Morning Oregonian., January 16, 1917, Page 8, Image 8

8
THE 3IORXIXG OREGOXIAX, TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1917.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY, JAN. 16, 1917.
A FEW POINTED QUESTIONS.
Questionnaires are the fashion, so
The Oregonian will address one to the
leaders of the Democratic party:
"Why did Bernard Baruch contrib
ute to the Democratic campaign fund
$35,000, a sum out of all proportion
to his means and to the contributions
of others who are far more wealthy?
Was all of this sum his own sub
scription or was the bulk of it col
lected from "Wall Street associates
who did not wish to be known as
contributors or whom the Democratic
leaders did not wish to figure before
the public as subscribers?
Why was Mr. Baruch appointed a
member of the Council of National
Defense? Was it because he, a stock
broker, has any knowledge of naval
or military affairs or of munition
manufacture which would be of value
to the Nation?
What powerful motive had Cleve
land H. Dodge for subscribing to the
Democratic campaign fund $79,000, a
larger sum than any individual is
known to have contributed to any Na
tional campaign In the past?
Mr. Dodge having invested heavily
In Mexican mines, what is the differ
ence between him and the other in
vestors in Mexico whom the Presi
dent has denounced as exploiters?
Since the proposed corrupt prac
tices bill, fathered by the Democratic
party, limits campaign contributions
from any individual to $5000, was not
the contribution of larger sums equal
ly immoral and corrupt when Mr.
Baruch subscribed his, and perhaps
others', $35,000 and Mr. Dodge sub
scribed his, and perhaps others',
$79,000?
.How comes it that. Wall Street be
ing irredeemably wicked and Repub
lican, so many Wall Street men sub.
scribe part of their ill-gotten gains to
the Democratic party, and how comes
it that the Democratic party, which
is spotlessly virtuous, accepts the
tainted money?
MIXXKKOTA AND THE I. W. W.
The state of Minnesota Is hav
ing more than its share of trouble
with the pestiferous Industrial Work
ers of the World, in connection with
Its labor situation in the Masaba iron
range country. Legislative investiga
tion of a lawless situation is contem
plated, with the sincere support of the
Governor. The outlaw I. W. W. have
been accused of all manner of crimes
against civilized society. Putting oil
into wells upon which people depend
for their drinking water, burning
buildings and waylaying and beating
peaceful workingmen are only a few
of these.
Organizers of these outrages openly
proclaim their hatred of society and
determination to tear down the exist
ing order. They present the paradox
of being militant non-militants. They
are opposed to war and one of their
favorite arguments is that rulers un
der present conditions compel their
"subjects" to commit atrocities against
their will. They want to abolish the
barbarities of organized conflict in
order to substitute a new species of
savagery of their own. They are,
while proclaiming a sort of socialism
as their ideal, the most anti-social of
all. They prate about "abolishing the
profit system" and about giving every
i body the full measure of what he pro
duces and most of these trouble
makers would produce very little un
der any conditions that required con
sistent preparation for labor and the
labor itself. At the same time they
deny to other workingmen the right
to work in peace. They refuse to
recognize Mne of the fundamental
principles upon which modern society
Is organized, and that is that each
individual must concede something for
the common good. They concede
nothing. They will either have it all
"their own way, or they will waste and
destroy and commit crimes against
persons and property without con
science and without stint.
It does not seem probable that a
(rreat deal will come of the Minnesota
investigation." This is partly be
cause legislative investigations con
ducted without much preparation and
in the midst of conditions unfavorable
for calm consideration of the really
serious fundamental questions in
volved seldom do amount to much.
Another reason for probable failure
is that politicians do not often have
the nerve to recommend drastic meas
ures. The state of Minnesota, and
every other state, has the right to de
mand, first of all, that its penal laws
shall be obeyed, that assault and
arson and the poisoning of wells
shall cease, with every other
form of outlawry and sabotage. Our
present system of Government is not
perfect; no one contends that it is;
but it is the best we have at present,
and it is entitled to respect. We have,
indeed, a free country, no matter wnat
the demagogues and agitators may say
about it, and no mere handful of
criminals ought to be permitted to set
the whole system at naught.
One trouble is we are too com
plaisant and too content to take much
trouble about a really important issue.
Of course, if some exceptionally Sa
tanic outbreak should arouse us to
action, we would make short work of
the whole business. The outlaw ele
ment is numerically quite insignifi.
cant. But the way to make the speed
iest end of it would be to attack It in
Its incipiency.
