PORTLAND. OREGON.
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PORTLAND, MONDAY, FEB. 15, 19tS-
DCTT.
It is but fair that the Legislature
-: now be warned that the public Is view
' lngr with genuine concern the impor
I tance of the work yet to be accom-
plished in view of the brief period left
l for legislative deliberation.
It is but just that the members of
V the Legislature now be reminded that
the high cost of government was the
". issue most prominently in the minds
'' of the people In the recent election.
Hardly a man in the House, hardly a
member of the Senate not a holdover,
-"' but recognized this paramount inter
" ' est in economy and put into his cam-
paign slogan some promise of re
' trenchment. Nearly every new mem-
ber is pledged to consolidate commis-
. sions and cut off the useless append-
ages of government.
t'. The Legislature i3 now entering
upon the home stretch. Little has
T- been done to carry out consolidation
' ' and elimination promises. One law
JV abolishing the immigration commls-
rion, another repealing the small an-
; nual appropriation for fighting bu-
- bonio plague, another dispensing with
- the state census, have been passed.
But in comparison with opportunities
. for merger and retrenchment in de
r"l partmental work these laws are incon.
sequential. The main consolidation
- bills have not been adopted by either
Z. house.
No fact stands out more prominent
ly than the truth that this Legisla
ture cannot adjourn with credit to
itself until it has done everything
within reason to carry out the main
pledge of the legislative campaign. In
adopting even a reasonable pro
; gramme the Legislature will be as-
sailed with abstract argument about
J . sacrificing efficiency for economy and
It will be subjected to all sorts of
pressure. Some plausible contention
can doubtless be offered for the reten
I tion of every board or commission in
the present form. But steadfastness
! of purpose, consideration of the source
of pressure and a mindfulness that
' outside of the beneficiaries of the prea-
ent elaborate system there is an un
' mistakable desire on the part of the
' people that thu topheaviness of state
! - government be remedied must pre
'. vail again.- argument, pressure and
... contention. For no other legislation
, Is there such an insistent public de
' maud. Whatever else the Legislature
may do. if it fail In this it will be
scrlouslv discredited.
There is also a general interest in
enactment of a prohibition law. but
s to such legislation the appre
hension is not that the Legisla-
' turn will fail to act. but that it may
' act unwisely. The statement that ene
mies of prohibition and the radical
-. prohibition element are as one in ad
" vising the form the law shall take is
. . not idle rumor nor mere suspicion.
. . It is a solemn but regrettable fact.
; "Why men of diametrically opposing
. Ideas have united in a common
jf' cause has been explained. The
'enemies of prohibition hope wholly to
destroy prohibition by securing the en-
' aetment of an obnoxious statute. The
I misguided rriend. of prohibition de
; sire an Irrational law because they
J themselves hold the irrational idea
that the law can successfully eradicate
use of liquor as well as the traffic
! in it
Yet good faith ought to be as strong
a factor in prohibition enactments as
In legislation to merge boards and
commissions. The people were gravely
assured that adoption of the prohibi-
tion amendment would eradicate only
the licensed traffic. The voters who
' recognize the evils of the licensed sa
i loon but fail to observe evil in the
moderate use of Intoxicating beverages
J 1n the home were thus invited to vote
for the amendment. The bill that has
passed the House and is pending in
the Senate does not make good the
promise of the Committee of One
I Hundred. It goes beyond reasonable
bounds. It unnecessarily restricts the
quantity that may be imported from
without the state. It denies to the
citizen of legal age who has not yet set
? up a household of his own a privilege
t that is accorded to the head of a fam
J ily. Thus is it thoroughly inconsistent
and perhaps unconstitutional.
The Oregonian does not believe that
the liquor interests can succeed in
arousing sufficient public sentiment to
1 repeal or appreciably amend the pro-
hibitlon amendment by encouraging
Z the enactment of an obnoxious statute.
It does not believe that the radical
prohibitionists can long successfully
I interfere with personal liberties. But
Z grave consequences do menace the
X public unless reason prevails in the
Legislature. Enactment of an unpop
I ular law at this time will almost in
J cvltably lead to a special session of the
J Legislature next Winter. The public
"- will not sit quietly by while opponents
t of the law hold it up by referendum
until November, 1916. If there be a
special election, an obnoxious law will
I go down to defeat. Under either cir
J cumatance the special session will be
' called and it will have no plainer
. guidance than it has now. The state
cannot afford to keep the liquor issue
in. perpetual motion. It can be and it
ought to be settled now.
Final action is also pending on the
ratification of the lease of Summer
and Abert Lakes. The bill has passed
the House, but it is held back in the
Senate, where there apparently is
some disposition to inquire into iden
tity of the interests that are applying
for the concession. If the Legislature
will take one precaution it can make
no difference to Oregon who the men
are that are willing to invest their
money in the enterprise. The one pre
caution needed is that opportunity be
closed to the lessees to use an indorse
ment by the State of Oregon, direct,
indirect or Implied, as an Inducement
to a flood of small investors to put
their money into a scheme which they
know nothing about.
