TTIE arORXIXG OKEGOXIAX. 3IOXDAT, APEHi 15, 1918. HI 1 uo Z)t (Drorommt roRTLA.VD. OKCfiOX. Xs'rl mt 1-ort r4 urooa rjtoffic u oi H :&m mii m t ' r Bubocnpuoa uiavambrf la adraae: Hr Jlij, rBi:r. -olT Irtrlu'. t. joar .......sna tl r. oaoy Uic.U'lwl. m:x month .... o -j J:!. Sun? Irtcin-lotl. thro months .. 2--' !-;). fiowlAv includoa. om monta ... . . 7 1 J 'ol.r. lthout un Jnjr. on yonr t-!. . w'ttiout ounlor. muk month. I1'!?. lltot SunUnjr. on snoaln... W ry. no yoor ................... vndAf, n y-r. ........... ... ana Wkl ittv rtrnr. t Tv. ntf iy lnc.u-fl. on yonr F. nlf Inciu1i. n nMtk . itftutunJ.;.M .r T 1-m t. vlrlinit Majtr. thro month. ..." L j iwi.r. vlEtvflt Ha4Af, h month. ...... . Hwm to gn iUnd pootofflc tt4tT mo.-, osprta or rol choc on your lonl nk ?vn.p. coin or currency r t rik. i;iv notofTic n4d.ro la fal. iaudtnj coant ! m.o. Font Ha 13 9 14 r 1 mi: IS to 4 J com. 34 t poo. 3 cont. a t v p4r. rtRit. a. t po. oa:a. 1 to po. a cont. rvfo4a . ago. docto rot. Canto Honiara Offtr Vorroa Conk. In. Iru '" bui.-lm. Now Torn. Vorio loft' a. .ot-r bu:l.n. rhk.co, Vrro .onn.-n. rroo PT-on but Jtn. t':ro!:. Vt:rh.. a Kronw-o roprontn:i.o. IL. J. 3tnoi:. alarnot a:rt. gunned the French and had fought no such gruelling battles as they are M xurhtinog. He should beat them now with forces superior in most par ticulars and equal In all others, after their best troops have been used up. That would b the fuir reward of learning from the tnfmy and of turn- is; against him the last weapon upon which he relied for victory. StrEttKCK Or TBI ASSOCIATED MIM. TO Anlnfo4 P oo TO fti"Ii1T.' tl 'o4 t tno ooo rr ropaMicntton f a t now atrt-hoa .-oito4 to it or not thrwio -l :t-l to th. pop-r. and a. n local now nnbl.nric. h-r.m A.I ngv of rpti.:t.ca'iofi f pcial dta- atchoa n r in ar . roaorvoo. rORTUND, MOXDAT. ArKIl. IS. Itls. TO BE rr.I WITH C.ltTION. The Illinois (Colllnsvllle) fashion Is to ban; offensive pro-Germans through mob action. The Oreeon (La Grande) method Is to inflict upon slackers the coercive and deadly stamp of public denuncia tion. IHubtleas It will be railed moral crucifixion. We think it is. But It ha a different motive, a dif ferent method and an entirely differ- nt result from the lawless and thoutrhtle.-a act of the frenzied mob which chokes It victim to death. The one Is deliberate, open, orderly, informed; the other Is cowardly, sneaking, violent, merciless, unjust, unfair and subversive of all order and tier-ency. The one punishes by the moral power of public opinion. The other takes venreance by the brutal weapon of the aanassin. Futy citizens subscribed their naniea to the. proclamation ar.Un.l tho slack era at La Grande. The darkness and stealth of mlJnlicht covered the names aUud faces of the Collinsvtllo lynchers. If the sixty at La Grande are wrong-, their victims have the remedy of law. If the perpetrators of the Colllnsvtlte ct are wrong and they arc. whether or not I'raeger was a pro-German or a spy. or both the law will take a ".hand; but it is too late to restore life und safety to Praecer. The La Grande way Is severe, and ,' It cannot be unreservedly commended. But It will be salutary In casee where larkerhood Is notorious, offensive and defiant. Arm THE.vn-nrg uo dked txars There Is nothing new under the run. .M The prototype of the conscientious ob- ....a.oo' Jector was well known In the sixth century berore enrtst. It was at about that period, accord ing to more or less reliable history. that Aesop lived and related his highly moral fables. Aesop tells the follow ing: "A. boy was bathing In a river and got out of his depth and was in great danger of being drowned. A man who was passing along a road hard by heard his cries for help and went to the riverside and began to scold him for being so careless as to get Into deep water, but made no attempt to help him. Oh. sir. cried the boy. 'please help me Orst and scold me afterwards.' It was an earnest man of whom Aesop tells, a conscientious man. He had a duty to perform and he per formed It. Whether the boy finally drowned the chronicler does not aay, but It is a safe conclusion that If h did the conscientious man departed from the scene firmer than ever in a righteous conviction. We have Ttfii us In Oregon a scholarly mm., who will not subscribe for liberty bonds because he earnestly' believes that the war should have been financed in another way. We have with us also a conscience gifted librarian who scolds the Nation for gettlrrg Into doep water. but will not assist It to get out. They are but types. Tltey are met In all affair. It may be the financier who tells the pending; bankrupt how he could have kept out of financial difficulties and kindly shows him the door, or it may be the pious person who gives a life convict tracts on the success of moral living. They are everywhere. They ars long on advice but short on assistance. But4he won der la that in alt our'srogress we have not been able to shuck them In twenty live hundred years. rsrrru row h and wiix win. The lucid explanation of the mili tary situation in France which has leen given by Ireruler Lloyd George shows that, in beginning the present campaign, the Ornuns had the ad vantage in only two respects lnltla tive through taking the offensive and unity of command. The Germans were about equal in Infantry, slightly . Inferior in artillery. Inferior In cav - alrjr and considerably inferior in air craft. Then their successes must be due to the two rraDertn m which they tnbutory raue. Tl.. L' . t ' - L'l.i, rAM- itJ , - t o V " - fc ,v ...111. V'VM stanllne "I shall beat them, for they ae no united command" proves tit be relied for victory upon his united enrnruund