10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN. "WEDNESDAY, 31 ARCH 21, 1917.
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POKTLAXD, AFEDXESDAT, UAB, 21. 1917.
OUR PROBABLE WAR POLICY.
As war with Germany appears more
Imminent, it becomes tBnely to con
sider how the United States can best
conduct hostilities and how far we
shall go In the effort to bring Ger
many into subjection to those prin
ciples of International law of whloh we
have become the champions.
The next step after the arming of
merchant ships will naturally be to
send warships out, either as convoys
to merchant vessels or to hunt down
submarines aggressively along the
ocean lanes of travel. This appears to
be the purpose of the Navy Depart
ment in contracting for a large fleet
of swift motorboats which are to be
armed with machine guns to sweep
the gun crew off the deck of a sub
marine and with long-range guns,
heavy enough to puncture its hide. As
the later undersea boats have heavier
upper decks than the earlier types
and as some have double decks, guns
as large as six inches may be neces
sary. The British have found motorboats
most effective when sent out in squad
rons of six under a mother ship and
with the aid of airplanes. Steaming
abreast, a mile apart, the boats search
for periscopes, and both they and
the airplanes watch for disturbances
of the surface which betray the pres
ence of a submerged U-boat. There is
a certain regularity in the waves
which is broken by so large a . body
as a submarine moving under water,
even at as great a depth as 160 feet,
which Is about the limit of safety.
On sighting a periscope a motor
boat dashes to the spot and circles
around it. The other boats come to
the spot, followed by the mother ship.
The latter then takes its station at
that point, and each of the six smaller
vessels starts out on a tangent to the
rim of a circle having a radius of
about twelve miles, that being the
distance a U-boat can travel under
water In an hour, and one hour being
the limit of time she can travel with
out coming up to recharge her bat
teries. If the patrol fails to detect her
or if she falls to come up within the
circle, it is extended until the need
of air or electric power forces her to
the surface, when fire is opened on
her. If the track of a submerged U
boat is discovered, a net of piano wire
S00 feet long and 100 feet deep Is
dropped and the boat Is caught in one
of Its ten-foot meshes. v
By patrollng in this manner the
lanes of traffic through the barred
rone west of Ireland, the United States
can protect ships going to and from
ports on the English Channel, the Bay
of Biscay, Bristol Channel, the Irish
Sea, the north of Ireland, west of
Scotland and past the north of Scot
land. By confining ships to these pro
tected lanes, we should deprive the
Germans of any prey In the interven
ing stretches of sea and should force
their boats into the protected areas
in order to effect destruction. By so
doing we should relieve the allied fleet
of a large part of Its task and should
release more of It to patrol the sea
farther east. Our fleet would prob
ably be supplied with bases on the
west coast of Ireland and Scotland.
An occasional submarine might raid
Into mid-Atlantic, but here, too, ships
could be kept in lanes which would
be guarded by destroyers, cruisers and,
as fast as they became available, by
motorboats and converted yachts.
It is probable that, as hostilities
continued and as our fleet grew, naval
co-operation with the allies would ex
tend, but there seems little prospect
that our main battle fleet would be
engaged. Since the battle of Jutland
the German battle fleet has stayed in
port and the configuration of the coast
and modern naval appliances have
made attack practically Impossible.
Otherwise the American fleet might
blockade the North Sea end of the Kiel
Canal, emptying into the Kibe estuary,
white the British fleet went Into the
Baltic to attack the German fleet in
Kiel harbor. Submarines, mines and
coast forts have rendered close enough
approach for such an attack Impos
sible. No recent naval attack on coast
defenses has succeeded, not excepting
that on the Dardanelles, which came
nearest to success. The only chance
of a battle with the German fleet
seems to hang on its emergence into
the open sea. It has made no such
venture for nearly ten months, having
only sent fast cruisers and destroyers
on raids.
Common prudence requires that we
prepare to do battle with Germany on
land also. If we once enter upon
war with that country. It Is necessary
that we do our utmost to bring about
Its defeat. A Germany victorious on
land and embittered by American In
tervention would be a constant men
ace to this country, imposing on us
the necessity of maintaining a poweivj
ful Army and Navy fully prepared.
Given command of the sea, Germany
might secretly conclude the threatened
treaty with Mexico, land an army near
the mouth of the Mississippi River
and, Joining a Mexican army, advance
up the valley into the heart of our
agricultural and central manufacture
mg districts, snaking tne pacifist
farmers of the Middle .West out of
their complacent sense of security.
That movement. If successful, would
cut the country in two, depriving the
Kast of the Western food and me'al
supply and the West of the . Eastern
munition supply. V. .
It would be folly to rely on pre
dictions that utter defeat will befall
the central empires this year and that
the war will be over before we can
provide an army and transports suffi
cient to take part In land- operations.
It is possible that the Teutons may yet
make a successful offensive, or that,
at least, their resistance to the allied
onslaughts may be so stubborn as to
prolong the war through next year.
While a new American army could not
be ready for service before the end
of 1918, It might suffice to deliver the
finishing blow after that time, and,
though It were never called upon to
fire a shot, the mere fact that it was
In being would be an Influence for
peace.
