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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1916)
8 THE SrORNTNG- OTSEGONTATT. TTJESIAT APRIL 11, 1916. PORTLAND. OREGON. Entered at Portland (Oregon) postoffice a ee-jond-class mail matter. Subscription Kates Invariably in advance: cHy Mail.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year S Y lalW. Suminv included, six months. . 4.2.1 Uaily, Sunday Included, three months.. laiiy. Sunday included, one month..... lai!y, without Sunday, one year....... Lajly. willout Sunday, six months Xaily, without Sunday, three months. . laily. without Sunday, one month Weekly, one year Sunday, one year Sunday and Weekly, one year.......... .75 6.00 a.as 1. T5 .( 1.50 2. So 3.30 liiy Lamer.) Dully, Sunday Included, one year S.O0 JDailv. Sundav included, one month..... .75 Mow to Remit Send postoffice money or der, expresb order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. iive postoffice addressea In lui, includinpr county and state. J'ontaee Kates 1J to 1S panes. 1 cent; 18 to o2 paes. 2 cents; to 4S pages, 3 cents Co to 0" pages, 4 cents; K2 to 7(J pages, 5 cents; 7S to 'J2 pages, tt cents. Foreign postage, double rates. Jiatern liusine Office Verree & ConK lin, Brunswick building. New York; Verree A: ronklin. Steger building. Chicago. Fan Francisco representative, K. J. Bidwell, 742 Market street. PORT LA ND, TIESDAT, APRIL 11. 1818. A SQUARE DEAL TO CAPITAL. A remarkable example of returning sanity in the attitude of tho public toward public service corporations has been offered recently at Lewiston, Idaho, and the communities which cluster around it. A Spokane engineer went be'ore the Lewiston City Coun cil and offered for a contingent fee to obtain from the State Public Service Commission a reduction in rates for electric current. The Council prompt ly accepted the offer. Much to its sur. prise, apparently, the whole communi ty arose in protest. The people de clared that they .were satisfied with Misting rates, that the Lewiston Clarkston Company gave fair consid eration to complaints, that it had vol untarily given reductions, and that, when they considered further reduc tions justified, they would make the application themselves, not call in an outsider. They said that they wished tc encourage investment of capital by fair treatment, not to scare it aw'ay by denying- a fair incurai". The Coun cil headed the protest, rescinded its foimer action and refuse 1 to make the contract. The attitude of the people in this case received hearty approval from the newspapers of Lewiston and Boise, which pointed out that stagnation in development of Idaho, as of other states in the Pacific Northwest, is due to the excesses to wfiich regulation and taxation of corporations have been carried. Being denied a fair return on their capital, investors have black listed these states and the people suf fer through lack of development.' With the general establishment by Nation and states of commissions with full power to regulate the charges and practices of public service corpora tions, the reason for public hostility to these corporations has been re moved. The only reasons for this hos tility which ever existed were the speculation, overcapitalization, extor tion, oppression, secret and corrupt in. terference in politics which they for merly practiced. Public regulation has practically done away with these evils. Direct legislation in the Pacific states has made corporations power less in politics except so far as they, alike with other citizens, appeal open ly to the people's reason and sense of Justice. Corporations generally have accepted this new situation. They frnnkly submit to regulation and ac cept their position as public servants. They seek to influence legislation by open appeals to public opinion under their own names. Whenever corpora tions or their officials offend against the lans.i the people have the .means ready to hand for bringing them to Justice. Fair dealing by the corporations having been assured, justice and the public interest require fair dealing by the public toward corporations. .The mere fact that they are corporations does not excuse denial of fair treat ment, for, after all, corporations are simply aggregations of individuals who have invested their money in public service. The public interest requires fair treatment, for the operations of corporations are the only practicable means by which large enterprises for development of the country can be carried out. If by being denied ade quate rates or by excessive taxation, corporations are prevented from earn ing a fair profit, capitalists will not buy their securities, will invest their money elsewhere and development of the country will be prevenUd or seri ously retarded. Capital is free to go anywhere it pleases; if it does not like the terms we offer, it wfTl not accept our opportunities for investment. It is high time that the people of Oregon as well as other Pacific states changed their attitude toward cor porations to accord with the clmnged attitude of corporations toward them. Prosperity in the East is creating a vast supply of new capital. It will come here if we turn a deaf ear to schemers like the man who made the proposition to Lewiston. The anti - corporation cry will soon die if the politicians find it is un popular. If we continue to heed it, this new capital will go to other states and other countries. It does not need to come here. The United States now has practically the only