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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 22, 1916)
TITE 3TORXTNG OKEGOXIAJf, SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1916. Qfyt 9t330Pffltt(tft POBTU1XD. OBEGOX. entered at Portland (Oreson) Postoftlcs as sscond-claas matter. Subscription Rate Invariably In advance: R Vf a II 1 lallr. Bandar Included, ona year.. .. ...IS.00 XJally. bunday included, six month -o Ia!iy, Sunday Included, three months.. 2 Xsily, Sunday Included, one month..... .73 L'eiiy. without Sunday, one year J.oo Iai:y, without fiuadsy, aix moatha -. . .. I?aliy, without buaasy. thrwo m on the without Sunoay. one month Weekly, one year euailiv. one vtar..... fcunday and Weekly, one year a. (By Carrier.) ' -rw... c... ,,.,h-h n. 9.00 T i m , v ' KuniiBv Inm d i one month. . . . . .75 How to Kemlt Send postofllce money or der, txprm order or pereonal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Ulve postollice aaurwes m ftl In.lmiln. rAiintV M rjl SLatO. Postage Kates 11 to 14 paea, 1 cent: IS to 12 paaeo. 3 cents; M paces. cents. :.a ...... . r. j cents: 2 to 7tt paxes, 3 cents: 78 to pagea. cents. Foreiaa post, ass. double rates. Eastera Basinets Of nee V err re sc Conk lln, Brunswick tutldinc. New York; erree a Conklla. Steser buildlnc. Chlcaso: ban rnnritfa n-nreHntsUve. R. J. Bldwell. .43 Market street. POB'IXAXD, 8ATTROAY. JAN. SI. A PKOPOMJ LEAGUE OF NATIONS. Dr. Charles W. Eliot, from a frank ly pro-ally standpoint, in the New York Times baa made an interesting contribution to discussion of what shall be done after the war to prevent further war. and to preserve) the free dom of the sea, the sanctity of treaties and the security of democratic nations arainst aggression, by divine right monarchies. Believing that universal, compulsory service would alone ren der the United States secure without allies and that even the Swiss system would do such violence to our tradi tions as to render its adoption doubt ful, he suggests our adhesion to a new league of "faith-keepinf; nations." He proposes a permanent combination of Great Britain, France. Russia and Japan, which should invite Scandi navia and the United States or Pan America to Join it. This league, he says, could maintain the freedom of the sea, the inviolability of treaties, and the integrity of democratic na tions. Its combined navy could make Invasion of the United States impos sible. . , It is doubtful whether such a league would contribute to the permanence of peace or could be held to its origi nal purpose. Ita composition and an nounced aims would place It in a posi tion of permanent hostility to the out side powers and would be a standing provocation to them. Consciousness of Dower would be a constant temp tation to use that power for aggres sion and dictation and thus to vio i,i the, nrinclDles upon which the league was founded. Conflict of in terest amontr the members would threaten snd nrobably end the league's existence. Its formation would be an incentive to the formation of a rival league, which would strive to break it up by aggravating disputes among its members and by detaching members from it. Unless Russia should become democratic, it would have more in common with Germany and Austria than with Britain, France and the United States. The Kaiser bund of forty years agt might be re vived, and the points of contact be tween Russian and British territory might become points of friction. Japan might be detached from the league by restrictions upon emigration to the United States and British colonies and fcv a deal with Germany in the Orient. Nor is it probable that the United States would be willing to depart from Its traditional policy of non-interference in European affairs by Joining such a league. Although the changes of the last century have brought the United States into closer touch 'with Europe than when George Washing ton propounded that policy and al though the breaking down of our iso lation by Improved communication lias brought home to us the necessity of better defense, the American Na tion would not become an active par tisan of one group of European na tions against another group. By tak ing a hand in the regulation of Eu ropean affairs we should give Europe a right to take a hand in affairs of the Western Hemisphere. So far from consenting, the American people would not even take the South Ameri can nations Into partnership in the Monroe Doctrine. The purpose of Dr. Eliot's proposed league could be better served by adopt ing the programme offered by the League to Enforce Peace. Were a league of nations formed to maintain the principles of arbitration and con ciliation between rations and to draw up and enforce a code of international law. and were it open to all nations that were willing to subscribe to Its principles, all great nations might Join it after peace was restored. Such a league would more effectually secure democratic nations against aggression than would Dr. Eliot's proposed league and would leave no opening for the formation of a hostile league. The Eliot plan smacks of a democratic propaganda against divine right mon archy, to which the American Nation could not become a party. As such, it would not be in harmony with the principle of National independence for which it would stand. The American people should be as firmly opposed