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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1918)
10 THE 3r0RXI'G OREGOXIAX. "WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 191S. )t (Drrtmtiw CataraS at partlase (Orvral F-aatafTlce as Man4-cMi m.l matlar. 0BeriAue laarv.ly ta advaac Br alsU.1 rafy, 9u4ar telwlee:. eie Tar Ttmx.r. luadar tnc:udi. sis raoaths - - 4.3 l-a!:j. SaaSr included. InrM moaias... T . v. Mti trl V I n r ! ii . 1 tl nel noaUk . . . Is! y. rtaaut eae - t1 lt..r. itnu( fna4Aj. in BMtha - - - - - - ' J'al.r. wuhout SiaaOajr. eae snoalA - - . Wa:y. ana ar ....-k... 1 Kijaitaj. rar ...,.... Sarilar l 'ii 'y ...... Ae IBr Carrier.) Srr. iaalar lBCIKl'4. ou fr .......I-" l'fti.jr. ua4ar laciudatt. om Bitk ..... l!-7. witnaat aa1ar. eae vaar ... T 0 Xi.r. witraotat Suedar. tarae Biaalas ... S.T3 !: T. vttftnul Huadaf, eae M"at Haw la maalt r-nirt Bar r. eipraas ar Nnuai cnc ea year leeal bank. (MM raio ar (urraacy ere at a-ra riafc. Ole aoatofflca aedreea la f. Uc g4tnc foatlt aa4 eutte. rwual Ma 1 111 II 1 pasas. 1 eaat: 1 ii aac. M pa-e. a; tv to aeaa, cents; J la IS s-et-ae. a cants. 7t Ua S3 aa, e caaia, iwa. - . - firfii Varna A- Ceas 11a. lirtinaawl ,.ln. N Tor: Varr A Cam la. Sut.dlaa. Chicago: arraa 4. Coaklia. r rae Preee bal jibi. oairaii; Vl-h : aan fraaelsce resraaealaUlre. K. J. auawaa, tU Market street. urmi or tbk associates frem. The Aaaeelalad PTe la exelastTely entl ia ta tiM aaa tor reteilcaiea at el nawi 4.eoaicaee er4tiee at ar not etherwtae criu4 ia tn.e paper. u a.e lave u A.I no: of repaDiteatlea af special dla- yatrfiaa ooraia era a.aa rmmrm. roHTLA.VD. WIDNUD.tr, FEB. I. BCM1A DEXEBTS TBI Al l.fTH, Hasty abandonment of the war by the Bolshevik government or Russia. Immediately after b treaty of P'' tad ban aifned taWMn tho centraj Man ud th new republic of Vkralno ahl a clear lljht upon tha .tir af tha Rusaiaa mind. The l irihll RavrlB. which mada tha traty, la what tha Boliharlkl cJl bourreou rnvrmmnL and la. thararora. tha od- W of war by tha Bolahavlkt. who lis re act op a rovernmaot of their own kind In cppoaltlon to It. Tha ono da atra which throwa ail other dealree Into the background In tha mind of the Russian people la peace. By IU ml with the central powers the Kmd waa the first to gratify thla de atre. and. therefore, bade flr to win many adherents. Realisation of this fct by the Bolshet-lki may explain their stampede to call the war off and to demobilize the army. Peace at any price is good "campaign thunder" for the rival partlea of Rusaia, But there la no cause to expect that peace with the central empires means peace for Russia. It rathct means freedom to continue Internal strife unhindered by even a nominal foreign war. The conduct of the Red Guard ta Finland and Ukraine proves tha .termination of the Bolshevtkl to establish their power throughout the Csara former dominions by Inaugurate tsa- a raiga of terror similar to that which made the Jacontna supreme In rraace la 1TI. The Ukraine and the Coosa s need expect no more mercy than waa meted out to the) Girondists aad the Vendee. It would be forty to underestimate the grave consequences which Rus- ata'a desertion may bring to the na tions which remain leagued against Frusalanism. but It would be equal folly to overestimate them. The allies aull have somewhat superior man power and material on the remaining battle fronts. The Oerroan-Auatrtan forces may have a decided superiority when they have transferred the rest f their forces from the east, but their beet divisions have been used up and they have been reduced to filling their ranks with men In their nfttee and boy la their teens. They will recover many returned prisoners from Roaata. but a very large majority of these are Austrlans of Slav nationality, who fought unwillingly and who are likely to lose themselves In the In terior of Russia rather thaa fight ggaln. Oa the other hand. Russia's uncon ditional surrender leaves well over a mllltoa of her dUsens as prisoners In the central " empires, and they will surely be detained to help In produ cing food and munitions. German task masters may soon spread over Russia and drtve the peasants to Increase the output of food and munitions. The allied naval blockade will thus be come far less effective Wedged In between Austria and the I'krslne. Roumanla seems to have no alterna tive to submission, for further resist ance would only mean extermination f her remaining S30.S00 troops. Ger man economic control will thus ex tend throughout Furopean Russia, the Balkan states and Turkey, and may rapidly spread through fliberta, to be blocked en the Pacldo only by Japan and China. This prospect Is bad enough, but It does not warrant the gloomy predic tions of Charles F.dward Russell. A great German onslaught on the west ern and Italian fronts may be ex pected, but there Is no reason to ex pect that the Germans can accom plish against the present allied armies that which they failed to accomplish against far Inferior numbers and ar tillery In the last three years. Sir Douglas Half, in his report on the campaign of 1)17. says that "111 Ger. man divisions were encaged and de feated by less thaa half that number f British divisions." and the British army wilt reach the climax of Its strength this Pprlng. The French are still ta fine fighting trim. After ample deduction for alt losses, Italy still has about I.00A.00O men In the field. With the aid of the steadily growing Amcrt can Army and of the Belgiana and Portuguese, the allies should be able at least to hold the enemy at the opening of the campaign, and. aa the great American reserve comes Into the field, they should be able to drive him Steadily back. The accession of strength which the Russian surrender brings to the enemy may enable him to prolong the war for years, bat that pro-pert