6
T1TE MORNING OREGONTAN. MONDAY, JUNE 31, 1915.
PORTLAND, OREGON.
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rOKTUM), MONDAY, JUSE tl IS 15.
TRAILING WESTERN PROGRESS.
Frederick M. Davenport, professor
. of law and politics, and recently can
didate for Governor of New York on
the Progressive ticket, has in the Out
look reached the seventh stage of his
Journey "on the trail of progress and
reaction in the West." Professor
Davenport swung around the West
last Winter when the Legislatures
Were in session, the circle taking in
both Washington and Oregon. In his
series of articles he has reached the
State of Washington, where he has
discovered, among other things, that
state division is mere talk; that the
come-back of Hi Gill as Mayor of
Seattle is not a reflection upon the
efficacy of the recall: .that resentment
over the action of the last Republi
can National convention has not yet
cooled; that the last Washington Leg
islature created "the most profound
sense 6f legislative incapacity in the
recollection of the oldest inhabitant,"
and numerous other fresh and stir
ring things.
Throughout his article runs the
theme of the persistence of the
"pioneer conscience. To that persist
ence, as we understand him, is due
the progress of equal suffrage in the
"West. We learn from him that the
evolution of the relation of woman to
man has passed" through two stages
and is now in the third. In the first
stage she was the drudge around the
home because the 'men were, always
at war. Later she became the weaker,
more spiritualized sex to whom so
sLllr1 o.hiva.lrv was rlue "Rut in our
own great West, and in Australia and!
South Africa, too, the women "have
from the beginning taken part as
comrades in the hard, rough work on
the border as well as in the civiliza
tion of the border." Equality of
comradeship, of intelligent endeavor
' and hardship and suffering and sacri
fice caused men to feel that their
women were as competent to voty as
to do other and stranger and more
difficult things.
It is a pretty thought, but was not
the pioneer conscience a long time in
awakening in this particular? Abigail
Scott Dunlway began her efforts to
arouse it in Oregon, Washington and
Idaho in 1871., The'comparative new
comer iwill recall that we voted on
equal suffrage in Oregon in 1906, 1908
and 1910 and tha) it was not until
1912 that the amendment carried.
The pioneer conscience, we imagine,
must share the honors with the 'later
population.
There is something about the West
thdt encourages equality. Here pro
gressive thought takes root earliest. It
is true, too, that the West has long
been noted for the absence of that
superficial i-olicitude for women and
Joubt of her capacity that thrive in
the East. But the Western popula
tion is in its largest part new. Does
not migration to new fields of op
portunity in itself indicate a desire to
leave, beaten paths and narrow
grooves that may extend to politics
as well as industry? But the im
migration of the later years has been
pioneering in a way. Perhaps Pro
fessor Davenport uses the term in a
fcroader sense than that -to which we
are accustomed.
We may thank the pioneer con
science, too, for the spread of state
wide prohibition in the West, accord
ing to Professor Davenport. But the
Issue has not been primarily moral or
sentimental. It has been successful
as a matter of business efficiency and
common sense, he says. The circum
stances he relates as bearing out this
view, however, are a little less in
teresting than a warning letter from
an Oregon brewer to a Minnesota
brewing corporation, which Professor
Davenport saw in the latter state.
The letter writer warned the Minne
sota brewers of these dangers:
Woman suffrare. the Initiative and ref
erendum (by -which the people start trouble
themselves without Intervention of the Leg
islature), lack of organized co-operation in
their business, whisky (by which he meant
that the liquor men should have been wise
enough to let the-strong stimulants go, and
should have sought to retain the beer and
lisht wines), and. finally, the low character
of the saloonkeepers who had been their
Selling agents.
It is refreshing to learn that there
Is one liquor manufacturer in Oregon
who does not credit prohibition solely
to woman suffrage and direct legisla
tion. A great many observers are
convinced that woman's suffrage and
the initiative and refrendum are sec
ondary in Importance to the other
dangers to the liquor traffic the Ore
gon brewer mentions. Primarily pro
hibition In the West Is a protest
against the agency that distributes in
toxicants -the saloon.
BRIGHT WHEAT OUTLOOK.
Prospects of a billion-bushel wheat
crop were considerably brightened by
the Government's June report. The
forecast is 950,000,000 bushels, which
is 50,000,000 more than the estimate
of June, 1914, and 59,000,000 more
than last year's actual crop. We
could stand a loss of 50,000,000
bushels from the June estimate and
still have a record crop. Should the
5'ield of Spring wheat per acre equal
the average for six years of seventeen
and a half bushels, the total will be
319,000,000 which, added to 676,000.
000 bushels of Winter wheat, would
make a grand total of 995,000,000.
Comparison of the June estimate with
the harvest of each of the last six
years shows that in three years
harvest exceeded estimate, in two it
fell below estimate and in one year"
It so closely approximated estimate
as to be only 1 per cent below. There
seems, therefore, to be an even chance
of exceeding the estimate and small
risk of not exceeding last year's crop.
