Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, December 26, 1916, Page 8, Image 8

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    THE MORNING OREGOMAN, TTESDAT, DECE3IBER 26, 1916.
PORTLAND. OREGON.
Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postoffioe aa
second-class mall matter.
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(By Mall.)
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Eastern Business Office Verre & Confc
Iln, Brunswick building. New York; Verree
aV Conklin. Stenger building, Chicago. San
Francisco representative, R. J. Bldwell, 742
Market street.
PORTLAND. rtBSDAY, DEC 86, 1916.
INVESTIGATIONS WITHOUT RESULT.
When the Federal Trade Commis
sion was established, great promise
was held out that It would confer end
less benefits on the people. Signs
would no sooner appear that the price
or supply of some commodity was arti
flctally controlled by some monopoly
than the Commission would be hot on
the offender's trail. It would prompt
ly Investigate, and, on finding the
sTullty, would by solemn warning com
pel them to desist or would hale them
before the courts with jail in prospect.
In a majority of cases long investiga
tions by grand Juries, endless taking of
evidence by courts and endless appeals
were to be avoided. The Commission
was to provide a prompt, sharp and
effective remedy.
An opportunity to make good has
been offered to the Commission by
the rise in the price of gasoline. Sev
eral arbitrary advances in price were
made In the latter part of 1915 and in
1916. The Commission was making
a general Investigation of the petrol
eum industry, but many complaints
about discrimination in the price of
gasoline In different districts caused it
to turn aside to that particular
branch of the inquiry. To use Its own
words, "a rapid, but comprehensive,
Investigation was made," and a pre
liminary report was made to Con
gress on April 10, 1916. The investi
gation was nearly complete when, last
June, the Commission "had public
hearings, at which testimony was
taken." One would reasonably ex
pect that In the succeeding six months
a conclusion would have been reached
and a remedy applied, but all that
the Commission had to say in Its an
nual report, published a few days ago,
was that "the final report was not
completed nor issued during the fiscal
year."
The Commission did not complete
Its report, but the oil companies com
pleted theirs, brought down to a much
later date than June 30. The oil com
panies have maintained the advanced
prices and have paid extra dividends.
The Commission has done nothing to
prevent them from doing so, or to ex
plain that market conditions justify
the advance, or to bring prices back to
the normal level, or to compel restitu
tution of sums wrongfully taken from
the consumer. While it has been in
vestigating, and with grave delibera
tion preparing its report, the oil com
panies have got clear away with the
money.
The Federal Trade Commission ap
pears to have been devised to prevent
effective Investigation of trade abuses
by making investigations which lead
to nothing.
THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY.
A recent report of the Lincoln High
Way Association upon the third anni
versary of the proclamation of that
truly gigantic undertaking is impres
sive because of the light it throws on
what actually has been done In that
relatively brief time, and it is inter
esting for other reasons. It shows
how vast a conception in the interest
of human progress such a highway
must become to arouse in it the inter
est necessary to its completion, and
how the appeal to patriotism succeed
ed where a narrower theory of materi
al benefits might have awakened only
a languid inquiry. The report says it
was early realized that good roads
must be made a question of unified
National concern, rather than one of
petty local strife. This might have
led to the conclusion that as such it
was a function of the Federal Gov
ernment, but, as a matter of fact, the
Federal Government was equipped
with no machinery for the purpose.
So the pioneer work was attempted
by a private association, and the Lin
coln Highway was designed as the
Nation's object lesson road.
How far it has succeeded in ac
complishing this one can glimpse from
the summaries in figures. It is esti
mated, for example, that ten million
dollars has been expended by states,
counties and towns in the three years
since the movement was launched, and
that two-thirds of the amount was ex
pended in the last year, showing that
interest has increased consistently.
Particularly was this true in the
West. Wyoming expended more than
ten dollars per capita of the popula
tion residing along the route. The
full Import of this will be gathered
from the statement that If a similar
per capita amount were appropriated
by the people along the highway from
New York to Pittsburg, a distance
equal approximately to that across
Wyoming, the funds would build the
entire highway in permanent concrete
from New Tork to San Francisco
twice over. The effort in Wyoming,
moreover, was typical of the entire
West.
New problems, financial as well as
of an engineering nature, are found
on the great stretches of the desert.
There Is in Utah a bit of' roadway
of some 20 miles which, ..when im
proved, will eliminate more than 65
miles of present terrible road condi
tions. Water is absent for long peri
ods in the dry season and at other
seasons the entire country is under
several Inches of water, which, says
the report, in addition to presenting
the UBual drainage difficulties, puts
other engineering obstacles in the way
by being highly alkaline. The region
under consideration is more than fifty
miles from the nearest railway. This
stretch of road is regarded as the
"keystone of the highway arch." The
cost is far beyond the ability of the
local county or the state to pay.
