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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (June 4, 1915)
8 THE arORXTXG OREGOXIAN. FRIDAY, JUNE 4, 1915. POBTLAXD, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, Poatofflca aa econa-ciasa matter. Subscription Rate Invariably la advance: (By MalL) Sally. Sunday Included, one year ....... 98. OO Xjaily, Sunday included, six montbe . ... - 4.25 Xaily, Sunday Included, three months ... 2-25 XJaily, Sunday included, one month ..... .75 Dally, without Sunday, one year ........ 6.00 Xaily. without Sunday, six montna S.li5 Daily, without Sunday, three montha .... 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one montA ...... .ou Weekly, one year ........... 1.60 Sunday, one year .......... 2.60 Sunday and Weekly, one year .......... 8.60 (By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year ....... 9.00 Dally, Sunday Included, one month. ..... .75 How to Remit Send Poatoffica money or der, expre&a order or personal check on your local Danjt. btanipa, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address in tull. including county and state. Postage Bate 13 to It pages. 1 cent; 18 to 32 panes, 2 cents; 84 to 43 pases, 8 cents; 60 to ou pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 6 cents: 78 to 92 pages, 6 cents. foreign postage, double rates. Eastern Business Office Veree & Conklln, New York, Brunswick building; Chicago, fctenger building.-- POKTLAJfD. FRIDAY. JCJ.E 4, 1915. A DELtJSIOX DIBPEIXED. Dreadful aa waJ the Lusltania trag edy, it will not have been without good results, both to the United States and Germany, if it brings both na tions to a clearer understanding of their relative positions. Hope of this result is raised by the interview of Count von Bernstorff with .President Wilson and by the dispatch which be lias sent to the German government. The good result to the United States is that American citizens of German birth have felt Impelled to declare where they would stand in a Quarrel between the United States and Ger many with the United States or with Germany. With few exceptions they have of course declared for the United States. This response has dispelled a dangerous delusion which Count von Bernstorff had cherished and had communicated to his government. He had mistaken for disloyalty to the United States a natural and laudable sympathy of German-Americans for the land of their own or their parents' birth. Many German-Americans ex cuse the sinking of the Lusltania, but if that event should become the occa sion of an ultimate issue between the United States and Germany, the senti ment of nearly all la, "My country, right or wrong," and by their coun try they mean the United States. The existence of this state of feel ing is & revelation to Count von Bern storff. The fact that it is so 'is an other example of that amazing mis reading of other nations' minds which, in part at least, led Germany into this war. German statesmen surveyed the territory of their pros pective enemies and saw Ireland on the verge of civil war, the Boers ready for rebellion at the first sign of suf ficient outside help, India and Egypt ripe for revolt. They believed that, If they dragged Turkey Into the war, every Mohammedan would rush to arms for his faith. What they have actually seen is an immediate dying down of internal discontent and a union of all the people of Ireland, India and Egypt against the enemy from without. The skilfully sown j seeds of disloyalty in South Africa broke into flame, but the vast major ity of Boers stood fast, and a Boer army led by Boer Generals put down the rebellion and then conquered for Britain the German colony which had been a military base for the re volt. ' The summons to a holy war met with no response among the Mo hammedans outside of Turkey. Ger many is left in the same position as the man who Interferes in a. quarrel between husband and wife; the quar rel is forgotten and both turn upon the meddler. so long as there appeared to be no danger that the United States would become a party to the war, the Amer ican people divided in opinion accord ing to their sympathies, and the sym pathies of the foreign-born almost in variably turned to their native land. The feeling f German-Americans was Intensified by the fact that the great majority of the people was in sympathy with the allies. The Ger man cause was brought aggressively to the front by the systematic propa ganda of Herr Dernburg, which re called unpleasant memories of Citi zen Genet, of French revolutionary days. But no sooner was the Lusl tania sunk than the question became one not of foreign nations discussing their differences in the open forum of American public opinion and evoking the sympathy of race brethren; it be came one of the United States against a nation which had done a terrible wrong to the American people. All other sentiments died down and there were few discordant notes in a chorus of voices which expressed calmly but firmly a determination that th3 rights of Americans must be upheld at any cost. If Count von Bernstorff .can con vince the German government of his and its error in misjudging American sentiment, he will do a great service to both countries. The German re ply to President Wilson's demand that German methods of warfare be changed to conform with the dictates of humanity and the rules of civilized warfare is explicable only as having been inspired by this misconcep tion. It treats the Lusltania affair as a case for long-drawn-out diplo matic discussion of details, the out come of which will be awaited patient ly by the American people. It as sumes that there is no question of war, an assumption which may be' ex plained only by the false theory that pro-German sentiment is so strong . among German-Americans that they would stand by Germany against the United States and that the American Government, knowing this, dare not go to the "extreme of war. Herr von Jagow needs to be informed of the real state of American public opinion and of the great danger of trifling with it, in order that his reply to Mr. Wilson's next note may avert that danger. 