JO
TITE MORNING OREGONIAX, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1916.
(Bm$(snxm
FOBTLASD. OREGON.
Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postofflce a
second-class mail matter.
6ub0rlptlon rates Invariably In advance.
(By Mall.)
pally, Sunday included, one year 8-59
aiiy. Sunaay Included, six months..... 4.--
leily, Sunday Included, three months..
laliy. Sunday lnctuded. one month..... -5
iJaily, without Sunday, one year........ S.25
l'ally, without Sunday, six months......
Xaily, without Sunaay, three months... 1.75
Paily, without Sunday, one month
aVeekly, one year ................. i'
Sunday, one year
fcunday and Weekly a.oO
(By Carrier.)
Taily, Sunday Included, one year 9.00
iJaiiy. Sunday Included, one month..... -75
How to Kemit Bend postof flee money
order, express order ot personal check on
your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency
are at sender's risk, tiive postoffice address
In full, including county and state.
Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; IS
to 'Al puKes, 2 cents; 34 to 4 pages. 3 cents;
t0 to UO pages. 4 cents; 02 to 76 pages,
fi cents; 73 to 82 pages, 0 cents. Foreign
postage, double rates.
Eastern Htxstnesa Office Verree ft Conk
2in, Brunswick building. New York; Verree
& Conkiin, Steger building, Chicago. San
Krancisco representative, K. J. Bidwell. 742
Market street.
I"01iTI.ANI, TUESDAY. SEPT. 5, 1916.
WAN Till): ECONOMY.
The Oregonlan not long since .had
occasion to challenge a statement by a
sagebrush contemporary that In the
May primary the candidates who stood
for economy were uniformly defeated.
The Oregon Voter felt called upon to
show by the record that certain can
didates who had pompously pledged
themselves to lower taxes were beaten.
The Voter reached the apparent con
clusion that what the people want Is
not economy, but extravagance; not
lower taxes, but higher taxes; not
saving, but waste.
The Hlllsboro Independent comes to
the rescue of The Oregonlan by show
ing that at least two candidates in
that county who were loudest in their
protestations for economy were de
feated, not for what they said, but for
what they are and would do or
rather, for what the public estimates
their pledges to be worth nothing.
Exactly. The thing is so obvious
that it requires no argument. Wanted:
A state administration which practices
economy; a county administration,
ditto; city administration, ditto; school
administration, ditto; and so on down
the line.
It must be said that notwithstanding
the continuous partisan abuse of the
Legislature, and the loud professional
criticisms of the state officers, the
state tax Is the lowest the citizen pays.
It averages about 8 mills per annum.
The greatest wastrels are under the
Immediate eyes of the taxpayers.
FX3XERAX, rAKM-IjOAX DISTRICTS.
An almost Invincible case can be
made for the erection of the four Pa
cific Northwest states Into a Federal
farm-loan district with a farm-loan
bank at its financial center. All that
is necessary is a proper marshaling of
facts before the Federal Farm-Loan
Board when it visits Portland.
The districts should be arranged
with a view of serving the farming
states which pay the highest interest
on mortgages and have the largest
area of unimproved farm land. The
states Included in any one district
should be economic units in respect to
similarity of climate and products, also
to lines of communication and busi
ness relations. Judged by these stand
ards, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and
Montana should comprise one district.
None of these states should be thrown
Into the same district as California, for
that state is set apart from them by
its lower rate of interest, its difference
In products, by mountain ranges form
ing the heart of great undeveloped and
largely barren areas, by lack of main
lines of communication and by ab
sence of close business relations be
tween the farming population of the
Pacific Northwest and the California
cities.
On these points a great mass of In
structive information has been col
lected from official reports by the Ore
gon Voter. As regards Interest rates,
it shows that there are twenty-seven
states in which farm mortgages pay
less than 8 per cent and that all ex
cept one of these are in the East and
Middle West a solid block the ex
ception being California. There are
twenty-one states paying 8 per cent
or more, all of them in the West and
South. The rural credit system was
designed to benefit those states in
which interest rates are highest, being
less needed where rates range from
6.3 to 6 per cent, as in New England.
Oregon pays 8 per cent, Washington
8.7, Idaho 8.9 and Montana 10. These
states need the access to great money
centers at low interest which farm
loan bonds issued with Government
guaranty will give them.
The farm-loan banks are Intended
to cater to the needs of those states
which have the largest area of unim
proved farm land together with the
smallest amount of farm mortgages.
The farms of the United States have
478,451,760 acres improved and 400,
346,575 unimproved, and 231,616,043,
or nearly three-fifths, of the unim
proved acres are in the twenty-one
high-interest states. The four Pacific
Northwest states have 25,159,389 un
improved acres in farms, besides 48,
630,666 acres of public land, open to
homestead entry, or a total of 73,790,
049 acres needing development, equal
to half the unimproved farm acreage
in all of the twenty-seven low-interest
states and nearly equal to the im
proved acreage in all the seventeen
Atlantic Coast states. Of the 254,
945.689 acres of unimproved, unre
served public land open to homestead
entry, all except 21,124,441 are in high
Interest states and 19 per cent are In
the four Pacific Northwest states.