as arainst the allies' dual command. That Is proved also by his hating struck at the Junction Tomt of the 1'ntish and French ar mies, aud his Judgment is vindicated by his success In forcing the British f rth army, commanded by General tMucti. to retire and by the critical situation which ensued. The evil oon Sequences of dual command are proted by the British I "re oiler's ad- mtsMnn that "there was a serious gap and the situation was retrieved owing to the macniiirrnt conduct of our troops." and by tha fact that "the French reserves came up with re markable rapidity. Thus the fine quality of British troops and French ability in handling reserves saved the day. These points enable us to appraise at its true value the unity of allied command which has now been estab 1 shed and the fact that French General. Foch. has been appointed Soeraltsslmo. Unity of command has welded the three armies French, BritlsTi and American Into one army, as the soldiers of ancient Greece Jteoked their shields together to form the famous phalanx. There will be r.o more weak Junctions in the line, at which the Kaiser may strike to open gaps. There will be no more de lays In sending resents of any nation to fortify any ptu-t of the line which has been attacked and where weak ness has developed. The line is now a phtUnx. and can be strengthened instantly where help is needed. Supreme command was properly given to a Frenchman, not only be cause the war is being fought In France and because the French hold HO of the :s miles of line, but be cause the French Generals, alone among those of the allies, have had long experience and training In han dling troops In large bodies. They "earned by the bitter experience ot the battles of 1S70 and have evet since applied their experience In study and maneuver.. The BrtTtsh Gen erals three years ago had practice only with an army of 100.000 men at the most, and there is not an Ameri can General who has commanded more thrtn an Army corps in maneu vers. One of the most important ele ments In command of large armies 1 quickness and skill In handling re serves. For lack of these qualities the lirttish suffered repulses at Keuve Chapelle. Loos and Cambrai. Through pooesloD of them the French won at the Mam and saved Verdun. Foch ta the General for the task, because Ms skill as a strategist and in using reserves won the battle of the Marne. Having lost the advantage of united dual command, the Germans will lose their sole remaining advantage when the allies use their army of maneuver In a counter offensive. Their gains have been made at exorbitant cost In men. which should have reduced them to Inferiority in numbers as well as In other factors. General Foch Is probably waiting until the German offensive power is exhausted and until his own forces are masd near the chosen points. Then we may expect him to strike the worn Oerman arm) wrth frean forces. He beat them at the Marne when they outnumbered the 1 "reach three to one, when they Out-, Mru ships coMPi.irrr.i.T. For the establishment and mainte nance of Portland's prestige as a ship building port. It Is highly important that this port should turn out com plete! ships, fully equipped and ready to go to sea. An enviable reputation has been made by Portland in build ing not only hulls but boilers and auxiliary machinery, and In installing engines. An undeserved slight has been put upon theGrays Harbor cities by towing hulls built there to other ports for installation with machinery. on the apparent assumption that Grays Harbor lacks facilities to do the work. This militates against the placing of more contracts there, for the Shipping Board naturally prefers to complete ships at one port. Portland Is well provided with boilor and engine shops, which have installed machinery in many of the steel and wooden hulls built here. Progress along that line will cause the building of many more ships here for war service and will help to Ox the In dustry here permanently. There are woodworking shops which can make Interior fittings and there are fac tories and warehouses which can sup ply furniture and carpets, as they be come acquainted with the peculiar needs of ships. Scope remains for houses which deal. In nautical Instru ments, charts and pilot books and genoral.shtp supplies. If the port can provide only a part of these articles, the entire contract for equipping a vessel Is likely to go to some other port which can supply all of them, for the Government Is averse to splitting a contract. Bo many vessels are build ing and likely to be built here that Arms engaging In that business should And It profitable. By becoming qualified to supply everything from the keel of a ship to the last item In Its equipment. Port land will take rank as an all-around shipping city, and will establish a reputation w hich will prove of untold value in the sharp competition among ports which will come in the not dis tant future. a special and highly technical nature, are referred to the "man who knows" for a written answer. Still others are obtained by painstaking research, con sultation with Government experts and reference to the archives of the bu reau and of the Government. It will be seen that the system is at the same time both simple and complex. It is significant of the seriousness of purpose of the American people that the vast majority of the ques tions asked have some bearing upon the greater efficiency of the writers. The war has developed a new demand for counsel as to how specialists In many lines can make their services most valuable to the Government Many thousands of persons want to do all they can to be helpful, but do not know where or how to apply. The