Nevada, too, has an area more than
half that at Franco and a population
about equal to that of Des Moines.
The state is practically helpless In the
face of the tremendous problem, and
the road Is more needed by the popu
lation of the East and the Pacific
Coast than by the residents of the
counties it traverses. This suggests
the need of a plan of aiding the more
thinly populated Western states, espe
cially since their engineering prob
lems are so much more difficult and
the Interest of their people so
dwarfed by the larger use to which
the road will be put by travelers from
other parts.
It was a wise policy that led to the
choice of a route that should be as
nearly as possible the shortest be
tween the principal cities in a line
drawn from ocean to ocean. Consid
erations of "seeing America first"
were once urged in favor of a wind
ing road, built to enable the traveler
to visit as many as possible of the
points of Nation-wide interest. It was
well that this plan was abandoned in
favor of the policy of constructing one
permanent road across the country, no
matter how desirable other roads ac
tually might be.
This .National highway is broadly
significant because it is so much
more than merely a piece of engi
neering and construction. It promises
to do much toward uniting the East
and the West. The railroads created
the West, and-now these new high
ways give promise of making both
sections one. In addition to that, it
will provide a stimulus for road con
struction such as the country never
has known before. That much is
proved by the progress made by the
highway in three years. Even ten
years ago this would have been im
possible. THE SHRINE IN 1919.
The meek and useful camel, friend
of man, has carried many a pilgrim
across the burning sands to the shrine
of an ineffable peace: and the camel
has a symbolical relation not wholly
clear to the uninitiated to the solemn
rites of the great order of the Mystic
Shrine. Perhaps It Is only a coinci
dence, but the camel is also a familiar
figure In every dry city and state. The
real beast of burden in the desert is
able to go many days without a
drink. He doesn't miss It. He is the
object of envy, not to say admiration
and reverence, among certain mourn
ing citizens in some 23 states of the
Union which are undertaking the
great experiment of prohibition. There
is universal wonder as to how he
does it.
We are led to these remarks, intend
ed to be jocular, by the observation
that the great order of the Mystic
Shrine is to be Invited to Portland, a
dry town in a dry state, in 1919.
Things are rarely as bad as they seem;
Indeed, they are often better. We
have been told that, prohibition would
prevent many a National order, like
the Shrine, from coming to Oregon or
Washington. Why? Has the Shrine
made a condition heretofore that the
city of Its choice should be "wet"?
Certainly not.
There are many attractions here for
the Shrine. There Is an enthusiastic
and representative membership in the
local organization, and they know
how to play the host. They will be
able to guarantee that the facilities
for transacting necessary business by
the Shrine will be of the best, and
that the entertainment features will
compare favorably' with any of the
past.
The plan to procure the Shriners'
convention in 1919 Is a most impor
tant undertaking and it deserves en
couragement. It Is in the right hands,
and no one need have any fear that
Portland will fail to come up to the
highest expectations.
LANE'S LITTLE JOKE.
We wonder what percentage of the
reports of prohibition's failure have
no better foundation than a recent
dispatch in the St. Louis Globe-Demo
crat. The article is headed: "Stone
Asserts He Peeped In Saloon In Dry
Oregon," and the following colloquy
is said to have taken place on the
floor of the Senate between Senator
Stone, of Missouri, and Senator Lane,
of Oregon, having been inspired by a
bill proposing prohibition for the Dis
trict of Columbia:
"When did the state of Orecon go dry?"
asked .Senator Stone of Lane.
"About four years ago." answered Lane.
"I was in the state a year ago last Sum
mer, and in Portland I saw open saloons
at the hotels,' said Stone.
Lane There was an exception In favor
of hotels at one time, but the barrooms
have been closed now.
Stone I am not entering into any con
troversy; I was asking for information, for
it was only a little over a year ago that
I was in Oregon, and in browsing about
In the great and beautiful city of Port
land I happened to observe that there were
saloons. I did not think anything about
it. I Just supposed It was common there
as It was in other places, but 1 saw it;
in fact, I peeked into one or two of them
Just to see what was going on.
iJine replied that the Missouri Senator
did better than even the officers of the
law, for the state was dry then, he de
clared, and no saloons were In existence.
If Senator Stone was In Portland in
the Summer of 1915 he may have
peeped into many saloons, for prohibi
tion did not take effect until January
1, 1916, and there never was a distinc
tion made between hotel and other
kinds of barrooms.
Doubtless this misrepresentation
has occurred through the failure of
Senator Stone and all others to under
stand the subtle humor of the Senator
from Oregon. Oregon adopted wom
an suffrage "about four years ago."
and It Is a matter of common gossip
that that was the first act in the
process of going dry. .
As for the Senator's reputed insis
tence that no saloon existed In Oregon
-in 1915, let us blame that UDon the
fallibility of the press. The Senator
is awfully busy with affairs of Na
tional Importance, but who shall say
that he has not had time to keep In
touch with passing events in his na
tive state ?
