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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 23, 1917)
10 THE 3IORNIXG OREGOXIAX. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1917. rOBTLAXD, OREGON. - Entered at Portland (Oregon) Postofflce as second-class mall matter. Subscription rates Invariably In advance: (By Hall.) Daily. Sunday Included, one year .......99-00 iJaiiy. Sunday included, six months ..... 4.25 . XJaiiy. Sunday included, three months .. 2.23 Daily. Sunday Included, one month .... .75 Xaily. without Sunday, one year 6.00 Kaily, without Sunday, three months ... 1.75 IMily, without Sunday, one month 0 Weekly, one year ..................... 1.5o Sunday, one year 2.50 Sunday and Weekly 3.50 (By Carrier.) Sally, Sunday Included, one year 9.00 XJaiiy, Sunday Included, one month - 73 How to Remit Send postoftice money order, express order or personal check: on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk- Qive postoffice address In full, including county and state. Postage Rates 12 to IS pages, 1 cent: 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 84 to 48 pages, S cents; 60 to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 70 pages, 6 cents; 78 to t2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age double rates. KsMtera Bnslness Office Veree & Conk lln. Brunswick building. New York; Verree si Conklin. Steger building, Chicago. San Krancisco representative, R. J. Hid well, 742 Market street. PORTLAND, TUESDAY. JANUARY 23. 1917 "MONROE DOCTRINE ioB THE WORLD. In his speech to the Senate Presi dent Wilson proposed a revolutionary change of foreign policy for the United States. Only a radical alteration in the relations of this to other na tions, and of other nations to- each other, could justify him in such a proposal. Such a change is taking place by means of a war without precedent in extent, in violence, in destruction of life and wealth and in its Inevitable consequences to the hu man race. It has inf licted injury on neutral nations and has disturbed the normal flow of their lives to a degree which seems slight only by contrast with the much larger results to the belligerents. It has proved the isola tion of the United States to be a dream of a bygone period in the Nation's life. George Washington's policy of preserving peace by avoidance of en tangling alliances is shown to be out dated, wise as it was in his day. The President tells the Senate in substance that a peace-keeping alliance with the whole world is our only sure way of escape from being drawn into the next war. Mr. Wilson does not contemplate the possibility of forming the League of Peace until the conclusion of the pres ent war: he makes no claim that the United States should have a part in arranging the terms of peace which will end the war. But he defines with sufficient distinctness the principles on which the treaty of peace must be based if the belligerents desire the United States and other neutrals to join them in maintaining as perma nent the settlement which they make. Any terms which the victors may ex tort because they have the power, without regard to those principles, cannot obtain a guaranty of perman ency in which the United States will join, for "a victor's terms Imposed upon the vanquished" would not have h first reauisite of permanence. A new balance of power cannot have the Ki.nnort of the United States, for it would lack the essential stability; there must be "a community of power." The President's definition of the line to which the warring nations must hew in making peace, if they desire American co-operation in its main tenance, cuts both ways. There must be equality among all nations, big and little. The consent of the governed must be a ;prime requisite in rear rangement of boundaries, hence the right of nationality must be recog- ' nized. A divided Poland, half free, half under foreign rule, would not conform to this idea. The highways of the sea must be neutralized and thrown open to all nations. The free dom of the seas, for which the United States has long contended, must be defined and established. Armaments must be reduced to make them power for order merely, not an instru ment of aggression ' and selfish violence." If the other nations will restore peace in conformity with these prln rtples, the United States should be willing to Join them in preserving it with this Nation's moral, economic , and physical forces, even though this would mean abrogation of the Monroe roctrine. We could well do so, for the league of nations which the Prest dent contemplates would extend the theory underlying that doctrine to all nations. Monroe promulgated that doctrine in opposition to a league of nations which frankly asserted the right, to use Mr. Wilson's words, "to hand peoples about from sovereignty to sovereignty as if they were prop erty." To that assertion Monroe op posed the American doctrine that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. He declared the readiness " of the United States to aid the South Ameri can republics in maintaining the inde pendence which they had gained, in order to preserve this American prin ciple against the doctrine practiced by the Holy Alliance. If all other na tions were to join the United States In adopting "the consent of the gov erned" as their guiding principle in maintaining the world's peace, the occasion for its assertion as applied to the American Hemisphere alone would have passed away. By so doing they would expand that