10
THE arORXIXG OTTEGOXIAX TUESDAY, MATJCIT 28, 101G.
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rORIUND, TUESDAY, MARCH 88, 191.
MR. HOLIER-THAN-THOU WILSON.
President "Wilson's warning against
the "sinister and unscrupulous influ
ences," which he accuses of spread
ing alarmist reports about Mexico with
the object of forcing intervention, is
one more example of the distorted
. view he takes. of everything connected
with Mexico and of his Pharisaical as
sumption that he and his associates
are the sole depositories of virtue and
wisdom and that all who oppose them
are prompted by motives "sinister and
unscrupulous." The news services are
warned not to publish anything which
may help the designs of these wicked
men and which may wound the sus
ceptibilities' of "the distressed and
sensitive people of Mexico."
Now what are the plain facts of the
case? A large number of Americans
invested their capital in Mexican
mines, oil fields, ranches and other
enterprises, and thousands of other
Americans took up their abode in
Mexico to develop those enterprises.
Their action was not only lawful, but
laudable; it is of the same order as
that which has developed the United
States. They carried American en
ergy into a foreign country In order
to earn an honest living, to improve
their fortunes, to extend American
commerce and to win glory for the
United StateB by so doing. They reck
oned on the protection of the United
States for their lives and property.
Any other country would have given
this protection to its citizens, and these
Americans assumed that their coun
try would do no less.
For five years these men and wom
en have been subjected to all manner
of wrong at the hands of a series of
revolutionary and bandit leaders. First
one. then another, leader gained the
upper hand, and they fought with bar
barous ferocity, but they agreed in
one respect all murdered, robbed,
outraged and blackmailed Americans
and insulted the American flag. Mr.
Wilson has recognized as ruler of
Mexico General Carranza, who yields
nothing to his rivals in the barbarity
of his methods of warfare or in his
murdering and plundering of Ameri
cans, while he has surpassed them all
in insolent defiance of the United
States Government. By recognizing
Carranza Mr. Wilson has provoked
Villa to open war on the United States
and has made necessary the expedi
tion against Villa.
The Americans i question, having
learned by bitter experience that the
one consuming passion of Mexicans is
hatred of Americans, and knowing
that many of Carranza's troops have
but recently foresworn allegiance to
Villa, are naturally apprehensive that
these men will turn upon the Ameri
can troops. They naturally doubt, the
good faith of Carranza's co-operation
in American hostilities against Villa
and they anticipate that popular en
mity to Americans will cause Car
ranza's troops to join in the fight
against us or at least secretly to con
nive at Villa's escape. They know
Mexico better than Mr. Wilson or any
of his officials, as has been proved by
the confirmation of all their predic
tions as to the results of the Wilson
policies and by the failure of every
effort made by Mr. Wilson to pacify
Mexico. They have good cause to
criticise his policy, for he deserted
those who were at Tampico to be res
cued by the British and Germans and
the best he has done for them Is to
tell them to get out of Mexico and to
give them free transportation to the
United States. When the Tampico
refugees complained to Secretary Dan.
iels of the Government's inaction, he
asked, "Aren't you thankful you are
alive?"
These men judge of present events
In Mexico by their own knowledge and
experience. They see 5000 or 6000
American troops march far into Mex
ico, where actually and possibly hos
tile forces are on all sides. They see
this small American army dependent
for supplies on motor trucks travers
ing a long desert road,' while Carranza,
though professing friendship, haggles
over the terms on which it shall be
permitted to use the railroad. They
see our entire mobile Army to be
barely sufficient to patrol the border
and to keep open communication,
leaving little, if 'any. margin for re
inforcement of the expedition. They
view with suspicion every move of the
Carranza troops and they believe that
the United States should have avail
able enough troops to overcome the
forces of Villa and Carranza combined.
They are more anxious for the "dis
tressed and sensitive people" of the
United States than for those of Mex
ico, at whose hands fhey have suf
fered such great wrongs.
But when these Americans give
their own interpretation to events and
express their opinion as to what iv
likely to happen and as to what the
United States Government should do
to meet the perils which threaten our
troops, they are accused by the man
who left them and their property to
the mercy of savage of having "sinis
ter and unscrupulous" motives and of
scheming to force intervention in Mex.
ico "in the interests of certain Ameri
can owners of Mexican properties."
These interests are styled by Mr. Wil
son's followers the big interests and
it ia assumed that, because they are
big. they have no claim on the pro
tection of the United States, and that
their opinions on public affairs should
have no attention. The truth Is that
all American interests, big or little,
have an equal right to the protection
of the Government in doing that
which Is lawful. If the smelting, oil
or mining companies violate the law,
they are liable to punishment and
ehould be punished, but they should
not, on that account, be denied pro
tection in exercising their lawful
rights.
