6
TIIE MOItXIXG OREGOXIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1915.
PORTLAND, ORKGON.
!; Enters at Portland, Oregon, Postofflce a
second-class matter.
; fubtcription Kate Invariably In advance
(Br Mail.) ,
-. Daily. Sunday included. one -ear...
r Iiuily, Sunday Included, six months...
Iariy. Sunday included, three month.
Ially, Sunday included, on, month...
Ial!y, without Sunday, one year......
; Daily, without Sunday, six months....
1 Ial!, without Sunday, three months..
Daily, without Sunday, one month..
Veekly, one yeAr
t Sunday, one vear
' Sunday and Weekly, one year 3.&0
(By Carrier.)
r-aily, Sunday Included, one year
Iaily. fcunaay Included, one month.
. .8.0t.
.. 4.i5
.. 2.M
.. .73
.. 8 .00
.. I.ieS
.. 1.16
1.6i
2.60
maintaining its own definition of neu
tral rights. The situation' is such that
belligerents are in no position to dic
tate to united and determined neu
trals; on the contrary,, the neutrals
would be In a position to dictate to
the belligerents, if they would unite
and stand firm.
T If KIR TEARS.
It is touching to observe the lachry
mose, collaboration of our virtuous
neighbor, the Evening Journal, and
Ex-Governor West over the threat-,
ened or fancied "return to the spoils
system" in Oregon through the en
actment of a measure giving the abso-
Hornte Remit sand Poatofiice money or- j lute authority of removal to the ap
pointive power at Salem, whether
Governor, Secretary, State Treasurer,
Board of Control, or what not. The
ex-Governor seems to fear that the
West hold-overs are to get their walk
ing papers, and his newspaper coadju
tor makes some hectic observations on
vented Dickens from writing novels.
That was his bent. The happiness f
his life depended on it. He liked the
money it brought him,' but he liked
the work better. But when a person
writes for a prize the money is every
thing and the muse nothing. Authors
under such false inspiration are apt to
set about tasks for which they have
no innate liking and no special gift.
A prize offered to a person to do a
piece of literary work which he "was
already planning would not harm him,
but if he were moved to undertake
it by the prize, experience shows that
the product would In nine cases out
of ten be bad.
ar. wxpreas order or peraonal check on your
local &nK. stamps, coin or currency ,
lender', risk. (Jive postoffice address In full,
. intruding county and slate.
Postage Kate 11' to 1 paces. 1 cent: 18
to 3:! paxes. 2 cents: 34 to 4S pases, S cents:
50 to ri.. paces. 4 cents; 2 to To page, a
cents: 78 to 12 pases, & cents. Foreign post
age, double rates.
KaMera Ratines Office Veree Cons
lin. New york. Brunswick building; Chicago. I tne ioser act, at)d the Legislature's
abuse of the emergency clause, which
was added "for the sole purpose of
placing the bill beyond the reach of
the people and the referendum
Stenger building.
" fan Fnwirisco Office R. J. Bidwell Com
pany. 7411 Market street.
PORTLAND. TCKSDAY. FEB. t. IMS-
THE SPIRIT OF COTEBXMEST.
If it be true that 62,376 citizens
voted last November to abolish the
State Senate, it is also true that 123,-
423 declared for retention of the pres
ent representative system. It Is per
haps too much to say that It was a
vote of confidence in the Senate; but
unquestionably it was a protest
against the schemes of the abolishers
and wreckers who have had entirely
omy on its own responsibility and to
leave approval or disapproval of Its
action to the President after it has
acted. If it wishes to place the initial
responsibility on him it should adopt
ex-President Taft's recommendation
of a budget system.
The item veto would not only be ad
visable as a check on extravagance
after Congress has acted, but would
inclfne Congress to regard the budget
Twenty-five Years Age
From The Oregonian' February 23. 1S90.
London Lord Tennyson's malady is
assuming the form of severe bronchial
catarrh.
Prescott, Ariz. The large storage
dam aeross the Hassayampa River,
built only two years ago by the Wal-
system with more favor. If the Pres- nut Grove Storage Company, gave way
ident were committed in advance to
the declaration that certain detailed
expenditures should be made and that
certain revenue was available to meet
them he would have to assume a full
share of responsibility for waste and
for deficits. The power of the item
veto is capable of abuse, but so is any
power. No Executive can have power
to do good without opportunity to do
evil. It is for the people to elect the
best man they can find and then to
trust him.
The new censorship of the movies
will no doubt save many souls. It
will also furnish welcome occupation
for a few good men and women who
STAXV CP FOR NECTRAL RIGHTS.
too much to say in Oregon and who
The Supreme Court says that the are being heeded less and less as time are anxious to make the multitude a3
rolls on. People will no longer dis- moral as they are themselves. This
card tried methods for novelties and i3 a formidable task, but the joy of I cess.
experiments. They have had enough; J forcing virtue into unwilling hearts is
too much indeed. (perennial. The labor ever brings its
It may be and is true that the rep- I own reward
I Legislature is the sole judge of the
I noa i-v P f V a a nr enranmr a! 1 ll o A ' f ' hara
The war ts being conouctea on . f n, -.,..
theory that neutrals have no rights cept Dy newspapers and ex-Governors.
