Morning Oregonian., November 21, 1916, Page 12, Image 12

13
TITE 3IOHXING OREGOMAN, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21. 1910.
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J-OKTLASD, TUESDAY, "OV. 21. 1916-
OIR FOREIGN COS1PUCAT10N3.
The American people insist "that the
war is not their war. that they do not
wish to have any part in it, but that
they desire only to bo let alone to
mind their own business. Yet the war
reaches out in many ways to drag this
country out of its isolation. Every
incident of the war In which this Na
tion becomes invorved makes a breach
in the defenses with which the two
oceans have hitherto protected us. We
are learning that no nation can live
to itself alone; that events which con
vulse Europe must convulse America
in only less degree.
Our relations with the two groups
of belligerents have reached a stage
where a general policy toward them
must be adopted and where our con
troversies with them must be brought
to decision. Our discussions with both
parties have led to no definite con
, elusion which clearly recognizes the
rights we claim as neutrals. The con
cessions we have extorted from Ger
many in regard to submarine war were
' only conditioned upon our obtaining
concessions from Great Britain, which
we have not obtained by correspond
ence extending over eighteen months.
Germany shows signs of a disposition
to withdraw these concessions because
the conditions, to which President
Wilson refused assent, have not been
: fulfilled. There is prospect that sub
marine operations on a large scale are
to be extended to our own coast, con
intitutlng a practical blockade of our
harbors. American lives and Ameri
can ships have recently been destroyed.
. Every development of submarine war
; gives added confirmation to the sound
ness of the principle laid down by the
President in his first dispatch regard
ing the Lusitania that the use of
submarines against commerce in con
formity with humanity and interna
tional law is impossible.
But if the President were to Insist
on Jthis principle he would give valua
ble aid to Britain and France, which
have also violated our rights. If Ger
many were to yield to an imperative
demand from the United States that
submarines be no longer used against
merchant craft, the entente powers
would be able to draw supplies of food
and munitions from overseas in larger
quantity and with much reduced risk
of loss. If Germany were to reject our
demand and if we were then to take
ective measures in retaliation, however
mild, our action would redound to
the benefit of Germany's enemies.
Having a dispute with Britain and
France in regard to the illegal block
tide, the seizure of mails and the
blacklist of some of our merchants,
we have cause for retaliation against
those nations also. The President has
been given power to stop commercial
intercourse with nations which injure
or discriminate against our commerce.
Were he to exercise this power against
the entente allies, the effect would
be very helpful to Germany. That coun
try is engaged in an effort to starve
out Britain by preventing Importation
of food, and a commercial embargo
,. by this country would go far in ac
, complishing this end as well as in
cutting off munition supplies.
In short, the United States has suf-
: fered serious wrongs from two groups
". of warring nations, and it cannot take
retaliatory action against one without
helping the other group. The wrongs
have become so intolerable and pro
tests have proved so ineffectual that
the policy which has been pursued for
- the last two years, of protesting today
and putting off definite settlement
until tomorrow, can no longer be fol
- lowed unless the American Nation is
to proclaim itself so weak and help
less that any nation may trample on
' Its rights without punishment. The
time is near when the Government
"must choose a course which it can
pafely follow, not merely today and
tomorrow, but throughout the present
world-crisis.
The most effective means of re
dressing our wrongs may prove to be
concerted action with the neutral
states of Europe, some of which have
; suffered far more grievously than
' have we. A precedent exists in the
1 Armed Neutrality League of 1780, of
I which Russia was the head. An agree-
ment to stop commercial intercourse
'. with any belligerent which violates
neutral rights may be suggested, and
would strike at both Germany and
Britain, but might prove lmpractica
; ble, for it might provoke retaliation
more injurious than the original in
jury. At one stroke it would destroy
. our commerce with the allies and
Scandinavian and Dutch commerce
with Germany, but the Scandinavian
countries and Holland are largely de
pendent on Britain and Germany for
a market for their products, and Hol
land has large trade with its colonies.
Suspension of intercourse might easily
cause those countries more acute suf
Sering than they would inflict, while
for this country it would wipe out the
entire trade derived from tne war
which forms the basis of our present
prosperity and would deprive us of
many necessary commodities which
we import from British and French
colonies. The task of finding a means
of retaliation which would inflict more
punishment on the offending nations
than on the neutrals themselves is be
set with endless difficulties, and its
successful performance would be a
triumph of statesmanship.
However carefully our Government
might limit the scope of a neutral
league, the inevitable result would be
to drag us out of our isolation. In
-forming the league our Government
"would have to consider the relations
of European nations to each other
and to use its knowledge to our ad
vantage. It would be but a step to
American participation in European
controversies.
