8
THE MORNING OltEGONIAN. WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1915.
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PORTXANn, WEDNESDAY, 51 A V 19, 1915.
IN A PIT OF THEIR OWX DIGGING.
Necessity compels the Democrats to
consider another revision of the tariff
before the next Presidential election.
They must have money to run the
Government, and the Underwood
tariff, though passed professedly to
raise revenue and for no other pur
pose, falls far short of bringing in
enough. Hence Democratic news
papers report that the Administration
Is considering a "correction" of cer
tain schedules and that sugar will not
ro on the free list next year, as pro
vided by the Underwood law.
Many Democratic statesmen are in
clined to retain the sugar tariff, not
only because the resulting revenue is
eadly needed by the Treasury, but be
cause the votes of Louisiana sugar
planters and Western beet-growers
and sugar-refiners are badly needed
by their party. The difficulty is that
no movement can be made to change
one rate or schedule of the tariff
without opening the way to general
revision. The Underwood law was
passed by a minority party, which
owed its accession to power to divi
sion in the majority. The majority is
now united and has been joined by
hosts of disgusted members of the
minority. If a start were made at re
vision, changes in the direction of pro
tection would be demanded by Demo
crats from the East as well as by
those from the South-and West. They
mlght even combine with the Repub
licans to revise the tariff throughout
on moderate protectionist . lines
against the protests of their horrified
leaders.
Congress cannot reopen the tariff
Question without bringing into promi
nence the utter failure of the Under
wood tariff to produce enough rev
enue, its disastrous effects on busi
ness and the unanimity of Repub
licans and Progressives in favor of
protection. The opposition would thus
be solidified and strengthened, while
the Democracy would be presented as
false to its principles and as adopting
those principles which it has always
vehemently condemned. Its only pos
sible excuse will be that the war has
created the necessity for more rev
enue. That will be the Republicans'
opportunity to prove that Democratic
extravagance Is to blame. They will
have abundant evidence to support
their contention.
THK LATEST BATE DECISION.
By the latest decision on Pacific
Coast and Intermountaln rates the
Interstate Commerce Commission has
only floundered deeper in the mire
it had entered by departing from the
sound principles governing competi
tion between rail and water carriers.
This decision seems to be an
effort to return to the safe rule
that rail rates from the East to
Interior points should approximate
the water rate to the Pacific Coast
terminals plus the rail rate from those
terminals tf the interior destination,
but that which the commission gives
with one hand it takes back with the
other.
The new decision further modifies
that by which the commission divided
the country into fcones from which the
rates to intermountain points were
permitted to exceed the rate to Pacific
Coast terminals by certain per
centages. We will take the Chicago
zone for the purpose of illustration.
The percentage in that case was 7
per cent. Assuming the terminal rate
to be 1. the interior rate might be
$1.07 and mighr"be scaled up in that
ratio all along the line. In order
further to help the railroads and the
interior towns, the commission aban
doned the percentage rule and per
mitted a fixed-addition of 15 cents to
the terminal rate in arriving at the
rate to interior points. Where the
distance rate was less than $1.15, this
lesser rate must apply. Under this
arrangement the interior rate was
higher than the terminal rate no
farther east than Biggs or that vicin
ity. Points east of that town would
have lower rates than would Coast,
terminals andswould enjoy the advan
tage of water competition without
being, on the water. The new deci
sion professes to give coast terminals
the advantage of water competition by
permitting rates to interior points to
exceed rates to the coast by the addi
tion of .75 per cent of the backhaul
rate, but this rule is subject to the
former rule that only 15 cents may
be added to the coast rate in order to
arrive at the Interior rate. The latter
rate would in few cases be actually
higher than the terminal rate.
The commission admits that water
competition should fix the rate to the
interior, yet in the next breath it re
tracts the admission. It permits the
railroads to create a little traffic pre
serve around Spokane and other inter
mountain towns, though in so doing
It discriminates not only against the
coast cities, but against Idaho and
Montana cities and deranges the en
tire system of rates to Salt Lake,
which it has already adopted as rea
sonable. The reason is apparent.
AVhen the commission adopted the
one system and created the Spokane
preserve it departed from the sound
and Just principle of ratemaklng. Its
several modifications of the original
Intermountain rate decision have been
simply attempts to escape the logical
consequences of its original error
without admitting that it erred. Now
that the Panama Canal-has intensified
water competition and has made it a
real danger to the railroads in trans
continental business, the commission
again affirms the principle but lacks
the will or the courage to rescind its
former action and take that principle
as a guide and thereby admit its error.
Fortunately for Portland, the rem
edy Is In its own hands. That is. with
out paying any attention to the com
mission and. its flounderings, to de
velop to. .the, fullest; extent tha water
route to the interior. With modern
tugs, towing strings of barges; with
modern wharves equipped with ma
chinery for quick and economical
loading and discharge of freight; with
paved streets, over which produce can
be hauled by auto trucks to the
wharves, the Columbia River can
carry traffic at rates which railroads
cannot touch. Tho Columbia basin
thus has the greatest Incentive to
cease appealing to this vacillating
Jove at Washington and to put lt
own shoulder to the wheel.
