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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 13, 1915)
8 THE MORNING OREGOXIAN. THURSDAY, MAT 13, 1915. PORTLAND. OREGON". Sintered at Portland, Oregon. i'ostotfies as conl-;lass matter. t Subscription Kates Invariably la advance: (By Mall.) pally. Sunday Included, one year f S.00 ljaily, Kunuay included, six mouths ..... Ittjly. riunduy included, three months .. 2-0 Ja.ily. tiunusy incluustl, ons moutli ..... .7o laily, -without Sunday, one year S.oo I-milyV'w ithout Sunday, sis, munthi ...... ii.-o liajly, without Sunday, three montha ... l."5 Jially. withuut Sunday, one month. -W weekly, one year 1-ou fiunday, one year S2.&0 bunday aud Weekly, one year . .0 -T (By Carrier.) , rally, Sunday Included, one year ... .... Vi.OO Xally, Sunday included, one month How to Kcmit Send Postoffice money or-( tier, express order or personal checa on your lo.-al bank, stamps, coin or currency are at renders risk. ulve postoffice address in lull, including county and slate. Postage Rates 12 to 26 paces, 1 cent; 38 to o- pages, J cents; 34 to 48 pases, 3 cents; 0 to bo pages, 4 cents; li to 7ti pages, o cents; -78 to !- paces, t cents. foreign postage, double rates. Kastern Business Office Veree & Conkiin, w . York, Brunswick building; Chicago, fetenger building. San Francisco Office R. J. Bldwell Com pany. 74- Market street. PORTLAND, THURSDAY, MAX f.3, 1915. i t-TKIt'T ACCOUNTABILITY. President Wilson's reply to German ' r aono proclu motion, February 4. "IfTthe commanders of German vessels of war should act upon.. the presumption that , the ' flag of the United States was not being used In good faith, and should destroy on the high seas an American vessel or the lives of American citizens, it would bo difficult for the Government of the United States to view the act in other light than as an indefensible viola tion of neutral rights which, it would be very hard indeed to reconcile with the friendly relations now so happily existing between the two govern ments. "f such deplorable situation should arise, the imperial German govern ment can readily appreciate that the Government of the United States would be constrained to hold the im lorial German government to a strict accountability of such acts of their nit-il authorities, and take any steps it.' -might be necessary to take to safe guard American lives and property and to" secure to American citizens the fiill enjoyment of their acknowledged rights on the high seas." " it ITALY OX THIS BRINK. After halting long between two rinions, Italy seems now to be on th verge of a decision which will tuj-n the scales in favor of the anti Tauton allies. Her hesitation may be asrrlbed to several motives. While sho could not, consistently with the sentiments of her people, aid Ger many and Austria in what she con sidered a war of aggression and could not take the field against her tradi tional friend. Great Britain, she shrank from turning actively against hit former allies. Although national sentiment prompted her to take from Austria the unredeemed provinces, she could not disguise the fact that a war for that purpose would be frank ly "a war of aggression the very kind ofuwar in which she had refused to aid her allies. 'hese scruples of conscience, how vr, probably weighed lightly in the estimation of Italian statesmen against the material interests in the other scale. . Now or never was the time to wifi unredeemed Italy and to become supreme in the Adriatic Sea. If she leu the opportunity slip, Austria might bo? dismcunbered and a great Slav startc, an1 outpost of Russia, might grow up on the east shore of the Adriatic. All the good ports of that eat are on its east coast and their possession is necessary to naval su premacy. If Turkey were dismem bered without her aid, Italy would forfeit her claim to ft share of the Fpoils and all dreams of reviving the glories of Venice and Genoa in the KitNtern Mediterranean would vanish. Jt;vly-r-llke every ambitious country in Europe, hopes to expand. The way westward is blocked by France, both in ISurope and Africa. The only way open iff towards the, east, in Austria and the Balkan peninsula and in Tur key's Asiatic possessions. With Rus sia hammering at the Carpathians and with Britain and Prance ham mering at the Dardanelles, she saw that way about to be closed to her unless she promptly took a hand in their work. While Italy thus hesitated, reports of ', great victories in Galicia came from Vienna and Berlin, and a vigor ous German offensive began in Bel gium. These successes seem to have "been exaggerated purposely to influ ence Italy. Russia admitted a repulse In Western Galicia, but denied the rout reported from Vienna. More recent-dispatches indicate ,that Russia still holds much of the ground she hadrgained in the Carpath.ia.ns, and that. the French and British have be gun a new offensive in the west with some measure of success. But the first Reports of German-Austrian success-may well have set Italy to de liberating on what might happen if the allies she had forsaken were to win after all. Exultant with victory, woutfl'thcy not, after the war, turn upon and despoil the nation they re garded as a faithless ally? Italy might well picture herself alone and friendless between two groups of na tions, one cursing her for desertion, the other cursing her for not aiding them;- the one thirsting for vengeance, the other crushed and bleeding but floating over her sufferings. Thus Italy is being forced into the arms of the anti-Teuton allies by ra cial sentiment, which prompts her to deliver Italians from Austrian rule; "by material interest, which tells her that now is the Time to round out her borders, to render herself secure against the Slavs and to gain a slice of Turkey for herself: and by fear of the consequences of Teuton victory. BUt Italy will not take the decisive step-"1!'