THE 3IORXIXG OREGONIAN, MONDAY, NOVEMBER fi, 1916,
A
VIEWS ON MEN AND MEASURES EXPRESSED BY SUBSCRIBERS
Both Sides of Public Questions Are Espoused by Correspondents in City and Country, Throughout All Sections of State.
14
RESPECTS PAID LAND BILL.
W I. Kenton Declares Measure la Most
Dangerous.
' PORTLAND, Nov. 6. (To the Editor.)
In my Judgment there is no proposed
measure to be voted upon November 7
so dangerous to and destructive of all
values and all prosperity In Oregon as
the "Full Rental Value Land Tax and
Homemaker's Loan Fund Amendment."
Disguised tinder some trite and com
monplace phrases, this measure, if
adopted, will confiscate private prop
erty to the state, and make every land
owner, whether In town, city or coun
try, a tenant of the state. It proposes
to take from every owner of real estate,
in the form of pretended taxes, the "full
rental value" of such real estate. All
the state taxes must be raised there
from, and in addition hereto two-thirds
of the "full rental value land tax" le
vied upon real estate in each county
must be divided among the different
towns, cities, ports and all other munic
ipalities in the county and the scate,
apportioned upon the basis of the gen
eral tax levy for 1915. The remaining
one-third must be set -'apart as a
"Homemakers' Loan Fund," to be sup
plemented by the addition hereto of all
revenue to be derived from the present
Inheritance tax. No Interest is to be
charged on any loan made from this
f nnd for five years, and one alleged pur
pose of this loan feature, as stated in
the measure, "is to help persons with
no capital but their labor and char
acter to make homes and farms."
' Special taxes on personal property
and land improvement may be levied
each year for local purposes, for school
and road districts, towns, cities and
counties, proposed by initiative, peti
tions, voted upon each year in Novem
ber. The depletion of the fund raised
hy the full rental value land tax will
he supplied by this annual levy of spe
cial taxes upon personal property and
land improvements. It is made the duty
or tne state to bid the amount of any
delinquent land tax, and when title is
vested in the state under any delin
quent tax sale, and the state is for
bidden to sell any land. Of course, un
der this system the state will ulti
mately secure the title to all real estate
In the state, and when this is accom
plished, there can be no further land
taxes levied upon or collected from any
real estate in Oregon. The state treas
ury would be without any funds and
absolutely bankrupt, and the communi
ties, towns, road and. school districts
would be compelled to rely solely upon
local taxes levied annually upon a vote
of the people, for revenues to maintain
schools, construct and maintain roads,
and for the operation and maintenance
of town, city and county governments.
This would practically confiscate all
personal property and all Improvements
on land anywhere in the state.
The annual full rental land tax Is to
re fixed by the county assessor and
state tax commission, under the direc
tion of the state land board, and there
Is no time fixed when any. aggrieved
land owner can be heard as to his as
sessment, nor is there any opportunity
to be heard, nor any provision for re
view of this action.
No such radical or revolutionary
measure has ever been adopted any
where, and indeed, so far as I know,
no such measure has ever been pro
posed in any state in the Union, or in
any country in the world. The objec
tions to the measure may 'be succinctly
stated as follows:
1. It proposes to levy taxes upon all
real estate to its full rental value, and
take one-third thereof and lend it to
people without any capital except their
labor and character, and without any
Interest thereon for five years. It is
proposed to use the taxes paid by the
owner of land to make loans to those
who do not own any land and who have
no security, and to lend it for five years
without interest. In effect it proposes
to take the money out of the pockets
of every farmer, home owner and land
owner and put it into the pockets of
the man who has no property and can
give no security. It is spoliation and
legal robbery in the boldest possible
way.
2. It will destroy private ownership
of all farms, lands of all kinds, homes,
town lots and business property, and
transfer the title to the state. It will
confiscate all real estate of every kind
to the state, and make tenants of the
state of all classes of land owners, and
will fall with especial weight upon
farmers and all owners of business
property in cities and towns.
3. It will Increase all present taxes
by more than 33 per cent in order to
create the socalled "Homemakers'
Loan Fund." Taxes are now extremely
heavy and many are unable to pay the
taxes now levied. Indeed, in Multno
mah County nearly one-sixteenth of the
annual taxes for 7.915 has become de
linquent and subject to an increased
penalty of five per cent, besides inter
est at 12 per cent per annum from No
vember 5.
4. It will render valueless all mort
gages now outstanding against real
estate, and those who own them will
be unable to negotiate any new loans
In their stead. This will result In the
bankruptcy of all persons who have
borrowed money to build 'homes or
business blocks and who now owe any
considerable sum upon mortgage.
5. It will prevent for all times any
further investment of money in any
real estate in Oregon, or in any busi
ness of any kind. We shall reecive no
further money from outside sources,
and the state will receive no further
Immigration from any source. On the
contrary, the population now in this
state will be compelled to go elsewhere,
and the cities and towns will become
deserted villages, and the farms, mills
and mines will be abandoned.
6. The constant menace of this class
of legislation has already done great
harm to the state, and the possibility
of its recurrence at each biennial elec
tion under the initiative has prevented
and will prevent investments in Ore
gon. In view of the serious and certain de
struction to all business and all invest
ments of every kind in Oregon it is
very important that every voter should
vote against this measure and that the
majority against it should be so great
that such and similar measures may
never be offered or placed upon the
"ballot again.
