lO
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, SATURDAY, DECE3IBEIS 29, 1917.
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PORTLAND, SATURDAY, DEC. 89, 1917
GERMANY'S PEACE TERMS.
The peace terms proposed by the
Central Powers to Russia are convinc
ing: evidence that the Teutons deliber
ately ignore the war aims of the allies.
The governments of the four monar
chies certainly know why their ene
mies continue the war. although they
have.' carefully kept the truth away
from their peoples as far as possible.
They have cultivated a fiction about
the cause of the war and about their
own aims, which necessity compels
them to keep alive in the minds of
their people, and they also hope to
propagate it among enemy peoples for
the purpose of promoting disunion in
the ranks. They strive to put their
enemies in the wrong by making it
appear that they seek no conquest or
indemnity, but that the democratic
powers persist in fighting for the pur
pose of conquest and of exacting in
demnity. Foreseeing that their terms
will be rejected by tee western allies,
they hope to make that rejection the
ground for a separate peace with Rus
sia, as a result of which they would
have at their disposal the vast re
sources of that chaotic country.
The proposals of the Central Pow
ers are unacceptable because they
contemplate a treaty with undefeated
rations which by word or act, or
both, have proclaimed that treaties
are scraps of paper. Germany frank
ly adopted that doctrine by the In
vasion of Belgium and by the speech
cf Chancellor von Bethmann-Holl-weg
In announcing that fact. Austria
Hungary had already adopted the
came theory by annexing Bosnia and
Herzegovina in violation of the Ber
lin treaty. Turkey has always fol
lowed it, most recently by agreeing
to administrative reforms which have
never been made and by massacring
lier non-Turkish subjects wholesale.
Bulgaria is also guilty, for King Fer
dinand continued negotiations to join
the allies long after he had made se
cret treaties to Join the Central
Powers.
For these reasons the allies will
snake no treaty with the Central Pow
ers until the latter are so completely
defeated that they will recognize
their impotence to break treaties in
defiance of the world, or until the
governments of the Central Powers
are so radically changed that the
allies will know them to represent the
sentiments' of their peoples instead of
a small, ruling caste. In short the
allies regard the. present governments
of the autocracies as bands of crim
inals who have acquired control of
entire nations and who must be dis
armed and brought to justice as a
necessary condition of world peace.
The first clause of the German pro
posals denying the intention of "for
cible annexations of territories seized
during the war" would put in effect
the drawn game. .With Germany un
defeated, the drawn game would leave
her three allies practically annexed,
for Germany has military control of
their armies, and economic control
through war loans and commercial
union. Thus the Hamburg to the
Persian Gulf scheme would be re
alized, and the nucleus of Pan-Germany
would be an accomplished fact,
for the political independence of Ger
many's allies would be merely nomi
nal. While Germany would on the
face of things have renounced annex
ation, she would in fact have an
nexed vast territory having a popula
tion of 78.500,000. While Serbia,
Roumanla and Greece would nomi
nally regain their independence, they
would be so weakened by war and
would be so isolated that they would
pass under economic control of Ger
many and that country could com
plete their annexation at leisure.
Peace without annexation and with
Germany undefeated would be a Ger
man victory and would be a mere
truce, the duration of which would be
used in preparing for the next war to
complete the scheme of world-conquest.
Although the Central Powers de
clare that it is not their intention "to
deprive of political independence
those nations which lost it during the
war," the German terms would leave
those nations mangled, ruined and
open to that economic penetration by
which Germany reduces political in
dependence to a mere shadow. Ger
man contempt for treaties implies
that no respect would be shown even
for this shadow. By consenting to the
drawn game the allies would confess
their inability to defeat Germany, and
th'e small nations would cower before
the apostles of ruthlessness.
The most cynical of all the pro
posals is that "the question of sub
jection" to another country "of those
nationalities who have not political
independence . . . must be solved by
each government, together with its
peoples, in a manner established by
the constitution." A fine chance of in
dependence the Poles, Danes and Alsa
tians would have under the German
constitution, or the Poles, Bohemians,
Jugo-Slavs, Roumanians and Italians
under the Austro-Hungarian constitu
tion; or theeArmenians, Arabs. Greeks,
Druses and Maronites under the Turk
ish constitution; or the Serbs, Greeks
and Roumanians under the Bulgarian
constitution. That clause means that
these peoples shall not become inde
pendent, though the allies are pledged
to liberate and unite subject and di
vided peoples and though they cannot
defeat the German, plan without so
doing.
