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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 5, 1917)
THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAJT, FRIDAY. JAXTJART 5, 1917. (Brnmnnn rORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland tOrenon) Postofflce as second-class mall matter. Subscription rates Invariably In advance. (By Mall.) Ially, Sunday Included, one year . . . . Sally, Sunday Included, six months 4.25 Ually. Sunday Included, three months .. 2.3 Dally, Sunday Included, one month ..... .75 Eally, without Sunday, one year e.00 Iaily, without Sunday, three months ... 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month ...... -0 Weekly, one year 1.50 Sunday, one year ............... 2.60 Sunday and Weekly . 3.".0 (By Carrier.) Bally, Sunday Included, one year ...... S.00 Xjally, Sunday included, one month .75 How to Itrmlt Send postofflce money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address in full. Including county and state. Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 82 pages, 12 cents; 34 to 44 paea, 3 cents; CO to tio pases. 4 cents; 62 to 7t pages, 5 cents; 7 to 82 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree & Conk !n, Brunswick building, New York; Verree & Conklin, Stenger building, Chicago. San Francisco representative. R. J. Bidwell. 742 Market street. PORTLAND, FRIDAY. JANUARY 8. 1917. OREGON'S IR.B.IC. ATI 0' PROBLEM. Men who have devoted much study to the subject of irrigation realize that It has many sides, and that the many failures which strew the road of prog ress have been due to neglect to look at it on all sides. It is not merely an engineering question of constructing a certain plant at certain cost to put water on so many acres of land. The engineer may succeed completely, but the settler may fail through ignorance of the nature of his soil, of the crops which will best flourish on it, or of the manner in which water should be applied or through remoteness from markets and lack of economical trans portation. Before a project can safely be undertaken all of these phases must be studied and their relation to each other discovered in order that a sound conclusion may be reached as to whether the land will make a good living for the farmer after pay ing for water and for transportation. After the engineer has made his plans and estimates, it is necessary that the soil be tested to determine whether it will yield crops Justifying the investment, or what properties should be added to make It yield, also what amount of water should be given and how It should be applied. Upon the distance to market for such crops as can be grown and upon the means of transportation to be used may hinge the question whether they can be grown profitably or whether one should be preferred to another. Final ly the entire problem may center In the question at what rate of interest capital can be secured. A project may be feasible from the engineer's view point, the soil may be good, transpor tation may be cheap and easy, yet some provision of the law or some condition of the money market may push up the rate of interest to a point where the water charge will exceed the farmer's ability to pay. Oregon's main field for irrigation is Its central plains and valleys. Ex perience with projects completed or under way and surveys of other proj ects have given us the necessary engi neering knowledge. The Oregon Ex periment Station has made soil sur veys of about half the. land that is included in projects now under con sideration. The Strahorn railroad gives promise of supplying transporta tion along the main routes, while high way construction is making such prog ress that each irrigated area should soon be linked to the railroad. The one difficult question that remains Is that of finance. Spectacular failures and speculative schemes have given a bad name to Irrigation bonds, either of districts or of private corporations. They are looked at askance by banks and bond buyers and they are not acceptable in vestments for insurance or trust funds. The Government has not enough money to carry through a tithe of the schemes which are rea sonably considered feasible: In fact for lack of cash in the reclamation fund work drags on the projects which it has already undertaken. Yet capital for investment In long-term securities has seldom been more plen tiful. The real question is how to make irrigation bonds so attractive to investors that they will buy at rates of interest which the settler can af ford to pay, while at the same time he makes yearly or half-yearly amort ization payments on the principal. The way out seems to be the loan of the Government's credit to guaran tee bonds issued by districts on proj ects which are pronounced feasible by the Reclamation Service. ' As guar antor the Government would, through the Secretary of the Interior, examine the whole scheme and safeguard itself c gainst loss before giving its guaranty. Under these conditions bonds should sell at 4 per cent Interest, and a fixed rate of 5 per cent a year should pay Interest and repay principal by amorti zation in fifty years. That is the sub stance of the provisions of the Chamberlain-Smith bill, which has been in troduced in both branches of Con gress. The state can pave the way for its adoption by making any changes in Its irrigation law which may be needed. There is a close relation between the financing of Irrigation enterprises and the success of Mr. Strahorn's railroad enterprise. The railroad will be largely dependent on the product of Irrigated land for traffic and the farmer will be dependent on the rail road for