TV. D. FENTON,
WOMAV
OBJECTS
TO
STRIFE
'Suffragette' Says Sisters Are Cam
paigning on False Theory.
PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the Editor.)
I have been a Republican nearly
all my life and loyally support all the
worthy principles and issues backed by
that party.- Am also a "suffragette"
with heart and soul in the cause which
emancipates woman from the shackles
which unjustly bind her. I believe in
placing her on an equal plane with
man in the construction of' laws of
governmental affairs. Have accredited
woman with some qualities (which are
hers by nature) as just a little superior
to those of man, and believed her less
likely to be drawn into the vortex of
machine-rolling politics, or influenced
by the intrigues of political cliques and
clans. Have had faith in the suffrage
organization because believed it, like
that great and grand organization, the
Woman's Christian Temperance Union,
was founded on a broad and wholesome
platform with an outstretched arm to
all womanhood for the betterment of
, the home, the uplift of humanity and
the Nation, regardless of race, creed or
party. With this organization, founded
on these principles, is it wise to dis
criminate between political parties?
Just a word of warning to some of our
sisters, who are now campaigning in
Oregon and other states under the name
of "Congressional Union and Woman's
Party." Beware, lest over-zeal for suf
frage by Federal amendment be inex
pedient in these critical times of our
National Government. We must not
overlook the fact that our Democrat
brothers in nonsuffrage states may
have legitimate reasons for deciding it
not good policy to give women the bal
lot; also that our sister Democrats have
the ballot in suffrage states and may
use it effectively to resent the personal
flaunts of Insult and tirades of abuse,
which have come broadside recently
from the public platform in our city
and elsewhere. If the "Woman's Party
is going to use the ballot as a club to
defeat any political party in power be
cause it does not mark time and dance
to woman's sweet music Just as they
see fit to play it. which fact they have
emphatically declared they will do, does
it not stand to reason that our Repub
lican and other partisan brothers will
sit up and take notice lest their turn
be coming next? "It is a poor rule
that won't work both ways." Let us
get out into the open arena and take
a broader view of the panorama before
us, and see only the more vital ques
tions of this trying hour.
As a. woman suffrage body, let us
form a solid front, unfurl our banners
and proclaim' "Justice to all, malice to
ward none" and genuine American pa
triotism above all partlsanism, first,
last and forever.
A. W. C. T. TJ.
CHANGE OF ATTITUDE IS SHOWN
Administration Snitch to Gain Votes
Is Cbareed. "
PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) At the outbreak of the great
European war President Wilson made
a solemn appeal to the American peo
ple to exercise Impartiality and re-
''"iiiiii in ineir discussions of the war.
He stated in this document, which was
published broadcast over the Nation,
that "every rrian who really loves
America will act and speak in the true
spirit of neutrality, which is the spirit
of impartiality and fairness and friend
liness to all concerned. . . . The
United States must be neutral in fact
as well as in name during these days
that are to try men's souls. We must
be impartial in thought as well as in
action, must put a curb upon our senti
ments as well as upon every transac
tion that might be construed as a pref
erence of one party to the struggle
against another."
About a year after the issuance of the
above declaration the following official
document was made public:
United States Department of Labor. Im
migrant Service. Office of Commissioner,
Port of Montreal. Canada. Oct. 11, 1815
To all stations. Montreal district: Several
cases have arisen of late wherein the ques
tion has been raised as to whether a
United States citizen expatriates himself by
enlisting in the Canadian army. The mat
ter has been the subject of considerable
correspondence, and has now been definite
ly decided, as attested by the following
quotation from bureau letter of Oct. U,
lalo. No. 54003 tP.l:
Instructions should be Issued by you to
the end that hereafter the boards will not
question the American citizenship of an
applicant because of the fact that he took
oath of allegiance and enlisted la the
Canadian forces.
Officers of this district will be governed
accordingly. , JOHN CLARK,
Commissioner.
Testerday the following dispatch was
received from the National capital,
which places on record further evidence
of Mr. Wilson's ready reversibility
when political expediency requires it
and when votes are to be sought. The
dispatch reads:
WASHINGTON1. Nov. 2. (TJ. P.) Any
American who fights for England In the
present war expatriates himself. The State
Department made this clear in connection
with its action In refusing a passport to
Theodore Marburg, Jr., of Baltimore who
is returning to England to rejoin the' royal
aviation corps. Marburg la the son of the
former United States Minister to Belgium.
Expatriation results from the fact that
all British soldiers must take the oath of
allegiance to the British crown which. In
the case of Americans, wipes out their al
legiance to this country.
As for Americans fighting with the for
eelgn legions of the French army, the de
partment made known that the burden will
rest upon them to prove the oath they have
taken has not expatriated them.
Even after peace is declared, those who
return to this country In destitute circum
stances will be treated as ordinary alien
immigrants
It was learned today also that the State
Department has suggested to the French
government that it discontinue referHng to
the American aviators with the French
army as members of the American corps
owing to the false light in which such ref
erences place the United States as a neutral
nation.
The above quotations are authentic
speak for themselves and demonstrate
that Mr. Wilson failed to observe his
own declaration of impartiality. That
he executed one of his characteristic
changes of mind in the matter at the
eleventh hour in a frantic effort to
block the overwhelming defeat that the
Republican party will surely administer
to him, merely shows his facility and
dexterity in political ' affairs, but will
have no effect on the outcome of the
election.
Mr. Hughes, who stands for America
and its Interests first, last and all the
time, and who will safeguard our
rights against the transgressions of all
foreign nations, should have the sup
port at the polls of all true patriots.
