8
PORTLAND, OREGON.
Sitered at Portland (Oregon) postofflce
Subscription Kates Invariably In advance.
.:. (By Mall.)
Pallv, Siai-iay Included, one year.
r-ailv. Sunday Included, six montns. ... .-;
Vl. Sunday included, three montna... --
Tliv. Sunday Included, one month
fciilv, without Sunday, one year.
I'si!-. without Sunday, ix months.
SS.lv, without Sit.ria. three months... i.;
ally, without Sunday, one month
WWkly. one year i"
Sunday, one year
bunUay an-i Weekly, one year "'
(By Carrier.)
Iallv, Sunday Included, one year..
taili. Sunday Included, one month '
.How to Keroit Send postorfice money or
ir. express order or personal check on your
lf.rl bank Stamps, coin or currency are at
Voder's risk. Give postofflce addresses lu
i;ll. Including county and atate.
! Fotae Kate IS to It) pages. 1 cent : IS
to,s2 pages, cents; S4 to 4S pa ges, : ' cents
r.n to o paces. 4 cents; 62 to ' ,'" ,
.Vets: 7S to t pages, cents. Foreign post
age, double rates.
: Ea-rtern Bu.inew Office Verree Conk
Itn. Brunswick building. York. Verree
tf'Onklln, Steror building. Chicago. San
Vranclsco representative. It. J. Bldwell. ti.
"Market street. ,
PORTLAND, TUESDAY, FEB. , 1916.
I 1 THE SEW CERMAS OFFENSIVE.
I Empires may hang: In the balance at
tfcjs hour. The greatest battle of all
hjstory may be in progress. Yet, with
tne- spectacle before our eyes, we can
op.lv surmise. Ten days from now
tie real significance of the present
furious onslaughts around Verdun
may be apparent. The generation of
ten years hence should know more
about the furious storm of battle than
can be known today or in the near fu
ture. The most we can know is that
the battle is in progress and ulti
Tn'atelv what its scope has been and
what the decision. The remote and
striking details of this titanic clash
ate even more secluded and obscure
than those of the battle of Arbela, or
tne clash at Philippi. Metarus or
A'etium.
I Have the Germans launched a new
offensive with the idea of crushing
the French? Will they seek to de
feat the French and British in detail
iij. overwhelming Verdun and then
hurling their full weight upon the
lMtish sectors In the north? Or have
they set out to shake the allied lines
:ifcd discourage impending allied of
fensive operations? The German gen
ral staff alone knows. In many re
spects the present assault is a mystery.
It is the unexpected precipitated again
t-J-:the Germans. Amid snow and cold,
ut; an hour when the French armies
are intact and vigorous, the Germans
have sallied forth from their strong
holds and hurled themselves forward
ina mission that had previously cost
them thousands of men. It had been
expected that they would await allied
offensive operations, launching a de
termined counter-offensive at an hour
when the allies were weakened by as
fiiults'upon protected Teuton positions.
;The French War Office announces
somewhat complacently that the Ger
mans could not have selected a worse
time for their new attacks. Snow and
freezing weather settled over the re
gion as the Germans moved forward.
Thus the bitter cold would join with
tornadoes of steel in shaking their
morale. But it may be surmised that
the German commanders knew what
tliey were about. Perhaps they reck
oned that other factors were more im
portant than weather. Just now the
Russians exert no pressure on the
eastern front. Slav armies are operat
ing with great success to the south.
This must be more disconcerting to
the British than to the Germans. With
Constantinople as the apple of the
Rrssian eye, Russia can be counted
upon to direct all her energies in that
direction, regardless of the British dis
content, which has been expressed
somewhat freely by London of late.
So at this hour Germany has her
whole force available for use in the
western theater. That being the. case,
this may have impressed the German
general staff as the opportune time.
Freezing weather was more desirable
than warm weather, for the reason
that Spring thaws would interrupt the
movement of artillery. Without artil
lery to prepare the way no army can
move in a modern battle.
If Verdun falls the Germans will
h;iv struck a vital blow. Possibly it
is; too soon to say that the Germans
arc thoroughly intent upon taKing
Verdun. But if that is their purpose
and 'if they succeed, a readjustment
of- the great battle line will be neces
sary. Paris, not Verdun, will again- be
iho r;rmnn ohieotive. And if
Verdun can be taken, then why not
Paris? And if Paris . Tne stanes
are big if the game Is being played in
With Douaumont, or any other of
v,, nntivinc fArta overlooking Verdun.
in- their possession, the Germans must
he conceded an immense advantage.
riTiro thpv have secured their grip
what is to prevent their bringing up
one of the great 4 2-centimeier guns:
These fearful weapons, which are
called 42-centimeter howitzers for
want of knowledge of the precise cali
her, have made short work of the
mightiest walls of steel and concrete.