should only prompt the American people to more grim determination to fight to the finish, la confidence that democ racy must finally triumph. la the country, lost 110 highly trained assistants in 11. and 100 in 1117. ail of whom left to take work In other lines In which they were assured of a better living, and only recently It was reported that there were fifty-four vacancies on the staff with Utile pros pect that they would soon be filled. To attempt to meet the situation by lowering the standards would obvi ously be making a sacrifice of effi ciency which it ia unlikely that the public, accustomed to the new service, would be willing to accept. Comparisons are made with the preparation and subsequent work re quired of librarians and of teachers In the public schools, not In disparage ment of the teacher but in support of the librarians claims for considera tion. In a review prepared by Pro fessor Leonard p. Ayres and Adele McKlnney for the Cleveland Kducatlon Survey, the experience of two girls, one of whom decides to become a teacher and the other a librarian. Is visualised. The teacher, these writers say. would be graduated from public high school, and later attend a public normal school two years, while her sister. In addition to attending the same high school, would go to college at her own expense and attend a 11. brary training school, also at her own expense. After a dosen years of work the teacher would have earned $4000 more, these writers estimate. The career of librarian la practically closed to those who have no more than common school education. Vacations averaged twenty-eight days each In fifteen of the largest libraries In the United fOates in 117. They are usually much longer in the schools. Those who are urging Increased compensation also point out that the library and the school are working band In hand for education, and are able to make out a clear case. But the library would not be the educa tional Institution It Is If It wsre treated as a mere store of books. It Is the special training of those who adminis ter It that haa made It what It Is. BEHIXD CH.OtBEBXAE OB NOTT The Oregonlan reprints today from ths New York World a letter written by a citlxen of Portland. Mr. Marshall W. Malone, who, the city directory Informs us. is postmaster at Llnnton The nnvtfjr reader might easily as sume that an official of the Govern men, however humble his station, could be depended on to rush to Its defense from the slings and arrows of Its critics: but a more extended In vestigation of the Malone status dis closes that ha no longer occupies that more or less responsible position. Pre sumably, then. Mr. Malone speaks on his accountability as a citizen and a Democrat. Just what Senator Cham berlain may have had to do. If any thing, with his retirement to private Ufa is not publicly known. The Malone letter Is reprinted for the reason that It la an Interesting contribution to current literature in the Wllson-Chamberlaln controversy, and for the added reason that we have an Inspiration to develop the fact as to whether anybody In Ore gon, or anywhere, agrees with Its statements. It Is quite an astonish ing Jumble of truth and fancy. Mr. Malone Is quite alone, we are sure. In his dlsmvery that Senator Chamberlain made "only a perfunc tory campaign for Wilson In Oregon," and It Is but simple justice to a shrinking contemporary, the Journal. to correct the grievous libel that It damned Wilson with faint praise." It may have damned him doubtless It did. but never with faint praise. Nor ran we recall any "derogatory adjective." superlative or comparative. which the K-publican press of Oregon applied to Senator Chamberluln In that campaign. On the whole, we should say that the Democrats In Ore gon did tbe best they knew how to do to carry the state for Wilson, even to mobbing the women of the Justly famous Golden Special. The Republi cans did better. That Is the whole story- Mr. Malone has given a fairly ac curate appraisement of the dlvuion of political parties In Oregon. There Is no novelty about his estimate. Every body knows It- There Is no seriouf diimcnt about It. But there will be dissent from his I assertion that the people of Oregon are not back of Senator Chamberlain In his attitude toward the war and his difference with the President. Cer tainly a large majority of them think he haa performed a signal service to tha country by his frank proclamation or real conditions, bureiy, no one will say. or believe, that the activity of the Administration in reorganising departments. In deposing certain de partment beads. In taking steps toward co-ordination, actual or pretended. In demanding corrective legislation and In speeding up the war programme la not a direct result of the Senatorial Investigations and demands? soundness of the Spokane contention. If Portland should awaken to its true Interests, the triumph of Spokane would be but temporary. SMALL CHANGE. Four Eugene men who have fore sworn tobacco while the war lasts, resolving to put their tobacco money Into war stamps, will not hare fol lowers enough to cause alarm to the tobacco Industry of the country, but they have started a movement adapt able to many other little things. The average man spends a good many nickels, first and last, for non essentials that in the aggregate would make a respectable showing at the stamp window, and it would be a good plan for each to practice doing with out for his own sake 'as well as that of the country. There are various devices for prov ing the cumulative value of small change. A man who resolved to set aside every dime that came into his possession and Invest them all in war stamps recently found himself in pos session of S0 worth of stamps tbat he otherwise would not have had. and he is unable to remember that he de prived himself of anything worth men