19
THE MORNING OREGOXIAS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1917.
i." PORTLAND. OREGON.
- Cmrel at Portland (Oregon) poslofflce as
second-class mail matter.
'f. Subscription rates Invariably in advance:
(By Mall
Dally, Sunday Included, one year $8.00
".- Daily. Sunday included, six months.... 4.25
Daily. Sunday included, three months.- 2-5
Daily. Sunday included, one month.... -a
Dally, without Sunday, one year....... 6.0O
Daily, without Sunday, six months.... 3.2j
Daily, without Sunday, three months... 1.75
Dally, without Sunday, one month.... -oO
Weekly, one year l-
Sunday, one year . . - - ......... .50
Sunday and weekly 3-u
(By Carrier.)
' Dally. Sunday Included, one year 22
' Dally, Sunday Included, one month.... -75
Dally, without Sunday, one year 7.80
- Dally, without Sunday, three months... 1.95
W Daily, without Sunday, one month
; iluw to Remit bend postoftice money or-
der, express order or personal check on your
local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at
sender's risk. Give postoffice address in
full. Including county and state.
1 Postage Rates 12 to 16 pages. 1 cent: IS
,;; to 3U pages. 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages. 3 cents;
fiu to tiu pages. 4 cents; 62 to To pages. 5
cents; 78 to 82 pages. O cents. Foreign
4 postage double rates.
Lantern Business Office Verree Sc Conlt
. lln, Brunswick building. New York; Verree
- Jc Conklln. steger building, Chicago; San
Francisco representative. R. J. Bidwell. 742
f Market street.
Z MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
i The Associated Press is exclusively en
l titled to the use for republication of all
nwi di.spat.:hes credited to it or not other
wise credited in this paper and also the local
0; news published herein.
All rights or republication of special dts
2 patches therein are also reserved.
4
C. PORTLAND. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 17, 1917.
EDLSOX AT WORK.
News that an American steamship
t which recently arrived home from
lOurope was so effectively "camou
5 flared" that it was invisible to another
vessel until well within gun range in-
dicates that at least one of the prom-
ises of Thomas A. Edison is being
fulfilled. It was Edison who. in the
-"S beginning of the war, first called at
tention to the importance of low visi-
bility as a means of security at sea.
The freight steamship of the con-
ventional type was a standing invita-
tion to the marksmen of the enemy.
, Its hull, rising sheer at the bow, cut
: away amidships and again protruding
4 from the sea line at the stern, and
L further accentuated by smoke stacks
t and masts, made it an easy mark. It
. was usually painted black, and often
emitted great clouds of smoke.
I Details of the Edisonian method
, of disguise are still, and properly, re-
served as war secrets. But the con
trolling principle is to make the ship
look as much like the ocean as pos
i Bible. Probably the most modern
freighter is equipped with false sides,
for use in the danger zone, which
simulate the choppy outline of the
t waves. Collapsible smokestacks and
. masts aid the deception. The right
t, kind of paint helps, too, as it has
done in the case of warships in the
t past. And smokeless fuel is utilized.
; Score one for Edison. He has not
scorned the opportunity to perform a
practical, although unsensational, serv
" ice. While dreamy patriots have
Ul-.held their liberty bond subscrip
tions In the notion that the great in
ventor would devise a scheme for end
ing the whole war with one stroke of
some hitherto unheard-of force, he
himself apparently has labored under
' no delusions, but has applied himself
v to doing things that really count.
There is a lesson for the whole peo
ple here. We must have an end of
wistfulness, and dreamy optimism, and
illogical reliance on unknown forces,
and foolish confidence in the super
natural, and come down to practical
- things. We must do such simple
things as buy bonds, and save food
and fuel and woolen rags, and scotch
traitors at home, and work in factory
' and harvest Held, and be cheerful and
uncomplaining. While we are wait
ing fatuously for some genius to har
' ness the thunderbolts of Jove and
, strike all the Germans dead by press
. ing a button, our enemies are employ
ing, with good effect, the elements
: with which they are thoroughly fa
t miliar. Hope is a good thing only
' when tempered with common sense,
t In other words, we must "come
. clown to earth," as Edison is doing.
1 And we must build ships before Edi
' son can "camouflage" them. And
produce material to supply them with
cargoes. The duty of the average citi- j
zen is quite plain, it is to execute tne
simple tasks immediately at hand un
complainingly to the best of his abil
ity. The ruthlessness of events is
knocking all the romance out of war.
ALL, FINANCIAL POWER NEEDED.
President Wilson's appeal to all
banks to become members of the
federal reserve system is a summons
, to concentrate our financial resources
- in order that they may expand to
meet the necessities of war without
'strain, and, therefore, without impair
ment of the National credit. Having
35 per cent of the world's entire stock
of the gold, the United States has po
tential strength equal to that of all
nations allied with it, but this gold
. will not be fully mobilized as a means
of carrying the Nation through the
war until all of it is under Govern
: ment control and until it is fully util
ized as a basis for the issue of cur
rency to the extent of the Nation's
business.