transportation. The success or each will contribute materially indeed, may be essential to the success of the other. The prosperity or fortland is closely bound up with the success of both, for the state Is top heavy with urban population, which is concentrated chiefly in Port land. The welfare of the city depends on the restoration of the balance be tween urban and rural population, for wmcn we must look mainly to the development of Central Oreeron. This is attainable by the combination of railroad and irrigation. The highest Interest of the city requires it to work for the success of both enterprises. elnce it must draw Its strength mainly from the development of the back country. Paris architects, despite pressure ot other affairs, have taken time to de vise a new pattern of apartment- uuuse, mo advantages or which, as to light and air, are said to be equal to living on a hillside. It is built In the form of a terrace, each floor In the ascending scale being set back pome eight or ten feet, with an in perilous arrangement or the over hang" so that while each tenant ob tains a view of the street, the privacy of the dweller below Is preserved. This solves the problem of dark lower floors, and where houses are con etructed In this way on both sides of a street It is found that they have an Jionr more of sunlight than the old fashioned kind, such as are go familiar in the big cities of the United States. Terraced gardens are cultivated ac cording to the taste of the occupants of the new tenements, and the gen eral effect upon the appearance of the city Is said to be extremely pleas ing. By means of co-operative finan cial arrangements. It has been made possible for each dweller to have com plete title to his particular home, while sharing in the benefits common to all. CASE FOR "EXPERTS. The Medford Mail-Tribune liberates its pent-up feelings on the acute sub ject of fishing In the Rogue River in the following vivid fashion: The sportsman In Southern Oregon Is evidently a different species from that de. plcted by Webster at least with different Instincts. He wants the limit of everything. He likes to have his picture taken with an auto laden down with slain birds and slaughtered animals, or with a washtub full of dead fish. He llkes'to make for the news paper offices for a little free advertising or his "skill" but Is not at all scrupulous as to how this "skill" was displayed. In short, the pot outweighs the game, in his estima tion he doesn't care how he rot it so long as he got it. The occasion for this splenetic out burst by our Indignant contempo rary appears to be a resolution passed by the Ashland Fish and Game Pro tective Association Instructing the Jackson County members of the State Legislature to procure enactment of a law "permitting the people to catch a limited amount of salmon for home consumption by gaff or spear in ad dition to angling." Evidently there is an opinion in Medford that the in terests of true sportsmanship are not served by gaffing or spearing salmon. So the controversy rages along the Rogue. The upper-river -fishermen (Including the angling and gaffing sportsmen) want to close the lower river to commercial fishing, and the several hundred men, engaged in their vocation at the mouth of the river, insist on catching- all salmon except steelheads by seines and nets and sell ing them to the canneries. The an glers are skeptical about the claim of the down-river fishermen that they pass up the steelheads, as the law requires; and they say that there is not much left for them when the can neries are supplied. Here is a case for the judgment of disinterested but competent authority. Assuredly, the lower-river fishermen should not be deprived of a livelihood, and clearly the anglers should not be required to cast their lines In an Im poverished stream. If there is a way that the canneries can be kept going and the anglers (even the gaffers) can be satisfied. It ought to be found. The Fish and Game Commission ought to be heard from on the sub ject. DEATH OF A FAMOUS PROPHETESS. The death in France the other day of Madame de Thebes, serves to em phasize the fact that the world ex pects a great deal of Its major proph- ets if they are to remain in good standing. It listens, and compares the prophecy with the event, and it hails the seer so long as everything works smoothly, and it throws them into the discard at the first sign of fall ure. With the minor prophets It is different, Indian George will prob ably go on doing business at the old stand whether the present Winter Is open or not, and the settler who pre dicts high water in the Columbia next June will continue to have an 'audi ence. whatever the outcome. Madame de Thebes, in the last months of her life was unhonored by her own people and by the rest of the world because after a series of colorful prophecies she failed when she forecast the end of the present war, with incidentally a victory for the entente allies, in 1915. She had predicted that year before last would be a "happy year for France, which undoubtedly it was not. So she was discredited In the minds of all to the end of her days. However, the French seeress did have a long series of successful prog- nostlcations to her credits She fore- told the San Francisco earthquake with tolerable exactness. She also pre dicted the outbreak of the Boer War, the downfall of the second empire, the assassinations of President Carnot and King Humbert, and the death of Pope Plus, and also the outbreak of the Dresent world-war. As to the last-named event, she was not alone, There were others who read the signs that way and who claimed no super natural powers. Predicting