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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 25, 1916)
THE MORXIXG OKEGONIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1916. PORTLAND. OKBGOX. mtered at Portland fOreson) Fostoffica aa seeond-euus matter. Subscription Rales Invariably In advance: (Ri ValL) raf!T. Sonlar hteladed. oaa year. ......" J Ialy. Sunday included, six months... Dally. Sunday Included, three months.. Rally, Sunday included, one month..... -5 Iall, wltlcut Sunday, one year. eoo , laliy. without Sunday. six moDim ---J Tillv i . v a.....!.., .1.-.. mnnlhl 1. tO T)allv wltheat Sunday,' one month . tveeKIy, one year... 'jr' Sunday, nne year --o Sundar and Weekly, one year. .. fBr carrier.) rtaily. Funrtay InehuK-d. one year - Datlv, Sunuay Included, one month T How fa Remit send DOStofflce money or der. express ardiT or personal check on yoar local bank, stamps, coin or currency m -J sender's rick. Gia postofflca addressee In J ml. Including- county and state. Postage Races to 16 pairee. 1 cent: IS to 32 pares, 2 cents: 34 to 4s pases, S eeatn; -v to 6j paes. 4 cents: 2 to 7o paces, a cents: 7i la 02 passes, 6 centa, Foreisa aost- ag-e. doub:e rates. Eatera Bwtnna Office Verree & Conk lin. Brunswick building. Now Tork; Verrea Cmklln. Sleter bulldlni. Chlcaro; San Vrancisco representative, K. J. Biawell, 4i Murhet street. POBTLAXts, TCB8DAY. JA. 85, WIS. K-.NOR.43rr OF OCR OWN IWK. One of the most disheartening: facts to those ho realize the tremendous importance of the present war to the future of the world at large and of the United States in particular is the prevailing unenlightenment as to its orison, its progress and all the re lated facts. Communications to The Oregonian Tcveal. that many readers re ignorant of its causes, though these have been explained at length In news dispatches and in editorial columns. Equal ignorance of Ameri ca's duty as a neutral Nation is shown in the discussion of the munitions trade and ignorance of America's rights as a neutral is shown in dis cussion of submarine operations and Of the naval blockade. A recent test at three Eastern uni versities traces this ignorance to one of its sources neglect of current his tory in our colleges and, where this subject receives attention in the cur ricula, neglect of it by the students. The test in question consisted of an examination on elementary facts of the war at the University of New York. Bowdoin and Williams colleges. Some of the questions were: "Where i3 Gallipoli?" "What is the capital of Bulgaria?" Others were: "Who Is Rcthmann-Hollweg. Polncare. Von Hindenburg. Sir Edward Grey, Gen eral French?" "Name, with proper title, the ruler of Germany." At Bow. doin forty-two out of fifty-three stu dents answered wrongly the question, "In what country is Saloniki?" and results at New Tork were similar, many locating the city in Poland. Only half of the answers to "On what sea is Montenegro?" were correct, others locating the country on nearly every sea in Europe and Asia. Many aaid Winston Churchill was Premier of England and the most perplexing question of all to New York and Bow doin men was: "Who is VenixeloT" some saving he was a French General, others a Mexican rebel. There were only four correct an swers at Bowdoin to "Who is Vlvi nnl?" some saying he was an Italian. Only twenty-three out of fifty-three at Bowdoin could name the ruler of Greece, and the Inquiry. "Who is the ruler of Turkey?" called forth sur prising answers. Only eleven at Bow doin knew that Briand is Premier of France, one said the ruler of Italy is King Victor Emmanuel XXIX, and another that the ruler of Bulgaria is King Augustus. The results at Will iams were somewhat better, twenty out of twenty-three knowing who commands the French army, while Bowdoin and New York varied the Telling of his name to Joffree, Jof fery. Geoffrey and Jeofrey. At New York none of the students answered all the questions correctly, only three graded above 0 per cent the average was 63 per rent, and nine of the twenty-three freshmen failed. Another class of twenty-three fresh men averaged only 52 per cent and thirteen failed, while the tipper class averaged only 81 per cent. Too many colleges still have their heads buried in antiquity and know more about the battles of Thermopy lae, Salamis and Actaeum than about the battles of the Msrne, Ypres, An sae, or in Galicia or Poland. Where the curriculum does include modern history, students probably are better informed about the heroes of base ball and football than about the men and events which are giving a new turn to the history of the human race. With too many professors the news paper is taboo, though it is the dally record of current history having a direct bearing on the careers of their students. If by some adverse fate the United States should be drawn into the war many of these students would he required to fight, though having the vaguest Idea against whom and why they were fighting. Modern history, and particularly the history of our own times, should be given precedence over ancient history in colleges and schools. The young should learn what is happening day by day and then trace its relation to past events rather than begin with the misty mythology of the remote past and cease their studies before they have reached their own time. BCRAt WIRE TAPPERS. Moral crusades have been under taken without effect against the Peep ing Tom of the rural telephone. Ser mons have been preached without re sult. The habit persists in the face of all efforts to put a stop to the nui sance. A disheartened party liner writes in despair to the Newberg Graphic complaining that he can have no secrets from his