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I'OKTLAD. TUESDAY, NOV. 9, 1915.
LAW OF NECESSITY DENIED.
Secretary of State Lansing's note to
Great Britain bases the American pro
test against British blockade measures
upon the solid Tock foundation of in
ternational law. It exposes the in
herent -weakness of th British, posi
tion 'by showing it to have been orig
inally taken as a reprisal for German
violations of international law. Thus
the British procedure at sea against
Germany has no better justification
than lynch law has in this country, or
than the unwritten law by which pub
lic opinion in some communities justi
fies the killing a. man who has dis
honored a woman.
The British government impliedly
confesses the weakness of its case In
the eye of the law by pleading neces
sity in a struggle for national exist
ence. As a neutral Nation, the United
States could not escape recognizing
the same plea on behalf of Germany,
iwhich also maintains that it is strug
gling for existence. If it be a necessity
of British existence that goods be ex-
eluded from Germany, it is equally a
necessity of German existence that
those goods be admitted. It is equally
a necessity of American neutrality that
American -goods be not excluded from
Germany unless it can be done in strict
conformity with law.
The illegal acts of both Great Brit
ain and Germany were originally de
fended on the plea that military neces
sity overrides all law. That was Ger
many's plea for the invasion of Bel
glum, in resentment of which Britain
made war upon her. It was the plea'
by which Germany defended the sub
marine campaign, which has been
abandoned as illegal in response to the
demands of the United States. It
the plea by which the British blockade
is defended. The United States denies
. the right of any nation to suspend and
violate the rights of neutrals on such
a plea. We deny that any one nation's
necessity is superior to the law which
defines the rights of all nations. We
particularly deny the right of the in
terested nation to decide when such
necessity exists.
By calling the naval warfare on Ger
man commerce reprisals, Britain ap-
plies to that word a meaning unknown
to international law. Britain assumes
reprisals to be acts of retaliation for
illegal acts done in a war between two
nations. Lawrence, an English author
ity, defines reprisals as "certain meth
ods of applying force which are held
not to be inconsistent with the con
tinuance of peaceful relations between
the powers concerned."
The British methods are simply un
lawful retaliation for acts of the enemy
alleged to be unlawful. The American
Nation does not concede that two
wrongs make a right.
Although the British naval war on
Germany is called a blockade in the
British diplomatic dispatches, it was
not given that name by the order in
council, and no formal proclamation of
blockade has been made, as is required
by international law. It is not an
effective blockade, for it is not main
tained in the Baltic Sea against com
merce between Germany and Scan
dinavian ports. Here is rank discrim
ination among neutrals. American
goods destined for Sweden and merely
suspected of an ultimate German des
tination, are seized, but Swedish goods
freely enter German Baltic ports. Only
recently have British submarines be
gun to prey on Swedish-German com
merce. These raids may be an effort
to show- that the blockade is effect
ive, but unless the British navy gains
control of the Baltic, it cannot make
the blockade effective in that sea. The
entire procedure of the British with
regard to non-contraband destined for
German ports in the Baltic, either di
rect or by way of Scandinavia, is
illegal.
British, comment on Mr. Lansing's
note reveals a feelfng of pained sur
prise that the ITnited States should
tall the British government so sum
marily to account. The British are so
firmly convinced of the justice of their
own cause that they are unable to con
ceive that any people except their de
clared enemies can take any other
view. They have assumed that, be
cause the weight of opinion in this
country is favorable to the allies, the
United States Government would show
partiality to them in formal interna
tional relations. They totally misap
prehend the American attitude.
The motto of every true American
Ss "America first." He may have a
desire to see allies or Teutons win, but
when American rights and interests
vre concerned, he upholds them
ogainst all belligerents or either. That
f Attitude of the people is correctly ex
pressed in the action of the Govern
ment. It has refused to see in the
British blockade a , valid protest for
German submarine war. It refuses to
eee in submarine war or in other
Illegal acts of Germany a valid pretext
for the illegal British blockade. The
United States could not permit with
out protest the violation of neutral
rights by one belligerent, for bv so
loing it would justify like violation by
the other belligerent. In that case
neutral rights would soon disappear
entirely or this Nation would be drawn
Into the war by resentment at some
particularly exasperating violation of
those rights. The United States has
withstood steadfastly and successfully
ptrone demands for an embargo on
export of war munitions to the "allies.
We have caused Germany to admit
that her submarine war was illegal
Our action In those matters has im
posed upon us an obligation, all the
stronger, to permit no violation of
our neutrality by the enemies of
Germany.
In insisting that the conduct "of bel
ligerents on both sides shall conform
to International law, the United States
is contending for the rights of ail ru.
trals. ' We'are mn lonilinr.
for the supremacy of law in inter
course between nations. But for our
action, that intercourse might in the
fury of war return to the anarchic
conditions prevailing before interna
tional law. had its first beginning. Our
Government therefore labors in the
interest of the belligerents themselves,
though passion may have blinded them
to the fact. Were we to concede Brit
ain's claims in this war, the precedent
might be used against her In some
future war, wherein Britain would be
neutral and the United States a bellig
erent. Among nations as among in
dividuals the highest interest of all
is best served by the supremacy of
law.