the deaths of old people Is not particularly won derful. If one has kept trace of avail able information as to their general health. In these Instances most per sons will believe that It was Only a guess that happened to be borne out by events. The peculiarity about Madame The. bes was that she asserted herself to be both an astrologist and a clairvoy ant. She maintained a salon and until almost the last had a considerable fol lowing of credulous ones. At one time she was the vogue in a large circle in France and had many fol lowers in other countries. But with her last failure she went into com plete eclipse. The fact that she did not foretell her own death will go further toward discrediting prophecy in general. A COMING DOMESTIC PROBLEM. Reports from Duluth that there has been organized there the first domes tic servants' union ever formed east of the Missouri River, and giving an outline of the demands presented to the housewives of that city. Indicate possibility of a sweeping change in general domestic economy, in" which the status , of domestic help In itself may cut a relatively minor figure. For however much there may be disposition to sympathize with the downtrodden" in their efforts to lm prove the conditions or their work, it is especially true of this kind of labor that there is a limit beyond which it cannot go without destroying the job. A large number of families who are dependent on fixed salaries are among the principal employers of domestic help, and, as is well known, they are the ones who have profited least by improved Industrial condi tions in any section of the country. When the point Is reached where they cannot afford help In the home at th wages fixed by that help, they will simply be compelled to go without, whatever the alternative. It is a singular fact that in all the progress the world has made in the way of labor-saving machinery and short cuts to results, the home has profited the least not so much be cause inventors have not been busy enough, but by reason of the innate conservatism of the housewife. Th wooden bowl and chopping knife still exist in countless kitchens, despite in vention of the efficient and relatively inexpensive meat grinder; the me chanical dishwasher still makes head way slowly, if at all; the electric auto matlc oven, the bread mixer, the vacuum cleaner and the rest of them are struggling against odds In the ef- fort to introduce them widely. It la true that our architects are succeed ing In building houses of more con venient arrangement than formerly, but that is about all. So far as machinery goes, our 'kitchens are not much different from those of grand mother's time. Necessity is still the mother of ln- entlon. but in this Instance it would seem that necessity " might be the means of forcing the adoption of in ventions already made. Hotels and clubs, mostly under the management f men, have been adopting labor- saving devices for a good while. When the point is reached where housewives must do their own work or let It go ndone, it is possible that they will give a more hospitable reception to the new Idea in housework. It will be either that or some form of co- peration not yet perfected. It is ap parent that we are on the verge of change in home management, even though we do not now know precisely what it la. 1TRE PREVENTION PATS. Of the fire loss in Illinois during the year 1915 .the National Board of Fire Underwriters estimates that 23.4 per cent was due to strictly prevent able causes. Principal among these causes were stoves, furnaces, boilers and their pipes, 7.6 per cent; defective chimneys and flues, 6 per cent; matches, 4.7 per cent; smoking, 1.1 per cent. The percentages vary slight ly in the adjoining states of Missouri, Indiana and Iowa, but the causes oc- upy about the same position as to relative importance. Probably as large a percentage of fire losses is preventable in Oregon as in the Middle States named. Much has been done to reduce preventable waste by fire in Portland through the intelligent zeal of Fire Marshal Ste- ens, but much more can be done. and it must be done by the individual citizen rather than by any official. A reduction of one-fourth In- fire losses. If sustained, would warrant a propor tionate reduction in premiums. The Insurance companies might hold out for a few years, but they would be obliged to yield by threats of com petition. Fire prevention is bound to result finally In reduction of pre miums, so that the property owners get the ultimate benefit. RUSSIA Et TRANSITION. Even more significant than the ac cession of IJoyd George to power in response to British popular demand for more vigorous prosecution of the war is the change which has taken place In the government of Russia for the same purpose. There is a marked contrast between the two crises. In Great Britain the people consent with out a murmur to the curtailment of their liberties in the national cause. In Russia they demand a larger part in the government that they may root out influences favorable to the enemy. In Great Britain a democratic people temporarily lodges despotio power in the hands of the Cabinet. In Russia popular power Is enlarged at the expense of the autocracy. The entire tendency In Russia Is toward the establishment of a ministry re sponsible to the majority of the Duma a fundamental change which may easily lead to permanent control by the Liberals. When General Trepoff succeeded Mr. Stuermcr as Premier, he appeared before the Duma to make a state ment of his policy, but the Labor and Socialist members made a noisy dem onstration which prevented him from being heard until the leading