A considerable number of American
manufacturers are establishing branch
plants . in Canada, stimulus having
been given to the movement by belief
that after the war there will be some
sort of understanding among the coun
tries of the entente. It is the hope of
these Americans that their plants will
be regarded in that event as Canadian
concerns and that they will receive the
benefits of favoring tariffs. The United
States commercial invasion covers a
wide scope, some 500 establishments
being1 reported to represent an invest
ment of about $150,000,000. A dozen
makers of agricultural implements are
among the number, it being their pur
pose to avail themselves of the oppor
tunity to cater to Canadian needs at
close range. The Monetary Times says
that American capital, from present
indications, is likely to cut a consider
able figure in the export business of
the Dominion after normal conditions
have been restored.
SALUTARY LESSON.
Vice is vice. Immorality is im
morality. Debauchery is debauchery.
The Supreme Court of the United
States upholds the Mann white slave
act with a sweeping declination to
condemn the amorous transgressions
of adventurous travelers between
states who seek to combine pleasure
with business. If such a one takes a
female companion along "fer immor
al purposes", he has subjected him
self to the criminal law.
Doubtless it is true that the original
intent of the Mann act was to reach
commercialized vice, .the procurement
of women for the satisfaction of loose
men willing to pay; and it is probably
true also that the way Is open to
blackmailers to catch susceptible vic
tims in their net. But the court is
unable to see that it has any concern
to protect any person who knowingly
associates himself with a woman "for
immoral purposes." If Congress had.
or has, a different intent, let Congress,
and not the court, change the law.
We suppose it ought to bo done.
Tet we confess no special sympathy
for the lecherous Diggses and Camin-
ettis anywhere. We rather think their
fate may be a sound warning to others.
IHilXG THE RUSH ACT.
The public hears from various pro
hibition sources that no one contem
plates for a moment doing violence to
reasonable opinion by demanding a
search-and-seizure clause to the new
dry law. There had been a different
idea, but it was all a mistake. Some
body had been talking too much. Now
all sides are agreed that the forcible
entry of any man's house, for the pur
pose of discovering what he has in
his cellar, is never to occur.
Nevertheless, there is a flood of
suggestions as to the new law, and
several volunteers have prepared com
plete bills, all ready for the Legis
lature. All the law makers need to
do in the judgment of the custodians
of prohibition, or some of them, is to
rush one of their measures through
the legislative machine, add an emer
gency clause and send it on to the
Governor. What's the use of delaying
when the heavy task of discussion,
deliberation and decision has been
thus kindly taken from the shoulders
of the men elected to make the state's
laws ?
Chairman Anderson, who has had
previous experience in dry-law mak
ing, declines with thanks. He does
not propose to be rushed. He will
take, sight-unseen, no ready-made
bills. He has the old-fashioned idea
that it is, the duty of a Legislature
to proceed advisedly after due inves
tigation and hearing, and to proceed
in an orderly manner to a conclusion.
That will be done with the prohi
bition bill.
So it should be. There is no call
from the public for double-quick ac
tion. The people want a workable and
complete law, and they are not de
mandingr speed at the cost of thor
oughness. We are to have prohibition
for a long time, and it is important
to have the right kind.
SUPER-SUPERVISION.
Demand for a paid highway com
mission made by the Grants Pass Ob
server is indorsed by the Eugene
Guard. Following are some of the
arguments:
"Business men with $7,000,000 to
spend on the building of a railroad
irrigation project or industrial plant
would select th,e best men they could
get to plan and execute the work.
"The State Highway Commissioners
should be real directors of the state's
work of building a great state road
system. We do not want a board of
semi-dummies that meet seml-occa-
sionally when convenient for them,
look over the work and formally ap
prove what some hired men of the
State have done."
"Oregon, with a non-salaried com
mission, can expect to have the com
mission packed with men who can af
ford to serve without compensation
and who have some great personal in
terest in a section project."
There is much more along the same
line but none of it is borne out by
facts. A railroad about to bufld a
$7,000,000 extension does not appoint
a special commission. The chief en
gineer gets on the job and the gen
eral manager or the president or the
chairman of the board of directors, or
all of them they are already paid for
other services visit the work "seml
occaslonally" and formally approve
what the "hired men" have done.
.What is a paid highway commission
but a board of hired men in Itself?
Is it the idea that there should be a
state engineer and a highway engi
neering department and that each
highway commissioner of the pro
posed three should know more about
engineering and scientific road con
struction than any engineer In state
employ?
Multnomah County's experience In
appointing a non-salaried highway
commissioner, otherwise known as a
roadmaster, has produced no evidence
of selfish interest on his part. We
should hate to believe that there are
no patriotic men of sincere purpose
in Oregon willing to follow Mr. Yeon's
example to the lesser extent of giving
portion of their time as highway
commissioners.
The Guard and the Observer con
fuse highway engineering with admin
istrative functions. Their plan has no
parallel in private enterprise. It is
another phase of inspection of inspect
ors. If it is a good thing- there should
also be another paid commission to
check up the highway commission
and still another paid commission to
inspect the inspection of the commis
sion that inspects the inspection of
the highway commission.