COMFORT IN FIGURES.
The ona mill f
- 1 i i. mr ine
Democrats in the recent election is
that Governor Walsh in Massachusetts
received more votes than on-,. ,..,,..
candidate on 'any ticket; but McCall
s- more, no popular election is won
by the oartv which r
- - vui
than another party.
13 it Possible that th T3-aIIt.-i
campaign of 1896 is forgotten? In that
memorable vear Mi- RrvnTi
grand total of 6,502,925 votes, an entire
mimon more than any previous Presi
dential candidatB
country, yet he was defeated by Mr.
.n,iey, wno nad 7,104,779 votes,-a
plurality of 601.854 Tt o i
called that Mr. Bryan had any better
luck in any succeeding- omnnio.
It would appear to be the fact' that
the great vot I
""Jtn." KAaxz LU9 WU3
due primarily to the acute interest of
" peopiw. Kjia tieneral Apathy was
gone. Governor- Woiv, v.,,
- - .. ami uiuujr
votes, but Mr. McCall had more. The
Bignincant feature of the election was
that the Republican candidate won,
after six vears of Hpfpnta 4.1..
overwhelming disaster of 1912.
QUITE A LONG VrHIIJS.
The enthusiastic propagandists of
National prohibition who re about to
begin a campaign in Oregon are not
letting the grass grow under their feet.
But they have a hard job, and they
know it, and they are striking while
the iron is hot. Prohibition was car
ried in Oregon by a majority vote, as
it has been in every state which has
acted favorably, either through its
Legislature or the people.
National prohibition is sought
through a constitutional amendment
It will take a two-thirds vote In each
house or Congress, and it must be rati
fied by three-fourths of the states. In
asmuch as there are forty-eight states,
the adverse action of thirteen states
will defeat the amendment. But after
it shall have once been submitted by
Congress and likely enough it soon
will be, as the shortest and safest way
to dispose of the question It will be
pending until the necessary three
fourths or thirty-six has been
reached.
There are now about one-half that
number of prohibition states. Obvi
ously it will be a long fight to reach
the needed number. Those persons
who have dodged the Issue by saying
that they thought state prohibition Im
practicable, but National prohibition
the only solution, if there is a solution
through prohibition, will not be called
on for awhile to put their thejriss to
a test.
WHY IT 18 ITTAL.
i1' !a'r.i. pr"ruma tht nad the writer
or that (Oregonian) editorial occupied
the Presidential chair, war would have been
declared on Mexico and thousands of younc
American lives been sacrificed, because we
butted Into a Mexican family row. that was
wht m busln- That is undoubtedly
what Mr, Roosevelt would have done had
ho been President. Salem Capital Journal.
An opinion common to many white
feathered patriots who think that
peace is to be had for crying for it,
though all history teaches a different
leSSOn. and that Mattnnal ...- ,
' - ..a.ivuai U Ul V us a
mere word, never to be Invoked if it
costs a single American life. But we
went to war with Mexico, and inglorl
ously quit, after the capture of Vera
Cruz and the loss of several American
lives.
If Mexico is suffering
family row, which is none of our
business, there is nothing whatever to
the Monroe Doctrine, and we abandon
ur century-oia assertion that the
United States .is th dominant-
, - - t. 1
on the Western continent.
Now if we wash our hands of Mex
ico, how are we to prevent Great Brit
ain, or Germany, or Japan, or any
other foreign nower frnm biau. .-
1 .. . - -- . j )i 1 1 1 in
and settling the row, as one of them
n. nnat men;
Is there anv Amnrinn . 1.
so astigmatized. and horizon so limited
.Hal im cannot see now and where
peace in Mexico throuo-h nm. ni
matic intercession, or forcible inter
vention, if necessary, is vital to our
""""J ine western world?
HUNTING IDEAS.
Now that the
the whole public on their hands they
are beginning to fret. Not over any
thing tangible or present. The box
office receints cive nnt thn
indication of falling off. But the idea-
iuues snow evidences of petering out
in time. Even now producers are
rather hard Dut for irtfaji- fhaf mst
popular expectations. It appears that
me puouc movie palate has been
tickled by about the best things there
are in movie nossihiliti,.-5 ah the
good sound old ideas that have been
aoing service since the days of Aris
tophanes are ahuhhv frnm r..,,..
- - v.,uotJ.
The ancient blood curdlers. thrillers
ana convulsion producers have been
overworked.
Notwithstanding the fact that "only
a baker's half dozen original jokes
and not more than that number or
real plots exist, the movie people are
called on for some 800 nw fiima h
and every week in the year. Nat-
urauy eacn mm is built on an idea,
and so the cerebral areas of producers
are keDt under nerntnol oiritun
There is no such thine, as a new idea
now any more than in Solomon's time.
