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THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 191G.
PORTIA NI, ORG EON
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, NOT. X. 1918.
THE KCLIi OF A THOUSAND CRIMES.
Let us examine again tills year's
variety of single tax amendment. Its
short title Is "Full Rental Value Land
Tax and Homemakers' Loan Fund
Amendment." Its purpose Is expressed
In the title as follows:
A constitutional amendment declaring and
defining:
(a) People's power and right.
(b) Citizen' right to use land.
(cL Publlo ownership of land.
(d) Publlo policy of Oregon.
Defining: ...
(e) The word 'land."
(f) Method of appraising land rent.
(K) Land improvement.
Providing for
(h) Levy of permanent land rent tax.
1) Publication of assessment.
(J) Delinquent tax sale.
(k) Maintenance of private property.
(1) Separate assessment of land rent.
m) Standing timber.
n) Assessment and collectloa of tax.
' (o) Duty of Governor and State Land
i Board.
p) How personal property and Im
provements may be taxed by -vote
of people only.
q) Distribution of .revenue from land
rent tax.
And establishing
(r) Homemakers loan rand.
Illuminating, is it not? Just as good
a title would have been "An amend
ment the purpose of which Is a great
many things. For further particulars
read the measure."
The sub-titles, "a," "b" and "c," it
Is learned by reference to the text of
the amendment, pertain to declaratory
and argumentative matter not perti
nent to the purpose of the amendment.
That is to say, the scope or validity
of the amendment is not affected by
their inclusion.
Section "d" declares it the public
policy of Oregon to abolish all forms
of land monopoly.
All other sub-titles down to "p"
refer to sections which provide .a
method of abolishing "all forms of
land monopoly." The scheme is to
make the state one grand monopolist
of all land In Oregon.
Abolishment of land monopoly is to
be accomplished by everybody, big and
little, turning over his possessions to
one holder- the state.
Sub-title "q" is a sort of safety valve
or use if the state as landlord can
not collect enough money from its
tenants to keep things going.
Sub-title "r" refers to one of the
main objects of the. bill. It is to
divide one-third of the money collected
from the state's tenants among a fa
vored class. That class is tJ consist
of persons not members of a family
the sum of whose property possesions
is more than $2250. These favored
persons may borrow for twenty years
on the insufficient security of depre
ciating improvements and pay no in
terest for the first five years.
The first words of the amendment
are, "We declare that all citizens have
equal rights," and the last paragraphs
give certain citizens superior rights
, over all others.
It is a great swindle. It is a pro
posal from the Havenots that they
take the property of the Haves and
divide it up among themselves.
A thousand crimes were committed
by petition shovers to get this amend
ment on the ballot. No wonder!
WHAT IS A BEVERAGE T
One might conclude from the brev
ity of the so-called "bone-dry" amend
ment that there could be no doubt as
to its effect. It reads as follows:
Section 86 a. No intoxicating liquors
shall be Imported into this state for beverage
purposes.
This section Is self-executing, and all pro
visions of the constitution and laws of
this state and of the charters and ordi
nances of all cities, towns and other mu
nicipalities in conflict with the provisions of
this section are hereby repealed.
But what are "beverage purposes"?
If we rely solely, on the dictionary we
find that "beverage" is a noun (here
used as an adjective), and it is defined
as: "Liquid for drinking; drink; usual
ly drink artificially prepared and of
an agreeable flavor."
Intoxicating liquor, as all know, is
used for sacramental purposes by some
lodges and churches, and it is also pre
scribed by physicians as a tonic or
stimulant. But in none of these uses
does it lose its character as a drink
nor its "agreeable flavor." It is still
a beverage.
Possibly there is a legal definition of
"beverage" as distinguished from its
everyday meaning. We confess we do
not know whether there is or not.
Perhaps some of the prohibition breth- !
ren. can inform us whether adoption
of this amendment will prohibit im
portation of liquor for any use what
soever except mechanical and scien
tific and external application.
If the amendment can be construed
fairly to mean that it only prohibits
importation of intoxicants for gratifi
cation of desire or appetite for drink,
there arises another issue. Importa
tion for use as a medicinal tonic or
necessary stimulant or as a flavoring
for Welsh rarebit is not then pro
hibited. Here is the tippler's oppor
tunity. He need only declare that his
Importation is not to be used as a
beverage, but for one of the other
purposes, take it to the seclusion of
his room and get gloriously drunk. Of
course, he will have violated the law,
but it will have been in a way that
the authorities will find practically
impossible to detect or punish.
There you have it. It is either an
amendment to prohibit importation of
Intoxicating liquor for sacramental,
medicinal and all other internal uses.
or it offers opportunity for successful
1 and widespread violation.
The framers of the amendment had
an excellent model before them in the
prohibition amendment adopted in
1914. That law prohibits manufac
ture or sale of intoxicants except for
medicinal, scientific, sacramental or
mechanical purposes. The new amend
ment could have followed the same
wording and been perfectly . plain.
I Why was it not done?