to forcing democratic institutions on a nation which was content with abso lute monarchy as to forcing a mon arch upon a-republican nation. SPROrnXG TVTNGS. Shall we all have wings in a few years? The query Is an ancient one and has been the subject of specu lation ever since heavier-than-air machines were sent aloft Through the years since that memorable achievement the wings of man have sprouted with tedious slowness until the last eighteen months. Since then an amazing growth has occurred and man Is ready to fly In all his travels now, according to claims of the Aero Club of America, which avers that aeroplanes carrying freight and passengers will be plying the trans continental and transoceanic routes be fore very long. The facilities are at hand now, but war is making use of the wings and will not turn them over for the uses of industry and com merce until its ends have been served. In summarizing the achievements in f 1 lng It appears that man has sprouted wings even while engaged in the de moniacal pursuits of war. Under the Impulse of necessity, which is the real mother of invention, flight has been perfected until aeroplanes capable of carrying tons of weight are now in successful operation. Russians and French have the larger aeroplanes, which carry from ten to sixteen pas sengers, together with their equipment and supplies. Meals have been senved in aeroplanes, stabilizers and safety devices designed to make them "fool proof" have been perfected, and the whole perfected system is ready for tlia development ot a new aerial trans. portation once the practical monopoly of aircraft has been abandoned by the war god. Such claims are not extravagant, for we have seen enough of the aeroplane to become convinced that its future is assured and that man is destined to become in fact a flying animal. Such feats as traveling at the rate of 125 miles an hour, as covering 1300 miles in a single day and as traveling twenty-four hours aloft without a single stop are familiar to all. These things have been done in America, where the leading role in the development of the heavier-than-air ship has been played. The reason we have not applied aero nautics to peace pursuits on a large scale is that foreign countries buy these craft as rapidly as American manufacturers can build them. When peace comes it is easy to foresee a new and important, application ox human wings to economic adjustment. THE COST. The nnrfler of elchteen American citizens by the bandits of Mexico makes the blood boll in any American who has blood In place of dlshwaber. It makes one feel like getting hold of a Winchester. going down In Xanana country and shooting up things. But what would wS have accomplished in sacrificing the Uvea of perhaps a thousand more Americans to avenge the muraer ot eighteen? These men should never have gone down into that mining country witn Mexico In Its present condition. Benton County Courier. The blood of an American who Is willing that other Americans be mur dered on foreign soil may well be clas sified as dishwater. There is no ques tion of mere vengeance for the slaugh ter of eighteen Americans. It is solely matter of the protection of other Americans in Mexico, and every where a demonstration that their rights must be respected and their lives safeguarded. ., If we are to count the cost of re quiring a proper respect for the Amer ican flag in Mexico, let us think of the greater question of the cost to America itself, in its loss of self- respect and the good opinion of the world, if America fails to take appro priate action. Is the National spirit suffering from fatty degeneration? It would se'em so, when we show the white feather and tremble at the prospect of doing what we are plainly called upon to do with Mexico restore order there, and give its miserable inhabitants, whom we hyprocritically say we pity and would like to help, a chance to live and work in peace. KELP FOB POOR JEWS. The Catholic quality of Jewish phil anthropy and Jewish charity is prover bial. It is all-embracing. It aids every good cause. It asks no; questions, ex cept that the beneficiary be worthy. It vaunts itself never, but it "beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." It is the outstanding merit of the Jewish race that, despite bitter persecutions by tyrants and oppressors of all ages, and the wicked prejudices of other peo ples through hundreds and thousands of years, the flame of human kindness in the Jewish heart has never been extinguished; but it has burned with increasing brightness through the cen turies, so that now it Is the crowning glory of a generous and faithful peo ple. Despite their liberality to others, the Jews have always had a peculiar pride in caring for their own. It is seldom "that there is a call upon any but Jews to contribute to any Jewish beneficence. Not long ago a distln guished rabbi of New Tork came to his former home in Portland, and in a short time raised $10,000 among our Jewish people for the Jews of Pal estlne. Not a cent was asked of any others. But now a situation arises where the plight of Jewish people in the war becomes the concern of all civilized peoples of whatever faith. Millions of Jews in Eastern Europe are home less, starving, penniless, helpless. It is a stupendous task to succor them; but they are entitled to the world's sympathy, and they must