neighbors. The spy in Europe who steals the war se cret is shot. The common thief is sent to prison. But the purloiner of telephone conversations cannot be taught that it Is as wrong to steal a conversation as a coin. Thus the victim's grief Is teld. Out of a bitterness that must have been wrought of sorry trial he hints at such punishment as boiling the offender in oil. But how is the culprit to be apprehended? How can the evidence be fastened upon the most persistent offender? Even If the suspect goes about the community telling the wire secrets of his neighbors the evidence would be purely circumstantial. He might plead that someone told him that someone told someone else who had learned from someone who had been informed by someone else that Ltm Jones was about to marry Sue Smith. Then, who tapped the wire? No, the matter Is not one for legis lation. A law against- listening over the wire would provide no adequate remedy. Education having failed to establish a code of morals, but one alternative remains. Human ingenu ity must step in. In the city the prob lem has been largely solved. The bell rings only in the particular home that is being summoned. This, of course, would not solve the problem in the country where "wire- tapping" has be come a habit. Persistent curiosity would take the worst offenders to the line whether the bell rang or not Some of them, we suspect, would be at the instrument every five minutes seeking to intercept a message. Yet the city system suggests an idea. If the telephone can be made to call only the party that is wanted, per haps it can be made to repel those who are not wanted. If three rings call Jones an automatic attachment that would turn a strong electric cur rent into Smith's receiver would break the Smiths of the listening habit very quickly. The current might be gauged just short of the voltage required for electrocution although not too far short. If our electrical geniuses can not perfect this plan or one of a simi lar nature, then we fear that the woes of rural party liners are hopeless. ANOTHER DARK HORSK. The Republican State Central Com mittee of Massachusetts has endorsed the Presidental candidacy of John W. Weeks, evidently for the purpose of notifying the country at large that the state has no divided allegiance: but the immediate result of the commit tee's action seems to have been to stimulate the lurking McCall boom, which appears more or less in favor with the Progressive , wing of the party. This curious fact leads the Spring field Republican to point eut that Mc Call and Roosevelt are not friends, and have indeed been openly hostile for years. McCall. as Congressman, being a man of independent mind, more than once openly antagonized President Roosevelt a species of less majeste which that testy statesman could not overlook. It was McCall who referred to Roosevelt as the "glutton of the limelight." and later, in declining the presidency of Dart mouth College a distinguished posi tionhe spoke of the need of remain ing in public life lest "some chance barbarian aa an autocrat" upset the Government. Governor McCall has not denied that he referred to Roose velt. But the Colonel does not suffer ver bal or other castigations in silence. He has at least once referred to Mc Call In derogatory terms "generally wrong and always futile." It was a characteristic Roosevelt expression. It has been said that McCall is the most likely dark horse, aside from Hughea, of the Republican conven tion. Chairman Hilles has said that the "candidate will be born in the convention." Doubtless he is right. None of the favorite son movements is formidable, or means much, except that it is the old-fashioned way of keeping the state delegations together. CHEAPEP. AND BETTER EDUCATION. President Campbell, of the Oregon State University, has devised a plan for democratizing the Univer sity. The details were given in The Sunday Oregonian. They are worthy the attention of every educator ana friend of education in Oregon. If the idea so scientifically worked out by President Campbell shall be adopted, the inevitable effect will be to popu larize the University so that there will be an opportunity for education by many students to whom the cost of four years at Eugene is now promo tive. When President Campbell Bets out to "democratize" the state university it is not to be supposed, of course, that he is seeking to "popularize" the in stitution in any vulgar sense. He is not' hunting mere popularity. He wants, however, to enlarge the use fulness of the institution to the state by giving instruction to greater num bers of young men and young women. The way to accomplish that most de sirable result is neither to shorten nor to cheapen the courses, but merely to make the cost of living during the college period as low as possible. By the construction of student cottages in units of various sizes, and pro viding facilities for "batching," or otherwise, for living economically, the cost per year per student, the presi dent thinks, may be brought down to 1250. clothing included. A four years course then may be had for $1000. Any active young man or young wom an, with some help, and many with out help, can on such terms win a diploma. , The Campbell theory is that a iirst- class education is a good thing for anybody; and he is determined to find a practical way for anybody to get it. It is a project wnicn ougni to meet, and will meet, a cordial response from the state. ALASKA'S RECORD OF SHIPWRECK. One of the most shameful stories of Government neglect is that of "Marine Disasters in Alaska," as told by C. L. Andrews in the Washington Historical Quarterly. No sea route Is more in fested with 'danger