TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY, 16, 1916.
10
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 16. 1916.
A RECORD OF BROKEN PLEDGES.
By consenting to the placing of his
name on the Presidential primary
ballot in Ohio, President Wilson has
torn another plank out of the Demo
cratic platform and has left nothing
but wreckage.
That platform denounced a tariri
for protection, but the Underwood
tariff protects some industries, not
others. It promisea a iarui iui
nue, but the revenue is not sufficient
to pay rising expenses. It promised
a tariff that would reduce the cost
of living, but the cost of living has
risen.
Legislation Was promised which
would strengthen the Sherman anti
trust law. The Trada Commission and
Clavton laws have weakened that law.
The President was pledged to the
principle of a single term, but before
his inauguration he repudiated that
principle. He kept his repudiation
secret for three years, and now
clinches it by openly becoming a can
didate for a second term.
"An adequate and well propor
tioned Navy sufficient to defend
American policies, protect our citi
zens and uphold the honor antf dignity
of the Nation," was promised. The
Navy was stinted and allowed to de
teriorate until a world war and an
irresistible public demand stirred the
President to action. The Navy has
not been used to defend our policies,
to protect our citizens or to uphold
our National honor and dignity. The
Monroe Doctrine has been imperiled by
Mr. Wilson's inaction or ineffective ac
tion in Mexico, our citizens have been
murdered by hundreds in that coun
try and at sea. yet our Government
has done nothing but write notes, and
it is confessed at home and proclaimed
by our foreign critics that the Na
tion has lost iU self-respect.
Republican extravagance was de
nounced, but it has been far sur
passed by Democratic extravagance.
Rural credit legislation was prom
ised." but has been introduced only
after three years of inaction and is
in danger of being crowded out of the
programme. 1
Co-operation between Nation and
states in waterway development was
promised, but not established, and the
Democratic party has been prevented
only by Republican obstruction from
passing wasteful, pork-barrel bills.
Legislation securing the Tights of
labor was promised. Riders have been
added to appropriation bills and pro
visions inserted in anti-trust bills
which were designed to foster the be
lief that labor unions were exempt
from prosecution as illegal combina
tions, though in fact they gave no
such immunity.
Preservation of the rights of the
states was pledged, but the Adminis
tration now tries to force through
Congress bills which violate - those
rights as -to the Western states. Con
servation combined with development
and use of natural resources was
commended, but the bills mentioned
would stifle development of the West.
Pledges to foster the growth of the
merchant marine were proclaimed,
ret Mr. Wilson has helped to drive,
the American flag from the Pacific
Ocean by approving certain vicious
provisions of the seamen's law, and
has caused capital to avoid shipping
investments by proposing Government-owned
ships.
Pledged unequivocally to exemption
of American coastwise ships from
Panama Canal tolls, Mr. Wilson by
unwonted exertion forced repeal of
that law by Congress.
The Democratic party promised that
the civil service law should be "hon
estly and rigidly enforced," but has
seized every opportunity to discard
the merit system and revise the spoils
system in the interest of "deserving
Democrats."
The platform favored "an immedi
ate declaration of the Nation's pur
pose to recognize tho independence of
the Philippine Islands as soon as a
stable government can be established,
iuch independence to bo guaranteed
by us until the neutralization of the
Islands can be secured by treaty with
other nations." The Democratic Con
gress is now passing a bill granting
independence at the expiration of
four years without regard to the ex
istence of a stable government and
without guaranty of neutralization.
"The full protection of the United
States Government" was pledged to
"every American citizen residing or
having property in any foreign coun
try, both for himself and his prop
erty." This protection has been de
nied to Americans in 'Mexico, who
have been murdered, robbed and out
raged, and the Administration is now
bartering away the rights of Ameri
cans to travel the sea in safety.
Kxtension of the rural mail deliv
ery system was promised. That sys
tem has been demoralized and haa
been withdrawn from many sectims
where pioneers are struggling to de
velop the country.
The platform said: "Our pledges
are made to be kept when in office."
With very few exceptions those pledges
have been or are in process of being
broken. The Democratic party has
not kept faith with the people, and
Its leader's candidacy for a second
term puts the capstone on the edifice
cf broken promises.
Several weeks ago an article over
the signature of Robert C. Wright
appeared in The Sunday Oregonian.
The article related . to the campaign
of Italy in Austria. It is only fair,
because of criticisms of Mr. Wright,
to state that the article was not origi
nally submitted in the form of a
signed letter, but was a translation
prepared by him at the solicitation of
The Oregonian. Mr. Wright is famil
iar with several languages and has
also translated German and French
for The Oregonian. His name was at.
tached in this instance with no other
thought than to give him credit for
Jus (alents, a-Qd, waa not done at his
request. It appears, however, that
the form of the article may readily
give the impression tlfat he is volun
teering opinion on the war, which is
not the case.
A STCDY IX PSYCHOLOGY.
President Wilson does not pose as one
who knows It all and has nothing more to
learn. He does not pretend that he has al
ways been right or that he is so wise that
he can learn nothing from others or from
experience. In his speeches he admits that
h t.aa ehanpori his mind in the past year
as to preparedness and as to a tariff com
mission. A year ago he did not favor the
appointment of a tariff commission, con
sidering that It wii not necessary, at that
time at least. Now he has found that the
appointment of a tariff commission is de
sirable and be Is urging Congress to pass
a measure providing for the commission. A
vear ago the President did not consider that
there was real need of making preparations
for a greater Army and Navy. Dallas
itemizer tueiu..