CARP AND ITS PRIBNDS.
The Gazette-Times has always admired
The Oregonlan. The admiration began
away back 30 years ago when this affiant
was a resident in this state, then a ter
ritory. Ho has always heard it highly
spoken of in the Middle West where it is
in high esteem, for its editorials are ad
mired for their ability, uprightness, fair
ness, reliability and consistency. But. alas!
the faith we had is shattered! On Decem
ber lu. page eight, it has a column cap
tioned "Good Things to Eat." and under
this head is listed, among other things,
"German carp." o Temporal o Mores!
O Carpo! o Oreronlan! Froh. Pudor'
Corva'.lis Gazette-Times.
We make no charges, but we are
struck by the coincidence that the
introduction of German carp in Ore
gon and the former residence of the
Corvallis "affiant" were just about a
third of a century ago. We have no
recollection that Oregon was a terri
tory at that time.
As to carp: if you like fish of that
kind, that's the kind of fish you like.
The Oregon variety is supposed to
have been "made in Germany," but
the Germans are guiltless of any
special responsibility for its local
prevalence, as carp is known every
where throughout the world. There
is encyclopaedic authority for the
statement that there are 1400 varieties
of carp and that it grows at times to
the length of four and one-half feet.
and is of corresponding weight. Only
one variety Is known in Oregon, and it
is enough. The largest fish are not
over 10 pounds, though, doubtless,
rare catches run higher.
Carp was introduced in Oregon
waters because a few alarmed citizens
thought there was not enough life in
our lakes and streams, and their In
herited old-country tastes ran to the
coarse and muddy carp rather than to
our own delicious fish the incom
parable salmon, trout, halibut, shad,
smelt and the rest, all of which
abound here. The carp is the hog of
the waters, and he has all but de
stroyed the w a p a t o. growing In
sloughs and lakes, and regarded by
ducks and geese as a great delicacy.
The black bass makes war on the
carp, but he is so greatly outnum
bered that he accomplishes little, yet
he does not despair.
Withal, the carp has a place In
many a larder. It is sold in the local
markets and in Eastern cities in com
petition with more edible products of
the waters. But evidently our Cor
vallls friend has an educated palate.
PRECEDENT IS SHATTERED.
The Estimate of State Expenditures
for 1917-18, otherwise known as the
state budget, is an imposing document
presenting the needs of nearly one
hundred institutions, departments,
boards, societies, commissions and of
fices. The budget Is subject to re
vision by the ways and means commit
tees of House and Senate in particu
lars that must be covered by-state ap
propriations. These revisions, it Is ap
parent, must accomplish a total re
duction in the budget of $715,382.09.
It is said that places on the two
committees, always in demand, are
as much coveted this year as at any
previous time. But it is a safe guess
that those who succeed to them will
have a better understanding of the
terms "midnight oil" and "sweating
blood" before the forty legislative days
are over. Therefore It Is quite appro
priate that of all the institutions, de
partments, boards, societies, commis
sions and offices the sole one which
asks for an increase but kindly ac
knowledges that It can get along with
the same sum granted two years ago
Is the Oregon Humane Society.
But there Is another striking de
partiire from the general rule. One
board actually offers to take over the
work of another board at an estimated
saving of nearly $30,000 for the bl
ennlum. This bold, ambitious and
wholly unique proposal comes from
the State Board of Health. Two years
ago its appropriation was $31,000. It
announces that if allowed $44,688 It
will bo better equipped to transact Its
own duties and will perform all the
services now performed by the Oregon
Social Hygjene Society, for which the
latter has put In an estimate of $40,
000. The Social Hygiene Society is silent
in the budget as to what it thinks
of the suggestion to consolidate it out
of business. Perhaps It was not ad
vised of the Board of Health's inten
tion. A careful examination of the
budget reveals that this Is the only
suggestion or advice offered as to
ways of overcoming the predicament
caused- by tho tax limitation amend
ment. That one governmental state In
stitution should volunteer to take over
another's duties and save state money
is so unprecedented that one naturally
hesitates to expound Its merits. There
fore we await developments. Mean
while, with this shining example at
hand. Is It too much to begin hoping
that at some time some board or com
mission will offer its own head for de
capitation?
THE WILL TO CONQUER.
It would not be surprising if the
war In Europe should In the next
year. If It continues so long, pass from
the material stage to the realm of the
psychological. It will then become a
test of racial fiber and soul endur
ance, as well as a question of men and
guns, money and ships and food.