These considerations should end
hesitation about adoption of universal
service, though economy of time might
demand that the first levy be com
posed of volunteers. The deficiency
of officers might be largely made up
if the 60,000 Americans now serving
in the allied armies were released and
sent home to train . the new levies.
They would be extremely valuable, for
they have experience in the very latest
methods of war, and they know tricks
of which our oldest regular officers
have learned only In theory or by
observation.
All experience teaches that the
scope of war cannot be limited by the
will of either belligerent, but Quickly
broadens to cover every point where
they can be Injured. That Is particu
larly true of this war, for It has spread
until It covers large parts of three
continents and has Involved fourteen
nations. Once In, we cannot stop. If
we would, until the war Is foughto a
decision. -r-
f0
J. prTHAT IS BEHXXD ITT
ITT S1
, The Oregonlan would say to the
Oregon Deutsche Zeltung that for
itself it Is quite indifferent to abuse
and falsehood from that quarter. It
Is besides aware that no retort It could
make would stay or divert the poison
ous stream of audacious disloyalty
which it pours fourth daily through Its
double-language columns. But The
Oregonlan Is frank to say that it has
some curiosity to know what are the
exact sources of this mischievous pa
per's financial support. Who and
what influences are behind It? Why
Is It Important, under a barely dis
guised pretense of loyalty, for the
Deutsche Zeitung to, keep the truth,
by suppression, or mutilation, or out
right prevarication, away from the
group of citizens who are presumably
Its readers? What are the mainsprings
of its conduct? What are the precise
benefits to be derived if It can pro
mote dissension, disunion, demoraliza
tion among the people? What service
does it render, and to whom, by its
desperate efforts to Incite disaffection
toward America? What is the game?
Who are the master players?
We are a tolerant people. We note
with unconcern the outrageous mani
festations of a contemptuous and trea
sonable attitude by this little paper
toward American interests, American
rights, American duties, American
ideals, American patriotism, for we
think that the foundations of the
Union are unassailable, and that It
all amounts to nothing. Of Itself per
haps not; but for what it voices and
represents, it seems to us to be serious.
Some day we hops to see the strings
wiiiuu cnuso vma uiuo alien maunnLioy,
to perform. S
EQt
nPMEXT OF A DIPLOMAT.
The Oregonlan has heard It urged
against the nomination of Mr. Wheel
wright to the Japanese Ambassador
ship or rather against the probabil
ity of his selection that he has had
no diplomatic experience.
The Ambassadors of the United
States in foreign capitals, all chosen
by President Wilson, are the follow
ing: London Walter Elnea Pace, K. T.
Paris William O. Sharp. Ohio.
Berlin Vacant.
Vienna Frederick O. Penfleld. Pa
Rome Thomaa Nelson Pace, Va.
Madrid Joseph E. Wlllard, Va.
Petrocrad David R. Francia. Mo.
Constantinople Abram X. Elkua,
K. T.
'l okic v acant.
Buenos Aires Frederick J. Stlmson. Mass.
Rio de Janeiro Edwin V. Morgan. N. Y.
Santiago Joseph H. Shea, Ind,
Mexico Henry P. Fletcher, Pa.
The only Ambassador in the entire
list who has been ln the diplomatic
service, is, we believe, Mr. Fletcher,
who has a hard nut to crack in Mex
ico. Mr. Fletcher has been Minister
to Chile, and he may understand the
Latin-American mind. Then, again,
he may not.
It is not our purpose to say that
the practice of diplomacy should be
left, to amateurs, or volunteers. But
men versed in affairs have an equip
ment for the service not to b despised.
It would seem that for the Japanese
mission an American cjtlzen with
knowledge of the Orient and In spe
cial favor with Japanese ought to be
chosen.
NOT MOLLYCODDLES.
A clergyman, who was greatly In
terested in what The Oregonlan had
to say the other day about patriotism
and the Bible, writes to suggest
various texts which will show that
what he calls a "sissy philosophy" Is
wholly alien to the Bible. The Orego
nlan regards the subject as both in
teresting and profitable, but will do
no more here than repeat a few of
the citations furnished by our minis
terial friend:
Be of eood courage and let us play the
men for our people. 2d Samuel, 10:12.
Be of aood courage and let us behave our
selves valiantly for our people and for the
cities or our uod. I Chronicles, 18:13.
Be strong and of a eood courage: fear not.
nor be afraid of them. Deuteronomy, 81 :6.
And 1 looked, and rose up, and said unto
the nobles and to the rulers, and to the rest
of the people. Be ye not afraid of them:
remember the Lord which is great and
terrible, and fight for your brethren, your
sons and your daughters, your wives and
your houses. Nehemlah. 4:14.
The student of Holy Writ will recog
nize the significance of these expres
sions, all of which had a bearing upon
the triumphs in the battlefield of
Israel over its enemies. The sentences
from Samuel and Chronicles refer to
the same great contest. Joab, the
valiant and trusted lieutenant of King
David, dispersed the Syrians, but later
they gathered across the Jordan, and
the mighty David in person led lis
hosts against them. "David," says the
chronicler, "slew of the Syrians seven
thousand men which fought in chari
ots and forty thousand footmen." The
Syrians then "made peace with David
and became his servants."