which belligerents are bound to re- But now that the subject appears
spect. Whatever rights neutrals con- I worthy of the distinguished attention I resentative system is not perfect. Nor
tinuc to enjov are apparently con-I of Mr. West and his newspaper friend, I are men perfect. Is any system better
.IaI hv hollifrerentjt in a SDirit of (Perhaps they will give the public the than the man behind it? What is to
The 'unemployed union" has tabu
lated the vocations of its 1612 mem-
moderation which is rapidly yielding benefit of their Joint opinion aa to the take the place of the State Senate or bers, with the causes of their hapless
to their growing' ferocity, rather than reasons for adding the. emergency the Legislature 7 There Js no urgent plight. Their trades run through the
through recognition of any definite l clause to u. a. 4zi, passed at tneica.ii ior commission government ior i gamut or numan arts and crafts. Quite
rights of neutrals which belligerents I session of 1913, and not vetoed by the state. Nor do any except the shal- surprisingly, there are two potters,
.admit their obligation to respect. Tne I governor west. iiowisc protagonists xavor resort to rive gardeners and one male nurse,
sinking of the American ship Evelyn I In 1911 the Legislature authorized the initiative for all laws. It is hard One does not often expect these Jobs
bra mine off the German coast is the I the Governor,, Secretary ofState and to say what to substitute for the Leg-I to forsake those who live by them.
of this disregard I State Treasurer to buy certain grounds isiature. That is one reason wny mere
ar neutral riehts l adjacent to tne state capitoi ana ior win not soon ae a cnange.
The second Hague treaty forbids I tne erection or a modern iireproor I fanatical ana aemagogicai ciamor
'the planting of unanchored contact I ouiiuing ior tne supreme court ana I is not popular just now not so pop-
mine unless thev become harmless I iate iiDrary. i ne appropriation was uiar as it was. rrgoauiy n ib utaci
on nnnr after the oerson laving them 1 1150.000; "but," it was added, "th understood than heretofore that nine-
ceases to control them. It also for- cost of purchasing and acquiring sucn ty mein a legislature, cnosen Dy
hiri i.vins anchored mines which do nana ana erection or a suiiaDie duiio- popular vote, are not as a oouy un-
yesterday morning, and the pressure
of the resultant fiood swept all before
it. forty are known to have been
drowned, and it is believed many others
met a similar fate. Great fears are
entertained for the town of Wicken
burg. 30 miles away In the path of the
flOOd. y
Paris Sarah Bernhardt, on being in
terviewed as to her proposed imper
sonation of the Virgin Mary in the new
passion play, announced she would go
into' seclusion and lead an austere life
in preparation for the play. "Just as
when I was studying Camllle I went to
a hospital to study the consumptive
cough, so do I intend to learn this
role of an absolutely perfect woman by
leading an austere life for several
weeks and force myself to believe I am
a simple country maiden," said the
great actress. "I am confident of suc-
Look at Oberammergau. There
the sacrifice itself was displayed, win
ning the applause of thousands, and
can I, la Bernhardt, fall? Why cannot
I move tens of thousands by the pre
sentation of this perfect story of the
divine heroine? It will stir all Paris to
its very soul."
"But some people may think the play
blasphemous," the interviewer interjected.
"Blasphemous?" she answered. Ira
possible! I shall play it and my art
shall conceal all offense.
IRELAND AAD HOME ni'LE RIGHTS
Mr. Ryan Answers Mr. Mnrphy on (be
lasuee of War and State.
PORTLAND. Feb. 20. (To the' Edi
tor.) I respectfully aBk The Oregonlan
to publish this reply to J. Uennesy
Murphy, who advises his Irish friends
that their present duty la to kiss the
hand that smote their native land for
centuries, because of the borne rule bill,
which he erroneously styles a great
charter of liberty.
This boasted charter of liberty gives
less power to the proposed Irish Par
llament than the City of Portland gives
municipal authority to this city. The
City of Portland, under Its charter, has
the power to regulate its police force,
while the proposed Irlsn Parliament
has not even that power.
Fellow citizens, to freedom born.
imagine. If you can, a nation denied
the power to levy and collect its own
j taxes and duties on Imports; denied" the
right to engage in commerce or under
take public improvements or regulate
its own police force and militia for a
period of years, and say whether any
bill of rights devoid of the above essen
tial elements of a free government Is
conceivable as a great charter of lib
erty. It may measure up to Mr. Mur
phy's conception of liberty and satisfy
the aspirations of a hand-picked dele
gation assembled in Dublin City, but
it will never satisfy the Irish people.
If England was sincere In her desire
to placate the Irish people and right
the wrongs of centuries, why did ahe
Half Century Ago
From The Oregontaa. February :i. LIU
A number of men in the employ of
the Santlam Company have left for Ilia
mountains, and it Is reported oprlng
operations will be opened up lit that
section In earnest In a very short time.
Lewiston. Judge Woodson, who sev
eral months aso wn appointed chief
Justice of Idaho Territory unrf -hn
noer has set foot upon our poll, has
elgned.
New Tork. It ts reported in dis
patches received hero that General
Hindmaih of Arkansas, him none to
Mexico, expecting to ohtaln a ronimitn.l
In Maximilian's army, having lost uun
in Jerf Davis Confederacy. It la Im
ported also that revoral other rebel
officers have lutoly arrived at Mala-
moras with i:k Intent.