By proposing that all belligerents
"renounce not only indemnification
for war costs but also indemnifica
tion for war damases" the Central
Powers ask. that they escape scot free
for all the infamous crimes which
they have committed in Belgium,
France, Serbia, Roumania, Italy, Ar
menia and Palestine. These coun
tries are to be returned to their peo
ples in "a state of devastation and
ruin, and upon them is to be thrown
the huge burden of restoration, while
the Central Empires remain practi
cally intact, suffering no loss except
that which is the inevitable conse
quence of war. Justice demands that
the war itself be stamped as a crime
committed by Germany and her con
federates, and that every act which
they have committed in violation of
the laws of war be branded as a crime
by exaction cf full reparation. Exact
justice would require that the Central
Powers pay an indemnity equal to the
entire cost of the war to the allies,
but President Wilson has renounced
such a claim, and the allies have
assented.
The allies are ready to secure the"
rights of minorities in rearranging
frontiers on the basis of nationality,
but they would not let the despots
which avowedly crush subject nations
have a hand in the job.
When the time comes to dispose of
the German colonies, the allies will
consider the manner in which Ger
many has governed them, and will
also have regard for the wishes of
their people. They will have in mind
the massacre of the Herreros in
Southwest Africa and the barbarous
mutilation of natives in Cameroon and
German East Africa. Until those
people have progressed to the point
where they are capable of self-government,
some white nation will rule
them, but as a trustee for their own
interests, as the United States gov
erned the Philippines. The question
will then arise whether Germany
would be a fit trustee.
The allies cannot be expected to
consider the German terms, because
it would be folly to make a treaty
with an undefeated Germany, still
ruled by the criminals who commit
ted the crime of 1914, and because
the terms offered are themselves de
ceptive and because their acceptance
would accept defeat and would con
demn the world to another period of
ruinous armament.
MAKE IT INTERESTING.
Quite likely the voters of Oregon
are observing with customary fonti
tude the serious deliberations of the
Grange, Farmers Union and State
Federation of Labor heads, as to
whether to unite under the banner
of the Farmers' Non-Partisan League.
Quite likely, too, the voters' fortitude
will still be maintained if the merely
titular leaders of these organizations
in their wisdom decide to embrace
the principles of the North Dakota
organization. An 'election without a
league of some kind to present some
thing tasty in government' 1 novelties
would be an empty and unsatisfactory
affair.
It might as well be the Farmers'
Nonpartisan League as a league un
der any other name. True, that or
ganization seems to have reached the
crest of its development elsewhere and
is not in the best of patriotic odor,
but it has some novel ideas on
methods of raising money for cam
paign purposes and a league with a
sack has its advantages yes, indeed.
Of more interest than announce
ment that the three organizations have
combined under a euphonious title
will be a statement of what it is that
is desired. Is it political offices? Is
it a legislature that will pass some
law that the people would not adopt
If presented by initiative? Is it a set
of initiated bills, none of which would
carry if standing alone, but all of
which might be put over by swapping
votes?" Or what is the programme
that makes formation of a nonparti
san league seem worthy of considera
tion in a state where anybody can
start a measure on Its way to obtain a
free and open expression of public
opinion?
In any event, let's have -a league of
some sort. Without one buzzing about
the public is likely to become careless
and then no telling what kind of laws
may be adopted.
ABATING THE NARCOTIC ETTT.
The supreme necessity for supple
mentary measures to check the men
ace of narcotic addiction, which has
been met only in part by Federal and
state laws licensing the sale of these
drugs, has been brought to attention
recently by hearings held in New Tork
City by an investigating committee
of the State Legislature. Present
laws need fortification with, provi
sion for the treatment of addicts as
sick persons and not as criminals.
There must also be such an awaken
ing of public sentiment that drastic,
even harsh, penalties shall be im
posed upon those who deliberately en
gage in the illicit traffic. It has been
disclosed that fines do not deter the
class of men who trade upon the mis
fortunes of their fellows.
The New York hearing has derived
added interest from the fact that ad
dicts themselves have had an oppor
tunity to testify. These have agreed
quite generally that so-called "cures,"
based upon the principle of gradual
withdrawal of the drug, fall short of
expectations, and that a more exten
sive and more sympathetic course of
treatment is required. Such a course
is hardly possible In public hospitals
in which drug addicts are only an in
cident in the routine. The pathology
of addicts was strikingly empha
sized by the testimony. Their crav
ings were not abated by their treat
ment in prisons and detention hospi
tals. When they emerged from these
institutions they became prey of un
scrupulous vendors who awaited them
at every turn.