King David was no pacifist; and he
found favor on high all his days.
THE SHORTAGE OF FARMERS.
It long has been a homely conten
tion that American cities were grow
ing more rapidly than American farm
ing districts; that farms, as the basis
of civilization, would have to multiply
if we hoped to escape economic dis
tress. In Oregon we have been told
that the proportion is very much awry
as between farmer and city dweller.
the ideal proportion of seventy-five
farmers to every twenty-five urbans
being nearly reversed. Years ago the
prediction was current that high prices
of foods would be the certain result.
and now the fulfillment of that proph
ecy is hard upon ns.
Fortunately America continues to
raise sufficient food for all Its people.
Separated from the remainder of the
world-we could get along very nicely.
In fact, our condition as to food alone
would improve If we were no longer
put to the necessity of supplying for
eign countries. But stagnation of
trade is not a consummation to be
sought and the remedy for present
high prices is increased production.,
As for the demand upon our larders
front abroad that promises to increase
steadily until the war has, run "its
course, which may be anywhere from
one to ten years. England is said to
be seeking the entire wheat yield of
Canada. France is urging stringent
economies because of wheat shortages.
The Teutons hold nearly 1,000,000
acres of French agricultural lands.
Besides, great areas are yielding short
because the tillers are In the trenches.
The lesson is driven home forcibly
to us that the farmer is the foundation
of society. The efficient Teutons ap
preciated this fact at its full value and
carried the harrow and plow right be
hind the howitzer over every foot of
conquered territory. And In the end
it will be the farms behind the cannon
that will decide the great issue. More
farms and farmers are the need of
the hour the world over. The world
has artisans to spare.
R.ECALLXVG THE PANAMA CANAL.
It has not been more than two or
three years since the Panama Canal
was a topic of lively conversation.
Certainly no popular enterprise has
disappeared from thought more com
pletely In so brief a space of time.
The Panama Canal is seldom heard of
now except in connection with reports
on spies and earth slides;' hence we
are Indebted to the United States
Geological Survey for recalling this an
cient subject.
In its latest bulletin the Survey
points out that the Canal was one un
necessary. The cynlo might be in
clined to associate this assertion with
the present day, but the Government
scientists set the time at a few hun
dred thousand years ago when, they
find, the Canal existed by reason of
the fact that the two oceans had never
been divorced. Recent discovery of
fossils in California substantiates this
belief and lends color to a scientific
opinion that the continents were sepa
rated a second time in the vicinity
of Tehauntepeo.
Evidence is provided by fossils of
Atlantic fauna found in Paclflo terri
tory. The lazy denizens of the deep
back in the Eocene and early Oligo
eene periods visited back and forth
from ocean to ocean until late In the
Oligocene epoch an earth movement
threw up a backbone between the two
continents. A result was -the destruc
tion of. fauna which could not effect
readjustment to new environment and
were unable to return to old fields
of sustenance In Atlantic or Pacific.
According to all forecasts mankind
was likewise supposed to readjust Its
living habits, but as result of an arti
ficial opening between the oceans. So
far human nature has interfered.
Great races are In a furious tempest
of slaughter which has stunned -the
world's trade arteries. It may be that
this tempest will seek to destroy that
channel before It has fairly entered
-upon its purpose. At any rate, the
Panama Canal, dream of centuries.
stands as little more than an Idle ditch
while the destinies of mankind are
being rewrought In strife. It must
await its hour of triumph and useful
ness, provided it survives the present
world upheaval.
OCR AUTHOR DIPLOMATISTS.
Announcement that James W.
Gerard, returned Ambassador to Ger
many, will write a book on his ex
periences in the Teuton capital calls
attention to some Interesting literary
possibilities of the near future. It
will be recalled that President Wilson
In his first term drew heavily on the
ranks of writers for our foreign repre
sentatives. Conspicuous authors were
sent to many posts, and while they
were untrained in the arts and wiles
of the diplomatic service they have
served with -credit to themselves and
the country. But no matter what
their delinquencies and shortcomings
may have been as diplomats, think of
the wonderful material for a series of
books on momentous situations avail
able to them.
It Is only to be expected that In
course of time Thomas Nelson Page
will submit a book, or series of books,
on Italy in wartime. Thrilling vol
umes should fall frota the pen of
Brand Whitlock, our diplomat In Bel
gium. Whitlock has a facile pen and
the keen perceptions that come of
newspaper training so that his obser
vations on the overthrow of Belgium
are certain to be valuable documents.
F. C. Penfield, of Austria-Hungary, Is
a writer of repute; Dr. Henry van
Dyke, until recently our representative
In Holland; W. C. Sharp, representing
America in France, and Walter Page,
at London, all may be depended upon
for volumes.
