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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 2, 1915)
THE MOItXIXG OREGONIAN. WEDNESDxYY, JUNE 2, 1915. 8 i I ! i i I ' PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce aa second-class matter. j. Subscription Rate Invariably In idnsce. (Bj Mall) Daily. Sunday Included, one yaar rjally, fcunday Included, six months . .... Ijally, Sunday included, three months ... Jjaily. Sunday Included, one month Ually, without Sunday, one year ;-vu Tially. without Sunday. six months Ijaily. without Sunday, three months .... . laily, wlthour Sunday, one month. Weekly, one year J ?J Sunday, one year jS-ju Sunday and Weekly, one year f5y Carrier.) Daily. Sunday Included, one year ....... Ilally, Sunday Included, one month ..... How to Rmlt Send Poatofflce money or er, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender- risk. Give poatofflce address in lull. Including county and state. Vo.ta,. Rita 12 to 18 paces. 1 cent; 18 to 31i pages. 2 centa; 3- to 4S pages, S cents; 60 to (SO pages. 4 centa; 6:i to Itt pages, o cents: '8 to 82 pages, 6 cents. ioreign postage, double rates. Eastern Bcsiness Office Veree & Conklln, New York. Brunswick building; Chicago, fetenger building. l'OHTI.AM). WEDSESDiY, JVXE 2. 19 IS. WHAT WE COCXJ DO IN WAR. "While every good American hopes that our dispute with Germany will be ended without resort to extreme measures, it is as well to take stock of our immediately available military resources in case the worst should come. No outright alliance with Ger many's enemies is contemplated, but circumstances would naturally dictate co-operation with them for the pur pose they and the United States would have in common the coercion- of Germany to concession of the de mands made by each. The first step would probably be to send a number of the fastest ships in the United States Navy to Europe for the protection of merchant ships against German submarines. The active fleet of the Navy is always practically on a war footing and could be put in service within a week or two, while the ships that are out of commission could be made ready within a few months. The first duty of the Navy would be to protect American ships; the next to protect foreign ships carrying American car goes and any ships carrying supplies to the allies. This work would re quire the services of our cruisers, of which we have thirty-four of all classes; of our destroyers, of which we have sixty-eight, and of our torpedo-boats, of which we have twenty-one. The two latter classes of vessels ere peculiarly adapted . by speed and swiftness in maneuvering to run down submarines, and could afford protec tion to merchantmen off the south coast of Ireland and on the route to Liverpool, where the Lusltania and Nebraskan were torpedoed. Our swift est cruisers could be employed in the same manffer, for they could outrun any submarine, bnt our chief reli-1 ance would be on destroyers having a speed of nearly thirty knots. The battleships, of which we have eighteen modern and twenty of old types, could reinforce the allied fleet to maintain the blockade of Germany. Aeroplanes, of which the ' United States has 100 available in the Army, Navy and private hands, could be used to advantage in locating sub marines under water, and there are in the United States about 250 certi fied aviation pilots to man them. It is too readily assumed that, ' be cause we have only a small mobile Army and a half-trained and imper fectly equipped militia, we should be a mere cipher in land operations. In fact, we should be in much the same position as Great Britain occupied in the earlier stages of the war, a posi tion from which that country is just emerging. She could put only a small army in the field, though it rendered service of immense value In aiding the French and Belgians to block the German drive to Calais, but, sheltered behind her navy, she has organized and equipped a new army of about 2,000.000 men which has now begun to take the field. While doing so, she has supplier' large funds and great quantities of war material to her al lies. She is now reinforcing them with fresh troops and is beginning to take her full part in the war on land, having done far more than her part at sea and in financing the alliance. Were the United States to engage In war with Germany and were we to decide that we should exert all our strength on land as well as at sea to compass her defeat, we could do much as Britain has done. At the outset we could send only 25,000 to 30,000 men to Europe, but our battle fleet could help the allies to maintain naval supremacy and could keep us secure to raise, train and equip a citi zen army. Estimates of the number f men we could withdraw from in dustry for military service without impairing its efficiency range all the way from 500,000 to 2,500.000. Recent statements of the number f unemployed Justify the belief that we could raise an army of 2,000,000 men and that yet, by employing the remainder full time and to their full efficiency, we could greatly Increase our output of raw material and man ufactures. Secretary Garrison states that, by intensive training, raw re cruits can be converted into trained soldiers in six months. Lord Kitch t ncr estimates the time at six to eight months. Certainly in one year our new Army would be ready for the field. Not much could . be done in Winter, but by next Spring our Army would be fit and could safely cross the ocean, and conditions would then be favorable for a vigorous campaign There is other service of Immense value which we could render to the allies while this army was being