TnE 3IORXIXG OREGONIAN. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11. 1915.
10
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PORTLAND. THURSDAY, FEB. II, 1913.
BASIS OF KEI-IBMCAX CONHUEXCE.
Republican confidence of victory in
1916 is admitted by Colonel George
Harvey in the North American Re
view to be no mere 'triumph of hope
over experience"; it is conceded to be
"a firm conviction." Colonel Harvey
sums up in liia coldly Judicial way the
bases for this confidence, and his
known friendship for President Wilson
adds value to his conclusions.
He disagrees with the statements of
both the President and Mr. Hilles,
chairman of the Republican National
committee, as to how many electoral
votes each party would have scored if
the election last November had been
for President. Taking the votes for
Senators and Representatives as an
index, he holds that the Democrats
would have had 256 electoral votes,
not 288, as claimed by Mr. Wilson; the
Republicans 273, a Republican major
ity of nineteen. The Colonel says the
shrewdest Republicans honestly be
lieve they can hold these 275 votes and
are confident of adding the .votes of
Colorado. Maine. Oregon. South Da
kota and Wisconsin, "making a grand
total of 310 and affording a clear ma
jority of nearly 1 00 votes." The Ore
gonian has already shown how good is
the ground for this confidence as to
not only these states, but as to others
where the Democratic plurality was
due only to the continuance of the
Progressive split. Colonel Harvey says
this calculation -would be upset If Mr.
Wilson "should suceeeed in winning
over the remaining Progressives who
still hold the balance of power in Illi
nois, California, Pennsylvania, Idaho
and Washington." a statement which
soes far to explain the President's bid
for the Progressive vote at Indianapo
lis. The Colonel's own conclusion is
that "whichever party loses New York
is likely to lose the election" In 1918
and that the election or 1914 "was a
drawn battle, leaving the Democrats
lightly ahead in the popular vote and
e'lghtly behind in prospects relating to
the choice of electors."
Colonel Harvey proceeds to consider
the prospects of the two parties, taking
as their spokesmen the President and
Senator Borah. He quotes Mr. Wil
son's statements that "the Republican
party has not had a ; new idea for
thirty years" and that "mosr" of tho
advice taken by the Republican party
is taken from gentlemen old enough to
he grandfathers." Against this he sets
Mr. Borah's catalogue of Republican
achievements, beginning with the in
terstate commerce law and the anti
trust law. continuing w ith many other
constructive and progressive laws and
closing with the Constitutional amend
ment authorizing income tax and di
rect election of Senators. Mr. Borah
dwelt particularly on the Administra
tion's resort to the Vreeland act to
help the country over the war crisis,
while its own Federal reserve law lay
on the shelf. Colonel Harvey recalls
that, "while the new banking law was
finally enacted by the Democrats, its
genesis was Republican and the idea
from which it iwas developed was
hatched in the brain of Grandfather
Nelson W. Aldrich."
The most telling passage quoted
from Mr. Borah's speech is the reply
to Mr. Wilson's exultation over having
left Mexico alone to settle her own
affairs. Referring to this part of the
Indianapolis speech. Colonel Harvey
confesses his "inability to comprehend
this extraordinary blending of emotion
and cynicism." He then quotes Mr.
Rorah. as saying that, if Mr. Wilson
"had said in the beginning that we
were to let Mexico alone, he would
have been in an almost Impregnable
position" if he had added "that Mex
ico should recoct the rights of Amer
ican citizcns'aiid of foreigners living
in that country." The Colonel quotes
Mr. Borah's statement that we did go
to Mexico, that we killed S00 Mexicans
and lost nineteen of our own men. that
the Only reason why there was not
war was that Mexico was "unable to
respond" and that we destroyed "the
nly semblance of government which
they had In Mexico." Mr. Borah's
vivid picturing of the present horrible
conditions in Mexico and of the Ad
ministration's indifference to the mur
der and ravishment of Americans is
then quoted and placed beside the
president's declaration, for comparison,
but without comment. No comment
was necessary", for the comparison can
'.cad to but one conclusion in the aver- j
ago mind.
The "points of presumed weakness
in the Democratic line-up" arc then
summarized. First is depression of
business, then prospective bankruptcy
of the Treasury, both of which are
undeniable. Next in order comes
Government ownership of ships, w hich,
the Colonel says, "has found little pub
lic favor" and against which he cites ,
the incontrovertible arguments al
ready advanced by The Oregonia.li.
Colonel Harvey then predicts thut the
bill will succumb in this session, and
he suggests as the alternative then be
fore the Administration "acknowledg
ing defeat or calling an extra session."
As to Mexico, he saya that if the war
ring factions "unite to establish a Just
government, the triumph of the Ad
ministration's policy will be so over
whelming as to confound its critics,"
but he continues:
If not. the issue inevitably will b whether
the t'mted States ewes it to her cif'sens to
protect their lives and properties abroad as
mail as at home.