It has been made clear that recon
struction of narcotic victims requires
special study of individual cases, and
that it can seldom be accomplished
by routine measures such as are per
functorily carried out in large "Insti
tutions." . The psychology of the ad
dict is quite as important as his phy
sical condition. It also has been
demonstrated that complete cure is
a complex and difficult combination
of mental, -moral and physical building-up.
Withdrawal of the dangerous
drug, or the substitution of others,
and even diet and exercise, are only
part of the needed regimen. Re
awakening of interest in life and re
vival of normal ambitions are brought
about slowly in complicated cases,
and require tact and patience in high
degree.
It is desirable that public interest
in the subject should be aroused now
because the problem is one that will
require co-operation for its solution,
and because the practically unavoid
able use of narcotics on the battle
field constitutes a special peril. Wit
nesses before the New York commit
tee have testified that they began
using morphine when suffering agony
from wounds in Europe, that they
found It easy to buy narcotics in Eng
land, and that when they returned to
America they were driven by the Fed
eral anti-narcotic law and the insti
tutional treatment of the larger cities
to seek relief in forbidden channels
of the underworld. Many . of them,
however, sincerely desired to be cured,
and so far as their weakened powers
made it possible were willing to co
operate to that . end. The lesson is
that illicit traders should be extermi
nated with as little . mercy as one
would show to a den of rattlesnakes,
and that in addition special measures
should be adopted for the relief of the
sufferers themselves.
WHY SOT?
The New York World, Democratic
more nearly the National newspa
per voice of the party than any other
organ protests vehemently against
adoption by Congress of the prohibi
tion amendment and holds the South
ern Democratic representatives direct
ly accountable therefor. The article
by the World is so blunt and perti
nent, and it goes so directly to the
heart of an abuse which, has been
tolerated by all parties for so many
years, that it is reproduced elsewhere.
Emphasizing again the Democratic
origin of this protest, let us quote here
a single paragraph on another phase
of the subject:
Southern domination of the present Con
gress has not been agreeable to anybody In
the North. Democrat or Republican. Men
like Claude Kltchln have been treating the
rest of the country like a conquered prov
ince, imposing outrageous burdens of taxa
tion and giving as little as possible In re
turn. The price of wheat for the Northern
farmer Is fixed by due process of law. but
the Southern farmer la allowed to charge
for his cotton all that the traffic will bear,
and Is demanding more. Well, these chick
ens will come home to roost some day.
When the war began, and the price
of cotton took a slump, the Southern
Brigadiers in Congress got busy, and
through Secretary McAdoo, many
millions of the public moneys were
placed at disposal of the cotton
growers.
If cotton, why not wheat, or corn,
or fruit, or sheep, or cattle, or hops,
or wool, or other products of the soil
and range in the North and West?
THEIR OWN MEDICINE.
A' speaker at a dinner of the In
tercollegiate Socialist Society is re
ported as complaining that the United
States Government is "hounding the
Industrial Workers of the World from
pillar to post." He is quite indignant
over this effort to suppress anarchy,
sabotage and treason in time of Na
tional peril.
It is largely a matter of choice of
words.' "Hounding" in this instance
consists simply in suppression of such
acts as driving spikes into logs so
that they will destroy the machinery
in sawmills and perhaps kill work
men who have as much right to live
as any member of the I. W. W. It
means punishment of arson, and food
poisoning, and a hundred crimes
plotted in secret and executed by
sneaks. Of course, the I. W. W. are
not "hounding" anyone. "Direct ac
tion" and such phrases cover crime
with euphemism. But they do not
make it less criminal.
It is no time for being mealy
mouthed in. dealing with the menace
of the I. W. W. . Whether they are
"hounded" or something else, their
seditious activities must be sup
pressed. The "intercollegiate" label
on a few of their apologists is no cer
tificate of immunity.
It is a fact that no member of the
I. W. W. is in the slightest danger
who behaves with reasonable circum
spection. But if he tries to inaugu
rate a reign of terror he has no busi
ness to whine if people serve him a
diluted dose of his own medicine. And
the dose will 'be less and less diluted
as time runs on if he does not re
spond to mild treatment.
A BUDGET SYSTEM NEEDED NOW.
Second only to war legislation in
importance is establishment of a bet
ter system of making appropriations
by Congress and of controlling ex
penditures by the Qovernment. An
nual expenditures have suddenly
grown from a billion to about thirteen
billions a year, and immense sums are
being drawn from the people in di
rect taxes. Congress will soon learn
that the question of a budget system
has become a live topic of public dis
cussion, for public indifference to
Government finance will pass away
when public revenue is no long
er derived solely from indirect taxes,
which "you pay without knowing it."