A ,950.000.000-bushel crop would
leave 385.000.000 bushels for export
after allowing 535,000,000 for home
consumption,, 80,000.000 for seecf and
60,000,000 to carry over. That would
exceed the highest export that of
1901-2 by more than 105.000,000
bushels. This fact is being used to
bear the price, but Europe has such
a shortage in prospect that it can
absorb all our surplus, provided the
price. Is not prohibitive. The eight
leading: grain countries of Europe are
expected to raise 1.580,000,000 bushels,
a decrease of 265,000,000 from last
year, when several of them had short
crops. One exporter is quoted as say
ing: that the German acreage is 25
per cent short, and France and Austria-Hungary
are also short. Europe
is expected to need 600,000,000
bushels of imported wheat, which
must come from the United States,
Canada, Argentina, India and Aus
tralia. Unless there should be bumper
crops all along the line, Europe will
take all this country can supply and
will pay stiff prices for it. 'Whatever
reduction there may be in the size of
the crop, the farmer will be com
pensated by the higher price. Tet
the Kansas farmer is grumbling at
$1.05 on the farm and at the prospect
that wheat will go below a dollar, for
he has come to expect war prices.
CASUALTIES IX WAR AND PEACE.
The Army and Navy Journal scoffs
at what it calls hysteria about the
terrible loss of life in the war. It sug
gests that we ought to consider how
many persons would die from natural
causes if there were-no fighting. Stat
ing that one in seven of the popula
tion of the United States t3 injured
annually, it compares the resultant
14.000,000 casualties in our 100,000,
000 with 7,000,000 casualties in ten
months of war, and then, argues that
the slaughter in war is grossly exag
gerated. The Journal' does not compare the
same things. Its 7,000,000 war casual
ties occur only among those who are
actually fighting in the war, who are
but a tenth at most of the popula
tion in belligerent countries. The or
dinary ratio of peace casualties con
tinues among the other nine-tenths
and should be added to the total.
Peace casualties are also fairly dis
tributed among the whole population,
male and female, old, middle-aged and
young, able-bodied and decrepit. War
casualties arn confined almost entirely
to males of perfect physique. In the
vigor of manhood and in the years of
greatest productiveness.
If the supposed 14,000,000 casual
ties in the United States all occurred
among men and showed as high a
percentage of fatalities as the war
shows, how long before not enough
males would remain to propagate the
race according to the law of monogamy
and we should be compelled to resort to
polygamy in self-defense?.
ADDING TO THE PEOPLE'S BURDENS.
In yielding to the pleas of the few
manufacturers of jute bags for a pro
tective tariff and in adhering to the
policy of Imposing ad valorem instead
of specific duties. Congress increased
the tax .which the war imposed on
American wheatgrowers.
Almost all the jute bags used in this
country are imported from India
Most 'of those made in the United
States are the product of convict la
bor, .there being few private manu
facturers. The industry cannot be
successfully established in the United
States without an exorbitant tariff,
which Would be a burden on the
farmer and would finally be added to
the price of the people's bread. Here
was a clear case where Bound policy
the greatest good to the greatest num
ber of our own citizens dictated that
a commodity be admitted duty-free,
but Congress imposed a duty, and an
ad valorem duty at' that.
By reducing the supply of vessels
and by enormously increasing the
freight rates on the vessels available,
the war has enhanced the price of
bags. It has made tonnage so scarce
that bags cannot be imported when
needed. The price in this country has
therefore almost doubled. When the
price doubles, the. ad valorem duty
necessarily doubles. Hence the heav
ier the burden imposed by the war,
the heavier becomes that imposed by
the tariff. No American Industry of
any consequence is benefited, but the
great farming industry and all con
sumers of bread are taxed.
This is,' the work of the Democratic
party, which promised to lighten the
burdens of the people.
- i
DOCTORS KILLING THE PATIENT.
The recommendation of the United
States Chamber of Commerce, which
has been endorsed by the, Portland
Chamber, that Congress grant steam
ship lines subsidies sufficient to off
set the difference in cost between
operation under the American and
under foreign flags In deep-sea traffic,
is being rendered unnecessary by
events. When the price of steel, the
principal material used in shipbuild
ing, is much lower in the United
States than in Great Britain; when
British shipowners are placing orders
in the United States; when British
shipbuilders, are producing at a cost
equal to, if not exceeding, the cost
of produtcion in the United States,
there is no difference in first cost
against thli country and the difference
may prove ft be in our favor.
The war has also reduced greatly
the difference in cost of operation as
against American ships. It has done
so by increasing wages of seamen,
cost of supplies, insurance, repairs,
loading and unloading of cargo. Were
Congress to repeal or amend those
provisions of our navigation laws
which unduly enhance the cost of
operation under the American flag, it
would probably equalize cost of op
eration. On the contrary Congress
has adopted those provisions of the
seamen's law which require that 75
per cent of the crew be able to under
stand any order of an officer. Those
requirements are driving American
ships from the Pacific Ocean and
handing Pacific commerce over to
Japan. This effect is so well
recognized in that country that when
passage of the law was announced at
a banquet, a storm of applause burst
forth. The Japanese did not rejoice
at a boon to the American seaman;
they don't care a whoop for him.
