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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 30, 1915)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 1915. 8 PORTLAND. OREGON'. Xntered at Portland. Oregon. Postoffice as second-class matter. Subscription Rates Invariably in advance. Dally. Sundav included, one year Daily. Sunday included, six months Iallv, Sunday included, three- months... Xially, Sunday included, one month -5 rvailv. without Sunday, one year... p.uu ra)ly, without Sunday, six months 3. i-k.li.. i . v. . . . l: ,- ihna month!... 1.7 Xailv without Sunday! one month -JW "Weekly, one year 7, Sundttr. one year Z.oo auaiay and Weekly, one year S.S0 Kv Carrier.) Dally. Sunday included, one year -9-?? Xaily. Sunday Included, one -month... .. Ummr a Rjunlt Send Postoffice money or- lr. express order or personal check on your local bank, stamps, coin or currency n -n. e-nder'a risk. Give postoffice address in full. Including; county and state. Postage Rates 12 to IB pages. 1 cent: 18 to 3 pages. - cents; 34 to 48 pages, 8 cents; e to 60 pases, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, o rents; 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. -Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Varee & Conk Jin. xw York. Brunswick, building; Chicago, fctenger building. San Francises- Office R. J. Bidwall Com Jny, 742 Market street. r-riRTr.A r. tvesdav, march so, mis: MORE PSYCHOLOGY. Two can play at the game of psy chology. A year or more ago the ac cepted Democratic definition con tributed by President Wilson of the general industrial depression was that it was "merely psychological"; now we hear from other eminent Demo cratic authority viz., the New York Evening Post that the Democracy will not be able to overcome the psy chology of the situation in 1916. Says the Post: Expel psychology with a fork, and back It comes. Senator Burton. told the Republican County Committee in this city that the Re publicans are sure to win In 11M6 because "the current" is with them. ' This is only another way of saying that the psychology f the political situation is on their side. Tew will dispute this. There la a "feeling.'' a something imperceptible yet real, that the .Democratic party is in for a beating. This relief Is not argumentative, it is simply in the air. In other words, the Democratic outlook la now clouded by a -psycnoiogicat depression of spirits. .Xot in all American history has there been a more complete reversal of political form than in the past two years. Then there was a universal hope and belief that President Wilson would do well. Now there Is scarcely more than a pretense, even by his par tisans, that he has fulfilled expecta tion. Well, the Democratic platform for 1912 calls for a single term tor any President. It is a pledge that the people are likely to require the Demo cratic . party, against its protest, to redeem. WHAT WILL COME AFTER THE WAR Although the war has not yet reached its decisive stage, attention of thinking men and women is already turned to the question of what is to come after. What will be the terms of peace, should this or the other group of belligerents wiri? Will not The victors quarrel over the spoils and fight another war? Will the settle ment be such as to end wars? AVill a new menace from Asia drive Europe to unite for common defense? Will Japan place herself at the head of the hordes of China and perhaps of India to maKe new uiiuiaiuhe, miw nuiwpc similar to that of Jenghiz Khan? Urbain Gohier, the French peace advocate, believes that when diplomats meet to arrange terms of peace they will find the task impossible and that a fight over the spoils will follow. The editor of The Navy believes not only thai Mr. Gohier is right, but that, eiTn if the allies win, France and Britain will be so weakened as to be unable to resist the Russians and other Slavs who will overrun Europe. He does not believe, however, that Russia will ever become "the predominant factor in the world's history." He does believe "that a conflict between the white race,s of Europe and the yellow and brown of Asia is inevitable and tliat "the Slavic race may once more be- compelled to fight an Asiatic Khan." leading "the almost countless millions of China and India, well trained in the use of modern weapons." Professor Nicholas Murray Butlet relieves that, under the guidance of the United States, Europe will organ ize the United States of Euiteae much after the pattern of our fet'tJtlon of states. He points out that MiJer the influence of state autonomy and of political and religious equality race antagonisms tend to die away in this country. Such antagonisms have been kept alive in Europe by the attempt "permanently and peacefully to sub merge large bodies of aliens" by treat ing them as aliens. He holds that "we may with propriety press upon the at- . nBnnU n Tui.ina tha fact that we are not only the great exponents but the great example of the success of the principle of federa tion in its application to unity of polit ical life regardless of local, economic and racial. differences." If Dr. Butler's hopes can be realized, his proposed United States of Europe may become the means of preventing the quarrel over the spoils which Mr. Gothier predicts and of meeting the other dangers foretold by The Navy. A federation of nations in which each enjoyed autonomy might Include Rus sia and thus bind her over to keep the peace. Such a federation would be a powerful defense against such an ir ruption Of Asiatics as The Navy fore aqes. The world has been struggling in the direction Dr. Butler indicates. The Geneva convention, the Hague con ventions, the postal conventions, the International Chamber of Agriculture, all are signs of that tendency. The