tioning. HITCHED TO A FALLING STAR. The unpleasant notoriety gained for the Oregon "non-partisans" over tlrcir tie-up with the personal organization of a North Dakota Socialist, is aug mented by the news of the day. Coin cident with acquittal y the local or ganization of the North Dakota, lead era on Informal accusations of dis loyalty, the North Dakota president of the league, A. C. Townley, is ar. rested on a definite charge of disloyal activity. Against Townley there had. thereto fore, been made certain specific accu sations. " These accusations were in the form of purported extracts from speeches publicly made to his follow ers. The local admirers have nbt de nied, and do not now deny, the ac curacy of these quotations. Although the words alleged to have been spoken by Townley are offensive to the truly patriotic, his Oregon 'acquitters are content with the shoo-fly statement that the accusations are "unfair" and "made by unscrupulous agents of In terests which fear the movement." A certificate of loyalty In such form might do very well for the Russian Tavertsh who has never formed an Intelligent thought of his own, but the Oregon citizenry surely knows enough to demand, before it turns Oregon government over to Townley. specific Information as to whether Townley did or did not say the things which be is accused of saying. Did the committee which now re ports actually Investigate, or was it headed off with yarns about entrenched wealth? Did or did not Townley advocate refusal to help the Government finance the war unless tbe Government would finance it in his way? Did or did he not question the motives of our entrance into the war? Has he or has he not used familiar German propaganda to discredit our fight for the freedom of democracy? Did he or did he not trafllc with the disloyal I. W. W. for a great body of harvest workers at wages higher than the farmers could afford to pay? These are pertinent questions which can and should be answered by Mr. Stack and Mr. Spence and the other Oregon admirers of the North Dakota financial genius. But there Is one question still more important: Will any part of the Orepon mem bership fees be used to pay for Town ley's defense against the charge of criminal disloyalty he now faces? Ish scientist writes. In good temper and with due circumspection. It is a service to the world to puncture pre tensions, and to restore the confidence of those who have permitted them selves to labor under delusions as to their own comparative Inferiority. It is a curious fact that of all the agencies employed in the present war, Germany did not invent one, although it may be admitted that Germans did adapt several of them to the limit. The principal explosives, such aa gun cotton, dynamite, nitro-glycetin and smokeless powder were of other than German origin. Torpedoes, shrapnel, the gatling gun and automatic cannon. the Ironclad, the revolver, armor plate. the submarine and the airplane origi nated outside of Germany. "Poison gas" was a non-German Invention, al though first put to Its deadly use In this war by Prussian soldiers. The gas engine, which furnishes the motive power of many war Instrumentalities, is a French Invention. Even aniline dye, which Is curiously associated with the development of the manufacture of high explosives, was the product of an English laboratory. Americans may find new ground for self-confidence In their accomplish ments in the field of industrial science since the war began. In commercial chemistry, for example, it has been' shown that "we can do it If we only try." It was this field in' which Gor man claims to exclusiveness were loudest of all. Americans are now in a position to meet all of their re quirements. In other departments our present allies will be our ohief com petttors. German rivalry is regarded as no longer to be feared. is UBkABT sALABrgs, Agitation to secure better pay for library workers has the Initial advan tage) that the flgurea are on Its side. Tbe profesarton of librarian has passed beyond the stags where a mere book worn disposition and a vague "liter ary taste" were the principal qualifi cations. Standards of admission, even to the lower grades of tbe work, have been raised repeatedly, and entrance to a recognised library school now re quires attainments equal to those for admission to a aalverslty. Salaries, meanwhile, have not kept pace with increased demands. rarhaps the Justice of Increasing the rate of compensation generally throughout tbe country would not have been realised quite so soon If recently there had Bot developed an alarming movement toward abandon ment of the profession. The New luk piitc ilfcraxy, eQ fit tl Urscsi TICTORT OT YET 1T.NAL. Spokane halls as "victory full and complete" the decision of the Inter state Commerce Commission raising Pacific Coast terminal rates. Those are the words with which J. B. Camp bell, of the Spokane Merchants' Asso elation, greeted the decision, and they are true as to rail rates. Cut in the next breath he admitted that they are not true as to all rates, for he said: Whoti arstar eofrtpetltlns Is restored after tba war. praaummc that It la roalorad oa aid aoftdltlona. and provtdlns that lha fourth auction of lha Intaratata aommarre law Is ttot amnd4. wa mar have to nialte tba rljcht ever asain. Hraca tha acuy for anartina; tha amendment propoad by paaator Foln dstar prohibiting rharvln more for taa aaert haul taaa for ta loag aauL That Is an admission that water competition la, after ail. the decisive factor. When water competition is restored at normal rates, traffic will strain move by water, and the effect of the commission's decision will simply be that tbe railroads will carry no more traffic In competition with water lines until the commission again permits the railroads to make com petitive rates. If the I'olndexter bill should