Naturally the people of the United
States, knowing now the humility
with which the President views him
self in his relation to public questions,
and the acknowledged and obvious
need of learning more about them,
wonder what the next change of mind
will be. Will it be Mexico?
But the marvel about the rapid
progress of the President from one
opinion to another is not so much
that, finding himself in the wrong,
he has changed his mind, but that he
has changed also the mind of his
party. Or has the party changed i
We solicit light from our Demo
cratic contemporary on that subject.
As a sturdy and consistent exponent
of Democratic thought, has the Item
'izer changed because the President
changed? Or has it believed all the
time that the President was in the
wrong and that time and opportunity
would set him right?
If he is right now, is not the grati
tude of the Democratic pre9s and
Democratic party due to those far
seeing critics who discovered his er
rors and pointed out to him and to
the world the truth?
If he is wrong now, does our friend,
the Itemizer, intend meekly to follow
him into the paths of darkness and
humiliation?
What we are chiefly interested in
knowing is when and how the great
psychological transformation that
turned the Presidential theories inside
out and the Presidential policies up
side down was communicated to the
Democratic party?'
WHERE JOSEPHCS STANDS.
The Oregonian prints elsewhere an
extraordinary communication from one
who does not subscribe himself friend,
but who thinks it meet to administer
to the Republican party and Tie
Oregonian a more or less well deserved
castlgation. He declares himself a
lifelong Republican. Therefore he is
for Josephus Daniels and all his
works, and he is much hurt at the re
marks made at the recent Republi
can banquet about that great man.
The letter is printed because a life
long Republican should always have
a hearing, especially when he offers
the unique view that the way to bring
harmony to the grand old party is to
set up on his hind legs and howl at
the men who are actively at work for
a real reunion, and when he an
nounces himself a devoted follower of
a North Carolina Democrat who is
first for a small Navy and then for a
big Navy, and really for any old Navy
that will tolerate him for Secretary.
The President recently at St. Louis
declared that we ought to have "in
comparably the greatest Navy in the
world." But where does Josephus
stand? Josephus says we've got it; so
what's the use worrying or doing
anything more? Anyhow, we've got
the greatest Secretary in all American
history. Has that laudatory speech or
the President's a year or so ago been
so soon forgotten? Not by Josephus.
Let us hear what our greatest Sec
retary, still under the fostering in
fluence of Secretary Bryan, had to
say in December, 1914:
There are reasons to hope that the horrors
and cost of this war will hasten the coming
of the dav for a conference of the powers
to consider the safe steps to be taken to
reduce armament and dreadnoughts and aub
marlnes. it may not be opportune at tills
time for our Republic to move for such a
conference, but when peace smiles upon this
war-torn globe there may be reserved for
America tho coveted honor of Initiating a
movement which will make possible a reduc
tion of fighting, craft without Imperilling tho
rights of any people. Is it too much to be
lieve this generation mill witness such an
agreement, and men now living will see the
good hour prophesied by Tennyson when
"The war drum throbbed no longer and the
battle flacs were furled
In the Pariament of man. the Federation of
the world"'?
The goal which our greatest Naval
Secretary and our smallest Secretary
of State had in view a year ago was
disarmament. Even our versatile
President was then stroking the
hair of the war monster the right way,
and assuring the world that the ani
mal would not bite at least not
bite us.
But now the President is for "in
comparably the greatest Navy in the
world." Ho could not turn too quick
for Josephus. For that eminent North
Carolina dry-land patriot is first, last
and always for his Job.
THE CASE AGAINST BRANSON.
A iurv at McMinnville has convict
ed William Branson, 22 years old, of
the murder October S, near the town
of AVillamina, where all the principals
lived, of William Booth. Thus ends
part one of a mystery story which
has stirred Yamhill County and in
terested the whole state.
Branson was convicted on evidence
purely circumstantial. No single out
standing incident pointed inflexibly to
him as the slayer. Yet each of a
series of many details small in them
selves indicated his guilt. This was
his second trial. He and Mrs. Anna
Booth, widow of the slain William
Booth, were tried jointly last Decem
ber and the ' jury disagreed. This
time Branson was tried separately and
Mrs. Booth's trial is to follow.
The case which District Attorney
R. L. Conner presented against Bran
son was about as follows:
He was known to have been paying
retentions to Mrs. Booth, and William
Booth and his wife had quarreled
about him. Early in the afternoon of
the murder, while her husba-nd was
absent, Mrs. Booth set out over the
hill behind her house to go, she said,
to her mother's. Shortly afterward
young Branson borrowed his cousin's
bicycle at the store of Ora Godsey,
and was seen riding out the road she
would intercept after crossing the
hill.
Axel Nelson, a farmer, an-! Mrs.
Mary Eggen, talking in front of Mrs.
Eggen's home a quarter of a mile be
low the thicket where Mr. Booth was
killed, saw Mrs. Booth pass them at
1 o'clock and shortly afterward a man
on a bicycle, whom both positively
identified as Branson. They fixed the
time by a brickyard whistle. Nelson
soon drove on. Mrs. Eggen saw a man
she took to be Booth hurrying across
the fields in the direction his wife
and Branson had gone.