TRAIL, OF THE COPPERHEAD.
The cold tremor that seized the
Portland Journal after the Lusitania
incident so paralyzed its vocal facul
ties that it was not able to say any
thing in the way of condemnation of
cold-blooded savagery except a few
blubbering generalities about the
horrors of war, all because it feared
it might lose a few subscribers of
pro-German sympathies. The lament
able example of its Portland patron
has as usual been emulated by the
cuckoo Pendleton paper, the East Ore
gonian. That delectable sheet has man
aged to find excuses for the atrocious
policy which plans and accomplishes
the death of neutral Americans, trav
eling on the seas in pursuit of their
own business, by emphasizing the
merit of the German contention that
they had been "warned" to keep off a
British ship carrying munitions of
wa r.
The Pendleton paper, in the excess
,of its anti-American zeal, - also as
sumes responsibility for the follbwing:
The statement by the chief officer of the
IJult'llsht indicates thut the American tanker
was torpedoed by a British submarine, not
by a tlerman. It Is now Up to our military
enthusiasts to Insist we tight Jngland, if
they wish to be consistent.
If it was an act of piracy for a German
submarine to torpedo an Knsrllsh ship why
la it not piratical for an Knalish submarine
to torpedo an American boatf
The President of the United States,
in his great note to Germany on the
Lusitania tragedy, makes the delib
erate charge that the Gulflight was
sunk by a German torpedo. Airthe
facts sustain his statement, which has
been denied nowhere but in Pendle
ton. Does the President tell the
truth? Or the Pendleton fabricator?
Some day there will be a new kind
of round-up in Pendleton a copper
head round-up.
DON'T WORRY.
The proposal of sundry gentlemen
from Albina for a new charter to be
voted on In June appears to have
created a degree of excitement at the
City Hall not wholly Justified by the
circumstances. One Commissioner is
reported to have said that he would
not vote to place the measure on the
ballot, "not even If 95 per cent of the
people petitioned for it."
Tut, tut. Is it possible that the
people are not to have what they want
under a system expressly devised to
give them what they want? Open de
fiance of the populace was a favorite
practice of the old days, when they
were not supposed to know what they
wanted.
But now when the eye of every
man-jack in the City Hall is cast in
tho direction of the weathervane,
handily placed where everybody can
see it, it is little less than treason to
stand in with the five per cent against
the ninety-five.
The City Attorney has also been In
vestigating that new charter, and it is
full of Jokers, he says. Being con
vinced that it is not a good thing for
the people to have, hp. too, is help
ing along the plan we will not call It
by so harsh a term as conspiracy
not to let them have it. It looks bad
for the biennial change in city char
ters. The Albina idea is to have the city
divided once more into wards eleven
in all and to have a commission, or
council, of eleven. The principle of
local representation will thus be re
stored. Albina, we believe, has no
member of the piesent commission.
The Oregonian is not sure that its
opinion is highly valued at the City
Hall, but it will nevertheless venture
to suggest to the City Commission
that there is no need to worry about
that charter. If it went on the ballot
it would doubtless be voted down, and
the day would be saved for every last
official incumbent of the present ad
ministration. LAST RESERVES CALLED OCT.
The emergence of General Innuendo,
General Abuse and General Suspicion
from their newspaper headquarters to
take up the fight of the meterites is
not surprising. They are the last re
serves and certainly the case that has
been made against' meters demands
their attention.
The following proclamation from
these warriors comes from the chief
admirer in Portland of their distin
guished ability:
Nothing but a special Inside graft can
account for the violence of the opposition
to meters. Somewhere and in some way
there are bis; water users who have the
best of the water arrangement and are se
cretly fighting to bold their clnca on the
small consumer.
Similar suspicions could be directed
against the chief advocates of meters
with justs as good ground which
means none at all. There came to
The Oregonian today a letter from a
woman who thinks she smells graft in
the proposed water meter purchase
and who names those she suspects to
be the beneficiaries. Similar letters
were offered and declined when the
Issue was first raised.
There is enough to be said on the
meter question without wantonly im
pugning motives, and it is just as well
for correspondents to know that The
Oregonian will keep its columns clean
in this particular, regardless of what
any other newspaper of less self
respect may do. But if anybody has
proof of conspiracy or graft on either
side in the controversy The Oregonian
will be glad to receive it and give It
publicity.
PROGRESS OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
It appears that woman suffrage Is
establishing enviably harmonious re
lations with the various religious
potentates in the Eastern part of the
United States. The Society of Friends
endorsed the movement at Philadel
phia last March. The New Jersey
conference of the Methodist Episco
pal Church has also countenanced the
cause and promised "hearty and ac
tive support to the suffragists." This,
we may say in passing, is character
istic of the Methodist church. It is
always one of the first to take up re
forms and the very last to drop them.
