TTTT3 MORNING, OREGONIAN. 3IQNDAT, JUNE 28, 1915.
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POKTI.AM. MONDAY, JCXK 88. 1915.
BRITAIN'S BLOCKADE POLICY.
Most significant is the care with
. which Britain refrains from giving the
same "blockade" to her naval re
prisals against Germany. That name
has been given colloquially to the
measures provided for by the order
la council, but never officially. The
term "long range blockade" has been
used as describing the war on Ger
man commerce, but only for the pur
pose of defending its legality.
The reason seems to be that a for
mal blockade cannot be made effective
against all German ports. Neutrals
might join Germany In " demanding
that the British patrol ships should
go close in to the German ports, oth
erwise they would not recognize the
blockade and would hold in suspense
claims for damages to all seized ships.
A close patrol of the North Sea coast
would Involve great risk from sub
marines and floating mines, though
It would be practicable for a
nation which chose to take that
risk. It would be Impossible to
comply with such requirements for a
blockade of the Baltic coast, for the
blockading fleet could not approach
without going through the neutral
waters of the sound and drawing all
Its supplies through that route. It
would be in an inland sea, subject to
attacks by submarines and mines.
The entire German fleet might slip
through the Kiel Canal and destroy
the blockading ships before help could
reach them. Such a catastrophe would
go far to deprive the British navy of
its superiority over the German. The
risk is too great to be taken.
But a blockade of the North Sea
coast would be abortive unless the
Baltic coast were also blockaded. All
that Germany would need to do in or
der to evade it would be to divert
commerce from the North Sea to the
Baltic Sea ports. Neutral ships carry
ing non-combatants to the Baltic
would then be exempt from seizure,
and Germany could import American
grain, meat, cotton and other manu
facturing materials without stint,
Britain, therefore, adopts new meth
ods unknown to international' law and
calls them reprisals for German meth
ods expressly forbidden by interna
tional law. She holds that Germany's
departure from law absolves, her from
observance of law except so far as
humanity demands. By seizing all
commerce to and from Germany,
either direct or through neutral coun
tries, she seeks to obtain all the mili
tary results of a blockade of all Ger
man ports, Baltic as well as North
Sea, without incurring all the risks.
She attempts to win consent of neu
tral nations by buying non-contraband
cargoes, by releasing all neutral ships
w-hich would not otherwise be subject
to confiscation, and by putting no in
nocent human life in peril. Her meth
ods are humane, and therefore do not
call forth demands for their immedi
ate abandonment, as would the killing
of a thousand non-combatants. If she
can prolong the negotiations until the
war is over, she will have gained her
end, and should she be required to pay
compensation, she can count that as a
part of the general cost of the war.
This policy violates the freedom of
the sea, but so does the German naval
war. In fact, all naval war violates
that principle, for its first aim is to
destroy an enemy's trade, while free
dom of the sea means that all private
property except contraband should be
safe in time of war. During' the Civil
War Cobden proposed that the United
States set an example to the world by
abandoning the right of blockade, but
this country refused. Though all na
tions might agree at a Hague confer
ence to recognize freedom of the sea,
the first nation which engaged in war
would probably violate it. as the pres
ent belligerents have violated other
principles adopted at The Hague. To
hold warrin nations to any set prin
ciples is as difficult as it has proved
to prevent a pugilist, heated by fight
ing, from hitting a foul blow.
TOO MUCH SUNSHINE.
Colonel Charles Edward Woodruff,
who -has Just died at New Rochelle,
N. T., was famous for studies in the
effects of light upon the human mind
and body. His general conclusion was
that light is injurious. He wrote in
1907 that "God's sunlight" was greatly
overrated and that our true Triend
was "God's cloudiness." The common
belief that sunlight is beneficial he
called a "superstition."
No doubt there can be such a thing
as too much sunshine. Those who
recommend a perpetual aunbath go
to a dangerous extreme. In countries
where the sky Is almost -always clear
nature has protected the human body
by dark pigment tn,the skin, and for
thi here must have been a sound
reason. White men are obliged to
shelter themselves from the sun very
carefully in tropic lands. If they fail
to do so they suffer serious conse
quences. "Sunstroke" is not always
caused by the sun, but often it is,
and we may then observe for our-,
selves the III effects of too much heat
and glare. We see, therefore, how In
temperate those persons are who urge
us to Indulge in unlimited sunshine.
But Colonel Woodruff goes to the
other extreme.
Sunlight Is like any other good
thing, we may easily, get too much
of it. But that fact does notjmpeach
Its good qualities by any means. A
proper quantity of sunshine is essen
tial to human health. Deprived" of it
entirely our race pines and degene
rates. It is p.lso true that human be
ings who are obliged to -live in the
dark continuously acquire terrible
diseases. Tuberculosis is an example
of these maladies. Germs of many
baneful varieties which thrive in the
dark are destroyed by sunlight. It is
the simple truth, which any compe
tent scientist will confirm, that with
out the light of the sun all life would
speedily disappear from the . earth.
