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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1916)
so TOE SIORXIXG OREOOXIA3f. THURSDAT, 3fAT 11, 1916. M$ (Bitgonxm POKItAXD, OREGON. Entered at Portland (Oregon) Fostoffice as second-class mail matwr. Cubscription Kates Invariably in advance: (By Mail.) xally. Sunday Included, one year $8.00 Ially. Sunday included, six months.... 4.2o Laily, Sunday included, three months. - 2.- taiiy, Sunday included, one month.... .5 Ually, without Sunday, one year.... 6.00 JJaily, without Sunday, six month 3.25 Iiaily, without Sunday, three months... 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month..... .60 "We-'kly, one year l-5 Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and Weekly, one year .....3.00 (By Carrier.) lai:y. Sunday included, one year 9-59 Liaiiy. Sunday included, one month..... .73 How to Kemit Send poetoffice money order, express rder or personal check: on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are. at sender's risk. Give postoffice ad dresses in full, including county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to o2 pases, 2 cents; 34 to 4wpages. 3 cents; BO to 60 pages. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents; 78 to b2 pages, 6 cents. .Foreign postage, double rates. Eastern Uusine, Office Varree & Conk Jin, Brunswick building. New York; Verree Conklin. Steger building. Chicago. San l-'rancisco representative, K. J. Bldwell, 742 Market street. PORTLAND, I THURSDAY, MAY 11, li16. BllNDERIXG TOWARD INTERVENTION. Dispatch of three military organiza tions and a few more squads of reg ular troops to the Mexican border is merely another manifestation of a hopeless policy in dealing with the Mexican problem. They are not sent to run Villa to earth. That undertak ing appears to have been lost sight of. Nor are they sent to launch a new and firm diplomacy. The real purpose is to prevent killing of more American men, women and children on American soil as result of audacious and humiliating raids by Mexican mal contents. Squad by squad a military force is being assembled. Funston reports that 150,000 men are required for an ef fective guarding of the border a stretch of some 1800 miles. Less than a quarter of that force is under or ders and most of these troops are scattered through barren Mexican wastes. "When Villa invaded Colum bus a few more regiments were fed in, and now that a second raid has occurred another small quota is added. And the principal reliance is being placed in another series of pow-wows with the Mexicans the sort of pow wows that have been in progress for several years without the least satis faction having been gained. There is abundant evidence that the Mexican situation is rapidly getting beyond control. Even the Mexicans are tiring of their favorite game of palavering. They grow more and more Impudent in their representations. The time appears to be close at hand when the Mexican problem will have to be met face to face and solved fully and finally. Moral suasion failed early. "Watchful waiting proved a disgrace ful fizzle. Now the Micawber policy of waiting for something to turn upd is of no avail. No lucky turn of for tune results in the capture of Villa. That wily cutthroat cruelly refuses to commit suicide. Nor can the blunder ing Mexican policies be kept out of sight, since the irrepressible Mexicans, emboldened by American inactivity, persist in raiding American towns and ranches, killing and looting. Step by step the Administration blunders its way a little nearer toward forcible intervention. Intervention is not a pleasant prospect. It will mean heavy loss of American life. But it is now clear that i there is any hope of escaping intervention if there was ever any hope of escaping intervention that hope reposes in a hard and fast diplomacy. Had the whole American force regulars and militia been as sembled on the border when the trouble with Villa and Carranza was acute, the disgraceful raid at Colum bus would have been impossible. Had an adequate force been assembled for the pursuit of Villa that quest would not have proved a complete fiasco Had an adequate force been assembled when General Funston reported its necessity, the raid at Glenn Springs could not have occurred. One hun dred and fifty thousand troops on the border would not have been a large force in comparison with European lighting units. But it would have been ample for protecting American citizens in their own homes, in their own country, and it would have been available for any emergency that might have arisen or that may yet arise. If watchful waiting now leads to drastic action the cost will have been grievously multiplied. The victims of Vera Cruz, the martyrs of Columbus and Glenn Springs and the scores of citizens slain in Mexico will be the needless additions to the toll of tervention. PSYCHOLOGY VS. STRATEGY. The struggle at Verdun is a striking example of the interference of psy chology with strategy. It shows that politicians, when they are statesmen have a part to play in shaping the pians or strategists. faince modern heavy artillery has rendered fixed fortifications obsolete Verdun and the bulge in the line by which the French keep the Germans out of it have not been worth the men and material which it would cost the Germans to take them nor the i rench to defend them. That sector was simply so much ground, of no greater value from a military stand point than any other equal area along the front. When the German attack began, Joffre had actually decided and begun preparations