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PORTLAND, TIM5SDAT, APRIL 8, 1915.
THE KIND OF MAN OR PRESIDENT.
The bright prospects of Republican
success in the Presidential campaign
of 1816 and the importance of the
principles for" -which the Republican
party stands In the present interna
tional crisis have caused candidates
for the nomination to be announced
unusually soon. There is a pienurui
crop of favorite sons in particular
a.aa Irwliiritncr Spuntnr Burton. 61-
Ambassador Herrick and Governor
"Willis, of Ohio; Senator uoran.
T.4aVin- nvBmflp Whitman, of X
York; Senator Sherman, of Illinois;
T.Rmrnnr Hadlev. of Missouri;
Governor Brumbaugh, of Pennsyl
vania; ex-Vice-President Fairbanks,
of Indiana, and Senator Weeks,
Mr. Burton has won golden opin
ions by his fight against pork-Darrei
river and harbor bills and the ship
purchase bill, but he opposes warship
Mn.tnicHnn At a. time when the Na
tion has become awakened to the need
of adequate defense on land ana sea.
The East holds against him his dater-
mlnoH nnnnftlrinn to shiD SUbSldieSL
which is a merit In the eyes of the
Middle West and Pacific Coast.
r. T I nr-y-!r' m onle rAonmmendations
are a respectable record as Governor
of Ohio and his eminent services at
Paris during the first few months of
4h. a
Mr. Willis won glory by redeeming
Ohio from Democratic rule.
Mr Ttorah' outstanding abilities.
his fidelity to his party when sorely
tempted to desert, ana nis sane pro
CTpjKivism eive him strength, both
East and West, his one handicap be
in. that hn comes from a small West
ern state whose vote counts for little
in siriins- a National election.
Mr. Whitman has achieved great
repute as a prosecutor or semi-pou-tical
criminals and has begun well as
nAimnr hut ha has vet to make a
record proving him to be Presidential
timber.
Mr. Sherman's qualification seems
to be his capture of the Senatorshlp
In spite of the Bull Moose secession In
Illinois.
tfi TTndlnv Viaje much the same
qualifications as Mr. Borah, with a
' less degree of ability and National
reputation, but with the addition of
the fact that he comes from a doubt
ful border state.
Mr. Brumbaugh's distinction is jiue
to his victory over Bull Mooseism in
its decline.
Mr. Fairbanks is mentioned prob
ki., tmnaitaa ha. la a norpn nin.1 candi
date and Indiana is a perennially
doubtful state.
Mr. Weeks is recognized as a com
ing leader in the Senate.
These are unusual times in the Re
publican party, In National affairs and
in the affairs of the world. The in
terests of party and, above all, of Na
tion, demand something more in a
candidate than that he shall be one
niuA4 ,-om amoncr A dozen Or SO of
favorite sons by a system of trades
among delegates. They aemana tne
selection of a man who commands the
confidence and respect of all sections
of the country and all elements of the
party and who will stand for a truly
National policy in a world-crisis
wherein the United Stater must take
a foremost place in the councils of
nations.
The time is most propitious for re
union of the party. Three-fourths of
the dissidents have already returned,
and the disposition of an overwhelm
ing majority of the remainder to do
likewise is apparent. Colonel Roose
velt is becoming reconciled with his
former party associates and is credited
with statements indicating his inclina
tion to return to the fold. He believes
the defeat of President Wilson and
Secretary Bryan necessary to save the
interests of the country from compli
cations in which those gentlemen have
Involved it. He would not support
ex-President Taft if the latter were
nominated, but the party has no
thought of nominating Mr. Taft and
the latter does not seek the nomina
tion. Nor does Colonel Roosevelt; he
desires only public condemnation of
Democratic policy, particularly as to
foreign affairs. The Republicans need
only to choose a man who is accept
able to all elements of the party in
order to complete and cement the
reunion.
From the standpoint of National in
terest the emergency requires a man
who can do more than this. It de
mands a man who will end the Mex
ican imbroglio with credit to ourselves,
with safety to our interests and our
citizens, if possible without armed in
tervention. It demands a man who
will end the dispute with Colombia
without apology or indemnity and yet
without leaving any excuse for irrita
tion in that or other Latin American
countries. Above all. it demands a
man who will protect our interests as
affected by the war without involving
V5 in the conflict, and who will at the
opportune time bring the warring na
tions together in a lasting peace.
The Nation needs a man who will
provide amply for its defense without
going to either extreme of militarism
or pacificism, guided by the princi
ple that we seek no quarrel, no terri
torial aggrandizement, but that we
should be amply prepared to defend
with success all that is our own. Our
next President should Inaugurate a
tariff policy which will take the tariff
out of politics and should so direct
party policy that the National pros
perity shall be secure and that no in
terest, great or small, shall be wronged
for political ends.