Chicago. Feb. 23. 11 A. M Charles
ton and all Its defenses, with 100 can
non, supplies and ammunition ania
into the possession of the I'nlon fnrvra
on the morning of February IS. All the
cotton was destroyed by the rolrl- he
lore they evacuated. The cva-iiatlou
really began February 14. It In re -
corded. Augusta and Columbia at
probably taken and Mobile Is leporte.i
evacuated.
If report by way of the "Vatican be
true that Germany is desirous of
peace the world will rejoice to see her
desires fulfilled. She need not worry
over anj' discredit attaching to a
drawn 'battle, for already she ranks
as the greatest fighting nation on
not become harmless on breaking ing thereon, for the purposes men- ferent in patriotism, purpose and in- earth. Th pity, however, is that the
tant men" in
what?
Legislature. Then
i. th.i- moorlnrrs. It forbids tioned, shall in no case exceed tne I teuigence, ana even in practice, rrom
!lavinrr contact mines off an enemy's Isum above appropriated. I the same ninety men in their respec
' , Mrb with the sole object of When the Legislature of 1913 met, tive homes.
r inirntirf commercial shipping, it found an unfinished Supreme Court Possibly five men of the same char-
Only Britain and a few other powers I building near the capitol, and it ap-I acter, acting as a commission, would
r thia irutv and It. therefore. I propriated J170.000 more for com- I do better for the state as a whole. But
' never became effective. Even had it I pletion, for furnishings and for a heat- I the state must then wholly abandonln
' been signed and given effect as inter- ing plant; and it added an emergency its affairs the principle of local rep-
nnflonnt law Its observance dependea I Clause wnerem it was auiy recitea i resenmuun oy its active aim impur-
r on th r-ood faith of belligerents, fori that the "public health, peace and
.. nrnvlried to comDel ob-I safety" required that the sum of
' servanee. During the present war the I $1"0, 000 be expended at once.
nniv means of enforcement would be Here was a case where the state,
' war by neutrals against any belliger- embarking on a 3150.000 investment,
nt which violated it- ended in a 320,000 investment,
" Regardless of Hague treaties and through the direct sanction or con
"-all other paper restraints, neutrals nivance oi tne tiovernor.
have certain elementary rights which I v as or was not the emergency
.'- belligerents should be compelled to clause to H. B. 421 added
; respect. It may be no affair of neu- sole purpose of placing the bill beyond
' trals what barbarities belligerents per- the reach of the people and the ref-
' petrate-upon each other at sea or inlerendum
each other's territory, but no pnysicai
rumor must be without foundation.
.The new Berlin loaf baked of rice
flour and potatoes should be nutri-tious-and
palatable. But since rice
must be almost as scarce as wheat it
can only be "a stop-gap. A Montana
man is advertising alfalfa bread,
which he says is superior to wheat.
Berlin mlcht serhaos nrofit bv his proposed to have her beat Citizen
iinrsHnn I George Train, of Boston, wno leaves
lauuma on tne earne uty gunits wcou.
New York John Jacob Astor died
yesterday morning of heart failure.
Astor was perhaps the richest man in
America certainly he was the head or
the wealthiest family, in this country.
The benefactions of Astor and his wife,
who died two years ago, were many
and great. Mr. Astor was the eldest
son of the late' William Astor and the
grandson of the original John Jacob
Astor, who founded the fortunes of the
family. During the war Astor went to
the front and served as aide-de-camp
to General McClellan. He is succeeded
by an only son, William Waldorf
Astor, who some years ago was Min
ister to Italy.
- Port Townsend Miss Regina Roths
child will leave on March 17 for a trip
around the world in less than 60 days.1
Citizens have raised $3000, and it is
OCR INEFFICIENT GOVERNMENT.
The day of the sailing vessel has , ,, w n rtvori.n iv re.
We are fond of boasting that ours come round again. Steam-propelled I turned from n en lovable Dleasure trin
is a wen-governea country, dui is it; craft have so largely been "interned, through the liast
Is not the fact that we prefo Jo gov- hidden or drafted into government
ern it indifferently well ourselves service" that the old, reliable wind is
for the ratner tnan let a0016 monarch govern called into service again and all sorts
it, wen ur in; uuiu jaeauiioiieiu it- or tottering aereiicts nave spreaa tneir
plied to a critic forty years ago that sails. They are making money, too.
the per capita rate of taxation in
injury should be tolerated by neutrals
J unless their citizens get in the way of
. warships or land forces in actual
combat. Neutrals can Justly combine
! in support of the principle that the
tea. is the highway of all nations and
' that the rights of belligerents are
' limited to actual fighting on that
highway and to prevention of military
; supplies reaching their enemy. This
principle would forbid the broadcast
sowing of unanchored mines or the
planting of anchored mines which 'do
; not become harmless when they break
loose. It would also forbid the use
of a neutral flag to procure immunity
of belligerent ships from search, cap-
turc or destruction. It would forbid
.' the destruction of neutral vessels by
submarines without attempt to deter
mine -whether the cargoes were con
COMMISSIONER PARRY.
President Wilson does not relieve
his record for unyielding partisanship rate of taxes in this
by his appointments to the Federal enormously increased.
Great Bratain was more than fifty per
cent less than the aggregate of Fed
eral. State and local taxation in this
country. Since then the per capita
Sarah Bernhardt has lost her right
leg, but not an atom of her courage.