OREGON'S MINERAL WEALTH.
That Oregon shares in the prosper
ity which has come to the mining in
dustry is apparent from the report of
the State Bureau of Mines that the
metal production in 1916 was about
$4,000,000, the largest since the early
placer mining days. The work of the
bureau in making field examinations
in mining districts and in studying
problems of treatment for refractory
ores has aided materially in stimulat
ing the Industry. The bureau has
provided those whose interest has
been aroused in the Columbia River
Gorge by the Columbia Rlvfr High
way with information as to 'Jie geol-
ogy of that great natural wonder in a
detailed, illustrated report.
Mining merits public encourage
ment, for prospectors have been the
explorers who have first sought out the
resources of the West and have point
ed out the rich valleys to the farmers.
Settlement has followed In their, trail,
and the miners, who succeeded the
prospectors, have provided the first
market for farm products. Portland's
first business boom arose from outfit
ting men for the mines of Idaho,
Montana, British Columbia and South
ern Oregon, and some Portland for
tunes were dug from the Coeur d'Alene
mines. As Oregon abounds in mineral
wealth, which has been merely
scratched, and as the strength of a
state consists In the diversity of its
products, it is important that mining
be fostered along with other Industries.
ADMIRAL DEWEY.
George Dewey was 60 before he at
tracted more than the ordinary notice
given a Navy man. Then he leaped
into the hearts of his countrymen at
bound and remained there. He re
celved his baptism of fire in the GUlf
under Farragut, and through all the
slow-passing years he remembered the
lessons until that May day in Manila
Bay, when he demonstrated that the
American Navy had lost none of its
traditional glory. The American peo
ple came pretty near spoiling him
by adulation, but he escaped.
Dewey's career will long be told in
American history, but his order on
that morning, at Manila Bay will
never cease to be an Inspiration to
American youth. "Tou may fire
when you are ready, Gridley," is one
of the small number of classic Amer
ican phrases chiseled on the American
brain with "Don't give up the ship!
We have met the enemy and they are
ours!" and "Damn the torpedo! Go
ahead!"
Man can leave nothing better.
A RACE FOR STARVATION.
The war may yet resolve itself into
a race between the British and the
central empires to decide which shall
reduce the other -to starvation before
that other has been able to win de
cisive victory In the field. Each is
doing its utmost to prevent supplies
from reaching the other, and each ex
presses gratification at signs that the
other is feeling the pinch of hunger or
scarcity.
The British show satisfaction at evi
dence that their enemies' privations
are becoming unbearable and are
weakening the will to fight. They
gloat over criticisms of the food dic
tatorship in the German newspapers
and over the passionate appeals to the
people to endure their ills bravely.
The London Post calculates that the
existing supply will be exhausted two
months before the new crops are har
vested, while the Times gives figures
to show that the booty taken in Rou
mania will not make good the
shortage.
Germans watch with grim Joy
the growing toll of allied and
neutral ships exacted by the subma
rines, and extremists demand that
their only available sea weapon be
used without restriction and that all
neutral protests be disregarded. The
shortage of British crops, the rigid
control of food consumption by the
government food director and the ef
forts to bring every available acre
under cultivation are viewed as proof
tbat the submarine blockade is be
coming more effective. Destruction
of several munition ships at Archan
gel is admitted by a high Russian of
ficial to have been his country's worst
defeat and is held mainly responsible
for failure to defend Roumania from
invasion. Germany hopes to prevent
supplies and reinforcements from
reaching the entente powers from over
sea and thus to cripple the Salonlki
army in particular.
The prospect is that the sea block
ade of each leading belligerent by the
other -will be prosecuted with greater
contempt of the rights of neutrals
than ever, and the danger that the
United States will be drawn into the
strife is proportionately increased.
CULTIVATING BRITISH PARKS.
News that Premier Lloyd George
has made plans for the compulsory
use of parks and other wild property
in Great Britain for the growing of
foodstuffs marks a step In the British
food campaign that is of greater im
portance than the brevity of the an
nouncement would indicate. The first
move, according to London newspa
pers, has been t the seizure of 13,000
acres, privately owned, with the com
mand that it shall be open to any
applicant, on payment of a nominal
fee, for purpose of cultivation. The
applicant presumably is. required to
show good faith and ability to make
good on the farm. The land is to be
divided into tracts of about ten roods,
or two and one-half acres, each.
This has been followed, according
to the cable news, by a more sweeping
order, judging from the fact that
Richmond and Bushy parks, near the
Thames and in the fashionable south
west district of London, have been in
cluded in a new order of seizure.