How long can human nature endure
the strain? This does not mean alone
the tortures of men wounded on the
battlefield, but the tremendous welerht
of nerve - racking responsibility, of
anxiety, of uncertainty permeating
every belligerent nation down to the
last man and woman in it. The cables
have told how modern shell fire is the
most destructive of the nervous sys
tem of any form of warfare ever de
vised, but It must not be thought that
the armies in the trenches are the only
sutrerers. The people at home, torn
with daily reading of the casualty
lists, grieving silently and making ma
terial sacrifices of every description,
must be reckoned with In the final
accounting.
The man who predicts the end will
need to be acquainted with something
far beyond the physical, or even the
mental, characteristics of the people.
How long can a nation continue, on
the one hand, to pile up victories
without seemingly arriving at the end?
How long, on the other, can a body of
people suffer passively? How mifch
dead weight of woe can an impassive
group endure? It is said that con
sciousness of winning is a powerful
stimulant, but will not the time come
when it only cloys? Blow on blow,
thrust on thrust, give and take: which
side can bear the strain upon the soul
the longer, without reference to the
outcome of the local combat?
The belligerent countries of Europe
have come to the pass when no indi
vidual In them goes unscathed. Com
batants and non - combatants are all
engaged in war. Those who do not
carry the sword In hand have loved
ones on the battle line, or are feeling
the stress of war in some other
poignant way. Personal privations are
the smallest part of the sacrifices they
are making. They must put up with
their own meditations, and share in
the crowd - psychology besides. Ex
citement and depression, triumph and
defeat, the will to do and the desire
to quit, are not for any one man alone.
They are contagious In spite of him.
And so, presently, it may come to a
new situation. In which nothing we
know of any Individual Englishman,
or German, or Austrian, or Frenchman
or Russian will help us to reach a
conclusion. It will be a question
of how far the will to conquer per
meates the mass; of how much of
everything put together they can with
stand before the breaking point comes.
In a war such as this, one can almost
conceive such a thing In the end as
a national emotional collapse, like
that which in the individual. In cer
tain forms, we call insanity.
News of the death at San Francisco
of Albert Bonnheim, of Sacramento,
will be read with keen sorrow, not
only in his own state, but throughout
the West as well, for he was a man
whose benevolences knew no state
boundaries and whose sympathies
were catholic In the highest degree.
As the almoner of a substantial fund
which he himself created In memory
of a young son, he had made It possl-
ble for many young men and young
women to attend college who other
wise would riot have been able to do
so. His kindly Interest In them did
not end at that point, but was extend
ed to help them in finding the" right
kind of employment and to watch
over them afterward. The number of
those who so benefited, financially
and spiritually, by contact with Mr.
Bonnheim must have been very large.
This was his most memorable and, no
doubt, most effective benevolence, but
he had other interests of a like nature,
and managed to give them a good deal
of attention, despite the. responsibili
ties of a successful business career.
He exemplified the adage to the effect
that "if you want something done In
this world you must get a busy man
to do It."
CAN 'A TRUST BE TRUSTED?
There is little difference of opinion
as to the wisdom of permitting trade
combinations for development of for
elgn commerce, but an almost equal
need exists for similar combinations at
home under Federal supervision in
certain industries. This need is found
in those Industries which Involve pri
mary natural resources and in those
which produce commodities necessary
to our economic Independence and to
our defense. A referendum on the lat
ter subject is being taken among all
commercial bodies by the United States
Chamber of Commerce.
One Industry in which such co-operation
Is needed, and in which It
would redound to the National good, is
lumber. It could still further stand
ardlze grades, improve systems of ac
counting and credit, promote use of
lumber and spread Information as to
its uses, promote bett6r methods of
logging to prevent waste, and find uses
for waste material In making by
products. Further, it could carry for
ward processes of home manufacture
to the finished article. This is highly
Important, for by exporting raw ma
terials we permanently reduce our
store of natural wealth without get
ting the maximum benefit for our peo
ple from its production, while the na
tlons to which we sell raw materials
are enriched by putting it In finished
shape.
One of the new Industries which
have sprung up during the war Is the
manufacture of coal tar products.
Manufacturers in this line are alive
to the need of stabilizing and stand
ardizlng the industry and of linking up
Its several branches, and are working
for the formation of a strong organl
zation. They have been spurred on to
this action by Dr. Thomas H. Nor
ton, the Government dyestuffs expert,
who has been impressed with the need
of compact organization In this coun
try by the fact that German manufac
turers, who have always worked In
close co-operation have recently com
bined,' with $30,000,000 capital. He
ascribes Germany's past dominance in
the world's markets to the close sol
idarity of the Industry as a whole. Per
manence of the industry in this coun
try is important as a measure of Na
tional defense, for coal tar Is the
source of many materials for explo
sives. The proposal to be submitted to the
Chambers of Commerce raises the
question whether our laws can be so
revised and administered that the peo
ple can get all the benefits which Ger
many derives from combination with
out suffering any of those evils which
have resulted In this country and
against which our anti-trust laws are
aimed.