Sheaplans to replace it artificially and
tro ricrht on acting. The world needs
country has aU ita Bernhardts in the present des
perate extremity. Sarah's fortitude is
Trade Commission. There are five The obvious explanation of this ex- blesslne- to hersplf and an insnlra-
memoers, not more tnan tnree oi cessive cost oi governmental rnacmnery tion to u-s all
whom shall belong to. the same politu- is that those wno operate it are in
cal party. competent and wasteful, yet we are
There is no criticism to be made of continually asked to add more ma-
the fact that the President, in literal chines of the same kind to be operated
compliance with the law, names three by the same kind of. men. The present
Democrats; but he has so manipulat-1 Administration has greatly increased
ed the remaining two memberships our expenses while reducing our in
that the Republican party is denied come, yet it proposes that we add a
recognition. It is true that word is shipping business which it forewarns
given out at the White House that Mr. I us would be run at a loss for an in
Parry is a Progressive Republican, definite period. It asks us to entrust
while Mr. Rublee is an outright Pro- the telegraph and telephone business
It is generally observed that Signor
Salvinl will leave this country having
made fewer acquaintances than any
foreign actor who ever visited many
months on this soil. The chief reason
is that Salvinl, who is a very sociable
man and much in demand, has never
taken the trouble to learn our lan
guage. The cable road was formally opened
yesterday with auspicious observances,
and it seems to be a pronounced success.
Gravely and in good faith a British
marine paper offers great reward to
the first merchantman that rams a
German submarine. It is possible
that an elephant step on a single hor
net, but the feat is not of record.
sxessive: but the statement as to Mr. to it. and it attempts to usurp the
Parrv amounts to equivocation. He is authority of the states over their
mine netner me a third party progressive and is now water resources.
traoand ana TlOUia especially iwiriu ,i, ti T I Tno Amr-rlr-an npnnlo shnnlrl not en.
tno vnan man va viij jvui v w w 1 1 1 . i -- i' t - -
gressive League, and he has, and pre- large the functions of their Govern
tends to have, no affiliation with the ment until they have brought it to a
Republican party. It would seem that fair degree of efficiency in performing
the President was aware of the criti- those functions which it already per
cism certain to be made of his out- forms, particularly those which can
right effort to capture the Progres- not be performed through any other
sives, and he sought to meet it by agency. Since attention has been
makinc a political showing for Mr. seriously turned to reform of our
Parry not warranted by the -exact municipal governments, it may be said
circumstances. - I that, generally speaking, the ineffici-
It ought, besides, to be easy to jus- ency of a governmental machine in-
tify the nomination of Mr.. Parry on creases with its size. In this respect,
its merits. Aside from its political states are usually worse than cities;
significance or Insignificance and and -the Federal Government is worst
the drowning of crews in sinking mer.
; chant ships, whether neutral or bellig
erent. Neutrals should have a voice
in revising the list of contraband and
In so regulating search of neutrals'
ships as to prevent unreasonable de
lay and interference with neutral
commerce.
Neutrals have a common interest in
"the establishment of these rules, for
all those which have ocean shipping
. have suffered in some degree. One
would Buppose from reading of the
sinking of neutrals' ships that Ger
many or Great Britain was at war
Mr Larry Shanahan is master of
vigorous-English on his favored sub
ject, but many readers will object to
use of foreign words. Who, for ex
ample, can tell offhand what manner
of beast is an "omadhaun"?
The project of formulating a "civic
creed" for Portland school children
deserves encouragement. If the one
ultimately adopted is as sound as Den
ver's it will inspire to, better living
every pupil who learns it.
A local peace propagandist sees a
great opportunity for America to tako
a hand. We see a more probable op
portunity for the United States to lose
a hand and possibly a foot or two.
there
no politics in the Fedefal
T-n;.A Clala. Vir;aV SwA.
..L i.. .... ov. "-- Trade Commission except as Prcsi
den. Denmark. Holland or Italy or all . ,, ' . , . ,. ,.
, of them. The claims of theso neutrals
for damages are referred to prize
courts of the offending belligerent,
'which decide according to that bel
ligerent's interpretation of Interna
tional law. If the neutral is dissatis
'fied with tho decision, it Is advised to'
settle the matter by the slow and tor
tuous methods of diplomacy. The bel-
, ligerent's foreign office Is too busy to
'effect prompt settlement and tries to
.defer the matter till after the war.
Meanwhile the offense Is repeated,
neutral commerce is destroyed and
neutral lives are lost This is a situa
tion which no self-respecting nation
-should tolerate.
f " The common interest of neutrals
requires united action in defense of
, their rights. Senator La Follette s res
folution in favor of a congress of neu-
trals is deserving of support, so far as
', It relates to concerted action to assert
J their own rights. At the present stage
t of the war it would be useless for
', auch an assembly to talk of peace.
Neither party is willing to consider
terms of peace, for neither Is beaten.
land neither will listen to offers of
'mediation until it is beaten. A con
gress of neutrals should confine its
; labors to definition and maintenance
' of neutral rights, as viewed by them.
i not as viewed by belligerents.
