8
TIIE MORNING OEEGONLVX, FRIDAY, DFCEJIBER 28, 1917.
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PORTLAND, FRIDAY, DEC ZB, 1917.
THE PRESIDENT'S RAILROAD POLICY.
By a Btroke of the pen President
Wilson has taken possession, on be
half of the Government, of all the
railroads of the United States prop
erty valued at twenty billions of dol
lars. That fact tells how tremendous
are the war powers of the Govern
ment It expresses the determination
of the President to stop at nothing
which will .contribute to our success
In war. The ready acquiescence of
the railroad presidents In his action
expresses like determination. They
are moved by the same spirit which
moves all the rest of the people. The
American people are united for vic
tory and are ready, to devote all that
they are and all that they have to
that end.
Hope had been entertained to the
last that the President might find
some way out of the dilemma short
of . Government operation, but the
gravity of the crisis and the urgency
of escape from it left no alternative.
The railroads have done the utmost
possible under private operation sub
ject to many legal restrictions. By
voluntary co-operation under their
War Board they have added 25 per
cent to the great flood of traffic
which already prevailed when Con
gress declared war. But laws which
never contemplated war with the
greatest military power In the world
prevented many measures which
would bring about a degree of effi
ciency possible only under unified
control. Borne lines have suffered
serious loss by patriotically making
voluntary concessions which necessity
requires from all. Unified control is
possible only In one or two ways
by laws suspending the anti-pooling
and anti-trust laws and requiring
operation as a unit and guaranteeing
each road against loss, or by oper
ating in the name of the Government.
The President has chosen the lat
ter alternative for reasons which are
not far to seek. Much time would
have been consumed by Congress in
debating the laws needed to make the
former method successful, and that
body might have hedged the laws
about with hampering restrictions.
Time is too precious thus to be wasted,
for it fights on the side of the enemy.
Action must be taken to relieve the
railroad blockade now, not after Con
gress has finished talking. War
emergency demands the most abso
lute power over every department of
railroad management, and the preju
dices and theories of Congress might
limit that power. By Government
operation under his war powers the
President sweeps away all these dif
ficulties. The laws enacted to regu
late private operation are automatical
ly suspended, except so far as he
chooses to continue them, and he Is
free to make such financial arrange
ments as he deems wise.
But the President does not actually
take the management of the railroads'
out of the hands of their owners. He
elmply places Secretary McAdoo over
them to direct them to pursue certain
policies, which are inconsistent with
their separate, private Interests under
a competitve system, but which are
necessary to their highest efficiency
for war emergencies. To this end he
may compel a road to hand over its
most profitable traffic to a competi
tor, and the motive for objection is
removed by the guaranty of earnings
equal to the average of three years
ending last June. Great economy may
result from requiring that coal shall
not be hauled from West Virginia to
Northern Ohio, when that section can
be supplied from near-by mines. Ex.
port traffic may be diverted to the
South Atlantic and Gulf ports, to the
relief of the congested North Atlan
tic ports. Transportation of luxuries
can be absolutely forbidden and
labor and capital can be indirectly
diverted to necessary Industries. Cars
can be distributed to any road where
they are most needed without regard
to the separate interest of their own
ers. The Government may escape the
necessity of paving out money under
its guaranty of earnings either by the
economy thus effected, or by an ad
vance in rates or by using the sur
plus over guaranteed earnings of
some roads to make good the deficits
f other roads.
The position of the roads financially
will be materially strengthened by
this arrangement, for the credit of
the United States is placed behind
their securities. Many improvements
are urgently needed, and the Govern
ment will help the roads to raise the
money and will see that they earn
enough to pay interest. The princi
pal difficulty will be in buying the
material and employing the labor re
quired for Improvements, but ways
will be found to overcome them, for
railroads are now an implement of
war.
The plan adopted by the President
Is practically that by which the Brit
ltah government has operated the
railroads since the outbreak of the
war. It had been so perfected by
that country in advance of hostilities
that the movement of the first expe
dition to Belgium was a marvel of
speed and noiseless efficiency. When
In full operation here it should give
good results. No more should be
heard of car shortage or freight
blockades.
This solution of the railroad prob
lem should bring home to many peo
pie, especially in Congress, the fact
that autocratic power is necessary to
successful prosecution of war and
that such power is vested in the Pres.
ldent. Those persons who protest
that it is undemocratic are blind to
the fact that it is derived from the
people, is limited to the period of
war and that failure to exercise It
would probably bring defeat, and,
with It, destruction of democracy in
this as in other countries. War de
mands that a whole nation be welded
into a club in the hands of one man
for destruction of the enemy. If
through mistaken regard for democ
racy we should refuse to comply with
this demand, democracy would be de
stroyed by its overzealous friends. Mr.
Wilson has shown by his handling of
the railroad question that he realizes
this truth, and he encourages us to
hope that he will deal as vigorously
with the other problems which have
arisen. The Nation will support him
in any action that helps to win the
war, for that is now the one and only
aim.