to abandon Ver dun and the entire east bank of th Meuse, and to straighten out his line in a position which would' be well nigh impregnable. The Germans attacked because they believed the French to be weary and ready to quit and that one great vic tory would bring them to terms. They knew that Jotfre had decided to aban don Verdun and they had proclaimed a great victory in advance. They al? needed a victory to encourage thei own people, who had been sufferin the privations of a second Winter c war and who saw no other results of military triumph. But the French politicians saw tha to the French people the loss of Ver dun would spell defeat. Knowing in timately the sentimental side of French character, they foresaw that evacuation of the city would provpk a storm of rage which might wree ine ministry ana tne military com raand, a storm of despair which might break down the morale of the French ration. They protested and won over General Castelnau, Joffre's second to command, and finally Joffre himself. Petain was put in charge of the de fense and from that day the French have stubbornly contested every foot of ground and have no sooner lost a position than they v have striven to regain it. frequently with success. Verdun is no longer a fortress, for it and its girdle of forts are dismantled. It is no longer a city, for its civil popu lation has departed and the German bombardment has reduced it to ruins. It is a symbil. To the French it sym bolizes an impassable barrier to Ger man advance on Paris; to the Germans it symbolizes a victory of which they had already assured themselves but which evades them, no matter how strenuously they reach after it. To the French its continued possession spells victory; to the Germans fail ure to attain it spells defeat. The armies no longer contend for a thing of substantial military value. Each strives to destroy the other's confi dence, the loss of which in former wars has been the prelude to a series of defeats. Once an army acquires the habit of losing, its hopes of ulti mate victory are gone. UNFAIR. "When Colonel Roosevelt returned from his recent trip to the Middle West, where he was received with pen demonstrations of enthusiastic eclaim, he gave out for publication a statement in which, among other hings, he said: I most earnestly hope that the delegates no go to Chicago will nominate some man n whom Republicans and Progressives can ombine, and who, moreover, can be heartily supported Dy ail independent, citizens, ana articularly by all independent Democrats wno are loyal to the nationalism of Andrew Jackson and who are Dreoared to put the itai nonor ana jntepest or this nation above 11 mere partisan considerations. It is easy to suspect, in view of the Roosevelt record, that the Colonel did not intend to exclude himself from the roster of availables upon whom all parties might unite. Indeed, many ommentators have suggested that the icture of a compromise candidate visualized by the Colonel bore a re markable resemblance to his well- nown lineaments; and The Oregonian cknowledges that it is among those who have hinted that Mr. Roosevelt was not wholly disinterested. But the Roosevelt statement de- erves serious consideration. Fairly read and soberly interpreted, it con tains a clear assumption that there is some man upon whom the great body f citizens who believe in the asser tion and practice of a vigorous Ameri- anism can unite; and it is wholly gratuitous to say that the Colonel was thinking only of himself. It is a call for Republicans and Progressives to get together, and it is a promise to get behind any suitable man. Why not take Mr. Roosevelt at his word? No thoughtful aid candid student and observer of Colonel Roosevelt's ourse in the past eighteen months can reconcile the things he has said and done with any scheme of self seeking or vain-glory. CHEAP TACTICS. It is clearly within the functions of a newspaper to examine the truthful ness of statements made by voluntary contributors against candidates in a political campaign. The newspaper's responsibility for an untrue communi cation is not relieved by attaching the writers signature, although occasion ally a newspaper may justly plead good faith in the publication of a dis- orted or inaccurate statement sub mitted by another. But it can hardly be pleaded by the Portland Journal with reference to two letters which appear on its editorial page Wednes day. That newspaper had previously, on the same page, published a statement from Mr. A. E. Clark denying that he had been paid any money by Mult nomah County for foreclosing a cer tain mortgage against B. M. Lombard. The truth of Mr. Clark's statement is borne out by the county records, yet the Journal permits two writers one of them a candidate who are at tempting to defeat District Attorney Evans, to reiterate the charge in its columns. The employment of Mr. Clark to foreclose the county's lien on the old poor farm property is in truth in viting meat for those who know that the ordinary voter is not familiar with legal procedures and who think they can trade upon his lack of under standing. The 14500 attorney's fee mentioned in criticism of the fact that Mr. Clark was delegated to foreclose the mort gage instead of Mr. Evans, is part of a judgment against Mr. Lombard, If Mr. Evans had instituted the suit there would have been no fee included in the judgment, as the county cannot collect fees for the services of its own attorney. If Mr. Lombard had redeemed the mortgage he, not the county, would have had to pay the attorney's fee. Mr. Lombard has not redeemed and Mr. Clark has presented no bill to the county, although he has had several months' opportunity. If Mr. Clark ever does render a bill for services, it is revealed by a letter on file at the Courthouse, he has no expectation that the county will allow him $4500 for his services. These are facts obtainable by any body, particularly a newspaper. Their distortion is particularly dangerous material as political ammunition for Mr. Evans' opponent. We know of no office, unless it be a Judicial one, where fairness is more a virtue than in that of the District Attorney. WASHINGTON'S BIRTHDAY. