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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 24, 1916)
ifAtiwn nT?T7nnVTllT T'TTTTT? 2Tl V VTTVRTT A T? Y 24. 1916. 10 . . T. r- f Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postoffice as second-claaa matter. , ... Subscription Rates Invariably In advance. (By Mall.) Dally. Fanday Included, one year Dally, Su.iiluy Included, six months.... .- Dally. Sunday Included, three months... --- Dally. Sunday Included, one month ' Dally, without Sunday, one year Dally, wltnout Sunday, six months Dally, without Sunday, three months... 1-' Dally, without Sunday, one month. -"' Weekly, one year i Funday, one year t in Sunday and Weekly, one year au (By Carrier.) Dally. Sun.lay Included, one year.. Dally. Sunday Included, one month How to Remit Send postoffice money or Jer. express order or personal check on your local bank. Siarr.ps. coin or currency are ai sender's risk. Give postoffice addresses In full. Including county and state. Postage Rate 12 to 16 pages. 1 to 52 pages. 2 cents: 34 to 4S pases, i cents. ISO to (ii) paces. 4 cents; 62 to iS pages, o cents: 7S to tf. pages, a cents. Foreign post, age, double rates. Kastern Bunlnem Office Verree Co nR lln. Brunswick bulldlnfi. Kew Tork; verree Conklln. Steger building. Chicago. tan Francisco representative. R. J. Bidwell. M- ji iii ntji an rc u. JPOKTLAXU. THURSDAY. FEB, 84, 1916. Ol'B HANDICAP. Let us reduce the Astoria rate find ing of the Interstate Commerce Com mission to its elements, so that its meaning may be clear to that rem nant of Portland's population which continues to fancy that Portland and Astoria have Jointly won a great vic tory over Puget Sound. The main features of the ruling are: 1) that Seattle, Tacoma, Portland and Astoria form "more or less of a natural rate group"; and (2) that the water-level grade of railroads on the Columbia is not to be considered in rate making for the Northwest; and 3) that the rates to and from the three Northwest cities (Seattle, Ta coma, Portland) have been made on the basis of the water-level haul; and 4) that Astoria has been the victim of unjust discrimination and is en tltled to the same rates to and from certain described inland territory as Seattle and Tacoma, and also Port land; and (5) that Portland need not look for a lower proportionate rate In the event that an expected appli cation to that end should be made. The declaration that present rates have been fixed on the foundation of the water-level rates to Portland is an error. Portland rates have been made to conform to the trans-mountain rates to Puget Sound cities. The Commission has therefore, upon a misunderstanding of the facts, defi nitely denied to Portland the advan tages of its location on the Columbia River. It has wiped out entirely the 100 miles between Astoria and Port land, and has given Astoria equiva lent rates with Portland for the en tire Inland Empire north and east of Pendleton, including that city. If the haul to and from Portland and Astoria by rail is to cost nothing not a farthing to the shipper (to and from the territory described), who Is to pay, for example, for bringing a ship up the Columbia River from As toria to load grain and other commo dities? It Is obvious that the finding of the Commission Is a heavy handicap against Portland and for Astoria. I THE REPUBLICAN SITCATIOV. Republican leaders in Massachu setts have taken action which will aid powerfully in clearing up the party situation in the whole country. How this will come about can be seen from a plain recital of recent events in that and adjoining states. Senator Weeks was an avowed and Governor McCall was a receptive can didate for the Presidential nomina tion when Representative Gardner, Speaker Cushing of the state lower house, Charles S. Bird, who was Pro gressive candidate for Governor in 1914, and Robert M. "Washburn an nounced their candidacy for delegates at large in, support of Theodore Roose velt's nomination. Their action was calculated to bring about precisely that which not only the old-line lead ers, but Colonel Roosevelt himself, wished to avoid namely, a fight for delegates and for the nomination. The one object which all have in view is the defeat of President Wilson, and a fight preliminary to the nomination would obstruct attainment of that end by causing bitterness between the newly reunited elements. Colonel Roosevelt, no less than the other leaders, holds that no personality should be emphasized in the pre-con-vention campaign. Each is careful not to offend or irritate the other. The Boston Transcript says the Colo nel "has intimated strongly that a nomination might be worthless to him if it came as the result of a fight." Saying that both the Colonel and the old guard are convinced that the President can be defeated "only through a friendly conference at Chi cago of leading Republicans and Pro gressives who in the end would agree upon a ticket," the Transcript ex plains: "So old-gnard leader of prominence has declared that this would not be headed by Roosevelt; while on the Roosevelt side, from the Colonel down, all hands have been careful to say that It was possible for the Republican convention to name a Repub lican whom the Colonel and his Progressive followers would support. This programme at no point has been Inconsistent with ad mitted facts first, that the old guard do not want Roosevelt nominated: second, that Roosevelt does not want anyone else nom inated. Both sides have known In their hearts that one might be compelled