pre- pared. First, we could lend credit to the allies and could absorb vast amounts of their war bonds, for our banks are full of idle money. By so doing we should adjust international exchange, which has been put out of joint by our heavy excess of exports, and we should facilitate the flow of commerce. We should also become more than ever the source of supply for war material. Our papacity In that respect has been vastly increased by the adaptation of existing plants. Factories for the manufacture of railroad equipment, which had been run for two or three years at only 25 to B0 per cent of their capacity, have been adapted to manufacture of am munition. Their owners discovered that with slight adjustment or addi tion of a new part a machine used In ma kin tr a Dart of a locomotive could be used to turn out shells and that a nut-cutting machine could cut car trldges. A small manufacturer of brass flower pots and ash trays changed a nut here and added a part there, and thus was able to take $200,000 contract for shrapnel shells There were many thousand such instances. The Bethlehem Steel Com pany has taken war orders estimated at more than 1100,000,000. The American Locomotive Company has contracted to supply Russia with $65. 000,000 worth of shrapnel and has let sub-contracts to the New York . Air Brake Company and the Westing house Air Brake Company. The Westinghouse Electric and Manufac turing Company has taken a contract to supply Russia with 1,000,000 rifles. Great quantities of railroad cars and material have been ordered by Rus sia. The drain on the wool supply has been enormous, the armies hav ing been supplied with woolen cloth ing, and, in the case of Great Britain, being given an entirely new outfit every thirty days. It is becoming nec essary to clothe men largely In cotton, of which we can furnish vast supplies. The American output of war ma terial could be greatly increased to meet the needs, not only of our own Army, but of the allies. There are other factories which could be adapt ed to manufacture of war material and those already engaged could en large their output. The steel mills are operating to 75 per cent of capacity, but they might under pressure exceed their supposed limit. A battalion of skilled American railroad men could be sent to Russia to build" the roads lack of which prevents her from be ing a match for Germany. Evidence is accumulating that vic tory in this war will rest with the nations having the biggest supply of ammunition. If driven to it, this country could give this advantage to the allies during the next year and at the end of that time could put a new army of 2,000,000 men ln'the field to deal the finishing blow. tXOroiNG THE ISSTTE. Likewise remember that all this furor Is over the question of buying 5000 meters to test out on some sizable scale whether or not meter should he installed. Portland News. Lest we forget, let us make the matter clear cnce more. The present issue has to do with the putting in of 5000 meters no more The cost of those meters, in place, at the very highest computation will be J40.000. There la no cccaslon to worry over the cost of putting in from 40.0OO to S0.000 meters at nr half a millinn rinlla.ru or there- nhmiti A w out in meters their service will save money to the department whereby other meters will be put in. Portland Tele gram. Two fairly creditable efforts to per suade the public that the meter issue Is not what it is. The veracious News conveniently ignores the fact that an entirely adequate test has been made with the 13.000 meters already in stalled and in operation, while the ever-pure-and-good Telegram naively confesses that there will be more me ters, bought and paid for with the money saved from the 5000 meters. Undoubtedly there will be, for the autocratic Daly has said that the city is to have meters, whether it wants them or not. . He is not to be stopped by a trifling obstacle like the public will. The referendum is nothing to him, when it is applied - to his measures. The - people understand, however, that they-are voting- on the specific polity of water meter installation. If the proposal is voted down, they will find a way to take care of Commis sioner Daly, when he carries out his threat to ignore and' defy them. COrN'CXDBXCES. The German crisis and -the Mexi can crisis, DOtn now in meir nemo stages with America, are directly related.- President Wilson has evident ly decided to turn Watchful Waiting adrift and go to Mexico's aid, In the name of humanity. But he has a more specific reason, undoubtedly. Mexico has gone progressively from bad to worse since tne aajs or Huerta. The appeal for help for hu manity's sake was about as urgent then as now. Indeed, the President talked brilliant generalization about duty and humanity, but did nothing. The submerged 8 5 per cent had his sympathy, but that was all. It need ed more. But in his' Indianapolis speech the President coldly washed his hands of the whole wretched Mex ican business and the miserable Deople of the unfortunate republic were left to shift for themselves. It Is not now clear Just what has caused President Wilson to change his mind again. He has had a new special ambassador to Mexico in Duval West, and he Is acting upon his counsel, so it is said. But the pressure of European events, too, has weighed heavily, probably. It seemed necessary that our own nouse oe put in order. The people of the United States within a few months have grown fa miliar with the terrific visage of war. A year ago a serious misunderstand ing with Germany, or any European power, would have created immense excitement. But now the country faces even