1 The Lusltania affair has made German-Americans anxious to make it known where tbey stand. It has re moved a dangerous misconception on that subject and on American senti ment from the mind of Count von Bernstorff. If the German Ambassa dor can remove the same misconcep tion from the minds of the German government, those Americans who died on the Lusltania will not have died in vain. By bringing us face to face with the possibility of -war, their death will have awakened a genuine loyalty in the hearts of many of our citizens, will have drawn the people Into closer union and may save Ger many from the terrible mistake of provoking us to fight under the de lusion that we would not fight. The question who owns Przemysl could be settled with a good deal less trouble and expense if the people were allowed to vote upon it The sugges tion looks absurd, of course, but really it is not. The Przemyslitea had not a word to aay about starting the war pu. out tney are pawns in piaying it. And the people always will be pawns as long as Kings are the play ers. CRITICS AND ARTISTS. Owen Wister says some harsh . "e" Ui "-u. ",ul-0 " -"" Atlantic, .toward oarneit in a ior- mer article had doubted whether the object of meters, can be accomplished late O. Henry had received the credit in no other way than D making water he should. Mr. Wister replies that if so expensive that householders can he has not he soon will, for "Europe not afford to use it freely to meet has recognized his good qualities. The their needs, as they do now. All talk danger is over. Provincialism can about cheaner water fhrn,h motor. j.ci.y nit u ecuu. a u: uo artist always receives me suppuri. ui our critics after he no longer needs It." , Our struggling artists in literature, gard to our critics much as Samuel jonnson did toward Lora unesierneia. vvneu me comparatively uunuowp au- thor applied to the great "gentle- man" for help with his dictionary he was kicked from the door. Later, hen the work was already famous, Chesterfield offered the help he had critics come to the rescue of starving """" tc"" " " ,,V Unhappily, our young literary men .ar, -t.lrtr.rv, r. 1,r rht h.rnrv Wni.lrl " ,' Vi o j tt 7 rr .v.- 't v... . , is the only one who has done so of late years, but most readers thought , ..' ,. . r,.v.ix, W6li , V1! AUan" evM I-"; ZC,7r-Z- I'm Z...-. fore his books began to be popular, . -. . . . . . Korm rl o.4 oil V, nlihHel.ard KnwA4 r. him 'J,. ADVICE AM) HEALTH. Most good advice about taking care of the health falls on heedless ears, Oh. ves." the listener comments In- differently, "all that Is well enough when a man has time to attend to it. But It doesn't concern me, for I naven t tne time. &o ne goes on nis way wun inaigesuon, naraening or the arteries and incipient kidney I trouble, all because he has no time to attend to his health. In a few years he will find time to go to the grave or a hospital, and then he will wish he had stooDed work long enough to keep his body fit But not all advice is utterly wasted. Some of the seed falls now and then on srood ground I and springs up to bear a crop. Warn- Ings about the destructive diseases of mature life have been repeated so often in the newspapers that they seem really to have caused a few in- dividuals to take a little thought about their condition. Men of fifty or more years, seeing their companions in business and treasure droo off so fast. I are asking how soon it will be their turn. . I The mortality among adult Amerl- can men exceeds all reasonable fig- ures. and the worst feature of the case Is that their death rate is increasing. The progress of science has done lit tle or nothing to check it. Women, children and boys have profited by the progress of medicine, but for adult men it has not done much. This is their own fault. Their maladies are those of"degeneration" which are entailed by excessive devotion to the daily routine and too little relaxation and exercise. As a rule the American said that we could "not supply the ar business man does not know how to tillery ammunition for an army of the enjoy himself in any innocent sport He likes to look on while others ex- ercise In a baseball game or something of the sort, but his own muscles re- main idle and irrow every day more flaccid, while his heart-beats grow feebler. Longfellow was literally ex- act when he wrote that the American heart, like a muffled drum, "beats fu- neral marches to the grave." And all the trouble comes from our failure to relax, to break off work and take time to day. For no exercise helps any I unless it is suffused with the spirit of play. .Boston, wnicn is commonly sup- posed to know everything, has been compelled to go to XNew xor ior an answer to tne question vv nen does negligible. It is so small