supply of caD. ital available for the whole world, andl the investor will put it anvwhere in the United States. Europe, South America or other countries where he can get good interest and security. We can get it if we offer the same attrac tions. We need entertain no fear that, if it comes, it will be used to oppress us. We are able -to limit its profits to a fair return on the actual cash invest ment and to protect ourselves against any injustice. Let us silence the dema. gogues and invite capital to come in by giving it a square deal. IN THE HOTO OF EXTREMITY. someone has remarked that it is dangerous to go through life without a religion. Many a scoffer has come to feel the true force of that state ment. Life runs smoothly, the bless ings of good health and sound nerves abound and the disbeliever finds men tal recreation in his theories and ar guments against the accepted beliefs of men. Ill health comes, or disaster, and to what sustaining influence may the agnostic turn in his extremity? Without the comforting influences of faith influences which are so strangely potent that conventional ex planations of the phenomena by sci entific men admittedly fail the acute crises of life are met with poor grace. Horatio W. Bottomley must have, come .lately to a crsis in his life when the tenets of agnosticism rose to mock him in his misery. Mr. Bottom ley, as many may recall, is the editor of a British freethinkin periodical which has railed against Uie institu tions of God and man alikei Bruised and bleeding from the rough joorney over life's stony, thorny path,-he, ttoo, found that in his point of view, this state of mind, there was no. sue tun ing influence. Without tracing the logic which caused him to abandon his disbeliefs and raileries, one sen tence may be selected from his state ment of the case: "Pure rationalism, however 'scien tific,' has no word of comfort for weary watchers or of solace for human hearts." This is the cruel breaker upon which many a bark of agnosticism has been wrecked. So long as all goes well ag nostic or freethinker, or infidel or rank iconoclast finds delight in his savage logic. But in the hour of stress he learns the unstable menace of his craft; finds that in his attitude toward life "there is no word of comfort for weary watchers or of solace for hu man hearts." SAVE THE HIGHWAY - A road'lOO feet in width offers no protection to innocent travelers when drunkenness and recklessness ere at large. The Columbia Highway pave ment is but eighteen feet. wide, but there is ample room for vehicles to pass if ordinary care la observed. Doubtless the time will not come when there will be complete freedom from accident on the road, even when it is thoroughly policed, and when the traveling public has generally a pur pose to observe traffic rules. The accident on the Columbia High way on Sunday was deplorable." If current accounts are correct, whisky was at the bottom of the affair. A worthy woman, on a motorcycle, guided by a man who evidently was moving within his rights, was run down by an automobile. There is abundant testimony that the occupants of the motorcar, or some of them, had been drinking freely. Now several men are under arrest, and two women are involved in the notoriety which has grown out of the episode. Evidently the public may be pro tected in its safe use of the Colum bia Highway only with vigilant action by Sheriff Hurlburt and his deputies, and with adequate punishment by the courts for proven transgressions. It ought to be known to every driver of a motorcar or motorcycle or other vehicle that he will be held to stern accountability for any infraction of the law by speeding or careless driv ing. In that way only can the High way be saved for the law-abiding pub lic and rescued from the speeders and joy-riders. THE JCBV AND THE COUNCIL. While the subjects are fresh in the public mind, let us review two events of the past week in the city of Port land. A former saloonkeeper was tried on a charge of violating the prohibition law. Prior to January 1, 1916, the business in which he was engaged was not criminal. The people by majority vote inhibited the business. A large number of voters, but a minority nev ertheless, believe the business should not have been inhibited. A jury to try the accused was selected appar ently from that minority. The Jury disregarded the people's will, and the evidence in the case, and set free the defendant. A year or two ago the people of Portland by a majority vote instructed the City Council not to purchase water meters. A large number of persons, but a minority nevertheless, believe that water meters should be pur chased. A majority of the Council are of that mind, at least they believe that meters should be purchased for those who want them. The majority of the Council overruled the majority of the people and bought a large number of meters. The only difference in the two cases is that in one the people and the Leg islature went through the formality of writing- a definite prohibitive statute with penalties attached for its viola tion. In the other no formal, written law was enacted. For our part we are unable to dis cern wherein transfer of certain char, acters from type to a page of paper enhances the sanctity of a known moral obligation. The will of the ma jority has been expressed as clearly in one Instance as in the other. In each case the people had entrusted the execution of their will to a body of citizens. In each instance that body had the power