These men have witnessed first hand
the Intrigues which have upset em
pires. They have witnessed from close
range the struggle with military, so
cial and economic problems. They
have seen nations crumple and have
rubbed elbows with the world's new
set of immortals. They have been
present at the greatest series of diplo
matic controversies In the history of
the world. And In addition to repre
senting the Nation as satisfactorily as
pan be expected until American diplo
macy has been thoroughly overhauled
and placed on a new foundation, they
have been able to record observations
which will add vast stores to Amer
ica's valuable literature. But for the
presence of these writers as officials
we might never know of Europe's
struggle from the point of view of
trained American observers.
EFFORTS TO KILL PORTLAND AS A
PORT.
The explanation offered by the
Alaska Engineering Commission for
the rejection of a Portland firm's bid
for lumber for the Alaska Railroad
dodges the Issue. The statement that
lack of funds caused rejection of all
bids for 12,000,000 feet and a call for
new bids for 5,000,000 feet does not
accord with certain facts. One fact
is that Seattle firms offered to with
draw their opposition to acceptance of
the Portland bid if the bidder would
buy the lumber in Seattle and that
the Commission's agent did not dis
cover the insufficiency of funds until
this bidder, in loyalty to Portland, had
rejected this offer. Another fact Is
that the call for bids for 6,000,000 feet
provided for delivery "in Seattle har
bor," thus expressly excluding Portland
as a port for shipment.
These facts prove that the contro
versy is not a raere matter of rivalry
between lumber manufacturers. It has
arisen as part of a studied effort on
the part of Seattle to destroy the repu
tation of Portland as a port. For many
years Seattle has propagated the- opin
ion that ships do not come to Portland
because the water on the Columbia
bar and in the channel is not deep
enough for them to do so safely, and
that port charges are higher here than
in Seattle. Both these statements are
false, and the Alaska Engineering
Commission should know them to be
false, for Government records show
that there are forty feet of water on
the bar and thirty feet in the channel
at lew tides The depth on the bar la
equal to that at the entrance to New
York harbor, greater than that at the
entrance to any other river port In the
United States, greater than -that at
any port in Great Britain except Fal
mouth or than any in Germany. The
bar has been cut away to such a depth
that ships .scarcely notice it when
passing into the river.
Port charges have been made equal
with those of any other Paclflo Coast
port. A direct, guaranty has been
given to this effect by the Dock Com
mission to the quartermaster's de
partment of the Army and to steam
ship companies, and certainly will be
extended to apply to Government ship
ments to Alaska.
There is no foundation for Seattle's
detraction of Portland as a port, but
we must be prepared for its contin
uance and must be constantly on the
watch to counteract It. Only by un
ceasing vigilance on the part of the
Chamber of Commerce and of our
Senators and Representatives can due
Government recognition of Portland's
merits as a port be obtained. It Is
precisely this recognition whloh our
rivals try to prevent. Portland must
take It for granted that, whenever any
Government contract Is to be let or
any steamship line is to be established,
jgsuch tricks as have been played in
liio juajsaa aiiair win De piayea, ana
must be ready in advance to defeat
them.
It is no great discovery to learn that
some Portland pupils are underfed.
Many grown-ups do not get all they
want to eat, for obvious reasons, main
ly financial. With most people, young
and old, breakfast Is a perfunctory af
fair at best. Late retiring and late
arising cause diffident appetites to re
ject "the same thing over and over."
Where the shake-up is needed Is plain.
In the ease of a pupil whose mother
leaves home early to work. It is dif
ferent. Something In the cafeteria
line might be Installed In the school
house to provide plain food at mini
mum cost; but It need not be too
plain. A few frills occasionally are
wholesome. Who will pay for this Is
another matter, but In a system that
takes on anything suggested, it ought
to be of easy solution.
A New York solon, opposed to wom
an's suffrage, delivers himself, in this
fashion: "Who fight for the father
land, ,the men of Germany or the
women of Germany? Who fight .for
France, the men of France or the
women of France? Who fight to pro
tect our hearthstones and the honor
of the Nation?" Mere twaddle, and
about the last statement an American
male should utter these days when we
can't get men for Army, Navy or Na
tional Guard, while our women are
organizing and training themselves by
the hundreds of thousands for their
part in National defense.
There Is one good thing to be said
for ex-Czar Nicholas and the rest of
the Romanoffs they put the country
above. their throne, preferring retire
ment to the aid of the enemy. In
that respect they have arisen above
the Bourbons, who invited foreign In
vasion to' recover their throne. That
saying of Nicholas, "I shall never be
come a traitor to my country," will
surely soften the resentment of the
people.
The division of the Supreme Court
on the Adamson law decision explains
the long delay In rendering it. The
Judges were of several minds, and a
majority was secured only by obtaining
Justice McKenna's concurrence In the
general conclusions of four others, but
with some exceptions. Once again, the
court has stood five to four on an
epoch-making decision.
Young people contemplating matri
mony should be compelled to read
transcripts of allegations in suits for
divorce, that they , might avoid the
shoals that wreck the bark, although
it would do little good. If it did, the
race would run out. As It is, they pre
fer to take the chance, and perhaps
they are more than half right.
Perhaps nothing short of a de
structive raid on New York harbor
will awaken us to realization that pa
triotism must take a more substantial
form than conversation if America Is
to be prepared. In the light of recent
events, a sudden attack on boats In
American waters would hardly fill the
country with surprise.