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Editor.) Much is now saitl and written about patriot ism and preparedness. Yet. strange as it may seem. Washington's birthday is not a U-pal holiday in the state of Oregon. It is to the credit of the Daughters of the American itt-vol'.itlon that they are taking active steps to have such a law enacted by the next Legislature. I'nder existing con ditions, the value of such a law cannot be measured in dollars and cents. It should be the first bill to pass. C. A. J. The report that Washington's birth day is not a legal holiday in Oregon has gained surprising credence in view of the facts. The day has been a legal holiday for thirty years. From time to time, since 1S85, the law naming legal holidays has ,been added to or subtracted from, but always le gal observance of the birth of Wash ington has been preserved. Several years ago the Legislature decided, quite properly it seems to us, that it does not tend to reverence for or understanding of the Father of the Country to turn school children loose to play on the anniversary of his birth. Washington's birthday and Lincoln's birthday were declared not to be school holidays but the schools were required to observe at least part of each day with appropriate exer cises. In 1915 the Legislature put Columbus day In the same class with Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday. It was made a legal holi day and the schools. were required to observe it, not by dismissal, but with exercises. In the 1915 law (chapter 113) legal holidays are again enumerated, and Washington's birthday is among them. Last February, due to some trick of imagination, a Portland Evening newspaper published an editorial de ploring a supposed distinction made by law between Lincoln's birthday and Washington's birthday. In truth, the same law covers both days with ex actly the same provision. Perhaps Jt was this article that gave rise to the myth that Washington's birthday is not a legal holiday in Oregon. RISKS OF THE SPECULATOR. An interesting point in regard to the effect of war on stock speculation was decided by Judge McGinn. A client's margin on stock purchased through a broker who is not a mem ber of the New York Stock Exchange was- wiped out by the decline which immediately followed the outbreak of war, and the broker sold the stock to make himself good. The client sued to recover the amount of his loss, pleading that the moratorium pro claimed by the New York Stock Ex change protected him. Judge McGinn held that the Exchange could only suspend the collection, of debts by its members and that its rules could not extend to non-members. Judge McGinn's decision accords with both law and abstract justice. The sovereign state alone can suspend laws for the collection of debts and enforcement of contracts that is, es tablish a moratorium. As between individuals and associations, such a suspension can be only the result of voluntary agreement governing them selves and their members alone. While the war, which caused a great and sudden decline in values, was unfore seen by both parties to the transaction, it was one of the chances taken by both. Had some equally unforeseen event enhanced the value of the stock, the client would doubtless have de manded delivery on payment of the agreed price, and the broker could not have escaped. It is a poor rule that does not work both ways. The purpose of the Exchange in es tablishing a moratorium was not to protect individuals from loss, but to prevent a selling stampede which would have caused such depreciation in values as to demoralize business and produce a panic. The law counte nances such voluntary action by as sociations, but that action cannot be invoked to protect the general public from the risks against which they have not provided. Unless he is shielded by protective measures, such as the Exchange adopted, the specu lator must take the risk of great loss to balance the chance of great gain from unforeseen events, of which he would not hesitate to avail himself. PAMPERED. BEAUTIES. Lucky is the lot of the pretty woman. Despite efforts of modern novelists and playwrights to swing the tide of public interest toward the plain but brainy sister, the winsome miss continues to be favored by fortune. Opportunity for fame or matrimony continues to pursue her. If she escapes fame it is hardly possible for her to escape that especial variety of matrl mony which brings limousine and mansion. Artistic opportunity, which is cur rently supposed to pay little heed to tilt of nose, lines of face and tint of hair, makes these personal attri butes paramount considerations in the very latest call for latent talent. Beauty Is not only favored, it is in sisted upon. No other need apply. The international exposition of the motion picture art in the metropolis is going to cast about for new movie stars, and they will be selected from the most beautiful women who put in appearance. The most talented woman