Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, May 18, 1916, Image 10

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Morning Oregonian., May 18, 1916, Page 10, Image 10

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Newspaper Page TextTUB MORNING OREGOXIAN, TIIURSDAT MAT v 18, 1910. rORTI.AXD. OREOOS. J Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postofflce as pevuilU-CIBH mlL miller, 4 Subscription Ra'cs Invariably In advance: rlly, Sunday Included, one year Iaijy, Sundav included, six months .... Itaily, Punday Includtd, three monthi -r I'slly, tiundav Jncinded, one month -'' I'aily, will out Sunday, one year Iil. without Sunday, six months I'aily. without Sunday, three months l-'p lailv. without ..'iiiday, one month Weekly, jna year Sunday, one year Sunday and Weekly, on year So By carrier.) Pally. Pnndsy Included, one year ....... w-g" Xiaily. Sundav included, one month . .... -'5 How to Remit Bend poslolflce money order, express order or jernal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at render's risk. Give postoffl-e ad dress lit full. Including; county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages. 1 cent; id to Si pages. 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, a cents; Brt to 60 page. 4 cents; 62 to 76 pases, . rents; 78 to Si pages, 8 cents. i"oreln postage, doublo rates. Eastern Business Office Verree & Cnnk- lln HrimtDlnl. l.,il4lnc. V .... Vnrk' VTra j A Conklin, Stenser building, Chicago. Ban f Krsnclsco representative. R. J. tiidwell, 742 Market street. rORTLANI), T1IIT5.SOAV, MAY 18, 1M6. FRIDAY'S PRDI.1RV ELECTION'S. The Oregonian has herewith some thing: to say about the primary cam pa igrn, now approaching its end after the usual period of controversy be tween principals and newspapers and of appeal to the voters toy tho numerous candidates. The interest is, as usual, confined almost exclusively to the Re publican primary, although the Demo crats and Progressives have more or less complete tickets in the field and will go through the form of making their selections. The Republican reg. istration throughout the state exceeds the Democratic by three or more to one and the Progressive in an overwhelming- proportion. It is noticeable that the Democracy has permitted a great part of the offices to go by de fault, or with only nominal candida cies, while tho Progressive party has wholly abandoned any effort to hold any kind of organization together but has interested itself only in the Presi dential contest. There will be no denial that the Progressive leaders are awaiting with acute concern the decision of the Republican convention at Chicago, and if it is satisfactory to them, the Pro gressive ship, which set sail under the bitter breezes of 1912, will be finally scuttled and deserted. There is no avowed Progressive can didate for President in Oregon, and it is gratifying to note that, while there is unquestionably a most friendly and grateful feeling for Mr. Roosevelt, there is a genuine spirit of harmony toward the Republicans and a more or less apparent purpose to agree upon both a candidate and a platform. It would appear to be clear that the Ore gon Progressives have no rule-or-ruin plan of stampeding the Republican convention for Roosevelt or any can didate, llf, after a fair consideration of the pVesent situation and the cam paign prospects, another shall be chosen, it is to be assumed that they will accept him. provided the record of the candidate is good But they will not support, and should not be expected to support, any man -who would be likely to revive the animosi ties of 1912 or who will not, or can not, seek to interpret the National spirit in terms and deeds of a truer, finer and greater Americanism, such as the Progressives and Mr. Roosevelt are now expounding. It is well for both Republicans and Progressives' to forget 1912. It is im perative that they remember 1814, 1915 and' 1916, and face without ap prehension or faltering the tremen dous issues created by the European war and that they think first of Amer ica and then of party; of duty rather than comfort; of honor rather than dollars; of service rather than glowing promises to humanity; and of pre paredness for any National emergency rather than peace at any sacrifice. There are on the primary ballot for the Republicans the names of Mr. Hughes, Mr. Burton and Mr. Cum mins; and for the Democrats Mr. Wil son. There is no question, of course, of the practically unanimous verdict of Oregon Democrats for the Presi dent; and the delegation at St. Louis will be in no need of explicit instruc tion for him. But in the Republican organization there is a spirited con test. During the past week. Senator Cummins has made many speeches in Oregon and has given a favorable im pression; and a little while ago Sen ator Burton had the same experience. But in Oregon the Republican voters are to have the opportunity of saying whether they are or are not for Mr. Hughes, who is no dark horse here. Obviously, if he shall get the Oregon nomination, especially under the cir cumstances, with, a well-organized campaign for other candidates, and with an appeal by Progressive lead ers to support Mr. Cummins in the interest of Roosevelt, it will be plain that the sound Instinct of the Repub lican party is for Hughes. If the vote shall be for Mr. Cummins or Mr. Bur ton, the result will be more or less decisively a setback for the Hughes movement. The campaign In Oregon therefore has a National aspect which cannot and should not be ignored, here or elsewhere. The Oregonian will not undertake to decide the question between Hughes, Burton and Cummins for any voter. It desires above everything to have a genuine expression of the real prefer once of Oregon