have it, in substantial form. The Jews of Amer ica have done much; but they cannot shoulder the burden alone. Nor should they be asked to do it, even if they could. Help for the Jews and other unfortunate creatures in the war zone becomes a National, and indeed an in ternational, problem. President Wilson has issued a proc lamation calling upon the "people of the United States to make contribu tions for the stricken and impov erished Jews. A day January 27 has been set aside for service to these people. Plans are afoot for a great campaign in their aid throughout the United States. It is expected that Portland KvlII do its full share. It will certainly So no less. family irnnixci. Large families are becoming a rarity. Occasionally a family of ten or a dozen children will be encountered in some rural district or under the meager roof of some rugged worker. As a rule such families serve as a warning rather than as an inspiration, a small income and a large family of fering few inducements to those whose parental instincts misht lead them in the same direction. The prob lem of feeding, clothing and housing such a multitude is not an easy one and unless there is a large farm to be taken care of the members thereof may not fare well. An even more serious aspect is that of the moral welfare of the family, because where there are so many it is difficult to de vote much time to the individual needs of each of the children. But that the bringing up of a large family on a small income is prac ticable, pleasant and profitable is shown by the story of a German work man and his good frau who reared a family of thirteen boys every one of whom was launched upon a useful career. The story is told, not by -the head of the family (he has been too busy for such refinements), but by one of his sons, now a useful American citizen in the employ of the Pullman company. The father merely applied mili tary efficiency to his family. Or ganization and co-operation were the family watchwords. When the hour for rising came no tired parent went from bed to bed. A gong struck three times. The children knew they must be assembled in the kitchen within ten minutes. Nor was the mother com pelled to run a short-order restaurant for her family. Another stroke of the gong summoned all to the breakfast table. If John or Henry '""as even two minutes late he fasted until noon. After breakfast another stroke of the gong sent them all to work about the house and yard. Each had an allotted duty. One kept pans clean, another attended to the fires, one looked after the cows and still another cared for the horses. There was a task for each boy. The father did no part of this work. He merely inspected It all and saw that nothing was slighted. Each boy when he reached the age, of five years was required to open an account at the bank. vVhen not at tending school he worked on the farm and received a small portion of the yearly profits in addition to his board. This money perforce went into the bank. As the boys grew older they were assembled for talks on the ways of the world and warned in simple, direct language against the pitfalls that would confront them. Firmly but kindly, the parents insisted that they be treated with respect. When the father asked a question the response was "yes, sir" or "no, sir." Frequent applications of a stout switch were necessary in enforcing this discipline while the lads were young, although such punishment grew unnecessary after the boys were ten. It is vouched that not a single one of these boys ever went astray, that they are all useful citizens. The assertion is easily accepted in view of the training. FREDERICK HOMER BAIXH. Just now, when there is wide in terest in the beauties of the Columbia River, through construction of the Co. lumbia Highway, an anonymous writer has contributed to the Hood River Glacier an Interesting article on Fred, erick Homer Balch. author of the clas sic, "The Bridge of the Gods." It is a real romance an Oregon romance which deals in Indian legendary and the sacrifices of a heroic young preacher, and has for its background the noble river of the Columbia Gorge. It may or may not be well known that Cecil Gray, hero of the story, who sacrificed his life to teach the Indians the religion of Christ, typifies Fred erick Homer Balch. He was a minis ter of the gospel, of reverent mind and deep conviction so deep and sin cere that when he decided to enter the ministry he suppressed, or thought he did, the stirring and surging thoughts of the romancist, and actu ally consigned to the flames a novel of pioneer history ("Wallurah") which he had written. Balch was born at Lebanon Decem ber 14, 1861. and is buried at Lyle. Wash. He died at the early age of 30. He had reconciled, during his service as preacher, his conflicting ideas of duty; or,, rather, he had be come convinced that the role of writer J of tales was not incompatible with his chosen occupation. Thus "The Bridge of the Gods" wts born. It is Idle to guess what Frederick Balch might have done if his life had been spared. What he did was a fine and worthy monument of. his real genius. To quote from a poem by T. R. Coon: m "Lift up mine eyes unto the hills."