present convulsion itself, though it has abrogated International law for the time, may be said to have for its pur pose the removal of the greatest ob stacle to European federation, namely the artificial boundary lines by which a. part of one nation is subjected to the rule of another nation and Is treated as alien. This obstacle removed, and the nations divided on racial lines, so that each conforms to Professor Bur gess' definition of a nation as "an eth nographic unit inhabiting a geographic unit." the way would be cleared for federation. The main causes of an tagonism would have been removed vnd the nations would be drawn to gether by consciousness that they seeded each other's help. Conscious ness of that fact brought the Amer ican states Into union and the German states into the empire. Closer union Is a natural consequence of closer in tercourse, and it must eorae If Euro pean civilization Is to survive. Ona might almost fancy that he dis covers a note of envy in the discussion by tha Seattle Times of the proposed merger In Portland of various bodies with the New Chamber of Commerce. In part as follows: This Is one of the things in which Seattle may well follow the example of Portland. An effort to that end has been made: and It r-as failed solely because in certain in- tanrea the iryrllvldnal has not subordinated bis ambitions to the pucUc good and Uir xreneral welfare. The time Is coming, no doubt, when Seattle will achieve each a consolidation. Necessity will force the Issue; and then Seattle will realize the hopes long cherished by its foremost citizens of one commercial body devoted unseuisoiy io the welfare of Seattle, the State of Washing ton and the entire Pacific Northwest a work to which the New Seattle Chamber ot Commerce, under present conditions, more nearly conforms. Where is the old Seattle spirit? Did prohibition kill it? XO BARGAIN. Organized labor through its repre sentatives demands that the County Commissioners agree to a minimum wage of $3 per day of eight hours on the county roads as the price of their support of the 11,250,000 bond Issue. They do not mine words about it. It may be a good scheme, or it may not be, to invest $ 1,250,000 of the tax payers' money to hard-surface the public highways. With the broad merits of the plan the labor men ex press no concern whatever. What they demand is to know in advance what they are going to get out of it. not what benefit there is to be to the public. It may or may not be justifiable for the roadmaster to pay $3 per eight hour day for common labor, even when the labor market is over-supplied and men are glad to go to work at any price. But it is not justifiable for the County Commissioneres to en ter into any sort of bargain with any body of men in order to carry the bond issue. It is possible that organized labor will be able to defeat the bond issue, if their requirements are not met, though we doubt it. Eighty per cent of the cost of roads goes to labor, and the result would be, then, that labor itself had stood in the way of the dis tribution of nearly a million dollars among working men. If labor can stand it. the taxpayers can. But labor cannot afford to oppose and defeat a needed public improve ment merely because the public au thorities refuse to agree beforehand that it shall cost as much as possible. and not as little as possible. UNCLE SAM'S MONEY. The Chicago Tribune represents Representative Frear, leader of the House of Representatives in the fight against the river and harbor pork barrel in the recent Congress, as sum marizing the results as follcws: First A postponement of all new projects, reaching $100,000,000 in amount. Second A probable permanent rejection of some of the worst projects tnrougn ex nosure of their character. Third A re-examination of some of the worthless old projects by the eame en trineers who aonroved them. Fourth Two roll calla In the House against the bill; the first ones secured in years. Fifth Striking out the $18,700,000 Mussel shoals private water-power item begun in the 1915 bill at S15O.00O. The first Item struck out from any bill in many yeara. Sixth A eavlng of $33, 000,000 in cash out of the 1S14 S5J.000.000 bill, and S,0O0,OO0 in cash out ot the 1915 $33,000,000 bill, or J41.O0O.O0O saved 111 all. Senator Burton es timates an actual saving of nearly $50,000, 00O In the two bills because of the new projects that have been exposed and side tracked. The result is primarily a triumph of honesty against the old log-rolling system of grab, graft and greed, which has forced the Government to spend millions of dollars annually in ques tionable or worse than questionable schemes. It is more. It is a definite step toward the disentanglement of meritorious and necessary projects from a collusive partnership with the other kind. There had to be an end to old methods. The people would not much longer stand the annual raid on the Treasury of pie-hunting Con gressmen, backed by pie-demanding constituents. Now it is obvious that great im provements like the Columbia River will be cared for by the engineers, who have $30,000,000 from the last Con gress. So will Tillamook and Coos Bay and other worthy Oregon proj ects. But Mussel Shoals, and Trinity River and Ocklawaha River, and the like can no longer be made the dump ing places of the Government's easy millions. A PROMISING EXPERIMENT. It is pleasant to learn that the sys tem of student government adopted at the Brownsville High School five months ago is working well. An ex cellent description of the innovation has been given in an essay by Cecil Howe, a member of the senior high school class and president of the stu dents' organization, which was pub lished in the Brownsville Times. The Oregonlan acknowledges obligations to Mn Howe