as to ap a woman cease to be young?" The proach more closely to the require New York Globe, after many search- ments of Montenegro than to those of ings or tne Drain, is aisposea to repiy that a woman never grows old as long as her heart is young. Such women may be 50. or 60, or 70 years old. as mere umo is tctnuiicu, uut wen nearts are nuea wun love, meir buuis absorb the sunshine of life and their breasts are always ready "to pillow the head of a crying baby," and, tri- umphantly cries the Globe, they are we agree mat tney never ougnt to De. in a Detter-reguiaiea worm iney Dlwnvfl V.A vnunff n 1 fair- -Th beauty of their souls goes far to keep off the devouring tooth of time even in this imperfect sphere, but, do their utmost, it finally seizes them and in I spite of all our poetical protestations I to the contrary the best of women grow old and die. The rule is much the same for both sexes. "When the almond tree shall flourish and the grasshopper shall be a burden" the time is at hand for man to go to his long home and the mourners to go I about the streets." It is better, upon the whole, bravely to race the truth tnat we must all grow old and die. Proper attention to hy- giene- and a cheerful disposition can often put off the evil day, but nothing can prevent Its coming at last. The wisest pnuoaupny uounseia ub not to e1 uvc r.i, wo tnu- not help. Let us then accept the in- eviiaom aim Bay no inure uiraui it. i ne last j-ears or me may De maae as them may express it too crudely to happy and useful as any others if we satisfy the exacting demands of a cul only set about it Far worse than tured taste, but awkwardness of this aeatn liseir is tne perpetual naste to n r 1. Vi.lf watr rhnr va oa oa rt f t r. n I ...co " "-j "- in aging men ana women, xney must b i.ic.i .iuuoc.i.ciHs I Because iney are gening om. as ii mat were not tne Dest 01 ail reasons lur ti."sis inuio ""'uu w thing that makes life interesting and j-'-iuiun uuv, . tJ.TS aa- i tonishment of many, that some of the most useful people in the world are r.un.c.1 """ "c" i" - o r a 1 w .ui7 wo .v,. i For the most part these women are cheerful, vigorous and energetic ThAl- irionra of Ufa arc nana Wln vvuTO they have seen and sunered enough " men '"'" " "" not expect too much of life because they have measured its possibilities, They have learned the great lesson of facing facts bravely even when the facts contain little encouragement Through everything they have kept the lamp of faith alight and now they are letting it shinaout over the whole world. Such women are needed and they are answering the call of duty in greater numbers- every year. They make no hollow pretenses of being young, but their serene and golden I i age shines with a beantv whioh falrlv compensates for youth's too transitory i Dioom. ANOTHER LUXURY, water Is to become a luxury if Commissioner Daly and his newspa per allies succeed In deluding the peo ter scheme.- Reduction in the amount of water consumed, the announced i is nonsense and catch-vote deception. i To thn ritiron it seem that there are now sufficient I lUXUripH- Within trio loot- f uttt the general tendAiK-rtnni or living has affected one commodity after another until they have soared beyond easy reach of the man with a siender Durse. That w shr.nl rlo- iib.t.,v anrt r10j,ooc, this ,ist Js preposterous Th wisdom of .irnr,-n, r,ti ,,K f .aroT. , v, onstrated ln Por0and. It haa been land one of cleanest an(J sheaUn. lest cities in the world. . The policy nas resulted In making the city, from RplIwnn, t st , 7 . . "U,U lana Heights to Monta villa, one great evergreen garden, adorned with the cb.oicest flowers. Why -change all rt,, t Jr ,. tnls for a ejstem that would penalize cleanUness, place a premium on dry lawns and put water forever in the i"! 1f". r7?J? BZ. fo?5at? l" aAXVXU W UOB) lb WlUlOUl UCilUVtUrJlS IS stin a sizable stream and Portland ning to waste from the reservoirs. Be. sides Eastern meter manufacturers to wnom we would hand several hun area thousand dollars. who would Bain by this demanded sacrifice of cieannness, healthfulness. conven ience and civic beauty? prolongeng the war indeed! So much has been said about the immense quantity of war material wrucn tne united States is supplying to the allies that World's ' Work has done well in pinning us down to hard facts. It places the amount of artil- lery ammunition used by the allies at ou.uou.ooo rounds a month and the amount supplied by the American fac. tories at not more than 25,000 rounds a month, or one-twentieth of 1 per cent The quantity of small arms cartridges we supply is estimated at one-eighteenth of 1 per cent of the allies' requirements. At this rate the contnoution of the United States to l" prolongation or tne war, about which so much fuss has been made. Is innnitesimai. Ihese figues have an important bearing on our own situation, for they tortiry what has already been said about our utter unprepared ness to carry on a war on the scale of modern conflicts. The same writer estimates that if this country were called upon to put 1,000,000 men in the field It would have to manufacture 8,000,000 rounds of artillery ammunition month, or more than 300 times our present output. If this be true, the ocieninc American erred very much n the side of moderation when it size mentioned" for a year and a half. or an army of 500,000 men the Gen eral Staff estimates our needs at 3 292 guns, tnougn this is at a ratio far be