THE SfORNIXG OREGONIAW, WEDNESDAY, 3IAKCH 31, 191."?.
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i PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY. MAR. SI, 191S.
! WHY ITALY DELAYS.
I No doubt remains in the minds of
; men who have watched the course of
i events in Italy that that country in
; tends to intervene in the war on the
; Bide of the allies, but the question
' arises: "Why does she wait?
i One suggested answer Is that she
does not wish to take the risk until
nhe is sure of fighting on the winning
! Bide. Italy surveys the field and sees
German armies in almost complete
possession of Belgium, firmly en
, trenched in France and fighting on
Russian soil all along the eastern
front. She sees Austria holding Rus
,, sia at bay in the Carpathians and the
allied fleet badly mauled in its attack
on the Dardanelles. She sees German
commerce well nigh annihilated and
" ' the German battle fleet shut in port,
" but she sees German submarines pick
- ing off British and neutral merchant
. vessels at the rate of one or two
day. Italy may believe the odds to
4e against Germany and Austria, but
she may well consider the issue suf
flciently doubtful to hesitate about tak
ing the plunge. This explains the
statement in a recent dispatch that
Italy would wait until the Russians
had crossed the Carpathians and until
the allied fleet had forced its way
f through the Dardanelles, in order that
ahe might be sure of fighting on the
"tinning side.
Against this theory it may be said
that, if Italy hopes to get her full
ahare of the spoils, she must inter
vene when the issue is doubtful, not
when the scales have swung decisively
to the fide of her prospective allies.
If she should aid in winning what the
allies consider an already assured vie-
ton", her claims would not get the
same consideration as they would re-
celVe If she turned the scale whan it
was evenly balanced. Italy desires
the east shore of the Adriatic, but
Russia will claim a large share of it
for Serbia and Montenegro. W ere a
strong Slav state to acquire Dalmatia
and Albania together with Bosnia and
Herzegovina. Italy would simply ex
change the Austrian menace for a
Serbian menace. She must have a
very strong claim on Britain and
France in order to Induce them to
favor her in preference to Russia and
Serbia. Italy must know that her
armies would be more welcome to the
allies and would impose a heavier dbt
of gratitude upon them at the present
Juncture than if she should not enter
the field until their victory is certain.
The season cannot have prompted
Italy's delay, though much of the
fighting with Austria would be done in
the mountains, where snow is prob
' ably melting. Events have falsified
'' all predictions as to the effect weather
. would have on the vigor with which
hostilities were prosecuted. The hard-
. est Winter" fighting was predicted in
France, while a practical cessation of
operations was foretold for the eastern
front. In fact, mud seriously restrict-
ed fighting in the west, while snow
and frost did not prevent most furious
fighting in the east, even in the Car
pathian Mountains. Italy could block
the outlet from the Alpine passes in
Trentino, while she attacked in force
the Adriatic territory of Austria.
"Weather is not the obstacle.
Italy's difficulty seems to be neither
military nor diplomatic nor related to
weather, but financial. Her national
debt is about 13,000.000,000, compared
with Britain's $3,500,000,000, though
Britain's foreign commerce is nearly
five times as great as that of Italy
The resources of Italy were severely
taxed to pay the cost of the Tripolitan
rampaign, which was about $200,000,-
000. and the country Is poor. The
country cannot pay the cost or a long,
exhausting war and must or necessity
make its share in the work short and
decisive. Hence Italy seems, from
necessity if not rrom choice, to await
the invasion of Hungary and Austria
proper by a host of Russians and the
new offensive of the allies against Ger
many in both east and west before en
tering the fray. Her delay may dimln.
Jsh the size of her reward, but she can
not help that It is the penalty of
poverty.
M.RGERY AND BCTAET3.
The art of surgery in the European
hospitals seema to keep up fairly well
with the progress of the art of de
struction on European battlefields.
Shattered arms and legs that would
have been amputated a few years ago
are now patched up so as to be more
or less useful. Perforated lungs can
be healed and wounds of the Intestines
that were always fatal in older wars
nre now curable if they are taken in
time. Where wounded men He for
days piled six or eight deep in the mud
and rain they are not apt to be bene
fited much even by the most modern
and scientific surgery, but If help
comes promptly it seldom comes in
Sain.
The guns now in use make a
smooth, minute perforation of the
toodily tissues. The bullets are meas
urably antiseptic and are even said to
cauterize the wounds they make. Thus
healing becomes easy and some fright
ful demolitions of the body are
patched up in the most surprising
way. To a cynic there would be some
thing irresistibly absurd in the spec
tacle of military authorities working
night and day to kill and maim as
many men as possible while the sur
geons labor just as hard to save them.
Pure reason would counsel that it is
better not to wound a man in the first
place than to shatter his body today
In order that it may be patched up
tomorrow. But pure reason finds lit
tle place in warfare, which is the ne
gation of everything human and a re
version to the brute. Since war is in
Itself utterly absurd we must expect
Its conduct to bristle with minor ab
surdities. The spectacle of the soldier
parading about in his fine millinery
and armed with, weapons useless for
everything but slaughter is probably
ridiculous to the angels. But men are
still childish enough to be charmed
by it.