-. From all below and find rest awhile; Be free my soul, from all thine Ills. Look up and live, for God so wills. And these are his brown hills of Lyle. WHY ALLIES CRITICISE US. Friendship betWeen the United States and Great Britain had grown so decidedly stronger since the Span ish war that estrangement of the British from, and even enmity for, Americans has become a subject of serious discussion on tnls side of the Atlantic. George Harvey gives his ex planation in the North American Re view,, after a visit to England, and James D. Whelpley gives his in the Outlook. They reveal that, though the British government does not seri ously criticise the course ofHhe United States Government, a feeling or mingled bitterness and contempt for Americans is spreading among the British people after the nations had come to understand each other better than at any time since the United States became independent.. There is an irresistible temptation to a belligerent nation to envy a neu tral as One fortunately placed by con trast. Britons see Americans enjoy ing peace while they suffer in war as they never suffered before. They see us profiting immensely from their dire need of arms, ammunition and food, and their old conception of the Ameri can whose god is the dollar arises again. They see us growing rich at their expense, yet insisting on our right-to make more dollars by selling to their enemies. The British would be more than human If they did not feel both envy and irritation toward a people so prosperous, yet so exact ing Jn holding out for its rights. But Britons pass over all these con siderations to the very merits of the struggle. They have their character istic conviction that they are cham pions of right, a conviction so strong that they cannot conceive of an im partial, intelligent, right-thinking man doubting the Justice of their cause. They believe they are fighting the battle of right against might, of de mocracy against despotism, of Na tional independence against world empire, of sanctity of treaties against the scrap-of-paper theory, of civiliza tion against military frightfulness. For these reasons they believe- they are fighting our battles as well as their own, and as proof they assert that the German general staff has complete plans for an invasion of the United States after Germany has con quered Europe. They say that we ought to be fighting side by side with them, but that instead we stand aloof, grow rich at their expense and ob struct their efforts to crush the com mon enemy, while our President says we are "too proud to fight" and mere ly writes notes when Germany mas sacres our citizens. To these earnest Britons we seem mercenary and con temptible. The British statesman, however, judges of the actions of our statesmen by the standards of international law and by the difficulties which confront them. A member of the House of Commons told Colonel Harvey that there was no "defendable pretext con sistent with observance of interna tional law for our joining the allies. A Cabinet Minister admitted that Britain had no "really grave cause for dissatisfaction with the course pursued by the American Ad ministration" and would have none, provided we did not prohibit or limit exports of munitions. He is not per turbed by the note protesting against the blockade of Germany, for our Government took six months to pre pare it hence he may take another six months to answer. But another British Minister, whom Colonel Harvey terms "the most In creasingly powerful man in the em pire," is quoted as saying that "there is not a particle of feeling against the American people." but that our Gov ernment is criticised because of "the rooted belief" in England "that we are fighting your battle and that your Government not only treats the com mon enemy with the greater consid eration, but seems to go out of its way to harass and annoy us." He ad mits that "we have not asked any body to fight any battle for us," but he meets the suggestion that "the navalism of England is no more de fensible than the militarism of Ger many" by saving that "if England had not interposed France would have been crushed and the eyes of the con queror would have turned Instantly to the Western Hemisphere"; that "Ger man militarism is the living menace of America, and British navalism is her salvation." This conviction of the British Min ister, his annoyance at Mr. Wilson's protests against the blockade, while the President resents only with notes the far more serious misdeeds of Ger many, are sentiments common to the British nation. Taken Jn conjunction with the well-known fact that the weight of American sentiment favors the allies, these opinions render In explicable to the British the course of our Government In scrupulously pre serving our neutrality. . When our President conducts long-drawn-out negotiations regarding submarine massacres and talks of our being "too proud to fight." the perplexed Britons find the explanation that we are so sordidly mercenary arid so cowardly that we will suffer Intolerable wrongs and let other nations fight our battles in order that we may accumulate dol lars. They hear that the majority of our people sympathize with them and they can . see no other reason for the failure of that majority to impose its will on the Administration. Those Americans who view the mat ter as Americans, not as pro-allies or pro-Germans, believe that Mr. Wilson could have taken no other course than to preserve neutrality. We had no immediate cause of quarrel with