Richmond Park contains 2255 acres
and is a favorite Summer resort, with
a history. Charles I ordered in 1637
that it be enclosed and used as a
hunting park. Bushy Park is only
1000 acres in extent, but it contains
numerous horse chestnut trees said to
have been planted by William III. It
is not likely that these trees will be
destroyed, but the significance of the
later news lies in the proximity of the
properties to he heart of London. It
has long been a point upon which
Britain's critics reproached her that
almost within hailing distance of the
notorious slums there existed great
open areas given up to the sports of
the privileged classes.
All this is to be changed under the
pressure of war, and some predict that
the old order, for various reasons.
never will return. For one thing, it
will be difficult, if not impossible, to
restore a semblance of the former
wildness to the land, and for another
it is thought that the economic value
of the new system will be so clearly
manifest that few will care to aban
don it.
The high respect for property which
is a characteristic of the Anglo-Saxon
people is exhibited even in the tem
porary confiscation of this usufruct,
under the grave necessity of war. The
land does not become the property
of the user, but it Is provided that he
shall have title to the improvements
which he makes. At the close of the
war the original owner may redeem
bis property by paying for these Im
provements at a fair valuation. It is
easily conceivable, also, that he will
find it to his advantage to continue
the land In its productive capacity,
the improvements in themselves of
fering some Incentive for taking that
direction.
It would seem that the game pre
serve, together with the idea, in
grained In some Britishers, that game
preservation Is a higher duty than the
raising of food for the people, la
doomed to modification, if not to ex
tinction. The idea must not be con
fused, however, with any vandal plan
to tear up the beauty spots of the
country for purely materialistic pur
poses. London's great parks and the
breathing places of the people are to
be preserved as they are now. The
new order' is aimed chiefly at the
hunting preserves and the unused
areas which are put to no utilitarian
use. The addition to the arable area
of the British Isles will be very great,
and it will serve In large measure not
only to meet the pressing food situa
tion while the war is going on, but
to furnish needed homes for the men
of the returning armies after peace is
declared.
The retiring Governor of Iowa,
George W. Clarke, addressed a fare
well message to the Legislature last
week, advocating repeal of all pri
mary laws, state, judicial and Presi
dential. The complaint of the dis
satisfied executive is thus reported in
a Des Moines dispatch to the Chicago
Tribune:
The Iowa executive attacked the primary
system as pernicious la that Its methods
tend to keep strong, capable men out of
public life and declared that the cost of
conducting a campaign is prohibitive and
beyond the limit of reasonable expense. .
.He asserted tbat the Presidential primary
has been a farce and denounced the nonpar
tisan Judiciary law aa having demonstrated
its utter futility to effect Its purpose.
Without Inquiring whether the Gov
ernor a views have anything to do
with the fact of his retirement, it may
In fairness -be said that he has the
courage of his convictions. The direct
primary, in one form or another,, has
long been an essential feature of
Iowa's political method.
Shipbuilders are scolded by the New
York Times for lack of patriotism in
not undertaking the speedy building
of new warships provided In the pre
paredness programme, the reason for
their reluctance being the time and
cost limits with which they cannot
comply with their hands full of con
tracts and with prices of labor and
material at war level. But one com
pany has offered to build cruisers at
a scale of profit to be fixed by the
Government. Perhaps a little more
disposition on the part of the Admin
istration to credit them with common
honesty would have some effect on
the shipbuilders. They are at least
as honest as the Congressional pork
grabbers.
Once a dog has killed a sheep, he
has the habit.. Pedigree cuts no fig
ure. The sole remedy is the shotgun.
The plan of Representative W. Al
Jones to license all animals may aid
in identification of the killers for all
nocturnal sheep running is teamwork.
but will .not stop the evil. An owner
of a sheepkiller will pay damages un
der implied threat of law, but that
does not cure his dog. What the
sheep owner needs is authority to
kill, just as he has now to remove a
wild animal.
The immense burden which the war
Imposes on Great Britain may be con
ceived from the London Economist's
estimate of .its war expenditures
to December 16 at $17,463,000,000. Of
this sum $13,650,000,000 has been bor
rowed, the remainder nearly 22 per
cent having been paid out of rev
enue. Of the total borrowed, the
Economist estimates that by March 31
more than $4,000,000,000 will have
been lent to the allies, while the Statist
places the sum at $4,550,000,000.
Twelve New York policemen are un
dergoing a three-weeks' diet test In an
effort to prove that they can live on
25 cents a day each, but they seem
to have much to ' learn about what
constitutes nourishing diet. Some
left cornbread untasted, and when in
formed that they were losing a large
number of calories they said that calo
ries did not sound like anything to
eat. Some Instruction in the whys
and wherefores would seem to be a
wise preliminary to the test.
We string along with The Oregonlato in
the belief that there la, no reason for main
taining a single solitary 20oo Job at Salem
that is not needed. We go further than
that. We believe an official who goes around
collecting $2 a minute from printing offices
for tomato cans should be abolished and
the collector made to disgorge the state's
ill-gotten gains. Corvallis Gazette-Tlmea.