the eventuality of war with evident calmness, though it would be a mistake to say that there Is no pa triotic feeling or acute National inter est in the issue. Certainly, however, it Is .now accepted that we have been living in a fool's paradise In our be lief that we were not exposed in any emergency to foreign entanglements or attack. We are. vve know we are. After all, Mexico seems now not so difficult for us. FOREIGN TRADE IN APRIL. The balance of trade in favor of the United States increased at a some what accelerated pace in April, in consequence of a slight increase or Imports and a slight decrease of exports compared with Marcn, Dut it still reached the comfortable total for the month of $133,894,093, while for ten months of the fiscal year it was $851,358,319. Imports In April were $160,5 6,106, compared with $157,982,016 in March 1915, and with 1173,762,115 in Apm, 1914. Exports in April were J9 4,- 470.199, compared with $296,611,852 in March, 1915, and $162,552,570 in April. 1914. For ten months ending April. 1915 and 1914. respectively, the imoorts were $1.374. 189, 749 and 1,- 572.114.692. a decrease of $197,924.- 943. and the exports were $2,045, 774.485. an increase of $179,- 773,583. The balance of trade in the ten months ending April 30, 1915, was $851,348,319, compared with $473,659,793 in the ten months ending April, 1914, an Increase of $377,698,526. Imports, for the ten months under discussion are far be low those of the corresponding periods of the two preceding fiscal years, while the exports are the great est on record. Comparing the ten-month periods, the greatest increase has been in wheat, from $74,117,403 to $296,981, 468; oats, from $431,301 to $43,971. 511, and corn, from $5,598,595 to $31,437,582. Of other commodities, flour shows, an increase from $45. 785 640 to $77,869,916; cottonseed oil, from $12,271,232 . to $17,541,637; canned beef, from $390,128 to $9,473, 376; fresh beef, from $640,696 to $12,862,504; bacon, from $22,722,978 to $36,714,705. These are the princi pal commodities exported to feed the allied armies and nations. Under the head of mineral oils there has been a heavy decrease in exports of illumi nating oil, namely, from $61,990,993 to $42,770,482, and a lesser decrease in crude oil, namely, from $5,869,884 to $3,860,633, and exports of lubricat ing oil have been - nearly stationary. The quantity of gasoline, naphtha, etc., exported has increased from 146, 328,837 to 188,722,629 gallons, but the price has fallen to such a degree that the value has decreased from $21, 653,973 to $21,355,491. We have in creased exports of fuel oil and - re siduum from $12,198,997 to $15,-427,638. NATURE AND TWILIGHT SLEEP. Dr. J. L. Baer, of the Michael Reese Hospital, Chicago, does not approve of the celebrated "twilight sleep." His objections are published in the Journal of the American Medi cal Association. Sifted down, they come to this, that his hospital does not need the new process and that it "interferes with the processes of na ture." The older and more reverent phrase was that anesthetics of any sort "interfered with the will of God." The Michael Reese Hospital, if we can believe Dr. Baer, conducts ob stetrical cases with but little incon venience to the patients. They are usually "alert on the second day" and recover so promptly that he "is at a loss to understand'' the language phy sicians ordinarily use about "the ex haustion of labor." Happy the pros pective mother, we should say, who gains admission to the Michael Reese Hospital and falls under the miracu lous expertness of Dr. Baer. We wish in this connection merely to correct one misapprehension. Modern city people do not live "in a state of nature" and childbirth has been surrounded with so many diffi culties and perils by civilization that it is only by straining language that we can call it a "natural process.." Women living in a state of nature bear children with very little pain or danger. The twilight sleep to 'some extent reproduces " this desirable condition. GARDENING AND VACANT LOTS. The City of Newark, N. J-, takes a worthy, pride in the amount of vacant-lot gardening which Is under way there this season. The Newark News speaks highly of these gardens. It says the idea of cultivating them is "one of the most useful, pleasant and inexpensive plans ever devised for the benefit of city people who could not otherwise have gardens of their own." The News gives proper credit to Mayor Pingree, of Detroit, who first thought of utilizing vacant lots in this way some twenty years ago. In his day 7000 lots were borrowed by the City of Detroit and planted to pota toes by the "unemployed." The first year's crop was worth something like $13,000. The plan has been contin ued in Detroit and has always given eood results. Last year s crop was worth about $60,000. New York, Chicago, Cincinnati and Cleveland have adopted the plan and all of them are pleased with it. Mayor Pingree, who Is now dead, receives a great deal of praise for the vacant-lot gardening which he originated, but at first it was ridiculed. The notion of helping the poor to help themselves struck the American public as absurd. It was perfectly proper to hand out charity. But to put- into their hands the means of bettering their condition without in juring anybody else seemed prepos terous. Mayor Pingree had to pay the usual penalty of the pioneer, but he held fast to his idea and now it is accepted everywhere as sound and helpful. Gardening in vacant lots ana back yards has only begun to develop, but it has already appreciably bet tered the condition of hundreds of poor families. It Is capable of doing a