Mr. Wilson's statement is a shame
ful demagogic appeal to class preju
dice against all who criticise his Mexi
can policy. It la a covert attempt to
induce the news associations to sup
press all adverse criticism. It claims
all virtue and wisdom for Mr. Wil
son's party and ascribes all vice and
folly to his opponents. It is a revival
of the long-since -discredited theory
that one's political opponents are
fiends in human shape. It is the epi
tome of political bigotry, Pharisaism
and injustice.
ONE MAN'S POWER.
There was a survey of the public
schools of Portland in 1913, under'.the
direction of a capable and industri
ous citizens' committee. A corps of
experts was employed to do the actual
work of investigation and recommen
dation; and naturally the investigators
found much to criticise. They al
ways do.
Undoubtedly much, or perhaps all,
discovered by the distinguished edu
cators who were brought here to find
out what was the matter was well
founded. Yet it is not-easy, even when
the seat of the trouble is known, and
the remedy is clear, to apply it. ,
The school authorities say that a long
step, indeed several long steps, have
been taken in adopting the methods
suggested by the survey. But the Rev.
Mr. Boyd made an address Sunday in
which he voiced a different opinion.
The doctor was inclined to lay heavy
blame on the School Board, and to
saj- that it meddles too much, and the
City Superintendent ought to run the
schools. The directors are officially
a bad lot; personally they are estim
able gentlemen, no doubt. The sys
tem, not the men, is to blame.
It may well be wondered if Dr.
Boyd and other critics of the schools
have read carefully the survey's "sug
gested law for the management of the
Portland school district." Let us take
section 7:
The Superintendent of Schools shall be
the chief executive officer of the Board of
Education and shall have general co-ordinating-
authority and oversight over the
work of all executive officers and other
employers of the school district. He ahail
have full responsibility for the course of
study, the selection of text-books and sup
plemental books, and the selection, pro
motion, assignment, transfer or dismissal
of assistant superintendents, special super
visors, principals and teachers, the Board
acting in all such matters only on his
recommendation.
Quite sweeping indeed. No civil
service, no guaranteed tenure there.
The so-called "Spoilsman's act" passed
by the recent Legislature is by com
parison a complete civil service code.
Do the gentlemen who are anxious
that the survey and its results be fol
lowed subscribe to the policy of one
man autocracy set up by this single
recommendation? If so, why a School
Board at all?
ELEVENTH-HOUR REFORMS.
John Lind, former special emissary
to Mexico, and Administration favor
ite, became quite eloquent before the
House public lands committee on" the
iniquity of the lieu land or scrip law.
Brother Lind, perhaps inadvertently,
had previously proved his point by re
lating a financial romance of which
John Lind was the hero.
Eleven years ago, Mr. Lind pur
chased Northern Pacific scrip at J10
and J 11, and located it on Coos County
timber land. This land, 2240 acres,
which cost him less than $25,000, he
sold to C. A. Smith for $100,000. Pre
sumably ho got $40,000 in cash and
the remainder in notes. The notes
were secured by assignment of an
executory contract for the purchase' of
a large tract of railroad grant land
the terms of which violated the set
tlers' clause of the grant.
On suggestion of Mr. Lind the Attorney-General
of the United States
offered an amendment to the Cham
berlain bill "which would have con
firmed Mr. Lind's title to the grant
lands. This land, says Mr. Lind, is
worth about $245,000. If the amend
ment in its original form is adopted,
Mr. Lind will clean up about $200,
000 on his $25,000 investment in rail
road scrip.
Others have seen the bright light
of reform under similar circumstances.
There was once an eminent single
taxer who pointed to his own large
fortune as an awful example of the
iniquity of unearned increment. But
the public did not receive the fortune
when death severed his own hold on it.
There is a millionaire stockbroker
with a gift of lurid expression who
writes bitterly of Wall Street and the
system.
An American captain of industry
who made his success by application
of trust methods and through the ben
efits of over-protection, has become an
anti-trust advocate and an anti-protectionist
now that he has retired
with wealth untold.
There might be mentioned other
striking cases. But these are enough
to illustrate a peculiarity of human
nature which it is surprising Mr. Lind
did not take into account when he
made his Mexican recommendations to
the President. Villa as the recognized
ruler of Mexico would doubtless be
death on bandits.
THE EAST FAINT HOPE.
But one hope now remains that
Congress 'Will do anything to strengthen
the land defenses of the United States.
That hope reposes in the Senate, and
it is. a slender one. The House has
spoken. The President has spoken.
Neither intends to do more than treat
the whole issue on the basis of pork
and political expediency. Their ideas
are embodied in the fraudulent Hay
bill which Congress has failed to repu
diate and which the President has
embraced as his own.