They may be used only under favor
able conditions and at a lesser range
tKan -iVio smallpr iruns Douaumont.
equipped with one of these great
Krupp giants, might reduce Verdun in
tho course of time at the rate of one
shot every forty-eight hours, the
contimeter speed limit, according to
military observers.
iThe mystery which surrounds the
rrWtost of German siece guns is the
same mystery which hangs over the
w-riolp. theater of operations. With the
most dramatic incidents of all war
being enacted, the most we are per
T.iiitto.i t know is that "the Bradens-
hurg regiment took Douaumont at the
roint of the bayonet," or a whole regi
mni hk nlned out excent one man.
who continued to advance until his
frightened face could be seen by tne
French. Smatterings of large events
i . oriven ha in cold, technical lan
guage. . The human side of the struggle
remains obscured by the pall of smoke
unA nolaon eases. What wonderful
pictures, what wondrous records of
grim heroism must he in the attacks
of the Bradensburg regiment. The
t.'a (...' nrnudpst troorts are hurled
against almost impregnable barriers
and the survivors, stumming over tne
f.iton hnriiM of their comrades, swarm
into the fort that is hurling sheets of
steel upon them. The Berlin w ar ui
fice dismisses the incident with a
line an incident that may stand out
in history through a hundred cen
turies to come.
Or the lone survivor of a German
regiment: The French War Office
speaks of his "frightened face" the
"frightened face" of a man who con
tinues the charge after every one of
his comrades has been shot down. The
designation does not rest well. But,
after all, the War Office may not mis
represent. The man may have been
frightened. It may have been the
Prussian discipline that carried him
ahead, the iron discipline which is
stronger than fear of death.
Th wTldent purpose ol the War
Office is to reassure the public and
give as little information as possible.
Information must be carefully guard
ed. Not even the names of com
manders must be disclosed. The iden
tity of the man in charge of operations
in a certain district would be of im
mense benefit to the enemy. They
know that man. Their . spies have
studied him. They know his weak
nesses, his methods, and such informa
tion would be worth while. The "fright
ened face" of the lone survivor must
have been held up by the stolid War
Office not to add a personal touch,
but to emphasize the French destruct
iveness. Yet the picture of a sole sur
vivor pressing forward to the attack
ought not to be reassuring to me
thoughtful person. May not that be
the spirit of the whole Prussian force?
FIRST, LEARX TO SWTJtt.
In discussing the Astoria rate de
cision the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
remarks: "The contention for its
(Portland's) alleged advantage of a
more economic water-grade haul is
not borne out by the record, which
shows a much larger overhead charge
of construction cost on the Columbia
River lines than on the Puget Sound
lines. The record also shows that the
Columbia River line is operating to
only 10 per cent of its capacity, while
Puget Sound lines are doing 60 per
cent of capacity business. These ele
ments count largely in computation
of operation cost and are disregarded
in Portland's estimates."
Presumably, therefore, a railroad
should not be required to grant a
lower rate until its density of traffic
justifies the reduction, although the
density may not increase unless tne
rate be lowered. Don't go near the
water until you learn to swim, as it
were.
But that is not the most cheerful
phase of the argument, from Seattle's
standpoint. The Interstate Commerce
Commission has made a finding that
Puget Sound rates are based on Port
land rates. The finding does not ac
cord with the facts, but it has been
made nevertheless. Is it fair that Se
attle should be made to pay rates
based on the disadvantages of the
superior construction of the Columbia
River line and its failure to operate
to 60 -per cent capacity? Here may
be a chance for Seattle to move Port
land another 100 miles inland by
means of a rate fiction.
DANCING AND EXERCISE.
Dancing appears to have survived
all puritanical attempts to banish it
from a wicked world. Some churches
which frowned upon the practice once
upon a time now encourage dancing
and seek merely to provide a whole
some environment for the stubborn
disciples of Terpsichore. It has been
said of dancing that it is an innocent
diversion and one stimulating love
of music, sense of rhythm and grace
of movement. Now a new virtue has
been discovered. Louis II. Pink, mem
ber of tho Brooklyn Board of Educa
tion and a settlement worker of some
distinction, says it is the best of ex
ercise and should bo supported for
that important reason if for no others.
Now, dancing is not in need of de
fense, we take it. Regulation and
restrictions are tho part of wisdom,
and many of these problems have been
fairly well taken care of. So the
necessity of Mr. Pink s defenso is not
apparent, particularly when his de
fense is defective. Dancing may be
fairly good exercise, but it is not tho
best. How can anyone get tho best
physical benefits from an exercise
which is surrounded by a hopeless
convention as to dress? Men must
torture themselves with stiff-bosomed
shirts, high collars and shoes that
squeeze. The woman fits herself into
her tightest corset and her smallest
pair of shoes. How does this equip
ment compare with tho light garb of
the gym or of the tennis court?
No, Mr. Pink is wrong. But his en
thusiasm over the physical benefits of
the dance may not be in vain if the
dancing world, noting the possibility
of physical benefits, will precipitate
dress reforms. Substitute tennis
court apparel for the present ballroom
apparel and then all Mr. Pink says
will come true. Perhaps reluctant
husbands will be more willing for an
occasional hop if it will take the place
of gym exercise. There are great pos
sibilities in store for the dance if stiff
dress conventions are removed.
BRIGHT Ol'TLOOK FOR MIIPPINO.
