Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, March 23, 1916, Image 10

Historic Oregon Newspapers

Morning Oregonian., March 23, 1916, Page 10, Image 10

Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR

About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 23, 1916)

Prev Page of 22 Next Prev Issue Next Text PDF JP2 (4.6 MB) Clip/Print Image

Return to Top

Prev Page of 22 Next Prev Issue Next

Newspaper Page Text10 rrra mohxtxo oregoniait, Thursday, march 23, loie. PORTLAND, UKl'X.OV. ; Entered at Portland (Oreeon) Potofflce a econd-ciasa matter. Subscription Rates invariably In advance: . 13 .. Mail k . rs!1y. Sunday Included, one year..., 8 .00 raily, Sunday Included, six months-.,., -Iai;y, Sunday Included, three month.. - 2-25 lMy. Sunday Included, one month 5 Iatly, without Sunday, one year........ 6.00 JJaily, without Sunday, elx month TalK'. ujthnul Vnnrlatr Ihp,, mnnthS 1. I O Laily. without Sunday, one month..... .W0 Vv'eekly, one year '-50 bunday, one year 2.3o fcunday and Weekly, one year Pally, Sunday Included, one year 9.00 aajiy. bunday included, one montn How to Kemit Bend poatoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local hank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. (jive pottoffice addresses in tu'.i. including county and state. I'nstajre Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent: 38 to 2 paes. 2 cents: 3-4 to 43 pages, a cercio. f0 to BO pases, 4 cents; 62 to 7tt pages. 5 rents; , s to pages, 6 cents. oreiKu. ag-e, double rates. Kaitern Rn.ineoa Office Verree A: Conk lin, Brunswick building. New York; Verree i onxiln. steger building, tnicaso. Francisco representative, it. J. Bid well. 742 -MarKet street. PORTLAND, THURSDAY. MARCH 2, 1916, THE ARMY BILLS. r ond hopes or putting- me a nm ltary bill through Congress in a few hours have vanished. After several days of vigorous attacks upon the measure and counter attacks in its . favor the fate of the bill remains un determined. That it will be carved there is no question, but that it will .be rehabilitated, or defeated, as it - should be, is less conclusive. Regardless of many excellent pro visions the system of land prepared ness worked out by the House com- . mittee on military affairs is defective in its vital essential. It fails to pro- - vide a sufficiently large force to meet the military needs of the Nation. So - far as pretensions are concerned the Hay bill goes the limit in thi3 direc- - tion. But the future strength of arms that Mr. Hay sees enlisted under his banner of preparedness is much the same sort of force that France had to Idepend upon at the outbreak of the Franco-Prussian war a paper force, a. hypothetical force. In these days when the country, confronted by a great new problem, is gropingr in the dark for a proper so .lution. It would seem logical that we should turn to our few trained ex . perts for counsel if not for guidance. These experts have told Congress what is needed for defense of American shores. Yet Mr. Hay, setting his own judgment over that of the experts, dismisses their recommendations and "emerges as an exponent of a little "Army, backed by the President, in common with whom he believes that a small Army is expedient and popu lar, if not adequate. The war college and general staff recommendations were for nine divi sions in the active Army, with eigh teen divisions in reserve. The Hay bill is content with five divisions in the first line and approximately five in reserve. He provides some 341,000 :men fewer than the staff tells the -country we should have at this time. Kfforts thus far to force the number up have failed in the House and hopes of an jncrease repose in the Senate, where the Chamberlain bill is yet to be passed upon. The Senate bill, while not going the limit iiacu tiic c.vpci lot ii' i 1. 1 1 i . .provides a much larger force. The Army the full nine first-line divisions, but would reduce the number of re serve divisions by hair, ine new mo- fiie .rtrmy pmnueu u wie ot-iicttt; luiu. I11ILICO VII 11 J ' 1 1.1'. 13 1' 1 .1' .' I " 111 1 J-,,1'1'- ll'l of infantrv fin addition to the Porto .Rican regiment), organized into seven ii i 1-1 nn u Iwnnfv-flrft ricimATita rf .cavalry, organized into too divisions, and twenty-one regiments of field ar tillery and seven regiments of engi neers, an attacned to jntantry divi sions. Jt is proposed to distribute this force so-as adequately to defend Pana ma, Hawaii and the Philippines, at the same time leaving four infantry and two cavalry divisions in the United States for training of short term enlisted men for the Army re serves. An Interesting comparison of pro. posed American forces with the fight ing strength of Japan is embodied in a recent article in the Army and Navy Journal. The Japanese first line is shown to consist of twenty-five divi sions, with a total of 350.000 men. There are 3 00 regiments of infantry at war strength, thirty-three of cav alry and 186 batteries of field artil lery. The Senate bill, which is held by the President to be much too ex travagant, provides the sixty-five reg iments of infantry, twenty-five regi ments of cavalry and 126 batteries of field artillery at peace strength only. Besides, the Japanese reserve com prises 2,000,000 trained men, while the proposed American reserve does not exceed an actual fighting strength of 750,000 men. An interesting canvass of the public attitude towards a large Army has been directed by the Literary Digest, which polled 500 newspapers, repre senting every section of the United States. On striking an average an array of 285,078 was called for with a. reserve of 1.215,359. And, in view of the