Surely the land banks are most
needed where the highest proportion
of agricultural land is unimproved
and unsettled. Low Interest would be
a strong inducement to settlement on
the bare acres of the public domain
and to improvement of the land which
has already been appropriated. But
so far the smallest proportion of mort
gage loans has been made in the states
which need- them most. The total
farm mortgage debt of the United
States is estimated by the Agricultural
Department at $3,598,985,000. The
twenty-seven low-interest states have
only one-third of the area but fotir
fifths of the loans, while the twenty
Zone high-interest states have two
thirds of the area but only one-fifth
'of the loans. An example Is Iowa,
which, paying the same rate as Rhode
Island, has bprrowed $469,063,000.
The rule all along the line seems to
be: Low interest, large loans, extensive
Improvement, as against high interest,
Email loans, deficient improvement.
These factors rather than population
should be the guide in districting the
country. Were rural population to
decide, all of the eleven Rocky Moun
tain and Pacific states -with a com
bined rural population of. 3,495,981
, would be entitled to only one bank,
though their combined area is 1,189,
2.40 square miles, while Pennsylvania
and New Jersey have only 53,450
square miles' with 3,664,399. rural in
habitants. If population were to gov
ern, New England would not be en
titled to a bank, for its rural popula
tion is only 1.097,336, but recognition
of its obvious claims as an economic
unit requires like recognition for the
Pacific Northwest with 1,157.861 rural
inhabitants in Oregon, Washington
and Idaho, aside from Montana.
The relation of states to each other
requires that the Pacific states north
of the California line be grouped with
those to the east of them Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming while Cali
fornia should be grouped with Nevada,
Utah and Arizona. The railroads
through the northern group of states
run from east to west, only one line
running south into California, while
other roads run from Utah, Nevada
and Arizona into California. Popula
tion is grouped along the lines of these
roads and has dealings with cities at
their termini. Judged by every stand
ard prevailing rates of interest, need
of capital, need of improvement, sim
ilarity of products, climate and condi
tions, community of interest and close
ness of intercourse among their popu
lation the states north of the Cali
fornia line and stretching eastward
across the Rocky Mountains are an
economic unit. As such, they should
be set apart for purposes of rural
finance in a separate district.
WHO RUNS THE SCHOOL8?
, The controversy over the transfer,
or removal, of Mrs. Alexander from
the princlpalshlp of the Benson Poly
technic School to an assistant princlp
alshlp In the Washington High School
goes straight to the question of the
authority of the School Board over the
teaching staff and the schools. It is
an important and even a vital matter.
Has the Board which is by law pro
hibited from dismissing a teacher
without trial, a right to promote, de
mote, transfer or reassign a teacher,
against his or her protest; and, as a
necessary corollary, may it increase or
decrease his or her pay?
It would appear that the question
must be answered in the affirmative,
if there is to be order or discipline or
system in the conduct of the public
schools; yet we find it vigorously and
even plausibly- disputed. That the
public may understand the nature of
the problem, and particulary that the
contention for Mrs. Alexander may be
clearly set forth, a long statement
from one of her partisans Is printed
tfjday.
The kernel of the discussion would
seem to be contained in the frank dec
laration that "she (Mrs. Alexander)
recognizes the right of this body
(School Board) to transfer her to any
other position to which the Board in
the exercise of its discretion sees fit
to assign her, subject only to the
restriction and limitation that the po
sition to which she may be transferred
shall be of like character, equal grade.
and carry with it the same amount of
compensation." This Is a rather star
tling contention; yet it is seriously of
fered. It is coupled with the asser
tion that "Mrs. Alexander does not
claim that she is entitled to hold the
identical position which she now holds
against the wishes of the School
Board."
This is an acknowledgment, evident
ly Inadvertent, but none the less can
did, of the obvious weakness of a
teacher's position if she seeks to deter
mine her own tenure and define the
conditions of her employment.
For Mrs. Alexander does distinctly
declare that she is "entitled to hold
the identical position which she now
holds." In her letter to the Board
she says, "My position is that I am
still principal of the Benson Polytech
nic School," and she says she will
"insist upon drawing salary for that
position until such time as it has been
Judicially determined that I am not
entitled to do so."
It may be hoped that the threat of
Mrs. Alexander to take her case into
the courts will be speedily realized, for
it is well enough to have settled once
for all who is running the Portland
schools.
WMMMA OF A JAPANESE.
From the point of view of the Jap
anese resident of the - Hawaiian
Islands, the problems of education and
of loyalty present undoubted special
difficulties. These are explained in
a letter to the Japan Advertiser, a
newspaper printed in English in
Toklo, by a Hawallan-born Japanese,
who frankly acknowledges the first
obligation of loyalty to the United
States, because of the opportunities
this country has opened to him, and
at the same time explains the steps by
which he has reached his conclusion.