But Congress has paid no serious
attention to the recommendation of
President Wilson that the House en
trust the preparation of all appropria
tion bills to one committee instead of
dividing them among eight commit
tees, each of which is out to grab all
the money it can. The only step to
ward carrying out the President's rec
ommendation is the introduction
by Senator Kenyon and Representa
tive Frear of a joint resolution creat
ing a joint executive and congres
sional commission to prepare a budget
system and report at the next session.
If this commission's plan should be
adopted, the new system could not ap
ply to expenditures prior to July 1,
1920. By that time the war will
probably be over, yet it is precisely
to regulate the vast expenditures of
the war that budget reform is urgent
ly needed. The joint commission
scheme is an admirable way to lock
the stable - door after the horse is
stolen. The House should adopt the
single appropriation committee at the
present session before it has acted on
any of the appropriation bills.
Members of the House cling devot
edly to their pork barrels as the means
of capturing votes for re-election.
They should remember that for many
years to come millions of voters will
pay direct taxes and will want to know
where their money is going. They
may lose more votes by voting for
wasteful appropriations than by get
ting Government money spent in their
districts. The time may be near when
committees of citizens will watch
Government expenditures as they now
scrutinize the annual budgets of the
City of Portland and Multnomah
County.
OUR MILLIONAIRES.
There are only two states in the
Union, according to the figures of the
Income Tax Division of the Internal
Revenue Department, which do not
possess ' one or more millionaires.
These are Alabama and Mississippi,
and the statistics are not final
as to them. According to the
theories of those who maintain
that rich men are a blight to their
communities, it would be assumed
that these states were especially
blessed. But there has been no recent
mad rush to live in them. They do
not stand out over other states as
Utopias.
It is Interesting to learn, however,
that the number of millionaires in the
United States in 1916 increased 7925
by comparison with. 1915. .Opportun
ity to accumulate a fortune is quite
widely disseminated. This is shown
not only by the statistics of the forty
six states of the Union, but also by
the returns from Alaska, the Philip
pines, Hawaii and the District of
Columbia. Thirteen states have names
in the group with fortunes of $50,
000,000 or more. The total number
of millionaires is 22,696. In 1915 it
was only 14,771.
The figures of the Department are
arrived at by capitalizing at four per
cent the incomes upon which Federal
tax is paid. ' The secrecy provided by
the law prevents the public from
learning who are the richest Amer
icans, but some shrewd guesses will
be made. John D. Rockefeller will
not be omitted from any calculations.
Many will place Henry Ford among
the leading ten. ' His is a comparative
ly new name, showing the possibil
ities for rapid advancement the coun
try still holds. Henry Clay Frlck,
Andrew Carnegie, J. P. Morgan and
George F. Baker may be others in the
same class. Two women Mrs. E. H.
Harrlman and Mrs. Russell Sage
are tentatively listed there by students
of financial affairs.
Great Britain, according to the Blue
Book of the Commissioner of Inland
Revenue for the year ended March 31,
1916, had only 5154 millionaires, or
about a quarter of the number in the
United States, but whereas there are
only ten Americans possessing $125,
000,000, in Britain there are' seventy
nine. We have nine others with $100,
000,000 or more, to Great Britain's
sixty-eight; fourteen with $75,000,000
to $100,000,000, where Britain has
forty-five; thirty-four with from $50,
000,000 to $75,000,000 to Britain's
seventy-three, and forty-two with
from $37,500,000 to $50,000,000, while
Britain has sixty-one. But below this
point, the United States leads. We
are particularly strong in newly-made
fortunes.
But rich men are finding out that
wealth has its burdens, too, as is
shown by the statement of tax collec
tions. The income tax yielded $180,
108,000 in 1916,-as compared with
only $67,943,000 In 1915. This in
crease was recorded before the law
was changed to revise the exemptions
downward. The present fiscal year is
expected to yield a further increase
over the revenue of 1916.
With ordinary grades of apples
selling for 2 5 cents a pound, gold, in
Chinese cities, as reported by our
Consul at Hongkong, there - would
seem to be wide opening for the
extension of the market for western
fruit in the Orient, as soon as trans
portation facilities have been restored
to a normal basis. The prediction
made a few years ago that China
would soon be able to supply its own
demands has not been justified by
events, and although the apple has
been grown there from remote ages,
its commercial cultivation is making
little or no progress. Fostering of
demand, however, is a complex
problem. The reputation of the
apple is now suffering from the in
roads of inferior grades and most
Chinese of the class who are able to
buy freely do not know the really
delicious apple such as that which
has made Oregon famous. It will
also be necessary to provide cold
storage facilities which are now lack
ing, both in transit and in the com
mercial centers of the country.