to take the other, and that the losing side would acquiesce and support the ticket if serious friction could be avoided during the pre liminary campaign. In conformity with this tacit under standing, unpledged delegates have been elected In various districts throughout the country, though they favored one candidate or another, and resolutions Indorsing any candidate have been defeated. With this idea New Tork refused to indorse Root and will elect unpledged delegates. So have or will the other New England states. Into this harmonious situa tion Mr. Gardner and his associates have plunged the personal Roosevelt issue which may, to use the Tran script's words, "split the mass into throat-cutting factions and allow the political enemies of all of them to walk away with the spoils." To prevent this disaster and to pre eerve harmony the old-line Republi cans of Massachusetts have got to gether. Senator Lodge was pledged to support his colleague. Senator Weeks, but has beerf released. The two Senators have Joined Governor McCall and ex-Senator Crane in an nouncing themselves as candidates for delegates at large with the fol lowing declaration: CThatever committal any one of us may have been under to any particular candi date for the Presidency has been wholly re leased and canceled. If the ' Republicans of the commonwealth shall see fit to com mission n to represent them, we shall en deavor to the best of our ability to secure such action by the convention as shall seem at the time most likely to unify the party and to restore the country to Republican control. We stand absolutely unpledged either for or against any candidate. This announcement ia taken by the pro-Wilson, Springfield Kepublican .to indicate an intention to permit "no favorite-son business to complicate the struggle in the primaries," and to make them "a knockdown fight over Mr. Roosevelt." That journal sees signs that the conservative leaders were apprehensive that the Colonel would "start something" and are forming a combination against him. Mr. Root's New York speech is 'in terpreted by the Springfield paper as "an effort to. steal T. R.'s thunder." The Boston Herald, however, con strues the declaration of the Bay State's "big four" as evidence of a desire to join the rest of New England in sending to Chicago delegations "free to work for the best obtainable results on the ground, in the light of the best interests of party and the country." By sinking the ambitions of Mr. McCall and Mr. Weeks- and by declaring themselves "unpledged either for or against any candidate," tha Yir fnnr avoid the aDDearance of I opposition to Colonel Roosevelt and i hope to deprive the Gardner ticket of any pretext for being in the Ileia, un less it be personal ambition. With New York and New England free from ties to any- candidate, a nucleus of 190 unpledged delegates would enter the convention. This would be about one-fifth of the total number. With several populous north ern states-neutralizing each other-by pledging their delegates to favorite sons, these 190 delegates and the many they may be able to draw to them would be able to dictate the nomina tion. Should a decided majority 'of the instructed delegates prove to be for Hughes or any other strong candidate, the unpledged may settle the question on the first ballot by throwing their votes to that candidate. In any event, they will be agreed on one thing to run no risk of defeat at the election by putting up one man in order to down another; but to name that man who can defeat Wilson toy uniting the anti-Wilson forces. DOES HE FORFEIT IDS BIGITTS? The Oregonian has received from a correspondent who subscribes him self John T. Simmons a letter which voices a somewhat too common opin ion about our rights and duties under international law. It is: It Is with surprise and regret that I read In The Oregonian the statement that war was on in Chinatown, coupled with a warn ing to the citizens of Portland- to stay away from there. Is this consistent with your course in international matters? Haven't we the right to go where pleasure or busi ness calls us? If we should persist in go ing and get shot, wouldn't Mayor Albee marshal Ills Sunday school cohorts and avenge us? Why not give the same warn ing to Americans to keep away from the European tong war? If they must go, why not advise then to go. on neutral ships? Undoubtedly a citizen has the right to invade the precincts of Chinatown, if business or pleasure should call him there. But let us suppose that Mayor Al bee should warn the public to keep away, and some bold individual should nevertheless go and should be in volved in a mixup and killed. If the Mayor should then assert that the au dacious citizen was duly warned and went at his own risk, and forfeited all his rights to public protection, and no effort would be made to appre hend or punish the murderers, we should have a parallel somewhat near the international situation, which the sarcastic Simmons views so lightly; or, rather, the international situation as the timid citizen thinks it should be. Doubtless it will be wise for an American citizen to keep off the seas, if he is to think first of his personal safety: But if he goes, nevertheless, in pursuance of his recognized and ac knowledged rights, as a national of a neutral power, and is slain by a bel ligerent, in plain defiance of the pub lic law, the duty of his government to act is clear. WOES OF TIIE TRANSGRESSOR. An epidemic of broken hearts among trusting wives bids fair to follow the expose of