Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, January 13, 1917, Page 10, Image 10

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    10
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1917.
m)$(B
PORTLAND, OKEGOX.
Entered at Portland (Oregon) PoatoSlce
second-class mall matter.
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Postage Bates 12 to IS pares, 1 cent: 18
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Eastern Business Office Verree & Conk
lln, Brunswick building. New York; Verree
tConklln, Steger building, Chicago.- Baa
rancico representaUve, iu J. J41uwtU.
Market street.
ors would require a large Initial ap
propriation from the general fund. A
man who is competent for such a job
has no difficulty in attaching himself
to a mortgage company at a salary of
$5000 and upwards. After the rural
credit system has run a few years, and
if a large sum is placed, and if interest
payments are promptly met by the
borrowers, the 1 per cent charged by
the state for lending money which it
in turn has borrowed will yield quite
a handsome sum, probably enough to
maintain a large field force and a
luxurious suite of offices. But the
system must have a start and the gen
eral fund Is poor.
Money lending is more or less of a
science, but some of our college and
farmer friends seem to assume' that it
is largely a matter of dishing it out.
Eighteen million dollars is a great sum
to be made available In a lump for
distribution In the form of loans in a
state of Oregon's population. There is
real danger that unless proper safe
guards are added to the amendment
the state will witness an era of finan
cial riot and farm-land speculation, to
its ultimate disaster.
rOKTLAM), SATCKJDAY, JAN. IS, 1917.
1 FARM IXAX DANGERS.
J The voters of Oregon last Novem
ber went blithely to the polls and
voted a state credit of 118,000,000 to
establish, a farm-loan system. The in
tent of the vote was no more than in
dorsement of a principle, but along
JWlth indorsing a principle the people
accepted a number of hard and fast
rules and Inelastic details that have
bo place in a constitutional enactment.
The Legislature must now work out
further details and provide certain
definitions, bearing in mind the while
that they are held to certain limita-
'llons.
The rate at which money Is to be
Jent to. farmers Is 5 per cent. It is so
fixed hv the constitutional amendment
' to ti la KaTuraohlii rtnlv if til. ctata
bonds Issued sell for less than par.
Then farm loans may bear a rate 1 per
(cent higher than the rate paid by the
state. The state bonds bear 4 per
tent Interest. So if a block of them
lis sold at 4 net the borrower from
the state would have to pay 6 . But
If the state bonds sell at a premium
the farmer borrower obtains no ad
vantage therefrom. He must pay 6
per cent.
Under present conditions Oregon
iJstate bonds should sell at a high pre-
knium. The state Is not now in debt.
The interest rate is attractive. The
(Oregonian obtains from a responsible
Eource the statement that if a block of
these bonds were offered today in open
(competition they would bring from
ISO to 122. At most the net rate paid
by the state would be 3 per cent.
The Legislature Is powerless to pass
blong to the farmers the full advan
tage of the state's superior credit. It
Is one of the inflexibilities in the
amendment to which objection was
made prior to election. The rate on
farm loans ought to be flexible. Some
farmers, because of the superiority of
the eecurity they offer, are entitled to
a lower rate than others. Money has
a practically definite base rate for
lending purposes, except in times of
panic or business upheaval. It is
probably somewhere near i per cent.
The borrower who pays a higher rate
la contributing In part to the cost of
placing the money and In further part
to insurance of the loan against loss.
Improved land has a fixed . pro
ductive power and Invites loans at a
low rate. Land held for speculation
carries a loan either at a higher rate
or the principal is in lower pro
portion to Its presumptive value
perhaps both. This definite rule
of financial transactions Is en
countered by the farmer In seeking
a loan from a private mortgage com
pany. The mortgage company will
capitalize the earning capacity of the
land and lend up to a certain propor.
tion of It. Smith may own 160 acres
of land valued at $10,000 but only
forty acres may be improved. The
mortgage company reasons that If he
lias no other resources he cannot sup
port his family, pay taxes and meet
the Interest on a loan of 60 per cent
of the value of the whole tract
from his earnings from forty acres,
If Smith Insists on borrowing that
much he will have to seek some
other agency than that which
lends only at a low rate. He will seek
out a money speculator, who, by
(charging a much higher rate of in
terest. Insures the money he lends on
Jmsafe security.
But, as stated, the state has adopted
fen Inflexible rate. The amendment
provides that It shall lend in amount
up to 60 per cent of the value of the
land. No distinction is made between
Improved and' unimproved land. Under
Its terms the farmer who should pay
a higher rate because of the specu
lative character of the greater part of
lils holdings will 'have his loan in
sured by the man whose farm is well
Improved and who. In view of the con
ditions under which the state will se
cure the funds, is actually entitled to
A rate lower than 5 per cent.
