13
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER 8, 1917.
POBTLASD, OREGON.
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FOBTUXD,, THURSDAY, OV. . 1917.
HOW TO BRLNO BACK COMMERCE.
Discussion of the revival of Port
land's commerce has sprung- up again.
The subject is so vital that it will not
down, especially when all persons who
give it any attention realize that the
war has given' the port an oppor
tunity which may never, recur. The
world's commerce Is In a state of flux.
It has broken away from established
routes, and after the war it will settle
down Into lines governed by the con
ditions which will then exist. It can
be won then with half the effort that
will be required after It has again be
some settled.
Commerce requires deep water, am
ple harbor facilities as economical as
at any other port, supplies and con
veniences for repair, in order that
ships may come to the port, but none
of these are of any avail without traffic
for ships, and traffic cannot be assem
bled at this port unless it can be done
as cheaply and in as large and regular
volume as at competing ports. This
cannot be accomplished unless rail
road rates to and from the interior
are as low as, or lower than, to -competing
ports in like situation, or unless
inland "waterways in actual use make
rates which" railroads to competing
ports cannot meet.
Portland has a geographical posi
tion which, by operation of natural
law, should give it these advantages.
It is at the, head of navigation for
ocean vessels" on the only river that is
navigable for light draft craft far Into
the interior. No port north or south
of it is so situated. It not only has an
inland waterway, but it has water
grades for railroads as compared with
a climb over mountains to reach the
ports to the north and south. The
waterway is little used, though It has
been made navigable at great cost, but
the banks are used by two railroads
extending to the interior. Those roads
can haul freight profitably at rates at
which those crossing the mountains
would lose money, given an equal
volume of traffic. As a matter of nat
ural right, arising from this geographi
cal position, Portland should have
freight hauled to and from its docks
at lower rates than can be given to
Vancouver, B. C: Seattle, Tacoma or
San Francisco. Since Astoria is 100
miles farther than Portland from any
Interior point, Portland rates should
be proportionately lower than Astoria
rates.
. Portland has not such rates. It
costs as much to haul freight to Port
land as over a mountain range to Seat
tle on the north or to San Francisco
on the south, or 100 miles farther
down the Columbia River to Astoria.
The cause is simple the port's neglect
to insist upon its rights. Aggressive
activity has enabled the other ports
mentioned to obtain the same rates as
Portland, and thus to annul the effect
of its location. Complacent indolence
has delayed improvement of the chan
nel, harbor and docks until these other
ports have drawn away nearly all of
our ships. Now that we are bringing
these things up to-the mark, we have
to begin over again the. work of at
tracting ships, and we have lost the
attraction of lower cost for assembling
cargoes which nature gave us. Be
cause ships do not come,' railroads see
no inducement to bring cargoes to load
them, and they haul trains past our
doors to other ports. The larger vol
time of traffic thus consigned to Puget
Bound goes far to offset the extra coet
of the longer haul or of the lift over
the mountains.
In forming this location for a port,
nature only made the opportunity; it
was for man to develop.it. That has
not been done, and the energy of man
exercised elsewhere to overcome nat
ural obstacles, has reversed the natural
law which Portland pople vainly
Imagined would operate automatically
In their favor without effort on their
part. They assumed that the advan
tages ' Of their location were so ' in
herent as to be unassailable, though
all human experience should have
taught them that no rights, however
seemingly sacred, can be preserved
without vigorous defense, while new,
man-made rights can be established
by persistent, aggressive effort. By
euch effort, continued through twenty
years, Spokane has obtained a man
made decree which reverses the nat
ural law on which Portland has relied.
Portland now has to begin over
again to build up her commerce. No
effort shouia be spared to deepen the
channel and harbor, to provide a turn
ing basin, docks, bunkers, elevators
and tugs, but all of these will be of
small use unless we put ships in actual
operation to carry cargoes regularly
to and from our docks, and then' at
tack the railroad rate structure 'which
has been the chief instrument In re
ducing our commerce to the vanishing
point. This attack should be repeated
and continued without rest until the
monstrous wrong which is the result
of our own apathy -has been undone.
This port has relied on the principle
of water competition to retain its trade
with the interior, -but it has been in
formed by the Interstate Commerce
Commission that it cannot profltf by
that principle unless it is in actual
operation by the loading and unload
ing of cargoes at Portland docks. In
this matter, as in that of the water-
grade, nature will not work for us if
we do not work for ourselves, for
nature does nothing for a sluggard
The. fashion has been, when this
ubject is brought up, to "pass the
buck" to the merchants who in the
&rt instance pay the freight, but It
should not be forgotten that the mer
chant can sell out and move away with
far more ease and at much smaller
loss than the owner of land or of a
large manufacturing plant. The for
tunes of the latter depend on the ex
istence here of a large and growing
community, and will shrink to noth
ing otherwise. Their interest demands
that conditions of business in Portland
shall be such that men can thrive here
as merchants, manufacturers, work
men and professional men. and in all
the occupations which cater to the
wants and pleasures of these classes.