A DEMOCRACY AT WAR.
President Wilson by his fiat takes
over management and operation of all
the railroads of the United States, des
ignates a controller-general, and calls
upon Congress to affirm his act by
offering certain financial and other
guarantees to the corporations. It is
an act of unparalleled significance and
importance.
It means that a great democracy
has been literally converted, with its
full consent, into a military autocracy,
with a dictator in command.
It means that the republic has be
come a mighty army, a whole nation
at war, and that every citizen is a
soldier, subject to the Immediate au
thority of the commander-in-chief.
It means that "all the resources
of the country," once pledged by the
President to the cause of the allies
in the war, was no Idle promise or
boast.
It means that civil rights, immuni
ties, privileges and obligations are
subordinated to the supreme rule of
military necessity.
It means that the war is the direct
duty and the personal business of
every citizen.
It means war to the knife, and knife
to the hilt, with the Kaiser and his
generals, accomplices, minions, spies,
creatures and hirelings. j
If there has ever been ground for
the complaint that America doesn't
realize, because it refuses to realize,
that it is in the war the greatest
of all wars there Is none now. Amer
ica knows it full well.
The right way, the only way, to
make war successfully is to adopt the
approved methods and instrumentali
ties of scientific and effective warfare.
OOD AMERICANS.
The distinguished educator from
Minnesota, here to attend the meet
ings of the State Teachers Associa
tion, asks the pertinent question as to
how the schools can help in time of
war" and gives the equally pertinent
answer that the pupils should be
given a "sympathetic comprehension
of what America and Americanism
e."
We suppose that Dr. Burton's chief
mission here is to give emphasis to the
duty of teachers at this time to pre
pare the minds of the young genera
tion of Americans, by instruction, il
lustration and example, for the task of
preserving the heritage of freedom,
equality and opportunity which their
fathers gave them, and which they
should pass on unimpaired to their
sons and daughters. He has a place
in the programme for several occa
sions. We hope he will have a
heart-to-heart talk with the teachers
along the lines of his interview in The
Oregonlan the other day. He Insisted
upon "joint teaching of our National
history and literature." He said:
Familiarity with the finest utterances of
Washington. Lincoln. Grant, with the states
manship of the Federalists, with the United
States Constitution, with Franklin's Auto
biography, with splendid National songs like
Whitman's "When Lilacs Last in the Door
yard Bloomed," and Lowell's "Commemora
tion Ode." with the lyrics of Whlttler and
Holmes, with Dr. Hale's "The Man Without
a Country," with Mrs. Stowe's "Uncle Tom's
Cabin," with Mr. Ward's "Battle Hymn of
the Republic." with the recent hlstorr
maklng messages of Wood row Wilson fa
miliarity, I repeat, with literature like this
and much more that has the same resonant
significance Is the way to breed Americans
who will, when the test onmes. show they
are or the strain of the men who won at
Valley Forge, at Lexington and at Appo
mattox. Well slid; let Dr. Burton say It
again, and more.
We know that the Oregon teachers
are deeply patriotic and we know
that they will respond with alacrity
and enthusiasm to any further appeal
to their patriotism. They are doing
much. But a way must be provided
to do more. They ehould be given
definite instruction to relate the
courses in their respective classrooms
to the problems of the hour. They
have been told many times that their
highest service is to make good citi
zens. They should do their best al
ways to make the boys and girls good
Americans.
STILL WEDDED TO HIS IDOLS.
One sentence in the annual report
of Secretary of War, Baker indicates
that he still persists in the error
which is responsible for the fact that,
though the United States has been at
war for nine months, it has scarcely
yet begun to fight and is In the lg
noble position of letting other nations
do nearly all the fighting. The Secre
tary says: .
The peaceful ambitions of our people had
long postponed our entrance into the con
flict; and adherence to a strict neutrality
through long months of delicate situations
delayed the beginning of active military
preparations.
It -is not true that "adherence to a
strict neutrality" required thin Nation
to delay "active military prepara
tions." Common prudence required
that when the world was on fire with
war and when one of the belligerents
was invading our rights at sea and
was plotting in our own territory, we
should put ourselves in an ample state
of defense. No one nation would
have had a right to assume that our
preparations were aimed at it and
constituted a breach of neutrality.
When Holland and Switzerland mo
bilized their armies to defend thSTr
neutrality, we would have been fully
Justified in enlarging our army for
the same purpose. If Germany had
resented our preparation, she would
have Justified It, for the assumption
that we contemplated war with her
would have carried with it the ad
mission that we had some cause and
that she contemplated an attack
Preparation for the eventuality of
war, when war is on all sides. Is not
Inconsistent with neutrality.