He discusses, and defends, the Amer
ican system of education in the
islands, and particularly takes to task
those Japanese critics who have ob
jected because in the Japanese schools
"there is not a phrase or passage in
the text books where reference is
made to encouragement of loyalty to
the Emperor and patriotism to the
Empire."
It is a matter of history that the
first Japanese school in Hawaii was
opened in 1895. This was three years
before annexation to the United
States, however, and after the latter
date there was a large increase in
educational facilities for all peoples,
including, of course, the Japanese.
Under American rule, there are now
130 schools for Japanese alone, with
more than 400 teachers and 13,000
students. Of the total population of
the islands, 220,000, there are about
90,000 Japanese. There are 30,500
pupils in all the schools, so that more
than two-fifths of them are Japanese.
Nevertheless, as Is right, the schools
are conducted as American schools.
The Hawaiian-born writer who de
fends the present system, and thereby
shows his appreciation of what has
been done for him by the United
States, reasons Ingeniously in explain
ing how he has arrived at his present
state of mind. As is the way of so
many Japanese, he resorts to a story
to point his moral. He tells of the
son of a certain retainer of a daimyo
who was adopted by another daimyo.
In the course of time a feud broke out
between his former lord and his late
master. The adopted samurai re
solved that by his valor and loyalty
he would add to the glory of his for
mer master who had trained him in
the principles of knighthood, while
at the same time dying for his new
master.
This essentially Oriental method of
reasoning, the youngJapanese means
to imply, would be applied by many
of his countrymen in determining
their course in the event of a conflict
between the United States and Japan.
"It is," says he, "the spirit which the
Hawaiian-Japanese must cultivate."
The point in this lesson in hyphen
ated Americanism lies in the fact that
the children of Japanese immigrants
to Hawaii on attaining their majority
automatically become American citi
zens. The situation was not quite the
same In the early years of the Jap
anese immigration, . when, without
hope of American citizenship, and
in greater part without desire for it,
they counted only on- the day when
they would return to Japan and de
sired a form of education that would
make them better Japanese, rather
than better American, citizens. There
followed a period of transition, and
now has come the day of the Japanese
American, owing his new opportunities
to the government represented by the
Stars and Stripes.
It is a pleasing idea for the con
sideration of all who are being fused
by the vast melting pot of America
that the newcomer is adding to the
glory of the nation of his forefathers
by making himself an especially loyal
citizen of the country of his adoption.
ONE STATE ASSET.
"No one who has ever been over
that famous highway (Columbia
River) will question its beauty and
in a manner it is an asset to the en
tire state," declares the Crook County
Journal. . '
After so handsome and deserved a
tribute to the great roadway, it is
not agreeable to find our Prineville
contemporary protesting against the
proposal to spend some $70,000 of
Government funds on the highway.
"When there are so many other places
to expend this fund," laments the
Journal, "it seems that the use of
more than half of it on this particular
highway is unreasonable. The action,
however, is typical of Portland. . .
Portland is selfish in some matters
to the point that they injure . . .
future development by overlooking the
remainder of the state."
The same complaint has been voiced
by other state papers. They think the
Federal fund should be expended in
their own parts of Oregon. They are
quite naturally able to see the great
merits of their favorite projects and
are not so alert in their appreciation
of roadmaking or other public enter
prises more or less remote from their
sections.
No doubt Portland is selfish Just
as others are selfish; but it would ap
pear it has some particular deserts in
this Columbia Highway enterprise. It
has expended about $1,500,000 of its
own (Multnomah County's) money to
build the Columbia Highway to the
county line, and has not had, nor
asked, a cent from the state, nor from
any other source. At the same time
it has contributed some $24 0,000 to
the state highway fund, which has
been expended for the benefit of
others.
It is true enough that Portland Is
exceedingly anxious for completion of
the Columbia Highway, both up and
down the river. It wants to see a fin
ished roadway from here to Astoria
and Seaside and intermediate points;
but it can have no greater interest in
that project than these places. It
desires the upper Highway completed
to Hood River and The Dalles and
interior Oregon. Prineville ought to
have a particular reason for seeing
that Idea developed and realized.
In a manner, indeed, the Columbia
Highway is a state asset. Let us have
no small Jealousies or controversies
about it; and let it be understood
that a staunch friend of good roads
throughout Oregon is Portland: and
it will do all.it may -fairly be expected
to do to have them built.
RESCIE OT THE CASTAWAYS.
Even a world in the midst of a
mighty conflict will have time to' see
the romance in the rescue of the in
trepid explorers who were cast away
on Elephant Island, far down in the
Antarctic Circle, and to feel a thrill
of admiration for the loyalty and per
sistence of their leader, Sir Ernest H.