This phase the Legislature cannot
tomedy, but it is logical that because
of it more than ordinary care must be
exercised in accepting land as security
for state money. The Land Board be
lieves that it can handle the new sys
tem satisfactorily under the sys
tem by which school funds are
lent. An attorney Is selected In eaoti
county, who examines lands and titles
of persons seeking loans. No loss has
been sustained by the school funds un
der the operation of this plan. But
the state school fund has accumulated
by degrees; the Land Board was alone
In the field in lending money at 6 per
cent on farms until quite recently; it
virtually had the pick of farm-land
security. Under the rural credit plan
thei-and Board is so unrestricted that
It could have available within a few
weeks millions of dollar to place on
Oregon farms.
The Integrity of the board Is not
questioned. It has acted conservative
ly in the (past. On the other hand. In
a state not many miles away, where
school funds were more plentiful, they
have been put out on mountain tops
and rocky hillsides and the administra
tion of the fund is an ever-recurring
scandal. whether thirty-six county
agents can withstand the pressure that
would come from knowledge that $18,
000,000 of easy money is or can be
made available is a matter of question
The average man, no matter what his
business, will borrow more than he
can pay If not restrained not pur
posely, or fraudulently, but because it
Is his nature to be optimistic and to
be careless in computing his future
'earnings and expenditures.
But if the county agent plan is not
i adopted the Legislature must provide
for field agents, or for officials or In
spectors on that order. Again the con.
. stitution atles the lawmakers' hands,
The fee for appraisal and examination
prescribed in the ameffcdment is lower
than the .average cost of such work.
To provide for competent field inspect-
Lakes, 108,235. More than two-thirds
of the Pacific Coast tonnage was of
steel, namely, 64,144 to 29,174 tons of
wood. The total new tonnage is near
ly double that of 1915, while the Pa
cific Coast total has nearly quadrupled.
It depends on the policy recom
mended by the new Shipping Board
and adopted by Congress whether the
United States will clinch its hold on
this new tonnage. The extent to
which the capacity of shipyards is
contracted ahead, and the difficulty
experienced by the Navy Department
in letting contracts forgnew warships,
hold out little prospect that the board
will be able to spend its $50,000,000
on new ships. The strides made by
the United States in making good the
ravages of war go to show that this
expenditure would be unnecessary,
even if facilities existed for building
the ships. This became obvious to all
pen-minded observers before the law
was passed, and that law was forced
through a docile Congress chiefly that
the President and Secretary McAdoo
might be spared the pain of confessing
that they had blundered In propos
ing It..
6 TILL TRYING TO SIDESTEP.
The Democratic majority In the
House dared not call off the leak In
vestigation in the face of opposition.
but seemingly It Is set upon preventing
a real Inquiry which will bring out
the whole truth. That is the explana
tion of the decision to have the work
renewed by the rules committee. It is
a sidestep, for the chairman and the
Democratic majority of that commit
tee have evinced a determination to
evade and have displayed some, abil
ity in that line.
The more the House leaders try to
sidestep, the more firmly will the sus
picion become fixed in the public mind
that "there is something In" the leak
charges. The leaders by their present
course do not clear the guilty, if any
there be; they unjustly spread the sus
picion to the innocent. They do not
remove the cloud from the reputation
of Government officials; they render it
blacker and more embracing.
OOETRAGB SCATTERS ITNCTTETCS.
Success of Governor Stanley, of Ken
tucky, in cooling the ardor of a mob
for lynch law points a moral for other
officials whose duty brings them in
conflict with mob rule. A mob Is by
its very nature a coward, knowing that
it is a lawbreaker, and It cringes be
fore a man who opposes It with the
backing of lawful authority. What
ever degree of courage it has is derived
from disguise and from numbers. This
fact was well illustrated In a recent
story, In which a Sheriff scatters a
mob by simply naming its members
and telling their records.
Prevalence of lynch law In the South
is due as much to the cowardice or
secret sympathy of officials as to the
lawlessness of the people. A courage
ous official attracts right-minded, law
abiding people to his Eide and by bold
ness instils fear in the guilty mob. All
that is needed to end lynch law are
Governors and Sheriffs of the stamp
of Governor Stanley. The difficulty
in getting them is due to activity in
politics -of the type of men which
makes up lynching mobs and to the
Inaction of the men who would be dis
posed to resist them. The result is
that the lynchers elect the Sheriffs,
and they elect their like. When they
stumble on a Governor Stanley, they
quail. .
RIGHTS OF STATE IX DANGER.
While engaged In passing liquor
laws and In trimming state expend!
tures to keep within the 6 per cent tax
limitation, the Legislature would do
well not to overlook legislation now
before Congress which deeply affects
the rights and interests of the state.
