12
THE MORXIXG OKEGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, MAT 13, 1918.
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rotia'ia. Staser kul.ding. Cnlcase; Verree
Cooaln. ee Fraae i.dliK. 1alrolt.
-a rranrtara repreeealaUia. H. J. Blavail.
1 4J Alar Set atraeL.
MCMBCB OF THE AMOTUTID MESS.
Thm Aaaeelaraal Prsae la avefuslvely
l'e-1 ta the Baa tar rapubllcatloa aC a. I Bew
aliaratrhaa eradltad la It ar Bat elerwlee
ar.n.a ta thie papar, sad eiea tae local
pahttaha4 Bare.
A'l nana af rutmttoa af special 41s-
ate &aa hereta ara alaa rard-
rOTUD. WEDROAT. MAT 15. 1PI.
AT AJTA3fCX AXD ITS TEACHINGS.
. Recommendation that all railroad
rates ba Increased at least Zi per cent
Is a belated recognition f a necessity
which has existed for several rears,
but which has now become so acute
that It could no loncr Ignored.
Voder OoTcrnment operation It Is pro
posed to do at one stroke that which
(he Interstate Commerce Commission
.ad perslstenUr refused to permit
tinder private operation, Actlnr ae
cordlrf to the plain facta of the sltua
tioa Instead of belns; swayed by preju
elica, Director-General SicAdoo la not
like to delay lone bla acceptance of
tha advice riven by the men to whom
al! Govern meet authorltlea war for
snarly deaf.
Tha oft-reiterated arrument tha
railroad revenue only seamed to be
deficient because, tha railroads were
overcapitalised la now thrown Into the
ttlacard. Those who advanced that
argument rave no heed to tha truth
that tha Government and tha states
which permitted overcapitalisation
inuit share the responsibility with the
railroad companies, or that the water
liad lone since been aqueesed out by
Investment of eamlnr In Improve
ments or by enhancement of value.
In opposing advances In rates, ship
pers cloaed their minds to tha fact
that they would have been amply
compensated for the additional pay
menta by better, prompter service.
They were punished for their short
ness of stjht by the congestion ' ot
tra.Se In It If culminating in the
titter breakdown In 117. which prob
ably mulcted them In a larirer sum
than they would have paid out In the
nlrhest advance of rates for which
the railroads ever asked.
They themselves rendered Govern
ment operation Inevitable, and with
H sfntrle advance In rates which ex-rK-is
the total of all for which the
railroads had asked. They have
merely aucceeded In postponlnc pay
ment of the full value for the service
rendered In past years, and they have
paid dearly In Inefficient service for
the time f-alned la ma kin J this pay
rcf nt.
Thourh much has been said about
the tneficlency of railroad manaire,
ment. It baa been surpassed by the
Inefficiency of Government regulation
of the railroads. If reg-ulalton had
been efficient. It would have recog
nized that poor service Is dear at any
price, that revenue adequate to main
tain. Improve and extend the lines Is
essential to good service, and that any
attempt to punish owners of railroads
by denying them such revenue falls
ultimately on the shippers and through
them on the people In general.
The men who made and adminis
tered railroad laws were prevented by
the clamor of demagogues and railroad
batters from following the guidance of
their own Judgment. Because one
railroad had been mismanaged, they
punished also the ninety-nine which
liad been well managed, and their
patrons with them. Because traffic
had been pooled to the Injury of the
public, they refused to permit pooling
so directed by public regulation that
it would have inured to the public
good. Political passion raged so furi
ously around the railroads that states
men and administrators were Incap
able of that broad vision which sees
the railroads as a necessary Instru
suant for transacting the Nation's
business.
The' degree to which pa.ston and
pretudlce had blinded the people and
their leaders to their own Interests la
plain, for they now not merely suffer
without a murmur, but welcome as
public benefits acta under Government
operation against which they formerly
stormed. There was small protest
against Government guaranty of a
reasonable return on the Investment.