1 The prohibitionists accuse the fram
ers oi tne brewery amendment 01
slipping jokers Into their bill. Let the
prohibitionists now arise and explain
what is meant by "beverage purposes."
MERELY THE OLD GAMS OF FLIM-TIAM
Boies Penrose is for Hughes! Joe
Cannon Is for Hughes! Wall Street
is for Hughes! Every reactionary
everywhere is for Hughes! That is
the shallow and specious argument
against Hughes of propagandists of the
Wilson Administration who can think
of nothing to say excep't in the yellow
phrases of prejudice and class feeling.
Very well. Joe Cannon is for the
child labor law! Joe Cannon voted
for the Adamson act! Joe Cannon
supported the resolution authorizing
the President of the United States to
use the Army and Navy against Huerta
and Mexico. Ergo: Child labor law
is wrong. The Adamson act is wrong.
President Wilson was wrong in his
Vera Cruz adventure. For how could
anything be right that Joe Cannon
favors ?
Thus we might deal also with Wall
Street and Penrose. But it ought to
be sufficient to say that if Wall Street,
with such notable exceptions as Presi
dent Lovett, of the Union Pacific;
President Underwood, of the Erie; Ja
cob Schiff, of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., and
sundry others, is for 'Hughes, Hughes
is not for Wall Street. His record
proves it.
It may be too much to ask, or ex
pect, but would it not give more light
and less noise to a campaign, or any
question or issue, if It were to be con
sidered on its merits and. not upon the
sole basis of Joe Cannon, or Boies
Penrose, or any other old-line boss,
or political hack, toward it? Tet
purveyors of piffle and buncombe
know nothing but the old tricks.
THAT MILWAUKEE FABRICATION.
A campaign lie a busy, persistent,
hurtful and malicious campaign lie
which has done yeoman service in
Oregon not elsewhere to any extent,
so far as The Oregonian has noted
is that Mr. Hughes in a speech at Mil
waukee, Wis., demanded the repeal
of all legislation enacted under - the
Wilson Administration during the past
three years.
The sole basis for this extraordinary
falsehood was that a statement to that
effect appeared In a Chicago news
paper. No news association serving
any Portland paper had any such re
port. The Portland paper which is
chiefly responsible for dissemination of
the yellow invention had nothing of
the kind direct from Milwaukee. But
days after Mr. Hughes' appearance
at Milwaukee the revelation was made
here that he had uttered the astound
ing threat that he would, if he could,
repeal everything.
Mr. Hughes at Milwaukee bluntly
favored repeal of the ship-purchase
bill and the Underwood tariff. In dis
cussing these measures and the harm
they had done, or threatened to do,
he said:
Ko, they (the Democrats) did not aid
business. What they have done and 1
say It good-naturedly, but 1 think it Is
true what they have done, according to
their own ideals and principles, has been
derogatory to the interests of the United
States and must be undone if we are to
have a sure basis of prosperity In this
country.
The facile invention or lively
misunderstanding of some reporter
twisted this paragraph referring sole
ly to the ship-purchase bill and the
Underwood tariff into a wholesale
proposal of reprisal and overthrow by
Mr. Hughes. Out of his straightfor
ward and explicit discussion of two
"business" measures, a great struc
ture of exaggeration and alarm was
reared.
PRESIDENTIAL JOKE.
Only 1 per cent of American com
merce, says President Wilson, is in
products that supply the armies of
Europe.
One per cent! Well, then, there
ought, as an economic corollary, to be
about a 1-per-cent increase in the
cost of living.
But how is it? Flour, butter, shoes,
clothing, nearly everything that has a
part in the daily life of every Ameri
can home, has increased in price enor
mously. America is paying dearly for
the war. Ah, yes, we have been kept
out of war, but not out of the tremen
dous consequences of war.
But about that 1 per- cent. Doubt
less the President was joking. Or
he meant, not foreign trade, but every
avenue and channel of domestic trade.
One per cent is quite misleading.
The gift of war to America in money
approaches the staggering sum of $2,
000,000,000. President Wilson says our prosperity
is not due to the war. Another mild
Presidential joke.
The single item of gunpowder sold
and shipped abroad was $175,736,374
in 1916 alone, as against $247,000 in
1914.
Other explosives in 1916 were $252,
368,391, as against $916,280 in 1914.
All war materials sold to Europe In
1916 aggregated $1,645,363,022.
Foodstuffs in 1916 were $669,633,
411. The items of foodstuffs and war
munitions make more than one-half
our entire foreign trade in 1916.
Tet our prosperity, says the Presi
dent, is not based on the war.
If that is so, it must be that war
munitions have not been made in
America and sent to the belligerent
nations, on account of the war.
AN ATTEMPT TO DECEIVE.
