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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (May 11, 1917)
12 THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY MAY 11, 1917. PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland (Oregon) Fostofflce aB second-class mail matter, (subscription rates Invariably In advance: (By Mall.) Pally. Sunday included, one year $8.00 Ially. Sunday Included, six months. ..... 4.25 Daily, Sunday Included, three months.. . . 2.25 Dally, Sunday Included, one month. ..... .75 Daily, without Sunday, one year. ........ 6.00 Dally, without Sunday, three months.... 1.75 Daily, without Sunday, one month 60 Weekly, one year 1.50 feunday, one year. ...................... 2.50 Sunday and Weekly. 8.00 (By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday Included, one year. 0.00 Dally, Sunday Included, one month 75 How to Remit Send poatoff Ice money order, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at sender's risk. Give postofflce address in full. Including county and state. ronlage Kates 12 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 82 pages. It cents; 84 to 43 pages, 3 cents: 60 to 60 pages, 4 cents; 62 to 76 pages, 5 cents; 78 to 82 paes, 6 cents. Foreign post age double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree & Conklln. Brunswick building. New Tork; -Verree & t'onklln, tsteger building, Chicago; Ban Fran cisco representative, R. J. JBldwell, 743 Mar ket street. I'OKTLAM), FRIDAY, MAT 11, 1917. THB OUTLOOK. If Russia makes a separate peace, which Is possible, or If Russia merely ceases to be an efficient military factor in the great war, which Is not unlikely and which has indeed appar ently happened, what then? Th.e gravity of the International sit uation does not diminish, but in creases. The war which was thrust upon us by Germany, and which we did not begin, we shall have to finish as a fighting ally of the other powers against Germany. If any of us have thought that our entrance Into the war would bring it to an end, or that it would be ended by others before we were fairly In volved, It Is time to reverse such opin ions. President Wilson has pledged "all our resources" to the fight for liberty "to make the world safe for democ racy." More and more It is apparent that we shall have to make good his words.' The times ahead of us are not to be easy. The privilege of free American citizenship, bestowed upon most of us without cost, will be retained only at prodigious sacrifice, unless" the por tents are all false. The breakdown of Russia has a meaning all Its own for every one of our hundred million citizens. Before we are through with the war we shall know that It has Involved other things than our money, or our ships, or our food; but our men. SANITY FTRST. There Is a demand for sanity In the conduct of all affairs at this particular time. "Whatever we do, we do not help ourselves by becomimg excited about it. This is illustrated by the extremes to which some would go In closing the schools, under the supposition that the pupils are. needed for farm work or something else, and that the teachers can be better employed at other work. Fortunately the Northwest has not thus far been carried off its feet. In a few districts In the East there has been a tendency toward ill-considered action. It is. to be hoped that calm counsels will prevail. Only a small proportion of the total number of youths of the country are enrolled In institutions of higher learning. Including the high schools. Boys and girls under sixteen are bet ter off in school just now and the country is better off for having them Jiere. The same thing is true as to a good many of the young folks even beyond that age. We by no means have any real assurance that if school terms were brought to a close there would be an important exodus of boys to the farming districts, where they might do work of value. It is more probable that most of them would not find employment of enough value to the country, to atone for the loss we would suffer in the end by neglect of their education. While undoubtedly the people should direct every energy toward the successful prosecution of the war, their policy ought to be to maintain every normal activity that does not inter fere with the, main purpose. The schools are still -a fundamental neces sity and education of the young in the age of their greatest receptiveness is as important as it ever was. Nothing will be lost by keeping the schools open in every respect as if we were not at war. This will reduce our child problems to the minimum now and later, will give our juvenile courts less work to do and will be a material benefit in the period of reconstruction. The Summer vacations are near at hand, during which the older children will be free to seek such employment as is suitable for them, and enrollment ought to be near normal when the Autumn terms begin. This is one prime activity in which our motto ought to be, "Everything moving as usual." the great kelp beds of the Pacific Coast are most important, for with careful harvesting it is estimated that they' are capable of producing seven times as much potash as we now need. There are also the important alunlte deposits in Utah, the feldspars of the East and the saline mud lakes of Cali fornia and Oregon. Development has been delayed only by uncertainty as to the future. It Is comforting, however, to know that the country is well supplied with raw ma terial. Important technical problems in connection with commercial . pro duction have been -worked out. There is absolutely no danger that America will ever starve for