Even the new phases of old things
have been exhausted. It is simply a
matter of twisting and turning, re
dressing and resetting. Every expe
diency and makeshift' have been tried.
Every known book of interest has
been used on the screen. Magazine
stories have been despoiled of their
plots. The public does not care where
the plot comes from, so long as it
comes.
In order to get around-the idea
problem enterprising producers have
tried the star, launching this or that
celebrity and depending on his fame,
antics and gyrations to maintain a
following. But even this plan, after
giving promise of success, is proving
unequal to the task of meeting the
issue. The people want a plot. They
want it based on real life. Some want
it funny, some insist on sadness, some
will not go unless a judicious quantity
of gore is spilled. All -want the love
a . '
potion mixed in, to be sure, for -when
was any tale of any real consequence
without its touch of love romance?
Naturally, If the public persists in
wanting plots, the situation will grow
desperate anon. Readers of Amer
ican books and magazines for some
years past have realized the limita
tions of the plot field. Back in Poe's
time the public criticised him severely
for selling the same plot twice, even
though dressed in entirely different
clothing. Today the same plot does
service a score of times. If a new
idea appears in a book it is seized by
the magazine, writers. When they
get through, the writers of movie
scenarios have their inning. After
that it may travel back through the
newspapers and magazines, eventually
finding expression once more in the
movies. There are evidences" that the
public at large is inclined to be sat
sified with . a mere change of garb.
If such continues to be the case the
movie people have nothing to concern
them, for the producers may never
run put of 'deviations.
AI.1F.V RIGHTS rMELD.
The Supreme Court upheld a sound
principle when it held to be invalid
the Arizona anti-alien labor law. "The
Federal Government Is responsible
for safeguarding the rights of aliens,
among which is the right to equal pro
tection of the laws. That right in
volves the right to -work, without
which aliens could not live and which
Arizona attempted to deny them. . Had
the law been enforced the countries
from which came the aliens whom
Arizona drove out would have claimed
compensation on their behalf, and the
United States could not have escaped
payment.
This annulled law emphasizes once
more the need that the Government
be given full authority to maintain the
rights of aliens. Until they have be
come citizens immigrants remain un
der the protection of their native
country, which looks to the Federal
Government for redress of any wrongs
they suffer. But the Government has
no authority to enter the boundaries
of any state for their protection nor
to bring any person to justice who in
fringes upon their rights. The conse
quence Is that, when called to account,
the best the Government can do Is to
apologize and pay monetary compen
sation. This situation does not raise
the United States In the estimation of
other nations.
GOOD FOB HIGH OR LOW TARIFF.
Though conceding that a tariff com.
mission "could work as w-ell for a low
tariff as it would for a high tariff,"
World's Work says: "As a matter of
fact, however, there is good reason
to believe that the tariff commission
plan is being agitated chiefly by be
lievers in high protection." It, there
fore, cautions low tariff advocates to
be "particularly wary of the wording
of any bill ostensibly designed for
this purpose."
A glance over the list of officers of
the Tariff Commission League does
not justify the suspicion that that
body is composed chiefly of high pro
tectionists. The advisory committee
i3 composed of men and women rep
resenting every interest labor, agri
culture, merchants, manufacturers,
transportation, applied science and
the Federation of Women's Clubs
with James J. Hill at the head and
Thomas A. Edison next on the list.
There is not a politician in the lot,
unless it be George W. Perkins. The
members of the committee have been
chosen to represent various elements
of the people rather than to repre
sent special interests which desire
nigh tariff. Any person who attempt
ed to divert the movement to the lat
ter purpose would have difficulty In
gaining his end, for the movement Is
winning such general favor that It
would soon get beyond his control.
The more correct view is that taken
by Guy Emerson in a letter published
m another column, namely, that when
the people at the polls had decided
whether they desired a high or low
taritr, tne Commission would carry out
their orders in a more satisfactory
manner than Congress could. The
Tariff Commission League may be
right in assuming that the Commission
could not take the tariff out of poli
tics, but such an organization offers
the best hope of doing so. It is not
unreasonable to hope that a scientific
ally drawn tariff, whether high or
low, might, give such general satis
faction that the people would be un
willing to disturb It for many years.
That has been the case with the reve
nue tariff of Britain and with the pro
tective tariff of Germany. Whv
should it not prove true of a commis
sion tariff, high or low, in the United
States?
A WANDERERS' CLUB.
A few weeks ago someone wrote a
letter to The Oregonian commenting
upon the desire for domesticity that
pervades normal human beings and
the difficulties that are encountered
by a stranger in finding congenial,
honorable companionship. It was an
interesting letter and It touched upon
a problem that might well be given
the attention of persons who have the
uplift of society at heart. Its publi
cation brought forth many other let
ters, interesting, too, but dealing
largely with tne situation In the ab
stract. Occasionally, however. one
has offered a definite suggestion for
solving the problem. . , '
There is one, for example, from a
yearning widower who proposes that
The Oregonian establish an acquaint
ance column and exert its energies to
keep it pure and- undefiled. He
frankly admits that he desires a mate.