FREDERICK GRONNERT.
RURAL CREDITS BILL INDORSED
Hector Macpheraon Says Law Is In
surance Against Single Tax.
CORVALLIS. Or.. Nov. 4. -(To the Ed
itor.) The only criticism of Rural
Credits Amendment No. 318 on the of
ficial ballot worthy of our serious at
tention is that it duplicates work wuich
will be adequately performed by the
Federal Farm Loan Act. This criticism
is an entirely Just and reasonable one
so far as it goes. At the same time
we maintain that the Oregon measure
is going to reach many who would be
unable to take advantage of the Fed
eral system. This does not at all re
flect on the efficiency of the Federal
measure. It 'simply means that every
state has certain peculiar conditions
which can be taken care of only by
a system adapted to the needs of the
state. The Oregon system is simple
and direct, reaches the entire state,
and has practically no red tape to en
cumber it.
The paramount problem of Oregon
is to bring under the plow SO per cent
of its tillable lands, which have as yet
never been touched. We believe that
Hhese lands are so situated and of such
a character that they will never be de
veloped unless there be adopted some
special policy of state development that
will make it possible for settlers to live
by their toils while bringing the lands
under cultivation.
Other countries have succeeded In
carrying out policies of colonization
which have greatly aided their settle
ment and increased their prosperity.
Why cannot Oregon do the same? Our
state rural credits system constitutes
the first step in a policy that can ul
timately be made to transform 16.500,
000 acres of land from desert wastes
to fertile fields and happy homes.
Our experience in loaning the state
school fund has demonstrated that the
State Land Board is perfectly capable
of successfully operating a rural cred
its system such as the rural credits
amendment will establish. Moreover,
the system provides for a reserve fund
which in itself will become some day a
bulwark of agricultural progress If-applied
to the development of Oregon
lands, and which protects taxpayers
against any possible burden.
If we adopt the rural credits amend
ment we shall have taken the first step
toward obviating the necessity of any
such system of wholesale land confisca
tion as would be established by the
adoption of the Full Rental Value La .
Tax and Home Makers' Loan Fund
amendment, which appears on the
official ballot as Nos. 306 and
307. This Is single tax in the
most radical form which has ever
been drafted into a . law. Most
of the men who are behind it are
earnest men and serious in their pur
pose. They look upon It as the only
means of wiping out our state disgrace
of idle lands and idle landless men.
The way in which, we can put an
end to our biennial single tax prob
lem is to do away with the conditions
that have given rise to it. Let us make
it possible for every honest worker
who wants to own a farm to get one
and to make a living for himself and
family while paying for it. Eaoh happy
owner of a farm home will straightway
cease to be a single-taxer in the ex
treme form of ruthless robbery pro
posed by bill No. 306 and 307.
If the strong financial interests of
the state do not get back of some
definite programme of reform, sooner
or later they will be made to rue It
by the passage of some bill, equally
as radical and equally as unjust, as the
single tax measure under consideration.
HECTOR MACPHERSON.
"MUD" APOLOGY
IS
ATTACKED
Slump After War Is Rcgrarded as In
evitable Consequence.
PORTLAND. Nov. 6. (To the Editor.)
When truth is assailed as "mud-
throwing" it is time candidly to con
sider the charges made.
President Wilson demands re-election
on his record and his pledges for
the future. Defenders of the President
dispute the right to take the President
seriously and point out the weakness
of his Mexican and foreign policy. Mr.
Hughes makes no attack on the Presi
dent as a man but criticises his public
record. Instead of defending the Ad
ministration's work the apologists of
the President claim Mr. Hughes is
throwing mud. They had every chance
to claim misrepresentation, but they
concede an indefensible record when
the truth must be branded as "mud."
No more pitiable plight ever was ex
perienced by a candidate and an ap
peal is made to the hearts of people
for a sympathetic vote. The condition
is to bo lamented, but as the President
claims no credit for bringing on the
great war, which created high prices
and a great market, neither can he
avoid falling values and a shrinking
market when the war ends.
President Wilson loudly called for
aid and established what he called war
taxes, before the war created the great
market. He now says that reaction
will not come and his friends pretend
to believe him. The cry, "He kept us
out of war," is the only answer made to
the exposure of his indefensible med
dling in Mexican affairs, which resulted
in Mexican outrages. That campaign
slogan. "He kept, us out of war," has
brought the ridicule it so richly de
served. We face a commercial crisis
too grave to be settled by any vote of
sympathy. That the great war created
the world markets admits of no argu
ment. That markets must slump is
equally certain and to trust a man as
our leader who cannot see it, is to trust
a blind man. Our Chief Executive may
give too much time to legislation. Even
if entitled to all his friends claim for
him as a legislator, Presdent Wilson's
plunge with Mr. Gompers in settling a
strike, the settling of which was veiled
in mystery, marks him as too impulsive
for safe leadership.
Consideration for his high office and
the fact that he was the accredited
mouthpiece of the Nation caused many
a man to stand by him during his
earlier complications with Mexico, and
it is credible that some even urged the
people to stand as a unit when their
private sentiment was not expressed.
This courtesy of ordinary times can
not be rightfully invoked in times
when an important election is to af
fect the destiny of the Nation for gen
erations to come, and when our place
among the nations is in the balance.
Unpleasant as the task was, Charles E.
Hughes had a duty to perform, which
in the judgment of the writer he owed
to the Nation. T. J. FORDING.