want of this im portant fertilizing element, whether the German supply Is made available again or not. MORE NONPARTISANS HIP. Colonel Roosevelt at home is likely to trouble the partisan Democratic Congress just as much as Colonel Roosevelt abroad on the firing Una. For the ctnmtry understands perfectly that politics mean, little, narrow, ugly partisanship alone defeated the highly patriotic project of giving Roosevelt a commission to put the American flag on the battlefront. The proponents of the Roosevelt plan in the Senate gave it up rather than defeat the vital National policy of conscription. The petty Democratic politicians in the House, who have for the most part been coerced Into support of conscription, would have thrown it overboard, and the whole Army bill besides, rather than accept Roosevelt, We are familiar here In Oregon with the old, old game of nonpartlsan shlp, and know who . are its master players and Its beneficiaries. It is working the same way at Washington. There the Democratic majority plays and the Republican minority pays. CITIES PAY MOST. , A skeptical reader of a Hlllsboro newspaper, the Independent, does The Oregonlan the honor of sending In a clipping from that excellent newspa per, with a request to verify or cor rect its statement about one phase of the road-bonding bill, made In the fol lowing words: If yon are In doubt ss to how to vote on the road bonds and have become confused by the arguments for and against. It will be a safe plan to eliminate everything else from consideration and keep your mind 'on the fact that the bill places the big assess able valuation in Multnomah County and the tremendous fund from licenses on Portland owned automobiles at the disposal of the rest of the state to meet the expense of the roads. There Is a saying that it Is not courteous to look a gift horse in the mouth, but in this Instance this gift can be ex amined very thoroughly and all that will be discovered is that the outside counties stand to get very much the best of It. If the bill Is defeated Multnomah County keeps its taxes. She Is making no kick over making the gift. Why should the rest of the state kick? e. The Oregonlan is pleased to report that Its contemporary, the Independ ent, knows exactly what It Is talking about. It Is true that not a dollar of the funds realized from the $6,000,000 is to be spent for roads in Multnomah County. The contribution made by Portland and Multnomah to roads throughout the state will thus be very large. It cannot be emphasized too- much, or stated too often, that, under tho plan of license taxes from automobiles and the quarter-mill state tax, the cities of Oregon will pay 80 per cent of the cost of road building under the bonding plan and the country 20 per cent. " The roads are to be built In the country, not in the cities. NO MONOPOLY OF POTASH. German hopes of turning a "monop oly of potash" to account in winning the war seem fantastic in the light of developments of the potash industry in the United States. The statement of a high official that America "has put its head in a noose" does not ac cord with the facts. It is true that for many years Ger many did have what was in effect a monopoly of the potash industry. Thi3 was due to the availability of a vast cheap supply, which made it not worth while for the rest of the world to try to compete. The United States imported potash of the value of about 15,000,000 a year, and when this was cut off this country was the chief suf ferer. But ground has been regained in two ways. In the first place, we have made marked progress in devel oping supplies of our own, and In the next we have been forced to make more searching soil investigations with a view to determining whether potash was being used wisely or not. It has been shown that we had been too lav ish in this regard. Potash, usually in mixed fertilizers, had been used in far greater quantities than were needed to meet plant requirements. The potash famine was, in the long run, a blessing to farmers. It led them to a more discriminating use not only of potash but of all other fertilizers. In this as in other matters America has erred in the past on the side of prodigality. As a result of attention to this impor tant detail, we shall henceforth save on our bills for nitrates and phos phoric acid as well. Meanwhile new potash deposits have been developed in Spain. It has also been ascertained that the United States can develop a domestic supply far in excess of needs, as soon as com mercial conditions Justify the neces sary capital investment. There are at least four possible sources. Of the. 3 FEWER AND STRONGER CHURCHES. Complete readjustment of the work of the churches of the United States, on such a basis that they shall be fewer In number but more efficient in accomplishment, 's strcngly urged by Bishop Lawrence, of Massachusetts, who drives home some of the familiar arguments with vigorous rhetorical blows. He sees a new duty before the home missionary boards. Work for the church, he believes, may consist of closing old churches as well as opening new ones. In the past there has been too much emphasis on mere numbers. In the future It is going to be quality that counts. Bishop Law rence says that he would like to be able to throw all the churches up in the air and throw them down again in places where they could do their work better because of more favorable locations. There is no room for doubt that the anemic church has been one of the serious social problems of recent times. The supernumerary in business has succumbed to the law of the survival of the fittest. Industry has adopted