As to National defense, the Repub
licans, "as a unit for preparedness."
have an adv.-.rtage over their antagon
ists. The mere proposal to sivcv Co
lombia an apology and ;5,000.000 is
eld to have completely alienated Colo
,el Roosevelt and his considerable
personal following. The efficiency of
lemocratic representatives in F.urope
is held to be mortifying to Republi
cans but "the most notable -success
was achieved by the Republican Am
bassador" to France Nor trill inde
pendent voters be attracted by the ap
pointments to South America, and
they "may view the proceedings in San
Domingo with aversion as a breach of
trust." Relegation of woman suffrage
to the states. Colonel Harvey believes,
"will deprive the Democrats of an
issue w hich Mr. Bryan, surely would
have espoused as an appeal for the
ninittv.nni ictornl votes easily con
trolled by women if they should act as
a unit." Presence of three Texans in
the Cabinet and of another as "the
intimate adviser of the President"
opens the way for a charge of section
alism "- against the Administration.
Segregation at Washington "will hold
every negro in the Republican ranks."
This i a iroodlv array of issues on
.which Republicans can go into battle
with the Democrats, aside irom Divi
sions in the Democratic ranks, to
which Colonel Hirvey refers. He
then adds:
Most -satisfying- of all to the Republicans
is the reflection that they have a team, while
the Democrats have only a captain.
He says the President has confi
dence in the people, but he intimates
that the question is whether the people
have confidence in the President. All
the evidence tends to show that the
popular confidence, which was given
in generous measure two years ago, is
fast waning
TOR A DESERVING DEMOCRAT.
PORTLAND. Or., Feb. 10. To the Editor:
With Portland and Oregon suffering for ex
port outlets for their products, and In view
of the National Democratic platform that
diplomatic and other appointments will only
be made upon absolute fitness for position,
what do you think of the appointment of
William H Hornibrook for Minister to Slam?
TRADE INTERESTS.
We have searched the last Demo
cratic platform in vain for any ex
pression upon the diplomatic service.
Obviously the Democratic party is not
determined to make absolute fitness a
prerequisite to appointment to diplo
matic position. Obviously, also. Secre
tary Bryan, into whose charge our for
eign affairs have .unfortunately been
placed, intends that "deserving Demo
crats" shall be put on guard. He has
disrupted the Consular Service in his
search Xor.jobs: but what of that? We
have-an-.Administration- that is openly
contemptuous of the old forms of di
plomacy and only lightly regardful of
its duty to extend American influence
throughout the world.
Undoubtedly Mr. Hornibrook is a
"deserving Democrat." He is perhaps
as. well qualified as any other Demo
crat, without previous diplomatic ex
perience, and without knowledge of j
foreign affairs, or rorcign peoples, to
go to Siam as Minister. As the editor
of a paper at Albany, he has had un
limited opportunities for study and
observation, however, and geography
is his favorite pastime. He has learned
that Siam is in Asia, and that the Job
of Minister pays $10,000 a year, and
that one of its chief products is twins.
If he does not understand the Siamese
language, they do not know his; so
honors are even, and he will be at no
disadvantage.
We rather think that as a result of
the Hornibrook appointment, the trade
of Albany with Siam will be largely
extended. -
fOKTENTS OF PROSPERITY.
A period of cheap money is a sure
precursor of a period of industrial and
business activity and of broader de
velopment. Such a period usually fol
lows a period of, depression, distrust
and liquidation, during which stocks
are. reduced to a. haoU-to-mouth basis,
debts arc paid, few new enterprises
arc started, and capital accumulates,
earning small, if any, interest.
Itcnewal of activity and revival oi
confidence usually begin with agricul
tural prosperity. When the farmer has
large crops at high prices, he pays his
debts, makes improvements on his
farm and buys liberally. He sets the
ball rolling from the country merchant
to the wholesaler, who rolls it on to
the manufacturer, who sends it to the
producer of raw material, ant) all pass
it along by way of the railroad. Ex
panded business prompts manufac
turer and merchant to enlarge their
plants and facilities, mines to extend
development, railroads and other pub
lic enterprises to extend m order mat
they may handle a growing volume of
business.
Wc have reached the point where
money has accumulated in such vol
ume that its owners arc willing to lend
it cheap on high clasrf security, put
manufacturers and merchants nave
been able so far to handle the increas
ing business without heavy borrowing.
Keeling easy financially, they are not
yet disposed for ventures which will
renuire extensive borrowing. Owners
of capital have not yet acquired
enough confidence to- tempt them into
anything more speculative than good
commercial loans and safe, long-term
bonds. These are conditions which
precede a break by one party or the
other, after which, confidence being
fully restored, business goes ahead at
full swing.
This definition of the situation
agrees with the circumstances that
steel works, coke works and copper
mines in the East, Middle West and
West are DUtting men to work by the
thousand: that textile industries and
manufactures in general are becom
ing more active: that railroads are
cautiously buying moro rails and
equipment, and that the Union Faciric
has resumed double-tracking its line;
lso that money is so abundant that
large sums are offered Portland mer
chants at 3Vi per cent interest. Idle
ness of rupital will by degrees tempt
capitalists to finance new ventures: Its
cheapness will tempt the enterprising
to borrow it for such ventures.
The tide of returning contidcnce
truck those industries first which sup
ply war material. These are ehiefly
near the-Atlantic seaboard. It rolled
onward to the "Western farmer, giving
him war prices for his crops: then it
set backward through the Middle West
until now industrial activity reaches
from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mis
souri River, and President Farrell. of
the Steel Trust, makes growing pros
perity the keynote of a speech at Pitts
burg.