prin ciple to cover the whole wor!d-- most notable triumph for the Ameri can idea. Although the President sets up no claim to participation by the United States in the peace conference which will end the war, it will be necessary for the belligerents to . make terms which will be approved by this coun try, if they are sincere in their desire to follow up the peace conference with the organization of a peace league. Should either the entente or the Teu tonic alliance, flushed with victoryi dictate terms which the American peo ple would not approve, the leading neutral nation- would stand aloof, other neutrals would probably line up with it and peace would still rest on an unstable balance of power. Hence the President's declaration can not fail to have great influence on the deliberations of the conference and on the dema'nds of the nations. They would have in mind Mr. Wilson's statement that this Nation cannot keep out of the next war, and they would not welcome the prospect of having the great power and resources of this Nation, undiminished by war, possibly thrown into the scale against them. Serious controversy over the pro posal that the United States revolu tionize its foreign polioy Is to be ex pected, but only by discussion can the public be educated and public opinion formed on the subject. Our relations with other nations have run so smoothly and we have had so little direct interest in the quarrels of Eu- rope that we have confined our at - tenuon too cioseiy to our internal al- j fairs. We need education on interna tional affairs, and this war is forcing us to study them. That we may con tinue this study more earnestly and that our opinion may be formed when the time : comes for action on the peace-league proposal, it is well that the interval be spent in discussion. By that means the Nation will be pre pared with a decision so well formed that. In organizing- the league, we shall play a part worthy of our rank among: nations, and when the time comes for us to fulfill the obligations which will be imposed upon us, we shall "play up." Once in, . we must not draw back, for It must not be said that the nation which led In this movement was the very nation which wrecked it. COMING HOME SOME OF THEM. Twenty-five thousand Guardsmen have been withdrawn from the border. but our own battery and troop are left to fight fleas and chase Jack- rabbits through the sagebrush. Doubt less the little Oregon clique of dis senters to the plan to bring the boys home, just as soon as their services are not needed, will rejoice that an other futile and anxious period of watchful waiting confronts them. The boys want to return solely be cause they are unable to see that they are of slightest value to their country on the border. It would appear to be a request not at all unreasonable, in view of the well-nigh universal opinion that they are right about it all. The great punitive expedition which set out to get Villa dead or alive is returning without Villa and with that amiable cutthroat very much alive. We are getting out because Carranza doesn't want our soldiers there. We went in because.it was our -duty so we said and we didn't care what Car ranza said, or thought, or did. Evi dently we do care. We always did care. But we let on for quite a spell that we did not. We have been very tender about Carranza's feelings, always. We have bluffed and blustered and bloviated. and so has Carranza; but In the end we have always caved in. He had the better wind. The Mexican adventure has cost many million dollars and a lot of trouble. It has not pacified Mexico. It has not done anything except to add another humiliating chapter to the recent record of American diplo macy. It? Is the finest exhibition of fruitless and impotent marching up hill and aown again tne world has seen in a century. WE WONDER. me oregonian believes the peo ple of the state will be surprised to learn that a graduate of the Unl versity of Oregon or the Oregon Agri cultural College, although each has an equipped and operating department of education, Is not permitted to teach In the rural or grade schools of Oregon without examination for a certificate before the public examiners and that his status 13 just the same as the ap plicant's who has not had the advan tage of his training. It is not the pur pose of The Oregonian just now to say that a change in policy ought to be made, but it would like to see a dis cussion of the question and to learn from qualified educators why it is so. The Oregonian has seen a pamphlet which describes the work of the unl versity and college and presents an argument as to appropriate service for the respective departments of educa tion in the two institutions. It is set forth that the university and college are educating for their life work high school . teachers. manual training teachers, home economic teachers, doctors, lawyers, journalists, engi neers, architects, agriculturists, phar macists, foresters and the like, but not grade teachers. The line is drawn there. Only the special or higher pro fessions and occupations are reached All this is interesting, quite inter esting. We hear that the great need of the grade schools is qualified teach ers, and that the facilities of our one normal school are overtaxed. Is there no way for Corvallis and Eugene to help out? MR. FENTON'S PLAN. The Oregonian has long held the idea that tax-levying and tax-spending functions should be separated wher ever they are now closely joined. The two are lodged