When such is th? Nation's need, the
mind turns from the favorite sons in
search of a man of broader caliber,
more proved capacity for administra
tion and greater independence of any
interest. Several men may be sug
gested as possessing these qualifica
tions'. Among them is ex-Senator
Root, but age and inclination, if not
other considerations, put him out of
the running. The one most frequently
and most favorably mentioned is Asso
ciate Justice Hughes. He was an in
voluntary candidate in 1908 and was
much discussed as a possible com
promise choice in 1912, but he dis
couraged all such talk. His reasons
were that he did not desire the office
and that no man had ever been taken
from the Supreme bench to be placed
in the White House. These reasons
are not compelling. No man was ever
known 'to decline a nomination for
President of a great party, when it
was formally tendered to him. Thus
one precedent may be cited against
another. As. to the . other reason, it
may be said that a time comes to
break all precedents. ' That time may
be, in the case of Justice Hughes,
when precedent conflicts with duty, to
whose call he has never been deaf.
If the choice should not fall on
Judge Hughes, it should fall on some
man of his type in practically all re
spects. All the portents foretell that,
when the next Presidential term opens,
the United States will tower above all
nations in moral, material and finan
cial strength. The President who fills
that term should tower equally above
all rulers in patriotism, wisdom,
statesmanship and exalted moral
aims. No second-rate man will serve
the Nation's purpose.
TAKING THE HONEST WAY.
Congress at its past two sessions has
not passed a miscellaneous river and
harbor bill, but it has nevertheless
appropriated the total sum of $50,
000.000 for the work 120,000,000 at
the long session and $ 30,000,000 at
the short session. Now the allotments
for the J30.000.000 have been made
by the Secretary of War, and it is
found that due and proper considera
tion has been given to the Colum
bia River and other Northwest proj
ects. So it was with the distribution
of the 120,000,000 last year.
Now what shall be said by anybody
for the malodorous pork-barrel? A
year ago there was an effort by certain
interests, mostly political, to stir up a
panic in Oregon because The Ore
gonian protested against the corrupt
practice of loading down the river and
harbor measure with meretricious
schemes, and declared that the log
rolling method of barter and trade
between pork-hunting Congressmen
must and would break down. The
pork-barrel has gone to the scrap
heap, as it was inevitable it should,
but happily Oregon does not suffer.
Porkbarrelism deserves exposure
and reprobration because it is essen
tially crooked. Besides, it does not
pay. Oregon has what It is entitled to
have without giving to others what
they are not entitled to have.
Tet there are people here who have
feared to take the honest way of get
ting appropriations from Congress, be
cause the old-time practice in Con
gress was different They are against
graft only when they are not in on it.
HYPOCRITES
We are Inclined to agree with al
most evervthinsr said by the corre
spondent who writes today in con
demnation of the moving picture
"Tri.nnorftoD" - hit tha atnrv ha.4 less
to do with attendance of the crowds
than the spectacle of an undrapea
ftmiro- thaf thft nprsoo who
professes primarily to be interested
in the moral of the play is somewnat
of a hypocrite himself, -and that the
n,niliTptlnn 1a atop-an1 ftnlplv for the
commercial advantage of the promot
ers ana not at ait to oeueni. mauiw.
In truth "Hypocrites" has no dis
tinct moral. Rather it depicts human
nature in an unwholesomely cynical
light. But the correspondent is not
nnitA accurate in the statement that
the nude figure makes it more attrac
tive in the eyes of 89 per cent oi tnose
who see the play.
It is the expectation of seeing
something immodest that draws the
crowds, but alas for them, their ex
noHnna nrA not realized. The at
traction is before, . not during, the
production. The nude figure is so
ethereal, so ghostly, so indistinct, that
it might almost as well be a cloud of
rium fmm the kitchen teakettle.
There is more immodesty in almost
every "girl" show that comes to Port
land than in "Hypocrites." ,
If the correspondent win witness
tha nlav he will perhaps understand
better how it got by the censors.
VICE AND THE PRIZE RING.
Tk fallen fha-rrmion. Jack Johnson.
was gifted by nature with a perfect
body and an empty head. By scien
tpotniTii. f hia wonderful muscles
he made himself the best prize-fighter
in the world, but tne notoriety ne
gained by his triumph unsettled his
feeble mind. Instead of continuing
that course of abstinence and hard
iinini which had led un to nis suc
cess he plunged into the depths of
debauchery. His bestial passions were
let loose in every direction.
- trio i4niniifnnpss wils all the more
shameful because his colored admirers
had been disposed to hold mm up as
o credit to their race. His vile pur
suit of white girls finally brought the
law down upon his head and he was
hi;rorl to flee the country, in Eu
rope, where he sought refuge, he wal
lowed in still more abominable orgies
and became the scandal of the "sport
ing world." The -consequences of this
cru nf ronduct are now apparent.
The advantages which he gained by
temperance and hard worn ne nas tost
by debased Indulgence.
Whatever we may think or tne prize
ring, there is one thing in its favor.
a an co nnnt hnn for success there
unless he lives a temperate and regu
lar life. Physical and moral laxity
show their effects immediately in ai
minished efficiency in the ring. They
destroy a man's fighting power just as
they destroy a man's working power.
minence of every kind is rjasea on
sound morals. Let a man once relax
his moral conduct and his powers of
mind and body quickly lose tneir nne
edge. He may drone along tor years
doing "pretty well." but he can never
hope to be first in anything as long as
he is not complete master or nis pas
sions.
