.in thA festival. Roses and scenery we may see uum our own bacK varus. 10 me u M.,..t Hond. hut for such an electrical display as was enjoyed by the attend ing crowds, last year, e uiusi jvwkj to Portland. T make this as a protest, ucnevinu that nothing can be substituted to take its place. M. X. REPP. Ode to the Portland Ruse. "The wide world knows The Portland Rose" The grand and lasting flower; And o'er the earth Its wondrous worth Gives it magnetic power. 'The wide world knows The Portland Rose" That everyone attracts; Creates desires And then Inspires A love that won't relax. "The wide world knows The Portland Rose" Of all. It Is supreme. Its fragrant smell And beauty tell Far more than artist's dream. "The wide world knows The Portland Rose" A symbol good and puru. "Hs by its fame That Portland's name Shall evermore endure. W. W. Cooley, Portland, Or. Xew .rnland'a Tax on Klrbra. ABERDEEN. Wash.. .Ian. 24. (To the Editor.) I would like to ask you whether there is any law In New Zea land which would prevent a man from accumulating more than $100. nn, ami if there is, what becomes of the resi due or nnv amount he may earn there after? " JOHN A. MAY. There is no law which prevents a man from accumulating $100,000 or any specific sum, but there ore graduated taxes on unimproved land values and on incomes derived from other sources than land. These taxes fall most Jieav ily ou the largest fortunes and natur ally tend to dampen a man's ambition toMncrease his fortune. Harriet T. Comatoek'a Address. CENTHAL1A. Wash.. Jan. i'S. (To the Editor.) Please inform mo through your paper the date of birth and birth place of Harriet f'omstork, authoress of RJoyce of the- North Wood." Also, is an still living? 8UBKCR1BLR. Mrs. Harriet Theresa Comstock was born at Nichols, N Y., in 1860. She Is the daughter of S. Olpheus and Jean A. (Downey) Smith. Her present address is 416 East Eighteenth street, Flatbush, New York. l'rlnevllle'a Voire la Hears. PR1 NEVILLE, Or., Jan. 22. (To the Editor.) I notice in The Oregonian January 19 an article on "Ros 13 Years Old." giving very complimentary figures for Portland, Or., for their high educational standard. This Is all right, but did you ever have the fig ures on Prinevlllc? LYNN S. CHAM. Lima. Pern. ennner. THE DALLES. Or., Jan. 21. (To the Editor.) Please give me the address of a good newspaper published In Limn, Peru. M. M. PHIPPS. "Clero" or "Bieu Spcial." Twenty-Fira Years Ago. Prom The Oreeonlan ot January Srt. IK"". New York The train with Nellie Kly on board arrived In New York yester day afternoon at S:50 o'clock, l annon were rire.l In Battery Park and Fort Green Park In honor of the event. At 4:15 Miss Hly waa In the office of the World. There were fully lo.ai.o pi-njiie In Park Row. cheering the newll-er woman who outdid the dreams of Jules Verne and enelreled the earth In 5J days, slx'houra and 11 minutes. The name Nellie Bly tisea la not her own. Sthe romee from Pittsburg, where alie Is Elizabeth Cochran. Her firet work on a newspaper was done in 1KM on the Pittsburg Dlspatrli. Klie eventually waa sent to Mexio to write of affalra there and learned Spanish on the trip to do It. flie eventually soiikIiI em ployment In New York, ami after mak ing the rounda of almost all the news papers without success, won the audi ence with Joseph Plltser, of the World, who didn't take long to make up bla mind that ahe could he useful. Her first assignment was to visit the) In sane asylum on Blaekwrll's Island to write a atory about the "worklnKs" of the place. Hhe learned many things she could not have otherwise by play ing the part of an Insane person. She presented herself before the Police Jua tice. Patrick Galvln Duffy, who sup posed she was Insane and rommttterl her there. Hho had to rehearse the part three days before ahe dared to attempt It, but she made good, nmt for 13 days waa an Inmate of the asvlum. none of the attendants or officers Knowing ahe was in there on a "mis sion." Nellie Uly won especial not lee for her Interviewa Yiath widows of Presidents. James MeClarney. of Portland, the 'Irish Giant" of the nmlllstlo world, was paralysed before Joe H. t'ho nsltl. the fighter of San l'ram lm o. al Me chanics' Pavilion, last night. The giant tell an easy firey to the scientific vis itor, and tile Portland boxer collapsed in the second round when Choynski scored on a clean knockout. The Salem Journal has Jnst secured as editor-in-clilef Finest llofer, who cornea with a recommendation from Senator Allison, of