than the Inside Passage, as the route between the belt of islands and the mainland of South, eastern Alaska is called. The coast of Western Alaska and the passages between the Aleutian Islands are only less dangerous. Submerged pinnacle rocks abound in all these waters, more especially in the Inside Passage, and to them have been principally aue the wrecks which have cost thousands of lives and millions of dollars. Fog and snow storms frequently add to the risks taken by mariners, and only by accurate surveys and a thorough system of lighthouses, buoys and other aids to navigation can disaster be averted. A total of 280 ships have been wrecked in Alaskan waters since 1848, involving a monetary loss of nearly SIS. 000,000. according to a table given by Mr. Andrews. The first record of shipwreck tells of loss of a vessel in Vancouver's exploring expedition in 1792. After the United States acquired the territory several Government transports and supply ships were lost The first wreck accompanied by great loss of life was tnai oi me ueorge a. Wright in 1873. Only one body was recovered, and it was reported that the passengers were captured and tor tured by the Indians. Few vessels traversed those waters until the Klon dike boom began in 1897, but since that date the records of Alaska travel abound in shipwrecks, the worst of which were those of the Clara Nevada in February, 1SSS; the Islander in Au gust, 1901, and fhe State of California in August, 1913. One of Portland's lost opportunities is recalled by -the following passage in Mr. Andrews article: The number at soats that piled en the Inside Passage to Alaska were lew In earlier years. During the first years of American occupation the steamers went from San Francisco. Then, for a period of nearly ten years. Portland was the point of departure for Sitka and once In a month waa the time for a trip. Durlnr the eighliea to routa was cnancea to &aitie. VAfu-iti,ctonlinir ih. hMw inM siif . fered by the Government itself. Con- j gress did nothing to light the danger-1 ous Alaska coast until 1902, when lighthouses were established at Five Fingers, in Stephens Passage and Sen tinel Island, Lynn Canal. Prior to that date the farthest north lighthouse on the Inside" Passage was on Entrance Island at Nanaimo Bay. in British Co lumbia. Of late years the Govern ment has shown more energy. In 1910 it had thirty-seven lighthouses and a total of 160 aids to navigation, while in 1915 it had increased the number of lighthouses to 112 and the total aids to navigation to 338. But in lighting and surveying dangerous waters, as in every other respect the Government has lagged far behind the pioneer and has not acted until a ter rible record of loss has shamed it into action. WATCHFLX W.UTWO'S LITTLE BROTHER. Let the Americans come back home. That has become the Democratic watchwoTd under the Wilson Admin istration. When the rights of our citizens abroad are infringed the re sponsibility is placed upon them for venturing outside the limits of the United States in- the futile belief that their country would look after their welfare and interests. Mexico has provided the most distressing exhibi tions of this weak and maudlin senti mentality and it is irt the background of the Democratic idea in the plan for early self-government of the Filipinos. When the matter was being de bated in Congress the other day and the argument was advanced that dan ger would be imposed upon the Ameri cans in the Islands by withdrawal of American Government agencies, Rep resentative Rucker immediately arose to shout the Democratic battle cry of peace. Let the Americans come back home! There are some B000 Americans in the Philippines. What are they doing there? Are they grafting on the na tives and rendering more intolerable the conditions of a primitive people? Or are they establishing a higher or der of civilization, one which includes schools, better sanitation, higher effi ciency on the farm and in native in dustries? Although American civil ians have been working n the Philip pines barely sixteen years, they have rehabilitated the place. They have done more for the Filipinos in sixteen years than the Spanish did in 300. They are making two blades of grain flourish where one grew before. They are banishing the reign of Ignorance, filth and cruelty. They have carried the illuminating torch of better liv ing into the darkest corners, doing those things for an inferior people that Americans inevitably and invari ably do. Americans in the Philippines are entitled to a better consideration than that of ' being ordered home simply because their presence does not accord with another of those sterile Demo cratic dreams, the twin brother of spineless diplomacy and watchful waiting. . CONGRESSIONAL 1I.L HEALTH. Recurring suspicion that something is the matter with Congress has led to an investigation by Professor Irving Fisher, the Yale economist There is something the matter, according to Professor Fisher, and it is purely physiological. Irregular living is at the bottom of it all in Professor Fisher's opinion. A plausible explanation when we con sider the habits of many National leg islatorsovereating, late hours, lack of exercise, worry and fretting, occa sional overexertion, late dinners, con stant smoking. frequent cocktails, little or no fresh air. Men who may be reasonably careful of themselves at home appear to abandon all thought of hygienic living upon entering Con. gress. The careless spirit of the place seizes upon them and they go the rounds of late dinners and loose liv ing (the terra is used in its hygienic sense) which characterize Washing ton social and official life. It is inevitable that habits