They rejoiced at the blind folly of
their commercial rivals in playing
into their hands.
Ship subsidies are impossible as
well as unnecessary because the
American people will not tolerate
them, and they 'are vicious in them
selves. Any form of government own
ership would be ineffective in remedy
ing the present need, for it could not
put ships on the ocean until the
emergency had passed, it could not
be practiced on a large enough scale
to attain its purpose without involv
ing the Government in immense
initial expenditure and large annual
loss, and It would not remove but
would only shift the load imposed on
the people by our absurd shipping
laws.
Our merchant marine is almost de
funct because of the ministrations of
a series of quacks. Old Dr. Naviga
tion Laws had for years dosed it with
poison when Dr. Gallinger tried to
revive it with subsidy, but was pre
vented by the anxious family. Drs.
Furuseth and La Follette have given
a dose of seamen's law, which has
caused a relapse when the patient
showed signs of recovery. Dr. Mc
Adoo offers his Infallible remedy,
ship-purchase. All the doctors should
be sent packing and a commission
should diagnose the case anew and
study out a course" of treatment with
out regard to any theorist or any
interest. Fortunately the unnatural
stimulant of war promises to keep the
patient alive untisuch a commission
is ready to prescribe, provided Con
gress acts promptly.
A NEGLECTED INDUSTRY,
Results of a Government survey of
the fishing grounds off the Oregon
coast have been published in Bureau
of Fisheries document No. 817. Those
who have marveled over the fact that
Puget Sound fishing vessels are the
chief patrons of Oregon deep-sea fish
eries, transport their catches to Se
attle, from whence Portland obtains
much of its halibut for local consump
tion, will find that some interesting
light is thrown upon the situation.
The best Oregon halibut ground,
according to this report, is off Ta
quina Bay, and constitutes an area of
about 250 square miles. In 1914, the
first year it was fished, the run yielded
850,000 pounds of commercial halibut
in twenty-one trips, for which the
fishermen received $23,646.25.
The Government report is authority
for the statement that harbor and
market facilities, bait supplies, trans
portation and cold storage prevent
the Oregon coast ports at pres
ent from becoming fishing centers of
great consequence. In addition,
weather conditions are a handicap in
competition with Seattle, which is in
proximity to vast all-the-year-round
Alaska fishery resources. Oft the Ore
gon coast fishing is now limited by
rough weather to the period between
April and September.
"" But apparently Newport may be
come an important fishing port by en
larging its facilities, a needed im
provement to that end being construc
tion of jetties to deep water, so that
the larger vessels may get in and out
in all weather.
Seemingly another need in best
developing of Oregon sea fisheries is
to familiarize the people with the food
value of other fish than halibut. The
greater part of the Oregon coastal re
gion is abundant in flounders, sole,
black cod and red rock fish, which the
bulletin asserts find but a limited mar
ket, if .any. ,
There is nothing in the report to
indicate that seaworthy vessels might
not profitably operate out of the Co
lumbia River harbors if certain defi
ciencies were supplied. It Is not
wholly a matter of putting the boats
in service. A distributing as well as
local market must be built up, and
bait supplies and cold storage must be
made adequate in the home port.
TRIUMPH OF A FREE PRESS.
The recent re-organization of the
British Cabinet and the evidently im
pending organization of the whole na
tion for . war demonstrate the in
fluence of a great newspaper which
dares to tell unpleasant truths. Events
doubtless were gradually forcing the
conviction on John Bull's overcon
fident mind that he must follow the
example of his enemies and his allies
if he would have hope of ""final suc
cess in the war, but the fearless action
of the London Times and the allied
journals brought the Cabinet suddenly
to realize the necessity of becoming
national rather than partisan and to
take the first steps toward throwing
the whole power of the nation into
the struggle.
The coalition movement was
brought to a head by the publication
in the Times of a dispatch from Colo
nel Repington, its correspondent with
the army in Flanders, attributing
French success to the use of explosive
shells and British failure to lack of
this type of ammunition. This was a
criticism of Britain's military idol.
Kitchener, and was resented with the
fury customary to idolators who are
convinced against their will that their
idols are but human clay. Batteries
of criticism were opened in all the
newspapers under the Northcliffe
ownership the Times, the Mail, the
Weekly Dispatch and in the almost
equally influential London Post, on
the management of the war. Winston
Churchill was also scored for the
blunders at the Dardanelles and for
not deferring to the judgment of Lord
Fisher. Unionists in Parliament be
came restive under the curb of the
political truce. Conviction was forced
on Premier Asquith that, in order to
prevent violent controversy about the
war, he must nationalize the ministry,
and he took in representatives of all
parties except the Irish Nationalists,
of whose support he is nevertheless
assured.