present temper of the American public, it is not improbable that a full and effective adjustment of our land forces would be accepted. But. of course, that would not be in keeping with the apparent purpose of the Ad ministration to straddle the issue and provide as little preparedness as pos sible. Both House and Senate hills make adequate provision for Federaliza tion of the National Guard. The fight on this force has vanished of late, since Mr. Garrison and his Con tinental Army plan were eliminated. Recognition of a force which experts declare is capable of further develop ment is-now inevitable. The two bills arrange for paying the militiamen, for raising the standard and require ments of service, and for calling them into the first line when war is pres ent or imminent, either inside or out eide the territorial limits of the United States. The Federalized, mili tia, which eliminates state abuses while embracing state support, bids fair to become an accomplished fact no matter which bill Is finally adopted anfl to become effective July 1 of the present year. But a Federalized National Guard and a slightly increased regular Army do not spell American preparedness to repel Invasion. No matter how effi cient these forces may become, they are insufficient. And the proposal of a third force of Federal volunteers for training in peace time is only a make, ehift, one tending to reduce our fight ing establishment to the status of a military crazy quilt so far as organi zation is concerned. It Is sad, indeed, that in this hour, when a strong, virile policy is needed, and a broad, brave attitude should be presented by the guardians of the Nation, that we find Congress and the President concerned, tot in, providing adequate preparca- ness, but in providing just such a measure of preparedness as shall meet the dictates of political expediency. GETTING RESULTS. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer car ries on its first page, in its issue March 21, a dispatch trom its Wash ington correspondent, which it heads in the following fashion: "Rivals Labor Harmoniously for Navy-yard. Representative Humphrey and Senator Poindexter Join in Plans for Defense of Bremerton." The spectacle of two members of Congress, one a Senator and one a "Representative, working side by side for the common welfare of their state ought not to be unique. It is not in the Washington delegation; but it may be feared that the same facility in dropping private animosities and po litical antagonisms does not exist throughout Congress. Mile3 Poindexter lives at Spokane, and he was a Progressive and is a Re publican. W. E. Humphrey has been for fourteen years a Representative for the Seattle district, and he is now a candidate for Senator against Mr. Poindexter. He is a most alert and useful member. It is not probable that Seattle, which' is wise in its gen eration and which knows the cumu lative value of long service in the House, would assent to the retirement of Mr. Humphrey except on the theory that ne may be even more valuable in the Senate, and that he is entitled to the reward of a promotion. Senator Poindexter was sponsor for the bill appropriating $2,085,000 to equip the Puget Sound navy-yard to build battleships, and he procured its passage through the Senate. But he did not then rest content with what he had done and leave to the House members the more difficult task of getting favorable consideration there. He immediately went before the House naval committee and presented convincing arguments for' the bill. It was there that he and Representative Humphrey gave so admirable a public exhibition of teamwork. It may be said that the service for the state these two Congressmen have jointly done and are doing is some thing the sentiment and interest of their constituencies expect and de mand. No excuses are given or taken. There may be there ought to be a lesson for Oregon in this interest ing incident. POSTURE AND HEALTH, Of all things that Americans are careless of perhaps the matter "of health comes first. It has been charged that our physical standards have depreciated miserably because of bodily neglect and abuse. However, since we are young as a people it is not too late to mend our ways in phy sical ways as well as in mental atti tudes. One of the most hopeful signs that American neglect of body has reached the zenith of folly is found in the American Posture League, which celebrated its third anniversary in New York the other day. Golf, ten nis and vigorous outdoor sports have been doing yeoman service for several years in rescuing Americans from physical decay, but the existence of such an organization as the Posture League indicates a serious determina tion to pick up the loose ends of our delinquencies and rectify them. The name of the new organization explains its purpose. It seeks to teach Americans how to carry themselves. We are notorious for slouehinesd of carriage, for slovenliness of posture. Many persist in wrong postures until they become permanently deformed. Bent, crooked, gnaTled persons who have no serious physical defects are a common sight. Improper postures persisted in through years account for their deformities. But other bodily abuses come under the scope of Pos ture League observations. Danger is pointed out in tight shoes, which pinch the feet and disturb the nervous system and precipitate much of the nervous strain under which thousands work from day to day. Stuffy cloth ing Is another menace, and particu larly clothing that is bunched at the waist, thus pressing upon the body and disturbing the normal operation of the functions. The field of the American Posture