will be reflected upon the work and efficiency of a co-ordinated force, the Individual units of which are lax. It is inevit able that the mild hypochondria, which is certain to follow in the wake of bad habits, will serve to deaden the activities and dull the sensibilities. Men who live in such an atmosphere cannot sustain their normal capacity. Professor Fisher suggests that Con gressmen be required to lead regular lives. A time should be set for them to retire. They should be out of bed at a fixed hour. No Congressman should be permitted to live within two miles of the Capitol and the rules should demand that he walk to his seat at least twice each day. Physical examinations Should be conducted twice a year and the unfit eliminated. No smoking on duty and no drinking at all. These things are put forward as necessary to the good health and good service of Congress. Doubtless if Congressmen would ex ercise the muscles of legs and arms a little more and the muscles of the throat a - little less, their services would become far more satisfactory to the country. - ' MUNITIONS AND NETTRAUTY. Those persons who, like the writer of a communication published in The Sunday Oregonian, "cannot see the logic to our position that a munitions embargo would be unneutral" fail to recognize that neutrality is defined by international law, not 'by the gov ernment of any one country which chooses to remain neutral. As any nation which makes war Is morally bound by certain rules, for violation of which it can be and is called to account so any nation which remains neutral is bound by other rules, laid down by international law. It can be called to account for violation of those rules by any belligerent which is in jured thereby. International law provides that citi zens of a neutral country shall be free to sell contraband of war to a bel ligerent, subject to risk of capture of the goods by an opposing belligerent That is a right of belligerent nations aa of neutral citizens. The law does not make this right conditional on the ability of both opposing belliger ents to exercise it: that is contingent on the fortune of war. The nation which by superior naval force obtains control of the sea is entitled to the op. portunity thus gained to buy war ma terial in neutral countries. A neutral government is not free under the law to deny it that opportunity. By so doing it would act in a manner un friendly to the nation which was in jured and would cease to be neutral. The Injured nation would have a legal right to retaliate and even to make war upon a nation which acted in this unneutral manner. By placing an embargo on arms the United States would concede the very principle by which Germany arfa Aus- tTi. lnnttfv the nets of their Siibma' rines and by which Britain and France justify, their blockade. President WjL. son has condemned the action of these belligerents as contrary to interna tional law. He denies the right of any nation to change the laws of war in order to meet new conditions which have arisen since the war began. Were he to attempt a change in the law de fining the duties of neutrals without the consent of other nations, he would do that which he condemns the. bel ligerents for doing. He would set Germany and Austria free to sink pas senger ships and to drown their pas sengers and crew. He would set Brit ain and France free to seize all ships earning goods which they even sus pected to be destined for the Teutonic powers by way of neutral countries. He would justify the allies in taking this course as retaliation for what they would consider an unneutral and unfriendly act The President's recognition of the obligations which international law imposes on this Nation as a condition, of neutrality is apparent in the steps he has taken to prevent arming mer chant ships for defense. He did not announce that the United States would permit no vessels so armed to enter or leave American ports, for he knows that under international law no one nation can rightly change the rules of war or of neutrality. Knowing that only by consent of all the nations can this change be made binding, he "has proposed to the powers that they as sent to a new doctrine." In like man ner he could prohibit export of arms and still maintain American neutrality only if the other nations consented to that change in the rules of neutrality. As the change would operate to the decided disadvantage of the anti Teuton allies, there is no probability that they would consent No course, therefore, remains open to the United States except to permit the munitions trade, unless an embargo should be declared in retaliation for wrongs done to Americans by the allies. As the offenses of the allies affect only property, for which damages can be reepvered by arbitration, while those of the Teutons have taken life, which can never be restored, there is no probability that the United States will declare an embargo for retaliation, which would benefit the Teutons. The numberand importance of the aircraft now engaged in the war and the serious character of their raids suggest the possibility that men may yet abandon earth for air as the scene of hostilities. They probably have no alternative at present since the armies are stuck in the mud. In Britain the women are banding together in a matrimonial boycott against those who refuse to enlist The cynic would say that the man who stays at home is thereby assured of immunity from ' the two greatest known sources of human grief. Had not the Indians explained the use of the great stone and other relics at City Hall they might .have been as meaningless to future generations as are the prehistoric ruins of Yucatan. WTien war was declared