Republicans. It wants to know just what is the relative strength, of each candidate. It desires Oregon to make a bona fide contribu tion to the general Information as to the availability of Hughes, Cummins and Burton. It suggests only to the voter that he make his choice, not merely through any reason or fancy of mere personal or sectional preference, but with a view solely to the larger ob ligation of every Republican to aid In the nomination of someone who will make a good candidate and a good President. Undoubtedly any one, or any ten, of the candidates for dele gate to the National convention, elected at the primary, will seek in good faith to fulfill his pledge to carry out the will of the electorate. There is no opposition to the nomi nation for Congress of Mr. Hawley in the First District, nor of Mr. Sin nott in the Second District. They de serve and will get renominations. But there is a lively struggle in the Third District (Multnomah County). The Oregonian will not profess an indif ference it does not feel. It will re peat that it views with no small con cern the possibility of the nomination of Mr. Lafferty, and it does not hesl tate to say that it will not support him if he shall be chosen. It desires that Portland shall be represented in Con press by some citizen, of worth, energy, industry, and probity. It has no con- fidence in Lafferty. nor in anyone who is for everything or anything to get votes, and for nothing long. Lafferty is deficient in other qualities of con spicuous usefulness in a public of ficer, and he would woefully misrep resent his district at 'Washington. The four years he was there were lost time, or worse, so far as the public interest was concerned. The Oregonian will cheerfully lend whatever aid it ran give to Mr. JIc Arthur or Mr. Llttlefield, if either shall be nominated. For Mr. Mc Arthur, it ought to be said that he has made an excellent start at Washington, and it thinks a career of promise and value to the public, will be cut short by his defeat. For Mr. Littrefleld. if the voters shall determine that they are justified in their own interest in making a change, the statement may be made that he has worth, energy, industry and probity which The Ore gonian has already said should be possessed' by a Congressman. The disconcerting fact is that the vehement contest between McArthur and- Littlefield is the opportunity of Lafferty. It is regrettable, but it ap pears to be true. The Oregonian. is loath to express any choice between McArthur and Llttlefield, for it has none. But it will nevertheless not hesitate to give its opinion that the situation, from the standpoint of a public which now finds that the ques tion of common decency is an ele ment in tho campaign, would have been vastly improved if Mr. Llttlefield had deferred to another time his am bition to go to Congress. The Oregonian has already more than, once urged the Republican pri mary, to nominate Charles' B. Moores, of Multnomah, for Secretary of State; and it is not necessary here to review the reasons. For Supreme Judge, Messrs. Moore and Burnett are unop posed a gratifying indication of the public satisfaction with their services. The same may be said for John. D. Mickle for Dairy and Food Commis sioner. He has been a satisfactory of ficer. For Public Utility Commis sioner, both for Eastern Oregon and Western Oregon, there are numerous candidates, all of them, so far as The Oregonian knows, men of personal merit. One of the candidates, Mr. Campbell, who is standing for re election, has an excellent record. Now we are down, to Multnomah County. For the purposes of news paper sensation, there has been created out of abounding reportorial fancy, a hazy yarn about a "secret cir cle" created by The Oregonian to make a slate ofvlocal candidates, and to dominate the primary; and there has been, too, a more or less plausible Invention of some kind of "invisible government" which was supposed to be working in harmony with the dia bolical designs of the "secret circle." The Oregonian has not thought the thing worth the dignity of a denial. so far as its knowledge of or par ticipation in the scheme of political boss-ship was involved. It merely calls attention to the palpable fact that such stories emanate from Demo cratic circles whose chief thought and aim are to create discord in the Re publican party, or from candidates who have had either real or imaginary reason for assuming that their re spective nominations would not be pleasing to this paper. We hear that they have been excluded from the col umns of The Oregonian, and we hear. too, that out of pure tenderness of heart an. asylum has been, given to them in the heaving and sympathetic bosom of a Democratic newspaper. Who are these candidates that have been ostracised by The Oregonian? Let us call the roll of a few of them: Mr. -Lafferty? Mr. McCue? Mr. Bev eridge? Mr. Tazwell? Mr. Muck.? The Oregonian has plainly said that they ought not to succeed in their re spective 'candidacies, and has told why. Will any Democratic newspaper, or any other public voice, take up their cause, and state why they, or any of them, should be elected? It has not been, done and it will not be done. But the fact that The Oregonian has not been silent as to these gentlemen and has protested vigorously against the assumptions of more than one of them is seized upon as a pretext for the general charge that it was inter fering unduly in the campaign. The Oregonian will not be dumb when, it thinks the candidacy of any man, in primary or election, is without suf ficient merit. It conceives that it has a duty to perform. It points to the record as a vindication of the fidelity and frankness with which it has. been performed. It does not waste' its energy, nor affront the