a blackmail ring which has been operating throughout the North west, with headquarters at Seattle. While the police are searching for the principals in the swindle it may be surmised that the greatest fear is be ing experienced by the victims, who are described as men of means and promi nence. No doubt every effort will be made by these wealthy roues to evade the glare of publicity. They are face to face with broken homes. Such of them as may chance to be pillars of society are haunted by visions of dis grace in addition to divorce decrees and alimony bills. They face a great er penalty than those who lured them into traps for purposes of plunder. It will be well if all concerned are dragged into the pitiless glare of public view. While there may be a legal dis tinction between the two classes of offenders, there is no moral difference between them. The existence of men of means and distinction, heads of re spected families, who are so lax mor ally that they can be lured to seques tered haunts and posed unwittingly before the blackmailer's camera In the act of caressing some brazen hussy, offers a splendid field for reform. Ex posure is the one effective agency of reform. It Is not enough that they escape by the payment of heavy sums in blackmail. Such an experience merely renders them more cautious. The way of the transgressor is hard. but so far as this class of transgres sors is concerned it should be made harder. CLOSING IN OX TURKEY. From the date of Turkey's entrance into the war the allies have been striv ing, to the best of their limited pow ers, to isolate and finish off Turkey. By so doing they hoped to win tne am of the neutral Balkan states and to become able to narrow the ring around their enemies. They would also cut the lines of communication between Turkey and their Mohammedan sub jects, lines over which Turkish and German agents traveled in order to start a backfire of rebellion. The first effort was the first Rus sian invasion of Armenia, the British invasion of Mesopotamia, the attack on the Dardanelles and the attempt to revive the Balkan League. All of these failed except the Mesopotamia expedi tion, which was halted last December by large Turkish reinforcements. The effort is now renewed. Russia has invaded Armenia and captured Erz erum and is now advancing southward on Bitlis and Lake Van and north westward on Trebizond. The Musco vites may thus acquire a new base on the Black Sea and effect a Junction with the British. The expedition to relieve Kut-el-Amara is being rein forced and may advance on Bagdad to meet the Russians. A great army has been assembled at Salonlki to at tack Bulgaria and Turkey in Europe and to reconquer Serbia. The French have seized Castellonzo Island, off the south coast of Asia Minor, apparently as a base for an attack on the part of Adalia and on the railroad to Bagdad. The British army jn, Egypt may be sent by sea to co-operate in this en terprise or to invade Syria. Should all these operations succeed, the allies would close In on Turkey from the east, south and west, In the hope that their - widely separated armies would finally corner the Turks around their capital. The European army would be expected to conquer Bulgaria and to assault the Tchataldja hines in Thrace, while the converging Anglo-Russian armies attacked irom the Asiatic shores of the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmora and the Dar danelles. The Italians now confront ing the Austrians in Albania would play a minor part by preventing the approach of aid to the Turks - from that quarter. That these operations might be ob structed as little as possible by Teuton reinforcement of the Turks, it would be necessary to prosecute vigorous hostilities on the Russian, Franco Belgian and Italian fronts at the same time. It is probably with a view to anticipating and obstructing execution of this plan as well as to direct gain of ground that the Germans are mak ing their present offensive in the west. Should the allies be able to dispose of Turkey and Bulgaria, they could gather their widely dispersed forces to close in on Germany and Austria. Greece and Roumanla, assuming that this was the beginning of the end, might then join m the general scramble. The most sanguine friend of the allies cannot hope that this final act of the tragedy will begin within less than a year, and all these plans may be foiled, as have been those of the past year. ' JfEW SHIPPING - BILE. Although it is not apparent that any Government funds need be invested or that any Government guaranty need be given in order to induce ivestment of capital In the shipping business, the bill introduced by Senator Lane at the last session of Congress, reintroduced by Representative McArthur at the present session and indorsed by the Portland Chamber of Commerce is in finiteli' preferable to the McAdoo scheme for Government building and ownership of merchant ships. This bill provides that American citizens may incorporate a company for the building, purchase and operation of ships in foreign commerce and may issue bonds to the amount of four times the subscribed capital. The bonds are to pay not over 6 per cent interest and are to be guaranteed by the Government to the amount of not more than $50 per ton of new ships. This bill has advantages over that of the Administration in the fact that it leaves the shipping business entirely in private hands, but it makes the Government liable for the bonded debt of the company and thus lessens the inducement to enterprise and eco nomical