CANAL TOLLS ACTION VIEWED
Democratic "Antics" In Various Matters
Are Discussed.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Editor.)
One of the most diverting acts in the
great political comedy now being
staged by the Democratic party relates
to the question of free tolls through
the Panama Canal.
Listen! "We favor the exemption
from tolls of American ships engaged
in coastwise trade passing through the
Panama Canal." Democratic National
platform of 1912.
Listen again!! "What is a greater
National dishonor than to abjectly sur
render free tolls?" Portland Journal,
March 26, 1914.
"Sentiment is changing to bitter in
dignation as the subject comes to be
better understood by the masses."
Portland Journal, March 27. 1914.
"There are no lustrous names in the
roll .-.alls of the 220 Democrats who
voted for repeal. No names of those
who voted will be illustrious in this
country's history." Portland Journal.
April 1, 1914.
"If the Democrats repeal free tolls
they will repudiate a free tolls plank
in the National platform, in which they
declared 'our pledges are made to be
kept when in office as well as relied
upon during the campaign," Portland
Journal. April 9, 1914.
Listen again, for the third time!!!
"This Administration repealed the act
granting free tolls to certain ships,
thereby preserving our treaty obliga
tions . . . This Administration should
have credit for promptly correcting
that blunder of the Taft Administra
tion." Colonel Samuel White, chairman
of Oregon Democratic state committee,
on page 17 of the 1916 Voter's Pam
phlet. Later acts in the great comedy will
illustrate the antics of the Democratic
chameleon on the subjects of National
preparedness. Presidential primaries,
the single term, congressional simpli
city and economy, civil service, protec
tion of American citizens abroad, union
labor and the open shop, nonpartisan
tariff commission, child labor legisla
tion, Mexican embargoes, etc.. in which
the well-known and justly popular
rhetorical and political acrobat. Wood
row Wilson who is now playing a
farewell engagement, will be the lead
ing figure
REPUBLICAN.
RUIN iNDGR WILSON FORESEEN.
Marshfleld Man Says Homes of Resi
dents Are Threatened.
MARSHFIELD. Or., Nov. 4. (To the
Editor.) I have been a Democrat and
want to live in Marshfield. I am buy
ing a home for my wife and children
and want to be able to continue paying
for it. I look forward with all my
neart to the time when I can be at
home in comfort with my dear wife
and children and rest my tired limbs
in real enjoyment. I want to continue
sending my children to school and b
able to clothe them well enough thai
other students will not jeer them. Even
though I am a poor man, I will feel
that my life has not been entirely use
less if I can only pay for my home,
educate my children and leave a home
for them and have a place where I may
die in peace.
I am very much worried at this time.
Even now I do not earn enough money
to support my family as they should be
supported and make my payments on
my home. If the mills close down, I
am doomed to lose my home. My en
joyment, my life hopes, and my desires
to live, will then be gone as my age
would not permit my tackling another
home. I do not ask for riches, but only
a home. If Canada is permitted to sell
lumber in the United States without
paying an Import duty on it our mills
will close down or we will have to
work for 75 cents to $1 a day. the same
as the Orientals do in Canada. I would
rather bid earthly friends good-bye
forever.
I do not blame the mill men. for they
can not pay mofe money for manufac
turing the lumber than It will sell for
after it Is manufactured. Men will
not work for Canadian Oriental prices
in the United States and our mills will
close. I will have nothing to do and
my home wll soon be broken up, my
family destitute and my heart broken.
I Pay that no such calamity will come.
Please consider me in my condition,
Mr. Voter, as well as yourself and
many thousand others, who are In my
condition, and vote for Hughes, who
, 1 S us a Protective tariff so the
mills will run all the time, and I will
finally have a home something I have
fVeP enJyed- Yu who have homes,
pity and help those who are trying to
have- A WORRIED FATHER.
TREND OF SUNDAY BLUE LAWS
It Is Toward the Unity of Church and
State. Says Writer.
BROWNSVILLE. Or., Nov. 5. To the
Editor. As election approaches I would
like to sound a last warning note to
the voters. In regard to voting on the
Sunday closing laws. Tour vote should
appear on the ballot No. 312 yes. as it
is of vital Importance that this Sunday
law be abolished. This law is a relic
of the dark ages, and was placed upon
our statute books while we were still
living under territorial government, it
was enacted in 1854. but was amended
in 1864, and has remained as amended
since that time. This Sunday law has
been a dead letter, until recently it
was dug up by a class of people who
wished to deprive their neighbors of
their religious rights. The exemption
made in the law will clearly show that
It Is unjust discrimination.
The Constitution of the United States
guarantees equal rights to all citizens,
regardless of race, creed or color. The
Sunday closing law is unconstitutional,
insomuch as it deprives a citizen of
the religious liberty which our govern
ment guarantees him. Our Constitu
tion also says that federal laws are
supreme, and that no state shall make
laws that will conflict with federal
laws. Therefore, it is again unconsti
tutional. The fundamental principles on which
our government was founded were re
ligious liberty, equality for all, and
special privileges foj none. The prin
ciple reason why our government was
founded was to relieve the oppressed.