public Intelli gence by making a great hullabaloo in any contest where the result is fore gone, merely for the purpose of braggadocio about results achieved and victories won. That is not its way; but it la the way of dishonest and Insincere Journalism, which has its exponents in Portland. The Oregonian has been requested by many citizens to prepare and rec ommend a ticket, especially a legisla tive ticket, for their consideration. It is not an easy or gracious task to make distinctions between candidates in a free primary, when there are not Obvious reasons why one should be preferred to another; and, besides. The Oregonian has no - ticket. But it has a definite conviction that good service in a public officer should be rewarded by re-election, and that it cannot in fairness be denied; but it has an equal opinion that no office belongs to any incumbent, and that the merits of any aspirant are en titled to full consideration. The Ore gonian has in several instances stated its views as to sundry candidates, and it refers any Inquirer to the recent Issues of the paper, on both its news and editorial pages. As to candidates for the Legislature, no group of five for the Senate nor twelve for the House could be prepared without mak ing arbitrary- selections and discrimi nations, and The Oregonian has not felt that it should do that. Besides, The Oregonian finds it as difficult to choose from among the candidates as the public, and it will say frankly that, with the exception of several Repre sentatives of previous good legislative record and one or two others, excel lent citizens, like Mr. Callan and Mr. Gordon, it thinks that the election of one or the other will be no" great mat ter. It would support no group be cause they are either Employers' As sociation candidates, or labor candi dates; tofct it would have the public as a whole, without distinction of class or creed, fairly represented. The Salonica entrenchments may be impregnable, but those of the Teutons and Bulgars opposite- them are prob ably equally so. If that be the case, there may be a tug of war on the Balkan front as interminable as that in France and Belgium. Asia Minor and Mesopotamia seem to be the only fields of operations where any move ment is possible: - Is the war to be decided by the exhaustion of one party's supply of men. material and money ? COMMISSIONER I.IGHTNER. There are four candidates for Coun ty Commissioner in the Republican primary, and among them is W. L. Lightner, who has asked re-election after 12 years of continuous service. There is vigorous warfare upon Mr. Lightner, chieriy in the interest of Mr. Muck, who Is obviously his chief op ponent. The Oregonian thinks Mr. Lightner ought to be re-elected. The revela tions as to Mr. Muck's personal finan cial operations do not give confidence that he will handle the large and im portant affairs of Multnomah capably or-economically. It is not necessarily to any man's discredit, of course, that he is in trouble with his creditors, and we do not reproach him for it; but it gives a convincing reason, nev ertheless, why public responsibilities Involving large expenditures of money should not be turned over to him. Mr. Lightner has not done some things some citizens wanted him to do; and he has done other things which other citizens think he should not have done. That is admitted. But on the whole he has been faithful and careful,- and he is, we are sure, quite honest. - In these days it ought not to be a crime for a. public officer to put on the brakes, and to keep them on; and It ought never to be wrong for him to ask to be shown when any new or Important project is launched. That is Llghtner's way. Before the public decides to sup plant Lightner, let it consider that the county's finances are in . good shape, and the county taxes are low; and that Lightner cannot be denied much credit therefor. If he Is to be replaced. The Oregonian is most posi tively of opinion that it should not be with Mr. Muck. - - M SINS OF THE ALUMNL Since it became fashionable for cer tain critical seers to- curse American educational methods the blame has been placed in many places. College presidents, professors, faculties, boards of regents have come In for grilling and abuse. Even parents have had some of the blame placed upon them. By some inexplicable oversight, the alumni have escaped up to this mo ment, but now comes John Jay Chap man, in the current Atlantic Monthly, and, pays his respects to those mis creants who, he concludes, are the great clog upon American education. They are forever reactionary obstruc tionists who litter that boulevard of educational progress which has been biased out -of the rocks of Ignorance by enterprising and energetic edu cators. It Is plain to Mr. Chapman that the alumni associations must be discouraged in their pernicious ac tivity if American colleges are to progress. It will be admitted that alumni as- -sociations occasionally dabble in uni versity affairs. Did they not intervene when Professor AVoodrow Wilson un dertook his crusade against under graduate clubs at Princeton? Innu merable incidents might be mentioned. But what more substantial champion and defender of the college than its alumni association? Where else may a state university, for example, look for aid when threatened by hostile legislation or the encroachment of politicians? These half-educated persons of the previous generation, as Mr. Chapman tenderly designates them, rally to their alma mater with a loyalty and spirit that are beautiful and inspiring when necessity or occasion demands. No doubt they make mistakes. But. after all, they have become seasoned veter ans in the battle of life since leaving school. Soft theory has been replaced Dy nard experience and cold .facts to a considerable degree. If they do not always agree with the motions of rad ical reform dreamers perhaps the de fection is not dangerous or destructive so much as it Is useful in maintainlne- a balance of common sense in teaching ana teacmng methods. . heip the rRcrr itjlstrv. A critical period in tjTenfe of the Oregon fruit industry has been reached. Many persons who came to this state with high hopes and staked their all in orchards are unable to dispose of their fruit and are near the point where they will cut down their orchards and turn their land to other crop or sell it for a fraction of what they paid. An investment esti mated all the way from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000 Is in danger of destruc tion. The effect of such an outcome to the , orchard boom would be disas trous to Oregon, it would blast the reputation of the state as a favored field for horticulture. It would make the state as a whole suffer for the glowing and over-enthusiastic repre sentations by which many persons from other states were inducedSto buy land at high prices and to embark in fruit growing. The success achieved by men of long experience, great in dustry and exceptional ability was used as an argument to tempt people of no experience from remote cities into horticulture, of which they had all to learn. Very many of them have learned to grow fruit, but have not learned to pack and market it. There are plenty of buyers in other states and countries, but the means are lacking to bring buyer and seller together and to obtain a living price for the seller. The present need is ai) organization to direct the packing and to conduct the marketing of the Oregon crop. . If that be provided the industry can be saved and can be put on a solid, liv ing basis. By that means the reputa tion of Oregon as a fruit-growing state can be saved. The growers themselves lack the means to estab lish an organization. It is both the duty and the interest of the state at large to help them. By silence it has consented to the representations by which immigrants Were induced to enjJje in fruit-growing. It would suffer financially by their failure, and future efforts to induce immigration would be largely thwarted by the rec ord of failure. Oregon simply can not afford, out of regard to its good name and to its material Interests, to permit failure. The means of putting the industry firmly on its feet are ready to hand. Agents of the Agricultural Depart ment have prepared a plan of co-operative marketing which comes within the law and which is to coWr the en tire Pacific Northwest. All the fruit districts of Washington, Idaho and Western Montana have organized un der that plan, but only two districts In Oregon Hood River and Rogue River are organized. In order to make the plan a complete success it is necessary that all "districts in Ore gon be organized and that the state enter the general organization as a unit. The work of organization has been undertaken by the Oregon Agricul tural College in co-operation with, the Agricultural Department, but the' col lege lacks the funds necessary to- con duct the campaign. About $2500 is needed, and it can be obtained only by subscription among the business in terests of the state. A committee has been appointed toy Governor Withy combe to raise this fund, and in co operation with W. D. B. Dodson, of the Chamber of Commerce. Is now seeking subscriptions in Portland and in the cities where the industry cen ters. The railroads are prepared to do their part by furnishing tho neces sary transportation for the agents of the college. An appeal is made to every bank, merchant, ' manufacturer and property owner, for their Interest wTU be served by the salvation and expansion of this great industry. If each will give his share, tbe tax on any one will not be heavyi But It is most important that those who give shall give quickly. The year is already far advanced, and no time must toe lost if the organization is to . be completed early enough to take care of this season's crop. By enabling the growers to market this crop at a fair price, Oregon can pre vent those who are now discouraged from cutting down their orchards and giving up the struggle. The state can carry the industry into another year with new life and hope infused into it and can assure its permanence and prosperity. A turning point has been reached in Oregon. The lumber industry is again prosperous, shipbuilding is be ing established, sugar refining Is soon to begin in Southern Oregon, the live, stock and dairy industries are pros perous and corn and flax have been added to our agricultural products. It is most desirable that we add to these gains the recovery of fruit growing from depression. Men who lead young girls to de linquency do not receive just punish ment in fines and imprisonment. ,and Judge Langguth, in dealing with a late case, voiced popular opiniqn-in wish ing the girl had a brother to whom he could turn over the man charged with the crime. Effectiveness of the British blockade and of British naval supremacy is told in statistics of decreased American ex ports to countries contiguous to Ger many and vastly increased exports to allied countries and to neutral coun tries not adjoining Germany. The world Is not concerned over the order of business the first and second days of the Chicago convention. What It wants is the tale of the fourth day, when somebody grabs the New York banner and starts the stampede. The two murders were premeditated crimes, and the man who did them calculated the punishment, knowing sentimental people, misled by an er ratic executive, had decided he should not be hanged. The report from Berlin that Rus sians massacred 500 Mohammedans, burning alive many of them, may