for interesting facts about the system. It was adopted by the students themselves upon the sugges tion of the high school principal, and seems to be firmly based on the great American principle that "all govern ments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed." Before the new plan was put in force, every high school student volun tarily signed a promise to obey the con stitution and by-laws which were to be adopted. In this instance, at least, the government now prevailing did not arise from a gradual evolution but was instituted full grown by the in telligence of a body of young men and women who applied their brains to the problem in hand. The students' organization has the usual outfit of officers such as a president, secretary and so forth, but its governing authority over the stud ents appears to be exercised through singularly ingenious mechanism called the "Students' Court." This is evidently modeled upon the august Supreme Court of the United States, having a Chief Justice and eight as sociates. Its function is to hear cases against students and dispose of them. The faculty of the school does not in terfere in this business and so well has it been conducted that, according to Mr. Howe, no complaints have been heard from any party. It seems that at the close of each school term in Brownsville there is normally a written examination to be passed but any student whose daily marks reach a certain average can escape the formal ordeal. The marks must average 90 In deportment and 85 in the studies. The marks in de portment are assigned by eight moni tors who .take turns presiding over the study room during the eight periods of the daily session. This ethod brings the student govern ment in immediate and constant rela tions with the students themselves so that their pride and loyalty are ever on the alert to make it succeed. Five months' trial is not long enough to make it certain that the Browns ville plan of student government will suffice in all circumstances. We dare say its strength has not yet been tried by any serious emergency. But on the other hand, the longer it holds out in time of calm the better pros pect it has of being adequate In. the crisis with which it must sooner or later deal. It speaks "well for the oung men and women of Brownsville that they have devised and ecuted this interesting scheme of self-government, but we do not suppose they are any more intelligent and self-reliant than the students of our other high schools. What they have done others can do, and we hope their plan will be introduced in other places. It may prove to be the long desired so lution of the perplexing problem of high school discipline which has made so much trouble for the educational authorities. Our forefathers used to say that the remedy for all human difficulties was liberty. The Brownsville experi ment supports the truth of their creed. Very likely self-reliance and self-respecting obedience to just laws thrive best in the air of freedom. The Brownsville students have been able to carry on their system of govern ment thus far with only eight laws. This is admirable. Perhaps next year they can, by taking thought, reduce the number to seven. America is cursed iwith a superabundance of laws. If these bright young people should demonstrate that most of them are superfluous they would do the country a signal service. It should be re marked that theyi have enjoyed the instruction and inspiration of an ex ceptionally original principal which may account in part for their wisely progressive ideas. What Is there that the schools can not do for our boys and girls when they are "worked for all there is in them"? OCR INREADY NAVY. When the Navy Department needed a battleship to prevent violation of American neutrality by the German cruiser Prlnz Eitel Frledrlch or by the British cruisers which are waiting to pounce upon her, should she attempt to go to sea, it had to take the Ala bama out of reserve at Philadelphia. When it wanted a full crew for the Alabama, it had to take men from six other ships. The Alabama cannot get to her station for several days, and meanwhile small craft such as de stroyers stand guard. The men picked up haphazard from other ships to man the Alabama do not compose a crew; they are simply the makings of a crew. They do not know the ship nor each other well enough to do efficient work, no matter how skilled and faithful they may De individually. If suddenly ordered into action, the3- would be at a disadvan tage for lack of that team-work which Is possible only with men who have been trained into a working unit. By taking men from the six other ships to man the Alabama, the De partment has left those ships short of men. This action is corroborative of Representative Gardner's statement that the Navy is 18,000 men short of its requirements, although recruited to the full strength authorized by Con gress. The Navy Is no stronger than the number of ships it can put on the sea with fully trained crews. A ship out of commission without crew, fuel, ammunition or stores is not an effec tive unit of the Navy. Since many of our warships are laid up with skele ton crews, we are deluding ourselves when we believe ours to be the third strongest navy in the world. OUR RIGHT TO SELL ARMS. It is contended by those who con demn the export of arms from the United States to belligerent nations as contrary to neutrality and who ad vocate an embargo on such exports, that we are departing from precedents we have ourselves established. A pro German publication says that during the Napoleonic Wars and the Franco- Prussian War the United States pro hibited the export of arms; that neu tral nations have done so during the present war; and that at the request of Ambassador White Germany