10
THE 3IORNIXG OREGOXIAX. TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1917.
rOBTLAXD, OREGON.
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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 .