Our sources of mechanical power such
as coal and waterfalls originate In the
sun's rays. Without the sun the earth
never would have been habitable and
if Its light were to cease today all the
inhabitants would perish.
A man can poison himself with
table salt If he is foolish enough to
eat a quart. But It does not follow
that we should deprive ourselves of
alt entirely.
MB. WEST IS BACK-TIUCKTNa.
It is suggested that Mr. West's plan
to have the Legislature offer to Con
gress to purchase the land grant at a
sum equaling the difference between
the amount the lands would bring and
the net profit the railroad has already
received from them will meet with
some opposition. Quite likely.
We fancy the railroad company, for
one, would object. The opinion of the
Supreme Court in the forfeiture suit
expressly . disclaims any purpose to
rule therein on any controversy that
may arise over sales already made by
the railroad in violation of the terms
of the grant. The title to lands sold
to 'other than actual settlers and at
more than 12.50 ner acre and the right
to the proceeds therefrom in excess
$2.50 per acre have not been adjudi
cated. Perhaps the purchasers will
sue the railroad company for a refund
of money paid for the land in excess
of $2.50 per acre; perhaps the
sales will be declared void; perhaps
the sales will be confirmed and the
railroad permitted to retain its profits.
It requires little imagination to fore
see a tedious amount of litigation be
fore this collateral Issue in the case is
settled. Certainly it would be folly to
call the Legislature in special session
with no more definite or practicable
scheme than Mr. West's in sight.
However, the suggestion by the for
mer Governor that the state acquire
the grant and control its sale and set
tlement is an interesting indication of
a tendency to back water on his pre
vious assumption that the Federal
Government is more honest and capa
ble than the State in the administra
tion of public 'resources. We almost
have a vision of him advocating State
control of its water powers in the
forthcoming conference of Western
States.
A SD3RCIFUX MEASURE.
The tentative draft of the Central
Labor Council's single-tax measure is
printed this week in full in the Labor
Press with an invitation from the
committee to their fellow-citizens to
offer criticisms and suggestions. We
hasten to suggest that the committee
has overlooked the important fact that
some persons might still have a few
dollars left after paying one year's
taxes.
The measure proposes a tax of 90
per cent on an indefinite something
termed "ground rent," and proceeds
to tell how to determine the value of
that Indefinite something. It is done
in this way
The words "ground rent" as used In this
section mean the highest price that is or can
ne oDtaineu in tne open maricet tor me use
of any lot, tract or parcel of land, tor a
definite time, exclusive of improvements.
plus the total tax on the ground rent and
plus the tax on the lease.
We shamefacedly confess that we do
not know what is meant by the "tax
on the lease," but perhaps that is
where the framers of the measure ex
pect to get the last dollar in the pos
session of the fortified landowner. But
we shall eliminate that from the cal
culation.
Ground rent, according to the meas
ure, is the rental value in tne open
market plus taxes, and the taxes are
to be 90 per cent of en unknown quan
tity.. The definition provides a simple
problem in algebra. Suppose a tract
of land worth $1000 has a rental value
in the open market of $50 a year. Let
X represent the ground rent: X (the
ground rent) is equal to $o0 plus nine
tenths of X. The equation discloses
that the ground rent is $500 and the
annual tax is $4 50.
An annual tax of $450 against prop
erty worth $1000 seems rather high
we thlnK it is aDout ten times as
high as Henry George ever suggest
ed going. However, as single tax in
practice, if not In theory, contemplates
confiscation by the state of all land,
we presume U would be more humane
to separate the ordinary owner from
his land at one thrust than to let him
linger along in an-.attempt to escape
bankruptcy. But why not approach
the purpose boldly? Why not declare
ground rent to be the market value of
land and tax it 100 per cent?
GOMFERS A TRUE AMERICAN.
There is an agreeable contrast be
tween the utterances of that foreign
born American, Samuel Gompers, and
that native-born American, William J.
Bryan, on the subject which is now
foremost in the minds of patriotic
citizens. On June 11 the president of
the American Federation of Labor
said:
The Influence of the American Federation
of Labor, the workers of the country, will
be exerted for the maintenance of peace,
and yet we cannot permit to be challenged
the insistency that the lives of Americans
shall not be unnecessarily and unwarrant
ably Jeopardized.
He reiterated these sentiments on
June 20, saying:
I am not willing to have either the labor
movement or our men and women placed
in a false position. The United States will
not voluntarily enter into the present Euro
pean war. Of that 1 am confident. We
shall keep out of it If we possibly can with
any degree of faithfulness to' the funda
mental principles of justice, freedom and
safety.
If despite our reserve and self-control we
shall be dragged Into It. whether we like
it or not there will be but one position for
us to take, and that Is to be true to our.
selves, true to our fellows, true to the high,
est ideals of humanity for which our. move
ment stands.