League is a wide one. There are so many things affecting one's health that relate to intimate personal habits, one might be misled into serious abuses without just such warnings as the Posture League engages In issu ing. Some enterprising patriot should interest himself in establishing a lo cal branch league. CENSORSHIP IN THE THEATER. The Shuberts, who conduct theaters in New Tork and other points, doubt less flatter themselves they have won a signal victory, the courts having up held their contention -that dramatic critics may be barred if the discretion of the manager so dictates. The action followed "their refusal to admit the critic of the New York Times. It la now held by the oracles of the law that they may exercise full censorial rights so long as they do not discriminate against color, race or creed. Nat urally the race, color or creed of a critic is not violated when he Is turned away at the box office. If managers feel that his expressions of opinion would hurt their business enterprise, then, from a purely legal standpoint, they are right in turning him away. But is this good business? Will opposition to free criticism help 'the atrical managers? Will the public have confidence in criticisms once it is realized that the critic is not free to speak unreservedly. Obviously it is the intention of the Shuberts to ban unfriendly critics. Perhaps, now that the law has cleared the way, other the aters will follryv the Shuberts" lead. We suspect that in that event the critics will be withdrawn altogether, for ne self-respecting editor would care to persist in a criticism that had been stripped of its freedom and hon esty. The Shuberts, of course, contend that the critic of the Times was ran corous and unfair. But the fact that the Times stood behind its critic indi cates a well-established confidence in his ability and integrity. Producem and critics never were able to agree unless ine critic nappened to be fa vorably impressed. Yet producers have seen the value of unfettered criti cism and have realized that inspired praise couiti never establish the suc cess of a hopeless play more than ill advised criticism could destroy the wortn-while production. To para phrase an old saying, the producers, with critics muzzled, might fool a few theatergoers fill the .time, and all of them part of the time, but they could not fool all of the theatergoers all the time. Possibly, having won, this legal vir tory, the Shuberts will establish a cen sorship in the theaters. That would be ine ir-gicai next step. Critics, after attending. the first-night presentation, wouto. prepare tneir copy in the man. aser's office ana submit it to the Shu.- J bert censor. Thus we might read: "the new play at the Shubert Theater is (deleted by censor) good. Miss Tenaweek, who plays the title role, was received (deleted by censor) well." Now from the first line the words "anything but" may have been stricken and from the second "with such persistent hisses that she finally collapsed, but she may get." Even such censorship would be preferable to a system that barred critics unless they would dole out unreserved praise re gardless of the merits of the produc tion. One suspects that the Shuberts have started something which they will find it unprofitable to finish. INCREDIBLE. "When Wilson said. "It would be a good thing- Zor humanity for the United States to get Into this war," he meant to carry the Idea, of coarse, that It would be a good thing for England. In the mind of the President humanity and Kngland are aynon ymous. in spite of Baralong. massacres. This paragraph is from a local German-American paper, printed partly In German and partly in English. The only source of the unqualified asser tion that the President made the re mark above quoted is Senator Gore, who said that he had it on the au thority of some unnamed person or persons; and he did not vouch for it. Thus we see how easily an incredible yarn, told for mischievous purposes, is converted by an unscrupulous propa ganda into a solemn statement of al leged fact. ENFORCE PEACE. It seems to be worth while, in or der to clear up misunderstandings in some minds prone to think that the word peace has no rightful place in the vocabulary of any practical na tion, to explain just what the League to Enforce Peace is. The whole pro gramme of the society is admirably set forth in its platform: It la desirable for the United States to Join a league of nations binding the sig natories to the following: First All Justiciable questions arising be tween the signatory powers, not settled by negotiation, shall, subject to the limitations of treaties, be submitted to a Judicial trib unal for hearing and Judgment, both upon the merits and upon any issue as to ila jurisdiction of the question. Second All other questions arising be tween the signatories, and not settled Joy negotiation, shall be submitted to a council of conciliation for hearing, consideration and recommendation. Third The signatory powers shall Jointly use forthwith both their economic and mil itary forces against any one of their number that goes to war, or commits acts of hos tility against another of the signatories be fore any question arising shall be submitted as provided in the foregoing. Fourth Conferences between the signa tory powers shall be held from time to time to formulate and codify rules of Interna tional law. which, unletss some signatory shall signify Its dissent within a stated period, shall thereafter govern In the de cisions of the judicial tribunal mentioned in article 1. There it is. There is something more to be done than suing or pray ing or hoping for peace. It is to be