At 1:30 all the state's witnesses
were agreed to this as the approxi
mate time of the murder she heard
a shot. Airs. .Mary Yates, behind
whose house Boot was killed, and
several others heard it. Mrs. Yates
the moment before had seen Mr.
Booth run into the thicket, but
thought nothing of the shot.
Mrs. Eggen saw the same man who
had ridden after Mrs. Booth earlier
on the bicycle, and whom she had
Identified as Branson, ride hurriedly
back toward town some time after
the shot. Ora . Godsey, the store
keeper, swore positively that Branson
Vdevela at 2:30 o'clock.
and stuck to his story in the face of
efforts to prove that Branson naa re
turned much earlier and was in town
at 1:30:
Mr. Booth was unarmed. The evi
dence seemed to show he had sur
the thicket and had
been shot, the bullet being that of a
3 8-caliber revolver. Branson had. bor
rowed such a revolver some months
before from a cousin, and it had not
boon returned. Thoueh the state
could not produce this weapon, neither
could young Branson explain eaiiaiai;
fnrilv wVlQt 1 '1 H hoPnlTI Of It.
Facts small in themselves often, as
in this case, are damning in tne ag
rrr,trt, Hnn (Hfficiilt it is to travel
the road to transgression without
leaving a footprint trail!
THE VICE OF OVEREATING.
The conclusion of a New York ac
tuary that overeating is a close sec
ond to alcoholic excesses as a menace
to health is a forerunner, of the day
when eating habits will play an im
portant part in life insurance statis
tics Todav the chronic drunkard
finds difficulty in securing a large life
insurance policy at a moderate pre
mium. Many companies reject- him
altogether. Yet the omnivorous per
son who is gradually breaking down
his body by overindulgence in foods
encounters no difficulty so long as
the process of physical decayhad not
actually set in.
Such decay is certain to develop.
Overeatinff must be set down as a
baleful and pernicious habit. Con
tinually overburdened with foods that
the system does not demand the func
tions concerned with the intricate
processes of digestion ultimately break
down. Even before the breaking
nnint ia reached .there may be a por
tion of the work which cannot be peri
formed completely. Poisons that
should be carried off are distributed
throughout the system, setting up
brain irritation and causing various
minor disorders. Occasionally these
warnings are heeded and the fault
rnrrected. but very often the slave
heavy, rich food follows his vicious
weakness into the grave.
Increasing mortality rates among
the higher age groups must be trace
able in a large degree to the abuses
of overeating. Certainly a percentage
nf the increase among persons 4 0
years and over is due to use of alco
hol and improper habits of living.
When the exact part overeating plays
in this tragedy has been reaucea to
rnnrpitd ficures no doubt we shall
stand aghast at the scope of this hid
den enemy of good health ana lon-
evity.
ADEQUATE NATIONAL DEFENSE.
The nlnn of Armv increase on which
the committees of Congress seem to
u DAfilnir la cHoff nf the Nation's
W SCllliug a . - w v
needs. A regular Army of 140,000 and
a National Guard of 200,000 men will
add only about 120,000 men to the
nr-tive strenirth nf our defensive forces.
We actually need to have at all times
1,000,000 men fully trained and fully
equipped, with- enough officers and
equipment for another million men to
be trained as reinforcements for the
first million while war is in progress.
This does not mean that we should
have at all times 1,000,000 men de
voting all their time to soldiering. An
Army of 200,000 regulars enlisted for
six years, of which two years would
be spent with the colors and four
years in the reserve, would soon give
us 600,000 men fully trained and
equipped and ready on the instant to
answer a call to arms. A National
Guard of 200,000 men, organized,
trained and equipped as the Congress
committees propose, would form the
next line. After men had been brought
to the required standard of efficiency
in the National Guard they could be
passed into a militia reserve, which
would provide another 200,000 men.
By adding military instruction to the
course in the universities and Government-aided
colleges enough officers
could be provided for the reserves and
for the second million men, who
would be put in training when war
began.
This programme need not add seri
ously to our annual expenditures. The
scale of pay proposed by the Congress
committees for the National Guard is
very moderate. A small annual pay
ment would suffice for both the reg
ular and militia reserves. It would
keep them on the rolls and would
compensate for ten days' or two weeks'
annual maneuvers in camp. When
the additional artillery, ammunition
and equipment for the entire force
had been provided, small further ex
pense on that account would be neces
sary in time of peace. The additional
expense would then consist mainly of
the cost of men added to the regulars,
the pay and equipment of militia and
the small pay of regular and militia
reserves.
There is too much disposition to
compare what is now proposed with
that which we now have, and to gasp
at the size of the addition in men and
expense. The conditions which have
been held to justify our present force
have passed away and new conditions
have arisen. It is incumbent upon
Congress to determine what force is
necessary to meet these new condi
tions, and then to provide that force
as economically as possible. What
ever may be the extra expense, it will
be cheap insurance of the Nation's
safety.
PROTECTED ONLY BY TIIE WAR.
"U'oolgrowers and manufacturers
look forward confidently to a buoyant
year in 1916," says the bulletin of the
National Association of Wool Manu
facturers, but that will be because
the industry is protected by the war
as effectively as though there Were
a protective tariff. The situation
which would have existed had there
been no war can be conceived from
the fact that in the first seven months
of 1914, under the Underwood tariff,
imports of wool manufacturers were
$29,239,274, as compared with $8,
87o!l01 in the first seven months of
1913 under the Payne-Aldrich tariff.