In harmony with its suffrage views
the New Jersey Conference has asked
the Legislature to pass a local opt'sji
bill. For some esoteric reason sij
frage and rum seldom seem to thrive
together. More significant still Is the
action of the East New Tork Confer
ence, which has approved woman suf
frage by a formal resolution. Natu
rally the opponents of votes for wom
en are much disturbed by this phe
nomenon. They feel with good rea
son that whea the churches take up
the cause itjs opponents might as well
quit the field.
The various churches In New York
and Brooklyn have been investigating
the amount of suffrage sentiment
among their members. In one church
on Manhattan Island SO per cent of
the women communicants turned out
to be suffragists. A Brooklyn church
reports that 60 per cent of its women
are of the same mind. This is omi
nous indeed for the antis. who have
always felt that the suppression of
women was In some way decreed by
the Almighty. When the churches
begin to teach that he favors the suf
frage cause we can not Imagine where
they will look for encouragement.
The. Christian Advocate of . New
York believes that votes for women
are sure to come before a great while
and it "congratulates the workers for
suffrage on their recent alliance with
moral and religious endeavors." The
fact is that they have always been so
allied, but it has taken papers like
the Advocate a long time to find it
out. The main point that is now
made against suffrage is the slight
effect women have had on politics in,
the states where they vote, but time
will cure this trouble.
A MAKER OF TROUBLE.
The Oregon Herold, a Portland
pper, printed In the German language,
in its current Issue has an article in
English signed by "An American" dis
played conspicuously on its first page
and supported by other evidences of
endorsement. A few specimen sen
tences are:
The Lusitania was armed with powerful
guns.
The Americans (on the Lusitania) ridi
culed, they laughed, they hooted at the
German threat.
The present policy . of our Administra
tion ... is Billy, Impertinent, abusive
and dangerous.
The American Government sold millions of
dum-dum bullets ... to be used against
Germany. Our Administration and other
Anglo-maniacs had not a word of condemna
tion for such outrageous warfare.
It Is a known fact that there would be
peace now in Europe had not America pro
vided the allies with powder and shot.
Never did hypocrisy and deception. In
trigue and unfairness take firmer roots in
an Administration than in Wilson and
Bryan.
The flag that is now unfurled on our
Capitol Is crimsoned with the German blood
shed by our dum-dums and our bullets and
our cannons and the flagpole Is hypocrisy.
No single assertion of fact In the
foregoing, so far as It concerns the
American Government or the Ameri
can people, can be substantiated. Not
one.
The only purpose of The Oregonian
in reproducing these startling and mis
chievous assaults on the President and
the United States is to notify the read
ers of the Herold that they are en
titled to the truth, and they are not
getting it.
SAINT-SAENS.
The critics say of the venerable
Camille Saint-Saens, now in the
United States for the second time, that
"he is the most accomplished musi
cian since Johann Sebastian Bach."
They mean that he is an incomparable
expert in musical technic. ' Saint
Saens is famous for his compositions,
but his professional brethren admire
more his instrumental adeptness.
Wagner called him "the best reader
of scores he had ever seen." Before
a page of music he is like Gilbert
Murray before a chorus of Euripides.
If it has any meaning he may be trust
ed to find it.
Score reading for an instrument is
something to which ordinary people
do not aspire. Their musical ambi
tions, if they have any, are limited to
reading the notes of a song and even
this modest accomplishment is sel
dom acquired. Music Is taught now
adays in the public schools, but it is
still rather rare to meet a person who
can take up a new melody and sing
the notes without the help of a piano.
Why is music so much harder to learn
than any of the other common bits of
craft?
We are not convinced that it has
any great inherent difficulty. Per
haps children do not begin to learn
the art young enough. Perhaps
there ought to be more of an effort
to commit the absolute tones of the
scale to memory. Perhaps the whole
subject is surrounded with too. much
mystery and pedantry. There is a
world of pleasure in music, but not
one person in twenty has access to it.
THE ALLIES' OFFENSIVE. IN THE WEST.
The latest successes claimed by the
British in France are the result of
operations designed to follow up the
victory gained at Neuve Chapelle two
months ago. At that time the objec
tive Was a ridge two miles east of
Neuve Chapelle, extending from Au
bers on the north to lilies on the
south and continuing thence in a
southwesterly direction west of La
Bassee, held by the Germans, to Given
chy and Cuinchy. The British In March
gained the Pretre mill and the Bois
du Biez, east of Neuve Chapelle, but
the confusion resulting from the speed
of their success in the center and
right and from the delay encountered
on their left compelled them to take
time to reopen their units for renewal
of the assault. That delay enabled the
Germans to rally and to bring up re
inforcements for counter-attacks.
These were thrown back, but the ex
hausted Britons were unable to renew
the offensive and to take the ridge.