There is good ground for the opin
ion that our neglect to prepare was
a main cause of Germany's attack on
our rights at sea. The German Gen
eral Staff calculates closely without
considering anything but military
ends. It knew how long we would
take to tram and equip an army
strong enough to count, how many
ships we must build and how long a
time that would take. It calculated
that the submarine would have re
duced Britain to starvation and the
allied armies to Impotence before we
should be ready. If we could have
put a million men In France last
Spring, Germany would have known
it, and the calculations of the Gen
eral Staff would have been radically
changed. The pacifists tempted Ger
many too far by keeping us unpre
pared: if the demand for prepared
ness had been heeded, the temptation
would have been stronger to let us
alone.
CONGRATULATIONS.
The season of good cheer and good
will is here, and quite properly it is
a great stimulus to matrimony. The
faithful chroniclers of courthouse hap
penings tell us that the record of li
censes exceeds the June flood; and
everybody knows that June marks the
high tide of matrimonial expectancy
and fruition. June is the month of
flowers, fair - skies and pleasant
breezes: and naturally it is associated
with the honeymoon and the launch
ing of the hymeneal bark.
But if . June offers special Induce
ments to wedded bliss, or thoughts
thereof, how shall 'the grand rush of
December be explained?
It is the time of bleak days, cold
nights, heavy rains, budless trees,
muddy roads, leaky roofs, flooded
basements and constant trouble with
the elements and Christmas.
No doubt the war -is responsible
for part of it. What maiden fair is
able "to resist the appeal of the uni
form,' or the trembling thought of a
husband at the cannon's mouth? To
be sure, it, is Just as romantic to have
a lover there, but a lover gone may
be a Jover lost to another girl.
Doubtless there are entirely ' practical
considerations, too, that lead the
young soldiers and their brides to the
altar. Wherever they are, let us ap
prove, for none can frown on happi
ness or on the normal satisfactions
that come with marriage, and all can
sympathize with the forlorn plight of
lovers separated, by thousands of
miles In distance, and by years per
haps in time.
There will be" results to these mar
riages, blessed results, and tho great
object of matrimony will have been
consummated. If there Is no other
cause for gratification over the popu
lar movement to the altar at this
time, at least congratulations may be
extended to posterity.
A SURPRISE LAW.
It is probable that had the so-called
anti-picketlng ordinance been pre
sented frankly as an ordinance at
tempting to prohibit strikes it would
not have been adopted by the voters
of Portland. While, by its terms, it
prohibited conspiracies to injure
trade, business or commerce, the text
of the ordinance seemed to refer par
ticularly to picketing and boycotting
as such conspiracies. Thus it at
tained the name "anti-picketlng ordi
nance" and was quite generally ac
cepted as that and nothing more. Now
it is declared unconstitutional by the
Supreme Court because it attempts to
prohibit the right of workmen to
leaye their employment by agreement
or In a body.
After adoption of the ordinance.
The Oregonian expressed some doubt
as to its meaning concerning the right
to strike. That it did contain such
an inhibition was apparently not ac
cepted by the Portland authorities at
the time of the shipyard strike. There
was a determined effort, so long as
picketing of the yards continued, to
enforce the plain ' prohibition against
that custom, but no effort was made
to prosecute any workers for enter
ing into the strike agreement. And
while in that particular incident the
shipyard workers did not have pub
lic sympathy, still there was no gen
eral disposition indicated by the pub
lic to deny or to attempt to deny
generally the right of workers to
strike. Thus is the conclusion reached
and it is an opinion that The Ore
gonlan has heretofore expressed
that the voters did not fully under
stand the nature of the ordinance.
The earlier opinion, however, went
rather to the sweeping terms of the
ordinance. For example, it could be
construed as defining as crime an
agreement between two persons not
to- trade at a particular grocery store
so long as an unmannerly clerk was
ttiere employed. It seemed possible,!
too, under its provisions, to arrest
and prosecute a person who might be
loitering for a wholly legitimate rea
son near a place of business.
The provision which the court con
strues to be an Inhibition of strikes
is found in this definition of con
spiracy as recited by the ordinance:
A conspiracy to injure the trade business
or commerce of any person doing business
in the city of Portland is hereby defined
ss any combination of, or agreement be
tween, two or more persons: ,
(a) Not to buy from, or sell to. or have
dealings with any person or persons in the
city of Portland; .
(b) To Induce or sttempt to Induce, others
not to buy from, sell to, or have dealings
with any person or persons In the city of
Portland :
For the purpose or with the Intent to
prevent any person from employing any
person, or for the purpose or with the
intent to compel or force any person to
employ or discharge from hi employment
anyone, or to compel or force any person
to alter hi mode of carrying on hla busi
ness, or to limit or increase the number of
his employes, or their rate of wages or time
of service.
Then followed the declaration that
picketing was prima facie evidence of
participation in such a conspiracy.
The difficulty the layman encoun
tered in interpreting the ordinance
will be readily gained from the fore
going. Loosely construed it does not
prohibit striking, but prohibits boy
cotting In aid of a strike. But, strict
ly construed, a. workman in a factory
is having "dealings" with hla employer,
as to his labor. And an agreement
not to have labor dealings with a per
son is a strike'. That, it may be
assumed, is the court's construction of
the ordinance, and on that ground it is
unconstitutional.