operation. It provides no. su pervision over the conduct of the company. There is far more merit in another bill introduced by Mr. McArthur, es tablishing a Board of Maritime Con trol to be composed of the Supervising Inspector-General of Steamboats, the Commissioner of Navigation and five appointed members, each of whom shall have had five years of seagoing experience and five years' experience in the management of ships. This board would have "jurisdiction and control in all matters pertaining to (he construction, classification, equip ment and operation of vessels, includ ing the promulgation of rules for in spection, operation and manning of vessels." Its first duty would be to "prescribe rules for its government and for the approval and classifica tion of construction, equipping, fur nishing and manning, including rules for the government of crews." The rapidity with which ships are being built and new shipyards estab lished, even under the threat of Gov ernment invasion of the shipping field, shows that no such emergency exists as would Justify Government ship pur chase. When private enterprise is al ready occupying and adding to the full shipbuilding capacity of the Nation, what need is there and what oppor tunity is there for the Government to increase the output? The present high freights are sufficient immediate inducement, and that inducement is strong, since' the war threatens to be prolonged. The real need is inducements to con tinue shipbuilding In the United States and operation under the American flag after the war ends. -These can be supplied by revision of the shipping laws in such fashion as will equalize cost of operation under the American and foreign flags and as will pay rea sonable compensation for ocean mail service and for the construction of merchant ships as naval auxiliaries and for the employment of American crews enrolled in the naval reserve. Such a board as Is provided by the Mc Arthur bill could, with the addition of naval officers, draft a measure attain ing all these ends, and could do so much better than any department head or committee of Congress. Such a measure would bear no taint of sub sidy if care were taken that the pay ments provided by it should be only fair compensation for service ren dered, to the Government. ANNA HEED IN KANSAS. N Capricious and captivating Anna Held must not practice her alluring wiles upon the men of Kansas. Not even in motion pictures. Kansas men, be it known, are models of virtue and not one in ten would flirt with a mar ried woman. They are not interested in the personal charms and lingerie of married women such as Anna Held and their goodness demands that they should not be left open to temptation and wrongful suggestion. Moreover, it is not right that the venom of sus picion and watchful waiting should be planted in the minds of their trust ing wives. Rev. Festus Foster, movie censor in the good city of Topeka, argues in this wise in defending objections to an Anna Held picture romance in which the idol of Paris cavorts in character istic poses and gowns. Anna has re plied to the assault somewhat ab ruptly, contending that the reverend censor Is a stupid person who should not be permitted to roam beyond the confined precincts of a chicken coop. Paris adores her and regards her as an eminently fit and proper matron who has charm as an entertainer. Which brings from the Rev. Festus a rejoinder that it Is wrong to pre sent -."a film that misrepresents the married man and which will have a tendency to shake the confidence women have in their husbands. That seems to be its lesson, that you can't trust a man." Think of it! Think of the wrong of suggesting to wives that they should keep a weather eye open. "Men are to be trusted," the Rev. Festus ex claims. "Not one Kansas man in ten would flirt with a married woman." A beautiful tribute indeed. But how about one in eleven or one in twelve? How about one married man. in ten flirting with a single woman? The defender of Kansas and Kansans does not give us sufficient figures. He does not remove all suspicion. In fact his words suggest that a certain small percentage of Kansas men would flirt with married women, and if that be true who can know, without vigilance, what particular individuals are given to this sly offense? But even assum ing that not one man in all Topeka would flirt, then what harm in per mitting them to see how outrageously men of other sections engage in this insidious pastime? Do not their own virtues shine all the brighter by con trast with the lax practice of Paris, and will not their trusting wives come to see what wonderful models of male virtue they have acquired? Is there not the greater danger of an epidemic of suspicious wives in the insistence of the Rev. Festus that Kansas men must not be brought face to face with the dazzling Anna? Criticism by the Sons of the Ameri can Revolution of what they term neg lect of Washington's birthday by Portland is hardly fair. To be sure, its observance could be improved. In the old days Colonel Summers had out the National Guard for a parade, which in itself was appropriate; but now many employers object to letting the men off for the afternoon. There is a good field for missionary work by the Sons. Viewing from another aspect, a pronounced effort for greater observance might lead to a miscarriage of intent and plan, as with Memorial day, which has become so overcrowd ed by sporting events as to shadow the significance of the day. That would be a danger solely on this Coast, how