new tools to meet new conditions. When the. railroads came In the stage coaches were sent into retirement. But many churches have refused to see the trend of events. There Is dupli cation of effort. Ministers in com munities that cannot support them are pitifully underpaid. Co-ordination is lacking in social work. The stream does not rise higher than its source; The congregation with a poor leader Is ineffectual. Bishop Lawrence Is quite candid in discussing the church's opportunities under present conditions. He declares that there Is a law of supply and de mand that governs ministers. So long as only small parishes and small in comes are offered, he declares, the church will get only small men. If the only effect of wiping out half of the churches of the country'would be to get better men for the ministry, he would regard It as worth while. Supplementing its spiritual actlv. Hies,- and preparing the ground for them, the church is coming more and more to demand the service not only of earnest men but of men especially equipped. This Is particularly true in those localities in which foreign resi dents predominate. There is need of education for the ministry euch as there never has been before. Fewer ministers, if need be, but men better fitted for their great task Is to be the watchword of the future. It would seem that the inefficient minister and the inefficient church organization, as well as the inefficient industry, were doomed. the principal advance has been made, and in which they will be of great service in the present emergency. The tendency toward ownership of their own farms and avoidance of the tenant system has been striking and also hopeful. - The negroes of the United States are much better prepared to make a valuable contribution to the cause of food preparedness than ever before in history. Tho Southern Workman points out that in ten years the value of farm property owned by negroes has Increased from $177,404,688 to $492,892,218, or 177 per cent. This decade marks as much progress ror the race as had been made in the preceding thirty-five years. Whereas in 1867 negroes were engaged in only forty different lines of business, now their activities extend to more than 200 lines. The number of bankers has Increased in- a decade from four to fifty-six. But it is in agriculture that GIVE LAND TO THE SOLDIERS. The suggestion made by Professor Potter, of the Oregon Agricultural College, that operation of the stock grazing homestead law be temporarily suspended during and six months after the war, deserves favorable consider ation by Congress. The law diminishes our meat supply during a period when an increase is urgently needed, though it may cause an increase when its full effects are felt. It also enables those men who evade or escape military service to secure tracts of Government land, while denying the opportunity to those who fight for the country. It wduld be wise economic policy to suspend the law as Professor Potter suggests, that livestock may be pro duced in full quantity. It would ac cord with the policy pursued after former wars to give preference in selection of homesteads to men who have served in the armed forces of the country. That was done after the Revolutionary War, the land then granted to soldiers having, formed the foundation of valuable family estates. After the Civil War many soldiers oo talned free homesteads. The men who fight in the present war will have deserved no less. They should have first choice of not only stock-grazing, but of agricultural and dry-land homesteads. DANGER IN THE RUSSIAN CRISIS. The situation in Russia is fraught with imminent peril to the cause with which the United States has cast ltd lot. Practically there exist side by side two rival governments. The pro visional government established by the Duma is composed of the wisest and ablest champions of democratic rule, men who haye had experience in gov ernment through membership in the Duma and through direction of the Zemstvos Union, which supplied the army, cared for the wounded and fed the refugees when the autocracy failed. There has also sprung up the Council of Workmen's and Soldiers' Delegates, which, though recognizing the provisional government, has ex torted .from it as the price of support some dangerous concessions. Soldiers have been granted rights which are destructive to discipline, and workmen have been tempted to strike. A new definition of Russia's aims in, the war has been extorted under an implied threat of mutiny in the army and of stoppage of the munition output. Ex treme Socialist doctrines are put for ward, and the Council is easily swayed by radical revolutionists, who refuse to await the orderly process for adop tion of a new form of democratic gov ernment. , The hand of Germany is plainly to be seen in thlv state of affairs. Rad ical Socialist refugees .were granted safe conduct from Switzerland through Germany to Russia and have been active In stirring up strife. A con ference of Socialists of all nations at Stockholm was promoted by Germany In the Interest of peace without an nexation, which means that Germany and Austria must not be compelled to give up the territory they had seized prior to this war. German soldiers have been encouraged to fraternize with their Russian antagonists on the Russian front, and to foster the Im pression that between Socialists the war Is fratricidal. Discipline is thus broken down and zeal for the cause of democracy is weakened by con fusion of thought among the unlet tered Russians. Mr. Kerenskl, the Minister of Jus tice, was Included In the government as a representative of