In the first seven months of 1915,
when the American wool industry was
protected from the Underwood tariff
by the war, imports decreased to $11,
240.251. The war restricted imports of for
eign wool and thereby protected the
American woolgrower. The war also
restricted imports of foreign wool
manufacturers and thereby protected
him still further. The war created a
demand Xor American jrpolen goods to
clothe European soldiers, thereby In
creasing the demand for American
raw wool and protecting the grower
still further. The woolgrower is maae
prosperous by the war, not by Ameri
can tariff laws.
For some time after the war ends
it may cause a shortage of wool, for
Russia's supply has been reduced by
the demands of the Czar's soldier
and by the ravages of invaders, and the
wool supply of Western Asia may be
absorbed by the German and Austrian
armies. But European woolen manu
facture will revive, and foreign goods
will again pour into American mar
kets. Production of American mills,
which are the American growers' only
market, will decrease and our growers
will feel more keenly the competition
of foreign growers as foreign flocks
are restored. The respite granted to
the American wool man will only con
tinue until these influences begin to
be felt or until protection on his
products is restored.
,The recent determination of the
authorities at Hillsboro to enforce
strictly the archaic Sunday observ
ance law brings forth sensible com
ment from the Independent of that
rlrv which noints out. among Other
absurdities and inequities of the
statute:
It 1 well known that the most earnest
advocate of Sunday observance has seen no
evil In having Ice cream delivered for his
Sunday tinner, or perhaps has dropped Into
a refreshment parlor for a cooling drink
after a hot evening In Summer at his
church. The old law recognized the neces
sity for permitting livery stables to do
business on Sunday, yet Hillsboro stables
have nearly been suppinntea Dy garages.
wiilh nr tiow ordered closed. Recent
funerals conducted In Hillsboro emphasize
the absurdity ot the rule, for In them the
only horsedrawn vehicle has been tne nearse.
Indeed horses have ro largely been sup-
nlnntori hv n 11 1 nr-.ohf les that it is dOUbtfUl
if even the dead may be buried on Sunday
if the automotile Is not permitted to operate.
No one defends or excuses the pres
ent law; but its literal enforcement
appears to be in some places the re
sult of late agitation.
A humble'suggestion is made to the
Portland Journal that it include in
its series "Nothing the Matter With
Portland" the following little article
from the Tillamook Headlight:
Yellow Journalism in Portland is a curse
to that city, and the Oregon Voter told some
pointed truths in a recent issue when it said:
"Then, what's the matter with our even
ing papers? rhey impugn motives, aasassi-nat-a
character, discredit worthy effort and
inflame discontent. They stir up contro
versy, split the town, array neighbor against
neiirhhnr. create factions and feed envy.
That's what's the matter with Portland a
spirit of destructive criticism has tanen pos
session of a portion of our press until a
largo part of our people have come to be
lieve that Portland's substantial citizenship
is in one giant conspiracy to ruin the town."
The glaring falsehood published by the
Portland Journal in regard to the decision
of the prohibition law In Washington, was
sufficient to prove what la the lnatter with
the Portland evening papers.
The British "habit of sending a
small army to do the work of a large
one is continually developing Generals
of the caliber of Townshend, who holds
Kut-el-Amara against Turkish hordes.
These heroes' talents would be better
used in leading armies large enough
to win decisive victories than in
standing siege until relieved.
The Colombian Minister should not
go off in a huff because the Senate
reduces the Democracy's gift $10,000,
000. He should remember that times
are hard with the Democracy since it
spent the surplusPresident Taft left.
Wives old and young whose griev
ances are more or. less fancied are
commended to the tale of misery re
vealed in the arrest of the young
woman who left her baby in a depart
ment storey
The great drawback about subma
rines is that when they hit a prize
like the Japanese treasure ship which
is coming to the United States tney
cannot get away with the plunder.
People not afflicted can contemplate
in wonder the couple recently married
at St. Charles, Mo., each minus the
right arm. Broils and bliss in tnat
family will be in equilibration.
There is no connection between Wil
son's announcement and the earth-
ouake four thousand miles from
Washington. Roosevelt and Bryan
are not that far distant.
Floods are sweeping through many
parishes of Louisiana, but the people
never think of leaving. Where else
could they get the ague and enjoy the
thrill of tly "shaker"?
The landlord at Kelly's Butte is
ready to serve the balanced ration to
guests. The cost to the authorities is
25 cents a day, and it has the merit
of being "filling."
England is obliged to get back to
the primitive and is recruiting an
army of .400,000 women to do the
farm work while the men are at the
many fronts.
With February only half over, the
city is becoming tremendously "dry,"
according to the affidavits tiled ior
temporary relief.
Read the names of alleged anar
chists in the. plots said to be revealed
in Chicago and then consider the im
migration laws.
Political activity is stirring through
the state, but politics will not begin
to seethe until the early potatoes are
planted.
What a heartache it gave to see
twelve dozen quarts of Japanese
"hooch" turned into the gutter at
Dallas!
It makes a person shudder when
reading of condemned meat and won
der how much gets away from inspec
tion. The five hundred ministers united
(n make New York "dry" have a job
that calls for five hundred thousand.