Major Aubert says that history
will be Germany's worst enemy, but
If the German plan had worked out
the only versions of history which
would have survived would have been
made in Germany. They would have
told of the terrible savagery with
which the barbarous Belgians fell on
the highly kultured German soldiers.
That is one of the reasons why Ger
many could not afford to lose.
An American sentry was found with
his throat cut from ear to ear, and
that is a sample of the treatment to
be expected from the cowards who
whimper "Kamerad!" when they are
captured. Part of the equipment of
the American should be a meat ax or
cleaver.
Some of the jobs put over pass
comprehension. Ip New York a cloth
shrinker is in jail because 350 bolts
of ollve-drab uniform cloth, worth
$50,000, are missing. Some shrink,
that!
Before this war is over the United
States will e known as the generous
Nation. Assurance to Switzerland of
food stuffs is a start toward acquiring
the name.
When a windshield is obscured by
rain it is time the car driver sacri
fice a little comfort by opening it and
give the pedestrian a chance for his
life.
Owning 20,000,000 acres of land,
the negroes have a stake to fight for
in this country. A share of the soil
is the best assurance of patriotism.
A complete new vocabulary 13 being
made by Tommy Atkins and the
poilus. We now await a rich contri
bution from the Sammies.
When the aero squadron at Van
couver begins practice Portland peo
ple will see something in the air.
Major Patton speaks of his "Mem
ory of the Revolutionary War," but
it is certain he doesn't "look it."
Nevertheless and notwithstanding,
there was official deficiency yester
day in rainfall of 1.06 inches.
Why not a revenue stamp on a
meal check above a certain sum and
let the wasteful pay it?
Michigan City, Ind., is so near Chi
cago it is little wonder an alien enemy
was elected Mayor.
Since all German peace proposals
are passed on by Lloyd George, no
body need worry.
Thousands of men will be seen on
the streets today minus the Red Cross
button. Why?
Government easily can increase
railway rates. Look at the 3-cent
stamp.
- Somebody must invent rainproof
hosiery if styles and showers continue.
Up in the isothermal country about
Duluth it is only 32 below.
The optimist shows his blood when
rains are heaviest.
The President was 61 yesterday and
is still some goer,
DEMOCRACY BETRAYED BY SOUTH
Democratic Newspaper Condemns 5ee
. tional Domination, of Congress.
New York World.
.Section 2 of article Xrv of the Con
stitution of the United States provides
that:
"Representatives shall be apportioned
among the several states according to
their respective numbers, counting the
whole number of persons in each state,
excluding Indians not taxed. But when
the right to vote at any election for
the choice of Electors for President
and Vice-President of the United States,
Representatives in Congress, the execu
tive and judicial officers of a state or
the members of the Legislature thereof
is denied to any of the male inhabi
tants of such state, being 21 years of
age and citizens of the United States,
or in any way abridged except for par
ticipation in rebellion or other crime,
the basis of representation shall be
reduced in the proportion which the
number -of such male citizens shall
bear to the whole number of male cit
izens 21 years of age in such state."
This provision of the Constitution,
together with the Fifteenth Amend
ment, declaring that the right of citi
zens of the United States to vote shall
not be denied or abridged on account
of "race, color or previous condition
of servitude," has been nullified since
the Hayes Administration withdrew
the Federal troops from the Southern
states.
For 40 years the right of negro citi
zens to vote in the South has been
persistently denied and the penalties
prpvided by the Constitution have
never been enforced. No. Southern state
has jever suffered a reduction in its
representation through its refusal to
permit negroes to vote, although the
provision of the Constitution is man
datory upon Congress.
This over-representation which the
South has held for more than a gener
ation it owes to the Northern Demo
crats, who have protected the Southern
states from a. punishment which Dem
ocrats in general have deemed a gross
infringement upon the sovereign right
of every state to regulate its own life
and its own affairs. But the Southern
states are now preparing to acquiesce
in such infringement ,and to nullify
the principle of local self-government
to which the Democratic party has
tenaciously adhered since the time of
Jefferson. Their Senators and Repre
sentatives in Congress have already
voted for such nullification in the res
olution submitting to the Legislatures
of the several states the prohibition
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States, and practically all of
the Southern Legislatures are expected
to ratify it.