Should the United States have a
hand in the negotiations which end
the war. we shall be drawn still fur
ther into active interference with Eu
rope's affairs. President Wilson's dec
laration for an armed, league of peace
after the war indicates his readiness
definitely to abandon the policy of
isolation. The United States could not
enter such a league without assuming
unlimited, undefined obligations to in
terfere in quarrels in which it has no
concern. We should be bound by treaty
to go to war in certain contingencies,
though Congress alone has power to
declare war. An agreement such as is
proposed would involve surrender by
the Senate of a large share of that
control over our foreign relations of
which it is extremely jealous. A revo
lutionary change in the conduct of
our foreign affairs would result, fur
ther enlarging the power of the Execu
tive.
STABBED!
Notlni? the wonder or tbe X'exr Vnrlc fllnbn
that "radical Oregon" supported Hughes, The
wrejonian says: "Radical Oregon? Ouch!"
Why "Ouch" T Radical Oregon, radical
Washington, radical West! And where aid
It start? In Oregon. The direct primary,
the initiative and referendum and fads la
government by what name are they known?
The "Oregon system." Hasn't every political
quack looked on Oregon as a fertile field?
And hasn't he found followers and a ready
welcome there? The late election Indicates
a possible reaction In Oregon, for th voters
there turned down a single tax scheme. But
the radicalism of the West has Its cradle in
Oregon. Aberdeen World.
Reformation and a contrite spirit
are ever doubted. It is next to impos
sible for state or individual to live
down an unsavory past.
Oregon has been turning down sin
gle tax regularly every two years until
only the most retentive memory can
say how many times it has been. Now
our neighbor sees a "possible reaction"
from radicalism because Oregon has
turned down single tax again.
The remark of the Globe merely
pricked us. That of the World stings
us to the quick.
-
TOO HASTY JUDGMENT.
Wilson would have been elected under any
old plan of election. He has a large ma
jority In the electoral college, and a pop
ular majority of over 400.000. All the real
Hughes strength was concentrated In the
three states of New York, Pennsylvania and
Illinois. Most of the other states on his list
were carried by very narrow margins. No
possible system of electing a President would
have made his chances aay better than the
present plan. Salem Capital Journal.
Perhaps; and then again perhaps
not. It may be well enough at times
to be dogmatic about things which
cannot be proved nor disproved, but
it does no harm to speculate a little '
on what might happen if elections in
the United States were free and open, j
and not merely free in some of the
states and fixed in the others.
The Solid South, which cast one
ninth of the votes at the last election,
has 132 votes one-fourth in the
electoral college. They are all for
Wilson.
Illinois, which cast 1,913.760 bal
lots, had more voters at the polls
than the whole twelve Southern states
with 1,807,938 votes. Illinois has
twenty-nine electoral votes. Of course
Illinois has equal suffrage, but the il
lustration is nevertheless to the point.
The negro has the suffrage, too, at all
times except election day.
The available figures show that the
twenty-nine states which went for
Wilson cast a grand aggregate for both
candidates of 7,627,612 votes and the
states which went for Hughes 9,108,
801. However, Wilson's popular plur
ality is about 400,000.
Perhaps, -when the Democratic
statesmen who are now vociferous for
direct election of President go a little
deeper into the question, they may see
that one possibility of the innovation
even a probability will be that the
fifteenth amendment to the Constitu
tion of the United States will have a
real validity.
If the negro shall vote, what influ
ence does our Salem friend think he
would have in a direct Presidential
election? What influence would he
have had in the recent election?
DOr.9 AND CATS.
The world was made for man and
not for dogs or other animals, except
as they serve mankind. Just now the
great truth that there are too many
dogs has been driven home in Wallowa
County. The following interesting
comment is from the Joseph Herald:
The local citizen who says there are a few
too many dogs in Joseph has a degree of
truth backing up his contention. He Is also
right when he says that measure should
be taken by the proper authorities to reduce
the canine population. In other Western
districts the rabies have occasioned rlgorouj
measures in dealing with dogs which withal
are without use away from the farm and
stock range, and many towns have found It
expedient and profitable to forego the
pleasures that Issue from the presence of
dogs. But dogs are not entirely, unlike men
in that they have varying habits. It Is easy
and even a pleasure in some instances to
abide with dogs comporting themselves de
cently while the prowling, yowling, nocturnal
Dreed is separate and apart from the. happy
condition we refer to as a thing of beauty
and a Joy forever.
The dog has a hard time in the city,
though he has been known through
the, ages as man's faithful friend.
Well, man needs all the friends he can
get, even when he has to go down the
scale in the animal kingdom for them.
But there are dogs and dogs. If the
dog which is a daytime pest and a
midnight nuisance could be chloro
formed, or marooned to Constanti
nople, the dog paradise, and the dog
wiitch is an aid to the farmer and
stockman and hunter and the average
citizen could be saved, a fair solution
to the canine problem which vexes
every community would be found.
Cats, too. are losing friends every-whe-e.
They are said to be the ene
mies of all bird life and breeders and
carriers of disease, and of no possible
use except as pets. Understand, we
do not subscribe to that opinion, only
give it in the language of another who
has studied cats and their habits. We
know a lot of women who own very
nice cats. But we never heard of a
man or woman who had any use for
his neighbor's cat.