Some day the world will cease to
wound and kill a thousand men in
order that the surgeons may cure a
few of them, but we shall not see that
day until common sense gains a great
deal more power over us than it has
now.
OH, FORGET IT.
Major Bowlby may be given full
credit for honesty of purpose; but the
assumption, and indeed the open dec
laration, or his sole journalistic sup
porter that he has been removed be
cause he is an honest man, and be
cause the road contractors demanded
it, is false. He was removed because
the roads of the state, so far as their
location and construction have been
directed by the State Highway Com
mission, are at a standstill, and the
relations or the state and the various
countries are in an almost hopeless
muddle. If anything is to be done
hereafter for roads through state aid
or supervision, it must be through an
engineer who haa the confidence of
the counties, and who will not be so
constantly and Inevitably at cross
purposes with them and all of them.
Neither the politicians nor the con
tractors have got Bowlby's scalp. It
Is contemptible that the motives of
Governor Withycombe and Treasurer
Kay, who have replaced him with an
other, should be so grossly impugned.
They have acted out of a, clear and
impelling sense of duty nothing else.
They have given to the state a new
engineer with sound credentials, and
they look to him to extricate the cause
of good roads from the difficulties in
which it has been unfortunately
placed. It is not going to be an easy
job: but it must be done. It could
not be done through Bowlby.
The sooner the Bowlby incident is
forgotten the better. The state has
made a false start in roadbuilding
through state aid; but it can be put
on the right track through united ef
fort and a display of good sense and
a proper spirit by all concerned; and
we think it will be.
WOAIEN AND SUFFRAGE.
We are apt to swallow a little too
readily the common assertion of the
'antis" that "women themselves do
not want the suffrage." No doubt
there are women who do not want it.
just as in plantation times there were
slaves who did not want to be free, but
the chances are that a great majority
of the sex if they felt at liberty to
speak their minds would favor the
right to vote. To bring this question
to something like a scientific test the
New Tork World took a straw vote the
other day. asking hundreds of women
in all parts of the state to tell whether
they wanted the right to vote or not.
All classes were included in the can
vass and pains were taken to distrib
ute the inquiries impartially.
The answers were astonishing.
More than three-fourths of the women
questioned were in favor of suffrage,
This proportion held in New Tork
City. In Elmira 98 per cent of the
women who answered the World's
questions were suffragists. Among the
well-to-do women who answered from
all parts of the state "79 per cent ta
vored suffrage. Of the University
Club women in New Tork 86 per cent
were for suffrage. Of course the bus
iness and working women stood for
the right to vote by a large majority.
As far as New Tork is concerned.
therefore, it is not true that "the
women themselves do not want to
vote." On the contrary, at least
three-fourths of them do want the
right. Since that state is rather more
onservative than most of the Ameri
can sisternooa we may lane it ior
granted that women's opinions are
even more advanced elsewhere. If
the men are willing, as so many say
they are, to grant the suffrage as soon
as a majority of the women ask for it,
the right to vote is likely to be greatly
extended at the next elections.
RIVALS IN SLAUGHTER.
The worst effect of war is the indif
ference to the sanctity of human life
which it generates in men who in
times of peace would shrink with hor
ror from the thought of killing a fel
lowman. An Irish soldier picks off
one by one the eight men composing
a German machine gun crew, and the
feat is recounted with praise in offi
cial dispatches and the Irishman is
decorated. We are told that a trench
is stormed and every man in it slain,
with as much pride as a fisherman
shows in boasting of his string.
There is the excuse in such cases
that the men killed are there for the
purpose of killing their slayers in the
cruise of their country. Such killing
in ordinary times would be justified
on the plea of self-defense. But what
can be said of an American, having no
patriotic interest in the struggle and
whose nationality protects him in
either camp, who deliberately shoots a
man as he would take a pot shot at a
partridge? Robert Dunn, an Ameri
can war correspondent, tells this story
of himself and John Reed, another
correspondent, when they were in the
German trenches:
He (RJegel. a German officer) took the
Mauser from the fellow in the scooped place
by us. The next moment it was in Keed's
hands, and, with the muzsle pointing
hrouith the eyehole atop tne Dinx, lie was
getting a bead on the low. Jagged crest of
mud across the short and hellish space. Be
it on our heads, we did It, both fired twice,
turn and turn about. . . . It's useless
to arraign our feelings the eagerness with
htch. as in the dream wnicn nan. so long
held us, we leaped to do this!
"Get anyone?" chuckled Riegel at me.
"Call it a couple of Turkos," I gasped.
Different from bear shooting, this. . . .
Back to the officers' cava we sloshed, and
to bottled beer.
