g
THE MORNING OIJ'SGONIAN, TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1917.
PORTLAND, OKEJGOX.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY. FEB. SO, 1917.
AWAITING AN OVERT ACT.
For more than two weeks the United
States has been awaiting that overt
act of Germany whloh. President Wil
son said, would cause him. to ask Con
gress for authority to protect Amer
ican lives and property at sea against
submarine attack. Germany, sur
prised by the suddenness of the rup
ture, has occupied that time In ef
forts, through the Swiss Minister, to
renew negotiations for an agreement
which would permit continuance of
the campaign without war with the
United States. Meanwhile, absence of
aggravated violation of American
maritime rights has created an Im
pression that Germany - Is practicing
careful restraint with t view of de
laying war as long as possible, though
not relaxing attacks on allied and
other neutral " ships'. ' The Preside
has used this interval to get our Am
bassador, - Consuls and other citizens
out of Germany and to make quiet
preparations for the worst.
If the President were seeking a pre
text for a hostile move, he could easily
find one. Among the persons drowned
with the British liner California were
two American children named O'Don
nell. The American schooner. Lyman
L. Law has been sunk, though carry
ing no contraband. Th seventy-two
American sailors who were captured
by a German raider In the South At
lantic and were taken to Germany on
the Tarrowdale are still held prison
ers In violation of law, and no more
definite answer can be obtained to
peremptory demands for their release
than a promise that they will be "re
leased shortly."
- Each one of these acts Is literally
an "overt act" within the meaning of
the Presidents statement, but the
President still waits. It is not diffi
cult to discern his reason. He seems
to await some act so glaring In its
lawlessness and inhumanity that. If he
should take It as cause for warlike
action, the people would stand as
practically a unit behind him, and
Congress, In obedience to public opin
ion, would be as nearly united. In
thus waiting, he takes account of the
psychology of the situation, which is
largely of his own making. During
the last two years the American peo--
pie have become so habituated to hor
rors and to suffering violation of ele
mentary rights without striking back
that they can be aroused to anger
only by some act which stands out
above the rest, even in this bloody
epoch. The drowning of two children,
the sinking without loss of life of an
American ship or the captivity of a
few score American sailors provokes
but a passing word of censure. The
President has so assiduously repressed
any disposition to meet force with
force that he has dampened that Na
tional spirit which wotild normally
have flamed with Indignation, as It did
when the Maine was blown up. Only
some peculiarly atrocious deed is now
capable of kindling the flame. In
other times Congress would have acted
decisively on occasions where in these
times it has only debated.
Hence it comes that the President
and the Kaiser are both sparring for
position, each In the hope that, when
the clash comes, he will be able to
brand the other as the aggressor. Ger
many Is really the gainer, for it wins
time to prey on allied ships without
Interference from the American Navy.
As regards American ships, Germany
has almost all the profit of unre
Mricted warfare without the risk or
the cost, for many of our snips fear
to venture forth from port without
that protection which the President
withholds. If he would provide guns
for defense, they would put to sea, but
that would be construed as an ag
gressive act such as he wishes to
avoid.
But this situation cannot continue
indefinitely. Great fleets of merchant
men lie in Atlantic ports. Railroad
terminals are so congested that an em
bargo has been declared on eastbound
freight for export. This carries the
blockade back to the manufacturers
and grain shippers of the Middle West,
thus Incidentally bringing home to
that section its direct interest in the
merchant marine of which it has long
been oblivious. If this situation should
continue much longer, it would force
closing of factories and discharge of
workmen. Germany would have ac
complished the very purpose which
she set out to gain a blockade on
American commerce, an embargo on
American exports and a paralysis of
those American industries which de
pend on trade with the allies. The
cumulative effect of this blockade
would be of such magnitude and
would affect so many people, far into
the interior, as in itself to constitute.
in the opinion of the people, an overt
act demanding that the President
move.
It is intolerable that Germany
should be permitted thus to profit by
the lawless methods of warfare which
the President has denounced. It may
' be wise to await the escape of our
Consuls and other citizens from Ger
many, but at least that interval might
properly be utilized in mounting guns
on merchant ships and in recruiting
gun crews for them. It may be true
that the Navy can spare no gunners
but there are surely many men in pri
vate life who have served in that ca
pacity and- who would enter the mer
chant service. As the President him
self has recognized that we are on
the verge of war, no effort should be
spared to awaken the people to the
necessity of filling the ranks of both
Navy and Army in readiness for the
worst eventualities which war may
bring. More than two precious years
have been wasted through failure to
prepare for what might from the first
have been seen to be possible. Now
that tt has become highly probable,
not a day should be lost in atoning: for
this delay.
TOO LATE.