It is not the function of Oregon to
encourage stock jobbing. The Orego
nian does not believe the Jason' Moore
lease has a shallow financial founda
tion. But some safeguard that will
assure that stock shall not be placed
on the market at least until a going
concern is established would remove
every doubt as to the wisdom of the
state's entering -into the contract.
Both state and Government, . after
thorough Investigation by experts, are
of the opinion that the salts in the
lake cannot be extracted profitably by
any process to them known. Jason
Moore asserts that he has newly dis
covered a process that will make ex
traction of the salts commercially
profltable. He ought to be encouraged
to prove the value of his discovery.
If somebody who can afford to invest
and possibly lose is willing to back
him, it is no concern of the state
whether the backer be Rockefeller,
Carnegie, James J. Hill or a group of
lesser capitalists. Such men investi
gate before investing. They are not
in need of the guardianship of the
Oregon Legislature.
WWW
On the call for the conference of
ten Western states to agree upon a
water power policy there is but one
point of division. The resolution,
which declares emphatically 'against
the principles enunciated in the Ferris
bill, has passed both houses over
whelmingly, but the Senate desires
that the delegates be chosen by the
Legislature, while the House insists
that they be appointed by the Gov
ernor. There is a sound reason for the Sen
ate's position that ought to be plain to
everyone. In five of the ten states in
vited to send delegates there are Dem
ocratic Governors. In one the Gover
nor is a Progressive. The Ferris bill
is substantially a National Administra
tion measure. If it is true, as there
is cause to believe, that public senti
ment in each of the states is opposed
to the Ferris bill, an invitation to the
Governors to appoint delegates would
place "at least five of the executives in
the embarrassing position of choosing
delegates committed to state opinion
and opposed to a National Adminis
tration programme, or of appointing
delegates in accord with the National
Administration, and not in accord with
state sentiment. It is possible that
every Governor would subordinate
politics to state interest, yet in the past
the deliberations of conservation con
gresses and conferences called for
purposes similar to those enunciated
in the Oregon resolution have lacked
weight because of suspicions that po
litical Influence or the influence of Na
tional bureaus had controlled.
It was to avoid a recurrence of this
fault that the Senate provided for
election of delegates by the Legisla
ture. There was no lack of confidence
in Governor Withycombe expressed or
implied. Tet the identical interests
whose influence over deliberations of
the water power conference are feared
are endeavoring to defeat the confer
ence or control it by raising an issue
over the manner of appointments. It
was so in the 'Senate when members
unfriendly to Governor Withycombe
arose to his defense. That the House
has now fallen into their trap does not
speak well for Its acumen or informa
tion. The resolution ought to pass in
the form adopted by the Senate.
These are not all of the important
matters that must be disposed of In
five days if the Legislature Is not to
hold longer than the customary forty
day period. They will be up for con
sideration in a week when the main
appropriation bills are demanding the
attention of the members. In addition
are road legislation, paving legisla
tion, workmen's compensation legisla
tion, amendments to the tax collection
laws, revision of election laws, the bill
to open streams to logging companies,
and numerous other matters of great
importance that ought not to be dis
posed of hastily.
There is no question but that the
time has arrived for an accounting of
work performed and a contemplation
of hard work that ought to be accom
plished. Figuratively the members
must take oft their' coats and go to
work. But let them not be distracted
by complaints that this session gives
no promise of constructive legislation.
The word "constructive" as applied to
laws is subject to individual definition.
If by the charge It be meant that no
experimental laws are In prospect, the
criticism Is more complimentary than
otherwise. There will be a host of
good people In Oregon satisfied that
this Legislature has carried out a con
structive programme if it makes good
the campaign pledges of the members,
if it promotes economy, cuts oft the
dead wood, revises existing laws where
needed, shows independence of dema
gogic demands and generally keeps
faith with the public. There is no
demand for novelties. The main de
sire of the people, as The Oregonian
sounds it, is that the sails of the ship
of state be trimmed to meet the ad
verse winds that are now blowing
against private enterprise and individ
ual effort. The remaining work Is
cut out. The thing to do is to do it.
One of the basic principles of trades
unions is to give women the same pay
as men for the same work. The Ore
gon Legislature was of that mind
when it decreed that the schoolma'am
was worth as much as the school
master. NEUTRAL, RIGHT TO SELL ARMS.
The. right of American citizens' to
export arms to belligerent nations has
always been maintained by the United
States from the time of George Wash
ington downward. It has not been de
nied by any other government; in fact,
it has been freely exercised by citizens
of other nations with the countenance
and encouragement of their rulers.