Shackleton, who has succeeded after
several futile attempts had been made
in bringing them safely back to civi
lization. No charge of desertion or of aban
doning these 22 marooned men can be
brought against their comrades who
made the venture into the North to
seek succor for the entire party. When
Sir Ernest lost his ship and when at
length he succeeded in making his way
to shore, the best he could find was
the inhospitable coast of what really
was an immense glacier. There was
on the one hand an insufficient sup
ply of provisions for any length of
time, and on the other a great sea of
floating ice. The danger of starvation
for those who stayed was great, and
yet the perils of the voyage to the
outer world seemed even greater. It
was a difficult choice when volunteers
were called for and five men were se
lected to accompany the leader on his
new adventure. It must be remem
bered that this was last April, and
that It was at ttat time calculated
that the stock of provisions on hand
was equal to only five weeks full ra
tions for the men who were left be
hind. How Sir Ernest succeded in reach
ing South Georgia and finally the
Falkland Islands and South America
has already been told in the news
dispatches. At least two rescue ex
peditions since then have failed. One
sent out by the British Government,
which, despite the war, did not ne
glect its citizens in a far-off land, is
somewhere in the southern seas at this
writing. Uruguay sent a small vessel
on the errand of mercy and only a
few days ago It became known that
Chile had agreed to make a similar at
tempt. These incidents are especially
Interesting because the smaller coun
tries of South America have suffered
much from lack of ships with which
to carry on their own commerce.
How much civilized men can endure
under the pressure of necessity is well
illustrated by the statement that the
castaways have reached Puntas Are
nas in "good condition." Although it
is nearly five months since they were
left there with food for five weeks,
they appear to have thrived. No
doubt the hunting was good and for
tune was kind. But it proves that
there Is a good deal of stamina left
in the white man, after all.
TAKING THE PROFIT OCT OF WAR,
Perhaps the most powerful argu
ment of the pacifists in opposing pre
paredness has been that it is advocated
by those who have a selfish interest
in supplying the Army and Navy with
munitions; also that, with a great
Army and Navy, this special interest
would be strengthened and would use
its influence to embark the Nation in
war for the purpose of .realizing big
profits on war material. The mind
revolts from the suggestion that men's
cupidity could so overcome their pa
triotism and humanity as to desire
war and the death of thousands of
their countrymen in order to put
money in their pockets. Few are
really so base, but the suspicion has
spread that many are. In taking steps
for industrial preparedness, the Naval
Consulting Board has also provided
for taking the war profit out of muni
tions and has Incidentally proved that,
as regards the great mass of American
manufacturers, the suspicion is un
founded. The European war having proved
that, in order to prosecute -war suc
cessfully, a nation must enlist all its
industries in supplying its fighting
men, the Naval Consulting Board in
vited the co-operation of five great
technical societies having 30,000 mem
bers in taking an industrial census
which would inform the Government
by whom, where and in what quan
tities munitions could be made. The
societies gave their aid without cost,
even for postage, and obtained exact
information about the size, location,
facilities and capacity of every factory,
big or little, for making war material.
The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States at the same time took a
referendum vote on the policy of pre
paredness, and the affirmative vote
was fifteen to one. The committee of
that body also declared that there is
no National asset that is not neces
sary "for the common use of the Na
tion" in time of war .and made this
declaration:
We believe that no plan of National de
fense should be adopted which will permit,
due to the outbreak of war, any profits
to anyone, arising out of the National dan
ger, and in case the pressure of war Is put
upon us we may unitediy and universally
accept sacrifices, of loth - property and per
son, for the great National necessity.
The body which made this declara
tion and which represents the indus
trial and financial interests thus re
nounces all claim to war profits for
its members. In answering the census
questions,,' each manufacturer agreed
to consider bidding upon regular Army
and Navy contracts, to consider ac
cepting them "on the basis of cost
plus a reasonable profit," to consider
"accepting a minimum annual educa
tional order" on that basis and de
clared that he favored enrolling his
skilled labor in an Industrial reserve.
The plan is so to divide contracts in
peace time that each manufacturer
and his workmen shall acquire the
special machinery, tools and skill
necessary in war, also to insure that
no man shall make profits on war
goods in war time greater than he
would make on peace goods in peace
time. The Nation will thus be equipped
for producing all the materials neces
sary for its defense without establish
ing any vested interest in the provoca
tion of war. At the same time the
American manufacturers are cleared
of the foul aspersions which have been
cast upon them.
Injection of the suffrage Issue into
the campaign has divided many fami
lies. J. A. H. Hopkins Is for Wilson,
while his wife will take the stump
for the Woman's Party on behalf of
Hughes. Representative Kent, who
went to Congress as an Independent, is
enthusiastic for Wilson, but Mrs. Kent
is working for- Hughes. George Mid
dleton Is out for Wilson, but his wife,
Viola La Follette, is out after Wil
son's scalp on the suffrage issue. The
same cause of division exists between
Mr. and Mrs. Meredith Nicholson.