Rising to a question of personal In
formation, The Oregonian would like
to know what has become of the heroic
effort made by the outraged state of
Georgia to discover and punish the
murderers of Leo Frank, lynched In
prison by unknown assassins? It may
be remembered that Frank was, after
several sensational trials, convicted of
the murder of a young factory girl.
The evidence' was wholly circumstan
tial and many people believed him in
nocent. He was convicted and sen
tenced to be hanged, but the Governor
of the state commuted the sentence to
life imprisonment. Then the atrocious
murder of Frank occurred, in the
practice and habit of lynch law.
Doubtless, there was an Investiga
tion. We seem to recall- that a Sheriff
or two threatened to spend his life In
search for the murderers. A grand
jury looked into the affair and found
nothing worth while. If anybody was
ever apprehended, or tried, or Im
prisoned, or hanged for the brutal and
terrible Frank execution, we have
overlooked it.
But Georgia really Is getting sensi
tive on the subject of lynching. A
year ago a mob tried to shoot or burn
to death one Jim Keith, charged with
killing a Sheriff. He'was saved, but
the bloodthirsty outfit nevertheless
succeeded in getting hold of five other
negroes, thought to be Implicated, and
satisfied its blood-lust by stringing
them up. '
Jim Keith was tried and sent to
prison; but now new light has been
shed on the -crime. Jim Keith has
been retried and acquitted by a white
jury. It is too late to retry or unhang
the five innocent negroes.
DODTO FAIRLY WELL.
Aside from the radical change pro
posed in the Portland fire-prevention
organization by Installation of the
two-platoon system, it would seem
that the most interesting provision In
the Initiative bill Is the opening sen
tence:
Every member of the fire department
Is subjeot to duty call at all hours ot the
night and day when there Is sreat r un
usual danger of which he has knowledse
of (by) actual personal notice.
The firemen off duty half the en
tire force are not to be disturbed In
the full enjoyment of their ten hours
per day, or fourteen hours per night,
unless there is "gTea,t and unusual
danger," of which the fireman must
be personally notified. Great and un
usual danger of what? A Mexican or
German invasion? Earthquake?
Storm? Or conflagration? And he
must be told about it In person. By
whom? The chief of the department,
no doubt. Or will It be some subor
dinate officer's" duty to round up the
vacation corps. The personally sum
moned fireman wlli then doubtless re
serve to himself the right to deter
mine If the danger is great and un
usual. The higher fire officers are a unit
n opposing the two-platoon plan.
They say it will cost $200,000 or $300.-
000 more per year than at present.
The taxpayer ought to be interested
in what Is going on In the fire depart
ment
The average fireman's pay Is $100
per months .fairly gooa pay. .rte
gets one day off in six, and It is likely
that he will soon have one tn five
It would really appear that the pub
lic, which has many burdens to bear,
is doing fairly well by the fireman.
A NEW MARKET TO OPEN.
Discussion of the new business
which is to keep our factories busy
when the munition trade dies out with
return of peace has given too little
attention to the Increased purchasing
power which will be given to farmers
when the rural credit law is in full
operation. Herbert Quick, a member
of the Federal Farm Loan Board, writ
ing in the Saturday Evening Post, tells
how greatly other industries are likely
to profit by this law.
For many years the Government,
the states, the colleges and other or
ganizations have been industriously
educating the farmers in the benefits
of scientific agriculture. Many thou
sands of farmers have become fully
alive to these benefits, and ' would
gladly practice what they have learned,
but it requires capital. They have
not the capital, and they cannot bor
row it on terms with which they can
comply. Either the interest is too
high or the period for which they
can borrow is too short, and in either
case the expense of negotiating a loan
is heavy. The new law will give them
loans at reduced Interest, with the
minimum of expense, and will permit
them to pay the principle in half
yearly installments which they can
easily meet. The- farmers are alive
to the opportunity which the law of
fers, as is shown by the thousands of
letters received-by-the board and by
the many farm loan associations ,whlch
are being organized in advance of the
organization of farm land banks.
When these banks are opened, appli
cations for loans will pour in, and
the close of this year promises to see
many millions of dollars in farmers'
hands.
All of this money must, under the
terms of the law, be used in buying
land or in improving farms. It will
be spent in buying livestock, seed, fruit
trees, machinery, fertilizer, gas en
gines, in building houses, barns, silos
and fences, in draining land and in
other ways. These improvements will
involve extensive purchases of many
kinds from American manufacturers
principally lumber, hardware, ma-
chinery and chemicals. The law will
open to American manufacturers
new market, in which they will not
need to fight for justness as fiercely
as they will in foreign markets, but
which has been closed by the inability
of the farmers to buy. The campaign
of education will prove to have pre
pared the way for the salesman by in
spiring a desire to buy and by teach
ing what to buy.