In his anxiety to secure a reserve
of fuel oil for the Navy, Secretary
Daniels is pressing for action on the
general leasing bill, with amendments
reserving the desired oil land. He may
succeed in pushing the, bill through
Congress at this session as a measure
of preparedness. If he should, and
if the bill should not be materially
amended, the Western states would
find that a system of Federal land-1
loraism had been fastened upon them.
which would permanently withhold
from state taxation and control large
and valuable portions of their area.
The bill provided, as introduced,
that the rentals derived from coal, oil,
gas 'and phosphate land shall be used
in reclamation and that after repay
ment by settlers one-half shall be paid
to the states for use in education. This
provision may be amended, as has the
Ferris water-power bill in the Senate,
to read that the states shall get half
of the receipts from the beginning,
but even then the land would be ex
empt from taxation and from state
property laws and the state would be
restricted to one use for Its share of
the rentals.
Is the state of Oregon willing to sub'
mit to these conditions, and thus to
be placed in a position of permanent
tutelage. Inferior to that which is held
by other states whose entire area has
passed into private hands? The bill
is most vulnerable on the ground both
of constitutionality and of public pol
icy. If the state is to resist this Fed
eral encroachment and to defend its
rights, now is the time' to act.
TAKTN-O TirjE LEAD IX BHTJPS.
The progress which the United
States has already made towards
regaining its former pre-eminence
among shipbuilding nations is summed
up in the opinion expressed by the
Bureau of Navigation that "during the
past twelve months American ship
yards have done more to maintain
ocean foreign trade uninterruptedly
than the shipyards of all other nations
together exceptGreat Britain." Even
British leadership is threatened, for
the bureau says that "during the first
nine months of 1916 ocean steel mer
chant tonnage of American shipyard
exceeded by 30,000 tons the British
output, though after May 30 British
yards began to Increase work on mer
chant shipping."
During the year 1918 there were
built in American shipyards 1163 mer
chant vessels of 520,847 gross tons for
American shipowners, besides fifty
vessels, of 39,392 gross tons, for for
elgn owners, a total of 1213 vessels
of 560,239 tons. This total has been
exceeded in only one year since 1855,
namely, in 1908, when the output was
614,216 tons, but in that year the out
put was mainly for the Great Lakes,
while in 1916 it was mainly for ocean
foreign trade.
Of the 1916 total, an except 152 ves
sels of 68 68 tons were built on the
seacoast or the Great Lakes for ocean
and lake .navigation, and many lake
shipyards 'are turilng out seagoing
ships. The exceptions mentioned were
built on the Western rivers for Inland
navigation. The new tonnage was
divided among the several sections as
follows: Atlantic and Gulf Coast,
812,426; Faclflo Coast, 98,818; Great
WIIAT THE ENTENTE EIGHTS FOR.
The terms of peace which the en
tente allies ' have laid d6wn in their
note to President Wilson hold out no
hope of an early termination of the
war, but they have the merit of stat
ing with some exactness those, aims
which have hitherto been stated only
in general terms.
The allies could not do less than
demand the restoration of Belgium,
Luxemburg, Serbia, Montenegro and
Roumanla to Independence without
confession of defeat or abandonment
of the aims for which they took up
the Teutons" challenge. But the more
completely they should succeed in
those aims, the more Impossible would
it be for them to obtain that repara
tion. If they should succeed so far,
they would probably at the same time
have made great progress toward at
tainment of their other ends and would
be encouraged to go on to the finish.
But before they had reached even that
point, their enemies would be so weak
ened and impoverished as to be Incapa
ble of making reparation.
Turkey and Bulgaria are now mare
vassals of the central empires, and
they keep the field only with money
and mjfterlal furnished 'by Germany.
They could pay nothing. Austria is
approaching, if ltxhas not already
reached, the same position. Only Ger
many would remain to look to, and
that country would be so drained by
the war expenses of both Itself and its
allies that it would be in no position
to pay the billions of dollars which
their enemies would demand to com
pensate for the damage done in oc
cupied territory. It has beeft suggested
that the allies obtain reparation by
imposing an extra tariff on goods from
enemy countries after the war and
that they hand over the proceeds to
the injured countries.. The allies know
as well as anybody that payment of a
huge cash Indemnity would- be Impos
sible. Their demand may prove to be
only the basis for exaction of an
equivalent in territory.
Demand for the "liberation of Ital
ians, of Slavs, of Roumanians and of
Tcheco Slavoques from foreign domi
nation" points directly at dismember
ment of the Austro-Hungarian mon
archy, which could be accomplished
only by the crushing defeat of that
country and its allies. It implies a
purpose, and confidence in ability to
French In language and sympathy.