The merchant marine problem
shows signs of settling itself for the
time being without Government aid
in building liners at Government ex
pense for incidental use as naval aux
iliaries. The scarcity of ships and
the enormous profits in ocean freight
have caused a boom in shipbuilding
throughout the United States. Every
shipyard on the Delaware Kiver is
crowded with work, and ships by the
dozen are ordered, the Standard Oil
Company having lately contracted for
fifteen tankers. In our own field the
McCormicks at St. Helens find a mar
ket for ships as fast as keels can be
laid. A new company in the East pro
poses turning out Vessels of uniform
size and design in batches as a fac
tory turns out shoes.
The impetus for this shipbuilding
boom comes from the losses and requi
sitions of the war, the high freights
and fabulous prices paid for old ships,
but most of all from the growing opin
ion that the war will be prolonged far
beyond early estimates. In tho opin
ion of some men. Lord Kitchener's
three years will be stretched to five
and even ten years. So long a war
would mean that a new ship might
earn its cost before peace was restored
and could be sold for several times its
cost. A Paris paper tells of one
steamer sold for $85,000 in October,
1911, for which $413, OOt) was paid' in
January, 1916. Another sold for $115,
750 in 1914 and for $475,000 in 1916.
An old steel vessel of 3600 tons, built
in 1888, was bought for $41,250 in
August, 1914, and later sold for $195,
000. These prices and the high freight
rates based on them are likely to con
tinue throughout the war. They ren
der negligible for the time being all
previous considerations of construc
tion and operation cost, which have
hitherto kept Americans out of the
shipping business. Should the war
continue until 1919 or 1920 the United
States will have time to supply itself
with - large proportion of the ships
needed to carry our own commerce;
also to revise our shipping laws in
such a manner that we can continue
in the business in competition Nvith
other nations under peace conditions.
The United States is the greatest steel
producing Nation that is not involved
in the war.
The belligerent nations occupy their
shipyards with warships and with
making good the war's ravages on
their merchant marine: they can
scarcely maintain their total tonnage.
As the iwar drags on, more men will
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAK. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 1916.
be withdrawn to the fighting line,
nran-oa nnd material will advance and
these nations will produce fewer ships
and at higher cost, 't ne unitea onica
has an unequaled opportunity to leap
again to the front as a shipping Na
tion. STCriD GOVERNMENT POLICY.
r'nna-Mca tct aa -nraAtpflll and ineffi
cient in its nrovision of buildings for
the departments at Washington as in
the erection of public Duuaings w
every city, town and village which can
nt an nnnronriation in the omnibus
bill. A bright light is shed on the
facts by Charles Harris w mianer iu
namnhlot entitled. "Our StUPid and
Blundering National Policy of Pro
viding Public Buildings.
The substance of the charge Is that,
nlhor than, evnosn Itself tO attack for
"wasteful extravagance" in appropri
ating large sums for the purchase .of
sites and erection of proper buildings
of its own. Congress rents quarters
which are ill adapted to its purpose
and are scattered all over the city.
Soma hullriine-s are rented from year
to year, others are built by private
owners on a ten-year lease ior uuv
eminent use. In the latter case the
rent is sufficient to pay the cost of
the building in ten years, plus Inter
est. The Government thus pays about
IK nor cpnt and has HO building at
the finish. Prices are padded because
buildings erected ior tne wrovernmeni.
are ill adapted for other uses and,
when vacated, require remodeling and
have a depressing effect on rents.
The Government pays a total ren
tal of $604,000 a year in Washington.
This money is largely wasted and the
efficiency of Administration is lm-
nairad hwfUlQA "it 15 alWaVS SO UlUCh
easier and safer, from the party point
of view, to avoid an initial and funda
mental expenditure by contracting to
pay an annual rental wmcn is so sman
in comparison that the ultimately
rroatpr PTrnpnditur ft becomes ob
scured." This matter is a business
proposition, but it is not tackled as
such, both for the reason given and
because the vacation or renteo. quar
ters and the erection of a public build
intr n'nul n" d vpfroI v affect Tents and
real estate values. Therefore Wash
ington pulls against a business policy.
The Government which thus blun
ders in its own business is so confi
dent in its own wisdom that it wishes
to undertake the conduct of the state's
i of nrivata business. It
would better first get a reputation by
wise conduct or Federal nusiness.,
JUSTICE HUGHES' POSITION.
Amid the swelling clamor for the
renomination of Colonel Roosevelt and
the conflicting claims of minor can
didates, the greatest enigma before
the Republican party is the position
of Supreme Justice Hughes. If the
voters- knew how far he would go in
declining the nomination they would
know whether to leave him entirely
out of consideration and they could
concentrate their minds on a choice
among the many alternatives. "
In a dispatch from Washington to
the New York Evening Post David
Lawrence goes far to clear up doubt
as to Justice Hughes' intentions. His
conclusion is that "the only condition
that would make it humanly possible"
for Mr. Hughes to accept the nomina
tion would bo that "the people of the
United States" not the politicians,
"but the thoughtful masses shall
universally and spontaneously demand
Mr. Hughes."
In reply to thousands of letters Mr.
Hughes "has made it clear that
neither tacitly nor actively is he a
candidate," and that ho does not pur
pose to discuss public questions or pol
itics, because ho is a member of the
judiciary. Mr. Lawrence then ex
plains the judge's failure to "announce
flatly that he would not accept the
nomination if tendered." Irrespective
of the propriety of meeting "a hy
pothesis that does not exist and a con-J
tingency that may never arise at an,
Mr. Hughes "does not want to be
President." As a matter of personal
choice, not of public trust or duty, he
wouldn't have it on a silver platter."