In efforts made by defenders of
the Adamson law to make it appear
to apply to others than the men
actually engaged in the operation of
trains, the provisions of the law are
deliberately misrepresented. A rail
road man writing to the Journal
quotes one provision of -the law in such
a manner as to make it mean the exact
opposite of its real effect. C. W. Mad
den, secretary of a local lodge of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, is
quoted by the same paper as saying:
The yommen bt actually to benefit by the
AuamEon oiu. iney are ail classed by the
railroads either as brakemen or conductors
and work under the trainmen's schedule
now. They would share the benefits of the
law as much as any other trainmen.
It is necessary only to refer to the
law itself to learn that the law does
not apply to yardmen. It provides
that "eight hours shall ... be
deemed a day's work for the purpose
of reckoning the compensation of all
employes . . . who . are now or
may hereafter be actually engaged in
any capacity in the operation of
trains." It excepts from its provisions
"railroads independently owned and
operated not exceeding 100 miles in
length, electric street railroads and
electric lnterurban railroads." It then
makes this proviso as to these excep
tlons:
Provided that the above exceDtlons shall
not apply to railroads, thowgh less than 100
miles in length, whose principal business
Is leasing or furnishing terminal or trans
fer facilities to other railroads, or are
themselves engaged in- transfers of freight
between railroads or between railroads and
Industrial plants.
A train has been defined by the Su-
preme Court of the United States as
an engine and train of cars made up
ready for a trip. It is not a train
while being made up In the yard be
fore starting over the road nor while
being broken up after completing a
trip. Thus the law applies to
men employed on terminal or
transfer roads, but only to those
employed in operating trains as
thus defined. Engineers and firemen
of engines employed in switching,
switchmen and all other yardmen are
thus excluded. The classification hith
erto followed by the railroads does not
apply. Congress has established a new
classification of its own, from which
yardmen are excluded.
Try as they will to escape from the
strict limitation of the Adamson law,
railroad men cannot succeed. The
brotherhoods invited the aid of the
law, and Congress carefully provided
that only they should share any bene
fits to be derived from Its action.
Those who seek to broaden the terms
of the law in order to make them ap
pear to apply to other men than those
actually engaged in the operation of
trains are trying to deceive such men
for the purpose of getting their votes
or of silencing the protests of the
vast majority of railroad employes, for
whom Congress has done nothing.
GET TOGETHER ON ROADS.
The one rock on which every move
ment for a complete programme of
road legislation and construction in
Oregon has been wrecked is the sup
posed diversity of interests. Repeated
efforts to codify the laws have failed
through that cause. Piecemeal amend
ments of the laws have been made
until they resemble a crazy-quilt. Dif
ferent interests working at cross-purposes
have wasted effort in contention
which should have been expended in
useful action. The state in consequence
is far behind its neighbors, both in
legislation and in construction.
The formation of a Good. Roads
Committee representative of all the
civic organizations of the state is a
laudable effort to get together and
work together on an agreed plan. The
time is more than ripe for such an or
ganization. The Federal good roads
law offers the state a yearly increasing
sum, provided it is matched by state
funds. If this Federal fund Is to be
obtained, measures must be taken to
provide an equal sum from the state
and to arrange upon what roads the
Federal and state funds shall be ex
pended and what part of the cost of
road construction is to be borne by
the counties and districts. This re
quires concerted action by all inter
ests. If at last all these interests can
agree on a fair apportionment of funds
among state, county and district roads
and on a practicable plan of construc
tion and maintenance, Oregon may in
a few years be traversed with solid
highways from north to south and
east to west and with other connect
ing roads, and may equal its neighbor
states in mileage of roads.
TESTS FOB GASOLINE.
The United States Bureau of Stand
ards has issued a timely warning to
prospective lawmakers in various
states not to be too hasty in passing
laws governing the quality of gaso
line. It is conceded that the consumer
is entitled to protection against fraud
and that the man who sells him an
article that is not what It is repre
sented to be ought to be penalized,
but the trouble is that petroleum
products are highly complex in their
chemical nature and that so-called
tests are often misleading. Thus, to
supply a concrete illustration, the
practice of relying upon specific grav
ity has been found to be Inadequate,
unless the person making the test is
in possession of certain other Impor
tant facts.
We no longer rely on Pennsylvania
crudes entirely for our gasoline supply.
Early in the history of production the
hydrometer would show whether the
gasoline might be expected to vapor
ize just right and start the engine
readily. But the property of vaporiza
tion and the reading of the scale have
different relations in the oil from dif
ferent fields. The Federal Bureau ex
plains this simply by saying:
The popular opinion that specific gravity
for degrees Baume) will suffice as a t-st for
gasoline Is unfortunately erroneous. For ex
ample, a gasoline of 70 degrees Baume from
some oil .fields Is no more volatile than a
gasoline of 65 degrees Baume from other
oil fields. Another point about which there
Is often a misunderstanding? Is the relative
efficiency of high and low density gasolines.
It is the common opinion of gasoline users
that irasollne of low specific irravlty tor
high. Baume readlng ia more efficient In
that they can get more miles out of a gal
lon. This is nt true if the motor equip
ment is adapted to the fuel used.