in the world will receive no considera tion if she is not pleasing to the eye. It is not enough that she please the mind. No questions will be asked these beauties as to their mental endow ments. If they catch the fancy of the connoisseurs they will be delegated for a week's trial at the film studio. There they will be coached and pam pered. Those who have a smattering of talent will be booked, and if, per chance, one of them shows talent be yond the ordinary her fame is secure. No long, bitter struggle against ad versity and managerial rebuffs. Op portunity will seek her out and tap her on the shoulder because of a fa voritism that has been doing service since the origin of mankind. It is quite possible under this ex periment for some comely shopgirl to find herself the early recipient of a salary that will make the President's ncome resemble pin money by con trast. However, her less favored sis ters should not take it all too bitterly The growing fields of poetry and poll tics are still on a basis of fair com petition. And then it must be remem bered that the more beauties claimed by movie art the greater the remain ing supply of desirable husbands, since the star is able to indulge in the luxury of a husband who meets her tastes rather than one who fills her pocketbook. After all. a husband is only a husband after the first glamour of honeymoon days passes off. GERMANY'S PLAN FOR DUMPING. Any persons who regard as the bad dreams of alienists German prepara tions to dump large accumulations of goods on the world's markets as soon as war ends should read a recent let ter from the Exchange Telegraph Company's correspondent at Stock holm, which has been published in European newspapers. On the author ity of "reliable persons recently back irom rermany, ne says: tJ 'The question is being considered of quickly buying up tonnage when npAPtt mmQ " A HAU- VinH rtf ma mi facturers' associations is being formed which will aim at common action and prevent excessive production some products or insufficient produc tion of others" and which will rule on questions of salability. The amount of dump goods to be produced is distributed among different fac tories to ensure economy and division I of labor. The state has been ad vancing 90 per cent of the sale value to enable production to go on, but the production price has been cut co low that this percentage has been reduced. Factories are being standardized and specialized. Where two In one dis trict produce two classes of goods, one takes over one class, the other the other class, and sometimes machinery Is exchanged. One can easily reason out the plan on which Germany is working. The empire will have been swept prac tically clean of imported raw mate rial needed in many industries and will not be able to start those indus tries until a fresh supply is imported. It desires to pay for this material in goods rather than cash and to provide return cargoes for ships. Hence a large supply of goods made from do mestic raw material and from all re maining stocks of imported material is being accumulated. It keeps labor employed, factories in running order and prepares the empire to recover at the earliest possible moment from the ffects of the blockade. If the war should end before, a new Congress has rebuilt the defenses of our industries which the last Congress tore down, Germany will dump vast quantities of goods In our markets at Underwood tariff rates and. at prices with which our manufacturers cannot compete. In, that event also Germany will re-enter foreign markets with vast stocks of cheap goods and regain lost ground before the United States has revised our laws in such, manner that our exporters will have been able to fortify themselves on that ground before the German flood bursts upon them. Nothing in that direction, need be expected from this Congress. Its little Army, little American, big pork-barrel proclivities preclude all hope of con structive legislation. The prospect that increased military expenditure would be paid with a higher income tax has caused cold shivers in that respectable organ of wealth, the Financial Chronicle. After denying that there is anything to fear and asking what has been done with he money we have already spent, the Chronicle says: Puttlno together these actual eTnenriitureft in tne recent past ana the miserable condi tion for defense in which the alarmists say the. country Is now. some better assur ance of improved results from new outlays seems neetieu than is lumlshed by the pos session of unlimited resources per a. wide open income tax. Yet we would wager a nickel that the editor of the Chronicle keeps his valuables in a fire and burglar-proof vault and does not grudge the money New lork spends on its police force. If Congress would get down to busi ness, it could amply provide for our defense without increasing our ex- penses much, if at all. The proposi tion is not so much to spend more money as to spend money to better advantage. By paving the ocean floor with sunken ships the Germans havo given a stimulus to salvage operations. Two companies have been organized to raise ships from the sea or to recover their cargoes. One company is said to have equipment for work at a depth of 300 feet and the other claims ability to go down 600 feet, though divers say they cannot work at greater derth than 120 feet. Hun dreds of millions of dollars in treasure are known to have been sunk at less depths than 600 feet. The Lusitania, with $1,000,000 in gold and Jewelry, besides several millions in securities cuts a small figure beside