be true. This is no time for being squeam ish about a few Turks. Attendance at the Monmouth Nor mal Is outgrowing its capacity and more room must Be provided. Oregon canot afford to retard development of Oregon teachers. ' A Chicago robber, under the guise of making social visits, steals from those he visits. Very often the social caller is a thief of valuable time. If nothing more. A number of penny newspapers think of raising their prices because of the high price of paper. What they should raise Is their standard, not their price. Dispatches indicate that the Ger mans are losing in African campaigns. The German armies are not having the gay times they enjoyed a yeas or so ago. ,The Russian bear is enjoying his favorite sport of running djiwn the Turk, while the British army envious ly looks on from the swamps of the Tigris. Old Jupiter Pluvius is a mean old thing to rain on the kids when they came out decked In white to drill. He constantly spoils sport in that way. Casement is held for high treason; but Sir Edward Carson, who differed in that his was of low degree a few years ago. 1s not held for anything. It's & mighty good idea to send a wealthy man or two to the Legisla ture. Being a heavy taxpayer, he will use the brake on extravagance. Up to Friday" a number of gentle men will tell you Just how it will hap pen. Saturday they will be explain ing how it happened. Sarah eBrnhardt may change her legal citizenship from Greece to France, but her genius makes her a citizen of the world. The President says that an occa sional "good blow" Is good for a man's soul. What does he mean, "blow"? The beetle bug that eats fir might have digested Commissioner Blgelow's city woodpile. The primary campaign Is a sort of family contest. The real fight comes in the Fall. The butcher and grocer will touch elbows with the banker and booster In heaven. Woodrow is getting to be a regular fire-eater, now that campaign time Is at nana. Asquith will help in shaping the government of Ireland, but how about Carson 7 Borah is sincere, for there Is not much of an Irish vote in IeTaho to play to. So long as both Teutons and allies say victory for them is sure, peace is remote. Once it was thought a campaign could not be conducted without liquor. V Last day for the strenuous work of the candidates. - v Remember, boys, you can't all be elected. A "Milk" day is the latest proposal. Shake! Really, it's warm, enough to snow. OBJECTION TO OI.COTT TW OFOLD I Essentially Not Loyal to Party lie Asks Favor of. He la Uog In Office?. SALEM, Or.. May 15. (To tho Edi tor.) B. W. Olcott. who is seeking the nomination for Secretary of -State on the Republican ticket, was Governor West's campaign manager and accord ing to hla own iwrrn statement on file in the office of Secretary of State, con tributed $1569 for West's campaign fund. Thereafter Governor West ap pointed Mr. Olcott Secretary of State, which is the second highest office within the gift of the people of Oregon. As such officer. Mr. Olcott has been a member of the Board of Control and has Lad a large amount of patronage at his personal disposal. 'While, at times he did not agree with Governor West upon the non-essentials, the fact is, and the records so prove. that he furthered all of those measures that wo-ild strengthen the Democratic party In this state; and it is fair to assume that his conduct in office contributed largely to the election of two Demo cratic Senator In the State of Ore gon. As a Republican, believing the future prosperity of this country depends upon the returning to Republican prin ciples. I protest against the election by my party of a recognised Democrat to office. In the face of the records no man can ay that Mr. Olcott has been loyal to the Republican party, and a reasonable regard for the proprieties of the occasion would suggest that that gentlemin seek his nomination at tha hands of the party which ha has so liberally aided by his large contribu tions of money and personal services. Mr. Olcott's nomination is not only objectionable for political reasons, but as a citizen I do not believe that it is good policy to keep one man contin ually In the next highest office within' the gift of the people for ten consecu tive years with a salary of $45,000. The framers of cur Constitution foresaw the evil consequences which might re sult In one man's continuance in of fice and incorporated a section In that document providing that "no person shall be eligible to the office of Sec ret iry of State more than eight in any period of 12 years." Now Olcott is run ning in defiance of this provision of the constitution, and probably shares with many other politicians in the be lief that the constitution was never adopted to interfere with the inalien able rights of off Iceseekers or those who live from the official "pie counter." Mr. Moons' loyalty to tho Republi can party has never been questioned, nor has ha ever failed to fight cor ruption when it has appeared In his party While a member of the Legisla ture the record discloses that Mr. Moores spoke and voted for the initi ative and referendum, and afterwards as a citizen supported the direct pri mary law. While a member of the Legislature In 1895 he led a fight against the abuse of clerical hire In the legislative assembly, and at tha present time, as chairman of the Port land Dock Commission, Mr. Moores is devoting his time gratuitously in an effort to Improve the navigable streams and shipping interests of this state. Mr. Moores' ability. fitness and qualifications to fill this office eco nomically and efficiently are not ex celled by any man In the state, barring none. And efficiency means more business at less expense; not less ac complished for more money. In conclusion, I hope the members of our rarty will bear In mind that Ore gon needs two Republican Senators and that a great presidential campaign Is on. and no matte- whether Roose velt. Hughes. Cummins or Burton is nominated, we will need tho united support of all Republicans and Pro gressives In our effort to keep Oregon wl'.hin the Republican column. Conse quently. It will be unwise to elect a man to the office of Secretary of State whose contributions and services go to the aid of the Democratic pnrty. 