While Mr. Gompers was thus plain
ly stating the position of American
labor as on the side of American
rights, Mr. Bryan was opposing to
President Wilson's firm but concilia
tory demands on Germany a policy
which would have made those rights
the subject of bargain for the present
and of Interminable negotiation for
the future. Mr- Gompers stands for
maintenance at any cost of the Amer
ican right to travel the sea without
danger of assassination. Mr. Bryan
stands for peace at any price, even
though the price be abandonment of
this right.
ANOTHER GIFT TO CANADA.
Success of one good purpose of the
seamen's law abolition of Imprison
ment for desertion depends on its be
ing made applicable to foreign ships.
We are bound by treaty with Jhe prin
cipal shipowning nations to enforce
the penalty for desertion, and we can
escape that obligation only by annul
ling those treaties or by negotiating I
new treaties. Notice of abrogation of
many treaties has been given, but be
fore that notice becomes effective the
law will come into operation on No
vember 4, 1915, applying to American
ships only. Hence seamen will be free
j to desert from American ships in any
port, but they will be subject to ar
rest for desertion from foreign ships
in American as welt as foreign ports.
The result is to add to tlie handi
caps under which American shipown
ers labor. They cannot hold their
crews, but foreign shipowners can
hold theirs. The cost of operation
under the American flag will inevita
bly be raised. Owners of passenger
ships in the Great Lakes say their busi
ness as well as that on the high seas
is menaced by the new law. Tralc
wilLbe handed over to the Canadians
on the lakes. The seaman will gain
nothing, for American ships will fly
to foreign flags, under which deserters
can be arrested, or will bo '-'id up.
Muddle-headed legislators, blindly
accepting the guidance of Mr. Furu-
seth, have gone the wrong way about
doing the right thing. They have not
advanced the cause they had at heart,
but have dealt another blow at our
merchant marine. Will Congress ever
learn to study out the shipping ques
tion to a finish and to legislate under-
standingly In the general Interest, ln-
stead of passing vote-catching laws to
I please a particular interest laws
which experience proves injurious to
that interest? A coterie of gossips in
a village store could make a better
job legislating on some subjects
than Congress makes.
WELCOME TO PORTLAXD.
Portland extends a welcome to the
Chinese Commercial Commissioners.
who will spend today here while on a
tour of the United States to return
the visit paid to China in 1910 by
representatives of the Associated
Chambers of Commerce of the Pacific
Coast. The welcome should be the
heartier because China has returned
good will for the consistent friendship
of - the United States and because
China is one of our best customers
and is willing to become a better.
There Is no room for mental
reservations in extending friendly
courtesies to these Chinese Commis
sioners by the people of Portland or
of any other part of the United
States. As neither the great Re
public of the Occident nor the great
republic of the Orient desires from
the other anything which each is
not willing to give, there is nothing
to cloud the horizon. Looking
through our front door across the
Pacific toward China, we see nothing
to desire but commercial intercourse.
which forms the strongest and most
j enduring bond of friendship between
nations. mis intercourse win pront
China as much as It will profit us,
hence It 1s the desire of both. .Its
growth will be promoted by progress
in China's development, hence we
desire and are ready to assist in that
work. Neither covets the others ter
ritory or would lessen the othe-'s
rights. Independence or prosperity.
The sincerity of mutual expressions
of good will is in such a case tjyond
question.
Portland then greets as friendly
co-workers in the arts of naacA th
leaders of Chinese commerce w!io
are with us today, and wtll etrew
their path with roses. We shall be
as reluctant to see them go as we
shall be glad to see them come, and
we shall hope to make their visit live
in their memory with many pleasant
associations.
,
STANDARDIZE TRAFFIC RULES.
The wider radius of travel on public
highways which has resulted from use
of the automobile has produced a de
mand for uniform traffic rules in cit
ies. A touring party may be required
to stop at the near side of a crossing
in the first city it reaches, at the far
side in the second, at either side in
the third, to hood headlights in the
fourth, not to hood them in the fifth.
It will also find variations In rules as
to traffic signals and parking and in
licensing of chauffeurs. It would be
impossible for an autoist traveling
across the continent to learn the traffic
rules of each city, through which he
would pass. In the old times, when a
resident of one city rarely drove his
team farther than the next city, no
such difficulty presented itself.
Steps were taken . at the recent
meeting of the Safety First Federa
tion in Detroit to standardize traffic
rules in fifty principal cities. The plan
has been indorsed by the 'authorities
of - forty-eight of these cities. . v The
points aimed at are:
Thorough education of traffic policemen
before assignment to duty; standard code of
signals; fixed posts for traffic policemen;
hooded headlights; use of muffler cutouts to
be prohibited; standardise. ion of left-hand
turns at Intersections; near side stops for
streetcars; rear lights on all- horse-drawn
vehicles; standard sise, color and shape (or
traffic posts, chains, etc.; designation of
safety zones and cross walks at intersections
as embodied in the Detroit plan; education
of pedestrians.
As improvement of the Pacific High,
way progresses, travel between north
and south along the Pacific Coast will
increase and Portland will become
more interested in this subject. Our
desire is to encourage travel to this
city, and one way of doing this is to
Join with other cities in adopting
standard rules, to which travelers
will conform at every point along
their way.