ever, and the balmy days of February would encourage It. The Sons show the right spirit, but well enough is good enough. The suspicion dawns that we can get along nicely without a Secretary of War while the preparedness pro gramme is being framed. Particular ly without the Wilson variety of War Secretary. Russians advancing from the east and submarines in the Bosphorus have given the unspeakable Turk another conniption fit. He will likely seek sat isfaction by killing a few more Ar menians. In his Washington birthday address Governor Withycombe urged boys to stay on the farm. If more boys would follow that advice they would fare better and the country would be bet ter off. If one-third of the wheat crop of Illinois has been lost by the floods, that leaves some good land for pota toes and cabbage, which are always in demand, although they require more labor. ' . If everybody who writes on "Birth Control" would sign his or her name and assume personal responsibility, as does Father Black, for what he says, there would be much enlightenment- Chicago's women officeholders are learning some of the inner secrets of the political game, but they have not learned to practice the Quay motto: "Addition, division and silence." Next on the programme is the pick ing off of the Japanese warships in the Mediterranean, not as a real act of war so much as warning to keep out of the white man's game. " Although the schools were kept open on Washington's birthday, no doubt they will be closed for the open ing day of the baseball season, as usual A Missouri Democrat has been named Ambassador to Russia. He will have barely time to get on the job before the Democratic catastrophe of 1916. The American Association in Berlin is arranging to provide for those im poverished by the war and if funds are needed it knows where to apply. Chicago women officials are ac cused of grafting. The question now is, will women elevate politics or will politics corrupt the women? With a blackmail ring exposed it is possible that quite a number of emi nent Seattle citizens exhibit signs of nervousness these days. The Japanese navy may now try on the Teutons, in aid of Russia, some of the tricks it played on Russia a dozen years ago. . The British Cabinet is becoming more of a war Cabinet with a Minis ter of War Trade following the Minis ter of Munitions. A tax of $ld00 a gallon on liquor has been proposed. There are those who would have it even at double that price. v "Tell the truth," say the Admen, as If an Oregonian could do otherwise in writing of soil, climate and resources! It is planned to make the American Navy supreme by 1925. Provided the world lets us alone in the meantime. nricfid erolf ball will be on the market shortly. Hurray! Now we can put by something for old age. TaiwnfSA "rjicture brides" may be excluded by act of Congress. And this leap year, too. The Czar has become really affec tionate to the Duma, now that he needs Its help. The Russian Duma has been opened; but the Russian Baltic remains se curely closed. There are no decorations for Gen eral Gloom and no flowers will adorn his grave. . The Jap fleet is In the Mediterra nean. Now let the Honorable Teutons beware, "New Haven wreck cause of deaths," says a dispatch. Has a most familiar ring. The Chinaman who expects to get killed does not mind the way it is done. A tong war appears to be more deadly than the Mexican type of war. When was Senator La Follette not a candidate for something? Hi Gill got 'em all In the prelimi naries. " Good ball weather is going to waste. Plant your rose bushes early. Stars and Starmakers By Eeone Case Bser, THERE are two kinds of actresses; the one who delivers the goods and the one who wears them. e In Boston the police made Ruth St. Denis, her husband, Ted Shawn, and the dancers in the company don tights instead of appearing in bare limbs. Long Tack Sam, the Chinese sleight-of-hand artist, who was here at the Orpheum a few weeks ago with his Wonder Workers, was robbed of $1200 in cash and a $3000 draft when chang ing cars two hours before reaching Terre Haute, Ind. He had two grips in his hands and was aware that he was being crowded by two men in the vestibule of the car. When he boarded the train for Terre Haute he discovered that his pocket book was missing. The police of Chi cago were notified and the manager telegraphed to New York to stop pay ment of the draft, which was made payable to Franz Long, the name of Long Tack Sam. Long Tack Sam is married to a Ger man girl, and they have two little ones. He is enormously wealthy and main tains a London country place. Vernon Castle has finally gone to Europe. He sent brief little notes to New York papers just before he sailed. The notes said: "I have really sailed, so don't pick on me any more. Vernon Castle." As a matter of fact, Mr. Castle got off to a three months' flying start on the Adriatic and will go direct to Lon don and tell the war department his plans to induce the German army to dance itself to death. Mr. Castle's part ing words at the pier were: "We'll win sure if my feet hold out." "Chuck" Riesner, who might be styled the laughter hit of the Orpheum bill this week in '"It's Only a Show," with vivacious Henrietta Gores, former ly was a Keystone scenario writer. He has written comedies for Raymond Hitchcock, "Fatty" Arbuckle. Sam Bernard, Weber and Fields, Willie Col lier, Joe Jackson, Mabel Normand, Ford Sterling, Charlie Murray,. Eddie Foy and numerous others. Riesner was pre vailed upon by Eddie Foy to enter the picture game and was