With such a column at nis disposal
he says naively, that he might insert
this:
"A Christian widower with children
wishes a good spinster or widow for
a ovife. References."
It would give The Oregonian pleas
ure to help this man throw off the
plague of loneliness and to help
others, too, who are in the same
stress, but we fancy their number is
legion. A column would not sumce.
and without doubt the entire staff of
The Oregonian could be kept bus
checking up references and prevent
ing the use of the department for im
proper purposes.
But there was an eminently prac
ticable suggestion offered in another
letter which has already appeared In
The Oregonian. It proposed that some
of the -churches or women's clubs or
other responsible ana honorable or
ganizations form a "Wanderers Club,"
ror the purpose of putting companion
ship and social pleasure into the lives
or those strangers in the city who
have no means of their own for ac
quiring friends and' acquaintances.
The originator of this happy thought
signed herself Verlalne Mannering.
atiss Mannering. if a wide experience
in the examination of communications
qualifies us to judge, is a woman of
education and refinement' Hers was
a nappy thought md a surprising
number of requests have come to The
Oregonian for her address. In pass
ing it is just as well to state that The
Oregonian does not disclose the names
or addresses of letter writers given it
in confidence.
Some of the unpublished letters
sent to The Oregonian in response to
Miss Mannering-B suggestion offer an
interesting study in human nature.
There is one from a resident of Sac
ramento, for example. He hopes to
see a "Wanderers' Club" formed in
Portland with a correspondence bu
reau attached for the benefit of the
lonely in other climes. He discourses
quite truthfully 'of the difficulty of
keeping out , undesirables and con
cludes with an invitation to Miss
Mannering to write to him.
Of more doubtful character is the
letter from an individual who hastens
to oner his services in forming the
proposed club and invites all inter
ested to telephone him at a certain
number. A little inquiry has revealed
that the telephone number given is
that of a private room in an obscure
hotel, held in a name not that of the
letter-writer and that the signer of
the communication is not known at
the hotel.
Then there Is the letter from a lone
some mother, who, we have reason to
believe, is estimable and sincere. She
wants Verlalne to come and live with
her. She has just lost her daughter
to a nice young man and has a com
fortable home which she will put at
the disposal of six or eight young
women. There they may establish a
community honrrlin-hnncn a, .
alike In the cost of maintaining It.' In
j. ne uregonian will give name
and address on application.
But more tO the nnlnt 1 V ..(...1
interest evinced by several responsible
uuuwumcu ana social workers in the
formation of a. irWanHai.a. -n...
They are discussing its merits and
iucituiHty, ana it is quite possible
that Miss Mannerlng's suggestion will
be acted unon in thu
in the manner she proposed. In be-
"L we append this touching
"Cry for HelD." submitterl h nn
signs himself "A. Lonesomecua." We
nave reason to suanert that
Is not genuine and confess we do not
Know me author s tru nnc ti ,.,,.
of Jt?
With all the talk there's been o" late
Bnilt maetln- fnllr. r. -3 . , , .
-r i. V - - 1 1 11 it. 11 ways
To choose for life a lovln' mate
.m?Z"" to .me there Is one phase
Of It that ought to work out great.
Why not Just do as one has said
A n rl 1 n tha 1. . ;
or lodge, or club go right ahead
.i.p. 18 i!es lna" In the lurch
Before their marriage hopes are dead.
You know, it's Just this way with me,
I ve always tried to do what's right
And hoped that some day I would be
A lucky guy and win the fight
By havin' my own family
But It Just seems 1 don-t know how
i in acquainted with the one
That I would care to call my frau.
So heln mm nlno . n r. ..
Get me a wife and get her nowl
The country editor In entitle i.t
hire and something should be done
to raise the rates of nav. He does nt
get enough now, and he' earns more
than he ever sees. If affairs could
so be arranged that many people
would make practice of paying him
money on Monday, his heart would be
"ueu wn joy ana his. purse with
gold, for then Wealth would flow In
all the week. This rlnea nnf v.iA
superstition; every one of him can
attest its truth. When he breaks his
mail Monday morninsr nnri
bunch of land notices, there is ginger
and "pep" about the shop all the
week and the naner fairly iintiii.t
The trouble is that patrons do notJ
realize tnis, hence the "trouble. If It
will help him any, this paragraph Is
released for republication as soon as
he sees it. .
Though devoted to peace, Mr. Bry
an has made more political disturb
ance in the last twenty years than
any other man except Colonel Roose
velt. Why does he not give us a
sample of peace in the Democratic
party?
If coercion such as that practiced
on intending Irish emigrants by a mob
at Liverpool continues, it will not be
long before Britain has conscription
in practical effect without any law.
Is Lord Kitchener's departure for
the East a parallel to Grand Duke
Nicholas' departure for the Caucasus,
or is he working out -a grand new
plan of campaign for the Balkans?