At present the Federal reserve banks
.rilold nearly a billion and a half dollars
'.jot gold, but one-half of the banking
resources are held by non-member
banks. By joining the system these
1 outside banks would greatly add to
its gold holdings, though they might
not"" quite double the total. Discount
operations, by which the volume of
currency expands or contracts to cor
respond with the expansion or con--
traction of business, total less than
half a billion dollars, though they
might be multiplied several times
without exceeding the limit of safety
established by law, and if the outside
banks were to join the Federal re
. serve system, this multiplied total
t gnight again be doubled.
The need of full mobilization of the
financial resources is shown by the
liigh rates for call money in New
York, in proportion to which other
- interest rates have also advanced. Tha
war demands rapid expansion of many
industries, improvement of railroads.
. highways and ports and building of
ships, for which new capital is re-
quired. Failure to use to their full
extent the means of expanding credit
places aimcuiues in tne way or oo
taining this capital and enhances in
terest rates, which adds to cost of
' production, and hence to cost of the
war. It also obstructs efforts of the
Government to raise the money needed
- for war purposes.
t The financial resources of the United
States are so vast and have as yet
been so slightly developed that the
volume of currency can be greatly
Increased without straining the Na
tional credit and without resorting to
that species of legerdemain which has
iteen practiced by Germany. Though
iur expenditures have only begun.
f they are already one-fourth, of the
daily expenditure or all the Belliger
ents. Our soldiers are paid and fed
far better than those of any other
nation, far more liberal provision is
made for their families, and they are
transported more than 3000 miles from
their homes. Compared with other
nations, we are making war de luxe,
and even our vast resources must be
fully developed and carefully con
served in order to bear the burden.
- WE OUGHT TO HAVE IT.
Another National Army cantonment
will be located in the West in the near
future. Among the sites examined is
one in Oregon. It is located on the
Hermiston irrigation project in East
ern Oregon, and it meets practically
every requirement designated by the
Government for an ideal camp site.
It would be a matter of no little
pride and advantage to Oregon to se
cure this cantonment. If it be con
ceded that it is only equally as good
as sites available in other Coast states
there are still important reasons why
the choice should be in Oregon's favor.
Oregon now has one comparatively
small military post. Fort Stevens, at
the mouth of the Columbia. The state
of Washington, on the north, has
within its boundaries nine military
posts or stations, a Navy-yard and
naval training camp, and one of the
largest National Army cantonments.
California, on the south, has five Army
posts or stations, two marine barracks
and naval training stations, including
a Navy-yard, two National Guard
camps and an aero training station.
Every other Western state has re
ceived equal or better recognition from
the Government with the exception of
Nevada. Wyoming has two Army
posts or stations, Idaho one, Utah one,
Arizona three, Colorado one. New
Mexico two Army posts and one Na
tional Guard camp.
If in considering the sites available
it shall appear that the Hermiston
site is the best, there ought to be no
question about the decision. And if
it shall appear that it is one of several
equally satisfactory, there still should
be no question. If there is any one
state that has shown enthusiasm and
quick results in all the necessary
movements toward war preparedness
it is Oregon. Its record has received
encomiums but no substantial recog
nition. It is entitled to it.
KEEPING ALIVE.
Recipes for a happy old age con
tinue to multiply. An Illinois woman,
at 104, says that one should "get mar
ried and keep cheerful."
A Massachusetts man of 93 plays
checkers to keep from growing old,
and only the other day added a year
or so to his expectancy by winning
forty-five games straight, leaving for
home in as happy a frame of mind
as a brand new bridegroom.
But it will be noted that the recipe
in each instance contains the same old
basic ingredient agreeable mental oc
cupation. The Illinois woman found
her happiness in the rearing of five
children and the ordering of the lives
of a couple of husbands; her Massa
chusetts neighbor kept his brain cells
alive with what some folks call a
"simple" game, but which its devotees
declare contains unlimited possibilities,
in -which respect it resembles matri
mony. It is not the precise nature of the
occupation, or even its value to so
ciety, that counts, but rather the en
thusiasm it provokes that gives it its
life-prolonging quality.
EDUCATION IN BOND-BUYING.
Slow progress in subscribing for the
second liberty loan implies the need
that the American people cultivate
the habit of saving as they never
saved before, in order that they may
supply the Government with funds for
the war. All of the money cannot
come from the rich or even the well
to-do; a very large proportion must
come from the mass of the people.
The wage-earner should contrive to
subscribe for at least one $50 bond a
year, and the amount should be in
creased as earnings are larger or fam
ily expenses smaller. Those earning
more than a certain minimum should
endeavor to set aside one-tenth of
their income to be lent to the Govern
ment so long as the war continues.
Taking five as the average number
of persons in a family, there are about
twenty million families in the United
States. If the head of each family
were to subscribe only $50, the total
would be a billion dollars. This should
be the minimum for each issue, and
as calls are likely to be made at least
every six months until the war ends.
an effort should be made to pay up
that sum in six months, so that the
subscriber may be ready to take part
in a new loan. Many heads of fam
Hies can suDscriDe siuu every six
months, and others much more, while
two or more members of numerous
families can subscribe. The bulk of
the money for each loan must come
from those who can subscribe from
$50 to $500 at each call, for there are
only 246,000 persons with incomes of
more than $5000. while the incomes
of only 3824 of these exceed $100,000.