The British appear now to be
straightening their lines by driving the
Germans from Rlchebourg and Fes
tubert. which lie a little west of south
from Neuve Chapelle, about two miles
apart. They are now near the base
of the ridge north and west of La
Bassee, which lies in a depression, and
may next direct the attack on the
ridge itself, with a view to capture of
La Bassee. That town is an important
strategic point. Here the highway be
tween Armentieres on the north and
Arras on the south crosses that be
tween Bethune on the west and Lille
on the east, the railroad between the
two latter cities, also the canals of
Aire and La Bassee. From the east
ern face of this ridge the British
would command the railroad junction
of Don and would be within eight
miles of Lille, the most important
manufacturing city of Northeastern
France. '
The French advance north of Arras,
which is about fifteen miles south of
La Basse, has the effect of weaken
ing the German position between
those two points. Were the Germans"
line to be bulged back at these two
points of attack, their forces north
and south of Lens would be in danger
of envelopment and would have to
choose between a desperate fight to
maintain their position and a with
drawal. The Anglo-French offensive comes
at a time when the Austro-German
army seems-to be having a respite in
Galicia after driving the Russians
from the Dunajec and the Carpa
thians to the San River. It may be
come so formidable as to cause a
transfer of German troops from east
to west; in fact that may be one pur
pose, in order to give the Russians an
opportunity to recover from their re
cent reverse. The Anglo-French
forces, continually drawing reinforce
ments across the channel. .may plas1
such a vigorous and continuous offen
sive as to prevent Germany from again
transferring troops to the east. Con
fronted by the entire Austrian and a
full half of the German army, Russia
has hitherto borne more than her
share of the allies' burden. It has
been demonstrated that she cannot
make progress unless more of the
hostile forces are diverted to resist at
tack in other quarters.
To select a name for a marching
club is a problem. The Eugene
Radiators absorbed the best to Indi
cate the booster spirit after the
Rosarians got on the map, the Salem
Cherrians took a name that stood for a
delightful feature of the Capital City,
anybody who sees the Pheasants on
the march will Instinctively .think of
Albany. Now Oregon City wants a
name for its marchers, and, as the
fields of flora, feather, fruit and gen
eral human endeavor have been
picked for the best, the city by the
falls would better drop into the aborig
inal and call Its show company the
Skookum Klatawas. Then watch their
steps.
There is s5me debate whether a
"judicial interpretation" of the United
States Constitution is an amendment
or not. Elihu Root thinks it is. He
said some years ago that the Judges
would amend the Constitution fast
enough to keep up with the needs of
the country. Other authorities insist
that "interpretation" is not amend
ment, but merely the bringing out of
something already there. With a good
Imagination to help one can find al
most anything in the Constitution.
The'reactionaries who propose a re
turn to the ward plan of city govern
ment with a many-headed Council
should remember that, if they had
their way, we could not be, sure who
"was trying to force the. universal water
meter system on us. Now we know
it's Commissioner Daly. That is one
decided advantage of commission gov.
ernment. We can point the finger at
the man who does things and he can
not "pass the buck."
Roland G. Usher, whose prophecies
in his "Pan-Germanism" came true
for the most part, ventures some more
In a new boek, "Pan-Americanism."
His main prediction Is that the United
States is destined to fight whatever
powers are victorious in the big war.
The consolation he offers is that we
may possibly whip them if we don't
shirk the task of preparation.
The six Korean Christians who were
convicted In 1913 of conspiring to kill
the Japanese Governor of Korea have
been pardoned. Investigation has
shown that the plot they were tried
for was wholly imaginary. They com
mitted no crime and should not have
been convicted. Their belated pardon
partially cancels the injustice they
have suffered.
We have never been able to under
stand why it is necessarily disgrace
ful for a college student to earn vaca
tion money by playing baseball. The
occupation is clean, wholes&me and
profitable. Others can follow it with
out odium. Why should it be forbidden
to students? Does it injure their minds
more than work in the harvest field
or a sawmill ?
If the English suffragist leaders had
condemned disturbers as promptly as
the National Woman Suffrage Asso
ciation repudiated the women who
tried to force their way into President
Wilson's presence their cause would
have made more progress.
While those submarines which were
built on the Atlantic Coast for Britain
are not to be' delivered until after the
war, we should not be surprised if
they were to stray across the ocean
while the fighting is still hot.
The tramway men of London ex
hibit a mighty poor quality of patriot
ism in going on strike during the
Nation's trouble. A stiff dose of con
scription is needed over there.
A German has discovered a method
of making yeast without hops and that
will dispense with 2 per cent of the
crop, leaving the remainder useless
when the world goes "dry."
Attention of people of the Middle
West affiliated with heavy frosts is
called to conditions here, where the
good folk shiver in a temperature
around the 50 s.
The Fort Stevens soldiers may have
acted with some irregularity in rush
ing the I. W. W. at Hammond, but
they erred in a good cause.
An officer of the Humane Society
says that if cats are well fed they will
not eat mice. Well, well! To be sure!
But for what are cats?
