Morning Oregonian., July 30, 1915, Page 6, Image 6

6
THE MORNING OREGOXIAN. FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1915.
momm
l POKTUUi D. O BEG ON.
' Entered at Portland. Oregon. Postofflce a
' second-class matter.
. EubscripUon Rates Invariably In advance:
(By Mali.)
- Dallr. Sundav Included, on vear. ..... 18.00
JJaily. Sunday included, in roont'is. . . . .
Daily, Sunday included, three month..
laily. Sunday included, one month..
' JJaily, without Sunday, one yeari - J-"J
Ually. without Sunday, eta months....
Haily, without Sunday, three montha...
ljajly. wubout Sunday, one month..... -JO
..Weekly, one year J-J"
Sunday, one year J-g
Sunday and Weekly, one year -
. .. (By Carrier.)
. Daily. Sunday Included, one year
.Dally, Sunday included, one month
How to Remit Send Postoffice money or--der.
ezpreaa order or personal check on your
'local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at
sender's risk. Give postofflcs address in
;tull. Including' county ana state.
Postage Kate 12 to 16 pases. 1 cent; 18
to 32 pges. i cents; it to 48 pages. 8
: cents; ot to tiO pases, 4 cents; to i
'ruffes, .t --r ts t . ea, 0 cents. For
eign postage, double rates.
! 1 4tern siusuieas Unica Veree Conk
.illri, bruu3icii uuitctara New York; Verree
. V Conklin, sieger building. Chicago; San
Francisco representative. It. J. Bldwell, tfi
' Market street.
PORTLAND, FRIDAY, JCLY SO, 1915.
; BECKER.
If the death sentence that has long
hung over Charles Becker for the
.murder of Herman Rosenthal shall be
-carried out at the appointed hour this
, morning-, the former police lieutenant
i?Wjll have paid the penalty for his
crime exactly three years to a day
from the date of his indictment.
: Becker has had full advantage of the
law's delays. He succeeded In halting
' justice longer than most men who
- have transgressed the laws of New
, Tork. His tools, the four actual mur-
clerers of Rosenthal, paid he penalty
long ago they were executed in April,
, .J914. Becker was the instigator of
' the crime, the "higher up," equipped
! with a moderate fortune and not re-
fctricted in obtaining the best of legal
services. Hence he could Journey
'along. the whole attenuated road of
- triminai "court procedure.
Becker has always denied complic
ity in the murder, but in addition to
the direct testimony of three go-be-'
tweena there was circumstantial evi-
dence that was strongly corroborative.
.Jtosenthal, a gambler, on July 15,
'3 912, published an affidavit accusing
Becker, as head of the strong-arm
; squad of city detectives, of having ac
cepted protection money from gam-
piers. Not only that, he charged that
Becker was a silent partner in his own
gambling-house, and that it had been
! raided by Becker because the police
Jjieutenant was disappointed over
.losses or lack of profits.
7 Rosenthal was shot down on the
-street in the heart of the tenderloin, a
dew feet from Broadway, the next
; morning, his murderers escaping in an
'automobile. The prominent location
. f the crime and the apparent indif
ference of the police in the vicinity
igave overwhelming indication that the
, crime had the sanction of a higher
; authority. Moreover, a witness caught
'the number of the fleeing automobile
and reported it to the police, but it
, jvas entered on the blotter as a differ
ent number. Later investigations
brought out the fact that Becker had
! large sums of money on deposit in
; various banks.
Becker was tried twice and both
times was found guilty. At neither
trial did he go on the witness stand
i to tell his story. After the first trial
'an interview "with him was published
;in which he denied complicity in the
murder, and within the last. .few days
"a lengthy signed statement issued by
J him has been published. In large p'art
it consists of argument intended to
Explain circumstances, outside of the
"confessions of the go-betweens, which
indicated his guilt. His intimacy with
:the gambler. Jack Rose, who gained
immunity by turning state's evidence,
is explained with the statement that
Becker's work in the police depart
ment required a stool pigeon and that
Rose acted In that capacity. The Teal
partner in Rosenthal's establishment,
pavers Becker, was "Big Tim" Sulll
ian. now dead. Sullivan, according to
.Becker, became alarmed over Rosen
thal's disclosures and suggested that
.Rosenthal be given money to leave
Xew York. Becker, who asserts that
he discouraged the plan, apparently
'attempts to shift the crime on Rose,
who, he intimates, was given a large
"sum of money by Sullivan to pay to
Rosenthal, but employed the gunmen
for $1000 and kept the balance. He
charges also that there was bad blood
between Rosenthal and Rose.
It is not likely that public opinion
In New York or elsewhere has been or
will be changed by Becker's long-de-'layed
explanation and arguments. But
even were a doubt cast upon Becker's
direct instigation of the crime, un
questionably he was a typical rep
resentative of the- system that led to
the notorious exploits of gunmen in
New York, produced graft money for
enrichment of police officials and
brought about a peculiarly bold and
atrocious murder. As an officer dele
gated to protect the public he was ex
erting his power to protect lawbreak
ers. The law, it may be granted, defines
crime with exactness. One's unlawful
deeds may lead straight to the com-
mis&ion of higher crimes - by others,
and still one may escape culpability
for the higher crimes in the eyes of
the law. To demark in rigid legal
phrase the responsibility that
often exists in others as well as
in the men who wield the gun would
perhaps be beyimd human power. But
whatever might be the legal outcome,
if Becker's denial of direct guilt could
be confirmed, the accusing finger of
moral right would still point at him.
unswervingly.