31. L, JONES. MR, MOORES NAME STANDS OCT In Considering Array of Avenge Ma terial Voter Notes Distinction. PORTLAND. May1 16. (To the Edi tor.) Our primary nominating system has many excellent features over the old party convention plan, but in other points it is open to criticism In that It is not so well calculated to draw from the public supply the best offi cial timber. Candidates under the new system are nominated and elected who under the old would stand not the ghost of a show at tho hands of any party. Amidst t.ie. multiplicity of names on the nominating ballot placed before the voter are many new and unknown; others are familiar by their frequent appearance thereon. Confront ed with such a dilemma the voter Is seriously puzzled in his honest effort at making a wise end judicial selec tion of candidates for his franchise. In considering this array of very av erage material it is refreshing oc casionally to note an outstanding ex ception to the general rule. In the ap proaching nominating election in this Republican commonwealth the voter has presented to him for his franchise a man for. the office of Secretary of State. C. B. Moores by name, of un questionable probity, exceptional busi ness ability, of genial personality, a lifelong Republican who has served well his community and state for a long porlod of years, who has never sought favors of his party and who has given without stint his services where called upon for the common good. He is a man who will show to the public the same front as an official that he presents as a private citizen. R. KELLY. TEACHERS LOOK TO ELECTION Choosing of Superintendent Important Work and Recommendation Made. PORTLAND. May 16. (To the Ed itor.) The voting for a County Su perintendent of Schools by voters of Portland, whose children do not come under the supervision of this officer, is a matter for serious consideration. Do we know what the country schools need? What does this county need Just now? The rural child now goes to the high schools free. Tho County Super intendent should know all details of the Portland school work, so that he nay ! prepare tha rural child to take advantage of a high school In either the city or rural district. Again, for years the County Superintendents have not been qualified to help teachers with beginners or the work of the primary grades. All primary teach ers are asking for primary helps. The Superintendent must be up to date in this line. Therefore, we. as rural teachers, having looked over the can didates for this office and feeling that E. H. Whitney, now principal of the Ockley Green School, has these quali fications, ask tsB voters of Multnomah County and especially Portland to cast their vote for this man, because we expect to get definite, help from him on these lines. HATTIKBICLI.E OGILBEE, Chairman. RUTH SCH.MUCKLI, Secretary of Teachers' and Patrons' Progressive Rural Club. Early Columbia River Lore. ' HOOD RIVER, Or., May 16. (To the Editor.) When did the first steamboat run on the Columbia River as far as Cascade Locks? Did a steamboat ever climb the rapids at the locks before the canal was built, or since? C. A. BELL. The Lot Whitcomb probably was the first steamboat to go up the Columbia as far as what is now Cascade Locks. This was in liCl. We know of no craft that climbed the rapids before or since tho cnnul was built. The R. R. Thompson prob ably was the first to come down throtisrh the rapids. This was in the late '70s. Ml'MC ARTISTS AT TRADE SCHOOL. Much Talent Concealed Beneath Work Clothes at Bcnsan Polytechnic. PORTLAND.' Or, May 16. (To the Editor.) I would like to say a few words concerning a coming event In which the Benson Polytechnic School Is vitally Interested. This event Is an annjial affair and la known as the Ben son band concert. Each year the Lin coln High School auditorium is utilised to present this concert to the public. It must not be inferred that the band fur nishes the whole programme; Indeed this is far from being tho case. Talent in all lines is recruited from all the classes in the school. It la surprising to see some of the genuine art that lies In obscurity beneath tho greasy work clothes of tho machine shop boys. No less possible Is It to secure excellent amateur artists from beneath the over alls and Jumpers of the electric shop boys. Other departments of this school offer like opportunities lor securing first-class entertainers. Did not Enrico Caruso ply the ma chinist trade before he soared to the top aa the world's best tenor? Was not Harry Lauder a laborer In a mine be fore his voice was discovered while en tertaining his fellow-workmen? Of course, it is perfectly self-evident that all artists rise from the multitude and attain fame through the merits of their offerings. Nevertheless, It behooves Portland's people to give the trades boys more than Just a passing glance. Wa feel that we have something good and we hope that .our efforts will bo Justly appreciated. Solos. du-ets. etc., both vocal and Instrumental, will be featured In this musical anj vaudeville programme. Muslo rendered by the Benson Polytechnic artists Is not the only attraction offered, as rough-and-tumble stunts, juggling acts, farce comedy, tempered with short sketches, will fill out the bill. Some timo during the first