to overrule the people's judgment. In each case it did just that. It is significant that the betrayals followed if! close order. And why not? Why should not a jury, of plain citi zens' look for guidance to men hon ored with high position? The Council argues that if the people had had op portunity they would have made a special exception of meters for those who want them.' Likely as not the jury argued that if the people had had opportunity they would have made an exception of uptown gentlemen's sa loons. The public-be-damned. spirit is quite infectious. a result of prxcHonsM. The logical sequel to withdrawal of large areas of the public domain from sale is the demand that the Govern ment " undertake enterprises which would otherwise be taken up by corpo rations. An example is the withdrawal from entry of the San Juan coalfield in Southwestern Colorado and North. western New Mexico. A bill has been introduced in Congress for construc tion of a railroad through this coal field to connect the Santa Fe and Rio Grande systems. As uslial with fivery such scheme to divert public funds to purposes which should properly be carried out by pri vate enterprise, the plea is made that National defense would be aided, as the coal would become available for the Pacific squadron, but the main contention is that by withdrawing the land in the San Juan country from sale, the Government has withdrawn it from taxation and has imposed on owners of thirteen per cent of the area ninety-nine per cent of the burden of government for the whole. Thus the policy of reservation leads to new demands on the Government. It cannot remain a perpetual landlord without incurring, in the popular mind 41. -Ull j.i ' T . . . ' me ouiisiijoii to aeveiop its holdings. It has Recognized that obligation in Alaska by building a railroad, and the San Juan people now cite that prece dent in support of their scheme. There is no reason other than the artificial condition produced by the policy of reservation why the Government should build this railroad. If the coal land were thrown open to develop ment and if the timber were thrown on the market, business sense would cause the owners of railroads to ex tend into tnis Held. If the Government is to be called upon to build railroads into everv un developed section of the country in order to connect roads which have stopped short, Oregon has as good a claim as Colorado. Uncle Sam might take up Mr. Strahorn's scheme for a road in Central Oregon to fill the gap wnicn nas Deen lert between the Des chutes roads on the north, the Klamath road on the south, the Pacific & Eat- ern on the west and the Oregon East ern, on the east. Were the Nation and state to aid irrigation, private en terprise would readily undertake this work. By withholding its aid, the Government causes private enter prise to hold back and may instigate a demand that it step in. Other sections of Oregon and the west are in the same position. None is more striking than the case of Klamath Falls, which has long dreamed of direct rail outlet to north, em markets. The route the Natron eut-off lies principally in a great reserve, where no local traffic is promised for many miles of expensive construction. Hence the railroads, when they have money for new work, build elsewhere. If the Government continues to hold public land in reservation, it will be importuned with many pleas like that from San Juan. Should it yield, it will become owner of a number of short stretches of railroad and have a new problem on its hands. THE CHIEF CAMPAIGN ISSUE. Senator Harding's assertion that the tariff will be the chief issue of the coming Presidential campaign is sup ported by the latest report of the Com merce Department on our foreign trade. Beginning with last November there has been a monthly increase in imports. Each month showed, a gain over the month preceding. The total for Febcuary was $193,935,11?, against $149,172,729 for October. Equally significant is the fact that for the eight months ending February thj imports free of duty increased $244,070,165, while the imports of dutiable goods decreased $8,617,684. More than . two-thirds of our imports now enter duty free. We have sac rificed our principal source of revenue while vastly increasing expenses, and have thrown down the bars of foreign competition. For the time being we are relieved from the consequences to our posterity by the wealth which munition trade is pouring in upon us and by the boom in general foreign trade resulting from the warlike pre occupation of competing nations. The war will no sooner be ended than our artificial source of prosperity will be stopped and European com petition for trade in both domestic and foreign markets will be renewed with fierce intensity. It Is extremely prob able that the war will end during the next Presidential term. It will there fore devolve upon the President and Congress elected next November to provide means of protecting our do mestic markets against this competi tion and of fostering our foreign trade. That task requires qualities of states manship in which the Democratic party has shown itself to be conspicu ously lacking. Our only other re source is to the Republican party. BRITAIN'S MANY CAMPAIGNS. John Bull feels the burden of em pire through finding it necessary to conduct half a dozen simultaneous campaigns in widely scattered fields, while his allies conduct only one or two each. France confines operations to its own territory and the Balkans, Russia to its