low that maintained by Germany whose latest victory is attributed cnieny to overwhelming weight of ar- tillery. We have 634 guns and are making 226, which will not be fln- ished for a year and a half. To eauiD 000, 000 men and to be a match for Germany we should need four times 1292 guns, and ammunition in pronor- tlon. We have on hand for the guns "already made only 20.5 per cent of tne needed ammunition. We should order to take the field with l.ooo onn men. Our outrmt of war mntprial ha sr. nttle influence on the war as to be the United States. If we had a flrst- class war, the first thing we should be called upon to do would be to ap- point some American Lloyd George to tne new offlce of Scrrotsrv nf TVfi. nitlons. to convert cverr availahlo factory into a munition factory and to set them all going for twenty-four hours a day seven days a week. Bat- ties are lost and won in the arms and i ammunition Tflrrr.ri.as n m.iv, oa rt the field in these davs. kabbi wise's letter. Rabbi Wise's, defense of himself, which is printed in The Oregonian to- day, speaks for itself. We are crlad to notice that this letter is less deri- sive of our National Ideals than his first one was. "Jokes" are all very wen in tneir proper place, but they appear scarcely seemly when a great Nation -is engaged in mourning its dead. Rabbi Wise is at liberty to form his own opinions of our Memorial dav oratory. He may think it "insincere and dangerous" if he likes. No doubt ne could do a great deal better than most of the speakers, but we question whether his "jokes" would promote that spirit of peace which he savs he so much favors. He can hardly be in tne naoit or cracking such "jokes' - wnen ne preacnes luneral sermons, To most Americans love of their coun- try is a sacred emotion. Somo nf Kind Is not a sure slo-n of inrfnoHtv t - j i v. i t.n ... xwiuui "ise ougnt to learn that a rough exterior and crude ln,.ar oiten now rrora hearts as full of sound feeline as his own One or two nnint i ht- snouia receive a little comment The Oregonian has no ouarrol wtth r- yy lse S DPaCP rilMR. Tt haa al.n,a.. stood for neaeo an hQo tated to warn the people of the hor- rors or war. Rabbi Wise's intimation xi. e ureKoman nvao ti-n r-" oiua wun tne rpst or h. ,,n,-tnA j endo. It is not worth dpnvin, w. hate the horrors of war so bitterly .t--i . .... . ""-teny we are not wining to brins- thpm upon the country by servile pleas for peace to war lords who grant peace only to the dead. The miseries TOhh war has brought upon Europe are perfectly well known to all tho world They gain no new truth from Rabbi Wise's recital. The Oregonian wishes to see the United States so strong and so united in the spirit of self-defense that it may be forever safe from such horrors. The surest way to invite the woes of war is to expose weakness to Invaders. Had France not been able to mass a rreat armv in th tn path, that whole country would T nowwhTiistens to t. bL have been groaning under the tor ments of Belgium. Rabbi Wise has no warrant for ac cusing The Oregonian of "hatred for Germany." This paper does not hate dermany or any - other country. On the other- hand, it is not disposed to see our "country sacriflced"upon the Dloody altar of European feuds." As long as the Europeans keen their feuds to-themselves we are content to look, on quietly. When those feuds lead to the massacre of American citi zens, perfect repose seeuis hardly to meet the situation. We submit in all candor that decent regard for our Na tional rights does not imply hatred ror any other country. We may without impoliteness re mind Rabbi Wise that severance from "the horrid welter of European racial and . national animosities" has long been- the. policy of the United States. It was adopted very early in our his tory and has always had the unani mous support of the American people. They support it today. A singularly abhorrent entanglement forced upon us Dy a European nation has excited the resentment which now threatens a political crisis. We love our historic policy so well that we are ready to defend it, not with mere words, but with arms if the need should arise. The Oregonian's remarks about Dr. Wise and his letter were made with due restraint, under what it felt to be extraordinary provocation. It did not call him a coward, as he appears to think, nor did it insinuate that he is, except insofar as he has chosen to read the epithet into the suggestion that he was among those who "prefer their own safety" in time, of National peril.. We know. Indeed, that he is not a coward, for he gives proof that he is a very bold man. Nor do we think that our remarks were scurri lous, as he complains; but precisely that offensive characterization might well be applied to his own sneering reference to the celebration by the American people of Memorial day and the Fourth of July. It is no time to go fishing, and boast of It, when a pa triotic people salute their flag or shed tears for the valiant and unforgotten dead. General Julian S. Carr, of North Carolina, is right. "Rebel" is not al ways a term of reproach. The revo lutionary fathers were rebels in their day.