Even a wealthy man like Vanderbilt
carried large insurance, while the man
whose people would need it often
carries little or none.
When the Germans defeat the Rus
sians, the latter get even by whipping
the Austrians, but that's nothing; any
body can do it.
The world awaits Germany's reply,
and anything of that nature coming
through France needs consideration
before belief.
Longitudinal seats in street cars are
designed to allow the young man to
hitch up his trousers and display his
socks.
Presidents- rise, fall and are assas
sinated in Portugal with the same
rapidity as in Mexi.
These are troublous times for an
Englishman who has a German name
and likes sauerkraut.
The Mayor to the Governor this
noon: "Pass the beans, doctor, and
don't spill "em."
This war has changed the dove of
peace into a more or less amphibious
bird.
The evidence is all in in the Roose
velt libel suit and so must be the jury
men. Kitchener needs 300,000 more, for
he says he wants them, and he knows.
Germany will quit submarining
when the .wax is over,
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of May 19. 1S90.
Thousands yesterday witnessed the
shooting of the rapids by the "Harvest
Queen.'' The perilous run in the Co
lumbia River was made in just four
minutes. Captain James W. Troup was
in charge of the event. All river
."learners available left Portland with
decks crowded for the up-river event
The Oresonlan published a detailed ac
count of the trip with thumb nail
sketches of the navigation feat. The
drawings Illustrating the event which
were reproduced by The Oregonian this
morning were made by Homer C. Dav
enport. The Chicago waiters will no longer
rely upon tips only for their earnings
it is announced in Chicago where a
strike is imminent.
A. H. Lutzens has been appointed
postmaster at Collins (now Lutzens).
Benton County, in tho place of W.
Harrison.
Washington The Post yesterday
morning said of the Washington Sena
tor; "Senator Squires' bill to provide for
a monument of General Grant passed
the Senate yesterday. It was amended
to provide that the cos may be limit
ed to $300,000, which amount Is none
too large to expend in erecting a fit
ting monument to Ulysses S. Grant.
Senator Squires is to be commended for
the part he has taken in the bill which
provides for a, too-lonv neglected
recognition of the dead soldier and the
llnue should lose no time in complet
ing the good work."
New York The Times says: "Jay
Gould interested Wall street a couple
of years asro by electing hia son George
head of the Pacific Mail Steamship
company and then announcing that the
past of the line would be as nothing
compared to the future of the line
under the tutelage of his son. Some
how the fortunes of the company failed
to come, and the stock fell from $60
to $30.- . . . Young George Gould
now appears to them a slightly lees
important personage than when his
father started him 24 months ago. It
was not until yesterday, however, that
the outsiders were able to discern that
the anti-Gould contingent had backed
up its talk with action and it is learned
that George Gould is to be retired
from the presidency and in his place
C. P. Huntington Is to be the com
pany's controller, and Henry Villard is
allied with him."
Huntington represents Central Pa
cific and Villard Northern Pacific, and
harmony and achievement is expected
from the union.
Geo. Francis Train, who left Taconia
not long ago on a record-breaking trip
around the world, arrived in New York
yesterday and in five days will be in
Tacoma again. It is now practically
certain he will have broken all exist
ing records for circling the globe.
A good joke was' played on George
River, Republican candidate for coro
ner, yesterday, when in buying a bou
quet from a newsboy he gave the lad
a half dollar. The boy said he would
scamper away and get change. Mr.
River became tired of -waiting and
went into a store. When he came out
he discovered in due time that the
boy had left several bouquets at his
place of business, making the "change"
In flowers and not in money.
T. J. Gary has refused the nomina
tion on the Union ticket for superin
tendent of schools and the central com
mittee has named W. A. Wetzell In
stead. AUTHORS PROVIDE COINC'IDEXCF.
Two of Sam Surname Publish Poetry
Under Same Title.
NATIONAL MILITARY HOME. Ohio,
May 13. (To the Editor.) A relative
of mine, living in Portland, sends me
a poem, by Ernest Everhart Baker, en
titled "The Outcast." The subject is
the social evil. It was sent in answer
to request and for publication. I once
wrote a poem entitled "The Outcast"
and it is possible that the muse would
say, were she consulted, that both
poems were properly named.-
My poem was a drunkard's solilo
quy on re-entering the town in which
ho was born and reared. The measure
was unusual and the poetic feet were
iambic. I think it was in 1888 that
I sent it to the New Era, a temperance
paper published in Springfield. Ohio,
and It was published therein. The ed
itor sent me a friendly note and a huge
pile of papers containing it. It made
a column and a half of nonpareil. I
will give you some extracts taken at
random:
His lofty form is bent with years, and he
is very pray.
As in hia grief he totters forth, upon the
beaten way.
The laughing-, howling evil one, who haunts
the drunkard's bowl.
Had bliffhted all his youthful years, "and
quenched his brilliant soul.
What if the world a wondrous toy of the
Creator he.
VV.ho smiles alike at human bliss and human
agony?
