Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937, December 05, 1917, Page 10, Image 10

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    THE OREGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 5. 1917.
PORTLAND,. UBBdOSi.
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 5, 1917.
, WAR WITH ACSTRIA-HrNGART.
- The passage in President Wilson's
address to Congress which transcends
all else in importance is that in which
lie proposes a declaration of war on
Austria-Hungary. It expresses the
President's sern purpose to execute
the will of the American people that
this war be fought with "every power
and resource we possess" until Prus
sian autocracy is beaten down. It
proves his readiness to "face the facts
as they are and act upon them with
out sentiment."
This recommendation, which will
certainly be followed within a few
days, falsifies forecasts of the Presi
dent's intentions and is proof that
there is to be no flinching on his part.
It is a plain intimation that the United
States is to give military aid to Italy
as well as to France. This conclusion
may also be drawn from his proposal
that declaration of war on Turkey
and Bulgaria be deferred because they
"do not yet stand in the direct path
of our necessary action" and from his
statement that "we shall go wherever
the necessities of this war carry us."
But the President seems to offer a
direct invitation to Austria to emanci
pate herself from vassalage to Ger
many when he says:
We do not wish In any way to Impair or
to rearrange the Austro-Hungarlan Empire.
It is no affair of oura what they do with
their own life, either industrially or politi
cally. We do not purpose or desire to die
tate to them in any way. We only desire to
eee that their affairs are left in their own
hands in alt matters, great or small.
That provokes speculation as to
whether the President hopes, . by
American participation in the Italian
campaign, to drive the Austrians out
of Italy and then, by these assurances,
to induce them to make a separate
peace and to leave Germany to fight
alone, since the Kaiser would in that
event be cut off from Turkey and
Bulgaria. " By that course he would
turn-against Germany the policy which
that country has followed in Russia.
But how can the .war be ended in
accordance with American principles
of, democracy if the Austro-Hungarian
empire be not impaired or rearranged ?
Its very existence is a direct negation
of. those principles, for it has been
formed by gathering together by force
Bohemians, Poles, Serbs, Croats, Rou
manians and Ruthenes under the rule
of a. German-Magyar minority. The
subject parts of those races can
riot be united with the independ
ent parts, as they desire and as
they have a right to be under the
principles for which we are fighting,
unless the empire is seriously im
paired, even to the point of dismem
berment. The President may look for the re
organization of the dual monarchy
into a confederation of states divided
on national or racial lines and having
eo strong a Slav majority that it
would be distinctly anti-German and
would constitute an impassable bar
rier, together with the adjoining Bal
kan states, to the German thrust east
ward. But the same end could as well
be gained by uniting each of the sev
ered nations under one government,
free to form such a confederation,
which might include the German
remnant of Austria and the Magyar
remnant of Hungary. Such states,
with all frontier questions perma
nently settled, would naturally draw
together for common protection in
war and for common extension of
commerce.
'A state of war with Austria will
greatly simplify the" work of protec
tion against the crimes of alien enemies
in the United States. It has been
amply proved that Germany has used
the subjects of her ally to commit
acts of- destruction, conspiracy and
espionage under cover of their im
munity from treatment as alien
enemies. They have acted as our
enemies while we have treated them
as friends. Now the same treatment
can be extended to all alien enemies
alike within our borders, for there
are few Turks and Bulgarians in the
country. Their turn will probably
come later, and, meanwhile, they can
ho closely watched.
The President is at his best in his
, re-statement of our cause for war with
Germany, of the service which we
strive to render humanity and democ
racy, of our purpose toward Germany,
and of th necessity that we deal with
spokesmen of the German people in
eider to obtain a lasting peace. Noth
ing could have more telling effect on
the German people, if it could reach
them, than his description of the isola
tion Into which they would be thrown
".if they should still, after the war is
over, continue to be obliged to live
under ambitious and intriguing mas
ters plotting to disturb the peace of
the world.". The German government
can be trusted to keep these from the
people, as well as the statement that
"we are. In fact, fighting for their
emancipation." Such truths are dan
gerous to the despotic rulers over even
the most docile people. '
With what fine scorn does the Presi
dent dismiss "the clamor of the noisily
thoughtless and troublesome," and
those who "fling themselves In Im
potent disloyalty against the calm,
indomitable power of the Nation!"
How forceful is his contrast between
"those who desire peace by any sort
of compromise" and the great body of
the American - people, who "desire
peace by the overcoming of evil, by
the defeat once for all of the sinister
forces that interrupt peace and render
it impossible!" When we recall for
mer 'utterances of Mr. Wilson and
compare them with this call to. em
battled democracy, we see how far
he lias progressed under the- trac
tion of this final conflict between con
scienceless might and the moral sense
of mankind.