obstruc tionists had. been suspended. The lat ter explained their conduct by saying that joint labor between the Cabinet and ' the Duma was impossible, for Trepoff was chosen from Stuermer's former colleagues, all of whom re mained; hence the previous system of administration was preserved. When Trepoff finally got a hearing, he was coldly received by the great majority of the members. One of the most important speeches was made by Dep uty Purishkevltch, .formerly a reac tionary and still avowing himself "the most Right of the Right," that is the Conservatives. A dispatch to the Lon don Times quotes him as saying he declined to shut his eyes to the fact that the overwhelming majority of the country was on the side of the major ity of the Duma, together with which it condemns the policy of the govern ment," This speaker charged that the gov ernment was still under German in fluence. He said that the newspaper with which the Minister of the In terior was connected was supported by banks In which German capital still predominated. He asifed why so many German prisoners were sent to remote places to act as Instructors; why Ger mans everywhere were employed in munition factories; why the German firm of Kunst & Albers still existed He charged the Department of Com munications under Trepoff with sup plying cars to a certain General for the carriage of mineral water when they were needed to carry provisions and that the department had lent 1,- 000,000 roubles to this General for the construction of a railroad from his mineral-water factory, f He said the facts "showed that there was some malignant will, some strong hand, pulling the strings on behalf of Ger mans." Another speaker made a fierce at tack on the Minister of the Interior, and conservative newspapers declare that so long as he remains in the Cabinet "it is hopeless to anticipate harmonious co-operation with the Duma." A direct charge of sharing a bribe was made by Paul Miliukoff against ex-Premier Stuermer, who has sued for libel, and a Times dispatch says the trial "may eventually assume the form of a committee of investiga tion Into the conduct of the ex-Prime Minister." More surprising than the attacks of the Duma on the government is the action of the Council of the Empire, which Is the Russian House of Lords and has been., regarded as the bulwark of the autocracy. By majorities o three and four to one It adopted reso lutions declaring that the situation "absolutely demands that the whole nation make a powerful effort for a final triumph over the enemy; that the government should work in con cert with the legislative institutions; and that, with this object in view, the first thing necessary is the definitive destruction of clandestine and Irre sponsible influences over affairs of state, and the second thing the for mation of a real, working government, united by a well-defined programme and relying on the confidence and goo will of the country, and conse quently capable of collaboration with the legislative institutions." These proceedings have found a re sponse in the appointment of Mr. Rit titch as Minister of Agriculture, which is regarded as the first step In the re organization of the government on business lines. That official, says the Times, "Is responsible for the entire colossal task, of Jand reorganization." and he "conceived the idea of utilizing prisoners of war for agricultural la bor." He has already drafted a proj ect for food distribution which ex perts pronounce "admirable in its simplicity." Removal of the be smirched Minister of the Interior la confidently foretold and other changes are expected to effect a compromise between the Duma and the govern ment The Russian people, led by the Duma, are thus taking charge of the conduct of the war. In the effort to extirpate German influence from the bureaucracy they have forced a great advance toward conversion of the au tocracy Into a limited monarchy, with a Cabinet which owes Its existence to the support of the Duma. The aris tocratic officers of the old army hav ing been killed or made prisoner with Tew exceptions, the government has been forced to turn to the students and the middle class for officers to lead the new levies. This class is strongly liberal, and the new officers fraternize with their men and spread liberal propaganda among them. Should the reactionaries attempt to destroy the new power of the Duma, they would not find such an army their willing tool; It would be more likely to aid the Duma in crushing re action. Thus a new, self-governing Russia may be born amid the agonies of war. FOR A DRY CAPITAL. " Final disposition of the bill for . a dry District of Columbia will serve only In part to define the attitude of the Individual members of Congress toward the general question of prohi bition, state or National. There seems to bo determination that the saloon shall go, and equally It appears to be manifest that Importation of liquor for personal use Is not going to be for bidden. There are, of course, the usual collateral issues, not all advanced In good faith. One proposal was that the whole question be submitted to a vote of the people of the District, making It a local option issue. It was lost on tie vote. One would think that if any city In the world was unfavorable ground for home rule" propaganda, that city would be our National capital. Wash- ngton Is essentially not a place to which the term "local" applies. It is National in Its character. The vast sums appropriated by Congress out of the Nation's coffers for its beautlflca tion are not designed for the benefit of Washington, the place of local habi tation, but for Washington, the