MR. BRYAN'S NEW ISSCK.
Mr. Bryan now proposes that the
Democratic party take up prohibition
and make it a National party issue,
He sees in the facts that wet New
York was on the losing side in the
Presidential election and that seven
teen of the twenty-three dry states
went Democratic reasons why the
Democracy should "take up the fight
against the saloon." He urges "the
dry Democrats to begin work at once
to secure control of the Democratic
organization, state and National."
Prohibition cannot be made a party
issue, opinion in its favor is strength
ening in both parties, and individual
voters form their conclusions upon it
entirely irrespective of 'party. They
vote upon it as men and women, not
as Republicans or Democrats. Pro
hibition and local option were adopted
generally in Republican states long
before the Democratic South took
them up. It is no more possible to
make the liquor question a party issue
than it was to divide the people along
party lines on such questions as in
come tax, banking reform, rural cred
it, or direct election of Senators. A
general demand for thoae measures
grew up and the Government re
sponded to that demand, no matter
what its political complexion. Pro
hibition has no relation to the funda
mental principles which divide the
parties.
Mr. Bryan excels as an. inventor of
new issues which do not "catch on."
He began with free silver and failed.
He tried with imperialism and failed
again. He tried to win in 49 08 on
Government guaranty of bank depos
its, only to score another failure. He
has no prospect of any better success
with prohibition.
A CALL TO LAW AND ORDER.
The official figures on election
measures reveal that the single-tax
sentiment in Oregon has reached a
lower ebb than ever before.
Measures leading up to single tax or
imposing single tax in modified form
or imposing it in conjunction TtfTTfi
some other form of legislation have
been six in number, and in addition
thereto the people have voted on and
adopted an amendment repealing one
measure leading up to single tax which
had been sneaked over under an anti-poll-tax
disguise.
In 1908 a modified form of single
tax received the affirmative votes of
34 per cent of those voting on the
measure.
In 1910 a county tax-option amend
ment, disguised as an anti-poll-tax
measure, received the affirmative votes
of 51 per cent.
On repeal of county tax option in
1914 the "single-tax element polled 42
per cent of the voters participating.
In the same year single tax with a
graduated jug handle was defeated,
the affirmative votes being 28 per
cent of the total registered on the
amendment.
In 1914 a $1500 exemption meas
ure polled in affirmative votes 32 per
cent of the total.
In the same year another graduated
single-tax measure received in affirm
ative votes 32 per cent of the total.
In 1916 single tax was combined
for popularity purposes with a form of
rural jcredit, but the affirmative votes
were not quite 22 per cent of the to
tal, whereas another and genuine rural
credit amendment was carried hand
somely.
For eight years the single-tax prop
agandists have pestered Oregon with
their doctrine. They have presented it
in modified form; they have presented
it in as complete form as is possible
under state law; they have baited it;
they have sugar-coated it; they
have disguised it. In one year
they had practtcally unlimited finan
cial support from an Eastern million
aire's organization. This year they
had the backing of the leaders of or
ganized labor.
Single tax was put on the ballot in
1916 by the forgery of more than
1000 names in Multnomah County
alone. Two years hence to get on
the ballot approximately 17,500 sig
natures will be required, or a number
representing nearly one-half of the
single-tax vote in the entire state. It
is apparent that by no honest method
can 17.500 out of about 40,000 voters
scattered throughout Oregon be iden
tifed and reached. Tet the intention
to present single tax again is pro
claimed. We think it is time to scotch the
snake. Work in advance of filing
day on the part of those organizations
which have so far contented them
selves with opposition after the peti
tions have been accepted should two
years hence bring the propaganda to
a sudden halt:
Already a protest has gone up from
the single-taxers' Portland newspa
per organ against adoption by the
legislature of rmy laws to prevent pe
tition frauds. The benefits of such
legislation fan be attained without its
enactment if vigilance by a law-and-order
committee is exercised when pe
titions are circulating.
TAXING THE NON-RESIDENT ACTOIST.
Owners of automobiles in every part
of the country who travel across state
boundaries will be interested in a case
now pending in the Supreme Court
of the United States in which the right
of a state to levy a tax on the auto
mobilist from another state for the
use of its roads" will be put to the
test. Some fundamental questions are
raised, and some, if would appear, that
are not germane to the settlement of
the issue of the right of the autoist
who is merely passing through one
state on his way to another. It is a
question that in the main would be
subject to determination, if we lived
in an ideal world, upon the basis of
reciprocity between communities arid
the spirit of neighborliness in general.
but it seems that this is not to be.
New Jersey is the state that has of
fended in this instance, and a resident
of New York, on his way to Pennsyl
vania, is to be the medium of the legal
test. It is expected that the decision
finally reached will serve as a guide
to legislators hereafter in all the states
of the Union.