Jack Johnson never was. or course,
anything but" an animal, but he was a
ne specimen of his Kind, ana ne
ight have held his championship for
ars if he had lived decently. But
-n an animal can destroy his physi
cal fitness by reckless indulgence. For
the prize ring as for business and the
professions the price or success is sen-
control.
n. inenector who found fault with
t. Hnnrl River tr rowers pack
their apples seems Inclined to paint
the lily. The art of packing apples
as Invented at Hood Kiver ana nas
lade the fortune of those who have
applied it. Some growers may have
been careless, but it is naruiy creuime
that the method In common use Is
faulty. One can more easily believe
that the inspector Is whimsical.
THE ALTERNATIVE.
Mr. Seton qualifies for discussion of
the road bond issue by admitting that
he is-about 50 years of age and is in
clined hereafter to look out for him
self and. let the other fellow care for
himself. Because he has paid for his
street Improvements he Is unaDie to
see why he should be called on to
stand part of the tax to build roads in
the county. He is for good roads, etc.,
etc., but he wants the people or the
community directly benefited to pay
for them.
There is no way to get roads except
to build, them and there is no way to
build them except by paying for them.
It is a significant fact that every op
ponent of any plan for roads finds it
necessary to declare that he is tor
roads. The only argument then is as
to how they should be paid for.
Multnomah County has levied a geiK-
eral road tax for many years. Other
counties regularly raise money by a
general road tax, and road districts
besides are empowered to levy special
taxes. The plan of building roads by
assessment against adjoining prop
erty has not been adopted in Oregon,
and there are sound practical reasons
why it should not ' be tried now. A
sufficient reason is that it Is a very
poor way, for little or nothing can be
done under it against the objections of
the property owners.
, Multnomah County does . not now
propose to build paved roads for the
benefit of the particular farmers along
the roads, but for the benefit of the
whole public. It is proposed to pay
for them by a SI, 250, 000 bona issue.
If the bonds are defeated, it is impera
tive that the work be done under a
general road tax, and doubtless it will
be done. "
The question to be decided is purely
one of method. Taxpayers like Mr.
Seton will save nothing in taxes by
voting down the bonds. They will, on
the other hand, merely perpetuate
the present expensive and wasteful
system of maintenance for which the
county pays and must continue to pay,
unless better roads are built. On the
other hand, a system ' of well-built
roads Is of direct advantage to all. The
true economy is to do it now, and do
it well.
Does our friend Seton want no road
tax at all? That is the only way to
meet his criticism. If that is the al
ternative, there will be no new roads
and no maintenance of old roads.
Then we shall revert te backwoodism.
TWO VIEWS OF ITALY'S CASE.
CnnflirffHir views of the justice
of Italy's clairr to the Austrian terri
tory known as unredeemed Italy , are
taken by Professor GeorgeB. McCIel-
lan. of Princeton, in tne new iora
Times and by Professor Guglielmo
Ferrero in the Atlantic Monthly. A
comparison of them will aid the for
mation of an opinion as to the reasons
of Italy's hesitation and as to whether
full recognition of her claim would
prevent future disputes about racial
lines of territorial division.
Professor McClellan says that the
TtaHan-snpakincr rjart of Trentino ex
tends only thirty-five miles north from
the boundary and includes the City or
Trent, about two-thirds of whose in
habitants speak Italian and one-third
German. The remaining sixty-one
miles of the province, he says, are in
habited by German-speaking Teutons.
Of the provinces bordering on the
Adriatic Professor McClellan says:
The Austrian crown land of Gorz and
Gradlsca lies between Italian Friull and
Trieste. Of lta Inhabitants two-thirds are
Italian-speaking Italians; the rest are German-speaking
Slavs, while of the 135,000
Inhabitants of Trieste three-fourths speak
Italian the rest German. Of the 350,000
Inhabitants of Istrla about three-fourths are
Slavs, the rest Italians, while of the Inhabi
tants of Croatia and Balmatla, including the
Islands, only about 3 per cent are Italians.
It is inconceivable, says Professor
McClellan that the Germans of Tren
tino will become loyal Italians, while
the Slavs have "absolutely nothing in
common with Italy" and "those who
are disloyal to Vienna or Budapest
look to Petrograd for inspiration and
certainly not to Rome." He adds:-
In gratifying Irredentist hopes Italy would
assume not only a language question, but
also a race question and a national ques
tion. The strength of modern Italy has
been her national unity.
wo rfnnhta whether. If Italy should
join the allies and if they should win,
Britain and France wouia consent to
make the Adriatic Sea an Italian lake
uitv. cnntrnl of a Quarter of the Medi
terranean, while they made the Black
Sea a Russian lake and gave Kussia
control over another quarter of the
lUoriiterranean. Nor would Austria
and Hungary consent to become inland
states or Germany consent to De ue
prived of any outlet by sea to the east
"as long as they have armies in the
field."
The Irredentists, according to the
nn.fBnr include not only the Nation
alists,, who belong to almost all the
regular parties, but tne vast majority
of the four revolutionary proletarian
mrius "Onnosed to war." he says.
"are almost all the members of the
Industrial middle class in the north,
the aristocracy and the church."
Prnfessnr Ferrero Quotes in support
of Irredentist claims an article written
by Mazzini in 1866, showing that the
Julian Alps, which form the eastern
boundary of Istria, the Carnic Alps,
forming the northern boundary of
Venetia, the Istrian littoral and Tren
tino are a necessary part of Italy.