capital of the United States. The plan of those who originally laid out the place was that It should be a model capital, rather than an incidental dwelling place for certain hotel keepers and merchants catering to local wants. A large proportion of the people who reside there are not, strictly speaking, citizens of the District. They would not vote in a local option elec tion, lest by, so doing they lose their citizenship in the states in which their real political fortunes are cast. So any referendum that might be ordered would be conducted without them. and would necessarily be Inconclusive as a measure of real public opinion, A further objection urged Is that, since there is no provision for voting in the District, it would be necessarily diffi cult to provide registration and elec tion machinery. The situation of the District would lend itself readily to colonization on a large scale and to frauds of every other kind. In Washington the appeal to local sentiment In connection with efforts to prohibit' the sale of liquor seems to be regarded generally as insincere. It will be interesting to keep trace of the various other-subterfuges to which resort will be taken while the fight is on. For all pains we take in our efforts to choose statesmen to repre sent us, we seem to have only reason ably good luck, and numerous mere politicians will creep In. And it seems to be the prime effort of these to befog, rather than to clarify, every Issue. A century or so ago the ranks of seafaring men were recruited almost wholly from the seaport towns, by the operation of natural laws, which led men to seek the occupations with which they were most familiar; but this has been' changed, and now, espe cially in the Navy, the Interior is fur nishing the men. One of the reasons Is that city life does not qualify men for the stern duties required of them on the ocean, as is shown by the re port of the - United States Marine Corps for nine months of the year 1916, In which there were 6082 appli cations for enlistment from the New York district and only 167. or about one In thirty, were accepted. The principal cause of rejection was de fective vision, but bad teeth ran this a close second. There were numerous case of heart affection, aggravated. In all probability, by the conditions of life in the metropolis, and nearly 10 per cent of the entire number ex amined were classed tinder the gen eral head of "poor physique -and under weight." Emerlnus yersteeg, who brought skating here from Iowa fifty years ago and introduced it on Guild's Lake, says cutting figure eights backward and other intricacies have become a lost art, wholly due to a mild cli mate. Representative McArthur has ah allotment of free flower and vegetable seeds for his constituents that can be had for the asking. Multnomah County gardens should bloom and flourish this year in consequence. Nebraska is a pretty well-filled state, yet Its new Governor recom mends creation of a publicity board to let people know of Its advantages. Oregon has townships where Nebraska has sections. The standard funereal joke of "friends passing around the bier" Is given a touch of reality by the last act of a San Francisco sailor who left money to buy drinks for his pall bearers. Belgians returned from Germany tell harrowing tales of hunger and ill treatment, but they are nothing like those told of Andersonvllle more than a half century ago. Vaudeville stars often get their start on amateurs night, just as big leaguers come from the sand lots. There is no pedigree in talent. Nobody makes pies of onions, but they are passing the price of apples and may figure in a flaky master piece. A woman may be chosen electoral messenger from California when each and all of the ten electors abandon hope. Oregon should take on Harvard or Yale next. How to Keep Well By Dr. W. A. Evans. . Questions pertinent to hyiiene. sanitation and prevention of disease, if matters of gen eral Interest, will be answered la this col umn. Where space will not permit or the subject Is not suitable, letter win be per sonally answered, subject to proper limita tions and where stamped addressed envelops Is inclosed. Dr. Evans will not make diagnosis er prescribe for Individual diseases. Re Quests for such services cannot bs answered. (Copyright. IBIS, by Dr. W. A. Evans. Published by arrangement with th Chicago Tribune.) HEALTH HINTS BY BACON. FRANCIS BACON was born in 1561. He was delicate and sickly in his youth. In 1597 he published his es says. The extracts quoted below are taken from the essay, "Of Regiment of Health." He died In 1828, probably of pneumonia. He exposed himself in making an experiment to determine whether cold would check putrefaction. He packed a freshly cleaned chicken with snow and In consequence had a chill, followed by fever, and death en sued In one week." Quotations from the esaay follow: "There is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own ob servation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of. is the best physio to preserve health. But it Is a safer conclusion to say: 'This agreeth not well with me. therefore I will not continue it," than this: 'I find no of fense of this, therefore I may use it,' For strength of nature in youth passes over many excesses, which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the com lng on of years, and think not to do the came things still; for age will not be denied. ... "Examine thy customs of diet, sleep, exercise, apparel and the like; and try. In anything thou Shalt judge hurtful to discontinue it little by little; but so as, if thou dost find any inconvenience by the change, thou come