enforced. The nations in the league propose to have it if they must fight for it. It is to be feared that it can not be had permanently in any other way. There are critics who think that a League to Enforce Peace is a con tradiction in terms. But how is It to be had unless the world is policed and the -nations are required to obey the public law? EXIT VOX TIRPITZ. The retirement of Admiral Von Tirpitz as head, of the German Admir alty is one of the striking events of the war, from whatever standpoint it is viewed. It removes from the stage the builder of the German navy and the man who is responsible for the policy of frightfulness at sea. It seems to mark the abandonment of that policy as having cost more in loss of men and ships, in damage to the good name of Germany, in neutral good will and in permanent injury to German trade than it has gained for the Teu ton cause in war. Following closely the vote of Congress not to interfere with President Wilson's efforts to cause cessation -of submarine outrage, this event seems to have close rela tion to that vote and may indicate a purpose to conciliate the United States and other neutral nations. Submarine operations have de stroyed several millions of tons of al lied ships and of neutral ships trad ing with the allies, but they have been accompanied by enormous loss to Germans in British waters. By scores German U-boats have been sunk or trapped in nets and captured. Inci dents are related of such ships being netted and brought to the surface, in which the British found that every member of the crew had committed suicide. It came to the point where a man who went to sea on a subma rine accepted death on the expedition as his certain fate. The men who have been thfJ sacrificed have been the cream of the Germany navy men of high technical ability and of excep tional courage, daring and devotion. In spite of the heavy losses in this type of men and in their craft, the movements of allied transports are not perceptibly diminished, though! commerce is hampered and traffic on minor routes is reduced or abandoned. Ocean freights and insurance are raised to extravagant figures and the cost of living in allied countries is seriously enhanced. But marine frightfulness has not succeeded. The driving of the Russians back to the line from Riga to Czernowitz, the Balkan victories and the hammering at Verdun having failed to break the allies' determination to fight on until Prussian military domination was de stroyed, the implacable Von Tirpitz is believed to have counseled, a more re lentless submarine war as the only hope of victory. But the Kaiser found that these methods had already brought him to the verge of war with the United States and had aroused deep enmity in Holland and Scandi navia. He had enough enemies on his hands already; a more ruthless cam paign would embitter them more and might add to their number without prospect of commensurate military re sults. He found that notwithstand ing the clumsy pro-German propa ganda and the German outrages in thi3 country, there was much Ameri can sympathy with Germany which would be alienated. There was more to be lost than gained by more fright fulness. Also Germany may have' begun to consider the lasting injury done to its commerce by inspiring neutral nations ivith hh antipathy to everything Ger man. The Kaiser's subjects are busy ing themselves with preparations to restore and expand their commerce In the" United States, South America, Spain and other neutral countries when peace returns. . They do not wish to start under a handicap such as further marine outrages would cre ate. With the allies planning an anti German commercial league which might attract sympathetic neutrals, Germans do not wish to help it along by giving neutrals an incentive to Join it, The&e are the most plausible expla- nations of Von Tirpitz' retirement, but there are other and conflicting ex planations which may equally deserve credit, though not as encouraging to those who hope for mitigation of war's horrors. One is that Von Tirpitz had become as big a man as the Kaiser himself and was too unyielding to please his master, in that respect re sembling Bismarck, whose resigna tion, often offered, was finally accept ed for a like reason. This reason might leave the way open for a change of submarine strategy without mitiga tion of its horrors. It is reported that the Germans have discovered means of discharging beneath the surface a mine torpedo, consisting of two mines linked by a cable. As the ship's bow strikes the cable the mines are brought together against its sides and exploded. It is suggested that the Tubantia and Silius were sunk by this device. Berlin- may therefore be technically correct in saying these ships were sunk by-nines, though lit erally they would still have been wrecked by submarines. In fact sub marines would have the game with out taking the blame. Only events will reveal whether Von Tirpitz' resignation is to be followed by any mitigation of German ruthless ness and hence by removal of the fric tion between Germany and the United States. The reasons why it should be so seem sound to us on this side of the Atlantic, but so did all those which were advanced against other German methods and which have been scorned by Germany. The death of George W. Bates re moves from the active stage of affairs in Oregon a figure long prominently and usefully identified with large ac tivities. He was a methodical man who applied careful and Intelligent methods to every transaction, so that success seemed to come easily from whatever he undertook. Years ago he was a contractor, and built bridges and similar