Brothers also are divided, for Gifford
Pinchot is for Hughes and prepared
ness, while Amos, as a member of the
Union Against Militarism, supports
Wilson's inefficient brand of prepared
ness. There will be hot political de
bates at many a fireside this Fall.
Greece's readiness finally to line up
with the allies is probably due as
much to Greek realization that the
psychological moment has come when
it can safely be done as to anger at
Bulgar assaults on "Greek forts east
of the Struma River. A year ago the
odds were against success. Teuton
and Bulgar armies were on the
ground, while British and French
armies were not. Now the Teuton
armies have shrunk to small size, the
Greeks would rather fight Bulgars
than anybody and the Roumanians
have given the signal that it is safe
to Jump into the fray. If the Greeks
had fought a year ago, few of them
might survive today. Their valor was
tempered by prudence.
The Greeks seem to have no more
voice in the government of their own
country than the Haitiens since Pres
ident Wilson showed them the differ
ence between them and the Mexicans.
The allies have run the Greek ports
and railroads; now they run the
telegraph lines and police and take
German agents from Greek soil to be
held as prisoners on their warships.
Military necessity knows no law.
What has come over Henry Ford?
When Madame Rosika Schwlmmer
came all the way from Norway for
the express purpose of seeing him, he
would not see her. Has he soured on
the peace crusade since Dr. Aked ex
pressed his candid opinion of it, or,has
he found it too expensive to be seen by
peace delegates?
The real mystery of the speedy
settlement of the possible strike
trouble has been solved. Two big
circuses are in this neighborhood and
it never would do to let them be
stranded.
With Japanese Immigrants pouring
into South America, the time may yet
come when the United States will have
to deal with a Japanese President of
some Southern republic:
The show Is traveling on schedule,
but that does not lessen the sorrow
of the boy who must attend school
the day it comes.
The men in the parade yesterday
had a prosperous appearance. As they
say, prosperity goes with organiza
tion. Japanese loan of $30,000,000 to
China Is as good as foreclosure on the
yellow neighbor. 1
While developing new prunes, some
body should try for one that will not
bloom so early.
The casualties at Colorado Springs
were sustained by others than the
principals.
The prune crop being large, there
is joy among the boarding-house keep
ers. Because it was a union labor parade
It started when "time" was called.
The huckleberry crop promises to
be large. Look out for the bears.
They're Just the same Jolly Guards
men under the tan and dirt.
Run up to Clackamas and see the
Guardsmen.
Once more Villa has been almost
caught. '
City schools really open this morn
ing. .
Get your Hughes button.
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
THE! PACE AGAINST TUB FANE.
(Being a sad. sad song composed for
the occasion of school opening by the
Courteous Office Boy, who has to go.)
"You may quote me as saying that I
regard this talk about the happiness
of children returning to school as all
bunk." eaid the C. O. B. in submitting
his mss. yesterday.
Following the style of the editors
of the first-class magazines, we wish
to announce that we regard it as'the
greatest pome that this or any other
age has produced. Signed, The Editor.
Willie, little Willie, with face against
the pane.
Looks out across the morn.
And, sure as you are born.
He hears the old school bell.
And Willie makes a yell.
Though well he knows 'tis vain-
'Tis,. fearful thing at morning
To be hustled from your bed,
And be dolled up, without warning,
Scrubbed until your ears are rel.
And unto the schoolhouse routed
Forth to fare as convict fares.
"We are lost," his brother shouted
As he staggered down the stairs
But Willie, little Willie, with face
against the pane.
Looked out across the street.
And stamped with both his feet.
Though well he knew 'twas vain.
"Willie, little Willie! Now do not act
so silly."
Says mother as beside her boy she
stands,
"Your sister and your brother have
gone; so you mind mother
Arid she flips a limber slipper In her
hamta.
And through the distance Willie heard
afar
Ancestral voices prophecylng war.
And so his back against the wall he
bore
And firmly placed his foot before:
"Come one, come all, this wall shall
fly -From
its firm base as soon as It"
And Willie, little Willie, with face
against the pane.
Looked out across the street
And would not own defeat
It went against the grain.
And the people, ah, the people.
They that dwell beneath the steeple
Of the schoolhouse, teaching children
by the rules.
NThey are neither man nor woman.
They are neither brute nor human.
They are ghouls
Or so Willie nominates them,
And reiterates he hates them.
And his opposition to the race of teach
ers tells.
And no force his fury quelle.
And he dances and he yells.
As he hears the old school bells.
Hears the bells, bells, bells, bells.
Bells, bells, bells;
Hears the wrangling and the Jangling
of the bell.
"Willie, little Willie, I will beat you
with my billy,"
The truant officer advlres him,
"Your lltt'.e slater Sue,
Went to school without ado.
And your chance to dodge your duty,
lad, is slim."
The boy stood on the burning deck,
(Or figuratively so.)
And sternly answered: "I expec"
You'll drag me if I go.
For I hate It, I hate it, and ne'er a
rule
Shall check me from hating to go to
school.