great patriotic movements, the liberty loans, the home garden campaigns, home canning work and meat and wheat conservation have called for spectflc Information of various kinds. It is known to comparatively few citizens that the Government for years has studied practically every house hold problem, for example. Only tlie applicant who knew the extent and detail of the Government' own work would be able to obtain results quickly by direct communication. The thirst foe knowledge, as has been said, becomes more intense with realization of need for efficiency in every branch of human activity. And it la a hopeful aim. hot only that this exists but that it Is being met. An Interesting, and conclusive, feature is the value placed upon the service by readers whose Questions have been answered. "Every day." says Uio Kdltor and Publisher, "Mr. Haskin re ceives checks proffered in payment for service rendered." Theso, It would seem 'unnecessary to add. are alway returned. It is characteristic of mod ern newspaper service that It co operates fully with Its public In this as In many other matters. rOK THO-tK WHO -WAXT TO KNOW." A writer In the Editor and Pub lisher, taking as his text the amazing development of the Haskln Informa tion service, with which readers of The Oregon is n are now familiar. makes the sage observation that "the oldest human urge Is to know,' " and adds that "to take the question mark out of life would be to take away Its worth and zest." But even more Inter esting to the seeker after precise Infor mation Is the writer's description, of the Institution which Mr. Haskln has built up, rn co-operation with several of the leading newspapers of the Cntted States, including The Orego- nian. and which he describes as a "real bureau of Information, a bureau unique in the scope of Its public service."" The question. "Why don't the people who want Information write to the Government direct?" Is answered with the statement, which almost any reader can confirm out of his own ex perience, that few know how to ad dress a question to the Government. Notwithstanding the perfection of the ftovernment's system, the multiplicity of Its departments and subdivisions. and the fsct that the libraries of the XatlQna.1 capital are a mine of useful Information, there still are millions of Americans who are unacquainted with what the Government Is doing and the practical value it would be to them If they could utilize It. A large propor tion of the information given comes from the departments of the Government- The so-called executive depart ments of our National capital make up the most efficient and far-reaching service of Information that the world has ever seen. The information bu reau is tho co-operative activity by which the Government's resources of knowledge are made available to the people. A flood of inquiries which has reached as high as 36.V00 In a single day. the Editor and Publisher re marks, represents a formidable under taking and "marks another milestone In the history of constructive enter prise in which American Journalism leads the world." Mr.' Haskln's ac quaintance with Washington has taught him that in some part of the great National organization an an swer may be found to almost any con ceivable question. But success in han dling an enormous number of In quiries rests upon knowledge of the sources of information. Many, but by no means all, of tho questions can be answered by sending a Government document, the existence of which was not known to the inquirer. Others, of rBF.rARB ton water livrs. Though the shipbuilding capacity of the country during the next year may be taken up too much with ocean craft to leave much margin for boats and barges for inland waterways, the pres ent time Is not too early to prepare for water transportation. No less Im portant than the vessels aro tho wharves and connections with land lines railroad and highway and these should be in existence when the boats begin to run. It is time for river communities to begin action on the suggestion of Harold Hands, who is surveying Upper Columbia River transportation for the Port of Portland Commission. All the conditions now favor build Ing solidly the most modern and eco nomical wharves, warehouses and ma chinery for loading and unloading at river ports. Hitherto capital has avoided such investments because they depended for trailic on steamers which might be driven out of business by railroad competition and y their own obsolete character. The railroads are now in the hands of the Government, which will not permit the competitive practices which were formerly in vogue, and the railroads are so over toiled with trailic that thoy no longer compete for It; the traffic competes lor irun.sportation. The Government is eager to restore water transporta tion for the purpose of carrying the great volume of traffic in excess of the capacity of the railroads, and will build river craft as fast, as the more pressing need of ocean craft dlmin ishes. It is morally certain that, after having revived water transportation to meet the emergency of war, the Government will not permit It to fall Into disuse again. The status of the railroads will be radically changed after peace is restored, and provision will surely be made for full co-ordination of water and rail lines, under which they will bo woven Into one system. Then all communities which use the waterways can safely proceed to build anew in confidence that water lines are coming back to stay. Bulrtilng and operation of river craft are as much the affair of the towns up the river as of the cities where river boats meet seagoing ships, for they benefit also. Provision of steam boats and