srreat deal more when it is better systematized and, carried on with more adequate Knowledge. jviosi back-yard gardens could be made to produce a great deal more fruit and berries than they do now without di minlshing the crop of vegetables. This is .one way to improve them, and of course there are many others. GERMANIC'S LATEST VICTORY, One of the most brilliant feats of generalship revealed by the war is the driving back by the Aus tro-German army of the Russian right wing from the Dunajec River an the San River, in Ga licia. It has won back from the Rus sians a stretch of territory in Galicia over ninety miles wide and about 10, 000 miles in area, but most important of all, it has compelled the retirement of the Russians from the Carpathians, thus undoing the -work accomplished In six months of furious fighting for control of the passes. For some time prior to the fall of Przemysl in March the Russians had been trying to force their way through the Carpathians and had made most progress in the west at the Dukla Pass. After the fortress surrendered the attack was extended all along the range as Tar as the Beskid Pass- The summits were captured and the Mus covites penetrated into Hungary at some points. For about seevnty-five miles the Russians held the moun tains. The battle front formed roughly speaking, three sides of square, of which the base followed the course of the mountains, the w side the Dunajec River, forty m east of Cracow, and the east sid tended from the mountains tj the Dneister River. About the middle of April the Ger mans and Austrians adopted a plan concentrate an -overwhelming attack on the two wings of the Russians. A great German army with a tremen dous weight of artillery was massed in Western Galicia. while the main Austrian forces were assembled in the eastern end of the province. The plan was to drive back the wings and-fold them up, cutting off the center and perhaps capturing it, or at least forc ing its retirement from the moun tains in order to avoid capture. This plan seems to have been adopted as the only means of dislodging the Rus sians from the mountains, where they were firmly planted on many heights and where frontal attacks had proved useless. The German attack on the west succeeded fully. The Russians had been warned of the concentration in that quarter, but were either too con fident in the strength of their posi tions on the Dunajec or were too ab sorbed in the attack on the. passes to make adequate provision for with standing - it. They could not stand before the tremendous bombardment and the great masses of troops which the Germans hurled at them. They were short of both artillery and am munition. They were driven back first to the Wislok, then to the WIs loka, and now to the San River, where they have at last rallied. Their right r center -has retreated from the Dukla and Lupkow Passes, some bodies be ing cut off and captured and the re mainder fleeing, northward to join the retreating right wing. The Austrians who had confronted the center poured through the mountains into Galicia and joined in the pursuit. The Aus-tro-German center advanced from the Uszok and Beskid Passes, which the enemy had -also abandoned, and -en deavored to cut the railroad between Przemysl and Lemberg. The Austrians, ' however, did not succeed in the corresponding move ment to double up the Russian left wing by .an advance from Bukowina upon Tarnapol and Lemberg. Their attack was repulsed and the Russians took the offensive, driving them back from the Dneister to the Pruth River, again approaching the mountains and placing Czernowitz sin danger. ' Hope of the Teutons that they might en velop the Russian army is gone. It is now making a stand on the San to prevent the investment of Przemysl, and appears to be holding its ground. Italy seems to have intervened at the opportune time to enable the Russians to reorganize their battered and diminished army. The necessity of protecting herself in the south is likely to prevent Austria from send ing reinforcements to the Galician front for the purpose of completing Jhe expulsion of the invaders, espe cially as Serbia shows signs of re newed activity. Russia can now im port war material through Vladivo stok and Archangel, and can equip her armies for a new offensive. The German victory is partly the fruit of a perfect railroad system and of Interior lines of communication. Germany freely transfers troops from the west to -the east front and sends new levies in either direction. Herein lies, the one great advantage of her central position, for it almost doubles the effective valu-e of each man. Of course Dixie will "back Wilson.1 Who has thought of doubting It? The reports of loyalty in the South are pleasant to read, but superfluous Where patriotism is concerned there is no South now and no JCorth, there is nothing but the United States. Our National motto is literally exact. E pluribus unum means one formed from many parts, with all the empha sis on One. It is disquieting to read that the Irene explosion may have been caused by a "wireless bomb," but there is nothing unlikely in the hy pothesis. "Wireless electro-magnetic waves can do so many things of a de structive nature nowadays that we are disposed to blame them for every ca tastrophe. If they do not deserve their evil repute quite yet, they will soon. The agitation for Leo Frank's re prieve may not save his life, but it shows pretty clearly what the people of the United States think of mob trials. Frank's conviction was a sol emn mockery of justice. The external forms of law were punctiliously ob served, but the trial was conducted by a fanatical