! Rhe is assured of her re ward ior aid to the allies.. Casting sen timent aside, she Is driving a good bar gain. As Russia pressed Austria hard er, the price of neutrality offered by Vienna and Berlin was raised and Count von Buelow became more ac tive. His activity has doubtless prompted the allies to make more glittering promises of acquisitions on tha Adriatic and in Asia Minor.. Be fore Italy makes the plunge, she will know, or will think she knows, pre cisely what she is to gain. Oregon is sending an innumerable rmy of caterpillars to Invade Wash ington. They are crossing the Van couver bridge by the million. Their objective is the prune orchards near Vancouver. After devouring these they willpas3 on to now fields. The de fense against them is arsenate of lead. Spray early and often. When the useless willow swamps are cleared the caterpillar pest, which breeds in them, will perhaps disappear. THE PRESIDENT STARTS BIGHT. President Wilson seems to have risen to the occasion in his treatment of the Lusitania massacre. He has called Germany to account for that violation of American rights as well as for the offenses against interna tional law involved in the attacks on the Falaba, Cushing and Gulflight. Germany must atone, both morally and financially, for the wrongs done to American citizens and "must give guarantees for good conduct in the future.. No mere money compensa tion will suffice; no mere expression of regret. Atonement cannot be made in dollars alone for the slaughter of Americans and for the outrage on the American Nation. There must be an admission of wrongdoing and a sol emn pledge that the, offense will not be repeated. The firmness with which the Presi dent has made his demands, judging by the synopsis of his dispatch sent out from Washington, justifies confi dence that he will1 proceed through out with equal steadiness. The occa sion' is not one for soft language, nor Is it one for angry bluster. It is an occasion for plain setting forth ot wrongs done and of redress demanded. The next step will depend on the na ture of the German reply. So long as Germany has not defi nitely refused to give the satisfaction demanded, the people will do well to restrain their natural indignation. Should Germany not grant what the President rightly asks or should she attempt to prolong discussion where a prompt and frank answer is de manded, it will then be time enough to give vent to our feelings and to back up the President with insistence on full reparation. The fact is worthy of note that in this emergency, as in that of Ambassa dor von Bernstorff's charge that we had violated neutrality in shipping war material to the allies, the Presi dent took the matter out of the hands of Secretary of State Bryan and wrote the dispatch himself. No former Sec retary of State has been thus pushed aside when a delicate matter in his department came up for action, but the public will have the more confi dence that the Lusitania affair "will be well handled because it knows that Mr. Wilson, not Mr. Bryan, is at the helm. KNOWLEDGE. An official connected with the de partment of public safety deplores the fact that newspapers have given prominent publicity to several recent attempts at suicide by young women, for the "psychological effect on the impressionable minds of girls who have read with morbid interest the accounts of the attacks on their lives by Ida Bonora. and Helen Carruthers will be responsible for similar fur ther attempts." It is likely enough that the power of suggestion has much to do in causing men and women to do things they ought not to do. A picture, a story, an incident, finds lodgment In the plastic brain of some foolish per son and starts a train of thought which leads too often to action. It Is a familiar axiom in a newspaper of fice that crime comes and goes in waves. One murder is followed by another, one suicide by another, one sensational episode by another of srm, llar or kindred character. The rule does not always hold good; but it fre quently does. But what is to be done about it? Nothing more disastrous to a com munity could happen than suppres sion of the facts of a murder or other crime, so that it would become a pri vate, not a public matter. If the po lice alone were to be concerned, for example. In the circumstances of any criminal event, what enormous power would be given to a few individuals, and what a fool's paradise the public would live in. Nothing can be more salutary than the lessons to be drawn from the penalties known to follow wrongdoing, and nothing can be more useful, even to impressionable minds, than the knowledge of the terrible consequences flowing even from sen sational attempts at suicide. Knowl edge is light, and it would be a dark and horrible world without it Life is in some of its aspects a sad affair. Whatever it is, it is best that all should know, whatever there is to be known about it The evils of suppression by newspapers of the salient events and incidents of a worldly world, in which all live, are far more to be feared than tho penal ties of dissemination. GOOD ROADS POLICY. The road policy advocated by State Master Spence in his address to the Grange assumes the existence of a conflict between the interests of coun ties and localities and the interests of the state at large. No such conflict exists. The only primarily "scenic highway" or "pleasure boulevard" is that part of the Columbia Highway in Multnomah