' " Such a congress could enforce re
spect. At Its head would stand the
United States and it would include
Ifolland. Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
iwitserland; probably Italy, Rou
mania. Bulgaria and Greece, unless
Xhey should in the meantime become
Involved in the war. It would also
Include all Central and South Amer
ican states, several of - which have
ftrictly enforced neutrality on bellig
erent ships. These nations might
Slgree on a declaration of neutral
Tights which they would call upon all
Belligerents to respect under threat of
hostile measures against recalcitrants.
- Nothing is farther from the desires
IT The Oregonian than the addition of
the United States or any other neu
tral nation to the list of belligerents.
Xhe possibilities of the situation are
mentioned for the sole purpose of
vfiowing that the neutrals are not so
helpless to defend themselevs as the
belligerents in their arrogance seem
to imagine. The serious possibility
that the combined power of the neu
trals might be turned against her
would cause either Britain or Ger
many to pause. A threat backed by
sufficfent force and by a firm deter
mination to use that force, if driven
lo extremes, would probably suffice
to bring both of the chief offenders
to reason, for neither is willing to
reinforce the other by refusing to give
up the relatively slight advantage of
dent Wilson has played politics it is
an excellent appointment. Mr. Parry
is known in Oregon, where some years
ago he was a newspaper editor. A
quarter of a century since he went to
Seattle, and it was not long beforo he
became a real, force in affairs. He
abandoned journalism for finance, and
he has had a controlling hand in
many large projects, both public and
private. He has always had a wide
and intelligent interest in public af
fairs, so that his equipment for the
Federal Trade Commissionershlp is
quite complete. There is no risk In
the prophecy that Mr. Parry "will ren
der exceedingly competent service in
his new place.
A PRIZE PfcAY.
s. '
Prizo pigs are usually the best of
their kind and prize hens shine with
a prolific and unapproachable luster.
but it is different with plays, stories
and poems. Prize poems are the dull
est things in print. The stories which
win the thousand dollars or the five
hundred offered by enterprising pub
lishers as an inspiration to genius are
read as a matter of duty .by the more
conscientious part of the public and
forgotten as rapidly as possible. v
Alice Brown's prize play has trav
eled the common road. It is failure.
Miss Brown is known and loved as
the author of some of the best short
stories in the world. Her chosen
theme is New England life, with its
acerbities and rocky virtues, and she
has treated it with consummate
charm, but playwriting is not quite
the same as composing short stories.
It requires another kind of ability.
which Miss Brown may or may. not
have. She wrote her play, "The Chll
dren of Earth," td compete for a prize
of 310,000 proposed . -fci-'Winthrop
Ames, the New Yorlr manager and
dramatic uplifter. The play -won the
prize'and Mr. Ames produced it at the
New Theater, but It has not pfeased
the public and it 13 now withdrawn.
Literature written ' under the in
spiration of money is -not necessarily
bad. Shakespeare frankly wrote his
plays for "what there was in them."
Dickens attended very carefully to
the money end of the literary business
afd most successful writers of our
day do the same. There is only now
and then one who, like Mr. Howells,
produces a long series of fairly pop
ular books and remains poor at the
end of his career. Miss M. E. Brad
don THade a round million by her ex
cellent novels and kept t. The trouble
with prize literature is not the money
lure, but the lack of inspiration.
of all. Let the Government brln
about reasonable efficiency in Nation
al defense, in execution of the law. In
control of interstate commerce, im
provement of watcrwajs, and admin
istratlon of the public land. That done,
It will have some justification for ask
ing the people to give it more wotk
to do. It cannot now be trusted with
moro because it has not made goo
with what it has already undertaken.
Shakespeare would have written plays
if starvation had been his portion for
doing it.. Nothing could have pre- J the duty of Congress to practice econ
ITEM VETO FOR PRESIDENT,
'The item veto is proposed by the
Baltimore Sun as a means of promot
ing economy in National expenditures
and of fixing responsibility for ex
travagance. .This suggestion was
proinpted by a statement of the New
York Tribune that Representatives
Underwood and Fitzgerald went to
President Wilson with suggestions
that would save $50,000,000 in appro
priations. Postmaster-General Burle,
son is said to "have advanced infor
mally the President'sapproval of
$50,000,000. cut, without specification
of the items to be omitted, but the
House leaders, decVincaW to put up to
Congress the unpopular tasK ot cut
tine out appropriations." In other
words, they ask the President to exer
cise an informal item veto on appro
priations before they are reported to
the House.
Some of the reductions which the
House leaders are said to have sug
gested are such as would occur at first
thought to any person who is ordinar
ily well informed on National affairs,
namely 318,000.000 for rivers and
harbors, $9,000,000, for public build
ings and $2,000,000 for an agricultural
census. But they proposed also to cut
off the $2,000,000 for the Alaska rail
road and to reduce the naval con
struction programme by $15,000,000
to $23,000,000. These DemWratic
economists fail to distinguish between
the outright waste which mars river
and harbor and building bills and the
wise investment in developing Alaska
in the one case or the necessary pro
vision for our. National defense in an
other. If they really wish to stop
waste on . the Navy they can do so
without abating one.dollar of the con
struction work. All they need do is to
close and sell the useless navy yards
on 'which over $68,000,000 has been
waste. That procedure alone would
realize at least a good sha're of the
amount they propose to save by fur
ther impairing the efficiency of the
Navy.
The action of the House leaders was
an evident attempt to shirk responsi
bility by "passing the buck" to the
President. Some justification is found
in the Presidents practice of dictat
ing the provisions of bills before they
are presented to Congress. Yet it is
FroTh Caldwell, N. J., comes the re
port that lingerie saved a man. We
should hate to compile a list of those
who have been lost by the same ne
farious devices.