No security would be preferable to
the Hay brand of security, for it is a
false security, designed to lure us into
belief that we are defended when we
are not. The bill boasts a prospective
force of 1,324,790 men. This by count
ing the Army and National Guard,
but principally every one who ever
served in either reserves, which in
the cases of men not dead, are scat
tered to the four winds, with no rec
ord of their whereabouts and no
means of communicating with them.
The surprising thing is that Hay didn't
count the Rough Riders, Eighth Army
Corps and the Grand Atmy of the
Republic.
What the Senate will do remains to
be seen. Possibly not a great deal. The
Senate bill as drafted by Senator
Chamberlain adopts the plan of the
military experts and makes some show
of providing an adequate Army. But
even if the Senate should insist upon
its measure the House, after standing
pat on the Hay bill, would hardly give
ground. And then, it must be re
membered the President's signature
is required to the measure finally
adopted by Congress.
So at this time the issue is one of
little preparedness or no prepared
ness, of a pork-barrel military policy
or a continuation of no policy. The
Senate may find itself confronted with
the choice of accepting the House
Army ideas or of precipitating a fight
over preparedeness which would
wreck the party. But perhaps Ameri
cana should not complain, too'fcltterly.
An electorate which places a Presi
dent in power and a Congress in pow
er withxiut asking where they. stand
on the Nation's honor and the Na
tion's security may have courted just
such a heart-racking spectacle as now
confronts us.
STATE POI.ICK FORCE NEEDED.
One good result o the prospective
action of Congress in federalizing the
National Guard and in making it the
second line of the National Army is
to arouse public opinion in favor of
a state , police force. Such a force
would relieve the National Guard of
the duty of suppressing riots, which
are most frequent in connection with
strikes. That duty is distasteful to
Guardsmen and has caused labor
unions to place an embargo on en
listment in the militia.
When disorder occurs in connection
with strikes, the state authorities are
given the alternative of calling out
the National Guard or of permitting
employers to hire private guards, who
are little better than gunmen. Strik
ers and their friends become inflamed
against the militia, which they regard
as an army maintained at public ex
pense for the service of employers.
They make open jar on private
guards.
Pennsylvania organized a state con
stabulary ten years ago to take strike
duty off the militia's hands and to
preserve order in rural districts, where
Sheriffs and Constables are unequal
to the task. So great has been the di
minution of riot that for nine years
the 228 members of the state con
stabulary have been on strike duty
only one day per man each year.' Of
1144 arrests made in 1912, only ten
were for rioting, while an equal num
ber were for horsestealing, three times
as many for trespass and 'five times
as many for burglary. The constab
ulary prevents riot, while the militia
and private guards incite riot, as was
proved in Colorado and Michigan.
If the National Guard could be re
lieved of strike duty, and become a
purely military body, the opposition
of labor unions would then be re
moved and their members would be
willing to undergo military training.
The sparsely settled sections of the
state, which are now imperfectly po
liced, would then be well patroled and
criminals would be more promptly run
down. i
BILLIONS OF WASTE.
"In surveying casually our millions
of uncultivated acres, our limitless un.
developed resources and our unscien
tific methods of producing, one is led
to suspect that the country wastes
enough every year to 'keep the whole
civilized world in a greater luxury
than that to which it has been accus
tomed. It would be interesting to
know just how much the country does
waste or' let go to waste each year.
The total must run far into bil
lions of dollars. An interesting field
this for some energetic statistician.
Partial surveys are amazing. A com
pleted table would, stagger the coun
try. Elwnod Hendricks, a director of the
New York Chemists' Club, has been
delving into the topic so far as it Ve
lates to a limited number of indus
tries. Mr. Kendricks is one who be
lieves the country should produce its
own aniline dyes and that waste
should be removed from the category
of National sins. He checked over the
long leaf yellow pine industry in gath
ering data for his arguments and guid
ance and found that waste in this in
dustry is little, if anything, short of
criminal.
The mills of the country waste 40,
000' tons of paper every day, together
with 600,000 gallons of grain alcohol
and 300.000 gallons of turpentine. All
could be caved by exercising intelli
gence and thrift. In using coal
Americans destroy from 25 to 50 per
cent of its value. He contends that 50
per cent of the blast furnace slag
which now goes to waste could be
converted into Portland cement. As
for our waste of petroleum, he
points out California, where mil
lions of gallons are consumed annually
in generation of power which the
waters of the state might easily pro
duce. And the water replaces itself
annually, while oil-making processes
utilize 100,000 years of nature's time.
One day, of course, we shall be
forced by economic pressure to take
full cognizance of this waste. But
while the country is young and its
wealth bounteous America scoffs at
the tomorrow and continues its wild
career of spending its inheritance
from nature's greatest storehouse.
OCR MUDDLED NATIONAL FINANCES.