- So was Cromwell and so was Carl Schurz. Had there been no rebels we should all be slaves. Poets have sung of "the sacred right of re bellion" and Thomas Jefferson made it flame eternally in the Declaration of Independence. General' Lee's fame is none the dimmer because he was a rebel. Yale has imported anpther wrinkle from Oxford. It is the "reading term" that precedes the academic year and tempts the student to quiet investiga tion, thought and self-culture. Our colleges are quite noticeably going to England for ideas now instead of Ger many. From the latter country we imported the big, driving university which thinks more of size than spirit. Perhaps a change is Just as well. Jack Kling is not too old to learn a lesson from his experience with the "unidentified man and the pretty girl" in the automobile. It is not pleasant to be chloroformed, gagged, robbed and cast into . a chilly grain bin, but if it teaches one to keep out of bad company the experience may pay in the end. - - Without intending to reflect on the solvency of any bank, we are inclined to think there would have been diffl culty about cashing JLhat $65,000,000 check and taking the cash away. It was a simple matter, .to deposit the check ln the bank oh which It was drawn. Hugh Brady, whose official title seems to be Clfy Grppler, deserves praise for the success that attends his work of recovering bodies. It may all be ln the "know how," but there are not many men who know how to proceed as does Mr. Brady. The Chicago burglar who prided himself on neither smoking, drinking nor indulging in any of the other sim ilar major dissipations was able to get away with only $1,000,000 In a year. Even this might be used as a good reform argument' King Victor, of Italy, having failed to adjust territorial disputes between his country and Austria without war, is perseverant at least He is willing to try his luck now 'as mediator be tween Russia and Roumanla on possi ble war spoils. It gives one queer emotions to .read that the "banks of the Middle West are bursting with money" that 'nobody wants. We trust they will not quite burst - If they did, somebody might suddenly find, that he wanted money very much. wouia a suomarine consider as contraband the 700 Italian reservists on the Principe di Udine that sailed from New York Wednesday? Mayor Sebastian, of Los Angeles, is vindicated, and those who cooked up a scandalous charge against him probably helped him. This is good time for the fruit-sell ing agencies to thrash out their trou bles and be in harmony when ' the crops are ready. ' T Stall the importuning .candidate by promise to vote for him. He'll never know nor care much when he crawls from under. Interest in the election is at such a low ebb that the candidates talk to each other for lack of other listeners. Some will talk to themselves after Monday. The row in the Police Band was probably an outbreak of tempera ment among the musicians. : If - the clubwomen decide to take the feathers off their hats, it would be a feather in their cap. Put away the 'umbrella; the north west winds are here for the Rose Festival. The Oregon bakers are going to take time to do a little loafing next week. . It's easy .to . tell the tourist on the street, but be sure to tell him right The marching clubs up the "Valley are tuning up for next Friday. Anybody can be doped and robbed Advice on Measures ffHE OREGONIAN herewith presents X its recommendations to the voters on the several measures on the ballot ln the forthcoming city election. Because of space considerations the titles are not given in full, but the measures are presented ln regular or der. Ordinance authorizing the purchase or 5000 water meters. 100, Yes; 101, mo. A measure Involving the policy of Installation of meters on all services in the city and proposing an ultimate ex pendlture of several hundred thousan dollars to curb use of water, although millions of gallons are going to waste at intake and reservoirs. " Vote 101, No. 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 th sale of tobacco, milk, fruit, contection 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 ln the classified civil service in the order of original, ap polntments. 104, Yes; 105, No. Under the present system the em ploye of shortest service is the first dismissed. Tho 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, Yu. An act providing for collection of garoage at tne expense of the taxpay era. 106, Yes; 107. No.. A ' measure proposing ln 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 crossing 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 isting charter provision in the interest of economy and convenience. Vote 108, Yes. An ordinance authorizing the Council to contract for the operation of the city pound by an organized society for tne prevention of cruelty to animals. 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, Yea. An ordinance licensing and regulat ing jitneys. 112, Yes; 118. No. A weak and timid attempt to regn late a transportation service ln the interests of traffic and public safety but better than no regulation at alL Vote 112, Yea. An act providing for semi-annual payment of installments on street and sewer assessments. 114, Yes; 115, No. 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 of no particular benefit An economy measure. Vote 114, Yea. 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 yie existing pen sion fund, because of technical word ing of the charter. Vote 116, Yea. An act to authorize the Council to erect fire stops, condemn property therefor and assess the cost to property benefited. 