mob who dictated the ver dict to the jurors. No doubt the courts will meticu lously weigh the question whether booze In candy is booze or something else. Much, hangs on their decision. A drink served in a shell of candy Is as refreshing as in a champagne cup, and if its sale is found not to violate the prohibition law, great hilarity may be foreseen in some quarters. A great many inexplicable accidents are happening just now to the guns in American forts and to certain cargoes on shipboard. The stories of spies In foreign employ gain some credibility from these unfortunate incidents. They are said to permeate all branches of our public service, but of course such tales are preposterous. The Summer school of the Univer sity of Oregon offers courses for teachers that should prove extremely attractive. Dr. G. Stanley Hall is one of the promised lecturers. He is our greatest authority on educational subjects. His books are interesting as well as profound. His lectures never fail to stimulate thought. The hoop skirt, if it comes, will give this generation a touch of hilarity. There are times, of course, ' when wearing it is wisdom. Empress Eu genie adopted it, upon occasion, three score years ago, and civilized woman followed, regardless of need. Its reign will be brief, for it will shock itself into disuse. " Tales of cruelty by troops of both armies on the eastern battle lines are to be expected. If the Turk could get abroad he would discount all. Real humanity, which means simple kill ing, is found only in France, where all the armies are too busy to engage in the frivolity of warring on the weak and aged. In eulogizing Jefferson Davis at Richmond yesterday. General Green, of Little Rock, said the President of the Confederate States was- "finding his true place in history." Time works wonders, but in this case only half a pfitury has elapsed and tf ougn. The festivities of this month will ose with the annual reunion of the Oregon Pioneers in this city on June 241 This is the event of the year to the sturdy folk who trekked the Great Plains, leading the star of empire, o to speak. - Very likely the watchman dropped something and let off the dynamite at Seattle. So the plot thins instead of thlckenine and the Germans havfe one less "victory or sin to their credit. At last you can get something for nothing. Government is giving away stamped postcards at San Francisco All you need do is go there. Now the Zeppelins have the range of London, the warfare on innocent women and children can begin at any time. The "damage" to artillery In the upper Coast forts turns out to have been, a dope dream or a private. If a Zeppelin can reach London, why cannot a British machine drop a few bombs on Berlin ? -; - King Victor Emmanuel is on the firing line. He cocked a cannon the other day. Portland can absorb a little more rain, but Mr. Beals knows what Is due next week. It's a wise child in Europe that will know its father. J Sis Advice on Measures THE OREGOXIAN herewith presents its recommendations to the voters on the several measures on the ballot in the forthcoming city election. Because of space considerations the titles are not given in full, but the measures are presented in regular or der. Ordinance authorizing the purchase of 5000 water meters. 100, Yes; 101, No. A measure involving the policy of Installation of meters on all services In the city and proposing an ultimate ex penditure of several hundred thousand dollars to curb use of water, although millions of gallons are going to waste at intake and reservoirs. Vote) 101, Ke. Ordinance prohibiting the sale of groceries on Sunday. 102, Yes; 103, No. This ordinance would permit numer ous designated business houses to re main open on Sunday and permit the sale of tobacco, milk, fruit, confection ery and newspapers, but would- prohibit the sale of groceries. We can see no reason for making an invidious dis tinction between groceries on the one hand, and tobacco, milk, fruit and con fectionery on the other. Vote 103, No. Charter amendment authorizing re appointments in the classified civil service in the order of original ap pointments. 104, Yes; 105, No. Under the present system the em ploye of shortest service Is the first dismissed. The charter requires that he shall be the first to be reinstated, although subsequent to his dismissal employes of longer service may have also been discharged. The amendment permits the reinstatement first of the experienced employes. Vote 104, Yes. An act providing for collection of garbage at the expense or tne taxpay ers. 106. Yes; 107. No. A measure proposing in times of business depression a new city venture estimated to cost upwards of $150,000 a year. Vote 107, No. Charter amendment authorizing the Council to provide in one proceeding for the elimination of grade crossings of two or more streets with any rail road or railroads in a district. 108, Yes; 109, No. A measure designed to correct an ex istlng charter provision in the Interest of economy and convenience. Vote 108, Yea. An ordinance authorizing the Council to contract for the operation of the city pound by an organized society for the nrevention of cruelty to animais. 110. Yes; 111, No. This measure is frequently misunder stood as a proposal to surrender all the profits of the pound to the con tracting society. The ordinance gives the Council power to fix the terms of the contract and is not a plan to sur render revenues, but to Insure humane treatment of animals. Vote 110, Yes. An ordinance licensing and regulat ing jitneys. 