Mazzini called Istria "the bridge be
tween the Italians and the Hungarians
and Slavs." Trentino "a wedge driven
between Lombardy and Venetia" and
its 100,000 Teuton inhabitants easy to
Italianize. He held the acquisition of
this frontier necessary to prevent Italy
from sinking to a power of the third
rank, to diminution of her army,
to her financial credit, Internal de
velopment and internal peace. Pro
fessor Ferrero endorses these opinions
and adds other reasons for enlarging
Italy's borders. He points out that
the eastern shore of the Adriatic,
which belongs to Austria, is rich in
harbors, while the western shore is
smooth, without harbors; hence Aus,
ino hue formidable naval bases, while
Italy is almost without' armament on
the Adriatic. He also says mat tne
cities of Istria have been Italian for
nvhiia the rural districts are
inhabited by Slavs. Until thirty years
aeo the Slavs were Italian in language.
spirit and culture, but during that
period Austria has been reviving
Slavic national sentiment ana ouuuiug
siov bourgeoisie in the cities.
Hence he predicts that if Austria re
tains the province and continues this
policy, the cities of Istria, including
Trieste, will become Slavic and "every
memory of Italy will fade from those
lands."
He goes on to explain why Italy is
not united for war. As a condition of
the -triple alliance Italy in 1882 re
nounced claim to the unredeemed
provinces and every government since
that date has systematically proscribed
Irredentism and turnea national eu-
mifn frnm Austria to France, yet se
cretly kept alive the struggle by the
Italians of Istria against the Slavs.
The consequence is that the masses
are not awake to the importance of
the subject, and have turned their
minds to Socialism and other matters
tti short " Profpssor Ferrero says
"when tho war broke out. theiower
classes had but a vague idea of Trent
and Trieste and no idea at all of the
Artr-iatin onpstion " . Hence. Trent and
Trieste are not the Alsace-Lorraine of
Italy.
Whon war hroke out. Italy was
awakened from a delusion, according
to Professor Ferrero, that the triple
alliance existed to preserve peace, con
sidered herself betrayed and gave vent
to wrath against her allies. "This
Tiihiif wrath." he savs. "has leveled
to earth at one blow the whole fragile
edifice of the foreign- policy or tne
Italian government. "The nation could
not h -forced to aid the two empires.
but "neutrality could be only a tem
porary expedient. ir Austria ana
Germany conquer," he continues,
"Austria will annex Serbia and be
come the ruler of the Adriatic." Italy
would then become "a dependent
state of the neighboring empire,"
with "nn hnnn of aid from France,
England and Russia, conquered and
enfeebled." If the two empires are
"conquered and Austria Is mutilated
without tha nrnblem of the Ir
redentist lands being solved, the
war which we - have avoided toaay
we shall have to fight in a few years
under worse conditions." But it is not
easy in a few months to invent a cause
for war against Austria, with which
Italy has been allied for thirty-two
vurs or in a few months "to prepare
the mind of the multitude for a test as
serious."
Nevertheless Professor Ferrero be
lieves that eventually Italy "will come
into the war against Austria." The
reason he gives is that "if Austria
were conquered and mutilated, all
Italy would understand at last that all
the foreign policy fostered by Italy
since 1882 has been an unbroken suc
cession of fatal mistakes. "The ex
trnmA onnositinn would profit by the
discovery; the dynasty is, and would
be held, responsible; its prestige ana
that of the ruling parties are rapidly
Jaiilinlni. " onii "it la PVPT1 TJOSSible that
the monarchy's last hour would
strike." He says that a perhaps more
serious mistake than Italy's original
orihai-onna to the trirjle alliance was
the failure to recognize that "since
1905 the triple alliance had cnangea
nttio hv little into a leaeue of aggres
sion." Consequently "Italy has allowed
herself to be taken by surprise and has
found public opinion Inclined toward
the powers whose enemy she, ought to
be," while the government does not
"understand that neutrality is a kind
of national suicide.
SAni-Atnrv nanlpla evidently desires
an -adviser in the Navy Department
who will counsel him to do tnat wmcn
he wishes to do. That is the most
riionsihlB exDlanation of Admiral
Fiske's resignation as his senior mili
tary adviser. The Admiral informed the
House committee that the Navy was
riofiHcnt in aircraft, mines, scout
cruisers, destroyers, submarines and
trained officers and men and naa no
moda rAnoro-mnndatlons in accord with
the opinions of Admiral Fiske, but the
Secretary made no recommenaations
as to mines or cruisers and proposed
omniMr pTnpnrUtures for all- the
other purposes named. The Admiral
told the House committee mat uve
years would be required to putthe
in a atatft of efficiency. That
reflected on the Secretary, whose re
port is full of self-congratulation-on
what a good Navy he has given us,
with an occasional poetic quotation
slipped in.
tv, tr.nnnr fi Azette-Times was
thirty-two years old last week, which
jt it horv to tha rlavs when J.
Watermelon Redington was running it
and giving bonuses in the shape
of drafts on a snowDanit. ah me
rinvoA it wan a landmark of Morrow
County and with consolidation it has
lost none of its characteristics.
The Turks plunged into the war like
hull into a barbed-wire fence.