Those "certain other' acta, of legis
lation which," he says, "seem to me
to be needed for" the support of the
war and for the release ot our whole
.force and energy?" covetr practically
Ithes whole- field. We need. laws not
only to- restrain alien enemies" and to
prevent war profiteering;, but to- de
velop, w-ater power and other natural
.resources,, to improve railroads and
other' transportation lines, to promote
iforeign- trade, and, more than ever
when, our annual expenditures run into
tens- of billions, we need a budget sys
tem. Under the urge of war Congress
is called upon to settle In one session
controversies which ha-ve- dragged
through decades. The resistless urge
of war drives us to put. all' of our in
ternal affairs in order, that we may
the sooner and the more effectually
overcome the enemy:. When. it. is
ended, we shall be a Nation whose life
has been quickened, ' a Nation made
over.
WHAT REASON?
The Oregonian would like to know
how many male aliens of conscription
age who have not declared their in
tention to become citizens there are
in Oregon and other Northwest states,
and what they are doing.
The Conscription law requires them
to register, but does not require them
to enlist, or to perform any other
service for the United States in the
war. Some of them, indeed, have
volunteered. But how many?.
Senator Chamberlain has a bill to
require aliens not alien enemies to
serve in the Army or Navy on the
same terms as citizens.
Is there any reason why Americans
should fight to make America free for
them, while they refuse to fight, but
stay here for tlfeir own profit?
JOITN F. CARROLL.
John Francis Carspll was an optimist,
always, yet he never reduced his phil
osophy ot life to thev sordid principle
that "all Is' best In the. best possible
oC worlds." Ha knew that all was not
well with the great mass of humanity,
and he thoagh- first of others and. last
of himself. Probably that' is the rea
son) why he- attached people strongly
to- him. Men who had known him for
years were his- friends; none who knew
him for any length ot time could hate
r dislike him, for he had the extra
ordinary faculty o opposing men
strenuously without forfeftfng their
personal esteem. The reason is not
so much that he was- always right,
as that he surely believed he was
right. He never compromised with
evil or wrong or error, and he pur
sued'his aims without spite or rancor
toward anyone, and bore himself with
unfailing, cheerfulness and courage.
True, he ' has no hesitation about
criticism of individuals if it seemed to
him merited.. He found himself often
in opposition to important citizens,
and he had so high a sense of duty to
his cause, whatever it was, that he
gave no thought of any consequence
to himself. Because his ideals were
high, . and his purposes unselfish, he
retained to the last, the respect of all
opponents and the rising confidence
of a state.
The published photographs of Mr.
Carrollrare remarkably good, for they
show a smiling countenance, the re
flection of a clear, cheerful and un
dismayed soul. He had a living creed
to which he Always adhered to make
the most of life, nevei- to- worry, to
believe in himself, to trust his friends,
tclove his family, and to fear only
God. It is' easy to suppose that, in the
past few weeks, when he must have
known the last call' would soon come,
he was calm, strong and sure, for he
was fortified not only by his own
serene belief that all would be for the
best, trot by a. good conscience and
by the consolations of -his religion.
No one ever heard him complain of
personal hardships or troubles; but he
never ceased to complain about the
hard lot of others less able to buffet
the adverse tides of fortune or circum
stance. He was their friend, and they
knew it, and they relied on him. at
times to bis disadvantage; but he did
not reproach others for any conse
quence to himself or any act of his
own. or. indeed, of theirs, so long as
he believed in. them and their 'good
will and good farth.
Mr. Carroll had a long career as a
journalist in several stales of the
Middle West. and. lastly, of Oregon.
He was a thoroughly qualified re-
Dorter, editor. nubliaher. . Where he!
served others It was honorably and
well, and where Jic worked for him
self as he did as publisher and part
owner of the Evening Telegram he
pursued the same honest and disinter
ested methods, for he looked upon a
newspaper as a means of service and
not an agency of personal profit. The
Evening Telegram through him was
an excellent newspaper in all its de
partments. His experience, honesty,
candor, optimism and personality were
among its chief assets.
It is trite to say that Mr. Carroll
will be missed;. yet that is exactly so.
He will, indeed, be missed.
FUEL, FAMINE AND ITS KEMF.DV.
At every city in the United States
where electric current is generated by
steam power, the Government has
called for reduced use of electricity in
order that coal may be saved. Fewer
streetcars must be run, less electric
power and light must be used because
not enough coal is produced to keep
factories -and shipyards running at
war speed, and to keep trains running
to carry war material, and because
not enough cars are available tocarry
coal- as well as other commodities.
Portland and other Western cities
do not need to curtail their use of
electricity, because it is generated by
waterpower and therefore does not
involve consumption of coal or employ
freight cars. But millions of water
horsepower are going to waste which
might be used with the same benefi
cial effect in other cities and on rail
roads. Every wheel in tle West from
the eastern foothills of the Rocky
Mountains to the Pacific Coast and
many in the South might be turned
by waterpower. It is here, simply
waiting to- be used.