Sounds Interesting; but we hadn't
before heard of the tomato-can en
terprise. Yet we know that there is
no limit in the heavens above or the
depths below to the activities of of
ficial inspection.
.Hartford. Conn., also has had a
taste of war. A machine gun which
was being tested got beyond control
and started a fusillade of bullets at
the rate of 500 a minute, which
whizzed over heads, smashed windows,
buried themselves In walls and soon
cleared the streets. Life in a muni
tion town Is certainly full of thrills.
Old Trinity Church, New York, has
elected an up-to-date real estate man
to manage Its extensive property in
the city, and is expected to tear down
a number of old-fashioned brick
houses and erect modern buildings,
either apartments or lofts. The old
church may be the owner of hotels
or cabarets, if it is not careful.
A monument 350 feet high for Jef
ferson Davis is in contemplation, to
be erected at his birthplace In Ken
tucky. Time softens rancor, and as
the people who will contribute to this
memorial believe Mr. Davis was a
good man, there will be little objection
from others.
A man at Columbus, O., confesses
he killed a girl In self-defense the
other night In a room in a hotel. No
doubt. Girls in such situations are
ferocious creatures. It is a wonder
he did not leap from a window.
Movements for "protection of men
over 45 are reaching the stage of
absurdity. The best protection a man
of that age can acquire is to keep him
self from getting rusty.
What the squirrels thought when
they saw that band of Mazamas hik
ing all of a cold night up a mountain
to see a glorious sunrise is another
matter. - '
The highest court in the land says
Diggs and Caminetti are guilty, and
incidentally throws a scare into others
not yet caught.
So many respectable people are be
ing arrested for bootlegging there is
danger the offense will lose its odium-
There Is only one lawyer In the
Js'evada House, and while the strain
will be great the state will survive.
Is the present wave of crime due
to a con junction of the planets?
Gleams Through the Mist,
Br Dean Colllas.
PSALM OF THE PSOLOXS.
Pslng, psing once more my merry Muse!
Thy psweet, psweet psaltry psmite.
Until I presently enthuse
And In thy tune unite:
And pstraight a psalm I'll rise to psing
Or Psalm psolons and each hing
They do in laws and. lawmaking.
I psaw Pshad Krantx and Gregory
Home from the psesslon come.
And bade them to Impart to me
The news, but they were dumb;
And pso, in pnpite of their negation,
I psang about the legislation
A psong from my imagination.
Digression,
(The printer pswore within his psouV
And pawed the psounding linotype;
"A pslob who pspells pso, needs a whole
Pslew of correction at one pswipe!
I do not mean to quibble but.
I fancy that ha is a nut!"
I listened to his hymn of hate.
And brought my spelling up to date.)
Episode.
The shades of night were falling fast.
As through the town of Salem passed
A. chap who bore and made no din I
A little something packed within
Excelsior.
He met a chap and said: "A-hum!
But had you heard the fleet has come?"
And to his arm the fellow clung
While deep he burrowed down among
Excelsior.
Serenely shone the fellow's brow;
There was a murmured: "Well, here's
how!"
The package lay upon the floor;
From Its torn top protruded more
Excelsior.
And then the fellow cleared his throat.
And packed off something 'neath his
coat.
Leaving the parcel on the floor
Looted and empty, 'xcepting for
Excelsior.
The janitor came to the room
And swept the thing up with a broom,
Its spirit fled, had left behind
The padding which the parcel lined
i-xcelslor.
THE BAXD-WAGOV.
"I have a bill " the Clerk declaimed.
Said the Senator: "Say no more,
Except if it be a measure framed
To pester the Demon sore!"
"I have a bill "rthe Clerk declared.
Said the Senator: "Still thy cry 1
If it's prohibition, 'tis my decision
To vote an emphatic aye!"
"Oh, why do you do this thus, I prayT
Said the Clerk as he bowed his head.
And the Senator shook his ringlets
gray.
And thus to the Clerk he uald
Chorus:
"No matter if It gives me grief or
pleasure;
No matter if it gives me joy or pain
On each and'ev'ry prohibition measure,
I'm voting Aye, with all my might
and main.
And should -you ask me why, oh why
I do It.
And why I've made this most pecu
" liar vow,
I'll very plainly give my answer to It
The water-wagon's the band-wagon
now!'
Full chorus, with band accompaniment:
"No matter what, nor when, nor
whence, nor whither,
Nor wherefore, nor whereunder nor
whereby;
If it's designed to make the Demon
wither.
We'll stand right up and bravely
answer": 'Aye!'
And should you ask us why, oh why
we do it.
We'll plainly tell you both the why
and how,
And you will find there's Just one an
ewer to It
THE WATER-WAGON'S THE BAND
WAGON NOW!"