FOR RIGHTS OF AMERICANS ONLY.
President Wilson's last note to Ger
many regarding submarine warfare
differs in one important particular
from the note of May 13 demanding
satisfaction for the Lusitania- massa
cre and for attacks on American
ships. The earlier note put the
United States in the position of cham
pioning the cause of all humanity.
The later one limits our demands to
observance Of the principles of hu
manity and of international law as
applied to American ships and Amer
ican citizens. The President thus re
turns to the position he assumed in
the note of February 10, in which he
entered a general protest against Ger
many's plan of submarine war.
In the note of February 10 the
President said:
If the commanders of German vessels of
war should act uponthe presumption that
the flag of the United States was not being
used in good faith and should destroy on
the high seas an American veel or the lives
of American vitizens, it would be difficult
for the government of the United States to
view the set In any other light than as an
Indefensible violation of neutral rights
which it would be very hard Indeed to recon
cile with the friendly relations now so hap.
plly subsisting between the two govern
ments. Then followed the warning that for
such acts the United States would hold
Germany "to a strict accountability
for such acts of their naval authorities
and to take such steps as it might be
necessary to take to safeguard "Amer
ican lives and property and to secure
to American citizens the full enjoy
ment of their acknowledged rights on
the high seas."
While the note of May 13 informed
Germany that the United States would
not "omit any word or any act neces
sary to the performance of its sacred
duty of maintaining the rights of the
United States and its citizens," it also
declared "the practical Impossibility
of employing submarines in the de
struction of commerce without disre- ;
garding those rules of fairness, reason,
justice and humanity which all mod
ern opinion regards as imperative."
It also expressed our expectation that
German submarines would "do noth
ing that would involve the lives of
noncombatants or the safety of neu
tral ships, even at the cost of failing
of their object of capture or destruc
tion." This declaration was not con
fined to American or even to neutral
noncombatants, but by its terms ap
plied to those of beligerent nations
and to all neutral ships.
The note of June 9 is confined al
most entirely to discussion of the
Lusitania case, and though It reiter
ates the principle that "the livea
noncombatants cannot lawfully or
rightfully be put in jeopardy by the
capture or destruction of an unresist
ing merchantman," it does so merely
as a basis for notifying Germany that
we expect her to adopt measures "nec
essary to put these principles into
practice in respect of the safeguarding
of American lives and American
ships."
The President is in a much stronger
and safer position since he wrote the
note of June 9 than when he wrote
that of May 13. He cannot be accused
of embarking on a humanitarian cru
sade on behalf of all neutrals and all
noncombatants, whether neutral or
belligerent, and of -thus endeavoring
to compel Germany to abandon the use
of a powerful weapon of war. He
condemns German methods of war on
principle and he demands that, so far
as American citizens and American
ships are concerned, they shall be
changed to conform with the general
principle he lays down. Noncombat
ants of belligerent nationality and
other neutral nations may derive
whatever incidental advantage they
can from this position, but it is not the
purpose of tHe President directly to
seek this advantage for them.
The Government of the United
States has proved on numerous occa
sions that, in protecting American
rights, it will conform to the princi
ples of humanity and will set up a
high moral standard for imitation by
other nations. We fought Spain be
cause Spain maintained a public nui
sance at our door, not in order to lib
erate the Spanish colonies or redress
their wrongs. We found the - best
means of abating that nuisance to be
establishment of Cuban independence,
taking Porto Rico under- American
rule with 'ocal autonomy and the
training of the Filipinos for indepen
dence. Application of the principles
of humanity was the cure for a wrong
to the United States in that case. So
It would be in the present controversy
with Germany. Other neutral nations
are free to adopt the same principle In
dealing with an evil from which they
suffer alike with us, but we do not
Intend to fight their battles unless ne
cessity should prompt us to., league
ourselves with them in a common
cause.
Witness the finesse In the report of
the two patrolmen who . were com
pelled to eat a hundred cones of ice
cream to keep them from spoiling at
the close of a recent entertainment.
Therein lies a broad hint to commit
tees on arrangements in the warm
nights to come.
Germany's boycott of foreign words
may cause her enemies to adort
words out of each other's languages.
The mixture of English, Gaelic, Welsh.
French, Russian, Italian and Serb
words would make a linguistic gou
lash that is appalling to the imagina
tion.
If whistling a piece off a glacier be
comes habitual with Alaska steamers,
they will destroy their stock in trade.
for glacier arc what tourists go to
see. Gilford Pinchot should be com
missioned to conserve the glaciers.
People who scoff at the story of the
walls of Jericho are commended to
the exploit of Captain Baughman, of
the Humboldt, who brought down a
large section of a glacier by a blast
of the steamship's whistle.
The peac-s parade in Bryan's honor
at San Francisco has been called off
for obvious reasons, mainly financial.
and he will participate in a military
demonstration, more becoming to the
Fourth of July.