They kill without cause "a couple
of Turkos," compare it with bear-
shooting, and, like tired sportsmen,
turn their minds to beer.
Equally cold-blooded brutality was
displayed by the crew of a German
submarine in sinking the steamer
Falaba, it British accounts are to be
believed. While the boats hung rrom
the davits about to be launched, a
torpedo was fired at a range or 100
yards and the boats' occupants were
scattered in the water as the ship
sank. An officer of the ship says:
The submarine was in the midst . of
them, and I saw at least twenty men
on her. They stood and laughed, the
brutes."
An even worse display or savagery
was made by the German submarine
U-28, ror while the crew was lowering
the boats or the Aguila sne urea ner
gun at them several times, killing a
woman passenger ana tnree or tne
crew and riddling some or the boats.
In both these cases the persons shot
and drowned were non-combatants,
and many of them were passengers.
All previously recognized rules or war
were set at defiance in these acts of
slaughter. Hate must have been the
inspiring motive of the Germans. Hate
breeds hate, and slaughter provokes
retaliation, in. iind. The war. is ue-
generating to a ferocity equal to that
of savage tribes which torture and
kill prisoners.
These things are being done by the
countries which pride themselves on
being leaders in humanity and civiliza
tion. Those countries boast of having
produced men who discovered the
means of saving life, such as Harvey
and Lister in England, Pasteur and
Curie in France, Koch and Zirchow
in Germany. The war has caused Eu
rope to descend from rivalry in pre
serving to rivalry in destroying human
life.
TIIK HELPING HAND.
The Oregonian has today a letter
rrom a worthy citizen, Mr. Tucker,
who inquires, with every evidence or
good raith, why the county as a whole
should pay ror paved roads, while the
property-owner in the city has been
personally taxed Tor the street im
provement in rront or his lot or lots;
and he inquires also why any citizen
serving on an election board should in
sist on charging the public ror a rull
day's, or night's, work, when ' he is
actually employed but an hour or two.
The Oregonian is able to reply to
the latter question only by saying that
no citizen should thus mulct the coun
ty, and few desirable citizens will. If
any way can be devised to prevent any
others who chance to be employed on
election boards from doing it. The Ore
gonian will approve it heartily.
Why should a citizen who pays for
his own street improvements also pay
for county roads? That is not so easy
to answer, perhaps, for there is an ap
parent element of injustice in the
plan; but it is only apparent. The
county road is a highway leading to
the entire city, and is not localized, as
the street Is. Traffic over the high
way is a contribution to or from the
entire community. Obviously, if there
is to be no outlet to the country from
the city, or no inlet to the city from
the country, there will be no com
merce between them and both will
suffer. It Is essential to the welfare
of the city that the country be devel
oped, and it is equally essential to the
country that it have easy and cheap
access to the city. On this principle
the construction of roads throughout
the county is undertaken by the coun
ty as a community, and not as an in
dividual undertaking.
The City of Portland, has been grow
ing ra-pidly during the past decade or
more more rapidly than the county,
and too rapidly for the common wel
fare. The people of Portland have
come to realize that if .all alike are to
grow and prosper, a helping hand
must be given to the country, so that
it, too, may have a proportionate de
velopment. The proposed $1,250,000
bond issue is a concrete expression of
that idea. It will serve to equalize
conditions between city and country
and will be a direct contribution to the
welfare or the entire commonwealth
No citizen can afford to stand on the
ground that he has already paid his
share, and has no further duty.
THE HIS OF DANCING.
It is probably useless to argue with
a man who speaks of dancing as "a
sinful pleasure" which "arouses the
evil passions in man" and who believes
that "dancing is the first step toward
those chambers of death that the Bi
ble speaks or as the habitation or sin
ners." The language we have quoted
is rrom a letter to The Oregonian' pub
lished today in another part or the
paper. The man who wrote it has not
troubled hlmseir at all about the tacts
or the subject He has rormed a the
ory of his own without any regard to
perfectly patent circumstances and to
that theory he will doubtless cling as
long as he lives.
If dancing is in itseir so great an
evil, leading to consequences so ter
rible, it is marvelous to see how many
good and virtuous people indulge in
it without experiencing any harm. Or
is it true that dancing is innocuous
the halls of the wealthy and is
onlv "evil" when practiced by the
humble tor their amusement after
the day's toil is over? What is un
pardonable sin for the poor is often
times a shining virtue for the rich, in
the opinions of some men.
His psychology is as perverse as
possible. Dancing under proper con
ditions does not excite "man s evil
passions." On the contrary it allays
them. It Is a well-known scientific
truth that lack of decent company
and wholesome amusement turns the
mind toward vicious indulgence, while
pleasant society and agreeable diver
sions like dancing, music and cheerful
conversation are great conservers of
innocence. Wherever public dancing
has been brought under decent super
vision it has shown itself to be a
friend to morals as well as to physi
cal health.