Hate of the country and hate of the
town.
Hate so hot that it truns plumb brown.
Sunday school teachers it matters
not.
But once a week can they get a shot.
But the regular teachers have the cheek
To bother a fellow all the week.
And keep him cooped in the school all
day
When he would rather go out and play.
So one I hate and will always hate.
Hate till the last long trump of Fate,
Hate when I'm dead in my future state.
From the sole of her foot to the crown
of her pate.
One I repeat, I will hate and hate
Teacher!"
They whipped, him with slippers, they
whipped Jilm with canes.
They whipped him with sections of
hose.
But all the response that they got for
their pains
Was Willie's emphatlckest "Notes!"
And Willie, little Willie, with face
against the pane.
Through all their treatment cruel
Refused to go to school.
With all his might and main.
And under cover of departing day.
His dad remarked between the slipper
play,
"He has the stubborn spirit of his
sire.
And I doubt if we'll Jar him loose that
way.
For it's Bill, Bill, Bill,
Are you holdln' out against the school
bell still?
Though I've belted you and flayed you.
From your course I haven't swayed
you
You're a better roan than I am,
Willie boy!"
Oh, Willie, little Willie, with face
against the pane.
Though you get little thanks
And many spanks.
Your deed was not in vain;
For, rehearsing of the legend, ageJ
men with hair all white.
Long shall toll how little Willie stuck
till curfew rang that night.
Oh. Willie, little Willie, with face
against the pane.
Who had the nerve to yell;
"I bate the old school bell;
It drives me most Insane!"
Willie, little Willie. I rise up here to
cry "
You're one of the few, th' Immortal
names
That were not born to die.
('Nother note: We hasten to square
ourselves with our friends on the
teaching force by disavowing all re
sponsibility for the above act of the C.
O. B. We are, however, prepared to
exchange notes with any of them on
the subject. In the meantime we will
hang the double cross of the triple or
der of Hookey Experts upon the C. O.
B. and declare a national holMay.
The Editor.)
What's the Hnrryt
Dallas News.
Miss Bright (to her small brother)
Willie, put Mr. Borleigh's hat down;
you might damage It besides he will
want It In a few minutes.
TEACHER'S POSITION I'XDEH LAW
Right of School Board to Reduce Salary
Denied by Writer.
PORTLAND. Sept. 4. (To the Editor.)
The editorials of The Oregonlan are
usually so sound and well written that
it is seldom necessary for your readers
to disagree with them. Occasionally,
however, there are times when your
paper makes mistakes and I trust that
you will not consider it an offense if
one of your subscribers, in the inter
est of truth and justice, presumes to
call your attention to what he con
siders to be of them.
In The Oregonian Sunday under the
title "More Tenure of Office" there ap
peared an editorial criticising Mrs.
Alexander's attitude in protesting
against the action of the School Board
In transferring her from the principal
ship of the Benson Polytechnic School
for Girls, where she has been receiv
ing; a salary of $235 a. month, to the sub
ordinate position of an assistant in
the Washington High School at a sal
ary of only $1J5. Judging from a state
ment contained in this editorial. It
would appear that you have not been
made fully acquainted with the facts
In this case, as Mrs. Alexander does
not claim that she is entitled to retain
the identical position which she now
holds against the wishes of the School
Board, but, on the contrary, as I under
stand the situation, she recognizes the
right of this body to transfer her to
any other position to which the Board
in the exercise of its discretion sees tit
to assign her, subject only to the re
striction and limitation that the posi
tion to which sho may be transferred
shall be of like character and equal
grade and carry with it the same
amount of compensation. Mrs. Alexan
der denies Mr. Alderman's statement
that she occupies her position merely
by virtue of a temporary appointment,
and this fact will probably be put in
issue in the event the matter is litigat
ed. Accordingly, I refrain from com
menting upon it until the issue has
been decided.
Like the writer of your editorial. I
do not select this means of address as
an opportunity to discuss Mrs. Alexan
der's personal fitness for the position
from which she is sought to be re
moved. In view of the fact that this
has not been attacked or crit
icised, it will be sufficient to
say on this phase of the
question that the success of the Benson
Polytechnic School under her principal
ship stands as an incontrovertible tes
timonial to her competency and ability.
Her work cannot , be deprecated or
disparaged by any fair-minded or un
biased critic. The sole object which
I seek in writing this letter is to call
your attention to the real and underly
ing principle involved in the contro
versy between Mrs. Alexander and the
members of the School Board.
As you are aware, prior to the year
1913 so many abuses occurred and so
much unfairness was shown in the se
lection and removal of teachers in our
public schools, particularly in the larg
er districts, by members of the various
school boards throughout the state that
the Legislature, in 1913, under the pres
sure of strong public opinion, passed
the "teachers' tenure of office bill."
section (Laws 1913, Ch. 87) of which
provides as follows:
"Before being dismissed, any teacher
on the permanent list shall receive
written notice Btatlng the reason for
the proposed dismissal, together with
a copy of any charges or complaints
which may be filed against him or her
. . . . and shall be entitled to a hear
ing before the Board within ten days
after notice."