back to it again; for It is hard to distinguish that which is generally held good and wholesome from that which is good particularly and fit for thine own body. "To be free minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and of sleep and. of exercise Is one of the best pre cepts of long lasting. As for the pas slons and studies of the mind, avoid envy, anxious fears, anger fretting In wards, subtle and knotty Inquisitions, Joys and exhilarations in excess, sad ness not communicated. "Entertain hopes; mirth rather than Joy; variety of delights rather than surfeit of them; wonder and admira tion, and therefore novelties: studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, fables and contemplations of nature. . "I commend rather some diet for certain seasons, than frequent use of physics, except it be grown Into a cus tom. ... "Despise no new accident In your body, but ask opinion of it. In sick ness, respect health principally; and in health, action. ... Physicians are some of them so pleasing and conformable to the humor of the patient, as they press not the true cure of the disease; and some others are so regular in proceeding ac cording to art for the disease, as they respect not sufficiently the condition of the patient. Take one of middle tern per; or If It may not be found In one man, combine two of either sort; and forget not to call as well the best ac qualnted with your body, as the best reputed of for his faculty." Should See Physician. Mrs. G. A. B. writes: "Fifteen months ago I gave birth to a child. Before and after the birth I suffered from an acute case of Brlght's disease, so the phy sician Informed me. My limbs were swollen to Immense proportions. ine aoctor in Charge treated me and finally said there were no more symptoms and that I was cured. Since then I have suffered untold agony with my back and right side al most constantly. My back is so weak I can scarcely mount the stairs,- the pain settling In the small of the back, It seems that my right tide (the kidney) pulsates so hard, at time that I can hardly stand it. The side is always sore to touch." REPLY. Tou should see your physician. "While women have backache from neurasthenia, fatigue, and a number of disorders, many of which are of no consequence, you have too lately escaped to take chances. Infected From Mother. Mrs. E. F. G. writes: "(1) Is there a form of rheumatism called syphilitic rheumatism? (2) Is it hereditary? (3 My husband has never been afflicted with syphilis, but his father was not a clean living man. Ills sister, nephew, and himself have had what our family physicians diagnosed as Inflammatory rheumatism, but another physician say It is the former. (4) Do you think it possible that my children will have it? What precautions can be used?" REPLY. 1. Tea. i. Tea. to a limited extent. 8. I do not think It at all probable tha your husband has syphllltlo rheumatism. Waaserman test would help to a decision, 4. Children do not Inherit syphilis except where the mother has bad It. A syphilitic father cannot Infect his child with inherited syphilis except by first Infecting the mother. Superfluous Hair. Mrs. E. J. W. writes: "(1) Will aqu ammonia used two or three times day. one day and hydrogen " peroxide the next day, kill hair on the face an arms 7 (2) Is this dangerous to th skin or bones? Recipe says use It fo several months." REPLY. 1. Tou wtll sot find It satisfactory, al though It has some virtues. 2. It Is not dangerous to the bones. It will harm some skins. In most Instances It will not Injure the skin. Tomatoes) and Canoer. J. W. writes: "(1) Is there any truth in the statement that tomatoes are bad for cancerous people or that the eating of tomatoes will cause cancer? "(2) Is there any virtue In the old fashioned remedy of distilled beet Juice mixed with elderberry wine? A friend of mind told me of a man who had tu berculosis who cured himself entirely by the above remedy. "(8) I eat boiled rice twice a day for breakfast and supper. I like It better than cereal for breakfast. Has it much food value and Is It not as good as cereals?" REPLY. 1 and 2. No. 8. It baa high food, value. It is aa. -excellent erek i. DEMAND IS FOR "CLOSED SHOP" Analysis, of Prof. Ogbnrn'a Findings Reveals True Motive for Strike. PORTLAND, Jan. 4. (To the Editor.) The findings of Professor W. F. Og- burn. of Reed College, in his survey of Industrial conditions, which was re viewed in the afternoon papers Jan uary 2, are particularly Interesting In view of the claims of the labor organiz ers as to the motives back of the pres ent shipbuilding strike. In the early stages of the strike. they asserted emphatically that It was a question between the employes and the employers of "wages and working conditions." The fact that the ma- orlty of' the employes in the shop maintained that they were satisfied with these need not be touched upon here, for the point 1 was aiming at was the claim of the labor leaders rather than the employes, as to wages. The report of Mr. Ogburn s survey shows that in 10 principal trades in Portland, as compared with other cities of equal rank on the Paciflo Coast, Portland stands third in the av erage wage. Portland still maintains her place In a comparison of average wages In six major cities west of the Rocky Mountains. This fact alone should lead one to wonder if the la borer In Portland Is In such a bad way as the labor organizations would have us believe. It should be noted, furthermore, that the averages made In comparison of the six western cities were on the basis of 35 skilled trades. But the Investigations carry us still further, and It is found In the report