works. They were always good and safe bridges. Later he was a manufacturer, and then a banker. He had a taste for politics, and he was once State Senator for Multnomah County. He had been president for several years of a large Portland bank, and he discharged his duties there with the fidelity and capacity that had marked his entire career. The news of his sjidden death was no slight shock in a community where he was well known, highly respected and widely trusted. Opposition to President Wilson's policy in regard to armed ships cen ters in Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Wiscon sin, Missouri and the Dakotas. Those are states having a large foreign-born population, but they also are inland states, the people of which cannot be expected to understand fully the bear ing of maritime disputes. All of the states named except Missouri are Re publican strongholds and, if the Re publican party makes a firm stand for American rights, they may prove re ceptive to Republican argument and readily fall in line with their party policy. A campaign of education on naval questions is all that is needed in that section. Europe is losing its sweet tooth in the war. Germany applies sugar beet land to production of more necessary food than sugar., Britain, in order to economize ocean freight space and to induce the people to practice economy In consumption, recommends reduced use of sugar and of foods whereof it is an ingredient. A London doctor says that improved health will re sult, for many people use sugar to ex cess. Another blessing in disguise brought by the war. It is not true that the majority of men in Mexican armies are officers; the statement is a slander, Of the Villa army which surrendered to Car ranza 4000 were enlisted men and 3330 officers. The non-commissioned officers and privates had a clear ma jority of 6 70. True, the army was rather top-heavy with Colonels and Lieutenant-Colonels; there were 2304 of them. But there were oTily twenty Generals, or -one to each 366 men. Who would be a private when it is so easy to be an officer? Objection is made to immodest totem poles which are brought into the United States. If the Alaskan Indians had a state department through which to protest, American paintings and statues might be cited as "a parallel case." Woman suffrage will not down in New York. The Assembly has adopted by a vote of 109 to 30 the amendment as a preliminary to submission to the people. Action in the.' Senate Is pre vented only by obstructive tactics in committee. With the thermometer at 100 in Texas--and" with trains being blown from' "-their tracks in Indiana, we should be grateful for Oregon weather even when it is at its worst. Isn't it refined cruelty to keep an Indian boy pegging away at geogra phy, arithmetic and grammar espe cially the last i-at Chemawa, with the smell of Spring in the air? Skirts may have to be shortened as an economy war measure. X Now it might be possible to discard skirts, but as for making them any shorter impossible! That 13-year-old girl who told a story plain enough almost to convict an innocent old man is a product of too much advanced education. Americans who desire to leave Mex ico should be assisted by this Govern ment. That republic will be unhealthy for Americans pretty soon. It rather dignifies the insect to state that the bunch of Albanian immi grants are held at New York for treat ment of pediculosis. The colonial seems to be a better patriot than the home-born Briton, for 280,000 of them have enlisted in Canada. Great fires in the South during the last few days will affect seriously the insurance companies' surplus. The well equipped, person carries'an umbrella in one hand and a sun shade In the other these days. Too bad the Russians cannot prac tice in an extensive drive on jack rabbits for a while. But what would we do if the Car ranza greasers should decide to assault Kl Paso, en masse?" The old-time habit of racing home from a funeral has changed Into speeding up. Stars and Starmakers By Leone Casa Bur, - MAUD ALLAN, the dancer, may enter vaudeville when she recovers from an operation for appendicitis, per formed last week. Miss Allan returned to New York last Fall, after a tour of the world. She had planned to sail on March 4 for England. Her last appearance over here was made four years ago. The vaudeville "powers that be" be lieve that the classic dance is just now the thing. Ruth St. Denis, with her company. Is proving one of the season's biggest drawing cards. Jose Collins, oldest daughter of the late Lottie Collins, of "Ta-ra-ra Boom de Aye" fame, sailed on Saturday on the Rotterdam. Miss Collins was en gaged by cable to appear under the direction of the George Edwards estate at Daly's In London in a musical ver sion of "The Prisoner of Zenda," Miss Collins was to have appeared shortly at the Palace with Maurice Farkoa and later to make & tour of the Orpheum circuit. Her sister Lottie the second has appeared on Pantages. When the Boston Grand Opera Com pany and the Pavlowa Imperial Ballet Russe come to the Heilig Theater on March 24 and 25 there will be seen by th ose who happen in the neighborhood of the theater box office a white-haired yet extremely youthful-faced man with a smile. And if you don't already know him to be Max Hirsch, it is time you did. Mr. Hirsch was with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company for 25 years, then with the Philadelphia-Chicago Opera Company for four years, and now he is manager of the Boston Grand Opera-Pavlowa organization. Mr. Hirsch is well-known in Portland, where he has many relatives and friends, and his visits here are invari ably made