Four gunmen fired the shots that
took the life of Herman Rosenthal,
yet Becker and the system that Becker
represented, regardless of his previous
knowledge of their intent, nerved and
urged them on, Society took the lives
of the four gunmen for their crime.
yet Becker and the Becker system of
protecting lawlessness brought them
to their-doom. " There is no doubt of
Becker's direct complicity in the
crime. But were" there such a doubt,
his indirect complicity so outrages
justice and society that there could
be no sincere cause to deplore the
possibility that the colder and more
exacting process of the law may have
gone awry in executing him.
" MAI-HECR. - TlK CORN COUNTRY.
It may astonish "residents of West
ern Oregon to .learn, that Malheur
County is making greater strides
toward the goal of corn supremacy
than any other county or section of
Oregon. Such is the case, though the
business is very new in Malheur. We
doubt if, all told, ten acres were de
voted to corn in that county prior to
J 905. There was hardly a field of a
size worth mentioning or a yield at
a paying figure prior to 1910, possibly
not before 1912.
Today Lfce Malheur valleys are dot-
ted over with cornfields, some of them
containing a section of land, some
more. The aggregate number of
acres in corn this year is more than
double that of last year and last
year doubled 1913. The year 1916
will doubtless double the present
year.
Another surprise awaits those who
do not know the facts. Malheur
promises to be the greatest corn coun
ty in the country. Look at the facts:
The average yield of corn per acre
the country over 13 under thirty bush
els per acre; the yield per acre in Mal
heur County last year averaged well
up to 100 bushels per acre, some
fields showing acres yielding close to
150 bushels. That is a yield almost
unheard of even in the so-called corn
states.
The Malheur and Owyhee valleys in
Kastern Malheur have been called
"the country's greatest alfalfa field,"
and the name has been no misnomer.
Now corn will more than likely re
place many of the alfalfa meadows, at
least temporarily, for the Malheut
people are good agriculturists and be
lieve in rotation of crops and in di
versity or interests. So Malheur will
become as noted for corn as for al
falfa. That will mean that from there
will be shipped from now on finely
finished beef steers, hogs and sheep
and lambs, for it is not likely that the
Malheur growers will find it profitable
to ship their corn out by rail. It will
pay them larger returns to feed it and
send out finished meat animals.
SIR. BRYAN.
Mr. Bryan resigned as Secretary of
State because he was not in accord
with the President's policy in the German-American
crisis. "To remain a
member of the Cabinet," he said in his
letter of withdrawal, "would be as
unfair to you as it would be to the
cause which is nearest my. heart
namely, the prevention of war."
Mr. Bryan left the' Cabinet because
he was convinced that the course of
the President was not designed .to pre
vent war. He abandoned his post at a
critical time in the negotiations with
Germany, and advertised to the world
that there was an irreconcilable
breach in American support of the
President. Not content with an act of
grave disloyalty to his chief, he'flood
ed the country with appeals for ap
proval of his peace-at-any-price prop
aganda, going so far as to declare
that the second note to Germany
(which led to. his retirement) was an
example of the kind of diplomacy
which has already "set the world at
war," with Its precedents" "written in
characters of blood upon every, page
of human history."
Yet Mr. Bryan, repudiating the poli.
cies of the President and giving aid
and comfort to the country's enemies,
has the audacity to go about on a po
litical mission, ostentatiously offering
the President his ready-lip service,
but stealthily throwing the hammer
of treachery into the wheels of
American . unanimity and loyalty at
every opportunity.
Mr. Bryan opposes the course of
President Wilson, but he signed the
first martial note to Germany, calling
upon Germany to disavow the act of
sinking the Lusitania and summoning
the imperial government to a strict
accountability. Why was that? If
the President was "wrong then, why
did Mr. Bryan sign?
If he was right then, how and why
was he wrong later, when Mr. Bryan
refused to sign and left? Does Mr.
Bryan pretend that the President re
versed himself?
It . has been suggested that Mr.
Bryan s .real motive in. leaving the
Cabinet was that he was and is a can
didate for President. Is it true, or is
It not true? If Mr. Bryan Is not a
candidate, it will be. fitting for him
to silence the slander that personal
ambition controlled his action on that
fateful June day when he put on his
hat and coat and deserted. If he is
a candidate, he ought to be frank with
the public, and particularly with the
deserving Democrats who have long
sat at his knee and who have been
brought by him in touch with Presi
dent. Wilson, so that some of them
have good political Jobs, and others ot
them hope to have. They are entitled
to know where they are at.
, Mr. Bryan has learned that the
country Is practically a unit behind
President Wilson in his firm and clear
assertion of American rights and in
his stand for freedom of the seas.
Would Mr. Bryan have the American
people speak to their President with
a different voice and give him counsel
of confusion and distraction? If not,
why does he not put his own hand on
the President's shoulder and tell him
to go straight ahead?
There has been an appeal to the
country to bury partisanship and
unite on a common ground of oppo
sition to a possible foreign foe; and it
has been responded to nobly by press
and public. Those newspapers of the
United States professing a political
faith in opposition to the President's
and Mr. Bryan's have without an im
portant exception rallied to the flag
and have held up the President's
hands.
Where is Mr. Bryan in this mo
mentous emergency?
81MMKR READING.
