TTIE arORXIXG OKEGOXIAX. 3IOXDAT, APEHi 15, 1918.
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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.