All forms ot innocent amusement
which can be offered to the humbler
classes under public auspices and good
chaperonage pay large returns in
health and morals. The money spent
for them is saved over and over again
in court and jail expenses. In the
face or racts like these, the Judg
ment or a man who wilfully ignores
everything but his own prejudices
should not be allowed much weight.
As for the "complete suppression
and annihilation" ot dancing which
he desires, it has been tried a great
many times without, success. The good
Lord so constructed human beings that
they imperatively demand amusement.
When it is not obtainable under
wholesome conditions the irrepressible
needs of their nature drive them to
seek it under bad ones. To talk of
eradicating this inborn trait of human
nature is nonsense. Such talk may
divert the leisure of a doctrinaire re
cluse, but it cannot engage the con
sideration of practical men and
women.
BECOMING A CREDITOR NATION.
The war has turned foreign com
merce and international finance topsy
turvy. It has converted the United
States rrom a debtor to a creditor
Nation as to liquid capital, repre
sented by imports and exports, rreight
and insurance, interest and dividends
on Investments. It is gradually
changing us into a creditor Nation as
to fixed capital, represented by in
vestments, as Europe sells its Amer
ican securities to the United States
and borrows money in this country.
That Europe owes the United States
more than the United States owes
Europe in liquid capital is indicated
by the rate ot exchange. The par
exchange on London is $4.86 ror the
English pound. At that point it is
not profitable to ship gold in either
direction. When the rate falls to
$4.84 it is cheaper to ship gold from
England than to pay debts in bills of
exchange. When the rate rises to
$4.89. the United States can better
ship gold than pay in bills. Last
August our debts to London were so
great and London's demand for gold
was so imperative that the rate rose
to $6 and 6.i0. .We shipped fold to
London to pay the debts or New Tork
City and we shipped more gold to
Ottawa ror the credit ot the Bank or
England in settlement of our general
adverse balance. Those operations
reduced rates ot exchange to some
where near par.
In recent months our vast ravora
ble balance of trade has put Europe
so deeply in our debt that exchange
fell on March 29 to $4.77, and gold
has been flowing inward, imports of
gold from January 11 to March 25
having totaled $38,100,000. Normally,
gold Would now flow to Europe, for
interest rates are now higher in that
continent than in this, and the ten
dency of money is to flow where in
terest is highest. But war finance has
suspended this rule. The fixed capital
of belligerent countries has been con
verted into liquid capital that is,
money by the floating of war loans
and the issue of notes. To cover these
notes they hold onto every ounce ot
gold possible. Europe has a flood or
paper money in circulation, while the
United States has a surplus ot gold,
which no other nation has the power
to draw from us, because no other
nation can sell us an excess of goods
over what it buys and then enforce
settlement in gold. Europe buys more
goods from us than it sells, but is
unwilling to pay in gold. It there
fore establishes credits in this country
by borrowing of our banks.
The artificial conditions created by
the war have thus checked the nor
mal flow of gold which would follow
the strong turn of the commerce tide
in our favor. An adjustment may be
reached when a balance is struck be
tween the price of European national
securities and that of American
securities held in Europe;" also be
tween our valuation of our securities
and the prices of our commodities.
When that balance is struck, Europe
will pay for our goods with its hold
ings or our securities and the United
States will be in the happy position or
a rarmer who pays oft a mortgage
by the sale of his crops. That
process and the borrowing in the
United States Of money with which
to nay for American exports will
complete the change of the United
States from a debtor to a creditor
Nation' as to fixed as well as liquid
capital.
The usual hullaballoo has arrived
over the "impure" shows at the San
Francisco fair. The noise may be ror
advertising purposes, since the suspi
cion or "impurity" attracts certain
classes or people. It Is useless for
anything else. The shows in question
are grossly vulgar, but decent people
will shun them in any case and those
who relish them are past injury. It is
therefore hardly worth while to make
a din over the matter.
The Egyptians are not all followers
of the Prophet. A majority believe
in the religion or the Koran, but the
Copts, who are a respectable minority,
are Christians. They descend rrom
the race or the Pharaohs and were
converted in very early time by St.
Peter himself. The Mohammedans
are Arabs who came into the country
much later.
The time may come when a Port
lander need only send out some "juice'
from wires attached to the top of
clothesline posts in his backyard and
call to his brother in Seattle in order
to bring the answer. When that time
comes, how will it be possible to break
off a conversation with a bore?
The growing pains of Utah's State
University are exceptionally severe.
Four professors have been dismissed
tor religio-political reasons and
fifteen have resigned in protest. All
state universities have to pass through
similar troubles, but in time they are
usually outgrown.
The women or Holland have in
itiated the most remarkable of all the
current peace movements. . They have
called an international meeting at
The Hague to consider practical meas
ures for ending war. It is announced
that Jane Addams will preside.
The Duke or Orleans is in hard
luck. Patriotism inspires him to fight
tor France, but she will not enlist him,
nor will her allies, out or courtesy,
ir it were for pure love or a fight,
Villa might take him.