He does not want the tremendous bur
dens of tho office, though he never
shirked work, he does not want power,
he is content with his place in the Su
preme Court and he is impressed with
its dignity and importance. He also
"believes not only that political par
ties ought not to go to the Supreme
Court to got candidates, but that the
court ought to bo beyond that, free
from the slightest shade of political
influence."
But even the Supreme Court "may
bo invaded by a powerful public opin.
Ion a state of facts over which he
has no control." His name is dis
cussed by tho various groups, but he
remains silent and does everything to
show that he does not want the nomi
nation. He cannot very well announce
that under no circumstances would he
accept the nomination if tendered, for
that would imply that he was sure to
receive it and "might also impose
upon him a responsibility subsequent
ly for what happens to the Republi
can party which he might not other
wise have had to share." Should he
make such an announcement and
should the Republican party be split
as in 1912, many people would blame
him. Should his strength prove to be
imaginary, it is better' for both him
and the Supreme Court to "pay no
more attention to the whole business."
He must therefore "meet the situation
as it arises." He is getting hundreds
of letters telling him it is his duty to
run, but he "can't tell whether this is
a popular demand or not." No indi
vidual or group of individuals can
compel him to accept the nomination
and he "absolutely does not want it."
In fact. Justice Hughes, by refrain
ing from a declaration which would
end all consideration of him as a pos
sible candidate, seems to hold himself
free to do that which he will conceive
to be the higher duty. Unless such a
pronounced demand for his candidacy
should arise that it undoubtedly comes
from the people, and unless such
a situation should arise that the sal
vation of the Republican party and, as
he may believe, of the Nation, depends
on his acceptance of the nomination,
Judge Hughes may conceive that his
higher duty is to remain on the 'Su
preme Bench. If the demand or the
situation described, or both, should
prevail, he may conceive his higher
duty to be to accept a unanimously
offered, unsought nomination.
The one outstanding fact about
Judge Hughes' career, which encour
ages belief that he would respond to
a call in the contingency described, is
that he has always placed duty above
personal interest or predilection. As
the life insurance investigator he
made a reputation at the bar which
would have formed the foundation of
a great fortune. At the call of his
state he accepted the Governorship
and spent more than his salary in
maintaining his position. Because the
work he had set out to do was not
completed he accepted a second term
at added sacrifice of his private for-
tuna A man (who would thus act is
the kind of man who would renounce
the calm, the dignity and the security
of a life position on the bench of the
T,ri' v,icViAcit nonrt. to assume the
crushing burdens of the ' Presidency
at one of the most critical per;oas in
V.a M,Hnn'a niotrtrv if the OeOPlO
called and his sense of duty told him
he should respond.
Tt mnv h thjtt the Republican con-
vpniinn n-ni units on b. man other
than Judge Hughes who can heal the
wounds inflicted on the party tour
years ago, who can win victory in
November and who can steer, the Na
tion through the perilous years before
us. If It should rail to una such a.
man it -n n turn to Mr. Huehes and
call upon him in, confidence that he
will accept. He is the man aDove an
others who can unite the factions, who
can win the confidence of the Nation,
and who in times when foreign rela
tions will occupy the rirst place m
mrhtin offtiira can nlaca country above
party. He has the calm judgment.
the poise ana tne roresigni to avuw
the extremes of combativeness and of
r-omninisanoft and to make the Nation
strong, safe and respected without
disturbing its peace
ThA murder of man and wife on
their way to church at Wilderville, in
Southern Orec-on. Sundav morning was
a cold-bloded affair. It cannot by any
means be classed as the act or a luna
tic. Akers and wife were decent peo
nl and had all the backing of law in
the disputes the murderer tells of.
Summed up, this was the situation
Sunday morning: Mr. and Mrs. Akers
wnr on thn wav to church and Bous-
man was laying for them with a Win
chester and got them. Misguided
people of Oregon have put tne nang
man out of a job and murderers
know it.
JUQKQ LlUWOll, Ul x-euuicwM, .w..
be rightfully called a pessimist. He sees
tne Biiver lining ul wci;
Astoria rate decision he folds 6obblng Port-
iUUa la IUB SlUL, nu niiia a . j
gives assurance that- there la room for all
as seaports, ana mat very Bimruj mem
will be wharves and doclaj from Portland to
Astoria. La Grande Observer.
Why not include the whole right of
way to Pendleton? There is no rea
son why the excellent judge should
not have done his dreaming all the
way from the state line to the sea.
The scare worked on the French
liner Espagne, for she carried only
nine of the 130 originally booked. Tne
others, however, took another steam
ship and may bo lucky.
A ma n anjswprlntr the descriDtion of
the cook who "pizened" the soup has
been found in Leaavme ana many can
he found elsewhere if the eyes of the
searchers are keen.
The device by which the allies turn
to their own advantage the German
clouds of chlorine gas suggests that
the scientific efficiency is not all on
one side.
The State Boxing Board of Wiscon
sin having decided Battling Nelson is
"too far gone" for a contest, all Bat
has left is to run a studio or saloon.