It is interesting to recall that the
promoters of the ordinance, in reply
to those who objected to the broad
character of its provisions, contended
that a plain anti-picketlng ordinance
would be unconstitutional; that it
was necessary to go through the
process of defining trade conspiracies
in order to reach picketing, which was
the intent of the ordinance. But the
promoters signally failed to read the
mind of the Supreme Court. The
very circumlocution which they in
serted destroys the law, while it is
plainly intimated by the court that a
flat-footed anti-picketing ordinance
would not be invalid.
Whatever the strict legal construc
tion placed upon the ordinance, the
fact remains that the people intended,
and intended only, to prohibit picket
ing. The disapproval of the voters has
been expressed concerning the various
means of intimidating employers and
other employes practiced under the
name pf picketing.
A moderate, sensible ordinance
aimed at disorderly conduct attendant
upon strikes and prohibiting banner
ing of "unfair" establishments would
meet the desires of the people. It
need hardly be said that the City
Council has & plain duty to perform
If It is desirable that workmen be
protected in their right to quit em
ployment it is as equally desirable
that others, if there be such, be
assured of the right to take the places
thus vacated and without molestation.
ENEMIES AT HOME.
Coming from the same fabric as
the falsehoods concerning the Red
Cross, a new tale has recently been
circulated by alien enemies at home.
The story was that millions of yards
of Wilton carpets had been ordered
by the Government in the face of a
wool shortage in the world. Natural
ly, those who credited it were in indignant-
Sarcastic writers wanted to
know whether it was intended to car
pet the decks of vessels, or only the
offices of the bureaucrats, and so
forth.
But it transpires that the only grain
of truth in the rumor is that im
portant carpet factories have taken
large contracts for war work. The
wool committee of the Council of Na
tional Defense knows nothing of any
contracts for carpets. The largest
manufacturer of carpets in the coun
try says that his mills are working
on cotton duck for tentage for the
Army. That is all.
Currency is given to harmful ru
mors by pro-Germans, but they are
not alone to blame. The well-meaning
citizen, however loyal he may be,
who passes a ridiculous story along
without weighing it or Investigating
it is also culpable.
There is a pretty safe rule to go by.
If a story one hears is likely to have
an adverse effect upon our conduct
of the war, or to alienate the sym
pathy of the people, it probably is
untrue. In any event. It will bear
looking into. It Ehould not be circu
lated by anyone who lacks complete
assurance as to the facts.
No fact worth acting upon will
suffer by a general policy of accept
ing all such stories with reserve. It
is only required that the citizen shall
know what he is talking about when
he opens his mouth.
The depth bomb now being em
ployed in our war on submarines
seems to be the most promising
agency yet developed for their de
struction. Hudson Maxim has writ
ten to the Scientific American that a
charge of BOO pounds" of trinitrotoluol
exploded deep in the water within 125
feet of a submarine would destroy it
utterly. Employment of trinitroto
luol, therefore, robs the submarine of
a large proportion of its advantage in
presenting a small target. The depth
bomb Itself is based upon the funda
mental incompressibillty of water.
Four cubio feet of the explosive men
tioned produces at the instant of de
tonation 40,000 cubic feet of gas, and
in expanding seeks the line of least
resistance. The Interior of the sub
marine would present this line if
meanwhile the gas had hot found the
surface of the ocean. The theory was
known before the war began, but our
gunners are only now putting it Into
practice, and thereby no doubt ac
counting for a considerable measure
of the reduction in destruction of
shipping by German U-boats.
Wellesley girls are forestalling the
malady called "knitting nerves," now
said to be making inroads upon the
ranks of too assiduous knitters, by
making extensive plans to under
take food gardening at the very
first sign of Spring. The head
of the department of botany of
the college has proclaimed the doc
trine that the hoe is mightier than
the knitting needle. It isvjikely to
prove, at any rate, a pleasing inter
lude and an effective antidote for
"nerves"of any kind. The large num
ber of women, young, middle-aged
and old, who found inspiration in the
lighter work of their gardens last sea
son is likely to be increased in 1918.
Vassar girls, who were first In the
field at the outset of the home gar
den movement, made a success of
their work, and the students in sev
eral women's colleges have asked
their trustees turn college land over
to willing workers.
Americans' part In the war has
broadened their sympathies to the
point where they recognize all nations
as brothers in their Christmas giving.
Our soldiers rival the Red Cross in
feasting the hungry, homeless orphans
of France. Comfort Is carried to in
vaded Italy by the American Red
Cross, and the same noble association
is at work in Siberia, Russia, Palestine
and Armenia. The Christmas senti
ment knows no foreigners.
Younger blood, with . perhaps less
brains, at the top of the British navy
may let the men have what they want
battles to show that Britannia rules
the sea.
Rider Haggard In one of his books
had a total eclipse of the sun followed
by a moonlight night, but Luna does
not work that way outside of fiction.