112, Yes; 113. No. A weak and timid attempt to regu late a transportation service in tne interests of traffic and public safety, but better than no regulation at all. Vote 11, lu. s . A n act rjroviding for semi-annual payment of installments on street and sewer assessments. 114, les; no. iso, A measure designed to avoid the ne cessity of diverting the general fund to make advance payments on im provement bonds a process costly to the city and or no particular Denent An economy measure. Vote 114, .Yes. An act granting firemen's pensions to two disabled firemen. 116, Yes 117, No. This measure extends relief from fund already created to . two worthy city servants who are not now per mitted the benefits of the existing pen sion fund, because of technical word ing of the charter. Vote 116, Yen. 1 An act to authorize the Council to erect Xire stops, condemn property therefor and assess the cost to property benefited. 118. Ye; 119. No. This measure is particularly designed to provide fire protection for the Wil lamette River bridges. The plan is to construct fireproof i walls at the ap proaches and elsewhere on the water front where property is menaced by the spread of a possible conflagration. It is urged by the Dock Commission, Vote 118, Y. Meavorcs on Separate Ballot. The measure providing for the mer ger of St. Johns with Portland will appear alone on a separate ballot, un numbered. St. Johns is a populous dis trict, the intervening territory is well built ud and its admission wouia no mean a financial burden to Portland. Vote Yes. The measure providing for annexa tion of Linnton will appear alone on a. separate ballot, unnumbered. The community is small; municipal finances are not xn first-class condition ana in tervenlng territory is sparsely settled. The merger would probably mean an additional expense to Portland for time. On the other hand, annexation Is in line with growth and expansion and will be inevitable sooner or later. No recommendation. BETTER WORKS. Six thousand varied, awful years Of Drogress. peace, or strife. Have failed to teach mankind to keep die law of,love and life. We chain the lightning, talk through space. And navigate the air; Yet discord reigns black, cruel war. Want, sickness, death, despair. Devotion to right principles. Prompt action, careful thought. Accomplish more progressive ends Than all the battles fought. Sunlight and motion vitalize Plants, atmosphere and sea Wise thought and action energize For peaceful victory. Our Edison, Watts. Whitney, Morse Achieved, yet slew no men; While Luther. Spurgeon, Moody. Knox Reformed-by voice and pen.. The careless cannot hope to win In earth's unequal strife: Inaction enervates, or kills;-- Activity aids life. , Greed, dissipation, idleness Vex, sicken and annoy; Work, purity of heart and life Bring comfort, peace and joy. No recreation, habit, sport Should weaken or exhaust; The reaper does not whet the blade Till all the steel is lost. Our habits all should edify; Toil, thinking, reading, play; Our courage be commensurate With duties on the way. L D. WEST FALL, Tualatin, Or. BROAD VIEW OP ANNEXATIONS S. Benson I rgn Taking In Suburban Towns as Sound Business. PORTLAND. June 1. (To the Edi tor.) If the voters of Portland shouM fail on June 7 to vote in favor of the annexation of the town of Linnton to this city, it would, in my opinion, be a serious mistake. With its six miles of frontage on the Willamette River and the certainty of the town's growing mportance as an industrial district ana for dockage of deep-draft vessels, Linn ton's absorption by Portland is desir able and should be accomplished with out objection, now that the town has asked to become a part of the large city. It Is equally important that St. Johns, on the opposite side of the river, be also annexed. Having in mind that the extension of Portland's harbor down the river below the bridges Is desirable and that the large developments to this city's shipping facilities must come to the lower river section, where there is ample dock space within reach of all rail lines, it Is a short-sighted policy to oppose the proposition that Portland take In and have jurisdiction over tne additional six miles of river front on both sides. The Willamette River is Portland's largest commercial asset, and the more of it that can be absorbed Dy this city the more taxable wealth Port land will have. It will also add to the city's population and give Portland greater prestige. A broad and comprehensive view should be taken of the proposition to annex these suburbs. The future needs of Portland . make the absorption of Linnton and St. Johns desirable frcm every business consideration. To deny these suburbs to come into this city would be a return to unprogressive policies. Objection to annexation is similar to the opposition which was shown when East Portland was an nexed. But annexation carried then, and I doubt if any one would consent to the cutting off of the East Side and letting the West Side become the Port land of old and East Portland an inde pendent municipality. Those who op pose annexation could as consistently work for the dismemberment of th city and return to the pl&n of inde pendent city government for each small unit or community. Portland will gain by annexing Linn ton and St. Johns, and the towns, which are now part of Portland in a commer cial sense, will also profit by cutting out duplicated expenses of municipal government. Linnton has its own water supply system, the same water as Port land has, and a distributing system built according to Portland's standard That alone is a valuable asset and will avoid the necessity of expending money to supply water to the section proposed to be annexed. Linnton and St. Johns will bring