Laurelhurst should remember that
Laurelhurst Park exists not for it
alone, but for the whole surrounding
population, -which includes some thou
sands of boys and girls who like to
swim.
With so many candidates how can
President Wilson appoint a Collector
of Customs from Washington without
making half a dozen enemies for
every friend he wins?
The man you come upon unexpect
edly this week and find him pawing
the air is not mentally erratic; he's
due for a Fourth of July oration.
It would be the height of hospital
ity for the Press Club to supply Mr.
Taft with a bathtub in which he can
bathe without slopping over.
Portland can reel assured things are
looking up, since L. M. Sullivan, erst
while prominent citizen, has returned
to reside here.
Modern medical science has made
war so healthy that the only un
healthy thing remaining about It is
the fighting.
Salem's tenth annual Cherry Fair
will be held this week, and It will be
worth the while of Portland people to
attend.
Id starting a boozeless saloon, Ta
coma will need to be careful lest some
over-exhilarating cold tea is smug
gled In.
Having bad much trouble to get
Huerta out of Mexico, President Wil
son does not intend to let him get in
again.
Possibly Bryan's- political future is
a mystery, but basing ft on the, dope
book, he can be placed in the "also
This is the week In which the Bea
vers are due to break into the first di
vision on their upward climb.
The European' ganger zone has been
extended enough to keep good Ameri
cans at home.
Some men do not learn their value
until they are' sued for breach of
promise.
Portland can get along with fewer
saloons in the next six months.
Owing to the schedule, a glorious
day was wasted yesterday.
Hilf a. Century Ago
From The Oregonlan. June 28, 1865,
A good many English . noblemen
whose seal for the rebel cause led
them to speculate heavily in the Con
federate loan now find themselves af
flicted with impecunioBity because of
their indiscreet endeavors to sustain
tnelr rebellious friends and destroy
Republican, liberty. Their loss will oc
casion a deep satisfaction among our
people. To rejoice at. it is not indi
vidual or wrong. The loss of their
money is but the fulfilment of justice.
The following item will give some idea
of the sum in which certain doughty
but obtuse representatives of John
Bull have been mulcted by the failure
of those who got the benefit of their
money:
"The New York Express says it has
good authority for stating that Sir
Harry Bald do Houghton, proprietor
of the pro-rebel organ in Liverpool
the Standard had, 1.750,000 pounds
sterling invested in the Confederate
Cotton loan. He took one-tenth of the
entire loan at par and his punishment
by this time, we fancy, must be some
thing more thin he can bear."
In compliance with a petition for
warded to him we learn Governor
Gibbs has appointed J. P. Argersinger
County Judge of Union County.
Major Rinehart, First Oregon Cav
alry, left here yesterday to take com
mand of Fort Klamath.
V hat bas been done xwith the body
of Booth the assassin? This question
will, in ail probability, become as great
a secret as that concerning the execu
tioner of Charles I of England. A
correspondent of the New York World
writes from Washington regarding the
matter as follows:
"The Secretary of War without in
structions of any kind, a few days ago,
committed to Colonel Lafayette C
Baker, of the Secret Service, the stark
corpse of J. Wilkes Booth. The Secret
Service never fulfilled Its purpose
more secretively. In rep! ' to a ques
tion as to what disposition he made of
the body Colonel Baker replied, 'That
is known to only one man living be
sides my sen. it is gone.
Jacob Holstead and Miss Jane Con
stable of Washington County were
married June 25 at the residence of
Thomas K. Cornelius, of Washington
County, by E. Jackson, Justice of the
Peace.
It becomes our painful duty to re
cord the deatn by drowning of a truly
generous and nobly disposed man, Mr.
Jacob Kimball, at The Dalles, on the
Columbia, on Friday last. In com
pany with Captain Madison of a sloop
running on the Columbia above Des
chutes, they had taken on a few tons
of merchandise and had put' 3d out in
the stream heading for Celilo. One
of the oars was broken in attempting
to land at Celilo; there bclni. no wind,
the oars Instead of the sails were
used. The sloop hit the current and
dashed into the rarlds. captain Aladi
son reached shore after Jumping over
board, but Kimball took the water too
late to be saved. He was seen to pass
over the falls and finaly into an
eddy from which he river arose.
By reference to our advertising col
umns our readers will notice the co
partnership of Drs. Hoffman and
Blacn. of this city.
SPECIAL
PRIVILEGES TO XOJ'E
Writer Objects to Showing of Censored
Films) to Censors' friends.
PORTLAND, Juno 27. (Tothe Edi
tor.) Perhaps a year ago, a motor
cycle club lo raise funds gave a private
run of moving pictures to a tew in
vited" friend in the basement of i
bu-ilUing near the Courthouse. Sheriff
Tom Word, not being: one of the in
vited," broke up the entertainment.
Now that he is eliminated, a news item
states that Mrs. Colwell, of the Cen
sorship 'loard, ,vho confiscates the part
she dislikes. going to show "a thou
sand teet of lmuiora.1, obscene and un
desirable features" to a. few "invited'
guests.