According to the allegations of a
woman seeking her decree, the hus
band bought her only one dress in
nineteen years. There was her mis
take, in letting him buy that one. It
is the duty of every wife to buy .er
own "duds" and the earlier she begins
the better she can make the plan work.
The care and good order with which
the Germans made their retreat in
France are indicated by the absence
of any allusion to prisoners or booty
from the French and British bulletins
and by the completeness of the devas
tation they left In their wake.
This is a time for practical patriot!
Ism. The Navy needs 16,000 more
men. Take the hint and get your sea
legs. There will be fine sport for
submarine hunters.
Murgula's experience with Villa
proves the danger of celebrating t
victory until the oposing army Is de
feated.
A Montana firm has gone into bank
ruptcy with liabilities of $168,000 and
assets of $2040, which is some finan
cing.
Sale of the Blue Ledge, mine for
$750,000 proves that Oregon is again
pushing to the front as a mining state.
A suitcase in the hand of a man
coming from a train from the south
cannot be Judged by Its weight.
Enfranchised woman will take hand
In the defense of the country as read
lly as in its government.
It does not matter, much who
"leaks" In a contemplated raid 'If the
baggage leaks.
Mr. Ripley, of the Santa Fe, Is some
what peeved over the result, but wisely
says little.
The whisky-graft case at Seattle
seems to be a case of plot and coun
ter-plot.
When Old Sol crossed the line yes.
terday he dragged open all the rain
spouts.
"Armed neutrality," however, can be
spelled In three letters.
Is the Efficiency Club asleep at the
switch ?
What next?
How to Keep Well
By Dr. W. A. Evasua.
uuesrions peranenx to nysieaw, .
and prevention of dlaease. If matters of gen
era! interest, will be answered In this col
umn, vt nerv space win in.w vL ".- - -subject
la not suitable letters will be per
sonally auxwenu, inujm i . .....
tlons and where stamped addressed envelope
Is Inclosed. Dr. Evans will not make diagnosis
or prescribe for Individual diseases. Ke
quests for such services cannot be answerea.
, , i . t' a v. t w -nr a Evens.
Published by arrangement with, the Chloaco
Tribune.)
"S CIA XI CAY, ITS cat; S"E S.
THERE Is no sciatica in Boston. At
least Dr. Rogers found no record of
eases in the "nerve department of the
Massachusetts General Hospital for six
months. Fifteen years ago the records
of the same department showed a large
number of , cases. This- observation by
Dr. Rogers shows that the physicians
In that hospital are now finding the
cause of what formerly was called, sci
atica and treating It for what It la
rather than for what it as not.
Forty-nine of a series of 60 cases of
pain In the sciatlo nerve were found to
be due to trouble in one of the Joints
of the lower spine or of the pelvlo or
hip bones with the spine. In some cases
pressure over these Joints revealed the
tender points. In others It was shown
by stretching the leg as follows: While
lying on the back the knee was held
stiff and the foot was raised till the leg
was vertical or nearly so, and, while
lying on the abdomen, the thigh and
leg were bent backward (upward) as
much as possible. If there Is pain in
making these movements It to because
these Joints around the hips and spine
are being pulled on.
One , of Dr. Rogers' oases of solatia
pain was due to cancer of the prostate
gland.
Dr. Rogers concludes that pain In the
solatia nerve so-called sciatica la due
to inflammation where the nerve leaves
the body canal, or else it Is due to some
cause away from the nerve.
In the discussion of this paper before
the American Medical Association Dr.
Ely said he thought It was time
to throw the term sciatica into the
came scrap heap. with "bellyache and
acute "bilious attacks.
Dr. Lord told of some cases of so
called sciatica which were due to con
stipation. Ha had seen mineral oil cure
what seemed to be Incurable cases of
sciatica.
Dr. Griffith told of cases due to sag
ging of the abdominal organs and cured
by corsets and exercises.
Dr. Watklns told of a ease that per
sisted for a long time. The teeth and
gums were found to be at fault. One
tooth was drawn, the gums were treat
ed, and sciatica got well.
Dr. rBayre told of cases that were due
to such diverse causes as fissure of the
rectum, carcinoma of the pelvlo organs.
displacements of the uterus and ova
ries, and dilatation of the colon. Any
thing resting on the solatlo nerve and
hurting It or the sacral flexus may
cause this pain.
Dr. Fisher said that. In addition to
the cases that were due to pressure on
the nerve, there were oases where the
pain was reflected from some nearby
Joint. An Instance of this type of so-
called solatloa is the pain In the knee
Joint and the- sciatic nerve due to dis
ease In the hip Joint,
Dr." Rldlon said he .had remained In
bed for a month at least 10 times In
his life on aocount of so-called sciatlo
pains.
The fellow who was suffering was
not helped much by being told that the
trouble was not in his sciatlo nerve.
To help him It is not only necessary to
know where the seat of the trouble Is,
but to do something for It,
Chance for Recovery.