118, Yes; 119, No. This measure is particularly designed to provide fire protection for the Wil lamette River bridges. The plan Is to construct fireproof 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, Yea. Measures on Separate Ballot. The measure providing for the mer ger of St- Johns with Portland wiil appear alone on a separate ballot un numbered. St Johns is a populous dis trict the intervening territory is well built up and its admission would not mean a financial burden to Portland. Vote Yea. The measure providing for annexa tion of Linnton will appear alone on a separate ballot, unnumbered. Tho community is small; municipal finances are not in first-class condition and in tervening territory is sparsely settled. The merger would probably mean an additional expense to Portland for a time. On the other hand, annexation is in line with growth and expansion and will be inevitable sooner or later. No recommendation. The Bible's Endurance. Christian Science Monitor. The Bible is perpetually recanonizing itself by its enduring application to and influence on experience, whether of peace or of war. Despite its inability during the last year to enter some coun tries with its colporteurs, the American Bible Society announces that sales dur ing the year just closed have been exceptionally large, a total of 6,370,465 volumes, many of them separate books of the Biblical library. This includes the number printed as well as sold for the society in foreign lands. From the headquarters in New York the year's output was 2,416,418 volumes. The total record of the society for its nearly 100 years of existence has been 109,890,356 volumes. Compared with this case of demand and supply, how ephemeral and Bmall the circulation figures of any secular or "profane", classic that may be cited: Truly a Great Treat. Christian Intelligencer. A correspondent of the New York Sun Quotes a remarkable tribute of a negro preacher to a white preacher who had consented to occupy the black brother's pulpit one Sunday. He said: 'Dls noted divine is one of de greatest men of de age. He knows de unknowable, he kin do the undoable, an ne kin onscrew de unscrutable!" A Slight Difference. Boston Transcript 'Pa,, doesn't precipitation mean the same as settling." "It does in chemistry, my son: but in business you'lL find that many persons n settling aon t show any precipita tion at alL" RABBI WISE DEFENDS LETTER Intent of Flrat la Explained In Leaa De risive Epistle on National Ideala. PORTLAND, June 3. (To the Ed itor.) Your editorial comment put the worst possible construction on my let ter. In reading tho letter I find some of the errors to which you refer, but they arise from your construction, not my intent Had you wished, I believe that you could have read my purpose more kindly. I am willing to admit that a man should never joke in the presence of profound and self-conscious loyalty such as yours, except about the weather, as you do, and I apologize. I laid myself open to attack, but not from a source inclined to be friendly, and I therefore feel that a statement from me as to my construction of my letter is bnt simple justice to myself. I may be sophomoric and cowardly as well as all the things you are not but I am not lacking in respect for the true ideal of Decoration day. What I do wish to call attention to Is the distinction we should make between the sincere celebration of the day and the base uses to which it is put 1 refer, distinctly and clearly to that species of war talk which I think is insincere and dangerous. The hands of President Wilson are not upheld by the efforts of those who shout to him that the Nation is ready to fight. He is embarrassed by those champions ln his efforts which- are distinctly for peace and not for war. Militarists have called peace talk twaddle and gush. Personally I believe now, as l did before I read that I was a coward and all that that war talk is the veri est grush and those who talk It cannot be sincere. Ninety-nine per cent of the men who go-to war hata it ami rlosnisa it Air the veterans of the Civil War, and they! w"i ibu you tnat empnaticaiiy. Tbe men who were spiritually so animated' that they offered their lives for this country are tho very ones who despise mis vainglory ana understand the horror and the cowardice of what you praise. The appetite for war with its pain was stimulated in this country, nay created I use the term "created" ad visedly) by the irresponsible press at the instigation of piratical interests. Spain had yielded every point, had given every concession wo fourhi -Tot-. and yet we attacked Spain. I say it again, "We attacked Spain." A low press and thoughtless mouthers about patriotism killed off those brave men and boys-whose memory ought to bo a warning, wnen wo celebrate it nrot- erly. 1 have lived in Italy. You mav be very cheerful about its progress and tne nappiness it brinsrs to its citizens. Do you know that the Mafia and" Black Hand do not spring from Italian Der- verseness, but from poverty, ignorance and songs about arms? Italy has made wonaenui strides, but that is iust the sorrow of it. A nation so capable of self-help, seemingly so willing to meet the obligations of the state to the citi zen (purely material if you choose) is a sad spectacle when one sees it dragged down from that high enter prise to the level of cheap politicians, who send it to war that-means crip pling its better life for years. Nothing you can say will move me from the conviction that Italy needs peace and that war, not Austria, is its worst enemy. Italy has a larcre Socialist Mr have Germany, France, Belgium