Without the votes of the Southern
Senators and Representatives this res
olution could not have been submit
ted; without the votes of the Southern
Legislatures the amendment cannot be
adopted. Nation-wide prohibition, if it
comes, will be imposed by states which
have turned their backs as squarely
upon their ancient principles of govern
ment as the Russian Bolshevik! have
turned their backs upon the obliga
tions of democracy.
When that day arrives the South can
expect no more help from Northern
Democrats in resisting the enforce
ment of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
amendments. The cry, "No force bill! No
negro domination!" will fall upon deaf
ears. If the South is determined to
have a centralized government that
regulates the personal habits of the
American people, it must accept a cen
tralized government that regulates ne
gro franchise and all that pertains
thereto.
Before many years have passed the
inevitable swing of the political pen
dulum will bring about a Republican
Congress a Congress that Is Repub
lican both in the House and the Sen
ate. When that Congress convenes it
is certain that another attempt will be
made to reduce the representation of
the South. Southern domination of the
present Congress has not been agree
able to anybody in the North, Demo
crat or Republican. Men like Claude
Kitchln have been treating the rest of
the country like a conquered province,
imposing outrageous burdens of taxa
tion and giving as little as possible in
return. The price of wheat for the
Northern farmer is fixed by due proc
ess of law. but the Southern farmer is
allowed to charge for his cotton all
that the traffic will-bear and is de
manding more. All those chickens will
come home to roost some day.
Nobody can object to the Southern
states imposing the most drastic pro
hibitory laws upon themselves, but
when they undertake to rule New York
and Pennsylvania and Massachusetts
and say what the people of those states
may eat and drink, then the Southern
Democrats have again cut themselves
off from the body of Northern Demo
crats as effectually as they did in 1860,
when they demanded that the Northern
Democracy must abjectly surrender to
their views of the institution of human
slavery. Northern Democrats will no
sooner think of surrendering on the
issue of personal liberty than on the
issue of slavery.
If the South is determined to go
ahead with this insensate policy if
this new sectionalism of prohibition
is to be imposed upon Northern and
Eastern states by the South and West,
then the Southern Democrats will have
again taken themselves out of the
Democratic party and must abide by
the consequences, whatever these may
be.
Men at Fort Stevens Grateful.
FORT STEVENS, Or., Dec. 26. (To
the Editor.) I would like . to express
through The Oregonian the deep ap
preciation of myself, the committee
in charge of the Christmas celebra
tion and the personnel of this fort as
well of the help, generosity and assist
ance rendered us by the Y. W. C. A.,
Red Cross, the Ladies' Guild of Trinity
Church, the ladles of the Catholic
church and the other citizens of Port
land in giving the men at this fort
some of the Joys of a homey Christ
mas, which would not have been pos
sible without the co-operation and as
sistance of these persons.
The Red Cross, with its gifts of
money and Christmas packages, all of
which came from Portland, was par
ticularly lavish in showing the boys
of the Oregon Coast Artillery and
the regular and drafted troops sta
tioned here the kind of Christmas
which most of tnem would have missed
so sadly. ALBERT K. MATHEWS.
Chaplain United States Army.
"Safe Place" for Registrant.
ALBANY, Or., Dec 27. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) What advice could you give
in this case?
A young man joined the National
Guard in peace times, was sent to the
border. In some way he gained his dis
charge. He comes under the draft;
thought farmers would be excused so
became a farmer, but shipbuilders were
exempted, so is now in the shipyards.
Is this a safe place or should he hunt
another?
(2) Can you give a recipe for instill
ing patriotism into a very unpatriotic
community? READER.
(1) The penitentiary is a safer place
if one considers only his disinclination
to fight for his country, but of course,
it has its drawbacks. A stite office If
also safer, but we understand it is hard
to obtain. '
(2) We know of no general formula
that would fit every case.
- "Hnn" as Name for Germans.
SEASIDE. Or.. Dec. 26. (To the Edi
tor.) To settle an argument will you
please state definition of the word
"Hun" as generally used In connection
with German nationality
SUBSCRIBER.
"Hun" is a descriptive name applied
to German soldiers because of the simi
liarity of their Inhuman practices to
those of the Huns.
RURAL, SCHOOL LIGHTING WRONG
Standardised Tpye Is Straining Pupils'
Sight, Says Experienced Teacher.
HOFF, Or.. Dec. 27. (To the Editor.)
