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THE 3IOUXIXG OKEGOMAX. TUESDAY, MAY 25. 1913.
rORTIANO, ORKI.O.V.
fntered at Portland. Oregon, Postoffice
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PORTLAND, TIESOAV, MAY
1913.
WHAT GKKMANY MAY SAY.
Open exultation over the sinking ol
the Lusitania and declarations by the
semi-official German newspapers that
Germany will not stop submarine war
fare are followed by assertions that a
check will be put on submarines and
by reports from Berlin that conversa
tions between Ambassador Gerard and
Minister von Jagow justify assurances
that a rupture with th United States
will be avoided. These are the con
flicting suggestions we receive as to
the purport of Germany's reply to
President Wilson's demands that sub
marine attacks on American ships and
on ships, whether American or bellig
erent, carrying American citizens
cease.
Several circumstances sustain the
hope that the hitherto unbending at
titude of Germany will be abandoned.
Italy having Just Joined the ranks of
his enemies, the Kaiser may well
pause before provoking the United
States to add to their number. He
must have learned that the Lusitania
massacre Is condemned in this country
by many German-Americans and that
the latter, with few exceptions, have
declared that they will stand by their
adopted country in any quarrel that
may result. These good Americans
may well have conveyed to the Ger
man government their earnest desire
to be saved the necessity of fighting
against their native country. There
must surely be in Germany, outside of
the fanatically militarist, junker class,
a public opinion which does not sanc
tion war on women and children.
JHence the time is propitious for
the Kaiser to reconsider soberly
.his position, to cast up accounts
'and to ascertain whether he does not
Uose more than he gains by submarine
"warfare.
His olijcct being to destroy allied
Icommerce, to prevent food and war
supplies from reaching his enemies,
his submarine catnpaign has not paid
,'CxpenseB. Krom February 18 to April
j21 the British lost forty merchant ves
sels and seven fishing vessels, through
attack by cruisers, submarines and
nnines, their total grosa tonnage being
109,718. Of the forty merchant ves
'sels, thirty-six were sunk by subma
rines. During the same period 13,14a
vessels of over 300 tons arrived at and
'departed from ports of the United
Kingdom. Since April 21 the subma
rines have added to their score the
'iLusit&nia, their greatest "kill," and
'".other vessels, but the ratio of hits to
'misses has not been materially
changed, even if we add the number
f neutral vessels that have been sunk.
JThe British blockade of Germany has
.not been affected, nor has the deter
mination of Britain to maintain it
been shaken.
On the other side of the account are
o be set the heavy damages for which
Germany has become li&ble through
Jl.he destruction of neutral ships and
cargoes and through the taking of
.neutral lives. She must pay for the
JGulflight and must pay damages for
'every American life' lost on the Lusl
'lania and the Falaba. By admitting
.her liability to the United States she
will admit equal liability to Holland,
Sweden, Norway and Denmark. The
Jlamage inflicted is equivalent only to
ihe cutting off of an occasional small
Jletachment of men, of an occasional
supply train. It Is not worth the mil
lions Germany must pay out of the
Vnoney raised by mortgaging the em
pire. She has angered this and other
iieutral countries against her, the
anti-German cartoons published in
Holland betraying a rancor which has
;hot been surpassed among her avowed
enemies.
. We cannot expect that all of the
American demands will be immediate
ly conceded. Germany may without
hesitation grant reparation for the
wrongs . already done. An offer may
fie made to abandon submarine war
fare on American ships and American
lives if the United States will induce
Brifain to raise the long-range block
ade. We know beforehand that such
Bn offer will he rejected, for the Pres
ident has intimated that he wi'l not
Qiake respect by Germany for elemen
tary American rights contingent on
ihe acts of any third power. He will
"Settle differences with Britain without
ny reference to what Germany may
jo, and differences with Germany
W ithout any reference to what Britain
may do. The United States flatly de
Bies the right of Germany to sink
American ships on sight for the sole
Fcason that they are in a war area,
trading with Germany's enemies. If
they carry contraband and cannot
safely be taken to port, their crew and
passengers must first be taken oft and
then they may be sunk.
r The President's demand that sub
marine warfare on merchant ships In
Reneral, whether belligerent or neu
tral, be stopped as contrary to inter
national law and to humanity, may be
met either with a direct refusal or
with conditions. Germany may plead
that the submarine is the only effective
weapon with which she can strike her
enemies at sea. and that drowning of
her enemies' sailors is no worso than
starving of her own civil population.
Such a reply would Initiate long ne
gotiations, but the President may be
expected to consent to such a delay
in acceding to his demands on condi
tion only that submarine attacks on
merchant ships ho suspended in the
meantime. Reluctant as Germany will
be. she may yield this point after cast
ing up gains against losses, though she
is likely to Insist more earnestly than
ever that, if she rails off her sub
marines, shipment of war supplies to
ftie allies must stop and food supplies
must be admitted to Germany.
Sam Oomprr.s is peeved. He has
resigned membership on the American
Association for Ibor legislation be
cause the association advocates a bill
in the New York Legislature merging
the Workmen's Compensation - Com
mission with the State Labor Depart
ment. That branch of the government
of the State of Xew York is under
James M. Lynch, for many years presi
dent of the International Typo
graphical Union, a man whose concep
tion of the needs of labor and whose
grasp of the situation are unsurpassed.