During the Balkan wars Germany sold
arms to Turkey, and France sold arms
to Greece, Serbia and Bulgaria. When
war loans were made to these coun
tries, French, German and British
bankers stipulated as a condition that
the arms, to be purchased with the
money should be purchased in their
respective countries.
Germany herself has officially ad
mitted the right of Americans to sell
arms to her enemies. She has sound
reasons for so doing. One is that in
ternational law and her own practice
uphold the right. Another is that de
nial of that right might react against
her. Germany has not given up hope
of wresting naval supremacy from
Britain, or of at least rendering the
question of supremacy so open that
ships loaded with arms might reach
her ports. Although British control
of the sea cannot at present be denied,
and although it causes the right of
neutrals to sell arms to redound to the
benefit of the allies' alone, that control
will not be finally established until
Germany and her foes have fought out
their claims at sea. The submarine,
the airshiD and the aeroplane may yet
give Germany the advantage, notwith
standing the allies" superiority in bat
tleships. Germany is not giving up
any rights she may in future wish to
exercise, merely because for the time
being her enemies alone can exercise
them.
Tho riormnn-Ampriean agitators
therefore embarrass the country whose
cause they champion when they ask
the United States to abandon the
rights of its citizens and to give up
Its neutrality. They are not Ameri
cans, but are more German than those
Germans who are striving for victory
in the only honorable way by fight
ing not by plotting and starting a
Dolitical propaganda under the shelter
of another flag.
A TIRELESS STORY TELLER.
W. B. Maxwell, the gifted author of
The Devil's Garden." is the son of
the prolific writer known as Miss M.
E. Braddon, whose death has just been
announced from London. Mrs. Max-
-ull r,v ATicc Ptrmlrlnn. livpd to a ffood
old age, produced two or three novels
annually for thirty years or more anu
accumulated a fortune of a million
dollars. Such achievements deserve a
mnniimpnt Her honks were eenuine
stories, rapturous, enthralling, satisfy
ingly extended. The interest never
lagged through the multitudinous
pagos, the sorrows of tho beautiful
heroine grew more and more moving
to the last chapter, where they came
to a sudden and delectable end, and
the plots of the villain were unfailingly
dark and dreadful. The worst that
can be said of Mrs. Maxwell's stories is
that they were read by kitchen maids
and cowboys. The best one can say
for them is that they furnished a
whole generation of worried human
beings with innocent entertainment
Though her books were popular in the
kitchen and the cow camp, they were
not by any means rejected in the
haunts of culture.
Miss Braddon was a born story
teller who diligently exercised a re
markable gift. Novels flowed from
her pen, like water front Kubla
Khan's fountain in Xanadu, in an
unceasing stream. None of her books
were astonishingly great. None were
dull. Sometimes, like "Lady Audley's
Secret." they rose rather above the
usual level. Seldom did they fall much
below it. Her craftsmanship was al
most perfect. To write a story was to
Miss Braddon very much what build
ing a cottage is to a carpenter. She
had well-drawn plans which she fol
lowed with capable precision, produc
ing results mechanically perfect. The
designs varied sufficiently to keep up
the interest of her novels, none being
an exact repetition of the rest, though
there was a general similarity in them
all as there is, indeed, in Shakespeare's
plays. Her art was good, what there
was of it. Her sincerity was unmis
takable and her conscience scrupulous.
If Miss Braddon had been capable of
creating characters like Dickens she
would have been immortal. As a mere
story-teller she will probably be for
gotten soon.
PINS KNOCKED FROM UNDER.
One by one the pins have been
knocked from under the Administra
tion's Government ship-purchase pol
icy, but President Wilson still persists
in it . The bill was first proposed as
a temporary measure, but now he in
sists that the Government go into the
business permanently. It was pro
posed to meet an emergency; but the
only means of promptly meeting such
an emergency is to buy ships. If in
terned German ships are bought, they
are likely to be seized by British cruis
ers. They would then get us into a
nasty quarrel and rende no help in
the emergency. If. neutral ships were
bought they would cost 60 to 100 per
cent above their normal price. If
ships were built they would cost much
more than normal prices and would
not be ready for service until nine. to
twelve months after the keels were
laid, when the emergency might have
passed away.
The emergency was first said to be
in our South American trade, but Sen
ator Burton has exploded that theory.
He showed that there were abundant
ships sailing from New York to both
east and west coasts, and that they
have much empty space. The finan
cial crisis in South America has
stopped railroad building and other
development work requiring heavy
freight. As to return freight, that
consists chiefly of meat and other com
modities, corn from Argentina and
Brazil, which are In demand in Eu
rope but only to a slight extent in the
United States. Fast passenger ships
from Europe to South America pay
because they have first-class accom
modations for wealthy passengers and
have a large emigrant traffic. There
is no emigrant traffic from this coun
try to Brazil and Argentina, and there
is likely to be none.