A vaunt! rebellious spirit, hush! With no
excitement nlph.
In yonder nnclent church I felt the glory
from on hl-rh.
Oh! that the fiend who ruined me had
form of flesh and blood:
And all deformed, by sinful soul. Within my
presence stood!
How I v.-ould curse him to his face, for all
the evil wrought?
And blast lilm wlm a sinple look! What
lolly guilt has brouKhi!
I am a soldier of the Civil War. aged
79. and am a mission worker. Literary
fame has few charms at my age. Life
resembles a motion-picture show. -JOSEPH
MARION BAKER.
A TOAST TO PORTLAND'S ROSE. .
Tell me not in song or story.
And books of old romance.
Of the shamrock green of Ireland,
Nor the fleur-de-lis of France:
Speak not to me of heather which
On Scottish moorside blows.
Don't prate of English violets
I "know" the Portland rose.
Don't tell me of magnolias
That bloom in sunny climes.
Nor fragrant orange blossoms
That speak of wedding chimes:
Don't speak of dainty eidelwelss
From Alpine's chilly snows:
Don't mention Holland's tulip beds
I've seen the Portland rose.
She blooms on Portland's highways;
Our byways know her. too;
She's in the yards and In the parks
At every point of view.
From lowly window boxes
She nods in queenly grace:
You meet her on our busy streets
In every maiden's face.
We crown her queen in June-time,
We make a festal day.
And then we show her at her best
In glorious display.
No tongue nor pen can give her due
In poetry -or prose;
The whole world's come to know her
The beauteous Portland rose.
NELLIE A. WARNICK.
Portland, Or.
Descent of Property.
PORTLAND, May 18. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) Is a brother entitled to a
married sister's share of an estate if
she dies without leaving a will? (2)
Upon the death of said brother, have
heirs any claim to said estate?
SUBSCRIBER.
(1) No. The property would go to
her husband or children or to her
father or mother, first.
(2) Your second question Is not clear.
WJioaa heirs I .
HOW TO REOICE LIFE'S PROBLEMS
Teach Psyrholoar and Metaphysics In
-All Grades of School.
HILLSDALE. Or.. May 17. (To the
Editor.) In an editorial you publiah a
little sermon on sermons, in which you
aay. in effect, "What people want 1 a
sermon that shows pound thought, not
metaphysical speculations." Also, "They
want solid reflection on life's prob
lems." May I venture to sugrsrest that what
people want tn a sermon is not so much
solid reflection on life's problems as a
little more practical metaphysics? Since
the beginning of time we have had
solid reflection on life's problem; we
nave Biayea riftnt aown in me nilust oi
these problems, wrestled with them,
groveled with them and become cov
ered with the mud and mire of them.
What we need Is to get a metaphysical
view of them, to realize tljat it is the
spiritual and uneevn that rule the
spiritual and the aeon. Also we need a
greater knowledge of mind (yes, mor
tal mind, if you will) and how it works.
It has been saici that the greatest study
of mankind Is man. but were it chanRed
to read. "The greatest study of the uni
verse in mind." it would come nearer
the truth.
When we have learned to use our
minds properly our bodies will not give
us so much concern. When we have no
quired the metaphysical attitude, the
ability to look at all things -from the
spiritual side, we shall be able to solve
our problems in much less timo anil in
a more satisfactory way. Nothing seems
more certain to the metaphysician than
that there are two minds to which man
has access 'his own. or mortal mind,
and a higher, or divine mind. Manifest
ly, the two sholild work together, but
the sreat majority are trying: to master
their difficulties through the use of
mortal mind alone, and without even a
thorough knowledge of that.
Let us put psychology and meta
physics into our school currlcull. begin
ning .with the first year and continuing
them through the grades, high school
and college, and life's problems will be
come so reduced that, except for those
who prefer to consider religion some
thing apart from life and to regard it
as a Sunday diversion, we shall have
but little use for sermons of any kind.
People will do their own thinking and
creeds will disappear. OBSERVER.
POSITIONS O.N ' ISSIK IDENTICAL.
They Who Attack The Oregonian As
sail President In Lusitania Case.
PORTLAND, May IS. (To the Edi
tor.) The position of our President on
neutrality and the acts of European
belligerents is cordially supported by
all true Americans without regard to
parties or birthplace, and as the po
sition of The Oregonian is identical
with said policy, it is clear that at
tacks on your position are. In fact, at
tacks on the President. Your support
of our Chief Magistrate has been loyal
and receives the practically unanimous
approval of our people.
It should surprise no one that many
in this country will approve anything
that does not aid their native land, be
cause many here are Just as they would
be if in their home country, except that
they face no danger here and are better
off in every vmy, else why here, unless
as spies?
Without referring to the Lusitania
murders, look to the sinking of the
Gulflisht, in broad daytime, an Amer
ican ship and crew, under the Ameri
can flag, her name and flag plainly In
view over her sides and deck and car
rying no contraband. Yet it was sunk
despite the treaty with Germany of
1828.