Tooling of traffic met with general
approval, and the traveling public
finds that passenger train service re
duced as much as one-third In some
Instances Is sufficient. Terminals are
pooled without any outcry against a
trust. Traffic la distributed among
many ports without objection from
the few which formerly monopolised
1 ports and exports. A huge ad
vance in rates Is admitted to be neces
sary to pay enhanced wages, cost of
fuel and other materials, though It Is
In part deferred payment of advances
which had formerly been dented. Why
could we not have done these things
before? Because we were so busy
swatting the railroads that we did not
realise that In so doing we were swat
ting ourselves.
be hoped that Congress will remain
In session long enough to dispose of
these questions.
MR. SMITH'S BOLD TEXT I RE.
A bold man is John U. Smith, of
Tamhill County. He Is against the
primary law, and he says so, and he
submits his candidacy for County
Commissioner with that . understand
ing. If not on that platform. Let as
hear what the temerarious Air. Emith
has to say:
Tha Orason primary law. while Its ablarta
ara food, la practice Is sodaiBocrstle. unfair
and Inimical to rapraeaatatlve sovarnmant.
Oaa aiust have time aao Booty ta enable
aaa ta tbruat bis "card" indar tha aoee ot
vary volar aad "shake 4a hand and pat da
hark" of the roes aad k!aa the children.
.a lima sew (or all theae pleasaatrles.
Sot I Ba4 only aaa vote mora than eae
(osrth of all to oaa who go to tha primary
Oiactioa. aavler the primary law ao why
worry?
if I ware rannlas for Oeverear eae-elslA
t the people cou.d elect:
I did sot help nake this law.
I mi Breva n allhL
John I. Pmiib. (The efily candidate ta
Orafaa wha 4are say what ha truly taiaks
out the prmay law..
We have no Idea that Mr. Smith
will get far In bis candidacy. He has
laid his hands on the sacred ark of
the primary, and he will be cast Into
outer darkness. The average voter
doesn't like to have his pet Ideals
shattered, or even attacked.
One of these days Mr. Smith will
try again on a platform demanding a
public return to the convention sys
tem. True, we have it; but Its use Is
reserved for privileged bodies like the
Kon-Partlsan League and the Central
Labor Council, and the Innumerable
"patriotic" societies which are indors
ing candidates, and stirring up bed
lam. Only the Republican party la
denied the right of assembly. It Is
still being punished for its sins.
Some day. Indeed. It will dawaon
the public that the primary and the
convention are not Incompatible, and
that a scheme of political action and
espreaston may be devised which will
retain the valuable features of both.
PRACTICAL ROMS Wit WOK.
War work begins at home. And the
particular part of war work which
the 8urgeon-Oeneral of the United
States has called on Tortland to per-
form makes a powerful appeal to our
humanitarian Impulses. He asks us
to train aides for the rehabilitation of
our wounded soldiers.
Because of the reputation of the
Reed College Ijepartment of Physical
Education, the Surgeon-General ha
named Reed College as the only cen
ter west of Michigan for the training
of reconstruction aides. These aides
must be prepared at once to give
remedial exercises and massage and
other therapeutia treatments to re
turned soldiers, that they may grad
ually recover the use of fractured and
shell-shocked limbs and be prepared
for re-education.
The college needs at once 110.000
for this and other war work, and also
the loan of a house for three Summer
months, possibly for the duration of
the war, to be used as a hospital and
clinic In connection with the training
of reconstruction aides and the treat
ment of wounded men and crippled
children.
Of all the opnortunltles we hare
had of beginning war work at home.
we doubt If any leads more directly to
healing the human ravages of war,
famine sufferers. In his later years he
made tedious efforts to introduce the
metric system Into the United States,
and exerted prodigious energy to fur
nishing wireless news about the Wall
street markets to yachting parties on
pleasure cruises. The gulf between
Mr. Bennett and his public widened
with the passage of the years.