It Is surprising to note how the public
in general can be led to do almost any
thing nowadays. Among the numerous
follies now resting upon us, the most
cruel may be found in our standardiza
tion of rural schools the fundamental
requirement at that. That Is. have the
windows all on one side of the house, so
that the light which the almighty in
tended should come from all sides is
to come from a few loopholes on the
seems that some ambitious gentle
man a few years ago aspired to fame
and, all other avenues being closed to
him, suddenly sprung this one on an
unsuspecting public. And our leading
educators, men and women who never,
as' a rule, taught in a one-sighted
building, took to the scheme like ducks
take to water, as though they knew all
about it. They tell you that light
coming from opposite sides meets, at
the center, comes to a halt, turns' at
right angles and hits your two eyes,
ker-flam! And they say it with such
gravity that one would think, the
heavens were about to fall. The public,
believing these persons ought to know
what they are talking about, say
"Amen!"
To avert the threatened calamity
they are working with sleeves rolled
up, cutting the windows out from the
Wrong side and crowding them with as
much dignity as the situation permits
on the newly established "right" side!
I have taught school over 20 years
in schoolhouses, where good ommon
sense placed windows on both -ides of
the house equally and the lis. .it was
permitted to enter and mingle in the
room from all sides. Not one side very
bright then gradually shading off to
semidarkness on the side where there
are no windows.
Common sense would convince any
one that light from one side only will
compel the opposite eye to strain in
order to equalize the light in both.
Those pupils sitting farthest from the
light must strain the opposite eye to
an extent that is alarming.
It so happens that I am now teach
ing in the same district I taught nearly
20 years ago. The building then was
old-fashioned you know, windows on
both sides, but no eyes were being
rubbed continuously, on one side of the
room. Today I am teaching in a so
called "standard" school, windows all
on one side, and the manner in which
children on Winter days must strain
their eyes, particularly the one op
posite the light, is a crime on the part
of the state demanding such a "stand
ard." If the almighty had Intended that
light should enter our orbs from one
side only, in his wisdom he would
have built an extension along the op
posite side of our face and also above.
Instead of such a standard, let us re
turn to the path that leads to safety
to our children's eyes and to the gen
eral benefit of all.
ROBERT GINTHER.
Persona Blinded In Halifax.
PORTLAND, Dec 28. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) In The Oregonian of a few
days ago there was an editorial about
the victims of the Halifax disaster who
were blinded by looking up. A main
tains that they were blinded by falling
debris, while B argues that they were
blinded by the force of the explosion.
Which is correct?
(2) Kindly state where one may join
the home guard and the requirements.
GORDON FALK.
(1) Persons were blinded both by
flying glass and other debris and by
the concussion.
(2) The Oregonian will publish a de
tailed article on the Multnomah Home
Guards next Sunday.
Enemy Aliens and Draft.
PORTLAND, Dec 28. (To the Ed
itor.) Is an Austro-Hungarian of 24
years of age, residing in the United
States four years, having first citizen
ship papers for three years, subject to
draft under any circumstances?
SUBSCRIBER.
He is not.
WILL THE WAR BE A BLIGHT OR A BLESSING?
Famous Men Answer in
The Sunday Oregonian
Will a breath of idealism waft away the murk of battle when
peace comes to the troubled world? Auguste Rodin prophesies
that it will. Who Vill be the determining human factors in the
days that follow? The returned soldiers, says Lord Northcliffe.
When a generation has passed a great literature will spring from
the soil of strift art will surpass itself the relationship ,of states
will be founded on an enduring and stable basis. These are but a
few of the predictions of noted men, appearing in a special Sunday
article.
PATRIOT WOMEN OF PORTLAND Appearing in the Sunday issue
will be a resume of patriotic service work accomplished by the
women of Portland during the past year. A special story by Edith
Knight Holmes, relating but a portion of the unselfish efforts and
sacrifices of those who "wait at home."
RED CROSS OVER OREGON This is a story that explains the inner
meaning of the little scarlet cross, which patriots wear as the badge
of their membership in the world's mightiest, tenderest organiza
tion of mercy. It tells of Oregon's share in the task of loyal
women who labor without recompense other than the inner light of
love of Christmas gifts of bandages and of true bravery at
home. Read it.
FIGHTING THE WAR WITH FARM TRACTORS Speed! The slo
gan of war rang from the cornfields of Illinois to the vast wheat
ranches of the Columbia. There must be fuel for the fighting men
of America and her allies nor could delay be brooked. And that
was where and when the lumbering big farm tractor went into
action. Read Frank G. Carpenter's Sunday story of the vogue that
machinery is winning over farm labor in the drive for victory.