be passed by Congress, the railroads would be forbidden ever again to compete with water lines, and the latter would have a monopoly of the traffic for which railroads have hitherto competed. The situation thus produced would add Impetus to the present movement for development of water lines by the Government as a relief to the rail roads. If shielded by law from de structive railroad competition, they would rise, grow up and flodrish. and Spokane would again have to make Its fight all over again. Defeat for the Spokane contention only awaits the action of Portland in setting la motion the natural law which governs all transportation. The victory of Spokane Is only a temporary success arising from unnatural con ditions, chiefly produced by the -world ir. If. when the war ends, Portland should not exert Itself to restore nat ural conditions In other respects, the situation then existing would be due ta I'uniinti't fuitacj cot i& llc SCrREMACT IX 8CIEMCE. That British and American publish ers of technical works are not with out blame for the notion, which used to prevail, that Germans were su preme In science is the frank and in teresting admission of Sir 'Berkeley Moynihan. senior consulting surgeon of the British Medical Corps. The writer says tbat the predominance of references in scientific reviews, espe cially in Germany Itself, to the work of Germans Is due In part to the willingness of German publishers to submit their books on approval. A surgeon, on the other hand, who de sired to see a new liritish or American work on a special de partment of surgery could do so only by buying the book outright and taking his chances that the book would be to his liking. German works, naturally, were -much more often quoted, and so the Impression was widely created that German sci entists were the most active and ef ficient In the world. But the conclusion was, neverthe less, erroneous, as Sir Berkeley points out In an article in the British Medi cal Journal. He declares that "almost all the fundamental discoveries in science have originated in England, France and Germany." Sir Berkeley, It will be noted, confines himself to "fundamental discoveries." Other na tions have taken a leading part in Invention. Americans have not been without honor In this field. McCor mlck. Inventor of the reaper, which revolutionized our food situation, for example, waa a West Virginian, and Whitney, Inventor of the cotton gin, was born In Massachusetts and de veloped his machine in Georgian Bell, the father of the telephone, was born in Scotland, and grew up In America. Marconi, an Italian, was the pioneer of the wireless. In an even broader field, that of systematic botany, Lin naeus, a Swede, laid the foundation for scientific work of incalculable in dustrial value. Dealing with his own department of science, tbe British surgeon goes on to say that "not one single discovery of Importance in the science or the art of surgery can be placed to the credit of Germany." He does not deprecate the value of industry, but only ana lyses German pretensions lo super excellence. It is in capacity for origi nal thought that the German mind is lacking. "The brilliant and happy in spiration, the penetrating Insight, the new vision, are things for which we seek almost In vain In German scien tific literature," when it is compared with the facts. The German mind Is of a different order. It "collects. If it does not accurately appraise," the work of others. But the Idea, never theless, finds a hospitable reception, which may cover a multitude of other deficiencies. Sir Berkeley omits the Semitic ele ment In Germany from his estimate. It Is the Teutonic mind of which he writes. And he finds that this Is pa tient, laborious, massive," but not original. "The German la not an in novator, but a renovator; not an ex plorer, but an exploiter; not a creator, but a collector." Of the worth of laborious industry, exploitation, renovation and collection there Is not much doubt. It is not to deny this, but only to adjust the per spective. It ouid aceo!, t&t te Exit ILLITERACY EN THE ARMY. To the people of the West, where public education has been systematic. ally developed and laws for compul sory school attendance are rigidly enforced, the statement made by writer in Everybody's Magazine that it has been found necessary to estab. lish a school in a Southern canton ment to teach recruits to read and write will come as a surprise. Inci dentally, it is revealed that there are 30,000 young men in Kentucky who are classed as "illiterates." This Is not explained by the number of negroes in the population, for many of them are whites, living in the mountain re. gions and practically cut oil from communication with the rest of the world. Their Isolation they formerly accepted as a matter of course. But now they must learn to read and write before they can renew the ties with the folks at home. Although our efforts to make edu cation universal have been unflagging for more than a century, we have not yet come to the end of thcrroad. Of the entire population of Continental United States above the age of 1 years, there are still 7.7 per cent who cannot write. Counting the foreign born whites alone, the percentage 12.7. But when we consider the younger generation, we find that Amer leans plume themselves too much on their thirst for knowledge. It is th native whites of foreign or mixed par. entage who excell all others in lit eracy. Whereas S.7 per cent of th native whites of native parentage can not write, only 1.1 per cent of those o foreign or mixed parentage possess thl disability. Illiterate foreigners would seem to appreciate the advantages which were denied them even more than Americans themselves, to whom schools are accessible everywhere. But we are, nevertheless, far in the lead. Of Kusslans, not Including