Ger many and hef allies. We could not make war for an abstract Idea the idea that. If Germany won she would attack us next. None of the belliger ents made war for such an Idea. Brit ain professes to have entered the war in defense of the sanctity of treaties, but why did . she sign the Belgian treaty? Because her vital Interest de manded that no great power hold Bel gium. Britain made war because German supremacy would menace British existence and because the best prospect of success in preventing Ger man supremacy lay in fighting when treaty-breaking gave a good case and when strong allies with unimpaired power were at hand. The United States had no such cause for inter vention. Having decided upon neutrality, Mr. Wilson could not do otherwise than observe it impartially. He was bound to adhere strictly to interna tional law and to hold all belligerents to observance of that law, for if he winked at Infraction by one he would provide valid defense for Infraction by another. He was fortified for bringing Germany to account by the fact that he had shown no leniency with Germany's enemies. The Presi dent by condemning illegalities in the British blockade did Britain an actual service, for he placed himself in a position to stop the barbarities of submarine war, and Germany con tended with some reason that sub marine war could be successfully prosecuted in no other way. Where Mr. Wilson failed was in not vigorously visiting swift retribu tion on Germany for the Lusitania massacre and for the series of like crimes which followed. It Is non sense to say that that means war German statesmen are not so insane as to drive us into the ranks of the enemy for the minor military advan tage of sinking a small percentage among allied ships. They simply pre sumed on the pacifism of Mr. Bryan and on the unwillingness of Mr. Wil son to use force in maintaining Ameri can rights, as demonstrated-- by his Mexican policy. Events have proved that they Judged rightly. By taking no sterner measures to avenge and prevent the murder of American citizens than he took to prevent ob struction of American commerce, Mr! Wilson gave color to the charge of Britons that Americans place the dol lar above life itself. He gave cause for the further charge of cowardice when he said we might be "too proud to fight." That phrase prompted a French officer to treat an American woman with the first official discourtesy in France. That phrase was coupled by the offi cer in question with "scrap of paper as "infamous words." "monstrous words." The coolness with which this woman was treated because of her nationality prompted her to pass as a Canadian. In those respects alone does Mr. Wilson's neutrality policy justify the anti-American sentiment to which the war has given rise In Britain and France. A police judge must hear many fairy tales, and the flossiest is that told by the- man who put away bottle of whisky in his desk three years ago and forgot it until the state went "dry." Now that the teacher who married is again on the job, a precedent is established that should make' great results during leap year. The young man who hesitates need not do so any more. $ The Georgia mob that took six negroes from Jail. Thursday night and hanged five may intend using the other for souvenirs. There is no tell ing what a Georgia mob may do. The British debate on conscription, which" threatened to be a Kilkenny cat fight, has become a love feast' The politicians have learned the trend of public opinion. A visionary Japanese army of 200 to 300 men causes more alarm in Mexico than an American Army of a hundred times that size which is forbidden to shoot. The police court lawyers whose practice' is diminished by prohibition may recoup themselves by fighting suits to test every section of the liquor law. Republican Senators must have en joyed the spectacle of Senators fHoke Smith and Williams debating the war from opposing sides. The preparedness campaign is de veloping some belligerent clergy In this country to match the warrior priests of Europe. TVinciA trim Violi svir1 that Villa had been captured forgot that he has more lives than a cat. When somebody brings in Villa's head the world will know he had been captured. T-v-a TTnT-ri nartv inH another air tight ride through Germany last night Jack Frost will now give the loggers a chance to get into the woods. Portland la tho favored snot, with floods to the east and south. Mall three times a week is not enough for Tillamook. "WHERE ARE THEM ROMANS XOWP Roosevelt Policies Kind Tbat Caeaara Had, Says Democrat PORTLAND. Jan. "II. (To the Edi tor.) So. after all is said, the only leader the Republicans have is Teddy Teddy, who spurned them and split his party in twain to gratify a personal ambition. Teddy, of whom The Ore gonian said so many harsh and unkind things in the last election. It is this Teddy that causes the Wilson followers so much fear. Well, here is one Wilson man who would rather see Teddy run against Wilson than any other man, for he would be the most easily beaten of any. The contrast is so marked nd so much in favor of Wilson that the election would, be decided on the day Teddy would be nominated. On Wil son's side we have dignity, even tem per, calm demeanor, and a great thinker. With Teddy we have the direct opposite. His past acts prove this and especially while he was here