WHO IS NUMBER ONE? It doesn't matter where you "cut in" on
this super-mystery yarn so cleverly spun by Anna Katharine
Green, for in every paragraph is swift action, tense drama. The
whole is a tangled skein that amazes as it unravels. Read it in
The Sunday Oregonian and then witness it in the films at your
pictureiouse.
THE WORLD THROUGH CAMERA LENSES Within the sound of
the big guns a class in grenade throwing were taking instructions
from French officers, past masters at tossing the spheres of death.
The pupils were boys from America, making ready for their intro
duction to the Hun. This and a dozen other absorbingly interesting
pictures are on the special page of photographic world news in
the Sunday issue.
PORTLAND CHURCHES PLAN EXPANSION Modern ministers
are not unlike those leaders of old the spiritual guardians who
gave flaming, courageous counsel in .wars for righteousness. Port
land's clergy, foremost in patriotic undertakings, plan the invasion
of wider fields in the coming year. The church page tells about it.
SMART GARB FOR MILADY Are you aware that the "warm, old
ivory shade" is quite the thing in feminine suits just now ? . Or that
the sport frock of apple green should accompany one on a trip
to the southland? The fashion pages, with charming illustrations
and complete detail, are replete with hints for the modish matron
or maid.
VISITORS AT CAMP Fillips of good-natured fun are Hill's unmis
takable crayons of folks we all know. In the Sunday issue he por
trays them as they visit Camp Lewis, or any typical military cen
ter of the times. The Rev. Mr. Crouch is on a lone crusade against
the baneful cigarette. Have a look at him.
All the News of All the World
THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN
Just Five Cents
In Other Days.
Twenty-Five Years Ago.
From The Oregonian December 29, 1892:
"Washington. Cleveland has served
notice, if not in direct statement, by
his action and implications, that he in
tends to be boss of his party during
his administration.' He has served
notice on Tammany and the Hill Demo
crats of New York that he intends to
control the. Senatorship.
Chicago. Mrs. Potter Palmer, presi
dent of the board of lady managers of
the world's fair. Is highly incensed at
the action of a local brewery in put
ting her picture on a lithographic
calendar of the company. She will take
legal action.
San Francisco. Lorlng Pickering,
senior proprietor of the Morning Call,
and the oldest pioneer newspaper man
on the Coast, died- yesterday. He was
born in 1812.
J. Adrian Epplng, who has worked
tirelessly for the success of the local
production of Balfe's lmortal ballad
opera, "Bohemian Girl," sang the role
of Count Arnheim last night. The the
ater was filled and the audience was
fashionable.
Walter Camp, the great football
expert of Yale, was at the Portland for
a few hours yesterday.
Remittance Man Defined.
SALEM, Or., Dec. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) What is a remittance man?
Why so called? Can one who is a re
mittance man return to his home and
still draw his monev?
(2? What is a ticket-of-leave man?
A READER.
(1) A remittance man is a person in
a foreign country who lives mainly on
money allowances voluntarily sent him
by his relatives. He is so-called be
cause he lives on a remittance. Whether
he shall continue to draw his allow-,
ance upon return home depends on the
will of those who have been paying it.
(2) A tlcket-of-leave is practically
the same as our parole, as applied to
convicts.
Men In Spruce Division.
PORTLAND, Or.. Dec. 28. (To the
Editor.) If a man enlists in the spruce
division is he under Government or
private authority? What are the av
erage salaries paid in said division?
SAMMY".
He is an enlisted man in the service
of the United States, subject to all
rules and regulations laid down for
snch men by the Government and is
always subject to duty anywhere the
Army may require him. The pay is
that prevailing in strictly private em
ployment for the kind of work he per
forms in getting out spruce. In effect
he is a soldier assigned temporarily to
civilian work.
When Registrant Takes Government
Post.
PORTLAND, Dec. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Please advise me what the
status of a man would be who. after
having answered his questionnaire, re
ceived a civil service appointment and
went to work as a stenographer in the
War Department at Washington, D. C.
Would he be exempted or given a de
ferred classification? A READER.
He should report his change of
status within five days to his local
board. The local board may then re
open the case on its own motion. Em
ployment in the service of the United
States Is ground for classification In
class III only when the claim is sup
ported by the affidavit of the" regis
trant's bureau superior and by cer
tificate of approval or tne secretary
of the department.
Yes.
WOODBURN. Or.. Deo. 27. (To the
Editor.) If an alien enemy was re
ported for having a gun in his pos
session and after two or three months
you know he still has it, should you
report It again?
PATRIOTIC AMERICAN.