It is for them to take the lead in
bringing about such conditions, and
a prime essential is that the oppor
tunity which nature offered to make
the . greatest port of the Pacific Coast
at the head of deep-sea navigation on
the Willamette River shall not be
wasted.
HIS AMERICANISM.
I want to make It plain to the world th
there was no issue of Americanism or
loyalty Involved so far as I am concerned.
There could be none, for I am as good an
American as any man. as loyal to my flag,
as loyal to my country, and as firm and
determined In support of every act of the
Government In this war as any man.
I ask the editors of the newspapers In
this and In other cities to give prominence
to this declaration, so that there may not
go abroad to the people of this country
who have no appreciation of our local situ
ation the slightest Intimation that the ques
tion of the wr or the war policy of Presi
dent Wilson and the United States Govern
ment is in the slightest way Involved.
My first utterance in this campaign In
response to a question put by a reporter was
that I stood uncompromisingly behind the
President in support of the acts and pol
icies of my country, and that the war must
be fought to a conclusion which would
bring an honorable peace to America. From
a post-election statement by Mayor-elect
Hylan, of New York.
' The Oregonian complies cheerfully
with the request of the successful can
didate for Mayor In the Nation's great
est city, and reprints his declaration
of a forthright Americanism.
Mr. Hylan has been elected by an
immense vote. New York knows what
it wants, doubtless, though it does not
want the same thing at different times.
Four years ago it wanted Mitchel and
honest government; now it wants
Tammany, and whatever Tammany
will give it. Tammany has carte
blanche from the public to do what
ever it pleases.
The outright anti-war vote was for
Hillquit, the Socialist, Probably the
followers of Mitchel, alarmed at the
growth of Hillquit, and convinced that
Mitchel was beaten, left him and
chose the lesser evil in Hylan. To an
extent, the large majority for Hylan
may thus be explained. The enemies
Mitchel has made explains other
losses; bad political management
achieved its share of the disaster;
Hearst did his part; and Tammany did
the rest.
Perhaps, the Kaiser thinks he has
captured New York. But he may be
mistaken.
MIGHTY FOR GOOD.
"War is just one thing after another.
If it is not a" liberty loan, it's the Red
Cross; and if it is not the Red Cross,
it's the Y M. C. A. 'But the public is
both patient and understanding. War
fare without money is impossible;
without the Red Cross it is butchery
and savagery; and without the Y. M.
C. A. it is indecency, viciousness, deg
radation, disease and death.
If any one is in doubt about what
thetY. M. C. A. is doing for the boys
in "France, or on their way, or in
American cantonments being made
ready to go, let him ask any soldier.
The soldiers know. They can tell
what the Y. M. C. A. has done and is
doing to make military life tolerable
and even pleasant, for the rank and
file and for the officers, too. and what
it is doing besides an even greater
service to make it clean and whole
some. The Y. M. C. A., without cant
or favoritism or pretense or sectarian
ism, is the mightiest agency in France
to keep the soldiers well, in mind and
body. The Red Cross and other agen
cies look after them when they are
sick or wounded.
Every dollar spent through the
Y. M. C. A. is for your son, or your
neighbor's son, which is the same
thing. The Y. M. C. A. goes with him,
in order to serve him, from, the time
he dons his uniform until he faces
the enemy, on the battlefield, and
after; for it i3 even present in the
prison camps. If the Y. M. C. A. is
ever needed it is then. It never leaves
the soldier alive, or captured, or dying,
and it does not forget him when he is
dead.
A mighty institution for humanity
and civilization, not to say right think
ing, decent living, rational playing, is
the Y. M. C. A. Let all who are in
doubt inquire. If they know, they
will give; and if all such will give, the
Y. M. C. A. will be able to raise its
needed fund ten times over.
AN OLD DEtCSION REVIVED.
The old and oft-exploded greenback
delusion appears again in a communi
cation which is published in' another
column. It springs from the error of
supposing that paper is money. It is
only a promise to pay money. At differ
ent times and in different countries
precious stones, beaver skins, cowrie
shells and. tobacco have been used as
the medium, but the world has finally
settled to the use of gold for this pur
pose, and paper money, so called, is
only a promise to pay" gold. It circu
lates at par only because it can at any
time be redeemed in gold.
Governments . are governed by this
principle as are individuals, for they
have tried the issue of irredeemable
paper money based solely on the Na
tional assets, and have failed. France
tried it by the issue of assignats in
the first revolution, but they depre
ciated to such a point that a big
bundle of paper francs was worth only
one franc. The United States tried it
by the issue of greenbacks during the
Civil War. They were at a heavy dis
count until the war ended, and the
remaining $344,000,000 of them cir
culate at par only because the Govern
ment holds a gold reserve ample to
redeem any amount that is likely to
be presented for redemption. When
ever doubt arises as to the Govern
ment's ability to pay gold, there is a
stampede to exchange greenbacks for
that metal.