The question whether the Prinz
Eitel Friedrich will interne or make a
dash to sea may hinge on the ques
tion whether a fog favors escape from
British cruisers on the night when
her time expires.
Even the vegetarian, in his lapses.
will admit there is nothing finer than
Oregon Spring lamb, and that it
brought the record price in the local
yards yesterday was to be expected.
American clergymen in Cuba are be
ginning late in protesting the fight
Laymen at home think Willard will
do real missionary work by whipping
the negro.
Judge Stevenson is trying to raise
the standard of veracity among gam
blers. He might turn his attention
to other occupations fishermen, for
example.
Lloyd-George's proposal of prohibi
tion for England is a war measure,
and the little Welshman is big enough
to make it go.
Oregon now has two highway en
gineers, one going ana one coming,
and between them should get some
good roads.
Nevada clings tenaciously to the fa
vorite sports of its pioneer days. It
excepts poker from the prohibition of
gambling.
Whenever the Administration wishes
the Mexicans to think it really means
business, it sends General Funston.
Snow on the Salt Lake field will
give the "Venetians a chill from which
they cannot recover.
Under the new administration.
Greece has become aggressively neu
tral. Today concludes a record March in
Portland for weather of right quality.
Real optimism in Germany is shown
by continued work in the shipyards.
If you cannot put one over tomor
row, just bite and appreciate the Joke.
The Breslau has as many lives as a
cat It has been disabled once more.
Eggs are getting low enough in
price to be eaten by thrifty people.
It was an auspicious opening for
the Beavers, , . .-. . ....
Half & Century Ago
From The Oregonian March-31, 1S63.
A London correspondent of the New
Tork Tribune reports that Queen Vic
toria will not open Parliament in per
son. Her friends and advisers have
urged her to try to open the season as
brilliantly as possible, but her condi
tion, physically and mentally, just at
this time is considered critical by some.
The Oregonian has received a call
from Charles Shively, who was a pas
senger on the illfated bark Industry,
which was wrecked off the bar. Mr.
Shively gave kn account of the disaster
most interesting and valuable.
L. J. Rector and H. Parker, or Walla
Walla, the delegates from that county
to the Washington Territory Union
convention at Claquato, called on us
yesterday.
A crowd collected at the corner of
First and Morrison last night to wit
ness the raving of a woman on the
awning and roof surrounding the old
"El Dorado" saloon building. What
created the fuss nobody seems to un
derstand, but the poodle, the washtub,
clothesrack and all flew miscellaneous
ly for a short space of time.
The old adage of "burying the
hatchet" is generally conceded to .be
healing all feuds existing between the
parties compromising a difficulty. A
day or two since, on Couch whart, an
ardent leader of one of the most be
nevolent institutions of the city and a
prominent church member became em-
oroiled. They started to enjoy a Joke
together but the Joke went too far and
after some loud talk they agreed to
"bury the hatchet." The next day one
of them wanted to use the real instru
ment and failed to find It where the
other told him he had burled it.
A, L. Sutton and Miss Alice Campbell,
both of Canyon City, were married by
Judge W. Lair Hill, of Grant County,
March 21.
Washington A Richmond paper ad
mits that, on the report of a rebel, the
damage done by Sherman is placed at
$50,000,000.
Surveyor Burrage finally struck bot
tom at Front and Main streets while
hunting out a place to set the monu
menta authorized by the Council.
Submarine Safety Device.
PORTLAND, Or., March 30. (To the
Editor.) While reading of the awful
fate of the unfortunate fellows who
go down in submarines with so little
hope of ever getting to the surface
again I have wondered why naval con
structors have not provided means of
safeguarding them against such a ca
lamity when with trifling expense a
device might be made that would carry
their signal to the surface and thus
expedite the matter of locating them.
Why could not a reel of small steel
wire attached to a buoy and a signal
flag be provided, which In case of
trouble could be released by the crew
and, rising to the surface of the oeeaa,
give the iocation of the craft? It seems
to me that in the same way a reel of
hose might be carried that would pro
vide air to the men imprisoned while
the work of rescue was progressing.
A. W. BOTKIN.
Submarines are now equipped with
marking buoys, which may be released
from the Interior of the vessel. The
buoy is attached by light cable and
marks the location of the submarine.
Probably one great obstacle to sending
air tubes to the surface is the large
bulk of buoy that would be required
to raise the weight of the tubes. More
over, they would be valueless without
air-pumping machinery. Space econ
omy is one of the prime essentials to
a successful submarine.
Why Amendment Is Urge.
PORTLAND, March 80. (To the Ed
itor.) In The Oregonian March 24 I
see that the Legislature of Connecti
cut has adopted a resolution calling for
a Federal Constitutional amendment
that will enable Congress to prevent
the practice of polygamy in the United
States.
Will you explain why such enact
ment is deemed necessary in a coun
try where the crime of bigamy is pun
ishable with a penitentiary sentence?