Mr. Uompcrs has been at the head or
the Labor Federation for a quarter
century and has done great things for
the cause as well as prevented the
doing of great things that would have
acted otherwise; he is getting along in
years he is 65 and is due for, retire
ment. His rival of years ago, Terence
Powderly, was slid into an easy berth;
perhaps It is time to do something for
Gompers and drop the reins Into the
hands of a younger and up-to-date
man not wedded to idols that are
bound to be smashed by the turn of
events.
amazix;.
Xo city in the world has a finer or
more bountiful "water supply than
Portland. It is a crystal stream, gush
ing forth from the rocks its pure, cold
and health-giving waters. Millions of
gallons are now available through the
ea-y and inexpensive process of pip
ing them by gravity to Portland; and
millions more are there, and forever
will be there whenever they are
needed.
The Bull Run water supply is Port
land's proudest asset. Nature has
furnished it merely for the asking. It
is there for the benefit of all alike.
Freely and generously used, it is the
largest contribution to the beauty of
Portland and the health of its citi
zens. Yet Commissioner Daly would have
the people use as little as possible, and
not as much as possible, of our over
abundant water; and he would keep
the surplus in the mountains, or spill
It into the sewers.
MR. HUMPHREY'S CANDIDACY.
William K. Humphrey, Representa
tive at Washington for the Seattle dis
trict, announces his candidacy for the
United States Senate to succeed Miles
Poindexter. Mr. Humphrey, who Is a
Republican, and always has been,
will enter the Republican primary,
where his principal opponent will
be Mr. Poindexter, who has not
always, nor even often, been a
Republican, but has in turn been
Democrat, Republican, Progressive,
and now again a Republican.
Mr. 'Humphrey has had six terms
in the House, and seeks promotion to
the Senate on his record. He has
served his state with great fidelity and
diligence, and has, through his capac
ity as well as through the fact of his
seniority, attained a position of great
prominence in Congress. Washington
has indeed been fortunate in the per
sonnel of Its Representatives, who
have in recent years included such
men as John L. Wilson, Francis W.
Oushman and W. L. Jones, all of Sen
atorial size. Mr. Wilson and Mr. Jones
were indeed elected to the Senate,
while Mr. Cushman's fina career was
cut short by his untimely death. If
the practice of rewarding good serv
ice is to be followed, Mr. Humphrey
will have a well-earned victory next
year.
Mr. Humphrey is a protectionist
and has been open in his opposition
to the Underwood bill. On the other
hand. Senator Poindexter voted for
the Underwood bill, and will be called
upon to justify his action in that par
ticular, and otherwise to support his
record' during his Incumbency. The
issue between the two candidates will
be clearly drawn, for the one repre
sents earnest and consistent support
of the principles for which the Re
publican party stands, while the other
asserts the right to repudiate his party
at will and yet to- have and hold all
the rewards of party.
It will be an Interesting and mem
orable contest.
COLLEGES AND WAR.
Readers are familiar with the ef
fort recently made to Interest college
students in military training of an ele
mentary sort. Summer camps have
been established for students in which
it has been proposed to give them the
rudiments of the soldier's drill and
discipline. There has always been
some question of the feeling of the
young men toward these efforts to
militarize them and a referendum has
been taken to get at .the truth of the
matter. It reveals that "a large ma
jority of the students" look with dis
favor upon the offered training.
Two reasons have been suggested
for this anti-militarist feeling in the
colleges. One is the natural preju
dice of the academic mind against
war and everything connected with It,
The other is the propaganda of the
Carnegie Peace Foundation. Perhaps
it is our less warlike young men who
naturally seek a college career. It
seems pretty certain, at all events,
that we must look outside the big
educational institutions for the more
ardent of our National defenders.
THE FLORAL PARADE.
The floral parade is the heart of
the Rose Festival. In that Joyous and
beautiful spectacle the purpose of the
great annual celebration is made vis
ible. The floral wealth of Portland
and Oregon are symbols of the fertile
soil and genial climate which make
this state unique. Nowhere else in
the United States are roses and other
fragrant blooms produced so abund
antly and perfectly. This is not by
chance. There is a reason for It, and
that reason lies in our unparalleled
fertility of soil and balmlness of cli
mate. Between the Oregon showers and
the Oregon roses the connection Is
close. The magnificent Caroline Test
out rose could not blossom in its in
comparable beauty if it were not
nourished by a rich, deep soil. The
floral procession therefore symbolizes
the resources of the state as well as
the gala spirit of the holiday makers.
It is the event toward which all the
rest of the festival moves. It should
be the climax of the whole in splendor
and variety of charms.
To make the floral procession all
that it should be ideally every citizen
of Portland must contribute his share.
If he has a motor or horse vehicle it
is his civic duty to decorate it for the
grand parade. If he has roses or other
flowers in his garden they should be
mad to count for s much as possible
in the display. Every blossom will
add its portion of beauty. Every
vehicle will help consummate the
splendor of the spectacle. He who
fails to lend his heart and his pos
sessions to aid In making the floral
procession a triumph of color, fra
grance and moving splendor surpass
ing anything the city has ever before
exhibited will fail in his duty to the
community. Let all take bold of the
work with a will and the outcome
cannot be doubtful.