Such a doubt arose in 1893 from
the operation of the Sherman silver
purchase law. The Government be
ing compelled by that law to issue
silver dollars which were intrinsically
worth only about fifty cents, but
which were to circulate' at a parity
with gold, a great demand for gold
arose. Greenbacks were exchanged at
the treasury for gold, were paid out
again, as the law required, and were
presented again in exchange for more
gold. The gold reserve was depleted,
and as fast as it was replenished by
issue of bonds it was depleted again
by the same process. When the Sher
man law Tas repealed, and when dan
ger of free silver coinage passed with
the defeat of Bryan in 1896, the run
on the gold reserve ceased.
It is a, mistake to suppose that, be-
cause paper issued by the Government
is backed by all the wealth of the
country, it does not fluctuate in value.
In time of war or financial stress the
Government's credit declines, and, if
it were to issue an unlimited quantity
of paper irredeemable in gold, the de
cline would be represented by a dis
count on this paper. There is no safe
way for the Government to raise war
funds other than by taking money
from the people in the shape of taxes
or by borrowing it. Money cannot be
created by running printing presses
double time.
THESE "HONOR" MEN WITHOUT HONOR.
The Oregonian is not, and cannot
be, reconciled to an "honor system"
at a state penitentiary which accepts
the parole the mere word of in
curable, wicked criminals as a suffi
cient pledge to give them their lib
erty, in violation of the plain condi
tions of their respective sentences and
in opposition to the teachings of all
human experience. Nor does it think
that a public prison is an institution
for experiments in popular govern
ment. It has an old-fashioned opinion
that a penitentiary is a place pri
marily for punishment, and, second
arily, for reform.
'Six convicts who had achieved the
privileges of "honor" men have just
escaped from the penitentiary at
Salem, following a series of similar
flights from other "honor" men with
out honor. One of them tried to kill
an officer who was about to recapture
him, and nearly succeeded, while an
other Hassing who had slain his
wife in cold blood, and who was sen
tenced to be hanged, but whose sen
tence was changed to life imprison
ment by Governor West on the ex
press condition that he would never
apply for pardon, or commutation, is
still at large.
The half dozen convicts who have
just declared themselves free have,
almost Without exception, bad records.
Majors, a negro, while on parole from
a former sentence, committed , two
villainous assaults for rape, one on a
child and one on an old woman;
while serving a ten-year term for
these heinous crimes, perpetrated while
he was under leave and on his good
behavior, he is designated an "honor"
man, and permitted to run at large,
practically without restraint.
Of Majors' companions, only a lit
tle less severe reprobation may be vis
ited on them. One of them had, we
believe, run away during a previous
parole period, had served a prison
term elsewhere, and had been brought
back to complete his sentence here.
Another of them is a returned parole
violator. All of them are long-term
men, and with perhaps an exception.
low-class felons. Yet they are "honor"
men.
The clamor for more humane and
modern treatment of prisoners, and
the reaction from severe methods for
merly in vogue, are doubtless respon
sible for readoption of the "honoi"'
system. We suppose that Governor
Withycombe, who unquestionably is
not in- harmony with laxness of disci
pline or loose bargains with felons,
or license for prisoners beyond their
deserts, has consented to give the
plan a trial, in order to make a pub
lic demonstration of its worth, or lack
thereof. He should be persuaded now
that the views which he held, and
enunciated, when he took office, are
sound.
FORCES WORKING FOR TAMMANY.
A combination of forces brought
about the triumph of Tammany in the
New York election. They were in only
slight degree political, except as re
gards the war. With that exception
they were social, religious and con
cerned with purely municipal affairs.
Many people in the city, their pockets
bulging with war profits, are weary of
a clean town and yearn for tlTe wide
open conditions whifh prevail under
Tammany rule. Mayor Mitchel, by his
insistence on honesty and competence,
has arrayed against him the cohesive
power of public plunder, which is or
ganized under the Tammany banner.
By subjecting Catholic charities to
public control, he has brought against
him the great influence of the Catho
lic church. Against him he. also had
the apathy of those who believe in
good government, but foolishly Imag
ine that it can be preserved without
fighting; also the stalwart partisans
of both Republican and Democratic
stripe.
Possibly he might have won in
spite of all these influences, but for
the menace contained in the thinly
disguised pro-Germanism of Hillquit,
the Socialist candidate. In a city
four-fifths of whose inhabitants are
of foreign birth or parentage, the
swing of the foreign element to Hill
quit was so strong among those of
alien nationality that, when the loyal
element saw the drift of the disloyal
toward the Socialist and recognized
the many factors working against
Mitchel, they plunged for Hylan in
order, at any cost to save the city from
a pro-German Mayor. Hylan might
have won without this factor, but it
would probably have been a close de
cision.