With the lid on Sunday in this
wet weather there will be nothing to
do but go to church, sleep, eat. sleep,
read the newspapers, sleep, eat and
sleep again till Monday morning.
By and by, perhaps, a warship will
accompany the American merchant
man bound to a neutral port, and any
nation that interferes knows what
that means.
Wilson and Bryan in a battle for
their political lives! So soon after
that affectionate parting at the White
House last July? Such are political
friendships.
It Is all very well for Dr. Dyott to
denounce the fashionably-dressed
women, but milliners and dressmakers
must live, or think they must.
The peril of the Barview Hotel im
presses upon us the truth of the par
able about the man who built his
house upon the sand.
Austria's plea against munition ex
ports Is -as involved as the famous
hypothetical question in the Thaw
trial.
John Bull seems to need some
trawlers and piano wire nets to catch
submarines in the Mediterranean.
The Germans will . make the Japs
mad if they sink more steamships and
a mad Jap is something ferocious.
An easy solution of the Chicago
Sunday-closing problem is to put It to
a vote In the Bartenders' Union.
The snow that threatened Portland
changed its mind and preferred Hood
River and The Dalles.
The United States appears able to
build the best aeroplanes for any army
except our own.
Tomorrow is Pineapple day and
there's nothing better for a change.
Nish is the seeds of the Serbian
lemon, just squeezed' out.
European War Primer
By National Geographical Society.
SERBIAN Winters are severe and
cheerless with dull skies and sharp,
damp winds scouring the valley, while
intense col-d settles upon the exposed
uplands. In the lowlands adjacent to
the Danube, Winter weather is milder,
but the ground through many days is
spongy with -dampness. In the moun
tainous country, however, the cold is
as -bitter as that which deadens the
Russian plains during January and
February, and most of Serbia is in
cluded in the mountainous area. The
north central section in the Danube
valley, the northwest section in the
&ave Valley and a belt, northwest,
through the heart' of the country, the
Morava Valley, together constitute the
sum total of the important lowland
areas of Serbia, In the northern low
lands the Winters are like those erf
Central Germany, while in the Morava
Vnllnv tha 1 1 .
Upland Serbia has only two clearly
defined seasons Winter., and Summer.
There are scarcely any transition pe
riods between the cold and the heat.
Summer lasts between May and Oc
tober, which latter month is wet and
chilly. The chill wetness lasts some
times well into November. Mists hover
over the valleys until toward noon and
congeal on the mountain sides. Going
is accomplished through a characterless
damp, which is not snow, or slush or
mud, but an indeterminate combina
tion of all three, supported over the
ground in a porous coating by a rib
work of frozen dew. The snowfall is
considerable and .generally covers the
hills throughout the Winter.
Fluctuations . in temperature are
great. A humid heat, of 100 to 105 de
grees Fahrenheit, sometimes oppresses
the valleys for -days at a time,- where
VV inter temperatures are experienced
frequently of from 13 to 20 degrees
below zero. In the mountainous dis
tricts, on, the other hand. Summer ia
cool and pleasant among the high
groves of fir and pine. Travelers who
have spent Winters in search of sport
in the Serbian mountains have brought
back arctic stories about buying their
cream In chunks and carrying it on
their wanderings wrapped in a piece
of paper, and of handling fresh eggs
without the shells as successfully as
though these had been hard boiled.
Winters in the highlands of Serbia
are as strenuous as those of Russia.
The lines of the contending armies
are now drawn up through the areas
visited by the coldest Winter, which
are found in the southern and central
parts of the kingdom. Here, in the
southern and central mountains, de
spite of the fact that Serbia's climate is
generally -described as being mild. Win,
ter reigns with a stern arctic sway.
Among the hardiest peasants in the
Balkans, people inured to exposure la
bor and all manner of difficulties,' are
bred in these cold uplands, and it is
their homes which are now coming
within the battle zones,
v. .
IET COSIMISSIOBT DRAFT T Alt I KB"
- .
People W1U Decide Policy, and Board
Should Work It Oat.
NEW YORK. Nov. 4 (To the Edi
tor.) As an active worker in behalf
of the Tariff Commission principle, in
connection with the Tariff Commission
League, I have been watching editorial
comment on this important subject, and
have read with particular interest your
editorial of October 7 entitled "Tariff
Commission the Only .Way." Possibly a
brief statement of what we are aiming
at may be of interest.
It may be stated that the work of the
Tariff Commission League has already
met with a most enthusiastic response
in all sections of the country and that
the overwhelming majority of editorial
opinion favors the Tariff Commission
principle. This applies to papers rep
resenting all shades of political and
tariff policy.
It is particularly desired to em
phasize the fact that the Tariff Com
mission League has not been organized
for the purpose of creating unneces
sary trouble. The fundamental reason
for our existence is to be found in the
phrase of one of our advisory commit
tee, Thomas A. Edison, who has stated
that the greatest problem now con
fronting the American people consists
in proving that a democracy can be ef
ficient. If the present tariff were work
ing perfectly, there would be no Tariff
Commission League. In our opinion,
however, the proof that the present
tariff, which we believe to be one of
the most conscientiously drafted we
have ever had In this country, is not
working perfectly is the fact that the
very men who made it are now pro
posing changes in it.