for bade sale of arms to Spain during the Spanish War. During the Napoleonic war the em bargo was placed not only on ship ment of arms but on all merchandise to both belligerents, simply in retalia tion for violation of our neutral rights by both belligerents. In 18S Congress instructed the Secretary of War to sell such arms and other ordnance stores as were unsuitable for our own service. Some sales were made to Frenchmen during the Franco-German War, and Germany complained that they were a violation of neutrality. A Senate committee reported: (1) that the al leged purchasing agents were not in fact agents of France, (2) that if they were such agents the fact was not suspected by the Government, and (3) that if they had been known to be agents for a belligerent the sale would still have been lawful. Commenting on this report, Wilson and Tucker say, in their work on in ternational law published in 1910, that the third statement "would not be maintained at the present time," but that "the first and second claims might justify . the sale, though it would be in better accord "with a-strict neutrality for a state to refrain from all sale of supplies of war during the period of war between two states, to ward which it professes to maintain a neutral attitude." "State," as used here, means "government," for the quotation continues: "This, of course, does not affect the rights of com merce in arms on the part of the citizens of neutral states." Neutral nations have prohibited ex port of arms during the present war, not because neutrality requires it but because they may need their entire supply of war material for their own defense. The sole basis for the statement that Ambassador White requested Ger many to prohibit sale of arms to Spain and that Germany granted the request seeme to be the fact that, onJearning that a ship was sailing from Ham burg loaded with arms for Spain, Mr. White "hastened to the Foreign Of fice and urged that vigorous steps be taken, with the result that the ves sel, which in the meantime had left Hamburg, was overhauled and searched at the mouth of the Elbe." Mr. White says in his memoirs, how ever: The German government might easily have pleaded, in answer to my request, that the American Government had gen erally shown Itself opposed to any auch In terference with the shipments of email arma to belligerents, and had contended that It was not obliged to search veaaele to find such contraband of war, but that this duty was Incumbent upon the belligerent nation concerned. In fact. Spam might fairly have ac cused Germany of an unneutral act in favoring the United States to her injury. This was a departure from the rule formerly observed and since adhered to, and cannot be regarded as a precedent. President Wilson has shown a more scrupulous impartiality than President Grant, for he recently forbade the sale of discarded Krag-Jorgenson rifles, but he drew a broad distinction bc tweenxsales by a Government and sales by private parties when he gave an unfavorable reply to the request of a delegation that an embargo be placed on exports of arms. The Inci dent of 1570 was cited, but Mr. Wil- son said the cases were not parallel. The right of American citizens to sell munitions to belligerents and to take the risk of capture and confisca tion is well established ,as fully con sistent with the neutrality of our Gov ernment. If one belligerent can thus purchase arms and another cannot. that is not our affair; it is the fortune of war. SOCIAL SERVICE. One of the New York, papers not usually supposed to be deficient in knowledge or wit has been thrown in to perplexity over the meaning of the phrase "social service." The difficulty was started by one of Mayor Mitchell's speeches in which he said that New York had reached the point where it must either consent to pay more taxes or else "curtail its social service." The newspaper to iwhieh we refer wonders worriedly whether there is any dif ference between "social service" and "social reform." On the face of it, service and re form are not identical. The opulent gentleman who is served each morn ing with coffee, rashers and cigars is not necessarily reformed in the proc ess. He may be in such a state of spiritual and physical perfection that he needs no reform, though he would be terribly disturbed if the daily ser vice were intermitted. The public, or society, has not been served In the past nearly so well as the ordinary gentleman of taste and means, and social reform includes the efforts which many good and more or less wise people are making to bring about a better condition. "Social service" is what the public gets when social reform has been successfully carried through. It includes a great many widely different things. The free inspection of school children's eyes and teeth Is one of them. Parks and playgrounds properly kept up and overlooked are another. A third form of social service is public concerts, and a fourth is public bath3 and dances. ' 1 The final example of social service which we have space to mention is the wonderful provision of lecture rooms and halls for public meetings at the Portland Library. All these con veniences mean advancing civilization, happiness and health. But naturally they cost money. What blessing does not? The public might save dollars by doing without any form of social service, just as some citizens find it economical to dispense with bathtubs. And yet. upon the whole, we believe that civilization with all its expensive ness is preferable to barbarism, ignor ance, dirt and misery- Whatever we may think of Italy's gallantry, we must all admire her thrift. She seems likely to be the only European country that will make anything by the war. Her pickings among the Aegean Islands are already very