For there is this consolation for
those who regret the return of Tarn
many to power that all the candi
dates except Hillquit were pledged to
stand by the President in the war for
democracy. Although the anti-British
Hearst backed Hylan, the latter de
clared himself "in full accord with the
war policy of my country," and said:
"I stand with President Wilson in his
fight to make the ' world safe for
democracy." There was never any
doubt as to how Mitchel and Bennett
stood on the war. In a city one-fourth
of whose people are of enemy nation
ality, where many of Irish birth will
do anything to vent their hatred of
England, and where many Russian
Jews have adopted the distorted Ger
man view of Socialism, many more
then three-fourths of the votes were
cast against the man who favors an
immediate peace "upon terms which
will involve humiliation or punishment
for none," not even for the arch-
criminal of Potsdam.
But Hylan had the support of so
many stealthily disloyal elements and
Mitchel was so clearly the standard
bearer of unflinching loyalty and of
good government that it is cause for
wonder that President Wilson failed
to see the duty of giving Mitchel open
support. ' The occasion called for
rally of every, patriot to the standard
of Americanism, in order that the
greatest city in America might speak
out in no uncertain terms. In this
crisis the President should have for
gotten that any are Republicans or
Democrats, and should have appealed
to all as Americans. He has wasted a
great opportunity.
In the degree of comfort which it
has given to the enemy by the large
vote polled for Hillquit, New York
does not represent the United States.
As in the Revolution it harbored more
Tories than any other city, as in the
Civil War it was disgraced by anti-
draft riots and by the q.uasi-copper.
head Governor Seymour, so In this war
it is tire hotbed of pro-Germanism.
Splendidly as its leaders in business
and finance have responded to the
call of the Nation, New York still re
mains the least American city in
America. Now, as in 1861, it is in
New England and the West that the
flame of patriotism burns brightest.
PENNIES.
The story is told of an old-time
Portland "sport" slang for a certain
type of sportsman who took out of his
pocket, after an unusually prosperous
night with the cards, a great handful
of gold. Observing a silver dollar in
the yellow mass, he impatiently picked
it out and threw it away. "What do I
want with that thing?" he asked.
Easy come, easy go; but the easy
goers always go too far.
This tale has no moral, except that
it illustrates the ordinary attitude of
the man of the extreme West toward
the penny. It is true that it was a
penny or was it a two-cent piece?
that determined forever the name of
Portland,-for in the historic little con
test over the title of the town between
the two original locators, heads meant
Portland and tails Boston (or vice
versa). But since that day, until now,
the penny has had no real home in
Portland. The tale might, indeed.
have ended differently if it had begun
differently. Where did that penny
come from, and what was it doing so
far from its real habitat in New Eng
land?
There are men and women now liv
ing in Portland and Oregon who re
call the day when the quarter or
two bits" was the smallest coin in
common use, or the real unit for all
retail transactions.
If nothing else betrayed the Mis
souri origin of many pioneers,
the introduction and use of the
"bit" would have given them
away. A bit was nominally 1Z
cents, but actually there never was
such a thing. It was ten cents, or a
dime, when you offered it as legal
tender, or it was 15 cents when change
had to be made. In other words, after
the silver dime came along, it was
received as a "bit (12V4 cents), and if
you tendered a quarter in payment
for a "bit's" worth' of anything, you
got back ten cents. But this loose
method of making change disappeared
with the advent of the nickel. With
the five-cent piece ended forever the
golden and silver days of the argonaut.
Now we are to have the penny to
make real change in the theaters and
elsewhere, as it has for some time
been done in the department stores.
In these days of thrift and conserva
tion the cent piece ought to be wel
come, yet it marks the final transfor
mation from old days and old ways
to the new style. If it helps win the
war, there should be no complaint.
The case against rats and mice as
wasters of food is put forcibly by the
Department of Agriculture in a state
ment in which it says that the destruc
tion wrought by these pests amounts
to more than $200,000,000 a year,
which is equivalent to the gross earn
ings of an army of 200.000 men. This
is in addition to the indirect damage
caused by the spreading of pestilence,
which also is large. There are many
farms on which the grain consumed
by rodents would pay the taxes. The
war on rats and mice should be based
upon general principles of cleanliness.
By first Insisting on the removal of
all rubbish piles and then making
storehouses rat proof, the animals will
be forced to seek other regions or
starve, and multiplication will be dis
couraged by depriving the young of
their means of subsistence. Although
the number is now enormous, their
virtual extermination is not regarded
impractical, if communities will
co-operate in a spirit of appreciation
of the importance of the work.
British successes at Gaza and in
Mesopotamia may seem to have little
effect on the ultimate outcome of the
war, but it is the British way to start
at the outer edge as well as in the
center of military operations and to
fight their way to the center. Wel
lington fought his way across Spain
and Portugal for five years, and won
his final victory at Toulouse after Na
poleon had abdicated in 1814, in time
for his army to make a triumphal
entry into Paris. ' Such operations win
valuable territory, which is an im
portant factor in peace negotiations.
and they occupy large enemy forces
at points remote from the main field
of hostilities. Many Turkish troops
are diverted from Europe and de
stroyed in detail by the invasion of
Asiatic Turkey and a strong moral
effect is produced on the .Arabs, who
hate the Turks and whose friendship
Britain assiduously cultivates.