western and southern fronts, Italy to its northern and eastern frontier and Albania, but Britain has several armies in the field besides the main forces in France and at Salonica. In order to protect its African colo nies from invasion, Britain conducts an aggressive war in German East Africa. To protect Egypt it makes war on the Arabs to the west and on the Turks on the Suez peninsula to the east. Aden is protected by an ex pedition against the Arab and Turkish forces in the neighboring section of Arabia. Tho expedition into Mesopo tamia was undertaken primarily to guard British holdings in Persia and along the Persian Gulf and the cara van route to India against Turkish in vasion and German intrigue. Its early success encouraged its extension north- war with Bagdad as the' objective until its advance was checked by superior Turkish forces. To the necessity of thus scattering its forces as well as to its utter un readiness for a war of such magnitude is due the minor part which Britain has taken in the main land opera tions. SUPPRESSING THE CYCLONE. Slowly but surely the steely grip of a heartless censorship is throttling the oratorical soul of Congressman "Cy clone" Davis. There must he a uni versal conspiracy against the untamed human hurricane from Texas, for his last staunch friend of publicity has forsaken him in the hour of his ex tremity and now his ravings are des tined to reverberate only within the re stricted walls of the House. "Cyclone" does not hesitate to throw himself bodily upon a buzz saw when it happens to annoy him or ex cite his ire. His practice is to make up in noise and vituperation what he racks in poise and erudition. When he unleashes the cyclonic fury that is part and parcel of the Davis tempera ment Congress shakes with inward mirth, if not with fear. It is enter tainment of the highest order and it used to make good "copy" for the cor respondents before the outbreaks be came commonplace. Gradually the correspondents dropped him, not only because of the frequency of his brain storms, but because" his wrath usually centered itself upon some trifling sec. tional issue upon which not more than a dozen" persons were interested. It is reported that "Cyclone" took this slight to heart and was aroused to an assault on 'the perversity of a press which must be subsidized, since it failed to quote him liberally and frequently. The paper of his own home town, the- Houston Post, attract ed his special displeasure, and so he arose not long ago to declare war to tho end on the editors and publishers of that sheet. "I now give the Houston Post notice," he shrieked, "that I will serve God and humanity by exposing tne venom of its venal attacks in the Congressional Record, a paper that does not belong to the 'kept press,' but belongs to the people and speaks the truth as their sworn Representa tives see it. Whereupon he launched into a spasm of denunciation. He directed attack upon the correspondent of the Post and delivered a grilling that must have put the fires of Hades to shame for intensity. Then something hap pened. Something much similar to the blow that is currently reputed to have brought about the demise of paterfamilias. The Congressional Record got its blue pencils into ac tion and the final record of the Cy clone'B assault on the Post is this en lightening paragraph: "Now comes one so-called Upshur Vincent, in a letter from Washington to the Houston Post, who uncaps . . . page, says I slandered Jeff Davis. I deny it in toto." Thus the monster of special privi lege has smothered his one lone line of publicity. He has announced a speaking tour as soon as Congress ad journs. Then he can express his re vised opinion of thej "subsidized" Con gressional Record. A smaH American Army, far in the interior of Mexico, having a line of communication with its base 400 miles long, is not in a very safe position. There are in its rear and on all sides Mexican forces which are only osten sibly friendly and which might turn against it and cut it off completely. As it penetrates farther into the coun try, it may find the population less friendly and will have more Carranza forces in its rear. How little real aid It can expect from Carranza we may Judge from his refusal to permit the use of the railroads, though the war has reduced these roads to such miser able condition that this handicap may be less than it seems. In the dubious friendship of Carranza and his chiefs and in the appearance on the scene of new guerrilla leaders like Felix Diaz and Salazar, there are the elements of Just such treachery as twice over whelmed British armies in Afghanis tan. By thrusting Ails hand into the Mexican hornets' nest. President Wil son may have committed himself to a war with the entire swarm of Mexican hornets. His realization of this dan ger, in conjunction with- his known aversion to effective armed interven tion, may explain the rumors that he intends to recall General Pershing's army and to be content with having dispersed Villa's band. Should he do so, the band would probably reassem ble and renew it3 depredations. Half measures will never succeed in Mexico. Out of 11.S49 men who have sought entrance to the Army under the re cent call for 20,000 volunteers but 2879 have been accepted. What is wrong with American physical stan dards that so few are fit for military duty? And what is wrong with our system of recruitment that only 2 879 men have been raised in an emergency requiring 20,000? The answer is that we must come to