to Portland a large volume of taxable wealth and will increase more rapidly a producer of public revenue than any other part of Portland fronting on the river. The finances of both towns are in sound condition, and the points in favor of annexation so far outweigh the few objections raised that I fail to see why . every voter should not favor the proposition, which has received the indorsement of the Chamber of Com merce after full Investigation. - S. BENSON. CE.MCS LIVES IX SPITE OF WAR Edmond Rostand's Lyric Tribute to American Kins; Proves It. PORTLAND, June 1. (To the Ed itor.) Edmond Rostand's lyric tribute to the Stars and Stripes, reprinted In The Oregonian Sunday, is one of the finest poems which has appeared as the result of the war. It will not only cement more firmly the bonds of friendship which have for centuries united France and the United States, but will, if such a thing were possible, make us all more loyal Americans. If such verses do not disprove the oft repeated dictum that war paralyzes genius, they at least furnish a re markable exception. Perhaps from no other "nation than France could such literature issue at this time. In culture, delicacy of perception, strict adherence to the finer dictates of human nature and devotion to the sentiments of friendship between nations France has no peer. Nowhere else to the same degree is the spirit of commercialism subordinate to the higher attributes of civilization. Edmond Rostand does not so often come before the public, but when he does come he compels our attention, His imagination is brilliant, sometimes almost spectacular, but always sus tained by noble concepts; and in this chant to the stars he has given us i conception of our flag that cannot bu thrill every patriotic citizen to the deepest fibers of his being. If any thing bo fine has ever been written of it it has not been my good fortune to see it. Without disparagement to the flag of any other nation, of what other can it be said that vandal hands can cut away its finest emblem and through the rent we look upon its ever-living counterpart in the heavens There is the true ideal which any flag should symbolize and which our own pre-eminently signifies to all the world. Once before France showed her faith that the destiny of the United States was to enlarge and perpetuate th sphere of liberty throughout th world; and now again one of her fa vored sons has lifted the concept o freedom, as typified by the Stars and Stripes, to heights sublime. It is magnificent tribute from one great na tion to another, and the last half, at least, of this poem ought to be com mitted to memory by every man, worn an .and child. In this country. C. H. SHOLES. DUPLICATE SERVICES ANNOYING Mr. Powers Objects to Maintenance o Two Telephone Systems. PORTLAND, June 1. (To the Edi tor.) For some time past, through newspaper columns, Mr. Ed Word has been laying special stress on the dupli cate telephone systems in Portland, and at the same time he does not seem to come out and take a stand in favor of either company. The subject is surely worth consideration. If the public will stop to figure, we have two telephone systems in Port land, each guaranteed a fair net income over and above the cost of operation and maintenance, which is 6 per cent. according to the Interstate Commerce Commission and laws of some 34 states. Or. in other words, ell public utilities are guaranteed a 6 per cent interest on nl 1 investments. And there is no such a thing as competition between the telephone companies, but under th present condition I am compelled to maintain the servioe of both companies at an expense of $111 a year for the Home telephone and $132 for the P cific. Moreover, there is no other busi ness or business man in this country, except a public utility, that is guaran teed a fair rate of interest or fair profit bv the public on his investment. I personally think it is time for th citizens of. Portland to take a stand i this telephone question, and either com pel the two telephone companies to con soli-date or the citizens unite in sup nort of one by discontinuing the other. Judging from Mr. Word's articles In the paper, I should say that he seems to be familiar with the telephone rate and conditions throughout the differ ent states, and. this being the case would like to have Mr. Word show hi hand and let us know which company he Is representing, or what interest he has in the companies. Speaking for myself, my Idea Is to discontinue one teleplione service, thereby saving $111 a year, and I am sure the same rule would apply to many other business men in Portland UAJN .rJ. ruwiSKS, 13-17 Lewis Bldg Twenty-Five Years Ago From The Oregonian of June 2, 1890. Washington. Senator Dolph has taken as much Interest In the Oregon election as if it had been his term which expires next March! Believing that the tariff was the important issue. e made a speech in answer to Senator Voorhees which attracted wide and fa vorable attention, and 20.000 copies have een mailed out to Oregon. Chairman Lotan, of the Republican tate central committee, estimates Thompson will be elected over Pen- oyer by 4750 to 67o, or a majority cE 075. This estimate is made on a can- ass of the counties and a separate estimate for each county. Ogden. Utah." Rev. Sam Small, the Southern evangelist, has been elected resident of the Methodist university in this city. This necessitated the sev- rance of Mr. Small from the Southern Methodist conference and the affilia tion with the Northern Methodist con- erence. A Snider, of Lakeview. candidate for the office of State Senator, tells the Linkville Star that the time is near