that Portland ranks third among the cities In the whole United States In the average of wages paid. Chicago, New York, St. Louis. Cleveland, De troit and a host of other cities of large manufactures fall below us in the aver age of wages paid, with differences of from S to 10 cents an hour. Granted that labor Is entitled to and should get the best wages that can be secured In fairness to the employer and to the public, these averages do not Indicate that Portland Is lagging in the recognition of the rights and deserts of the worker. Forced from the position of claim ing that the present strike is for an Improvement in wages and working conditions, the labor leaders now let it become clear, as It should have been made clear In the beginning, that they are making a straight out-and-out fight for the "closed shop." Whereupon the public may turn again to Portland's ranking In the industrial survey made by Professor Ogburn. and surely when a city whose Industries have committed themselves firmly to the open-shop principle still ranks third In the entire United States In the average ot the wages paid. It does not furnish a very substantial ar gument in favor of the demand for the "closed shop." WSL M ACM ASTER. HOnSEIIAlU EXPERT OFIURS OATH Also Witnesses to Prove Ills) Conten tion In Great Controversy. MOSSYROCK. Wash.. Jan. 2. (To the Editor.) Of late I see many let ters about snakes and worms, some contradicting my statement as to horsehairs turning to worms. 1 will be at the Multnomah County Court house January 5. forenoon. If those smart guys want the proof and will pay for affidavit I will ewoar that my statement was the whole truth. I have living witnesses here my wife, Aman da Jane, and R. C. Allison and Jane Allison, of Mossyrock. I do not claim they are real snakes. but living, crawling worms. I have seen them here. That terrible hoop snake that swelled the hoc handle Is a etunner, as are many more state ments. I believe the writers have snakes in their boots. I also noticed the compliments Portland papers gave me as the wild man of Mossyrock and of the wilds of Lewis County while I was in Portland to get the body of my murdered son, W. A. fhaner, at Murphy Bros.' barber shop. I am sick and helpless now. Will try to be In Portland Friday, Jan uary 5, or sooner, to Bhow Portland police and people by ample i"oof who and what I am. DANIEL SHANER. Answ-er to "My Dally Prayer." I'd like to live upon a ranch. Where there Is lots of room. I want a little house, all right. And I can wield a broom. I'd keep my house all slick and clean. And cook my man good grub; But I don't want to be a, slave. So cut out board and tub, I'd sweep and clean and darn and cook And do it with good grace. I'd have the house all spick and span. And keep a smiling face. But, oh. I'd want my husband dear To be a hustler fair. To plow and sow and reap and mow, And neither drink nor swear. I could not stand to have a shirk As father of my son. I'd grab a chance to work and save; But he must get the mon. I would not be a doll-like wife Who'd primp and gad all day. I could not stand a lazy man. Nor Just a common Jay. OLD MAID. Indiana Author and Illustrator. WELLS. Or.. Jan. 3. (To the Edi tor.) (1) Kindly Inform me as to the date and place of birth of Gene Strat ton Porter. (2) Where Is her home? (3) Would greatly appreciate any valu able information about her lire. A SINCERE READER. 1. Wabash County, Indiana. 1867. 2. aLlmberlost Cabin. Rome City. Ind. B. Mrs. Porter was daughter of Mark and Mary Stratton and married Charles Darwin Porter In 1S86. She has held staff positions with Recreation and Outing, Is author and illustrator of "The Song of the Cardi nal." "Freckles." "What I have Done Wrlth Birds." "At the Foot of the Rain bow." "A Girl of the Limberlost.' "Birds of the Bible," "Muslo of the Wild." "The Harvester," "Moths of the Limberlost." "Laddie," "Michael O'Hal- laran." Farm Loan Banks, PORTLAND. Jan. 2. (To the Ed itor.) Will you please give In brief form a statement of the plan of the farmers' loan banks and the conditions and process Of obtaining a loan from such Institutions? INQUIRER. The bill is too complex to be sum marized in a brief statement. A de tailed explanation was printed in The Oregonian July 30, 1916. The Oregonian expects to publish a series of articles on the subject in the near future. Bounty on Ceyates, ESTACADA, Or.. Jan. 3. (To the Editor.) (1) Is there a state bounty on coyotes? If so, how much is the bounty? (2) Who has charge of this bounty fund? CONSTANT READER. (1) Yes. $1.60 each. Tho entire pelt. Including paws, head and ears, must be submitted. (2) Qounty Clerk. Hovr to Obtain Government Reports. ASTORIA. Or., Jan. 3. (To the Edi tor.) How can I secure the latest an nunl report of the Coast and Geodetic Survey; also the Year Book of ll. published by the United States Depart ment of Agriculture? SUBSCRIBER. Writs to your member of Congress, at Washington, JD, ft Io Other Days. Twenty-five Tears Ajto. From The Oregonlaa of January 6, 1&9L. Washington. Jan. 4. There has been a great deal of talk about preventing David B. Hill from taking his seat In the United States Senate because he continued to serve as Governor when his term as Senator began 10 months ago. New York. Jan. 4. It is reported that the Chilean government .has cabled or ders to Minister Pedro Montt at Wash ington to make a sincere apology to the United States for the unfortunate and deplorable attack on the Baltimore Bailors last October. Spokane. Jan. 8. Chief Joseph, of the Xez Perce tribe, will leave coon for Washington to plead with the au thorities to allow him to return to his old home in the Blue Montains of East ern Oregon. The annual meeting of the board of officers of the First Regiment. Oregon .National uuard. was held at the Arm ory last nisht. Colonel C. F. Beebe pre siding. Half n Century Ako. From The Oregonian of January 6, 1SR7. Washington. A iolnt resolution h been offered and referred to the Sen ate, proposing an amendment making me fresia.