by Italy, that country was" expected to make short work of the Austrian navy, but has not been able to prevent it from capturing both of Montenegro"s ports. It is a great relief to know that Yuma is to be rebuilt Without it we should be at a loss for a place with which to compare a certain region reputed to have a sultry climate. Perhaps the Kentucky Klick is stall ing to catch Hon. Milt Miller, who, by the way, never put molasses on the bait when he fished in the Santiarn. The only seemingly discordant note in some of the suits for divorce is the size of the alimony the wives ask. They make themselves too cheap. German aeroplanes raided England. What an important epoch had these giant planes made a peaceful journey between Berlin and London. Wages 27 per cent higher than a year ago are proof of prosperity In New York, but how much more will the higher wages buy? Aeroplane fighting is reported from various parts of Europe. Which in sures further heavy losses among in nocent bystanders. Execution of a few cattle' thieves will not satisfy American public opin ion even if it does pacify the pacifio Administration. News that a Turkish submarine sank the Persia is surprising, for no body believed the Turk had it in him to do' so much. . Grand opera fell short ,100,000 in Chicago. Comic opera, however, con tinues to do a flourishing and profit able business.. s The Colonel will be prepared to trim in June after a few weeks to "loo'ard and wind'ard" in the West Indies. The Colonel is getting tame, .His trip into the "wilds" this year will take him no farther than. the West Indies. - No doubt many good citizens envy the trusties who embezzled a bottle of beer while moving the confiscated stuff. Nothing short of the third degree can reveal the details of the theft of diamonds at the police station. Wide interest is being' shown in basketball. A fine filler between the football and baseball seasons. " The humane individual will not fail to add a few dimes to the fund for war-stricken Jews, It "will not cost more to keep clean, but anything fancy in shirts means more money. ' The laundries are raising their prices. Trying to make a "cleaning," as it were. Villa is mixing the local color for the yellow press of this country. German bombs again are hitting them on the old Kent road. One guess is as good as another. Make your own forecast. This is the open season for candi dates. Visit the Armory and- select your car. ' Full speed ahead to the Auto Show. WHITHER BOCNDf MAIN QUESTION More Important Thus Speculation mm to Ortcla of His. UNIVERSITY PARK. Or., Jan. 24. (To the Editor.) Apropos of evolution., the writer believes that creation can be either direct and instantaneous, or gradual and slow. A prolonged crea tion requires as much of creative power as an at-once construction. In Genesis the story of creation seems to anticipate the evolutionary method so dear to so many scientists. There is enough springiness in the words "in the beginning" to meet all the require ments of the story of nature as to cre ation. What matters it that the works of nature now have more variety and extent than at the start? The preceding stages and wonderful germs may be put into a reverent acceptance of the process of creation. Nature has much to tell us as to creation, but needs to be supplemented by the written record; the written record declares in opulent willingness as to origins, but it wel comes all the light the thorough study of nature sheds. Genesis presents more the fact of creation than the" method. True it is that Genesis reveals rudiments found in Babylonian and Assyrian records, but these elements are similarly freed from base conceptions and are associated by the Genesis record with spirituality, in fine, with God the all-pervading soul, from whom no past recedes and before whom no future rises. That Genesis should put the story of creation into a childlike form is the demand of a race in childhood to whom the words were addressed. Man stands at the top of creation, and above man Is the God whose name is Love. It is a mistake for arty thinker to confound a point of view with a fact. Evolution is merely a theory that was so attractive to painstaking Darwin, who should be read before condemned. The many who follow him, or Darwin modified, are intelligent and honest in thought But the main thing is not what is back-of us but what is to come. "Blessed are they, that do his com mandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter ,in through the gatee into the city." As to the soul, he who is anchored in the idea of God has no difficulty in ac cepting the biblical light shed upon the soul start of man. "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground (whether instantaneously or gradually, the record does not declare), and breathed into bis nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul." Some thinkers have 'adhered to .the pre-existence of souls, one ' of which comes to every person born, others to traducianism, according to which souls come from souls and still others tavor creationism, that is the creation of a new soul with every body coming Into the world. It matters not how we came this way we know we souls are here, and for our souls the contest is on, heaven above, hell beneath, and in the middle .our souls The past flows into the present and out of the present flows the future. Our estate is here, and now is our epoch. We have two books to read. That of nature starts with the middle and goes back and also forward; it in dicates a wondrous plan of which we are part The other book starts with the beginning and moves on and on, endlessly on; it grasps the first, the middle and the last