An idea of the amount of time lost
by wage earners of the United States
on account of sickness is obtained
from the estimate made recently that
30,000,000 men are absent from their
work from this cause nine days apiece
on the average, which is a total of
about 900,000 years in all. Their wage
loss in that time is half a billion, and
a considerable proportion of their
work being the creation of permanent
wealth, this Is foregone for all time.
The Federal Council of Churches In
america recently announcea its inten
tion of attacking the problem by sys
tematic study of the causes of condi
tions which cause sickness and lessen
vitality, and by seeking the co-operation
of every possible recognized au
thority and existing agency. A cam
paign of four years' duration has been
planned, designed to "end in a united
National attack upon disease and
death."
Evangelist Hayward bases his con
tention that December 2 5 cannot be
the birthday of Jesus on the premise
that shepherds would not be out with
their flocks at that time. He may be
right, but it may have been an open
Winter and the sheepmen were do
ing as they often have done since,
taking a chance.
A murder yesterday was the result
of cold-blooded calculation, shown by
the attitude of the man. Hanging
has been abolished and the penalty of
imprisonment never can offset desire
of revenge.
Boys who received sleds yesterday
will have opportunity to use them.
Indian George's prediction of a hard
Winter assures that, for a hard Win
ter without plenty of snow cannot
happen.
When one considers the trainmen
bucking snow, with all the chance of
accident against them, they cannot
be blamed for wanting what others
call "big pay."
A Coos Bay boat, the Adeline Smith,
is the greatest lumber carrier -in the
world and that is distinction enough
for Mr. Kyne to put her into "Cappy"
Kicks' fleet-
Beyond the few cases that need the
hangman's attention, everybody felt
well disposed yesterday and had a
cheery greeting for all others.
One of the settings of a Christmas
casualty comprised three empty whis
ky bottles. -Those things never fail to
get results.
The boy who failed to get all he
wanted yesterday morning will see
that his boys get theirs in time to
come.
Every employe in the postal serv
ice has the knowledge that Portland
appreciates the work of the weeks
past-
Mount Lassen indulged yesterday to
be In line on tho- Christmas smoke.
Like most of them, it was odoriferous.
Summed up after a day of joy, this
is a good section of a good old world.
This is catch-up day, when "ginger"
is needed.
Isn't Santa
ripper?
Claus a regular old
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
TUB DAT AFTER.
'Twas the day after Christmas and all
round my couch
I beheld the deep blue of a 'day-after"
grouch.
While the realization kept growing in
volume
That I'd have to get tip and start
writing a eolyum
Oh. sad Is the lot of the scribbling
dub
Who whittles out rhymes for the gen
eral pub..
When he wakes In the morn and he
wishes to snore
But has got to get up and get busy
once more.
"Tls Christmas comes once in a year, it
is true
But the day after Christmas comes
also once, too.
So I crawled out of bed and I pulled
on my shoes.
And put on my bath robe and phoned
to the Muse:
"Oh, Lizzie, get busy and send o'er the
wire
Some high Inspiration to cheer and in
spire." But all that I heard In the solemn gray
dawn
Was a sound from the Muse very much
like a yawn.
Then I heard her hang up and In vain
did I yell,
Tou can't wake a Muse with a tele
phone bell.
So I sat on my bed and I held my
poor head.
And tear after tear after teardrop I
shed,
I rocked back and forth and I pounded
my knee.
But no Inspiration came floating to me,
But I knew though the Muse had con
veyed mo the mitten
That eolyum Just simply had got to be
written.
I plucked the guitar and I twanged on
the harp.
And I picked the banjo with the bone
of a carp.
And I whistled me high and I whistled
- me low.
And I scraped on the fiddle a minute
or so.
But vain were my musical lurlngs, you
see.
For no inspiration came floating to me.
I searched 'neath the bureau in deep
consternation.
And found collar buttons but no In
spiration: I searched 'neath the sink with a wild
gleam of hope
Found no Inspiration, but did find
some soap;
I searched 'neath the bed with a stu
dious squint.
But no inspiration I found 'monr the
lint.
I searched In my sleeves and my coat
pockets, too.
Found no Inspiration but found a
corkscrew;
I searched up my cuffs and my collars
but still
Found no Inspiration, but laundryman's
bill;
I searched all the wardrobe In vain
searched it through
And all that I found was ; "This
eolyum is due!"
And so I sat down to my desk
rlth
a sigh
And threw my typewriter plumb into
the high.
And started to beat out a eolyum
complete
With nose and with fingers, toes,
elbows and feet.
For when Inspiration has failed one.
indeed.
He sometimes can save things by put
ting on speed.
I played on the lower case keyboard
and flew
From the lower-case Into the upper
case too.
I wrote punctuation and figures arm
spaces.
But mostly I pounded out wordaes and
phrases.
men same I have found Is a fine
thing for you
On the day after Christmas, when
colyums are due.