It may as well be said at once that
the men who are giving their time and
influence to the work of the Tariff
Commission League are not so deluded
as to believe that the purely political
questions of protection, or tariff for
revenue, or free trade, can ever be so
sterilized as to render them non-political.
It will always be the duty of the
majority in this country to elect repre
sentatives in Congress pledged to some
particular form of tariff, either high,
low or In between. Men who have
grown up fighting for free trade or
protection are not going to relinquish
their fundamental differences to a Gov
ernment commission.
When the country has stated its tar
iff preference, however, who is going
to carry out this preference according
to orders? The carrying out of the de
cree of th people Is not a political
question, but a scientific question. That
is where the tariff commission proposi
tion comes in. Senator Owen, who is
a member of the most important com
mittees in the Senate and one of the
ablest Democrats in public life, stated
in my hearing only a short time ago
that it was Impossible for a committee
of Congress to produce a really ade
quate and scientific tariff. The reason
for this is that a Congressman Is re
quired by his duty to his constituents
to cover an enormously varied list of
subjects, and to perform an almost in
numerable variety of unrelated serv
ices. It is impossible for him, in the
brief time at hi disposal and on the
basis of the often unreliable evidence
which is presented to him, to work out
a fair relationship between the many
thousand items of duty on the one hand,
and the commerce, the Industry and the
Income of the Nation as a whole, on
the other.
It took the German tcrlff commission
more than 10 years to go over the tariff
once and work out a well-organized
system on the basis of which the Reich
stag could act. It took the French com
mission even longer. The Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, after a
careful investigation of the matter, has
stated that it considers the well
rounded policy of Germany to have con
tributed very largely toward German
commercial strength!
The men who are behind the Tariff
Commission League, representing all
parties and all phases of our economic
life, are very earnest in their support
of the principle involved. What they
most desire Is that every man who has
a part in shaping public opinion should
know exactly the principles upon which
the work is being done. They are go
ing to stay with It until the desired
results are accomplished.
May I assure you of our desire to
co-operate with you in everv possible
way toward crystallizing the public
demand for a tariff commission? In a
short time a copy of the revised draft
of our proposed bill, as endorsed by the
Chamber of Commerce of the United
States, will be sent you.
OPT EMERSON.
Aa to Divorced I" ride.
OAK POINT, Wash., Nov. 7. (To the
Editor.) A man marries a woman who
has a niece. The man and woman sep
arate by divorce. Should the man be
considered an uncle to the girl when
there was no blood relation?
A READER.
A. No. " i
ELECTION' RESULTS CUSTOMARY."
Writer Falls to Onwrre Slsnif leasee
... Return to Normal Alignment.
SOUTH CLE ELUM, Wash., Nov. 7.
(To the Editor.) Your comments on
the recent elections are amusing to
one who. has no partisan bias, and
who is "imbued with a knowledge of
recent history." You 'boast a Repub
lican victory of great importance in
Massachusetts; concede a barren one to
the Democrats in Kentucky and Mary
land, and altogether overlook the fact
that these things are customary and
prove only that the people of our east
ern section are not yet sure that the
Civil War is enaed.
The fact that New England is always
Republican, while the South is always
Democratic, should be a matter of
sincere regret to any good American,
as It proves conclusively the failure
of these communities to study questions
of National importance and then vote
their honest convictions. It was, no
doubt, a foresight of such action that
induced Washington, in his farewell
address, to warn the country of the
dangers of party allegiance and
which recently caused a professor of
Columbia University to assert that
representative government has been
proven a failure in this country. It
has not yet been so proven, but one
can scarcely escape a feeling bf pes
simism when the results of the East
ern elections are studied. And It Is
quite in keeping that these same voters
should refase women the suffrage
right.
President Wilson and the present
Democratic Administration were elect
ed partly as a protest against the In
efficiency and, corruption of previous
administrations and partlv on their
-promises to lower the tariff and re
form the currency. For awhile they
did well and, by standing consistently
to their platform pledged, might have
achieved reelection even in the face
of a reunited Republican party. But
having adopted a programme of "pre
paredness," which calls for the expen
diture of huge sums and being com
pelled in order to raise the money
to "back up" and advocate a raise
In tariff rates, they have made their
defeat certain. Our astute friend Will
iam J. Bryan has made no wiser or
more farsighted move than when he
abandoned the present politics-playing
Administration to its faAe. And let
us not forget a feeling of shame for
New York, which is again in the grasp
of Tammany and corruption.
LYNN MARKEY.
The correspondent may have a
knowledge of recent history, but is he
applying it? Woodrow Wilson was
elected President because the Repub
lican party was split. Taft and Roose
velt combined had 1.000,000 more votes
than Wilson. Wilson carried Ken
tucky by nearly two to one over Taft;
Maryland by more than two to one
over Taft, and Massachusetts by a sub
stantial majority over Taft.