in Oregon in the last campaign. Yes, indeed, Teddy would have a for eign policy. But It is a mistake to call it an American policy. It would be the policy of the 'prize fighter or men of the stone age. This is the kind of policy the Caesars had, and where is the Roman Empire now? True, it was great in its day, but even at its great est power and glory the magots of egotism and selfishness were at work tearing down faster than the Emperors built It was, the governments that patterned after the Christ that grew and throve and out of which this, our own Government, came to life. I am glad to learn from The oregonian that diplomacy is a lost art in the great problem of running a government We must get us all a Dunaog race ana a row of gleaming teeth, so when our riirhts are transgressed we must bite and tear and not try to reason with our transgressor. Of course, this takes brute courage, but It doesn t taKe brains. But then, following your line of reasoning, it doesn't take brains to run a government All it takes is a big navy and army. Then, when a dispute arises, follow Teddy's policy call them liars, thieves, anything you are a mind to, but be sure to have the army and navy ready to eat them up if they re sent it. Your readers are delighted to learn from you that it's this kind of a policy that takes all the courage and reauires so much Drains ana inmsins, but may I ask you: Don't you think it would have been easien. lor vviison to follow Teddy's policy? Wouldn't he have spared himself many a difficult problem? True he would have caused a great deal of sorrowing in American homes, but this is a irme ioiiowi vour line of reasoning. Wilson's policy is the true American policy; exhaustion of every diplomatic meann before force: then, when force is necessary, have enough of it to make it effective. Hence, the Aamimsira tion's demand for a bigger and more effective Army and Navy. STANLEY CHARETTE. t cIh tnfm Were Adopted. "WOODBURN, Or., Jan. 20. (To the Editor.) Please state how many men the United States would have in her Army if the Swiss military system were aaoptea. ana now dis a. rcoci A SUBSCRIBER. There is nothing in Switzerland cor responding to a regular army. One might hunt for months around the country without finding one - man whose profession is military; yet al moEt a.) hard would it be to discover one able-bodied citizen who hsis not had some soldier training. Switzerland can. mobilize 240,000 men in 24 hours. On the same basis, the United States ould put 8,000,000 men into the field, though of course it would take longer to get them to central nninta of mobilization. Behind a field army of 240.000 the Swiss have a re serve of eaual proportions. The United States should, under the Swiss sys tem, have a trained army of citizens reaching a grand total of 16,000,000 men of all arms. Under that standard we would have 160 trained men from every town of 1000 population; while a county of 30,000 inhabitants could thus send 2400 men to the front and hold as many more in reserve. Anr 11 TnlBD. Fni-MiflSt. REEDVILLE, Or., Jan. 20. (To the Editor.) With the American ammuni tion markets open to them since the beginning of the war, why haven't the allies rescued Serbia from her plight? w nv wilii limy fiu ileal nao jjiu" i l.AAn nMictmrif Whnt h.fl tin- ILCglU UCCU - . - . ,Vin CTnori t nnorw tnrm ITft V is supposed to have landed in Albania lu rcouo mi. i". . l.... . entente's seeming neglect? Is it possiDie mat uermany n inni- 1 . with ho- mi y jJunc'i lu&cnn-i i. 1... . allies, has already won this war? Rus sia s eitorts to iauncn an onensivo una nothing short of pitirui. ureal Britain is -busy rescuing expeditions which went on tne cruei rocjis ot uuiwu France is straining every nerve ti Keep .i i-i- . knr.a" F.n m Vii-a-i Vina- 111 IUH Htl 11111 11 11' 1 ' 1 . -1 1 ! -'I n. ... l....--., any further, while they are all won- aering wimt ma xculuuo hi hn'fi do next A slight retreat on the part of Ger many or her allies is heralded by re ports inat Bl WSL mo i-om-mt i aio vy r.-i ni ii'"fT - - ii--"' -----n - - . should they be weakening? They i ' . L i. . . ,i .I-ht vat anil an far- thanks to the blunders of their foes, they have had things pretty much their own way. O. L. iKAJNJS. Reajiatratlom of Voters. ARLINGTON, Or.. Jan. 20. (To the Editor.) Please tell me if a person who is not registered by April 18 may vote at the following elections. Registration books are closed during the 30 days preceding each general and primary election. If a voter has not registered, it is necessary, in order to vote, to sign a specified form of affi davit before one of the election judges and secure the affidavits of two free holders who are personally acquainted with the elector and his or her quali fications as an elector. Straw Vote on President. NEW LONDON, Conn., Jan. 16. (To the Editor.) This is the time of straw votes and polls on the coming Presiden tial race. Being a member of the Connecticut Senate, it occurred to me that a poll of the State Senators throughout the countrv would yield a iairiy accurate expression of the people's choice for the Republican nomination. Would you mind announcing tnis poii and urge the Senators of your state to send me before February 1 their flrst second and third choices for said nomi nation and their opinion as to the most important plank to be inserted in