The campaign is being followed up
by a demand that the entire manhood
of the nation be organized for war.
The nation has been fostering the de
lusion that it could win without
Seriously interfering with its usual oc
cupations and pleasures. Football,
races and other sports continued as
usual. The slogan "business as usual"
was adopted. Manufacturers marked
up profits as usual when the demand
increaed, though the demand arose
from the need to save the nation.
Labor unions enforced their rules re
stricting hours of labor and output,
and struck as usual. Men who drank
drank as usual and thereby limited
the output of material needed by the
men who were offering their lives for
their country.
The amazing contrast was presented
of the flower of the nation making
the supreme sacrifice of devotion,
while greed, selfishness, indifference
and ignorance were permitted in
effect to thwart the efforts of the
army and navy and to indulge them
selves to the full without effort on
the part of the government'to compel
all the people to do their part in the
national " struggle. The government
confined its efforts to increase output
of munitions, to arbitration of dis
putes, to appeals to patriotism which
was at best dormant in the minds of
those addressed and to appointment
of committees which merely palliated
evils. Voluntary offers of aid were
ignored. Newcastle offered the serv
ices of 500 municipal employes, and
4 0,000. women registered for work in
any capacity where they could be used,,
but none were called upon.
The Times and its allied newspapers
have entered a mighty protest against
this indifference to the nation's neces
sities. Their columns are filled not
only with original articles, but with
communications from ex-Governors of
colonies, bishops, heads oi universi
ties, merchants, manufacturers, may
ors, labor leaders, relatives of sol
diers, demanding a system of compul
sory service whereby every man will
be placed under military rule, where
he can best serve the national cause
in the army or navy, in the factories
or on the farm and whereby women
can do their share. The protest daily
gains, volume. It has won over many
former opponents of conscription, who
frankly proclaim their conversion, and
many liberal newspapers, all of which
hitherto opposed that system.. The
government has given many hints that
it has considered compulsory service
in the field and in factories,, but has
held back through fear of a storm of
opposition. The storm has arisen in
favor of what it apparently desires,
but has feared to do.
Thus the Times and its allied news
papers have rendered an Inestimable
service to the British people by daring
to tell them what they needed to know
and to do, when, they , tried to hide
from themselves the unwelcome truth.
The Times reaches the aristocracy, the
more important business people and
what is called' in Britain the upper
middle class. The Mail, with a cir
culation of probably 1,500,000, and
the Dispatch reach the masses. The
Times, which has been credited with
saying today what the English people
will think tomorrow, leads the way.
It has overturned Cabinets ami made
imperial policy. Its probable success
in the present crisis will prove that it
is serving the cause of democracy by
proving that a democratic nation can
be organized for war as well as a mili
tary autocracy. It is serving the
cause of -liberty by proving - that a
free press is not only consistent with
but essential to the organization of a
nation for war.
Conditions in Louisville are differ
ent from those of Northern cities,
and for that reason its "Jim Crow"
residence law is justifiable. There the
community of neighborliness excels
and families intermingle. In the
North one seldom knows his neigh
bors. A family of darker hue is ig
nored or tolerated, according to feel
ing. The colored folk do not presume
and are good "citizens. The dweller in
the Northern city is not bothered by
traditions that make distinction of.
color and depends upon his wife to
"put down" anything offensive.
People who know ' the Columbia
River scenery are not surprised at the
honors it is receiving from the expo
sition judges. The Rhiy e has nothing
to shov that compares with the Co
lumbia except ruined, castles. Whin
our city millionaires have built mag
nificent villas at favorabfe points the
natural beauties of the Columbia will
be varied by art, but not much
enhanced.
With Greece and several other
countries crowding into the fray, Ger
many's situation reminds us of Gulli
ver and the Liliputlans. No half
dozen of the little men began to be a
match for him, but together they tied
him down and brought him to meek
submission.
If the Administration, in its dire
need of cash, should go back on free
wool and free sugar, Mr. Bryan would
find another subject on which he would
try to convince President Wilson that
he Wilson, not Bryan was wrong.
Of course, Bryan is never wrong.
With immense halibut banks off the
Columbia, our people are not eating
enough fish. ' The heavy meat eater
will find general health and brain
force improved- by frequent change of
diet, but is wedded to idols with horns
and hoofs.
Unless one party or other soon gets
the upper hand in the war, Europe
will be mortgaged to the United
States for debt incurred for war sup
plies. We might then cancel the
mortgage on condition that Europe
took W. J. Bryan off our hands.
Nelson O'Shaughnessy showed such
skill in keeping on the right side of
Huerta when President Wilson was
trying to oust him that he may be
useful in smoothing over our troubles
with Germany.
It will be a refreshing novelty to
see the bureaucrats of the United
States Land Office compelled to obey
the law. They have been acting on
the assumption that they made the
law for others to obey.