B. J. HOADLEY. EMBARGO WOl'LD NOT SAVE LIVES One Side Would Merely Be Given Op portunity to Slay More. SILVERTON, Or., Jan. 23. (To the Editor.) I wish space to reply to P. S. Whitcomb, who shows Buch wonderful skill in his criticism of our Nation's Chief for not placing an embargo on the exportation of munitions to bellig erent nations. Very evidently this esteemed Corval- 11s student's idea in favoring such an embargo is that the slaughter of hu man beings would be stopped. If this were a fact I should most emphatically be in favor of the embargo. But it would not stop the slaughter of hu mans, it would only stop the killing of Germans. The fortunes of war have decreed that Germany be unable to im port these munitions, and foreseeing that fact she used her big army to take possession of the iron mines in Belgium, thereby depriving the entente allies of a natural resource. The entente allies, taking advantage of superiority on the sea, have block aded Germany's ports. Therefore I hold that to place an embargo on munitions would result to deprive the entente powers of ammunition, thereby letting Germany kill all the men she liked with munitions obtained by the superi ority of her array in Belgium, and would be a grossly unneutral act, re sulting in the wholesale slaughter of hundreds of thousands of Russian, French and English soldiers rendered absolutely defenseless by our act Such a policy would not be either just or humane. It would in effect be just as neutral to go over there and drive Germany out of Belgium. Why should America be deprived of the economical impetus resultant from the manufacture of munitions espe cially as Europe did not hesitate to take any advantage she dared in our times of stress? I am not so base or sordid as to talk of industrial advan tages and human lives in one breath, as I have done my best to show that an embargo would not stop the murders going on but would only render one side defenseless. Besides, we can not make the world over again, we must take it as it is, not as we think it should be. Do not pray for peace, pray for the elevation of the mind or spirit of the man who wishes war. In earlier days the young cavalier strutted aTound with a chip called honor on his shoul der, ready to challenge to mortal com bat anyone who he imagined dared sully it So with a nation. As- civil ization advanced this practice passed away. That militarism is a curse should be taught in our schools and universities, that to kill a man whom you have never seen before is an in excusable murder. William Jennings Bryan, although he is years ahead of time with his doctrines, is a forerunner of a higher and nobler civilization. . PATRIOT. ' Give Merchants a Chance. - PORTLAND, Jan. 24. (To the Edi tor.) The letter writing campaign was certainly a brilliant idea and met with the hearty commendation and ap proval of all good citizens of Portland, provided it has not tms effect of in ducing unemployed to locate here. But that is a feature which, in the opinion of many interviewed by the. writer, is worthy of consideration. AU organized bodies of tourists are met at the train by a committee, taken for a trip over the city and surround ing country in automobiles (borrowed, not hired), then landed at the Chamber of Commerce or some hotel and dined, kept entertained until train time, given a bunch of roses and bade good-bye. In all of this they have had no op portunity of seeing the inside of the stores. The tradesmen are asked to eontribnte to entertainment funds and they always respond liberally, but the visitor has no 'opportunity to spend. During the Shriners' visit last Fall I met and talked to two of the fraternity delegates and remarked that they were missing a fine ride over the boulevards. Their reply was to the effect that they knew this, but had to pass it up for the reason that they had their wives with them and wanted to visit the stores and make some needed purchases and obtain some souvenirs of the city. Why not turn these people loose for a couple of hours.' giving them te. understand they will be expected to meet again at .say S o'clock? This may seem a mercenary suggestion, but we all understand (hat benefits are ex pected from their visit WM, E. RYDER, , BIRD WATCHER HAS SUSPICION. He Thinks "Deadly" Robla In His Yard Must Be Female. VANCOUVER, Wash., Jan. 23. (To the Editor.) Following your good ad vice, I have been feeding the birds during the past few weeks. From a humane standpoint and as an oppor tunity to observe the habits and char acteristics of birds, it is a pleasure and experience well worth the small trouble and expense attached to it. I think that our town birds are pretty well cared for, but the wild creatures of the country woods and fields are dying off rapidly and if the snow lasts much longer there will be a great scarcity of game and song birds to greet the genial Spring. Sometimes there will be a couple of dosen birds in our yard and the next instant without apparent cause, not one is in sight. For five minutes the yard will be deserted and then some hungry customer will venture in, soon to be followed by a flock of others. I suppose any self-respecting bird la ashamed to imitate a man. but in some respects they show a lack of intelli gence that la almost human. If I were a hungry little robin, sitting on a fence or tree, wondering where to find a bite to eat, and saw a handsome man (like one I Know) come from a house and scatter something all over the snow covered yard and then return - to the house I say if "9 were such a cold, hungry bird, I would bet the nicest, fattest, juiciest worm at the Spring plowing that I would soon find what the aforesaid handsome man had been