The advice given is not to refrain
from requiring a proper standard, but
to make sure that the standard is
based on scientific principles. Stand
ards of quality which are not easily
determined by the layman are prop
erly made and enforced by local or
general governments, but they defeat
their purpose if not correctly ascer
tained in advance of the making of
laws on the subject.
HECKLING.
It will not have escaped notice that
there has been in this campaign more
than the customary indulgence in the
practice of what Is termed "hec
kling" of candidates and other speak
ers in political meetings. The ques
tion suggested is whether we are
drifting toward a practice that long
has been quite common in British, and
particularly Scotch, communities, and
also whether it is merely an outbreak
of a more or less ebullient spirit or
has come to stay. It is possible that.
with some modifications of the prac
tice as it has been lately manifested.
to make it fit with the innate sense
of fairness of the American people, we
shall see more of it as time runs on
Like many other words in our lan
guage, the word "heckle" is a figure
of speech, being derived from the
same source as the word designating
an implement used for the purpose of
separating the coarse and refuse parts
of flax from the finer and more use
ful fibers, and its accompanying verb.
So, in the spirit of it, the purpose
of the heckler is to extract the "coarse
and refuse" parts from the argument
of the advocate of the one political
issue or the other, and leave the finer
fiber that is to say, the portion that
is entirely germane to the question.
It is in a measure based upon the
same idea as the cross-examination In
court, which is meant in theory to
bring out all the truth and to expose
any effort at concealment. That is
the spirit of the term; but the prac
tice seems too often lately to indicate
that the heckler is not so mindful of
the metaphorical separating of the
waste from the useful parts as he Is of
the simile of the implement Itself. The
hatchel is in its nature an unpleasant
thing to stumble over; one would not
like to see it converted Into a weapon
in the hands of an irresponsible in
dividual. It is useful only when prop
erly employed.
In the main, the American idea is
that all sides of a controversy shall
have full and peaceful opportunity to
present their views, to array the sup
porting facts, to complete the argu
ment in reasonable peace. Our cant
expression, "Hire a hall," expresses the
common view of what is every man's
privilege, and if we cannot hire halls
the street corners are pretty nearly
all of them accessible to us. If the
heckler were Inspired by good faith,
he would be a really useful factor in
a debate. It too often happens, how
ever, that ho is only a disorderly ele
ment and that quite frequently he is
not what Americans generally regard
as a gentleman. He does not want to
bring out facts, to shed more light on
a subject; as an individual, and some
times as an organized body, he mostly
counts only on creating a disturbance.
Like the lawyer who misuses the func
tion of cross-examination and badgers
the witness, the heckler is frequently
moved by unworthy purpose. Judged
by his motives, ha too often does not
stand the test.
It is largely a matter of good man
ners and common politeness among
gentlemen. The type of individual
who heckles most is the one that cries
the most about "gag" rule if his own
side is not heard to the end. People
who turn out to hear a famous polit
ical orator are seldom edified and
almost never instructed by injection of
a rowdy element into the meeting. As
to heckling in its finer and legitimate
sense, perhaps we shall learn the art
in time, but until we do the practice
can wait.
The secret of the success of a young
woman who has Just won a prize in
a typewriting contest with an average
speed of 137 words a minute has been
disclosed. She believes In prepared
ness from the word "go." Viewing
typewriting as a branch of athletics.
which some of it surely is, she trained
for the contest Just as an athlete
would. Her work included various
exercises for strengthening the fin
gers, but this was by no means- nil
She gave attention to the development
of the muscles of her back and arms
and also took pains to attain as nearly
as possible a state of perfect general
health, omitting pie and coffee from
her diet, and going to bed early at
night. Thus prepared for the race
with those who had thought only of
the minor matters of keyboard and
touch, it is not much wonder that she
won with comparative ease. It is of
incidental Interest that she weighs
only ninety pounds and is a blonde.
The disinclination of the Russians
to change an established custom is
illustrated by the experience of an
American manufacturer, who is said
to have tried to introduce a ticket
selling machine adapted for use in
motion-picture theaters in that coun
try. There is a war tax on
theater tickets and the theater
manager obtains his supplies from
the authorities, in the form of
sealed stub books, so arranged that as
the tickets are sold the stamp is torn
in two, half going to the purchaser
and half remaining on the stub. The
stubs are carefully checked and heavy
fines are Imposed for the sale of un
stamped tickets. The authorities are
not inclined to vary the system, even
though it has been shown that the
ticket-selling machines would be a
great convenience, not only to the
theaters using them but also to the
waiting public.
If, as predicted, the war should con
tinue for two more years and if ship
building should expand in the United
States during that period as fast as it
has grown in the last year, this coun
try will lead Great Britain when peace
returns. The United States Bureau of
Navigation reports that on September
30 417 steel ships of 1,554.270 tons
were building or under contract at
American yards, compared with 4 69
ships of 1,789,054 tons actually build
ing in British yards. Of the American
ships thirty-two, of 182,090 tons, are
credited to Puget Sound and the Co
lumbia River. It would be advisable
for the Portland Chamber of Com
merce to move for the listing of Co
lumbia River ships separately from
those of Puget Sound in future re
ports. This district desires credit for
all it is doing and none for what any
other district is doing.