Tnw it i aaiH. thpv would be glad to
get out again. Very likely they will
not find the terms of peace particu
larly easy. The allies win proDaDiy
til Constantinople has fallen.
That seems to be the price of Russia's
fidelity to their cause.
Th. oiri oavina- that lightning never
strikes twice in the same place is not
true of earthquakes. Tney occur
repeatedly in the same parts of the
.-ih a Mtv that has once been
shaken by an earthquake may expect
sooner or later to be shaken again, as
unhappy Arezzano now Knows oniy
too well.
ir mnvir? nietures win sinners to
righteousness there is no gooa reason
for excluding them rrom cnurcnes.
in othpi- rtavs Puritanism called mu-
oir.ni instruments "Irreverent." The
wtii riouhtless come wnen tne
movies will be an accepted feature of
worship like the pipe organ ana tne
choir. '
The ornamental shrubs which are
inrt fi-aoiv in citv trardens are
beautiful for a week or two and then
commonplace for months. Dwarf fruit
trees are quite as Deautuui ana mey
have the advantage of being useful.
A dwarf pear tree takes no more space
than a rosebush.
Omaha has a primary election to
day, with most of her able-bodied men
running for City Commissioner. Hav
ing served nine years, her Cowboy
. ... . ii,nQ tkA inh and desires to hold
-IVXttJUA i " - -' --
it longer, with fair prospect of getting
his wish.
Jack's wife was present, but did not
spur him to greater endeavor as did
Bob's wife long ago.
The big thing having been pulled
oft, it Is up to the Prinz Eitel to make
some excitement-
After a few more thrills like that of
yesterday, the Cubans will be fit for
assimilation.
The submarines are keeping up
their average of two a day.
Bother the affair at Havana! Wait
until next Tuesday!
Jack has a go left in the United
States Court.
By and by it will be Willard's turn.
At first it was a laughing match.
It was a sad day in Darktown.
"Told you so!"
V
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Orefonlan of April eV 1890. .
The spacious halls and corridors of
the Portland Hotel were thronged for
the first time last night. In response
to the invitations issued to the stock
holders tainspect -the hotel previous
to its being thrown open to the public
on Monday, some six or eight hundred
ladies and gentlemen visited the build
ing last evening. On every hand were
heard expressions of delight and admi
ration. .
Hon. Donald Macleay. president of
the Portland Board of Trade, received
the following dispatch yesterday from
Senator Mitchell: "The bill appropriat
ing $2,863,356 for boat railway at The
Dalles passed the Senate today. The
whole amount is immediately avail
able." Conrad Stark, formerly foreman for
John Clark, has embarked in the har
ness and saddlery.
-
Two timber-claim prospectors report
that snow is eight or nine feet deep on
the summit of the mountains In Tilla
mook County.
- Mrs. S keitshu and Miss Heitshu re
turned Thursday from their trip
abroad.
The engagement of the popular
young merchant, iienry ttaussman. w
Miss Alice Wassermann was announced
curing tne ween.
Yesterday 18 ' deeds, aggregating
$102,630, were filed, making the total
number of deeds filed since the first
of the month 10. Since January i mere
have been filed 1373 deeds, aggregate
ing J3,313,565.06.
The County Clerk has issued mar
riage licenses to Stephen White and
Selina Urquhart, A. Pocock and Eliza
beth Walfram, J. W. Ritter and Emma
Slavin.
Bl'RDE.V GREAT ENOUGH ALREADY
Mi- Srtnn oblecta to Thrust of More
Paving Benefits on His Property.
TWRTi.Avn Anril 6. (To the Edl
tnr I am loth to intrude for I know
you are In possession of the hook, but
your editorial on the proposea nona is
sue entitled "The Helping Hand" got on
my nerves, and hook or no hook, I have
to. break loose.
Vnr hoarilnir. "Thfl HelDlnfiT Hand."
nartlmilarlv toUchmST. . but When yOU
have a family and have for years been
cutting out this ana that Irom tneir ana
vonr own nleasure and daily life for the
purpose of meeting obligation after ob
ligation in the way of payment of
street improvements, and when it was
always held forth to you that all these
payments were benefits to your prop
erty solely, wneiner you cuuiu ocj .
not, and without your consent or sane-
. 4, , u nn a m a n ' nP.rVeS to be
told' now that in Portland it is just for
the Individual to stagger unoer
load by himself because he, solely, is
that passes his property, and in tne
same breath say, you will now have to
pay 94 per cent ot nara-sunace ia-
- a uti-i.ti-Vi nf aoma 70
IIICIII. c " - - --
miles, passing other homes and other
property, because a great ueueui.
about to be bestowed on your property
again Dy inis lmpruvoiuenu
it . ... . .. .. nn fn. Vila AWn ndtllrftl
IIC wuu ioiu " -
ly wonders why blessings should be so
abundantly lorcea upon mm ana wuj
such helping hand should be so con
stantly extended to his property, and
e . i ... 1 ... . H n. naiil tha Whole
lUIlUCli nuj, . . v. i-
of the cost of the street paving in front
of his own property, the land owner
along these vu mues oi roaa uuui ".
be required to pay at least half of the
...... A I n.rnv.imun t in front Of hifl
ITACJIOO u . . ......
property, . even though the other half
would have to be met Dy general county
tax, of which the City of Portland pays
n d . .