barges Is a partnership busi ness In which up-river towns and Portland should join for mutual ad vantage. As the great port and the largest city of the Columbia basin, Portland will naturally do the most. but the best assurance of success Is to be found In a combination of forces between the upper and lower river cities. hear a mighty Teutonic splash. Time and again French. English, American. Spanish and Italian inventors have sent tidal waves around the globe.' Professor Leigh runs down the list of the world's epochal inventions. The steam engine, which revolution ized the Industrial life of the world. was the work of Englishmen and 'Scotchmen, and it was applied to navi gation by Englishmen. Frenchmen and Americans. The telegraph was an American invention: the wireless the work of an Italian. The cotton gin, which had a revolutionary influ ence on the textile industry, was American. Agricultural machinery was conceived and developed by Americans and Englishmen. Photog raphy is French, the motion picture is American. Neither the telescope nor the microscope, to which science owes so much of its progress, was German. It was a French biologist who first showed the connection be tween microscopic organisms and di sease, and Englishmen who led the way in antisepsis and vaccination. Anesthetics were given to the world by Americans. These facts are appropriately pointed out at this time, not in Idle disparage ment of the abilities of a people who have become our enemies, but because they ought to help to .restore self confidence and to nullify tho feeling of dread that has possessed those who accepted the German version unques tloningly. A famou Civil War General found Inspiration In the reflection, when he was moved to gloomy forebodings, that his enemy probably was in as serious a plight as he was. Although it was a, negative sort of Inspiration, It was not without Its value. We need to disabuse our minds of fear that Germany can master every situation by studying her past performances and comparing them with our own In every field. It is a necessary part of the cultivation of our confidence as well as our will to win. NEWS EXTRA OF S3 YEARS AGO How The Oregeniaa Told of Lincoln's AaaaaalMtlerB Is Recalled. PORTLAND, April 14. (To the Ed itor.) Fifty-three years ago today, April 14, 1865. Abraham Lincoln was shot by John tVillces Booth at Ford's Theater, in Washington. Tho Presi dent died the next morning. The RIGHT TO BISLOTAX. VIEWS TPHELTJ While Coneedina- Such Views Are W route. Writer WtwM Kent laUifeie. PORTLAND. April 14. To the Ed itor.) When the Library Board meets tonight it will have before it the con crete problem of whether under pres ent financial conditions a public em ploye should be compelled to subscribe whole country, rejoicing that the Civil I ! "oerty bonds or forfeit her position. One of the directors of the bureau of conservation of the Now York State Food Commission, Dr. Mary S. Rose, has started a campaign for the wider use of oatmeal aa a substitute for wheat, and she declares that of all tho cereals it is the best for growth because "It contains more of tho ele ments which make bones and blood for children than any other cereal She says it would bo a good thing for the youth of the country if all would eat bread made from cooked oatmeal or finely-ground oatmeal flour, and that much of the trouble attributed to the war breads of Europe would have been obviated if the grains had been better ground before being cooked Oat flour is credited by Government analysis with a larger percentage of minerals than any of, the other com mon .grains and it also possesses higher general food value. Its use Is also commended now because of the prospect of an excellent crop and the growing demands upon our wheat stores made by our allies. lABOELT A BrCABOO. An Interesting contribution to the laying of the German super-efficiency bugaboo, is made by Herbert H. Dow, an engineer, who says that while "we say off-hand that the tricks of the trade are with Germany so far as the chemical Industry Is concerned." for example, reflection will show that the tricks of the trade are really with the United States, when it comes to han dling material and consideration of any industrial problem as a whole. Amer icans have no reason to despair be cause of tho "efficiency" of the enemy. They have efficiency of their own to spare. In this war, it needs only to be converted to the special purpose. The problems of chemistry are largely "mechanical, after they have passed the discovery stage. Mr. Dow takes the manufacture of sulphuric acid, by the consumption of which it Is said the Industrial progress of a people can he measured, as typical. Costs enter largely Into the question of availability and consequent con sumption. The German would be con tent with old methods of manufacture year after year. The American engi neer would constantly decrease costs by the installation, for example, of a superior type of crane for handling pyrites, by employing heavier locomo tives and hopper cars and by improv ing his sulphur burners, and so on with every step of the process all along the line. The chemistry of the problem would not change, but the mechanical processes would call for constant exercises of inventiveness and efficiency, and this, Mr. Dow be lieves, exist In the United States to an extent found in no other country In the world. It stimulates the confidence of self-deprecatory Americans, whose pessimistic pose is annoying when it is not positively menacing to the spirit of the people, to be reassured upon these subjects. It Is well, also, to analyze the claims of the admirers of Teuton culture before permitting ourselves