the labor, ele ment, but he has not been able to restrain his associates. The last proc lamation of the government plainly forecasts a. new coalition in which that element would have larger rep resentation, and gives warning that, if then It Is not content to await the action of a national convention, civil war may result. Militating against the hope that a new coalition may pacify the malcontents, unify the na tion against Germany and avert civil war Is the fact that the extremists 'refuse to be satisfied. Each conces sion is followed by new demands, and even defeat for- the radicals in the Soldiers' and Workmen's Council does not discourage them from renewed activity at a new point. There is only one reasonable explanation of this course of action, namely, that tho agitators are trying to prevent har mony, to keep Russia divided "and therefore weak. They are paid agents of German propaganda. How serious would be the success of these maneuvers can scarcely be exaggerated. If they should result-in civil war, Germany might, by espous ing the cause of one party, gain con trol of Russia with access to its abundant resources. If Germany should not, intervene in that contin gency, but' should merely hold the present line, it could safely do so with such diminished forces that it could transfer many divisions and guns to the west front, thus regaining equality with, If not superiority over, the Brit ish and French, while Austria would be free to turn almost all her forces against Italy, the Saloniki army and Roumania. If Russia should draw out of the war under an agreement with the central empires to withdraw their armies within their own borders, the whole weight of the Teutonic armies would be thrown against the western allies, while grant stores of food and other material in Russia would be at their disposal, and the munition plants, which the United States and Great Britain have assisted in equipping, might begin supplying the Teutons. Able to secure ample food, oil and other commodities, the Teutons would have largely nullified the exhausting effect of the blockade and could con tinue for years the struggle with the western powers and the United States. Until this country had brought Its immense resources of men, money and material into the field, it would not be in a position to make good the loss to the allies, although ultimately it would be a much greater source of strength to them. ' To avert this danger to the cause of democracy, the United States should fight propaganda with propaganda. No time 6hould be lost In sending to Russia the commission which the President is now organizing, and it should be composed of men both qual ified io negotiate close co-operatl6n with the provisional government, to arrange for financial, military anu technical aid from this country, and to appeal effectively to -all elements In Russia for united Bupport to the world's battling democracy. Mr. Root has been wisely chosen as chairman of this commission, for he is well qualified to conduct the diplomatic negotiations. But ' a man is needed also whose affiliations with labor will give him powerful influence with the Russian workmen. Much damage has been done to the allied cause by. the delay in sending this commission. If the President had been as prompt In acting as were the British and French governments in sending commissions td this country. It would have been in Petrograd a month ago and might have counter acted German intrigue completely. A victory for either party in that field is worth more than an entire vic torious campaign, and would save many thousand lives. The government cannot afford to lose a day In making Russia again a powerful member of the alliance. At the same time, the Government should not be blind to the machina tions of pro-German intriguers In this country, for they have followed up their opposition to the war by at tempting to discredit Mr. Root, and with him the entire commission. In advance. Having failed to prevent war by using German-Americans and pacifists as tools, Germany Is now' using German Socialists and their pe culiar interpretation of the Socialist creed of internationalism, the leaders being Victor, Berger and Morris Hill quit. It Is to be said to the credit of genuinely American Socialists like J. G. Phelps Stokes, William English Walling, Charles Edward Russell and Upton Sinclair that they have repu diated these pro-Germans as spokes men for their party and have placed the Russian crisis in its true relation to the cause of democracy. They de clare that a separate peace for Russia would not assure peace but would make enemies of her present allies; would be treason to the French work ing-men; would aid Germany, after crushing France, to turn on Russia, where she would not tolerate democ racy; would free" the hands of German reactionaries to destroy the hope of democracy in Germany; and would compel the United States "to adopt a permanent militaristic policy." All these perilous possibilities grow ing out of the Russian crisis should serve to awaken the American people fully to the magnitude of the task in which they have taken part. There has been too much disposition to as sume that autocracy can be defeated by the democracies of Europe with the aid of only one hand of this Nation, and that Germany Is so weakened al ready that comparatively little effort on our part is needed to bring about the downfall of the Kaiser. On the contrary, those who know best tell us that Germany Is still strong and has 1,000,000 more men under arms than she had a year ago. Inspiring to all lovers of liberty as was Mr. Wil son's summons to take