I appreciate line roaas ana uu
tney tti o bw" "fn --' "
I fail to see why the streets of Port
land a ya not aouallv beneficial to the
citv and county and why one class
ahmiiri rarrv the wnole expense oi
. . .. .. .. .1 . . . V. n nl.BB nholllH have
BLICBLO 2VUU tll.vju.-.. .......
. 1 ..,.!.-...!.. nroaantpri to thpm free
of charge, and so, though recognizing
tne Deautuui spirit oi ""a
Hand," I will suggest that it be equally
..... ,i .n ail and not ha tha mailed
CAltl.ul..i lvj ... -.
fist to one set demanding the bond and
the annual installment witu uhclcc.,
upon penalty of forfeiture, while to the
UlUCI lb JH dovuh, ' -. '
a countryside with city improvements.
free irom an its xpeiito .ui uuiu-.uo.
I am obligated for one street in the
sum of. $1660, about half of which 1
have paid; between this, taxes, sewers
and the high cost of living, and being
-i . en ...... vo a, ao-n with a KP.lfish
uiUBa lu " J jFa-.o v. .-r.
feeling that I want a crumb now and
then for myself and mine to enjoy while
we are here, not wanting to reiy wouu)
n tha -rawarri of the. bevond. I feel
sure, though you have the hook, it will
remain Idle Detween tne wings ana ju
will not blame me for being jealous
over your promiscuous extension ot
"The Helping Hand."
If Canal Were at Sea L,eveU
BLACK ROCK. Or., April 4. (To the
Editor.) Please settle a dispute, for
us, that we have been discussing for
some time.
if tha Panama Canal was widened to
the, extent of five miles ana aeep
enough for the water of the Pacific
Ocean to flow through, would the Pa
cific Ocean lower any? and would the
Atlantic raise enough to be noticed?
Would it have any effect on the gulf
stream? A suisauKijBi!,K.
The level of neither ocean would
change, but tide gates would be needed.
The trend of the gulf stream is north
east, or away from the Panama Canal
and its point of origin is both north and
east of the CanaL The fact that the
movement of the gulf stream is caused
by the warm water of the tropics slid
ing over the colder and heavier- waters
of the north precludes the idea that
any severance of the continents at Pan
ama would affect it. However, such a
canal as the correspondent mentions
would be so narrow and shallow In
comparison with the gulf stream that it
could not naturally influence the gulf
stream did other conditions not exist.
What Bonds Mean to Taxpayer.
PORTLAND, April 6. (To the Edi
tor.) Please stai-s the probable tax on
each 100 per year in the event of vot
ing the proposed bonded indebtedness
for construction of public highways in
Multnomah County. C. W. WELLS.
For the first four years the increase
in taxes on account of the road bonds
will be 1.8 cents for each $100. There
after it will be 5.5 cents, or an average
of 3.9 cents during the life of the bonds.
This is calculated on the present valu
ation. Both Are Correct.
PORTLAND, April 5. (To the Ed
itor.) Kindly tell me which of the fol
lowing sentences is correct:
"a i-nmmiitAA obtained the applica
tions of Mr. A., Mr. B. ,and of me."
"A committee obtained the applica
tions of Mr. A., Mr. B. and of myself."
, A READER.
Officers In Oregon.
. . . t r-- -i- Anvil 4 ITn (hp IvH i -
tor.) Kindly give the principal officers
or tne state anu iuou i . . . . - - .
oTTOflrnrcim
Write to Secretary of State at Salem
for Oregon Blue Book.
PLAY CHIEFLY FOR HYPOCRITES
Writer Thinks Moral ot Picture Drama
Now Running; Kot lta Attraction.
PORTLAND, April 6 (To the Edi
tor.) A good deal has been written in
the public press, and some expression
of opinion from prominent people baa
been, obtained, regarding "The Hypo
crites," now being shown at the Peo
ples Theater.. The commotion has arisen
from the depiction in one of the scenes
ot a nude woman.
It is claimed that the play exercises
a great moral influence (which It may
or may. not do), and that enormous
crowds have seen it at its production
in other cities (which is undoubtedly
the case). . -
But I venture to think that the prob
lem of the story has less to do with the
attraction of these crowds than the un
usual spectacle of an undraped female
figure. The former may "point the
moral," but the latter undoubtedly
"adorns the tale," and thereby make it
more attractive In the eyes of 4,1 sub
mit) 95 per cent of those who will see
the play.
It is better to be frank in these mat
ters. No doubt there are plenty of
worthy people who. see, or profess to
see, good In everything, but it seems
to me that such subjects as this play
deals with can be discussed to much
better advantage In some more private
way than in the focus of the limelight.
Such private discussion will have more
effect upon a thoughtful boy or girl
than a thousand pictorial representa
tions of the subject, given in the artifi
cial atmosphere ot the theater. And if
such boy or girl be not thoughtful
but we need not inquire further along
these lines. No roue, whether blaae or
only as yet in the "Ingenue" stage of
his career, will be "converted" by such
plays, and there is a grave danger. that
theyounger generation may receive the
lmpressloln which It is Intended to con
vey in a wrong way. A little knowl
edge is a dangerous thing, but the
methods of Imparting knowledge may
Be Infinitely more dangerous.