Upon the multitude of small subscrip
tions rolling in every six months the
Government must rely for most of its
war funds.
This requires that, when payment
by monthly installments is provided,
the payments on each subscription be
so arranged that they be completed
before a new issue of bo'hds is made.
For example, a man earning $20 a
week might arrange to pay $2 a week,
which would complete his payments
in six months with one week to spare.
He would then "salt down" $100 a
year in the best security in the world,
and. if the war should last two years,
would have $200 laid aside to provide
against sickness, unemployment or
other emergency. He would also have
acquired the saving habit, which
should remain with him for the rest
of his life. No man can claim to have
done his bit by subscribing to one
liberty loan and then standing back
to "let George do it" on succeeding
loans, nor will he have received the
full benefit of the lesson in thrift if
he slips back into the old habit of
spending all he earns.
The American people have far to
go before they will have carried their
education in war thrift as far as the
British. French and German people
have gone. The British people have
lent their government one-fifth of
their wealth, the French have lent
theirs more than one-third, and the
Germans have lent theirs nearly one
fourth, and they are still lending. If
the present generation of Americans
should incur as large a National debt
in proportion to National wealth as
did the generation of the Civil War,
they would increase it to seventy-seven
billions. If they should lend the Gov
ernment as much in proportion to
National Income as in Lincoln's day;
the debt would run up to sixty bil
lions. If this Nation were to apply
the same percentage of the Nation's
income to payment of 4 per cent in
terest on war bonds as Britain applied
to that purpose in the year of Water
loo, our National debt would grow to
one hundred and ten billions.
This Nation can do what those na
tions have done, for its resources are
as great as those of all our European
allies combined. We need only to
mobilize these resources, and to get
the habit of saving and bond-buying
which they have formed. The British
people, less than half as numerous as
the American people, have saved and
lent to their government more than
$400,000,000 in small sums of $3.72
each paid for war savings certificates,
until every workingman has become
a bondholder. When our education
in thrift has reached that point, there
will be no complaint about lagging
subscriptions to a liberty loan. Every
man will step up and buy his bond
as promptly and as regularly as he
draws his pay.
. PLENTY OF MONEY FOR BOXDS.
Raising a loan of $16,500,000 in
Oregon seems a great task only until
we realize the great amount of money
available for the purpose. Deposits
in Oregon banks on September 11
were reported by Superintendent Sar
gent to total $181,250,565. If only 10
per cent of this sum were invested in
liberty bonds, it would cover the state's
minimum quota with more than a
million and a half of margin. The
total deposits have increased in a year
by $41,200,966. It would take only
40 per cent of this increase to buy the
minimum quota of $16,500,000. and
only 59 per cent to buy the maximum
quota of $24,500,000.
If every bank depositor were thus
to invest one-tenth of his balance, he
would not seriously diminish his avail
able funds, for he would be able to
borrow at least 80 per cent of his in
vestment with the bonds as security.
The bank's resources would not be
sensibly diminished, for the bulk of
the money would simply be trans
ferred on its books to the credit of the
Government. Notes secured by loans
on the bonds could be discounted with
the Federal Reserve Bank, and the
money would then be put to work
again in the state's business.
Of course, Oregon can raise the
money without feeling it. Of course,
Oregon will do it, for Oregon has al
ways been first in the war first in
volunteers, first in mobilization of the
National Guard. The state exceeded
its quota of the first liberty loan and
of the Red Cross fund. Oregon can
and will continue to head the roll of
states in patriotism.
OUR BUCKWHEAT CROP.
The unofficial forecast that this
year's American buckwheat crop will
be a "bumper" one should cause joy
in the breasts of all true patriots. The
buckwheat griddle cake is essentially
an American institution. In some
parts of the country, as in New Eng
land, it used to be regarded as indis
pensable to a Winter breakfast. The
food scientists would say that this was
due to its high percentage of carbo
hydrates, which is greater than in
either corn meal or whole wheat flour.
It is a staple generator of bodily heat.
and of high value in regions where
the thermometer falls to low levels.
But it looks as if we might be com
pelled to eat our buckwheat cakes
without some of their traditional ac
companiments. The griddle cake and
the sausage are as staple a duo s
goose and apple sauce or pork and
beans. A good deal of butter and
plenty of maple syrup are supposed to
round out the meal having the buck
wheat cake as its basis. However,
sausage and butter and syrup are
soaring in price and on the lists of
articles as to which we are enjoined
to practice economy. It is likely that
we shall have to learn to eat our
griddle cakes without the trimmings,
if the war goes on.
The fact still stands that every
pound of grain other than wheat that
we consume at home is a help toward
saving food for our soldiers. Even at
a higher price than wheat, it is worth
while to eat buckwheat. It does not
bear shipment as well as wheat flour,
and there are certain other difficulties
connected with its preparation. The
loaf is more suitable to trench condi
tions than the buckwheat cake.