Most of the "Summer reading" of
fered by provident publishers for the
refreshment of vacation readers is
trashy. The mind, wearied by several
months of unbroken toil, is expected
to find new life and vigor In the peru
sal of sloppy novels. This expecta
tion suffers many a disappointment.
For one thing, the majority of minds
do not toil severely for several
months of the year, or even for one
month. The mental toil which most
people can lay itp to their credit is
extremely light and intermittent. As
a contemporary -remarks, what most
of us need in vacation is not so much
rest for . the mind as stimulation. The
weary routine of affairs . makes the
brain torpid and it needs vigorous ex
ercise to wake up its dormant energy,
But there are some persons who
really do make a steady business of
thinking. For them a little mental
relaxation is wholesome. But they are
not likely to find it in doltish novels.
Jrash wearies intelligent minds. It
does not rest them. To a person who
is in the habit of using his brain at all
there Is nothing more tiresome than
a silly picture show of the "Charlie
Chaplin" species, or a vaudeville play
without plot, action or character, or
a driveling novel of the" Marie Corelli
type.
A -healthy mind, like a healthy
stomach, is sickened by sawdust and
slop. The weariest person, if his
brain Is normal, wants some traces of
sense in his reading. He may relish
a thin diet now and then, but if it is
too thin it provokes nausea. Almost
the only Interest we ever could find in
the trash commonly set out for Sum
mer reading Is the measure It affords
of human stupidity. It giys one's
spiritual pride a salutary snub to learn
Just what depths of duncedom our fel.
low-men can sink to, knowing In our
secret hearts that we are all liable to
do the same.
A NEIGHBOR'S COMMON BENPE.
There is a remarkable similarity
between the attack on the Washington
prohibition law and that on the Port
land Jitney ordinance in one particu
lar. In Washington opponents of
prohibition sought to restrain the ex
ecutive officers from enforcing the
law on the ground that certain for
malities leading up to its enactment
had not been complied with. The
same relief was sought by opponents
of the Jitney regulation in the Oregon
courts. A superior Judge at Olympla
ruled as follows:
In my opinion, the relief praye.l for Is not
within the power of the courts to grant, re
gardless of whether or not the constitu
tional and statutory stepa relative to sub.
mltllng the measure fre complied with
and also regardless of whether the said
provisions are mandatory or directory; espe
cially so now that the election la over and
the people have actually expressed them
selves on the measure. 11 y this 1 mean that
the question here presented Is not now one
for Judicial Inquiry. Under our constitution
government is divided into three depart
ments, each independent of the other. In
this action the court Is asked to usurp the
functions of the executive department by
enjoining the chief and other executive offi
cers from performing what they conceive
to be their duty under the constitution rela
tive to legislation enacted by the people in
ths-ir sovereign capacity.
Here is a broad-minded conception
of the conclusive character of a vote
of the people fairly acquired. There
was no question in Portland as to the
fairness or freedom of the election by
which the people approved the Jitney
ordinance. They Bpoke in their sover
eign capacity and declared their will.
Yet the ordinance is declared uncon
stitutional because a formality of no
practical consequence was neglected.
The Washington decision, however,
was not rendered by the highest court
In the state. Perhaps it does not rep
resent that finer quality of wisdom
which Is above the ordinary under
standing, and is only acquired by one
who has long been cloistered among
the tomes of legal lore, safe from the
distracting influences of a common
sense world.
MARKETING AXO WOMAN'S SPHERE.
Mrs. Taft has publicly announced
her belief that a housewife's duties
do not end with the superintendence
of the kitchen and the dinner table.
She should extend her activities to
the market. Good marketing is as
essential as good cookery Jn Mrs.
Tuffs opinion, and who can dispute
her? The. ancient and honorable art
of buying groceries and provisions for
the household is too much neglected
in these degenerate days.
The telephone beguiles the house
wife into marketing at a distance.
She buys articles which she never
sees until they appear on the table,
and if she gets second ar third best
for her money we need not be sur
prised. It saves time and effort to
telephone to market Instead of going
in person, but it wastes money and
endangers the health of the family.
Good food Is the prime requisite to
good health. A family who devour
whatever the grocer chooses to send
them are not likely to keep In the
best condition physically. Mrs. 'Taft's
position on this subject can be sup
ported by the best of arguments on
the economic side, but morally it ex
cites our grave apprehensions.
It cannot be denied that a woman
who goes to market forsakes her
home. Sho does not forsake it a
great while, but neither does she
when she goes to vote. The time re
quired for one function is about the
same as for the other. We have
learned from Mrs. Taft and others
that It Is perilous to a woman's soul
and to her family's welfare to leave
her home In order to vote. Heaven
defend us from what may happen
while she is away marketing. The
baby may fall Into the fire. The hus
band may come home tipsy with no
body to soothe and comfort him. Mrs.
Taft's advice to housewives to desert
the sphere to which the Lord has
called them and wander off to the
public market with Its temptations
and evil surroundings looks to us like
the small end of the wedge. Once
give It entrance and who can say
what will follow?
Undoubtedly marketing in person
by homemaking women would relieve
the strain of high prices on the fam
ily budget and greatly enhance the
family health. But against these
comparatively trivial gains wo must
set off the tremendous counter claim
that the wife and mother in order to
make them, must emerge from her
sphere and come in contact with the
unchlvalrous and demoralizing world
of trade. We feel sure that when
Mrs. Taft calmly reconsiders her ad
vice she will perceive its dangers and
retract it. Marketing by telephone
seems to be singularly efficient
means of keeping women in the home
where they belong.