County. The people of this county regard its scenic beauties as a valuable asset which is well worth development. They have con structed it almost entirely at their own expense and have voted, two to one, to pave it entirely at their own expense. It is not by any means purely a scenic highway, however. It is a trunk highway accessible to general as well as pleasure traffic and can be made accessible to the whole com munity by the construction of short, local connecting roads at the expense of the county and the road districts. The extension of this highway east and west of Multnomah County is still more useful for general traffic than the part within that county. The farmer la as free to drive his wagon over it as is the tourist to drive his automobile. Undoubtedly the public roads should be so constructed as to serve traffic within the county which builds them, but they should be so co-ordi nated as to form trunk highways through the state. Champions of good roads have no desire that they be built solely with a view to the convenience of persons who wish to rush at breakneck speed through the state. They should, however, be laid out in such a manner that they will serve the purposes of both local and through traffic. These two uses are not conflicting. Lateral roads can be built into local communities to con nect with the main roads. Modern improvements in vehicles demand also that all trunk highways be paved. We have progressed from the old farm wagon to the twenty-ton auto truck and from the buggy to the passenger automobile. Motor-driven vehicles are no longer mere pleasure toys for the rich; they have become a necessity of business to the farmer as well as to the city man. No great foresight is required to see that they will at no distant day displace horse drawn vehicles. They are already in vading the field of the interurban trolley line. The wear of such ve hicles on unpaved roads is so great that, notwithstanding the heavy ini tial cost, paving is a measure of econ omy. That is the conclusion reached by the voters of .Multnomah County after a thorough canvass of the sub ject, and experience will soon carry the same conviction to the minds of people in other counties. Any state or county "which persists in maintain ing unpaved roads will at no distant day be so far behind the vast major ity of its neighbors as to be branded as mossbacked and shunned by pro gressive people. Mr. Spence has been scared by a bogey. Merely because a series of connecting county roads is named Co lumbia Highway or Pacific Highway and is recommended to tourists under that name, he seems to imagine that it is built or improved for that espe cial use. The truth is that it is built for that only among other uses. By any other name it would be as useful to the farmer as to the tourist; the name does not diminish its usefulness to the farmer. MR. FABRELL, THE OPTIMIST. The message of good cheer which President Farrell, of the United States Steel Corporation, brought to Oregon is eloquent of the rising spirit of op timism prevalent in the; East. His message is based on concrete facts, such as the doubling of steel produc tion since the year opened. No man is better qualified than he to speak of the future of our foreign trade, for he built up his corporation's export trade and his success in that field caused his promotion to the presi dency. Therefore, his predictions that tremendous expansion of trade will follow the war, that American manufacturers will control the world's markets and that the American dollar will become the trade standard of the world are the conclusions of one who knows. It is noteworthy that those whom we term captains of industry and leaders . in finance are usually op timists. Their success is founded on optimism. The late J. P. Morgan was always what is called a bull on the United States, because he believed firmly in the increased production of this country and in its great possibili ties for development. He grew rich largely by capitalizing his faith in the future and by communicating that faith to others. Mr. Farrell has the same spirit and he well knowsjshere- of he speaks, for his finger is on the pulse of the great industry which has been called the barometer of business. Prosperity had begun to revive in this country when the war temporar ily arrested it It had been resting and recuperating like an athlete who has just run an exhausting race, and was in good condition for another race. The way is now clear before it and is pointed out by Mr. Farrell. We must occupy the world's markets and must prepare to hold them after the war ends. When that happy time comes confidence will be fully restored at home, causing revival of domestic trade, and foreign trade will be ex panded by tho demand growing out of reconstruction in the warring coun tries. Then the prediction that the American dollar will become the trade standard of the world may be fulfilled, for transactions will be made in the money of the leading commercial na tion. THE NATIONAL MOTHERS CONGRESS. The National Mothers' Congress, working in close alliance with the Parent - Teachers' . Association, has done a great work in the United States. Its purpose is to improve the condition of children at home and school and to obtain legislation suita ble for that end. The Parent-Teachers' Associations have brought par ents into closer relations with the schools wherever they have been or ganized. They have broken up that unfortunate isolation which caused many schools to lose their interest in the living world. Through the work of the associations parents know a great deal more about the schools than they formerly did, while teachers find