The object of this law unquestion
ably was to insure to teachers their
right to hold their positions so ion a; as
they are competent and faithful. When
thc-y cease to be either, their removal
Is easy. If there is any difficulty, as
in the Kercher case to which you refer,
it is the fault of the Board and not of
the law. The means by which a teach
er's removal may be accomplished are
amply provided for, and the School
Board has the motter fully within its
control. Are any serious consequences
likely to result from such a statute?
Why should the length of service of a
competent and faithful teacher In our
public schools be left to the arbitrary
will of the School Boaru and subject to
the varying personal and. it may be,
political interest of its change In mem
bers? In toy Judgment, there is no
reason. Such laws are everywhere ap
proved and vigorously upheld by those
who believe in rewarding merit and
eliminating the spoil systems from our
public schools.
If the School Board cannot dismiss
Mrs. Alexander under the tenure ot
office oct without giving her an op
portunity to be heard in the manner
provided therein, the thing prohibited
by this law should not be permitted to
be done Indirectly by reducing her
grade and salary so as to force her
to quit.
If the Board has the arbitrary right
to transfer a teacher from the princl
palshlp of a trade school to an assist
ant's position in the high school and at
the same time reduce her salary almost
one-half, it can obtain the removal of
any teacher In the public schools of this
city by merely ordering the person it
desires dismissed transferred from one
school to another and at the same time
reducing his or her salary to an amount
at which it is satisfied the teacher will
not remain in the service. The power
to reduce one's salary to the extent
of $100 Implies with it the authority
to reduce it without any limitation on
the amount to be paid. Hence what is
to prevent the Board from taking Mrs.
Alexander's salary away entirely or
from transferring her to the position
of Janltress? Some Individuals might
think that a notice to the effect th".'
his or her salary was discontinue'' aid
npt mean that he or she waS dis
charged, but the ordinary person would
be likely to consider himself "fired."
Should Mrs. Alexander accept the sit
uation passively, or do you think that,
as an American citizen, entitled to the
equal protection of our laws, she should
Insist upon her rights?
WALTER H. KORELL
HOTI1ER OF CRIPPLE IS GRATEFT7L
Response to Appeal for Aid Annrered
by Physicians and Others.
PORTLAND, Sept. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) As the mother of Albert Mum
brauer, the little cripple boy, whom
your paper and your readers so greatly
befriended, permit me to express my
sincere gratitude for all the kindness
ehown my boy. I am a proud woman
and hesitated long before applying for
help, but at last when I found that
work was so slack and that I could
get but little to do and that I could
never give my boy the treatment and
care he needed, I came to you and told
my story. Immediately response came
and some of the best doctors In the
community offered their services; a
good man said he would be responsible
for the hospital bills; Mrs. Scott Swet
land, of Vancouver, sent $3 and an
unknown friend another $5. -1 am sav
ing the money for the boy to give him
a start. Otis Akin has operated on
Albert and Dr. Earl V. Morrow has as
sisted. Frank Waller and the nurses
at the Good Samaritan Hospital have
shown great interest.
If I can get some more work I shall
be able to make a nice little home for
the boy when he is out of the hospital.
All of my happiness I owe to the paper
that gave me all these friends and in
this way I want to thank you.
MRS. M. R. MUMBRATJER.
Aid for Elm Trees.
SUVER, Or.. Sept, 1. (To the Ed
itor.) On August 30 a recipe was
asked for saving elm trees. A solution of
whale oil soap dissolved by boiling
eigh't pounds, add 100 gallons of water,
and fortified with a good, standard nic
otine preparation, will kill the lice and
cut off the honey dew if sprayed prop
erly. All hopmen have the same trou
ble most every year. M. J. KREUTZ.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Veaurs Ago.
From the Oresonia.n ot Sept. 5, 1S91.
Detectives Sam Simmons and Joe Day
distinguished themselves yesterday
afternoon by stopping a runaway on
Oak street, seriously endangering their
own lives and limbs. This feat of dar
ing was deservedly applauded by the
small Chinese boys who were playing
marbles In the street a short distance
ahead of the place where the runaway
was stopped.
Jack Dempsey tendered a few of the
Portland and Spokan ball players a
clam chowder banquet In SIc.Xauiara'3
refreshment parlors last evening.
The ladies connected with the
Women's Exchange are making stren
uous efforts to have everything in
readiness for their grand opening on
Tuesday.
The second story of the Blckel
block, on Second and Ash streets, is
being rapidly partitioned and plas
tered and put generally in trim for oc
cupancy by the city officials. They
expect to get into their new quarters
about October 1. All the officers are
crowded in their old quarters and will
be glad to get out of them.
The stockholders of the Morrison
Street Bridge Company -will decide at
their annual meeting on October
whether or not they will sell their
bridge.