comfortable and she may get a good slice of Italia Irredenta without fighting for it. Colonel Roosevelt hits the nail on the head when he proclaims himself "straight United States." We have no business trailing after any monarch. We have no part in European hatreds and wars. Our loyalty is to American institutions and our only country is the United States. One country is enough for any man. The Grand Porte denies the atroci ties at Urumiah with grace and skill. Vn rhrlstians were murdered and so on. The formula is well worn. The Turk has had so many atrocities to deny that his expertness in pleading nnt e,illtij. Vi5i hnpnm Rltnnsl ineredi- ble. To many, indeed, it Is quite incredible. . When the United States has acquired all the money In the world and Europe has acquired all the debts some man may look down on New York and repeat Bluecher's words on looking down on London: "What a splendid city to sack!" Our toy army would be no obstacle. War is making havoc among the British aristocracy, but it is raising up a new aristocracy to replace it. The old nobility was founded by military leaders; then why, not found a new nobility in the same way, if John Bull must have lords to worship? Though deadly in the offensive against other ships, the submarine Is weak in the defensive against nature. That is proved by the disaster to the F4 as well as by similar disasters to British and French submarines. There are intimations that British submarines have invaded the Baltic and have begun to torpedo German cruisers. Naturally the rule will work both ways. The Kaiser has no mo nopoly of submarine warfare. Hfinoral Kntt fill AS thinOTS that lOOk like miracles to common men. Wild Mexicans and Piutes trust him be cause he has that wonderful thing we call "character." He Is "all man" and other men know It on sight. The wealthy young woman in New York who eloped with her father's doorman says she "will never leave Jim as long-as she lives," and "Jim" is of similar mind. Statistics, how ever, are against them. Tafto-vtnrt of Mr. Galvani have predicted that each war would be the loot rtur wars have continued to break out with greater frequency and feroc- itv. Humanity is much tne same at heart as it ever was. What is the use of sending batteries of United States artillery to Browns ville? They will not be allowed to shoot, even if the Mexicans should kill some Americans. TVifc Austrian rpttsnr who renrftsent- .1 rinxnt RAihtnlil' hnitt tw ft niece of blank paper doubtless lost his job by his unconscious numor. That WVi t 1 e rrrtintnri hen down at Grays River that is laying two eggs a day is playing a shell game that will get her into trouble. The bolt of lightning that hits any thing in Portland uses shocking taste. Its familiarity Is altogether too much. Th Grand Vizier of Turkey will give aid to Christians In Persia about the time all of them have been killed. Th Kaiser is becoming quite a grandfather, present ana prospective. That is something to fight for. Will the colored contingent get its diamonds out of hock a week from today? Don't crowd around the score board. Twenty-Five Year Ago From The Oregonian of March 30. 1890. Two blushing maidens, accompanied by two anxious lovers, stepped into Justice Biles' court yesterday after noon, during a. lull in legal proceedings. to be Judicially Joined for better or for worse. The Justice firat tied the knot for Stephen J. Tully and Eugenia W. Clark, and then performed the same ceremony for Eugene Van Bolson and Mary Kester. . A meeting was held at Wasco last Tuesday to consider the building of a motor line from Biggs to that place. A committee was appointed to confer with Portland engineers relative to the cost of the same. An informal dinner was tendered Bill Nye on Friday night at Freiman's. by- Messrs. Robert W. Mitchell. James E. Bangs, Melvin G. Winstock, S. H. Friedlander and William Davy. At 'a recent meeting of musicians held at Turn Hall it was decided to organize a professional military band and orchestra to be composed of the best musicians in Portland. The or ganization is to be known as "The Ore gonian Military Band and Orchestra,' with a membership of 28 and the fol lowing officers: President, G. Bertram business manager, C. L. Brown; secre tary and treasurer,-C. Streeper; musical director, G. Oeschler board of directors. G. Betram, J. Brown, Gustav Miller, L F. Brackett and Charles Ross. A delightful evening's entertainment was enjoyed by the members and lady friends of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, who crowded the large parlors on Wednesday evening, March 19. Among those on the programme were Messrs. Friedlander, Uuthman and Goldsmith, Miss Emilie Bauer, Miss Ella Hirsch, I. Leeser Cohen, Professor Carl Hester, M. Hillers and Miss May Shanahan. The board of trustees of Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church has accept ed the recommendations of the building committee. The -new church will be built on the site of the present church. E. W. Allen, secretary and superln tendent of the North Pacific Industrial Fair Association, has just received a proof of the handsome new cut he has been having prepared for the fair build ing for advertising purposes. Christine Nilsson is to emerge from her retirement to sing at the farewell concert of Sim Reeves in London next June. Captain John Howson Thomas died at his residence in this city yesterday He came to this Coast in 1850. Mr. and Mrs. E. J. DeHart have moved to their new residence on Eighteenth and G streets. Herman Back and Katie Bauer were married last Sunday evening at the residence of the brides mother. Judge wood performed the ceremony. 