We produced 19,249,000 bushels of
buckwheat in 1912, our previous ban
ner year, but only 13,442,000 bushels
in 1916. Most of it was grown on
relatively poor land, and some of it
did double duty by serving as bee
pasture. It will not supplant our
main cereal crops, but it is worth while
in many situations as a soil restorer.
We would do well to make use of all
we have, and to increase the buck
wheat acreage next season.
EXTENDING WAR IX THE AIR.
Announcements that the British gov
ernment has decided upon reprisals
for German air-raids do not neces
sarily imply that attacks will be made
on non-combatants. The German
raids are condemned as serving no
military end. If the Germans expect
to terrorize the people into peace on
their terms, they utterly fail, for the
raids have only strengthened British
determination to fight on. German
aircraft rarely hit with their bombs
any place that is used for snilitary
purposes, though it is said in their
defense that every town where troops
are quartered or munitions made is
so used; their bombs fall on work
men's dwellings and even on school
houses, and are thrown from such a
height that it is practically impos
sible for the airmen to aim at a target
smaller than an entire town.
Bombing of non-combatants in re
taliation is as repugnant to the moral
sense of the British people as to that
of Americans, but is demanded in
exasperation at the spectacle of chil
dren slaughtered in the schools. We
can only understand the sentiments of
the British under such circumstances
if we put ourselves in their places,
and if we imagine bombs raining on
the schoolhouses and the residence
districts of Portland. killing and
maiming women and children by hun
dreds. In that case many of us would
clamor for reprisals.
The British government has re
frained from indiscriminate air-raids
from military as much as from hu
manitarian motives. Though some
have argued that such raids would
bring the war home to the German
people, break down their morale and
terrify them into yielding, it has been
held that the effect would more prob
ably be the same on them as on the
; British to enrage them and make
them fight more furiously. Thus no
military end would be grained, and the
effort would be wasted. A carefully
executed raid which wrecked muni
tion factories, submarine and other
naval bases, barracks, railroads and
moving troops, though it accidentally
killed civilians, would be far more
effective in a military sense. Such
have been the objectives of the French
raids on cities in the Rhine Valley,
though civilians and even hospitals
have been hit. They have gained
military ends and have also deterred
the Germans from repeating their at
tacks on Paris.
The German government is quite
capable of having raided England for
the express -purpose of provoking
reprisals. Seeing that the German
people were weary of war and were
clamoring for peace, it may have cal
culated that slaughter of civilians
would arouse the people's ire and thus
revive their failing spirit for the fight.
Such a coldly calculating machine is
not beyond desiring the death of a few
hundred innocent people In order that
its power might not be destroyed.
The British government for a long
time refrained from using many air
craft to defend their own coast, on
the plea that the best way to fight the
Germans was to destroy their armies
and defensive lines, and that to divert
aircraft for home defense was to play
the Germans' game by weakening the
British offensive force. Public clamor
caused the home air forces to be
strengthened, but the former plan was
adhered to so far that more deadly
raids were made in the immediate
rear of the German lines in France
and Belgium. The British govern
ment has now been driven by public
opinion to undertake raids into Ger
many itself, but probably military
ends will be served by selecting for
attack those towns and those sections
of towns where work for the army is
carried on.
When the great American air-fleet
which is now building gets into action
it will be possible to expand this form
o hostilities. Many of the American
air planes can be employed in invad
ing Germany, while the others co
operate with the artillery on the west
ern front and reinforce the British
and French on their parts of the line.
Thi3 Winter a definite beginning may
be made at carrying the war into the
air on a scale which has not yet been
reached. Such devastation may pre
cede the advance of the allied land
forces next Spring that terror will
spread all over Western Germany and
will advance eastward as the allies are
able to move their bases forward.
Parents, present and prospective,
who are short in stature and are wor
rying about their offspring, will find
comfort in the conclusions of Charles
B. Davenport, in Genetics, after two
years of study of various aspects of
human growth. He finds that short
ness of stature "is due to certain posi
tive factors which inhibit growth."
but that some short people, taking the
average, will lack the shortening fac
tors carried in the germ cells, while
all tall people usually lack the short
ening factors. For this reason, he be
lieves, the children of short parents
are more likely to be variable, there
being some of normal stature among
them, and those of tall parents are
more than likely to be tall, so that
there is little danger on the whole
that we shall become a race of pig
mies, even if undersized couples should
continue to marry, as they often do
now. Professor Davenport does not
find that the rule of the "attraction
of opposites" prevails as generally in
stature as in other matters. He says
that the extremely tall and the ex
tremely short are more likely to find
affinities in their own types.
The Japanese as a rule have shown
willingness to adopt reforms wherever
they seemed to increase national effi
ciency, and have taken kindly to
European dress for utilitarian pur
poses, but they refuse to abandon the
kimono altogether. Men of "education
and position in Japan now wear mod
ern garments at their work, but
change to native dress on returning
home from their shops or offices. A
Japanese writer regards this as an in
dication that "there is some relation
between the native garment and the
Japanese temperament that renders
them more or less inseparable." The
kimono is as little complicated a gar
ment as the human mind could well
conceive, but if it is intended to be
inferred that the Japanese mind is.
therefore, characterized by extreme
simplicity and directness, there are
many who will disagree with the con
elusion. At any rate. Oriental sim
plicity must be a very different article
from the Western variety.