a Keystone em ploye when Foy rebelled at the scenario which required one of the Foy children to hit Pater Famllias Foy in the face with a custard pie. Riesner hailed originally from San Francisco, and aside from his movie-making he has been before the public as a prize fighter and a songwriter, as well as a vaudeville comedian. He is the author of the songs, "The Garden of Earth" and "Come Back Home to Old Ken tucky." Talking of songwriters, Henry I. Marshall, also at the Orpheum this week, is the author of "On the 6:15," and the recent song, "No One But Your Dear Old Dad." e e e A cast of notables is to appear in the revival of C. Haddon Chambers' play, "The Idler," which has been rechris tened "The Great Pursuit." Mr. Chambers explains that he has retained the original theme of the play, but he has made it meet present con ditions. Rehearsals of "The Great Pursuit" are now on. The complete cast is as follows: Phyllis Neilson-Terry, Marie Tempest, - Jeanne Eagels, Cynthia Brooke, Bruce McRae, Charles Cherry, H. Graham Browne and Montague Love. C. F; Zittel, who as "Zit" is famous the world of amusements over, has brought a suit for $100,000 damages against a chemical company of West field, Mass., for using his nickname to advertise a dry wash for automobiles. "I have been called pretty nearly everything in the course of my life and have taken it humbly without protest many times for the sake of advertising, but I draw the line at being called 'a dry wash,' " said "Zit" recently. A year ago Mr. Zittel brought suit against a patent medicine concern for using his name, which is a trademark, duly copyrighted as such, and was given a verdict for $5000. But on the present occasion ho says that his feel ings are hurt, and he is held up to ridicule and contempt by being called "a. dry wash," and he has Instructed his attorney, William Grossman, to ask the courts to award him $100,000 balm to his injured feelings. Surely the motonony of defending suits for plagiarism must be beginning to wear upon David Belasco. He, per haps more than other producers, has been jumped upon by sundry Toms, Dicks and occasional Miss Harry, who, without reputation behind them, think they have given Mr. Belasco the idea for a big play. Invariably Mr. Belasco has come out victorious, but a new one is facing him. John G. Underhill, of Brooklyn, and Gregorio Martinez Sierra, of Madrid, as owners of both an Ameri can and a Spanish copyright for "Can cion de Cuna" ("The Cradle Song"), al lege that the Belasco production of "Marle-Odlle" is a free adaptation of their play. They have, therefore, entered suit in the Federal District Court charging Mr. Belasco with, copyright infringement. The complainants assert that Mr. Belasco at one time read "The Cradle Song," but their complaint admits that he Indignantly refused to make a con tract to produce it as they urged. The recital of similarities between "Marie Odile" and the Spanish piece as filed with the complaint shows that the action and incidents of the two compositions are far from being identical, and there seems to be no claim that the two dialogues are verbatim. The suit of Messrs. Underhill and Sierra seems to be another one of those numerous suits for plagiarism, which Mr. Belasco has so far successfully de fended. Thus, for instance, the plain tiffs in this case admit that "the girl" in their play merely left her convent home, where she had been adopted by the nuns, and went to be legally mar ried to an estimable and prominent man. In "Marie-Odlle" a young novice becomes enamoured of a handsome soldier and becomes a mother without any marriage ceremony. First Republican Victory. "As you told me to. Pop," said the rising son, "I'm posting up on politics." "Quite right, my boy, quite right" "And I see, by what I read here, that the first Republican victory was ' in 391 B. C." "What?" "Yes, sir; listen. 'Pelopidas advocated o nmneratic form of government, but was driven from Thebes by the op posing party, in am .d, j-,- - FUTURE OF PORTLAND-ASTORIA Stephen A. Lowell See Portland-to-the-Sea Crowded With Docks. . PENDLETON, Or., Feb. 22. (To the Editor.) The Astoria rate decision will not, I think, mean a permanent lessening of either Portland's busi ness or Portland's prestige, but rather a broadening of both her trade .and her influence. Public sentiment over the state has been friendly to Astoria iimiwhni,t Vie?, lrtnar and brave strug gle for those transportation privileges to whlcn her natural iociuuu cum.. her, but such sentiment has never been based upon any hostility to Portland. On the other hand those residents of the Columbia Valley who have studied the situation with broad vision and a grasp of the future, re gard the Inland Empire and the cities of Portland and Astoria as indissolu bly united in a union pregnant with possibilities and rich with promise. They anticipate that the future and not a very distant future, will behold substantially one vast dock system from Portland to the ocean, made necessary to handle the mighty traf fic which the exchange of the almost limitless productions of the tributary territory with those of Alaska, Asia and Australia, to say nothing of Africa and the South Sea. shall develop. It must not be forgotten that the basins of the Columbia and Willamette will one day teem with the industry of millions of people. The spacious, natural harbors of trie Pacific are not numerous. The Sound, the Columbia, Coos Bay, San Fran cisco, San Diego and possibly San Pedro, complete the list. Of these some day, the