Increased production resulting from
better farming made possible by open
lng a reservoir of capital will make
the farmer more prosperous and will
put him in a position to buy automo
biles, furniture and conveniences for
his house, better clothes for himself,
his wife and family. It will enlist him
In the cause of good roads and good
schools. Country life will become
more attractive, his boys and girls will
be more inclined to stay on the farm
and those who have deserted it- will
be tempted to return. Cheap, capital
will make farming come back into
favor.
The irresistible march of the auto
mobile is illustrated by its most re
cent achievement in crowding the
horse-drawn stagecoach out of the
Yellowstone National Park. It is only
a short time since the Interior De
partment issued an order admitting
the automobile to. the park on any
terms, and now It 1s to hava. entire
possession. For a long time the stand
was maintained that the parks of the
West were the preserves of frontier
civilization and wild beauty, and that
the rockaway stagecoach ought to be
kept Intact for the same reason that
we now protect the buffalo and would
protect the great auk if we knew
where to find him. There was some
opposition, too, from hotelkeepers to
shortening the trips through the parks.
but all these objections have given way
before the superior claims of the more
comfortable form 9t transportation.
However picturesque the old stage
coach may have been, it is neverthe
less an anachronism in the same
sense as the ox-team, and even the
most devoted pioneer would not Insist
that oxen should be restored to their
former place In the transportation
scheme. " .
IX THE INTEREST OP OREGON.
The points raised concerning taxa
tion of the railroad grant by J. H.
Moore In another column are covered
by the decision of the Supreme Court,
by other court decisions and by the
act of Congress.
There has been no "forfeiture to the
general Government by reason of cer
tain violations of agreements by the
gouthern Pacific Company." The Gov
ernment sued for forfeiture and for
feiture was denied by the Supreme
Court of the United States. In the
opinion given by the court in that
case, the correspondent's other con
tention that the grant was a mere
change of Administration Is also con
sidered. . Such a contention had been
raised by sixty-four lntervenors and
It was specifically rejected by the
court.
The court further held that there
was an absolute grant subject only
to the agreement that when the -rail-
road did sell it would sell in certain
quantities at a certain price. The
lands were taxed for years and the
taxes were paid by the railroad com
pany. Concerning a grant made in
exactly similar terms, Judge Wolver
ton has upheld the right of counties
to tax at the full value. Congress
also recognized this right when it
passed the law for revestment by pur
chase of the grant lands. It appro
priated a sufficient sum to iay' the
taxes that had accumulated prior to
passage of the act. The Attorney-
General of the United States advised
Congress that these taxes were a lien
on the land.
The Bean bill proposes nothing in
behalf of the railroad company. If
the act of Congress be declared In
valid the taxes levied in accordance
with the Bean bill will be payable
by the railroad company. If the act
is upheld the Bean bill will raise
the question as to whether the Gov
ernment by purchase of private land
for other than administrative or mili
tary needs may extinguish tt from the
tax rolls. Nothing is added to the
railroad's case now pending. Nothing
fs subtracted from it. The Bean bill
only asserts a fundamental right to
tax land held for sale, regardless of
the identity of the owner.
It has been repeatedly charged by
others than this correspondent that
the bill is in the Interest of the rail
road company but no one has been
able to say in what way It is in that
interest. On the contrary, it opposes
the interest of the railroad company.
for if the court overturns the act of
Congress the railroad, being able to
sell at no more than $2.50 per acre,
will be forced to sell at once tx set
tlers in order to avoid paying taxes on
the land at their true value. But on
the Issues in litigation between rail
road and Government the Bean bill
has not the slightest conceivable bear
ing. The bill considers and is in the
interest of no one but the hard-pressed
taxpayer of Oregon.
PCOCT CHARACTER TRAINING.
The real Importance of the Boy
Scout movement is revealed in a re
cent explanation by Lleutenant-Gen-eral
Sir Baden-Powell, their chief
scout master, of the desire of Its lead
ers that boys shall develop self-discipline
as a preparation for the col
lective discipline that may be required
of them later. In other words. It is
still believed essential to place em
phasis upon non-military activities of
a sort that? make for progressive char
acter training. This, it is believed,
will not only make the youth a better
citizen but will be all the better for
him as a soldier if the pinch comes.
If the Boy Scout were to devote
most of his time to purely military
training in the beginning, tt Is pointed
out, he would receive only a certain
amount of "amateur drill," much of
which he would have to unlearn if
he were called upon to serve with the
regular Army, and more of which he
would receive in concentrated form if
he were called to the colors. On the
other hand, if his early trainers de
voted themselves to "making a man
of him," he would take with him to
the Army the elements of which the
best soldiers are ma-de. It is desired.
therefore, to induce all senior scouts
to extend their interest and experience
in useful occupations; as General
Baden-Powell puts it, to "become ca
dets of commerce." They will not
fight any the worse for this, and they
will be all the better off for it if they
never are needed in a warlike under,
taking.