It has been pointed out that there are
exemptions made for seventh-day Sabbath-keepers,
such as Jews, Seventh
Day Adventists, and Seventh Day Bap
tists. The question now arises if our state
has power to make laws with such ex
emptions, why has it not power later
on to remove the exemptions, and com
bine church and state. There would be
a tendency to do this, and it would
eventually be done. This is only a
step toward combining church and
state. Let us hesitate before we take
this step. Sunday laws are not nec
essary to civilization or religion. A
man who works on Sunday Is just as
religious and just as much civilized as
a man who goes out joy-riding, or goes
to church. Sunday legislation is
strictly religious, and has nothing to
do with civilization. Voters, I appeal
to you be not deceived by the Sunday
closing literature scattered broadcast
over the state.
Let us keep church and state forever
separate. Let us have the true relig
ious liberty that our government guar
antees each citizen.
FRED E. HARRISON.
J.
BLRGESS
IS
CRITICISED
Weston Man Resents Remarks About
Ills Community.
WESTON, Or., Nov. 3. (To the Edi
tor.) This In reply to the published
letter of J N. Burgess.
Weston' has a concrete sidewalk ex
tending half the way to the depot,
and nearly all of the remaining dis
tance is on railroad property over
which the town has no jurisdiction.
Weston has a hotel. Weston's streets
are well graded, well oiled, smooth and
even, and far better than the county
macadam road with which they con
nect. To be quite frank, the assertion
of Mr. Burgess that "the streets of
Weston constitute the worst piece of
road between Pendleton and Walla
Walla" is untrue.
There are now and always were a
sufficient number of grade pupils in
the Weston schools "to give the Normal
students teaching practice." When the
Weston Normal was the largest and
best normal school in the state, hav
ing larger attendance and better build
ings than any other normal school
no longer ago than 1909 the town had
enough grade pupils to supply the
Normal Training School and maintain
a district school of its own besides.
Normal students did not consider It a
"shame" to come here. They were glad
to come here and did come here from
every county in Eastern Oregotf.
The cost value of the Weston Normal
plant is all that Its supporters claim
$75,000. That much money would be
required to replace it.
Instead of assailing Weston. Mr.
Burgess would do well to defend his
own precious normal bill from the just
criticism of those who see in Its gratu
itous validating clause the most fla
grant example of attempted log-rolling
in Oregon's varied political historv.
E. C. ROGERS.
TAX
LIMITATION
IS
ASSAILED
Amos Denson Declares Measure Not
Good Economics.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Editor.)
I would like to express my opinion
on the "State Wide Tax and Indebted
ness Limitation Amendment."
In considering the problem of taxa
tion in Oregon you must remember that
Oregon has long been known as a moss
back state, and it is only lately that she
has begun to shake her coat. To cur
tail any improvements at this time
would place Oregon in a position worse
than she was before.
Oregon is not an extravagant state,
in fact is away down in the list of
states in economical government. That
is, there are about 26 states in the
Union whose government Is more ex
pensive than Oregon's according to as
sessed valuation. This shows that Ore
gon has an even break in the honesty
and ability of her legislative and ex
ecutive officers.
This amendment would stop all state
road improvements, because the actual
need of operation would bring expendi
tures so close to the limit that we
would not even get the benefit of the
present one-quarter mill levy, and in
order to get any state road work it
would mean a state bond issue, which
would include paying interest.
The Legislature of 1915 was an ex
tremely economical one. and. while they
made no particularly progressive law,
succeeded in keeping the levy down t
bed rock, and as this amendment would
take effect at once, the state would
be compelled to operate at bed rock
expense plus six per cent, instead of at
ordinary operating expense -plus six per
cent, as the promoters of the bill would
have you believe. This bill has no pro
vision guarding against foolish or ex
travagant legislation and "pork barrel"
appropriations.
Frequently emergencies arise. At
such a time, with their hands tied by
this amendment, the legislative or ex
ecutive officers of the state could not
meet such an emergency, possibly caus
ing thereby great loss to the state.
True, a special election could be called
to cover such an emergency, but would
cause an expense of several thousand
dollars. Under our system special elec
tions are too easily held.
There are plenty of arguments that
can be used against this bill, but I
hear only one in favor of It and that
is "lower taxes." It seems they are
trying blindly to obtain a result with
out paying any attention to the remedy,
and are starting at the wrong end. As
we have learned in Multnomah County
in road construction the best check on
extravagance is to watch how the mo
ney appropriated is being spent, and
to see that the people get a dollar's
worth out of every dollar spent. At
that end Is where a great saving could
be obtained.
If the six per cent limitation were to
be placed on some of the absurd ex
perimental extravagances that now and
then crop up. there might be some merit
in it, but to lump the expense of operat
ing the state and worthy necessary ex
penditures and place thereon for the
next year a limitation Inadequate and
inconsistent to progressive government,
to my mind is not good business Judg
ment and is apt to cause trouble and
additional expense.
AMOS S. BENSON.
PENDLETON POSITION IS SHOWN
Alleged Attempt to Defraud Weston
Specifically Denied.
PENDLETON. Or., Nov. 4. (To the
Editor.) Having noticed that certain
citizens of the town of Weston have
been making statements calculated to
defeat the measure providing for an
Eastern Oregon normal school in this
city, I wish to emphasize the fact that
the voters are not being asked to
choose between Pendleton and Weston
as a site for a normal school. The
question is whether or not the state
is to establish a normal school to serve
Eastern Oregon.
Twice the voters of the state have
refused to establish again a normal
school in Weston, and it must be pre
sumed that they had reasons for their
decision. Many of the arguments used
against locating a school at Weston do
not apply to the present measure, for
the reason that Pendleton fills all of
the qualifications demanded by the re
port of the Government survey for a
standard normal school location.