A man went into the Oregon Peni
tentiary, Monday, who had held a
position of trust with a railway com
pany. His offense was padding his
payroll and drawing the money on
bogus names. The Incentive to crime
was Infatuation for a young woman,
for whom he bought a car and Jewelry.
Was it worth it in days gone and will
the memory be of benefit in days to
come? If there should be but one
thing taught a man at the beginning
of his career it should be: It pays to
keep straight.
The fellows who appealed from a
$20 fine for pounding a man and had
it Increased to $150 will think Justice
should have both eyes blacked as well
as bandaged.
The most stinging blow to President
Wilson must be the discovery that
Princeton alumni, who know him best,
are for Mr. Hughes eby an overwhelm
ing majority.
. Korean bandits have killed an
American and if the Japanese rul-s
catch them they will promptly be
boiled in oil without a note from this
Government.
War docs not affect the royal pre
rogative of Increasing and multiply
ing. With five already, the Crown
Prince of Sweden has added another.
Being the only part of Africa that
was, not involved in the great war,
Abyssinia has a little war of its own
Just to be in fashion. v
Possibly the rise in shoes is due to
the rise in skirts; but what of it? They
look so good nobody wants a change.
Pink salmon is going up, and If dye
stuffs were not so dear the catfish
might be a solution.
One of the best reasons for Demo
cratic opposition to woman suffrage
Is Mrs. Hanley.
This is the month of the turkey, so
why not start them high and have
it done with?
"What will America do?" asks the
London papers. Watch and wait, of
course.
The spieler does not need hire a
hall these nights. Street corners are
free.
Mrs. Hanley will have a full house
tonight and will have something to
say.
Chains cannot keep the Democratic
ticket from skidding this week.
URGED ONWARD, THEN DESERTED
Democrats nave Wantonly Abandoned
Americana In Mexico.
COKVAT.T.T3. Or, Oct. 29. (To the
Editor.) Although I am now a citi
zen of Corvaills, and believe that 1
am a good citizen of the United States,
it was only by the skin of my teeth
that I missed being a prospector and
mlneowner of Mexico. Had I not so
missed, would I be any the less a
good citlzenT Yet this Is the situation
that would have confronted me:
Carranza baa said that ail mines not
being worked December 1 will be con
fiscated by the de facto government.
Villa la saying by his deeds that
any American caught working" his
mine or doing anything else in Mex
ico December 1 or at any other time
will be butchered and mutilated.
The present Administration in Its
platform of 1912 said to mining pros
rectors and other American citizens
like myself who were caught in the
lure of mining, "go Into foreign coun
tries, open up new industries and
spread American influence for civiliza
tion and incidentally wider markets
and this Government will protect
your lives and your property, in foreign
countries and on the high seas."
The same Government, by Its party
leaders, now says, "Go to. you wealthy
and designing exploiters, you are down
there at your own peril; if you escape
with your lives, you are lucky. Stir
up no more trouble to Involve us in a
war with Mexico and discredit the
Ad ministration."
So It's a case of come in and be
killed or stay out and be robbed of
what you already may have acquired.
And 1 know some others, excellent
men and. some of them Democrats,
who, like myself, helped put Wilson
into power as President of the United
States, and who did go into. Mexico,
locate or buy mining property, and
by their efforts start to add to their
own scant fortunes while they opened
the mines for the enrichment of the
world.
And one of these, dear old Dr. Li ,
now practicing medicine in a Willam
ette Valley town, will you tell me. if
you chance to see this, how hard you
hope to defend your property, legally.
Justly and rightfully yours. In the
present dilemma?
EX-WILSON REPUBLICAN.
CANDIDATES' PAMPHLET USELESS
State Publication Serves No Purpose
bnt to Pile Vp Expenses.
PORTLAND. Oct. 31. (To the Edi
tor.) I notice with pleasure that the
city government has stopped the post
ing of pictures of all candidates for
office around the streets of this city
a credit to the Council and the city.
Now if the next session of the Oregon
Legislature will repeal the law that
now authorizes the Secretary of State
to mall out to registered voters all
pamphlets now mailed out and espe
cially the one called "statements and
arguments of political parties," they
will do the voters of the state a big
favor and save the candidates and
taxpayers much money.
The voter Is not altogether an igno
ramus. Nearly all read and know from
the newspapers all they get out of
these pamphlets. Therefore, they are
of no value to either the state, the
people or the candidates, only an un
necessary expense. If all voters use
them as the members of my family
do they are not even opened. They
go at once into the stove. Six copies
met this fate at my house.
There is another thing. The election
notices posted (or rather now required
to be posted) should be reduced in
size and about two or three In each
precinct instead of each Judge and
clerk being required to post three
or four copies. If I could see the least
bit of good to be derived therefrom it
would be all right; but they look bad
stuck up on all posts almost as bad
as the pictures of the various candi
dates used to look. If we are going
for a cleaner and prettier city, let us
cut out practically all such things.
