THE MORXIXG OKEGONIAN, TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1916.
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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.