It is because Pendleton does have
these qualifications, notably sufficient
ly large public schools to provide
teacher-training practice for the nor
mal atudents and other advantages of
a city of 8000. that educators all over
the state, from the state superinten
dent and Institutional heads down to
the country teachers. have placed
themselves squarely behind the meas
ure. The Improper location of a normal
school is a waste of the taxpayers'
money. The old normal school at Wes
ton never was a standard normal
school and it never could have been,
for the reason that the schools of a
town of les3 than 500 inhabitants can
not afford practice teaching for the
students, the most essential part of a
normal school course. Weston's main
argument against the present measure
is that the state already owns a $75,000
plant at Weston. Even though that
claim were literally true, it would still
be folly to place a school there, for
buildings can never make a school.
However, the state does not own a
$75,000 building there. The Weston
building, when it was built many years
ago. cost $34,000 and it has deteriorated
much since that time.
If any further proof were needed of
the superiority of Pendleton over Wes
ton as a site, it is furnished by the
unanimous indorsement of the present
measure in the resolution adopted bv
the Teachers' Institute of Umatilla
County last week. Both Pendleton and
Weston are in Umatilla County, and
these teachers are In a position to
know what are the comparative ad
vantages of the two places. Last week
also the Baker, Union and Wallowa
county institutes gave unanimous in
dorsement to the bill, as have some
score of other county institutes In the
state.
Weston placed upon the ballot a
measure to reopen the school there
and the city of Pendleton voted 703
"Yes" to 247 "No" on the measure. The
county records show this. Again. In
1914. the people of this city gave a
similar measure a big majority, and.
besides, the merchants of Pendleton
subscribed generously to the Weston
campaign fund. Does this look as if
Pendleton was trying to steal Weston's
school ?
Pendleton made no attempt to in
itiate a movement to secure a normal
school until Weston's cause had been
made hopeless. It was just a year ago
that the teachers of Umatilla. Morrow.
Gilliam and Wheeler Counties, in Joint
Institute assembled, adopted resolu
tions urging Pendleton citizens to take
the lead In a movement to establish
a normal school In this city. They
made us see the need. Weston's hope
less handicap and Pendleton's supe
rior advantages, and It was in reali
zation of these conditions that the
Commercial Association placed the
measure on the ballot.
W. E. BROCK.
President Pendleton Commercial
Association.
PROGRESSIVE IS FOR HUGHES.
Hood River Man Says Wilson, Self
Appointed. Falls.
HOOD RIVER. Or.. Nov. 4 (To the
Editor.) As Democratic campaign
managers are giving great promi
nence to the fact that a few Progress
ives have declared for Wilson. I will
give my reasons, as a Progressive, for
working for and supporting Huehese.
A comparison of the two candidates
shows Wilson as the self-appointed
candidate, who has failed, signally, in
meeting the vital issues that have
arisen during his administration. He
is best described in, the following ex
tracc from an editorial in "Collier's":
The fact is that the test nf the l&rt fw
years has been too severe for Mr. Wilson.
Ills mind Is adroit rather than robust:
his spirit more valorous than capable of
sustained srtion. His conduct of the ne
gotiations with Germany and Great Brit
ain, and Qils extraordinary performance,
with Mexico, coupled with his treatment
with the naval programme and his sur
render to the railroad brotherhoods, give
an Impression of a character far from de
termined, and account for the very gen
eral misgivings as to what he might do
If in power after the war when this coun
try Is face to face wlih hungry and des
perate nations of Europe.
Hughes, on the other hand. was
called by the people to take up the
fight In their interest: has accepted,
out of a sense of duty, making a great
personal sacrifice in order to answer
the call.
The American people have had
enough hot-air promises not backed
by deeds, and what they want, at this
time, is a man who can and will safe
guard and protect their interests, both
at home and abroad: not go skyrocket
ing after strange gods and neglecting
the American interests while doing it.
Hughes was selected by the people
because his record shows him to be a
man who can be absolutely depended
upon to do exactly what he promises:
who is absolutely fearless and ready
for any emergency.
On the question of peace or war. he
believes In true peace, not a verbal
peace, while carrying on a disgraceful
war like the war Wilson has been en
gaged in with Mexico, costing more
American lives than the Spanish
American war. and at a cost to this
country, already, of over $100,000,000,
and the end is not yet.
This country is facing a situation
second only to the crisis in 1861. The
American people, regardless of their
birthplace, have always responded to
every demand that has been made upon
them in time of stress, and it is not
reasonable to think that they will fall
in their duty In the present case. That
duty is to see that their Government
Is In the strongest hands possible: that
their President shall D a man who
will stand for peace with honor; who
will protect all American interests,
both at home and abroad: who will Tiot
be "too proud to fight," if the honor
oi tne country demands it; who will
not Jeopardize the principals of our
Government to influence votes to elect
himself, or any one else.
Fortunately the people have such a
candidate in Charles Evans Hughes.
J. F. BATCHELDER.
DEMOCRATIC CHANGE IS DENIED
Party Said to Be Same Old One of Panic
and Pauperism.
AIRLIE. Or.. Nov. 4. (To the Edi-'or-)
Don't it beat the dickens how
business keeps up under Democratic
rule? On my word. I have never heard
of such a thing before. Is it possible
that Democracy is holding her rudder
"hard over" and getting away from the
financial rocks toward which she has
steered us so many times? Is it possi
ble that the great War Party that won
its name by seceding from the Union
because it couldn't have its way has
at last traded the red banner for the
white and Is tutoring the world in the
new style of peace and modern modes
of keeping out of war?