The floral display expresses the
genius of Portland. It is the soul of
the city made visible in pure and en
chanting beauty. This year the sea
son is singularly propitious to the most
spiritual and artistic event of the fes
tival. If the citizens do their part as
faithfully as Nature, the floral pro
cession will present a scene to be re
membered with pleasure for ever. It
is distinctly a community creation in
which every human being is privileged
to share and from wheh we may all
draw delight in the same degree.
CLOTHES AN D CLEANLINESS.
In one of our esteemed Kastern
contemporaries the sprightly Dr.
Woods Hutchinson chants a paean to
the glory of the new Spring suit. In
the course of his melodious remarks
he intimates that clean clothes came
before clean hands and skins in the
development of civilization. We first
make the visible parts of ourselves
agreeable to the sight and nose. The
invisible portions follow suit in- the
course of time.
This opinion of the erudite and
lively Dr. Hutchinson is confirmed by
many an observation of travelers in
foreign lands. For instance it is re
ported of the ladies of Peru that they
adorn themselves with the richest
fabrics and wear priceless diamonds
on their fingers, but it is added sor
rowfully that the skin beneath the
silk and satin is but rarely bathed,
and the- nails of the bejeweled fingers
are usually tipped with black. There
is no question historically that our at
tire originated not in our need of pro
tection but in our vanity and that
redeeming passion is at the bottom of
our modern passion for bodily cleanli
ness. Dr. Hutchinson sweetly hymns the
praises of clean shirts and neat white
collars because he says they betoken
cleanliness and indicate that their
wearer is to a degree proof against
infection. Some learned scientists
preach that in the ages to come our
principal safeguard against germs will
not He in serums and vaccines but
in soap vigorously applied to the ex
terior of the person, and m those
subtle and saintly accessories of soap
which are included in the attire of
a fine gentleman or perfect lady.
Cleanliness, in the opinion of these en
lightened savants, is rot only next, to
godliness but It is the best warranty
of sound health there Is to be had.
Dr. Hutchinson thinks the current
costumes of "both men and women"
are the most comfortable, as well as
the cleanliest the world has ever seen.
Reserving a doubt as to the comfort
of tight shoes and corsets, we heartily
concur in his judgment. Clothes, as
Carlyle taught us In Sartor Resartus,
are not merely the detachable decora
tions of the human being; they are
an essential part of ourselves. Without
them, to repeat a dictum of William
James, we lapse into savagery. In
their perfection, as Emerson philo
sophically remarks, they impart a
serenity of soul surpassing all the
consolations of religion. The only ob
jection to the worship of clothes that
we can think of is this: the soul of
their devotee is apt to seep into them
and leave him nothing inside his head
or heart. But that, after all, may be
but a trifle.
THE PRESIDENT AND PROHIBITION.
.In Kentucky, where a prohibition
campaign is in progress, the attitude
of President Wilson on the general
question of abolishing the traffic in
liquor seems to have become almost as
much an issue as prohibition itself.
While Governor of New Jersey, Mr.
Wilson wrote what is known as the
Shannon letter on the subject of local
option. This letter the "wets" in
Kentucky are using as a declaration
against state-wide prohibition. In the
same year Mr. Wilson wrote what is
known as the Grogan letter, addressed
to a citizen of Texas. This letter the
prohibitionists are, publishing broad
cast as indicating the President's
approval of state-wide prohibition.
Clearly the letters are misinterpret
ed or else the President is on both
sides of the fence. Being of an ana
lytical turn of mind at the moment, we
are inclined to adopt the former view.
Following is the text of the Shannon
letter:
Newark. N. Y.. May 1, 1011. My Dear
Mr. Snannon; The question asked in our
letter of April 7. about my attitude toward
the important question of local option. Is.
of course, a perfectly legitimate one. and
you are entltlel 'to a very frank answer. 1
would have replied sooner had I not been
prevented by Imperative public engagements.
I have explained my views to you in private,
but. of course, have no objection to your
making them DUblic.
I am In favor of local option. I am a,
thorough believer In local self-government,
and believe that every self-governing com
munity which constitutes a. social unit should
have the right to control the matter of the
regulation or of the withholding of licenses.
.But the questions Involved are social and
moral, and are not ausceptible of being
made parts of a party programme. When
ever tliey have been made the subject of
party contests they have cut the . lines of
party organization and party action
athwart to the utter confusion of political
action In every other field. They have
thrown every other queatlon. however im
portant, into the background and have
made constructive party action Impossible
for long years together. So far as 1 am
concerned, therefore. I can never consent to
have the question of local option made an
issue between political parties in tills state.
My judgment Is very clear in this matter. I
do not believe that party programmes of
the highest consequence to the political life
of the state and of the Nation ou;ht to be
thrust on one side and hopelessly em
barrassed for long periods together by
making a. political issue of a great question
which Is essentially non-political. non
partisan, moral and social In its nature.
Very sincerely yours, WOODROW WlL.sfON.