the co-operation of outsiders es sentially helpful in their difficult problems. The best teachers everywhere wel come the aid of the Parent-Teachers' Associations, just as progressive public men welcome the co-operation of the Mothers' Congress. Nothing pertain ing to the welfare of children and the family is outside the scope of this or ganization. It is interested in pupils' noonday lunches served at the school houses, in playgrounds, recreation cen ters, pure food legislation and child labor laws. It strives on the one hand to protect young girls from vicious associations and on the other to teach young men the eacredness of parent hood. The rapid growth of these organi zations and others of similar purpose is one of the most encouraging symp toms of our National life. It demon strates the deep interest taken by cit izens in the common welfare and ex emplifies their readiness to make sac rifices to promote the public good. The work of the Mothers' Congress is extraordinarily significant because it begins at the foundation. The child who has a good start in the world is likely to make a useful citizen. Crime, vice and failure arise more commonly from preventable disadvantages in childhood than from all other causes. The Mothers' Congress comes to the rescue of human beings when help counts for more than it ever can in later life, and it doubles the efficiency of good deeds by making them timely. DOES SIBMAKIVE WAR PAY? Sinking of the Lusitania is the greatest success so far scored by Ger many in her submarine war. It shows the gradually Increasing efficiency of the submersibles in speed, radius of action, accuracy of aim and ability to avoid capture. When the campaign began, the vessels attacked were mostly small, local freighters, which were too slow to run away and two unwieldy to maneuver and dodge missiles. The first passenger vessels of considerable speed which were sunk were the African liner Falaba and the steamer Aguila, both on March 2 8. The number of deadly hits scored against ships has averaged about one a day, two or three on one day being followed often by two or three days without a hit, but recently an Increasing number of trawlers has been sunk. These vessels have proved most useful in watching for sub marines, acting as sentinels for patrol ships and as mine-sweepers. Rush orders for trawlers are being rilled and they are launched by scores. The first raids of the submarines were made in the North Sea and English Channel, suggesting that small boats of a limited cruising radius were used. Then the raiders began to appear in the Bristol Chan nel and the Irish. Sea, without having molested the constant stream of transports which crosses the English Channel between England and France. Seemingly the latter is too well guarded by destroyers and torpedo boats to afford any opportunity of success. If the submarines went west ward by this route, they must have dived beneath the frequented waters and emerged again off the Devonian peninsula to round the Land's End and make their raids oft the Scilly Islands and in the Irish Sea. Vessels of a wide radius of action may have gone around the north of Scotland, through the channel between the main land and the Orkneys, and skirted the west coast. The British admiralty reports that from February 18, when the sub marine campaign began, to May 5 Great Britain lost forty-eight merchant vessels of a total net tonnage of 128,806. Of these the loss of forty-two was due to sub- marines, five to cruisers and one to a mine. Addition of the Lusitania, Candidate, Centurion, Truro and Don brings the totals to May 8 inclusive to fifty-three vessels and 145,367 tons net register in fifty days. No figures are available as to number and ton nage of new ships launched in British yards during that period, but we have the comparative figures of losses and new ships for the three months ending March 31. The losses of British merchant ships, including fishing ves sels were forty-eight of 130,358 tons. The new ships numbered 125 of 267, 612 net tons and there are now build ing 471 ships of over 100 tons, which excludes fishing vessels. Their ton nage totalled 1,587,467. British ship yards can produce about 400,000 tons of merchant craft every three months, but a third of this capacity is now taken by warships. With this reduc tion Great Britain can still turn out from two to three new ships for each one destroyed. The Germans have also sunk eight French and three Rus sian ships, either with submarines or mines. In addition, since the submarine campaign began the Germans have sunk twenty-three neutral ships, so far as figures are available. Of these ten were Norwegian, five Swedish, four Dutch, one Greek and three American. It is doubtful whether the amount of supplies which the Ger mans thus prevented from reaching the allies would offset the adverse effects upon their cause of the irrita tion provoked among neutral nations. The damage done by the sinking of one ship would probably be no greater than that done by allied aircraft in destroying a German supply depot, railroad junction, munition factory or airship shed. The sinking of the Lusitania is the climax of what neutral nations con sider a ruthless disregard of their rights. Holding that they could not fare worse if actually at war, they may resolve to regard such acts as acts of war and to meet force with force. It, therefore, becomes Germany to consider whether the injury she in flicts on her enemies is not counter balanced by a far greater injury to herself, in provoking the neutral na tions to make common cause against her with her foes. A laboratory in Paris owns the most powerful and exquisitely