The recent elections indicate a gen
eral return to conditions as they ex
isted before the Bull Moose defec
tion when Massachusetts was normal
ly Republican, Maryland doubtful and
Kentucky close. The Nation is nor
mally Republican. That the results in
three states were "customary" is most
encouraging to Republicans.
Withal, a great measure of Ignorance
and prejudice masks Itself in the guise
of lofty and disinterested Impartiality
and non-partisanship. The South Cle
Elum writer, if he has a real desire
to learn the truth and benefit by it,
ought to try and get into somewhat
closer relationship with facts.
BOTH CLEOPATRA AND PRISCILLA.
Does Husband Want That Combination
in Wlfef Aaks Writer.
PORTLAND. Or., Nov. 8. (To the
Editor.) I feel sure that Mrs. M. G.
in her letter of Nov. 5, with her star
tling revelations about husbands has
stricken terror to the hearts of thou
sands of good wives. It certainly is
not pleasant to think that "no wom
an who Is absolutely and entirely good
in the ordinary sense of the word,
gets a man's most fervent love the
love besides which ail other feelinss
pale."
The thought Is shocking, revolting!
Forsurely we all want to be good,
and we all want our husbands' "most
fervent love." She says, "of course,
they reverence them for their good
ness and go to the women who are
less good and love them." I reached
wildly for my dictionary on reading
this, that I might ascertain exactly
what the word "reverence" means, and
found it to be "a feeling of respect
and esteem, mingled with affection."
But how much affection?
As I understand it then, they put
us on a pedestal, as it were and come
back just once in a while and lay
flowers at our feet pale white flow
ers of reverence and esteem. But
surely, that is very beautiful. What
more does "Mrs. M. G." want? She
seems to think a pedestal a lonely
place, and says she won't stay on it,
and that anyone who does is weak
and foolish or words to that effect.
Dear me. I am all stirred up all
at sea, as I am sure many other wives
are. over "Mrs. M. G.'s" disclosures. It
seems that our men want some kind
of a rare combination of Cheopatra and
Priscilla. the Puritan maiden, seldom to
be found in one woman, unless she were
versatile indeed. And yet it might be
accomplished. With a little study we
ought to be able to tell at first glance
when our hard-working husbands ar
rive home in the evening, whether to
don the Oriental srarments of a Cleo
patra or whether they prefer to see
us as Priscilla at her spinning wheel.
The only drawback to this would be
that one would not have much time for
anything else, for we are not all ac
tresses, and lightning-change artists by
nature.
No, I think the whole solution of the
matter is that "Mrs.'-yM G." is mis
taken in her conception of the meaning
of the word "love," as so many peo
ple are. She means something else,
not love at all something as wild and
as perishable as a flaming red poppy,
and covered with hidden thorns as well.
It seems" to me, good wives, that
there is no comparison between this
flower and those pure white lilies of
reverence and affection, whose fra
grance and beauty are unchangeable
everlasting. MRS. F.
Patent Office Procedure. ' -
PORTLAND, Nov. 8. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) Does any individual, com
pany or corporation hold a patent or
copyright on the game of checkers?
(2) Who are the largest people manu
facturing games of this kind and where
located? (3) Are there any such peo
ple operating in Oregon, Washington
Sr California? (4) How long does It
enerally take to secure a patent tr
copyright? c. L. J.
(1) No. The game of checkers is not
patented.
(2) Henry Hutzler, 3050 Bishop
street, Cincinnati, is a large manufac
turer, yn,
(3) We' know of none. .'-'
(4) the time varies. You are pro
tected immediately against infringe
ment, however, by filing application,
provided you are entitled to patent.
Young Marriage Wisdom.
Life.
The Old Married One "You will
learn, my dear, that men are most con
trary creatures." The Young Married
One "Oh. I know that already." The
Old Married One "Indeed?" The Young
Married One "Yes; I cook things my
husband likes and yet he doesn't like
the things I cock." ,
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oregonian of November fl. 1S90.
Aside from the literary labor in
volved in the construction of "The God
of Civilization" and the preparation of
her new novel, "Was He a Leper?" Mrs.
M. A. Pittock, late of this city, is de
voting considerable tfme to newspaper
work.
By special request of several leading
citizens the - committee having in
charge the star lecture course has se
lected the "Law and Labor. Propertv
and Poverty" as the subject of Joseph
Cook's lecture to be given In the
Tabernacle next Monday evening.
F. J. Martini, alias Anderson, who
escaped from Tacoma last Summer, has
been arrested by the police and will be
held to await the arrival of an officer
from Tacoma. He was arrested for
raising a bank note.
F. R. Of-borne, the attorney, has just
returned from a business trip to Spo
kane Falls. He reports that their ex
position is a success. Their building
Is half as large as ours and their dis
plays creditable.
The salesmen of Portland will hold
a meeting in Masonic Hall at 2:30 this
afternoon for the purpose of forming
an early closing association.