What reason can be given for calling
plural marriage polygamy in one case
and bigamy In another? To me it seema
that any man who has taken unto him
self two wives in Utah, since that state
was admitted to the Union, is guilty
of bigamy. If not, why not? What
stands in the way of a general round
up of this class of criminals, whether
found in Utah, .or elsewhere in the
Western states, and their punishment
as bigamists? C. B. MORGAN.
Except in territories and other places
under 'the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Government, bigamy or polygamy in
the United States is punishable only
under state laws. The Federal Gov
ernment now has no power to enforce
state laws or define plural marriage as
a crime or punish the practice within a
state, except that transportation by a
polygamist of his family from one state
to another would probably be punish
able under the Federal white slave law.
What You Want and What Ton Get.
PORTLAND, Or., March 30. (To the
Editor.) March 18 that cultured pub
lication, "The Nation." prints some eu
logistic remarks on the Journalistic
career of that other cultured publica
tion, "The Springfield Republican," and
concludes:
Such a paper as the Republican is a
standing protest against the doctrine that
the business or a newspaper is solely to
give the people "what they want." Give
them what you think they ought to have.
and It may turn 'out that. In spite of ap
pearances to the contrary, that is just what
they really want.
Coming from such high quarters, the
existence of the 'doctrine" may not be
gainsaid. The way it is put is touching,
illuminating, frank, or is it courageous,
altruistic, patriotic? Giving grown-up
children "what they want" some of us
supposed was the business of a preach
er with a lean purse, and giving
botchy-mlnded adults what "you think
they ought to have has been the right
and privilege of the medical profession.
THe development of American Journal
ism in the past 25 years, however, has
brought along with it its responsibil
ities. Christian and other good readers
are sympathetic, humbly grateful for
what they get and fervently thank-
nr God It's not up to them wbat their
fellows want and what they think they
ought to have.
J. HBNNHSSr BUKFHf.
Tax Rate in King; County.
PORTLAND, March 30. (To the Ed
itor. Please give the tax rate in King
County, Washington. W. H. H. D.
Last year the tax rate in King Coun
ty for county purposes was 8.49 mills.
We have no later figures. The tax
rate for all purposes in Seattle was
43.87 mills on a 45 per cent valuation.
PORTLAND, March 29. (To the Ed
itor.) If a voter residing in precinct
A acts as judge of the election in pre
cinct B and votes in the latter pre
cinct, do such proceedings make the
election illegal in that particular pre
oinctl READER,
WHY TAX COST OF ROADS TO ALL?
Writer Are: u-a Coaaty Hlahwaya Skenld
Be Built by Local Assessment.
PORTLAND. Or., March 30. (To the
Editor.) I have always been pretty
well satisfied with your views on eco
nomical questions, and my neighbors
and I are needing information on two
questions of which we have not noticed
much comment in The Oregonian.
First Why should a good, "a desir
able citizen." who la a member of the
Election Board for the daytime object
to donate an hour or so to count the
ballots, to help save the county a need
less heavy expense? And for the same
reason, why should the same kind of
a citizen, who Is a member of the night
board, want the county to pay him for
12 hours' work which could be done in
one hour and gratis by another
good citizen? What would such people
not do with public money if they had
a chance?
Second Is It right to ask Portland
people to pay the lion's share toward
paving streets leading out of town
when thousands of ub are now bur
dened with debt for our own street im
provements, for which tha owners of
those very valuable lands along said
out-of-town streets are more able to
pay and who pay nothing to help us
out of our debt?
We are told the St. Helens road, as
mentioned In the election notice, is
the road recently cut through up on
the side of the hills. Why should the
owner along the Willamette boulevard
help pay ror that street up in the
woods, across tha river, when the road
at the foot of the hill Is good enough
for us? We have Just paved the Wil
lamette boulevard and expect to pay
for it in time, but let the other people
pay their own paving bills, so long as
that is the custom here.
We would O. K. the plan to tax all
property for all etreet improvements,
for I have as much and even more use
for a paved street near me for which
I paid nothing, as my neighbors, who
paid it all.
We do not think that it costs $1000
per annum per mile to keep In repair
a well-made macadamized road, or
even one-third of that amount. A nar
row strip on the Columbia boulevard
was thus covered three years ago and
is In good shape now without $100 per
mile per annum having been spent on
It since, and macadamized streets are
good enough yee. a thousand times
better for hundreds of our little-nseil
suburban streets than the mud flats
we call streets, and would be gladly
paid for by the abutting property
owners. But no, the cement paving
companies put it over us. so we ara
obliged to have the hlgh-cost-of-liviug
pavement or nothing.
We are earnestly in favor of good
roans and streets, but also urtre rea
sonable economy and fair distribution
of expenses. We presume the farmers,
tne wen-io-ao in tne city, who are
able to pay. and the other extreme, who
pay no taxes, will vote the $1,230,000
Donas, Dut not the small home owner.
His lot is hard enough now.