One of the Important activities that
have recently been added to the scout
list has been the control of hooligan
ism, which recently has attained dis
turbing proportions in parts of Eng
land as a result of the removal of
parental discipline from many homes.
The scouts are encouraged to take a
personal Interest In the young hood
lums. Each scout pledges himself to
Invite one street boy to engage in the
activities of the troop as an honorary
member. The advantage in having
the young hooligan approached by an
other boy Instead of an adult, whose
advances might arouse suspicion of
future restrain, is quite apparent. The
business of the scout movement as a
whole is then to see that the young
ster has plenty to do that will satisfy
his demand for adventure without re
suiting In harm to his own character
or to the peace and order of the com
munity. The problem or the young
hoodlum always has been a vexing
one; the Boy Scouts seem to be In the
way of solving it.
Moral courage Is no less necessary
in times of National peril than phys
ical courage,- and it is more largely
a product of training. The Boy Scout
leaders seek to develop both, but they
put most emphasis on the moral ele
ment, believing that the other is likely
to follow as a natural result. The
movement therefore will not stop with
restoration of peace, but wisely di
rected will become a highly impor
tant factor In the days of reconstruc
tion. One wonders what the police were
doing during the philandering of the
Modjeskis in Pittsburg. When a man
became too ardent with his wife for
Modjeski's comfort he transferred his
affections to the wife of a, Chicago
tailor, who was pleased to "give" her
to him. Now the man first mentioned
has put on the brakes and the tailor
man has Secured a divorce and every
thing is altogether" too easy to be
lovely and all Is off. The Modjeskis
are reuniting and the marital relation
has the aspect of a garment.
A LESSON TO THE INTERIOR.
Every effort to interest the Nation
in measures for the revival of the'
American merchant marine has failed
through the opposition or indifference
of the people of the interior. Because
they were far from the Coast and
never saw a ship except when they
paid a visit to the ocean resorts, they
have fondly Imagined that shipping
was a special Interest of the seaboard,
and that appeals for Government ac
tion favorable to It were Inspired by
a selfish desire to tax them for others'
benefit.
The truth Is now being driven home
to them. A decree Issued in far-away
Berlin has prevented many ships from
leaving Atlantic Coast ports. Prompt
ly the railroads became blockaded
with loaded cars, there being no ships
at hand to carry away their contents.
The railroads refused to receive more
freight for shipment eastward, and
interior factories found their ware
houses choked with goods which they
were prevented from delivering. Un
able to collect for undelivered goods,
and uncertain whether they will be
able to deliver their further output,
manufacturers find their money locked
up and may soon have to close their
factories or work short time, and In
either case to reduce their working
force. For the same reason sales of
grain and other foodstuffs have slack
ened and prices in Chicago markets
are depressed. Should this situation
continue, " the purchasing power of
workmen and farmers will be dimin
ished, and demand for all commodities
will' fall off all along the line from
retailer to producer.
The people of the Interior are learn
ing by demonstration that the ship Is
as much a part of their transportation
system-as Is the railroad which passes
their doors. When they have thor-
oughly learned It, they may suppress
such hack-country authorities on
maritime law as Senator LaFollette,
of Wisconsin, who proposes to declare
unlawful the arming of merchant
ships and to forbid armed ships to de
part from American ports. The right
to arm merchant ships is expressly
granted, by Federal law and by the
law of nations. The sole motive for
the attempt to withdraw it is a craven
fear lest some ship, by defending itself
in the -exercise of the freedom of' the
seas, should Involve the United States
In war with the nation which assumes
to dictate on' 'what conditions the
ships, of other nations shall sail the
sea. The United States has already
received too much maritime law from
Wisconsin. After the Middle West has
fully learned Its dependence on the
sea it Will want no more from that
quarter.
Portland would do well to take to
heart the words of Major Hittinger
on the need of providing shipping fa
cilities, if the trade of the Port is
to be developed. We have a splendid.
waterway, which gives us access by
big ships to all the world. We have
the opportunity to supply a large part
of the material for Alaska railroads.
as well as for the mines and canneries
of that territory. In order that we
may share that trade, we must pro
vide ships to sail from this port and
must give them full cargoes. We are
building ships for Norway and New
Orleans: why not build some for our
selves, to take our own products to
market? Is Portland no match for
Christiania in enterprise?
The announcement that General von
Ludendorff is now boss of Germany
reminds us that this war Is wearing
out Generals at a rapid pace. Nearly
all of those who figured in the early
dispatches have been pushed lnte the
background. "Von Htndenburg has
lasted longer than any on the- German
side, but. If defeat should befall the
Teutons, he would be as ruthlessly
sent to the rear as hfc predecessors.
By success alone c-n "he and Von
Ludendorff hold their perilous pre
eminence.