Since 1871 they have become largely i
Germanized, to what extent a) referen
dum vote along could determine. If
Alsace should vote for France, Lor
raine for Germany, would the allies
consent that each should go its own
way? Since there would certainly be
a large minority in each, would it not
be better for future peace if they
formed an independent state with neu
trality guaranteed by all the powers?
If that were done, Belgium, Luxemburg
and Alsace-Lorraine would form a
string of such states stretching from
the Nojth Sea to the Swiss frontier,
and would be a barrier entirely sepa
rating France from Germany.
While the allies declare their main
purpose to be destruction of the domi
nation of Prussian militarism, they
disclaim any desire "to encompass the
extermination of the German peoples
and their political disappearance." No
well-informed, thinking man suspects
them of such a design, but the pur
pose they admit does not augur well
for future peace. It Implies a change
both in the personnel and in the con
stitution of the German Empire, en
forced from without. A change of
government thus brought about would
be a constant reminder of defeat and
would therefore be hateful to the Ger
man people, who would be apt to over
turn the new government as soon as
they felt strong enough. If the allies
should be so successful in war as to
be able to carry out their other aims,
they would have so discredited "the
Prussian military caste" in the eyes
of the German people that the latter
might overthrow it of their own ac
cord. In that event, Germany, having
been brought to defeat and ruin by Its
military rulers and their ambitions.
would be apt to establish a democratic
government devoted to peace and thus
to seek restoration to its place In the
family of. nations. The question of
Prussian militarism may more safely
be left to settle Itself. Its destruction
at the dictates of a foreign foe would
be more likely to endear it to the Ger
man people.
But the four great entente powers
have a long and bloody road to travel
before they can put through their pro
gramme. It may undergo much trim
ming before a peace conference meets.
Expansion of the commerce and In
dustry of the United States is limited
to the capacity of the railroads to
carry their produce. Power of the
railroads to -enlarge their capacity .in
order to keep pace with the growth of
ndustry is limited by their ability to
obtain capital. Although their net
earnings in the last year exceeded 81,
000,000,000, this was only 6 per cent
on their investment. Will people in
vest meney in a 6 per cent business
when they can Invest it m Industries
which are earning from 50 to 3000
per cent? Would you? That is the
proposition faced by the railroads. All
that they ask is, not that they be re
lieved from public regulation, but that
regulation be made so efficient as to
give them reasonable assurance of
stable earnings. With that assurance,
they could get capital to expand their
facilities as increase of traffic de
mands. That is what the people want.
Why not go after it? 1
carry out that purpose, to take from
the dual monarchy all territory which
is not Inhabited chiefly by people of
German or Magyar blood. If It were
possible to restrict the change to a
union, under a government of the in
habitants' own choice, of all territory
which is peopled by a vast majority
of the same race and language, this
purpose would command wide sym
pathy in the United States and other
neutral countries. But there are bor
der lands where two races have min
gled and which are claimed by both
by virtue of supremacy gained and
lost centuries ago. Though such bor
der lands might be Joined, to the na
tion of the majority race, provision
would be necessary to protect the
rights of the minority race. This would
be possible under some International
control, which would insure that, when
boundaries were once established, they
should not be disturbed, and that mi
nority races should have equal rights
with the majority. By some such
means the Balkan peninsula and ad
Joining territory might be redeemed
from their position as the war breeder
of Europe. This would require limits
to annexation to which the entente
would not submit if It were completely
triumphant.
Americans generally will approve of
the desire to expel the Turks from Eu
rope, but very many will not approve
of the purpose to hand over Constan
tinople and the surrounding territory,
with the straits, to Russia. By its posi
tion at the gateway between Europe
and Asia. Constantinople has become
the meeting place of nations of vio
lently opposed races and creeds. That
fact demands that it be neutralized
under a government devised by the na
tions to keep all the mingled popula
tion in peace and liberty. The fact
that the straits are a water highway
between two great seas requires that
they, too, be neutralized under the
same government. To hand over the
straits to Russia or any other power
would be only to sow the Beed of an
other war, in which the highway of
nations would be closed. Neutrals
should have a voice in the settlement,
that they may Insure Its being open
at all times.
Germany and Austria have already
given practical evidence of an Inten
tion to restore a degree of Independ
ence to Russian Poland, but the En
tente powers accept as in good faith
the pledge of the Czar to give self
government to all of Poland under his
sovereignty. That would include much
territory which is now in Germany
and Austria, but which was in Poland
before the first partition. While com
plete restoration of Poland would com
mand sympathy the world over, the
wrong done to the Poles would be fully
undone only If . they were delivered
from the rule of either a Romanoff, a
Hohenzollern or a Hapsburg. and were
set totally free to form their own gov
ernment, and if they should decide on
a monarchy, to choose their sovereign,
who should have no ties with any other
dynasty. By this means alone would
Poland be prevented from becoming a
cause of future war and become a
strong buffer state between Russia
and the Teuton empires.