Senator Weeks has shown beyond
dispute that protective tariff ,does,
while a revenue tariff does not, yield
adequate revenue. In a speech before
the Union League at Philadelphia he
stated that during the 194 months of
protection under the Dingley and
Payne laws customs revenue averaged
$22,967,653 a month, while during the
27 months ending June 1, 1915, under
the Underwood law it averaged only
$19,023,760 a month. During the
former period internal revenue yielded
$22,534,842, during the latter $34,116,
302 a month. The latter figure in
cludes income, corporation and emer
gency taxes, which were imposed in
order t6 make good the loss in customs
revenue and the deficit caused by in
creased expenditures.
Under Republican administration
total revenue averaged $49,886,351
monthly and under the Democrats
$58,505,483, but Republican expendi
tures averaged $47,902,492, leaving
a monthly surplus of $1,983,859,
while Democratic expenditures aver
aged $60,070,670, showing a monthly
deficit of $1,565,187. Customs revenue
has been reduced 15 per cent, internal
revenue has been increased 50 per cent
and total taxes have increased 18 per
cent, but expenses have increased 2 5
per cent. After allowing for renewal
of emergency taxes and of the sugar
duty, the next fiscal year will show a
deficit of $112,000,000, to which must
be added the increase of expenditures
on the Army and Navy.
In the face of this deficit the Demo
crats propose to Jncur further extra
ordinary expenses. They plan to spend
$40,000,000 on merchant ships, $3,
000,000 on the Nicaraguan treaty, $15,
000,000 on the Colombian treaty, $25,
000,000 on roads and $11,000,000 on an
armor plate plant, a total of $94,000,
O0U; which would raise the deficit to
$206,000,000.
Notwithstanding the fact that much
of the expenditure on preparedness
will not need to be duplicated after a
few years, when the Array and Navy
shall have been brought up to the re
quired strength. President Wilson has
announced his opposition to the issue
of bonds to meet any part of this ex
penditure, lie even opposes issue of
Panama Canal bonds in order to re
coup the sums taken from Republican
surpluses for construction of that
waterway, although return of normal
commercial conditions may reasonably
be expected to enable the Canal to pay
interest and ultimately to create a
sinking fund. The Democratic plan is
to add $100,000,000 a year to the reve
nue by increasing the income tax atd
to trust that something will turn ,up
which will extinguish the further
deficit.
When the Republicans resume con
trol of affairs next year, they will find
the Nation's finances in a pretty mud
dle. It will be incumbent upon them
to raise revenue and to effect economy
which will 'make good the Democratic
deficit and which will at the same
timo provide adequately for National
defense. Their first duty will be to
create a tariff commission which shall
guide Congress in a revision which will
protect industry, develop commerce
and at thesame time increase revenue.
But order cart only be introduced into
the National finances and waste lead
ing to deficits can only be prevented
by a thorough overhauling of the Gov.
ernmental machine with a view to
economy and efficiency, and by adop
tion of a budget system, as Mr. Weeks
suggests.
Beginning April 3 and ending with
the issue of April 7 five days the
students of the class of journalism at
the University will handle the Eugene
Guard in all departments except busi
ness and mechanical. This will be a
novel exposition of the value of college
training for newspaper work. Hereto
fore students have edited single issues
and shown much aptitude. This time
they will have opportunity to learn the
daily grind and show how they stand
up under' it.
Judge Kelly, at Albany, holds that
a county has not the right to spray a
delinquent orchardist's trees xintil no
tice has been given the owner. That
means personal notice, of course. The
custom has been for county inspectors
to give notice by publication in local
papers. Judge Kelly's ruling is nauch
like splitting a hair, but it stands, and
the inspectors now must get busy with
their typewriters and typists.
Can, the weather-wise tell "What ef
fect a wet -Winter has on the follow
ing Summer? To be sure, next Sum
mer will be tho "dryest" Oregon has
known, jovially speaking; but in a
climatological sense, does excessive
moisture in Winter affect tho seasons
that follow? There is now art excess
of more than ten inches of rainfall.
This concerns the mam who must sign
for sprinkling very soon.
Broccoli, like cauliflower, is cousin
to tho cabbage, and is sometimes
termed Winter cauliflower, because
of its extreme hardiness and its habit
of heading late in cold weather. In
terest in it is aroused by shipments
just made from Roseburg to Chicago
that brought good prices. It should
have a place in the family garden.
Suppose the war were suddenly to
end what would Great Britain do
with the $91,000,000 worth, of beef
stew, she has ordered in America?
But it will not end right away, and
Tommy Atkins, 'Enery 'Awkins, Jean
Crapaud and others will continue to
live and fight on the fat of this land.