FLAYING WITH POWER.
In a first trial of the referendum
in North Dakota fourteen laws passed
by the Legislature face a vote of the
people. This is a longer referendum
record for one year than Oregon can
disclose and it is interesting to ob
serve that numerous North Dakota
newspapers, conservative and other
wise, are condemning what they term
an abuse of the new power acquired
by the people. The laws likely to be
held up until November, 1916, are
listed as follows: x
1 H. B. No. 42. repealing the one-eighth
mill levy for terminal elevators and appro
priating fjooo to be used by tho Railroad
Commissioners to conduct an Investlsatlon
of th terminal elevator proposition.
2 S. B. No. H3. .appropriating 2.'.n.(Ml
to be expended at tha hospital for the Insane
at Jamestown for new buildings.
3 H. B. No. 508. appropriating 2I.2:tnl
to make np the shortage In the Capitol
maintenance account.
4 H. B. No. 507. appropriating 124.637. 04
to make up the shortage in the public print
ing account.
5 H. B. No. 50a, appropriating 1.0GB.i
to make up tha shortage In the Public Ex
aminer's fund.
B S. B. No. 150. appropriating $48.ono to
make up the shortage in the Penitentiary
accounts.
7 s. B. No. 194. appropriating XGO.Ooo to
promote Immigration and for creating an
immigration board.
S H. B. No. 361. providing for a board
of regents to take over all tha stale insti
tutions of learning.
9 s. B. No. l.'.o. appropriating $15,000 for
the Oovernor to employ accountant for
checktnx over public accounts.
10 II. R. No. 210. defining tha duties and
the authorities of the Emergency Commis
sion. 11 s. B. No. 2T0. seeking to extend the
terms of office of the Hoard of control rrora
two to alx jears.
12 s. B. No. 102, making the Board ot
rnnirol' the trustees of public property. In
cluding the Capitol and the atate . electric
carllnes. v
IS H. li. No. 356. providing means where
by the regulations and the control of mater
works, light ana gas plants are put unncr
the control and jurisdiction of a itanro
Commission.
14 s. 11. No. 139. giving the Railroad
Commission power over telephone companies.
We glean this Information from
Equity, a Philadelphia magazine "de
voted to improved processes of sell
government," which is committed
heart and soul to unrestrained liber
ality in the use of the direct legisla
tive power and la not affected by any
practical demonstration of the need
for restrictions and safeguards that
lo not accord with its purely theoret
ical notions. Equity remarks:
It is plainly evident that some of the
people of that state are not satisfied with
a part of the work done by their Legisla
ture. Vnder tha referendum amendment it
la their privilege to express their opinion of
that work, and to Induce as" many people
as they can to Join them in protestluf
sralnst It. If these can succeed In getting
lu per cent of the vote for Uovernor at the
last election, which In this case would mean
about hooo voters, to favor a referendum on
these fourteen measures, would It not be
fair to assume that there might be a serious
difference of opinion as to wheihrr those
measures actually would "obstruct the
progress of the state" or not? And If such
a considerable difference of opinion exists
ss to these matters, might It not be ortn
while to get a decision from the entire
electorate?
This view Is predicated wholly on
the assumption that voters sign ref
erendum petitions always with under
standing of the law assailed and of
the effect of their act. In the North
Dakota list are several laws that
might be easily referended without
abuse of privilege. They carry large
appropriations, -and In almost any
community a large expenditure of
public funds, even for a. worthy pur
pose, will draw the opposition of at
least 10 per cent of the voters.
But there Is something decidedly
suspicious about a referendum of a
bill extending state regulation to pub
lic utilities. Ordinarily such a law
could be referended only by employ
ment of paid solicitors to go among
the ignorant or to misrepresent the
purport of the measure.
Oregon can supply a striking In
stance of such a referendum. A public
utilities act was held up for two years
ostensibly because It did not Include
certain principles contained In the
Wisconsin law. A State Senator
signed the negative argument against
the bill pointing out what was termed
a vital omission in the law In
the interests of the corporations. The
argument was published in the official
pamphlet. The voters approved the
law, and a few years later the same
Senator arose at his seat in Salem and
opposed the enactment of the provi
sion, for the omission of which he had
previously opposed the law at the
polls, and declared that Its enactment
would be In the Interests of the cor
porations.
The point Is that raon'y combined
with ignorance and demagogy will
bring the referendum Into disrepute
unless safeguards aror-enacttd. North
Dakota will be pestered with the com
bination and have its Important legis
lation delayed and hampered until It
either prohibits paid circulation of
petitions or arranges for an early vote
on referended legislative enactments.
It is remarkable but true that In
probably one-half the referendums
Invoked action Is Inspired solely by
selfish desire for delay In the enforce
ment of lawa and without honest hope
or expectation that the people will
defeat tho enactments. When the
period between date of legislative en
actment and time of the next election
Is reduced to four or six months the
"serious difference of opinion" which
a petition of 10 per cent of the voters
seems to Imply does not half so often
raise its head.
The referendum is designed to se
cure serious and . honest use. Left
wide open. It is often the agent of
cupidity or politics.