the Finns, 69 per cent cannot write their names. Bulgaria has 65 per cent over 10 years old classed as Illiterate, and ' 5 per cent of her soldiers can neither read nor write. Sixty per cent of all Roumanians are Illiterate, and 41 per cent of her soldiers. Russia is the most benighted of the nations of Europe. Oregon, according to the census of 1910, was second only to Iowa In point of low percentage of Illiteracy. Iowa had 1.7 per cent, Oregon and Nebraska 1.9 per cent, Idaho 2.2 per cent, and Washington 2 per cent- The figures are almost negligible, yet to the edu cator they represent a task yet to be accomplished. Nothing short of I clean score will suffice. The South still lags behind, but, as has been noted in the experience of the South era camp in question, the draft al ready is bringing about improvement. The young men who return to their homes with their newly gained knowl edge will be missionaries for the cause. There Is something suspicious about the racial division of strikers and non strikers on Argentine railroads. When Spaniards, whose native country Is pro-German, strike, while British and Italians refuse to strike, it would be well to look for a German behind the scenes. Scarcity of Bull Run water next Summer is not desired. 'but if it 1 bound to happen it will teach people the way to avoid waste. Meanwhile, drink plenty each day and be of such good condition when the stress comes you will not miss a glass or two. The Kaiser is taking a cure at a Belgian watering place near the Prus sian frontier, about as close to the firing line as his fear' of death will permit. By going home before the rush hours, shoppers can help a lot. Man naturally Is chivalrous, but in a crowded car has not room to show' it. In his madness the Kaiser will sac. riflce a few more millions, but will the people and common soldiers bear any more of his murderous ambition? Russian soldiers are exchanging their .machine guns for playing cards, no doubt in furtherance of their de sire for a new deal all around. The rich American widow who has married a Greek Prince will be for tunate if his title proves as genuine as her dollars. The warning against frying in deep fat would seem to be superfluous to those who have given due study to the price lists. Do you imagine a Tank will keep out of the game when he sees Pollus kicking a football. Will the line hold? Anglo-Saxon and Gallic blood can hold any line. Dependence is upon American non Inkables and airplanes. Italy Is against extermination, and will fight in that spirit. No woman Is too old to appreciate a valentine. i OREGOt AND SEN. CHAMBERLAIN How Oae Citisen Iaterpreta Seatimrnt of the State. From the New Tork World. To the Editor of the World: The im pression which is being so industrious ly spread by the Republican press, that the DeoDle of Orexon are backing ben ator Chamberlain in his vicious assault upon President Wilson, does such vio lence to the truth and is such an un warranted reflection upon the patri otism of the people of Oregon that it should not go unchallenged. To us here in Oregon the newly ao quired sympathy of the Republican Dress for Senator Charmberlain ii in deed laughable, for up to the moment when the bqnorable Senator scorched his fingers pulling Republican chest nuts out of the fire the Republican press of Oregon could extract from Webster's no derogatory adjective which bad not already been applied to the Senator In the superlative degree. From these hitherto bitterest assailants of Chamberlain crocodile tears now flow copiously over tha alleged unfair ness with which President Wilson has treated Chamberlain from the first. In Oregon there are three parties the Republican party, the Chamberlaln-West-Olcott party and, after a fashion, the Democratic party. However, the machinery of the Democratic party Is largely in the hands of the Chamber-lain-West-Olcott triumvirate who use it to advance their own ends. Olcott, who is nominally a Republican. Is Sec retary of State, having originally been appointed by his brother-in-law, West, who was then Governor. Chamberlain and West have always had a large Re publican following and consequently have always had to cater to that fol lowing. The real Republicans of the -state naturally have never looked with favor upon this trio, Olcott included, while the Democratic party has supine ly allowed itself to be made the ve hicle for the advancing of the vault ing ambitions of Chamberlain and West. Ever since he has been in nolltlcs Chamberlain has consistently courted Republican favor and has taken the support of the Democrats for granted. For fear of alienating his Republican following he opposed the President on the Panama tolls question and threat ened to bolt the Underwood tariff bilL thereby rendering it most difficult for him to secure the indorsement of Presi dent Wilson In 1914 when he was a candidate for re-election. The Presi dential Indorsement, ultimately given, and a three-cornered fight were all that saved Chamberlain from defeat. Senator Chamberlain's crowd was di rectly responsible for the loss of Oregon to Wilson in 1918. Chamberlain's offi cial organ, the Journal of Portland, camouflaging as the Administration pa per of Oregon, hopelessly damned Wil son with faint praise. Chamberlain himself made only a most perfunctory campaign for Wilson in Oregon. His Prime Minister, ex-Governor West, who could have done so much for Wilson, instead of making the welkin ring for him, entirely subordinated the Presi dent's interests in campaigning for his private hobby, bone-dry prohibition, to wnicn he devoted by far the major part of his effort during the campaign. Chamberlain, with his personal follow ing, could easily have carried Oregon for Wilson, and probably would have had he not been persuaded by his East era friends that Wilson was slated for