A wealthy woman paid an artist a
handsome fee for a portrait and now
the artist's wife waits $100,000 from
the patron for alienation of the ar
tist's affections. Patronizing high art
is an expensive pastime.
Farm labor is better paid in the
West and Northwest than elsewhere,
say. Government reports. But North
west farms produce so much more
that the problem of higher wages is a
simple one. -
An excellent example in standing by
each other is the way physicians tes
tify to the worth of service when one
is endeavoring to collect. They beat
the lawyers all the time. . -
The Philippine export trade reached
a total of nearly $54,000,000 last year.
The Philippines are rapidly becoming
an attractive prize for some . ag
gressive power.
Soldiers In the Mexican campaign
are suffering fearful hardships. Fol
lowing a well-mounted and ambitious
General is a hard game for the man
in the ranks.
There still exist traces of that de
testable provincialism which scoffs at
the well-intended efforts of fellow
townsmen to aid the cause of pre
paredness. The parties are moving slowly and
cautiously in their convention pre
liminaries"; Probably holding back to
see what the other fellow is going
to do.
A distillery is to be buil,t at Dallas,
which "will be shocking news to a "dry"
state until it is learned the product
will be oil of peppermint.
What if the feet of the co-eds are
bad! The feet are not all of them.
Their heads are level, and that is
enough,
After twenty months of war Britain
has not vet solved the riroblem 'how
to get an army and get it quick.
The style shows in the windows are
not all. There is an occasional mirror
that reflects something great.
Now that the allies are having a
conference at Paris, a fresh crop of
wild rumors is due.
Jess ,Wjllard says he may never
fight again. Wonder what he means
"again"?
Tillamook seems to be wetter than
Clatsop, which has long borne the
record.
These casualties of air and sea are
becoming bewildering in their fre
quency. Those escapes might at least have
waited until Saturday to rub in the
joke.
A call for the militia is said to be
imminent. That report is four years
old.
Maybe some other gentleman desires
to put on the gloves with Jess.
If gasoline can be made from, saw
dust, Oregon has "struck lie."
Following many rainy " days, the
skies are blueing for April.
Germany is tho great exemplar of
"Buy at Home."
The Sussex is answer $o the, Lusl
tania notes. ....
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
SALUTATORY.
We greet you with the Tuesday gleam.
Designed to give dull care the hook.
To scatt-ar smiles upon lifo'a stream.
And supplement Joe Miller's book.
0 ye -who suffer from a grouch
We greet you with the' Tuesday gleam.
To shoo the nightmare from your" couch
And mako the future rosy seem.
Life If but trouble, do you deem?
Are life's illusions dust and chaff?
We greet you with the Tuesday gleam.
And whiff your woes out with a laugh.
For someono has to drop some oil
ITpon the cogs of nature's scheme.
And so, amid life's toil and moll
We greet you with the Tuesday gleam.
One of our local Sousas, or Strausses,
took us to task yesterday on account
of our bob-tailed symphony in Sunday's
Gleam.
His accusations were unjust.
We did not write it bob-tailed in the
first place.
It lost its tail when the compositor
tucked it Into the Procrustean limits of
the colyum.
And here they are, the allegro move
ment and the finale of our Fishing:
.Symphony:
ALLEGRO CON SFIK1TO.
When I was a lad,
1 was frequently sad.
And it made zne quite gloomy to feel
That In spite of mywlsh
To fare forth and to fish,
I could not have a swell rod and reel.
For some fanciful fliea
I'd have given my eyes.
And I wanted a nice Jointed pole
So much to possess.
That I freely confess "
I'd have willingly bartered my souL
But the best I could" do
Was an old line or" two
That cost about tsn cents a roll.
And eye-hook or so
At a penny a throw.
And an old hazel switch for pole. -But.
I'm telling the truth.
In those days of my youth.
My - tackle wae simple, and yet
I would somehow devise.
Without leader or flies.
To yank out some whoppers, you bet.
The years swiftly soared.
Until 1 could afford
To lay in a swell set of tackle.
With rod and with line
That were quite superfine.
An hooks clean from spinner to hackle.
But although in the art
I have studied each partt
And my casting is clever and quick
Ktill I frequently wish
It would snafce in the fish
Like I did with that old hazel stick.
' rOSTLl'DE.
"Sir" said the Courteous Office Boy,
And edged around my way.
And gave a cough, "can I get off
Awhile next Saturday?"
I looked him coldly in the eye.
And then I gruffly asked him, "Why?"
He pullod the ancient alibi
Of grandmama's demise.
But all the time I kept my eye
Klxed sternly on his eyes.
And, in those eyes I saw the wish
That people have who like to fish. ,
And when Aie'd spun his grandma tale
And all he had to say; ,
"Can I get off, sir, without fall,"
Ho asked, "next Caturday?"