Millions of horsepower have gone
and are going to waste, but, unlike
coal, which, once used, is gone for
ever, . waterpower continually repro
duces Itself. When applied to gener
ation of electricity, waterpower em
ploys few men and few railroad cars,
while a million men are engaged in
mining coal, many more are engaged
in running coal trains, and 3 5 per
cent of rail freight tonnage is coal.
Congress is responsible for this
waste, for it has refused to open
waterpower to development on any
terms except those which are dictated
by a little knot of doctrinaires. The
remedy for the fuel shortage is self
evident. It is to pass laws which will
permit development of waterpower
on terms which are just both to the
power industry and. to tlia public et the
Nation and states. Such terms are
provided in the Shields and Walsh
bills, now before Congress.
N one- act of Congress- could. d
more to speed up Industry for the gi
gantic task of war than the passage of
these bills.
ROW KECKLKXS!
After straining for several months
the Massachusetts constitutional con
vention has succeeded in swallowing
a gnat. The initiative and referendum
amendment finally adopted looks small
and pitifully weat beside the Oregon
system.
The: Massachusetts' plan requires
25,000 signatures to start a constitu
tional amendment on its way. The
amendment must be approved by not
less- than, one-quarter of alL the
members of both branches of two
legislative sessions before it " can be
submitted to the people. The Legis
lature may then' submit along- with it
competing, conflicting or alternative
measures and thereby, befuddle and
split the majority if the majority hap
pens to be favorable to the principle
involved.
In the election an amendment must
obtain at least SO per cent of the total
vote and the affirmative majority of
those voting thereon.
And Massachusetts thinks it has
played the dickens. The conservative
old state remmds us of a Sunday
school teacher on a nut sundae jag.
CKXt Rrj.VS COME HOIK TO ROOST.
There is an echo of the Leo Frank
case in the refusal of Governor McCall,
of Massachusetts, to permit the extra
dition of a negro to West Virginia, as
requested by the Governor of the latter
state. The defendant was accused of
the? crime commonly believed to be
the most productive of lynchings. but
there entered into the Massachusetts
Governor's' refusal a grave doubt as
to the prisoner's- guilt, and also a
rumored threat by the representative
of West Virginia tMat if the negro
made opposition to his return he was
"liable to have his neck stretched."
These circumstances. Governor McCall
says, "certainly imposed upon us a
new responsibility for careful and
vigilant investigation."
But not the least interesting phase
of the matter, from the lawyer's point
of view, is Governor McCall's asser
tion that refusal to grant a requisition
is no new thing, nor does it constitute
any affront to a state. He declares
that precedents exist in great numbers
and that Massachusetts, which has
had its own requisitions refused, wel
comes criticism by the authorities of
other states as tending to improve the
quality of its jurisprudence. And then
he reaches the heart of the situation
by saying:,. - .
Contempt for the law does net concern the
black race alone, but it profoundry affects
all our people. It has shown itself in one
state, with great ferocity against the Jews;
in another state against the Itallana: In an
other against the Chinese; In still another
against thoae who come from Japan; and
there is no important racer In our popula
tion, whose membera have not been made
the victims, ot Us vengeance.
West Virginia stands in a peculiar
position, so far as its social conditions
may be influenced by its geography.
It is at the gateway between the
North and the South, preserving the
tradition of the South which pre
serves the death penalty for the par
ticular crime with which the negro
in this case was charged, and also, as
Governor McCall points out, ft is on
the dividing line between East and
West. But in the instance in point, it
is reaping the whirlwind sowed by a
neighboring state in the South. Sus-,
picion of lawlessness is contagious,
just as lawlessness itself is contagious.
Not only Georgia, but West Virginia
and other states must re-establish
themselves, it would seem, before the
appeal to comity between . the . states
will have its old force. ' .
It will not be wished that Sny gen
eral spirit of jealousy between , the
states shall be fostered by refusals of
extradition and by "reprisals" in kind.
Upon the whole, the practice of requi
sition works well and "serves the ends
of the law-abiding by aiding in 'the
punishment of criminals. But it is
clearer that the community with a
reputation for injustice is going "to
suffer its punishments, too, and that
those who urge comity must be pre
pared to guarantee justice.
The Governor of Massachusetts puts
the issue on a high plane in the con
cluding words of his letter, in which
he says that when we are nobly con
tending to make the world safe for
democracy there is opportunity also
for ua to show our spiritual fitness
"by leading the way to make America
safe for common justice." In other
words, there is a special call for us
now to be- law-abiding in a more or
less lawless world, and it is a duty not
only for the individual but for the
community. , The prime necessity for
an Inspiring example permits no ex
ception to the rule. .
COLLEGE ENROLLMENT. ' -
Opportunity is just being given to
analyze the figures of college enroll
ment for the current year, and they
are disturbing- as" showing a larger
falling off than was expected, in view
of the appeal quite generally made
by leaders in education to young, men
to fit themselves for the exacting re
quirements of the future. But there
is one ray of light in the gloom. The
decrease in the number of new stu
dents is smaller than the decrease of
all students registered.' While'.' the
colleges are furnishing a large num
ber of young men to war work, there
is evidence of at least an effort. on the
part of high school graduates to conT
tinue the plans they had originally
made.