L. V. Harkness and his millions had
so many homes that each of half a
dozen states and countries might es
tablish a right to tax the fortune,
That would be fit retribution for Mr.
Harkness' care to make a home no
where in apparent effort to avoid pay
lng any taxes.
The usefulness 'of the Federal Bu
reau of Mines, which was established
under President Taft, Is proved by the
red"uced death rate from mine ex
plosions, though the output, of coaN
Increased 65,000,000 tons in 1916 over
1915.
Chicago postofflce employes are
muzzled now and that is right. No
body should criticise the President in
a crisis. . In other countries such
critics would go to Jail.
The most discouraging fact about the
spectacular feats of the undersea boats
Is that they set the entire Inventive
genius of the world to work on devices
to destroy them.
The poorer classes of Oreece are
said to be subsisting on -grass and
herbs, which is part of the misfortune
of being caught between the mill
stones of war.
The principal occupation of the
Modjeskis is marrying, being divorced
and remarrying. What time can re
main for the prosaic Joys of domes
ticity?
Though he may have several, a man
never forgets the wife of his youth
and that may be the reason he ex
presses desire to be buried beside her,
With German submarines reported
in the Gulf, the next will bo seen off
the Canal; but they cannot hop the
locks and reach here.
The toll of ships taken by German
submarines is growing so small that
every day more take courage, to sail
for the barred zone.
If all the men who give candy to
other men's wives were called to ac
count, many would- not dare go home.
Ireland will not suffer "under the
regulation by Lloyd George of the
price of potatoes at a shilling a stone.
When an old widow wants a young
husband and can get him, that's her
privilege.
Ten-dollar onions will bring tears
to the eyes of four-dollar" potatoes.
With wool around 40 cents, many
a eheep is due for a close shave.
Gleams Through the Mist.
By Dean Collin.
BALLADE OP THE) MOVIES,
Ofttlmes I wander, for a lark.
Into some little movie show.
Where I can curl up In the dark
And watch the flickering drama flow.
But ah, I must proclaim -my woe
Their plots were bullded 'fore the ark.
On second thought I think I'll go
And see the monkeys in the park
's
Upon the vampire dame I mark
Two feet of shoulder-blade or bo.
And oft I fear she'll lose her sark
As, lithe she vampires to and fro;
There's very little'left, you know,
While I sit blushing in the dark.
Where art thou. Modesty? I'll (o
And see the monkeys in the park.
The underworld, they strip It stark
For "moral lessons," high or low;
Or ham comedians yawp and yarlc
And beat their shins with lusty blow;
The souse, the thug, the gunman glow
Each as a terpslchorean shark.
O tempore, I guess I'll go
And see the monkeys in the park.
, L'ENVOIE.
Masters, the whole thing seems to grow.
Even despite the censor's bark.
For chaste amusement must I go
And see the monkeys in the park?
"Sir," said the C. O. B. ' '
"What is Itr I snarled1. "Tra through
with your continued Spring long."
"This Is a new departure. Sire," said
the C O. B. Insinuatingly, and I. poor.
weak fool, allowed him to proceed.
And thus he proceeds:
The First Swallow.
Tis Spring, 'tis Spring, 'tis budding
Spring.
And Summer Is to follow.
But still I see not. on the wing.
The first sweet swallow.
Oh why. Oh why does be not fly
And why oomea he not forth?
The swallows, at this time, say I,
They should come North.
And Echo answered mockingly
With cynto mouth.
"The swallows," said she shockingly.
"Must all stay South."
O Swallow, Swallow, southward flown
So far away.
I do Implore you with a groan
Why do you etay?
And soft the swallow then replied
"My fate la cinched I
Jt I crossed over on' your side
I would be pinched!"
O Oregon, the swallows may
No more adorn you.
It la the law that they must stay
In California!
And Juat then I twigged to the kind
of swallows he was talking about and
with one sweep I expunged him, for
having violated the rule against sing
ing about the B. D. legislation after
the lid went on.
CAN TOUt
A friend brought In the following
the other day and asked me to expose
it to the publto to see If any of my
bard friends could think of a com
panlon piece to It.
Sam Jenks, tt seems, is doomed to
roam:
Sam never had a happy home;
Nor has he been of any use!
Upon the world we turn him loose.
We Can I '
James Jenke' what shall we do with
Jim?
Let's make a teacher out of him!
At reg"lar work he has no use
Upon the schools we'll turn him
loose.
(Note. Brother of Sam, y'know.)
BARD'S SPRING TWITTER.
We herewith repeat the rules and
regulations governing the Spring
Twitter.
Rule 1. Make 'em short.
Rule 2. The shorter the better.
As an example of reasonable adher
ence to the rule, we wish to present
Wlllard S., whose Spring pome is both
brief and touching.
Don't be baahful. Wlllard! Stand
right up and apeak your piece.