If the British army could have cele
brated Waterloo on the actual scene
of the battle, they would have been
more demonstrative, but their former
allies monopolize the stage.
All that old material given the de
partment of journalism at the uni
versity will be handy in filling 'the
corners; but what they need up there
is an up-to-date plant.'
The Spanish troops who missed Ral
sull deserve to be courtmartialed, de
spite the assurances given, for neglect
ing to take advantage of a "deplora
ble" accident.
If George Harding continues to cul
tivate his skill at cpoking, he is likely
to be besieged with 'proposals of mar
riage by bachelor girls when he grows
up.
Mrs. Walsh must excuse the rumor
mongers. The -juxtaposition of a
wealthy widow and a handsome secre
tary always suggests matrimony.
The Mexican revolution incubator
has brought forth another faction to
save Mexico. As a breeder of fac
tions Mexico beats rabbits.
Greece has a touch of Missouri and
wants, to be shown that the allies can
take Constantinople via Gallipoli.
Hurrah for the "hot stuff" that will
put Multnomah in the front rank of
good roads counties!
There is one comfort in a maximum
tempertaure of 65- the small boy is
not -drowning.
This is the week of the Pioneer. If
it were not for him, we might not be
here.
The thrifty man will defer laying in
his Winter fuel until hostilities begin.
It's a long, long time to the next
election.
Suf fraKetten Take Hope!
The Holton (Kan.) Recorder Inter
view with a club woman: They make
a good deal of sport of members of
mothers" clubs who have no children.
The most motherly woman I ever knew
was an old maiden lady. She had a
mother's heart that took in all children
in the community. There were no
motherless children in her neighborhood.
Half a. Century Ago
From The Oregonl&n of June 21, 1865.
Our city yesterday presented more
active stir, bustle and-animation, in a
business point of view, than for any
time this season. Teams filled the
streets and the amount of goods going
forward today from purchases of yes
terday, say nothing of the large num
ber of heavy agricultural implements,
such as threshers, reapers and mowers,
will be considerable.
The new militia company of Zouave
cadets have a. fine prospect for their
permanent organization. They now
have an armory on Second street, be
tween Morrison and Alder streets, at
the rooms of the Washington Artillery,
and will meet this evening at 8 o'clock
tor drill.
Since the fire at The Dalles stone
buildings are in demand there for busi
ness purposes. Four, now in construc
tion, are already engaged by respon
sible parties, and. such is the desire to
secure, stone buildings, it is said, that
in several Instances lately large pre
miums were offered.
Washington. The Russian Minister,
Baron SfoekeL and the Spanish Minis
ter, Mr. Vassar, waited on Mr. Seward
yesterday afternoon at the State De
partment and expressed, in the name
of their respective souverigns, profound
condolence and sympathy of the two
great nations for the National loss sus
tained by the assassination of the Pres
ident and the dreadful suffering of the
family of the Secretary of State. They
greeted the Secretary most cordially.
The Fourth of July will be celebrated
in Salem. J. H. Mitchell, Esq, of this
city, will deliver the oration on the
occasion.
ELECTION INTERVIEW IS DEXIKD
Mr. De Land Repudiates Statements
Credited to HI in in Advertisement.
TACOMA, Wash., June 19. (To the
Editor.) My attention was called b
friends to the article concerning C. V.
Cooper, which appeared in The Ore
gonlan on Monday, June 7, 1915. The
article commences by quoting my al
leged interview concerning my business
relations with Cooper in a Mexican
Company, I would like to state 'that
I gave out no interview and refused to
give out any information for publics.,
tion, and the article was printed with
out my knowledge or consent
As a part of the same article, while
not directly stated as coming from me,
comment is made about Cooper's Mex
ican rubber plantation. While Mr.
Cooper and I are not on friendly terms.
I must say in justice to the Castilloa.
rubber plantation, that I saw the first
600 acres planted to rubber and was
familiar with the tract for the next
four years; that the rubber, at all
times, was in splendid condition and
well cared for. At four years the trees
ranged from 18 inches to 36 inches in
circumference and from 25 feet to 35
feet in height which shows highly
satisfactory results.
In order to correct any error or false
impression, which your article might
have created, I ask you to publish this'.
JOHN DE LAND.
The Oregonian has published no "ar
ticle" of the kind mentioned. Mr. De
Land's statement undoubtedly concerns
a paid . advertisement signed by the
author.
JUDGE'S
CHAMBERS
DISGRACE
Visitor Surprised at Inadequate Quar
ters Provided City Official.
PORTLAND, June 2 0. (To the Edi
tor.) Wednesday, for the first time,
I had occasion to visit our worthy
Municipal Judge, John H. Stevenson, in
his 'chambers" in the magnificent new
city building. "Yes. this is the perma
nent quarters," smiled hizzoner, and I
wondered if the Humane Society knew
that the city authorities had their dis
tinguished magistrate cooped up in
such a cubby-hole, without light, air,
or even elbow room. And in the oppo
side of the building from the court
room, too.