What charms can weltmacht have
for German women and children, bare
foot In the snow, begging for food?
Every .one of them is surely a pacifist.
The lesson of the Halifax explosion
Is that the people should look down,
not up, when a blast wrecks a town.
There is only one region with a
state of guaranteed dryness, but the
moon does not shine down there.
Knitting nerves have taken their
place with trench feet among the new
diseases arising from the war.
The section boss in uniform with
the rank of sergeant will get the work
out of his alien hands.
Exemption boards are likely to be
come disgusted with exhibits of lack
of patriotism.
If the needed million does not sift
out, there is a good million between
80 and 40.
Watch Uncle Sam tonight with a
lantern on the crook of his elbow.
That traffic cop at Albany really is
a good shot. He hit another tire.
No more railway strikes until after
the war, and perhaps none then.
The decision is a holiday gift to
Tom McCusker, of a certainty.
Government next may take over all
the cows and standardize milk.
As the glass jars empty, get them
ready for smelt.
Make it meatless today to check up
on, Tuesday,
Crimes of the Bolsheviki
Against Democracy.
By A. J. Sack, Director Russian Infor
mation Bureau.
The word "Bolsheviki 'is & new word
for Americans. Unfortunately It is
quite an old word for us Russians. We
have known the "Bolsheviki" for the
past 14 years, and since they played
the fatal role in our revolution in 1905
the majority of the Russian people rec
ognize them as one of the most evil
forces in our political and social Ufa.
Twelve years ago the Russian peo
ple, after the unfortunate war with
Japan, made the first attack upon the
old autocratic government. There were
moments then when it seemed as if
final victory would rest with the peo
ple. Such a moment was that of Octo
ber SO, 1905, when the Czar, in a sol
emn manifesto, granted political free
dom to the people and promised that in
the future no law would be forced on
Russia without the consent of the
Duma. The other moment occurred
when the first Duma, in May, 1908, pre
sented the Czar with an address de
manding liberal reforms and the crea
tion of a responsible Cabinet. The old
government tottered then, facing the
people's representatives, and opened
parleys with the leaders of the Duma
through General Trepoff.
Lenine then, as now, was the leader
of the Bolsheviki. While the Russian
revolution of 1905 could succeed only
as a national revolution through the
unity of all Russia's progressive forces,
Lenlne, in 1905, did everything in his
power to destroy the united front of
the Russian democracy. Under his in
fluence the Socialist factions boycot
ted the elections for the first Duma,
When the Duma was convoked with the
Constitutional Democrats in control,
the Bolsheviki did everything to dis
credit the Duma as a "bourgeois" insti
tution. It must be remembered that
this was at the moment when the
Duma, in the name of the people, had
presented the Czar's government with
the demands for liberal reforms and a
responsible Cabinet. The old bureau
cracy got a great deal of comfort from
the Bolshevlki's attack on the Duma
at this critical moment, and a secret
order' was then given by the Police
Department not to interfere with the
meetings of worklngmen, at which the
"bourgeois" Duma was criticised.
Posing as extreme revolutionists, the
Bolsheviki, in 1905. destroyed the Rus
sian revolution by breaking up the
unity of the progressive forces in the
country. Trotsky, then, did not belong
formally to the Bolsheviki, but his
superficial mind had then already for
mulated the theory of a "permanent
revolution," a theory typical of a fa
natics, so concentrated on his one aim
that he cannot see anything beside It.
eve
The activities "of the Bolsheviki in
the period of the dark reaction. be
tween the first and second revolution,
were very much along these same linea
Among the most prominent leaders of
the Bolsheviki during this period was
Mr. MallnovBky, a Deputy of the third
Duma. While there was a steady en
deavor to combine all the progressive
forces of Russia in the demand for lib
eral reforms, Mallnovsky was making
one speech after another, accusing in
the name of the proletariat all the lib
eral factions in the Duma. His hate for
the "bourgeoise" was such a passion
that he found "bourgeoisie" even In the
Soclal-Democratlo faction In the Duma,
which he led. There were then 13 Social-Democratic
Deputies In the Duma,
and Mallnovsky split this little faction
in two, leading the Bolsheviki part of
it, seven in number.
The finale of this story was most
unexpected. Mr. Mallnovsky, the un
compromising leader of the proletariat,
it was later discovered, was a secret
agent of the Czar's Police Department,
and all his speeches against the "bour
geoisie had been prepared in the i De
partment of Police by the former Di
rector of the Department, Mr. Be
letzky. At the very beginning of the war
while the most prominent Russian rev
olutionary and Socialist leaders, Plech-
anov. Prince Kropatkln, Breshkov
skala and Avksentieff, Indorsed
the war, on the side of the al
lies, as a Just war for a great cause,
and urged the Russian soldiers to do
their duty bravely, even under the
guidance of the old regime. Lenlne took
an opposite view and preached In his
paper, "Social - Democrat," that Rus
sia must be defeated for the sake of
her own and the world's progress.