Juliet's tomb has just had such a
narrow encape from Austrian bombs
that literary people feel a good deal
of apprehension for other shrines even
more sacred. Thero is Adum'a tomb.
for example, where Mark Twain wept
In filial affection. Should the British
shell Jerusalem, who can say what
might happen to It? It would be a
good plan to assemble these tombs in
some Island In mid-ocean and neutral
ize It,
A contemporary opines that a forty-
acre farm In Western Oregon ran be
made to yield $45 net income annu
ally. A dairy will turn the trick, but
not without a silo. A prune orchard
usually returns a good deal more than
$45 to the acre when it Is in full bear
ing. A dairy combined with fruit and
hogs should draw a good family In
come from forty acres, but It re
quires management.
Settlers In Alaska are surrounded
by many enviable conditions, but none
of their warm weather advantages Is
more delightful than the plenitude of
ice. Those who dwell near the water
always have icebergs In sight which
they can tow in of a hot afternoon
and anchor by the garden gate. A
lodge in a garden of cucumbers is
nothing compared with an Iceberg or
two at control.
One of the agreeable consequences
of the war Is in evldenco at our water,
Ing places like Saratoga and Richfield
Springs. They are thronged this sea
son with visitors from Cuba and South
America who usually spend the Sum
mer In Europe. The 111 wind that
desolates Franco and Belgium blows
some good to us, for which we should
be duly thankful.
The zones of silence which have
been noticed at certain distances from
the firing lines In Europe are no nov
elty. There are such zones in many
a theater, as seat buyers know to their
sorrow. In every vibrating string
there are "nodes" whence no sound
emanates. The zones of silence are of
similar origin.
Radium is-rheaper, but not cheap
enough to have looe around the
house. A gram Is worth more than
a dozen high-class automobiles.
The difference between Bryan and
the Japanese Minister of Justice, just
resigned, is that the latter cannot be
a receptive candidate.
Since residents in Lucky street ob
ject to the name and want it changed,
how would "Easy" do for classiness?
Saloons In the bad lands may be ex
pected to make their "killings" In
the next five months.
Justice Is speeding up In Idaho.
Dean, the kidnaper, was given a long
sentence yesterday.
More material for a war scare.
Hood River Japanese climb the moun
tain every Sunday.
Becker's sole hope Is In Governor
Whitman, and It was Whitman who
prosecuted him.
It's a long way from New York and
Arizona, but Becker will beat the Mex
icans to It.
Conviction of the ambulance driver
means that he Is subject to regulation.
LcHon. Milt Miller see him first.
European War Primer
By Nattsaal Geetarranjklral Society.
On every field where the German ar
mies are now fighting In the environs
of Warsaw great battles have gone be
fore; for Warsaw has always been the
chief stronghold for the defense of Po
land, the Induatrlal. commercial and
financial center, as well as the physical
center and the center toward which all
Polish lines of communication lake
their way. The greatest of European
conquerors have passed that way and
dealth with Warsaw as one of the halt
dozen most important towns on the
continent. As a military problem War
saw la conscientiously studied by the
leading soldiers ot Kurope, and there
are few fields for which tho possibili
ties luive been better canvassed. The
geograpjiy of the country Immediately
surrounding this great city, the scene
of a supreme tet of strength between
Teuton and Slav, Is thus described:
e
Olrdled by a formidable plan of for
tifications and by fortified towns,
which build a circular line around the
metropolis, Warsaw is the best-defended
city in Eastern Europe. Its Imme
diate line of forts are thrown before
it at a radius of about IS miles' from
the heart of the city. In the Immediate
line of fortified towns beyond the
Warsaw forta. varying from 25 to 40
miles In distance from the city, are
Garwolin in the southeast. Grojec In
the south, .Sklernlewico in the south
west. Blonle In the west. Novo Ueor
gievsk in the northwest, Pultusk and
Segrje in the north and Praga across
the Vistula to the east. The most pow
erful of these fortresses Is Novo Geora
glevsk.
The country around Warsaw Is a
plain, low and flat, intensely cultivated,
and dotted with many villages. This
plain stretches away to the Prussian
frontier. To the south there are hill
clutters, while in the north throughout
the region adjoining the confluence of
the Nartw and the Bug with the Vis
tula there are considerable stretches ot
tangled and treacherous marsh land.
During the Spring and Autumn rains
this region frequently suffers from dis
astrous floods. The floods now and
then prove to be terribly destructive.
Novo Georglevsk fortress lies upon the
confluence of the Bug and Vistula, 'and
the swamp stretches near It are part of
Its scheme of defense.
The Vistula cleaves through this dis
trict, throuKh tortreses before War
saw, through the heart of the metrop
olis, and through fortresses toward the
German frontier, in a broad expanse ot
between a quarter and a third of a mil
in width. Parts of the river's banks
are high, and Warsaw stands over the
Vistula on a steep terrace, lying be
tween 100 and 140 feet above the river.
Mix great trunk lines traverse the plain
to Warsaw, connecting the Polish city
with Petrograd. Moscow. Kiev. Danzig.
Berlin and Vienna. Over these rail
ways and down tha broad Vistula al
most tha whole trade of Russian Po
land has taken its way through the
first city.
All the country before Warsaw la an
open way of farm and factory. While
the toils are not very fertile, being
chiefly clay and sand deposits, large
crops are raised upon them, crops that
have been forced higher and higher to
meet the needs of the great next-door
market. Then, too. the Warsaw district
la the moat modern and progrenslve
district in Poland progressive In Ha
agricultural, as In Its manulacturo and
trade. The industry of the metropolis
spreads out over the city, through the
neighboring villaKCs and town. Kor
20 years the Pole have turned their
energies to Industry with all the se
riousness which they formerly dis
played in politics, and with better or
ganisation. Warsaw, and the flat coun
try In which It lies, are the heart and
tha Inspiration of Polish Industry.