The men who calculate on the re
duction of German man power per
sistently neglect to allow for the num
ber of Germans released for the army
by the subjection of enemy peoples in
occupied territory. The Germans may
be expected to carry the Italians who
did not flee from "Venetia into slavery,
to compel the captured soldiers to
work for them, and to send the men
whom they replace to the front. Every
German gain of territory in effect re
cruits the army and compensates for
losses suffered on fronts where the
allies are winning.
The old joke about $20 for 1917 or
1916 Lincoln pennies is on the way
toward realization. They are com
manding a premium of 10 per cent.
due to scarcity.
Flirting interferes with naval train
ing at the Great Lakes station, re
port says. That is to be expected. The
uniform has a charm, afloat or ashore.
With Tammany winning in New
York and Eugene Schmitz elected su
pervisor in San Francisco, this is the
year when the cats come back.
Thfiw RtntA T-Tosriitjil emnlores must
have acquired it by attrition. They
arranged to strike for more pay and
were summarily dismissed.
That Polk County should win in the
Land Show is not startling. She grows
the stuff and has the right woman to
arrange it.
The Red Cross will look after
American prisoners. Now aren't you
glad you subscribed to the fund and
paid?
You cannot "fool" with the Federal
Government. The bootlegger who buys
a license attests the fact.
The member of Parliament who of
fered a motion for peace escaped alive.
Japan can clinch that treaty by
sending a million troops to Europe-
Corn meal is costing more, and there
U P- substitutes .
Stars and Starmakers.
By Leone Casa Baer.
RUTH LECHLER, Portlander. is
playing leads in the Eastern tour
ing company of "Common Clay" and is
receiving splendid notices. This week
she is playing in Buffalo, N. Y. Ruth
was second woman for a little while
last year, when Ruth Gates played
leads at the Baker.
By the way. Ruth Gates, opened with
a big success at Keith's Palace last
week in a clever vaudeville sketch
called "The Notorious Delphlne." She
is under the management of Chamber
lain Brown. - Critics and public alike
gave great praise to the act, and es
pecially to the artistry of Miss Gates,
who has a sort of adventuress Theda-
Daresque role.
-
Corlnne Barker. Portland e-lrl. his
an Important role with the A. H. "Woods
production of "On With the Dance," in
which John Mason is featured. Re
viewers speak of her as a "most prom
ising youne actress."
William H. Crane, dean of comedians.
Is the latest recruit tor vaudeville. He
is to visit us over the Orpheum in a
ketch.
Eve Lavalliere. the comedienne, is
threatened with blindness and is going
to enter a convent.
Tucker, the Orpheum violinist, is re
ported in New York as havincr been
killed during one of the recent air
raids in which German boches bombed
London. Tucker left for London sev
eral months ago and has been appear
ing over there.
Lillian Cooper, the daughter of
Frank Kemble Cooper, has been en
gaged by Jessie Bonstelle to play a
part in "Good Morning, Rosamond."
which la now in rehearsal, and which
will be shortly produced at a Shubert
Theater. Miss Cooper was last seen
in Broadway In "The Lassoo."
Her appearances in Portland have
been as the English girl in "Peg o' My
Heart" for two successive seasons.
KALAMA. Wash., Nov. 5. (To the Edi
tor.) To settle a dispute will you please
state:
(1) Is Lillian Russell classed as a comic
opera star and singer or as an emotional
actress?
2 In what plays has she appeared In
Portland in the last 10 years?
3) Did she ever play as heavy a role as
Camllle? C. a.
(1) Lillian Russell is a comedienne
and a comic opera star. She could not.
by the greatest stretch of imagination,
bo classed as an emotional actress.
(2) She appeared in Portland in
"Wildfire" about seven years ago.
Since then she has been a headlincr.
two seasons ago, at the Orpheum in a
sort of song-cycle act.
(3) She never appeared as Camille.
Harry Lauder or Charlie Chaplin could
play Camllle as well as Lillian Russell
could play It. She is a beautiful
woman, a vocalist and a delightful
comedienne, that Is all. She could not
possibly Camille.
Two important personages of the
theatrical world are in' Portland. One
Is Charles Rlggs, ahead of Max FIgman
and his charming wife. Lolita Robert
son, in "Nothing But the Truth," and
the other one is Melville Hammett,
ahead of "Miss Springtime," the first
musical comedy of the series promised
by Klaw & Erlanger. Mr. Rlggs made
his first visit to Portland more than 35
years ago in the interests of Adelina
Patti and played at the old Newmarket
Theater. He is the "Ancient Mariner"
of the show business, and a fourth of a
century ago heralded such enterprises
as Gllmore's Band, C. D. Hess, Marcus
Mayer, the Calhoun Opera Company,
and was the foundation, with Al Hey
man. of the theatrical syndicate. In
later years he has brought us musical
comedy of the "Flora Dora" and
"Madame Sherry" variety, and two sea
sons ago was ahead of "Robin Hood."