socially interesting. Mary Anderson, who is now Madame de Navarro made her reappearance on the stage on March 7, at a perform ance given in Worcester, England, as a benefit for the soldiers in the Wor cestershire Regiment. Miss Anderson played her original character in Gil bert's one-act drama "Comedy and Tragedy." - Among those in her sup port was Ben Greet. . Ciccolini's visit via the' Orpheum gives Carlo Edwards, his director, an opportuftity to visit home and mother. Mrs. Charles E. Edwards, of this city, is the mother of Mr. Edwards, who joined Ciccolini in Italy and who is ciceroning that grand opera singer with the flashing eyes and thrilling voice in his first tour of America. Young Ed wards worked his way to Italy as a kitchen 'mechanic" on a Cunard liner. Arriving in Milan he put three months hard study In learning Italian and ob tained a position as English corres pondent in a bank. Edwards at this time was ambitious to be a vocalist. but was dissuaded by a Catholic priest who advised him to become a director of music Instead of a tenor. Edwards then took the examination for the Milan Conservatory of Muslo and won the scholarship which meant nine years of free tuition. At the outbreak of th war Edwards hied to the United States with Ciccolini. He plans to return to Milan to finish his course in the con servatory when Ciccolini completes his American tour. He has one brother in Portland. He is Laurence Edwards, a salesman for the Pacific Coast Paper Company. Another tri-star musical comedy com bination has been formed, this time by Charles Dilingham. The three luminaries to be gathered under one banner by this astute and debonair producer are Elsie Janis, Raymond Hitchcock and Willie Collier. This interesting combination will be the opening attraction at the Globe Theater in New York next Autumn. Winona Winter, who returned from the stage after she married a M Frost, or a partner of Mr. Frost or something, has returned to the stage. These vaudeville brides always come back, don't they? Mrs. Thomas Whiffen. America's oldest active actress has been booked for a vaudeville tour. Her sketch is called "The Golden Night" and was written by Edgar Allen Woolf. Clara Morris, the noted actress, now partially blind, celebrated her 70th birthday at her home. Shore road and Twenty-fifth street, overlooking Long Island Sound, at Whitestone, on March 17. Mrs. Frederick Harriott, as the actress is known beyond theatrcal cir cles, occupies the Harriott homestead. more than a century old, with her mother, who is 94 years of age, a couple of servants and a nurse. The latter reads to the mother and daugh ter daily and takes dictation from the latter when she feels in the mood to do writing. Mrs. Harriott is confined to her room overlooking the Sound most of the time. Her husband died two years ago. The bureau of education of the Jewish community of New York City, desiring to encourage the development of a dramatic literature, written ex pressly for Jewish children in Amer ica, announces a prize contest for juvenile plays. Manuscripts may range from one-act pieces to five-act drama. They may be Biblical, post-Bibilical or modern in nature, and deal with any phase of Jewish life or character. The subject matter may be original or use may be made of legendary and "historic -material available. The plays may be written for children between the ages of 6 and 16, and should be suitable for presentation either at festivals or on general occasions. A prize of $100 will be awarded for the best play or playlet. Contributions should be addressed to Play Contest, Entertainment Department Bureau of Education, S56 Second avenue. New York. Pronunciation of Motorcycle. RIDDLE, Or., March 21. (To the Ed itor.) We had a discussion in English class in high school the other day about - the correct way to pronounce the word motorcycle. Could you please Inform me whether the "y" is pro nounced with a short or long sound. GLADYS A. JACKSON. The long sound of y is given by authorities, although a more careful pronunciation is as if cycle were spelled "sai-kl." Six eara. MITCHELL, Or., March 22. (To the Editor.) Please inform me whether the term of a County Judge is four r six years in this state. SUBSCRIBER, HOW ROOSEVELT GAINED POINT lie Brought Germany to Terms by Threat Without Flrins Shot. How President Roosevelt brought Germany to terms in regard to the blockade of Venezuela without firing a shot or even making a stroke of the pen is told in the "Life of John Hay." Britain, Germany and Italy intended to enforce payment of claims by seizing Venezuelan territory, but President Roosevelt urged arbitration. Britain and Italy agreed, but Germany refused. Mr. Hay thus related what followed: "One day when the crisis was at its height he (President Roosevelt) sum moned to the White House Dr. Holleben, the German Ambassador, and told him that unless Germany consented to arbi trate, the American squadron, under Admiral Dewey, would be given orders by noon ten days later to proceed to the Venezuelan coast and prevent any tak ing possession of Venezuelan territory. Dr. Holleben began to protest that his Imperial master, having once refused to arbitrate, could not change his mind. The President said that he was not arguing the question, because argu ments had already been gone over un til no useful purpose could be served by repeating them; he was simply giv ing information which the Ambassador might think it important to transmit to Berlin. "A week passed in silence. Then Dr. Holleben again called on the Presi dent, but said nothing of the Venezue lan matter. When he rose to go the President asked him about