in one body In the city of Portland under its existing form of charter. But there is now more or less separation in the several other districts in which special levies are imposed. County government would be like city government if the Sheriff, Clerk, Assessor, Surveyor and School Superintendent constituted the tax levying authority. But they do not. The Board of County Commissioners. whose actual handling of county funds is limited, levies county taxes. The school district differs from the city plan in the same particular. The board of directors are so removed from intl mate administrative functions that they are business men who give only a portion of their time to school dis trict work. These facts raise some doubt as to whether the plan proposed by Mr. Fenton for a separate tax-levying commission for each county would produce the economy claimed for it if only separation of tax levying and tax spending be considered. It would perhaps be a valuable adjunct for the city, but In the port and county affairs and in those of the eighty-fou school districts of Multnomah County it would in a large sense be a super supervisory board. It appears from Mr. Fenton's letter, which was published in large part In The Oregonian yesterday, that he has examined into the constitutional phase of his proposal. Elaboration on that point would be Interesting and informative. The charter of the city of Portland lodges the tax-levying authority in city matters in the City Commission. Section two of article eleven of the constitution provides that the "Legislative assembly shall not enact, amend or repeal any char ter or act of incorporation for any municipality, city or town." Probably every other city charter vests author ity to levy taxes ror city purposes solely In its Commission or Council The Oregonian does not set its legal learning above that of members -of the bar, but merely points out this apparent conflict between the consti tution and Mr. Fenton's proposal as a matter calling for elucidation. But if a central lax-levying author ity can be constitutionally created In each county, there is In spite of the over-rated Importance of separation of tax levying and tax spending out side of cities, an argument In favor of the suggestion. It would centralize the tax-levying power. - The fact that we have several tax-levying bodies. each working without consultation 1 with the others as to what they are J doing or the demands they are maJt- ing upon the people, is one reason for the high cost of government. That argument has not been over looked by the author of the proposal. In our estimation it is the best reason offered for its enactment. MOTHERS-IN-LAW. The mother-in-law has been for mally vindicated. She is an indis pensable institution an ornament and a necessity in many American families and an outcast from precious few of them; yet she has from time immemorial been made the unhappy butt of cheap jokes by witless jokers; and as a class she has suffered in the general esteem. But as an individual the mother-in-law of one family is the mother of another family. Who has ever dared say a word against mother? Who that might have dared has ever said it? The Domestic Relations Court of Chicago has Issued a statement to the effect that, in the disputes brought before it, not more than 1 per cent are due to mothers-in-law. The court does not say who is ordinarily to blame. Probably no satisfactory gen eralization can be made on the sub ject. But In the majority of cases it may be safely said that, since it is not the mother-in-law it is not the mother-in-law's married daughter. though it may be her son. This is another way of saying that the man is usually responsible. It is the common observation of most judges that fidelity and kindness on the part of the- husband rarely fail to meet adequate response from the wife. One Oregon judge a few years ago made publicly the statement that in nine divorces out of ten and his experience had extended over many years the man was chiefly to blame. Probably this is an exaggeration. It is not always perhaps not even often that one party, and not the other, must accept all the responsibil ity for serious conjugal differences. Women are not angels, except in the abstract. If they were, there could be little real happiness for worldly and Imperfect man, unless one or the other were translated. But nearly all the drunkards are men, and in one way or another much conjugal un happiness can be traced to drink or could be until the beginning of the recent millennium. Nearly all the chasers" of the other sex are men. though 'the world has far too many frivolous women. But there are com paratively few cases where strict fealty to the family obligation by the hus band has been accompanied by gross laxness or betrayal by the wife. This is a somewhat sweeping assertion, but we believe it is quite true; and we invite any critic or doubter to canvass the facts within his own knowledge. It might be well also for him to collate mentally the records of the mothers-in-law of his acquaintance and to put her on the pedestal where she belongs. THE WYOMING PLAN. Approval by school officials in sev eral Middle Western states of the "Wyoming plan" of military instruc tion, as recently announced in the news dispatches, serves once more to bring into prominence this method of solving the problem of making boys more efficient without at the same time running counter to the extreme pacifist sentiment that is met with in every