when Lake and Klamath counties will be receiving their supplies from Port land instead of San Francisco. Eugene C. Protzman has written a letter to The Oregonian attacking the McKinley tariff bill in true Democratic style. t The remains of Professor P. H. Red mond, the well-known aeronaut who lost his life In making a balloon ascen sion at Snohomish, was interred in Lone Fir Cemetery yesterday morning. Professor Redmond was well known in Portland, having made a number of successful ascensions from the vacant lot at the foot of Jefferson-street ferry. The New York papers have been in an agony of apprehension lest & hos tile warship should sail into the Long island Sound and drop a bomb into the postoffice. The latest French scheme of consti tutional revision" contemplated by M. de Gaste provides for making women eligible for seats in the Senate and to the Presidency and Vice-Presidency, which he would establish on the Amer ican plan. Stanley Is still indulging in exces sive plainness of speech in London. In a recent letter to the Times he says Doioiy mat it the lierman colonial de mands be granted it would be more economical to make Germany a gift of tne wnole British sphere. Then Brit ish investors might obtain so many shillings for the pounds they so credulously have been victimized out of. In conclusion he declares that the German sphere Is the finest in Africa and adds: "Still their cry is 'Give, Give." it you tninlc they are better adapted than the English to civilize the African. do nothing half-heartedly. Yield all. including iJgypt. Xsever a word of pro test shall you hear from me. Exces sive amiability may become an Infirm ity and the infirmity of neglisence. like other diseases, grows until it ends in senility." This may be true enough, but the funny thing about it is the patience wim which tne jsritisn puDiic ana the government consent to be scolded by a traveling Yankee newspaperman. METER CASE IS TOLD IX RHYME School Pupil Clves-Vlsltlngr Nurse Good Excuse lor Dirty Face. PORTLAND, June 1. (To the Ed itor.) I am with you heart and soul in your campaign against the proposed system of meters for the city, and base the inclosed rhyme upon actual fact, as I know of two instances where a strict surveillance Is kept on the con sumption of water, because since the installation of meters in these two res idences the water bill has been exor bitant. In one instance the resident of the sightly hillside home in a me tered district has had to let his lawn dry up because he could not afford to pay for the upkeep as measured out by his water meter. In another -district an economical householder has been found to curtail the daily use of the shower bath by the four boys, be cause Bull Run water is being" doled out to his residence by the quart. "Whafdid you learn at school today?" I asked o a merry lad. 'O lots of things." he answered me, "A peach of a time we had. First the music teacher" heard us sins;. Then the girls stayed in to sew While we chased out to another school For Tiianuai tralniiiK. you know. We just returned when we heard the gong Professor Krohn was there. So we marched up to the assembly hall Gymnastic inspection there. Then we went home to lunch at last. And after wo got back. The visiting nurse was there to look At us. and my pal Jack Say he got into an awful scrape. And gee! he's awful blue. 'Cause teacher's mad and he don't know Just what he's groing to do. The visiting nurse looked at our tongues And throats and eyes to see If we've got measles, mumps or colds, And then she talked o see! How she did talk and talk and talk About the use of water. She knows more things about the stuff (Guess Mr. Daly taujtbt herl. And then she jiounced on my pal Jack. His face was not the cleanest; She scolded him with all her mljrht "Because," she said, "the meanest Humblest, poorest boy need never, never show 'fhe lack of wat-r on his face. For you all surely know There's water, lots for a million bos To wash six times a day." Then my pal Jack got awful white. Then red. then mad. and say. He Jumped right up and shook his fist, I thought at first he'd beat her "You don't know what you're talking about," He yelled, "We're on a meter! itABGAKET JEFFERT. Jim Stewart Not Crosseyed. Fossil Journal. . TVe beard the Italian warblers sing ing "Traviata." It sounded real good, but was harder on the nerves than a thres-ring circus. It sure does keep one on the qui vive to read with one eye the English translation of the Latin opera in the glossary that they sell you for two bits, and at the same time keep the other optic glued to the prima donna. (The above paragraph Is taken from "Innocence Abroad." a column written by Jim Stewart about a trip to Port land. There are several items in this column that are far too good for pub lication in a city paper. From their tenor it would seem the part of wis dom for Mrs. Stewart to accompany Jim on his future trips here; also when he goes down to Salem as a member of the Legislature). Clark Wood Is a Colonel Now, Weston Leader. The sporting editor of the Helix Ad vocate refers to Colonel "Wood's base ball team as the Weston "congrega tion." Athena Press. Well, its leading members frequently pas the plate. r " The Buyers Guide Advertising In a well-conducted newspaper like The Oregonian Is a buyer's guide. It is the "tell table" of "what 13 best to get" and "where it is best to go." It covers every phase of human wants. . It changes with the seasons. It presents the newest ideas. Above all else, the advertising carries with It a promise of secur ity, for the advertiser can only hope to profit by making good on his printed promises.