And here is the Grogan letter:
State of New Jersey, Kxecutive Popart
ment. .luy G. 1911. My pear Mr. Gro?an:
Ton mistook me If you thought that I was
treating your first ietter as a communica
tion of a politician, or if you supposed that
1 was trying In any way to avoid, the im
portant question you put to me. The reply
I made was made In all sincerity. T believe
that for some states state-wide prohibition is
possible and desirable, because of their rel
ative homogeneity, while for others 1 think
that state-wide prohibition is not practicable.
I have no reason to doubt from what I
know of t ho circumstances that state-wide
prohibition Is both practicable and desirable
in Texas. In my reply to you I was only
trying to state what I think must he always
kept In mind, the wide divergence of con
ditions which make It impossible to reply to
auy single question like those of prohibition
In terms which would fit the whole country.
With much respect, rordiallv snd sincerely
yours. WOOD FlOW WILSON.
In the heat of a campaign It is
not difficult to put a wrong construc
tion on either epistle, but to us living
in a community where the prohibition
Issue has been settled, at least for the
time being, the one letter seems not
inconsistent at all with the other.
President Wilson, himself, has been
asked about them and this is his reply:
My so-called Shannon letter precisely
defines my position with regard to the
liquor issue, not only os it was when I
wrote the letter, but as it is now. and the
letter to Mr. Orogmi is. or was. at any rate.
Intended to be entirely consistent with it.
What 1 intended to say to Mr. Grogan and
think that I said with sufficient clearness
was that, white the resltlon 1 had taken In
the Shannon letter expresses my fixed con
victions in the matter. I was not self-confident
or eelf-hnlnlonated enough to say
what the proper course of action was either
In Teaa or in any ether atate where 1 waa
not nersonallv in touch with the condition
obtaining. 1 felt that it would be arrogant
on my part to state that there were In my
opinion no circumstances which Justified an
agitation for strete-wide prohibition.
t am litre that you yourself felt that there
was no inconsistency between the two let
ters and I am sincerely obliged to jou for
having afforded me the opportunity to
make this very explicit.
The careful reader will observe that
in the Shannon letter the President is
discussing primarily local option. He
adds, however, that he is opposed to
making local option a part of a po
litical party's programme, and tells
why. He docs not mention state-wide
prohibition, but it may be assumed
on the strength of the Shannon letter
that he is also opposed to making pro
hibition a political party issue. It
will be noted that in the Grogan letter
he discusses the practicability of state
wide prohibition in the state of Texas,
not its practicability and desirability
as a political party Issue.
The distinction is as broad as the
sea. Oregon adopted prohibition with
out making it a. party issue or part
of a political party programme. We
have not the slightest doubt that many
persons who favored the amendment
in this state would have as strongly
opposed its recognition as a political
party issue. As the President says in
the Shannon letter, local option ana
he doubtless would add prohibition
are essentially "non-political. non
partisan, moral and social" in their
nature.
We agree with the President in what
he said in the Grogan letter to an
extent. Some states may find prohi
bition practicable and desirable
if possessed of a homogeneity
which, runs to so pronounced a
public sentiment in favor of prohibi
tion that the law will be enforced.
Even there Its introduction as a part
of a political party programme is
out of place. It should -stand alone
as a social and moral issue.
The Massachusetts "hill towns" are
old communities of - unadulterated
Puritan stock which have stewed in
their own juice for two centuries or
more. They are degenerate because
they are cut off from the world, hav
ing no trolleys or decent wagon roads.
The state is coming to their aid with
a big appropriation for roads. Oregon
may read her own future in these
hill towns if she continues satisfied
with dirt roads.-
Moved by Dr. Zeublin's recent lec
ture at Corvallis, the Barometer
prints some reflections on college
democracy 'Which, it thinks, is threat
ened "by the advent of the National
fraternal organizations upon our
campus." But it finally concludes that
the fraternities are what the students
make them, good or bad, democratic
or snobbish according to the spirit of
their members.
From a poem in the School Bulle
tin by Dora Steinberg, aged 12. we
learn that "Miss Porter's room at Fail
ing organized three months ago a little
club for the purpose of cleaning up,
you know." The little club "set to
work with a merry little hum" and Is
still working and humming. Hurrah
for the Failing school and its poet
and the club she celebrates.
Russia is carrying prohibition out
logically by transforming the vodka
saloons into reading rooms, picture
shows and lecture halls. She will thus
"sublimate" the social spirit that
makes saloons popular and cause it
to do good instead of harm. Some
of our prohibitionists might learn a
useful lesson from the Czar.
Mr. Weed's collection of 20,000
peonies should be a wonderful sight
when they are all in bloom. Probably
the fragrance is less enjoyable. The
peony, like the oriental poppy, is all
show. By and by some Burbank will
cause it to evolve an odor sweet as
the violet and then it will be crowned
queen of flowers.
When the New York City officials
saw the contrast between Portland's
blooming gardens and Goniam's stony
street fronts, they must have realized
that Portland has good reason for a
more liberal, unmeasured consumption
of water. Gotham would be only too
glad of an excuse to use more water
in the same way.