The upbuilding of trade between
South America and the United States
must begin, not with more steamship
lines, but with the development of
more trade for the lines we have. We
need to establish direct banking con
nections and a system of credit. The
United States must then supply the
capital which Is no longer to be ob
tained in Europe. Americans must se-
TIIE SIORXIXG- OREGOXIAX. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15,
nn pnntrol of South American enter
prises and direct their purchases of
material to this country. A market
must be created in this country for
South American products other than
those which we produce in sufficient
quantity for our own needs. , We need
to expand industries which manufac
ture raw material such as South
America produces. Then we shall
have traffic for existing lines and for
more lines which will gradually enter
the field.
There being no emergency in South
America, Mr. Burton asked whether it
was proposetl to "send the Government
ships to Europe. What chance would
a German ship bought by the United
States have of getting through 150
miles of sea inrested with mines to
Bremen? If it did not bump into a
mine which had broken from its
moorings, it would probably be cap
tured by a British cruiser.
Mr. Wilson has accomplished noth
inr hv his shin-nurchase scheme ex
cept to prevent a large amount of pri
vate capital from being investea in
ships and to split his party. Attracted
by high freights, many persons were
about to invest and relieve the scarcity
when Mr. Wilson advanced his
Ho has not vet furnished re
lief, the $40,000,000 he proposed to in
vest would be insufficient ana ne nas
frightened out of the field a much
laro-Bf amount. His only remaining
reason for his persistence must be that
pride prevents, him trom comessing
his error. 1
SKRBIA NEEDS MEDICAI. ALD.
The strength of 220,000 men with
orhich the Serbian army. Is credited by
a recent dispatch reveals a great loss
from that with which it Degan tne
war, but the Austro-Hungarians have
hoAn p-ivn e-ood cause to respect the
valiant little nation which has now
entered upon its fourth consecutive
year of war.
Having twice driven the enemy
from their country, the Serbians have
re-organized their forces in readiness
for a fresh onslaught. Loans from
Great Britain have enabled them to
buy new war material, whicn was
doubtless landed at Salonica and
taken by the railroad through Greece,
that country being only too willing to
help its ally. Apparently it is with-v,i,Hn-
mintarv aid onlv until there
is some assurance that Bulgaria will
either join it or remain neuirai.
The great need of Serbia is
moHlonJ. and sanitary supplies,
surgeons and nurses. One contingent
of the American Red Cross expeuiuou
.i.oc cent tn that country and a party
of British nurses has gone there, but
the work of caring tor tne wounueu
was far beyond their resources. Some
n.Hinoi cunniies have been sent from
England recently, but Serbia must
look mainly to the unitea uiies id
make up her deficiencies in this
regard. The smallness and remoteness
of that country have combined with
the slightness of intercourse to cause
i h.r tn he overlooked in the work
of Americans to mitigate the horrors
of the war. Serbia s need is tne
greater, because of its relative poverty
and of its lack of .internal sources of
supply, while the other belligerents
are more nearly able to meet their
own demands.
All iVa Hrenmers of cities beautiful
aro now dreaming of rebuilding the
...,tT,t,,i Mrica nt Rplcrlum as models.
What tourist will wish to go to Bel
gium when its quaint oici towns nave
Koon rnniar-pd with conies of any
modern American or English town?
Henev was not entirely
the last election. He lost
nie Ronatorshin. but he won a wife.
Being his campaign manager, she
must have inspired him with respect
for her managing ability.
A special brand of entertainment
should be provided for the carload of
Baker County merchants due in Port
land this week. Men of that region
have a surfeit of sheep dip and dog
bite antidote.
Turks and Arabs who raided the
Suez Canal were annihilated, which is
a good way to wage war. Like the
"good" Indians of long ago in this
country, they cease to trouble.
Retractions of witnesses against
Becker should be taken with several
grains of salt, in view of the crop of
eleventh-hour witnesses who tried to
save the gunmen's lives.
Winter seems to have Interfered
with the war more in the west than
in the east. Rain and mud are a
stronger deterrent to lighting than
snow and frost.
Boston baked beans are coming into
their own. The hungry Belgians are
crazy for them. Thus does the war
spread the fame of Boston's favorite
dish.
Villa is the practical peacemaker
of Mexico. In capturing Guadalajara
he killed 369 of its garrison. The more
Mexicans killed the brighter the pros
pect. The Portland crowd enjoys a Sun
day afternoon fire. The men look wise
and the women have opportunity to
pet the horses.
The man who held up Station A will
be caught, never fear. The Govern
ment sleuths never rest and never
cease pursuit.
Railroad workers of Great Britain
took an inopportune time to strike and
It is well that trouble has been
averted.
Mr Inskeep has found the Jitney to
be little better than the last resort of
a man who hag an auto but no job.
Kentucky lynchers Friday night rid
dled the wrong man, which is more or
less comforting to his relatives.
If Schmidt could only have kept his
hands off dynamite, he might never
have been captured.