universal service be fore getting anywhere. Secretary Daniels will expedite the construction of new ships for the Navy if he will avoid asking for bids on ships which cannot be 'built. An appropriation for seagoing submarines lies idle because he stipulated for 20 knot boats, which are impossible. Mr. Daniels did not need to be a naval expert in order to avoid this blunder; he only needed horse sense. Ever since the early days of Brig ham Young, Mormon presidents have attacked the styles of female dress and chided their womenfolk for fol lowing and Imitating their Gentile sis ters. As they did not desist in the days of their servitude, President Smith cannot hope for much in their later enlightened period. "The war has squeezed the water out of the capital of the International Mercantile Marine Company, one of the most water-logged of the Morgan trusts, and has renlar.ed ami.-i. nnrn with gold. The receiver would do well to use the profits in paying debts be fore peace again turns them into water. One of the "most interesting races in the history of Pacific Coast sport Is that between the builders of the inter state bridge and the Columbia River floods. We back the bridge builders. Roosevelt for President, with Root for Secretary of State, is a com bination now predicted. At any rate, such a combination would safeguard Americans and their rights abroad. British peace advocates would do well to organize and go armed in or der to prevent warlike attack. But perhaps they prefer to be consistent, even at the cost of broken skulls. A serum has been discovered which resuscitates the apparently drowned four hours after animation has been suspended. Modern medical science will be raising the dead yet. Texas is a big state and heavy frost and thin ice in the northern part are mere incidents. In some portions of Oregon there is frost in July,- but no body worries. Gold nuggets have been unearthed in Helena streets. So the, Helena au thorities will do well to keep an eye on local prospectors during night time. Traffic will not be disturbed by giv ing streets of short blocks to the 'boys and girls for rinks. The fact is, they must have something of the kind. Congress now takes up work'on the Navy bills. Too bad the G. O. P. isn't in power these days, when vigorous, farsighted policies are needed. It is a safe assertion to say a road house is not built for holding religious services. Sheriff Hurlburt's deputies dowell to watch it. Philadelphlans who read the news on paper made In Oregon will not know that fact, but will know they have a good article. Carranza soldiers are reported to be "helping in a limited way." Prob ably to the extent of helping consume American rations. "Texas has killing frost," ays a headline, but the item does not refer in any way to the Pershing invasion of Mexico. Rain on the change of the moon yesterday means fine weather for opening day and the 20,000. Discussion of fees for marriage is away off the track. That money be longs to the minister's wife. While Winter thrives in the East, the worst we get is a series of passing April showers. Von Papen is visiting Holland. Then Holland will do well to keep a weather eye open. The bark has gone from that city woodpile, but the bite is still in the affair. . Mexico is going to fix prices on necessaries", when it gets them on hand. If - everybody ) laid up with a cold like Wilson, there would not be much done. A persistent peace propagandist was mobbed by a London crowd. Hurray! One trip over the Columbia High way makes the man a booster. Of course, Cummins got Iowa yes terday, .. Gleams Through the Mist Ity Dean Collins. BALLADE OF THE REFORMING SMOKER Tobacco is a filthy weed,' Or so by certain friends I'm told. It makes ope early run to seed. And makes a man untimely old "Within the sweet Havana's fold" "Lurks death," they say, "without a doubt!' Whereat, I feel my spine turn Cold. Perhaps I ought to cut it out. A woman of the C. T. U., In whom much confidence I've placed; Attacks me from an angle new. Namely; the economic waste. The, panatella, slim and chaste. Drives thrift into dispairlng rout. And pauperism comes in haste. Perhaps I ought to cut it out. yet firm the bonds of habit cling. Each bond as sweet as maid's caress, And ah, I hate like anything To break from such a sweet duress; Each day, each hour I must confess, Their tender charm becomes more stout. Their hold more sure upon me yes, Perhaps I ought to cut it out. - L'EXVOI. Still, 'tis election year, you know. Campaign cigars are all about. Stay! I'll postpone reform, although Perhaps I ought to cut it out. "Sir," said the Courteous Office Boy, appearing at the door with the gore of a mangled telephone transmitter drip ping from his tusks. "Yes," my son, "I replied soothingly. "Did not Pope, the Pote, remark on some occasion; 'Whatever is, ie right'?" snarled the C. O. B. "Even so," I crooned. "Well, between man and man." cried the C. O. B., "do you reckon that this guy Pope ever spent 15 minutes Jig gling the hook to get central and then had her come on the line just long enough to say: They don't answer," and then fade out again? Huh?" SOLEMN THOUGHT. Old Grimes is dead, that good old man. Or so the songsters tell; Old Grimes and other good old men And I'm not feeling well. THE SNOWS OF YESTERYEAR. What has become of the young lady who used to beg you to save the cun ning little silk rugs out of your pack of cigarettes, for her to use in a patch work sofa cushion? (Note and appendix to the above: She's saving them for herself now out of her own pack of cigarettes.) JUST ONE MORE OF THOSE NAMES. William, father's favorite son. To litigation still Would go; his lawsuits, one by one. Have broken father's will. NOT SO HEFTY. We heard Fred Spoerl talking the other day about the great amount of effort, material. etc., that was re quired to make the telephone directory the interesting piece of literature which it is. We think he was bluffing, for we went out into the hall and took a look at the telephone book he was bragging about. And, 'pon our word of honor, al though it contained five Reams, there were but 17 Pages in it. And when all is said and done, th bulky volume contains but four Words. AND YET NAMES, wmiam ana wayiana are twins, you know. And always together the youngsters go, Until the neighbors have come to say That where there's a Will there is always a Way. Contributed, by P. F. THE GREAT CRYPTOGRAM. And out there over miles of street. The thin fingers of the light Start tickling at the fat ribs of night Lovers gather beneath them to ay good-bye. And John Gould Fletcher, prowling solitary. Hears far away the generator turning: Whoom! Whoom! its solemn approval Free verse poem by John Gould Fletcher, in the March number of tho Poetry Journal. THAT WAR SERIAL. While our free casualty lists for the final battle in "When the Dove. Bit the Eagle," remain open and' while we have received hundreds of names for the lists, we have found nobody yet who is willing to let his name appear as sponsor for the list he sends in. One reader, a student we take it, sug gests from Clatskanie, that the prin cipal of the school be included in the final fatalities but the writer will not give her name, and accordingly we cannot put the principal on our pub lished list of dead and dying. The free casualty lists will positively close this week and we must urge haste on the part of all who desire to get their friends on them. WHIXTON G. HOTAIRE, Author. P. S. The following was received Just the other day: "Sir In your coming battle, kill off some of the candidates who hang around editorial rooms. I would submit list but for Intuitive feeling that the slain would yell because declared dead before the primary, while the survivors would complain at being left out and the consequent loss-of publicity. "BORED POLITICAL WRITER." THE SHORTEST POEM. A young lady we Judge from the perfumed stationery and the delicate chirography writes to ask us If we can tell her what is the shortest pome in the English language. We can. There are several of 'em. For instance, there is that old one: Miss; Kiss; Bliss. Does anybody else know a shorter one? We do. , Later we might tell you. if you can't guess. Vrjperty In Wife's Same. ASTORIA. Or., April 9. (To tne Edi tor.) A man. for financial reasons, deeds his home to his wife. In later years they separate, but there la no divorce. The wife supports the children and pays taxes on the home in wh"ich she lives. If she makes a will leaving the property to the children at her death, will It stand according' to law. without the husband signing the instrument? CONSTANT READER. No. The Jiusband is entitled to his "curtesy, or "life interest," in one-half the property T. H.'S AMERICANISM' IS ADMIRED Man Who Supported Taft In 1912 Now Strong; for Roosevelt. PORTLAND, April 10. (To the Ed itor.) I have read with interest what C. H. Moores has torsay In The Sunday Oregonian about the nomination ol Roosevelt. Mr. Moores would like to pick 'a can didate who gave offense to none, lit would apparently like a pussy foot, a nonentity one who would try to please and suit everybody. That class of poli ties is past. The right or wrong of a question or issue should be the dividing line between parties as between men. Roosevelt is the only man among those mentioned for the nomination who has expressed himself on .the great vital issues before the American public today. In fact he has created public sentiment about them. He did not pussyfoot Or sidestep these great ques tions for fear of treading on some body's corns. No! He spoke right out in meeting and like a man fousht for the side he thought he was right. Be fore speaking he did not divide the United States into geographical sec tions to know whom he pleased and whom he did not. With him it was a question of right and wrong. Roosevelt is a burning living Issue himself. I voted for -Taft against Roosevelt in 1912. I liked the genial smile of Taft. I, was for party regu larity. ' But the rank and file of the Republicans wanted Roosevelt and the leaders know it. Down in their hearts: they know Roosevelt was in tho right. Roosevelt is the logical candidate for 1916. He is a real live candidate, too, not a dead one nor a nonentity. He would make us respected at home and abroad. What do we know about Hughes? Where does he stand on the great, burning. living issues that con front us today? What have the other prospective candidates said or written on these living Issues? We know where Roosevelt stande. He is for the United States first, last and all the time. Ho would not allow the flag to be insulted through cowardice. American lives and property would be protected abroad and swift Judgment would come to -those who trespassed upon American rights. Time has shown that his methods of dealing with big business are popular. He stands for justice to labor and the working man. His was the first voice for preparedness; he the first and best advocate for preparedness. Roovelt awoko the