0.CK GOOD ROADS SOW DISGRACE Macadam Highways Are Rough and Muddy After Two Venrs' lie. PORTLAND, March 29. (To the Ed itor.! The reading of Walter H. Kor rell's letter in The Oregonian in oppo sition to the highway paving bonds provokes a feeling of amazement as well as disappointment. It seems in credible that an intelligent person, in the day of the automobile and motor truck, can seriously argue that the macadam road, as we know It in Ore gon, is. good enough for country traf fic. That Is the spirit which In the past has kept Oregon far "behind her sister states in population and devel opment; and if that spirit shall succeed in defeating this first great improve ment to emancipate Multnomah County from the effects of mosgbacklsm it w-ill set us back another ten years. I can take Mr. Korrell over miles of road in this county which are a dis grace to any civilized community; a slather of mud in the Winter time, so rough at all seasons that motoring over them Is a diBcomfort, while horse drawn vehicles toil under half-loads. Yet less than two years ago those same roads were put in excellent con dition (for macadam) by the Commis sioners. It is puerile to advocate dirt roads in 1015. Nothing short of hard-surface can endure, traffic, and the continual rebuilding and repairing of temporary roads is a wanton waste of public funds. I cannot believe that the farm ers generally will be so blind to their own Interest as to vote against these paving bonds. To the owner of five acres or of 500 acres the amount of the tax is negligible, while the bene fits to the farmer and country dweller are immediate and practical; to say nothing of increased land values and greater demand therefor. The only advantage, argues Mr. Kor rell, of hard-surface over dirt roads Is the difference between an $8 and a $5 pair of shoes, forgetting that the cli matic and physical condition of the Willamette Valley demands the $8 pair nf shoes, unless it is to remain in a state of bondage forever. If I had the Dower to do it. I would convince tne State of Oregon that the wisest thing it could do would be to hard-surface the Pacific Highway from the Colum bia to the California line at once: be cause before it could be done Wash ington and California would join us. And with such a highway from British Columbia to Mexico, tourists from be yond our borders would come in sucti numbers and stay so long they would annually spend enough money in Ore gon to payy all the enterprise cost us. Then indeed would the Willamette Val ley come into its true but long-delayed inheritance as the garden of the world. There is another side to this road question. We cannot gain citizens of the better class, nor even keep all we have, unless the country Is made habit able by good highways. People who, like myself, have pioneered for 60 years, would like to have some of the conveniences and advantages which rightfully belong to the highest devel opment of modern life, even if It re quires some sacrifice to get them, among which good highways stand pre eminently flrst. Whence comes this spirit of opposi tion to enterprise that costa so little and vields so much? These petty efforts to keep this state of a thousand nat ural wonders and advantages in a con dition of isolation and Ignorance tempts one to say what would not look well in print. C. H. SHOLES. Custom at Theater. PORTLAND. March 29. (To the Edi tor.) (l) While being ushered to seats in a theater should the young man or the young lady go down the aisle first? (2) Who should lead tha way out of the theater. Thanking you in advance, I am. B. W. (1) It is customary for the man to follow the lady, who is preceded by the usher. (2) The man usually makes a way for the lady upon going out of the theater. Aecouata la Kaaaaa. VANCOUVER, Wash., March 28. (To the Editor.) Please state the time a bill expires In the State of Kansas, and what per cent interest Is allowed on accounts. SUBSCRIBER. In Kansas the statute or limitations on open accounts is three years. The legal rate of interest is 6 per cenU PROPOSED. PI.ASS ARB EVASION Voter Protests Small Sratlne Capacity ia Audttorinm. PORTLAND. March 29. (To the Editor.) For the sole purpose of mak ing Portland a convention city, foiar years ago we voted $600,000 In bonds to build an auditorium. There was little opposition to the bonds, because the Elks' convention was to be held here in 1912. and it was apparent to all that the Armory our one available place, was absolutely inadequate in size and accoustics for such a gath ering of people. That convention was a phenomenal success only because of the extraordinary generosity and painstaking work of the Portland Elks, fully backed by the spirit oi our people. After tha bonds were voted data of auditoriums, their size, the numbers they should accommodate, and their suitable locations, were obtained from many cities. These data were discussed in the papers, and it was clearly shown that to meet convention- needs an audi torium should seat not less than 10.00.1 people, and ought to seat from 12,000 to 15.000. Such a seating capacity waa what the DeoDle voted for and what they wanted Their idea was an auditorium to bring in stranxers in lnrge numbers from out side, who would spend much money with us, get acquainted with our peo ple, appreciate our climate as well as our great future possibilities, and either stay with us permanently, or advertise us widely on return to their homes. The bonds were not voted for local purposes at all, and would have been overwhelmingly defeated on any such basis, nor' were they voted for a fancy buildine or for anything but a good plain. substantial structure, which would hold a great many people, and have acoustics so good that anyone could hear well from any part of the bulldimr. Since that vote four years have been wasted vacillating over siftv discuss ing prices, figuring on plans, and