week In June Is the time set for the concert. Many of the faculty members possess musical education and ability and they realize In some of the students some thing more than Jyst a mere ability to learn a traJe. C. II. M CASU.N. STRONG MAN IS NEED OF THE HOl'R Such With Illa Vices Preferred to Weak, Lender Whs Ills Virtues. PORTLAND. May 15. (To the Edi tor.) Tho political situation as it now exists calls for comment from all good Republicans who have the welfare of their party at heart. The writer, a life long reader of The Oregonian. takes this occasion and privilege of dis agreeing with hta favorite editor as to the men needed to head the country's affairs. Tho choice, as I see it. is to pick be tween a strong man. with his vices, and a weak man with his virtues. Which ought to be chosen? It occurs that tho present situation calls for the strongest man at the party's command. Better to have a Cromwell to redeem our lib erties, than a Blucher. though virtu ous, whose innate weakness might yield at the crucial moment and become the instrument cf destruction. With war prevailing throughout civilization and the Republican party Inharmonious, strength is needed. Wo must have someone who can ride the ship through the hurricane. Strength fighting strength is tho Imperative need of tho hour. Many of us patriotic Republicans who fought Mr. Roosevelt four years ago would like to see him in the harness for the next four years. By tho end of that time. Mr. Roosevelt's policies for prepared ncs would be well on their way. Peace, would have been de clared. Then Mr. Roosevelt's purpose that of saving his country would have been accomplished and there would be need then of the statesmen and con structive lawgivers In the President's chair. But Just now we need a man that can stand llko a rock and say: "Fear God and take your own part." ALLEN M'REYNOLDS. Richard Harding Davla' Place. A somewhat unfavorable opinion of tho late Richard Harding Davis occurs In Professor Fred Lewis Pattee's "A History of American Literature Since 1870." Professor Pattee considers Davis the most typical figure in our literature of the eighteen nineties, and says that to him literature was" "a thing to ba daahed off with facility, to bo read with excitement and to b thrown aside." Of Davis and his work in general Professor Pattee observes: "He is a maker of extravaganzas, of Zenda romances, of preposterous com binations like A Soldier of Fortune.' which la true neither to human nature nor to any possibility or terrcatial geography: he is a special correspond ent with facile pen who tells nothing new and nothing- authoritative a -.nan br the mere today, and with the mere today he will be forgotten. He is the type of a whole school, a school indeed that bids fair to exert enormous in fluence upon tho literature, especially upon the fiction, of the period that is to come." i Levi W. Myers on Mr. Musters. PORTLAND. May 16 (To the Edi tor.) I would like to indorse tho can didacy of J. E. Magers for Judge of Department No. 3. at the pending pri mary election. I am his neighbor and know him well. I am sure he hag spe cial qualifications f jr the office ho seeks. Ha is an oldtime citizen of tha state, has practiced law 35 years; was County Judge of Yamhill County man J years, and nature gave htm a judicial cast of mind. Above all. he Is a care ful, conscientious man. In whose hands the people can trust their business. I commend him to public favor. No mis take rill be made in giving him tho Judgeship, I am sure. LEVI W. MYERS. Strikes Vnder Democratic Rnlr. DALLAS. Or.. May 17. (To the Edi tor.) Two years ago Milton A. Miller. Collector of Internal Revenue, had a long article in Tha Oregonian about various strikes that occurred under Re publican administrations. He attributed tho causes to Republican policies. Evi dently the once "Sage of Lebanon" Is a st'.dent along those lines. If he will give a detailed account c- the many strikes that have occurred under the present Administration we may over look hlJ political activity a thing his party In former days called "offensive partisanship," as well as to declare it a violation of civil service rules. W. O. BINNS. Can't See Germany' Argument. PORTLAND. May 16. (To the Ed itor.) I fall to get tho force of Ger many's protest against the British blockade, which is for the purpose of starving women and children. Can you explain how the siege of Paris In 1870 was conducted without tho Intent and result of starving women and children? Does not every siege intend to bring suffering and starvation to non-combatants, women and children? And Is this not what the allies include In their plan of blockade? Of course, like all war. It is inhuman, but why should Germany protest? I do not see tho distinction. INQUIRER. Addresses of M ell-Known Men. KOOSKIA. Idaho. May 14. (To the Editor.) 1. Please give me the address of Henry Ford; also of Allan L. Ben son, candidate for the Presidency on the Socialist ticket. S. Could Socialist papers If brought to court prove their statements? 3. hat Is the real name of "Pawnee Bill?" SUBSCRIBER. 1. Allan L. Benson, 1 Arthur street, Yonkers, N. Y. Henry Ford, home Dearborn, Mich.; office. Woodward avenue. Highland Park 'Detroit), Mich. 2. What statements? 