A mysterious quake was recorded
by the Washington seismograph. A
forerunner of impending disaster to
the Democratic Administration.
One man who peddled the bunk to
Eastern working people on "orchard
lands in Oregon received what was due
by getting a year in Jail.
Another stage in the march of pros
perity has been reached with the be
ginning of reorganization for railroads
which are in receivership.
Fortresses have become military
liabilities instead of assets, for armies
must be employed to keep 42-centi
meter guns out of range.
When the lumber mills resume op
erations they cannot get cars to carry
their output to market. It's just one
thing after another.
But what will happen when a mer
chantman carrying American passen
gers is sunk at sea in the new subma
rine campaign?
Of course, if they smash the French
lines and take Verdun the Germans
will accept our dictation meekly.
It's only tho rich man who is sued
for alienation. The man who lacks
the dollars gets a dose of shot.
The month of winds begins tomor
row, with dusty roads due, which may
account for the showers.
The Duponts will soon be so rich
that John D. Rockefeller will seem a
mere piker by comparison.
The submarines go back on the job
tomorrow. Another great "moral vic
tory" gone up in smoke.
The three new city meat inspectors
will earn their money if they tag all
the meat coming here.
A diamond mine has been discov
ered in Mount Tabor Park. Quick,
Watson, the needle!
Felix Diaz may as well start a revo
lution in Mexico as anybody. His will
play out soonest.
No, Mexico is no more peaceful. The
greater conflict merely obscures that
persistent issue.
Wheat may drop on strained rela
tions, but actual hostilities should
send it upward.
Who can blame a Democrat for
wanting to keep all the good things
in the family?
But what would General Sherman
have, said of war could he have seen
Verdun?
Bold in' speech but weak in action.
The description fits him as a glove.
The Russians are now intent upon
making a mess of Mesopotamia.
It's a sure sign of early Spring with
smelt running the Cowlitz.
Bicycles promise to come back to
worry the chauffeurs.
The, world is certainly an exciting
place Just at present.
Are those British mines that are
sinking the liners?
This is the day when the calendar
catches up
And now the fur is flying in Flan
ders. .
LET EACH CHOOSE FOR HIMSELF
Those Who Want Large Families Hare
No IttKht to Control Other.
poRTT.An TTch 28. (To the Edi
tor.) I have been an interested reader
of The Oregonian for years, especially
. 1 II. i .. 1 rra. Cn TV! 1 W Vl h hPPIl
Hie cuuuiiai . "- -
said about birth control, I would like
to say a few word. Father Black, in
cidentally, does not advocate birth con
trol. I believe, however, he is supposed
totally to aDstain iroin ms uio
multiplying the earth. So individually
he must believe in it.
T thlnb. AirAVir nilTlli.lTllriliPli DPTSOIl
must agree, since the majority of men
ana pernaps some women, iuu u"
fallen lower than tne animais, i""
In hlirh 4-!mA fnr Sftmpttlino- to be
done to help the poor, weak-minded
woman who brings one child after an
other into the world to be looked after
by others nine times out of ten.
I don't think there snouia oe any
law to punish a doctor for helping a
, .. . n . . w. V ti-nnhlp A trood
doctor doesn't kill any more women
that way tnan doctors ao omer majs.
It is the woman who suffers first, last
and all the time.
t kaiiAira i.VitHrpn hnvA a rferht to be
well born. There are hundreds of fami
lies that want children ana nave eome
thing to bring them up on. Let them
have the children. If the man who
said his mother had 16 children can
get that many and take care of thent
properly, that's his business. , But he
shouldn't wish them on everyone.
1 have children whom I love too much
even to think of two or three more to
share the small amount I have fpr
them. A MOTHER.
A MOUNTAIN STORM.
The woodland rang with song of glad
voiced birds,
The sunrays danced upon the foliage
a-ren
And kissed the brooklets with its
silvery sheen,
While in the vale below the sleek
skinned herds
Nipped at the grass, or lazily reclined
Upon the sward. The balmy western
wind
Spake to the smiling earth no warning
words
Of coming storm to mar the peaceful
scene
A through the waving grass its
breathings twined.
A gray, stern look crept o'er the
heavens' face.
Fast deepening to a dark, forbidding
frown
And angrier grew while changing
eray to brown.
Then inky blackness drowned out every
trace
Of sunlight and the softly whispering
breeze
Gave way to angry gusts that stirred
the trees
Into snasmodic action, hurling down
The Autumn tinted leaves in flutter
ing grace.
The birds. affrighted, sought the
fancied1 brake.
The startled cattle with uplifted tail
For shelter fled to neighboring gulch
or swale
As in the tumbling clouds' dark somber
wake.
The roaring of the swift approaching
srale
Swept nearer. In swift flight the
mountain auail
Fled from their nested covert in the
vale
When hand of tempest tossed the shelt
erinar erass.
And on swift whirring pinions sought
the pass
, Where they could cower neath a
Hhelterinsr rock.
Secure from fury of the tempest's
shock.
The mad wind through tho forest
shrieked and crashed.
And tangled crests of trees in fury
lashed.