the fleet of Spanish galleons with $120,000,000 on board which was sunk In Vigo Bay to save them from the British and Dutch fleet in 1702. but many other ships, carrying millions, lie in shallow water off various coasts. Prohibition Is declared by Mr. Bark. the Russian Minister of Finance, to have proved such a success that he has introduced in the Duma, bill putting it In full operation after as well as during the war. Production and im port of alcohol to make vodka are for bidden, and the government alone is to make alcohol for technical or med ical purposes. The sale of light wines and beer is to bo allowed only in towns, the government limiting the alcohol contents, but the towns may limit or prohibit the sale. Railroad earnings in February in creased 27.68 per cent in gross and 56.59 per cent in net, compared with February, 1915. Thi3 is a continued improvement, the respective figures for January being 21.27 and 53.05 per cent. The result is increase in the Norfolk & "Western dividend and re sumption of dividends by other roads The Turks report capture of three British Generals. However, with poll tics to fall back upon, the British have a few million aspirants from which to draw a fresh assortment. One candidate for public office Is campaigning by letter on the plea that he is too busy to get out personally. Evidently he does not plan on getting the lettercarriers' vote. The most forlorn spot on earth is an unkempt cemetery. A decent respect for the dead should lead the living to keep their lots in trim. Most peo ple do. G. O. P. convention seats are in high demand at $100 each. It is worth something to see the next President of the United States nominated. It takes about as long to decide whether Brandels shall be seated as it does to get a decision out of the Su preme Court. If the Montana woman delegate al ready at Chicago is not seated where her hat will show, it will be an eternal shame. This is the psychological moment when Henry Ford and Bill Bryan should equip a peace ship for Vera Cruz. After many days. Germany admits the Sussex was torpedoed. For that matter, so was the Lusitania a year ago. -T Funston asked for a great army and ?if 4000 men. The lot of an Ameri- i r military genius is not a happy one. u-ut ir tne Aaministr ca". out every soldier in it ifJuld-not he much of the country of a force. A, a Mfcshf ield mill has been forced I C .1. , , . , toturn Vay business because of press Of traerst Oregon Is the place. , J ' .- Dr.- Koyd-can rest assured the short skirt "menicljs the Observer as much as IjVt yevtreh. , iK you do Ttot find- the men you want- on the sample ballot you are hard'to suit. The shorn sheep east of the moun tains wishes she had that 4 0-cent wool on her back. Which do you prefer occasional rain and cool weather or high water later? It is high time for Congress to quit squabbling and pass that Army bill. Somebody is getting ready for fire works at the Chicago convention. Well, who is going to carry that Chi cago convention by storm? Oregon Hawkeyes hurrah for Cummins. are ready to Cool weather now assures flowers for Memorial day. Where is Mr. Bryan and what is he doing? Why not dig up the ABC me diators? Yesterday was German day at Ver dun. The Hi Gill of Denver came back. Stars and Star-makers By Leone Cass Ilaer cow it is the "situation in Mti- XI ico" that has served for another inevitable and apparently to-be-con tlnued-fore ver war playlet for vaudeville. Fortunately for us It has only been written and can't possibly get to us for another season. So, if we miss some of the good things in vaudeville sometimes, we also mis some of the bad ones sometimes. This new play is the work of Nor man Trevor, an English actor, who is appearing now In New York in the leading role of 'The Co-respondent." In conjunction with Captain Smart, a British army officer, Mr. Trevor has written his play. Trevor has the double distinction of having jumped from his first part to that of leading man within six months under Sir George Alexander's management in London and of having been the youngest actor-manager in London after six years. One wonders why he didn't let well enough alone. Fannie Brice. who was a headliner at the Orpheum a while back, is to have the principal feminine role in Floren Ziegfeld's newest "Follies," those of 1916. The annual Summer engage ment opens at the New Amsterdam Theater three weeks from next Mon day, unless unforeseen circumstances cause a postponement of the day set for the event. The show goes into re hearsal next Monday. Bert Williams, the negro comedian, as usual, will be taxed with the task of providing most of the comedy. Joseph Urban is de signing and making: the scenery, which will be on the same spectacular scale as heretofore. Evidently some folk are making money in the show business this sea son. Charles Hopkins, the producer of "Treasure Island." which Jules Eckert Goodman dramatized, has been invest ing some of the profits which this suc cessful play has earned for him in his Funch and Judy Theater. Ho has pur chased the building at 18 East Forty ninth street. New York, the price said to be over $100,000, and he will make improvements on the bulldirg so that it can be used for business purposes. Rose Coghlan has gone into vaude ville. She has a comedy sketch en titled "Great Fishing." written by Frank Ferguson. She will have a com pany of three in her support. Miss Coghlan visited Portland last with the all-star aggregation in "Fine Feathers, "Stop. Look and Listen" will have a new star next season, as Gaby Deslys, who already has gone