It cannot be too often repeated
that our most pressing rural problem
is that of markets. Diversified farm
ing does not advance because the
farmer can not sell his diversified
products. Workers for rural better
ment should now and for some time
to come concentrate on the question of
markets.
President Wilson is nearing the con
clusion that, in the eyes of a. belliger
ent, a neutral has no rights which he
is bound to respect. The only way to
compel respect is to boycott belliger
ents or to threaten belligerency.
.In the event of fatality. Queen
Sophie of Greece may find herself in
like position of her mother swhen the
Kaiser took the reins of power. The
Crown Prince is inclined to harken to
the voice of the Triple Entente.
With Lassen Peak and the Alaska
islands in eruption we may see dis
turbances among the intervening
peaks along the Coast. Volcanic
eruption in America seems to be as
catching as war in Europe. '
The best thing the Swiss can do
is to lay in much flour and sidemeat
or pray for a shower of manna. There
will be a bristling fence about her.
Changing the outfit of a brewery
into ice cream, as is to be done at
Olympia, is the modern way of work
ing over spears into pruning hooks.
If the belligerents would hand over
each other's merchant ships to the
United States we might soon have a
respectable merchant marine.
If the season at the Oaks did not
open in rain Mr. Cordray would think
his rabbitfoot and lucky stone had
lost their charm.
- Docs anybody ever consider that in
a generation or so this year's "war
babies" may be running Great Britain?
. Across the waters, if they read of
the matter at all, they probably liken
Lassen to Aetna and Vesuvius.
The macaroni industry may be ad
ded to the lit of those annexed to
the United States by the war.
Switzerland suffers most of the in
conveniences of war without enjoying
any of the excitement.
Why do not some of the candidates
for commissioner hire a hall and liven
up things?
Depend upon the Austrians to hand
pick the Italians from above.
This in not Buffalo Bill's farewell
tour. He is yet young.'
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of May 1SI0.
One of the most notable meetings of
railway employes ever held in this city
will convene this afternoon. For ome
time pant the question of federating
the various orders in the railway srrv-ii-e
has ber n agitated. and today's
meeting looked lo the accomplishment
of that object. Fully 5U0 delegates
were present.
Four fine sticks of timber 150 feet
long have been ordered for an obser
vation tower to be put up on Tabof
Heights. It will b .15 feet square t
the base and 10 fet square at the top.
and will have platforms every 20 feet,
so that people can go as far as they
please. It will be the tallest tower in
the world made of single timbers.
Representati vi; Hermann has secured
a pension for Mrs. Jennie T. Gallentine.
of McMinnvillc, Or. She was a soldier's
widow.
In accordance with a popular custom,
the First Regiment. O. X. O.. last even
ing attended memorial services at the
Tabernacle in a body. The services
were opened by Professor K. K. four
sen with an organ selet-tion. The Rev.
Arthur J. Brown conducted the serv
ices. The citizens of Albina met at Miller's
Hall, on Williams avenue. Saturday
night, and organized the Nob Hill Re
publican Club. The following men were
chosen permanent officers of the club:
H. C. Colby, president: M. I Taylor,
secretary; Harry Glover, vice-president;
N. Hansen, treasurer; Henry
Hansen, seargant-at-arms.
Mrs. Ida Mueller will furnish the
music-loving people of the city of
Portland with a soiree musicale, given
by her pupils in the Masonic Hall, on
Wednesday evening, the 28th inst. A
most interesting programme will be
rendered.
WAR DOKSXT VnDICATK HONOR
It la 1st Same Category With Dut-lling.
Satya t'srresponilent.
PACIFIC GROVE. Cal.. May 22.
(To the Editor.) Princeton's presi
dent, speaking lately at the Mohonk
conference, is reported to have said,
"We dare not trade honor for peace,"
the first part of his discourse having
been an incitement to the people to arm
"against war," lest honorless peace
should become "tho veriest torment of
a living hell."
So much is-eontinually made by spe
cious scare-mongers of this most eva
sive and elusive word "honor" thst
some exact definition of the term la
imperative. Mischief incalculable has
been wrought in its name.
What is it?
That greatest master of English,
William Shakespeare, has given us a
synonym in the second part of Henry
IV.
"WhRt is honor. Air?
"What hath honor? He who died
o' "Wednesday!"
The London Times of today, with ita
"Roll of Honor," seemingly corrobo
rates Shakespeare. Those "who died"
are honor's possessors. Their names
fill the roll.
Midway between the Times and
Shakespeare comes Alexander Pope
with his opinion,
"Act well thy part; there all the
honor lies!"
As presumably Dr. Hibben. of Prince
ton, does not want to see the Ameri
can Nation on the death roll of honor,
we may suppose he accepts Pope's
view.
This amplified suggests that the hon
or of a nation, as the honor of an in
dividual, is entirely in its own keep
ing and results from its own actions.
I may be personally injured "or killed
outright, but I cannot be dishonored'
unless 1 dishonor myself. Dishonor is
from within, not from without. Honor
consists in . following tha dictates of
righteousness, justice and equity. Any
nation that persistently acts in accord
ance with, these can never be dishon
ored; no, not even though it be wiped
off the earth. Any nation that does
not follow these is dishonorable in
spite of any "glory" ita big battalions
write in blood.