Mr. Rlggs has a further bid for atten
tion as the father of two celebrated
dancing teams. One is Riggs and
Witchle, which appeared last season at
the Orpheum. Ralph Riggs is his son
and Katherine WItchie his adopted
daughter, who later was married to
Ralph Riggs. Just now they are a sen
sational dancing feature of the Hippo
drome in London. There is another son,
Bernard Riggs, who with his wife,
Miss Ryan, makes another big dancing
team on the Orpheum. Just now they
are playing in the East. Mr. Riggs,
senior, is one of the pioneers in the
theatrical game and is unbounded in
his admiration of Portland's growth
and beauty. His attraction, "Nothing
But the Truth," Is due at the Hellig
the 15th, 16th and 17th of this month.
Melville Hammett was here last with
"The Woman," in which Marlon Bar
ney, once a Baker stock actress, played
the leading role. Later he brought us
"The Lily," with Nance O'Neil in the
big role. This was the play In which
Miss O'Neil leaped into stardom under
Belasco in New York and since which
she has never sparkled particularly.
She came a few years ago in a messy
vaudeville sketch to the Orpheum.
Since then stock and the pictures have
claimed her. Mr. Hammett is ahead
of a beautiful musical comedy produc
tion, "Miss Springtime," featuring a
list of folk that sounds like a metro
politan programme. Zoe Barnett is
one, and she by the way is an adopted
daughter of the Charles Riggs men
tioned in the foregoing paragraph.
Zoe plays the lead, and there are Frank
Mclntyre and Harrison Brockbank.
The latter we met last year on the
Orpheum. George Leon Moore, also re
cruited from the Orpheum. also is in the
cast, and so are May Hennessey and
Hattle Burke and Frank Doane.
Mr. Hammett is the husband of Mar
Jorie Mordaunt, who brought us "Baby
Mine." appearing in the role of Zoie.
She is a lovely young actress, but ill
ness has kept her away from the stage
this season and she is vacationing in
Florida while her handsome young ad
vanceman husband tours the country
ahead of "Miss Springtime."
By the way. E. D. Price, who is well
known on this Coast and particularly
in Portland, both on his own man
agerial account and as the once hus
band of Cathrine Countiss. 'Is ahead of
the Eastern company of "Miss Spring
time." . -
"Pollyanna" opens tonight at the
Heilig. Our old friend George Alison
is playing the leading masculine role.
His seasons as the leading man at the
Baker about a dozen years ago insure
him a warm welcome in this play.
Address of Poultry Journal.
DETROIT, Or., Nov. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) I would like to know through
the columns of The Oregonian the ad
dress of the Northwest Poultry Journal.
A. N. R.
The Northwest Poultry Journal is
published at Salem, .Or.
NO REAL SNAPS AT SING SING
Prison Welfare Worker Discusses Ar
ticle Printed In Oreaonlsn.
NEW YORK. Nov. 1. (To the Ed
itor.) Ln going ' through The Orego
nian recently I found a news Item en
titled "Sing Sing Has Some Soft Snaps."
I presume this Is reprinted from one
of your exchanges.
As sn honorary member of the Mu
tual Welfare League of Sing Sing pris
on I wish to add a little to what you
have already printed, so that a wrong
impression of what is going on may
not be had.
When Thomas Mott Osborne assumed
the wardenship of Sing Sing prison he
Inaugurated what is known as the
"new" system of prison reform. In
other words, he founded the Mutual
Welfare League, an organization com
posed of all the prisoners which had
almost entirely self-governmental pow
ers. This organization really ran the
prison took care of the discipline, the
educational features and the amuse
ment and athletic features as well. This
was done with the idea of turning
'"men" and not criminals out of the
prison on their release, by giving these
men a sense of responsibility and hav
ing them lead practically normal lives
in prison, rather than the abnormal
half-man-half-beast existence under
the "old" system. Mr. Osborne knew
that a greater percentage of them
would "make good" when released.
Of course, the Idea of allowing pris
oners to express themselves at all cre
ated a great deal of adverse criticism
and "coddling the prisoners" became a
by-word among many newspapers and
persons who did not understand the
situation. It is probably one of these
very persons who wrote the story
about "snaps" at Sing Sing.
Up td quite recently, when an order
was Issued that no visitors be allowed
during the war, I was a Trequent visitor
at Sine Sing, and I know very well
some of the men whose names you pub
lish in your article. As far as I know
these men have no "snaps." The mere
fact that they have shown ability in
certain directions and that this ability
is belnsr utilized does not mean that
they are havitiK an easier time than
the other prisoners. There are certain
men who have shown executive ability
and they have been given executive
jobs. One of these men is the sergeant-at-arms
of the Mutual Welfare League
and he has practically charge of the
entire discipline of the prison. Another
prisoner is principal of the school, etc
And so far as we can ascertain Mr.