The rain beat ' down in sheets, the
- thunder's roar
Came fierce as vengeful shots from
guns of war,
And in its mad reverberations seemed
To rend the earth. The vivid lightnings
erleamed
And licked with snakish tongues the
atmosphere.
Across the flats the terror stricken
deer
Stabbed at the sward with hoofs im
Delled by fear
As fled they in alarm, they scarce
knew where.
The mountain lion and the clumsy bear
Lay trembling in their dena amid the
rocks.
And lower crouched as swift the
thunder shocks
In oft reDeated crashes rent the air
And roared defiance at the lightning's
Elate.
As if exhausted sank the wind away.
The inkv cloud screen melted into gray,
Its bosom streaKea witn soit, nan
hidden, blue
As heaven's smile seemed struggling
to break through.
Bright shafts of sunlight stabbed the
somber shroud
And rimmed with luminous silver every
cloud.
The rainfall waned and, as dewdrops
at play.
Came down in sparkling gems; then
into view
The great sun burst In majesty
supreme.
The air with newfound gladness
seemed to teem,
The frightened creatures of the mount
and plain
Came from their hiding places shorn
of fear
And sniffed the soft, rain-freshened
atmosphere,
The birds joined in a sweetly piped
refrain
That rang with joy, and all was peace
again.
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
How Books) Are Sold.
THE DALLES, Or., Feb. 27. (To the
Editor.) (1) Please tell me the price
paid the authors for such books as
"Mrs Wlcra-u of the Cabbatre Patch." or
Grayson's "Adventures in Contentment";
also how they are sold, whether bought
outright by the publisher, or a royalty
paid the author. (3) Also what prices
nrn nniA for articles in the matrazine
department of The Sunday Oregonian.
WASCO UOUS1I li.NyuiittlK.
1. An author who has "arrived" may
sell a novel outright or on a royalty
basis, but generally receives a fixed
sum and royalty in addition. He may
sell the first serial right, subsequent
newspaper serial rights, book,
dramatization and moving picture
rights separately. We have no figures
on prices paid tho authors of the
books mentioned.
2. The Oregonian pays 4 per column
for articles or fiction bought direct
from the author. Writings of famous
authors, such as those of Montague
Glass, now running In The Oregonian,
are bought by an agency and resold to
a number of newspapers at flat .prices,
which may vary according to each
paper's circulation and the extent of
territory in which a paper has the ex
clusive right to publish them.
Not For Roosevelt.
PORTLAND, Feb. 28. (To the Edi
tor.) The first President that I ever
voted for was Abraham Lincoln, and
I have voted for every President nomi
nated by the Republican party since
1880 except Roosevelt. When he was
nominated I was of the opinion that he
was as true and patriotic to the Re
publican party as was Jeff Davis to the
United States. As yet nothing has oc
curred to change my views. W. D.
Young and A. L. MacLeod put it right
a clean Republican or Wilson.
O. C. YOCUM,
269 Bast Fortieth street.
XO IJCTV TO PROTECT TRAVELER
Mr. Myer Says Individual Cltiien Wan
ders at Own Kink.
PORTLAND, Or., Feb. 2S. (To the
Editor.) I am glad the flurry in Con
gress over the question of warning
American citizens from traveling on
armed merchant vessels of belligerent
nations has blown over and that plain
common sense seems to prevail. There
Ti-a nn luKtif ication for such warning.
There was good reason why it should
not be given. It would have Deen an
abridgment of individual rights.
An American citizen has a rignt to
come and go as he pleases, so long as
he has not forfeited that right by
rime, and he has a right to cnoose
his own mode of transit. But in the
exercise of this individual right he goes
and comes on his own responsibility
and takes his own chances. If he has
a proper amount of prudence and com
mon sense and caution ne win avuiu
unnecessary danger and will stay away
from it. If he Is bold and reckless and
careless he will rush in, take chances
and get into difficulty; but this is no
concern of the United States Govern
ment. The Government is not in duty bound
to follow all its citizens in all their
peregrinations about the world to pro
tect them from harm. The right of the
citizen to come and go must not be
questioned or abridged, but he must
take his own chances in the exercise of
his individual right. He must not ex
pect the United States Government to
follow and protect him.
But the Government has a duty to
perform abroad. That duty is to pro
tect its flag, and all that Its flag, as
the Nation's emblem, stands for; and
here is where honor and National sov
ereignty come in. The flag must be
defended at any cost, and all that the
flag covers. Our ships at sea are a part
of our territory afloat, and they must
bo protected by all tho forces of the
nation.
The United States Government must
contend for its rights under treaty
agreements, and it must defend Its offi
cers and agents of all classes and con
ditions. Ambassadors, Ministers, Con
suls and all special agents, for theBe
represent the Nation and are a part of
it ssovereignty and represent its dig
nity and honor.
But the individual citizen, when he
goes abroad, must look out for him
self and cannot expect the Nation to
follow him and to make war in his de
fense if he should get into difficulty.
It would be too much to ask tho Gov
ernment to do that, and It would cost
too rhueh. If the Government should
follow all its citizens over the world
and should take up all their quarrels
and listen to all their cries of distress
we should be in perpetual trouble witn
all" the peoples of the earth.