R. D. K. P. writes: "What are the
chances of recovery of a person 60
years of age from catarrhl deafness of
three weeks standing and brought on
by a case of grip? Previously the
hearing was fairly good, but apparently
the eustachian tubes closed overnight
and stay closed with a constant roaring
that is distracting. There was severe
headache and mild earache for six
days."
REPLY.
The chance of recovery is rood provided
yon have your ears treated. The chaaoa of
spontaneous complete recovery is not good.
Probably No Danger.
Miss E. B. writes: Is it dangerous
or Inimical to one's health to work in
a gas office? Of course, there is some
gas escaping nearly all the time, but I
do not notice it, having become accus
tomed to it. It Is noticeable to persons
going in and out of the office.
REPLY.
Unless conditions are much worse In the
office In which you work than they are In
the general run of saa offices I do not think
you are In any dancer.
Not Preset-Ting; Fluid.
Citizen writes: "When eating almost
any kind of poultry except freshly
killed I am troubled with gastritis. Is
this due to some preserving fluid used
in cold storage?"
REPLY.
Preaervtns fluids are Dot used with foods
kept la cold storare. Probably you have
rotten hold of poultry that was a little
"off."
Iron Preparation O. K.
H. A writes: "Is there an Iron prep
aration that can be taken safely by a
nursing mother?"
REPLY.
Any preparation ef Iron can be taken
safely by a nurolnr mother. Blaud's pills
is a good one; so is tlnoture ef iron.
Migraine Is Trouble.
A D. writes: "I am a married woman
nearly 60 years old, of medium height
and weight, but I am a great sufferer
from headaches, becoming worse each
year. There seem to be two kinds of
headache, one like neuralgia and the
other like a pain from an abscess. It
seems almost impossible to endure It.
I have terrible nausea and vomiting,
not food but froth with a strong me
talllo odor. Great prostration follows
and nothing, not even a drop of water,
will stay In my stomach. When the pain
ceases I am weak for a day or two and
after that until the next attack can do
anything that any normal person can
do. Sometimes my hands turn purple
and seem to shrivel .and I have heat
flashes. For two months my right knee
swelled badly and felt bruised and
stiff. I have trouble with constipa
tion and take enemas "often. I do not
play Invalid, but try to be normal. I
need help and don't know where to get
it. I cannot afford specialists. Would
you advise entering a hospital for
diagnosis?" j
REPLY.
Your headaches are typical attacks of
migraine. You cannot do much for them. It
will reconcile you somewhat to know that
migraine gradually sets better in persons
beyond 60. It you can stay in a rood hos
pital for a while, one where they have
something like Cabofs organised service,
you should ret rid of your knee trouble and
your constipation and possibly find some
lauwrnisaat as to rear headaehes.
CHIETF-S' ITATEMETTJ CTrl ALL E O ED
Mr. TFRea Asserts Two-Platoon Amead
snent la Hlsrcsrcsaitel.
PORTLAND, March 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Please allow me to correct some
erroneous statements made by Chiefs
Dowell and Stevens and their assist
ants, concerning the firemen's two
platoon charter amendment.
As to vacations and holidays: Ordi
nance No. 20104 defines the annual 15
days' rest as a "vacation" and the
sixth day off for firemen as a "holi
day." The City Council can pass
another ordinance, after the adoption
of this charter amendment, requiring
firemen to work every day In the year
except their 15 days' vacation.
The bill does not make "administra
tive affairs of the fire bureau subject
to vote of the firemen," and does not
give them any power except the right
to decide how often to change from
day to night shift and to choose their
Judges and clerks of election on that
question.
The bill will not disorganize "the
fire prevention campaign of the city,"
because the chiefs can detail regular
firemen and can also take men from
the night shift for this service tem
porarily, because this charter amend
ment requires only that the firemen
shall be organized in two "substantial
ly" equal platoons.
If this amendment Is adopted com
panies working at a fire must con
tinue until the recall is sounded by
their officers, regardless of the num
ber of hours on duty. Just as they do
now. In case of "great or unusual
danger" both day and night shifts must
respond, and every fireman knows that
a second alarm in his district means
"unusual danger," and that additional
alarms mean great danger that calls
men from other districts.
As to the cost: In one paragraph
these chiefs say it will be Increased by
"$200,000 or $300,000 a year." and In the
next paragraph they say It will "entail
100 per cent increase In the number of
firemen." It Is clear that they have
made no Intelligent or careful estimate
of what the Increased cost will be, but
after all their experience they should
be able to guess nearer than $100,000
In a case like this.
The requirement that "liberal pro
vision shall be made in the fire sta
tions for preserving the health and
will-being of the members. Is to pre
vent the chiefs from ordering all the
men on night shift to stay awake all
night (and chiefs have been known to
be as arbitrary as that), and to allow
the Council to provide for regular
training to keep the men fit and .In
good working condition. This could
easily be done without costly appli
ances, but my information la that the
city does not supply anything of the
kind for any of the flrebouses now,
nor require any setting up drills; also,
to allow the Council and the chiefs to
provide for warming and lighting at
least one sitting room for the men In
each fire house. Many cow barns are
better lighted and heated than the sitting-rooms
in some of the firehouses,
and that Is especially true of the fire-
boat near the steel bridge, which is a
disgrace to the city of Portland.