the platform? BENJAMIN H. HEWITT. Plnral or Singular! PORTLAND. Jan. 21. (To the Ed itor.) Which is correct? A number of ladies and gentlemen is going to San Francisco this week; or. a number ot ladies' and gentlemen are going to San Francisco this week? LUCILLE LARGE. The plural form of the verb is pref erable. Colors lor St. Patrlek'a Day. RORISG. Or. Jan. 20 (To the Edi tor.) Please state what colors besides gresn and white can be used in deco rating for a St Patrick's day enter tainment JOHN CURRY. We suggest that the decorative scheme be confined 'to green and the American National colors. j IX XAUBE SIOTHIXG EVER DIES SonI la Resenerated aa la Grain of Wheat, Say Writer. VANCOUVER. Wash.. Jan. 16. (To the Editor.) In a recent issue of The Oregonian Mr. Powell questions re garding "the lmmiral soul as loiiows. Does it coma through primeval ancestors, or uow that the human race has become what it is, does the soul of each new-born child come from Its father and mother, or does It come fresh and direct from the hand of Qod? Yes Is the answer to these three questions. Primeval ancestors, father and mother and God (nature) are all one and the same. But the soul does not come from nature, nor yet does it come through nature: it is inalienably inherent in nature and cannot be con sidered as an entity in itself. It is na ture. Nor can it be considered as "fresh and direct" from anywhere. Nature is at all times fresh and with her all ac tion is direct She takes no cognizance of time. Eons and seconds are- to her the same. I return to the question: If I assert that the wheaten bread of which Mr. Powell partook at his dinner last even ing was ot and from the identical wheat which Joseph gathered into the gar ners of Egypt some 3000 years ago, my statement may be questioned. It need not be, it is truth. Let us here remember that death ia unknown in nature. Nature is contin uously renewed through regeneration. The wheat is cast into the ground year after year. It does not die, it regen erates. No new soul need be impro vised for each new crop. The soul is transmlttted from generatlcn to gen eration through the process of regen eration. As with the soul of the wheat so with the soul of man. Both pass from generation to generation. Both are im mortal and ever living. This may appear to be a simple and shallow belief, but a tremendous re sponsibility goes along with it. The bliss or misery of our soul (the com ing generation) depends absolutely on the manner of our lives in the present generation. Our abject ignorance of the infallible laws of heredity and transmission have consigned our .souls to torture through the past ages and they can in the future only be re deemed through our acquiring under standing of these natural laws. J. t. A Disputed Count at Cribbajre. NORTH YAKIMA, Wash., Jan. 18. (To the Editor.) I have the greatest regard for your correctness of an swers and would like to have you pub lish in your next the correct amount of this hand in cribbage: Four deuces with a nine-spot turned up. All we crib players are a unit in saying it is 24 15, 12 and 12, as you can make four combinations with the deuces. The Police Gazette claims it is only 16 15, 4 and 12, and we claim they are wrong. G. N. GRAFTON. The following combinations of three deuces with a nine are possible to make 15: Clubs, spades, diamonds; clubs, spades, hearts; spades, diamonds, hearts; diamonds, hearts, clubs. The hand thus counts eight for fifteens and 12 for four deuces; total 20 Addreaa of Minlns; Company. THE DALLES, Or., Jan. 20. (To the Editor.) Please Inform me how I could get in correspondence with the presi dent or secretary of the Five Bears Mining Company, of Plumas County, California. They formerly had their office with the Union Security Com pany, 234 La Salle street, Chicago, 111. A SUBSCRIBER. Try writing to Secretary of State. Sacramento, Cal. Pamoni Playwrights. FOREST GROVE, Or., Jan. 29 (To the Editor.) Who are David Belasco, Sir Arthur PInero, Eugene Walter and George M. Cohan? What is their busi ness or profession? -A READER. They are playwrights and producers. Pinero is an Englishman; the others are Americans. BIG AUTOMOBILE SECTION The Sunday Oregonian ir ' With the near approach of the annual automobile show interest again centers in the motor vehicle world. In, anticipation of the popular demand The Oregonian tomorrow will give, in connection with its regular Sunday edition, a large section devoted to auto mobile activities. Everyone who owns an automobile, or expects to own one, or is at all interested in automobile news will enjoy this special section. OTHER FEATURES . IS $IRS. DREXEL CONTROLLED BY JINX? Here is a peculiar story about the numerous queer domestic misfortunes that have befallen the Drexel family, of Philadelphia, in the last iewt years. The Drexels, it must be remembered, are among the most prom inent people in Philadelphia and their affairs are of more or less public interest. This story in tomorrow's big issue will tell all about the doing3 of the Drexels. THIS IS GRADUATION WEEK Scores of Portland boys and girls will finish their high school education this week and step out into the world to begin their careers of usefulness. Graduation exer cises will be held in all the high schools within the week. In accordance with its custom, The Sunday Oregonian tomorrow will print