up arms for the triumph of democracy, it was equally stimulating to the forces of autocracy, for It proclaimed a cru sade for the extinction of their entire system. A feeling of easy optimism might be fatal to our cause. We must assume and prepare for the worst by throw ing our entire strength into the fight. The world cannot remain half demo cratic, half despotic; one or the other must win. If democracy should be defeated In Europe, we should have a death struggle against autocratic dom ination of this country indeed, of the whole American hemisphere. President Wilson did well to ad vise that the Education Convention be held. It can help to equip the youth of the Nation for the new and broader place we shall fill in the world by revising the courses of study and textbooks. Histories should tell the truth about past wars, no matter how mortifying to National pride, and something should be taught of the languages and history of the nations with which we have been brought Into closer Intercourse, also of the origin of the war. The new place of the United States in the world should widen our horizon and quicken our sympathy with other nations. We are no longer an insular people; the two great oceans are no more of a barrier to us than was the English Channel to the British a century ago. One of the things a state. must have is a board of child labor and the board must have money to run its business. An appropriation of $3000 was made last Winter, but that only pays the secretary's salary, and an other $1000 In needed. If the chll dren of Oregon are to be protected. the board must have the money and must get It from the emergency fund A man with a head for figures places 2,5,000,00-0 grasshoppers to the square mile in Fresno County, California, High-priced feed will not feaze the man with a bunch of turkeys on that layout. The -plea of the grocers to close Wednesday afternoons to do garden work has real merit. The hoeing will be good at Twenty-fourth and Vaughn streets. Relief In a fuel famine Is found In "Juice" and gas. When every stick put on the fire puts a pang in the purse, one remedy is at hand. The young woman who can qualify for the Mary Spiller scholarship at the University of Oregon will make a grand wife for the right man. If we cannot get coal because of the car shortage, nor cordwood because no man will cut it, we shall have to go prospecting for peatbogs. Four Br.tish destroyers chased eleven German destroyers the other day, daring them to stop and fight. but could not get takers. If German claims as to the work of the U-boats are correct, the seized German ships would feed them for about two weeks. About this time of year the young married man is deciding between a six-cylinder cradle and a four-cylinder car. The worst feature of this off-agaln, on-again Spring weather is that it has a rimilar effect on woolen underwear. Now let those who cheered Joffre act up to their cheers by fighting for that which he represents. We Invented the submarine our selves, and doubtless It is our destiny to find the antidote. It may be that Logan Billingslsy fooled somebody by going back to jail. How to Keep Well. By Dr. W. A. Evans. Ouestlons MrtlBAtit hvrt,ii sanitation and prevention of disease. It matters of gen eral Interest, will be answered in this col umn. Where space will not permit or tne subject-Is not suitable letters will be per sonally answered. suert to proper llmltsv tlons and where stamped addrewed envelope is inclosed Dr. Evans win not make diagnosis or prescribe tor individual diseases. K. Queats for such services cannot be answered. 'GopjTlght, 116, by Dr. W. A. Evans. PuMlrhed by arrangement with tho Chicago lrioune. ) TYPHOID CARRIERS. SEVENTEEN years ago Mrs. Y. had typhoid fever. Later her son had the disease. Her daughter was vac cinated against It. During the last five years six country schoolteachers had boarded In Mrs. Y.'s home. Four Sf them had typhoid. Mrs. T. was the cook In her family. Last year they had a country school picnic near Helen, Cal Mrs. T.'a home. Mrs. T. made the chocolate Ice cream. She skimmed some milk, mixed the milk with chocolate, eggs and sugar, cooked it. cooled it. added the whipped cream, and 'put it in the freezer. It stayed in the unlced freezer from 6:30 until 1 o'clock, when she froze It and took It to the picnic. They had all sorts of picnic foods supplied by the neighbors, according to custom. One neighbor brought vanilla Ice cream. An epidemic of typhoid fever devel oped In the community. There were 23 cases and three deaths. The Investi gators were speedily able to settle on. the picnic as the time and place of the infection. There were 29 persons at the picnic Seventeen ate chocolate ice cream, but no vanilla. Eight ate both chocolate and vanilla. Of the 25 who ate chocolate lee cream 23 had typhoid fever. The only persons to escape were Mrs. T. and her daughter. None of those who ate vanilla Ice cream, but no choc olate, contracted the disease. The evening of the plcnlo all those who ate Mrs. T.'s Ice cream except Mrs. T. and her daughter were taken sick with vomiting and diarrhoea. This lasted two days. About eight daya after the plcnlo the chocolate loe cream eat ers began to develop typhoid." Those who had eaten the roost chocolate Ice oream developed it quickest and had It worst. Upon examination It was found that Mrs. T. was a typhoid carrier. She in fected the ice cream probably when she had skimmed the milk or when she whipped the cream. The mixture of boiled custard and whipped cream set aside In the freezer for six hours before freezing was a fine culture media and the typhoid