LOCAL AD MAIL-ORDER PRirKS
tho riter Klada l eaaltloas Opposite
Those Itrlatrd by Mr. (inmlMt.
ECHO. Or, July 5. (To the Editor.)
Mr. Jlarry Cumminsrs' letter, rrlnted
In The Oregonian in re mall-order
houses versus local dealers, appears to
have all the earmarks of gome mall
order house trying to get some free
advertising.
We notice he states that "Mr. Con
sumer can go home after P. M
and write his order to these mall-
order houses and get what he wants
for half the price and half the bother
entailed if ha buys at home.
itiftht liere we want to quote some
rrl.-es taken, at random front Jonea
"ash Store catalogue as compared with
the prices of the local merchants at
Bono, a town to miles from iteppner:
J. i". (t. lv-al.
rrysist white soap, rase St.'
'o'ttlene. 4-pound psil .
r'risco ,"
orn "n
Ssurkrsut ' 'r " 7 a
Albers ost Takes
Pancake flor -
I ...im of wheat -H "
Hut for want of pnrc we would
go on through the catalogue, taking
Item for Item, and by making a final
Kilarv-o, It would be found that the
local merchant la selling goodn Juat
aa chciD as they can be bought ror
anywhere, and Mr. Consumer doesn't
have to pay the freight, wait a week
for his goods, or pay tho cash In ad
vance.
lleppncr depends entirely on Its
farm in a- country for support, and when
Mr. Cummlngs talks about the laboring
man of Heppner It would led ono
to believe that Heppner was situated
In a large and cxt.-nslve manufactur
ing district. Instead of an exclusive
farming country.
We don't object to Mr. Ctimminga
comparing prices on goods, the prlcea
on which he is sure of. but when he
makes a general statement, sucn i
underlined above, we do object.
A. E. OREINER.
Paymrat of I mstnrrd Merlcsgr.
SHERWOOD. Or.. July 18. (To the
Editor.) Please tell me If a mortunge
covered by a note, made out "on or be
fore" Intere-al payable semi-annually,
can be paid ln full between Interest
dnvs. If money In full Is refused until
maturity, can the maker refuse fur
ther payment of interest? If not. what
action could be taken? C. L.
PORTLAND. Or., July !!. (To the
Editor.) I wn a mortgage on a piece
of property. Owner of property wishes
to sell but prospective buyer does not
want to assume Incumbrance. Can I be
forced to accept the full amount of
mortgage before It Is due? It falls
due on a specified term, not "on or be
fore". a certain time. Interest on the
mortgage la delinquent. Can I fore
close? J- R- H-
As a general rule a man may ds
cliarKe a debt whenever he wants to.
Tender of payment stops the Interest.
If any payment has been offered, the
holder of the mortgage cannot fore
close If he refused to accept the pay
ment. Read over your mortgages and
see what they say. The existence or
absence of an "on or before" clauee
probably would rr.ako no difference.
See a lawyer.
Tellte Speers la War.
London Dally News.
Kipling's poem In w hich he said.
"Beware my country when she grows
polite." Is being quoted by soldiers re
turning from the front. They say there
Is great significance In the fact that
In the trenches men are speaking qui
etly now and referring to the Ger
mans only In terms of rigid propriety.
Railroad t'omaialat Books.
" I-ondon Mail.
At all the Russian ralway stations
complaint books are kept, and paasvn
gcra may enter protests.
iTIMBEH TO THK WHOLE 1'KorLE
Writer Weald Have Mate or bsrrs-
aae-at te (irssl Latsiel Stesneaae.
PORTLAND. Or.. July IS. (To the
Editor.) At the recent conference at I
Reed College there was given an ad-
dress by a professor of the Agricultural
College at Corvaltls. It was under the
caption. "The Unemployed- on Logged
Off Lands." In view of the recent land
grant decision It Is especially Interest
ing at this time.
We will omit the "famous midnight
resolution" and get down to brass
tacks. The state has been drawing
taxes from this land; It Is but natural
that It wants these lands so dUposcd
of that It will continue to have an
income from them In short, to have
them In the hands of settlers.
But how to get them Into the hands
of settlers there Is the rub. If you
want people you must be able to take
care of them. Why does a man take up
homestead where it costs from 1100
to $300 an. acre to clear it and free
from stone? The man who has money
will buy a farm, and do it cheaper.
and. as was brought out at that confer
ence, do It right here within a radius
of 150 miles of Portland.
Now to the lands. Whether Congress
takes them back or consents to lit the
state have them does not alter the
situation. When God created the for
ests and the cataracts he created them
tor all the people. Timber should be
sold, and not be allowed to pass into
I rlvate hands by a misuse of the home
stead laws. The timber should bring
to the Government or the state, as the
case may be, all the timber is worth.
while the land, after being logged off,
revert back to the Government to be
homestcaded. If fit for agricultural pur
poses: the remainder to be reforested.
Most of our logged-off lauds have
passed into the hands of speculators
or are still held by lumbering compa
nies at prohibitive prices, which the
average man cannot or la unwilling to
pay. By reverting back to the Govern
ment this abuse could be corrected.