The allies' desire to obtain "restitu
tion of provinces or territories wrested
in the past from the allies by force or
against the will of their populations"
plainly points to the restoration of
Alsace-Lorraine to France. But is it
the will of the population to return
under French rule? The principle
which the allies profess would require
that the people be permitted .to decide,
Those provinces were German for
many centuries down to 1648, Between
that date and 1871 they became
How to Keep Well
By Dr. W. A. Evans.
Questions pertinent to hygiene, sanitation
and prevention of disease. If matters of gen
eral Interest, will be answered In this col
umn. 'Where space will not permit or the
subject is not suitable letters will be per
sonally answered, subject to proper limita
tions and where stamped addressed envelope
la Inclosed. rr. Evans will not make diagnosis
or prescribe for Individual diseases. Re
quests for such services cannot be answered.
(Copyright. 1016. by rr. YV. A. Kvans.
Published by arrangement with the Chicago
Tribune.) -
D
KEEP THE HOUSE AT 60.
ADVANTAGE TAKEN OF EMPLOYES
Employers Often Profit From Knowl
edge of Their Needy Condition.
PORTLAND. Jan. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) Permit me apace to write the
facts as to the employer and his em
ployed. Sometimes a person become
disgusted with his work because the
employer does not pay enough waga
for. the work done. Sometimes it Is
the employe's own fault and some
times the employer is too tight and
tries to fret all he can out of the help
for the least money.
I am writing from experience, for I
was hired to work eight hours a. day
at $40 a month, providing I could do
the work.
The time given was up and I went
R. JOHN DILL ROBERTSON, of Chi
CagO. recently Suggested one mein- . ..mnlfWef . nrt ak1 fn, a r.l..
od of cutting the high cost of living. I t was tol tnat business was too poor
His suggestion was that we reauce
the temperature' of our homes, offices
and factories about 1? degrees. In this)
way we would reduco the high cost
of keeping warm, which In midwinter is
a large part of. the high cost of living.
The statement, coming from the
health commissioner, carried with It
the thought that we would be healthier
If we reduced the temperature of our
living places.
The theoretical maximum Indoor mid
winter temperature In America is 70.
Whenever Investigation1 has been made
it has been found that this maximum is
habltuallyvlolated. The average tem
perature of place run on. the go-as-you-please
basis Is around 72, and the
temperature occasionally goes to 78.
Dr. Robertson's propoeal is that the
temperature of living-rooms, offices and
stores be made 60 and that of factories
be kept lower still. For these tempera
tures there rs ample European warrant.
In no country in Europe are indoor
temperatures allowed to go over 68.
The usual house tempertaure over there
Is 60.
There la ample warrant for the rec
ommendation In close observations
made In this country. Huntington, in
his work, "Civilization and Climate."
states that men do their best mental
work when the air temperature is 60
and their best physical work when it
is about 40, and the average best tem
perature of the air for" work was 50.
In Other Days
Twenty-five Years Aao.
Prom The Oregonlan January 13. 1892.
Washington Senators Dolpb. and
Mitchell have been successful in get
ting two new revenue cutters for the
Pacific Coast and a life-saving station
at the mouth of the Rogue River.
"Pap" Lytle, right fielder of the
Portland team, arrived from San Fran
cisco yesterday. He Is at the Esmond.
Don Jose de Sepulveda Is a Mexican
gentleman registered at the St. Charles
from Mazatlan.
The first marriage in Tamhlll County
wu that of Jesse C. Henderson and
Elizabeth Moore about April 1. 1846, at
the residence of Dr. Johnson near Amity.
to- permit it. I doubted him, for 1
knew what my end of the work
amounted to and did not forget. I
helped out a. great deal In other de- I A. I?. Smart was elected president of
partments, and was also told by the the eteran Volunteer Firemen's Asso-
head of my department that my work elation last night. A. D. Tufts and
was more than satisfactory. George Gardner were elected vice-
Again I asked for more money, re-1 presidents, and Robert Ilolrsian. secre
peated what I was told, and the an- tary. and Charles Bartram treasurer.
ower was If I did not want to work
A movement, which thus far has
gained little headway, has been started
in parts of the South to induce ne
groes to undertake the addedcoloniza
tion of the newly acquired Danish
West Indies. Argument is offered by
the promoters that the present negro
inhabitants are not enterprising and
that an infusion of American negroes
would be good for the islands them
selves, as well as offering a new op
portunity for the colonists. The
scheme seems fantastic and probably
will fall, as other plans for colonizing
negroes in various parts of the world
have done. Recent demand for labor.
which has threatened to cause an
exodus from the South to the Northern
states, also will militate against a ven
ture into the unknown. The recent
unfortunate attempt to start an Ameri
can colony on the Gold Coast also is
too fresh in memory to make the going
especially good for men with new
colonization schemes.