CITIZEN.
JOBS FOIt DESERVIXO DEMOCRATS.
Red Tape In Stamp Refund Provides
Salaries for Faithful.
PORTLAND. Oct- SI. (To the Ed
itor.) A sample of Democratic in
competency through excessive red-tape
methods In now being witnessed In
handling the Internal revenue stamp
business. When the National Legisla
ture repealed the law requiring stamps
on notes, deeds, etc., a number of busi
ness men were left with stamps on
their hands which it was the duty of
the Government to redeem.
One would have supposed that the
officials at the Federal building who
were competent to sell the stamps to
Portland business men would have
been competent to pay for those that
were returned. But, no; that would
have been too business-like. You were
required to present the stamps and in
form the officials the dates you
purchased them. Of course that was
impossible, for some were purchased at
one time and some at another. The
officials were then required to go
through the records and ascertain
from such records when you pur
chased the particular stamps that you
returned. They are still at it. One
wonders when the Portland business
men will get their money back for the
stamps that they deposited several
weeks ago.
The Investigation that is being
made as to theso stamps is in the mean
time furnishing employment for "de
serving Democrats." And yet, there
are some people who want this outfit
to manage the telegraphs and the rail
roads. BUSINESS MAN.
Voting In Another Precinct.
PORTLAND, Oct. 31. (To the Edl
tor.) May a man vote from his office
address or where he lives? Please set
tle a dispute. SUBSCRIBER.
The law contemplates that the voter
shall register in the precinct in which
he resides and vote therein. Probably
a certificate of registration obtained
from the County Clerk, which enables
one to vote in another county, would
legally entitle him to vote In any pre
cinct in his home county. But this
provision has never been ruled on by
the courts and one might have diffi
culty in inducing an election board of
an other precinct in the same county
in which he is not a resident to accept
his ballot.
Getting an Education.
Country Gentleman.
There are two ways of getting a
college education. One is to get it in
college. The other is to obtain it
from those who have been to college
and have put their culture Into print.
The latter course is open to any one
who will take It, on the farm or else
where. It does not give all the bene
fits of going to college, but it confers
some that are not to be obtained there.
The great books of the language
have been written by greater men than
one is likely to find in any college
faculty. The ability to work alone,
and do it successfully, is in Itself
about all that the best college can
hope to give by education.
Nitroglycerin.
JUNCTION' CITT. Or.. Oct. 30. (To
the Editor.) What is nitroglycerin
made from? And what is its com
posite? SUBSCRIBER.
Nitroglycerin is obtained by treat
ing glycerin with a mixture of nitric
and sulphuric acids.
WUERE LAFOLLETTE STANDS.
During the National Republlc-
an Convention of
LaFollette sent a
Chicago saying:
191C Robert
telegram to
"If I were a delesrate I should
vote for the nomination of Jus
tice Hushes."
After the Hughes nomination
Mr. LaFollette published in the
LaFollette Magazine over his
signature the following:
"The nomination of Mr. Justice
Hughes will be acceptable to the
great body of the Progressive
Republicans of the country.
There was probably no other
man upon whom so many Re
publicans of all elements could
have Joined in support.
"And he was not the choice of
the reactionary element which
framed the platform and other
wise controlled the convention.
It is a source of hope and en
couragement that his selection
comes in response to the insist
ent demand of the masses of Re
publicans for a candidate upon
whom the party might reasona
bly unite. The choice is not un
like that of Benjamin Harrison
after the first Cleveland Admin
istration. Hughes Is somewhat
the type of man that Harrison
was. but with more warmth and
personal magnetism. He is able,
independent, fearless and pos
sessed of a high civic spirit.
There is no question of his per
sonal and political Integrity."
HOW LUMBER MARKET IS HURT
Colorado Sales Agent Loses Orders to
British Columbia.
DENVER. Colo, Oct 29. (To the
Editor.) In trying to sidetrack the ef
fects of the Underwood tariff on the
lumber Industry of the Northwest our
Democratic friends are offering the ar
gument that the British Columbia man
ufacturers do not want the business in
this country and this in presence of
the, fact that Government reports show
Imports of 1.080.360,000 feet during the
11 months ending May 31. lSltT. The
cut of the Northwest is probably not
compiled yet: but It will, no doubt,
show that these Imports amounted to
over 50 per cent of the entire output
of Oregon for the same period. A small
matter. Indeed!
They say the reason the British
Columbia mills do not want our market
is that they are getting higher prices
in Canada. If this is true. it. no doubt,
covers the situation at the present time
only when possibly, due to curtailment
or some other cause, Canada is con
suming her output. But it does not
cover the facts of the past, as expc
rience has shown.