i good deal of money has been spent. Property owners wanting to unload have been active, somo have wanted one site, some another, and all, with anything at stake or not. have seemed to have a say. The power to select a site and building the building was in the hands of citizens selected for the purpose. They listened to everyone, which was right, but the building is not built. And what is the situation now? an auditorium for large conven tions has dwindled down to a little local affair for Portland people only for the Commissioners, according to report, will cut it up into one hall to seat 6000 people, another small assem bly hall and a room each for the His torical Society and the city museum If there ever was a chance for a restraining Injunction, or the referen dum. it certainly is here, for money Is about to be spent for something it waB not voted for. The Historical Society and museum need proper housing, and should have it, but the city has no right to use this money for them, besides, the voters have already once refused to vote bonds for Historical faoclety pur poses. I have watched this auditorium mat ter, and have been astonished that a whole city of people should sit quietly by and. make no objection to the use of this money for other than the conven tion auditorium originally intended. A 5000 capacity auditorium will never make Tortland a convention city, or bring a convention of siae to it, and it will be a waste of time to send dele gations East to urge our city as a meeting place, when we cannot take care of the people when we get them here. There can be no objection to one. two or even three halls adapted to local purposes, if they can bo ar ranged without interfering with the general convention scheme, particularly with the acoustics, the most impor tant item in a larore hall, hut no build ing should be erected Incapable of hold intr less than 10,000 to 15,000 people, for the conventions we most need prop erly to add to our prosperity and ad vertise our city will not come nere without proper space for handling, not only their own people, but the extra swarm of Fortlanders who may crowd In further to fill the building. VOTER. AREA DOESN'T AFFECT PRESStUE Problem of Two Water Tanks Recalls Panama Canal Controversy. PORTLAND. March 29. (To the Edi tor.) The following Inquiry was pub lished in The Oregonian: Rlckreal, Or.. March 23. To the Editor.) I have two tanks filled with wau-r; one is four feet high and 10 fee', wide, the other Is four feet wide and ona foot hfgh. w nicri tank has the more pressure, especially side pressure? SUBSCRIBER. The laws of physics demonstrate that there is no relation between either cubical contents of a vessel filled with water or the surface area of such con tents with the lateral pressure. This question is interesting because it was the basis for the historic controversy waged before Congressional committees for months over the practicability of the Gatun Dam, the great engineering project of the Panama Canal, which Im pounds the waters of the torrential Chagres River in the world's greatest artificial body of water Gatun Lake. Engineering experts satisfactorily assured the Congressmen that there would be no more pressure against the face of Gatun Dam whether Gatun Lake were one foot or 100 miles wide. The actual surface area against which the pressure ia exerted is the only consid eration involved. W. P. S. PORTLAND, March 29. (To the Edi tor.) In reply to tha question on tank pressure asked by a Rlckreal sub scriber, I can say that the pressure de pends entirely on the depth of water, regardless of the area of the tank. For Instance, the pressure Is the same at the bottom of an Inch pipe as at the bottom of a large tank if the depth of water is the same in each case. There fore the tank four feet high will have a greater pressure than the tank one foot high. The side pressure follows the same rule. I will give the questioner further In formation on request. C. S. BROWN. 514 Lumber Exchange Bid. Submarine Signal Devices. ALBANY, Or, March 28. (To the Ed itor.) Please tell me if the United States Government has any devices on submarines which in caso the vessel Is submerged and gets out of commission will transmit signals. A SUBSCRIBE!.. Tha older equipment Includes a sounding-bell, which transmits vibra tions through tha water. A newer de vice is a sounding drum through which telegraphic signals may be sent and re ceived. Remarrlaga In Six Montlia. MORTON. Wash., March 28. (To the Editor.) I'lcase tell me if a person di vorced in Oregon who marries in Brit ish Columbia within six months Is le- gall ly wedded. I understand the Brit- ish Columbia laws attow aivmceu i"- -to wed without waiting six son mo inths. J- L. The marriage would not be recog nized as legal in the United States if the couple returned. Ambition and -a Kl . Exchange. Miss Oldun I'd just like to sec any man kiss me. Miss Young What a aopeiess amoi- tioni.. Half a Century Ago From Tha Oregonian of March 0. ISSi. Tha steamer Senalor, from Oregon City, last evening brought tha fairest cargo that has ever landed on any or dinary occasion ever. It wss com posed of the youth and beauty and fashion of this, our sister city and In termedial towns. There was a lars number of passengers, in w hich tha "feebler sex" predominated. On Sunday evening there will ba a union meeting of churches of various denominations at the rresbytertan Church, at which time the status of tha Christian Commission will bo present! by Kev. Mr. Atkinson. The good-natured phia of H. Tarker. Esq.. glanced on us asain last evening. He Is down as a delegate from Walla Walla to the union convention nf Washington Territory, which meets at Claquato on Tuesday next. There will be a aocial fcatherlnft f friends at the residence of Rev. G. H, Atkinson tltia evening. Tha next de parture is chosen as tha stramer upon which Mr. A. and family wll sail for the East The Victoria Chronicle says It Is ru mored that a popular member of the British Columbia Legislative Council started on the last steamer to ran Framlsco. charged with the mission of subsidising a steamer to run direct to New Westminster. Trade with Hodge A Calef, Importers and dealers in drugs, paints, oils, win dow glass and perfumery. Just received per batk .lane A. Falklnburg. a larue assortment of doors, windows and blinds ot Eastern manufacture, and for sal by Millard aV Van Schuyver. Savier eV Co. has this lxj sold lis Btork of groceries to Messrs. Mrerlioll & Co, who will occupy the store for merly occupied by Savier & Co., 47 Front -street. . The Richmond Sentinel says 120. 