-nt ineligible for a second term. Albert M. Snyder. 96 Front street. East Side. Is a Government claim mrent and Is prosecuting claims before the various departments of the Govern ment. The Mexicans are not expected t able to do much toward expelling the French and Austrian from their terri tory until they put an end to their Internal strife. The Juurei and Orega factions are still contending bitterly over the Presidency. Thomas J. Holmes, Mayor, has vetoed the ordinance providing for sidewalks on Market Square and other publio blocks. Soon after the death of Prince Al bert, the Emperor Theorems of Abys sinia, sent to Queen Victoria a proposal of marriage. She treated it with silent contempt, whereupon his sable maj esty, ot't of revenue, seized the princi pal Englishman then In his dominion. HUSKY l.FATS. SAYS WRITER Brief History Given of Concerns Now Iluilrilnjf Ship. PORTLAND, Jan. 4. (To the Edi tor.) This is my first offense at try ing to break Into print for any pur pose, but the letter from Mr. Plummer, published In The Oregonian, had so many comical angles to it that I could not refrain from giving the publio a chance to enjoy theni as much as I have. In section 4 of the same Oregonian In which Mr. Plummcr's letter ap peared, a whole paso Is devoted to a picture of a ship-yard entitled "Ship Building Now One of Oregon's Great Industries." Doesn't sound much like the baby Industry that Mr. Plummer would have us believe. Another phase of the situation Is that the Willamette Iron & Steel Works has been established here, as I remem ber, about 40 years and been engaged in the manufacture of mnrine enerlnes and boilers most of the time. it cer tainly would not do to endanger their existence at the very thrrshold of their operations! The Northwest Steel Comoanv has been established a numher of years and Is reputed to be one of the largest con cerns in the Pacific Northwest. Some baby industry! Only about 1000 men are employed there. The Smith & Waters Iron Works (Columbia Shipbuilding Corporation) Is one of the oldest established concerns of Its kind In Portland. Tho Albina Machine Works, our real baby shipbuilding plant, does not enter Into the present controversy. It having signified its intention of employing only union men. I believe, as Mr. Plummer says he does, that the public is entitled to a thorough understanding of this situa tion and to this end I have endeavored to put before the public a few things that he evidently, did not consider of enough Importance to mention. I am not employed by any of these concerns nor are anv relatives or friends of mine that I know of. XEUTKAL A Grouoherlno'a Gronl. PORTLAND, Jan. 4. My neighbor Just across the way that guy does beat the deck cumo over early New Year dav to bellow through his neck. He grouched a lot about the times, a growling song and dance, where once he'd dollars now ho'd dimes and nickels in hts pants. Cigars into his jaws he'd chuck, the finest he could pick, but now the stogy he must suck that cost three for a nick. He used to dine In classy place in keeping with his means, but now he has to feed his face on cornbeef hash and beans. Once he dolled up In scenery, the best the tailor made, of fine imported goods, now he wears togs of cheapest grade. And then he struck his usual gait about the 'bone-dry law and said this was the bumniest state 'twixt hell and Omaha, and Portland once was sure the best old city far or near in this now barren desert West that's shy of booze and beer. He'd traveled many times between tho seas in touring flight but never, never had he seen a lid screwed down so tight. If he should happen to acquire a surreptitious Jag they'd bump him up against a squire who'd Jug him for a vag. or if he'd push his hectic face In home of kickless drink and give the high sign of the place and mystic circle wink, ere he could Joyfully amass the ground work of a souse a bnlly cop would smell his glnss and pull the bloomln" house. He thought he'd seek an open state and evermore abide where booze ncd not gone out of date and beer was not denied. I hope he ll act on that 1-dee and keep his fetid breath well laden with booze scent till he has boozed himself to death, for If he does not henceward fly, but near me doth remain. I coon may bo a gibbering guy housed up with tho Insane, or by a court's decreeing I may faco unpleas ant death and shot down through a trap to die from stricture of the breath. JAMES BARTON ADAMS. Reply to "Old narhe!nr." I want to live upon a ranch. Where there Is lo of air; It may be I can wield a broom If you get on a tear. ni keep your house all slick and clean. But yon must keep clean, too: To feed the stock and be content Is part that you can do. Perhaps your nnme means nothing. For that I do not care; If you are God's own gentleman And treat a woman square. Don't ssk too much. Old Bachelor, You haven't much to give. So brace up. bo a gentleman. Til teach you how to live. FRANCES HALL. Let nme He Changed. PORTLAND. Jan. 4. (To the flltor.) Because the people of Portland are among the best-hearted people in the world and wish to do "the kindest thing In the kindest way" might one suggest at this sensun of goodwill that the name of the County Poor Farm be changed to that of the County Home, Kaxm,I SARAH IILNLS WILDER. i