bacilli In It multiplied greatly. When the cream was eaten the dose of bacilli was so great that It caused diarrhoea and vomiting within a few hours and typhoid a few days later. Mrs. T. had been a carrier for years and somebody should have guessed It, Her own son and four schoolteachers boarding in her home had had the dis ease in less than 10 years. She was the cook. Tet she suspected nothing and the schoolteachers secured were willing to keep up the supply of victims. In spite of this history of typhoid in her household .her neighbors and fellow school patrons were anxious to eat her ice cream. No doctor had "smelt a mouse." The health officers had never wondered why the T. household had had so much typhoid. It is the rule of the California State Board of Health that typhoid carriers must enter into a contract with the State Board. In consideration of being allowed liberty to go and come, the car rier agrees: 1. To take no part In the preparation and handling, of food. Not to partici pate In the management of a boarding house, restaurant, food store, or to be Involved in the preparation or handling of food. 2. Always to dispose of excreta by mixing with 5 per cent carbolic or for malin. 3. To notify the health department of cases of typhoid among persons in con tact. 4. Tp notify the health department of change of address. 6. To submit specimens on request. 6. To report to the State Health De partment twice a year on a blank sub mitted for the putpoae. A Blow in Time Saves Nine By Eogfne I. Lylc Jr., of the Vlsrllantrs. . In Other Days. Nobody wants to return to the sim ple life to beat the war tax. WE are coming, France and Eng land. A hundred, hundred-thousand strong! A thousand years hence people will read of this war and find their own destinies sealed therein. What shall they read of America? The allies need money, but shall we go down to posterity as merely the un derwriters of the war that freed man kind? The allies need provisions, but shall we be only sutlers In the greatest war in history? No, because this Is a fight, and to be in a fight and not fight would shame us for -precisely as long as human rec ords shall endure. Furthermore, praise bo, we have never yet been that sort of person. But, at that, every vital consideration, strategic and moral, demands that we hurry. A quick blow from us may end the war. Certainly a quick blow from us will shorten the war. Consider this truth: Of two adversa ries evenly matched in strength, skill and luck, he will lose whose heart breaks first. A familiar technical term for this de cisive factor Is morale. It is an im palpable and mercurial thing nothing you can put your thumb on. But it has decided many a war. An adroit blow at the German morale, delivered by us within the next very few months, may easily be equivalent to a million Amer icans at some later date giving their lives to take German trenches. The blow Is plainly indicated now. Apathy that prevents us from launching It In time would be ghastly blundering and a stigma on a great Nation. The point varies at which a man will succumb to fatigue, hunger, pain or other physical disintegration. If there be despair, he drops quickly. If he can but hope, he struggles on and on. The Hoheniollern outfit understand this, and from the first they have fed their tools and accomplices on hope mostly false hope, there being little else in the larder. One after another these promises failed. France or England or Russia put the eternal kibosh on them. Now It Is our turn. What would be utter German discour agement because of our entrance Into the war Is being oraftlly parried. The German people are told that we are bluffing, that we are not coming in earnest, that we oannot get In In time to make any dlfferenoe. and It would set them back only a day anyway. For in stance. Hindenburgs bag of prisoners for one recent day is cited at 11,000, "which would be about the size of the American force." Feigned contempt from that quarter we do not mind, but It is essential to us, and our solemn obligation, that this spurious comfort be speedily snatched from the German people. And there is but one way. At an early date unfurl the Stars and Stripes over the battle line and have the men our own to carry the flag over the top! Up and down the line along the German trenches like poison gas, would go the word, "The Americans are here!" In vain would, the German govern raent declare that It was but a small force. It had been but a small British force at Mom. too. And. like the British, these Americans would keep coming 10,000.000 of them. If need be. With the clammy certainty of those millions yet to fight, what of the stout German heart then,, faltering already? It could mean collapse. Beyond question It would hasten collapse. And despair for the enemy spells hope to the allleB there's that to remember. too. Bait a Century A go. From The Oregonlan of May 11, 1867. The Rescue arrived from Montlcello yesterday afternoon with a consider able number of passengers, among the number a deputation of Slwash braves of the Cowlitz band. They came here to solve how much muck -a-muck and whisky can be bought for one deer skin. London France is willing to accept the dismantling of the fortress of Lux embourg. Prussia Is not dJsposed to consent to a neutral position unless all the great powers give guarantee of a settlement, which England hesi tates about glvtng. Bismarck says the situation is serious, Weshlngton General Grant had a long interview with Stanton today relative to the appointment of cadets to West Point. The Japanese will pre sent a sword to General Grant next week. Boston