G. B. TUCKER.
MORMXUSIDE CONDITION GOOD
Frequent Visitor Praiaea Cleanliness,
Food and Treatment of Inmate.
PORTLAND, March 30. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly allow me the privilege
of your paper to give my Impressions
of the conditions existing at the Morn
ingside Hospital at Mount Tabor,
wnere the Alaska insane are being
cared for. According to the published
report of the Judiciary committee to
the Alaska Legislature, one is led to
believe that the management of the
above-named Institution violated every
law of reasonable humanity. Nothing
could De further from the actual facts
During the past month I have been
a regular visitor at the hospital, usu
ally spending three to four hours every
Sunday afternoon with my friend and
former partner, a hunter and trapper
of Alaska, who is now an Inmate of
the hospital. During my frequent visits
I had all the opportunity of observing
the life at the place and walking right
through the main ward spoke with
many of the Inmates without ever dis
covering a note of discord or ill-will.
Peace and good-will seem to prevail
within the grounds, the men walking
or lounging about, smoking, reading or
talking. The buildings look neat and
are scrupulously clean, steam-heated,
well-lighted and ventilated. The sur
rounding grounds look well, showing
evidence of systematic care and work
by the Inmates under the supervision of
a guiding intellect. I have also eaten
from the same plate with my friend
and found the food good and appetiz
ing and well adapted to his special
needs. In fact, he told me time and
again that he had everything that he
could wish for, excepting his health,
which is gone forever.
My friend is quartered In the same
ward with two other incurables, and
the care and patience exhibited by the
attendant in looking after their needs
Is not only touching but inspiring.
On my last visit, just as I passed
the women's building, about 10 or 12
women came out of their ward, evi
dently out for a walk. Rome seemed
to be in a meditating mood, but others
had laughing eyes and happy faces.
All were dressed scrupulously clean
with garments well laundered. They an
swered my greeting with a smile, which
I consider and appreciate Ks a reward
for civility.
In addition. I must mention the pre
siding officer of the Institution, Dr. .1.
W. Luckey, a gentleman, every inch,
whose kindly but searching eye de
notes the humanitarian and scientist,
who is fully aware of his responsi
bility. I may add that this letter Is unso
licited, but In view or the published
charges against the hospital, it Is my
duty to give my impressions of the
conditions as I found them.
ARTHUR HOFFMAN.
Pleasure-Seeking Root of Hard T lines.
PORTLAND, March 30. (To the Edl.
tor.) I was surprised on reading the
article by C. E. Cllne In today s Ore
gonian. wherein he blames the Admin
istration in Washington for much of
what might be termed the out-of-Jolnt
conditions that prevail. Long ago Car
dinal Newman said that mankind was
out of Joint with the purposes of its
Creator, and a short while ago there
was published In The Oregonian an
article over the signature of C. K. Cllne
in which he forcefully portrayed the
extravagance of our present-day life
with that of 60 years ago.
More than ever, today the people
are demanding more expensive food,
clothing and luxuries, more amuse
ments, more travel. In short, as the
common rounder puts it, "When they
go they want to go like hell," and all
the while they are demanding less work
and more pay and, while some preach
the simple life, they all try to avoid It.
What the fruits of our high-pressure
civilization will be time alone will re
veal, but from present tendencies It
does not seem to be Just the thing to
produce a hardy, selt-rellant manhood,
such as has now nearly passed away.
In the last analysis a pleasure-seek-ina-
people and not the President are to
blfme. J. AREMUS.
Her Hat as a Hint.
Judge.
Mildred Don't you think Miss Elder
ly looks much younger in her new hat?
Helen Indeed I do. Why, Mildred, it
makes her look but Very little older
than she says she is.
Can't Afford It.
Houston (Tex.) Post.
"Are you going to the exposition?"
"Nope, can't altord it." "But your wife
bought an entire new outfit to wear at
the exposition?" "Yep, that's why we
can't afford it," .... .
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Krom The Oregonian, March 11. 10.
Mark Twain's new book, "A Connecti
cut Yankae in King Arthur's Court." Is.
Indeed, a strange conceit. It la quite
up to Mr. Clemens' good standard and
tho class of reading he has led us to
expect.
The cyclone which passed over parts
of Kentucky Saturday mowed down
trees like grass, wrecked farmhouses
and hurled occupants to Instant daalh,
and wrought general devastation In
Webster County. The loss la running
into the hundreds of thousands of dol
lars and levees are still giving way.
Washington. The marriage of Mar
garet itlaine, oldest daughter of the
Secretary of State, and Walter Pam
rosch. of New York, will take place
here April 17.
La Grande has ceased to support two
papers. The Journal la no more.
.H. F. Rcininger'e residence In Spring
Hollow, Morrow County, burned to the
ground several nights ago. The loss la
more than $1000.
Mrs. M. E. Slocum. of Morrow fountv,
haa just received about $2000 In back
pension. Her oldest son died in tha
Union Army In 14. and she has had a
hard struggle for some years.