The New York man was arrested for
violating three provisions of the New
Jersey statute. He had failed to regis
ter his automobile In New Jersey, or
to pay the state tax exacted by the
state, or to file with the Secretary
of State a power of attorney. The
last-named provision is a curious way
New Jersey has of assuming that the
automobile owner is likely while in
the state to commit a criminal act,
which those who are attacking the law
hold to be absurd on the face of it,
and they also contend that the require
ment is unenforceable because it is not
imposed upon any other class of peo
ple entering thc"Vtate, while"" even if
it were enforceable, such a method of
enforcing the criminal law is unknown
to American jurisprudence. Still an
other of the broad grounds of attack
upon the law is that the various re
quirements are burdens upon inter
state commerce which it Is beyond the
power of the state to impose and
which are forbidden by the fourteenth
amendment to the Federal Constitu
tion. An old question is brought up for
determination by the highest court,
although it has been discussed pro
and con by laymen for years, in the
contention, that although the tax is
assumed to be Imposed for the "use of
the roads," it is not Imposed equally
upon all the. users of roads, and also
that horse-drawn vehicles "destroy the
roads to a large degree" and there
fore should be equally taxed. This,
as we have said, brings up a technical
issue that is far from new, and if the
Supreme Court shall deefh it worthy
of especial notice its conclusions will
be of interest, apart from th,e main
question. But it would seem to be
aside from the issue of the taxation of
the non-resident, or the mere tourist.
and a point that might as well have
been raised by a citizen of New Jersey
in an attack upon the general prin
ciple of taxation of automobiles. Of
the same character is the contention
that the improved roads of the state
are not a "special facility" afforded
to automobiles, for which they are
especially taxed, but are part of the
general function of the state govern
ment and open to all classes of citi-
zens alike. So. also, is the phase of
the attack upon the law contending
that the fee charged for the operation
of automobiles is a heavy impost out '
of proportion to the value of the vehi
cle subjected to the tax. while other
classes of property are subject to taxa
tion on the basis of valuation.
It seems that the decision of this
New Jersey case is likely to add an
important chapter to the legal lore
of the automobile, not all of which
will have peculiar and particular ref
erence to the standing of the tourist
in those states that have decided to
gather in the shekels wherever they
may. The matter would not be so
important if there were entire uni
formity of laws on the subject
throughout the forty-eight states. Uni
form laws of almost any kind would
approximately strike a balance be
tween their reciprocal advantages and
disadvantages, and mutual experience
would lead inevitably "to desirable
modifications. As it now stands, how
ever, New 'Jersey, for example, pro
poses to reap a harvest from its
strategic position, while its own citi
zens traveling abroad will find many
havens of refuge in which more hos
pitable treatmenfwill be accorded to
them.
That American capital can find at
tractive opportunities for employment
abroad if conditions at home should
become uninviting is shown not only
by such recent ventures as the recent
lending of nearly a hundred million
dollars to certain of the cities of
France for war relief and reconstruc
tion work, but also by opening of a
new field of municipal investment in
South America. Prominent among
these is the acquisition by Americans
of bonds of Sao Paulo, Brazil, one of
the principal coffee-shipping ports of
the world and a city of tremendous
possibilities, in the opinion of students
of world movements. The amount,
J5. 500, 000. is not in itself large, but
the event is almost epochal, represent
ing as it does one of the first se
rious efforts by a South American mu
nicipality to finance its improvements
in the United States. It is also im
portant in a larger sense because of
its bearing on our trade relations with
those countries.
"Safety first" propaganda has al
ready begun to bear fruit in the statis
tical reports, as is shown by prelimi
nary census returns "on the number
of accidental deaths in a registration
area of the United States comprising
about 67 per cent of the population
of the country. The number of fatal
accidents per 100,000 has fallen from
85.3 in 1915 to 76.3 in 1916. There
has been an especially noteworthy re
duction in the number of fatalities due
to railway, streetcar, mine and ma
chinery accidents, while the increase
in fatalities resulting from automobile
accidents has not kept pace with the
increased number of machines In use.
The astonishing fact is disclosed that
in the year 1915 firearms caused more
deaths .than railway accidents, five
times as many as streetcar accidents
and more than twice as many as auto
mobile accidents. The railway acci
dent record, it is also interesting to
note, is the lowest ever known.
The New York idea of what com
poses the West is indicated by a re
mark of the New York Evening Post
that "the West is bountifully recog
nized in the Cabinet." It goes on to
say:
Five of the ten members Secretaries Ba
ker. Lam, and Houston. Attorney-Oeneral
Gregory and rOFtniatr-"en.-ral Burleson
come front the West and Middle West.
Mr. Baker comes from Ohio, Mr.
I-ane from California. Mr. Houston
from Missouri and Messrs. Burleson
and Gregory from Texas. The West is
understood by its own people to bo
that part of the country west of the
Missouri River, hence Mr. Lane is the
only Western man among the five
named. But in the eyes of a provin
cial New Yorker everything west of
the Allegheny Mountains is the West.