If these pictures are too immoral for
me to see. why should a few "invited
guests of Z.Irs. Colwell be allowed to
view them? They certainly can get no
good information from them. It is not
to pass upon the morality of the film,
because she ha- already done that. It
appears they will only get pleasure
from it. Because I do not enjoy the honor
of being the censors friend, my moral
integrity wouldn't stand the strain of
even one little bit of obliquity in
film of thrilling adventure, but if I
were more fortunate I could stand 1000
feet qf "obscene, immoral and unde
sirable features" without blinking an
eye.
If there are undesirable features in
a film. 1 believe in censorship meth
ods and confiscation, but 1 can see no
necessity of preserving these pictures
to entertain a -ew select friends. There
seems to be a tendency of the "upper
class to" dictate what the lower class
shall do relative to morals. It an
pears proper for ladies of high degree
to smoKe ana nave liquor served to
them in high-toned hotels in teapots,
but if some poor factory girl indulges
in the same "luxuries," but. of course,
in less favorable places, she not only
meets the disapproval of her own class,
but society immediately appoints a
censor at a hundred a month to gather
special material for her friends' en
tertainment. U D, U.
SUPER-CENSORS FOR FIRST RUN
Let Nevr Board Decide Whether De
leted films Are Fit to Show Council.
PORTLAND, June 37. (To the Edi
tor.) Is . it not about time for the
really good people of Portland to take
steps to s" that our film censorship
board does not outrage public decency
by having a private exhibition of the
violent and immodest scenes which
have been cut out of the regular movie
shows?
What assurance has any upright,
clean-living Christian man or woman
blessed with a good conscience that the
objectionable features to be shown the
council and invited guests will not
corrupt them? Evidently no assurance
at all. Consequently we may infer
that the situation is really desperate.
The censorship board has exercised
its best judgment, reinforced by police
power, to the effect that certain im
moral, obscene and violent features
must be suppressed, on the theory that
they would exercise a pernicious in
fluence on the public that frequents
the movies. . What evidence is there
that the same demoralizing influence
will not affect the guests of the censors
at a private view? Are they not all
flesh and blood like the rest of us or
must we believe that they are angels
of light with such a superabundance of
the grace of God in their souls that
they are altogether incorruptible?
It may yet be necessary to create a
board of super-censors, who will ex
amine the moral quality of the films
that the ordinary censors and their
favored friends view in private. Their
moral welfare seems to be seriously
menaced by viewing the awful things
that the 'public at large is protected
against. . R. D.
Northern lights and Pole Star.
- PRINEVILLE, Or., June 25 (To the
Editor.) Kindly give reasons for
"northern lights," also from Dipper
the position of North star, and is same
a bright star or not? READER.
Northern lights, are supposed to be
of electrical origin. ,
The North star is In a direct line
with the two outer stars in the cup of
the Big Dipper. It is a star of second
magnitude. -
REFORMS IN PRISON THAT PAT
Relaxation In Roles at Sins; Sins Im
proves Condition of Inmates.
PORTLAND. June 27. (To the Edi
tor.) The large number of persons
coming out of our prisons every year
emphasizes the importance of turning
these men back upon society better
than they went in.
It is necessary that persons who have
committed crime should be placed aside
and excluded from social privileges
for the protection of society, but our
prison system has been a failure as
a means of protection. It has defeated
its purpose in all ways. It has sent
out men more dangerous than when
they went in, evinced by the number
of those who come back again and
again. Statistics show that two-thirds
of the men in prison are serving a
second term at least. To quote the
words of an ex-convlct on this subject:
"I do not think there is such a thing
as a confirmed criminal except what
the state makes." If you study the
old prison system you will see that this
s true.
The present theory is that a man Is
sent to prison to be punished. Donald
Lowrie in his book, "My Life in
Prison," says:
So long as punishment Is the object and
end of Imprisonment, the inmates of prisons
cannot manifest themselves as human be
ings they must -be suppressed in every way.
But af-er this suppression, after this ab
normal period, they are expected to go forth
Into the world of men where Initiative, self
reliance and responsibility are the first es
sentials to success In the Industrial strug
gle, and manifest the very characteristics
which have been beaten down and obliter
ated while they have been in prison.
I do not mean to cirlticize or tear
down our present prison system with
out offering a better one In its place,
because remedies already have been
offered and are being put into effect
by sveral wardens in this country.
When Thomas Mott Osborne, the
present warden of Sing Sing, came into
office he immediately began putting
Into action his revolutionary plans for
pr'son reform. Of course. Mr. Osborne
has been severely criticized, as there
are always people who object to hav
ing the old order changed people like
the man to whom Talleyrand referred
when he said: "Had he been present
at the creation he would have asked.
'Is this a wise change: would it not
disturb chaos?'" Mr. Osborne's Idea of
prison is that it should be a place
where men are educated back into use
ful citizens. He believes in teaching
them that it pays to work and that It
will pay them when they come out if
they learn to be efficient and honest
workers in the prison.