The Columbia River Highway pic
tures will do the work of thousands
of letters in advertising Oregon.
Even with a world war on his
hands, John Bull is not too busy to
make another island fortress.
The wav local cases of drunkenness
are increasing, some of the beverages
must be nome-maae.
In talking to Parliament, King
George implies his imperial cousin is
a bad lot.
France is raising a few billions for
expenses, but Great Britain is the big
banker.
What the Chicago police believe
and what they can prove are wide
apart , ;
Q,tTESTIOX IS PUT TO DEMOCRATS
Candidates Asked About Their Stand
on Preparedne Question.
PORTLAND, Feb. 15. (To the Edl
tor.) The position of Woodrow Wilson
on the paramount issues of American
ism and preparedness has long been
well known. When the Bryan-Jackson-Wilson
Club gave its annual dinner
(name taken from the order of cheer
ing), the principal speakers, iour in
all were no doubt carefully se
lected by the committee in charge for
what they would say. The first, a pol
ished college professor ot pleasing ad
dress and appearance, Jed off by prais
ing Woodrow Wilson as President and
rnnnlv eortdemnincr rjreDaredness, as
serting Wilson does not want it, and
picturing him as stanaing siunuiy
against the demands of a war-mad
nertnlA
The second speaker did not trouble
himself so much as even to oner per
functory praise to Wilson, but at once
launched Into a most fullsome eulogy
nf the hvnhenated American, boldly as
serting himself to be a better citizen.
than tho native born, ana in amy uuuhu
Uo keep the renounced country oi nia
notivitv ever unnermost in nis minu.
The hyphen, he asserted, is a badge of
honor.
The third speaker frankly announced
himself as not friendly to Wilson, but
assured us "It is better to endure the
ills we have than fly to those we know
not of." The -latter presumedly being
nnulhle Republican. The fourth
speaker was the only one who ap
peared to be for Wilson and the things
he stands for without reservation. His
fine, scholarly eulogy of Wilson, aeiiv.
erArt with evident feelinfr and sincerity,
was the only bright light in the fog
of doubt which shrouded tne entire pru-
eramme.
When the name of Woodrow Wilson
was mentioned during the speeches
there was ladylike applause. When
Andrew Jackson was mentioned the
applause was better, yet somewhat
doubtful, as thougn many oi tnose
present were fearful that too much
noise might arouse the spirit of that
rugged old warrior who fought the
great battle of New Orleans with green
levies ot raw militia, witnout suui
cient a-uns. eauinment or supplies.
It was when tho name of Bryan was
mentioned that the real spontaneous.
Oregon howl burst forth, and the faces
of officers and office Holders Deamea
with delisrht. Thus the question nat
urally arises, and has been asked many
times since, who arranged tnis meet
ing and why was it so arranged? Who
selected the speakers and why? Did it
aii mereiv hnnnen or was it all care
fully planned to put the Democrats of
Oregon on record as for Wilson on the
surface because they think he will be
nominated and re-elected, but against
the most important things ne stanas
for?
c?: - ut n.fAniaiiiiir flintier there
Ollice L 1 1 1 aa tviaatuitg 1 - ,
have been one or two meetings of the
so-called Woodrow llson League, at
which the same college professor fur
ther expounded and elaborated nis anti
nrennredness crooaganda while eulo
gizing Wilson. Wo are told by the
press that he praised Bryan at these
meetings to the evident delight of his
anflience Tn the old days of ward
heelers and gang politics this sort of
thing was called "knifing the candi
date." but we do not expect such things
in these enlightened aays ui vcc
feminine procedure.
Oregon is one state most vitally
interested in adequate preparedness.
The e-reat majority of Oregon
Democrats are silently but faith
fully supporting President H llson anu
all he stands for In National welfare
and dignity, they are going to scrutin
ize candidates, their records and words
more carefully than ever before, and
while it may be possible that a dele
gation from this state will go to the
next National convention which will
support Wilson for President while
trying to tie his hands through the
platform, yet this will be as far as
their efforts to nara-sinug mm
rr. fur the convention as a whole will
not follow them in their blind allegiance
to Bryan The ckndldates wno so ue
fore the people at the general elec
tions in November must be unreserv
edly for Wilson and the flag or go
down to defeat.
This is the accepted time for real
Democratic leadership in Oregon; no
weaklings or maudlin sentimentalists
may hope to command even the full
party strength. DRESAR
WHY OAS KEEPS CiOIXti HIGHER
Sumatra Product Go to War Field
x and John D. Has Own Wny.
WHITWOOD COURT, Llnnton, Or..
Feb. 15. (To the Editor.) The Gov
ernment's executive order of Septem
ber 1S07. withdrawing lands supposed
to contain coal from entry, has no
doubt prevented in no small degree the
development of parts of the California
oil territory, such as Kern River, where
wells could be made with but small
expense, and which was known as a
poor man's field. But in the bigger
producing fields where the cost of
drilling runs up to $10,000. and even
higher it is hardlv reasonable to think
that the mere cost of leasing or buying
the land would afreet operations. At
coiding to the figures of Will Payne
tho production of the Kern River field
was about 7.000.(100 barrels in the year
1014, while the Midway yielded close to
50 000,000 barrels. The state's entire
production in 1909 was 55,000.000 bar
rels, and in 1914 103.000,000 barrels.
tv.a fact that Droduction in Novem
ber was 1,000,000 barrels Short of sales
does not signify that tho production
was anv less than usual, nor does it
mean that fie production is not suffi
cient to meet the demand. An inter
view sent out from the Interior Depart
ment, Washington, D. C, by Secretary
Lane mav throw some light on the
subject, ile says, in part, that fuel oil
has a large use in naval warfare of
today, vet the tying up of the big tank
steamers in bolh the Atlantic and Pa
cific sjaports is already embarrassing
the oil producers of this country who
depend so largely upon the export
trade in all the forms of petroleum,
crude or refined.