Legislators, according to a dispatch,
were in a merry mood at the end of
the session, not to mention the pub
lic's feelings in the matter."
. Thompson Seton, or vice versa, ac
cording to the latest whim, has ceased
to violate neutrality by commanding
American Boy Scouts.
Austria's proposal to use submarines
in the Adriatic will not be taken seri
ously. ' France will go over and tie
cans to them.
Smoot wants $30,000,000 the first
year for submarines, and, viewing based on justice
AHMED PREPARATION IS IRGED,
Ilanford, "Wash., Man Says Government
Should Fe-1 People's Pulae.
HANFORD, Wash., Feb. 20. (To the
Editor.) It appears to me that because
this Government never takes any ac
tion towards anything worth while, un
less backed by a majority of the people,
principally for political reasons, the
only way for the people to get what
they feel is their rights is to make
noisy appeals through the newspapers.
So let us make noise.
it i3 a known fact that this great
country of ours is very much in need
of better protection in tho way of
Army and Navy. It reminds one of a
beautiful child wandering iu the wilder
ness among dangerous beasts of prey.
The way things are shaping up looks
like trouble ahead for the United States
and that the only way it can possibly
be averted, if such a thing is possible,
is by arming ourselves to protect our
rights, so that roreign wariiKe nations
will have due respect.
The United States, with (its vast size
and wealth, backed by a fair showing
of naval strength together with some
semblance of an army and reserve,
would command this respect. W
should have at least 1,000,000 to 2,000,
000 of trained reserves, for the support
of our Army, and our Navy should be
doubled.
Germany, the only nation that might
be classed as, our friend, that would be
liable to come to our support in case
of trouble, is being reduced by the
whole of p;urope, with the help of this
country. Japan is being held In re-
servo .by J-Jngland to help them in case
their bluff should be called. England
never has been a friend to this coun
try. We romomber how they fought
side by side with savages against our
fathers in early days, and when we
read over the Declaration of Independ
ence it doe not calm our fears. Our
neighbor Canada even reflects this
same spirit and will not allow a mov
ing picture to be shown where "Old
Glory" Is shown. - -
I believe that preparedness for war
Is a guarantee of peace, provided it is
not gtve them a charter of liberty I
fact as well as In name? Canada, Au
tra.ua and South Africa are practical
Independent, while Ireland has bee
given a home rule bill which is more
appropriate for a village than for the
government or a nation. The Irish peo
pie have paid too big a price for rea
liberty to be satisfied with a counte
feit. They have no grievance agalns
tneir-i,ngiish or Scotch brethren, bu
they will insist on fair treatment which
is not now accorded them. Ireland be
longs to Irishmen and not to foreign
era, ana ner own people, men and women
witn red blood in their veins, not Doll
tlcians, havethe right to determine how
sne should be governed. If she had
Henry Grattan today for only a brie
period Ireland's nationhood would be
established and Emmet's epitaph writ
ten. If Mr. Murphy does not subscribe
to tbese sentiments he Is not familiar
witn American Ideals of governmen
neitner-ls he familiar with the ideals
or Irishmen the world over for the old
land.
For Mr. Murphy personally the write
has a high regard, and has long ad
mirea nis comprehensive and Inrilelon
observations, but now that he has been
accused of lip loyalty by his fellow
isnton. Mr. Courtney, my admiration i
mingled with commiseration, for T ho
lleve that Mr. Murphy is a loyal Briton
ana is doing all in his power to nunu
racture sympathy for his Klne-. And
would not endeavor to swerve Mr. Mur
pny one lota rrom his loyalty to Eng
land, but I merely wish to nolnt on
some of the shortcomings of the home
ruie dim, and the duty of Irishmen In
Ireland in this crisis is to be true to
Ireland first, as it is the duty of every
American citizen in these crucial times
to oe loyal in spirit, act and deed to
this great Nation, where every man !
a ireeman. EDWARD RYAN.
OR EGO. MAN'S VIEW COMMENDED
events abroad, the country will agree
with him.
Another little batch of 100,000 rose
bushes planted in Portland. Soon the
whole local landscape will resemble a
rainbow.
The German submarines may sink
Irish coasters with a free hand, well
knowing there is not an Irish navy to
hinder.
More reports como that the allies
are making heavjr gains. Must refer
to poker games in the trenches.
About time for watchful' waiting to
be announced as a solution for the
whole difficulty -ith Europe.
If a British troopship has been sub
marined the first chapter of the end
of the war is on the press.
Parry was nominated and tht
about finishes the honors for this
North Pacific Coast.
Berlin reports a secret new recipe
for bread. Extracted . from powder
smoke, we take it.
An American vessel sunk in the
North Sea. One solution is to keep
em at home.
"Von Hindenberg has put another
undred thousand Russians in cold
storage.
The "whole hog or none" policy of
some of the European nations certainly
would not be conducive of peace.
Let us tell our Government what we
want and demand it. It Is our rights.
RICHARD ROZELL.
coEV I'NCOVERED.
Methinks I can fathom thy heart's as
pirations.
Thy soy-I's fleeting moments tojealms
, unknown;
natures everyday girts fte-ld forth no
temptations.