Except the police and the firemen,
all employes of the city work eight
hours a day and have six holidays a
year with pay, in addition to a 16-day
vacation and every Sunday, off duty.
Policemen are on duty eight hours a
day, 28 days a month and have an an
nual vacation of 15 days. If the peo
ple adopt this amendment, firemen will
average 12 hours a day as many days
as the Council wants them to work,
except the 15 days vacation. They
are, now on duty 24 hours a day fire
days in every six.
The fire chiefs are the only men I
have heard of thus far In Portland who
say there is any portion of the amend
ment that they cannot understand, or
that there Is any "Joker" in it.
WILLIAM S. TTREN.
PACIFIST OVLY HIS OWW ACCOTJTVT
War for Ireland, Peace for America,
vnargexi to Be D'Arcy Slogan.
- -- t . a j. v -i u liio niai-
or- The other night in the German
House the Hon. Pete D'Arcy not being
satisfied with having St. Patrick born
In RA.ltn I. - ....
. ..... iu, mor eiaooratea tne role
of the Admirable Crlchton of the Sons
of Irish Plroutte by orating to Ameri
cans on "how to bell the cat" at a Unit
when the papers were selling on the
streets announHna a t ,--. i
O ..- v AlllCllViia
ships were sunk by German submarines.
II i ... . . .
.nuii. rem staiea ne would never
never, never be a party to war with
any foreign power that would shoot
down the Stars and Stripes on the high
seas, but the Hon. Pete has no objec
tions whatever to urging Irish boys In
Dublin to fight and walk to death be
fore an enemy with an army of five
million men and the greatest navy In
the world.
The Hon. Pete, BOOO miles awav,
would finance and urge the Irish youth
to fight, but when it comes to fighting
for his own country, the Hon. Pete is
against a fight and is for lying down
to the traducers of his country's flag,
nay. even for looking not with dis
favor upon those men who forged John
Redmond's name to a. manifesto that
the people of Ireland were starving and
needed money. That manifesto was a
base falsehood, but a cheap and ef
fective trick to collect money not to
buy food, for Ireland, but to use for a
propaganda to urge others to rise up
and fight for their country," while orat
ing at home not to fight nay not to
resent an insult to the honor of native
land. C. O'DONOVAN.
186 Fourteenth street.
" District School Law.
BORING, Or.. March 19. (To the
Editor.) A recent act of the Oregon
Legislature established a minimum of
eight months as a district school term.
Please state what provision was made
therein to meet the deficiency In dis
tricts wherA tTna rt ,.nH.
r - Bfyvi-
tionment of county and state school
iubm is inouincieni Tor tne payment
i ieacnei-s salary ana maintenance.
J. R HALL.
The present law requiring a six
months' term of school provides that in
case a district does not levy 6 mills
on the dollar for maintenance for the
ensuing year or a tax that will produce
an amount sufficient to give the dis
trict such maintenance the difference
between $300 and the amount received
from the county school fund it shall be
the duty of the County Court to levy
a district tax that will produce that
amount. The present law also provides
that when the apportionment of county
funds and the special district school
tax do not aggregate $100 an amount
to make up the deficit shall be trans
ferred from1 the county's general fund
to the credit of the district.
' The new law, which first applies to
the school year beginning June IS,
1917, Increases the school term to eight
months and Increases the amount re
quired to be raised by the methods
above outlined to $400 in place of $300.
He Believes la Hicks.
SPRAY, Or., Starch 16. (To tho Edi
tor.) -Shame on you for taking a dead
man's name in slurs as you have about
Hicks. He knew more about weather
facts than all the Government ones do.
Are you fair? Read Hicks' 1917 Alma
nac and see he has the snow storms
O. K., railroads tied up for snow.
I have been a student of Hicks 40
years and find sure proof. Am a kid
born in June, 18SS. See? Please right
the wrong you did.
As for me, I hop around for my liv
ing. All say "Too old to hire." Am an
old Indian fighter before Buffalo Bill's
time. I think the United States Gov
ernment ought to help such as mo out.
Am almost a hobo.
WHISTLING GEORGE.
In Other Days.
Hal Century Aco.
rora The Oreronlan of March M, 18 ML
Berlin xr-i, n t. . .
. w . x k tat siaieu uai
Bismarck has refused to protest against
the abMrntlnn r i i. j . i
slan Empire,
V!(tAW. 1.. t- . . .
7 "rvin ji. largo ana en
thusiastic publio meeting was held las
night for the purpose of discussing tho
propriety of applying for admission of
this colony into the British North
American Confederacy on fair and
equitable terms. The meeting was
unanimous In favor of the scheme.
New York. Xr rvh i Th ht...
tion of the land communication with
the cable haa renewed tho hope of the
Fenians that there may have been a
general uprising in Ireland on Bt. Pat
rick's day.
Toronto. Marrk 1 a -n--n-
was arrested today with a plan of
tho city of Toronto, a map of the
Niagara frontier and a list of the Judges
wno sentenced the Fenian prisoners.