community. The plan owes its origin to the initiative of Lieuten ant, now Captain, E. Z. Steever, who in 1911 was stationed at Fort D. A. Russell and who, because of his in terest in the education of boys, asked for and obtained permission to or ganize a cadet corps in the Cheyenne High School. This had been tried be fore in the same school but had been abandoned for want of sustained in terest- Lieutenant Steever's first important step was to adapt the drill to the de mand of young students for something to Keep up their interest. It has been found that however much a boy may admire a soldier on parade,, the man ual of arms and the simple marching tactics soon begin to cloy. When the novelty wears off, attendance, not be ing compulsory, soon reflects general lack of interest. , Lieutenant Steever therefore introduced the competitive and the athletic element. Elimina tion drills In the manual of arms are held at intervals: there are first-aid contests, in which the girls have a part; and the cadets are divided into squads for such exercises as wall scaling. A squad of eight Cheyenne boys can now go over a wall more than eight feet high in less than six seconds, and carry their guns with them. The scheme of division into scaling squads is typical of the system. There are some large and some small boys in each, so it is possible for even a small boy to belong to a winning squad. Thus interest is stimulated in the highest degree. The present military director of the school, E. A. Walker, says that the popularity of the plan has been fully demonstrated. About 75 per cent of the students enrolled In the high school at any one time are found In the cadet corps and almost all of them take the work at some time in the school course. There are various other activities, including scholarship contests by squads, Summer camps and various social affairs. The Idea of military training is nicely -proportioned to the general plan of improv ing the boy's physical condition. In stilling obedience without servility, promoting discipline and the spirit of emulation, and giving instruction in many valuable lines not connected with warfare. At the same time the training is of such nature that should the country need the services of these young men to defend it, they would be all the better fit for the necessary duty. IHE FARMER AS A HUSBAND. It Is not alone a question of keeping the boys on the farm but of doing something more to make the place attractive for girls, it seems. Mrs. Kate Barrett, of Virginia, who is con ducting a propaganda for better liv ing conditions for women in the coun try, says that the real danger of the future is that the farmers will be un able to find wives. Then, cf course, rural life will be doomed. Farming is arduous enough and lonesome enough as It is, without condemning every tiller of the soil to bachelorhood. Even the constantly increasing prices of farm products would not atone for it. It i3 the farmer himself who Is to blame, Mrs. Barrett rinds. She says women naturally love the country, and are .better suited for it than for the "fierce competitive life of the city; but the attitude of the farmer toward the work of women discourages them. They hold themselves to be a highly necessary and an integral part in the farm scheme, but they complain that Mr. Farmer is unconvinced; or at least that he is slow to show his ap preciation of their value. This reserve is manifested in many ways, not the least important of them being disinclination to part with a fair share of the incoming cash for purposes peculiarly feminine. To say nothing of the admitted fact that the average farmer's kitchen lacks the modern improvements that he insists on for other departments of his work, the farmer's wife lacks the oppor tunities for diversion that come to her husband. He is "out and around" a good deal, in the ordinary course of his work; he meets bis neighbors on the road and goes to town occasion ally, where he almost always finds time to discuss the issues of the day at the store, no matter how pressing may be the demands of work at home. The wife meanwhile is lucky if she gets away from her work except at infrequent intervals, and then she is quite often too weary to enjoy .herself. There is a good deal of truth In the old adage that while man works from sun to sun, woman's work is never done, s This arraignment of the farmer as a husband is not new, but it em phasizes at this time the fact -that the situation is becoming serious. Mrs. Barrett is convinced from study of the statistics that marriage Is declin ing in the country, and from this she draws the deduction that the farmer's lack of respect for women's work Is beginning to be reciprocated. It Is natural that this should be so, for respect is a mutual affair, and de pends upon reciprocity to thrive. On the 'other hand, the country girl, with her thrifty ways and her fundamental knowledge of domestic economies, is growing in popularity among thought ful city men. Realization of the fact that she is in demand will have the inevitable tendency to make the coun try girl independent. The increasing number of farmers' names appearing in the want columns of certain matri monial magazines would make it ap pear that the pressure already is be ginning to be felt. It Is evident that the reconstructed back-to-the-farm movement will need to take the girls Into account. It is a practical question, through and through. The farmer's wife demands more recognition, a more definite share in