I pattered forth words with a rythmn
and rhyme.
Like time, and like mime, and like
dime, and like lime;
Like prunes, and like spoons, and like
glove, and like shove.
Like pickle and tickle and fickle a
mickle:
A rhyme I beat out like those rhymes
there above;
Which Is one way. I find, when th
pressure In high
And you must write a eolyum. for von
to get by.
I thumped on the keyboard with all
of my graces
And beat out the wordses and beat out
the phrases.
For line after line, sudh was my con
sternation
At having to write things without In
spiration,
And when I had finished, before me
lay spread
The wordses and phrases that you have
Just read.
I scanned the batch o'er and I mut
tered: "I know 'em
To be pretty poor, as one judges a
poem,
But ah. I will trust to my readers,
this time.
To let me get by on the rythmn and
rhyme;
They'll surely absolve and forgive me
for this mess
Considering this Is the day after
Christmas."
So I closed my typewriter and rubbed
my poor head.
And pulled off my bathrobe and crept
back to bed.
Oh, sad Is the lot of the scribbling
dub
Who 'pends upon versification for
grub.
When he wakes on a morn when he
wishes to snore
But has to get up and get busy once
more.
King of Gypsies.
PORTLAND. Dec 24. (To the Edi
tor.) Please state whether gypsies
have or are ruled by a king or queen
and. If so, where does the king or
queen reside? M. F. WRIGHT.
Gypsies have no rulers as a race. Their
wandering bands sometimes maintain
some sort of tral organisation.
"COIXO TO HELL ACROSS LOTS.3
Writer Maintains State Has Riant to
Save Men Pro as Selves.
PORTLAND. Dec 25. (To the Ed
itor.) Is there a God-given right of
men to ruin their minds and bodies and
wreck their fortunes and families with
rum, with which the stale may not in
terfere because it will infringe on per
sonal liberty? So some judges tell us.
Other Judges, equally eminent, have
spoken differently. I discuss the pres
ent popular fad of saying it was fine
to abolish the saloon, but would be
wrong to interfere with men's personal
liberty to drink as much as they please.
Hear what the highest courts have
said concerning the right of the states,
if they see fit, to prohibit not only the
traffic in. but the consumption of in
toxicating drink.
In Crowley vs. Chrlstensen. 137 U.S.
86. Mr. Justice Field, speaking for the
court, said:
It Is urged that, as the liquors are used
as a beverage, an injury following; them,
if taktn in excess, is voluntarily inflicted,
and is confined to the party ortendlng. their
sales should be without restrictions, the
contsntlon bolus that what a man - shall
drink, equally with what he shall eat. Is not
properly matter for legislation.
There la in this position an assumption of
a fact which does not exist, that when the
liquors are taken in excess the Injuries are
confined to the party offending. The In
Jury, It Is true, first falls upon him In his
health, which the habit undermines; in his
morals, which It weakens, and In the self
abasement whloh it creates. But. as it
leads to neglect of business and waste of
property and general demoralisation, it af
fects those who are immediately connected
with and dependent upon him.
In West Virginia vs. Adams Express
t-o. (C. C. A.). 219 Fed. 794. the court
said:
In trying to comprehend the legislative
purpose In prohibition statutes. It Is impor
tant to remember that the ultimate end
sought In prohibition legislation Is not the
prevention or restriction of the mere sale
of Intoxicants, but the pag-vention of their
consumption aa a beverage. The ease being
ttie most usual and obvious means by which
drinking is accomplished, legislation is more
often directed against sales. But It Is upon
the recognised evil or individual consump
tion as a beverage that the right of a stats
under Its police power rests to enact pro
hibitive legislation.
In Southern express Co. vs. Whittle
(Ala.). 69 Sou, Rep.. 652, the court aald:
The object and purpose of all our laws
governing the subject of intoxicating liquors
Is to promote temperance and prevent
drunkenness. The evil to be reme
died is the use of intoxicating liquors aa a
beverage. Preund, in his work on the police
power, at section 204, thus amplifies the
idea expressed In our eases above quoted:
"It Is certainly the more conservative
view to look upon the control of the liquor
irauic as a means of protecting the com
unity from crime and the financial
dens of pauperism; but it Is also clear that
tne police power, resting upon this Incon
testable ground. Is turned Into a power to
protect the weak Individual from hla own
weakness. Into a power to prevent the
wasteful expenditure of money and time,
and finally Into a power to Impose upon
the minority the sentiments or prejudices of
the majority of the community, as to what
la morally right and good.'
In Mugler vs. Kansas. 123 U. 8. 658.
the court, quoting the language of Mr.
Justice Grler, holds that: .