Figures of the enrollment in sixty
colleges and universities compiled by
the Boston Transcript show that there
were last year 123,327 students, and
in the same institutions this year there
are 102,353, a decrease of 20.84. d
the Fall of 181 SI,4o9 students en
tered these same colleges, while this
year the number is 28,041, a decrease
of 3378 not so great in proportion,
but a decrease, nevertheless. But
there are nine women's colleges in
cluded in the list, and these by them
selves showed an increase in enroll
ment from 8467 to 8621. This means
that, considering only the men's col
leges and the coeducational institu
tions, there is a drop of 20 rather
than 18 per cent, and that,' counting
only the strictly men's colleges and
the men's departments in the others,
the drop Is 25 per cent. . One in every
four college men is In some way or
another in the service of his. country.
The contrast between the situation
of boy and girl students Is pointed out
as showing that the change is not due
to economic causes, but is the direct
outcome of the war. Experience has
indicated that when "hard times" in
tervened to recast the family plans, it
was the boy who received iiis educa
tion at all costs, and the girls' schools
would be first to be affected. The
feeling has been general - that, al-
though, higher education may be de
sirable for the girl, lack of it will
not so seriously affect her career. But
there is in. the present figures no indi
cation that these considerations have
prevailed. Money for education has
not been lacking. The call of patriot
ism has been paramount.
There is another side to the ques
tion, bowever. There, is. widespread
testimony" to more serious purpose
prevailing in student bodies every
where. If is worth while to note that
disciplinary measures are not giving
college authorities much concern this
year. Even the minor forms of hazing
are going oat of vogue. Students who
remain know more nearly what they
have come to school to do. Class at
tendance is higher and there is closer
application, to studies. It is wholly
conceivable that this may result in
a net gain, for education as a whole.
It has been a problem with profes
sors in the past to induce their stu
dents to take their work, seriously in
the precious years of youth. If this
has been accomplished, the loss of 25
per cent or so in enrollment will have
its compensations.
The right of publication existing in
the ownership of priVate correspond
ence will come ug for discussion anew
with the revival of a rumor that a
budget of letters written by James
Whitcomb Riley, which has fallen into
the hands of a collector, will soon be
printed by him "for private circula
tion only." The question will naturally
be raised how far the limitation of
circulation, takes the edge from the
still obvious fact of the "betrayal of
inmost secrets, for the letters In ques
tion were written by Riley to a school
teacher to whom he was engaged to be
married. They cover a period of eight
years, from 1877 to 188 5. The ro
mance met an untimely end, and the
poet is said to have asked the young
woman to return the letters, a request
with which she did not comply. Her
claim to sympathy' may seem to be
clouded by her refusal thus to ob
serve what may be assumed to have
been a very proper custom in the case
of a woman who. did not contemplate
a breach of promise action, but it is
possible that the same reasons which
impelled him to seek, to recover them
would govern him now in wishing
their suppression if he were alive.
The Department of Agriculture, In
pointing out that the loss from hog
cholera last year was sufficient to have
supplied a million soldiers with meat
for . five and a. half months, speaks
with the authority of experience in
saying that much of this loss was un
necessary. Field experiments made
during 1315 showed that serum has
a pronounced effect, and systematic
eradication work conducted in sixteen
counties in nearly as many states
showed that whereas 178 Jn 1000 -died
in 1912 and 169 in 1913, only 49 died
in 1915, or only 62,690 in all -these
counties in the latter year, as com
pared with more than 200,000 pre
viously. The department having shown
the way, it is now' the duty of growers
to co-operate cheerfully In every pos
sible measure, including local quaran
tine., which will advance the interests
of this highly important " department
of food conservation. It will take
many years to stamp out the plague,
but meanwhile it should not be per
mitted to gain a new foothold in the
country.
The last of the German colonies be
ing conquered, British and Belgian
troops can now be concentrated in the
main field of operations. It has been
a long war in German East Africa,
but the worst enemies have been
dense brush, insects, heat and disease.
Every man likes to have his wife
have some religion. Secretly he is
proud of the fact. Sometimes, per
haps, some wives have too much to
suit husbands, but it is a poor speci
men who objects. He is of little re
source. A grower who sold some apples to
a retailer -at 75 cents a box because
he did. not consider them of the first
class. . dropped in an hour later and
saw his apples marked "H.50." Some
storekeepers are regular profiteers.
There are meritorious suggestions
In the recommendations by the Mult
nomah budget committee. Many tax
payers are making the old things do
for anpiher year and hope the county
can do as well.
The suggestion- from Pittsburg to
shut down all manufacturing plants
from December 22 until January 7
needs an additional suggestion-1 to
shut down eating during the period.