Hark, he speaks!'
Sprlne Plea.
Since Winter Is
Upon the wing,
Oh - Weather Man
Please press the Spring.
Ordinarily when we receive a bou
quet we put la in a vase and say
nothing about it, but recently fchere
came and perched on our window a
little pome from Harriet L. Parker,
which la really a bouquet for the G.
O. B., so we have no modest scruples
against reading it aloud. It's a semi
Spring pome anyhow.
TO THE C. O. B.
You've given us poems on politics,
Tou'.ve given us poema on Fall, .
Tou gave us poema on the B. D.
bill
In fact you've covered them alL
I always read whatever you write;
No matter how much you rave
There's always a difference In your
stuff.
That makes me each one save.
But when I read you were going to
sing
(Tou usually warn ua, you know,)
And the subject to be was the Gentle
Spring,
My hopes fell 'way . down low.
For you see I have read Spring poems
before.
Mostly of "lush green grass."
And all your warblings have been of
yore
In a delightfully different class.
"Now here," I said. "Our C. O. B.
. Will all our visions burst.
He will sing of the budding maple
tree.
Of the flrat Spring Wienerwurst."
But no! Tou lifted your innocent
voice.
And, true to your great wide fame.
Sent forth the promised poem of
"Spring"
Down the printed colyum lane.
It wasn't a mournful, hashed-o'er lay,
But something to make va smile;
It wasn't about the budding hay.
Or the lichen-covered stile;
'Twas a' bright little poem of brand
new mirth.
To bring the chuckles out;
Something to bring our thoughts to
earth.
And chase away the pout.
But, C. O. B., though long you reign.
This wisdom I give to thee:
No matter how- high ascenda your
plane,
It'a because of Collina (Initial D.)
' ('Note. ' The B. D. bill Is not to be
mentioned eo readers will kindly skip
that line.)
('Nother Note. Tha's me! .Which
explains why I was willing to print
the pome to the C. O. B.)
GRANT TOHFEnTRE" DISCUSSED
Correspondent Denies State Ever Had
Right to Tax Lands.
NEWBERG. Or.. Feb. 19. (To the
Editor.) It Is Inconceivable why rep
resentative men In Oregon at this late
hour are attempting to establish the
right of the state of Oregon to levy
and collect taxes on property over which
state authority to do so is a moot
question. One who has viewed the
situation from a disinterested angle
would be at a loss to account for these
Insistent demands In view of the facta
It seems to me there Is no other con
clusion to be" reacned, but that of
avowed hostility to any action the gen
eral Government may initiate for the
unai opposition of certain lands for-i
felted to the general Government bv
reason of certain violations of agree
ments by the Southern Pactflo Com
pany.' I was amused aa well as Interested
while listening to an address delivered'
oy one of our representative citizens
at the capital of the state before a con
ference called for the Durros of ad
vising Congress what action Oregon
desired should be followed with regard
to me disposition of these arrant lands.
The question of the right of the state
of Oregon to levy and collect taxes on
tnese lands waa the gist of that re
markable address and I find the aoul
marks of this Judicial mind spread all
over the measure authorizing the state
to establish a right where no right
exists under conditions of, the past or
the present to levy and collect taxea.
In that address we are told: Taking
the decision of the Supreme Court of
xne united btates aa a basis for oninlnn
irrespective of violations of th terms
of the grant, title to these landa waa
vested in the grantee and these viola
tions were not sufficient grounds for
forfeiture. Stripping- thla line of argu
ment of all legal verbiage and bringing
It within the comprehension of the
average mind, the railroad company
was acting within Its righta to follow
out a line of action In keeping with
Its Intent and purposea and reserved
to Itself the power respectfully tc In
form the Government to go to hades if
serious objections were being raised
as to the railroad's determination to
defy law and authority.
It la not the first time nor will It be
the last that responsible citizens have
championed the cause of defiant and
arrogant lawbreakera who have over
ridden the protests of the Government
and the rights of the people tn an at
tempt to profit by questionable meana.
It Is not my purpose to charge these
gentlemen with willful ahadowlng of
the facts, but looking the matter
aquarely In the face with the provislona
of the grant In mind and the decision
of the Supreme Court before us, what
other conclusion could an unbiased and
Intelligent person arrive at but that
authority to enforce the terms of the
grant was vested alone In Congress,
or rather the people, which is the Gov
ernment. This fact the Supreme Court
reconlzed beyond doubt. The Govern
ment's equity tn these lands was not
abrogated by the terms of the grant,
but simply a change of administration
was effected whereby the railroad
company waa to receive equity in these
landa to the amount of $2.50 per acre
for a certain purpose, to wit: the build
ing of a railroad over certain territory.