As to the cost, that noise of gaso
line from Sumatra had a very desirable
effect on the market for a time. But
since their location gives them access
to a more profitable market nt this
time, by way of the Indian Ocean and
Red Sea. they have no doubt left the
consumers of the Tacific Coast to the
mercy of poor old John u.. wno, alter
much worry and rough treatment, has
come again into his own.
M. BROCKLESBY.
I'oem on General I.ce Wanted.
WALLA WALLA. Wash., Feb. 13.
(To the Editor.) For months I have
been wanting to write and ask you
for. or if you know where I could get.
the' nocm entitled. "Robert E. Lee." I
have lost it, but remember a verse.
which is attached herewith.
I have read the page of old poems in
The Sunday Oregonian and enjoyed
them all. I thought perhaps a reader
nf The Oreconian mignt De aDie to neip
me. Will appreciate greatly any effort
of yours to get the poem for me. This
is one verse or tne poem.
They stood by the chieftain's pillow.
And the watchers' hearts swelled high,
I.Ike the swell of the darkening billow
When the breath of the storm is nlsh.
Kor they knew by the solemn silence
That answered their words of cheer.
They saw by the upward pointing hand.
That the hero's end was near.
MOLLIE W. MAXWELL.
Cribbasre Count. -ASTORIA.
Or.. Feb. 13. (To the Edi
tor.) Please inform me whether or not
A is entitled to a run of five on the
following play in a game of cribbage:
A nlavs an ace; B plays a 5; A plays
a 2; B plays a 4; A plays a S.
u. jx. a-
A counts the run of five and also
Cshonld the hand start with 1) 15-2.
making- a total ot seven. I
ADMIRER OF JOSEPHVS SPEAKS
Mr. McCnmant Chlded for Criticising
Secretary of Navy.
PORTLAND, Feb. 15. (To the Ed
itor.) I notice that The Oregonian haa
completed an harmonious reunion of
the once sadly shattered Republican
party, following the little soothing
syrup affair at the Commercial Club last
Saturday night, but in looking over the
list of those present I was somewhat
surprised to find the names of many
former if not present Democrats. Siilce
when did Bert Haney, John McNulty,
and at least six others with whom I
am personally acquainted, become Re
publicans? Or can it be that they have
been guilty of doing what The Ore
gonian so often accused the Democrats
of doing, falsely registering? Oh, per
ish the thought.
I have been a lifelong Republican,
and believe I am still a good one; but
I am not in sympathy with the stand
pat sentiments that sent the party
down to defeat three years ago, and
don't intend to submit to them now.
Would The Oregonian have us close
our eyes, even as it has chosen to do,
to the fact that the great majority of
Republican women voters are thor
oughly aroused at the manner In which
they have been willfully ignored in the
organization of the Oregon Republican
Club? It does no good to say that there
were many present last Saturday night;
some came at the request of their hus
bands, others to hear and see what took
place. I believe that events will oc
cur in the next few days that will
clearly show this to be the case.
We are, all ot us, interested in the
honor, safety and prosperity of our
country, I am sure, while not all In
accord as to how it may be attained;
but I venture to say that such speeches
as the one made by Mr. McCamanl
last Saturday night will hardly help
to that spirit of good-fellowship that
will be a necessary factor In the fu
ture success of thd Republican party.
I am at considerable loss to understand
what particular motive Impelled Mr.
McCamant to strike so viciously at
Secretary Daniels, as I fail to see
wherein the Secretary of the Navy is
an issue in the coming campaign, and
I have been requested by quite a num
ber of ex-Navy men, former shipmates
of mine and veterans like myself, to
refute some of the statements of Mr.
McCamant.
Ninety per cent of the enlisted per
sonnel of the Navy know and realize
that In Secretary Daniels they have the
best friend that the enlisted men ever
had, and the best since Roosevelt was
assistant Secretary of the Navy; per
haps the opposite may be said as to
the ol'ficiai personnel. This may ac
count, to some extent, for the bitter
ness of the attacks made upon him.
lie has done more in the short time
that he has been In the Cabinet to
spread the true Lincoln principles and
extend the right of advancement to
the commission ranks of the enlisted
men than all his predecessors for 50
years, and this action alone was suf
ficient to place him under the ban of
the Annapolis graduate. I am thank
ful that I can say that not all An
napolis graduates are afflicted in ttiis
way. One of the first official acts of
Secretary Daniels was to select one
of these liberal-minded officers and
place him at the head of that most im
portant department, the Bureau of
Navigation a military socialist. If the
term-may be used. I have known him
25 years. He believes that no posi
tion is too high for any man if he
has the qualities that entitle him to ad
vancement. Perhaps Secretary Daniel'
elimination of the vast quantities of
liquor that formerly were a part of
the officers mess and his firm stand
against the exorbitant profits of the
steel barons and In favor of a Govern
ment armor-plate factory may account
for some of the calumny that Is being
heaped upon him. O. II. STARON.