constructed electro-magnet in the world. It was designed by P. Weiss, a Swiss profes sor. ' It Is used in the study of the atoms, each of which, by the latest theory, is an electro-magnet surround ed with a ring of electrons. If it takes a milkman nearly a year and a half, according to allega tions in. a local court a few days ago, to alienate the affection of a wife, the Iceman is not in it. The milk might sour and still be good chicken feed, but the ice would melt and put him out of business. The increase in the number of chil dren of school age in Oregon over last year is a trifle above 1 2-3 per cent, the actual figure being 3412. Eliminating twins and triplets, leav ing a child to a family, there is more or less dereliction in a hundred thou sand homes. When the shot and shell are si lenced for a respite now and then in Europe, no doubt the rulers of the in volved countries pause to think of the shattered friendships among mon archs and statesmen as well as of the shattered lives and broken hearts. No doubt the" chauffeur who knocked a horse seventy feet yester day will allege he was going at moderate rate and he may believe it, for the animal was headed in the same direction; but nobody will be lieve him. Ty Cobb has an expressed ambition to be the best batter in the Amer ican League for a period of ten years; but he adds, if there is anything more he would rather do, it would be to beat Lajole's average of .422 in 1901. Judge Hennessy Murphy and other noted empirists will observe" that King George's birthday is due in three weeks and His" Royal Highness asks that the event be celebrated soberly as befits the situation. Having so many warnings to keep calm, not to talk and not to rock the boat, the American people are apt to display an excess of calmness rather than of excitement over the Lusitania massacre. The head of the Weather Bureau of this Nation is due in Portland within a few weeks and aska that nothing be done about it. Just let it rain. A man who has carried a card for a generation says the only way to rid Washington Park zoo of rats is to unionize the inmates. Smokers can burn "only their in dignation on the rear seats of open cars, as the Council tabled the pe titions. Principals Dinwiddle and Stafford rather put one over Superintendent Alderman and the Board. Of course the price of sugar would go op again with the advent of the berry season. Now, then. General Kitchener, this hMay 13. When do things begin to crack? The'Italian hen is bound to be off the nest in a few days. Half a Century Ago From The Oregonian. May 13, 1865. I Strauss, the bird fancier of No. 3 Front street, has justjmported 200 fine singing canaries and some goldfinches. There Is an immense crowd of emi grants, going to Mexico, where we un derstand each is to have given to him a. tract of 1800 acres. The West turns out amazingly in the Mexican land spec ulation and threatens to play out Gwin and the Emperor and also the French gentleman at the Tullleries. It is very probable that Mexico will forget Em peror Max and take kindly to Juarez when Eonecrana arrives with those 2500 Western agriculturists who are for tunately to be provided with "arms of defence." Fortunate thought, that last. Grant is dining, too. with Signor the Mexican Minister who represents Mexi co, but not any Emperor. Enlistment offices are opened everywhere and we insist that the rebel soldiers should have an even show to "emigrate" with the rest. The whole business is being done according to International law, of course it is, but when those 2500 vet erans get to Mexico thereare some chances they will backslide and go to fighting like they are used to. When they commence, international law will be nowhere and so will Maximilian. Beriah Brown, said to be a rebel all the way from Maine, has arrived as a passenger on the Orizaba from San Francisco. It is said he is traveling awhile until the excitement concern ing him in California is somewhat al layed. On his trip he had considera ble to say of his grievances and losses. We certainly don't believe in mob law and have no exception to make in its favor against him, but we incline to the belief that the rioters were fully as peaceable, and legal, so far as a sense of right is concerned, in empty ing his office, as be and his crew were in filling it. We can favor afnd com pliment Beriah to this extent to say that there is in this state a paper fully as disloyal, though not as ably edited, as his was. Billiards again seem to be patronized. Several of our most fashionable saloons have four to seven tables each. PIPELINE, XOT METER, DEEDED "Pet" Water Plan Held Economic and Hysrienle Arsrsigatrdns. PORTLAND, May 11. (To the Edi tor.) If a double pipeline is not suf ficient to meet the demands now be ing made upon it by the water con sumers of Portland, would not the proper and expeditious way to meet the situation be to lay another water pipe? Water meters may and undoubtedly do curtail the use of water, when in stalled, but they will never, in the 'in herent nature of things, be able to supply more water to the City of Fort land than it is now receiving through the present inadequate and greatly overtaxed water system. Water me ters alone will not affect the change. It is absurd to suppose that by adopting any Ingenious device for regulating water rates two water pipes can be made to perform the services of three. It is likewise idle to argue that the demands of a rapidly growing population like that of Portland may be satisfied in the future, as at pres ent, by a system which contemplates a constant narrowing of the limita tions and restrictions placed upon the use of water. . It is wrong to