Osborne's idea was a wise one, for rec
ords show that a great percentage of
the men who have been released within
the last two yeans have "made good."
They come out of prison with their
heads up and without the "hang-dof?"
expression of former days and the
haunted look in their eyes. They feel
that they are men, and they are men.
Recently it was my great privilege
to spend the grreater portion of a day
at your own penitentiary at Salem, Or.
I was quite Interested and pleased to
know that an organization called the
Murphy Honor Lodge had been formed
for the benefit of the prisoners there.
While this organization is in no way
similar to the Mutual Welfare League
of Sing Sing and Auburn prisons in
New York State, it is a step in the right
direction and shows that your priaon
officials also believe la the idea of
giving the men a sense of responsi
bility. It may also interest you to know
that while in the whole state of Ore
gon when I was there last August you
had only 352 prisoners, the average
population of Sing Sing alone is usual
ly 1600 prisoner, and we have three
other state prisons besides Sing Sing.
MARGUERITE A. SALOMON.
THE W1XTER RAINS.
When frosts of Autumn turn the mead
ows brown.
And in the woods the sodden leaves
are strewn.
One hears the far-off melancholy moan
That tells the Winter rains are sweep
ing down.
At dead of night about the sleepy
town
The feel of warm air in the threaten
ing skies! i
The houses creak with sudden sound
of sifrhs.
And heaven's brow Is knit with sullen
frown.
Loud breaks the storm. It blusters
through the night.
Puff after puff, each louder than the
last ;
And then at dawn of misty morning
light.
The steady rain is borne upon the
blast.
Then are the heavens opened. Rising
tide
Of floods torrential sweeps the country
wide!
EVERETT EARLE STAXARD.
Brownsville, Or.
The Kaiser's Dream.
William Wcl.oorehlm, Scotch Highlanders.
Somewhere In France."
There's a story now current, t.hough
strange may it seem.
Of the great Kaiser Bill and his won
derful dream.
Being tired of the allies, he lay down
in bed.
And, among other things, he dreamt he
was dead,
And ln a fine coffin was lying ln state.
With a guard of brave Belgians, who
lamented his fate.
He wasn't long dead till he found to his
cost
That his soul, like his soldiers, had
surely been lost.
On leaving the earth to heaven he went
straight.
And, arriving up there, gave a knock
at the gate.
But St. Peter looked out, and In a voice
loud and clear
Said: "Begone, Kaiser Bill; we don't
want you here.
"Well," said the Kaiser, "that's very
uncivil ;
I suppose after that I must go to the
devil?"
So he turned on his heel and off he
did go
At the top of his speed to the regions
below.
And when he got there he was filled
with dismay.
When waiting outside he heard Old
Nick say
To his Imps: "Now, look here, boys,
I give you a warning, ---
I'm expecting the Kaiser down here ln
the morning;
But don't let him in, for to me it's quite
clear
He's a dangerous man and wo don't
want him here.
If once he gets ln there'll be no end of
quarrels;
In fact, I'm afraid he'll corrupt our
good morals."
"Oh, Satan, my dear friend," the Kaiser
then cried,
"Excuse me for listening while waiting
outside.
If you don't admit me, where can I go?"
"Indeed," said the devil, "I really don't
know."
"Oh, do let me in, I'm weary and cold,"
Said the Kaiser, quite anxious to enter
Nich's fold.
"Let me Bit in a corner, no matter how
hot."
"No!" said the devil, "most certainly
not. -
We don't admit people for riches or
pelf;
Here are sulphur and matches; make a
hell for yourself."
Then he kicked Wilhelm out and van
ished in smoke.
And just at that moment the Kaiser
awoke.
He Jumped out of bed ln a shivering
sweat
And eald: "Well, that dream I shall
never forget.
That I won't go to heaven, I know very
well.
But it's really too bad to be kicked out
of hell,"
In Other Days.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregonian November 8, 1S67.
Statistics from 10 of the principal
Southern states have been compiled
showing the total vote as 1.225,61$. of
which 613.579 are whites and 612,05a
are blacks.
Mr. Leland has retired from the edi
torial management of the Lewlston
Journal.
Pierre Manciet, proprietor of the La
fayette restaurant, has announced that
during, the oyster season he will keep
his establishment open until 2 A. M.
Joe Buchtel has finished'a fine group
photograph of the three engineers of
the fire department T. G. Young, W. H.
Weed and W. H. Wetzeli. They are all
dressed in full uniform.
S. J. JlcCormick. Jacob Mayer and P.
C. Schuyler, of the Portlund Philhar
monic Society, constitute a committee
to disburse the fund of J460 raised at
the recent benefit concert- The money
is available for cases of distress among
the citizens of Portland.
Twenty-five Years Ago.
From The Oregonian November 8, 1S92.