The true question Is whether the
states have a right to prohibit the sale and
consumption of an article of commerce
which they believe to be pernicious in Its
effects, and the cause of disease, pauperism
and crime. The police power
which is exclusively In the states is alone
competent to the correction of these great
evila, and all measures of restraint or pro
hibition necessary to effect the purpose are
within the scope of that authority.
In Crane's case, 151 P. 1006, the Su
preme Court of Idaho said:
The harm consists neither In the nosses-
slon nor the sale, but In the consumDtion
of it.
In State vs. Rhilllns. 67 So. 651. the
Supreme Court of Mississippi said:
f the object of the rrohlbitlon of the
sale of intoxicating liquors is not to pre
vent, as far aa may be. the drinking of such
liquors, then it Is difficult to Justify the
laws prohibiting the sale.
If it Is not a menace to the health mor
als, welfare and peace of the public for
men and women to drink alcohollo liquors.
It would seem that the public could have
no Interest In prohibiting the sale. The
ultimate purpose and end of prohibition Is
to prevent the use of liquor as a beverage.
The right of the. slates to prohibit
the traffic In liquors Is unquestionable.
In the last analysis, the one who
drinks the stuff Inflicts the chief harm
on the community. The courts have
seen the logic of the situation, and no
outcry about personal liberty Is golrig
to avail. A. L. VEAZ1E.
HOOD nrvER.
The soft, white snow Ilea upon the
ground like a robe of white
All Winter, and gives tho soli es
sence of its purity;
Warm, silver rains follow the slumber
of Winter's night.
Like - natinal shower waking Na
ture to her Industry.
The sun brings warmth and color, from
the soft rose of dawn.
Rising boldly to amber rays which
light the busy day
And warm the earth; when evening
says It must be gone.
Paints the Western sky crimson and
gold before it fades away.
To nourish the rich, brown soil that
she may mother well her trees.
From distant mountain slopes flow
waters cool and clear;
Sweet scents of pines and wild thlnjrs
come from forests on the breeze.
And It's God's own breath that makes
the pureness of the air.
The whiteness of the snow, rain that Is
celestial wine. .
Sun's gorgeous tints and warmth of
life, mountain nectar keeping soil
from drought.
Forest sweetness. fragrant breezes
mingling with the Breath Divine,
In one Hood River apple all of these
to you are brought.
LOUISE BATES HECSNER.
Room at the Top.
There is always room at the top, 'tis
said, for the person ambitious to
get ahead;
But if he would reach a place up there
He must rustle, and always play It fair.
If you think you are worth a few shek
els more.
Don't tell the boss. It Is apt to bore.
If it's so, he'll find It out. all right.
For your record is quite within his
sight.
And another thing you must not forget:
Never hold back, nor sulk or fret:
Maybe you think your paycheck small;
You'll soon get more if you earn it all.
The task it is your lot to do, you, or
someone, must put through:
And It's certain you will never excel
While you nurse the blues every little
spell.
There is doubtless room tip at the top.
But one must keep going and never
nop;
The route up there will have some
thorns.
In the going, though, don't mind your
corns.
Make up your mind, determined be
Big jobs demand efficiency.
A. H. O CONNELL
Plebeian Praise.
Some sing of love, some sing of war.
Some sing of things unknown.
To sing the song of onion strong
Is left to me alone. -
Thle juicy fruit grows at the root
Has no uncertain taste. ,
It's very good as pungent food:
And there is little waste
With soup or meat It's good to eat;
It's luscious In a stew.
In corned beef hash, for little cash.
It makes a meal for you.
An onion, slice is very nice
Between two slaba of bread:
Or as a pickle It will tickle
Both your heart and head.
A. G. JACKSON.
In Other Days.
TWEXTT-nfK TEARS AGO.
Prom Tho Oregonlan of December 24V lestt
Washington. Dec. 25 It is coming
to be the general opinion In Washing
ion that war with Chile Is inevitable.
Chicago, Dec 25. A riot, which at
one time threatened to be a most
bloody one. took place this afternoon
as an outcome of a horse race upon one
of the city thoroughfares.
Spring salmon, the regular Chinook,
made their appearance in the market
yesterday.
The City Hall, like other public
buildings, presented a deserted appear
unee yesterday.
The ground was whitened with snow
yesterday for the first time this sea
son, in honor of the day.
Lesrend of Owyhee.
In olden days, when the earth was
young
And the sun like a globe of fire swung
Through the misty sky. and the moun
tains still
Trembled and shook In wrath at the
Will
That set them there, and rivers ran
Hither and yon. aa If to scan
Some passageway, that they might flee
Through tlje barrier rocks to the surg
ing sea;
And the somber clouds that the tempest
hurled
Like funeral shrouds 'round the quak
ing world
Over the lofty summits curled.
Ceree. the beautiful goddess, stood
On a stony height, and beheld the flood
Of a seething lake rise high and higher.
Like an ocean wave on a bed of fire,
"fill an adamant barrier fathoms wide,
Stmmed the ire of its rising tide.