(Note We didn't mean the kind of
full chorus we think you thought we
meant. Ed.)
THE BILI.IAD
LaFollette's wrath, the bills the direful
spring
Of woes unnumbered, we might rise
and sing;
And tell about his savage castlgatlon
Of every bill for each appropriation.
And how more loud than all the oth
ers, he
Hath whooped er up and cried "Econ
omy !"
On many a bill we might tune np ou
song,
Bills wise, bills freakish, bills both
short and long;
We might arise and on the timbrel
whack
To sing the Lewis bill on white and
black
Or any other measures, large and fat.
Aimed to abolish this, or wlpa out that.
The highway code, th' Insurance cod
that spells
The ceaseless labors done by Harvey
Wells,
And by committees, and commission
eke
That met about for weary week
week.
And now present their measures, duly
drawn
For Solons wise to operate upon.
All these I well might sing with sest
and zeal.
And yards of poesy I might unreel,
But when the cycle has -been sung, my
song
Back to a common center comln
strong.
Bids me smite my lyre and warble
still
In all its phases strange the Bone-dry
Bill..
The bill that can with power absolute
The notions of the Senate quite trans
mate. And make the erstwhile "Wet" arise
and say:
"Avaunt the bootleg and also the boot!"
Whether from Clackamas or Marlon,
The Senators' opinions are as one:
"The Bone-Dry bill the voters bade
us fix
And therefore it were wise that It were
done!"
So when at last the finale vote they try.
Wherein the bone-dry measure must
go by.
And call upon each Senator In turn
There won't be one. Til bet, who won't
vote: "Aye!"
Advice From a Lawyer.
Boston Transcript,
Subbubs My neighbor has a big dog
that we are all afraid of. What would
you advise? "Get a bigger one. Five
dollars, please."
SOLUTION" IS BETTER TEACHERS
School Tradables Can Be Eaded by Pay
ing: Lancer Salaries.
ALBANY. Or, Jan. 14. (To the Edi
tor.) In a Portland evening paper the
editor has given a good deal of edi
torial space to criticising the product
of the public school, and undertakes
the solution of the problem. In every
one of his solutions he is at variance
with the sciences of psychology and
education. .In one editorial he holds
that a function of education is "men
tal discipline." This theory has long
been refuted by psychology. In an
ther editorial he says the "fads and
frills" should be eliminated. He evi-
ently does not know that every sub-
ect ever introduced Into the public
schools except the three "R's" has been
ailed a "fad and a "frill " in its day.
In the editorial of Friday, January 12.
he says: "Suppose the fathers and
mothers of the school children of this
city should proceed thoroughly to
thresh out the issue of a live versus a
dead curriculum" Now what parent
nows anything about the principles
education or has the time to find
out? He might as well ask that the
arents undertake to displace the phy-
icians In diagnosing sickness and pre
scribing tbe remedy.
I thoroughly agree with him that the
schools are not fitting pupils for life.
ut they are doing all they can with
he means at their disposal. JT he solu
tion of the whole problem Is adequate
pay for teachers. Every city of any
lze has had its schools surveyed to
nd what is wrong. If these cities
would pay salaries that would attract
capable men and women for life
careers the schools would not need to
surveyed. They would be efficient
all the time.
According to the United States Bu
reau of Education J570.000.000 was
spent on public education in 1915. This
was one-fourth of the amount spent
on alcoholic liquors, less than what
was spent on tobacco, and a little more
than was spent on the movies! Tbe
average salary of all teachers is 1525
per year! If It ls true that the high
cost of living has decreased the value
of a dollar In buying power to 60 cents,
this leaves the princely sum of $315
per year to induce capable men and
women to stay in the profession to
urn out captains of industry, corpora
tion lawyers and M. D.'s with practices
of $100,000 and over per year! I verily
believe that if teachers donated their
services some people would Insist on
better results." When the people want
their children fitted for life as badly
as tbey want booze, tobacco, movies,
utomoblles. etc.. they can expect bet
ter results and not before.
Another cause of poor results In the
public schools Is the organization of
the public school system. Boards of
Education made up of politically in
clined men dominate the policy of the
schools. As a rule the Board decapi
tates a superintendent or teacher at
the end of the year who refuses to be
tool in its hands. The judgments of
teachers and superintendents based on
as technical an education as any other
profession Is often set aside by a Board
In the medical profession new knowl
edge and Improved methods can be im
mediately put in practice. In the
schools the stamp of approval must be
put on them by the Board or the people
In the face of Ignorance, prejudice and
politics. Is it any wonder that capable
men and women refuse to be drawn
Into the teaching profession or merely
use it as a Btepplng-stone for some
thing else?
I have been teaching in public school
for six years, and in all that time
have not talked to a young man in
public school work who was not aim
ing to get out of this thankless, under
paid profession.