3. Gordon W. Lilly is probably the best known "Pawnee Bill." We think several minor border characters have assumed the title. In Other Days. Twenty-Five Years Ago. From The Oreconlaa of May 18. Js1. Carl Schurx. who as president of the UaJiiburg-Amerii-an Packet Co.. h:s made a close study of the methods of ocean travel, believes that stearuerj will yet bo built that will make the trip across the Atlantic in three or four days. The committee of the Immigration Board, that has be n out collect inn money to keep the board golna fortln next year. Has so far collected S2..niui. John D. Geoghsran. reerister of Ihu United Stitcs Lund Ofire at Vancouver. was in this city a few davs aa-i and said that since the restoration of thn Northern Pacific land jirant between Wallula and Portland to the public do main, lit) nomestead entries had been made. W. II. Wilson, of Tho Dalles, district Attorney for thft Seventh Judicial Dis trict, is at the Terklns. Bitdicp Hurst, of Washington. P. C. a traveler all over the world, pro nounces the river ride from Portland to the Cascades of the Columbia the most magnificent river ride that he has ever taken. Half n Century A no. From Tha Oreconlan of May IS. lSHfl. Our fellow townsman. Quincy A. Brooks, special agent for the Postoffica Department, has been appointed to bo special agent for the Pacific Coas-t. The work of finishing tho new county courthouse for Multnomah County, in this city, is progressing rapidly. We understand the list of subscrip tions to tho fund for tho erection of the Methodist Church in this city. Is so far very liberal. The Willamette and the Columbia Rivera have met and the latter, seems to have tho best of it as is usual at. this season of tho vear. Business has been driven from the lower wharves in this city. At a meeting of the teachers oT tho Presbyterian Sabbath School, held at tho church last Sunday. William Wad hams was elected as superintendent of the school for the remainder of this year. VIEWS T. It. AS NOT "AVAILABLE" His Nomination Would Re Fatal Move, Saa C. D. La Follette. PORTLAND. May 16. (To the Edi tor.) Tho Republican party platform was Just as worthy of loyal support lu 1911 as in this year, and we Republi cans who Indorsed and enthusiastically supported the party in 1312. voting and working for tho success of Mr. Tatt. did so believing his election would bring happiness and prosperity. But we were defeated by Theodore Roose velt, and at this timo some of our mis guided and enthusiastic Roosevelt wor shipers are loud In their demand for the nomination of Roosevelt at the He publican convention at Chicago next month. This would be utterly foolish, for it would certainly mean the election of Wilson again, for there are scores and scores of good, straight Republicans who would vote to defeat Roosevelt if nominated, for tho very rockI reason that they will not reward treachery by voting for a man who only last elec tion deserted the party, and not only vleserted the patty, but heaped upon it all kinds of false statements and In vective, for no other reason than be cause he could not bulldose the con vention and force his own nonuuaj.on. His blind followers urge his nomina tion, and fidelity to the Rcpuhlic&n party, for the reason that we always have prosperity and National honor during a Republican Administration. If Roosevelt had stood firm in 1912 we would have prosperity and National honor now. Instead of an unsteady, vacillating, weak, "watchful waiting' Administration. Between the Progressive and Repub lican voters there is" almost a complete amalgamation, and for this reason If Roosevelt is not nominated at Chicago there ia little dancer of his bolting again, and if he docs bolt it will simply be a bolt of a few of the soreheads. He cannot carry the people with him na four years ago. and if they make a big stampede and bolt the convention, which there is no danger of them do ing, the votes they will receive in th election following will not change that result, for tho people, together with Progressive voters, have had all they want of Wilson's "unprecedented pros pority." They want a return to the good old times we had under the last and preceding Republican Administra tion, and the Republicans and Progres sives alike will be given an opportu nity to vote for a Burton. Cummins. Fairbanks, Hughes or some other d penJable man who stood firm when days of adversity wero upon us. No other kind of a candidate can be con sidered or is available at this time. C. B. LA FOLLETTE. W. C. ALDERSON VIEWED AS FIT Leo Frlede Saya He .Is Eminently Qualified for Important Position. PORTLAND. May 17. (To tho Edi tor.) In the turmoil of thoughts hiul excitement preceding the primaries many are apt to overlook the positjon of an official while not in tlio first rank of officialdom, nevertheless as important as any. I have In mind in particular the position of County School Superintendent, a most Import ant one. In the hands of an efficient administrator, b'lt a place when sub ordinated by Inattention, or incaa it . will teact upon the rising generation. I. therefore, take it upon myself to suggest to voters to vote for W. C. Alderson, for County School Superin tendent, a man whom I have known since ycuth. having devoted his life time to the schoolroom, and attained a qualification, that eminently fits him for the office. Ho Is not touting him self before the public with children parades or automobtle processions, but to know him is to know he is the nian for the place and tho placn fits the man. LEO FR1EDE. Pronouncing Champorc;. ONTARIO, Or., May 15. (To the Ed itor.) Will you please tell me how to pronounce Champoeg? W. P. LAWRY. Pronounce it as if It were spelled Sham-Po-Egg. with tho accent on tho middle syllable. The White Sale Month May is set aside by many stores as the month for their Spring white sales. The merchandise offered in these events is of a kind and character that appeals to every woman. The opportunity these sales offer to replenish her wardrobe Is one she docs not want to overlook. By reading the advertising in The Oregonian wise women keep posted on what the different stores are do ing. It saves time and very often money to "shop around" through tho newspapers before making tho tour of the stores themselves.