He Investigated the work of persons
doing various forma of piecework at
different eeasons of the year. The
minimum amount of work was done
about the last of January. Then there
ensued a gradual Increase lasting until
June, then a moderate decrease lasting
until the last of July. In the Autumn
the amount of work increased until the
maximum was reached In November.
Then there came the decline, which ter
minated in the low production of Janu
ary. Production was lowest In mid
winter, low In midsummer and at its
maximum in the Spring and Fall.
Similar conclusions were arrived at
as the result of observations on work
ers making electrical apparatus at Pitts
burg, industrial workers In the South,
and as the result of strength tests made
In Denmark.
It has been found that the students
at West Point and Annapolis do their
best mental work, especially In mathe
matics, in the Spring and Fall, and their
worst work In midwinter and mldsum
mer.
Observations such as these furnish
the basis for Huntington's opinion that
the most work and the best work is
done when the air around the workers
is at SO. Dr. Robertson's euggestlon
therefore cuts at the high cost of liv
ing in three ways by reducing coal
bills, by Increasing output of work
and by bettering health.
for $40 I could quit.
What was I to do? I could not leave,
for I had folks depending on me, and
took the blow. I had not nerve enough
to ask again, for I feared I would be
handed a blue envelope.
Is it fair that persons who work
conscientiously for the benefit of their
firm should be trodden on because
their circumstances be known. I know
some people doubt this, but It is true.
It happens every day.
EDWARD R RUMLET.
New Year Resolutions Digested.
PORTLAND. Jan. 13. (Tn the MI.
tor.) On January 2 an interesting let
ter appeared In The Oregonlan from
the pen of the Rev. Alexander Beers.
It was Interesting from the nolnf nf
view of a workingman, to which tribe
your humble servant happens to belong.
We 'don't doubt the sincerity of TiTr
Beers, but In his boundless good will
toward everyone, the portion which he
allotted to the homeless and the friend
less was the kind you collect on the
Evergreen Shore. Also he wished for
the working-man good Jobs, coptented
minds (which. means don't strike) and
adequate pay for faithful service. How
much "adequate Is we don't know,
but suppose it means enouth to keen
us In working trim, and perhaps, re
produce our Kind.
He has something more suhtnntlal
for the business elements, calling upon
the Almighty for special blessing and
a year of unsurpassed prosperity and
growth.
There Is a lesson in osvcholorv here
and we wonder if U couldn't be solved
by economic determinism.
HENRY CHTNLTTND.
204 Madison street.
A few years ago the announcement
that Armour & Co. had earned 20 per
cent on their capital stock would have
called forth remarks about Bwollen
profits. That amount now looks small
by comparison with the profits of the
munition and automobile companies.
When man would suicide he uses a
gun, but woman, unless she be- of
the meek and lowly, little mousy kind.
prefers something overwhelmingly
cataclysmic. She knows It will make
a readable "story."
Qnlt Tobacco nnd Whisky.
A. A. writes: "In the last year 1 have
had several attacks of unconsciousness
which lasted about 20 minutes. I felt
well on the succeeding days, but my
breathing was difficult until I was well
again. I was attacked generally after
sleeping soundly. Hardening of the ar
terles Is the cause, I have been told.
Is smoking harmful to this ailment?
Will drinking a glass of whisky every
day harm me? What effect will eating
mint have?
RET1f.
Assuming that your trouble la hardening
of the arteries, smoking- Is bad for it; so Is
drlnklna- whisky, and also eating meat. If
you will go on a diet of fruit, bread and
vegetables you will be better off. Attend to
your bowels. Epilepsy Is the cause of spells
like this, at times.
Oil for Constipation.
J. H. G. writes: "I have been trou
bled with constipation having had to
take some klnd"f a purge almost every
day, until I heard of 'stanolax,' an oil
product. This was last Spring, and
since then have taken a tablespoonful
dally and have had no trouble. Will you
A Zeppelin makes Its own cloud as a I kindly give me your opinion as to the
hiding place and carries it along. The advisability of using this oil? Will It
do me any harm in the long run?"
REPLY.
This is a form of mineral oil and will not
harm you.
When Oregon Was Admitted.
PORTLAND, Jan. 12. (To the Editor.)
(1) To settle an argument, please
state the year In which Oreuon was ad
muted to the Union; also who was
President at the time.
(2) Please tell where I can write to
find out the names of the different
moving picture companion and their
addresses. A SUBSCRIBER.
(1) February 14, 1869. James Bu
chanan was President.
(2) Write to Motion Picture Editor,
The Oregonlan, enclosing self-addressed
stamped envelope.