The Pacific Coast has so far felt the
effect of returning prosperity chiefly
In the high price and eager demand
for its groat wheat crop. It will not
feel the lull effect until its premier in
dustry, lumber, is reached. The first
signs of prosperity in that industry are
perceptible in inquiry from the granger
states and in orders from abroad. The
belligerent nations must have lumber
on much the same scale as France,
which Is dividing an order for 500.
P00.000 feet among various producing
countries. The Atlantic Coast is be
ginning to brty and will doubtless do so
more liberally when more vessels are
available. To meet this growing de
mand, logging is being generally re
turned and sawmills are being put in
operation.
Other staple product of the Faciflc
Coast will surely be in great demand.
Larger acreage'or wheat and other
cereals, with war prices, will swell the
profits of the farmers. Needs of the
armies, combined w-ith drought in Aus
tralia, will insure high prices for wool
despite Democratic free wool. Canned
salmon will be bought for the soldiers.
Fruit should find a better market un
der the influence of increased consum
ing power throughout the Union and
of better organization among growers.
We. now see on this coast the first
ripple of the wave of prosperity which
is already sweeping over the Atlantic
and Middle States. It will surely reach
us in full force before the year ends
and will silence the cry of hard times
and unemployment,
COMPETITION' IN ROAD AWARDS.
The Bingham paving bill, which has
been under unusual journalistic and
oratorical fire, is loosely drawn. There
are doubtful provisions in it which
would require a decision of the Su
preme Court definitely to settle their
intent. It is, of course, true that a
court in construing a statute does not
lean heaviest on obscure meanings.
A law is construed as a whole. ,An
ambiguous section is read in connec
tion with other sections that have a
plainer meaning and a logical con
struction sought on the whole act. The
loudest criticisms against the Bingham
bill have as their inspiration some ob
scure and detrimental construction
that the courts would probably reject.
But certainly the bill before it is
passed ought to be amended so that
there can be no preliminary doubt as
to its intent and meaning. If it is the
purpose of its sponsors only to compel
fair competition in bids on road im
provements competition that does not
exclude any good pavement from con
sideration there ought to be no am
biguities or absurdities.
As existing laws are construed the
County Court or County Commission
ers determine in advance the char
acter of road improvement that shall
be made. If a patented type of pave
ment is selected the bids are necessar
ily limited to one firm of contractors.
Such contractors thereby know in ad
vance that no one can underbid them.
It is but human nature that under such
circumstances they should bid all they
believe the traffic will bear.
The Oregonian would not rob the
County Court or Highway Commission
of all discretionary power. The Bing
ham bill requires that when a patented
pavement is specified an unpatented
pavement of similar type shall also be
specified. Section 4 of the bill clearly
authorizes the State Highway Commis
sion or the County Court to use discre
tion in determining the type of pave
ment that shall be finally adopted, but
this determination cannot be reached
until after competitive bids have been
invited.' After the selection has been
made the Commission or Court must
award the contract to the lowest bid
der in the class of improvement
adopted.
A clear defect In the bill is the fact
that section 4 seems to apply exclu
sively to -contracts where the Improve
ment is to be paid for by the property
assessment plan.. Section 5, which
seemingly was intended to prevent the
County Court or Highway Commission
from awarding the contract for grad
ing to one bidder and the contract for
paving to another Is capable of the
construction that if the improvement
is to be paid for out of bond pro
ceeds or by a general tax or by some
method other than direct property as
sessment the county or state authority
shall have no discretion In selecting
the type of pavement. It must award
the contract to the lowest bidder. This
section should be amended to give the
same discretionary power that exists
over contracts for improvements paid
for by real property assessments.
The Oregonian desires to make it
clear that it thinks no legislation oirght
to be passed which will tie up County
Courts or City Councils, or the admin
istrative authority anywhere, either to
patented or unpatented pavements.
There is a clear course for the Legis
lature to pursue, and it Is to heed not
the clamor of the one group nor the
other, but to amend the Bingham bill,
or provide' a substitute bill so that
County Commissioners and the State
Highway Commission may have com
plete authority over all awards and
the determination of the style and
character of pavement to be laid or
road to be built. It is desirable cer
tainly that patented pavements have
entirely- fair consideration, and it is
equally desirable that the public have
the advantage of competition from
non-patented concerns. The legisla
tion that ties the hands of public offi
cers so that they may not have a fair
choice between, them all is a mistake.
It is clear that the type of. pavement
ought not to be selected until bids
have been opened.
PREVENTION AND Cl'RE.
Dr. Lora C. Little favors The Ore
gonian with a communication which
deserves a word or two of comment.
She complains that we have "misun
derstood and niisrepresentcd the ob
jects and work of the National League
for Medical Freedom" as far as they
pertain to sanitation and cleanliness.
To make her point she quotes from
the League's declaration of principles
that, "while In favor of sanitation and
cleanliness in the highest degree, we
oppose the attempted use of these gen
eral principles as a cloak for compul
sorv medical treatment," This can
only mean that the league favors sani
tation in theory and opposes it in prac
tice, since such practice inevitably en
tails "compulsory medical treatment"
of the preventive character. Further
light is cast upon the subject by Dr.