William Lloyd Garrlsoa has sailed for Europe. He was presented with $30,000 by bis friends before start ing, and the amount Is to be Increased to $50,000. An English paper, in noticing Mr. Gladstone, speaks of the "Fanatic fatuity of his mythic deductions. New Tork. The Government is mak ing active preparations for an Indian campaign this Spring, and there Is a prospect that in some quarters, at nil events, the war will be sharp and bloody. Blame the Shoes. L, A. B. writes: "Would like to know how to cure Ingrown toenails. Have tried scraping top of nails, worn wide raised-toe shoes, but with no results." REPLY. Wear broad-toed shoes. A narrow-toed shoe pushes the nail diagonally across tha toe. Let the nails grow square across the front. Do not cut out tho corners. Blip a small pledget of cotton wool under the In, growing corner of the nail. Change the cot ton dally. Increase the size of pledget until the Ingrowing corner Is lifted above the flesh by its side. When this has been brought about the soreness will have disappeared. But to make the curs permanent you must thereafter wear broad-toed shoes. Peanuts AU Right. Mrs. K. H. writes: "My mother, a woman of about 45 years, eats about B cents' worth of peanuts a day. She eats these In the shell, and also eats them with salt. I have heard people say they are good for you and again some say they are dangerous. As a rule she eats them after meals. At times she com plains about her liver, and at times looks yellow. 6hould she eat them just the same or give them up?" REPLI. Peanuts are all right. They are high In food value. They should be eaten slowly and chewsd well, as they are rich. Buy a Liberty bond for the baby's birthday, " Eating. G. writes: "1. Are bananas constipat ing? 2. Do soda crackers contain much starch? 3. Are they easily digested? 4. Would It be beneficial for dyspepsia and Indigestion not to eat breakfast? 6. How can one a- old overatlng when one Is hungry all the timer REPLY. 1 and 8. No. 5. Yes. 4. In most cases, no. Speaking general ly, persons with difficult digestion do best with three light meals a day. 6. Exercise your will power. Railway Service In France. CATHLAMET, Wash.. May 9. (To the Editor.) What men are eligible to enlist for railway service in France? To whom should application for infor mation be addressed? LOCOMOTIVE ENGINEER. Applications' for .enlistments are be ing received at regular Army and Ua tlonal Guard recruiting stations in New Tork, Chicago, Pittsburg, Boston. De troit. Atlanta, San Francisco and Phila delphia. Officials of all railroads are e-rnected to aid in the work. ApdIv for detailed Information to the head of the operating department of any leading railroad. MEJT WHO HAVE VO PATRIOTISM Food Speculators put Intolerable Bur den on People of Nation. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Edi tor.) One form of treason as defined by the Constitution of the United States consists in giving aid and comfort to the enemies of the country. The food speculators and others who are run ning up -the prices of the necessities without conscience or consideration for their fellows belong to this class; they are putting aa Intolerable burden on the common people of the Nation In order to reap great personal profit from this time of stress. Where Is their patriotism? They are not friends of the United States, but enemies. There are no doubt men of this brand in Portland. It may be difficult to lay the finger upon them, but there is no question that they are here, and it is hoped that some will read this with enough of humanity left to see that it fits them. Excuses do not car ry weight; we know that It was not necessary to run up the price of po tatoes as the speculators have done at this time. Many bought them at $1.60 a sack and are holding them in stor age for $5 or $6. They are spoiling; and some, it is reported, are being burned at the incinerator to maintain the price. This is criminal. It Is sim ply exploiting the public, and the men who do it should receive proper pun ishment. Wheat, sugar, ontona and other necessary articles have been handled In the same selfish manner. Unless some thing is done immediately it will be impossible for the average working man, who is the backbone of the Na tion, to keep his family from starving; while a certain class of commercial gamblers are making fortunes. If the Government does not, or can not prevent this. It will be necessary for the people by an organized effort to save themselves. HENRY BLOOD. Record of Citizens A(n. PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Edi tor.) Here is another of Oregon's freak laws. So that women. It is al leged, might not be required to state their age at the time of registering to enable them to vote, a then candi date for office, it Is said, lobbied a bill through the Legislature dispensing with the age record. Now comes a time when the United States Govern ment will demand that men between certain ages register their names for the purpose of conscription, and Ore gon has no record from which officials may be enabled to look up those who fail in their duty to appear, as the law will require them to do. In many cases. It is believed, the word of par ents will have to be taken, and It is not difficult to conjecture what will happen in many of these. H 8. HARCOURT. Twenty-five Years Ago. From The Oregonlan of May 11. 