While Lenine was preaching the ne
cessity of Russia's defeat in Switzer
land, his friend, Leon Trotzky, was
editing a paper, "Nashe Slovo" (Our
Word), in Paris, and sitting behind the
French lines, preached that France, in
this war, was nothing worthy of fight
ing for.
These gentlemen, the evil force in
Russia's life for the past 14 years, are
now temporarily in power, and dare to
speak in the name of the country which
is so paralyzed by the misfortunes of
the last years that she cannot speak
for herself.
Nicholas Lenine and his following are
only a shadow of Nicholas Romanoff
and his regime. The tyranny re-established
in Russia by the new Nicholas
III is probably worse than the recent
tyranny of Nicholas II. While pro
claiming that they revolted against
the "tyrannic regime" of Kerensky the
Bolsheviki themselves have estab
lished a tyranny unknown even under
the Czar's government. They have
suppressed the liberal and, partially,
the Socialist press. They have arrest
ed the most prominent and respected
liberal and revolutionary leaders; they
have dissolved municipal councils in
Petrograd, Moscow, Nlsjni-Novgorod
and other cities the municipal coun
cils which were elected by the entire
population of the cities, according to
the new law of universal suffrage.
Even the Czar's government respected
the principle of parliamentary Im
munity. The Bolsheviki are free from any
kind of "sentimental prejudice." They
have adopted the German motto, "Might
Is Right." They dare to declare with
unprecedented cynicism that the Con
stituent Assembly, the realization of
the sacred hope of generations of Rue
slan revolutionists who have died for
it in prison cells, in fortresses and in
the tundras of Siberia, that the Con
stituent Assembly will be Illegal if
the majority prove to be against the
Bolsheviki. They know that the ma
jority of the Assembly will assuredly
be against them In spite of the fact
that they have used, during the elec
tlons, every means to terrorize the Rus
slan citizens and to falsify their will.
Therefore they prevent the meetings
of the Assembly by armed force, and
have already arrested such prominent
members of the Assembly as Prince
Dolgorukov, F. Kokoshkin and
Shlngarev.
Bolshevlkism was the most danger
ous disease of the Russian revolution,
the disease which brought the new
born Russian democracy almost to the
verge of ruin. There is every reason
to believe that this disease will soon
be over, and then, I am sure, the Rus
sian democracy, with the Constituent
Assembly convoked and with a stable
government, democratic, established,
will begin a new page of her life, par
ticipating as much as she can, together
with the allies, in the great struggle
for liberty avnd demoorsvcj.
GOOD BOOKS BLESSING TO MAN
Great Thinkers Have Been Great Read
ers, Says Correspondent.
UNIVERSITY PARK. Dec 87. To
the Editor.) A recent contribution to
The Oregonlan concerning the book
worm contains the truth expressed in
forcible English. That many people
stick their noses into books to an un
warrantable extent is well known. But
after all how thankful we are for the
coming into our hand of a live book
with no drowsy sentences, which book
startles our thought and remakes our
mentality! That book suggests and in
stead of making fat, it gives us sinews
of thought and action.
There is such a thing as reading a
book creatively, by being stimulated
to take even reverse positions to those
in the book, to expand the thought ex
pressed and to relate truth we dis
cover in the printed page with other
truths we have laid away for future
use. If we find ourselves using fairly
what we have read, we comfort our
selves with the reflection that truth
belongs to the common good and that
the temple of truth erecting is too great
for the abilities of any one workman.
We find in bright books garments for
our own thoughts which, being our
children, make us concerned as to how
they are dressed. Great thinkers have
been great readers and the glory of a
nation In Its libraries is undermined
by the worms which creep in. The
Sabbath is made for man and not man
for the Sabbath; so books are made for
men and not men for books.
It is sad that so many in the busy
age in which we live buy books and
put them upon library shelves or ta
bles and have no time, no disposition
to read them. Some of us used to have
difficulty in having books. If we bor
rowed them wo forgot to return them.
But now our difficulty is to read what
books we have. The act of skipping
is a fine art worth knowing and using,
that is the ability to snatch out the
heart of a book. The blood of the
world runs through its best books,
B. J. HO AD LEY.
VALUE IJT INTELLIGENT READING
Goullsa Bookworms Are Thoae Who
Pursue Unnatural Studies.
VANCOUVER, Wash.. Dec. 26. (To
the Editor.) This morning you print
a letter regarding bookworms. Its au
thor is evidently a close observer. Like
this writer, I have been an interested
observer of the effect and influence of
literature on the human physical or
ganization. I have had opportunity of
observation along these lines not only
in city libraries of the United States,
but also in those of the old world. Your
correspondent senses evil In too much
reading. To me too much reading is
reading Just enough. But I sense read
ing nonsense as an insidious evil. To
me no evil results can accrue from
reading along natural lines, but if the
matter leads us away from nature per
nicious results are Inevitable.