Senators have already begun to talk
ef adjourning Congress as soon as the
appropriation bills and other pending
bills have been passed, so that they
may go home about July 10. The
water power bill, now being prepared
by a House committee, and the gen
eral land-leasing bill are as essential
trar measures as even war appropria
tions, for It Is evident that prepara
tion must be made for a long war.
during which much development could
be effected nnder those bills. The
general leasing bill should result In
great Increase In production of fuel
and of phosphates for fertiliser, while
the water power bill should cause
much fuel to be saved aad production
of other commodities to be Increased.
It would economise railroad transpor
tation and the labor employed in that
service and La mining coal. It la to
JAMES GORDO! BEXXETT.
James Gordon Bennett, who died In
Parts yesterday, was the most pic.
turesrjue figure In the American news
paper field. He was the absentee
landlord of Journalism, and It was
due to this fact that, the Influence
his chief newspaper, the New York
Herald, had declined steadily in re.
cent years. He was a man given to
whimsicalities; he gave little consider.
atlon to the demand or desires of his
public, although for many year he
held them by sheer force of erratic
genius. The Herald under his proprie.
torship was personally conducted In
the highest possible degree, but quite
as often conducted to gratify a per.
sonal whim as to adhere to a definite
editorial policy. This personal su
pervlsion was made possible by lavish
employment of the cable, and by an
elaborate system of reports upon the
minutest details of Herald ad minis
tration.
It did not, however, as events ap
pear, to have shown, atone for the dis
advantage of his non-residence, be.
cause of which he Inevitably grew to
be out of touch with the spirit of the
times. It was said ot the elder Ben
nett. his father, that he was the dis
coverer of the principle of news, that
It was he who first taught newspaper
readers that the occurrences of every
day are a part of history, and that
knowledge of the present Is no less
necessary to enlightenment than
knowledge of the past. The son In
herited a newspaper that was the
leader In the recording of world
events. This character he preserved
only in part. For a time the Herald
was the newspaper of the New Yorker,
reflecting the New Torkers typical
unconcern for the world west of Ho.
boken. N. J. He spent fabulous sums
for cable tolls, however, and the
Herald foreign news service was a
conspicuous feature during all of Mr,
Bennett s life.
Decline of the parochial viewpoint
f New Yorkers, which Mr. Bennett
living In France or traveling In the
Orient did not detect, or which out
of the perversity of his peculiar -vanity
e would not admit probably accounts
for the overshadowing ef the Herald
In the esteem of New York readers
by such newspapers of broader poll
dee as the Times and the World. In
dditlon to this, virtual absence of an
editorial policy probably was In flu en
tlal. The Herald had few edttoiial
opinions, or none at all. The fact
that Its owner was better known In
London and Palis, and Berlin and
lenna. than In New York, which lent
certain romance to his name In the
early days, ceased to draw. Public In
terest In news that was merely freak
Ish also waned as readers became
more serious and purposeful. The
Herald contributed much to the edu
cation ef Americans In news values.
and then failed to keep pace with Its
pupils.
Those who like to read books of the
"Count of Monte Chrlsto order would
delight In Mr. Bennett's biography. If
no should nnd a Boswell. His
chateaux In France: his palatial steam
yacht on which was always kept s
cow that he might drink fresh milk,
even at sea: his "master's certificate,"
of which he was Inordinately proud:
bis erratic system of hiring and dis
charging his employes: his professed
contempt for college training and a
thousand other peculiarities made him
at one time the most talked-about
newspaper proprietor in the world,
and furnished the groundwork for
anecdote without end. But he lost
his sense of proportion with the great
growth of egotism, which amounted in
the end to mania. Where In the be
ginning of his career he sent Henry
M. Stanley to Africa and raised a
huge subscription to save the Irish.
El out oct or twelve.