"You can," I said, with voice irate,
"And boy what do you use for bait?"
.
SOLEJli THOUGHT.
Soon Wintry weather will depart.
And Springtime come again
And then the Board of Health will start
A Swat the Fly campaign.
CONCERNING NAMES.
A shell burst over Archie's head;
He straightway ceased to march;
"The trouble here," the Captain aaid,
".Must bo a fallen Arch."
When Luther came to town one day.
He hit the high spots with a shoot;
By nightfall, we regret to say
That ha was but a busted Lute.
They named, him Nicholas, forsooth
A sad misfortune to befall
For, tak it as you will, the youth
Has but a Nick name after alt.
When Nathan suffered from ptomaine.
The doctor, sad to state,
Said "I cannot relieve your pain
Because it is in-.Nate."
When Edward left the country press.
And went to town, his father said:
"Tho boy is rising fast. I guess ,
Already he's a City Ed."
Oh. never tell Eliza aught.
If your veracity you prize;
If by the neighbors you are caught,
They'll know that you are telling Lixe.
THE SNOWS OP YESTERYEAR. J
What has become of the fellow who
used to corner you in front "Of the bul
letin board and explain to you the cor
rect "way to pronounce Przemysl?
THE GREAT AVAR SERIAL,.
We have received a, number of
queries as to the outcome of the great
war serial. "When the Dove Bit the
Eagle," and in response to these, we
desire to announce that we may pos
sibly decide to run the concluding
chapters in the Tuesday Gleam.
Before doing so, however, we wish
to call our readers' attention to the
fact that the story has reached a point
where the casualties are likely to be
exceedingly heavy.
In view of this we are going to offer
our readers an unparalleled opportun
Uy. Have you anyone in particular whom
you would like to remove promptly
from the fabric of society?
Now is you opportunity!
The casualty, lists for .the concluding
chapters of the great serial will be
opened for contributions immediately.
Haste is essential, as the final bat
tle is approaching, and it may be neces
sary to close these casualty lists at
any moment without notice.
THE FLCTES OF SPRING.
I do not fear the windy sprites
That rush about the eaves.
And fling the rain and spin the vane.
And tweak the baby leaves.
For through the gusty song they sins;
I hear the fairy flutes of Spring.
The goblins of the hail ride out '
Across the shining roofs
In driving hosts like boisterous ghosts;
I hear the pattering hoofs; s
But sure, through all their tumult, ring
The far-off piping flutes of Spring.
Like Orpheus through the woods she glides
Upon tho sunbeam's slant;
The soft wind purrs, the water stirs.
The frogs their welcome chant.
And blossoms on the branches swing.
Dancing to fairy flutes of Spring.
LokIc of Her Lover.
Boston Transcript.
Marie But my dear, are you sure he
is not considering your money in pro
posing to you?
Edith cjuite sure! He said only last
night he never thought of that; he
simply knew I bad. it and that was all
he cared.
OREGON SYSTEM PUZZLES WOMAN.
Perplexed "Why Prohibitionists Can't
Vote in Primaries.
PORTLAND. March 27. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you kindly explain to one
who has never yet been a voter, a puz
zling problem concerning registration?
Coming here from the Atlantic Coast,
where women are not yet allowed to
vote, I supposed the path to the polls
in Portland would be very simple, in
deed; yet when a few weeks ago I went
tp register, I confronted a situation
which, to say the least, seems most un
fair. I was asked what were my poli
tics, and replied that I was a Prohi
bitionists "But you can't register as a Prohi
bitionist and vote at the primaries," 1
was told. I asked why, and it was ex
plained that there were not enough
Prohibitionists to have a ticket, and
that although I might vote in the Fall
for President, I couldn't this Spring
vote in the primaries. Yet we are
earnestly told that voting in the pri
maries is the important thing to do.
I was not willing to register with any
of the parties that nationally uphold
the liquor traffic, and could not con
scientiously do so. I registered as a
Prohibitionist, and am told that I have
disfranchised myself so far as the pri
maries are concerned. Is that true?
and if so. is it right? Would a Repub
licara like to be told that he could not
vote at the primaries unless ho regis
tered as a Democrat?
A voter Is not under obligation to
vote with the majority, but I thought
he was under- obligation to vote his
convictions. If there is no Prohibition
ticket printed here, why not? With
enough Prohibition votes to oust the
liquor traffic, not only from the city
but the entire state as well, why should
not we bo entitled to a ticket express
ing our wish to help other state secure
prohibition, and the Nation also:
In this morning's Oregonian you re
port to date 749 who have registered
as Prohibitionists. This is 353 more
than the Progressives and 274 more
than the Socialists.
The Progressive party was new four
years ago, and the Prohibition party
is more than a quarter of a century
old. Why should we not have a ticket
here?