About a month ago I visited Sing.
Sing with some members of the Na
tional Committee on Prisons and was
shown through the prison by Warden
Osborne. The most dreadfully Impres
sive thing about Sing Sing is the cell
block. The men incarcerated within
shiver with the cold and dampness of
the stone and iron cells during the
Winter and suffer from the extreme
heat in the Summer. The cells are
six and one-half feet high, seven feet
long and three feet four inches wide.
They are so unhealthy that they breed
tuberculosis every minute. The damp
ness is so great that you can see large
drops of water on the walls. It 13
often necessary to put two and three
men in these cells, the third sleeping
on the floor. I stepped into a cell and
the xlpor was closed so that I might
better get the effect on the Inmate.
At first the light was so dim that I
could barely see, and the air was
extremely stifling and close; in fact,
the cell was not as comfortable as
some cages I have seen for wild beasts
in our parks.
As we came out of the cell block
we stopped and talked to a prisoner.
He had been in Sing Sing for 20 years
and was serving a life sentence for
murder. He was 84 years old and told
ns about his grandchildren, whom he
had never seen. Although life in prison
was more bearable under the new sys
tem, he wanted to get out. and his
family had almost secured his pardon,
which is now among a pile of others
on the Governor's desk, but the Gov
ernor has not time to sign them, and
the old man will probably die in prison.
The change in the mess hall under
the new system is very great. The
men are allowed to talk and they file
In the room in perfect order and take
their seats at the long gray tables.
There are no longer any guards and
the order is greatly improved. As we
stood watching hundreds of these men
go by without a single guard it never
once occurred to me to be afraid, be
cause I looked upon them as men, not
as murderers and vicious criminals.
This may not seem surprising, but
there was a time when wardens never
went among the prisoners without a
loaded revolver again the difference
between the old and new system is
manifest.
As it was Sunday, the workshops
were closed and the prisoners were
playing baseball in the prison yard.
An outside team the Mount Vernon
Republic were playing against them,
and Sing Sing won. 16 to 1. Although
there was not as much cheering as
there is at most baseball games, the
prisoners all looked happy and were
extremely enthusiastic The scarcity
of guards was very noticeable, but
those who were present were as in
terested in the game as the prisoners.
In fact, one of the guards was chosen
by the prisoners to be the umpire.
This Sunday ball game sends the
prisoners back to their cells in better
condition physically, mentally and
morally, and yet it has been greatly
objected to by some worthy people,
who consider that It is profaning the
Lord's day and think that the prison
ers should remain idle in their cells
on Sunday and contract tuberculosis
from the dampness and unhealthy con
dition. Under the old system the pris
oners were locked in their cells all
day Sunday and it was so unbearable
that they resorted to taking drugs in
order to Ket through the day. The
drug question grew to be a most dif
ficult one, but is now being success
fully handled by Warden Osborne.
The absence of guards that I have
spoken of has been brought about by
the organization of the Prisoners'. Mu
tual Welfare League. All the prisoners
voluntarily Join this league and vote
for their own officers from among
their number to keep order in the
nrlson. It is a self-governing system
organized by the prisoners with the
heln of Mr. Osborne. They nave tnelr
own court, where they try prisoners
who have broken rules, ana tne suc
f the organization Is obvious
by the results. Under the old system
117 cases were handled by tne warden
in three months, while under the pres
ent system during the same length of
time there has been Just one punish
ment. I think no one can a-ouor tne service
of Mr. Osborne to mankind, and that
as time goes on we will see his ever
growing plans come to their full real
ization. In the meantime we. as citizens
of this country, can help to bring
about these better conditions and so
aid in the cause of civilization.
CATHERINE IS. KUSSELU
When Roonevelt Left Town.
PORTLAND. June 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly inform me date of ar
rival and departure of President Roose
velt at Portland in April or May, 1903.
What day (Friday or Saturday) did he
leave Portland. Thanking you in ad
vance for reply. READER.
President Roosevelt arrived in Port
land Thursday. May 21, 1903, at 2:16
P. M., and departed Friday, May 23.
at 8 A M
Address of Humorist.
PORTLAND. June 26 (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly give the address of John
Kendrtck Bangs.
-CONSTANT READER.
Mr. Bangs' address is 7 West Forty-
third street, New York.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
From The Oregonlan Jane 28, 1890. ""
Washington. The Oregon delega
tion, having received the protest
against the method pursued by the
census enumerators In Portland, from
the Chamber of Commerce, laid the
matter before Superintendent Porter,
who at once directed that one of the
efficient inspectors In the service
should proceed to Portland at once
and take the necessary steps to
straighten out the situation.
Chicago. The first meeting of ' the
national commissioners of thA World's
Fair met here June 26 at noVn. Judge
John T. Harris was chosen temporary
chairman. Judge Boyd Thompson said
the New York commissioners had been
requested by Depew to say that his
name should not be used in connec
tion with the Presidency. Colonel
Corbin, U. S. A. was made temporary
ergeant-at-arms.