to be awed by them. Dr. Townes Randolph Leigh, a professor of chemistry In Georgetown Univer sity, some time ago dissected these claims, and found that the principal thing left to the credit of the Teutons was the designing of the stamp. "Made in Germany." "Their scientists," he observed, "have kicked up a fair nmount of spray as they gamboled in their pool, but the world has yet to Texas tolerates no half measures with the seditions. Its Legislature unanimously passed a law imposing two to twenty-five years' imprisonment on any person who speaks or writes disrespectfully of the American flag or of the Army. Navy or Marine Corps or of any of their standards or uni forms, or who' mutilates, defaces or defiles them, also on any person who has In his possession the flag, stand ard, color, ensign1 or coat of arms of Krjtta is at war. Persons convicted of such offenses are denied the benefit of the suspended sentence law. It will be very unhealthy for the disloyal in Texas. The Teuton labor propaganda which led to the collapse of Russia will not succeed In the countries in which the educationjof workingmen has not been neglected. Those who can think for themselves will realize that they have nothing to hope for from the victory of Prussianism. Inability of the Kais er's statesmen to comprehend this fact is another evidence of their curious faculty of ignoring plain facts which are against their interests. War had ended, was plunged into the wildest excitement and grief, though some Southern sympathizers illy con- cealed their exultation. Telegraphic communication was not so perfected or general then as now. The news was received In Portland "by overland tele graph" at noon April 15. In the 1317 session of the Oregon Legislature I was standing In the ro tunda ot the State Capitol talking to Judge Julius C. Moreland, who has sine died. George H. Htmes, secre tary of the Oreeon Historical Society, stopped and exchanged a few words with is. After Mr. Himes had left us. Judpe Moreland said: George has done good and faithful Work for the Historical Society, but of ate his memory is not so clear as it used to be. For instance, he tells how the news of Lincoln's assassination was received In Portland, and I know that he Is wrong. I was attending the Portland Academy and Female Seminary, located at Sevonth and Jef ferson streets. I had learned the trade of a printer, and was working some on The Oreeon ian to help pay my way through school. The morning when the fatal news came I was up early. and sonre one whom I do not now re-" call told me that news had come that Lincoln was assassinated. Immediately hurried to The Oregonian . off ice. finding Mr. Pittock there. The printers had not coma to the of fice yet. Mr. Pittock and I set the type for an extra, containing the brief story then received, and printed the news ou a proof press as an extra. Mr. Himes' story about Mr. Scott say Ing to get out an extra cannot be cor rect, as there was no one there but Sir. Pittock and myself." James L. McCown, foreman of The Oreeonian at that time, says ho has distinct recollection of the clrcum stances connected with the receipt the news and of Its giving to the pub lio by means of an extra. When told by the writer of Judge Moreland statement, Mr. McCown,, who Is no day proofreader for Tho Orcsonia said: "The Oregonlan was then publish in a building at the northwest corne of Front and Washington streets. Tl composing-room and the editor's room were on the second floor, and the busi ness office on the first floor. A stair way led from the business office into the composing-room. Mr. Pittock and Mr. Scott came up the stairs and went into the editorial-room. I noticed they were agitated. Mr. Pittock called me into the editorial-room and told me they had news that Lincoln was assasstnatfed. Mr. Scott said that we should get opt an extra, and Mr. Pit tock told mo to get ready to carry ou his order. I went out into the com posing-room. where the printers were distributing: type into their cases, to see about handling the extra quickly when the wire should come with au thentic news. A printer named Snyder, known as a Southern sympathizer, came to me and said: What Is the matter, Jim? Have they killed Lincoln, Grant and Seward "How the h did you know that. Snyder? I quickly retorted, as thouphts of a talked-of conspiracy by rebels flashed over my mind. "Snyder turned away and said no more. 'In a few minutes the copy for th extra came to me. I cut it up into short 'takes' and gave it out to printers to set. The type was put on a gaile and printed on a proof press. The late George E. Watkins kept account of th sheets as they were printed and looked after giving them out to boys to selL The first extra was only a third or column long. -JVs additional news came It was set and added to what had con stituted the first extra. 