1891. Roslyn. Wash. This afternoon a ter rible gas explosion occurred in the slope of Mine No. 2 of the Northern Pacific Coal Company, In which the loss of life exceeded in number that of any other disaster ever chronicled on the Pacific alope. Astoria The opening day ef the Co lumbia River Centennial fcelebna-tion has passed off successfully. The weather has been variable, showery and clear. Probably 10O0 visitors are in the city. 1ni(ii Tit tl rrt Pmnftrnr 1 m sfe last in possession of an Imperial train de luxe that has taken three year lo complete. it nas cost aoout wwi thalera and consists of IS carriages. Berlin. At yesterday's Inspection of the guards, the Emperor called from the ranks and. before the whole regi ment, complimented and shook hands with a sentry who recently shot two men, one of them being killed. The Incident has caused the most unfavor able impression, A determined effort Is to be made to exterminate the little colony of British sparrows which have established them selves in this city. Chief of Police Par rlsh has detailed a man who will shoot tho little Invaders on sight. The Columbia Is swarming with bluerock salmon. The wheels at The Dalles are catching about ten tons per day, many of the fish weighing from eight to ten pounds. NO TIME FOR TRANSITION SCHEME Stock-Grazing Homestead Law Should be Suspended During War. CORVALLIS, Cr., May 8. (To the Editor.) As reported in your columns today. President W. J. Kerr has taken up with Secretary Lane the matter of a possible suspension of the stock grazing homestead law for the period of the present war. This Is an item of the very greatest importance in the food production campaign. The range cattle and sheep industry Is being tem porarily demoralized by the home steading of the ranges. In the mean time, men useful In productive in dustries are preparing to spend their time developing homesteads which can not become productive for a period of several years. Secretary Huston says that now is not the time to under take experiments or long time projects that cannot yield returns for several years. That the transformation of our Government land from free range to small privately owned stock farms Is both desirable and Inevitable, few will deny. It is equally true that the period of transition will be one of lessoned live stock production. It Is, therefore, unfortunate that this period should be coincident with this great crisis. The proper remedy is to suspend all homesteading until after the war and then give the discharged soldier and sailor a preferential right for a period of six months. This would encourage greater livestock production when we need it most and at the same time give opportunity to take a homestead to the conscientious patriot and not allow the slacker to get the pick of the land. Present laws provide that the time enlisted In the Army may be applied on the time required to prove up on a homestead, but this will do him no good if the land is all gone when he returns. The present arrange ment must be changed. The home steading of these great areas of grass land during the war Is unjust to the consumer of meats, to the producer of meats and above all to the poor man who Is looking for a piece of land which he can call home, but who feels that during this emergency his services himself. If you should care to lend your sup port to this movement I believe It would be rendering the country an Im portant service In time of need. The idea is being taken up throughout the country by the leading livestock asso ciations, both state and National and should receive the support of all per sons who are Interested In increased food production during the present crisis. E. L. POTTER, Professor of animal husbandry. Pay of Army Officer. PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Edi tor.) To settle an argument will you please publish the pay of a Second and First Lieutenant of Infantry, also pay of a Captain and Major of Infantry, and how they are paid? C. L. SMITH. The "base pay" is: Second Lieutenant, $1700 per annum; First Lieutenant, 12000; Captain $2400; Major. $3000. In addition, certain Increases are given, according to length of service. They usually are paid by check on the United States Treasury. v Book on Drying Potatoes. DATTON. Or.. May 9. (To the Edi tor.) In an article in The Oregonlan headed "Bumper Potato Crop Is Need ed." a publication is mentioned, "Sore's Work on Drying Potatoes." Can you Inform us where we can get copy of this work? DAYTON EVAPORATING & PACK ING COMPANY. Write to Dr. H. E. Horton. care of American Steel & Wire Company, Chi cago. . 0 Ueaslans In the Revolutionary War. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the Ed itor.) In the Revolutionary War did the German or Prussian governments or any of the German states supply regiments of soldiers, officered and commanded by Prussians or Germans, to the British government in that war against the original 13 American colo nies? W. J. J. Charles I. landgrave of Hesse-Cassel, Inaugurated the practice of hiring out Hessian soldiers to fight in foreign service and this was continued by his successors, notably Fredrick II. who maintained a splendid court on the sub sidies received for the services of his soldiers who fought against the Amer icans in the War of Independence. Hesse-Cassel was then a landgraviate in Germany. Taking sides with Austria against Prussia in the Seven Weeks' War of 1S66, It was subjugated by the latter and was incorporated with Prus sia the same year. Race Classification. PORTLAND. May 10. (To the -Editor.) (1) Under present laws, does the Government have the right to draft an alien, for- military service? (3) To what race de the Finns belong? (3) The Hindus? READER. (1) No. (2) The Finns are regarded by authorities as being ethnically re lated to the Mongolian race. (3) Many Hindus belong to the Caucasian race.