Little's comment upon school inspec
tion in Chicago. She says the money
spent on it "appears to be worse than
wasted." Her judgment is based upon
some statistics Which may or may not
be true.
In a general way, if it is worse than
useless to inspect children for'incipient
disease, it must be equally useless to
inspect adults, which is of course ab
surd. It would follow that the belief
that cancer can he detected by a time
ly examination and removed before it
is incurable is all nonsense; it is sense
less to examine children's throats for
adenoids: no matter about their eyes
and 'lungs: myopia, tuberculosis, de
cayed teeth are all an integral part of
the great harmonies of the school uni
verse and must on no account be dis
turbed. Similarly we are asked to ad
mit that it is absurd, or worse, to at
tack the diseases of adults in early
stages. Wait until the patient is sick
abed before doing anything to help
him and the longer he has been on his
back the better. The venerable maxim
about an ounce of prevention being
worth a pound of cure is a stupendous
blunder. It ought to run, "Prevention
is worse than useless, and don't begin
the cure as long as the patient can
draw his breath. Better wait till he
is dead." Heirs would naturally re
joice If this principle were widely fol
lowed. We know of nobody else, ex
cept possibly some doctors, who would
benefit by it.
AIGCST WEISMANN.
In the tumult of war August Weis
mann's death has not been noticed as
it deserved. He was one of the great
modern biologists, porhaps the great
est since Darwin. His celebrated work
on the embryology of the fly appeared
as long ago as 1864. In this book
Weisniann explained the real nature
of Insect metamorphosis, that process
by which a caterpillar becomes a but
terfly. Scientists value him for a great
variety of achievements, but he is best
known to the public by his theory of
heredity, which was exploited in a
famous controversy with Herbert
Spencer. The latter maintained that
natural selection could utilize acquired
variations to form new species. Weis
mann held that acquired variations
could not be inherited and therefore
were of no consequence in the Darwin
ian process. To prove his point he
collected innumerable facts from the
world of life, but as many, perhaps,
were found on the other side and the
subject remains still open to argu
ment Weismann taught that all ani
mal characteristics are contained in
the immortal "germ plasm" which is
unaffected by external accidents.
The bill in the Kansas Legislature
to punish women for "creating a false
impression" by calsomining the face
and using other arts does not go far
enough. For example, there is the
woman of 120 pounds who makes up
to apparent 1C0 and gets away with it
until the wind disarranges things.
However, the Jayhawker lawmakers
chnnM not hector one sex and ignore
similar offenses of men. Why not fine
the man who essays to cover nis -sum-merhead"
by brushing his scanty locks
upward from the ears? Why not put
a crimp in the man who wears a dyed
mustache in the hope of fooling any
body but himself?
Since the educational boards of re
gents serve without pay no money
would be saved by abolishing them.
In other ways much would be lost.
The university, agricultural college and
normal school have widely different
aims and each is entitled to a sympa
thetic board. The board of higher
curricula has served the state well
without cost except a trifle for ex
penses. Change for the sake of change
often does mischief.
Ever ardent in the pursuit of hon
esty, the Kansas Legislature thinks of
forbidding powder puffs, false hair,
perfumery and earrings to women.
All these deceitful luxuries are to be
reserved exclusively for men hereafter
in the Sunflower state. With the men
al falsely beautiful and the women
honestly homely Kansas society should
develop many a thrilling romance.
The Oregon State Senate has spoken
out manfully for rural credits to be
founded on the sensible basis of postal
hunk- Henosits. Eminent financiers
saw long ago the folly of a low limit
for these deposits. The larger tney
are the better, since they pass imme
diately into circulation through the
ordinary banks. Absorbed in rural
loans they would be doubly useful.
The new play "Polygamy" is found
ed on the custom of the Mormon
church now supposed to be abandoned.
A "prophet" appears who defends se
cret plural marriages in defiance of
the Federal law. "Brigham," who is
not Brigham Young, attacks the prac
tice. The play is said by the Dramatic
Mirror to be interesting and vital.
Dr. T. Clays Shaw, the British spe
cialist, explains the European war as
a conseauence of "mono-idcism" in the
contending nations. In plain language,
they are victims of "fixed ideas, wnicn
is a polite way of calling them crazy.
Many men miss the mark worse than
Dr. Shaw.
Official reports show that mines
drifting ashore on the coast of Holland
number only eighty-four, whereas un
official reports fixed the number at
ir.00. This incident affords a very
reliable basis, we take it, for figuring
the discount on alarming war reports.
Nrnteo nf nrotest to Germany and
Great Britain are being prepared. The
State Department stationery, we imc
it, will be properly decorated with the
dove of peace and the sign of the
crossed fingers, which form the crest
of the present State Department.
Since the war has spoiled Mr. Car
negie's vacation plans, there is nothing
to hinder a visit to the Panama Expo
sition, with his ticket routed by Port
land to see the roses bloom.
It seems that West must eat out of
King's hand to get anything, and. alas
and alack, there is many a slip between
the lip and the mitt!