Who ever heard o'f such an arrange
ment? A splendid courtroom, with
abundance of light and ventilation for
the benefit and comfort of the vultures
seeking scandal, gossip and evidence
of vice, but the judge who is com
pelled to spend most of his time in
doors, without exercise, on retiring
from his court work, has to crawl
into a little dark cave, unfit for a
prisoner.
Why don't someone make a move to
appropriate the west section of -the
courtroom and make a decent chamber,
where a Judge's chambers ought to be,
adjoining his courtroom? The judge
would then not be ashamed to receive
visitors in his official quarters and
the courtroom would still be too large.
The present arrangement Is a dis
grace to the city and unjust and humil
iating to the judge. ROBT. SHAW.
Roller Skates and Trmpam.
PORTLAND. June 20. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) Is tt unlawful for chil
dren to skate and coast on the side
walk? Also play baseball on the
street and run over your garden? (2)
Has a person who visits your neighbor
a right to hitch his horse in front of
your property where it may eat up
your roses and make litter? Should
he not hitch in front of where he
calls? SUBSCRIBER.
(1) It is unlawful to use roller
skates on the streets anywhere within
the inner fire limits. Inner fire limits
are bounded as follows: Beginning at
Second and Taylor, west to Seventh,
north to Yamhill, west to Tenth, north
to Stark, east to Park, north to Burn
side, east to North Second, Second to
Stark, east to First, south to Morrison,
west to Second, south to place of be
ginning. There is no prohibition
against playing baseball in streets.
(2) A person running over . an
other's garden or allowing horses to
destroy the property of another may
be prosecuted for trespass.
Foreclosure of Mortgage,
EDGE WATER Wash.. June 17. (To
the Editor.) A buys 20 acres from B,
paying $1350 cash and leaving $650
mortgage at 6 per cent for five years.
A pays the interest regularly, and also
pays off $150 of the principal. The land
is in Washington.
Two days before the end of the fifth
year, B tells A ir he does not pay up
interest and principal that he (B) will
foreclose. The following day A pays
the interest, but not principal.
Can B foreclose? When, or how soon
after end of fifth year? And if he does
so, what will it cost A over and above
the $500 principal? A READER.
A mortgage, if principal is unpaid,
may be foreclosed immediately upon
maturity. If foreclosed, the cost to A
in addition to principal, would be at
torney's fees, court costs and interest
to day judgment was entered.
Head of Canadian Government.
MULINO, Or.. June 17. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly give me the names of
four of the biggest government officers
of Canada. J. N. J.
The GovernorfGeneral of Canada is
the Duke of Connaught and Strathearn,
There are fifteen portfolio members
of the cabinet. The Premier is Hon. Sir
Robert Laird Bordpn. The seat of gov
ernment is Ottawa.
DRAMATIC CABINET RESIGNATIONS
Bryan's Move, If Politically Important,
Has at Least Two Precedents.
William Jennings Bryan's resigna
tion as Secretary of State, so aptly
timed for dramatic effect, has only one
parallel in later 'American history. In
more than one respect the stage setting
was the same when James G. Blaine
startled the country by announcement
of his resignation as Secretary of State
in the Cabinet of President Harrison
on June 4, 1892.
Bryan quit on the eve of the trans
mission of what was regarded as the
decisive note in a diplomatic crisis.
Blaine quit three days before the Re
publican National convention met at
Minneapolis to nominate a candidate
for President, and his friends seized
upon his note of retirement as tanta
mount to announcement of his candi
dacy. There was no question as to the po
litical portent of the Blaine resignation.
He was the idol of a large section of
the Republican party, and had been
ever since his nomination for the pres
idency and defeat in 1884. Like Bryan,
in later days, he was surrounded by the
sentiment that follows from having
narrowly missed the greatest reward
for political service. He was nagnetic,
and his reputation as a statesman had
been enhanced by his career in the
State Department.
Agitation for Blaine had begun early
in 1892. Harrison was not generally
popular and there were many scores
to pay. Whether or not Blaine early
in the year had carefully calculated his
candidacy and determined to prepare
the way by declining to permit the use
of his name and then allowing his
friends to "force him into the race," is
a matter involved in. as much doubt
as are the political plans of Mr. Bryan
at the present time. However, in Feb
ruary. 1892, Blaine wrote a letter to
Chairman J. S. Clarkson. of the Re
publican National Committee, in which
ne said. "I am not a candidate for the
Presidency and my name will not go
before the Republican National con
vention for the nomination. I make
this announcement in due season."
For a short time after this the
Blaine movement quieted, but it soon
took new Impetus. Declaring that
Blaine' must run if nominated, several
of the cleverest politicians of the day
began the organization of his forces.
Included tn this number were: Clark
son, of Iowa, chairman of the National
Committee; Quay of Pennsylvania,
Payne of Wisconsin, Fassett of New
York. Burrows of Michigan and Teller
of Colorado.