While most of the imports go farther
r.asr. nevertheless this state has im
ported lumber from Canada and about
a year ago. when Northwestern mills
were selling at ruinous prices. I lost
some orders on account of lower prices
from British Columbia. The customer
admitted that ho was ashamed to or
der outside when he knew the Oregon
and Washington prices would not
leave a protlt for the manufacturer, but
it was a matter of business on his
part. He went further and said he
would welcome the time when he could
not buy cheaper in British Columbia.
When the mills are in distress thev
tell us it is not due to free trade, as
British Columbia manufacturers do not
want our business. Now. If their state
ments are true, what argument can
they advance for removing the tariff?
Certainly the tariff can do no harm
when not in use.
W. It. ANDERSON.
Sales Agent Booth-Kelly Lumber Co.
WESTON PLAXT IS NOT VALUABLE
Normal School Mto Pendleton Offers Ia
Worth More, aya Writer.
PENDLETON. Or.. Oct. 30. (To the
Editor.) A person writing to The Ore
gonlan has suggested that tho old Nor
mal School at Weston be reopened In
preference to establishing a Normal
School at Pendleton. If the real eltu
atlon were known he would think dif
ferently about the matter.
The cost value of the buildings at
Weston was but one-half what the
Weston agitators claim. They frankly
admit this In private conversation. In
reality the buildings are worth less
than is the beautiful site Pendleton
will donate free to the ttte if a Nor
mal School is located at Pendleton.
However, it would be a blunder to
reopen the Weston Normal even if the
buildings were of more value than they
are. There are but 125 gratis pupils
in eston, a number wholly tnsuffl
clent to provide a standard Normal
School with pupils for practice train
ing work. It would ho as sensible to
establish a sheep ranch on land where
there is no grass as to open a Normal
School in a town where there are not
enough grade pupils to give the Nor
mal students teaching practice.
If some of those talking for the
Weston school would inspect the town
they would change their minds. The
town is a mile from the railroad and
there is no sidewalk to the depot-
There is not a hotel in the town; there
Is no sewer system and the streets of
Weston constitute the worst piece of
rood, between Walla Walla and Pendle
ton. It would be more than a shame
to force students to attend a ilate
Normal there when at the same ex
pense to the state a really modern and
efficient school can be maintained at
Pendleton. J. M. BUItGKSS.
Overtime and Gravel.
AURORA. Or.. Oct. 30. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) To settle a dispute please
state in your paper if under the Adam
son eight-hour law the employes af
fected by It receive pay and one-half
for overtime or only straight pay.
(2) Also state the estimated weight
of a yard of graveL READER.
1. A trainman will receive under the
new law for eight hours' work the
same wage he now receives for ten
hours work, the same rate per hour to
be applied on overtime.
For example, if he is now receiving
$4 per day for ten hours work and 40
cents an hour overtime, he will receive
under the new law J4 for eight hours
work and 60 cents a hour overtime.
2. Willamette Valley gravel, used for
building and concrete work, sold by
weight in -the Portland market Is
figured on a basis of 3000 pounds to
the yard. Weight of gravel varies with
its formation. The figure given is the
local basis on which local gravel is sold.
When Newspaper Is Gift.
ROSEBURO. Or., Oct. 29. (To the
Editor.) About seven years ago I sub
scribed for a weekly paper, and the en
suing year (I don't remember the date)
a representative of this paper called
and my wife told him that we could
not afford to take the paper any long
er and that he should take our name
off of the mailing list- The paper has
been coming to us ever since and now
I've got a collection agency after me
for six years' subscription. 9. I didn't
want the paper or I would have paid
for it, as I do for everything eise I
get. Please tell me if they have any
right to send the paper to me for six
years and can they make me pay this
bill? A SUBSCRIBER.
Under the foregoing statement of
facts the publisher Is held under the
Oregon law to have made a free gift
of his paper to the reclpent. The bill
cannot bo collected.
In Other Days
Half a Century Am,
FVom The Oreironlan of Nov. 1. ISM.
The steamer Wilson G. Hunt brourhl
down from The Dalles last evening
large number of miners.
Governor Woods and the ComralM
sloners of the penitentiary, Messrs.
Moores, Atkinson and Berry, cum e
down yesterday on business connected
with the disposal of the old oenitez.
tiary building and appurtenances.
The United States has 72 Ironclads.
France 42. and the ruler of the waves.
England, only 21.
- ..w -T wu.v-u uc&ia ivuc
about five miles from Kerbyvllle, la
stiii paying. l nis leaa. it win te re
membered, was the one which caused s
great an excitement at its discovery
last Spring.
A Washington dispatch says the rei
eral land office has Information that
13,000 acres of public lands were dls
posed of during the month of August.
Willow Springs, an old mining coma
in Jackson County, has been within a
year or two revived by new discov
erles, and the Sentinel says It novtf
wears a very lively appearance.
Twenty-five Years Axe,
From The Oresrmian of Nov. 1. ISfll.
Last night Henry Villard's special
train rolled into the central station
rrom the North. He and his party wero
welcomed and taken at once to tho
Portland Hotel, where tho night was
passed.