Iowa, oa one of the leading young Journalists of Iowa. A. F. llofer. Jr.. also has Joined the Journal's staff. Mr. Mitchell will be city editor. Marriage licenses have hern Ij-anpd to Lawrence Walih and .Mary Poth, Henry W. Smith and Kosetta Sever ance. O. K. Dayton and Sara R. V wel, Saul Silberlield and Bella Dan.lgci. M, J. McMahan. a member of the Council of Kast Portland. Is dead, A committee composed of Stott. Murphy and .Martin, was named to act at the special session of the Council laet niglit. Mayor Stewart and Couneilmen Stott, I'wls and Terry s erif appointed pallbearers. The State P.oaid of Medical Fx an Iner advised lr. K, S. Ahorn t.tat n had decided to Issue hint a certificate entitling li 1 in to practice in this stale. A petition signed by some ;! to nioi names, asking J. N. Teal to become u uandldatu for School Director for Ids. trict No. 1. has been filed and pub lished. The election la In March. A similar petition has asked A. H. (ilhl.s to become a candidate for school clerk. FKH OK PtHKIHOM' Jt WEIL Economy Not In elertlna Plate's Duty. Writes Mr. Inrll. PENDLETON. Or.. Jan. :5. (To the Editor) In this era of economy at the Statehouse, perhaps a word of warning that the people do not demand parsi mony may not be ainlsa. There acenis to be danitcr that the Legislature may refuse such appropriations as the per manent Institutions ot the state require It has been said that the founuation of states rest upon broken lu-arts a phrase which means that no govern ment would be necessary cxi ept for the protection of the weak antalnst the strong, the law-abiding auainst the lawless, and aoelety esainst the crlin ,lnal, the Insane and the feeblc-nilnden. I am sure that no citizen of Ore-son. whose opinion la worthy consideration, desires to hamper the niliilstral ion or either of the Insane asylums, tho blln'l school, the Institution for leehle-niluo-ed, the industrial school, or any of the philanthropic Instrumentalities which must always look to the slate for main tenance. In this a of laliiil Increase of insanity none of us can tell when some person dear to u must find asy lum in one of the hospitals. It Is well to stop In the midst of economic hysteria, and consider where the duty of tlx commonwealth lies. It will be meet for the members of the Legislature to pause and ponder upon the living death behind walls of mason ry which the state haa eroded, and to see to it that nothing Is lucking t" make existence there as bearable as possible. The estlmntea of tho super intendents are none too arcat. and, if granleil. tho stale will huve done too little toward tbe amelioration of the sad lot of the Inmates. Reduce salaries, abolish commissions, consolidate offices. If necessary, hut In the name of Christian charity, ami of a living Golden Itnle, let the stale not fail in the duty it owes to Its unfortunate and dependent citizenship. STEPHEN A. LOWELL. I lilted Stales y ?. MITCHELL. Or.. Jan. (To Hie Editor.) Will you please tell inc how many cruisers, battleships. drrad nouuhts, torpedo - boats and sub marines there are in the United Stair Navy anil how many men are Involvi-d under full war strength. Also, pas .Mexico a navy; if so how many ships? The United .tatea has. ready for action: II modern bttleship r.'i older battleships. Ilvu lii-nl-clas.i cruisers, live second-class cruisers. tliiid class cruisers. 28 gunboats, nine moni tors. :! destroers, 27 tnipedohoali, 50 submarines. The United Slsds Navy carries HI. 78 I officers and enlisted men ud has a naval nillillii rcscrvo of about 8000. The total ar sltcnutn of the United Slates Includlniz lainl forces Is :n7,r,.i:l ornnnlaed men I1H 18.000.000 available for duty unor ganized. Mexico at one time had flvo first class cruisers and two destroyers car rying 1201 officers and men, but sev eral of these are now destroyed or unlit for service. The vessels are In possession of nt least two factions In Mexico. Advertising Made People Eat Somewhat timidly tho proprietor of a chain of popular restaurants tried soni newspaper advertising. Now he Is a eouf Irnied. iciiular newspaper advertiser. He says: "If we had used any thliia else but newspaper advertis ing the whole thing would have fallen flat. "But newspaper space gives a live business man a chance to make a deep Impression." - This man tells how one news paper advertisement I reitl-jluluusly Increased the sale of p'c. He adds: "To have di this by streetcar adverlislna or liillhoaid advertising would liue been Impracticable."