Turned the course of its maddening
pace.
And drove It back in the hill's embrace.
And Just below lay a barren plain.
Scorched and burnt, and the lake would
fain
Have rushed from its rocky bed and
buret
The walls of its prison to quench its
thirst.
Then Ceres rose and with swift wing
clove
The misty air to the throne of Jove.
"Olve me." she importuned, "the right
bur-jTb wield thy thunder-bolt and smite
Yon granite rldgo and free yon lake
From Its 'prieoninc hills and I win
make
Of yonder desolate, desert place
An Elysium for the coming race."
Go. weary traveler, and see
The emerald vale of Owyhee:
The adamant barrier cleft in twain;
The crystal river upon the plain.
Slow creeping In a thousand rills;
The lake's old prison among the hills;
Then Judge If Cerce wrought her plan
Of a blest Elysium for man.
BEN W. MULKET.
The Convert.
The "dry as hades" law he cussed
with many an angry roar: restricted
drinks he got would Just create a thirst
for more. The drys In this afflicted
state were dog-ln-manger ginks; be
cause they didn't Irrigate the rest must
pine for drinks. In uesp'rate mood he
packed his grip, with envious chums
shook hands, and sallied forth to make
the trip across the desert sands. Upon
the Shasta Limited he stowed himself
away and to the soggy southward sped
to San Francisco bay. On landing
there he sought a place where social
glasses clink and through the gate
way in his face sent the initial drink,
then lapghed in glee to think that he
could have a whoop, hurray! could
have a gentlemanly spree In strictly
legal way. with frequent etops to get
a drink he wandered up and down un
til the stuff caused him to think he
owned the blooniin' town. Ho grew
unsteady on his feet, yet drink did
he demand till leg bones that ran
through the meat seemed of the Good
year brand. Long after midnight cocks
had crew he tossed upon a cot, his
head was big enough for two. his
throat was smoking hot. There was
no water in the room to soothe the
6ufrring guy. and. staring at impend
ing doom he cried: "O. I will die!"
Then came a thought he hoped might
stop the aftermath of grog he threw
his bedroom window up and took a
drink of fog. Now he is with us once
again and to his memory clings the
days when In his booze-wrecked brain
were snakes and frogs and things. The
booze he now holds In disgust and
prays the day is near when Oregon will
be dry as dust, or hades' atmosphere.
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
The Drama of Clothes.
Ney York Globe.
Before Serge de Dlachilev's Russian
ballet left Petrograd to astonish the
Western world 91 out of 100 people
were deliberately and religiously tim
orous In their choice of clothes. The
eternal fear of being conspicuous,
which has always been a prime chsr
acterlstlc of Northern races, made the
large majority of folks cling to almost
funeral shades. The change has been
not Improperly attributed to the re
markable Influence of Russian scenery
and costumes. Almost overnight we
Occidentals blossomed out in riotous
colors. Staid, sober citizens and clti
ienesses emerged clad In the fashion of
the rainbow. In order to be quietly
dressed it became almost imperative to
be loud. Poets found it necessary to
Imitate the uniform of undertakers so
aa to be different from the hordes of
clerks and taxpayers. For a while It
looked as though even the Integrity of
that sacred garment, the dress coat,
was Imperiled when one or two hardy
souls appeared publicly In dark gray
evening clothes. But that awful
danger has been safely suppressed.
Unfair Parcel Post Rates.
PORTLAND. Dec. 25. (To the Ed
itor.) Just as an example of Demo
cratic gross Incompetency, take their
method of charging for mall packages.
To a certain zone a four-ounce pack
age costs 4 cents. When I took a five
ounce package I was charged 11 cents.
Surely It is not nearly three times aa
hard to deliver my five-ounce package
as the four-ounce.
If the express companies were to have
such an unbusincss-llke, arbitrary
method, how quickly would the Inter
state Commerce Commission inform
them that If they only charged a cent
an ounce for a four-ounce package,
they must not charge more than a cent
an ounce for a heavier one.
What Is tho matter with the average
Democrat when he gets Into office?
Just think of turning the railroads over
to them! R. M. TUTTLE.
Letter Worth Rending.
PORTLAND. Dec 25. (To the Edi
tor.) I have been Interested In read
ing the article by Eliza Agnew, "Why
Do Men Go Wrong?'' I also read the
article commenting on It by "A Father."
The original article did not refer to
children or modest little girls, but men,
who go out Into the world to meet
temptation and battle with sin.
I wish that every father In thle broad
land could read the very able article
by Eliza Agnew and profit by tt
A SUBSCRIBER.
SlS.OOO a Tear Each.
TANGENT. Or., Dec. IS. (To the Ed
itor.) Please publish in The Orego
nlan the salaries of the men of the
President's Cabinet. BELLE SLATE.