Thou cravest for glory, fame and re-
nown.
Yet honors and triumps and all such
attainments
Are naught but a cradle of mere dis
content;
Thy soul's true ambition needs no such
achievements
When to achieve if your life thou
needs spend.
Then, harken to reason, abandon thy
soaring.
The high goal thou seekest Is not but
a myth:
Life's shadows descending upon thee
and longing
To draw thee down its dark labyrinth.
Then wake while you may yet to Joy
and temptations.
Grandeur and glory are only a dream.
Riches and honors but small compensa
tion;
Lot nature allot thee thy proper
sphere. ANNA GOLDEN.
Portland.
The Legislature ended with joyous
ong, which was something of an anti
climax.
Imagine how shocked' a fellow will
feel to see his grandmother in trous
ettes. ' ";-
The Evelyn,"Tike other objects of
misfortune, was insured. Why worry?
P. J. Smith Not the Tailor.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) It will be a great kindness to
me to print in your paper that the let
ter published by you yesterday and
signed P. J. Smith Is not P. J. Smyth,
the merchant tailor. P. -I. SMYTH.
Irlah Situation In Present War JiidKed
Accurately, Write One.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Your editorial on the Irish situ
ation Is good. You have. I think, an
absolutely accurate size-up of the sit
uation. No doubt there are many Irish
and Irish-Americans who harbor the
old grudge against England, but 1 have
talked with many young men, well eil
ucated, who have como from Ireland In
the last five or ten years and they nil
scorn to appreciate that conditions are
being gradually mended by the liberal
Parliament of rtie British Isles.
Among the Irish who have lived here
o0 to 60 years the old wrongs, which
all Americans who visited long enough
in Ireland to become familiar with con
ditions admitted existed, still rankle.
Separatists or Clan-na-gaels have never
accomplished one thing. Gladstone,.
Parnell, John Redmond have won for
Ireland what she now has and she has
the right to purchase- and own lands
torn from the grasping landlords and
has the money advanced to purchase
these lands by the Knglish government.
It sounds real nice and no doubt the
followers of Bathhouse John and other
good clansmen think they are saying
something real rmart to take flings at
Redmond, O'Connor and others, but I
believe the Irishman who has the good
oi n m own country at Heart and also
his sympathies directed right will
either be with the Allies heart and soul
or keep from in any way injuring their
cause. llis "Irishman" who asked
What has Belgium ever done for Ire
land" is not much of an Irishman or he
would know something of Irish history.
Belgium thlcw wide open the doors of
at one timej the greatest Catholic eat
of learning In tho world. Louvaln, to
the Irish students denied a higher
education by Kritish tyranny and at
one time we are told there were 400
enrolled free Belgium, Ilka Ireland,
Is a strongly Catholic nation. However,
to the big-talk man that is to be passed
over, forget what has been done for
us, remember our grudires.
As an Irish-American I find my sym
pathy strongly drawn towards the na
tion that several times endeavored to
aid Ireland and did aid the 1.1 colonies
in sucn a manner as to Insure their
independence and enable them to fur
nish an asylum to my ancestors; and
as the son of a Civil War veteran I ran
also feel kindly towards Russia with
all her faults, for she certainly gave us
strong moral aid in our hour of nopd.
In conclusion, I will pay tribute to the
good qualities of the Germans; they
are good neighbors and friends, but I
ouid ssk tne Clan-na-gael detractors
of Redmond and O'Conner "What has
Germany ever done for Ireland."
AN IRISH-AMERICAN.
Jacob Conn, of Portland, and l:ml!v
Bruekman, of New York, were married
In 8an Francisco by Kev. Dr. t'ohn.
February VI.
Ernest V. Lange. of Tolk County. u4
Lenoir Ady, of Marion County,
married at Vancouver. Wash., vestei
day. Justice J. F. mith of 1 l- Utlr.
Washington. Most of the Northern
States have ratified the Mitirmltncnt t-
the constitution abolishing slavery,
only Delaware deciding against it.
The President yesterday nominated
Senator K. 1). Morgan, of New Yolk, l-
be Secretary of the Treasury.
'lion. C. DeWitt Smith lately anlvr.l
from Washington eu route to lrtalm t-
take charge of the afUilra of Idaho
and left yesterday morn Ins by th
Steamer Wilson (i. Hunt, lie has b en
appointed by President Lincoln as Her-
retary. of the Territory and brine
with him suffii-ient funds to nav off
the indebtedness and set In in.Hiun the
wheels ot government.
A friend In 1'ortlHiid ha received a
letter from L. U. Vli keis. dated le.
cembcr 4, at New York, where ha en
pneted to remain until Spring. So there
is considerable doubt whether tb.
wandering "Angel of the Lord and
Temporal King Cpon l.arth ' waa kllle-1
by the Indians on tho overland trip.
as reported in the California paper.
The anniversary of i,oorce Wasti-
iiMton's birth waa celebrated In Ihn'
city by the firing of salutes, etc., to
gether with a general rejoicing over
the rood news received by teleKtarh
of tho victories for the Union (orris.