doing. Most of the birds, under the above circumstances, seem to see some thing in the distance that looks mighty arood and fly away to investigate. Our petite feathered boarders are an interesting lot or iitue creatures miu. possess certain traits very like their human neighbors. Some of their habits may well be copied by us, but it pro vokes me to righteous anger to see some poor, famishing robin come down into the yard and ravenously gorge himself till his little "tummy" is so full that it fairly drags on - the snow, and then, instead of seeing him fly away to "count his blessings." watch him attempt to drive off all his hungry brothers and sisters. It is as tonishing to see how vindictive the littln demon is. He will rush furi ously at the other birds and peck at them savagely. The smaner mma mm nnt to mind his onslaughts, mere ly hopping to one side to resume their feast, but one ferocious robin may put all the others to night. y mv atate that from many years experience as a married man and from more or less observance of "the female of the species" I am strongly inclined to think that the "demon" robins I have referred to as "he" may more properly belong to that sex which is "more deadly man me nunc. n nrHinirv. self-respecting bird would permit some grouch of a brother to drive him in unceremonious flight from such a feast, but 1 can quite wen k hi terror when his wife, mother, sister or affinity rushes at him with threatening beak. However, it is not pieasam to mine, tnat ---.,.. .h.nM nut this selfish, 'dog-in the-manger" quality in the pretty little beings. I presume it is too much like "seeing ourselves as others see us" for us to appreciate this humanlike feature in the birds. dki, on, unnw hlrda oredominate, but we have an infinite variety of i fmm the ornithological king dom. During this snow I believe that our yard has been visiieo. ay ... e known bird except, pos sibly, the ostrich. If any ostrich has k .rminil It was while we were not watching and I suppose the poor crea ture was immediately driven away by the "lady" robin who was doss at . i a, v, in hin ADoearance. The most tempting spread will not keep our boarders about after sun down and they disappear. Vihere. 1 have not the slightest idea. I would like to know where tney stay cold nights They cannot sleep in the barren, wind-swept trees COMMUNITY INTEREST FORGOTTEN f Pacifists Too Stronnly Imbned With Individual Ambition, ,.T rr. r A VT", Tan 94 ITfl the Edl tor.)While it is a pity that some of our foremost citizens should be novitiates regarding our prepare Iness for National defense, ana apparency lack the essential data which they , i .t -net nnv news Stand. still we must admit this seems to be the truth. . . . . , ....... 4- vali.f tt, nrfrtltin let it in n1 v ; r that the cobwebs that mantled the mind of the Corvallis somniloquist have been rent asunder by the information pro cured from the editorial page of The Sunday Oregonian. If it were not for the expressions of . . . . ; . nhi.h ri tA their wav patriuLiu . - to the general multitudes through the columns oi papers imo 1 1 . i ... TCntinnRl defense conauiuiiB xw . v.. ....... would be much worse than they now are. . Too many well-meaning voters have allowed themselves to drift in the shallow wake oi pora-oarret iouu.-. ... . , i.i..i a I n. H TAearrt. Wltn a mcKBuftioiw ......-.- a ing our National needs. The time has now come when every true citizen should think and act in harmony a: v- Inli-lnaiit nmhlflm Of Na- resaruiu,, n" ,.. .w - tional preservation the time has come when not to act is nva ou,.. -r i ,tff infant nn.trlotism XX we u"J - . to get ready for a material storm, would we not lack the spirit of our forefathers to maintain our independ- . . i. - ... ni-i- oroaA? Have ence wneu - -, . we become so imbued and enthusiastic regarding our inaiviuum muinuun . we have forgotten our community in terest in the land which gave us birth, the land which our ancestors gave their lives that their posterity might live and enjoy the blessings of freedom? After the great European war has come to a close, what better opportun- ij ...... Ito.lf (a thORA untold lty tuna : numbers of well-trained hosts than to cross the .seas ana wuu wcii-n..i- i ; .. . mhIbIaii nlur.k the H11U 1 l ill- Ll L.c u r golden egg from the nest of the great American gunon.- In conclusion I would kindly Inform . i . rnntalliD t i Tl T fl - tne gentleman uvui v.v i cure a few fopies of the Review of Reviews, and orusn up ou me which he propounds. M. C. ARMSTRONG. Electoral Apportionment. SHEDDS, Or., Jan. 20. (To the Ed itor.) Kindly print in The Oregonian the electoral vote of eah state in the Union. - JB- ROBERTSON. Alabama' 12, Arizona 8, Arkansas , California 13, Colorado 6, Connecticut 7, Delaware 3, Florida 6. Georgia 14, Ida ho 4, Illinois 29, Indiana 15, Iowa 18, Kansas 10, Kentucky IS. Louisiana 10. Maine , Maryland, 8, Massachusetts 18, Michigan IB, Minnesota 12, Mississippi 10, Missouri 18. Montana 4. Nebraska 8, Nevada 3, New Hampshire 4, New Jer sey 14, New Mexico S, New York 45. North Carolina 12. North Dakota 5, Ohio 24, Oklahoma 10, Oregon 5. Penn sylvania 38, Rhode Island 6. South Caro lina 9, South Dakota . Tennessee 12, Texas 20, Utah 4, Vermont 4, Virginia IS, Washington 7. West Virginia 8, Wisconsin 18, Wyoming 8; total 531. Necessary to a choice 26S. Play at the Iroquois. PORTLAND, Jan. 24. (To the Edi tor.) What was the play and who was playing at the time the Iroquois fire in Chicago, 1903? S. L. It was an extravaganza, "Mr. Blue beard," presented by a Klaw & Er lacser company In Other Days. From The Oresonian of January 35, lS'.U. The rifle range in connection with the First Regiment