Incidentally, the future settler would
be saved one of the great costs of set
tlement that of clearing.
What la true now ot logged-off land
is also true of land now being cleared.
The railroad has asked for a change
from the court's verdict. It requests
permission to sell the timber. Ihis
should not be granted. Let H have all
it Is entitled to by the court's decision,
but no more. The best way, the sim
plest way and the cheapest way is for
the Government, or the atate, if Con
gress should grant permission, to ap
propriate tha money and pay the rail
road what it la entitled to. It the
state but disposes of the lands on the
same terms as the Government does ta
homesteaders It will be money ahead
and Its prosperity enhanced.
Every acre In the state aside from
taxation should be made to bring some
return to the community, which Is host
ar-rempllahed by the land In the hands
of the settler, tor the state to take
any other view la for It to be dead to
Its possibilities and unfaithful In Its
people- DAVID A. GLASSCOW.
ORF.CO. HIGHWAY WELL M AllsvK.I1
Aato Tourist Praia Road Ceaeltloa
aad la Charmed or Asklaad.
NORTH YAKIMA. Wash.. July IS.
(To the Editor.) As a loyal Washlng
lonlaii, who but lately motored through
youc atate. I wish to extend to Oregon
some compltmenta which other motor
ists will concede. I am sure.
We drove from North Yakima. Wash.,
via Portland to the fair at San Fran
cisco. Through Washington the roads
were In a very good condition, but the
efficient way In which the Oregon roads
were marked out. and the coivlmon of
the road. was so good that It bro-ichi
marked comment and praise. Vntil
we were In California we had little
trouble In keeping to the pacific lligh
w a y and the best road". Everywhere
we met the finest courtesy and irood
will. And we remember most pleas
antly the 1" minutes we spent In Ash
land. Or. Really, I think that little
city Is a veritable model of ambition,
energy and hospitality. I believe that
every city could profitably take a les
son from It.
I know California Is carrylnc a
rather heavy load In th fair, but from
the time we crossed the border line un
til we reached our destination we c:me
to the conclusion that California roads
do not come up to tlw standard t
by Oregon and Washington,. The Cal
ifornia, climate and scenery did not
compare very well with that of Oregon,
and the roads were not mapped out
nearly as well a fact that o found
out after many delays.
I think we are not the only ones
to think that Portland compares very
favorably with San Francisco except
In respect to size. I have been laughed
at several times for saving thla same
thing, hut It Is true Just the ta me.
according to my estimate. With but
a few exception the buildings in Port
land are as large; there Is more traffic
on the streets and It Is more efficiently
handled. Portland also seems to be
mora alive.
In fact, taking all things together,
we have a lot of nice things to say
and think of the State of Oregon. Rut
If you want to find out what a real
little booster city Is and how far be
hind Portland is lr that respect, write
to. the Commercial Club of Ashland, Or.,
or make a trip down there yourself,
and you will see things which will
open yours eves.
ELIZABETH O. HENRY".
Deseest of Property.
PORTLAND, July 59. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) A husband and wife invest
In real estate and the deed (a In hus
band's name. If he dies, leaving n
will, how la the property divided and
what rhire does the wife receive?
There are no children. Is a Joint deed
necessary for her to be sole heir after
hla deatnT What stepa hould first be
taken to settle sueh business?
2 A man. before marriage took a
mortgage on real estate, without In
terest. He marries, but the mortgage
still stands, although the time of It
has expired. la It sti'.l legal, or la the
wlfe'a name necessary? At his death
could the wife hold thla mortgage
against the property?
(3 Is a will necessary If there are
no children, or wonld husband or wife
be ole heir In case of other's death?
T ROC PLED.
(1) The wife would be sole heir with
out a Joint deed. The first step to take
is to have the estate probated. To do
this It will be necessary to consult an
attorney.
(I) If the wife Is sole heir, she In
herits the mortgage aa part ot the es
tate. (J The husband or wife -would be
sole heir In case of the other's death.
A will, however, prevents much com
plication. F.dlterLal W rlteri !et Editor.
NORTHEAST HARBOR. Me.. July IJ.
(To the Editor.) The Oregonian
July 12 speaks of me aa the editor of
Life ho "scouts scientific medicine."
and "tiara the ifrfil power of this
periodical to ridicule the experiments,
etc."
1 beg to say that thoush I have long
written the editorials lis Life and have
been a rather copious contributor be
sides. 1 am not the editor of the paper
and not responsible for Its attitude to
wards scientific medicine. For my part
I do not scout scientific medicine and
never have scouted it. I don't think it
Infallible, but I take my chances with
it-
The editor of Life wbote view nliout
medicine H reflect 1 Mr. Mitchell.
EDWARD S. MARTIN.
Twenty-Fiv Years Ago
From The Oregonian. July 59. 18.
Was!, inc ton There la no doubt the
administration Is doing all lit It
power to bring about ome settlement
In the Retiring Sea controversy, and
threatened retaliation on Canadian
business will be promoted. Secretary
Windoin III a few days, now, will re
port on special privileges granted
Canal:an railroad.
New Tork Secretary Tracy today
mude it plain lie feit It the duty of
tho American officials to take some
steps with the naval forces at le.tst.
to protect American lives and prop
erty on the liiver Platte and in other
parts ot South and Central America
hcre the revolutions are in progress.