A DISGUSTED TEACHER,
NOW NO CAUSE FOR. AMENDMENT
Webb-Kenyon Act Decision Remove
Anrnment for Nation-Wide Dry Liw.
LOUISVILLE. Ky.. Jan. 11. (To th
Editor.) The decision of the United
States Supreme Court upholding th
Webb-Kenyon law cuts the foundation
from under those who have been de
manding Nation-wide prohibition as
the only means for making state-wide
prohibition prohibit. It has been
claimed for years that the prohibition
laws of Maine and Kansas and other
prohibition states have been nullified
by Interstate shipments under protec
tion of the Federal laws controlling
interstate commerce.
But now that the Webb-Kenyon law
has been sustained it will be possible
for any state to be just as "dry" as it
may desire. Each state has the power
now to cut off every shipment of liquor
of every kind and to prohibit the bring
ing In of liquor even as personal bag-
gasre.
The desire to meddle with the affairs
of others will undoubtedly actuate the
fanatical element in demanding more
and more prohibitions, but It seems to
me that all except the fanatics and
mercenaries will agree that Arizona
and Idaho and ot r states having dras
tic antl-sl.lpping laws, enforceable
under the Webb-Kenyon law, have no
longer a vestige of excuse for asking
that New York or Pennsylvania be
forced into the so-called prohibition
column by votes of other states.
T. M. GILMORE.
President National Model License
League.
TIS DIFFERENT NOWADAYS.
"Man wants but little here below, nor
wants that little Ions;," so ran a lilt of
long ago, a Methodlstic song, but now
days it won't apply, for in the modern
soul the spirit of rapacity holds un
restrained control. With eagerness he
can't restrain the grasper stacks up
wealth with energy of brawn and brain
that undermines his health. He tolls
and schemes day after day to modera
tion blind until in earth he's laid away
and leaves it all behind. Then rela
tives he never saw. of every kinship
grade.-hike to practitioners of law to
bust the will he made and fight In
courts of equity like eager buccaneers
for crelt hls lateness left when he
climbed up the golden stairs. He wanted
plenty here below, of kale a goodly
store and when he saw his thousands
grow to millions wanted more. He
never paused to think ss he at Mam
mons altar knelt In realms of Im
mortality they have no use for gelt.
Tbe man whose great ambition leads to
plenty In the home, who tolls to meet
hl dear ones' needs this side the lonely
tomb.- who labors through the working
day at wage he can command end home
In evening wends his way with dinner
pail In hand where waits him wlfey's
1 .- 1 1 . t. . V a m flHlltV mil
J happy little kiddles pile upon the daddy
knee Is happier than he who schemes to
gather gold in heaps, who grabs the
stuff by day and dreams-of riches while
he sleeps.
JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
Many Republicans Tnrnea Democratic.
BOTD, Or.. Jan. 12. (To the Editor.)
I see by The Oregonian that some
Democrats of 25 years ago have turned
to the Republican party. There always
have been some men who think that the
common people ought to pay high
tariff for the benefit of the few.
If taxing people on everything they
use is best for them, why not double
or treble the tax and make us all rich?
I think from the way the election
went last Fall that some of the present
day Republicans roust have turned to
the Democratic party. I think Roose
velt will try to run for President on
the Democratic ticket in 1920. He and
a few of his kind of men have killed
the Republican party.
JOHN DARNIELLE.
Proof Positive la Given.
Pathfinder.
"Does WMkins own his house, or does
he rent it?" Inquired one neighbor of
another.
"Rents it," was the decided response.
"How do you know?"
"He stikes matches on the paint.'
In Other Days
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oregonian of January 18. IS92.
inaon, Jan. 16. It is reported that
Princess Mary of Teck is seriouslv
11 from the ordeal she passed through
In the recent death of her bethrothed.
Prince Albert Victor of Wales.
New York. Jan. 15. Thomas A. Edi
son has perfected and patented another
wonderful electrical Invention, the
most remarkable thing about which is
the fact that Intercommunication can
be maintained absolutely without the
use of cables or wires.
OlympJa,- Wash.. Jan. 15. Colonel
Pike, who is here attending the meet
ing of the military board, said today
that he could get his regiment for
service in Chile In a week's notice.
B. F. La
.aujrhlln
came
down
ornlne
from
Dalles City yesterday mornlncr and
says the
mush ice.
middle Columbia is full of
The Oreg-onlan moved Into tempora
ry quarters In Its new building- at the
comes of Sixth and Alder streets yes-
teraay.
i naif a Centnry Ago,
From The Oregonian of January 16. 188T.
asnington. Jan. 8. President
Johnsoi. at a banquet given In honor
of the anniversary of the, battle of
New Orleans, was received with the
most cordial manifestations, to which
he briefly returned thanks.