No. I say. let us have Individual
rights and take individual responsibil
ities. Because there are foolish and
rash neoDle in the world, that Is no
good reason why sensible and peaceful
people should be plungea into tne nor
rors of war. LEVI W. MYERS.
BOARDIXG-HOISH FLAX THAT WON
Men Preferred n Patrons! took
Changed Onee Tear.
PORTLAND. Feb. 28. (To the EdI
tor.) So many complain that they
make a faiiuro of keeping boarders. I
am willing to impart what 1 found
aided me in my success. At first I had
women in the majority, but I soon
found that those who were not In busi
ness mado trouble, so I took in men
and found them less inclined that way,
I remember one lawyer who didn't like
a man who sat at his talile. The wait
ress camo to me with the information
that ho mailo arrangements with the
others to ' freeze him out." The lawyer
was one of my best paying boarders,
but I asked him at once to leave. I whs
not running the house for one man,
neither did I want him to domineer in
mv home.
Thon I found after people were v.ith
me some time they seemed to tire of
the food and. after losing several good
boarders. I found out it was wiser to
chanee mv cook than my boarders.
After that I changed my cook every
year. This brought in a change that
I found beneficial.
Only onco I kept a cook two years
as she kent studying up new dishes or
served the same dish differently each
time. I was careful to pleaso without
overdoinc- it. After trying this for over
20 years I can recommend it to those
who find it hard to make a success of
a boarding-house. A,
rjlvoree and War Data.
DAYS CREEK, Or., Feb. 26. (To tho
Editor.) (1). How many divorces unci
how many marriage licenses were is
sued in Oregon last year'.'
(2). About how many divorces were
secured in Reno. rev., in liiu.'
tz Whv was it easier to fret a di
vorce In Reno than other places, or
was it?
(4). To the present time about how
much has it cost the European natians
to carry on tho war, anil about now
many lives have been lost :
ANDREW MOORE
(1). Marriage and divorce statistics
are county records. We know of no
official compilation for 191a.
(2). -Wo have n"o figures on the sub
(3). Up to January 1. 1914, a resi
dence of six months in Nevada quali
fied a person to ehter suit for divorce,
against a resident of another state.
Period of desertion as ground for di
vorce was also briefer than in some
states. These factors created tempo-r-.r
nionipR romnosed of persons who
went to Nevada solely to obtain di
vorces.
(4). We have seen an estimate of the
nt to lammrv 1. 1916. tllacod at
$30,000,000,000, but such figures, as well
oBuiinltv flirures. are largely guesses.
The World Almanac estimates the lossos
i tilled permanently disabled ana
prisoners, at 6 per cent per month of the
number engaged in the field. , This fig
ures up as follows to January 1: Ger
many, Austria-Hungary, i urney aim
Bulgaria, 6,350,000; allies, 7,500.000. Hut
these arc estimates based in turn on
estimates of men in the field. We are
ir,ciinvd to believe them excessive. De
bates in Parliament, in which Teuton
losses have been discussed, place the
casualties much lower. Its total dead
n,n,hiv nnt known bv anv army
in the field, as a commander is unable
to tell whether many ot nis missing
men have been killed or taticn pris
oners.
Rmldcnce Period and Divorce.
SHERIDAN, Or.. Feb. 27. (To the
Editor.) My husband was convicted
4. r.ur sfTvin? a term in the Deni-
tentiary of an Eastern state. When he
was convicted was I divorced irom mm
and, by obtaining a decree, could I
marry, although I have been in Oregon
only six months? A suuscttiBttit.
Conviction of the husband of a felony
is ground for divorce, but before en
titled to sue in this state you would
have to reside in Oregon one year. You
could not legally remarry until the
elapse of six months following entry of
decree.
Information on Patents.
PORTLAND. Feb. 28. (To the Ed
itor.) W'e are puzzled to know how we
can get a patent on a perfectly wonder
ful prescription. Could you inform us
through your paper.'
A SUBSCRIBER.
Write to Patent Office, Washington,
D. C. ...
SHORT TRIP TAKES 15 HOURS
Writer Telia of Struggle Made br
Horses) In Wet Snow.
HAINES. Or.. Feb. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) I have been reading the expe
riences of others in the storms all over
the Northwest recently, and have de
cided to add my experience in the
mountains near Haines.
I have been hauling wood from the
mountains during this Winter, and had
to go Into the timber about two miles
from the valley. The snow there, until
the recent storm, was live feet deep.
As I had plenty of feed I remained at
my camp in the timber durlnir tli
snowstorm. After the big storm I had
to bring the team to the valley, as I
had arranged previously to use thorn
In the valley.
I accordingly started for the valley
ast Thursday morning, walklnor and
leading the horses to break the road.
The snow being so wet and soft the
horses would slip off the road. I final
ly had to Ket assistance and shovel
them out. After traveling for 11 hours
I had succeeded in going one mile, and
got one horse in a barn, but lacked
300 yards getting the other horse In.
This horse became exhausted, and I
had to carry feed to it. The next morn
ing the snow was partially frozen, and
I started early to get the exhausted
horse, which was now rested. It fell
off the road again, and I had to hail a
passing team and put this horso on a
sled and haul It a mile.
When I had finally Kone the two
miles I found that I had been 15 hours
on the road. Jly horses were In best
or condition, being- well fed and hav
ing worked every day up to this time,
and it was only the excessive wet, deep
snow that made the trip so long and so
wearisome.