I wonder how much the idea of "so
clal uplift" entered into the calcula
tions ot the business people who
planned and projected the picture. If
this inquiry were followed up, I dare
say we would find that what was upper
most In their minds was Just how much
the public would stand for, and just
how daring they could be, and, as the
pnrase Is, "get away with it.
And last, but by no means least, as
to the leading scene of the play. We
are told that the nude figure is ao dell
cately treated that no offense can pos
sibly be taken by the most austere
critic. That may well be. But what
about the actress who posed for the
picture? Is it maintained that a worn
an's modesty will not be shocked by
naving to pose in purls natural! bus be
fore a camera, with all the adjuncts of
operators, scene-shifters, stage man
agers, directors, and so forth, for a
background? It is bad enough to know
that women are exploited for commer
cial purposes In such a way, but worse
to tmnk that such commercialism should
be made the text for a sermon on mor
amy, and, worst of all, that vulgar
realism or tnis sort should be publicly
Indorsed by people, presumably of light
and leading, who ought to know better
than to lend their names to a little
cheap advertising. Gilbert and Sulli
van, in planning their famous series of
operas, laid it down as a canon that
no lady in the caste should ever be
asked to wear a costume that she could
not with perfect propriety appear in at
a private masquerade ball. This was
rather an Innovation at the time, but
art was not thereby made less effective.
What are we to say about a play in
which one of the ladies wears no cos
tume at all?
No, sir, let ua cease to be "hypocrites'
ourselves in these matters, and acknowl
edge, once ana for all. that such exhi
bitions are staged for the purpose of
lining tne pockets of their promoters,
and let us, facing that fact, turn a deaf
ear to the frantic appeals of these gen
tlemen to assure us with their tongues
in tneir cneeks that their commercial
enterprises are fraught with the deep
est moral signincance to the public.
C. R. W.
American Navy-Yards and Baaea.
INDEPENDENCE, On. April 4. (To
the Editor.) Kindly tell me the num
ber, locality and the sizes of all tha
naval stations of the United states.
, INQUIRER.
Navy-Yards are located at New York;
Boston; Norfolk. Va.; Portsmouth, N.
H.; Philadelphia; Mare Island, near
San Francisco; Washington, D. C.
Bremerton, Wash., and Charleston. S.
C. There are naval stations at 'Key
West, Fla., and New Orleans; a torpedo
and training station at Newport, R. I.,
training stations at Yerba Buena
Island, CaL, and North Chicago. III.,
and a naval war college at Newport,
R. I. Naval stations have been estab
lished at Tutuilo, Samoa; Island of
Gaum; Guantanamo, Cuba; Honolulu,
H. T.; Cavite and Olongapo, Philippine
Islands. We cannot publish informa
tion as. to sizes.
Choice of EngUah.
PORTLAND. April 6. (To the Edi
tor In The Oregonian I notice you use
the term "whether or no" in an edi
torial entitled "College Women and
Race Suicide." Do you consider this
form better than "whether or not." and
if so, why? HERMAN LOEDING.
The expression "whether or not" is
perfectly correct and in good usage.
Some persons prefer it to -"whether or
no," because, they say, it Is easier to
parse. But "whether or no" is idiomatic
English, and has been freely used by
most great writers. It is rather pre
ferred by those who take pleasure in
English pure and undeflled," but there
is no particular reason why "whether
or not" should be rejected if one wishes
to use it.
When One Haa Meter.
PORTLAND, April S. (To the Edi
tor.) One of the new sprinkling rules,
published in The Oregonian recently,
is: "Water must not be used through
hose without first making written ap
plication for same." Does this rule
apply to those of us who have meters
and have been accustomed to use as
much water as we like, or feel able to
pay for the year round? J. B. M.
X'n rv.n mmiorn havlns- meters do not
have to apply. But they must live up
to the other regulations.
t What la Prune Treet
ANTELOPE. Or.. April 4. (To the
Editor.) Is there any such thing as a
prune tree? MISS AGNES MURPHY.
'Prune" is a general term for any
plum that can be cured without remov
ing the pit. Late dictionaries define
prune tree" as any tree producing
plums suitable for prunes.
Sheep In Waahlna-ton.
daptt i xrn Anril 5. (To the Ed
itor.) Must a person In Washington
fence his farm against neighbors'
sheep? Or can they be compelled to
keep them off your land? H. J. B
There is a law in Washington in
force prohibiting sheep from running
at large any place
Tea.
miRTLAND. ADril S. (To the Edi
tor.) Do you consider the phrase
"etow better pigs" good English?
M. T. L.
It is both good English and good
advice.
Half a Century Ago
Prom the Oregonian cf April 6. ISnS.
The unusually busy time haa arrlvM
when millinera are vexed by a rupb. of
business to their shops.
F. I'attoraon cloaed the flrat term of
his Commercial Academy in this city on
Tuesday evening, after a, very uocm
ful Winter course.
H. P.' Wright. In working about aome
new buildings in course of conatruc
tion on Second street yesterday, nar
rowly escaped a aarloua injury about
the head by wearing a beaver hat. A
plank broke away from above, and,
falling squarely upon the hat, mahel
It considerably over the eyes, and our
doctor says saved him a sore head.