Only a political revolution such as that
of this year can enlighten such people.
The old bird kicks the young birds
from the nest when she feels they are
big enough to go alone, and that, may
be the idea in Marin County, Cal.,
where an incorrigible boy has been
exiled for a year rather than be Jailed.
This gives relief to that county, but
is of debatable value to the place in
which he locates, as well as to him
self. Poland, the land without babies, is
offered political independence and is
invited to raise an army for war. What
Poland needs is food, clothing and
shelter and rest from being the shut
tlecock of ambitious Emperors.
A bit of news sent from Washing
ton is that Wilson is soon to take a
firm stand on everything. Once upon
a time Casabianca stood on the burn
ing deck; in Wilson's case "it can't
be dona."
When the absurdity and insincerity
of the Adamson law shall develop into
political bunk to catch votes. Con
gressman McArthur will be given
credit for much long-distance vision.
The allies" triumph at Monastir will
give small comfort to the hard-pressed
Roumanians, for that city is a long
way from tne Carpathian valleys
where they are fighting.
"Persplrationless exercise" may work
in Chicago, but the bone-dry Oregon
man no more can crook the elbow and
exercise his vision through the bot
tom of the glass.
Though the Thanksgiving turkeys be
poor, due to scant feed, each has its
giblets to qua'.ify the gravy, and that
counts for something at the feast.
Every man in the express-office line
Is not awaiting "booze." Some may be
calling for mail-order goods for their
wives.
Better save some of the cull apples
for cider. As "something just as
good." the Juice of the apple has a
hifalutin way of its own.
Miss Law, the airwoman, has gone
far to prove that a woman can do
anything that a man can do, and do
it better.
British war widows will be sent to
Canada, and it's only a step over the
line for a good husband.
The hotel maid In Detroit who fell
heir to $100,000 Inherited a heap of
troubles simultaneously.
The time has come for the deft cook
to cleave the shell and make one egg
fry as two.
Nert thing, those Texas robbers will
steal one of our seventeen-inch suns.
Gleams Through the Mist
By Ilea a Collins.
BONE DRY BALLADS.
(Composed and compiled by us, an
humble bard, in view of the recent elec
tion results, witti deep apologies to O.
Khayyam. R. Burns, Ben Jonson, R.
Klpling and others from whose lines or
inspiration we may borrow).
(N. B. We might say that the lines
from which we drew the keenest in
spiration were the lines of prominent
cits, we saw waiting in front of the
Wells-Fargo office the other day.)
Sins o' Gin.
You may talk of gin and beer
And of champagne flowing clear.
And the days when all the mails
with orders hum;
But since the ballot slaughter
You'll do your work on water.
For they've crimped the blooming tail
of Demon Rum.
Now the bones of Barleycorn,
They are bleaching in the morn.
And the brewers" bill is badly bat
tered in.
And our Uncle Sammy's pall
Will cease bearing through the mall
Our little horn of rum or slug o' gin.
And It's gin. gin. gin!
All our alcoholic hopes are getting
thin;
No use going round and begging.
Making moonshle or bootlegging
It is cut flowers for the little slug o'
gin.
(Key changes to minor.)
Oh. the oont, oh. the oont.
Oh. the groany, boney oont.
The prohibition cornel he has moved
Into the land:
Soon In vain we'll groan and grount
And about the bootleg hunt.
For the demon brew is slated as com
pletely contraband.
The Kiprrna Package.
As in the ballot box the Demon died,
Methought a voice in dry, thin accents
cried,
"Make haste to the express office
away.
For there's a waiting line piled up out
side." Some for the 24-quart box and some
Cry for their shipment of old rye or
rum.
But. "Haste, make haste!" Insist they
all at once.
"Ere the new dry law puts us on the
bum."
For, few weeks hence, despite the fee
ble roar.
Who knows but cops may enter at the
door.
And in the thirsty gutter on the
street
Many a shipment they will break and
pour?
And the lost Demon, lashed unto the
mast.
Groans In expiring: "Lo the time
speeds fast!
Drink, for ye know not whence ye'll
get the next!
Drink, and drink hearty for it Is your
last!
"And when 'tis ended, this short space
of truce.
And Barleycorn hangs swinging in the
noose.
'Twill come at last, a mild and tem
perate time
When you'll take one of loganberry
Juice!" '
Interlude.
Do your Christmas shopping early.
Shopping early, shopping early.
Do your Christmas shopping early.
Ere the days of grace are o'er;
For the sable cloud is dropping
And the wings of Fate are flopping;
Early, early do that shopping
Or you may not do It more.
Do your Christmas shopping early.
Shopping early, shopping early.
For the camel's teeth so pearly.
They are at the Demon's throat:
Soon this state it will have grown dry,
Dryer than was ever known dry.
And will be entirely bone dry.
So a toothpick wouldn't float.
To Wells-Fargo's they go pacln".