I think I will return to mv camn In
a few days, hut it will he on skis, as
this l.i hours experience will not bo
forgotten very soon. L S. FEE.
MOTHER'S TEACHING IS RELATED
Writer Snysj She Opposed Lnrae Earn-
IIIph, Although ( nthollp.
PORTLAND. Feb. 28. (To tho Edi
tor.) In view of tho fact that last
Winter 9,000.000 people were unem
ployed In the United States, it Is self
evident that birth control is yet In lit
infancy, and Increasing; intelllttence
will, in tho near future, accomplish
much for mankind and womankind.
Permit me to say, in all kindness to
Father Black, that thn advocates of
birth control are dally increasing, even
within his own fold, and duo, wholly
and solely, to their Increasing intelli
gence and reason, as the premium In
the 20th century Is on reason. Instead
of credulity.
Twenty-five years before the out
break of the present European war, tho
favorite slogan of Kaiser William wnj:
"German mothers, sive me your 6iis!"
It is to be hoped that after tho close
of this war these mothers will not bo
overanxious to rear sons for cannon
fodder. As a boy, the writer was In
structed by an educated nnd Intelli
gent Catholic mother that the greatest
of all crimes against God and man wiis
a large family.
When birth control sweeps the whole
world, then w-ill wars and pestilence
cease, and credulity and Ignorance will
vanish. God speed the duy!
A. J. MARTIN".
Incident In Life of Pioneer.
PORTLAND. Feb. 28. (To tho Edi
tor.) Mr. Benjamin Waldron came
"across tho plains" in 1S46, his younn
wife accompanying him.
The only work that was offered him
was the job of cutting pine sawloes on
the bank of the Tualatin River, about
where tho town of Tualatin now stands.
At that time there was not a human
habitation between the Tualatin River
and the Ohehnlem Mountains.
Mr. Waldron nnd his wlfo packed
their possessions, whlrh consisted of
clothes, beddinK. food and a few cook
ing utensils, and rarrlod everything,
walking all the way to thnir'place of
work and camped. There was then only
a trail from Oswego Luke to their des
tination. Their food being finally ex
hausted. It was imperative that they
return to Oregon City.
The wire and husband walked th
whole distance, prolinhly eight mil's,
and (ho next day their first child was
born.
Durinif the r.n years following thl.-f
experience Mr. Wnldron lived tho lite
of a miner, stockman and farmer,
undergoing many hardships and priva
tions, but he told us that he had never
In his life lived on such a narrow mar
gin as ho had "wliilo cutting those Ioks
on tho Tualatin ltiver."
THE WIFE OF A riONF.ljrt.
Wnshlnalon's Same and nlrthdny.
GOLDEN DA I.E. Wash.. Feb. 27. T
the Editor.) In some book or pnper I
read, when I was a boy. that Georco
Washington was burn on the 11th duv
of February, and not tho 22d. and that
his fnmily namo was Weaslngton, and
not Washington. Can you glvo mo any
information concerning this?
SUBSCRIBER.
Washington's ancestry has been
traced back to John Washington, of
Whitfield, who lived in England In the
time of Richard III. When Georfin
Washington was born the old-stylo cal
endar was still in use in Great Britain
and her colonics. There Is a difference
of 11 days between the old and new
style. What Is now tho 22d of Febru
ary was the 11th of February accord
ing to calendars or Washington's youth.
ItphMt Mioiild He Well Conked.
LAKESIDE, Or.. Feb. 26. (To tho
Editor.) 1 noticed In The Oregonian
an article written by Mm, W. W. Wells
about diseased jackrabblts. Blisters,
full of liquid, are what they vu.ll In
Australia Idatis. or some, namo like
that. Hy looking at the liquid with a
magnifying glass you observe a living
mass of germs, and to my knowledge
several people in Australia have been
under operation to remove the Idatis
blister.
But there is no danger in eatintt a
well-cooked jiickrabblt. Th. In more
danger In skinning and dressing them,
bscauso liquid out of blisters might get
on a person's hands and be transmitted
into his mouth. Therefore a person
should wash his hands after dressing a
rabbit. Above all. rabbits, Uka pork,
should be well cooked before eatina.
CHARLES OLLEri.
Important ftnestlon Answered.
PORTLAND, Feb. 2S. (To the Edi
tor.) Please give us your opinion on
this question: Is a knot hole a knot
hole whether the knot Is in the knot
hole or not? THE FOUR.
It is not unless the knot fails to
fill the whole hole, in which case that
part of the whole holo not filled by
the knot is a knot hole.
It In Not.
PORTLAND. Feb. 2S. (To the Ed
itor.) Can you tell me If insanity l
sufficient ground for divorce In tho
State of Oregon? A SUBSCRIBER-
Take Stock of Your
Stockings.
Do they look right and fit richt?
Do they wear as they should?
Do they give you full money
worth in satisfactory service?
The money spent for the country's
stocking bill In tho course of a year
would go a long way towards pro
viding National defense.
Good stocking service Is assured
by several wcll-mudc, well-advertised
brands.
You can read of these from time
to time in the advertising columns
of The Oregonian.