'The Herald, a Democratic morning paper, had its omce across tne nan from ours, and we were very careful about letting out the big news till our extra was ready for the etreet. W. C. DUMWAT, It would be more Interesting to read what Kaisur Will Lam said in private about that letter of Kaiser Francis than to read his published assurance that he does not believe Francis wrote it. Poison gas would be harmless by comparison. Oregon has put Itself on the map by- the most meritorious form of boosting practical proof of undiluted patriotism. All eyes are now on Ore gon, and Easterners will now be ashamed to ask where it is. The big surplus of potatoes must be put! out of the way before the new cron comes. They must be eaten, Hoover asks us to do It, and he must not ask in vain. There are not many women like the wife of Dr. Thomas, the Chicago so ciologist, and there are not many men like the Doc, a good thin? all around. That Tacoma burglar who could not resist temptation to tickle the toes of the sleeping young woman at the risk of capture is a humorous fellow. If there are four or five thousand Idle men in and around the North End, their sonrce of support must be In vestigated. Comb the district. An Englishman at Ba"ker, charged with disloyalty, was found to be In sane, and that is partly much the trouble with all of that kind. The submarine which bombarded Monrovia had to go a long way to find a place where It need not hide under water. In the matter of enrolling boys for various kinds of war work, the privi lege of wearing a uniform will be an inducement to enlist. What might sound like profanity In the mouth of a Tank on the western front is mere American enthusiasm of the killer. Bombardment of the capital of the little republic of Liberia, that cannot hit back, is typical Hun work of destruction. Advice to buy next Winter's coal early, if generally followed, will dis courage the practice of moving to save rent. The Emperor of Austria is rapidly qualifying for membership in Colonel Roosevelt's famous Ananias Club. Duplicating subscriptions is a cure for over-optimism in the third liberty loan. THINGS ONE SEES I" THE MOVIES Officer With Cavalry Troasers and ilnndmna's Hat Command infantry. PORTLAND. April IS. (To the Edl tor.) W. G. Caldwell's letter In The Oresronian relating some of his obser vatlons anent the Inconsistencies of the movies reminds me that some time ago I witnessed a scene portraying patriotic meetinsr in an Kastern city in which an American General presided. He was garbed in the regulation blue uniform of an Army officer and wore the stars of a General on his shoulder straps, but, alas, it was the first time within the past 40 years that we ever saw an American General wearing an Infantry officers' stripe on his trousers. Another scene depicted a detachment of Infantry at a frontier post in Alaska commanded by a Lieutenant who wore an artillery, or cavalry officer's stripe and who also wore on his campaign hat the insignia of a bandman. Again, I have often observed that the movies is the only place In existence where one can get married without a marriage license. A '"FILM FIEND. Flight ot Airplane Bomb. KLAMATH FALLS, Or, April 12. (To the Editor.) For the purpose of settling a friendly dispute, win you give us a little information as to the course of a shell dropped from an air plane 10.000 feet high while traveling at a speed of 100 milesan hour. In other words, would the shell have tendency to follow the machine to the extent of landing at a point directly beneath the machine, or would the ma chine have passed on to a point a con siderable distance from a point directly over the place where the shell landed. "THE SMOKE." The shell would move forward, as well as downward, hut would gradually lose momentum and would then drop in a straight line. As the airplane's speed would be continuous it wouldi be beyond the point of impact of the shell. A good way to obtain a practical Illustration 1b to shoot one out of a flock of ducks rapidly flying over the Klamath marshes. Doubtless one of the disputants can recall, such an inci dent. The duck when shot Is going iust as fast as his companions, but does not keep up with them after be ing shot. The shell is going Just as fast as the airplane until released. It then has no further propelling force back of It. Moreover, to fall directly beneath the airplane. It would have to develop greater forward speed than the plane for .it would, in that event, travel the longer course of the hypothenuse of a right-angla triangle, while the airplane would travel the shorter course of one of the sides. Oregon did not elect Wilson, but she is backing- tim with her dollar Ages la Draft Treaty. PORTLAND. April 13. (To the Edi tor.) Is an Englishman, 48 years of age, who has been in America for over 25 years and a resident of the L nited States since 1909, and who has taken out his first papers for American citi zenship, liable for draft in the British army? A RESIDENT WEBFOOT. As the treaty was originally drafted it did not apply to men over 40. It has not been ratified, however, and is sub ject to change. , It is easy under pressure to lose our poise and also the vision of that Tor which we are furhting. Every great conflict has brought with It a period - ot mob rule, and. subject to slight qualifications, it Is only, a matter of degree which epa rates the action of an Illinois crowd which strmgs up a man who refuses to kiss the flag, and (hat of a committee which says: "Buy bonds, or lose your business life. Americans wfll remember how Will iam Lloyd Garrison was dragged throtrgh the streets of Boston because he held the views of an abolitionist. and ' how Henry Ward Beecher was mobbed many times in England on his mission to- educate the English Work ingmen to see the justice of the North ern cause. These two members -of the Hunt family are cited from a list of -a score of patriots whose work in This country has extended over more than two centuries to show that popularity has not been a guide to action, and that, perhaps, even without Miss Hunt's subscription, which I hope will be forthcoming, the family has contributed no inconsiderable share to the creating and preserving of complete liberty In this country. I have never been able to compre hend the prevalent opinion that one by becoming a public official ipso facto makes himself a legitimate target for mud-sllnglng. or why the fact that one serves the library In a clerical Or ad ministrative capacity, giving service at