If there be any living being so lack
ing in logic as to link together war
and honor, such an one must be utterly
oblivious to thfe deeds done in Europe
today. Perfidy and brutality run mad
doing everything hideous and devilish
that human ingenuity can devise,
laughing out and spitting at all re
ligion, or even at common decency.
What have these to do with honor?
Public opinion in this favored land
has frowned down dueling as a vindi
cation of personal honor; it is now
learning that war is no more a vindi
cation of national honor than was the
duel of personal honor.
As to an armament "against war,"
that is the identical course that now
has involved Europe in its cataclysm
of bestiality and blood. Every nation
was straining its resources to the ut
most to insure that Its preparation
"against war" should leave it mora
powerful than its neighbors. Such riv
alry induced the very catastrophe it
was destined to avert. What was pre
pared for came, as it usually does.
Not only the American Nation, but
the world at large is demanding a more
enlightened policy. That policy must
mean the enthronement of the idea of
public right as the governing idea "in
world politics." This spells the utter
repudiation of militarism with its dis
credited and discreditable " motto. "If
you want peace prepare for war." It
bespeaks free and full national de
velopment for all races, with equal na
tional rights, regardless of size or
wealth: and it means, lastly, some such
sort of world accord as Is extant today
in the Universal Postal Union and kin
dred institutions, which have already
proved the possibility of a co-operative
and kindls' globe-partnership, beneficial
to all peoples alike.
Surely this loved land of ours is big
enough, rich enough, wise enough to
take the Initiative in this, the inaugu
ration of the only policy worthy of tha
age in which we live, worthy of cur
sta rry-spangled banner and worthy of
the t,lod we love.
If you want peace, prepare for peace.
EDWARD BERWICK.
Sabotage and Rallroada.
TANA NA. Alaska, April 12. (To the
Editor.) Kindly inform mo as to the
meaning of the word sabotage? I
came across the word In Mr. Uooae
velt's article in Everybody's Magazine,
"America on Guard," and also in a
story called "A Montissori Father.'" I
have consulted every dictionary at my
command, and have written to a law
yer in Fairbanks, but am unable to
find its meaning. I would be greatly
oblisrcd to you if you .will throw, some
liurht on-the subject for me.
Would also like to know If it is not
true that the Canadian Pacific Rail
way is the only finished transconti
nental railway in the-world. I have
heard this disputed several times of
late, but believe that I am rieht when
T say it is the only one of its kind now
in operation.
MRS. W. B. TAGE.
(1) Sabotage is any poor work or
damage intentionally done by a, dis
satisfied workman: alo the act itself.
(2) The Siberian Railroad com
pletely traverses two continents
Europe and Asia. Through trains run
from Valparaiso, Chile, across South
America, to BuenoS Aires, but the line
is not all under one ownership. The
term "transcontinental" is broadly ap
plied to all railroads operating through
lines from Missouri and Mississippi
River points to the Faoific Coast.
GENERAL WATER WASTE UOl BTEU
Mcter Srhraie Look a I.Ike Indirect
Effort to Ha lee More Money.
PORTLAND, May 21. (To the Ed
itor.) I would like to venture an opin
ion regarding the purchase and in
stallation of water meters. In trying
to make an economical showing for the
water department during his adminis
tration Commissioner Daly is doing
every taxpayer and citizen a great in
justice. Jf we lived in an arid, re
gion, then the conservation of watel
by meters, which must be installed at
an enormous expense, might bo Justi
fiable, but when we have millions of
gallons of the finest water going to
waste In the Bull Run River, why try
to stint our citizens, especially at the
time when our lawns and ahrubhery
need water mo&t, during tho dry Sum
mer months?
At this time, when the movement for
the City Beautiful is claiming'ao much
attention, what could be more apropos
than plenty of water to keep thincs
green and beautifttl throughout the
dry season?
I-et ita realize that we are a big,
fast-growing city; get away from this
small town idea of administration of
public affairs and take a broad-gauge
view of the advantages and disadvan
tages to be gained by such a move. At
present the water department la con
fronted by a shortage for about three
months during the year. 'It is safe
to assume that only a very small per
centage of wateruscrs waste the water
during the dry season, especially with
the present time limits on sprinkling.
Such being the case, meter cannot in
crease the supply, but merely give the
city an increase! revenue, or, in other
words, an increase of the water tax.
If under our present administration
w-e need more funds, either for instal
lation of new mains or for the main
tenance of the department, why not
vote an additional tax for the water de
partment? Why not put it up to tin;
taxpayers open and aboveboard that
we need a larger revenue for our water
department?
The Installation of meters would
cost nearly JL'50.000. It will take a
great many yearn to bring this money
back by the Increase In revenue to the
department and our quarter of a mil
lion is doing us no good as far as an
increase in the available supply goea.
Does the present administration want
to install nttters because otner cities
are doing It and they want to be in
the prevailing style, or do they feel
this is a legitimate excuse to spend the
taxpayers' money on something new?
It Keems about as sensible as the little
child wishing to spend his money on a
new- toy. No right-mlndexl citizen will
object to raising the money if it is to
be used for an ncrease of the present
water supply.