defeat. Thus It was that Oregon went for Hughes by default. It Is well known In Oregon that Chamberlain has long regarded himself as Presidential timber, although at var ious times he has been ready to com promise on the Vice-Presidency. While he has always played for Republican plaudits, even those who knew him well hardly expected that he would go so far as to use the power that President Wil son permitted him to acquire to strike so vicious a blow at the President. And to say that the people of Oregon are back of Senator Chamberlain is to depart from the truth. His own friends are aghast at the ruin, chiefly of their own hopes. The true Democrats are ashamed of him and feel that Oregon has been disgraced. The Republicans, while in their heart of hearts they know he Is wrong, are filled with glee; they shout encouragement to him, not that they hate Chamberlain less but Wilson more. Perhaps they are back of him, geographically speaking, in the sense that he is out in front in no man's land fighting their battles, and they hope to ride to victory over his political corpse. The great mass or the common people of Oregon, who do not take party politics very seriously, has an abiding faint in President Wilson that nothing can shake a faith so Ylrm that even greater reputations than George Cham berlain's might easily be dashed to fragments against it. MARSHALL W. MALONE. Portland, Or., Jan. 25. MORE) LEUBER I EIGHT-HOUR DAY Worker Contends Production Would Be Increased IX Change Were Made. PORTLAND. Feb. U. (To the Ed itor.) I have observed with much in terest the discussions in public print regarding the establishment of the eight-hour day In the lumber Industry of the Pacific Northwest. Having for the past several years been continuously employed In a large lumber plant and having heard the workmen freely express their views, 1 should be able to speak with Bome au thority from their point of view. In my observations three things have stood out conspicuously: First, 1 have yet to find a man who does not believe that the baslo eight-hour day should be established for the workmen em ployed in the lumber industry of the Northwest. Second, In justice to the employers in the same industry else where, also in justice to the employers here who, to some extent, compete with the Southern lumberman, the President of the United States should issue a proc lamation or Congress should, at an early date, pass a law establishing the basic eight-hour day, the same as has been done for the trainmen. Third, I have known of no workmen who would object to working two hours daily overtime when demands for lum ber make It actually necessary for them to do so, provided they are paid time and one-half for overtime, as in other industries. The workmen are patriotic and wish to do their bit in these times of war stress. The establishment of the baslo eight- hour day is the vital point. As Secre tary Wilson has said, the other princi pal Industries of the Northwest have the eight-hour day. The thousands of workmen in the shipyards have it. The workmen say "Why should we work 10 hours in the lumber Industry, while the workmen In the shipyards work eight hours for about the same pay as we get?" As a solution to this controversy. why not establish the basio eight-hour day here in our lumber industry and, when actually necessary, work one or two hours overtime, paying present 10 hour wage (which is now scarcely a living wage for an average family) for eight hours and allow time and a half for overtime? This plan will actually increase the output of lumber, as more capable and better satisfied workmen will be employed. Objection to the in creased labor cost will largely be over come by tbe increased efficiency of workmen when not working with an overstrained body. The average 10-hour workman rises at 5 A. SI. and before his evening meal Is over S P. M. has arrived. How much time has he to develop the social, men tal and spiritual sides of his manhood? The lumber industry possesses ad vantages peculiar to this locality. Our exclusive spruce output is world fa mous. Fir, our principal timber, for its size and strength, also beauty of grain for interior finish, is unexcelled. The Eastern and Southern shipbuild ing plants have been obliged to have sent from our forests and factories their keel and other large timbers. Our lumber products for many uses are without competition. They demand their own prices. If justice Isn't given to the workmen In our lumber industries o&the North west they sooner or later will demand it. They feel that they are being dis criminated against. If the basic eight hour day is not given to them it will inevitably follow that they will either quit their present employment in large numbers as individuals or they will or ganise to make and enforce their de mands. W. E. M. In Other Days. Twenty-five Tears Ago. From Ths Oregonlan. Fabrary 13, 1595. New Tork. The Press prints the fol lowing from Washington: "A triple al liance between the United States, Russia and France, such is the inter national combination of forces for mutual benefit and defense which has been secretly pending for six years, and which, unknown to either the diplomatic or political world at large, culminated in an executive session of the United States Senate two days ago. This is the first public announcement of the weighty meaning which lay behind the seemingly unimportant and formal announcement that the extra dition treaty with Russia has been ratified." Ratification of this treaty is regarded the "orownlng glory" of the State Department under Mr. Blaine, Manley-s Alblna free-bridge bill passes both houses .of the Sfate Legis lature and goes to the Governor for his approval Senator McGinn presides at literary contest at the Oregon Agricultural College. Rev. Roland D. Grant, pastor of the First Baptist