Since the paper mTll at Oregon Cltr
actually commenced operations, the
good people of that little burg have,
apparently, all gone wild on the paper
question.
General Grant-contemplates an ex
tended visit to Europe,
The weather of this Winter, al
though occasionally blustering, has
not been cold anywhere on this por
tion of the Pacific Coast,
Some of our citizens have arranged
for a course of lectures at Oro Fino
hall to which the public may gain ad
mission at a price wlthjn the reach o
all.
POSSIBILITIES OF BOVINE MVSIO
Barnyard Soloists Will Be In Great De
mand. Perhaps,
PORTLAND. Jan, 15. (To the Edi
tor.) I have noted with some degree of
Interest the various contributions to
the open columns of our dally press,
wherein it is vouchsafed by abundant
testimony that music in the presence of
a cow has a tendency to create an increase-In
quantity and quality of milk.
Should the idea survive the milk test
to which it ts now belnsr subjected,
it bids fair to open up a wider field of
possibilities for the operatic star, the
itinerant musician, lyric writer, com
poser, hand-organ, phonograph record,
etc.
It is to be conceded then that muslo
as an applied art In its range of the
cow barn will necessarily be required
to undergo a reconstructive process in
all its essential details In order to meet
with approval of the receptive cow.
The ragtime ditty and hesitation waltz
must give place to barnyard overture,
haymow .melodies, and bovine classics.
The sheet music of the future will have
as a cover design an artistic reproduc
tion of the interior of a cow barn, and
the music publisher of the future will
perhaps feel justified in warranting
his wares thusly: "Get this beautiful
bovine number for your cow; war
ranted to increase her milk produc
tion from 60 to 60 per cent. Also guar
anteed to reconcile her tail In fly time."
Again It appears that such immeasura
ble high lights as Enrico Carruso could
be heard to advantage In an operatic
seance at 1 A. M. in Jones' cow barn.
I can also Imagine father following the
vocation of musical director in Snyder's
barnyard, or sister Installed as soloist.
or Victrola operator at some condensed
milk factory: or brother Dave as ac
cordion accompanist to Mayor Strauss'
brindle cow. And then a Jersey
quartette, a Holstein orchestra, or a
Durham brass band would certainly be
an Innovation as far as the populace of
cow-infested district was concerned.
Finally, music, beautiful, enchanting.
scintillating music, will -be brought into
requisition to adjust all the Issues of
life, and during the egg quarantine sea
son we- shall perhaps be permitted to
listen enraptured to the phonographlo
strains of Memoiles" and Only a
Dream of the Golden Past" issuing from
the recesses of multitudinous hen
houses. In the meantime I am expectantly
waiting to hear from someone who has
discovered. Invented, or propagated a
self-cracking butternut.
ORR O. SMITH.
BARDS BONE-DRY SAENGERFEST.
BT DEAN COLLINS.
Another sweet singer has come pip
ing by the window and insinuated him
self Into the Saengerfest on the Bone
dry Law, along with the other local
bards.
He whispers his name into our ear
and asks that we suppress It.
We have itnnn an anrl hr,h Intro
duce him to the public as "B. L. P."
And he sings: v.
John Barleycorn, my Jo, John.
When we were first acquainted:
You kept my brain befogged all day.
And kept my nose bright painted.
My breath smelled like a brewery
Wherever it did blow
And that is what you did for me,
John Barleycorn, my Jo.
John Barleycorn, my Jo. John.
Tour work on me is done.
The bone-dry bill Is going through
And going on the run.
And soft drinks 1 shall ever drink
Instead of liquor's flow.
I've said good-bye. so go and die.
John Barleycorn, my jo.
John Barleycorn, my Jo, John,
Tou were a friend of mine.
But I am glad to see you go
To say good-bye to wine.
For. after all. In soberness
Through life I'd like to go;
I'm glad they kill, with bone-dry bill
John Barleycorn, my Jo.
ANSWER TO "BACHELOR'S PRAYER"
I wouldn't live upon a ranch.
Where there is lots of work.
Where housewives cook, and clean, and
darn.
And chase away the dirt.
Old Batch. I see yon want a wife.
To cook and wield a broom;
How clear that shows your oWn suc
cess. So talk! Tou have the room.
I could not stand a lady's man.
Tour work is at the barn;
So tend your cows and horses.
And right your little farm.
Good cooks and gentle women
Won't wait for you today.
So Just go on housekeeping
In your good old-fashioned way.
BESSIE MAT WOOD.
Secret Way to Get Money.
Christian Register.
"A workman was busily employed by
the roadside, and the wayfarer paused
to Inquire: "What are you digging
for?" The workman looked up.
"Money," he replied.
"Money! And when do you expect to
strike it. my good man?"
"On Saturday," replied the other, and
resumed operations.