par. should distinguish her, so far as accountability to the public is con cerned, from a company which sells heat or books to the library. And yet the proponents of Miss Hunt's expul sion would hardly go to the extent of boycotting ail firms which sell to pub lic Institutions, the members or em-, ployes of which have failed to subscribe their quota. It should be noted In this connection that Miss Hunt's position as assistant librarian does not bring her into ac tive contact with the general public. and that she has not been accused of foisting her views upon others. Like many others whose brothers are on their way to the front. I feel that we should back them to the utmost, and that Miss Hunt's viewpoint is wrong, but so long as Oregon has made an oversubscription, so long as the Gov ernment desires this part of the financing of the war to he carried on voluntarily, is it not wiser to adopt other means than coercion to make clear to those who hold back the fact that, while all war may be undesirable, this war, so far as we are concerned. was absolutely necessary. It would be too expensive to send all of our pacifists to Europe to grasp this distinction, but possibly those who have returned may do some missionary work. In any event, let us not degen erate to the conception that might is right. J. HUNT HENDRICKSON. j In Other Days. Twenty-iive Years A so. From The OreaoBtan. April 15. 1893. London. The debate on the second reading of the home rule bill continues in the -House of Commons. Councilman Eugene Shelby has le ceived from his sister a postal card written on top of Mount Vesuvtus, In dicating that Mrs. Shelby and Miss Shelby are sojourning in Italy now. Congressman Ellis has received no tice that he is to name two cadets for the Annapolis Naval Academy. The Government has let a contract to Emil Courand to carry the mail from Station A. Portland, to Montavilla, 12 times a week. Half a Century Ago. Prom The Oreironlan. April 15, 1S68. Washington. Washburne introduced a resolution, calling for an inquiry into the rumored intention to turn over to private parties the Island of St. Panl. which is in property embraced in -the treaty with Russia. President Albert L. Johnson has called a meeting of the East Portland Library Association for April 20. It is learned that smelt are very plen tiful in the Sandy River. The other day 12 men got Ave wagon loads by scooping them up out of the water with dip nets. Chief Engineer Weed, of the fire department, has ordered that firemen report in uniform at stations tomor row morning for the purpose of at tending the railroad celebration on the East Side. On the contrary, it does not appear that Miss Hunt has been nursing her views in strict? privacy. On April 3, 1917, she Visited Washington City as the avowed representative of Oregon pacifists. The President's war address had Just been delivered, the war reso lution was pending in Congress and the country had rallied to the Presi dent as never before. Miss Hunt, representing no one but herself, but pretending to voice consid erable publio opinion, called on each Oregon Senator and each Oregon Rep resentative and urged each to vote against the resolution, asserting that the newspapers did not reflect public sentiment. The following is quoted from a letter written by George A. Thacher to the editor of The Oregonion since the meet ing of the Library Board: I have known Miss Hunt, of the Library, very well for several years. She is abso lutely disloyal, as I know, and her influence has been distinctly bad for a Ions time. I told her two years ago that If American took her position we might easily be called upon to suomlt ourselves to the German gov ernment and to the Kaiser. She responded that she would not object to that and taousat we mignt do as well off as we ar now. Whil ah may be acting on personal con viction, he is absolutely disloyal in her ut terances afid Influence and haa been for many months. She said to me two weeks ago that many people though she ought to be la jail. It Is silly to lay she ha sot used her influence actively. OFFER IS MADE TO START FtXD. Soldier's Mother Would Provide Ticket to Germany for Objector. PORTLAND, April 14. (To the Ed itor.) In the name of loyalty, patriot ism and common aense, some of us can not understand the retention of the as sistant librarian after her most easily understood utterance, "conscientious objector!" Why, I. W. W.'s, German spies, pacifists, and some ministers of tho gospel are such and for their con scientious objections have been in terned. She does not approve of the methods employed in carrying on this war. One having such marked ability as she In knowing just how such a stupendous matter should be managed, should at once have a seat beside President Wil son close up to advise him how and when to act. Young women in and out of offices with salaries one-half or one-third this woman's have supported the Govern ment in every measure to help keep the Hun from his bestial ravages and make liberty a possibility not only in our own great land, but amons people of other lands who have never known what liberty means.. I think there are enough loyal women in Portland to see that transportation be given her to the land of the Hun and I will start the subscription with $1 Hurrah for W. F. Woodward. Let him ask for any office in this city and he will receive my support. I am the mother- of a soldier. MRS. W. C. KAKTSER. 