The bread price will drop "next
week, and while the saving Is slight
on each purchase, it amounts to some
thing in a year, which is the way to
figure on all expenses.
The experience of a Portland man
who was robbed of much money while
drunk in Clackamas County Sunday
may teach him to obfuscate nearer
home, next time.
Those shipyard workers who insist
on meat on Tuesday will be helped
by -eating fish if they but know it.
They need brains mixed with their
brawn. .
Not many know It, but more are
learning that cottage cheese is an ex
cellent side dish. It carries the pro
tein needed -for "ginger" in the day's
work.
German raiders will have to learn
some new tricks in order to trap
American ships. Fake fires are "old
stuff."
The new republic in the Crimea gets
in in time to participate in general
reorganization of the m.-yj by and by.
The difficulty in convicting a boot
legger lies in getting a jury wholly of
prohibitionists, which cannot be done.
This city just now needs a land
scape arcnitect as mucn as a cow
needs help to get her horns on straight.
Silver helped save the Union In the
'60s, and may do the same again.
It is a cold day when Russia does
not slough off a new republic.
Perhaps Judge Mackintosh can keep
Seattle out of the wet. -
War with Austria lets us into Italy,
where we are needed. '
No Rose Festival next year? Well,
perhaps and possibly.
Crackers must follow bread in price
reduction.
The Peripterous.
Perl ptr roup A Structure. Having Rows
of Cola-hns All Sides Dictionary
(Synopsis ot preceding; synapses. )
The Oregonian. a great morning news
paper, employs a distinguished literary archl
teet to construct a perlpteroua.
Ha doee It. It haa rows ot columns on
east. west, north and Booth.
Tha Perlpteroua becomes a 7ree Audito
rium for the expression ot Incompetent. Ir
relevant and Immaterial opinions, news,
verse and anecdotes.
The Perlpteroua dlacovers seven wonders
of Oregon.
A Department of Science Investigation la
eatabllahed and solves) the Great UM Rack
and other Xaacinatlng problems.
Kxcltlngr Pure alt ( Tax Dodgers.
Senator Gluten's proposal to correct
an important oversight in the war tax
on amusements and to enlist the sup
port of a patriotic public in behalf of
an amendment ts attracting widespread
attention.
Senator Gluten says that he has ob
served, as perhaps all other persons
have, that some men do not find their
greatest amusement in phonographs,
piano players, theaters, moving picture
houses, golf, checkers, chess, oaseball.
card-playing, or other accepted indoor
and outdoor sports, all of which are
taxed, but in running for office.
This amusement, continues the great
Senator, seems in turn to afford amuse
ment for a considerable minority of
the people who vote for perennial can
didates apparently for no other cause
than the fun there is in it.
Senator Oluten proposes a stiff war
tax on all perennial candidates and
their followers.
Ex-Representative Heehawterv. the
well-known candidate for re-election,
observes that conditions are still des
perate. He has read the proposal of
Senator Gluten and believes the re
marks of the Senator are directed sDe-
cifically at him.
Mr. Heehawterv asserts that the noli-
cies advocated by Senator Gluten are
so amusing that all who read them
ought to pay an amusement tax.
Seriously speaking, continues Mr.
Heehawtery, the only amusement devo
tees who have escaped the war tax are
the habitual patrons of the newspaper
comics. Inasmuch as dolls and toys are
taxed, argues our most vigorous per
rennial, thus affecting the little chil
dren of the land, and also inasmuch aa
even the amusement found in chewing
gum pays tribute to the Government,
why not make the persons who guff
haw over the comics do their bit? '
"Father of Four" writes to say that
he has just completed the fourth read
ing of the Sunday comic supplements
in response to vigorous and insistent
demands. He thinks the readers of the
comics are taxed enough already.
The End of a Hoover Day.
I have come to the end of a meatless day,
'And peacefully lying In bed.
My thoughts revert in a musing way
To the food which today I've been fed.
When 1 think of the cheese and the beans
and the fish
And oystera I've had to eat.
I've no regrets for the "good old daya"
I really didn't miss the meat!
I have come to the end of a wrteatless day,
I have eaten no cooklea or pie,
I have had no bread that was made with
wheat; ,r
It was made out of corn or rye:
And I liked It so well, that when war la past
And a glorious victory won. .
I'll keep on observing "wheatless days.
And I'll eat corn pone" for fun!
Ocanto (Wia.) Knterprise.
Attention! Humane Society.
I took a counts at cooking school
Not many years ago.
And learned to make those dainty things
That tempt the palate so.
From soup to nuts. I learned It all
Except .economizing:
Farewell, eh. cakes, deaserta and pics.
We now are llooverlxlugi
Oh. sweet cream pie! you were our foe.
For gaatronomic reason;
But still, 'tis true, we long for you
Both in and out of 'season!
Oh. salads and desserts of ' old.