What, forsooth,' is economy when
the matter at stake is to keep in office
the appointees of a late administra
tion!
Quotations show a falling off of
several cents in the price of pork
chops. Almost as cheap as terrapin,
now.
Yesterday was a perfect gem of a
day despite tho "occasional rain" sign
hung out by the weather man.
Many units of the Austrian army
court surrender, it is reported. That,
after all, surpasses running.
Every intelligent person will be re
lieved to hear that the ship-purchase
bill has been scuttled.
The German advance on Warsaw
has ceased again. It is Indeed a long,
long way to Warsaw.
Greece is buying oats in the Ameri
can market. Wheat is too high for
them, you see.
t i riisrinsprl that seeking diplo
matic office is expensive before as well
as after getting.
Ac th inf frets smaller more people
will eat the crust, aiding their teeth
and digestion. -
These are the days when the city
man is duo to get the hen fever.
The war in France has got dawn to
bulldogs with a throathold.
Now they've got the ' Legislature
working nights.
Got vour new rose bushes planted
yet? "
Regular baseball weather, this..
Twenty-five Years Ago
.From The Oregonian. February 11. 1S90.
The dedication of thefnew Marquam
Grand Opera House last night was a
brilliant success. There was a splendid
audience present to receive Gounod's
great opera "Faust." sung by the Em
ma Juch Grand English Opera Com
pany. The fair prima donna was en
thusiastically received. It was a beau
tiful eight which met the gaze of the
attendant at the initial performance of
the operatic season. From floor to
dome culture, fashion and wealth
packed the house. Among the women
in the audience were:
Mrs. E. H. Palmer, in Nile green plush.
Mrs. R. B. Knapp. in an exquisite Paria
gown of yellow satin.
Miss Ada Mctraken in yellow nun's veil
ing. Mrs. Tuthill In gray with crimson velvet
opera cloak, trimmed in gray fox.
Mrs. Ifarry Allen, in rich white silk.
Mrs Charles Kohn, black lace and satin.
Mrs! C. E. S. Wood, In blue grenadine.
Mrs. W. B. Ayer, In cresm net over white
silk.
Miss Eallie Lewis in an elaborate brown
outfit.
M;a. Herbert Folger in decollete white silk.
Mrs. R. Koehter in gray.
Mrs. H. J. Corbett. in black lace with
white velvet opera coat.
Mrs. Charles E. Ladd. black with pearls.
Mrs. Cy Gunst, in elegant pearl-colored
satin.
Mrs. Marquam, in black dotted lace: Miss
Marquam in white silk decollete.
Mrs. K. A. J. MacKenile. black silk with
rich white cloak
Mrs. M. G. Winstock, In white, orna
mented. A jolly party comprising Miss Evelyn
Lewis, Mr. William Bell, Mr. W. K.
Smith, Jr., Miss Sallle Lewis. Miss Lou
ise Wilson and Mr. D. M. Clarkson had
seats in the parquette.
There were many out-of-town people
present and they all spoke highly of
the theater, and Miss Juch said the
theater was a monument to the enter
prise of the city. Bizet's "Carmen" will
be given tonight.
Washington The long fight over the
appointment of a District Judge in
Washington was settled yesterday in
the appointment of Judge Cornelius H.
Hanford, of Seattle. President Harrison
finally yielded to the Washington Sen
ators, although he favored Judge Calk
ins, It Is understood.
J. B. Huntington, register of the Land
Office in Burns, says the Winter has
been very- severe in Harney County and
that stock is dying by the hundreds.
Contractor George Langford says
work will be resumed on the Portland
hospital in Sunnyside as soon as sand
and mortar can be obtained.
Miss Edith L. Smith, of 114 Sherman
street, wo'.i the first prize at the
masquerade ball at Me.-Iianics pavilion
Saturday night. She has already re
ceived a deed to her lot.
The individual competitive drill by
members of Company C was held last
night and the prize modal was awarded
to Private A. L. wnglcton. The judges
were Captains Farrar and Wells, and
Colonel Patterson.
Dr. George .1. Fanning, of Woodbuin,
is in the city for a. few days.
Olympia Alfred Holman. editor of
tho Seattle Post-Intelligencer; S. B.
Pcttengill, editor of the Tacoma Ledger,
and S. R. Frazier. editor of the Seattle
Press, are in Olympia seeing Governor
Ferry and protesting against the Pow
ers medical bill.
MKDlCAIi FREEDOM AIM SBT IP
l.ora C Little Says I.encueV Purpose
lis .MiNundcrstood.
PORTLAND, Feb. 9. (To the Editor.)
Regretting to see the objects and
work of the National League for Med
ical Freedom misunderstood and mis
represented, I beg ycu will grant me
space to act your paper, and the public
through it, right on a matter discussed
briefly in The Oregonian February 9.
You refer to an article in February
Medical Freedom and say that publi
cation "prints an article to show that
inspection and precautionary steps do
not lessen diphtheria. The inference is
that filth and offal have no influence
on the disease. Let us therefore hasten
back to the good old days when every
citizen dumped hi garbage in the mid
dle of tho street."