Empty the baby's bank to start
purchase of a bond, and keep up pay
ments for babjrs sake. Before he is
1 he'll think his dad is the greatest
fellow on earth.
One way of meeting the butter prob
lem seems to be overlooked. Use less.
Do not "hog" it. Spread it thin. Do
not leave little "dabs" that go to
waste.
The ambition of the negro to be
come a railroad man must subside
when he hears that 678 colored men
have been given commissions in the
Army.
It cost a Linn County man $200 to
kill an elk on his farm, more than it
costs some men to kill each other.
Elks are protected.
One of the kidnapers of the Keet
baby gets thirty-five years, which may
be enough, but few parents will
think so.
When the Du Ponts have an ex
plosion they do not always deem it
suspicious. Theirs ' is an explosive
business.
Men liable on the second call may
as well arrange for a jolly holiday
season. The next may be different.
You cannot get as much glory and
comfort from anything else for "a
dollar down and a dollar a week."
It is a pity these beautiful October
days could not come in June, when
we could have them longer.
Where there is a crime there is a
criminal. Seattle has a Job on her
hands.
Watch Oregon warm up on the lib
erty bonds today. It's a state-wide
heat-
Japan gets a thirty-year lease on
a Chinese railway, which means an
effective grip.
The trouble with most people is they
do not eat enough "roughage."
With all the Nation's gold mobilized,
currency is as good as gold.
The "dry" stretches of this country
are becoming immense.
A bondholder can feel he is part of
the Government.
Eat Johnnycake and'rye bread today.
How to Keep Well.
By Dr. W. A. Evans.
Questions pertinent to hygiene, sanitation
and prevention of diseases, if matters of gen
eral Interest, will be answered In this col
umn. Where space will not permit or ths
subject Is not suitable, letters will be per
sonslly answered, subject to proper limita
tions and where stamped addressed envelope
is Inclosed. Dr. Kvana will not make diag
nosis or prescribe for Individual diseases. Re
quests for such services cannot be answered.
(Copyright. 1916. by Dr. W. A. Evans.
Published by arrangement with the Chicago
Tribune.)
SANITATION IX HOMES.
CERTAIN cities are very badly over
built and in consequence of that
a bad housing situation is created.
Someone has estimated that there are
30,000 vacant habitations in Chicago.
Many cities that have not considered
themselves overbuilt will find a surplus
of homes on their hands as the result
of the creation of an Army of 2,000,000
and of an enlarged Navy.
The owners of unoccupied residence
property naturally try to make some
use of it. The resultant shift in type
of population and shift in use creates
sanitary conditions that make against
health. Whenever a residence property
built on one basis of use is changed to
another sanitary standards suffer. Old
single family residences made over into
use by several families doing light
housekeeping always means inadequate
toilet facilities, inadequate plumbing
in kitchens, laundries and bathrooms,
dark bedrooms and other conditions
that make against health. Large flats
cut up into smaller ones or several
flats thrown together for a boarding
place mean the same thing.
Residences or apartments built over
so as to provide for business on the
first floor with the extensions to the
street lien and often with extensions
to the alley line, almost inevitably
mean sunless rooms and airless space.
The requests for permits to make
over unprofitable buildings is the bane
of the existence of every health officer
who knows how insidiously bad houses
elevate sickness rates.
Another almost National problem is
the house famine situation in certain
cities. In Flint, Akron, Detroit and
Bridgeport house famines are said to
prevail. The unnaturally rapid devel
opment of certain industries in these
cities has caused such influxes of popu
lation that healthy housing is impossl
ble. Men have had to camp out in
tents and In all sorts of makeshift
structures. It cannot be expected that
the health authorities of these cities
shall keep the sickness rates down.
A development of the same class Is
the car bunkhouse. The Chicago health
department reports finding 200 car
bounkhouses in that city where, let us
not forget, there are said to be 30,000
vacant habitations. A car bunkhouse
is a freight car set on a sidetrack. In
its walls a few small windows are cut.
The bunks are arranged In tiers along
the walls of the freight car. Heat Is
furnished by a small stove. The Chi
cago health department found one car
bunkhouse with a sleeping porch at
tachment. The men had built a small
two-decked sleeping porch on one side
of the car. This was long and broad
enough to accommodate a bed for one
man on the lower bed level. On the
upper bed level sleepers had so ar
ranged their beds that by sleeping
crossways of the car their heads and
shoulders were in the sleeping porch.
The fresh-air doctrine has reduced one
two-hundredth of Chicago's car bunk
population.
When one travels along the railroads,
especially in the West and South, car
bunkhouses are frequently observed
In the colder sections the car bodies
have been lifted from the trucks, set
on the ground and dirt banked around
It will be noted that the window area
of cars in these sections is very small.