and Austria. Please do not shut your eyes ' me lacis. ao not do willfully blind. You know that these parties yielded to tne cry for- war reluctantly. Thev see eye to eyo wun other thinkers that war is proauced by- the' classes not tne masses. I quote from Half Century LuiLinin or tooay: me wealthier classes of the South. who plunged the country into the hor rors of the Civil War, are now feeling me trutn ana rorce or the old adage, Sorrow tracketh crime.' " Plainly the editor of that dav was a wise man. He saw the realitv of war. not us tinsei. One of the reasons I felt and ex pressed myself so bitterly, aside from my well-known cowardice, is that am personally ln receipt of informa tion about the present results of this war that are so revolting as to make me feel that peace cannot be too dearly bought Aside from the death of thou sands every day. to which we are so readily reconciled, aside from the hor ror of the Lusltania affair, which is puduc. i trust you are informed of th iact mat in every city in EuroDe the asylums for idiots are being enlarged mm now ones duiit 1 ou are aware mat lunacy has sent thousand or hopeless, but harmless, to their loving ones to drag out a life of such despair that no man can- touch its outside and be unmoved. You are doubtless in formed of the number of girls ruined n Mgiand by their own soldiers. You may not be informed, as my source is private, thousrh reliable, that the num ber of suicides of nreanant eirls in Galicia is unbelievable. I have no data as to Belgium. I am sure you have. Blind schools are sprinsrinK ud all over Europe, and charity is leading those whom patriotism has blinded. This is aside from the dead, maimed and missing. Half Europe will be maimed, shamed, erooincr. deaf and demented. It takes a brave man to pull his little children into thi3 sort of thins. I made the error of joking at the be ginning of my letter, but I was in earnest at the end. Whatever you may iimin auuui. lne sopnomorlc heresy of it I still believe that neaen in tho oniy price. 'ltie courage, self-sacrl nee, vision, eiiersry and natriotism which feeds men to Mars can so serve numanity tnat it-will savo humanity. i ou Are rancorous at what you sug gest is my pro-German attitude. I am pro-America, and you are allowing your xiatrea ior Germany to teach you that we should sacrifice our countrv pon the bloody altar of Fnrnnonn feuds. You do not know Eurona. else ou would love America so that vou would gladly sever it from the horrid welter of racial and national ani mosities. We have no point of contact with European politics that can remotely uggest war. I- fear war as an en. anglement with European chaos of hatreds. Therefore I am shocked and grieved when I hear the present situ ation described as a crisis. I was born in unio, yet i Know how the foreign- urn man ana woman dread the thing ou love, and pray not for peace alone, ut for the fulfillment of Amerims ideal as a land where the white man can work out his salvation, detached from the shackles of ancestral feuds. When war is declared this- sort ot man will stand forth first. for he nows. My personal sufferinsr from vnnr currilous attack I can bear with equanimity, for I feel that It enables me to bring before a large public that part or tne ideal which humanitv finds unique in American life. Peace is the price we must pay for human happiness. Ancient Israel describes the Messiah as a Prince of Peace, but despised and rejected of men. You will find those who struggle for the salvation of. men through the messianic ideal not always ready to speak the whole truth, and the truth alone can free. You are a Christian, I am not You know that well: therefore I can leave the preaching of peace tol yu- JUNAH B. WISE Breaking the . 1 Answers. A young man an only son married against .the wishes of his parents, a short time afterward, in telling a friend how to break the news to them, he said: "Start off by telling them that I am dead, and then gently work up to the climax." iv Device Practical. A magnifying glass which may be attached to the pen or pencil is a new device for tho convenience of drafts men. - rs Ago J 4. 1880. rrom Tha Oresonlan, Jum Pennoyer has been re-elected Gov ernor. Tho majority is 3000 or more for certain and his success of four years ago has been repeated in a way that even tho sanguine Democratic state chairman didn't expect The Re publicans win have a good working majority in the next Legislature, how ever. Washington Senator Mitchell with a good deal of warmth yesterday de nied the report that he and Senator Dolph were at outs. He said the whole report waa a fabrication, etc Mitchell yesterday received a message from J. B. Montgomery, of tho Oregon Legis lature, saying Oregon Indorsed the McKinley tariff bill.. Mrs. Walter Monteith, of Albany, has been summoned to Oakland. Cal., where her brother-in-law, John Bar row, Is believed to be dying. Rev. John Fechter, of California, has organized a German Baptist Church at Salem. Mile. Rhea, the noted French actress, will appear in Portland in "Josephine, impress of the French," next Monday night James Beal. who lives near East Jr"ortland, haa shown us some straw berries of the Sharpless variety which measure two inches in diameter. 