Olympl.t Arthur A. Putnam, of T.-
coma. U'tiited States Internal Revenue
Collector for Western Washington, wan
in Olympia several days ago and he
has produced some Interesting facts
showing tiie young: Hate Is surpass
ing Oregon In Internal revenue col
lections. Missoula Mucus Paly. J. W. Ham
ilton. J. K. Toole and other Montana
caplt.ill.-ts met here yesterday and are
dlscus.-lng iuS.1 how much capital they
will put uj to support a new town in
the Bitter Root Valley.
Deputy J. J. Kiniuy. of Atorla. re
cently chased a horsethlef into Colum
bia County. Near Mint he overtook
the man. who jumped from his horse,
took to the timber, and drawing a
revolver, . defied Mr.. Kinney, but Mr.
Kt:g ey made a rush, grappled with
the man before he could use the gun
and In a few minutes had him hand
cuffed. Ex-Postmaster Roby yesterday ob
tained a ten years' lease on the Holton
House, which he will conduct as a
first-class hotel.
Little Willie Riley, who was kid
naped a few days ago has been found.
Dave Campbell defeated Paddy Rren
nan In four rounds at Buffalo, N. Y.,
the other nlghu
Professor D. V. S. Rcld. for manv
years a public educator In Linn an.l
Benton Counties, lias removed to East
Portland with hla family.
T. R. Wilcox has returned and an
nounces that G. W. Hunt has been
successful in his effort to get hia rail
road bond takrn by New York capi
talists. Half a Century Ago
Krom The Orrgoman of July 1S
Four teams from Iowa, with two
families, arrived In this city on Mon
day of last week. H.ivmc left st.
Joseph. Missouri, on the second day of
April, theirs miy he considered a quick
trip across the plains. They are now
'"at home" In Linn County.
Mr. Henry Welch has rented the
Multnomah track, two and a lia.f
miles east of the city, and will give
piitses for trotting and running, no
tice of which will be publlherl later.
The meeting- w:i be bell durinir the
last week In September, so that the
ntilmat trained can be taken to the
State Kalr. Svvtnl horse are now
In tralnttiir ut the track, some of them
for matches rl-1 son-e tttne ago:
among the number. Fl y-Itv-Ni s ht and
I.I ve-tak-George. to go mile heats for
I ") a side.
We learn that Apperaon and Co.'s
new steamboat, bulging above the
alls at Canemah will b launched to
day. Dlod. at Ms resHmce In Kt Pert
land, on July IS, C'clonet Wilaam It
Frush, aged ii y eara.
An peHtlon will start from Leav
enworth for the plain nbout the
mMlIc of August, to collect and herd
for a while. nd thus tunic, and sub
sequently drive to the states for mar
ket, not less than live thousand, rtor
more than ten thovsand buffalo. One
hundred and twenty men are warted
discharged cavalrymen ire preferred.
Sir Sannul Cunanl. founder and
chief projector .f the Cunard line of
steamers, rtieil In London -n April 5K.
ngeri 7&. lie was born at Halifax, and
was the son of Abraham Cunard. a
Phllitdelphi.i Tory, hi took refuge in
Not a, g.-otla.
Itev. Mr. Pearno will letture In the
M. E. Church on Sunday evening, at
7 o'clock on the work of the Christian
Commission in the Army, as he saw it.
and alsr on the moral and rcltcloiia
condition of the South, and on the
work of social reconstruction in the
South.
W It T M VkTI".RIOIS ttOMtV !
Overheard naveraatlon Reveals Iter
latrrest la Itodite Trial,
PORTLAND, July 53. (To the Edi
tor.) In the report of the Dodge case
in The Oregonian mention la made of a
"mysterious woman." who attends the
trial with the regularity of clock work,
and whose presence, baffle all science
of deduction on the part of court at
taches. Terhaps a solution, to the mystery
may be lurking In a conversation over
heard between the "mystic" and
another good looking youna woman,
who Is also an occasional attendant,
and whom we have heard mentintwd
as a contributor to tho various fiction
inacaxines which flood the country.
Said the "mystic" to the "other wo
man." "Do you know. I have been at
tending this trial from the beginning,
and rnu't decide yet whuh I admire
the niost. Mr. Clark or Mr. Mannlx."
Replied the "other woman." "I should
think that would be easy. I Just
adore small men; they are always so
bralr.y. especially when they are so
bltincly sarcastic, sarcasm is always
a sare sign of brains."
"" h. flo you think aoT from the
"mystic." "Well I don't know. I Just
love the tall, broai. muscular type. too.
especially when there la the proper
amount of softness its the facial ex
pression. "
Of course neither Judge Kavanaugh.
Judge Corliss nor Mr. Dodge will ac
cept thla solution, because they wet
left out of It. and modesty will prevent
Mr. Clark and Mr. Mannlx from dom
so, but It's Just as well for the gen
eral public to be properly Informed.
AN INTERESTED ONLoOKT.il.
Coat of fW Yerk Pellr.
New York Herald.
The New York police department
lust vear cost IIT OH.
"Imported" Loses It
Charm
"Inipo.ted Is not going to be such
a bin word In the future." says e x -President
Wliilam Woodhead, of the
A. A. C. of -W.
"Made J home will mean more
to us of North America. Advertis
ing must be in the van of the com
ing movement."
This Is Just a glimpse forward by
a far-seeing man.
It means big prizes ahead for those
with foresight enough to srixe them.
And It means thla la going to be
a profitable year for newspaper ad
vertising. A hint P? the wise 1 sufficient.