Te mixtures that delighted.
Today if we Indulge in thee
By Hoover we're indicted! '
So now I open cupboard door
With sad and doubting glance.
And smile with glee If aught there bo
To "make" a dish, by chanc:
1 mix and atlr, and whisk and whir.
And uae up thi and that.
And when lta done 1 dish up some
And try It on the est!
URACE F- HAUL.
The Charare of the County Kara.
WHOOPLA. Or.. rec. 1. (To th Per
ipterous.) The articles by the editors
of The Oregonian and the New York
Post, summing up the Eaton incident,
are fine. However, they omit the real
culmination of the affair, his Fair-mount
Church meeting. That feature demands
heroic verse. Hence these lines:
AT KA1RMOINT CHIRCU.
A War-Time Ballad.
The year was nlueteen-aeventeen.
November was the month.
Old Time, who's always humpln'.
Had reached the twenty-oneth,
It Is the Falrmount Church
Whereto the neighbors haate.
Some people blame their motives.
I only blame their taste.
For Katon had explained.
Explained it all at first.
And then five times explained.
Kach explanation waa the worst.
And row we're on West Ninth.
The scene has changed a hit.
Chamber of Commerce seethes!
Ten membera in a tit:
What atroke their reason cleft
And brought this wracking patnl
It was the fear, the awful far
That Katon would again explain!!
O stricken, stricken Ten!
There on the floor they lie!
Some for the doctor cail.
But the steward winks his eye. ,
And to the phone he goes:
-Ho. central! Twenty-six!
Ah. Parker, hither, quick!
.The Chamber' a in a tlx!"
The Sheriff la a kindly man,
Aa any one may see.
And though no Greek he knows.
He's up politically.
He looked upon the wretched Ten.
Their grief unnerved hiin quite.
But to his aid the old line came.
"Curfew shall not ring tonight!
Straight to the phone he strode.
The Ten their moaning quit.
And on each face was that
Which seemed to tay. -We're It!"
"Ho. Elk Ins. ho!" the Sheriff cried.
"The county Ford prepare!
. And make the old thing hum.
Your motto. Get there! Get there!' "
I've read of Gilpln-s ride.
And that of Paul Revere.
For old-time runs they're good.
But wholly out-classed here.
Down Pearl and out Thirteenth
The maddened Ford ker-chugged.
Sometimes mid-street It went,
Sometimes the curbing hugged.
And to It clung the wretched Ten,
but quiet now and calm of face.
And all because thuy knew
That their loved trend waa safe.
The Campus now la passed!
They may not note Its desolation.
Nor that sad studueit cry,
"L.ost, lost, my art appreclaUon!"
The meeting hour dms come!
The town clock aounda for eight!
The Ten they bat no eye
For oft Is Eaton late:
-And now the church la reached 1
The neighbors throng the door.
But when good Eaton comes.
Stout Elklna holds the floor!
We know what Sherman said.
And Eaton knows It well!
He's bursting with that speech.
Ah, yes. It must be hell!
E. -S. ENTHUSED. DEAN,
Department of Camouflage.
DO DRAFT REGrTLATIOXS Pl'Z
ZLE VOlit
In a desire to be of assistance
to men of selective draft age and
to promote the smooth working
of registration and classification.
The Oregonian has equipped itself
to answer questions concerning
the new regulations.
The Oregonian will make a spe
cial effort to print promptly re
plies to any questions submitted,
but it cannot undertake to send
replies by mail.
Any person wishing to have
some points elucidated Is invited
to present the question to T,he
Oregonian. It is especially urged
that the -name and address of the
correspondent be enclosed with
question, but such name and ad
dress will not be published when
the answer is printed if the cor
respondent expresses that prefer
ence. The reasons for requesting
names are that an evidence ot"
rood faith Is desirable and that
sometimes questions must be re
turned to the writers to have
them more clearly expressed.
The Oregonian will also print
answers to inquiries concerning
soldiers' insurance, compensation
for soldiers' death or disability,
and family allotments.
WAIVER OF" DEFERRED CLASS
Registrant Not In Current Quota May
Enter Service on Own Request.
EUGENE. Or.. Dec. 3. (To the Edi
tor.) 1) Does the new arrangement
mean that no one can enlist In any
service? after December 15 or just those
who are drafted in the next draft?
(2) I am now preparing myself as a
draftsman at the university for Gov
ernment service. Will the rule have
any bearing on my getting a place?
(3) Can you let me know even ap
proximately when 'the draft after De
cember 15 will come and if the Decem
ber 15 draft will Include married men?
(4) What class will I be in with a
dependent wife in good health but
without special commercial training?
H. E. J.
(1) A registrant whose order num
ber is so low that he is not in the cur
rent local quota may be Inducted im
mediately into the National Army on
his own written request and by filing
waivers of deferred classification. If
his class and order number are not in
the current local quota he can enlist in
the Navy or Marine Corps.