The railroads say that it has been nee
essary to import Mexican labor or to
transport negroes. This labor they
have been forced, or have found it best,
to house in freight cars. In a few In
stances at least very definite outbreaks
of disease have been definitely traced
to people housed in car bunkhouses.
Possibly, should the war become still
more serious, we may decide to pro
mote efficiency by shifting populations
and industry as the English, French
and Germans are doing. In this way
some of the waste of a surplus of
houses in one 'place and simultaneous
house famines in another could be ob'
viated.
Hemorrhoidal Cause Exemption.
A. C. M. writes: "1. When taking
much walking or exercise 1 am laid
up with external piles. While I wish
to serve my country, I know it will be
impossible to withstand the vigorous
physical life on this account. Will
be exempted because of this disability?
"2. I have not had an operation be
cause of the great danger that is said
to be entailed by such. Is this cor
rect?"
REPLY.
1. Hemorrhoides cause exemption If they
are bad; otherwise not. If yours lay you
up they would be designated as bad.
2. -No. The operation is not especially
dangerous nor severe. Many men have been
operated on in order that they might pass
the examining surgeons.
Net Freejaent Cause.
B. C. O. writes: "1. May numbness of
the extremities be caused by anemia
or lack of red corpuscles?
"2. Is it a serious condition or one
easily overcome when one is 60 years
old?
"3. Can a cure be effected by diet,
massage or electricity "
REPLY.
1. Tes. That, however, is not the most
frequent cause.
2. It is only a symptom, but nine times
out of ten it is in no sense serious.
3. Massage, exercise, and diet will gen
erally overcome this unpleasant symptom.
Flgares on wbsaplsg Cong la.
W. K. Mc writes: "under date o
September 6 you made this statement
'Only a small percentage of persons
have whooping cough.' I am only
layman and do not want to seem even
to criticise let alone dispute such an
authority as you, but is such the case
"I have always supposed, and I be
lieve the majority of persons have th
same supposition, that at least 90 pe
cent of the people have whooping cough
at one time or another."
REPLY.
Henderson s figures Indicate that CI per
before they are 21 years of age. Since few
adults have it.
we may say that almost
one-half the people go through life without
having whooping cough. . The ages at which
people have whooping cough are: Under 1
year. 22 per cent; 1 year. 6.2; 2 years, 8;
3 years. 9; 4 years. 9.5; 5 years. 8.T; 6
years. 7: 1 yesrs. 6.4: 8 years. '4: 0 years.
2.8; 10 years, 2; 11 years, 1.4; 12 ye'ara, 1;
13 years. .6; 14 years. -.4; 15 years. 2.
LIKE POPULISM. ITS EPHEMERAL.
Nortk Dakota League of Ble Promises
and Small Deeds Declining.
PORTLAND, Oct. 16. (To the Ed
itor.) There is a stirring in the politi
cal waters of the state over the an
nouncement that the emissaries of the
Nonpartisan League, which league has
made a killing in North Dakota, are
1 upon us. This league, is looking lor
new worlds to conquer and it seems to
believe that Oregon and Washington
are good fields in which to operate.
As a former resident of North Da
kota, where for two decades I watched
the political machine work, and where
for many sessions of the State Senate
I was an officer of that body, I believe
1 have an apprehension as to the fu
ture of the aforesaid nonpartisan body,
both in North. Dakota and in Oregon.
As a matter of fact all is not as se
rene as it might me in North Dakota.
where the most fruitful field for the
operations of the organization exists.
Judge Robinson, of the Supreme Court
of that state, who was elected with a
whoop as a Nonpartisan, and who was
10 years ago not regarded by 5 per cent
of the population as being Judicial tim
ber, is a man about as outspoken as
our own Judge McGinn. He is a friend
of the people and publishes a weeKiy
letter in which he is free with his crit
icisms of his fellows on the Supreme
Court bench. He says that his party
will go to the bow-wows if it does not
mend Its ways.
To paraphrase his words freely, the
Nonpartisan party, which floated into
office on its promises to reform every
thing from top down and from the
bottom up, is not living up to its prom
ises; that it is seeking to get omces
and power and that its days are nutn
bered. In fact, the party is on the
downhill grade a fact that surprises
no one. If one looks over the leaders
of the party in North Dakota today he
will find that nearly all those who are
up to or past middle life were connect-
ed with the Populist movement when
it seized the reins of the state for one
brief two-year period. Then the Pop
ullst party lapsed into innocuous desue
tude. That party made promises that
it could not fulfill and so has its nat
ural successor.
There is no wonder that the leaders
of the Nonpartisans are now looking
for new pastures. If they can trade on
the success they met with at the polls
in North Dakota last year and use that
success in Oregon, before the news gets
out in this state that they are seeing
their finish in the Flickertail state, they
will be so much ahead. Now or never Is
their chance here.
But I question whether they will
meet with the success in the Far West
that they met with in North Dakota,
which is an exclusively agricultural
state. There the wheat raisers were
ground down, in their judgment, by the
wheat buyers of St. Paul and Minne
apolis, in collusion with Duluth. and
their hard wheat was purchased at a
too low price for mixing purposes with
the wheat produced in warmer states.