They go chasln', they go racln'.
And they hasten, hasten, hasten.
And within the door they akid.
Doing Christmas shopping early.
Shopping early, shopping early.
For the axe is dropping early.
And the clamp goes on the lid.
Sweet Bull Run.
Flow gently, sweet Bull Run,
Along thy smooth pipe!
A sweet song I will run
And put It in type.
The Demon Is vanquished
Forever I think
Flow gently, sweet Bull Run.
And give us a drink.
Flow gently, sweet Bull Run; .
The bright Benson spurts.
And while Its cups fultrun
Dry law never hurts.
Old Bacchus, he sleeps.
They have captured his goat;
So Bull Run In heaps
We will pour down our throat.
Ye purple giraffe
And ye salmon pink whales.
Hyenas that laugh
And lash deep crimson tails.
Skldoo and sktdoo.
For your day it Is done;
One cannot see you
Through a glass of Bull Run.
(Key changes to minor again.)
I drea-empt I dwe-elt In ma-ha-harble
halls.
With back bar and cut glass and bot
tles, too;
And saw fel-lows lsh-shuing old-fash-
shloned calls
For red stuff to pour down their
throttles, too.
I saw-aw them, dri-hink befo-ore my
eyes
And we-ell their throats anol-hol-hol-holnt.
But oh-ha I fou-hound to my-hi-hl
surprise
It wa-has a soft, a so-boft drink
Jol-holnt,
It wa-ha-has a so-hoft, a so-hoft drink
Joi-holnt,
(Crescendo)
IT WA-HA-HAS a SO-HOFT DRINK
JOINT!
Dry Committee Appreciative.
PORTLAND. Nov. 15. (To the Edi
tor.) On behalf or the Union. Dry Com
mittee I wish to than you for the
opportunity you have given the com
mittee from time to time to present its
views on the liquor amendments.
We feel that our success at the polls
was due largely to our ability to get
the facts to the public, and sincerely
appreciate your aid in this direction.
OSWALD WEST.
SPOTTED WITH PROVINCIALISM
West. South and California Think Na
tion Nonentity 'Without Them.
HOOD RIVER. Or., Nov. 19. (To tie
Editor.) The "Female of the Species'"
that was so overjoyed by your edi
torial under the caption "Four Years
More of Wilson." that she rushed into
print In order to enlighten your read
ers as to the superior Intelligence dis
played by her "species'" as to voting,
is certainly to be congratulated on her
perspicacity.
It Is apparent that this particular
one of "tje female species' comes from
below Mason and Dixon's line, where
since Lincoln's time a solid South has
ever been ready ana anxious to deliver
Its entire electoral vote to any Demo
cratic nominee, regardless of that
nominee's principles or the Issues at
stake. She boasts of the fact that "the
South knows how to handle the negro
question." and yet if sje is in the least
informed as to conditions In a number
of the Southern states she knows that
although their basis of representation
Doth in the electoral college and Con
gress rests on the population, more
than one-half of that population is and
jiaa been deprived of the ballot. This
is one of the evidences of their pro
gressiveness. liberalism and patriotism
of which she boasts.
"The verdWt of the people. How
mighty it is!" To the unprejudiced
mind the one-idea people of the West
and South are about on a par wto the
one-idea people of California, which is
In effect that tubs little old Nation of
ours would be a nonentity without her.
The writer spent several years In the
South and has very dear friends and
relatives there; but any one who Is not
so blind or ignorant Oat he or she will
not see knows that at heart the old
line solid South has no more use for
the Yankees today than they had 50
years ago. They cursed and reviled
Lincoln then and now elect a man
whom they lave the temerity to say is
a second Lincoln. God save the mark.
In closing 1 should like to Inquire
of "The Species" what sort of intelli
gence is displayed by a class of peo
ple who vote to send a l'resident, as
the exalted representative and cham
pion of any certain set of ideas or prin
ciples and with the same ballot vote
to send with him as Zlis assistants Con
gressmen who are diametrically op
posed to the President's wishes, ideas
and principles, and will do all In their
power to defeat them?
Rather inconsistent. Is It not?
MERE MAN.
CRUELTY
IS NEVER NECESSARY
General
Anderson Cites Methods
of
KnforrlBK Discipline.
PORTLAND. Nov. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) It seems to me? Mr. Editor, that
the voters of Oregon are swaying like
a pendulum, not between a smile and a
tear, but between a harsh puritanism
and a mistaken philanthropy. One class
seems Inclined to carry their virtue to
the extreme of confiscation and vin
dictive punishment on the prohibition
Issue, and another class Ignores the
fact that the criminal code was made to
protect the good but not to reform the
bad. The unco good seem to forget
that the execution of law may be strict
without being cruel.
I have had 50 years of military ex
perience. Including four years of re
constructive duty In the South, three
years as commandant of a Soldiers'
Home, and one- year in administrative
charge of a lunatic asylum. As a re
sult of this experience. I ran say that
men do not like to be called criminal
and they do not like the word punish
ment. But. If they are told that they
are only paying a penalty they do not
resent it.