(2) The question is not clear. So long
as you are not called into service you
can pursue your studies and obtain a
position. Necessary employes of the
United States go into class III. Your
qualifications as draftsman might
casoe your assignment to some special
military duty if you were in the draft
tall.
(3) There is no draft announced for
December 15. The approximate date of
the next draft is said to be February
15. Whether married men will be taken
will rest upon the dependency of their
families.
(4) Class IV.
Status of Shipyard Employe.
PORTLAND, Dec. 4. (To the Ed
itor.) I was examined and certified ir
another state, an alternate- in the last
quota of the first draft, but was not
taken. I am now employed in a ship
yard. Can I be exempted?
B. H. MOORE.
If you are employed in the building
or fitting of ships under the supervi
sion of the Emergency Fleet Corpora
tion a request by the principal repre
sentative of the Emergency Fleet Cor
poration in your shipyard will put you
in a special class and you will not be
regarded as available for military
service so long as you remain In such
class. Without such a request your
employment- will not be regarded as
ground for deferred classification.
If the yard In which you are work
ing is not engaged In Government work
you might claim deferred classifica
tion on the ground that you sre a nec
essary laborer in a necessary industrial
enterprise. If the claim is allowed you
would go Into class II.
Enlistment After December IS.
PORTLAND. Dec. 4. (To the Ed
itor.) Will It -e impossible for a man
of draft age to enlist after Decem
ber 15? A SUBSCRIBER.
Voluntary enlistments will be per
mitted after December 15 only In the
Navy and Marine Corps and then only
If a registrant's class "and order number
are not within the current local quota.
Specially qualified registrants may vol
unteer for the medical department. A
registrant hose order number is so
low that he is not within the current
quota of his local board may be imme
diately Inducted Into the National
Army on his own written request and
by waiving claims of deferred classifi
cation. Enlistment After Reject ten.
THE DALLES. Or.. Dec. 3. (To the
Editor.) Plsase advise whether or not
a man who was sent to Camp I.e wis
and discharged on account of physical
disability can apply for enristment in
Navy or aviation before December 15.
A SUBSCRIBER.
We know of no rule that prohibits
his making the effort to enlist, but, of
course, cannot say whether he would
be accepted. Physical requirements for
enlistment in the aviation corps are
very rigid.
Draft of Austrian.
SALEM. Or., Dec. 3. (To the Editor.)
Kindly inform me if a man. having
first papers but born in Austria and not
beinsr quite five years here, is subject
to draft. J. KNAPP.
At the present moment he can be
drafted. If the United States declares
war on Austria, as recommended by
the President, he cannot be drafted
thereafter.
Titan 31 Since June
PC .TLAND. Dec 4. (To the Ed
itor.) Is a person who registered June
5, but becomes 31 years of age before
the questions are mailed to him subject
to draft? SUBSCRIBER.
He is.
' 1 v 1 1 Service Examinations.
INDEPENDENCE. Or.. Dec. 3. (To
the Editor.) Kindly tell me where and
when the next civil service examination
will be held in Oregon. Also, who can I
write to for full information?
SUBSCRIBER.
Write to M. K. Wigton, Civil Service
Clerk. Postoffice building, Portland,
stating the kind of -work in which you
have had training.
Americana Not Molewted.
Exchange.
Since the United States entered the
war against Oermany 470 of the 1200
Americans who were living in that
country March 1 have left, either for
home or for neutral countries. More
than half of those remaining live in
Berlin. It Is said that Americans are
not molested by German officials, be
ing subjected to no more restrictions
than neutrals.
In Other Days.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregonian of December 5. 1867.
London. A dispatch from Sligo. Ire
land, announces the capture of the no
torious Fenian. General Nagle.
London. All the cabmen have struck
on account of the obnoxious regulations
requiring them to attach lamps to their
vehicles.
" All the Union papers In California
support General Grant for the Presi
dency. "A Grand Cock-Flghf such was the
prominent heading of posters about
town yesterday, which stated the re
fined entertainment would take place
at a saloon on the corner of Front and
Stark streets last evening. We uid not
attend the "grand" inauguration of the
sporting season.
London. Dispatches from India re
port disaster from cyclones In Bombay
and vicinity. Crops were destroyed and
great damage done to shipping.
Twenty-five Years Age.
From The Oregonian of December 5. 1892.
New York. The funeral of Jay Gould
will take place at 4 o'clock this after
noon. It will be as quiet as possible
and so in line with Mr. Gould's unos
tentatious preferences.
Vienna. A dispatch from Turin says
that Louis Kossuth is dying.
Work Is going ahead on the concrete
foundations for the new union passen
ger depot. Some of the walls are up
five feet.
Miss Julia Marlowe will be seen In
repertoire at the Marquam Grand, com
mencing tonight. She will be here for
four performances, all from the pen of
Shakespeare.