Chicago The crisis In the big strike
of the Illinois Central trainmen was
reached last night. After an all-day
session the conference between the
strikers' committee and officials ended
with a positive refusal on the part of
the company to discharge Superintend
ent Russell. Speculation is rife as to
whether a general strike will result
now.
The Pacific Postal Company expects
to have its wires into Astoria by Au
gust 15.
Mrs. Jack Dempsey mourns the loss
of a handsome diamond ring presented
to her by her husband. While waiting
at the foot of Stark street for the fer
ry she took out her purse containing
J15 and the ring. She laid it on the
seat in the waiting room and while
her attention was otherwise taken the
purse was snatched. A reward of $50
has failed to bring the ring back. The
ring is greatly prized as it was a gift
from Mr Dempsey. The person who
has that ring knows it and will do.
well to return it, or it will some day
be the cause of trouble.
Miss Alice Porter would like to see
all the members of the "Minthorn
Sketching Club" at her studio today
at 10 o'clock.
Astoria President Reid. of the As
toria & South Coast Railroad, tele
jrraphs that J3, 000. 000 of bonds of the
company have been negotiated. This
means that 3000 men will be added to
the building force immediately and
.hat 60 miles of road will be completed
this year. The negotiations were com
pleted in London.
New London, Conn. As usual, great
throngs of people congregated here
yesterday to see the annual four-mile
straightaway eight-oared shell race
between Yale and Harvard. Yale won
ty three and a half lengths in 21:25;
Harvard 21:40. This is Yale's fifth
consecutive victory.
Mrs. L'.llie Devereaux Blake is the
best looking of the female suffragists,
though some unappreclative people
say that the competition is not strong.
Hon. William McAdoo will presently
transfer his statesmanship from New
Jersey to Virginia, where indeed he
has made his home for some years.
BISMARCK AND WAR WITH FRANCE
Famous Ems Trlegram Precipitated
Rather Than Caused War.
GEER, Wash., June 26 (To the
Editor.) In that peculiar, if not re
markable poem, "The Song of the
Stars," published in The Oregonlan re
cently, reference is made again to the
oft-mentioned "Bismarck telegram."
During the last ten months the press
seems never to have got tired of tell
ing us that Bismarck, by falsifying the
telegram regarding Benedettl's inter
view with King William or some other
telegram caused the Franco-German
war of 1870. German particularists
(German copperheads) generally con
tent themselves with saying, that by
falsifying or manipulating the tele
gram he cut short the suspense and
precipitated the war, when Germany
was ready and France thought she
was, thus destroying any hope of
avoiding it, if there was any hope.
Larned does not refer to any telegram,
but simply puts the blame on Na
poleon. Everybody, or most every
body, seems to have agreed with
Larned by putting the blame on Na
poleon and his glory-thlrstlnjr clique,
until the unexpected happened, and it
became apparent that the French
might definitely lose at that time,
when, as usual. the losing party
blamed the other side, which may or
may not be true. in any particular
case.
1 have made many fruitless in
quiries. Nobody can give the facts.
Nothing but general assertions. Will
The Oregonian kindly publish the
complete original telegrram, and then
the complete falsified form of it., or if
there is no such thing, tell us just
what the "manipulation" was?
Further, you will greatly oblige me,
if you will kindly tell me who Mr.
Larned, the author of the "History of
the World." distributed by The Ore
gonlan last Winter, is. Of what na
tionality or descent? Where born and
raised? Where did he make his
studies? If a professor of history, at
which universities i
ing?
or was he lectur-
R. STUEHCK.
According to James Wycliff Head
lam, an English authority and author
of "Bismarck and the Foundation of
the German Empire," the publication
of the Ems telegram, as "edited" by
Bismarck, precipitated rather than
caused the Franco-Prussian war.
France had intervened in a movement
fostered by Bismarck to secure the
choice of Prince Leopold of Hohen
zollern as King of Spain. France
asked for a letter of apology and the
French Ambassador personally re
quested from the King of Prussia that
he would never allow the candidature
to be resumed. A telegram from the
King to Bismarck telling of the in
terview and his refusal was published
by Bismarck, who, by omitting part of
the telegram, made it appear that both
request and refusal had been conveyed
in a more abrupt form than had really
been the case. "But even apart from
this," says Headlam, "the publication
of the French demand, which could not
be complied with, must have brought
about a war."
Josephus Nelson Larned was born
in Chatham, Ontario, and was educated
in the publia schools of Buffalo. He
was a newspaper editor, later a
librarian and author. He was not a
cojlege professor. Mr. Larned died in
1913.
Cash In, Mr. Retailer
When the manufacturer advertises
his product in the newspapers he is
inviting the retailer to cash in.
He is building sales for them
starting customers towards t h e 1 ri
stores
The alert storekeeper puts adver
tised goods where people can see
them.
He invites the customers the ad
vertising has created to come his
way.
He widens his circle of influence,
serves his public well, and reaps the
profit of the manufacturer's advertising.
1