Church, at Lincoln Day exercises, addresses the G. A. R . W. R. C. and Sons of Veterans on "Union Defenders' Day." Residents of Alblna propose A. W. Lambert for School Director. C H. Hill. ex-Mayor of Alblna, is also mentioned for tbe same office. WAXTEDl POTATO WITH JACKET OX FLOWERS' VALENTINE LANGUAGE Messages They May Convey In Lieu of Customary Verse, It ia a growing custom at this sea son to let flowers carry the-valentine message. The swain's sentiment is em bodied in the flowers rather than in verse, and especially if his affections are centered upon one object his card Is boldly Inclosed with the flowers he takes no chance upon the possibility of his gift being credited to someone else, perhaps a riv-L Red is considered to be tbe real val entine color, the heart tint, supposedly expressive of fervor. Consequently roses, carnations, sweet peas and tulips in the red shades, flowers commonly available at this season, are in great demand on St Valentine's day. Violets, ymbolic of love, pansies to convey the message, "Think of me," and the humble forget-me-not, significant of true love, are other favorites. The ymbollo meanings of the flowers avail able in February are to be found in the following list: 1 Rose Dark red. admiration: white, I am worthy of you; yellow, let ua forget; moaa. confession ox love. Carnation Pink, woman s love: red. ar- ent love; variegated, refusal; white, fas oination. Snapdragon Presumption. Calendula Cruelty In love. Daisy Innocence. Forget-me-not True love. Gardenia Refinement. Hyacinth White, modest loveliness; blue. conspiracy; purple. Jealousy. Iris My compliments. Lilac White, youthful innocence; purple, first love. - Lily White, purity ana sweetness, y Lily of tha valley Perfect purity. Mtgnonette Your qualities exceed your character. Narcissus Egotism. Daffodil Unrequited love. Pansy Think of me.' Orchid You flatter me. Tulip Red, declaration of love; yellow. hopeless love. Sweet pea raise moaesiy. -Wallflower- Fidelity In misfortune. Violets Blue, love; white, modesty. Aay Money in Hogs? BARTON, Or, Feb. 11. (To the Ed itor.) Would you let the discussion of dogs give way to logs? I want to now If there is any larmer, wno Keeps books on his business, who la at present making money on hogs and buying practically all his feed? At this time of year, almost all the by-products, as small potatoes, acorn squash, artl- hokes or other roots are fed out. I ept hogs profitably while I kept cows, ut when the price of feed soared rap- Idly, while the price of butter-fat crawled, I disposed of the cows. There is. of course, enough skim milk for two or three hogs, but my query is 1th regard to hogs as a business. My land is not suitable lor pasturing ai falfa. FARMER. Writer Would Run Up and Kiss It If She Ever Saw One in Restaurant, PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Ed itor.) 1 am SO years old and for fully half my life have been obliged to live In other people's houses and eat other people's cooking. Also 1 have lived in many states of the Union. So I am not theorizing. Go into a restaurant or hotel and sit down at a table. Soon a voice behind your chair will drone: "Beefsteak-pork chop-muttonchop-bacon," etc There is no thought of anything but meat, no thought that many persons would in finitely prefer some properly cooked vegetables. And with the meat is served from one tablespoonful upwards (not very far up) of potatoes, generally mashed and watery, also coffee and con siderable bread to supplement lack of vegetables. That is the dinner and one must be satisfied, though he may think longingly of the nice, cheap vege tables in the market. In one's home the question may be asked, "What are we to have for din ner?" The answer would be "Cabbage, baked squash, potatoes, fruit and pud ding," or such. Meat is not mentioned. If it is served it is a minor factor. Nor bread With vegetables and potatoes one doesn't want to eat bread. In my own home, long before the war, I was not accustomed to put bread on the table at dinner at all, for it was not desired. Portions of meat are served in ordinary restaurants for 15 to cents per portion. A meal can be had in many places, of meat, a wee little bit of potatoes, coffee and soup for 25 cents. But vegetables are 15 cents a portion. So that if one wanted, say, there kinds of vegetables with coffee and soup and no meat, it would cost from 60 cents up. Yet the amount of meat that is served as a portion would cost from 7 to 10 cents in the market, raw. A can of corn coats 12 cents at re tail and, as I have seen portions, would make about eight. Why? Why do the restaurant keepers give us the costly things we don't want and refuse us the cheaper and n-pre plentiful things we do want? When I come to town I am forced to eat more bread in a week than I ordinarily do in a month at home? Why? Because there is nothing else. I am forced to eat meat, bread and a little bit of potatoes. You see I am, like many others, too poor to pay more than 25 or 30 cents for a meal. But I could cook a meal of vegetables for 15 or 20 cents. Why must we be stuffed with bread and meat? Where, Oh, where is the good, old-fashioned potato boiled with its skin on? If I were to see one in a restaurant I think I would run up and kiss it. MRS. M. J. Half a Centnry Ago. ' From Tha Oregonlan, Febrary 12, 1868. J. N. Dolph, as chairman, calls a meeting of the Union State Central Committee. Call is issued for the Union State Convention to be held in 'Portland, March 24, for the purpose of nomi nating a candidate for Congress, three Presidential electors and delegates to the Union National Convention. In the apportionment of 106 delegates, Marion County was given 14 as against 12 for Multnomah and 10 for Linn. Heavy loss of sheep Is reported in the Willamette Valley from a disease resembling "blind staggers" in