I have observed in libraries (espe
cially in those of the old world) patrons
whose structural anatomy resembled a
gibbet pole; their faces were patterned
after the style of an old-fashioned
coffin; their eyes as expressionless as
peeled onions afloat in a swill barrel;
hair, if any, as dry as a llmeburner's
wig; jaws protruding, teeth alienated,
hollow-chested and watery nosed in
fact an absolute reversion of progres
sive evolution. Surely if investigation
were permissible it would be found
that the rudimentary caudal appendage
was well along toward redevelopment.
Now my observation is that such as
the above described Invariably devote
their time to the study of mysticism.
Those who devote their time to
study of this and kindred subjects
which have neither root nor branch
In a natural world become denatured,
their thought is of ghosts and demons
and in time this causes their figures
and faoes to take on the resemblance
of ghouls and devils.
A BOOKWORM.
FARMER. SEEKS CHANCB TO SERVE
Unavailable for Military Duty, He
Wants Larger Tract to Cultivate.
NEWPORT, Or, Dec 23. (To the
Editor.) I was pleased to read the let
ter of Jack Munro, published last week
in The Oregonlan, and learn of the way
his wife and he take hold of the work
of the ranch after their boys have an
swered their country's call. -
Anyone familiar with farm life can
appreciate the cheerful spirit In which
they take up the added burden of mani
fold duties and everlasting chores
which are the farmer's lot. His words
are a help to us all.
I am in the draft, but owing to an
injury to one of my eyes, which de
stroyed the sight, have no hope of be
lng accepted for Uncle Sam's Army, as
the Canadian Recruiting Mission has
rejected me already. I am very anxious
to do my bit for the country where It
will be most effective, if not on the
firing line, then on the farm.
I have good farm experience and at
present am on a small rented farm
with my brother (who is married, with
two children), but it Is so small that
we feel we could considerably increase
our quota to the country's food supply
If we had the opportunity which I now
ask. We would like to rent a good
sized farm which can be worked ad
vantageously. We are not out to take
advantage of anyone unfortunately left
shorthanded owing to the draft calling
away their help, but are willing to pay
fair. rent and keep tne son up.
WILL TURBYNE,
Box 622.
. THE CRISIS.
"Tls the coming of the nations
To a common thought and aim;
'Tls the death knell of dictators,
'Tls the kindling of the flame.
Which shall sweep all o'er the world.
And the end of war proclaim.
'Tls fullflllment of the promise.
The end of the word of sin;
'Tls the doom of darkness satan;
"Tis the truth that's breaking in,
To all races revealing.
In God's world all men are kin.
Tis the brotherhood of nations,
For which the world's been longing;
Tis the advent of peace on earth;
'Tls love divine descending
To the hearts of men on earth;
The reign of love is dawning.
M. MUIR P1CKEN.
Portland,' Or.
SEND IT TODAY.
Have you any
Idea of the
world of
cheer
That can come to a lonely heart
In the message you send to an absent
friend-
Just a word that may soothe life's
smart T
Or to boys, far away in the trenches
today.
It will cheer tem and help them, too,
So send them a card with a word of
regard
'Tis the least you can possibly do.
GRACE E. HALL.
Priest Saves Nelgrhbors.
Indianapolis News.
Father Hugonard Is dead at the In
dian school. Lebret. Saskatchewan,
where he had lived since 1872. What
the white residents of Qu'Appelle Val
ley owe to Father Hugonard. during the
troublous times of 1885, few appreciate.
Single-handed he kept the Indians of
File Hills and Crooked Lakes from a
massacre. Star Blanket, one of the big
chiefs from File Hills, had come down
and entrenched his braves in the ra
vines to the north of Lebret. Father
Hugonard met the old chief, and prac
tically forced him Into submission.
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Age.
From The Oregonlan, December 29, 1882.
Washington The Interstate Com
merce Commission's order in connec
tion with the Spokane rate case, in
volving terminal rates, will not go lata
effect until February 1, a postponement
having been asked by the railroad.
The order calls for a considerable re- I
ductlon in some rates and. It is feared,
a rate war may result from too hurried
execution of the order.
One of the most disastrous fires on
the East Side was that last night at
East Morrison street and Union ave
nue. A row of - frame buildings, of
which the Barker Hotel was one, was
burned.
President-elect Cleveland is not in
accord with tho election of Murphy, of
New York, as Senator. He says: "Speak
ing frankly, it does not seem to mo
that the selection of Mr. Murphy shows
the desire or Intention of placing in
the Senate men of such type as the
party has fought for. This first use of
our power would cause much disap
pointment." Whisky has gone up In price 15 cents
a gallon in the last two weeks. The
"trust" blames the dealers and the
dealers blame the "trusts."
Professor W. Edgar Buck, of thefj
Portland College of Music, has taken"
handsome quarters In the Oregonlan '
building.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oregoian, December 28. 186T.