suppose that the ex pense of laying another water pipa may be saved or loner delayed by any possible manner of circumlocution or visionary innovations proffered as a substitute for this Imperative need. All that we may hope or expect to gain through an indorsement of our myopic city fathers' pet "meter ordinance" j)t the forthcoming June election will be a brief postponement at a costly and profligate waste of money. To be more specific, if we ratify their action we will bo obliged to pay for the original cost of purchasing the water meters amounting itself to an expense of sev eral hundred thousand dollars, the cost of installing and connecting them, plus the salaries of numerous inspectors to tabulate and record the amount of wa ter consumed by each resident of the City of Portland. And for what purpose will all this expense be Incurred? Merely to dis card and relegate, these amusing play things to the rubbish heap when a third water pipe, costing littlo more than the expense of installing meters, is, as it eventually must be, laid, and the city again supplied with an over abundance of clear, wholesome water. The expense, however, is not the only question to be considered, In con nection with this matter. It may also be regarded in another light. We do not want to restrict the use of water; on the contrary, it should be our policy to maintain and encourage a liberal consumption of it. A plentiful supply sprinkled upon our lawns will continue to make our yards and gardens match less for their freshness and beauty. In this way the fame of Portland, the Rose City, as a community of beautiful homes will endure for time to come. The loyalty and devotion of the resi dents of this city to the care and attention of their lawns in the past has been and is now ono of our great-' est advertising mediums. Every year we spend over $100,000 in staging a Rose Festival, the object and purpose of which is to tell the world that Port land is a flower paradise upon the Pacific Coast. Much time and a great deal of money is spent in asserting that our city is the garden spot of the world. Can this condition, if true, be prolonged without an abundance of water? Certainly not. Beautiful yards and gardens should not be merely the heritage of the rich, but the privilege and common preroga tive of the poor. This cannot be so if water is to be measured out and paid for by the ounce. Again, the plentiful consumption of water makes better sanitary conditions possible, produces good health and is conducive to longevity. Each year the melting snows fill to overflowing the basin of Bull Run River with an Inexhaustible supply of sparkling, clear water. A natural gravity system conducts It to the city. The only expense we are or can be put to in obtaining water . is the cost of laying water pipes. As a substitute for the plan adopted by the' Commissioners, but not in any sense to be considered as a propagan dist of a new idea. I would suggest that we levy a tax to defray the ex pense of laying a third pipeline and doing away with the charge system altogether. In adopting this method, I believe the exigency which has occa sioned the meter ordinance will have been met and the problem disposed to the greatest advantage of the citizens of Portland. In conclusion, let me reiterate I op pose the meter ordinance and approve the opposition of The Oregonian to this thoughtless and ill-considered measure, and I sincerely hope the peo ple will repudiate it at the June elec tion. WALTER H. KORELL Bank Clearings In 113. LEBANON'. Or, May 11. (To the Ed itor.) Please give me the Portland bank clearings for Friday. October 4, 1912, also the weekly clearings that ap peared in Saturday's paper of October 5, 1912. D. A. REEVES. October 4, 1912. 2,1 61.396 : week end ing October 5, 1912. . $12,639.1 47. A ew Vnderatandlnsr. CORNELIUS, Or., May 10. (To the Editor.) Please tell me if -the income tax can properly be called capital pun ishment? EDGAR x W. WINANS. AMERICAN VIEW IS ALL WHO SIC So Smym Father Gnor; la Justifying thc Luaitaala Tragedy PORTLAND, May 11. (To the Edi tor.) Your first editorial article in The Oregonian Tuesday is warlike and unfair to Germany. We do not want any war, and so likewise Ger many wants no war. She never wanted to have a war and least of all this one. Oermany cannot be blamed for the destruction of American lives on the Lusitania. They went on their own risk. They were warned. They hooted and jeered at Germany. Germany did not do an untoward act against our Government. Germany is most friend ly towards the United States and the American people. I was tzx Germany during this war, with some other 130. 000 Americans. We all would feel it an unwarranted indictment against Germany, if we were to insinuate that Germany was unfriendly or dis courteous to any of us; on the con trary, it, with a childlike fondness, craved American sympathy and friend ship. It is therefore preposterous for an influential paper to advocate hostil ity to this powerful and friendly peo ple who must fight for their existence. When Americans sail on English merchantmen with much contraband and arms, they take their safety into their own hands and Germany's blow is not directed against us, but Is an act of self-defence, justified by the eternal law of self preservation. Ger many warned them alL A great na tion cannot allow itself to become the butt and Jeer of its bitterest enemy. Germany has a right to use any and all means that are fair for the suc cessful issue of this struggle. England has the same. There Is now a new mode of warfare that is due to human progress. Air raids are new too. Airships give no warning of their ap proach; that