The status of ownership is the moot
queslon and the deciding fact as to
whether Oregon has the power to col
lect taxes thereon. By what process of
reasoning and sustained by what au
thority do certain gentlemen prove
their argument that these lands In
question were ever private property,
had lost their public character and
were subject to taxation?
Authority for transfer of ownership
by the terms of the grant is out of
the question so long as the grantee
refuses to keep the covenants. There
would be no question on this point
were the Judicial gentleman prosecuting
an individual for violation of contract.
If his contentions are in line with the
facts, why not explain the methods
or rather the process of manipulation
through and by which these grant
lands lands took on the character of
private property? He admitted the
right of the Government to withdraw
from private entry and sale lands
within the 'state without the state s
consent, but vigorously assailed the
Government's interference In its de
termination to protect the rights of the
people against unlawful manipulation
of certain agreements which invali
dated the rights of the grantee to
participate in their benefits.
We know that private property pro
tected as such by Irrefutable evidence
of title is beyond the power of the
Government to appropriate without full
compensation, but Inasmuch as these
lands could not be private property
under the terms of the grant until cer
tain agreements were beyond question
carried out, the Government had
authority to make disposition as
though they had the character of
public lands, ft Oregon consciously or
unconsciously takes the position that
these lands were privately owned lands
and Insists upon that interpretation,
we would1 like to know by what process
of law or privilege it came about.
I think "the whole thing ! a delib
erate frame-up fo embarrass the situa
tion and add strength to the railroad's
contentions, and you can look- for
vigorous opposition by the people of
Oregon In any attempt to put over any
measure of that character.
J. H. MOORES.
The correspondent wholly Ignores the
decision of the Supreme Court that the
railroad had not forfeited Its rights or
title, and that the lands were not held
by It in trust. He Ignores Congress
admission of the right to tax prior to
Government revestment of title and he
Ignores a decision of the Federal Court
on the same question. The subject Is
more fully discussed elsewhere on this
Page.
NEWSPAPER'S THIRST FOR POWER
Delinquent Tax List Buncombe Raised
for Five Purposes.
STATE CAPITOL, Salem. Or.. Feb.
18. (To the Editor.) I wish to com
pliment you for your manifestly fair
treatment of the delinquent tax list
fight. In which the Oregon Journal at
tempted by underhanded means to kill
five birds with one stone, its objects
undoubtedly being to establish itself as
dictator of the state, to disrupt the
republican party, to wallop the up
state press, to put over the first move
in a cleverly-conceived single tax
scheme and at the same time to es
tablish Itself upon false premises as
the great tribune of the common
"peepul."
While complimenting you for your
able handling of the situation, I wish
to explain the situation referred to in
your story on Sunday. Tou state that
the Senate refused to concur in a
Forbes amendment to the effect that
there be two or more official news
papers outside of Multnomah County.
The fact Is that the bill could have
created no additional official news
papers. The amendment provided that
the tax list should be published In the
official county newspapers selected by
the County Courts. The statutes
already provided for the selection of
these newspapers In such a manner that
this amendment could have no effect
in creating any additional ones. The
only correction made by the conference
committee was to insert the words,
"the newspaper or," making the word
ing reading "shall be published in the
official newspaper or newspapers se
lected by the County Courts."
I make this correction merely to
offset any reflection upon those mem
bers who voted for the Forbes amend
ment and to take away th opportunity
for that ranting single-tax daily to
howl about a joker.
..j.- . . ELBERT BEDE.
'r
In Other Days
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oreronlan of February 20. 18T.
The new building of the Willamette
University at Salem has so far pro
gressed toward completion that the de
sign is to occupy the two lower stories
within the next three months.
London, Feb. 19. No armed Fenians
have been captured In Kerry County,
but all escaped. The peasantry are per
fectly willing to give intelligence, but
decline to assist in the arrest of their
countrymen. Three British ships are
at anchor in Klngmore River to awe
the people Into obedience.
The tariff of prices for telegraphic
messages from Portland to the great
Eastern cities has been reduced to cor
respoYid with the reduction from Cali
fornia. The rate to New Tork is 98.85
for 10 words, and 62 cents for each
additional word.
Chicago, Feb. 19. The President has
signed the bill In relation to the ocean
mail service between San Francisco and
Portland.
San Francisco. Feb. 19. The Chinese
laborers are still at work at South
Beach, and thus far no attempt has
been made to Interfere with them.
Chief Crowley, with a large force of
police. Is still on hand to quell any dis
turbance that may occur.
Twenty-live Yearn Aso.
From The Orefonlan of February 20. 1892.
San Francisco, Feb. 19. J. L. Ander
son, a a newspaper correspondent, has
returned from Hawaii. He says the
popular impression is that Queen Llliu
kalani will be the last sovereign of the .
islands, and that when she dies a po
litical union of some sort will be ef
fected with the United States.