pictures of all the graduates. CARPENTER ON ALASKA FISHING Frank C Carpenter, the pop ular traveler and writer, who is presenting the readers of The Ore gonian with a series of stories on Alaska, writes in tomorrow's issue on the fresh fish industry of Alaska. The article will be illustrated. SNAKE BRIJAKS UP POKER GAME Everyone like'to read a good poker story. Most people also like good snake stories. Here is a story that has the poker element and the snake element combined in one. COMPLETE NOVELETTE! "The Tremulous Time" is the name of a complete novelette by E. F. Benson in tomorrow's Oregonian. It is the story of a battle between two sisters for the love of a man. Don't miss it. WOMEN TO MEET IN NEW YORK Late in May of this year the annual convention of the Federation of Women's Clubs will be held in New York. The women of New York are making elaborate preparations for their entertainment. A story tomorrow will tell something of their activities and carry pictures of some of the leading clubwomen of the country. WOMEN AND THEIR LINGERIE The war in Europe has not diminished the activities of the French women, who are adept in making fancy underwear and night gowns. Some night gowns cost as much as $140 each. And there are women who are willing to pay the price. Read about them in tomorrow's Oregonian. I BIRSKY AND ZAPP As successors of the popular Potash and Perl mutter, the newly created characters of Birsky and Zapp are fur nishing the reading public with many a laugh. Montague Glass will present his colloquial philosophers tomorrow in a discussion of a question that now is uppermost in the American mind. MOVING-PICTURE NEWS Besides its full page of general motion- picture news The Sunday Oregonian tomorrow will contain several pages devoted to the silent drama and its achievements here in Portland. ROBES OF JAPANESE EMPEROR Tomorrow's paper also will con tain a number of pictures of the robes and ornaments worn by the Japanese Emperor on the occasion of his recent coronation. A story " descriptive of these articles alsp will be printed. OTHER ATTRACTIONS Among the other attractions will be Sara Moore's' artistic views of life, Donahey's full page of colored draw ing and stories for the children, the comic supplement and depart ments devoted to Bports, the stage, society, real estate and women s activities. 4 In Other Days. Twenty-Five Years Ago. From The Oregonian of January IS, Utl. Portland will soon deserve tho name of the "city of railways." if all the projected schemes before the public are carried out Among other projects likely to be matured at an early date is that of an electric railway parallel ing the Portland and Vancouver road, and connecting with the Mount Tabor system. The Veteran Volunteer Firemen will invite the San Francisco veteran fire men on July 4, if the citizens conclude to celebrate. A committee was ap pointed consisting of B. L. Norden, J. W. McVamara, H. Wolf, James T. Hopkins, Thomas G. Young, Frank Keller and Henry Fleckenstetn to make all arrangements. Usually when a Chinaman passes to the beyond the public expects to see the roast pig. pots of rice. Joss atlcka and other paraphernalia of paganism at the funeral. But thera are excep tions to the rule. Such an exception was witnessed in the funeral of Gee Jay Gong, a tailor, yesterday after noon. The Caledonian Club has arranged to have a grand concert and dance on Tuesday, January 17, to commemorate the birth of Robert Burns. The work of ballasting the Waverly line will be completed today. The man ager of the electrical company will be here in a few days and the matter of the transfer of the road to the Willam ette Bridge Company will probably be all settled up. The new St Helens Hall. 'on Park avenue. Is practically completed. l(nlf at Century Aso. From The Oretroniaa of January 3S, 1st. The full band of the Fourteenth In fantry under the leadership of T. G. Adkins, will give its second grand in strumental concert in this city at the Willamette Theater, Wednesday even ing. Mr. and Mrs. Alex Campbell were the recipients of a tin wedding party at their residence in this city one night last week. All old-time residents in Portland will recollect Sam Holcomb. How many will regret to learn of his dying alone, as It were. In one of the hospitals of San Francisco and being buried at Lone Mountain, January 9. The detention of the steamer Sierra Nevada until yesterday morning await ing a pilot, gave a few friends of Phil Wasserman an opportunity to present him with a slight testimonial of their esteem. At 4 o'clockP. M. on Saturday somo 10 of his friends met in the ladies' apartment of the Gem and In due form presented him with an ele gant ebony gold-headed cane, appro priately inscribed. Mrs. Gaskill, author of the life f Charlotte Bronte and several success ful novels, tales and. sketches, died at Manchester, England, on Sunday, November If, at the age of 43. Jane. v Judge. Jane lovei Wilbur (tall ami fair), (Sidney (tall and dark), Lester (lazy, debonair), Howard (raad fats ma-k). t Arthur (comical and tat), Percy '(glum and thin). Nelson (don't know where he's at). Roger (hopes to win). Jane has got a score of beaux. But I ?till maintain. Spite of these, and SDlte of those. I love only Jane! A Man of the Hour. Judge. Tittle Is he a man of the hour? Tattle Yep; he always keeps his eye on the clock. A.