SCIENTISTS II'HOI.II KVOMTIO.V
Views of Uvinjr Authorities Put Atfrnlnnt
Those Who Have I'nKaed.
PORTLAND, Feb. 15. (To tho Edi
tor.) Rev. C. E. Cline in a recent at
tack on the theory of evolution says:
VI must tinite with Carpenter, Dana.
Agassiz, Henry. Sir John Herschel. Sir
William Thompson, Asa Gray and a
number of recent scientists in denying
the Insufficiency (sic) of proof in evo
lution." It will be noted that all of these sci
entists are dead. If Mr. Cline had in
quired into the opinion of living scien
tists he would have found that there is
not one worthy of the name who does
not subscribe to the theory of evolu
tion. "Darwin's evolution theory has
gained a complete victory among
thinking men the world over. Those
who reject it afTord not so much an
argument against the theory as acainst
their own intelligence." This is quoted
from an editorial three years ago in
The Oregonian.
As throwing light on the attitude of
modern men of science toward evolu
tion it will be of interest to recall the
questionnaire wtrnt out by the Biblical
World, of Chicago, tho results of which
were published in its Issue of January,
191". I will quote from this .religious
periodical: "No thoughtful person can
fail to perceive the dangers to religious
faith implied in certain philosophies
which are based on evolution. . . .
The public has been widely assured
that 'evolution lias collapsed.'"
"Huch an affirmation," it continues,
"involves a question of fart, if evolu
tion has collapsed, scientists, particu
larly the astronomers, geologists and
biologists, would be tho iirst to know.
If it has not collapsed, tho religious
world must discover a way ln which
evolution can be utilized as ono of the
revelations of God's will."
Accordingly, in order to get at the
opinion of the scientific world, the
Biblical AVorld asked a number of lead
ers of American science to give a
brief answer to the question: "Does
modern science still believe in evolu
tion?" The unanimity of response
makes it apparent that our theological
thinking cannot ignore, much less deny,
the placo- which evolution is holding
In our modern world."
Then follow letters from William
Tatten, professor of biology and zo
ology. Dartmouth Coflege; Ray Moul
ton. professor of astronomy. University
nf chirairn: Ilenrv Fairfield Osboin.
president of the American .Museum of
Natural History. New York; T. P. Mall,
professor of anatomy. Johns Hopkins
Medical School; S. W. Williston. pro
fessor of paleontology. University of
Chicago; Albert V. ilatthews. professor
of chemistry. University of Chieaco:
Jacques Loeb. Rockefeller Institute for
Medical Research, New York: John M.
Coulter, professor of botany, University
of Chicago; E. G. Conklin. professor of
biology, Trlnceton University; C. M.
Child, associate professor of zoology.
University of Chicago: Krank R. Lillie.
professor of zoology. Columbia Univer
sity, and Charles Davenport, depart
ment of experimental evolution, Carne
gie Institute, of Washington.
Without exception these eminent au
thorities affirm not only their own ad
herence, but that of all modern scien
tists, to the theory ot evolution, 'ine
last-named authority expresses his
views briefly thus: "I do not see the
necessity of 50 or 1)0 words when all
I can say on the matter can be ex
pressed in a sentence. I do not know
a modern scientific man who does no,
believe in evolution."
There is not a shadow f doubt thai
the theory of evolution is maintained
by the entire modern scientific world,
that it is as immutable as Newton's
law of gravitation and that religion
will have to, sooner or later, conform
its tenets to scientific truth.
II. B. A.
When Eye Brsln to Full.
PORTLAND, Feb. 14. (To the Edi
tor.) When I read a short time my
eyes tire and blur. Please advise me
what to do. MABEL JONES.
Consult an optician or some doctor
who is an eye ep&cialiaU .
In Other Days
TnenVl 've -8;0
From Tha Or"'-'" ' !ruary !. 1M1.
Demitv She'ff Deiianno, of
i-epuiy cmh - talcm
County, Iowa, '.ft tb" U TT .
last night to PKWV A IV JIT
quisition papers to t;ikn bai's.-1 hlin,
the forger arrested bun? a week uso.
That -brilliant little comedienne,
Lotta, whose name as an exponent of
soubretto comedy in almost a household
word in this country, will make her
initial appearance in Portland at tho
Marquam Grand tonight in her amus
ing play, ".Musette."
A handsomo naptha launch, lately re
ceived from New York by David Rob
ertson, was yesterday tested by a party
of gentlemen who made a trip up to Elk
Rock and back. Tho boat makes A
speed of eight miles an hour.
The electric motor for turning tho
draw of the M.idison-ntreet bridno l
in position, but has not been put in,
operation yet. as it is deemed advisablu
to allow a day or two for the cement
around the machinery to set.
Tresident Diaz, of Mexico, it is an
nounced, will soon start for Franca
where he wilW remain several months.
One of the reasons assigned for his
departure Is 111 health.
T. P. O'Conncr, the renowned Irlsti
patriot and orator, has telegraphed a
friend in this city that be will arrive
here on Monday or Tuesday of next
week.