America has been fair and Impar
tial to all. It is no fault of ours that
Germany cannot get supplies of us.
But our thanks Is the murder of our
countrymen and women and children,
some of whom were on their way to
nurse and care for German sick and
wounded.
For over 200 years my family have
been native Americans. They cast their
future with these colonies and the
country of their adoption was their
countrv and their property and Mood
were freely given for America. I. there
fore, am an American citizen with mal
ice toward none, unless deserved. 1
want a square deal for all.
NATIVE AMERICAN.
Marriaee Ui-cnae Witnesses
ALBANY. Or.. May 17. (To the Ed
itor.) Kindly state if witnesses are
needed in this state to obtain a mar
riage license when both parties are erf
age. (2) If so. what Is the object In
same? (3) What would couple do when
going to strange county seat to be
married? SUBSCRIBE P..
(1) One witness is needed to swear
that both parties are of aare and that
there are no other legal impedimenta
to their marriage.
(2) Evidently the Legislature's ob
ject In making this requirement was
to prevent illegal "fly-by-night" mar
riages. (3) If they cannot get a witness
they are "out of luck."
Succeeding la Business.
Boston Ttanscript.
Bix "No man ever succeeded in busi
ness who kept watching the clock."
Dix "Oh, I don't know; there's the
train dispatcher."
Measures on Ballot
No. 3.
Whether or not grocery stores shall
be closed on Sundays is the principal
issue in a "Sunday closing" ordinance
which will be on the ballot at the June
election. The measure was patfsed by
the City Council. April 2. 1914, and
was held up by the Invocation by gro
cers of the referendum.
Opponents of the measure said to
be small independent grocers declare
that the measure is unfair occauso It
prohibits only the sale of groceries. It
would permit butcher shops, bakeries,
delicatessen shops, cigar stores, milk
depots, fruit stands, confectioneries and
refreshment parlors and stands to te
maln open. It would permit grocery
stores to remain open to sell anything
except "groceries." The term "gro
ceries" is not defined in the ordinance
as proposed.
Opponents of the measure declare
that it is the product of a fight by or
ganized grocers to embarrass one con
cern which has a number o stores
which remain open nights, Sundays and
holidays.
Following is the text of the ordi
nance as it will be voted upon:
"Section 1. It shall be unlawful to
keep open any shop, store or grocery
for the purpose of labor or traffic on
the first day of the week commonly
called 'Sunday" or, the 'Lord's Day,'
except for works of necessity or char
ity; provided that the above provis
ion shall not apply to theaters or
places of amusement, drugstores, un
dertaking establishments, shoe-shining
stands, livery stables, garage, butchei
shops, bakery and delicatessen shops,
and provided further that meals may
be served on the premises or elsewhere
by caterers, and tobacco, milk, fruit,
confectionery, soft drinks and Ice
cream, newspapers and periodicals, and
medical and surgical appliances and
supplies may be sold In a quiet and
orderly manner.
"Section 2. In works of necessity or
charity shall be Included whatever Is
needful for the good order or health of
a community, and acts for the preser
vation of life and property, but nothing
In this ordinance shall be construed to
permit the sale of groceries, clothing,
sporting goods, boots or shoes, haber
dashery, hardware or dry goods.
"Section S. Any person, firm or corporation-violating
any provisions of
this ordinance 'shall, upon conviction
thereof in the Municipal Court, be pun
ished by a fine not to exceed fifty
C50;. dollar..'.'
Half a Century Ago
From The Orrroman of My in. isc.V
Orln Joynt has purchased one. hair
interest In the stove nn hardware
business of K. Milwxlu and the huj-inri-s
will be conducted as Miiwain & Joynt
at t'5 Front street.
The process that was iss.j, .1 some
time aKo in the nam- of the Ainerlv'atl
people by Lieutenant-Oeneral tirani.
against the felon Jeff 1'avln has ben
served In a proper manner by certain
of Grant's subordinates nnil the most
Infamous criminal the woild has ever
known is now arralxne.1 b.fore that
tribunal w hose in.-ijejjty ho spurned and
whose power he set at defiance. It in
a study both curious and inMrui live to
observe the recoiiipen-c of avenging
Time. A little more than four v.-ars
tu liavis. one of the cabal of S.c.ith
ern traitors, stood upon the floor of the
National Legislature uti e ii n t; winii.1
which every patriot knew in h ihe
emanation of treasonable purpose. Me
wait there confronted hy Andrew John
son of Tennessee. the man whom
neliher blandishments could seduce i,or
bribes alluic. nor threats intimidate.
And as Andrew Johnson heard ili.-o
monstrous utterances which he knew
to be treason or which were of trea
son the very essence he declared be
fore that Junta of shamelessly disloyal
men that had he the power lie would
try them for treason and execute them
as traitors.