The Gridiron Club did not ask the
Democratic leaders for a new idea. It
knew better.
Note who have left town since the
grand Jury returned five secret Indict
ments. '
Liverpool liners now pass a large
setioja of the British navy in review.
With arrest of Schmidt, Caplan, the
other suspect, must feel nervous.
Hollanders will suffer from the flood
tide of war unless they dam it.
Heney's manager merely changed
her title.
Twenty-five Year Ago
From The Oregonian of February 15, 18UO.
H. L. Bowmer. a newspaper man of
Milton, is mentioned as a candidate for
the Legislature from the east end of
Umatilla County, on the Republican
ticket.
The sparring contest between James
J. Corbett and Jake Kilrain at New
Orleans tomorrow night will be report
ed by rounds at the Turf Exchange in
M. Dee's place.
Albina residents are much worried
over the disappearance of Peter Madi
son, a property owner and well-known
resident. He has been missing for five
days and his friends fear foul play.
The contract for erecting the build
ings for the'smelting works at Linnton
has been let to Frank Irving, of this
city.
C. H. Preseott has purchased a half
block on H street, between Seventeenth
and Eighteenth street, and is prepar
ing to erect a handsome residence.
Washington Senator Dolph called
up and had passed yesterday his bill
appropriating $500,000 for a new public
building in Portland.
D. B. Jackson, president of the Puget
Sound Transportation Company, was in
Portland yesterday.
Louis Rubenstein, champion fancy
skater of America, won the champion
ship of the world at St Petersburg
Thursday.
Tom' Whalen, alleged burglar, was
captured last night wiille escaping from
Captain Flander' residence. Whalen
jumped from the second-floor window
and was found in a dazed condition.
Dallas, Tex. Jake Kilrain's light
weight "phenom," Bizen-ah, knocked
out and killed Tom James, of Dallas,
here last night in the fourth round.
Bizenah was held to answer before tho
court. f
W. R. McKay, of Champoeg. reports
that the flood damages there will be
heavy.
The School Board last night decided
to rename the "North" School the "At
kinson," in honor of Dr. George H.
Atkinson. Mr. Durham also called at
tention to the fact that other schools
had been built north of the "North"
school and therefore the name was no
longer appropriate.
GERMANS' OWN VIEWS ARE CITED
R. K. Maynardy Jr., Recalls Statement
by Prominent Teutons.
PORTLAND, .Feb. 14. (To the' Ed
itor.) I noticed some days ago in your
editorial columns an appeal to an
"esteemed contemporary" for informa
tion on the subject of the treaties of
London, 1831 and 1839, in regard to Bel
gian neutrality. I have waited with
bated breath for them to settle this
momentous question, but as no deci
sion seems to be forthcoming, I beg
permission to submit a bit of evidence
on the subject In strict accordance
with my views on the subject of neu
trality, and in order that I may not get
"in Dutch," in a manner of speaking,
with our "hyphenated-citizenry." I
stick strictly to quotations 'from three
prominent German statesriin.
Theobald von Bethman-Hollweg, Ger.
man Imperial Chancellorin a speech
before the Reichstag on the afternoon
of August 4, said: "Our troops have
occupied Luxemburg, and perhaps have
found it necessary to enter Belgian
territory. This Is contrary to interna
tional law."
On page 102 of Fredrich von Be-rn-hardi's
now Justly notorious philo
sophical work, "Germany and the Next
War," we find the following statement
of facts. (He is discussing the "bal
ance of power" in Europe.): "Switzer
land and Belgium count as neutral.
The former was declared neutral at the
congress of Vienna on November 20,
1815, under the collective guarantee of
the signatory powers: Belgium in the
treaties of London on November 15,
1831. and April 19, 1839, on the part of
the five great powers, the Netherlands,
and Belgium itself."
Again from a "German Review of the
Evidence" certified to. and translated
bv Dr. Bernhard Dernberg. German ex
Colonial Secretary, for the New York
Times, we get this little piece of in
formation: "The hiphest representa
tives of the German Empire with em
phatic seriousness declared that it was
with a heavy heart and only following
the law of self-preservation that they
decided to violate the neutrality of
Belgium, guaranteed by the great
powers in the treaties of 1831 and 1839."
R. K. MATNARD, JR.
TWILIGHT SLEEP" DANGERS IP
Doctor Calls Attention to Effecta
Viewed by Some as Had.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. (To the Ed
itor.) Lately I have noticed many
comments, bdth editorially and other
wise, in your paper about the twi
light sleep of pregnancy induced by
.i 1 .1 1 1 r i. mnrnhln find
LIIO jiunenui o " -
scopolamine or hyorveine. All these
comments ana reierenue lauuuu t..
use of these powerful drugs in. the
,i c -.w. i. 1,1,1- fnllpri tn noint
litUUr Ul ytcf uauvj '
out their dangers. But their use in
these cases entails great dangers and
tt.:ii... -.t..n AawA liuhlpq mnnv
responsiuuu). .mmj . -----
blue babies, so called, have resulted
from the use of these drugs. How could
it be otherwise when we know that
the average adult dose of these two
powerful drufis must be given and re
peated to induce painless twilight
sleep. Now, if these powerful drugs
have such a powerful influence that
the pains of pregnancy are unfelt by
the mother, what effect must they
have on the Infant? The infant re
ceives at least a dose 15 or 20 times
too strong for it and, as a consequence,
dead and blue babies result from the
practice ...