public conscience in politics. He is the prophet of America. No en thusiasm would center on Hughes or Root if nominated. Roosevelt if nom inated would separate the sheep from the goats "and a "hot time in the old town" would follow. He would be elected, too. Mr. Moores need not fear for the popu larity of Roosevelt. He has made ene mies; but for every enemy he has made two friends. Give Roosevelt a square deal, give him a chance with the other candidates, and if the convention seems to be for him, let the dead past bury its dead; forget our disagreement in 1912 and stand behind him a reunited party. If Roosevelt Is elected things Will be doing every minute. The prestige of the United States will grow greater and greater; our country no Ionser an in fant in swaddling clothes will have a say in the politics that rule the world. JOHN C. ROSS, M. D. THINKS AMERICA WOULD DO SAME Any Tactics to Preserve National Ex istence Are Excusable. PORTLAND, April 10. (To the Ed itor.) Coming from the East to a city of the Northwest, and particularly to Portland, one Is at once Impressed with the predominating features of this part of the world. One can but marvel at the grandeur of the scenery, rivers, shrubbery, flowers and birds. Speak ing specifically of Portland, is it not a matter of fact that this -city is prac tically ' free from slums? Jts clean streets, Its highways well kept, its parks artisticallv laid out, one can but admire the City of Roses. Furthermore, the geographical posi tion of Portland is such, if brought to full realization of its citizens, as will eventually nutke it the foremost city of the Pacific Northwest. However, one thing made my heart sad. viz: The unneutral attitude of our English press toward a nation which has, in good and evil days, been America's best friend. Being born on English soil and my father on French, no one can accuse me of pro-Germanism. On the other hand, I consider it an unneutral act constantly to brow beat a nation which has at all times demonstrated her friendship, in time of war and in time of peace, to the United States. Furthermore, are we not doing the same thing of which we accuse others? Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia because that country deliber ately, persistently murdered and butch ered her citizens, and this was done repeatedly with impunity.' Now, what are we doing? We send a large army to Mexico to punish those who have shot and killed our citizens. O sankta slmplicita! what Irony! ' And again, should America's very ex istence be at stake, would it not be folly to adopt the same submarine war fare methods that Germany inaugu rated? But this is again a horse of a different color. Mr. Editor, otherwise I like your paper. I love my country the best in the world. I fought for this country during the Spanish-American War, and I stand for my country, first, last and all the time, but I would not like to see fair play eradicated from the great American people. Let us be fair! neu tral! square! F. J. EPPLIXG, Field Missionary for the Lutheran Synod of Wisconsin. If Mr. Eppling fancies The Oregonian would approve adoption by America of German submarine tactics, even in de fense of existence, he is mistaken. Law on Naturalization. - PORTLAND. April lo. (To the Ed itor.) A man 66 years old has lived in this country since 1862, coming here when a boy of 15. He has made this country his home, not.knowing tho law. but considered himself a citizen, voted after he became of asre. held office both In his adopted state and In the United States; took the oath of office in both cases, and supposed he was all right as a citizen. What is your opinion as to his stand ing according to law? Can he be held as a criminal for false swearing? Is he a citizen, never having taken out any papers? His parents never were in this country. I tell him that this is a pretty hard nut. and that he had better turn It over to T. R.'s bird to crack. J. D. T. By the act of June 25, 1910, any per son who on May 1, 1905. was an inhab itant for five years and qualified to become a citizen of the United States,, and who for the five years preceding May 1, 1910, had resided in the United States continuously, and who because of misinformation in regard to his citi zenship, had in good faith exercised the right and duties of a citizen of the United States because of wrongful in formation and belief, may, upon proof of these facts satisfactory to a court having jurisdiction to naturalize aliens, petition for naturalization without fil ing the required declaration of inten tion upon compliance with the other requirements of law. He is in no dan ger of criminal prosecution. - Where Flies Breed. PORTLAND, April 10. (To the Edi for.) Now as we are starting a war on flies the City Commissioners. Dr. Mar cellus and the Consumers' League should start at the. root of this pest. .drive all the cow barns out of the city. iThat would stop the incubation of the pest, MR 3. R. WILLIAMS. In Other Days. Half a Century Ago. From The Oreitonlan of April 11. 