In Illustration, let us take the hosing
of Jefferson Baldwin. " referred to in
your Sunday Issue. Mr. Minto did not
seem to understand the proper appli
cation of the water cure. 1 know by
hearsay, of a similar case in the Ohio
Penitentiary, where the warden applied
a large wet sponge electrified to a hard
case, who thought he would rather die
than submit. The application was not
cruel, but disagreeable, and as it was
scientific. It did not shock the most
fastidious philanthropist. I have
known the same result to be obtained
by a subcutaneous injection made by
an Army anrgeon.
Cruelty is never necessary In enforc
ing discipline, but the end may Justify
the means. The penalty applied should
be Impersonal, and never executed by
the authority imposing the penalty.
Fiat Justitia, ruat caelum.
T. M. ANDERSON.
NO FREEHOLDERS TO MAKE OATH
W eat Fork Complainant Said to Have
Lacked LeKal Requirements.
DOTHAN. Or'.. Nov. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) I noticed In The Oregon a ques
tion asked by an "Ardent Voter" as to
his right to vote for state and district
officers at the West Fork precinct on
the last election day.
In Justice to the election officers of
that precinct I believe that' the facts
of this case should be stated. A cer
tain person did appear at the voting
place In said precinct on that day and 1
requested to be allowed to vote lor
state and district officers. He had been
In this precinct not more than 10 days,
and cleamed Eugene as his residence.
He was not known to any member
of the election board to have been a
resident of the state of Oregon for a
period of six months. His right to vote
was challenged, ana after some discus
sion the challenge was withdrawn and
he was asked to produce the two free
holders, resident of and taxpayers In
said county, who would certify that he
was a qualified elector. This person
was not known to any freeholders pres
ent, and no such affidavit was ever
presented to the board. I am satisfied
that no freeholders In this precinct had
any positive knowledge of the resi
dence of this person or of his qualifi
cations as an elector.
The fact that residents of Portland.
unregistered, presenting the proper
affidavit of two freeholders of Douglas
County, were allowed to vote for state
officers In this precinct, as the poll
books will show. Is proof that no one
who was a qualified elector was denied
the right to vote. The election board
in Vhls precinct followed the law, as
furnished them In the pamphlets en
titled "Election Laws of Oregon."
This letter does not question the an
swer that was furnished to the Inquiry,
but. under the circumstances as related
above, we feel that the person was not
qualified to cast any vote In the pre
cinct. J. O. FULLER.
Judge of Election.
How to Register Catn.
ASTORIA. Or.. Nov. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) Please state what method of
procedure is necessary in order to reg
ister thoroughbred kittens, and where
they may be registered.
SUBSCRIBER.
In order to get kittens registered you
must have the pedigree of the sire and
dam and both must be registered. A
letter to the secretary of the Deres
ford Cat Club, Chicago, care of Mrs.
S. E. Kellogg, 1910 Harris Trust build
ing. Chicago, will bring the necessary
blanks and information.
Cost of War.
PASCO. Wash.. Nov. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) Please publish an account of the
cost of the war in dollars, men. prop
erty and loss In the navy, to the coun
tries at present engaged in the war.
LOREN MAYBEE.
The estimated number of men killed
so far Is 4.000.000; estimated cost (two
years). $45,500,000,000. The latter fig
ures are expenditures on the war Itself.
There is no means of estlmatiny the
value of property destroyed.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Ako.
From The Oregonian of November 21.
Des Moines, la.. Nov. ro. Lieuten
ant Frederick Schwatka. the Alaska
explorer, has returned from his recent
trip into the Interior of that country
and is spending a few days with
friends in Des Moines.
Ottawa, Nov. 10. It is learned
from well informed quarters that either
the Emperor of Germany or the Presi
dent of the Swiss Republic will be
asked by the British government to
represent Great Britain in the arbitra
tion committee to be appointed to set
tle the Bering Sea question.
London. Nov. ;0. Queen Victoria
will go to Florence In March. From
there she will visit the ex-Empress
Frederick at Cronburg. Afterwards
she will be the guest of Emperor Will
iam at Coblentz.
Valparaiso. Nov. 10. The fiery
sentiment which prevailed against
Americans has considerably cooled
down. The Chileans talk more ration
ally as to the American request for
redress and there Is a growtnar dispo
sition to see that Justice Is done to
those who assaulted the American sail
ors and killed two of them.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oreconlan of November 21. tSt5.
Among the arrivals on the steamer
Pacific yesterday we notice that of C.
II. Meussdorf fer. who comes here to
remain permanently with us.
The finest building in Montana Is ap
proaching completion. This is the
large stone building which Mr. Duni
phy is erecting on the west side of
Main street. Helena. The structure is
two stories high, with a basement.
Last Saturday night two horses were
sto.en from a ranch in Flint district.