For many years here on the Pacific
Coast physicians were familiar with
these facts and governed themselves
accordingly. These drugs are great
aids to the obstetrician in difficult and
painful cases, but to be used with great
caution and discrimination, but on this
Coast the profession, as a whole, thinks
it best to bear a little pain, insuring a
live baby, rather than to induce com
plete narcosis by the means of power
ful drugs, or the so-called twili-ght
sleep, with a dead baby as resultant.
MEDICAL DOCTOR.'
Mountain Mradow Maasncre.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. To the Ed-
itor) Will you please tell me the year
of the Mountain Meadow massacre
The Mountain Meadow nnassacre was
committed near Mountain Meadow, in
Utah, in September, 1857. The victims
rv, in women and children emi
grants from Arkansas and MIssouW
....in throueh Utah on their way to I
Southern California. They numbered
all told about 140. The Indtans flrat
fired upon the party September 7, and,
by some, it is alleged that Mormons
were In the attacking party, disguised
at Indians. John D. Lee, Mormon bishop
and Indian agent, was executed for al
leged complicity in the massacre, hav
ing promised the emigrants protection.
.i hir lnrins- them from behind their
wagons and other protection. The Mor
mons were blamed Decause urignam
Young had, a short time before, an
nounced that "no person shall be al
lowed to pass or repass Into or through
or from the territory without a proper
permit" .
1915.
BELGIVM'S RIGFITS AS NEITR1L
Germany'a Poattlon Clearly Stated by
Mr. Kramer.
PORTLAND, Or.. Feb. 13. (To the
Editor.) The Oregonian has. In the
February 4th isssue. editorially pro
pounded four questions on the "Case
of Belgium," for the better understand
ing of the case and not to Invite con
troversy. In this spirit and in view of the
great Interest which all of our citizens
manifest in this question and to pro
mote a just opinion of the position of
the parties, I venture a few observa
tions. England, the states of the North Ger
man federation and France agreed, on
August 26. 1870. to renpect the neu
trality of Belgian territory by treaty
and this treaty terminated in 18T2. It
was agreed to by the signatories that
this treaty expire one year subsequent
to the end of the Franco-German war.
That such a treaty, .or any treaty,
extinguishes any former convention
upon the same subject and particularly
such features of it as are expressly ter
minated thereby, does not seem opn
to any doubt or argument; that Is the
verv object of It. The neutrality
asreement expired in 1872. was there
fore not in force in 1914. Nevertheless,
had there been a treaty, the political
changes of the signatory powers, and
especially the moulding of the North
German federation Into part of the
German Empire, could not Invalidate it.
On this point Kent, says (Comm. IV.
25): "It is a Wear position of the law of
nations . . . that treaties are not
affected by . . . alterations of con
stitutions ofv governments and revolu
tions." So that. Imd the treaty of 1S39
not been modified or abrogated, it would
be in full force and binding this very
day on Germany. But while the valid
ity and subsequent breach by Germany
of the treaty of 1839 has been advanced
by England as the cause of war and
her Justification must stand or fall by
that treaty, the esse of BclRium reiiU
upon a foundation which is of more
binding force than treaties and Is not
open to dispute on grounds of law or
facts. The right of Belgium to peace
and the integrity of her borders rests
on her sovereignty and In this case tlie
total absence of a casus belli w ith Ger
many. The German Chancellor Is reported
as having frankly admitted, not the
breach of a treaty (though he desig
nated this' particular treaty as a scrap
of paper), but an act of axsression on
the part of Germany. No one. I Judge,
is entitled to speak for Germany or
define her position excepting those In
authority for her. No one can answer
your question as to what defense
Germany will enter, but It is not o dif
ficult to build up from the law of na
tions a case for her side that Is enti
tled to a hearing before the court of
public opinion.
To Justify tlie act of aucresslon or
mitigate its moral turpitude. Germany
must prove in the case of Belttlum a
condilion of great and real danger to
her vital Interests.
Chancellor Kent says in his loctures
on the law of nations (Comm. 1, 2.1):
"The right of self-preservation is para
mount to all other considerations." ami
supports thiB position by citations from
the greatest writers on the subject
Vattel, DeGroot and Kluber. No one of
the great sages of the law holds, mo far
as I am able to find, a contrary view,
and, like all fundamental principles of
jurisprudence, this principle is sup
ported by reuson and demanded by hu
manity. To hold contrariwise would
be to validate national suicide and set
up the dictum of past generations over
the life and liberty of the present.