As the salute waa being fireiby Cap
rain Joyce, of the company of artillery.
ex-Shoriff 1'iitkbum, of llolse Count v.
ulled upon the gunner and bud a Fed
eral s.'ilule fired for Idaho, payinK for
ho expenses of tho mi inn hliusfilf. Was.
serman & tompsnv, as In their cuhtoui
on occasions of this kind, added In tha
observance by sending up a hllnnn,
which floated away to thn aouthcat
until lout in the tll.stuu- e.
oi.i-f.ctio a;f.ts aid; m oni.it
awyer ae "Srtmndrrla" Disgrace
Calling and Ilea aa I a sr.
PORTLAND, Feb. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) A poor woman with four littla
hildren dependent upon her and wh-
s working in one of I'orl hind's depart
ment stores for wafces less than iioukIi
o support her fumllv bait been sued by
firm of collection lawyers for a wood
ill of $. and her entire week's wages
ro now tied up. V hen she came to
me for advice 1 Investigated and found
hst tho bill w;i not only nn unjust
but that this agency had piled ui
dditiomil costs amounting to f 7-, and
hen I told them of the suffering and
m I it they were csiixing they still re
used to release one dollar of th
money. Meanwhile there Is a family In
ortlnnd tonight in tho clutches of
poverty and want. Just one or two
ollnrs of that money would mnka a
ront change, in tho atmosphere of that
ome.
1 am frequently tailed upon in leu. I
y aid and professional service In
such cases, and always respond gladly
nd without chsrae, as many other s t -
ornevs also do. Hut while wa do this
ore Is a bunch of scoundrel whose
ry existence- la an Insult to the leasl
profession, who Impose upon n tht
burden of free service, and upon soci
ety tho burden of alms plvlnc, in order
that those scoundrels niey live.
As a lawyer I know tbst H spirit,
of law and Justice would not tolerate
such procedure, and even if It be w ithln
tho letter of tho law, the lawyer h-
practices It Is worse- thsii a disgrace
to his country. Vv n I a procedure!
that will not penallr-ei the poor debtor,
and a procedure that III penalise th'i
inhuman collection shark.
JESSE U SI MRALU
Letter la Held Aaaanalr.
OREGON CITY. Or.. Feb. T tho
Editor.) The letter of P. J. Puilih la
anagoglc ns a reply to Mr. Shnnahnn.
It would he trying the public patiepen
too much to try and ask the evidently
permanent blind to see. This ts e
type of Irishman ( ? that waa always In
ho "a thorn In the side of Israel,
Phoneclsn (Fonlnn). However. I thlt.k
in Justice to the cause lie espouses tho
gentleman should sign himself r. J.
Smldt end his motto should be
Dcutschland ncher alles." He should
also read the, letter of T. P. O'Conner,
one of tho first and foremost of Irish
Home Rulers. C. S. NOHLK.
LEGISLATORS PATTED 0 BACK
Governor, Lenders and Others Con
ine nil cd by Plalnvleiv, Or Render.
PLAINVIEW. Or.. Feb. 20, (To the
Editor.) A few days' rko we noticed
an article from a teacher congratulat
ing the Legislature on passing their
bill favorably.
Now I want to say there is another
"bunch." and we aro not teachers, at
least not all of us, who feel very grate
ful to our legislators for the way they
passed the prohibition bill, and they
not only have our thanks, but our
hearty approval Is extended to the re
marks of Governor Withycombe on
signing the bill. 1 would not only like
to shake hands with hltn and President
Thompson and Speaker Selling, but I
would like to pat them all on the back
and say, "Well done, thou good and
faithful servants."
ONE OF THE BUNCH.
Abert Lake la Correet.
KUOEXB. Or.. Feb. 20. (To the l-'.di-
tor.) I see by the papers lately thnt
there has been a company organized t'
tako hold of aonm lakes in Southern
Orogon cslled Summer and Ahert l-ake.
Hv all the mnps I h:ive found this
"Abert" I.ale is spelled "Albert." Will
yon kindly say which is the right nemo
and oblige an old subscriber and resi
dent of OrcKon.
Ji:-UGK A. PTSON.
The newer find better el.iss maps will
show the nrtine si.re,t Abert. corrccltv.
American Flags in Europe.
.. Baltimore American.
There is a market in Europe just
now for miniature American flags in
the form of silk or cotton bunting and
stickpins. American citizens there find
the flag most convenient.
Getting Patent.
VANCOUVER, Wash.. Feb. 20. (To
tho Editor.) I have in mind an In
vention of a useful household article,
composed of tin and wire. Will you
please, through your columns, tell how
to get the model made up and how
to get a patent on It? Thanking: you
for any favor. IDA ALLEN.
Apply to your postmaster for copy of
patent and copyright pamphlet Issued
by Government, giving necessary In
structions In procedure. Have your
model and plane made by a competent
workman and draughtsman. You also
have the alternative of putting the in
vention In the hands of a patent at-
J"torney.
You Arc Entitled
To What You Want
When you read n advertisement
In this newspaper It sometimes
creates In your mind a desire.
Something described seem to fit
your Individual needs and you want
that article
When you go to a store and sk
for It by name you are entitled to
get it without quibble or question.
If the dealer tries to persuade you
to tnke something else, he la doing
so because It means greater profit
to hi in.
You will probably not get a Bond
nn article for your money and the
manufacturer whose advertisement
attracted you loses a sale lo which
he was honorably entitled.
There Is only one safe rule (o fol
low.
Shun the dealer bo hnhitnlty
substitutes.
GET WHAT Vtl" ASK I'ni:.
ii