the rewards of the work, and certain other things. Mrs. Barrett shows herself Intensely practical by mentioning as one of the . most im portant of all that the farmer must "learn the use of the bathtub," and that he must make whatever read justment of his hours that may be necessary for the purpose. This is only one of the items in the bill on which the farmer is arraigned, but it Is a telling Indictment. The move ment of the girls cityward Is under way. and it is up to the farmer him self whether it shall be checked in time or not. The back-to-the-kitchen movement should receive an impetus from the difference between the modern kitchen and those in which our grandmothers used to work. There is a great ad vance from the old-fashioned stove which was constantly fed with wood or coal and the modern gas or electric stove; also the kitchen cabinet saves many a step, and aluminum utensils are kept clean much more easily than those of copper or iron. - The modern housewife has a picnic compared with her grandmother. The news that a girl of 14 has 'qualified as a radio operator does not cause as much surprise as it would have caused two years ago. The war has brought to light, both in this country and in Europe, the wonderful mechanical and manual dexterity of which women are capable. They are a positive find to manufacturers who require these qualities. Rev. Thomas Jenkins, viewing with alarm the divorce evil, expresses the belief it were better for man to hook 'em up abreast than tandem and polygamy is preferable. If the rev erend gentleman wilt await the close of the war he may see a solution along the lines he will not prefer. The latest baseball .scandal shows what might be expected of the Coast Defenders if the allegations were true. Also it shows that when the Beavers get the pennant they win on merit and in spite of adverse plans. With every allied merchant ship armed and with many Americans on board them as passengers or mem bers of the crew, the armed-ship issue threatens to come up in more persist ent form than ever. The Republicans of the next House appear to be divided between those who want to fight and those who pre fer merely to snipe. The people would not place much confidence in a party of mere snipers. The Russian commander-in-chief sees victory within the year, and the Kaiser is sure of it; but "little old Lloydy" is saying nothing while ar ranging for something great. If Superintendent Steiner had turned his attention to big business instead of cure of the insane, he would have been a brilliant success, judging from his potato deal. The National board of review has barred the nude from the films, over looking a fact that the semi-nude Is more demoralizing than the alto gether. Report has It that the raiders in the Atlantic used the American flag when needed. They know the value of a good thing. Wilson would better clean up one affair at a time. Suppose he settles with the trainmen before enforcing a world peace. . - Even Mexico may go dry. It will soon come to the point where no man can get a drink this side of the equator. A Harrisburg editor has sold out and gone into fuel. He will find his new business knottier but not so nice. The wife who mixes a little of some thing with the meat and potatoes in the hash holds the man's heart. Wilson has precedent for promoting Dr. Grayson.- Roosevelt pegged up Dr. Wood, It will be recalled. The new. order of silence in the post- office puts the Honorable Myers, P. M., on the "firing" line. Perplexing question to many: How many days until the Governor signs the bill? To say a man is at rest when dead Is to give him all the benefit of the doubt. Again It may be said Winter here is over, but dp not take down the heater, Gleams Through the Mist. By De-an Col Us THE LIGHTS 0 SALEM TOWN. Oh. shining lights o' Salem That come as Solona there; How lobbyists still trail'em. And buttonhole and call 'em. For nothing can avail 'em A hiding anywhere. Oh. shining lights o' Salem. In legislative halls. How upllfters assail 'em. How sore constituents flail 'em,. And many letters mail 'em And give 'em many calls. Oh. shining lights o" Salem. Who carve the hopeful bill. How oft we'd like to jail 'em; .Our favrite hopes, they whale 'em; Our bills, how they curtail "em; Until It makes .us 111. , Rhyme ( tne Ancient' Lobbyist. There Is an Ancient Lobbyist, Who stoppeth one of three; "Now wherefore grabbest thou my wrist? And wherefore stopp'st thou me? "The hour Is set. the bunch Is met In yon committee-room; Leave go, old gent, the six per cent Doth keep me filled with gloom!" He holds him with his glittering eye. "I have a bill " said he. "Our cash Is spentl The six per cent Will crab thy bill, pardle!" The Solon ha stands like a stone. With boredom in his soul, . While the Ancient Lobbyist makes moan And grips his buttonhole. He holds him with his glittering eye, And makes him pause and list. And thus speaks on that graybeard guy. The Ancient Lobbyist. There's lots of 'gents, like Smith and Epence, You're always glad to bear; But they've no bill for good or 111 Like this I'm offering here. "I think 'twill cause, 'mong all the laws Upon our lengthy shelf. A reg"lar thrill; and this here bill I wrote also myself. 