The public is entitled to know that
the league, from its inception, has stood
for sanitation. The fourth article in
its declaration of principles reads as
follows:
"While in favor of sanitation and
cleanliness in the highest degree, we
oppose the attempted use of these gen
eral principles as a cloak for com
pulsory medical treatment."
The article to which you refer ha6
no reference in it to sanitation, but it
shows the precise results that have
followed the introduction of mcdi.-al
inspection of school children in Chi
cago, instead of reducing the death
rate from diphtheria and scarlet
fever, as It was expected to do. these
rates'have risen alarmingly In the past
decade, as declared by Mayor Harrison
in an official utterance quoted therein.
The inference the league evidently
intended to bo drawn is that the money
spent on medical inspection of school
children appears to be worse than
wasted, if Chicago, with her 300 school
doctors and 3 00 school nurses, is an
example that teaches anything.
LORA C. LITTLE.
Ireland's Clianre Is Seen.
PORTLAND, Feb. 8. (To the Editor.)
I believe that I can speak for the ma
jority of my fellow countrymen when
I protest against the news item ap
pearing on page 14 of The Oregonian
February S, entitled "Two Races to
Protest," with a sub-heading. "Germans
and Irish Object to Government War
Attitude." I am not a member of any
of the Irish societies here, hut I think
I can safely say that the "Robert Em
met Society" has not the same stand
ing as the Ancient Order of Hibernians
or the Hibernian Society. As for the
Irish volunteers, the only Irish volun
teers that 1 know anything about is
the force organized in Ireland by Gen
eral Kitchener and largely recruited
through the efforts of John E. Red
mond. I do not think I am presuming too
much when I eay that the majority of
Irishmen in Portland are, like myself,
supporters of John E. Redmond, both
as to his home rule policy and his sup
port of the British government in the
present crisis. "England's extremity is
Ireland's opportunity." Yes, and Eng
land's present extremity is Ireland's
opportunity to show the world that she
is not only worthy of home rule, but
worthy to share in the dangers and
sorrows as well as the glories of the
British Empire. J- T- D-
As t Literacy Teat Bill Comment.
PORTLAND, Feb. 9. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian February 9
there appears an article by a George
Williams of Camas, Wash. This article
criticises our noble chief executive for
his actions toward the "literacy test."
The gentleman seems to be unfamiliar
with the pedigree of some of the great
est men of our Nation. He probably
does not know that the mother of our
honored President Lincoln could not
sign her own name: that President
Johnson could not read nor write until
he learned those rudiments from his
wife. Other instances could be men
tioned to prove that men of great fame
come from illiterate parents. I will
venture to say that the gentleman from
Camas would himself fall to pass the
literacy test if history was part of the
test. JOHN ANDREW.
GERMAN TRASI-ATION IS GIVEN
Heanliur of "Deatschland. Deataehlaael,
I ber Alles," Is Explained.
COTTAGE GROVE. Or.. Feb. . (To
the Editor.) 1 ee in an editorial un
der the heading "Be Simply Americana"
you give an entirely wrong translation
of the construction and sontiment of
this familiar hymn. DeutschlanJ,
Deutschiand. Ubcr Alles." You say
"Germany above s.ll." Now this trans
lation is absolutely Incorrect and It is
a gross injustice to essay to put this
interpretation and this sentiment into
the hearts and mouths of those who
may sing this familiar song.
Here is the correct meaning of the
first lines of the hymn: Germany, Ger
many (whatsoever you do. do this,
above everything else in the world)
whenever it comes to shielding and de
fending Germany stand together as
brethren. That Is to say. paraphras
ing a little further, the obligation to
defend one's fatherland should bo above
every other obligation in the world.
Now I submit that it Is the greatest
injustice to put such an interpretation
and translation upon this beautifully
expressed sentiment and then, having
made such a wrong Interpretation and
application, to proceed to lecture those
who sing this song, upon the wrong
of desiring to place Germany above
every other country or government In
the world. Such a meaning and a
sentiment is far from the true and
genuine as the East is from the West.
And I hereby respectfully request.
In justice and fair play and as an old
reader of The Oregonian. that you fur
ther Investigate as to the correctness
of my translation and interpretation,
and when found correct, as I veritably
believe you will find it. that correc
tion be at once made s openly and
freely as the subject of this protest.
FAIR PLAY.
. It seems to The Oregonian that its
correspondent is undertaking to say
that "Deutschiand Uber Alles" does not
mean "Germany Above All." It seems
to The Oregonian also that his own ex
planation is adequate support of The
Oregonian's statement that It means
what it means. It is a wonderful song
and it expresses, and is intended to ex
press, the patriotic German spirit and
purpose that Germany shall be fjrst
among the nations.
PRIVATE LABOR AGENCIES UPHELD
Politically Controlled Bureaus Mould
Be Worse, Sajs M. C. Armatrona.
ST. HELENS, Or., Feb. 10. (To the
Editor.) Kindly allow me a little space
to express my views regarding "labor
agencies."