Inscription on Vase.
PORTLAND. Jan. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) Will you please translate this for
me? It was on a vase I received for
Christmas: "Flrenze. Museo Nazlonale,
lladonna, Luca delta Kobbla."
MRS. C. P. LAWRENCE.
ln Inscription Indicates that the
vase Is after Luca della Robhla's "Ma
donna," preserved in the National Mu
seum at Florence. Italy. Luca della
Robbla was a noted sculptor of the 15th
century and Inventor of enameled terra
cotta. "Flrense Is the Italian spelling
of Florence.
"Drunk" nnd "Canyon."
PORTLAND. Jan. 12. (To the M
ltor.) Please Inform me (1) If "I have
drunk" Is correct; also (2) which is
correci."cany,on" or "canon."
A SUBSCRIBER.
(1) It Is correct.
(2) . Either.
It Is Not Good J.'
PENDLETON, Or, Jan. 12. (To the
Editor.) Please advise If It is con
sidered good form for a man -to wear
aress gloves unbuttoned and turned
gown at the top. A SI'BSCRIBER.
The Waldrop children gave a very
entertaining programme at the Baptist
Tabernacle on the East Side last night.
Now that the state Democratic con
vention has been set for April 19 the
1892 campaign has started. Among the
names mentioned for the Congressional
race are: Senator li. M. Veath. of Cot
tage Grove, and Senator Jeff Myers, of
Linn County, for the first district; J.
H. Raley, of Pendleton, and ex-United
States Senator James II. Slater, of La
Urande, for the Second District. The
Republicans, it Is understood, look to
Charles A. Johns. Mayor of Baker City,
as a likely candidate.
Can and Train Problem.
U. S. DREDGE UMATILLA. Upper
Columbia, Jan. 10. (To the Editor.)
In regard to the problem of a gun fired
from the end of a train, supposing
there is a boy standing on the train,
by the gun, with a ball in hand, and
there Is an enemy six miles behind
chasing gun and train, at the same
speed or any speed. Do you. or any
one, mean to tell me that the projectile
nrcd with a full charge at that object
will drop to the ground and have no
more power than that boy's ball? If
so. what becomes of the power of the
powder or dynamite or whatever ma
terial the gun's charge Is composed of?
v hat earthly use Is a stern-chasing
gun to a fast-lightinjj vessel beiii
chased by another?
JOHN BYRNE.
Ex-Quartermaster.
The correspondent overlooks the fact
that the gun and train problem con
ceives an impracticable hypothesis and
that is that the cannon discharges the
projectile at an initial velocity of only
60 miles an hour. A rifle bullet's ve
locity is about 1000 miles an hour and
larger rrojectlle - attains a corre
sponding speed depending on the
charge and type of gun. It Is not dif
ficult to throw a baseball at an Initial
velocity of 60 miles an hour. The
genulus who conceived the problem
probably did not suggest a baseball
because In that event the problem
would puzzle no one. To make it In
teresting he Invented an Impossible
cannon, relying on the confusion with
real cannon the problem would engen
der In the minds of those Interested..
Worst Is Yet to Come.
WEISER. Idaho. Jan. 10. (To the
Editor.) Being a citizen of Portland
I have resd with much Interest of the
Willbrldge Jitney question.
We had good car service out there,
considering the revenue derived from
it and operating expenses. But the
people nursed unkindly feeling toward
corporate Interests that have millions
Invested In some other sections of our
city, and cbose a bug in place of safety
and reasonable comfort.
If the citizens do not change their
attitudes soon on this question they
can expect to Bee more concrete, steel
and ties coming up In the near future.
P. G. KESTER.
When Colombia Was From.
PORTLAND. Jan. 12. (To the Edi
tor.) Please inform me whether the
Columbia River has been frozen over
sufficiently to enable a person to walk
from Portland to Vancouver at any
time In the past 10 years.
A SUBSCRIBER.
A numrier of persons walked across
the Columbia River at Vancouver on
the Ice In Januaary. 1909. Attempts
were made a year aso to croBS on the
lee Jam, but failed.
next thing should be a tank car which
distils its own oil as it tramples on a
village, or a machine gun which makes
Its own cartridges.
If Dan Kellaher knows any one
thing better than all the rest, It Is
the grocery business in all its ramifica
tions and his allegations of a trust
may be held as the voice of authority.
Jones of Marlon would decorate
with a medal each Oregon soldier who
went to the border, which is handsome
recognition. Indeed; but a big, yellow
double-eagle looks better.
Wilson's Invitation to the half
frozen pickets to come in and have
something warm shows a feeling for
the workers that does not extend to
the cause.
A while ago the Swiss navy was a
Joke, but now that government has
chartered steamships to carry supplies
and its flag will be seen on the seas.