'Some time ago. as you must know. In Tiflis or in Kiev, They had them frame one much the same. As you can well believe. "In view of that, Tm aiming at The introduction here In Oregon a sim'lar one I hope that I am clear." The sun's rim dipped, the stars came out, . The night came dark and cold; The Ancient Lobbyist still did spout And kept him buttonholed. He shifted here, he shifted there To ease each weary joint. While the old fellow pawed the air. But came not to the point. Meanwhile in the committee-room. Before his colleagues' frown, - Unto a dark, untimely tomb His fav-rite bill went down. It waxed well on to matin song And breakfast bell, I wist. And still he prattled right along. That Ancient Lobbyist, Meanwhile some peeved constituents Who wait at bis hotel. Remark: "He must be crooked, gents. Else why hide out this spell?" It waxed well on to luncheon hour And unto dinner rolled. The Lobbyist's uncanny power Still kept him buttonholed. I could go on describing thus For many another verse How still that old. determined cuss Went on from bad to worse. And I could rhyme about the time The legislator lost. And how the guy talked long and dry Until his eyes were crossed. How when the moon with tender light The Statehouse did anoint. The guy sftll talked, the second night, And came not to his point. But it were best I should arrest My verse ere too long drawn. And at its end I should append And tack this moral on: He worketh best who dodgeth best All lobbyists great and small. For with his bill he well may kill Your time and take it alL For with his bill he well may kill Your time, or make big dents In future hope and crab your dope With your constituents. BARD'S BONE-DRY SAEXCERFEST. Referring to the lyrlo of W. J. 8. last Sunday, in which he attributed to us the verses written by Eaton, of Grass Valley, and presented In the Saengerfest. we wish to deny his ac cusation and place honor where honor Is due, besides ducking the responsi bility.. Therefore we reiterate that Eaton did actually uncork the lyrlo referred to. The C. O, B. furthermore Is even now leading Into our midst another sweet singer, who travels incog., and asks to be announced as "Bibulous," which we suppose has something to do with books or Bible study. Anyhow we don't think much of his song, which rings disreputably as fol lows: The day is cold and dark and dreary; It rains and the wind is never weary; I've caught a cold and my throat Is dry And I can't get a spoonful of rock and And the day Is dark and dreary. My life Is dry and dark and dreary; - My voice is cracked and my eyes are bleary; My thoughts still cling to the days that did pass When I used to could buy It by the glass. And my life is dark and dreary.-. Be still, sad heart, and cease your crying; In California there Is no bone-drying. Your let is the common lot of all In Oregon, so wherefore bawl? Move south and again be beery. Determined to Bo Exact. Christian Register. "I am delighted to meet you said the father of the college student, shaking hands warmly with the pro fessor. "My son took algebra from you last year, you know." "Pardon me, said the professor, "he was exposed to it, but he did xot take 1U" AUDITORIUM IS CH.VMPOEG'S NEED Sir. Roast Suargesta Cassge In Brownell Bill for pioneer's MoinmfDt PORTLAND. Jan. 22. (To the Ed itor.) It would seem that the building of monuments to Oregon pioneers may become a fad In time. In The Oregonian I noted that Mr. Brownell has introduced in the lower house bill No. 134. appropriating $5000 for erection of a "pioneer monument" at Champoeg. Not long since another movement was made for the building of a monu ment to the pioneers, to be erected on the Columbia River Highway. Yet there is already a neat, plain, substantial monument at Champoeg, bearing the names and commomoratlng the deeds of the S3 men who participated, on the American side. In the proceedings or May 3, 1(43, that resulted in bringing the Oregon country under the Stars and Stripes. This is the sentimental side ol tne Champoeg situation, but there Is a practical side that is of great impor tance. The pioneers and their friends like to assemble on "Champoeg day" on this same 'historic spot where that memora ble meeting of 74 years ago was held and hear the story of that day retold. But truth tells that not one-halt of those come wbo would like to if there were better seating accommodations and a roof to turn the drops that are always liable to fall on an Oregon day In May. Old men. old women and lit tie children have to stand around in the rain or take shelter in some hos pitable barn or friendly shed until such time as their boat, train, car or team comes to carry them home. This is not the first time this matter. has been discussed through the columns of The Oregonian. Governor Withy- combs also called attention of the Leg islature, now in session, to the need of. not a monument, but an auditorium at Champoeg. . Some years since a number of citi zens bought a suitable tract of land. Including the site of the old Champoeg meeting, the State of Oregon after warda came forward and reimbursed the purchasers, who had only bought to save the land to the state. This land now belongs to the state. Lately the pioneer society has changed the day of annual meeting to the first Saturday after May 2, to accommodate the school children. It seems to me that one monument In being and two In expectancy is enough in that line. So if Mr. Brownell of Clackamas, will permit I would like to amend his House bill No. 134 by striking out the word "monument" and inserting the word "auditorium." ' ED C. ROSS. SQUARE DEAL FOR SCHOOL HEAD Writer Commends Board for Intention to Retain Mr. Alderman. PORTLAND, Jan. 22. (To the Edi tor.) It has been a matter of consid erable regret