At the j. resent time we have no dam
at the headworks merely a rliveruion
canal. Consequently during the ritim
mer months our supply is decreased 30
per cent because there in not depth
enough in the river to fill the pipe
lines leading to our city reservoirs.
With the expenditure of approx imately
the same amount that the installation
of meters would cost a storage dam
could be built which would keep the
big conduits carrying water into the
city at maximum capacity throughout
the year, thus practically doubling our
supply during the dry season, when it
is most needed.
The taxpayers of this city liave spent
millions In the laying of these pipe
lines a distance of over 30 miles. Why
not let us get as nearly 100 per cent
efficiency as possible from this enor
mous investment? When we consider
Portland's geographical situation and
her climatic conditions, water should
be as plentiful as the air we breathe.
The principal objection to a storage
dam, as the Journal cited In a recent
editorial, is. first, the danger of the
water becoming contaminated In a
large open reservoir; secondly, that the
water becomes heated from the sun's
rays during the Summer months. These
are really not objections when we come
to consider them. Our present city
reservoirs are open and the chances for
contamination are probably greater on
the outskirts of a large city than they
would be in a storage lake create. 1
out in the forest reserve, especially
with the water department's continua
tion of a careful guard at all en
trances to the reserve.
As for the water becoming warm. 1
know from personal experience that
the water in any part of the Bull Run
River becomes very warm during the
Summer now, but reaches us at a mucli
reduced temperature after traveling 30
miles in underground pipes. Conse
quently the same condition would pre
vail if a storage dam were built.
Let us as citizens and taxpayers
study some of these phases suggested
before going to the polls to vote on
this question and try to form our own
opinion as to the merits or otherwise
and not be entirely influenced by some
other person's opinion. All the facts
above stated can be easily verified by a
trip to the headworks and a little
study and observation.
J. C. KITCHEN.
733 Washinton street.
TH-ROSK.
Rouse thee, my muse! Awake!
Shake off thy languorous repose!
Behold, the season groweth late.
Nor hast thou piped about the rose.
Come, think! Cogitate!
Get busy with thy store, of rhvmes!
What matter if they've all been used
And mated o'er a thousand times?
O. VV. Holmes did not disdain
To rhyme with "rose" Just "nose"
In that "Last Leaf" of his ;and yet
It's almost classic, I suppose.
Come, we'll call it the "Last Straw,"
And when the wind it blows.
We'll catch the scent and soon bring
down
A stack. of rbynies about the rose
Gaze on that riot of bloom, my muse.
And do not fear to try it.
Ah. thou'rt wrong to think our lines
Would cause a blooming riot.
That meter's wrong? Then, how is
this?
Sec how the rhythm flows.
And phrases trite fit snugly in.
Now, listen, muse. Here guc!
O the dog-wood days are over
And the broom ia worn quite (hin.
But the beauty of the Portland rose
lias just started to begin.
The wistaria's looking wistful
And the "pincys" pine away.
But the beauty of the Portland' ru.-e
Is in our midst to stay.
And I can think of other rhymes;
For rose there's hose and toes.
And What? Disgusted? I giva' up!
I've done my best the w hold world
knows.
Mary H. Force.
Hillsdale. Or.
Destruction of Juvenile Conrt Itceorda.
PORTLAND. May 21 (To the Edi
tor.) The Orrgonian May 19 says
Judge Oatens is about to dontroy the
records of the Juvenile Court over
which he has presided. Has he such a
right to act?
SUBSCRIBER FOR 28 TEARS.
We know of no statute that prohibits
such act.
Gratitude of a Phynician.
Life.
Woman of the House "Are you fond
of lobster salad, doctor?'' 'Doctor
"No. I'm not fond of It, but I'm very
grateful to it."
Hark to tho Land.
Rnstpn Transcript.
"Back to the land." observed Jonah
after his cetacean host had depotitcd
him safe on the seashore.
Half a Century Ago
Kr,..m The Orrgotilait of May 1'.. ISC....
Mr. Lyon, of the firm of Colin, I.yon
& Co.. on Front slretu yislerriav t-ave
ns information concerning the rirlmr-i
of the Kootenxi void mining r. i.iu
which seems almost fabulous. I. tit com
ing direct and with undoubted veracity,
we are incline! to the belltf this new
discovery will yet be as noted for
wealth as tho f.imt d rcclona of Cari
bou. The time will come In Oregon when
agriculture will be a pursuit more
generally followed than it i.-t now. ,a
the country grows older, n grcntcr pro
portion of the people will cnnjtir. in
farming, and comparatively fewer In
the transient occupations which now
Kive employment to so many through
out the stale and adjacent lei i imrie.'.
I'urtland now has one or two coin
pnnics of military to bran of. and the
prospects aro that soon others will l.e
added. The provisions, ot the Stte
Miltia law- arc liberal, and we can se
no reason why four or even five good
ioinp;ytics cannot prosper under It In
this city.
he Immediate place of confinement
of Jeff 1hvis in to be the casements
which are rock ribbed and arched
mansion- within the fort, each consti
tution a fort within itself on arches.
tn these casements ate mounted 16
inch guns. The only cocncctlon from
tho fort with the main land is by the
sally pr.rt nnd a -mail postern In onn
of the bastions of the wet side, bring
spanned at each of these points by a
draw-bridge, which run be raised at
pleasure, thus cutting off all com
munication. Men were employed yesterday In
raising a flagstaff over the btiHiness
bouse of ;enerl MoCraken. from
which the ensign of the Hawaiian
government will be flown to the breeze
on gala d:iyn.