Th Oregooian has had many re
quests to recommend to the public
at the Republican -primary a ticket
of twelve candidates for the Legisla
ture from Multnomah, lower house, at
Salem. It is a service which is not
to be lightly undertaken or hastily
and Imperfectly performed, and The
Oregonian would avtod it for it knows
t'.iat In the list of thirty-seven candi
dates there are many men of worth
and promise, and It would give them
all a full and free opportunity to test
their standing with the voters.
There are. however, some names
among them which stand out with
prominence through former service
In the Legislature, and In other posi
tions. It is desirable that their avail
ability be emphasized and that the
chance that they may be overlooked,
in the general mess, be reduced to a
minimum. In that spirit The Ore
gonian offers, with Its Indorsement
the names of eight candidates for the
House of Representatives. They are:
HERBERT OORDOM.
O. W. HOKrOKU.
St. K. klHI L
OSCAR HOKXf.
john B. torrrT.
JOalCrH a. KK-HARDSOX. .
K. V. Mrt'ARLA.VU.
RALPH A. COAM.
In this list are represented many
branches of professional and Indus
trial activity, so that In this respect
It Is fully representative. There are
a builder and abstractor (Gordon); a
steamboat man (Hosford); a printer
ajid stationer (Kubll); a bricklayer
(Horn); an Insurance man (Coffey);
a lawyer and manufacturer (Richard
son): a dentist and sportsman (Mc
Farland), and a lawyer (Coan). Men
like Kubll, Coffey. Gordon and Home
have served acceptably In previous
Legislatures, and the others are all
familiar with affairs, skilled In their
various callings, desirous of promot
ing the public welfare, and of good
repute among all who know them.
There are four vacancies to fill.
Assuming that the eight will be
elected, as most of them from the
known favor of the public undoubt
edly will be, there will still be ample
opportunity for an open choice at the
primary. There are many others who
may well be elected on their merits;
but whatever happens with the four
remaining places the people of Mult
nomah County may be assured that
they will be well served at Salem if
the eight shall be nominated at the
primary and elected In November.
FALSE HOPES.
The rising cost of wages, equipment
replacements, fuel and other operating
expenses has the same Influence upon
steam railroad income as it has upon
street railway Income.
There la now Government control
of th railroads. They are operated
as a unit Various economies have
been put into effect such as elimina
tion of unnecessary trains, consolida
tion of ticket offices and withdrawal
of solicitors. Other outgrowths of the
competitive system are to be cut off.
Still a deficit is In prospect, and It
1 now recommended to Director-Gen
eral McAdoo by his advisers that pas
senger and freight rates be Increased
18 per cent
This Increase Is deemed necessary
In spite of the fact that the volume
of traffic has greatly increased, just
a the volume of traffic has greatly
increased on the street railways.
' It ta clearly understood that much
of the vociferous objection to the 6
cent fare In Portland Is raised by ad
vocates of municipal ownership. They
are not Interested so much in getting
back the 6-cent fare as they are in
putting their theories Into effect The
6-cent fare order la a mere convent
ence for carrying their propaganda.
It ought now to be made clear by
the results of Government control of
railroad that Government ownership
or control does not necessarily mean
lower rates. There is no honest pros
pect that a successful effort to throw
the Portland Railway. Light & Power
Company into the hands of a receiver
would restore the 6-cent fare. There
Is no honest prospect that city owner
ship of the system would bring about
that desired reduction. Whether city
or receiver or present owners operate
the property, the management will be
confronted by the same higher cost
of labor and materials that are now
to force up railroad rates.
It is not going to help pay the in
flexible . costs of operation of the
streetcar system to compel a division
of revenues with Jitneys. It may be
doubted, too, that if that is attempted
the owners of the property will con
sent to dig Into their own pockets to
pay deficits. The outcome of an ex
pression of Injustice and unfairness
at the polls next Friday, in the face
oCfondlttons that are matters of com
mon knowledge, cannot be forecast
except In one particular. It is not
likely to cause a reduction of streetcar
fares.