Idaho, by Indians, and some other
devilment transacted, the character of
which we are not Informed. For pure
cussedness these redmen are unrivaled.
The youth of Grass Valley, Cal.. are a
fast set. A couple of weeks ago three
boys, the oldest of whom was 10 years
of age, stole several horses. Since
that time two other youths, neither of
whom was above 12 years old. fought
a duel In which one of them was
wounded. Fast community.
RECOXSTRCCT'lOX IS REQUIRED
Xew Buildings, f.rounds and Authority
Needjt of Penitentiary.
PORTLAND. Nov. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) "Behind Prison Walls" is a clear
cut and expressive editorial. It is also
impressive because of candor and hon
est convictions.
The chief reason why our former
Governor West's prison policies were
not more of a success was because his
personal ideas were ahead of the limes.
The Oregonian knows, and every ca
pable institution of progress knows,
that the so-called prison problems are
exactly like other problems. They first
must be studied, comparison and results
must be pone into, and the success of
solution must devolve upon sincere and
conscientious manhood.
This word "humanitarian" in con
nection with prison matters is a bug
bear. Under its cloak we have seen so
much of the hypocrisy, sentinientalism
and sanctified smugness, and it should
not be with this spirit that prison mat
ters are associated. "What is needed
at Salem, or 1 should say, at the Ore
ton Penitentiary, is a complete and
thorough reconstruction. Not alono
of buildings, g-amnds and personnel of
authority, but of principle as well.
You say candidly that you do not
know what should be done js'ith such as
Baldwin is represented to be. That is
an honest and honorable position to
take under the circumstances. There
are many who would have dozens of
answers ready, all built upon theory
or imagination. Suppose that a con
scientious man could in person investi
gate actual conditions of the most pro
gressive penal 'institutions in this coun
try; suppose he had it In his heart to
eliminate all hypocrisy and sentimental
feeling, and to try to solve the prison
problem for the betterment of principle,
for the betterment of the taxpayers,
and for the betterment of the con
victed prisoner. Is not that the kind
of man the stale should have as war
den? Are there not men of means
who have, a heart for this work.
The most sorrowful thing I have to
think of in my connection with the effort
which closed the unfair prison industry
is that it brought enforced idleness
upon the prisoners. I realized the true
import riEht from the first and proved
it in my efforts. However, those of us
who are responsible would not go back
to the old conditions. We have de
pended upon those who make and ad
minister our laws to provide for bet
ter conditions. So far as 1 know I am
led to believe our present Governor
has honestly tried to rinht matters.
My candid belief is that politics Is to
hlame for failure. Petty politics and
office-seekers should hve no place in
the Oregon prison affairs. The prison
problems will be solved. Oregon will
demand it, but it w ill not come through
politics or sentiment.
EDW. G. BARGE R.
THE HOTEL GliEETElL.
The greeter standing at the desk of
popular hotel must always wear a
smiling face, though he may feel like
L. A wise encyclopedia he certainly
must be. because the questions at hiiu
tired would sink a ship at sea. He's
asked what time the trains depart
upon the P. D. Q.. what playhouse he
can recommend and when a steamer's
due. and if it be a desert town a guest,
with knowing wink, will ask If there's
a place where he can get a little drink
When Sunday comes the guest who
seeks for pious nourishment will ask
what preacher he believes to be most
eloquent. The guest of sportive trend
of mind across the desk will lean and
whlsperingly ask where lambs can
gamble on the green. Innumerable
questions thus are fired across the
desk at the encyclopedia who wears
the smiling mask, and never can a
question from the lips of guest be
flung but ripples forth an answer from
the greeter's ready tongue. Immacu
late must be his dress, his shlrtfront
white as snow and if a sparkler glit
ters there it beautifies the show. Each
hirsute thread must be in place upon
his brainy bean and he must wear
hand-pollshed face, his chin be shaven
clean. lie must be handsome to ap
peal to lady guests, be they bewitching
maids with sparkling eyes or grand
mas old and gray, for curtain of ad
vancing years would never dare in
trude between the eyes of good old
age and manly pulchritude. The
greeter with the pleasing tongue can
nine times out of ten make wander
ing strangers feel at home while hand
ing them the pen and when their stay
is ended and they, start to catch a
train the "pleasant Journey, sir good
bye'" will bring them back asrain.
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
Immune to Cold.
Pittsburg Dispatch.
Gouverneur Morris, the New York
litterateur, said at a luncheon in
Brooklyn:
"American society is the most ex
clusive In the world. Useless, quite
useless, for a litterateur to try and
force his way Into It.
"I know a litterateur who. on the
strength of a best seller, managed to
get himself Invited to a dinner at Mrs.
Van Astorcordt's.
" "Well, did Mrs. Van Astorcordt's
rdiality stagger you? I asked him
e next day.
"'Oh, no. not at all. he ansrered.
"You see. before I took up writing I
worked in an ice-making- plant.' "
i