Colonel C. F. Beebc. of the First. Res
Iment. Oregon National Guard. Is ej.
pected t arrive home from tho East
this morning.
Ilnlf a Onlury Ako.
From The Orcitonlan of February Hi, IRt'.'l.
Richmond, Vs., Dec. 25. As set forth,
in a former dispatch, the lion. t!eorg
II. Williams, Senator of tho United
States from Oregon, and a member of
the committee on tho reconstruction of
the Southern states, recently appointed
by Lafayette S. Koster, arrived in this
city late Saturday evening on a tour
of observation bearing on the Intelli
gent discharge cf the duties ot' tho
committee of which lie is a member.
The ice In the Columbia has agln
stopped communication with Tho
Dalles. The t'a.scade. which left yes
terday mornlnc. returned to her dock
from the mouth or the Willamette.
As "The Actress," none who wit
nessed the performance at the Willam
ette Theater last nlcht can doubt tho
ability of Fannie Morgan I'helps to
be at home on tho stage. Her per
sonations were excellent.
We have received the first number
of the Montana Radiator, published by
T. .1. Favorite t Helena City. It ia
presented on brown paper and con
tains 1" columns of leading matter.
The Collector of Internal ltevenue.4
of Montana Territory has reported that,
the product of the Bold and silver
mines of that territory for tho year ISk.i
was upwards of $16,000,000. In I81.J
the territory was a wilderness and uti
inhabitatcd except by savases.
Hartford. Conn., Feb. 1 l.-Tho Con
necticut Republican convention has
nominated General Joseph It. Hawicy.
'of Hartford, as Governor. Resolutions
expressive of confidence in J'resnlcnt
Julin.-on were passed.
FAMILY M IM'IJKIM PHOKIT M WH'J
Sixteen Pullets, Provide llou.xrliol J
With I'ltie Nerdx noil Money lleaides.
I'ORTLAND. Feb. 15. (To the F.d
Itor.) A dozen to f.o well-kept liens,
for a family fleck, are not only a great
comfort for their freshly-laid cukh and
wholesome, meat.' but they tan be
easily made a source or income to help
keep the family, particularly so for the
wage-earner out of work or for other
needs that can l.e supplied from the
sale of eggs.
The correspondent at Kugcnc writing
to Tho oregonian, February 11, about
bis success with a small Hock of pul
lets Is a good example, and for tha
take of those who inisht be inter
ested 1 will add my experience, thi.-i
Winter with a bunch of 1 pullets.
My pullets began la ing November 1,
and up to February 1 their record is
as follows: F.ggs produced, ."IH dozen.
26 dozen of which wi re sold for $12. Su,
averaging 47 '. cents per dozen. The
remaining 1- dozen, consumed by tho
family, at the same tiiture equals $r..70.
making $ 1 S.or received for crbs. Tho
cost tor feed for the three months was
$7.10. avcraginK IS cents per dozen,
whb'h consisted of scratch food, corn
meal, rolled oats, bran and alfalfa meal,
vegetables, table scraps, grit. Ilino and
charcoal and plenty of fresh warm
water. These pullets would havo made
a still better showing but for the fact
that they were closely confined
throughout the recent cold snap.
You will note tbut I spenk of fresh
warm water, and 1 wish to eriiphaslzo
the fact thnt water w illi the chill taken
off in freezing weather or fresh and
cool on a hot day is an Important fac
tor for eug production equal to all
other foods combined.
ANOTHKR IIION KANC1 F.K.
Puin Not Uod-Appoliled.
PORTLAND. Feb. 15. (To the Kdl
tor ) In reply to the Christian w I10
Indorses Father Black. I would KV
that 1 also attempt to be worthy of
the title of Christian. From what I
can find out. Jesus spent the best part
of his life helping the .simple, every
day people who work. He relieved
their sufferings, fought against their
wrongs, and strove for fuller and morn
. 1..... m- r,r llinuo 1 1 n t had been
denied such lite. lie did not tolernt.i
the Idea that sickness, pain ana misery
are God-appointed h nit must not bo In
terfered with by our intelligence and
leelintr of humanism.
Neither do I believe Ire would tolerate
tire doctrine that God has appointed the
useless suffering, poverty and degra
dation which result from excessive
child-bearing. 1 say with nil reverence
that I believe .lesus would fearlessly
Indorse birth-control. I believe, his
, in ht.i humanism would
lead him to do so. lie was not a pas
sive onlooker during- any pioneer struc
ple for social betterment in bis time,
lie was unafraid of vituperation and
innuendo. He was no moral coward.
I'.KI.IKVKR IN A' RF.I.IGION OF
' KINDNKSS AND SOCIAL .H'STICK.
More So.
Judge.
"She always dresses like a fashion
plate," we say, referring; to tho woman
who.' though stout, is nevertheless
charming.
"Do you think so?" murmurs her
bosom friend, sweetly. "Now. I should
say she was more like a fashion
platter.
Daylight Stores
The modern store building is par
ticular about Its light.
"Give us plenty of daylight, so
people can see the goods Just aa
they are," say tho merchants.
Sunlight business methods beget
confidence.
The advertising merchant Is the
modern daylight man.
He conies out In tho open before
competitors and customers and tells
what ho has to soli and why he be
lieves it best.
It is safo to trade with such a
man.