I say only what you can see for your
self if you will but look. The so
called prosperity we are undergoing
was brought about, and is sustained, by
the great war. All nations are buying
at the store of Uncle Sam. Prices are
secondary. It is supplies they want,
and we have been able to sell quan
tities and qualities of all grades of
goods to buyers who. at any peaceful
hour, would have laughed us to scorn.
But, our Democratic friends say, we
are neutral In business, and if they
want to buy, we want to sell. That
is no crime. No. but I say and mean
that It is worse than crime to brag over
the profits of such business, whose real
value is measured only by the sorrows
of Europe, and then call its profits a
result of Democratic rule, in the hope
of catching the voter on November 7.
and asking him to seal his own doom
by indorsing the donkey and clapping
at the flapping of his ears. Having
learned to expect a little good from
Democracy one should not be surprised
at such serpentine measures.
Were there no war in Europe the
present lack of tariff protection would
show, as It always has done, our in
ability to compete with cheap labor.
Yet we tear around like mad If a few
foreigners come to our land and rob
us of work by working for less money.
But when the employer of American
working folks asks for protection
against cheap outside labor. Democracy
holds up its hands In horror and shrieks
"trusts." "big business." "high cost of
living."
And so we have the party in power
asking us to approve their actions by
our votes. A war party with a new
kind of peace telling us what a great
thing they did by keeping us out of the
horrible war. and with a voice that
must reach every voter's ear call atten
tion to our present peaceful prosperity.
Ah! that the cries of the toiling and
dying victims of our prosperity might
haunt the ears of the creators of these
claims forever.
Yes, we are prospering, and the
Democratic party seems willing to take
the credit, but is anxious to charge the
high cost of living to Mr. Mars. If you
believe in this kind of prosperity, re
elect Woodrow Wilson. If you believe
in real prosperity, vote for the Re
publican party, which has proven its
worth, and Its real leader. Charles E.
Hughes.
EDWARD B. BIRKENBEUEL.
NOT AUTHOR; J I ST DRAFTSMAN
Sin arte Tax This 1 ear Is Idea of Lab r
Leaders, Says Mr. U'lten.
PORTLAND. Nov. 5. (To the Edi
tor.) I read Mr. Wright's letter in The
Oregonian and it may interest him and
others to know that the Oregon labor
leaders asked me. as their attorney,
to draw the People's Land and Loan
amendment; they stated at the same
time that the bill must contain the
single tax to abolish land speculation
and landlordism; must provide for state
loans for homemakers. both In town
and country, sufficient to enable a
capable man to develop his own farm
and thereby own his Job; and the loan
must be free from interest for five
years and a safe Investment tor the
state. They took the Australian laws
as the basis for this bill. They are the
authors and the highest honor I can
Justly claim is that of chief draftsman.
Mr. Wright asks who will pay the
higher taxes and Intimates that every
one must. In this he is wrong. The
home owner and the small farmer will
pay less taxes. Business lots will pay
about the same total tax to the public
treasury they niw pay to the landlord
and Government combined. For in
stance: The renters who erected the
Morgan building now pay about $l!0.000
a year for public taxes on the building
and the lots and $60,000 a year to the
landlord for his private tax for the use
of the four lots. Under this bill the
renters will pay the $75,000 of land rent
tax to the government; there will
be no tax on the building and the lot
owners can work for a living like edi
tors, lawyers and other useful citizens.
This is the very best bill for the
general welfare of all the people that
was ever submitted to a law-making
body. "WM. S. ITREN.
DEMOCRATIC BI LK OPPOSED.
Amity Man Says Party's Administra
tion Ruined Him.
AMITY. Or.. Nov. 4. To The Editor.
Being born a Democrat in the year
of our Lord 1849. I have lived under the
reign of at least three Democratic
Presidents whose administration of af
fairs are facts so well impressed that
I shall not forget them, at least while
memory lasts.
Under Buchanan's administration,
from 1857 to '61. we passed the great
est financial depression in our history
as a nation. Corn delivered at the mar
ket sold for 1214 cents per bushel.
Eggs brought from 3 to 5 cents per
dozen, when you could find a buyer.
In Indiana coon skins were said to be
legal tender. Coffee was a luxury that
the common people could not afford,
and was substituted with parched
wheat. The banks went busted and'
busted the country.
During the Cleveland administration
I lost all, which included 400 acres of
land and several thousand dollars, not
to speak of a mine I - was offered
$40,000 for. and that with an indebt
edness of not to exceed 15 cents on
the dollar, and the saddest thing about
the times was that I was not the only
man that lost all. during that memor
able epoch. Six months after McKin
ley took his seat as President. 160
acres of the land I sold to get my pa
per brought $1000 more than all I
owed. Hundreds of men. and they
were the best of business men, had the
same experience.
Why is it that an Englishman, or a
German, is safe in Mexico, and an
American cannot go -there at all? Does
Democracy protect its subjects? Why
is it that financial depression always
follows the election of a Democratic
President and Congress? Financial
ruin is the answer. Vot for Hushes,
and save your country.
J. S. RHOADS.
PLEA MADE FOR THE BREWERIES
Correspondent Says Measure In Aid of
Curtailing; Imports.
PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) As The Oregonian so far has not
taken strong sides either for or against
prohibition, but is an advocate of tem
perance, and seems willing to devote
its valuable space Impartially to both
sides of the question. 1 hope I can
prevail upon you to print my view.
As I understand it. the Oregon brew
er wants the right to manufacture beer
and to sell it under the same identical
condition to the consumer as beer now
is Imported into the state. That, to
my mind. Is the only issue. Why
should they want the right to sell
whisky or alcohol, which they do not
manufacture? There are thousands of
people in Oregon who prefer beer that
cannot afford to have beer shipped
Into Oregon from California on account
of the heavy expense, and are now get
ting whisky. Why should these people
be deprived of the opportunity to get
what they want, at reasonable rates,
at home?
We had a slogan here once about
patronizing goods made in Oregon.
Has that been forgotten?
The hop Industry must be in a bad
way. for I noticed in sonic pamphlet I
read considerable of this year's crop
of hops is not picked. All you true
Oregonians get together and pull for
Oregon Industries to bring Orescoii
back to its own. You have started
well Into the shipbuilding lino. Now
bring back the breweries with their
payrolls.
W. R. McCURDY.
ONE PAPER QUICKLY COHRECTS
California Paper Advises Others to Do
Same In Hughes Falsehood.
CORVALLIS. Or.. Nov. 4. (To the
Editor.) Hughes did not declare in
favor of the repeal of the La Follette
Shipping Law and the entire Wilson
legislative programme in his Milwau
kee speech, wired the Chicago Tribune
to the Sacramento Bee some time near
the first of October. Although the Bee
is not supporting Hughes, it readily
discerned the Improbability of anyono
in his right senses, much less Charles
Evans Hughes, whom it recognizes as a
remarkably intelligent and right-minded
American, saying anything so ab
surd, so at once wired to the Chicago
Tribune asking whether Hughes had
said he favored the repent of the La
Follette shipping law. the ship purchase
law and the entire Administration pro
gramme. The answer was succinct and
categorical, substantially as follows:
Hughes did not say he- favored the
repeal of the La Follette Shipping Law.
He did declare In favor of the repeal
of'the. ship purchase law.
He did not declare in favor of the re
peal of the entire Wilson Administra
tion legislative accomplishments.
The Bee further tays. immediately
following the report of the Tribune's
wire, that those papers that have been
giving out this unjust report ought to
have the good grace not only to cease
doing so. but to explain that the re
ports are not true.
I voted for Wilson once, but that has
not blunted my sense of fair plav.
FARMER.
LOSS
Of
VOTE IS CRITICISED
Teacher Says Educators Are Discrimi
nated Against.
HARR1SBURG. Or.. Nov. 4. (To the
Editor.) It seems to have escaped the
notice of the press of the state, and
possibly cf the members of the Legis
lature themselves, that the last legis
lature practically disfranchised a laio
number of the teachers of the Stat
In passing the law to lessen the num
ber of holidays for schools, election
day was included, so that schools are
no longer permitted to close except
where the building Is used for election
purposes. Possibly a third of the
teachers of the state are teaching in
districts away from their homes, and
many will be unable to vote, as thty
cannot teach and get home to vote.
Possibly no class of voters are as
Independent in voting and vote from
conviction an, a hi-rh sense of citizen
ship as do the educators of the state.
At any rate, the making of future citi
zens for good or bad is very largely
in the hands of the teachers of tho
state, hence it would seem but fit and
proper that the instructors of voters
have the privilege of voting.
I approve the action of the Legisla
ture in reducing the number of holi
days. There had been too many. One
qannot help but wonder why tho
schools only were singled out. Why
are the state, county and local officials,
wh- hold tho strictly political posi
tions, not also included? If one con
siders the service rendered the state in
proportion to the compensation given,
nre not the teachers as deserving pub
lic servn-nts as nre the politicians?
A TEACH HP. WHO DOES NOT LOSE
HIS VOTL.
OPPOSES SUNDAY LAW REPEAL
Asks Voters to Prevent Deneerntion of
Lord's Day.
PORTLAND, Nov. 4 (To the Edi
tor.) To the loyal citizens of Orcein:
A bill to repeal the Sunday law of
Oregon will be on the November ballot
It originated with an association of
small retail dealers. The "argument"
in its favor in the voters circular is
both false and fallacious, having but
little bearing on the real issue. The
petition to put it on the ballot was no
doubt signed by persons uninformed
or misinformed as to the real import
of the bill. The plea utterly Isnoros
the rights of the toiler to his regular
weekly rest and the richt of the wor
shiper to protection from annoyanco
on the Lord's Day. Every unbiased
intelligent citizen knows the demoral
izing effect of a "wide-open Sunday"
on any community. Christian civili
zation can make no real procress with
out a proper observance of the Sib
bath. Social bondage and religious
superstition always follow its profansw
tion. This condition was verified in
the history of Israel. (Read thought
fully the 20th chapter of Ezekiel.)
"I tremble for my country as I behold
its desecration of the Lord's day. God
changeth not, and His law is not re
pealed." Exodus. 20:8-11.
Our state law- makes provision for all
acts of necessity on the Lord's Da v..
and interferes with the just rights of
no citizen or alien.
J. IT. LEIPER.
Secretary Northwest Sunday School
Association.
Working Hours Kedm-c-d.
CENTRAL! A. Wash.. Nov. 5. (Spe
cial.) The Walville Lumber Companv
has reduced its working days from
10 to 9 hours. The move was made on
account ot the -shortening -lays.
j