Columbia, with its in vitation to fresh water, will command the chief attention of the shipping world. . The stupendous American Interna tional Corporation, that astounding or ganization of American capital Just launched in New York, with purpose to finance the new and undeveloped countries of the world, to place the products of American soil and Ameri can factories in the trade centers of the laggard continents, in a word to supplant war-swept Europe in the world's markets and as the world bankers, can only mean that soon the commerce of the Pacific will increase by leaps and bounds, and every harbor will be needed. America with half a billion people, not a paltry one hundred million is within the vista of the optimist today. American goods in the hands of the traders of all the continents will be witnessed before this generation passes. America leading the worlds business, the world's agriculture, the world's manufacturing, means that Portland-Astoria will become the Hamburg, the Liverpool, the Hong kong of America's Pacific Coast. Let us get upon the heights and look into the future. Let us pull to gether There is room enough for all. STEPHEN A. LOWELL. HUMANIZING THE LOWER REGIONS Birth Control Advocate Auks Ques tions of Father Black. PORTLAND. Feb. 22. (To the Edi tor.) I think Father Black in his big otry has failed to touch upon the two important points in birth control. First, what assurance can he give tne man of a large family of steady em ployment? Can ho guarantee an in crease in wage proportionate with tne family increase? What has he to say about the improved machine which displaces so many hands? Anathema tizing the advocates of birth control docs not touch this problem. Second, what has ho to say about the modern chemist who makes antiseptic surgery possible. He is the real father of birth control. Can Father Black by some vile words banish antiseptics from the earth? Or is he a reformer who would send the clubwomen the "simps" (whatever that means) the improved machine, the modern chemist and eugenics to "the lowest depths ot hell" to put In operation the efficiency code, to humanize those regions ho they will be a proper place for the re pose of tho souls of mortal sinners? If that is his idea I must say we no longer believe in hell: we have cast those superstitions out. He asks "What has become of men when they seem to fight God and natiire by put ting themselves above God and con testing his preordained laws?" How about ceYibacy? CLUBWOMAN Alnska and the Rnllrond. HILLSBORO. Or.. Feb. 22. (To the Editor) (1) Kindly tell me where I carl obtain information i regard to agricultural lands in Alaska. (J i At what place does the Government rail road; now building to Alaska, start, ond whero the terminus.? and wnero mo SUBSCRIBER. (1) Write to the Commissioner of the Land Office at Washington. (2) The first arterial routo of a Gov ernment railroad in Alaska, reaching from the coast to navigable waters of the interior, as designed by President Wilson April 11, 1915. starts from Seward, on Resurrection Bay, follows the line of the Alaska Northern Rail road (acquired by purchase) to Mile 72. on Turnagaln Arm of Cook's Inlet; thence following the north shore of the arm to Ship Creek, thence in a gen erally northerly direction along Kn'k Arm and the easterly side of the Su sitna Valley to Broad Pass, In the Alaska range of mountains and the headwaters of the Nenana River; thence down the river to the Tanana Valley and Fairbanks, a total of 471 miles, with a spur of 38 miles from a point near the head of Knik Arm to the Matanuska coal field. Pretty Compliment to Newberg. PORTLAND. Feb. 22. (To the Edi tor ) For the past 10 days I have been visiting in the beautiful little city of Newberg, situated on the Willamette River 26 miles southwest from Port land. Everybody is happy and prepar ing their garden spots for vegetables. Going from Portland to Newberg is like a big picnic. Everybody knows when a stranger enters, and they meet you with a hearty handshake, and not a few ask you to visit them in their lovely homes. You can ramble wnere you please and still find much to ad mire. Newberg certainly is blessed with churches 13 different denomina tions; 11 churches all Orthodox. When you attend church, at the end of the service the minister meets you at the door, shakes your hand and invites you to come again and. believe me, such kindness is not "wasted on the desert air" What a lovely retreat from the noisy city! If you wish to know the little city of Newberg, try an excursion someday. M. E. OADES. 770 Commercial fatreet. Yea. PORTLAND, Feb. 23. (To the Ed itor.) Will you please decide the fol lowing point of law: A and B have a mortgage on some land. B gives C a note for money advanced and gives his interest in the mortgage as security. The note is past due and not paid. A and B take legal steps to foreclose the mortgage. The point is this: Can C sue B on the note, get judgment and proceed to sell B's Interest in the mort gage while the mortgage on the land is in court on foreclosure proceedings? JOHN ELSTER, Kern Park. The Pork Barrel. Mrs. MoGubb What's this "pork barrel" thing down at Washington we read so much about? McGubb It's one of our great Ameri can institutions. Mrs. McGubb What's it for? McGubb To keep the Nation "on the hog." I ' In Other Days. Twenty-Five Years Asro. From The Oregonian of February 14, ISI'l. Superintendent L R. Fields went south on the paycar yesterday, in com pany with Paymaster D. II. Reed. It Is estimated that no less