abroad, will not return to the cast. Elsie Janls will take her place. The book and score of the piece will be revised to give the American mimic and comedienne the proper opportunity to display her own particular talents. Madame Sarah Bernhardt is appear ing this week at the Coliseum Theater In London In a one-act play, "line d'Elles." written by her granddaughter. Mile. Lyslanne Bernhardt. The "elles' of the title are the mothers who have given sons to feed the Moloch of war. Mine. Sarah Bernhardt's retirement from the stage is drawing near. The amazing energy of the great trage dienne is once again exemplified by the fact that she will appear at no fewer than 13 Madame is not superstitious performances during the week. The first six will be taken up by "Du Theater au Champ d'Honneur." and in the remainder of the shows the re ferred to one-act play written by her granddaughter. Mile. Lysianne Bern hardt. will fill the bill. After playing at four flying matinees the famous actress will return to Paris, and. fol lowing a brief rest, fulfill an ambltioD which has been nearest and dearest to her heart since war broke out by giv ing a series of entertainments to her beloved soldiers of France at the front. Having accomplished this. It ' is Mme. Bernhardt's Intention to retire, after an association with, the stage of 54 years. - Frank Mclntyre is vacationing French Lick Springs and looking over the manuscript of his next season's play. He is to be starred by Charles B. Dillingham. Mile. Manhattan, writing in gossipy vein in a metropolitan theatrical ex change, says that "Mrs. Langtry (Lady de Bathe) Is back In town after a most prosperous tour of the vaudevilles, which was extended from an original 10 week to more than three times that season. "As you may or may not know, her ladyship, some weeks ago In Chicago, fell a victim no her English habit of taking exercise afoot. While walking briskly to the Majestic Theater from her hotel one evening she slipped on our brutal American ice and dislocated her arm, tearing the ligaments of shoul der and elbow so painfully that she was obliged to cancel a week's book ing and remain in bed trussed gaily in plaster casts. "They say that the Jeunesse doree of the Windy City offered the attending surgeons fabulous prices for. casts of the Jersey Lily's famous arm, but. alas! In modern surgery plaster casts come off in strips, profanely mingled with cotton wool, and so the gilded youth were doomed to disappointment and art surrerea a loss as wen. England's Area and Population. PORTLAND, May 9. (To the Edi tor.) (1) What was the estimated population of England at the begin ning of the war (not including any of her colonies)? (2) What is the area in square miles of England? (3) Of what nationality is the present managing editor of The Oregonian? J. N. HARRINGTON. (1) England and Wales. 36.960.6S4; Scotland. 4.728,500: Ireland, 4.375.554. (Estimates 1914). (2) England and Wales, 5S.340 square miles; Scotland, 30.405; Ireland 32.586. (3) American by birth. training. feeling and inspiration, as his ances tors were for 150 years. Carnesrle Hero Fnnd. OREGON CITY. Or.. May 8. (To the Editor.) Kindly give the address of the Carnegie hero medal committee. A. M. FERRILL. Address manager Carnegie Hero Fund. Oliver building, Pittsburg. Pa. Minus Zero. Baltimore American. Teacher Wait a moment. Johnny. What do you understand by that word "deficit?" Johnny It's what you've got when you haven't got aa much as if you just aadn t nothin , DELICATE SUBJECTS IX SCHOOLS Teaehera Should Not Eipms Own Opinions, bnt Give Both Sldes POMTLAND, May 10. (To the Edi- or.) The Issue under investigation by the School Board into the teaching of policies of John L. Kerchen has given rise to a number of educational questions, which ought properly to be referred to some educational coromis- ion. such as the National Bureau of Education, instead of being settled by board of men illy equipped to deal 1th them. The question of whether evolution ought to be taught to students outside of colleges is one that parents would decide in various ways and still reach no common decision. The average! scientist would teach science as the scientific authorities decree, regardless of the Biblical theory, while many re- igious elements of society would re Oct all evolutionary evidences from our studies of botany, zoology and biol ogy In the common schools. As students grow older they are able to form opinions of their instructors and to discount their own pet theories. There is a difference in teaching facts and in stating the views of various authorities on educational matters. A teacher ought by all means to take the attitude of the newspaper editor, who tries to keep his news columns free from decided opinions, reserving them for his editorial page. If Mr. Kerchen wishes to disseminate evolution along with his lectures in mechanical science, he should state that the substance of his remarks is based on Darwin or some other author ity, at the same time stating that other authorities might disagree or even stating wherein the conflict lays. Possiblly Mr. Kerchen has principles that would prevent him from teaching that the earth is square at one time and round at another, as our stone age professors did to appca.se all of their patrons. History may be taught in a manner that would not do justice to foreign ers In the schools, as well as the social questions. Hut most parents will be satisfied It our public school teachers try to handle delicate subjects broadly and in keep ing with the welfare of the children themselves. The general question, however, of what ought to be taught In the schools should not be decided by a local school board, hut left to experts In that branch of education. Mr. Kerchen seems to have committed his heresies at teachers" meetings. wnirn was a proper forum. J. B. CUTTING HAM. SWITCHING NOISE VNNKCES AUY Other Cities Not Annoyed Even Where Traffic Is Mnch Greater. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Ed itor.) I notice In The Oregonian a letter from a resident complaining of the noise made by the whistles and bolis of the locomotives operated in and around the city. I desire to add my protest to this really shocking con dltlon. and to express my astonishment that a city of the size of Portland should permit it to continue. 1 have heen a visitor here for six months. The great towns over the United States, such as St. Louis, Chi Cairo, New York, Philadelphia, with train movements of vast dimensions compared with what passes over the bridge and through the yards of Tort land, conduct the traffic without sound or noise of whistles or bells, from 30 to 0 trains of all classes passing over the four-track draws each hour of the day and many hours of the night, without a sound except the un avoidable escape of the steam. I have never met with such noisy- conditions as exist today In Portland. After a study of the situation. It ap pears to be entirely unnecessary; and if the railroads will adopt the methods in force in the signal and switch tow ers of these great cities, for draws and yards, bridges and routing of trains, it will be readily possible to secure total silence for all whistles bells, and the monotonous pounding of machine-rung hells which clang away for long periods, unobserved by those in charire of the locomotives, to the distraction of many, and the surprised astonishment of visitors that such things coull bo allowed. And. I be lieve, without any additional expense whatever. A VISITOR. MOTH Kit SHIPTOX PROPHECY HOAX Fabrication of Englishman Puta False Mantle on FliherHomsn. DALLAS. Or.. May 9. (To the Ed itor.) A contributor to the ""Old Verse" page of The Oresronian last Sun day gave the so-called Mother Ship- ton prophecy, which begins, "Carriages without horses shall go, etc. This "prophecy" was a clever hoax fabricated by an Englishman in the early part of the decade. ISTo-Sj. and it has since been widely quoted as evi dence of the remarkable occult powers of an old witch woman in the reign of Henry VIII. It is impossible for a rational-thinking person to believe that "the mantle of prophecy" has eve fallen upon the shoulders of an il literate old fisherwoman. Man evidently possesses the gift prophecy only so far as he can invoke the Immutable laws of nature. The scientific student can foretell eclipses, the return of comets, and reconstruc the probable shape of extinct anima forms of which fossil fragments have been found in the geological strata, etc. He is enabled to do this because of hi knowledge of certain astronomical and biological laws which experience ha proved to be dependable, but that he ever possessed an occult girt to lore tell far-off human events in the em bryonlc womb of Time la an unproved assumption. Rational reasoning dea with causes and effects and their log leal sequences. J. t . r uitu. Not Member Congressional Union PORTLAND. Or.. May 10. (To the Editor.) I ask the privilege of using your columns to correct a perslsten report, circulated in regard to my can didacy as delegate-at-large to the St. Louis National Convention, to tne el feet that I am affiliated with the Con gressional L'nlon. I wish to state emphatically that have no sympathy with the method or propaganda of this organization that I am not now, and never have been, affiliated with them In any way; and should I be honored by my party ln being sent as their delegate to the St. Louis convention. I will at all times vote for and sustain President Wood row Wilson and the wleheB of his rep resentatives in framing the party plat form, keeping always In mind the In structions of the Pemocratl' party of Oregon. HELEN I. TOM LIN SON. Temperature and Names. PORTLAND. May 10 (To the Ed itor.) (1) Kindly let me know If nor mal temperature is described as 98.6 or 98.3. Which is correct? (I) How is the English name "Pe des" pronounced and where could one find the proper pronunciation of Eng lish surnames in general? MISS ALICE BROWN. (1) 98.6. (2) Dee-shees; accent first syllable. Americana. International Encyclopedia, Whltaker's Peerage and several other reference works give pronunciation of names, when difficult, of such persons as are Important enough to be listed. That MlRhtr Pen. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Ed itor.) Why keep firing squibs at t-.e President and his Administration touching unpreparedness? "Is not the pen mightier than the sword?" And is not the President amply prepared and assiduously using this miehtiest force? Sic; A-NTl-SSiUIBji. In Other Days. Half n Centnry A so. From The OreFonlan of May II. litV It is proposed to hold a National labor convention in Baltimore Decem ber next to take steps to secure the passage of eight-hour laws in all the states and to Uo other work In connec tion with the rights of labor. Trofessor Sayre, principal of the Portland Academy and Female Semi nary, lust week very suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from this city and up to the present time no knowledge of his whereabouts lias been obtained. The roll of Protective Engine Com pany No. 4 is gradually being lined up with good names. . No. 4 