The English newspapers, although
they criticise us severely, are not above
taking advantage of the Rood that is in
our institutions. One of them, lately
discussing the subject of National ed
ucation, thought it would be well to
adopt the free school syBtem of the
United States as, on the whole, being
tne most Judicious, economical and ef
fective and altogether superior to that
of England.
Of the 1900 volumes of Dickens' works
in the Mercantile Library, New York,
only two remain. The natural infer
ence is that, despairing an opportunity
to see the great author, people are con
soling themselves for their disappoint
ment by rereading his works.
Paris The Senate is discussing: a b
lor the reorganization of the army.
adoption is urged on the ground that
the measure is necessary because of the
German situation and the revolutionary
aspect of affairs in Italy.
Postal Agent Qulncy A. Brooks has
returned from Boise, where he went on
an official Inspection trip.
Auction this day A. B. Richardson,
as usual, today will address his fellow
citizens from the old stand at the
corner of Front and Oak on the all-im
portant topics of the day. Sale com
mences at 10 A M. i
HOSPITALS NBED PHONOGRAPHS
Appeal Cornea From Camp Lewis for
Means to Entertain Sick Soldiers,
BASE HOSPITAL. Y. M. C. A. Camp
Lewis Headquarters, Dec. 26. (To tho
Editor.) One of the things which
would give great comfort to our boys
In the hospital wards, for which I have
a constant call, is a phonograph. We
have one in the Y. M. C. A ward, but
only the walking patients use that.
I could use 10 or 15, preferably those
easily carried. Could you call the at
tention of the good people of Portland
to this? Some may have a machine
and not care for it any longer; others
might wish to donate one or more.
The nurse and wardmaster of ward
No. asked very urgently for the loan
of our one phonograph for an hour or
two this afternoon, and there are others
who would like it at the same time.
. Do you realize that If you were to
visit each one of these wards only 10
minutes it would take more than six
hours to get around?
E. S. TOWSON, Secretary.
SANTA OVERLOOKED THEM.
BY JAMES BARTON ADAMS.
I admit that it was foolish fur two
fellers old and gray.
That had ort to had more Bavey, fur to
act in sich a way.
But when we was both a-layln' In
our blankets on the floor
Of that shaky mountain cabin talkln'
of the days of yore.
An' about the. Christmas doln's in the
merry days o' youth,
I jes" want to tell you, pardner, its
the goshamighty truth
That we got to feelin' klddlsh, me an'
old Kentucky White,
An' I reckon you'd have J'lned us if
you'd bin along that night.
Out o' doors the wind was howlin' an'
a-bankin' up the snow.
But the pine logs in the fireplace
crackled out a merry glow
As we lay there in our blankets just
as cosy as could be
Smokin' of our pipes 'an telltn' doubt
ful stories. White an' me.
It was him that sot us thlnkin" by
a-venturin' to say
That the dawn in 'of the mornln' 'd I
bring in the Christmas day.
An' it wasn't half a minute till our
thoughts had crossed the line
An' was kiekin' up remembrance of
the days of auld lang syne.
I am free to tell you, pardner, that our
hearts beat mighty fast
As we laid an" told each other Christ
mas stories of the past.
How we'd hang our little stockin's on
the ol' split-bottom chairs.
An" .then lav awake a thlnkin of ol"
Santy an" his deers.
An" we talked about the ol' folks, saJ
..... . Irtnar a ure S
An' our brothers an' our sisters an'
the folks we used to know,
An" I ain't ashamed to own it. ol' pros
pector that I am.
That our tricky eyes got leakln', sort
o' overflowed the dam
As I said afore, 'twas childish, what
you might call baby play.
Fur us grizzled ol' prospectors to act
up in sich a way.
But if you'd peeped through the
chlnkln" of the cabin that there night
You'd have seen our ol' wool stockin's
hangin' there before your sight.
While we knowed fur sure ol" Santy-
wouldn't hit our stockin' game. w
That we wouldn't ketch a present. I
kin tell you. Just tile same.
When we woke an' found 'em empty
I felt goshamighty blue.
Felt bruk up an' disap'inted, an" ol
White said he did. too.
Misuse of Brief Authority.
PORTLAND, Dec 27. (To the Ef
itor.) On the front page of The Or.
gonlan Christmas morning I notice
this:
CHICAGO, Dec. 24. The distribution of
Christmas dinner baskets by Cook County
among the poor was stopped today by Peter
Drautzberg. special deputy of the United
States secret service, when It was learned
that an order for a meatless Tuesday had
been Ignored. Each basket contained a small
roast of beef.
When I consider the fact that prac
tically every day, past and future, has
been and will be a meatless day for the
poor, no words of mine can express my
contempt for such pitiful officialdom.
I dare not attempt to say more, but
will quote from Shakespeare: "O. but
man! proud man! Dress' d In a little
brief authority, most ignorant of what
he's most assur'd. His glassy essence
like an angry ape, plays such fantastic
tricks before high heaven as make the
angels weep.". W. H. ODKI.I.