it, and, when he stated that he had received nothing from his government, the Pres ident informed him in substf-nce that, in view of this fact. Admiral Dewey would be instructed to sail a day ear lier than the day he (the President) had originally mentioned. Much per turbed, the Ambassador protested. The President informed him that not a stroke of a pen had been put on paper; that if the Emperor would agree to arbitrate, he (the President) would heartily praise him for such action and would treat it as taken on German ini tiative, but that, within 48 hours, there must be an offer to arbitrate, or Dewey would sail with orders indicated. "Within 36 i.eurs Dr. Holleben re turned to the. White House and an nounced to President Roosevelt that a dispatch had just come from Berlin saying that the Kaiser would arbitrate. Neither Admiral Dewey (who. with the American fleet, was then maneuvering in the -West Indies) nor anyone else knew of the step that was to be taken; the naval authorities were merely re quired to be in readiness, but were not told what for. "On tho announcement that Germany had consented to 'arbitrate the Presi dent publicly complimented the Kaiser on being so staunch a friend of arbi tration." m PORTLAND'S FIRST BRICK STORE Olynipia Asks Information Concerning Pioneer's Distinction. ot.vmpia Wash.. March 20. (To the Editor.) In The Oregonian recently it was stated that Joseph Blumauer "oc cupied the first brick building in Port land." I am curious to know where that building was located. In October. 1865. I arrived in Portland with my father, M. H. Abbott, and we lived there until 1870. As I remember the only brick building in the city at that time was located on Front street next to the river and near Oak street. It was a small .one-story affair and was occupied by the postoffice as long as we lived in Portland. The I. O. O. F. Temple, lo cated on Second and Alder, was the next brick building constructed. I be lieve it was in 1869 when I was pres ent at the cornerstone laying, which was conducted by the Masons and Odd fellows. When I was a boy Front street was the principal business street of Port land, and the business houses lining the street vera, cheap shacks with wooden awnings in front. Tho Cosmopolitan Hotel, and one other hotel I cannot recall the name of, were among the better class of buildings on the street. They used to say that Front street would mire a saddle blanket those days. In the Winter the street was almost impassable. Great quan tities of cobblestones were deposited in the street by the city authorities and in the Summer of 1869 I witnessed the laying of several blocks of "Nicholson pavement" on Front street, ending at Morrison street. Mr. Blumauer. Henry Failing, the Ladds. H. L. Pittock. Will iam Wadhams, Dr. Raffety and many others were familiar figures in Port land whom I well remember when I was a bov and long before Portland could justly claim 10.000 inhabitants. M. D. ABBOTT. According to George H. Hlmes. of the Oregon Historical Society, the first brick building in Portland was located on the west side of Front street and the third building south from the cor ner of Stark. It was erected by W. S. Ladd in June, 1853, and was occupied by him for a time with a general mer chandise store. It was originally a one-story building, but later other stories were added. The Ladd & Tll ton Bank .began as a business insti tution in the second story of the build ing. Rules Committee In House. MONKLAND, Or.. March 20. (To the Editor.) Who comprise the rules committee in the House of Representa tives and what are their main duties? What important changes were made in this committee in 1910? jJl. NISH. Prior to 1910 the rules committee of the House was appointed by the Speaker, and he was a member, and chairmariT In 1910, In a fight which was without parallel In the House, the Democrats and "insurgent" Republicans formed an alliance and increased the membership from five to ten, made the personnel of it subject to an election in the House and eliminated the Speaker as a member. The committee thus elected by. the House as a whole chose its own chairman. The rules committee is a powerful one and necessarily by this reorganization the Speaker was shorn of much of his power. A motion to unseat the Speaker at that time failed, the "insurgent" Republicans refusing to go that far. - The members of the House committee on rules are: Robert L. Henry, chair man; Edward W. Pou, Finis J Garrett, Martin D. Foster, James C. Cantrill, Byron P. Harrison, Thomas G. Patten, Philip P. Campbell, Irvine L. Lenroot, William S. Bennet and Burnett M. Chipperfield. The principal duty of the rules com mittee is to determine the. parliamen tary procedure of the House. It is one of the principal agencies through which the House conducts its business. Titanic at Sea's Bottom. BOISE, Ida., March 20. (To the Edi tor.) A dispute has" arisen as to whether or not the S. S. Titanic ever reached the bottom of the ocean. Kind ly advise us if a steel mass which is solid In construction will sink to any depth of water. C. D. Q. At the time of the Titanic disaster there was some scientific speculation Involving the question you ask, but it Is generally accepted as fact that the Tltanlo reached the bottom of the ocean. Supposing that all water depth is limited by reason of the very forma tion of the earth and that the law of gravity governs, we suppose a steel mass would sink. to any existing depth ot water, In Other Day Half n Century Ago. From The Oregonian March 2n, 1S6R. Washington. Mr. Wilson has called up his resolution to amend the Consti tution of the United States so as to pro vide that "no