New York. Betting on the general
result of the Presidential election is the
issue of the hour. The odds changed
at the last hour to Harrison's favor, al
though Cleveland money is still being
offered at 2 to 1 that he will carry New
a ora.
A number of DeODle e-athered vester-
day at the central passencer station to
see the demonstration of the new car
coupler invented by Ueuige Ker, a rail
way conductor.
The power-house of the Banfces
Heights & Cornell Mountain Klerlri.-!
Railway Is about completed and ready
for business.
Herman Burrell is soon to leave for
Japan on the steamer Coloma. Last
Sunday with. Watt Monteith he went
duck hunting and the two bagged the
l ecoro 1 1 4.
R. C. Schenck. better known as "Boss"
Pchenck. who has been critically ill at
si. v inceiit s Hospital, is eliowintr sicns
of recovering.
Today is election day. If Harrison
wins Clerk Clark, of the Oilman, will
wear a broad-rlmmed sombrero for four
years. If on the other hand Cleveland
wins. Night Clerk Clark of the same
hostelry will wear such a hat for four
years. There are many freak bets.
FIAT JlOXKf DEM'SIOX REVIVES
Why Does Not Government Finance the
War With Urernbarks!
PORTLAND, Nov. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) Being only slightly acquainted,
with financial matters, as I am of for
eign birth, will you kindly advise me
as to the features of the following:
understand the Civil War was most
ly financed by the Issuance of "green
backs." a legal tender with a few
minor exceptions. I know the bulk
of them were later turned into bonds.
but 3-U.000,000 of them are yet in ex
istence, doing duty since 1S63 until
now, without costing the Government
any Interest money.
When Mr. Uerard was here a few
days ago he told us Germany was
using a greenback for most of her
money wants, based on the rroperty
of that country as security, and. of
course, a legal tender. I have seen it
stated that all the warring countries
on the continent have like Issues of
money.
Now. with my small knowledge of
finances, it would seem to me that such
money, with all the assets of the coun
try as security, would be a better
one than paper issuance against gold
alone, inasmuch as I see by an author
ized statement that there is less than
S.u00.0uO.Oui) of that metal for coin
age in all the earth.
May I ask why our Government,
Uncle Sam. so-called the richest man
in the whole world, with $200,000,000.
000 or more of wealth behind him,
every dollar of which he can com
mandeer, why should he pay interest
to anyone?
Why not issue as legal tender green
hacks of the same denomination as
those ln present use up to the full
requirements of our wants? That will
save borrowing and also the pay-ingot
interest money, and also save what
little, pro rata money there Is now
available for current business demands,
not to speak of the distress of the
continuous demanding and urging peo
ple, fully patriotic, but financially un
able to respond.
This financial question seems very
hard to understand, but no doubt it
can be easily explained by the Gov
ernment ageuts and the bankers.
SI DA DE LA 1IER,
Wooden Shipbuilding Plants.
SILVERTON. Or., Nov. 6. (To the
Editor.) Please give the names and
addresses of the wooden shipbuilding
companies in Portland and Astoria.
O. GUSTAFSUM.
Wood shipbuilding companies in
Portland Standifer-Clarkson Ship
building Company. North Portland; Guy
P. Standifer Construction Company, of
fice in Northwestern Bank building,
Portland; Columbia Engineering Works,
Linnton, Or.; Peninsula Shipbuilding
Company, foot of McKenna street,
Portland; Kiernan & Kerns Shipbuild
ing Company, foot of Market street,
Portland; Coast Shipbuilding Company,
foot of Market street, Portland: Supple
& Ballin. foot of East Oak street. Tort
land; Grant Smith-Porter-Guthrie Com
pany. St. Johns.
At Astoria McEachern Shipbuilding
Company and Wilson Bros.
Men Should Save, Too.
SILVERTON, Or., Nov. 6. (To the
Editor.) There has been much talk,
about conservation in a small way, al
ways directed to the women. The men
should do their part by cutting out cof
fee, tea, tobacco, drinks, etc., and save
the two spoonfuls of sugar and at least
one-half the meat they are consuming.
If they will drop all these things they
will live longer and have more com
fort in their old age.
J. M. BROWN.
Computing Inoume Tax.
CARSON, Wash.. Nov. 6. (To the
Editor.) To settle an argument please
answer the following: A says that a
man's Income is the money he gets not
by manual labor, but through money
Invested. B claims that the money a
man earns by labor is considered in
come when figuring income taxes.
OSCAR TAYLOR.
Wages or salary are included in In
come in computing the tax.
Copyrlcht on Advertising: Phrase.
BAKER. Or.. Nov. 6. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly inform me through your
columns to whom I should apply for a,
copyright on an advertising phrase
and about the approximate fee.
SUBSCRIBER.
Advertising phrases are not enu
merated in the copyright law as among
the matters entitled to registration.
Communications on the subject may
be addressed to Copyright Office. Li
brary of Congress, Wasiunston, D, C.