The condition of Union avenue, on
which most of the business of East
Portland is done, has stimulated some
enterprising citizens to get it paved
with asphalt from East Oak street to
Sullivan's Gulch. The work of circu
lating a petition will be started today.
Memorial day of the Elks was ob
served yesterday by Portland Lodge No.
142 with appropriate ceremonies.
PRICE CONTROL STOPS TOO SOOS
Farmer Can Sell HM Wheat Only at
Ieis Than He Must Pny for Corn.
NEWBERG, Or.. Dec. 3. To the Edi
tor. Why has Mr. Hoover not fixed
the price on corn, rye. oats and barley?
It seems to the onlooker that failing
to do so has, to a large extent, neu
tralized the result aimed at in fixing
the price on wheat.
Of. course, we all take our hats off
to and admire Mr. Hoover for the great
work he did in Belgium and what he is
doing here in the conservation of food.
I would not for one minute criticise or
find fault. I try my very best to obey
his mandates.
Yesterday I was in Newbersr to find
some chicken feed wheat. $3.80 per
100 pounds; corn, $4.50. but impossible
to get at that price. Last week I visit
ed a farm where the owner had 100
hogs or more and found that those hosts
were not Hooverizing one little bit, for
they were eating the finest of wheat,
and all they wanted, too. Can you
blame the man? It takes a pretty pa
triotic farmer to haul his wheat 10 to
15 miles to market to sell it for $3 or
$3.25 per 100 and buy corn at $4.50 to
take back home to feed his hogs, es
pecially when he feels that the wheat
farmer has been discriminated agalnsU
When I reached home I felt like tak
ing that card out of my front window
and consigning it to the stove, but I
did not. I am still eating corn bread
and savins: the wheat for the hogs.
I noticed in The OreKonian that oats
sold for $56 per ton. Can you blame
the wheat farmer for feeding wheat to
his horses? We have the largest corn
crop this year ever harvested in the
United States. Give it to us at reason
able prices and we can save enough
wheat to feed the allies and also have
some few millions of bushels left over
to send into Germany just as quick as
we get the Kaiser on St. Helena.
Z. L. CHAMBERLAIN.
CHIVALRY OF MIDDLE AGES GOM3
Practices on One of Wor Fronts fin
Rack to Dimmer Antiquity.
PORTLAND, Dec. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) We are told that "Righteousness
exalteth a nation, but sin is a reproach
to any people." Can any nation claim
ing to be thus enlightened assume an
attitude directly opposite in time of
war?
Contrasting as we do. this 20th cen
tury, with that of the Middle Arcs, it
might be supposed that the civilized
world had advanced somewhat. Un
doubtedly it has along many lines, but
where is our chivalry, our knighthood?
If we find the spirit of it in certain
nations and individuals, why not
among all claiming to be leaders in
enlightenment and culture?
The knight of old was required to
take a vow to "defend the faith: to
protect the weak, and to honor woman
kind." To fail in courage meant not
to be truo to some ono of these re
quirements. If guilty, he was dis
graced, put on a litter, and the burial
service read over him; for further uso
in his profession, he was considered
practically dead. Is it not inconceivable,
unthinkable, that the knights of old
could have placed innocent women and
children in their front lines. as
"shields" from the enemy, or for other
purposes afterwards, or in order that
they might be killed, or that the enemy
iniKlit thus become demoralized and
unnerved?
This disgraceful act is said to be go
ing on now on one of the battle fronts.
Where is the chivalry of the N'aureno
exemplified, after these nineteen hun
dred years? LOUIS G. DRAKE.
Thankful, Thousrh Son Is In Army.
CLATSKANIE. Or., Dec. S. (To the
Editor.) One little editorial paragraph
1 1. The Oregonian, November 30. goes
to show that even some editors have a
heart.
You referred to the home that has an
absent son. and the bravery shown in
trying to be cheerful.
When an old couple gets along sev
eral milestones beyond 60, as we are,
there is perhaps not much bravery
left, but our Thanksgiving did not hear
any regrets, either expressed or In
thought; no, our baby son responded
to the call and we hope he will do his
best.
You often refer to a service flag,
kindly let us kno.w through The Ore
gonian where to get them.
This is Just a personal word from an
old Portland man who is doing his
"bit" down here making cheese.
R. ROBINSON.
Portland department stores carry
service flags.
Water Barrel Wonder.
Pathfinder.
Perhaps the most notable specimen of
elf-watering plants is the so-called
"water barrel," which, of about the sise
and shape of an ordinary beer keg. is.
in fact, nothing more nor less than a.
living water tank. Its whole Interior
is composed of storage cells so admir
ably arranged that the pulp which they
form contains something like 96 per
cent of pure water.
Address of Colonel Dlsque.
AURORA Or., Dec. 3. (To the EdU
tor.) Please State the address of Colo
nel Disque. HOME GUARD.
Colonel Brlce P. Disque, Yeon b'-Ud
Ing, Portland. Or.