The grades were monkeyed with and
altogether a square deal was not had
by the North Dakota farmer.
For years the North Dakota people
have been told that if they had an ele
vator of their own in Duluth or West
Superior, all would be rosy. But the
constitution prohibited the state from
Investing its money In another state.
so the constitution must be changed.
It was to effect this change that the
Nonpartisans addressed themselves.
among other equally radical proposi
tions. When they were doing things
they might as well promise to take in
the elevators of the state, the flour
mills, the insurance business and such
other lines of industry as most affect
the farmer's pocketbook.
It may be remarked, in passing, that
the North Dakota Legislature has not
been as prolific of laws that work
against the farmer as Oregon has been.
There are fewer Inspection laws that
prohibit the farmer from selling his
meat and milk to the Deople until it
has passed the critical. miscroscoDic
eyes of a horde of inspectors, such as
we have in Oregon. The trouble is
that Multnomah County always sends
to the Oresron Legislature a solid 12
good men God bless 'em, I always vote
for them who are disposed to listen to
the siren tones of the Portland city
doctors and reformers who want every
bit of food that we eat to be inspected.
The result is that our milk and meat
and nsh go up to abnormal prices, part
ly because . of so much inspection
which the farmers of North Dakota
would not stand for a minute.
There is a class of people in Oregon
and a number of newspapers we all
know them that always stand for any
new ism. wnether It be progress and
poverty or single tax. Government own
ership or railroads or free silver, who
will be whooping it up for Nonpartisan
ship. They have, also, supported and
voted for such men as our George for
tne unitea states senate, and other
Democrats, and perhaps a goodly nu
ber of the Democrats themselves will
join in the hue and cry for the leairue.
But those of us who do not want to go
too last tor iear that we may get from
the frying pan into the fire had better.
perhaps, take a little notice of the way
things are working in the one state
where the Nonpartisans are working to
the best advantage for themselves and
ascertain If they are working to the
Dest advantage ror the dear people.
Don t let us be too free in handing
out money to these Nonpartisans for
tne nrst thing they ask for is money,
on the theory that If a man has an In
vestment in a proposition he wants to
see it a success.
It may be that the missionaries whr.
are coming to us from the prairies of
tne Aiiaaie west can find as good a
talking point for Oregon as they did
for North Dakota when they talked an
elevator m Duluth for the Middle West
tarmers; out, so lar, so good, a talking
point has not been sprung. If they
dwell on the general cussednesa nf Re
publican and Democratic politicians and
officeholders, then the reply is that
experience snows the Nonpartisan poll
tician and orriceholder to be a grade
worse. R. M. TUTTLE.
GRANTS WABMXC IS RECALLED
Wfcat Warrior-President Said of Ob
strartora In Time of War.
CORVALLIS, Or.. Oct. 15. (To the
.aitor.) The following statement of
General TJ. S. Grant, found in volume
1, chapter 4. page 68 of his Memoirs,
deserves a panel on the editorial page
of every loyal paper in the country:
"Experience proves that the man who
obstructs a war in which his nation
is engaged, no matter whether right or
wrong occupies no enviable place in
life or history."
I sincerely hope that every pacifist
and adverse, hindering critics of the
war against imperialism will take
warning in time whether he be I. W. W.,
anarchist, striker or Just a mild paci
fist. I went through one revolution in the
border states during the Civil War,
where there was aggravation at first
then retaliation and finally extermina
tion and I know that neither politics,
religion nor even family ties will avail
anything when a nation is determined
to save its institutions. In one minor
engagement near my home, my mother
had a son on one side and a brother
on the other and she saw both of
them during the fight as she tried to
save her little ones from being trampled
beneath the feet of the charging
cavalry.
We say, poor Russia. Let us not
have to gay, poor America, again.
A BLUE VETERAN.
In Other Days.
Twenty-nve Tears Asa.
From The Oregonlan of October IT.
The bridge commission has at last
arrived at a definite conclusion. Last
night it was announced that a free
bridge will be built across the river
from Burnside to East Burnslde street-
W. H. Watts, who has been engaged
in the construction of the Astoria Kail
road, was seen at the Esmond last
evening.
New York One of the political sur
prises of the day was the reported an
nouncement of Richard Croker that he
would not be tKo nominee for Congress
from the Twelftn District, but that the
nominee would be General Daniel
Sickles.
The police authorities have decided
to put a stop to the practice of China
men of splitting wood on the sidewalks.
Some interesting Indian mummies are
in the possession of Dr. Morrow, of
Pendleton. They were found on Long
Island, in the Columbia, and will be
sent to the World's Fair for exhibition.
Half a Ceatnry Ago,
From The Oregonlan of October IT, 186T.
Florence Garibaldi has issued an
other address from Caprera, earnestly
uring the Italian people to arise. It is
believed that Lamora is in command
on the frontier and will occupy Pontifi
cal territory and possibly march to
Rome.