00ft in Confederate money, several watohes and other trinkets were found on tha body of one of Sherman's officers, killed near Ashland. The advance of Sherman will he dis puted by a formidable force umier shla , and experienced officers, ssys the Raleigh Press. HIS GOOD HEPI'TE IS "TIOVU, Mr. AlaVrmaa Capable mt Maklaa Srkools Model for Kaucatlonal V wrlil. ASTORIA, Or.. March 28. (To tha Editor.) The article In The OreironlHti Tuesday exposing the vile ntlatks made on City Superintendent I.. K. Alderman must have aroused Indigna tion within the heart of every fair minded reader. The fact that state ments were made anonymously betias their cowardly author. Superintendent Alderman has raised the standard of the Portland s-huul system to such a degree that many cities in the United Htates are Is king note and beginning to copy hfa plans and methods. Whatever may have a ten dency to benefit the pupils nf the pub lic schools has been carefully studied by Mr. Alderman, and no innovation has been Introduced unless it was for the betterment of the schools. No ona could possibly conte In contact with Superintendent Alderman and not ad mire his tact, courtesy, dtplnmat-y, ac curate acholarship, absolute fairness with regard to religious creed or po litical views, and hi keen judgment of human nature. It is said that all good men sra slandered, but to connect Mr. Alder man's nAtno with any act of tnlustlr is not only a gross calumny, but ab surd at the same time. I have spent 1- years abroad in vari ous Institutions of learning, and I may frankly state that many European cities that boast of excellent sthools could learn a good deal from Mr. Alderman. Many educatora whoa abilities are far Inferior to his I know many personally have been decorated with orders by his majesty for ttiolr work In educational llnrs. The Hosrd of Education la to be t-omniendcft on selecting Mr. Alderman ns the head of the Portland schools, as his adminis tration thus far has proved to he a blessing for the city. Hence It Is tha ardent wish of all fair-minded rltUena who have the welfare of the schools at heart, that Mr. Alderman may continue his good work and succeed in placing Portland schools before th education al world aa models such as the classi cal seats of learning served to tinn-a and Rome In centuries gone hy. Una is an Instance where merit alone, not political Influences or .lesloui-ie. should rule for the sake of Justice as well as for the Interests of rortlnnrt as an edu cational center. J. P. MI KIXHR. THE PICXIO DAYS ARE NKllt. O, tha picnic days are near, w han the boya and girlies dear will seek the woodlands ballasted with sand wiches and cake, and with frult-cm-boweled plea that look pleating to Ilia eyes, almost equal to the treasure our old mothers used to bake. In tha shadows of the trees they will loll In graceful ease, or with reckless Im propriety the growing saplings cllmh, and, with tan on face and neck, look ing each like ruBtle wreck, they will wander home at eve and say they had a lovelv time. Fa there lovers In tha lot, they will seek a quiet spot whera the birds will voice the Joy with which, their youthful souls expand, and, re clining on the grass, will the blissful moments pass saying sweet non compos mentis things of sugar-coated brand. They will passionately say that forever and a day they could live on love and kisses and be happy with their lot. yet when lunclillme rolls around both first upon the ground and the first to hit the ssndwlches a gastronomic swal. Yes. tha picnic days are near, gladdest season of the year, when tha shirt waist and the rose will simultaneously bloom, when the medium-weight wrans and the other Winter traps will ha buried for the Summer In a dark. moth, ballv tomb. Rustic breezes In their freaks will be kissing peachy cheeks and will toy with home-grown tresses and with artificial hair, and tho ram blers, girls and boys, will Indulge In rustic Joys In the sltsdows of the wood Isnds far away from earthly care. When in through tha open window cornea a aweet, melodious lay. and h beaten god of slumoer hits the trail rrica awav. as the yellow-breasted fellow from hlB perch up on a pole ever y sense starts Into action wnn inn from his soul. Off the klvers then w kli'k. And our every move Is quick, As our person with our raiment r adorning. And wa wlilslle mcrrllv In the same soul-stirring key, With the meadow lark thsfa staging In ths morning. jamer RAnTOJ AI)AMi. Daily History What vou read In tha ncwsnspei today is the history of tomorrow. This Is not only true of tho great world drama of Europe. It is equally true of the events nearer home. It is ss true of tha sdvertlslng as of tha so-called news. The newspaper advertising day hy day is recording business history tha progress ot commerce. A hundred years from now the historian can write a splendid sum msry of our commercial life by the Information gleaned from files of old newspapers.