I am a taxpayer of Portland; have
known all the .private labor agents of
Portland for 12 years, and have hirer'
from them since 1904. I have founl
them to be much better since they were
regulated. I believe tho private, labor
agencies as they are now run to be far
superior to politically controlled agen
cies. The incentive is now to compete,
and this causes each agent to hustle
for jobs the more jobs the more
money. But if a state agency, politi
callv controlled, was lax and quiet there
would be no jobs, and few men who
hire help, "up-to-date." could afford to
place orders with an agency which had
had no experience in hiring men fitted
for the work.
Those agents In your city who handle
the lumber work for the lumbermen,
who hire for the woods, are past mas
ters of this industry. These agents
have been foremen in the woods, hook
tenders, etc., and know when they hire
a man just what he can do. No one
but an experienced woodsman could as
certain, that.
Private agencies, municipally con
trolled, could be no better, and to legis
late on this would be to kill what has
been done. Your City Commissioners
now have the ordinances regarding
agencies well in practical working or
der, and the men handling the private
labor agencies of Portland are clean,
broad-minded, shrewd, square-dealing
business men. and a benefit to your
city, in finding work for the unem
ployed. I corroborate the statement of 11. C.
Woods, and would never sanction a
sleepy political smoke and card-room
to procure my work from as they are
too lazy to write up a job when they
have orders for men.
M. C. ARMSTRONG.
OLD TIMER MEETS A VISITOR.
I see vou're a stranger in Portland!. I
can tell by the way that your
eyes
Are a-swallcrin' in its attractions an
opened somewhat oversize.
It's so with all visitors, mister: they all
of 'em act tliat-a-way.
With astonishment spread on their
faces as plain as the light o' the
day.
May I ask where you hail from. Ia
koty? Well, I'll gamble a bundle
o' kale
You will feel a whole lot o'relnctance
when the time comes for nlttin'
the trail
That's leading back Into that region
after tastin' a Winter out here
Where we never are placed in cold
storage a goodly sized chunk o'
the year.
Been up on the Heights? Then I reckon
your eyes have reflected a sceno
That set 'cm to dancin' an' sparklin' till
they lit up the nose In between;
A wlde-sprcadln' picture of landscape,
a beautiful scenic delight
As ever was spread to the limit o' mor
tal man's wanderln' sight.
Hills dressed in a green that's eternal,
in glory that never can wane.
An' valleys all dotted with ranches
where comfort an' plenty hold
reign.
An' right at your feet the great city
that throbs with activity, and
Beyond el' Mount Hood an' the Cas
cades. Was there ever a picture
more grand?
Think you'll locate out here? Now
you're talkln'. Your speech hits
a sensible vein.
It shows there's no cvtry hone thick
ness in the head that is housin'
your brain;
It shows you're a man o' sound judg
ment, wise discrimination. 1 'low.
That you know a good thing when you
see it. an' you're secin' it plenty
just now.
An- I'm handin' you out tho prediction
when you've camped In our midst
fur a year
You'll keep growin' younger an' young
er an' life '1 keep growin' more
dear.
An' you'll wish you could live In our
city till the blasts o' tho trumpet,
by jingsl -
Calls you up to our only close rival to
grow an attachment o" wings.
Take somethin' with you? Thankee,
mister. I don't mind a-sayin' 1
will
There's a fountain across the street
yonder at which we can swaller
our till
Of a drink that won't tangle our brain
- works or legs like of Barleycorn
booze
It's nature's pure stuff. Bull Run water
only dring most o' Portlandem
use.
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
PoK-Barka After P. M.
Newark (N. J.) News.
The Common Council of East Ruther
ford, N. J., established a fine of $:'." for
dog-owners who permit their animals
to bark after 9 o'clock at night.
Vtt In New Drees.
Baltimore American.
"Did your wife's new dressmakers
give her a good fit?" "They did. I
had to call in two doctors."
Half a Century Ago
from The Oregonlau. Feb-uai-y 11.
The Spring sensun ttiiit Is openinc
oromlses more for tlie ad'-nncement f
our interest as a state tliun any year
that baa preceded. The rr"it mining
development r.lonjr the I'olll'T'.i'ia la I'-U
established fact. The productions
tho state are finding n rvady market
Manufacturing enterprises ate growlnff
apace, and I'ortiand soon will rank
iho second town on the Pacific Cont
Wo need to havo our rivers kept one"
and oil routes of travel explored. l i
water commerce we rnie.l to have a
dtre- t trade opened with New York.
Henry Higglrs. recently arrived from
Boston, is an acini of th" New Kti
land Emigrant ocictv. w hof-c t.hject t
to assist women In the states to come
here l!' good einrlo nient c:in be oo
talned for tlieni. Two women wore re
cently brought to l'o-tland by Mr. Hm
gins, their expenses being paid, partlv
in advance by tlie emigrant society,
and they havo Immediately found .tv
Ice In good families, uno hundred mote
could find employment In n-roii '
wanes of at leant $-0 I" k'oUl monthlv
and their keep.
Rumors of the mo;-l cvliav:ienm
character were current jesterday o!
the rioting at Vancouver between the
soldiers and the gaml.lcr. The rumor
started from the efforts of a military
detachment to arrest a dlxordcrly eol
dier and put him In the guardhouse.