Kent goes further than the above and
qnotcs Huber ( De Juro Civitatis). w ith
approbation, as follows: "A rational fear
of imminent danger is a justitinble
cause of war."
It remains, therefore, only to deter
mine whether the vital interests of
Germany were in dancer and whether
her fear of this was real and rational
in the last days of July. 1 ; 1 4.
Germany then faced the srreatest ag
gregation of military equipment the
world has ever seen and her enemies
voiced with great emphasis their In
tent to crush her. Her commerce was
in the course of destruction: alie was
isolated from the world and in the
opinion of the majority of mankind
she was doomed to dismemberment, de
feat and starvation. Whether these
conditions were real or visionary is
the question of fact that must bo he
fore the great jury of public opinion
and upon Its verdict Germany will
stand vindicated or disgraced
But assuming that treaty to sup
port actively the neutrality of Belgium
was in full force when Germany re
quested passage for her troops what
conduct did this document enjoin on
Belgium'.'
Judging from the tenor of the public
press and the comments and expres
sions of the majory of the people
here, it seems to be the general belief
that Belgium in this crisiN had no ave
nue of escaping war that accurdod
with an honorable fidelity to her treaty
obligations and that for this reason
she took to arms. The best authori
ties on tills very question hold the con
trary. Belgium had an undoubted right to
refuse passage to the German soldiers,
but she had also an equally well-established
right to grant it. either with or
without the treaty of 18311. Upon this
question Chancellor Kent says In his
law of nations (Lecture V. Comm. I,
119): "It is no ground of complaint
against an Intermediate neutral
state if it grants a passage to bellig
erent troops, though inconvenience may
thereby ensue to tlie adverse belliger
ent; it Is a matter resting in the sound
discretion of the neutral power who
may grant or withhold the permission
without any breach of neutrality." and
the learned Jurist supports his opinion
by citations from DeGroot, Vattel and
Sir William Scott.
Being a sovereign state, therefore,
Belgium, far from being inevitably
crushed between two forces, became
In fact a party to the ntrugKle by her
own free will, prompted perhaps by
the sympathy racial and religious
which she felt for France. She could
have honorably and in perfect conform
ity with her duties as a ncutrnl grant
ed the request of Germany. Instead she
chose, as was her right, to grasp tho
iron dice of war and make her throw.
Whatever dream of power or promise
of support may hnve prompted their
Bourbon King to that fateful choice,
the Belgian people are entitled to sym
pathy, for they have been deceived by
themselves and others, and their suf
ferings are great and In the main unde
served. They might have had less of
the glory of war and leas of the ap
plause of her allies had they side
stepped, also less misery. In her case,
too, the paths of glory led but to the
grave.
The hope of mankind for pearo la
probably in the study and observation
of the duties and rights of nations as
set forth by the law. for where shall
we go for guidance or authority If not
to the great sages of international law,
or upon what basis can we expect ever
to achieve the coveted age of universal
peace if we disregard tho uniform
Judgment of the greatest minds of the
Western world in the field of the Inw
of nations? This law vindicates the
position of Germany.
ERNST KRONE It
-v Analysis of Water.
CLATSKANIE. Or., Feb. 14. To the
Editor.) Will you kindly Inform me
through the .columns of your paper
where I could get an analysis made of
water? M. C. K.
Address City Chemist. City Hall, Port
land, or communicate with your nearest
qualified doctor. "
Money In Fern Picking.
Indianapolis News.
Fern -picking has become an Impor
tant Industry in the vicinity of Jamaica,
Vt From September 7 to October 10
one man bought 1,383,000 ferns, for
which he paid 22.
Half a Century Ago
From The (lreRonlan of FVhnwiry li, la-'.
Vienna The telcKraph news from
Odessa say that ti'M'nti Iiiilxns are
going to he eciielonned al"" the Aus
trian frontier, to the northeast "d In
Hessaralmi. If thi news l confirmed
It can only be explained by tho fact
that the Kussilan aovernment forenees
eventualities on Its Kuropeitn frontier.
Austria, no less than Western Europe,
could not look quietly on the move
ment of such large bodies of KusMHtl
troops.
Tlie co-partnership existing between
L Mayer. K At kermiin and S. luin .
forming the firms of .Mayer A k.r
man. of Portland, and U Mayer A: t o.
of M alls Walla, lias been diolvel. S.
Ackerman having ivlil out to . 1'an
nenbaum. .