horses. The same disease is reported among horses in some sections of Marion County. Communication between Portland and Vancouver ts proposed by means of a practical wagon road and a steam ferry across the Columbia River. Van couver resiA-nts agree to provide the ferry if Multnomah County will con struct the wagon road. Volney E. Howard, prominent Demo crat of California, publishes a pam phlet in which he charges that the recent election of United States Sena tor Casserly in that state was accom plished by bribery. Resolutions Introduced 'In the Na tional Congress proposing the removal of the seat of government from Wash ington to the Mississippi Valley. TERM HAS FRRACTICAL MEANING They Are Citizens. PORTLAND. Feb. 12. (TO the Ed- or.) Are children, born in this coun try to unnaturalised parents, citizens of (try to snnaiuramcu aituvuko, uiuaouo v& the United States or are they subject Edison ii .71 aed solag strops, i I to reaistratioa as enemy aliens? I A TT ir .A rTTT COURSE OF NEWSPAPER APPROVED Democrat, With Two Soldier Sons, Commends The Oregonlan. HERMISTON, Or., Feb. 11. (To the Editor.) I have read every editorial of yours since the war started. I have had little or no occasion to find fault with either your patriotism or your support of the Administration. In short. I want to say that The Oregonlan Is reliable and as patriotic a paper as can be found anywhere, and I am not a Republican. I am a crazy, free-silver, anti-imperialistic but wet Democrat But I am also an American first with two boys in the service that the Gov ernment cannot find when I write to them, and tbey kindly return me my letters. 1 am not a statistitican, but if I could not devise a system by which I could locate a man, who was tagged U. 8. A. and numbered fore and aft, I would quit trying to distribute mall. AS for your criticism oi tne conduct of Government affairs, well, I have seen some real good engines that had a governor, balls and belt on and they worked a whole lot better and got more done with the said governor working, than they would have without lt, I thank you and I am with you, be cause I sincerely believe you are not trying to play noUUca. X A. STQSE. J Only In Philosophical View Is "Ideal istic" Not Comprehensible. PORTLAND, Feb. 12. (To the Ed itor.) Our neighbor at Vancouver ap pears skeptical regarding the meaning of the word "IdeallBtic" He says "It is a thing of which the natural man can form no idea" and is but "a mirage which diverts from the affairs of every day life." , From a purely philosophical stand point he is right. It is difficult-to ac cept the statement that in all external perceptions the objects Known to us are only "ideas"; that all reality is only psychicaL Fichte was an "idealist." Not that the outside world to him was a phantom. It was very real because of the mind. Fichte believed in faith and says all his conviction is but faith and that if the will be directed towards the good, "the understanding will apprehend the true." He believed in the "divine Idea" and was in his pure life an "idealist," some thing we mortals, I think, can assim ilate. Berkeley, too, was an "idealist," but of another school. He perhaps looked deeper, claiming that all things ma terial were not only "ideas" projected from the mind, but were founded on that which is beyond it, even God. A contemporary said of Berkeley: "So much learning, so much knowledge, so much innocence and such humility I did not think the portion of any until I saw this gentleman." The word "ideal istic" in its various forms is so thor oughly incorporated into our language, we may all at least have a fair concep tion of its practical meaning. LOUIS G. DRAKE. . OLD GLORY. Planted firm on Fame's fair heights, with naught but skies o'erhead Rooted deep in heart of earth, world wide its branches spread; Like "Bow of Promise" in th' clouds it does its message bear To ev'ry nation'on the earth, and sheds Its glory there; It bears within its shining folds, legends of power and truth, Each passing zephy.- whispers peace. fierce storms have proved its worth. Symbol of Fair in Christian land it floats unlettered free. Aloft in space triumphant waves our Flag of Liberlyi Tis as the heights add depths of love that in our God-head dwell; Outstretching, cov'rlng all of earth who can its power foretell; Tis free as is the warmth of sun, as light of evening star Bright glowing ray of Liberty Its beams are shed afar; The sov'reign power of truth and right are stars in Glory's crown Her stripes have healed a Nation's woe, in heroes lives laid down; Yet from these ashes, phoenix-like, up. shoots a wondrous Btar That with prophetic finger points to our blest land, America. O, not In vain shall alien lands that now in warfare rage, Stretch out their pleading, bleeding bands, that we their wounds as suage; not in vain shall we have sped our message o'er the sea, That 'neath our glorious banner lives the truth of unity. To live this truth In mighty power- 'tis thus today we stand To vindicate the sterling worth of this unired land; To stand as one alone If need to keep our honor clean and bright To keep unfurled our glorious flag that stands for ev'ry human right. ELINOR PALMER. Numbers for Soldiers Letters. PORTLAND, Feb. 11. (To the Ed- itor.) For some reason, probably the nnnBa.4n th.i, la nnnalitnrahla Hlnir about mail for the soldiers in Fiance. Sometimes a soldier gets 10 or 20 aet ters at once. Sometimes a lettei will go through in a month and other letters written previously will not reach there for two months or more. Allow me to suggest to the families of soldiers that they number their let ters consecutively. Then if a soldier gets a letter numbered three and he has not received numbers one and two, he will know that they have been writ ten and are on the way and that his family are not neglecting him.