Ilalf a Century Ago.
From the Oregonlan of Sept. 5, IS 66.
Cleveland, Sept. S. President John
son arrived here this evening, having
had a pleasant trip from Buffalo with,
receptions and short speeches all the
wy. It Is noticeable that the farther
West the President goes, the more
coldly he and Mr. Seward are received
and more cheers are bestowed upon
General 'Grant and Admiral Farragut.
By the Upper Columbia boat Monday
night. Wells. Fargo & Company re
ceived at The Dalles $103,Uuu in treas
ure. The salmon fishing season Is now
over and the fishermt-a will soon have
the last of their fish packed and off
their hands. Over 3000 barrels in
wholes and halves have been packed
at Astoria this year and have brought
nearly $12 a barrel, on the average.
J. O. Deardorff, one of a late party
that ascended Mt. Hood, says: "The
mountain has changed materially on
the south side since I last ascended
It eight years ago. One large ridge
that we then crossed has since been
broken and carried down by the gla
ciers and avalanches. Smoke and
steam are still Issuing from the moun
tain." Any person not familiar with the
region would say, on looking over the
hills to the west of the city and on
the south of us. that nothing was there
save hills, ravines, trees and dense
underbrush. Such is not the case,
however. Although we have but lit
tle proof of the fact, from any num
ber of teamsters and dealers from small
towns In our city, there Is a pretty
good region of country about Fort
land. LAW FOR EACH FIEI.n OF WORK
Writer Susrsresta Conrts Made l"p of
Men Versed In Special Requirements,
PORTLAND, Sept. 5. (To the Edi
tor.) The law being simply the cus
tomary rules that the majority of peo
ple agree to follow In their respective
dealings with their fellow men and the
public, as exemplified in the Govern
ment, a knowledge of what these cus
tomary rules are should be a matter of
first-hand information of the person.
In his particular line. ,
I venture to say that, after having
been stripped of the ancient verbiage
and lawyer-devised tactics, strategies
and nomenclature, a. contractor, archi
tect or b'uider will be probably the
best qualified man to Judge as to what
Is right and what Is not right in the
field of his work. There are building
codes In existence, admitting by their
existence that particular customs op
erate within the confines of this field
of endeavor. . This being so, why not
establish a court of law or arbitration,
call it what you will, wherein only the
laws of contracts, building and archi
tecture will be discussed. The Judges
of this court naturally will be men pre
eminent in the work of builders, men
taken from- the actual practical field,
for the time being, for the benefit of
their profession and for the public.
Following this idea we will, therefore,
establish courts maritime, courts of
finance, courts of military, possibly,
courts for property rights, courts for
personal rights and relationships, etc..
all presided over by men who have
confldenc from service along particu
lar lines. I venture to say that there
will be much pruning of foolishness,
quicker delivery of justice and saner
decisions, and fie public will have more
confidence in them, realizing they are
dealing with men "in the business."
Why should a man entirely un
familiar with the actual business of the
world be permitted to handle its works
in exclusion to men familiar with the
work of the particular ljue? A green-as-grass
lawyer falls heir to a degree
and bar admission after stuffing his
brain with dusty concepts. He has no
experience in finance, in horsetrading.
In steel work, with ships, with me
chanics, with building life or with mar
riage troubles. Immediately he sets
about advising, arguing, influencing,
and more importantly, drawing down
fees and manipulating the so-called
laws, which his predecessors of th
name brand have passed before him. Of
course, after a while, with good luck
ani specialization, he learns more of
the actual conditions of some line of
the law and may prove useful to his
clients. How many went before who
lost money, property, liberty and hap
piness because of his practice?
JOHN MACXULTT.
Pay of Gsard Officer.
PORTLAND Sept. 3. (To the Ed
itor.) A argues that the First Lieu
tenant of a company of the Oregon Na
tional Guard receives $50 per month
the year round from the United States
Government; that is when he is home
working at his own profession he re
ceives $50 per month salary.
B argues that he only receives pay
while he is with troops at Mexico or at
encampment SUBSCRIBER,
The pay of a First Lieutenant in the
National Guard, as prescribed by the
new Army bill, is $240 a year. When
drafted Into Government service or at
tending encampments or maneuvers he
receives the same pay as an officer of
the regular Army of the same grade
and same prior service. The base rate
for a First Lieutenant in the regular
Army is $2000.
"Pay of Army Officers.
WOODBURN, Or.. Sept. 2. (To the
Editor.) (1) Do commissioned officers
buy their commissions or do they re
ceive them by promotion or appoint
ment? (2) Also please state the salaries
they are receiving while in service on
the border. A SUBSCRIBER.
(1) By appointment or promotion. (2)
Second Lieutenant $1700. First Lieu
tenant $2000, Captain $2400. Major
$3000, Lieutenant-Colonel $3500; Colonel
$4000, Brigadier-General $6000. Major
General IS000. This is the initial base
pay and is subject . to .Increase with
service,
A
A