Is there no way that I may vote in
the primaries without lying as to my
politics? If not there is gross injustice
somewhere. MRS. C E. 5.
The correspondent is in need of more
Instruction and information on political
party government than The Oregonian
can give in answer to an inquiry. It
may be stated briefly, however, that
the primary election is merely a method
of'nominating candidates for office and
is a substitute for conventions. In this
state the primary is the equivalent of
three elections. The Republicans have
their own ballot, the Democrats their
own ballot and the Progressives their
own ballot. Each ballot is but a list
of names of the men or women who
wish to become the party candidates at
the general election. Each adherent
of each party chooses from his own
ballot list the ones he desires to see
become his own party's candidates in
the Fall. No convictions are expressed
except indirectly by the act of affiliat
ing with one's own party.
The Prohibitionists have the widest,
freest opportunity to nominate .candi
dates for office. They are merely re
quired to pursue another method. They
may'' nominate by holding an assembly
or convention.
Party entrance into the primaries is
not governed by registration nor by
a nonpartisan vote on a constitutional
amendment, but by the vote cast for
Presidential electors. When a party s
candidates for Presidential elector re
ceive 20 per cent of all the votes cast
In the state for that office that party
in the next election must nominate can
didates by the direct primary method.
The Progressives cast more than 20 per
cent of the state vote for President in
1912, while the Prohibitionists did not.
The theory on which email minority
parties are required to nominate by
another method is that there is no in
centive for contest over nominations
within their ranks. To admit them to
the primary would merely mean a per
functory vote at added expense to the
taxpayers and to the candidates of
those parties. The convention method
in their case is easier, more satisfac
tory and not productive of the corrup
tion that caused abolishment of the
larger parties' conventions.
MEXICAN CHAOS SHOULD END
Conditions South of Border Declared
Dlsgrsce to Civilization.
PORTLAND, March 27. (To the Edi
tor.) There has been considerable dis
cussion through the- public press in re
gard to President Lincoln's and Presi
dent Wilson's Mexican policies.
It doesn't really make any difference
what Lincoln did in regard, to the mat
ter a half a century ago. We are un
der a different day and age of civiliza
tion and it certainly is our duty to put
an end to that Mexican hell hole.
Mexico has been in a continual war
fare and uproar for the past 50 years,
and it is a menace to the honor of this
Nation and civilization.
The Mexican people have shown that
they are not capable of eelf-govern-ment
and it is our duty to establish a
just, stable government.
How long would Europe tolerate such
a nuisance? EDWIN A. LINSCOTT.
Losanberry riant to Acre.
PORTLAND. March 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Please tell me how many logan
berry plants should be set to the acre
and at what time of the year should
they be set. and where cofuld they be
had? CONSTANT READER.
The best number of loganberry plants
per acre varies from 950 on rather
weak soil to 540 or even fewer on very
rich soil. The former number provides
for plants eight apart in rows six
feet apart, and the latter for plants
10 feet apart in rows eight feet apart.
They are usually set out in the Spring
at about the time other nursery stock
is planted. The young plants should
be well rooted and of sufficient size
for handling when taken from the
parent cane, but the planting should
be done before Summer drouth gets
too near. Plants can be had from most
standard nurseries of the loganberry
district of the Pacific Northwest, and
often from growers who make a spe
cialty of propagation.
For more detailed Information write
to Oregon Agricultural College, Corval
lis, for experiment station circular,
"The Loganberry in Oregon."
Pay of Convlcis.
ASTORIA. Or., March 25. (To the
Editor.) (1) Do convicts in the Oregon
Penitentiary receive any per cent of
their earnings? (2) Was not there a
time when they just received a fixed
amount when discharged? If so, what
was this amount? A READER.
(1) Convicts receive 25 cents a day
on any work they do which is remuner
ative to the prison. Convicts "loaned"
to counties for work on roads, etc., are
paid 50 cents a day and receive their
clothes and board from the county em
ploying them. (2) Convicts have always
been given $5 upon their discharge from
prison, and also whatever money they
may have,ad ;wb,ea Jtiiex seer received.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oreconian of March ?S.lSfi.
k Berlin, March 27. Friends of Prince
DisinaRK denounce as utterly untrue
the published story that he once pro
posed to France throuRh the late
Prince Napoleon to divide Western
Europe between Prussia and France.
Sofia. March 27. This evening while
Premier Stambuloff and Minister of
Finance Baitschieff were out walking,
a man suddenly confronted them and
fired three shots from a revolver, kill
ing Baitscljieff instantly.
New York, March 27. Charles Ar
buckle, the millionaire coffee mer
chant, is dead. His remains will ba
cremated in Pittsburg.
The annual meeting of the Portland
Speed Association was held last night.
There were present President E. S.