There was every element of the dra
matic, therefore, in the news that
Blaine had resigned as Secretary of
State. Many of the state delegations
had already arrived at Minneapolis for
the convention and the Blaine boom
suddenly took on a fury of enthusiasm.
The curt tone of the letter of resigna
tion was everywhere taken to mean
that Blaine was a candidate.
Blaine was apparently misled into the
belief that a great wave would sweep
the convention away from Harrison and
bring him the nomination. The ego
stood out prominently in the Maine
statesman, as it does in Bryan. It is
possible that the Bryan resignation is
phsychologlcally in the same class, due
to a misapprehension as to personal
power in swaying the public mind.
It is certain that Blaine was vastly
disappointed. The Harrison lines large
ly held firm. Part of the Blaine forces
joined with a compromise element in
an effort to nominate William McKln
ley, on the theory that a third man
would be stronger because of the en
mity stirred up between flie friends of
Harrison and Blaine. Harrison re
celved 535 votes on the first ballot and
was nominated. Blaine received 182
and McKinley an equal number.
Oregonians may note with interest
that the Oregon delegation, which had
been counted by Blaine enthusiasts a
their own, gave McKinley seven votes
and Harrison one. Prominent members
of the delegation were C. E. Wolverton,
C. G. Applegate and Jonathan Bourne.
Jr.
Blaine had been in poor health for
some time prior to his retirement as
Secretary of State. He took little part
in the campaign and died early In the
following year, soon after witnessing
the defeat by Grover Cleveland of the
man whose strength at the Minne
apolis convention he had so greatly
misjudged.
Blaine was a great orator, as is
Bryan. Men who sway multitudes by
the gift of voice and gesture rarely
neglect the dramatic setting for an
act that may be given a striking form.
The Blaine and the Bryan resignations
came from men who were unlike in
many respects, but alike in this tem
peramental regard for climax.
Blaine was severely condemned in his
day because, it was said, Harrison had
no especial desire for a second term
and would gladly have given the road
wav tn Blaine had the latter intimated
in season that he desired to become a
candidate. His ingratitude, if such It
was, was clearly political. The Bryan
resignation may be recorded in history
in deeper hue, since its effect may be
far more than political and domestic
and tends to embarras the foreign pol
icy of the Administration under which
Mr. Bryan so lately acted.
If Mr. Bryan becomes a candidate
for President next year he will have
one other precedent besides that of
Blaine. In 1852. when Daniel Webster
was Secretary of State under President
Fillmore, he became a candidate against
his chief for the Whig nomination for
President. They carried on a stubborn,
but good-natured contest, and after
many ballots they both lost the nom
ination to General Winfield Scott. Web
ster remained as Secretary of State in
Fillmore's ".Cabinet until his death, five
months after the convention was held.
Minimum Wage for Women.
PORTLAND, June 20. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) Is there a minimum wage
scale for women in this state?
(2) Is there any limit to the num
ber of rooms given a chambermaid for
a day's work? SUBSCRIBER.
(1) There is a minimum wage scale
for women in this state which varies
for various employments. For girls
working in mercantile stores in Port
land who have had one year's experi
ence, the minimum is $9.25 a week and
the same scale holds good for office
girls. For factory girls in Portland,
who have had one year's experience,
the minimum is $8.64 a week, and for
girls working in restaurants, cham
bermaids, telephone girls and others
the minimum is $8.25.
For experienced women in the towns
of the state outside of Portland the
minimum is $8.25 a week.
In the case of inexperienced help no
girl or woman may be paid' less than
$1 a day.
(2) There is no limit to the number
of rooms which can be given a cham
bermaid for a day's work, according
to the law, provided she does not work
more than 54 hours a week or 10 hours
a day.
Railroad Aid Appreciated.
PORTLAND, June 20. (To the Ed
itor.) As grading of -Columbia River
Highway is nearing completion in this
county and Hood River, I think a word
of commendation and thanks is due
the officials of the Oregon-Washington
Railroad & Navigation Company
for the splendid co-operation and as
sistance in this great work.
They delivered equipment and mate
rial any old place, as needed, moved
their -track in at least two places to
make room for our road, beside delay
of trains and damage to tracks from
blasting. Cemplaints against railroad
companies are numerous and popular,
and It is pleasant to be able to say a
word the other way. S. BENSON.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonian of -June 21. 1890.
The Cable Railway Company has made
short work of their extension on Fifth
street, both tracks being laid from
Alder to H, and the cementing and pav
ing nearly completed. A pit for a big
pulley is being dug at the intersection
of Fifth and Alder streets, around
which the cable running up Alder street
will pass. The cable will be all in one
piece, coming down from the top of
the heights to Alder, running down
Alder to Front and back to Fifth, and
then going on down and up Fifth to the
top of the hill.
A few days since the arrival here of
a carload of bananas from the West
India Islands was noted. Yesterday a
large shipment of the same fruit ar
rived here from the Sandwich Islands.