It has been frequently remarked that
some women have an erroneous Impres
sion of their rights to the sidewalks.
TheTiuss of women referred to Is those
who make their calls on the street.
Groups of them stop to talk and discuss
tha latest sensation, mu-h to tha In
convenience of the pedestrians. Some
times two women, each wheeling a baby
carrlace. block the sidewalk so effect
ively that when they stop to exchange
a few words of gossip, olher pedestrians
have to get entirely off the sidewalk to
pass.
L. C. Bhorno, who haa the contract
for building the bridge on North Front
street, has received a large load of
lumber from Independence, Or. The
lumber will be used In the bridge.
Rev. J. R. Thompson, of Vancouver.
Wash., passed through the city last
night on hla way to Olympla, where he
will conduot the funeral services of the
late General Mllroy. Dr. Thompson re
ceived General Mllroy Into the Presby
terian Church about 14 years ago.
Judge Matthew P. Deady and Mrs.
Deady returned Friday night from their
'.rip to the Randwlen Islands. Judge
Deady's health Is much improved.
AIVMHILATIO, WOT RKOIXATIOX
Such- la Recommendation of Corre
spondent aa to Dane "Kvll."
PORTLAND, March 30. (To the Edi
tor.) I was much surprised to read
that certain "social workers" have as
sumed the responsibility of Boarding
young people In our public dancing
halls from evil Influences which may
operate there. I was under tho Im
pression that this dancehall evil whs
done away with two years ago, when.
I remember, a drastic ordinance was
passed, with power of enforcement
given to a regular Inspector. We were
told then that the new law was a com
plete solution of the dancehall prob
lem. Evidently some one was mistaken
at that time or matters have gone from
bad to worse under the very eyes of
the Inspector.
I am enough of an old-fashioned
Methodist to be utterly opposed to
compromise with the devil. For that
reaRon 1 say nil these attempts at reg
ulation of dancehalls will most cer
tainly fall. The true solution lies In
prohibiting them entirely.
Now the social workers have a new
panacea they are calling for "munici
pal dances." Could anything be more
fatuous and shameful than such a sug
gestion? Dancing Itself, where mem
bers of the opposite sex are partners, la
always a dangerous pastime, regardless
of whether It Is done In the home, In
the dancehall or in the gilded palaces
of vice. Every psychologist will tell
you thnt It arouses the evil passions In
mnn. Imnclng Is the first step toward
those "chambers of death" that the
Bible speaks of as the habitation of
sinners.
Regulation of this sinful pleasure
must always fail, even if the dances
are held under municipal auspices. To
be effective there would have to he an
inspector or a solicitous and alert so
cial worker dancing with every couple
on the floor, closely watching every
movement and listening to every word.
Who can know the terrible tempta
tions a pure and Innocent young girl
is subjected to when she Is held In the
close embrace of her dancing partner
Who will undertake to regulate dan
cing In such a way that suggestive
words, debasing conversation or a se
ductive pressure of the arm shall not
be the first small transgression that
leads to the most deadly sins?
Regulation of evil Is futile and
wicked. Complete suppression and an
nihilation Is the only remedy.
ON IS WHO KNOWS.
American Investors Deceived.
PORTLAND. March 30. (To the Kl
Itor.) I wish to call your attention
to the big frauds on Americans by
Vancouver (B. C.I attorneys, or solicit
ors, as they call themselves, who a
year or two ago flouded tha American
cities with letters offering mortgages
for sale paying high Interest rates, and
personally giving their guarantee In
case both principal and Interest is not
paid when due.
ThinKs go on all right In ca.a the
loan is paid on time, according to
agreement, but In case It Is not paid
the solicitor defies the earth and re
fuses to pay, making all sorts of de
nials and bluffs and delays. In the
meantime the lendera are suffering for
their money, and the money usually
haa been obtained from widows and
children or from weak, old men with
little means, who grab at the high In
terest to eke out their existence.
The Washington authorities should
take up this matter with the Dominion
government and show up these rascally
solicitors and make them disgorge
their Ill-gotten gains. Besides, the
costal authorities In both this country
and Canada should bar such creatures
from the use of the malls to stop sucn
traffic.
The public should always look with
suspicion on attorneys guaranteeing
mortgages, for the usual commieeion
of a broker lenaing money ooes not
warrant guaranteeing mortgages. Peo
ple who do It do not Intend to pay In
case the loans are not paid, but the
widows and children who put out their
money always come o grief.
MRS n,KA Hiinwn.
When You
Want Something
The most satisfactory place to
turn for Information la to the ad
vertising columns of The Oregonian.
The advertising la the message of
men and women who believe they
have anticipated your wants.
They believe they can add to your
pleasures by supplying them.
They ask your patronage and
frankly tell you why because they
can be of aervlce to you.
The advertising Is the meeting
place, the great exchange for sup
ply and demand.
It is a profitable habit to read the
advertising In a live dally news
paper like The Oregonian.
t