The ladies of Iho Chris! lan Commis
sion have arranged a course of lec
tures intended to keep alive the Inter
est In. their work. Governor Caleb
l.von. of Idaho, has accented n Invita
tion to sneak .Monday. February 1.1.
tho Presbyterian I'liureh. IMS stiblecl
will bo 'Egypt and tho Holy Laud."
Little Clara will he present at !
matinee or the Urll Ringers at Turn
Vcrcin Hall today.
Dr. W. C. Hieklln will nddresi th"
citizens of Puttc precinct. Wafhlnttto"
Countv, at Ames chupcj Saturday at I
P. M.
It Is reported that .1. c. Alnnwoni.
has purchased the steamer Heaciio and
will place It on the Astoria and Cow
litz River line.
A couple of huge keys were found b
Policeman Sanders vestcrday at Stark
and First streets. The owner may lia
them by applying at the Marshals of
fice. The Appeal says that tho Copperhead
fraternltv are all howling for the en
forcement of the .Monroe doctrine.'
while It douhts If n man of them wonl.I
enlist to drive the Gwln-Franco powers
out of Sonoi-H. .Mevl. o. That is about
their stvle here In orcaon. They make
a clamor over anything they can In
vent when thero is no danger of the
Idea, being put Into practical use. but
the practical effect of all their effort Is
to hinder and embarrass the Govern
ment. STRICT NEITKAIITV IU'.T VI'AM
Sympathiser Allies Drnlores .
seal Ion That e Aid Them.
CLACKAMAS, Or.. Feb. !.-To the
Editor. I In The Orcgoniuil I read will,
some interest your editorial. "Iloldini
the Balance." and also on the sanio
page the letter from a correspondent
to which Hie editorial is s reply.
Vour correspondent claims his l'r
ent were native Americana Hiid lit
himself is native born. Now If these
arn Iho facts I lie Marvhlll man t
mighty "little.'' American lo urne lh
l'nilc.l States to plunge Into Hie l iiro
pen war. in which it has no imme
diate concern, on the side of l.nglaiul
ami its allies, merely brcmlfe, as he
fears, tho allies vHhont si ill more ai
lies arc unable to li' k ierinany.
Jlv father i - a 1 1 1 e from London III !''.
served In the. Thirteenth Illinois Vol
unteer Cavalry In and I was rf.irr.l
In Kansas, and while 1 nnturallv sym
pathize with England. I rnnslder M
prepoj-trrons for any rational. local
American to argue that this ceuntrv
should take acliNc part in this war
on cither sble.
Foitunatclv fur us. our country ha.
declared its strict neutrality and there
for let us be as neutral ats possible In
our press and ih speech and action.
I am an American flrM anil do B"t
consider the I." tilted Stales s mere oCI
ony of Great I'.rilaln. They don't brine
up' the boys in Kansas that way.
I regret very much that England
and Germany have cnnie to blows, be.
cause 1 have always looked upon these
two countries and the I'nitcd Stales
as tho leaders of civilization. Chris
tianity and progress, and It would l
my mind be a calamity for r-llher Ger
many or Great Htitaiu to bo hroualit
to ils knees n 1-otd Kitchener calls
it i or disrupted. We w ho favor the
allies' side can congratulate ourselves
tllaL Ttle Clresonian and "thcr papers
are as coin Idei-ntc In t lie allies s they
are. for. candidly speaking, on the
whole the alllea liair tin. Mt of II
as fnr as the war lias gone.
The late Italkan war lias shown that
nations! which enler war as allies may
come out as enemies. For illustration:
Wero this country to enler the war on
the allies' side, what assurance b:nn
we that Hie present alignment will
hold to the eml? No person can tell
when or where or liow this war will
end. This country has no quarrel with
either Germany or Austria, and never
had one. 1'nder existing cundlliuns it
Is Inconceivable to mo bow a loyal,
rational American can advocate any
thing but the strictest neutrality t..r
thin country. Vour correspondent from
.Maryliill has evidently never slopped
to ponder what misery he would plnnce,
this country Into.
Lot tho hotheads cool off.
M. V. IIOWAftP.
Tale of Mnrflnar-nnds
Pittsburg Gazette.
Singing sands, which give forth a
musical humming when moved bv
strong winds, are found sometimes l'
have the sound Increased to kind of
hoot when a small uuanttty of the
grains is clapped between the band.
The most remarkahl" of sn.-lt sands are
said to be situated In Kauai, Hawaiian
Islands. The Colorado desert also con
tains similar material: Manchester.
Mass.. baa a famous "singing beach,"
and other deposits have been reported.
The microscope shows the grains to be
almost perfectly spherical. They lose
their peculiar property when removed,
and one theory ts that tho sounding lk
due to a thin film of gas.
Finding of Wild Peacoeka.
Ixmdnn Star.
In many parts of Asia and Africa tho
peacock is found In a wild state."
Value of Good Will
One of the officials was sketch
ing the history of a merchandising
corporation whose name Is known
the world around.
He said:
"The success of this business I
not its lists of customers, its mil
lions Invested in brick and mortar.
Its millions in merchandise.
"Its success Is measured ln tho
good will brought Rbont by honest
merchandise and honcbt advertis
ing." Each year this concern spends
hundreds of thousands of dollars In
advcrtlblng.
Each year Us business rrom-s and
the jset of good will increases.