The bringing of such perishable ar
ticles as bananas and pineapples from
such widely separated points is a prac
tical illustration of the fact that steam
has annihilated space.
Letters from the Palouse and Walla
Walla valleys state that these sections
have been favored with fine showers
of late, and that good crops are as
sured there. Prospects are good over
the Inland Empire generally for a
splendid harvest.
Work on the new pumping station at
Palatine Hill is progressing favorably,
and the machine will be running about
July 1. Since the new main was fin
ished the city supply has been pumped
through both it and the old main.
The Fourth of July committee held
an important meeting in the Council
chambers last evening. The fireworks
committee submitted a proposition from
a large San Francisco house to furnish
a pyrotechnic display to last from 9 to
10:30 P. M. The proposition, after full
explanation by -' Chairman Koehler, of
the committee, who had gone to San
Francisco especially to secure some
thing unprecedented on the North Pa
cillc Coast, was unanimously accepted.
The rules and regulations governing
the fire department have been revised
on the basis of the rules governing the
Chicago department and Chief Morgan
and his able lieutenant, Electrician Cof
fee, are satisfied that the efficiency of
the fire service has been increased ten
fold. Lake Contracts Extended.
PORTLAND. June 20. (To the Ed
itor.) Can you inform me what has
been done, if anything, by the company
or individual who obtained from the
last Legislature a concession for the
mineral deposits in Sumner and Abert
lakes?
I recollect reading glowing reports
anent the intentions and plans of the
above-mentioned party. I seem to have
gained the impression that millions of
dollars were to have been spent on a
huge plant at the mouth of the Des
chutes, that a big contract was to be
awarded to a Portland manufacturer
for wooden pipes to conduct the waters,
that the burdens of the taxpayers were
to be mitigated by the royalties paid
into the State Treasury, and so on.
Senator Lair Thompson, who repre
sented the people of that particular
portion of Oregon, remonstrated against
granting the concession, and was sub
jected to what might seem, at this
time, harsh criticism for so doing.
There was a provision made for a
penalty to be paid if work was not be
gun by a certain date. Has not that
date passed? What is being done in
the matter? PRO BONO PUBLICO.
On representations that the Euro
pean war hjsd interfered with his plans.
Jason Moore obtained a three months'
extension of time from the State Land
Board for carrying out the initial re
quirements of the lease granted him.
The action of the State Land Board was
duly reported in The Oregonian.
Dancing on Sunday.
HAY CREEK, Or., June 18. (To the
Editor.) Is there any low prohibiting
dancing on Sunday night? If so, what
would be the penalty? A READER.
There is no state law regarding
Sunday dancing. There is an ordinance
prohibiting Sunday dancing in Port
land. The penalty is a fine of from $3
to $250 or imprisonment for from one
to 60 days or both such fine and im
prisonment. Complete Poem Wanted.
PORTLAND, June 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Will you please inform me who
was the author and what is the title of
the poem, one verse of which is as fol
lows: The sand of the desert la sodden red.
Red with the wreck of a cquare that broke:
The gathering's pained and the Colonel
dead.
And the regiment blinded with dust and
smoke.
The river of death has brimmed her banks,
England's far, and honor's a name:
But the voice of a schoolboy rallied th-a
ranks:
flay up! l'lay up! Play the game!
I want to get the complete poem,
hence this request.
The poem is not known at the Pub
lic Library. Perhaps some reader of
The Oregonian knows where it may ba
found.
Self-Control Advocated.
PORTLAND, June 20 (To the Edi
tor.) Instead of- helping the working
class, or any other class, to control the
birth rate by means specified in the
propaganda of the Birth Control
League, would it not be wise to educate
them p a. proper control of their pas
sions and thus help to eliminate an al
ready overburdened world of licentious
ness? If there were more control of the sex
passion we would have less white
slavery, prostitution and Joy-ride or
gies, less insanity and senility, and
in mastering sex control, men would
learn to control the other passions so
that we would not have the intense
hatred. Jealousy, greed and envy that
have led up to the ghastly slaughter
now going on in Europe.
S. P. ARTHUR.
Kxblblts at State Kalr.
CORVALLtS, Or.. June 17. (To the
Editor.) What steps shall one take to
enter a child's work for the State Fair
this Fall, and to whom shall one write
in regard to same.
AN OLD SUBSCRIBER.
Write to W. Al Jones, secretary of
Board of State Fair Directors. Salem,
Oregon.
For Better or Worse
A husband is the only thing a
woman has to take with that pro
viso. When it comes to selecting arti
cles of apparel, things for the home,
she can choose with absolute surety.
And barring exceptions she can
return them if unsatisfactory.
The advertising columns of a good
newspaper like The Oregonian are
a guide to true goods and service.
Reputations are behind each ad
:i li-ioment. The men who pay for
ate in business for a life--d
their success lies in your
satisfaction.