would be fatal to them. So it is also with a submarine. If the fact of the presence of Americans on British ships would render them im. mnue from Germany's attacks, we may be sure that English money would entice American adventurers and pro Britishers to enlist in the English navy, and thus, if Germany would sink a British ship and an American perish, it would be a blow at our honor and Nation. This appears to be the argu ment of The Oregonian. Such faulty reasoning and glaring absurdity should hardly be permissible to an influential and widely read paper. I know the American temperament as well as The Oregonian, and 1 venture to say that the American people would lack the cool and thorough delibera tion that -the Germans show in their dealing with us. The German people from the lowest to the highest are stirred to the deepest depth to which a people could be aroused. They are intensely hurt at the fact that we, a peaceful and neutral Nation, are sell ing dumdums, rifles, cannons and all manner of war material to their enemies. German women and children are made widows and orphans by American mercenary and venal habits. These wounds will remain in the coming generation and they will not forget that the American bullets have made them orphans. The German is a patient and long suffering people. Germany assures ua that her submarine warfare will stop as soon as we treat her on a par with England. "W'e must but demand our rights to trade with the civil popula tion of Germany in foodstuff. England violates law in this point and we are too subservient to her wishes and somewhat too stiff with Germany. There will be other occurrences like the Lusitania. and Germany's hitter feeling will increase if we prolong; this war by our exportation of Runs and powder. There would be peace now in Europe, had we put an embargo on all ammunition. Every civilized country has done so. we only excepted. Should we rather adhere to technicality than to the great and eternal law "To do unto others as we would have them do unto us"? We call the Europeans barbarians because of the war. but hjstory will call ua worse "hypocrites" pretending peace. yet furnish the means for prolonged slaughter. It is every man's duty to exert himself for peace. These are words of His Holiness the Pope. I kindly ask you to print this In justification of the truth and for the sake of kecpinsr the peace. FATHER GREGORY". It is well enough, no doubt, to ap prise the American public of the anti American view of the Lusitania horror and the German justification therefor. For that reason. Father Gregory's letter is printed. The Oresonian is quite unable on that account to modify its previous expressions or alter its pres ent views. It has small respect for and less patience with the reiterated argu ment that the Americans on the Lusi tania were warned away from the war zone, and that they have properly forfeited their lives. The murderer's warning to his victim, or to any in nocent bystander, that he will slay them on sight if they cross his path does not humanize or legalize the deed. Nor is it at all true that America is the only neutral power selling muni tions of war to any of the belligerents. Interstate Bridge Chronology. VANCOUVER, Wash., May 11. (To the Editor.) Will you kindly give me an outline of the development of the interstate bridge between Vancouver and Portland up to the present date, giving important dates and jurisdiction concerning it? ROSE SHOPP. February, 1913 Legislatures of Ore gon and Washington passed enabling acts to aid counties in constructing in terstate bridges. November 4, 1913 By a vote of 19,791 to 6012 Multnomah County voted $1, 250,000 bond Issue for Interstate bridge connecting with Clarke County, Wash ington. November 29, 1913 Interstate Bridge Commission, consisting of Boards of County Commissioners of Multnomah and Clarke counties, and Governor of Oregon, met in Courthouse at Portland and effected an organization. December 29, 1913 Waddell & Har rington chosen as engineers to super vise construction of bridge. July 15, 1914 Supreme Court of Ore gon upholds, validity of Multnomah County bond issue. August 13. 1913 Clarke County ap proved $500,000 interstate bridge bond issue by a vote of 6233 to 7S6. November 12. 1914 Multnomah Coun ty's bonds ordered issued. February 23, 1915 Bids for construc tion of bridge are opened. February 28, 1915 Contracts for con struction of bridge awarded in sections to several contractors after the bida had been examined and reported on by the advisory engineers. March 6, 1915 Construction work la begun. April 27, 1915 First pile driven at south side of Oregon Slough. From An Ex-PraKresshr. PORTLAND. May 12. (To the Ed itor.) It is quite apparent now that Colonel Roosevelt baa given up all no tion of going to Europe this Summer, but that if circumstances compel him to go he would be sure to steer clear of Germany and Austria. On his return from Africa they heaped honors on him. but Just now the temptation was more than he rould resist. llliam Howard Taft. ir his speech last night, talked with the poise and dignity of a true statesman. Our two ex-Presidents have spoken. LEVI W. MYERS. Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oreconlan, May 13, iSft". Washington Senator Dolph. of Ore gon, is the only member of the North west delegation who is not in favor of free coinage of silver and he will make a speech against the inflation idea. He says be is in favor of the enhance ment of silver and bringing its value to that of gold. San. Francisco United States Circuit Judge Sabln of Nevada, who has beta ill with inflammatory rheumatism for some time, died here yesterday morn ing. Work was begun yesterday on tha foundation of the West section ot the Marquam block. The stone fur the upper structure la being cut and a kiln of 300.000 brick Is being burned. President Adams and Vice-President Holcomb, of the Union Pacific, who are expected here today, will not arrive before Thursday or Friday we are ad vised. General' Manager C J. Smith will go up the road to meet them. Miss Maude Adams, who plays Jesse with the E. H. Sothern company at the Marquam will ie remembered as the bright, intelligent child actress who played at the New Market theater 10 years ago. She has developed into a comely woman and givca evidence of high histrionic ability. R. W. Mitchell and James Mcl. Wood returned yesterday from Tacoma, Olym pia and Grays Harbor points. There gentlemen in conjunction with a syndi cate made several fine Investments in the Olympia and Aberdeen sections while on the trip. John T. Sherlock, a son of Mrs. Will iam Sherlock, who was well known in this city, met his death by drowning in the Columbia shortly after 9 o'clock Sunday evening. He was riding on tbo schooner Louise Olson from Tillamook, where he had been on business, when, while standing on the starboard side amidships, the boom swung gently around and toppled him into the water. He made a frantic grab for tiie canvas to catch himself, but the hold didn't take and he was lost. His body has not yet been recovered. The executive board of the Builders' Exchange has rejected tho offer of peace of the strikers and the Portland labor trouble is not at an end yet- The Builders' Exchange haa taken the atti tude now that the strike will Just have to wear itaWf out. Baker City Hon. D. P. Thompson. Republican nominee for Governor, ac companied by Lydell Baker arrived here yesterday. They will address the citi zens of this place today on political issues. Independence A contract was let to day to J. C McCoy, of Salem, for the building of the motor lino between this place and Monmouth, Or. PRKSIOKNT'S SPEECH IS I.AlIKI J. T. Ford Sara Wilson's Maeerlty of Purpose Reminds of Lincoln's. DALLAS, Or., May 11 To the Edi tor.) President Wilson's address be fore a largo assemblage of naturalized American citizens in l'htlkdelphia the other day was a masterly presentation of the ideals of citizenship tinder a re publican form of government. The speech. It Is true, consists largely of altruisms, so did Lincoln's Gettysburg address, but. I am persuaded, the Presi dent voiced the sentiment of every loyal American when he said: "The examplo of America must be a special example. The example' of America must be tho example nut merely of peace because it will not fight, but of peace because peace is the healing and elevating In fluence of the world, and strife is not." America does not want war with any nation, not because it will not light, hut because "peace is the healing and ele vating Influence of the world, and strife la not." A time may come, and often does come. In the life of a nation when war is the only alternative for a people short of national dishonor. But have we reached that crucial point in the present crisis? Certainly not, but such a contingency may yet arise, and when it does American manhood and patriot ism will know how to meet it. In many ways President Wilson re minds me of the great Lincoln. He possesses a samilar lucidity of thought, slmplticty of speech, and seems to hare the same love for humanity, a generous and tender sympathy for all struggling peoples and a living thirst for lofty ideals. He does not possess, however, Lincoln's bright sense of humor, nor the keenness of wit which made "the great emancipator" the American people's most ideally beloved public servant. J. T. FORD. RIGHT WORDS I" Rlt, If T PI.ACK The Orra-oalaa'a Attitude on President's Duty Now M Indorsed. PORTLAND. May 12. (To the Edi tor.) Your leading editorials in The Oregonian yesterday and today on the President's duty in the present crisis are the right words In the right place at the right time. Your stand in this is in line with the highest and best traditions of The Oregonian and will aid in its future greatness and renown. Pardon these remarks from an ob scure spectator on the back seat who likes to observe, think and sometimes feel deeply about affairs. Then, I like to clap; hence this letter to you. Does not Theodore Roosevelt speak out now like our ideal President? Is it not a pity he tried to wreck the He publican party in 1912? Can we rally around him and take him back to us? ' . J. C. ROSS. Don't Be a Duck. From Islie's. Sens-e! "Advertising prepares the way and the salesman follows it up!" Tills is the opinion of one of the most ex perienced, cultured and enlightened business managers in the country, Ar thur Williams, of the New 'York Edi son Company. At a recent luncheon he said: "In my opinion every business house should set aside a certain per centage of its inoome for advertising expenditures," and he added that flic advertiser was like the chicken which cackles over every egg, while the du'-k lays an egg and goes away without saying anything. Don't be a duck. Film Company's Add res. ONTARIO. Or., May 10. (To the Edi tor.) I'leaae give me the address of the American Film Manufacturing Company. MRS. L. A. WALKER. K227-35 Broadway. Chicago. Don't Take An Advertising Flyer Advertising is not a gamble it's a sane business weapon. A business should no more take a "flyer" at advertising than it should at good storekceping. Advertising is a problem to be studied. Once the right plan is found It should be kept up in season and out. This newspaper will gladly advise w ith business men who are trying to solve the advertising problem.