New Tork, Oct. 31. The campaign of
this state practically closed tonight la
a whirlwind of red fire. In this city
assembly meetings were held in every
assembly district by both parties and
much enthusiasm was aroused.
The Skldmore fountain has beet
cleaned and put in thorough order and
new cups have been provided for the)
drinking fountain by H. D. Sanborn.
They are of brass, nickel plated, an(J
$10 will be paid for the arrest and con
viction of any person found breaking
or Injuring the drinking cups or hav.
ing one In his possession.
Anyonewho happens to be abroad lot
the outskirts of the city early in tho
morning will be astonished to see the
number of persons who are out search
ing fields, pastures and river bottoms
for mushrooms. These coveted deli
cacies are plentiful in many places neat
town.
Berlin. Nov. 1. It Is stated on semi
official authority that King Charles, of
Roumania, has received assurance, en
tirely satisfactory to him, as to the
course of Germany in the event of an
invasion of Roumania by the Russians.
While no alliance has been formed be
tween Germany and Roumania, Ger
many is pledged to support the latter5
country in maintaining its independ
ence. PROPOSITION MIST HE Kit! JOlvU
State Would rr Go Into I.iquos"
Ituslnesa, Sj Woman Writer.
HOOD RIVER. Or.. Oct. SO. (To the
Editor.) With the expiring breath of
tho liquor traffic in Orecon possibly
we have now a proposition written
by a person whoso signature is digni
fied by the professional name. "Physi
cian."
The article referred to appeared ia
a late Issue of ono of the daliy paper.
The suggestion is this: In the event
of the failure of the brewers' amend
ment, the state take up the liquor
business, following out the Norway
plan, so you and 1. gentle reader, who
have to pay our share of tho taxes,
may. if wo choose, enter tho booze con
cern on tho co-operative plan. Am I
rlpht? This arrangement. I am sat
isfied, would not meet with the ap
proval of a majority of our citizens.
The writer cannot avoid thinking,
however, that it is a huge Joke. It
is such an absurd proposition. For our
state to go into the crime-breedinT
policy would create a burden we could
not or would not bear, our sense of
right being in the ascendency aslda
from the commercial point of view.
Why, in tho namo of all that Is just and
right, should we continue the traffu
in drink?
When propositions of this character
bob up. as they are sure to do under
tho pressure of yielding a little, as in
tho legislative compromise of two
years ago, a change is necessary, and
wo can see only absolute prohibition
to ovoid such frequent attacks.
Every thine points to an early period
when wo shall take prtde. In declaring
we live in a saloonless Nation, a Na
tion free from the stnin of nlcohollo
beverages. JULIA A. HUNT.
not m.i: pay poh water wanted
City Demands -.r.O for 33 Paliruls
Krom Woman lotUstr.
PORTLAND. Oct. 31. (To the Ed
itor.) The following letter has been
received by me from the water bureau:
"Incloed herewith lind bill No. 41309.
amounting to $2.50. covering tho chargo
on a hot water heating system at theso
premises for 10 months ending October
10. l'Jli. at 25 cents a month.
"Our records show that no permit
has ever been granted to connect this
plant to the city's water system, con
sequently no revenue has ever been
derived from the water used through
same at this location.
"Kindly give this matter your early
attention."
1 own and occupy alone a small four
roomed coltace. Three of theso
rooms are heated five months in tho
year by a hot water furnace. The fur
nace holds 35 pails of water, which
lasts, without addition, one year. My
cottage is metered. Therefore I pay
for those 35 pails of water by the gal
lon before it reaches the furnace. Is it
fair? Is it Just? I it honest7
PANX1E HARRISON,
East Eighty-eighth and Mill streets.
Battle of the Spellbinders.
Spellbinders now are thick as bees
that buzz amid the clover seas, and
some are lean and some ore fat, and
some preach this and some preach that,
Thev scatter language most profuse
for Watchful Woodrow and for Hughes,
and give each other tit for tat in ortho
graphic battle that in eloquence of
highest strain would give Dcrr.osiHenes
a pain. They olsh up Eupar-coated
lies to blind the rustic voters' eyes, en
tanslo and distort the facts of rival
leaders' public acts until bewildered
voters' brains are bound in indecision's
chains. When truth will serve their
ends 'tis shot into their hearers' ears
red-hot. but if their chinning it dis
proves, they handle It with padded
gloves, and twist Its meaning till 'tis
seen it means Just what it doesn't
mean. And thus they wag their nervy
tongues and shoot hot volleys from
their lungs until the war is ended and
the victors whoop to beat the band
and vanquished growl and tear their
hair, and like the Hessian troopers
swear and holler "Fraud" until their
luntrs decline to lontrer feed their
lungs. JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
IIU KEPT US O IT,
"He kept us out of war"
And he kept us out of cash.
He kept us out of business.
And he kept us out of hash;
He kept MS out of lots of things.
And now he wants four years mors
To keep us out of all the thiasa
He overlooked before.
He must be tired keeping out.
And it would be a sin.
Not to let him have a good lone rest.
By voting Charlie in. J. J. W.