That same Inflexible Andrew John
son 's now President of the United
States and that same villainous traitor
Jefferson iavla is pre-Jud?ed criminal
in the hntuls of the power of which
Andrew Johnson Is chief. Justice Is not
now much loimer to he d-prlved of
Its views. Andrew Johnson and Jef
ferson Davis will soon meet aualn
the one now the honored head of tho
greatest nation on earth: the other a
felon whom all execrate and abhor.
Mow different the condition of the
hated traitor from that of the man
who remained true to his country rti
Its evil day. No one needs to ask the
question as to -.-hat will be I he doom
of the prince of traitors. The world
is his accuser: the people of America
arc to Judge him. and the law which
he has so wickedly defied is o pro
claim to all who would hereafter
trample under foot or set themselves
above it. that Its retributive venge
ance, though it may come tardily, will
surely come at last. II. W. S.
The War Department corrects the
erroneous impression of the loss of the
war, by announcing that the number or
lives actually lost since the Rebellion
began was 240.00U to date.
William A. Nixon and Joseph B. Rob
inson, printers on tho staff of the
Victoria Chronicle, were drowned near
Victoria recently. Robinson was a son
of J. B. Robinson, the actor, and a
brother of Sue Robinson, well-known
in- I'ortland.
Miss B. Harvey, lately from Massa
chusetts, is going to supply the ladles
of Portland with patterns of the latest
dresses.
li:t ivatkii isk bk i:mihh.k,ki)
-Neighborhood Jealousr Over Ultra
Pullfnl iihould lie Put Aside.
PORTLAND, May IS. (To the Edi
tor.) t thoroughly agree with Mayor
Aibec on the water meter question,
with the exception that I do not be
lieve that water meters will ever really
be needed in Portland, with the great
ulnindance of water nature lias pro
vided us with. If wo have an Insuffi
cient supply of water at present for
all purposes, let us hy all means use
this money to put In more water mains,
and as time goes on. to continue to
use the surplus earnings of the water
bureau to put In additional mains as
fast as needed, instead of wasting it
on meters.
Why should the people of Portland
be stinted In the amount of water used,
while dust, grime and filth collect and
fill thw air, promoting sickness and
disease, especially tuberculosis, with
dry, barren lawns, while all this great
abundance of water goes to waste?
Would we have I'ortland like the
dusty, dirty, grimy cities of the East
and California hotbeds of tuberculo
sis? A thousand times no! An ounce
of prevention Is worth a pound of
cure. Then let us all have a plenty
of this lod-Klven blessing, pure wa
ter, which conies next to plenty of pure
air.
Too bud, ("ommis.-jionrr Daly could
not corner and meter the clouds, lest
the public pet a few raindrops free.
I would to Hod that some system could
be maintained whereby this clear,
bright, sparkling water could slways
be us free to tho consumers as the
air we breathe. It is just as essential
and conducive to health and longevity.
Let us, as neighbors, broaden out a
bit between the eyei. putting aside
this narrow, petty, greedy, snlflsh
jealousy, ever watching our neighbor,
lest he have a pailful more water thou
we. 'Jli ere is a sufficiency for us all.
Rather let us encouraue out neigh
bor to use plenty of water to cleans'
and purify his premises, thereby beau
tifying Hie city and promoting good
health.
Last but not least, let each and
every one go to the polls in June and
vote dow n and out thin neediest, penny-wlse-and-pound-f
oollth meter policy.
A. SUBSCRIBER.
Ministers to United stales.
DUNDEE, Or.. May 15. (To the Edi
tor.) I'lease tell me tho name and ad
dress of the Minister of Chile to tha
United States. Also of Enuador.
JOHN H. M.
Chile: Senor Don Eduardo Suarez,
Washington, T). C.
Ecuador: Senor Don Gonsalo S. Cor
dova, Washington, D. C.
Mr. tawldy'a Contempt.
Buffalo (N. Y.) Courier.
"Whv did you not help the defendant
in the "fight, if that's the case?" asked
the examining counsel. Mr. CabSidy
looked at the lawyer with contempt.
scorn. "For the r'ason that at the tolm
til ha no means OI Miunins won ii j
thlm would be the defendant."
Brut Form of fiovemment.
Washington (D. C.) Star.
"What arc your ideas of the he?-t
form of government?" "Oh." replied
the restless agitator; "It isn't a ques
tion of what kind of goverYiment we're
after. It's merely getting rid of the
one at present In operation."
That Utile Dill.
Houston (Texas) 1'wL
"Well, how about that little bill?"
"But I told you to call at 4 o'clock,
and It is only 3 now." "1 know it; I
wanted to cstch you In."
Choosing Summer
Furniture
Warm weather suggests home
furnishing fashions of its 'own
lighter. brighter, less expensive
things.
It Is time for willow and wicker,
grass rugs and beautiful cretonnes.
It Is almost a marvel how little
some of these desirable things cost.
Just glance through the adver
titi.ng columns of The Oreaonian
from day to !sy and you will lind
lots of "home hints."
The advertising; tells you where
you can buy to the best advantage.