that the writer and others have noted, for some two or three years, continued attacks upon the head of the Portland schools by one of the dallies of this city. In tact these as saults commenced before the Superin tendent had had much of any charce or time to make an impress upon these schools. It is certainly a mistake to place person over the Portland school sys tem for only one or two years and ex pect the high standard that a city of 250,000 population should attain; and the School Board Is to be congratulated upon the announced determination to extend Mr. Alderman's term for at least two years longer. It is true that if a man is in large measure a failure he should not be re tained in a position any longer than can be helped, either in the highest department or in any other, but it is equally true, that he cannot make his impress upon, nor accomplish de sired ends in one or two years. In place as large an this, and the fight was begun upon him before such op portunity was given. Mr. Alderman had made a reputa tion as a school man. first in the public schools, then as County Superintend ent of Yamhill County, then at Eu gene as a professor in the State Unl versity and at the head of the city schools; then, finally, as State Super Intendent. The record was such that the Board selected him from a large field of prospective candidates; now they should make it not less than total of five or six years, at least one of which will- not be hampered with the necessity of standing for re-elec tion. When our under teachers have practically a life Job it is time the head should have some consideration in that direction, and also in that of making transfers and . changes that he may deem for the good of the schools. Cer tainly, this is only just and proper he is to be held responsible. The present City Superintendent if is not infallible by any means and h his faults, but he is making a de termined effort to bring our schools to the front, at least that is the consensu of opinion of those best in position to judge. It is understood that Dr. Drake has declared that after careful examina tion and inquiry he believes that th best interest of our schools will b conserved by the. re-election of Mr. Alderman, and that for more than on year. .A large number of people voted for the doctor because they believed he would give this and other matters Just such painstaking consideration. and they find no objections in the de cision at which he has arrived. A PATRON. UK DID NOT HAVE HORSE SENSE Preacher's Career Confirms Homely Jndsrment of Salem Pioneer. PORTLAND. Jan. 22. To the Ed ltor.) The incident published in Th Oregonian of Hon. A. Bush, of Salem, and Senator Nestnlth. playing Jokes o each other, reminds me of an incident wherein the common sense of practical matters of Mr. Bush was clearly shown. In June. 1891. the Methodist presid ing elder at Klamath wrote me (I was at the time pastor in balem) to sen him a preacher for the Klamath Falls circuit, as a number of fellows were at the time in the Willamette Univer sity preparing for the ministry. I se lected the oldest man in the bunch and as the commencement exercises of the school closed he was ready, with' his own horse and buggy, to start to Klamath. After loading the buggy down to the guard with his belongings and shak ing hands' all round, he climbed on top, when the horse, looking round at what was behind him, dashed away, fright ened well-nigh to death, scattering bundles, bags, boxes and driver pretty much all over Salem and completely wrecking the buggy. He was under bonds to go, and, with out means to repair the conveyance. Knowing Mr. Bush pretty well, I went .at once and asked him to give me money to pay for fixing up the buggy, so the prospective pastor could be off. "What do you want to send that fel low down there for? He hasn't sense enough to be a Methodist preacher! I'll give you money to buy him an ax if you'll set him to chopping cordwood, and that's what that fellow ought to do. A chap that can't manage a horse better than that should not be allowed to preach, and besides, that fellow was never cut out for a preacher anyway!" "Well," he added, "how much do you want " I had seen the carriage shop man and found out the cost, which I told him. "Here's the money; fix the old codger up and get rid of him quickly as pos sible." The sequel was the man was in no wise successful and left Klamath in two or three months, settling down finally in Portland as a shoe cobbler. C. L. CLI.Nii. In Other Days Twenty-live Yearn Asro. From The Oreconian of January 23. 1802. All is not peace in the sacred pre ncts of the Courthouse. Assessor Sears and County Clerk Powell are hav ing it out between themselves and the ther officials are looking on with interest. The Chamber of Commerce last night lected officers for the coming year. Those elected were: Thomas F. Os borne, president; Charles H. Dodd, first tee-president; Samuel Heitshu. second ice-president; W. S. Ladd, treasurer. Washington. Jan. 22. The message of the President on the Chilian aft air will go to Congress early next week. Mr. Blaine said today: "The President. it is understood, has not changed his opinion that war is probable. There is no change in the situation. , London. Jan. 22. The necrlect of the German Kaiser to observe the respect due to the Duke of Clarence is resented in court circles here. The Emperor went on a shooting expedition to Buehs- burg on the evening of the Dukes death, although he had been appraised nis condition waif desperate. The Chamber of Commerce building has progressed rapidly since the wea ther cleared up. The Iron for the sec ond floor is about all In place and a good start has been made on the walls of the second story. Halt a Century Ago. From The Oresonlan of January 23. 