Rothchild. Vice-President William
Frazier, Secretary S. A. Uunst. Treas
urer C. M. Forbes, P. Powers and It C.
Smith.
It would seem that Sheridan
Knowles' grand tragedy of "Virginiiis"
as presented by Mr. Warde had been
played so often here as to lessen tho
audiences at each performance, but. on
the contrary, the third night of this
present engagement the .curtain rose
on a larger house than any, save that'
on the opening night.
To consolidate or not to consolidate
is a question that is receiving the pro
found attention of every citizen of
Portland. East Portland and Albina.
The Multnomah Drivinsr Association
will hold its annual meeting tonight.
Steps will probably be taken toward
improving the Riverside road and tho
county will bo asked to assist the asso
ciation in improving the only driveway
Portland has In the Summer.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregonian of March 2S, 18UC
The time is appronchinc: when it will
become necessary "for the Board of
Councilman of this city to establish
fire limits. designating linos within
which wooden structures shall not ba
built,
A band of about 20 Indians near
Boise City were killed by a party of
citizens, who found that the Indiana
were supplying oilier Indians with arrow-points
and powder to war upon
the whites.
The Richmond Examiner still speaks
of Washington as tho "Yankee Capital."
A man was thrown from a buggy on
Front street yesterday afternoon,
strikine: the navemont with ctiimifior-
aoie iorcc, in consequence of his horse
becoming unmanageable.
The Council lately passed a law that
was useful in riddinc the city of a
surplus number of worthless curs, but
they are not all gone yet. A very
worthy member of the Council found
this out yesterday when he fell across
the back of a fat ratter on First street.
There is really no more attractive
place in the city, nor one calculated for
a more profitable investment of a fewf
hours dajly to the man of a little leis
ure, than the rooms of the Portland
Library Association on First street.
The Zouave Cadets, under command
of Captain Williams, will visit Ross
Island this morning by tho steamer
Senator, returning in the afternoon, for
the purpose of practicing target ex
ercise. The new submarine telegraph cable,
connecting- Portland with the East Side,
was successfully laid yesterday by Dr.
Plummer. -We may look for uninter
rupted communication with points
north.
Termination of ElcnM
CORVALLIS, Or., March 26. (To the
Editor.) I am writing to you to find
out if you can advise me as to a sure
method of getting rid of fleas on, a
farm. Do they suck all of tiieir food?
Do they object to any odor, such as
that of mothballs? If you know of
any method of Ilea destruction, I would,
be much pleased to have you print the
same. SUBSCRIBER.
The most' effectual method of elimi
nating fleas is to keep places fre
quented by them thoroughly cleaned,
using boiling hot water or dusting fre-.
Quently with pyrethrum powder, espe- .
clally in the cYevices and openings
where dust and dirt may be lodged.
If desirable, a decoction may be made
consisting of one ounce of pyrethrum
powder to one gallon pf water, which ia
to be boiled for ten minutes, filtered or
strained, and the liquid sprinkled into
all infested places. Old floors, mat
tings and carpets favor the develop-"
ment of fleas because the young larvaa
easily penetrate the crevices and in
terstices, where they develop undis
turbed. To destroy them in the adult
stage, use the pyrethrum powder
method: for the larvae benzine freely
sprinkled about the cracks and crevices
may be tried.
Both these methods failing, it may
be necessary to remove all carpets and
hangings and scrub thoroughly with
hot soapsuds.
They are readily stupefied by dusting
pyrethrum powder into the hair of ani
mals upon which Ihey may occur. The
fleas will fall off while stupefied and
should be immediately swept up and
burned. The sleeping places of infested
animals should be carefully provided
with straw matting or a piece of car
pet, as they can be readily shaken into
the open fire and the eggs, larvae and
fleas, with which they are usually cov
ered, destroyed.
Fleas depend upon blood of warm
blooded mammals and birds, more par
ticularly the former. Mothballs seem
to have very little effect upon them.
No l-eeral War to Collect.
INDEPENDENCE, Or., March 25.
(To the Editor.) in 1303 I subscribed
for a county paper and paid for it to
1911 and hold receipt or same. The
subscription was not renewed, and. al
though said paper has changed hands
three different times since that time,
it has been comifis to "my address and
I have taken it out of the box and
read it.
Now, present proprietor is trying to
collect payment for back subscription.
Can he make me pay?
A SUBSCRIBER.
The law of Oregon declares that a
newspaper sent without order from the
recipient ts a gift.
The Age of Winged
Word.
This is the age of the printed
word, the age of tho fast press and
faster trains.
News flashes like lightning.
The'product that was unborn yes
terday is made known to millions
of people today.
'Advertising is the winged word
of business. It takes tho message
everywhere and keeps the bells in
tho cash register humming.