Chicago Eastern capitalists have
proposed to take the Southwest Pacific
Railroad on the terms of Fremont's
contract and build it forthwith.
The schooner J. C. Champion, from
Tillamook Bay. brought in 49 pounds
of beeswax, which was washed ashore
from a wrecked ship. longer ago than
any of the Indians living on the bay
can remember. Captain Quick brought
around some of it and sold it here for
IS cents per pound.
The Pioneers will play baseball to
day at their grounds at Fifth and Oak'
streets. A prompt attendance is de
sired. The game is set for 4 o'clock.
A deputation from the Ladies' Fair
last evening waited on this office at a
seasonable hour, bearing a basket of
edibles for the printers.
PUBLIC OPINION NOT WITH MEN
Already Finicer of Scorn la Pointed To
ward Striking; Shipyard Workers.
PORTLAND, Oct. 16. (To the Ed
itor.) History in the making now re
cords the selfishness and perfidy 'of a
Nation which at one time occupied a
weighty position in the world. It is
an astonishing revelation of a com
posite of individuals bent upon con
trolling the whole world in a commer
cial, political and military way. And
this with such arrogance, deceit and
brutality that neutral nations far re
moved have turned away from that
other nation with feelings of anger and
condemnation. Nearly the whole world
points the finger of scorn and indigna
tion at the outcast.
This spectacle is being enacted upon
another stage with different scenery.
Blood Is not apparent in the vicinity
of the actors, but blood will be shed
because of their acting, and the finger
of scorn will be pointed at them. If
they do not believe it, let them get a
few of the comments passed, as peace
able and industrious folk often force
their way through a crowd of idle men.
pleased to announce themselves
strikers soldiers of the "union!" Men
who shortly earned more than they
ever did in their lives and paid their
grocer and clothing man. Now they
get it all "on tick" and keep their
ticker from buying a liberty bond. Da
cause they have his money out. an
are earning none of their own to buy
with; men who cause fathers ana
mothers to say that it is not fair fo
these men to quarrel with bia- Das-
while the boys fighting sret $30 a
month, to say that these men are mak
ing a bloody field for the boys ove
there. The public is looking over ths
faces and noting those of foreign
stamp and those native born, and is
pointing the finger, of scorn. The locai
example, patterned after Germany le
nding to a fall and cannot see ir
The public is waiting for a Cicero t
address our "conscript fathers" and.
pointing to these men, say, "how long
O, Catiline, wilt thou abuse our pa-
tience?" The undersigned merely dl
rects attention to what Is in the public
mind as he observes it. It might be
wise for the men to consider this pub
lic opinion in their contest before it Is
too late. A union card which calls for
no technical, standard, minimum quali
fication is fundamentally erroneous. It
guarantees nothing to an employer. It
is a long, long way from membership
in the ancient guilds.
ROBERT C. WRIGHT.
PORTLAND IS NOT LIKE OTHERS
Settlement of Streetcar Crisis Pleaaea
Citizens at Camp Lewis.
CAMP LEWIS HEADQUARTERS, Ta
coma. Wash., Oct. 15. (To the Editor.)
Just a word to tell you how pleased
we were to read of the peaceable set
tlement of the streetcar trouble in
Portland. We happen to be from Port
land and have for associates men from,
San Francisco, Seattle and Tacoraa
cities where the same issues caused,
great disorder. From our conversations
with these men and with others from
different sections of the West we hava
learned that they have high regard
for the willingness and ability of Port
land business and labor interests to
get together and settle their disputea
in a satisfactory manner.
We also wish to commend The Ore
gonian for its stand on the problem
of protecting the health and morals
of the soldiers as we noted in the
editorial columns October 13. The ex
hibit of the Oregon Social Hygiene So
ciety has been loaned by this organi
zation and is being used in each of the
six Y. M. C. A. buildings in Camp
Lewis. This exhibit has attracted great
attention on the part of the officers
in charge because of its constructive
character. It is so entirely different
from any such exhibits that have been
used in camps before that the men
themselves have taken seriously the
teachings contained therein.
K. G. HARLAN.
E. J. CUMMINS.
Secretaries National War Work Coun
cil. Y. M. C. A.
USE OF BOXDS AS LEGAL TEXDER
Acceptance One Day a Week for Pur
chases Sag-greeted by Writer.
RAINIER, Or.. Oct, 15. (To the Ed
itor.) Make liberty bonds legal ten
der. I think it would be too much to
expect retail and wholesale merchants)
to accept liberty bonds in full payment
of goods purchased, but any merchant
would, no doubt, be wiling to accept
them for his profit, about one-fifth of
the purchase price of goods.
As the payroll of Portland approxi
mates $300,000 per day fully $230,000
of this is expended for supplies. If
merchants and others would accept
one-fifth in liberty loan bonds we
would have absorbed $1,500,000 in 30
days.
Or if the merchants of Oregon would
generally announce a "liberty bond
legal tender" for one day each week
of October and November and accept
the bonds in payment of entire pur
chase, they would most certainly have
a big day for business and the bonds
would be subscribed for.
C. G. THAYER.