armory is complet ed and will be turned over to the regi ment by the county commissioners at the meeting of January -'S, when it will be formally opened. A. C. Davenport the clever sketch artist has returned from his New Or leans trip which he made on business in connection with the great Dempsey Fitzslmmons fight A special meeting of the Young Men's Democratic League has been called for Wednesday evening to take decisive action as to securing the enactment of the Australian ballot reform bill now pending before the Legislature. The Portland Amateur Athletic Club will organize and settle down to busi ness at once. The club already has a large membership and a meeting will be called in a few days to elert offi cers and perfect arrangements for opening up rooms. A call for a citizens' meeting was made yesterday to take place at the council chamber last night. The meet ing was called for the discussion of the amended city charter now pending in the Legislature. The committee appointed to secure a location for the Portland I'niversity has decided that Portsmouth Is the most desirable place around Portland for the location such an institution. Half a Century Alto. From The Oreeonlon of January 2 lSrtK. The ferryboat at this city has about all it can do to run successfully against the current in the Willamette River. Had it not been for the new company putting wheels to the chalnboat and abolishing the cable we should now be cut off from East Portland. A little difficulty occurred hi the What Cheer house yesterday between a sable knight of the tonsorlal art named Charles Hoftner nnd a fancy ladies' hair dresser named Manuel Lo pez, in which the latter was ejected from the premises, which process was the cause of the arrest of the, former. The last change in the weather oc curred yesterday morning. Those who have been complaining that their clothes were wet had an opportunity of sunning themselves, as Old Sol shono forth splendidly about noon. All the lower wharves of the city were under water yesterday. Much wood remained to be moved on some of them. The basement of the Baptist church was found to contain water to the depth of nearly three feet, which summarily closed the select school held there. The late storms have damaged the telegraph. There is no communication with Oregon City or Vancouver with this place. On Sunday night a flat boat belong ing to Mr. Chafer broke adrift from the dock in this city, partly loaded with wood. Mr. Chafer set out to look for It, but has not succeeded in finding It. BRICK THOUGHT NOT SUITABLE Correspondent Objects o Its I'ae In Poatofflre Exterior. PORTLAND, Jan. 24. (To the Edi tor.) I noticed in The Oregonian a few days ago that the Postoffice building soon to be erected in Port land would probably be constructed of stone in the lower stories and brick in the upper stories. Now I call on our Chamber of Commerce and every man in Portland to enter a vigorous protest against anything like that In my oninion nothing cheaper than stone Is good enough for the Postoffice build ing. Look at our beautiful City Hall. How would it look if the upper stories had been finished with brick? I am sure it would not have the rich appear ance it has. They built a Postoffice building In Los Angeles about six years ago, but they did not use anything but stone in It that is, the exterior. Portland surely is entitled to as good a Post office building as Los Angeles. It is all right for individuals to use stone and brick in their buildings, but I think the United States Government buildings should be just a little better than private buildings. I do not believe there is any government in the world but ours that uses brick in exterior work. G. C. K. Wkea Attaeked by Dog. GLEN AD A, Or., Jan. 23. To the Edi tor.) A owns a dog and lives in a house with a fence around his prop erty and B (for instance a grocery man), who has been accustomoed to delivering packages at the house, gets bit by A's dog in A's yard. Kindly pub lish whether or not B can sue and collect damages for injuries suffered. A SUBSCRIBER. If B can prove that A knew the dog was accustomed to biting people, he has an action; Score In Crlbbase. WILLAMINA, Or., Jan. 23. (To the Editor.) To settle a difference of re sults, will you please state how much is in' a hand of cribbage, cards as fol lows: Seven hearts (turn-up), seven diamonds, three spades, three dia monds, two clubs. A says 13. B says 8. SUBSCRIBER. Each seven combines with the two treys and deuce to make 15, hence the score is four for 15s and four for two pairs; total 8. The Problem Solved. Judge. Great publisher We find this novel of yours twice as long as it should be. Great author But I can't waste all that material. Great publisher Certainly not Our idea is to cut it in half and make two novels of it Time Is Money to Him. Birmingham Age-Herald. "Gadsop tries to create the impres sion that time is money with him." "I see. Does he succeed in creating that impression?" "Only when he pawns his watch." Lumberman's Publication. HOOD RIVER, Or.. Jan. 23. (To the Editor.) Will you please publish, the name of one or two good lumber trade papers published in Portland? G.&. The Timberman. Union block. Digging Our Graves With Our Teeth improper foods immoderately used have done much to shorten the aver age span of life. As Chauncey Depew recently put it "Most of his friends have dug their graves with their teeth." There has been a very great real ization of this in recent years a strong tendency toward sensible diet Food products are now exploited because of the special merit of puri ty and health making value. The advertising In The Oregonian has doubtless made you familiar with many of them.