- It is hardly necessary for Senator
Moser to make .denial of anything
printed about him in a paper of guess-
able politics.
Did anybody ever consider that a
man who commutes a fine at the rate
of 82 a day In Jail is working under the
scale?
Grants Pass sugar Is reaching the
local market and there Is the chance
for "Made in Oregon" consumers.
A season that opens late and closes
early will have as many good games,
and that Is what the fans want.
Germany will have the largest navy
If this elimination of a battleship a
day continues.-
Berllners are luckier than Portland
ers to get an egg a day during the next
fortnight.
A Congressional investigation that
does not rip up a Republican is waste
time.
Ballplayers who go on strike may be
struck out.
Agar tor Constipation.
M. J. writes: "Will long continued
use of agar-sugar prove harmful to the
stomach or Intestines? (2) Does It ever
cure constipation, or simply relieve It?
Have taken It dally for over a year.
When I stop taking It I am still trou
bled with constipation. The stomach Is
irritated and much troubled by gas. (3)
Would the agar form gas? (4) Is there
a cure for sagging stomach?
REPLY.
1. I do not think so.
J. Yea. Agar absorbs water and provides
bulk for the Intestinal content. During the
period of Its use the sating and bowel habits
must be changed If permanent good Is te
result. As examples, a taste for rougher,
eoaraer, less concentrated foods must be
developed. The habit of regularity must be
established.
8. X do not think so.
4. By building up the muscles sarrlmT of
the abdomen can be overcome, or practically
so. By proper dieting a moderate dilation
of the stomach can be eured.
Should Train Yourself.
Texas writes: "I am a girl 11 years
old, I have a severe pain In my stom
ach on my left side, at times this place
gets a little sore. I am also nervous
when I get excited, I cry and tremble.
Sometimes I ache and hurt all over
Just like Z waa going to chill. Do you
think I need the advice of a doctor?"
REPLY, '
You an vereraotlonal and prebably
hysterical, You need some wholesome ad
vice probably from a physician. You should
bs able to train yourself out ef 111 health
Into seed health.
Kidneys Not Disturbed,
i M. W, writes) "I am 80 years old and
am bothered with. my kidneys terribly
lately, especially when sitting down
long. There seems to be a very strong
odor. Kindly advise me as soon as
possible, as I intend to get married
around March next."
REPLY. .
There is nothing the matter with your
kidneys. If you will drink enough water
and adjust your exercise to" your eating and
your eating to your exercise the odor com
plained of will disappear.
Superior in News Service
arid Timely Information
The Sunday Oregonian
HE SAW LINCOLN NOMINATED At Hood River resides E. L.
Smith, former Secretary of Washington Territory, who witnessed
the nomination of the Great Emancipator at the epochal Chicago
convention of May, I860. By epecial correspondence comes a
splendid- story to The Sunday Oregonian, relating Mr. Smith's in
teresting recollections.
HERBERT KAUFMAN'S PAGE Bold, black type on clean, white
paper that's the way the Kaufman page fronts its readers. And
every sentence of it is equally assertive of independence and man
hood and cleanliness, and everybody thinks so. Read "The Man
.Who Wants to Do It AIL"
WILL WOMAN'S SOLE SOLVE HER MYSTERY ? Not finger
prints, a la Bertillon, but footprints on white raper made when
the anxious fair one sets her trilby down to take the impression
that may solve fate's-design are interpretive of character and
physical poise, says Royal Dixon. Offering also photographs of
a few feet to prove it.
OUR ARMY IN ALASKA Frank G. Carpenter's travel story of our
soldiers in the Alaskan country, telling of the different Army
posts and the work undertaken by the service. With photographs.
Word of a domain where the War Department builds and maintains
telegraph lines, wagon roads and traHs..
CHURCH AND SCHOOL A page to each, and each replete with in
formation of interest. The Sunday sermon is by Rev. A. C. Moses,
pastor of Waverley Heights Congregational Church. The Sunday
Oregonian's page of Portland school news is edited by an able staff
of student writers
PERSONS AND SCENES CAUGHT BY CAMERA Pictures of
world events and characters, forming a splendid photographic news
service appearing regularly in the Sunday issue. With accom
panying paragraphs of explanation.
POEMS OF HEART INTEREST "My Aln Countrie," and "The
Miller of the Dee," lead the contributions on the weekly page of
favorite verse, assembled from treasured clippings and jealously
guarded scrap-books. Will Carleton, too, is there, firm favorite of
the late '70s, with "The Schoolmaster's Guests." Read it again.
SPRING STYLES FOR MILADY Models of the moment described
andf depicted in The Sunday Oregonian, with hints to the votaries
of Fashion. Also a little story about women who have won fame
in the war zone and fields of less danger.
5 THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN 5p