1S6. During the session of the Democratic State Convention in this city, their hall was decorated with flags. Now that the country is out of danger. Demo crats can afford to display the bunting. One of the candidates for Represent ative on the Copperhead ticket in Polk County has laid out a town in that county and named it Dixie. April showers have cooled the at mosphere somewhat the past 2-t hours and yet the -weather is "nifty." Walla Walla Great numbers are leaving for Blackfoot from here and South Boise. Drifters at the latter place and men for almost any class of work, in which they are experienced, can get $7 a day wages. Some of the mills have closed down rather than pay the rates during the short days when work cannot be carried on the full hours. San Francisco must be a thirsty city. It has 3512 bars at which liquors are sold. Two thousand, nine hundred and four drunks are reported for the past year. The proposed concert by the 14th Infantry Band will be given this eve ning at the Willamette Theater. The band will arrive at 10 o'clock today by the steamer Fannie Troup from Vancouver. Twenty-five Years Ago. From The Oreeonlan of April 11, 1S91. CHICAGO, April 10. Ex-Mayor Car ter H. Harrison this afternoon an nounced his permanent retirement from political life. He intends either to leave Chicago for good or to go on a farm. The United Presbytery of Oregon met in the United Presbyterian Church of this city. Twelve ministers and a number of elders are in attendance upon the meeting, which will continue its sessions until this evening. H. C. Campbell has just returned from a visit East, made with the pur pose of seeing what improvements have lately been made in the way of electric motors and other machinery for electric roads. London, April 10. A Vienna dis patch says that the Austrian govern ment, not being reassured by Russia's denial of unfriendly designs, has al ready concentrated large bodies of troops to watch the Galieian frontier. Berlin, April 10. In consequence of the Russian massing of troops on the Silesian frontiers, the German gov ernment has decided to strengthen the frontier garrisons. The fifth anniversary of K Com pany's organization was celebrated with a banquet at Baum & Brandes" last eveninsr. Rider Haggard, who has Just re turned from Mexico, says Che climate is very trying, with thin air- and in sufferable heat. The air swarms with insects that make life a misery anil one cannot sleep at night because of them. WILL IS BETTER THAN MEDICINE Good, Strong; ThoiiKht Will Slake One What lie Wishes to Be. PORTLAND. April 10. (To the Edi tor.) Not many wecks ao a writer in The Oregonian said that "the worry thought was the cause of cancer of the stomach," causing knots to form in cer tain tissues, and gave a very clear demonstration of cause and effect. It is not so well understood as it should be that the body and its func tions are governed by "thought force." By studying and developing the di vini within us we qualify ourselves to help others as well as ourselves. "He that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall b opened." "Know thyself" and study the "power within." Thoughts can be cultivated and gov erned; man can bo what he wills to be, whether a useful citizen or a nuisance and a menace to society. Circumstances do not "make the man"; it is not "fate" that brings him to jail when he is caught committing a crime; he has simply allowed him self to be dominated by impure thoughts and seliish desires. The "divinity that shapes our ends" lies within ourselves. Disease and health are both rooted in the mind. The "fear thought" has destroyed many. Those who live in the fear and dread of disease are tho ones who get it; they think "disease," they talk "disease" and believe in "disease" to the great discomfort of their friends. Strong, cheerful thoughts build up the body and continually renew it. and the happy possessor radiates good cheer to others. No medicine can equal these good, cheerful thoughts. Think well of all; and the good in everything. The llrst thought in the morning must be one of thankfulness that "all is good." Let ua take a lesson from the dear little robin; he wakes us and is the first bird to give thanks in the very early hours of morning. MRS. MATTIE B. ROSS. Eggs in Water Glass. CORVALLIS. Or.. April 9. (To the Editor.) Kindly tell in The Oregonian if there is any ingredient in the com position of "water glass" for preserv ing egga which might be injurious to health, eggs being . absorbent. Some people seem afraid to use many eggs preserved with it. HOUSEKEEPER. "Water glass" for preserving eggs is a solution of silicate of soda or potas sium (potash), and when the eggs are dipped in these solutions the pores are tilled up by the same, which prevents the air from passing through the shell to the substance of the egg. There is nothing in the composition as used that would be detrimental to health. Proof of Milk Record. SKAMANIA. Wash., April 9. (To the Editor.) If Mr. Evenden, who ques tions the milk record of the Holstein cow. Alcartra, will write to the Uni versity of California for circular No. 135, I think he will cease his doubting as to Tilly Alcartra's record. He may not understand that several months elapsed between the two yearly records. The circular gives the first year's record, also the rules under which the record was made. J. M. WRIGHT. Relieved of Care. Washington Star. "I don't have to turn over any new leaf." remarked Senator Sorghum. "Why not?" "The folks out home turned one over for me at the polls last election." The "Pull Together' Spirit Local dealers are awakening to the advantage of co-operating with manufacturers who assist them in making a market by advertising in the newspapers of their towns. This very pull-together spirit goes a long way towards making sales-- The resjjpnse to this newspaper advertising Is direct and highly profitable. No money is wasted In making a market where there is no distribution.