than $300.00i has been and will be expended over the company's line In Oregon. A Nebraska man has been here for the past week making arrangement to bring out a colony of 100 families from his home state to settle thorn somewhere In the Valley where he can get the proper Inducements. Dennis F. Murphy died yesterday at St. Vincent's Hospital of dropsy of the heart, aged 54 years. Tho deceased was a former member of Columbian Engine Company No. 3. San Francisco. Feb. 23. The loss of lives by the wrecking of the clipper ship Elizabeth off North Head Satur day night, is now estimated at 19, In cluding the captain of the local lifo saving crew. Captain Henry. General Manager Richard Koehler. of the Southern Pacific, left for a short trip to Salem yesterday. William Jennings Bryan, the new Congressman from Nohraska, is barely 30 years of age. lie conducted his own campaign and though he had no funds turned a plurality of 8400 received by his opponent two years ago to a plu rality of more than 6700 for himself. Claim Agent P. B. Whitney, of the Southern Pacific, is lying quite ill at his home. Half a Centnry Abo. From The Oresonian of February 24. ISfW. Thomas Frazar, J. N. Dolph and C. Riehey, Union County Committee, have called the .County Convention for March 24 at the Courthouse. New York, Feb. 22. Cooper Institute was crowded tonight to Indorse the President. T. B. Cutting was In the chair. David Dudley Field offered a written address and resolution declar ing that the first question Is tho paci fication of the country. Indianapolis, Tnd.. Feb. 22. Major General Low Wallace was temporary chairman of the Union State Conven tion here toduy. Governor Baker wan chosen permanent president of the convention. President Andrew Johnson and Congress both were Indorsed. Major-General Frederick - Steele, the new commander of tho Department of the Columbia, arrived on tho Steamer Sierra Nevada Thursday. The Four teenth Infantry Band serenaded him at Arrigonl's while ho was here beforo leaving for Fort Vancouver. Throughout the country different opinions are voicel as to tho wisdom of the President's action in vetoing tho Freedmen's Bureau bill. Somo of tlm Union purty leaders are trying to maintain the attitude of Ktnnding by tho President and still showing trust In Congress, but it Is difficult work in face of the outspokenness of many. State Senator Soovillu. of New Jersey, said the President made the worst in vestment In his life when he vetoed the bill and that "ho abandoned and tramped upon every principle that el evated him to power." For some time there has been evidence of a disneree iiirnt between Congress nnd tlio Presi dent as regards restoration of tli rebel states to their old relations with the Government. The President's pulley has been his own and obnoxious to many loyal citizens. olril JVamea In Mage Mnrlil. P.KAVERTON. Or., Feb. 20. (To tho Editor.) Will you kindly Inform mo throUKh The Oregonian the nationality and occupations of tho following men and say if they aro still living: David Belasco, Sir Arthur Plnero. Eugono Walter, Georgo M. Cohan. A JSUBSCTtlBEU. David Belasco is American born, of Jewish parents, and is a playwrltcr and producer. Sir Arthur Pinero, English, born in London; dramatist. Eugene Walter. American, born in Cleveland, Ohio; playwrltor. George M. Cohan is of Irish parent age; horn in Providence. R. 1. "o Is a playwrltcr. actor (sinking comedian) and a producer. All are living. E. B. K., Portland Tho above an swers your questions also. l.ihrlnuK i:prealon. PORTLAND. Feb. 22. (To the J-M- itor ) Will you answer throush mo Oregonian the following questions? 1 Is It permissible to use tho word "you Hod" in a letter and send It through the nrnll. 'if the ""f'0" would reflect on one's character? Is there a penalty? Please give addresa of Mae Tlnee, of the movie pm-e. In tho Sunday Oregonian. Where do you ad dress the letters sent her. The expression does not come within the postal laws, but you mlnht be making yourself liable to prosecution on a charge of libel, cither civil or criminal. Address Mae Tlnee, care of Tho bun day Oregonian. Portland. WUconain School for Glrln. THURSTON, Or., Feb. 20. (To the Fditor.) Can you tell me the city in Wisconsin in which the woman's prison situated? MAUV D. UARUIA We presume you refer to tho Girls' Industrial School at Milwaukee. This Is a semi-state Institution. Delegate From Alaaka. VADER. Wash.. Feb. 21. (To the Editor.) Who Is the present delegate to Congress from Alaska? What is his present address? James Wlckersham. Fairbanks, Alas ke. Address him at Washington. No. COSMOPOLIS. Wash.. Feb. 21. (To the Editor.) Do persons in Washing ton have to pass a medical examina tion before they can marry? 8A1T As to Substitution Speaking on the subjoct of sub stitution. Paul E. Faust, the woll linown advertising expert, says: "If a dealer endeavors to push an unidentified or below-standard brand with a consumer, and she rejects the article, the dealer has lessened the respect the customer' has for his store, and for his mer chandise. If he pushes a brand the consumer quickly accepts, hla selling has been made easier, and he has his customer in the humor to do further buying. Contrast this favorable frame of mind with the attitude of a consumer who has just been through an argu ment with a dealer over a product or brand she firmly refused to buy. "As discerning dealers recognize how it is to their advantage to sell lines which consumers pur chase readily and willingly, they will refuse to buy any other kind."