rayment shall ever be made by the United States, or any state, for or on account of the eman cipation of slave or slaves, or incurred in aid of the rebellion against the National Government." The inconvenience and difficulty in cident to travel on the several waRon roads which lead from this city in a westerly direction have always beer severely felt. For half the year the people of this valuable and extensive agricultural section ,west of Portland find it next to Impossible to reach the city. The improvements being projected are much needed. The Postoffice Department is con templating the discontinuance of a number of small postoffices in Oregon and Washington Territory on account of the habitual failure of the postmas ters to render quarterly returns as re quired by law. Washington. March 21. Dr. Ballard, of Oregon, has been appointed Governor of Oregon and will doubtless be con firmed by the Senate. John M. Thayer, of Nebraska, has been brevetted Major General. Phillip Ritz, a nurseryman of Walla Walla, is shipping fruit and ornamental trees to Portland. Charlotte Crampton played the part of Hamlet in the Shakespearean play of that name at the Willamette Theater last night. A. M. Starr, of Fortland. and W. H. Eddy, of Milwaukie, have purchased a cotton plantation of 3000 acres in Alabama. Twenty-five Years Agto. From The Oregonian March 23. 1S91. Hillsboro. March 22. The evidence in the Charles ("Sandy") Olds case was concluded yesterday and at 2 A. M. today the jury rendered a verdict of "guilty of manslaughter." Olds shot and killed Emil Weber on the corner of Third and Alder streets in Portland, May 11, 1889. The penalty is one to 15 years in prison and a fine of 15000. The killing grew out of a factional fight among gamblers in Portland. London. The report that William S. Gilbert and Sir Arthur Sullivan are again working together on their operas is now said to be erroneous. Gilbert, they say, has made all possible advances, but they have been coldly received. In addition, Gilbert has had a quarrel with Fred Collier. Manager Glenalvin has at last signed Tom and "Jiggs" Parrott for the Portland baseball team. Tom will pitch and "Jiggs" will play third. The death of Lawrence Barrett is not only a great loss to the higher walks of the American stage, but it was a loss to the needed popular education of higher dramatic taste that Is in danger of death before the increasing rage for farce and burlesque. Miss Yvett U. Guilbert is the rage in Paris. She cannot sing and does not try to, but she chants. The town is therefore mad over her because she is a novelty. Miss May Lewis suffered a sprained knee recently in a fall downstairs at her home. Edward Arnheini, the young man who was to have been married in Port land recently. sLamling. with his bride in Wallace's greenhouse, but who dis appeared just before the ceremony, leaving the minister waiting, has re turned to set himself right in the eyes of the Portland populace. He explained the disappearance of himself and bride by the fact that when the bride alighted from the train from San Fran cisco she pointed out a man she thought was a detective put on her trail by her parents, who objected to the match. After talking it over and being un successful in evading the man. they departed for San Francisco, where he got into trouble, being detained, and the girl went on to Chicago. He says he will marry the girl yet. Finding Birth Date. PORTLAND, March 21. (To the Edi tor.) Kindly tell me through The Ore gonian of whom a person should in quire to get the exact date of a birth. The birth occurred in Connecticut some 11 years ago. Also tell me what costs would be incurred to obtain informa tion. M. R. Write to the clerk of the county in which you think the birth occurred. The cost should be little or nothing, unless it Tequired considerable re search, which in your case it probably would not. Dealers In Old Coins. PORTLAND. March 21. (To the Edi tor.) Is there any firm in Portland where one may ascertain the value of old coins? Give me the name of reli able Eastern firm dealing in them. We know of no Portland firm dealing in old coins on a sclentifio basis. Com municate with the American Numis matic Society, Audubon Park, One Hundred and Fi Mfty-sixth street, west of w York City. of 1850 and 187ff. Broadway, New Dollars KELSO, .Wash., March 22. (To the Editor.) What is the value of a silver dollar of 1876 and of a old dollar of 1856. A SUBSCRIBER. There is no additional value to a silver dollar of 1876. The gold dol lars from 1849 to 1862 inclusive are worth $1.73 each. Write American Numismatic Society, Audubon Park, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth street, west of Broadway, New York. Yes. CANBY, Or., March 21. (To the Editor.) The parents were born in the old country, married in the United States and live here. Are the children of this union, born in the United States, citizens? READER. I'nited States. ABERDEEN. Wash., March 21. (To the Editor.) Which is the third strongest naval power in the world? SUBSCRIBER. lo manufacturers Everywhere Have you looked into the merits of local dealer co-operation which you can secure by r.dvertising your goods in the newspapers of the country? Have you seen how the newspa pers are working to make their ad vertising columns a. profitable in vestment for you? Have you noticed the awakening among local merchants everywhere and their eagerness to make sales that will be of mutual benefit? The advertising map is changing for the manufacturer of Nationally or generally distributed products. The waste is being eliminated. Definite results are being secured for definite dollars paid.