Is tue young est company in the city. Our friend C. Bills, of Bills A Co.. when on a recent visit to Sin Fran cisco purchased a most elegant Brew ster carriage for business in this city. On Wednesday the little son of Ira Goodnough. aged 6 years, fell from the roof of the house and was Partly in jured. Tneatv-lvr Vein Abo. From The Orcpoman ef Mar 11. l'.M. London. May 10. Thirty-eight suf frage meetings were held today in Brussels and other cities of Belgium and hundreds of thousands attended. Many of the speeches were of the most violent character. The second annual picnic given by the Mezzinl Society of Portland at the Gambrlmis cardeni yesterday after noon was a success. The settlement of the question as to whether the Metropolitan Street. Kail way Company can bo obliged to carry passengers to the present city limits is likely to prove a complicate! matter. The company is operating the road un der five franchises. D. Solis Cohen, last evening gave a dinner party at Fnemann s parlors to Bowland Ueeil. Miss isauore ivusn. Mrs. Myers and Mr. Pennoyer. of the Kowland Heed. Company, and a few other friends. There is as yet nothing definite in regard to work beirg resumed on the Portland &. Seattle ltailroad. but it is reported that Jim Hill has said that probably everything win te in ream ncss for resuming work about June 1. OWNEHS AMI. I., PAY .U. TAXES Maintenance of City Golf Links o Come From IMnyerm Kres. PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Ed itor.) In The Oregonian May 6 ap peared a reference to the acceptance by the City Council of a proposition made by a large and wealthy real es tate holding corporation to lease to the city for "golf links' and "recreation a tract of about 150 acres, within the city limits, the consideration therefor being, I understand, the remission of taxes on this land for the nvo-year period of the lease and that the city was appropriating, or would appropriate, JtuOO at least toward improving and placing the property in usable condi tion. Being a recent resident of Portland, hearing more or less reference in busi ness circles to the question of taxes, city revenue and expenses, noting a very large number and amount of de linquent ut naif a, the scarcity of em ployment, the small number of real estate transfers for a valid considera tion, the questions naturally occur to a property owner or a prospective in vestor. "What will be the cost to the city of such an arratlgment as above set forth? Is there any crying need Just at this time for additional golf links or recreation space?" I believe your readers would very much appreciate, in this connection, a statement of the amount of taxes as sessed against the ISO-acre tract re ferred to for the past live years, year by year. Then the non-official por tion of the population can form their individual opinion as to the advisabil ity, from the city's point of view, based on the cost to the taxpayers, of this "Playground lease."' NEWCOMER. Under the agreement the owners of the property will pay the taxes and all street assessments on the property re ferred to. It has been turned over to the city tax free. As to the annual maintenance, it is figured that the links will pay their own way by a fee being charged for games as in other cities. TICKET TO SUIT FOR.EIGNEBS Vancouver Wrlier Namem One to Suit Rulgarlana and Tark.su VANCOUVER. Wash.. May 9. To the Editor.) I would be pleased to express my humble opinion regarding two let ters which appear in'Tho Oregonian Monday. Both your contributors al lude to Mr. Roosevelt as a Presiden tial impossibility. I fail absolutely to catch their point of view-. one writer places Mr. Taft in comparison with Mr. Roosevelt. This is as comparing dough with dynamite. In comparison with Mr. Roosevelt's administrative achievements the 12 la bors of Hercules do not amount to a Cincinnati circumstance. He undid in less than four years what had been done by the Mark Hanna administra tion during its entire term in onice. Through one act Mr. Roosevelt earned for himself Immortal fame That act was tee prosecution ot the ciiibalmers of putrid carrion who. through their nefarious and ghoulish business, poisoned hundreds of our sol dier boys in '. It is true that the Hon. Landis frus trated Mr. Roosevelt's efforts by bath ing these malefactors In his immunitr tub, but Roosevelt was not to blame for this. Regarding Mr. Hughes, the average voter knows about as much of him as Is known as Mrs. Jellyby's proteges at Borrloboola-Gha. He (Mr. Hughes) is a Justice of the Supreme Court. To the average labor unionist "Supreme Court" is another name for "injunction foundry." One of your contributors would choose a candidate acceptable to foreigners. How would the follow ing suit'.': lor President. Booze-Busting Bill. For Vice-President, Honk. Honk, Hank. For Cabinet appointments later: Secretary of State. Jujube Jordan. Spiritual adviser. Avid Aked. The present Secretaries of Army and Navy need not be changed. Surely this illustrious aggregation would be satisfactory to both Bulga- rians and Turks. PATRIOT. The Pull-Together Spirit When manufacturer and dealer pull together, the purpose is In creased sales. The great meeting-ground for this work is the advertising columns of local newspapers like The Orego nian. The advertising appeals directly to the buying public in the dealer's city, and the name and the product of the manufacturer derive great benefit through association with the la!er'fi lnra rtrestlffe. Co-operative advertising i the newspapers Is growing more more in favor because it pays. and