The Hibernian Society was not al
lowed tO DRrada Or,, t .rrlt.m.i., t-a
vails on tho Canadian aide. Buffalo
is mil of Canadian spies. Nothing un
usual has transpired.
Pesth, March 19. The ooronatlen ef
Francia Joseph as King of Hungary
during his present visit to this city
is strongly urged by all parties.
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oreronlan of March XI 189.
Washington, March 20. Tho river
and harbor bill Is now completed and
is ordered reported to the House. Rep-,
resentatlve Hermann secures great re
sults for Oregon. His state aggregates
more appropriations than any other
state in the Union, with the exception
of New York.
Port Jefferson. L. I.. March 20. The
case of Edward Emmons, known as the
"ossified man.' who died here today
from the grippe, is without parallel
so far as Is known to medical science.
Ho had practically turned to bono
years ago and doctors have puzxled
over the case in vain.
Washington, March 20. Proceedings
in the House during the coming week
will be more than usually interesting,
as the Bland silver bill is the special
order for three days, beginning Tues
day. There are two sly fellows in town
working the flim-flam change game,
and merchants will lose nothing by
advising their salesmen. Several have
already been swindled. The game Is
an old one.
Mayor Mason has returned from Cal
ifornia and resumed his official duties.
When he went away two weeks ago
he was a very sick man.- The trip
has benefited him.
During his trip East J. P. Howe haa
had all the time on his mind the
opera-house he expeots to build here.
Work will be begun about the first
of May.
His Strongholds Crumble.
By James Barton Adams.
The strongholds of King Alcohol are
falling one by one, as higher In tho
heavens climbs the prohibition sun; the
land is shaking off the grip of that old
tyrant's reign, and sore his adamantine
heart to see his power wane. Before
assaults of right his trenches he evacu
ates, he scowls In rago as he cheoks
off his lost-forever states; and peers
into the future with his sorely black
ened eyes, as startling premonitions of
his final doom arise. He looked upon
the first assaults with not a tinge of
fear, beheld the temperance movement
with a supercilious sneer; imagined la
his lofty pride no power could dethrone
a king, whose might through centuries
had daily stronger grown, but now he
sees the luminous handwriting on tho
wall that tells him of a tottering throna
fast crumbling to Its fall, and all his
power and wealth of gold and strength,
of allies fall to stay the onward swoop
ing of the prohibition gale. Soon will
our country prosper as it prospered
ne'er before, the sunshine drive the
shadows from full many a clouded door,
the air be rent with Joyous shouts of
children at their play, and wives will
sing glad heartsongs at their duties
every day; our boys develop into men
In all the name Implies; no stunted
brains from blight of drink, no dull
and leaden eyes; Old Glory then we
all will hall as banner of tho free, and
more than ever love It as the Flag of
Liberty.
WHOt
Who killed tho bill?
"Not I." said Bill Stone.
"If you must bo shown,
I'l tell you with pleasure:
Clapp back-stabbed the measure."
Who killed the bill?
" 'Twas Pompadour Bob,
Or some fanatic slob
From back East," said Wes' Jones
In pitying tones.
Who killed the bill?
"BUI Stone," said O'Gorman.
"Ho was the foreman
And Jury. "Twas Bill
Who gavj It the pUL
Who killed the bill?
"It was some other chap,"
Said Moses E. Clapp;
"But I saw the curtc
That finished tho work"
Who killed the bill?
"Al Cummins. I think.
Or Norris, the 'gink,' "
Said Lane, "all alone;
Neither I nor Bill Stone."
Who killed tho bill?
"Not I," said John Works,
As his sobs came In Jerks;
"It was Kirby," he spoke,
"That caused it to croak."
Who killed the bill?
"I think It was Smith,
Or Jones, or a myth,"
Said Vardaman; "yet Irno
Has much to explain."
Charles H. George, In the New YorH
World.
Cow's Triplets Valuable.
KENNEWICIC. Wash.. March 1.
(To the Editor.) In The Oregonlan I
notice an article, "Cow Mother of Trip
lets." Thinking that 1 might ease tho
minds of tome of Mr. Henry Hohn
stine's neighbors, who assert that the
case is without precedent or parallel, I
wish to state that I owned a cow about
six years ago that gave birth to three
good strong calves at one time, one of
which was a bull calf, and two heifers,
a phonograph of whloh I still have.
Though advised by some of my
doubting neighbors to destroy tho
calves, as they never would be any
good, I believed experience a good
teacher. I did not destroy. The bull
was marketed at 8 weeks for $7.50 and
the two heifers traded to a neighbor
for four shoats. Three years later one
of the heifers sold for $125.
W. 8. CROUSE.
Taxes on Transferred Property,
KELSO, Wash. March 19. (To the
Editor.) A buys a plant December 1,
1916. B gives a bill of sale clear of
all Incumbrance. Nothing was said
about taxes. In March, 1917. 1916
taxes become due. Who should pay tho
1916 tax? A only has use of plant one
month during 1916. A E. T.
A should pay the taxes for the rea
son they did not become a lien upon
the property until March 16, HIT.