Mr. Mayhew, tba agent of Canyon
City Stage Company. Informs that
the siewly discovered mines on ('larks
Creek. 28 miles northeast of ("nou
City, have been found r.ch and very c
tenBive. Mr. Edward Tlclinor. tonvb led last
July or unlawfully cutting or niusmi:
to be cut timber on I lie Government
lamia, has received by the steamer vlr
gon. tlie full and unconditional panlou
of the rrwidonl. wilh the remission of
the fine i $ 1S.7.XD adjudged ag.iinrt him.
and costs of the suit. The document
la an Interesting one possessing the
signatures of President Abraham Lin
coln, and Secretary of Mate W. II.
Seward.
The Scientific American of January
2 contnlns an extended i-cmint and
Illustrations of the patent of 11. I.
Jacobs, of this city, for w haul manu
facturing. The machine taken a wagon
wheel, after the spoke bae been In
serted in the liMb. and from this stag"
onward completes tho Job so that In al
respects It is a inisheil piece of wolk
manshlp. The machine was patented
Septemher 1."., 1st;.!, In Knglnnd. flail' o
and Belgium. A New York conipanv
has been formed to Hoik the patent.
Mr. Howe, also uf this city, la Inter
ested. The Pally Evening Tribune, of thin
city, has not been Issued since prblav
of last week. and. we are Informed hv
the late publisher, that It will ha In
definitely deferred.
Among the passengers on the Consti
tution from Panama are llairla hey
mour and orcn Jo)til, old residents of
Portland.
Among the recent niairlnaes wore:
I.oonard IMIIor nd Mary K. Kalley at
Oregon City; John HhubIi and loisa
betli Mers fit Needy, tir.; Joseoh M.
Mason and l-'loren e Murphv at th
resilience of Henry lnslo In Clarkamai
County, and at the same place, sani
time, Henry J. Hutler and Frances K.
Murphy, all of Polk County.
A. J. Poreland. Second Lieutenant
Oregon Infantry, has succeeded in rais
ing hla company. The company w ill
be tniiMtvred In in a few du nt 'lbs
Dalles.
TO Tilt: Ol.l villi .
Stream of the West: Pride or lint
Pcoceful fcica:
So lovely, calm, mrtjesllc; flowing nn
Through chasm, plain, and towti;whof-e
broad expanse
Reflects the first srny coming of tli
dawn ;
Home of the sahuon -t rout, the daik-
hued hass;
Idol of anglers: Joy of all who glide
I'pon thy placid bosom; thou that
holdst
The maiden-like Wlllamelle us Civ
bride;
We come, we go; i-1 Hum w ilt alw.vs
he.
And young and old alike shall letcr
ence thee.
On silent nights, when stars i lilne In
tho sky.
To drift upon thy luciinl Is but
dream
Of night.- when led men piled their
frail eanoea
On thee, 'neutli these s;nno stais. Oh.
mighty stream.
A panorama passes and 'lis gone
The trapper, pioneer - u nd lastly thev
Who vend thy fish lo commerce; hut
these, too.
Must follow Time's Inevitable tvsv.
We conn-, wo go; el thou will aluais
be.
And young and old alike shall rnvcr
eiien theo.
As tiny tributaries help to mnkn
A river great aa thou, so would ihsf I
Uf little dreams could mold a niiahiy
tldiught.
To laugh liko then ns fleeting ests
go by;
A living thought that tlll should ani
mate The souls of men when 1 have turned
to clny:
That in decades to come, some hoary
fno
Keclinlng on thy bank might r ltd and
say,
"We come, we go; yet Ihou wilt al
ways be.
And young- and old alike ahnll rever
ence Ihee."
1lClS ,1. BAl.HACir.
The l-'nee of Lincoln.
Ah, mark those woeful eyis ncep-srt
and grey.
And III with that celestial light of
love:
A-glow with boundless sympathy are
they;
A sadness spiritual In th-ni doth
move
Upholding nien to love and worshiping
Of him. tho plainest man so like a
god.
His simple, power made him more thaii
king,
Keeause the ways of common men h
trod.
That forehead furrowed by a weight r.f
woe
Iteveals the grandeur of his Intelte- I:
That forehead finely formed ioih beauty
show :
Those features of his thoughtful fine
reflect
The beauty of a mind and liesrt and
soul.
Transcending far the mere aesthoii"
teal.
Such plainness, Imw ran I too in. nil
f r t ol ?
lly that sad smile an angel rould be
blest!
MILTON A. STOIlllAiill.
LOOK TO THE INSIDE
It is not the slxe or llie J.i
of a package, or tha color of a
label that s count s but what la
inside.
It is possible to Iniltale the
outside, the package exterior,
without copying the quality.
Hear this In mind when a
dealer offers "something Just as
good" I nslead of the deflnlto
article you asked for.
An advertised product stands
for' character. Tt has a pamo
and pedigree behind It.
Its reputation rest on ita
ability to give satisfaction.
The imitation has no purpose
to serve except to get your
money.
When you ask for an article
you saw advertised In this newa
paper. "GET WHAT TOIT ASIC
FOR."