Captain White, chief of the Railwav
Mail Service, left in his private ca
for San Francisco last evening. He
will, in all probability, return to Port
land on his way East.
All persons who have bought lots In
Pasadena Addition to Portland will be
Pleased to learn that the steam motor
Is now making regular trips within a
short distance of this suburb.
Half Century Ago.
From The Oregonian of November 9, ISM
The residents west of Park avenue
rf ,nx,ioua to haV6 surveys of those
established, by the city, in order that
they may proceed with their improve -ments-
At a late meeting of the
Council this matter was referred to the
committee on streets and public prop
y. he grades to new streets in
?sTaUonsehedAlditi02haVe latelY bCe"
Passing up Front street, we were in
V,'i , observe the awning over th
sidewalk in front of the new building
of Walter Molfett. It is supported by
iron braces, less expensive than post,
and gives the public the free use of
the sidewalks.
hot ?w tlnV? in tho history of Portland
liL . tl bS?n so mny transient peo
ple in the City of Portland as there
are at present.
In excavating on Madison street yes
,a f wo.rkl,nai named Franklin had
his left leg broken between the foot and
ThU'K tlf by "If CaVlns of a bank.
I his is the second casualty of the kind
happening in Portland since the com
mencement of street work last Spring.
th!b.eKnS,t0rla..Gazette says that "ore
rfim vam ,',eS haVe gone over into
Tillamook alley to settle. And yet
there is room for many more.
f.iarty ,ln ' regon writing "to a
friend, in Monterey saya "tne rainy
season has set In two months earlier
than usual this year. Rain has set in
before the harvest season has been
completed and a large quantity of
grain has been destroyed."
Mr. Wilbur. Indian agent at Yakima,
Is now engaged In collecting the scat
tered bands of Indians within his dis
tiL Purpose of taking them
through the Simcoe Valley.
Richard Ralston, recently wounded
in a shooting affray at Idaho City, died
a few days ago while a limb was be
ing amputated.
SUNDAY LAW SECTARIAN 1SSIK
A Such It Should Make Saturday Day
of Rest, Says Reader.
HOQUIAM. Wash., Nov. 7. (To the
Editor.) Being a constant reader of
The Oregonian and also a former resi
dent of Portland, I take great inter
est in the discussions of a Sunday
closing law now being waged by
church organizations and business men
It seems to me to be nothing but a
sectarian issue, and in direct conflict
with tho Constitution. In the iirst
place, if we are to observe a day for
worship of our creator, we are now
observing a day, namely, "Sunday," as
a day that should be observed as the
correct day; but I will say there is no
command given by our creator to ob
serve Sunday as a day of rest or wor
ship. Sunday is the first day (observe cal
endar) of the week, there is no divine
command to observe this day, but there
Is of the seventh day. (Gen. ii:il:iii and
Exodus xvi:xxvi:xxix, Exodus xx:xi.)
And on the seventh day God ended his
work which he had madi; Tnd he rested
nS hadaie"1 hlS Work whlch
And God blessed the seventh dav and
sancOfied it; because that In It 2 had
rested from all his work which God created
ana made.
Another item taken from Schapps.
Herzog Encyclopedia on the Sunday
and seventh day question:
When Christianity was established as a
distinct faith, its adherents, following the
tJiumplo of Jesus, observed the Sabbath with
the evident intention of using It as a means
or spiritual edification. At the same time
the custom arose among them of meeting
on the first day of the week In commemo
ration of the Master's resurrection. This
was called the Lord's day. For a time the
two days were observed together.
And yet was It inevitable that as Christi
anity became differentiated from Judaism
these two days so nearly alike in purpose
should be confused with each other. This
took place after the third century of the
Christian era. The Ideal Sabbath of Jesus
was identified with the Lord's day and the
Sabbath (Saturday) fell Into disuse and the
conviction grew that it had been abrogated.
Qod's commands are the 10 command
ments. If we want to follow in the
footsteps -of Jesus, our Lord, we must
make a law for the observance of Sat
urday, and not Sunday.
Jesus observed, evidently, the sev
enth day as commanded by the father
of us all, which is Saturday, for 33
years.
My purpose Is not to advance a re
ligious argument, but to show the folly
of contention on a Sunday law. Do
not think I am a Seventh Day Adven
tist, CONSTANT READER.
Suppose They Had Never Met.
Judge.
The Bridegroom "Why so sad,
sweetheart?" The Bride "I was Just
thinking how miserable I'd be, Jack, if
I had never met you."
The Clerk With a
Smile
You like to shop in the store
where the clerk greets you with
a smile, and says, "Thank you"
when you are through.
There is a touch of kindliness
about such service that makes, buy
ing a real pleasure.
You feel the merchandise in such
a store is better.
There are lots of merchants In
this city,, who give this kind of
service.
They appreciate your trade and
try to deserve it.
Perhaps you can get acquainted
with some of them through the ad
vertising in The Oregonian.