The committee on ways and meana
has finally contracted for the dredging
machine which will be built and put In
good running order by Auguat 1, 1S'.
D. Monnaaten, of the Portland Foundo,
is the contractor.
The Portland and Mllwaukle mac
adamized road wn aoul yesterday at
Sheriff's sale, together with the. Meant
forry boat, etc., for the sum of in.1'0
rash. The buyers were Meaarn. Larl1
St Tllton.
Take Front street in this city any day
lately, for the distance of over half a
mile, reaching from Main to D Rtreet,
and it presents an active hum ot busi
ness. From Robert M. Porter, Peputy Unit
ed States Assessor for the district com
posed of Washington and Yamhill coun
ties, we learn that the long-established
band of horse thieve and robbara In
general, existing in that part of the
state, have at last been ferreted out.
with good prospects of being entirely
"wiped" out.
NO PLEDGE OF MONEY FOR DOCK
Mr. Levi Is Says He Was aflaundersiood
aa to St. Johns Improvement.
ST. JOHNS, April 5. (To the Editor.)
In the splendid report of the merger
meeting there appears one error. The
fault may be mine and not tha report
er's,but It was not Intentionally mine,
and I know It was not Intentionally his.
for one often fails to state exactly the
things he Intends to, and, again, the
hearer sometimes falls to get full and
exact connection of the speaker's
thoughts.
The error is In the following:
At the close of the meeting 1, C. Iwls
announced that the Commissioner of uocks,
of Portland, had promised him that In case
the City of St. Johns voted to become a
part of Portland the city would upond at
least J7M1.00O in Improving the docks and
waterfront of ft. Johns.
In Justice to Senator Mulkey, permit
me to say: Senator Mulkey never prom
ised me that in case we voted to merge
the City of Portland would spent 75().
000 in improving the docks and water
front of St. Johns.
I had quoted from his letter to me in
which he had stated among other
things: "The municipal dock property
at St. Johns would furnish an ideal site
for a large municipal grain elevator."
and then I remarked at least Intended
to that this would ultimately mean an
expenditure of at least $750,000 in im
provements on our waterfront.
The $750,000 was my statement, and
nob Senator Mulkey' s.
D. C. LEWIS.
Decorations for Gallantry.
fJAN FRANCISCO. April . (To the
Editor.) Please tell me what are the
conditions under which one may re
ceive (1) th "Medal of Honor" of the
United States: (3) the "Victoria Cross"
of England; (S) the "Cross of the Le
gion of Honor" of France, and (4) the
Iron Cross" of Germany.
J. T. HIGOINS.
Medals of Honor are awarded to of
ficers or enlisted men for distinguished
bravery or conspicuous gallantry which
has been manifested in action, by con
duct distinguished above others, and
that involved risk of life or d.uty more
than ordinarily hazardous.
Awards of other decorations men
tioned are on essentially the same
basis, except that the Cross of the Le
gion of Honor may be conferred for
merltoroue conduct In civil as well as
military life and has been conferred
on foreigners and In some cases upon
women.
Mlnlnsj Assessment Werh.
DADTr a vn or.. Anril 6. (To tr:
Editor.) Please Inform me as to the
mining laws of Oregon. If a mineral
Is found on a claim Is It required by
the Government that same must be
worked In order to hold it? T. A. 8.
In the calendar year succeeding en
try on a mining claim the entryman
must do $100 worth of development
work and $100 each succeeding year.
until $500 worth of work has been per
formed, when he may have it surveyed
and obtain a patent.
Lnw of Descent.
onDTi.ivn Anril B. (To tha Edi
tor.) What right does the Oregon In w
ti. ,).. .a.-nnn wifa In her husband's
property at lils death when accumu
lated before their marnago ana inri
being no will?
it rienands on whether there are
.miHr.n hv either wife. Tf none the
anrvlvinir wife receives all hl prop
erty. If there are children she receives
a life Interest In one-halt tns estate.
Parent and Children.
TnuTT.A sa Anril 5. (To the Kdl-
. . t.- . j i ,. it in a know In which
states may a father give away his
children against the wishes of the
mother? vu.biai tt6u6n.
ir. an advise nil only as to Ore
gon. in this gtate father and mother.
,h.n both are fit. have equal authority '
and control over their children.
Literature en Canada.
unppST rjRtWE. Or.. April 4. (To
p-.Hitor.l Pleae tell me where I
could get literature on Canada?
writ, to tha sreneral offices of the
Canadian Pacific Railway. Montreal.
Marrying a Widow.
Exchange.
Dver Rownder wishes now that he
hadn't married a widow, nyer wny.
Dyer He can't use any of the old ex
cuses for coming home late.
Otherwise Perfect.
' Buffalo, N. Y., Express,
'la vonr hus hand troubled with In
somnia, Mrs. Nurich?" "No. indeed.
He doesn't sleep very well, but other
wise hla health is perieci
Paint-Up Time
Spring is "palnt-up time" and
"clean-up time"
It means work ahead for the
householder but much satisfaction
when it Is all over.
In their planning, readers of this
newspaper will find the advertising
columns very helpful.
They will guide them to the
stores selling the best paints and
cleansers, and show them how to
save time snd money.
Perhaps there Is a hint here to
the enterprising painter as to the
best season for advertising.
f)