'IHV-S llE.'
SI1S not sewii i:
Water Meter Inconv eulenee A 111 Tall
AlmoaC Wholly on Women.
PORTLAND. May 24. tl'o the Edl
tor.i The Installation ot meters in tho
home is a man's Idea, and it Is the
housewife who will be benefited or in
con ven lencrd by It.
Very few- men realize the econouilea
the average housewife practices in the
home, how carefully we walch our gas
meters, electric meters, etc. Will we
have to watch the water meter, too?
There la not any one thing we use
more In tho homo than wttter, and a
liberal supply is rssentl.il to Insure
health ami cleanliness. To curtail that
supply will cause us much inconveni
ence, and It certainly will be curtailed
if wc hear the click of the meter when
we bathe our children, do the laundry,
water our lawn.t, etc.
Oregon Is noted for Its abundance of
fine water. What will be the Impres
sion of our Kastern friends, who v Isit
us If we meter out water to them by
the gallon? If we have a sliortaco ef
water in the Summer, why not use that
JJOO.000 to install mains large enough
to supply our city beautiful with an
abundance of water? Then our ritv
will continue beautiful, our children
healthful and clean and the house
wives happy.
Men voters, discuss this question
with your wives; they are vitally In
terested, and you will vote HKainat the
water meter bonding measure.
MRS. I. C.
Hilt H INKS' (OTTOX POOL FAILED
Trrma Demanded for ll to Orowert
Pronounced Exorbitant.
PORTLAND. May 24. (To the Edi
tor.) I have seen It stated many
times In the papers that the rotfou
pool formed by eonie ph ila nt rophic ( V 1
bankets saved the cotton-growers .of
the South. There was Jl 30.Mh0.OO0 In
the pool and the glowers borrowed
lU'S.O'iO. Here are the restriction
whi.-h made borrowing f i om tlie pool
financial suicide:
eu a basis of middling cotton the.
pool would loan but t cents per pound,
of $30 per bale. From thio amount
the pool deducted $0 per bale, as a
safety margin, leaving only $-.0. l-'i out
this the pool proposed to deduct fuithcr
the aum of $ l.si for the expense uf
grading, wait-housing and insurance,
which left $'.'0.15. Thice per cent of
tills was deducted fur the pool's reserve
fund anil H.80 for one year's interest
at H per cent, which left the hnrru-ii-i'
the sum of $17.45 all of which was
equivalent to compelling the farmer to
pay $7.55 for the use of $17.45 or at
the rate of 43.2 per cent per Murium.
Is it any wetiider the pool loaned hut
IJIj.ou.') to the Southern mowers'.'
I'. L. ELLIOTT.
The impracticable terms debcribed
seem to have arisen from an attempt
to reduce a sentimental proposition to
a business basis, but they are not as
bad as repi esented. Would not the
grower have to pay for grading, wate
housing and insurance whether he bor
rowed money on his cotton or not?
The most instructive fact about this
cotton pool is that events proved It
to e unnecessary, for the growers
ultimately marketed their cotton with
out resort to it.
Socialist Condemns Copperheads.
LEWISTON. Idaho. May 22. I To Mi"
lvdltor. Concerning the copperheads
and their letters on til editorial pate,
especially "One Who Knows." the Na
tion having let lis fla he stained
as at Ludlow and elsewhere, is it
stranire that patriotic spirit should be
half dead or that the copperhead should
abound In the land? However deplor
able, is this near-treason anything
other than natural cause working out
its natural effect?
Nevertheless, and speaking as well
for a host of" Socialists. Laboriles ami
other radicals as for ni-sclf. huuiui.it'
is still humanity, piracy and mtntUi'
are Just exactly piraey and murder;
our c-ountry. whatever her faults, is tt
our country. lias our flag been
smirched or betrayed? Then let us
help to redeem it.
.May no Socialist and no oihrr r'l;.-al
fail, or even seem to fail, in upholding
the President's efforts to maintain
safety at se;i and to encourage interna
tional righteousness. And should the
day of need come may every man of
us be found loyal. A SOCIALIST.
Also of a Secretary.
PtHk.
Smythe (dismally) "Nell. I simrly
can't meet my t-redilors." Mrs. Smlli:
"Why should you? What In the
world do you rmp'ov a secretary fni-'.'"
Home Economics
One of the large public scrice
corporation furnishina: lic:ht and
heat has started laboratory tor
Ihe te-sting eif labor-saving fit vices
for the home.
As each new appliance nppear.- it
Is "tried out."
While the corpora I ion's 7.ea I is due
to a desire to sell p-c and current,
its attitude shows what an impor
tant factor la hor-SH lug rleirc
have become.
The pome not provided wit I thrtn
Is not up-to-date the bonsewife is
not getting all there is mil of life.
From time to time many appli
ances for home comfoit are de
scribed in the advertising column;1
of The Orrgonian.