830 Colonial Avenue. SALVAGE IX WOR.V-OCT SOCKS Writer Sugsent That Soldiers Send Home Vpper Half for Reconntrurtion. PORTLAND, April 13. (To the Ed itor.) To Hooverize in every way is not only ' a privilege, but our duty. Waste particularly wanton is always a shame. In these strenuous war times it is a crime, especially if that wasto be of wool and the labor of our wives, mothers, sisters and sweethearts. I say this because I believe that thousands of pairs of woolen socks are discardod and destroyed when thoy are worn out either at the heel or at the toe, or, for that matter, in both places. Wool is at a premium; woolen gar ments arc greatly needed by our sol diers and sailors, and the wool In the upper part of these socks is good and can be worked over for other purposes, but even that would entail a needless waste of labor, because any knitter with little experience can knit an en tirely new foot onto the upper part ot a discarded sock, making it as good as new and thereby saving all material and labor that had gone into the upper part cf such a sock. This idea is not new with me. It i3 not 'visionary. It is practical. I. know that waste is prevented in foreign countries by utilizing tho upper part ot discarded socks, and there is not only no reason why it should not be dtfne in America, but under the existing condi tions there Is no excuse for not doing so. I feel that the proper officers at the different cantonments should take cognizance of a matter of this kind. but if my suggestion that it be made an Army regulation meets with irb fa vor, it should at least appeal to the in dividual soldiers and sailors. They should send their old woolen socks home and i the family can renovate them at little expense and with little trouble. They will be as good as new. A SUBSCRIBER. No National Distinction. MONITOR, Or.. April 13. (To the Editor.) Referring to an article in The Oregonlan April 12 on page 3, headed Marion County Hits Gait." I wish to say that the person who wrote this evi dentty knew very little of conditions around Monitor. The people of this vicinity are Amer icans, though a large percentage of them are of Scandinavian descent and a few o German descent, and nearly every one 100 per cent American. No German-American, Scandinavian-Amer ican or American-American element put us over the top, but all as Americans working together. Our 325 per cent was subscribed through having a first-class town or ganization and a bunch of live solicit ors who were out with the birds Sat urday morning. Monitor is the banner precinct all right and hard work put It there. A 100 PER CENT AMERICAN. Not Ground for Divorce. PORTLAND, April 14. (To the Ed itor.) Is barrenness a legitimate ground for divorce In the state of Ore gon? Has It ever been so used? Of hat does the burden or proor consist? A CONSTANT READER. It is not ground for divorce. QUAKER DESCENDANT PROTESTS PernoaH Who Set Good Example Now Wanted In Public Place.' PORTLAND, April 14. (To the Edi tor.) One cannot help but contrast the dlginlfied sentences of Dr. Foster last Tuesday night as he concluded his elo quent lecture. He acknowledged his secession from pacifism and his knowl edge of the justice of this war and the downfall of militarism. The bombastic utterances of Miss Hunt have drawn the wool over the eyes of the directors, who should know better. The Library affairs went on very nicely during her absence. There is as good a fish iu the sea as ever was caught, and good eximple setting men and women are wanted now. The "Friends.' of whom I am proud to be a descendant, have given money in abundance to the Red Cross and hospitals. One will overlook much if Miss Hunt will give ?500 to the l?ed Cross, but not forgive. Thank heaven one director picked up Miss Hunt's gauntlet of defiance Honor be to him. I close in the words of "Phlneas" in "Uncle Tom's Cabin:" "Friend, thee art not needed; here." E. CARMIC.HAEL DAVIS, 2T0 East Sixteenth street. Road Thronarh Neighbor's Land. TILLAMOOK, Or., April 13. (To the Editor.) (1) A man is absent from home, but his wife still lives on place; I get permission from his wife to build a bridge across the river where an old road goes through and there are no tres passing signs. If her husband comes home could he stop me from going through? (2) How do they saw timber for quarter sawed-lumber? A. SUrJbl. KlliH.lt. (1) It is a privilege that may be re voked. If, however, you have ho means of access to a public road except through your neighbor's property, you can force an egress by legal process. (2) The log is first sawed into quar ters and then into boards, planks or veneer by cutting alternately iiom each face of the quarter. French Tales Worth Reading. PORTLAND, April 14. (To the Ed itor.) To every anxious heart, witn son, sweetheart or husband in France, the writer suggests as a balm and as a bit of reading full of absorbing inter est and of color, that remarkable col lection of short stories by Alphonse Daudet, known as "Monday Tales." They tell so graphically me conai tions in France which surrounded the Prussian war the simple life of the n.nsant folk: their self-sacrifice; their wholeheartedness, bravery and self-de nial. The descriptions of town, coun try and people are so vivid that the reader will be entranced with every scene as pictured between its covers. Some hours or illness, coniining tne writer to his home, have given to him the opportunity to feast upon descrip tions which he fain others would share. W. r . WOUDWAKU. FREE SERVICE! AND INFOR MATION. The Oregonlan has established a bureau of Information and serv ice at Washington City fo- the benefit of its readers. No charge Is made for a reply to any ques tion relating to Governmental af fairs or for procuring any avail able Government publication. For reply send 2-cent stamp. Address Frederic J. Haskln, director Oregonlan Information Bureau. Washington, D. C Do NOT writs to The Oregonlan at Portland.