186T. Nearly 18 months have passed since the death of the principal conspirators in the assaslnation of Abraham Lincoln, and still the plot remains a mystery. D. Cavanaugh. secretary of the Hi bernian Benevolent Society, has Issued announcements of the grand benefit ball to be given March 18 at Oro Fino lialL F. G. Schwatka. Jr.. has been appoint ed to the West Point Military Academy. Nearly every German Prince has at least 3100,000 invested in American se curities and the King of Hanover, who has been notified that he cannot return to his throne, has half a million in our loans. W. B. Carter, editor of the Corvallis Gazette, has been In Portland for a few days on business connected with the Grand Lodge of Good Templars. King Peppel Is dead. Peooel was the African native whom English civiliza tion tried in vain to win. His visit to England was an event noted in the news, but he returned to his palace three mud huts on the banks of the river Bonny. His annual Income was placed at $75,000 and his subjects were native traders. BIBLE IS QUOTED ON DIVORCE Cbrlat Held to Have Condemned Insti tution Unro.alvocally. CORVALLIS. Or.. Jan. 21. (To the Editor.) The Oregonian contains a letter from an ex-minteter. a divorced man, wno claims that he is still a Christian and undertakes to criticise the church because he was rot re ceived with open arms after his di vorce by the church, or at least by his fellow-preachers of whatever denomi nation he belonged to at the time of his divorce. He quotes Christ and. seemlnsrlv. by Implication at least, would have us be lieve that Christ condoned divorce. Now, why didn't he quote what Christ had to say about divorce? Can any evangelical Christian give us just one passage from the New Testament that either permits or Justifies divorce for any reason whatever? I claim as a Christian that Christ and the apostles stood at all times for the indissolubil ity of the marriage bonds. Jesus said. wnom God hath joined together let no man put asunder." Did not this preacher ro to a man to be put asunder from his wife? la he following Chrtet in so doin? Wa are told in our Bibles that "he wbo offends in one point of the law, offends in ail." I challenge any preacher or chris tian to produce one sinaie nissaci from the New Testament that in clear, unambiguous language stands for di vorce. The one passage so frequently quoted by some preachers that they eay allows divorce for one cause speaks oi separation and not divorce. IT this were not so how can we ex plain the plain words of Christ given in the same verse, in which he says: "Whosoever marrieth her that is put away committeth adultery." This Is p'lain unequivocal language, and I don't see how we can get any other meaning out of these words than the meaning that is contained in them. JAMES F. MARRON. AN ABORIGINAL ANANIAS. Old Indian George, the ancient "Lo" sent forth bis annual guess: the earth would be entombed in snow in town and wilderness. He said the moss upon the trees, the fir on Thomas cats, the honey stored by wildwood bees, the nuts by mountain rats and many other signs he read with Injun instinct told the Winter looming up ahead would bring us arctic cold. Our whiskers would be frozen hard and break off at the roots, our toes their frozen nails discard and litter -up our boots; the rivers would be locked In ice when Kaiser Lear we faced and this north western paradise would be a snowy waste. Full many who believed in George up in his neighborhood laid in a double extra large supply of coal and wood: snow shovels farmers bore away from stock in rural stores so they could clear the paths when they went out to do the chores. But now the birds are coming from their haunts 'way down below, the busy bees begin to hum. the tender plants to grow, the crickets chirp their gladsome notes, the tree toads nightly sing and other wel come things denote a coming early Spring and those who heard the obso lete old redskin relic prate would not wear mourning should he meet with Ananias' fate but fuel dealers of the land should gratefully cough up and place within his tawny hand a silver loving cup. JAMES BARTOXADAMS. ANSWER TO BACHELOR'S PRAYER, I would not ask a city life. With city noises loud. For oh! I feel so lonely there Among the busy crowd. I want the sheen of meadows green. The sweet, untainted air. I want to feel the evening breese Come stealing through my hair. I want a little bungalow And lots of flowers, too, A small white kitchen, where I'll reign And show what I can do. I want a dog and tabby cat. And pigeons up above; m But. first of all. I want the sort Of man whom I can love. I do not ask a perfect man. If there Is such in life; For Just Imagine such a saint With such a faulty wife. In moderation he may smoke And chew. and. though I'd. care, If good, sufficient cause arose, I'd look for him to swear. I want a man who's true as steel And not afraid to fight; v Who'd stand pat for his principles And what was just and right: And when perchance old Father Time Is dealing each his share I trust that fate shall guide his hand This only is my prayer. I do not ask for gold or gain. Position, pride or land; I want a house that is a home, A man who is a man. POLLYANNA .