4Lrr- HarfY Lane, superintendent f the Oregon State Insane Asylum at Portland. aiem, nas Deen passing a few days in Miss Susan B. Anthony la in o.,rh Dakota in the interest of tho woman suffrage amendment. Dr. Rodney Glisan died yesterday morning at 3 o'clock at his residence. D. P. Thompson attributed his de feat for Governor largely to being "knifed" by Joe Simon. Twenty-Five Years Paris Grand Duke George, broth ( of the Caar, dined and wined in Par;V the other night; looked upon a fas-. cinatins dancer. known aa s-.n.. X invited her out to dinner and when she had ridden on the boulevard In the late hours with him. he tried to make her bathe ln a public fountain of champagne. This she refused to do and some bystanders rescued the bal lerina, although the Grand Duko did draw his revolver. W. Clyde Pitch, the author of "Beau Brumniell," which Mr. Mansneld is now playing, is a recent graduate of Am herst. At college he was considered quite an amateur actor. METERS, USED, ARE CONDEMNED One Who Haa Given Them Loaf and Kalr Teat la Staunch Opponent. PORTLAND, June 2 (To the Editor.) Referring now to th question of wa ter meters, over which there seems to" uw quite a oispute, and as I am very much against the meter system. I would appreciate It very much if you will kindly give this article space in your paper. I am Inclosing herewith statement showing amounts paid by me for water covering the period of 1910 to 1914, also the five months of the year 1915, ending May 31. Please bear in mind that I have never had the meter changed or examined since May, 1911, and have had four less water taps in my building, and from May, 1913, up to March, 1914, one of my tenants had her apartments closed, no water being used during that period. You will note the increase in the. water tax during that time. I have called this matter to-the attention of the City Water te--partment several times, and the oaly response I had was their inspector called and found all taps in first-class condition, no leakage whatever exist ing. After making his report to the Wa ter Department I received a letter in which they informed me if I desired to have my meter examined they would send a special man, and if they found the fault due to any defect in the meter the city would stana expense ot examination, otherwise it would be nec essary for me to stand same. Immedi ately after the notice from the Water Department my bill for October fell to J7.95, following the September bill of f0.35, which was the bill I complained about, and at that time sent a dupli cate statement to the Water Depart ment along the same lines as the one inclosed. I finally decided to give up the fight as it was utterly impossible to get any justice from the Water De partment You will note on the inclosed statement that my bill for May, 1910, was $10 and the June following was $2.40. I cannot understand-the fluctua tion ln my monthly rates, especially when the same amount of water is con sumed, and in cases where less water is consumed my bills are higher. Unless the water meter can ho ad justed to insure the property owner a more equitable settlement, based on the actual amount of water consumed. I, for one, am very much in favor of a flat rate. I experience no difficulty whatever with gas or electricity, and the same conditions should exist with water. MRS. J. H. WEIST. 69 North Twenty-third street Weist Apartments. Following is the table referred to above: Year. 19JO. 191J. 1912. 1913. 1B14. 1915. January... i.7 6.35 5.0. S.75 7.2.5 9.40 r eornary. . o.ti.i 7.y.i Marci..... 4.7'S 6.85 April 6.1'5 6.15 5.f)S 4.S5 4.83 4.45 4.05 8..13 4. S3 4.75 3.65 3.5 4.05 S.05 4.35 4.55 5.25 4.25 6.5.3 T.13 7.S5 5.45 6.03 6.75 6.95 6.35 7.25 7.15 7.05 ti.43 tS.!T, f..:.-. 7.0.5 Ii. 3 .'. 8.65 6.40 8. SO 8.10 6.80 May.. 10.00 7.25 June July AuKuut. . . . September. October. . . November. . December. 2.40 0.35 e.S.-i 10.45 7.5.1 . 7.05 8. S3 4.15 (1.13 4.25 6.45 5.S5 4.35 6.15 totals. . .78.65 8L 40 55.90 67.40 SS.60 James G. Blaine, the Statesman. Christian Science Monitor. His countrymen differed much as to the moral integrity of James Q. Blaine. The opposition, that defeated'Tiim for tho Presidency was rooted in tho dis trust of his motives. But of the insiirht of some of his opinions about a proper National policy, especially toward the Republics of Central and South Amer-, . lea, men of the generation following his agree. He argued for a Pan-American rapprochement prior to Mr. Root's advocacy of the same, and was the first Secretary of State since the days of John Quincy Adams to face squarely the . implications of the Monroe doctrine and the contingencies that some time might ' compel the two Americas to know each '; other better and to act together oftener. ' The Nation's love of justice should in sist upon keeping Mr. Blaine in memory as a stateman with an imagination, ai asset that is worth more to makers and conservers of states than sometimes is conceded, ' . . . Welching; Gold In' Nnicgret. EAGLE POINT, Or., June 1 (To the Editor.) Will you please inform me how a gold nugget is weighed to tell - the exact amount of gold contained in . it., when a large part of the bulk Is rock and other substances? I have -been told it was weighed under water, but never heard any explanation. W. H. G. Prominent local assayers say. there ' is no way to determine the exact -amount of gofd In a nugget without melting it down and removing foreign : substances. It must then be assayed to determine value.- .Where approxi mate amount and density, of quartz can be determined, amount of gold in nug get can be estimated, but not' exactly. " It is not weighed under water, ' i