General Beebe haa just issued orders
for the participation of the First Regi
ment, O. N. G.. In the parade on Wash
ington's birthday.
This afternoon the new play, "The
Lights o' London," will be presented at
Cordray's Theater. The play is an In
tensely Interesting melodrama, and It
will undoubtedly have a very success
ful run.
Washington, Feb. 19. The silver
question will not down. Its discussion
was resumed In the House today. The
scene was one of confusion and excite
ment. Washington, Feb. 19. Senator Mitchell
today presented a petition of Indian
War Veterans of Oregon, praying Con
gress that It extend the county land
law to persons who served In the In
dian wars subsequent to March 3. 1855.
Portland's Freckled Face.
By James Barton Adams.
Aboard the "Seeing Portland" car
the eager tourists climb to view our
beauties, near and far, some modest.
some sublime. They gaze at each
palatial home with wide dlstented eyes.
the steeples that from churches comb
the whiskers of the skies. The busi
ness blocks that hedge the streets
they scan in eager way and feel like
rising from their seats and shouting
a "Bamal!" With wonder they are
stricken dumb as Council Crest they
rise and view the outspread landscape
from that suburb of the skies.
Through all our pcurle.-y streets they
speed in easy motor flight. their
brightly cparkllng optics feed on food
that's out o' sight. But oft too often
oft, alas! their admiratfce thrills are
rattled when signboards they pass:
"Take Blake's Quick Action Pills."
"Almost as Quick as Lightning Blaze
Go Get 'Em Promptly Goes to Roots
of Cornucopia and Yanks Them From
Your Toes." "Our Corsets Cause the
Fair Hut Fleshless Shes to Throb
with Trlde: they'll Neatly Shape You
t'p From Where Dame Nature Quit
the Job." Such glaring boards assault
the eyes of every touring crowd who
wonder In their great surprise why
such things are allowed; why beauty
doctors do not come and diagnose the.
case and drive the glaring freckles
from the city's lovelv face.
JAMES BARTON ADAM3.
ANTICIPATING- THE MILLENNIUM
Pacifists Employ Theories of What
Onght to Be and Evade Farts.
ALBANY, Or.. Feb. 18. (To the Edi
tor.) Every pacifist from David Starr
Jordan down seems to have a mental
equipment 'that is the exact opposite
from any normal human being. If you
tell them that the purpose of prepared
ness is to keep the Nation from being
attacked by unscrupulous nations, they
answer by holding up their hands at
the horrors of war, which Is Just what
preparedness will prevent. Facts ars
of no Importance in the eyes of the
pacifists while theories of man's rela
tion to man, that are impossible short
of the millennium, are accepted as
demonstrated truths. I suppose It will
be useless to try to make it clear to
a pacifist that preparedness keeps
trouble away and that unpreparedness
invites it. But I will try.
Suppose all the pacifists In the
United States could get together and
form a city of the size of Portland.
And suppose that In this city they put
Into practice their faith In all men by
not having any police department. Does
any sane man think that life would be
endurable in that city? It would be
come the happy hunting grounds of all
the crooks In the country. The city
would be the easy mark In crookdom
Just as the United States has been the
easy mark among nations the past few
years (witness our surrender of rights
to Japan and the Teutonic rowers).
Really, the pacifists oufht to live in a
country like China or Armenia or
Belgium to realize the value of pre
paredness. We simply have to deal with men
and nations on the basis of experi
ence If we want to be practical. Man
has the fighting instinct developed
more highly than any animal. The
whole evolutionary history of man as
well as of animals has been the-survival
of the fittest, that is the strong
est and most aggressive. The weak
lings have been eliminated. This very
process Is going on in the piping tlmpi
of peace! The aggressive man in busi
ness, on the farm. In the profession,
crowds out the timid time server who
dares not look an unpleasant situation
In the face. And the process of elimi
nation Is as ruthless In these so-called
peaceful competitions as In any war.
Witness how Standard Oil Comnanv
drlves all smaller concerns out of busi
ness. Witness how cheap labor drive
American labor to the wall because It
can live on a lower plane.
We are told that -there would have
been Just as manv people in the United
States today If there had been no Im
migration. In other words, some 40.
000.000 Americans who are not might
have been had it not been for the bat
tle for existence with cheaper labor.
Why don't the pacifists hold un their
hands In horror at this, for it is as
truly war as the kind now raging In
Europe? The law of survival of the
fittest applies to nations a well as to
anything else in nature. Those nations
which prepare intelligently to protect
themselves against more unscrupulous
nations will have a much better chance
to survive than those which do not.
This preparedness should not only he
military but should he preparedness in
anything that Is of National imnort
nnce, as commerce, immigration, educa
tion, etc. Let us open our eyes to the
facts and not try to solve our problems
Ion the basis of how men may he two
or three millenniums from now, 3. N.