It Is the fate of the company that
la uncertain. The Government under
a law passed April 22, may comman
deer street railways used In whole or
In part for the transfer or transporta
tion of shipyard employes. We might
in -fact get Government ownership
quicker than those who are steering
toward that goal imagine. But the
Government as Is evidenced by the
proposal to Increase railroad rates, is
Just as reluctant as private capital to
pay operating deficits.
There Is every Indication that the
6-cent fare has come to stay as long
as wages and material costs remain
at the present level. To open the
streets to every Irresponsible person
who wants to run a Jitney is to sacri
fice publlo welfare without profit or
return.
happen to be measurably fit for the
job. It Is doubtful that the proposal
to release men from the Army can
tonments for farm work will amount
to more than the proverbial drop in
the bucket Meanwhile, urban indus
tries continue to lure men away from
the farms. Some districts are prac
tlcally denuded of their skilled agri
cultural help. Matters promise to be
worse before they get any better.
At the same time there Is a "satls-
I factory and encouraging Increase in
' the acreage of the most essential
crops." This will continue to be sat
isfactory only In the event that the
crops are safely housed in cellar, barn
and granary. Crops in the -field are
less than half the battle. A every
farmer knows, the pressure comes In
July, August and September.'
It will require something more than
a mere wage adjustment to stem the
tide of voluntary enlistments. -Men
are not going into the Army at .T30
or so a month because they have been
refused $60, or any other particular
sum, for farm work. They are men
who want to take part in the big ad
venture, and who would be in the
front line If farm wages were ten
times as high as -they are today. Ten
thousand untrained women and boys
will not make up for the apparent
deficit of 9000 skilled farmers and
the deficit probably Is greater than
that .
It is common report that there are
some 3000 men idle in Portland for
no particular reason, except that they
do not choose to work, or that they
are finical about- the kind of work
they will do, or that they are holding
out for fanciful wages Which they
Imagine themselves to be worth.
Portland probably Is not peculiar in
this respect: other cities no doubt
have similar experiences. If a way
can be found to shame these men into
going to work on the farms, or com
pelling them to do so, or making it
uncomfortable for them to remain
Idle, there will be real reason for
optimism.
There are some thousands of skilled
farm laborers, as has been said, who
have 'been attracted to more or less
non-essential industries in the cities.
Co-operation of the employers of these
men, by which the latter would be
released for farm service, might pro
duce results, but It Is high time that
something were being done about it
It Is a rather big problem of organ!
cation and administration, as a stu
dent of labor problems is presumed to
know.
Optimism Is a delightful state of
mind, but It does not get any hay into
the stack or corn Into the shock, and
it does not put back on the farms the
thousands of young men who have
flocked to the colors or struck out In
search of jobs in town. The emer
gency calls for a highly practical
remedy, and we think the farmers
themselves will be more inclined to be
optimistic when it is shown that meas
ures are actually under way to or
ganize the remedy and put It Into
effect
A Line o' Type or Two.
Hew te the Line. It the Q.nlps Fall
Where They May.
When Mrs. Van Winkle's alleged
second husband ordered her to give
the old man a cold potato and let him
go, he did not know Its goodness.
Next time you are hungry at night
and do not know what to eat get one
from the cupboard. With a bit of
butter for each mouthful, it is novel
and satisfying.
Unlike Ole. who could make it In
"two yumps," the Coqullle antoist who
essayed to board a departing ferryboat
came to grief. There are more varie
ties of. the automaniac than all the
rest bunched.
The one difficulty about a political
combination against the pro-Germans
is that they refuse to come out In
their true colors and fight, but there
will be some pleasure in exposing their
camouflage.
At the present rate of growth the
man power of the American Navy will
soon equal that of the British. Our
development as a fighting Nation
promises to be one of the phenomena
of the war.
If there are a million rifle In the
hands of Germans In this country
if there is even a dozen every holder
is due for the inside of a barbed
wire enclosure, and he will get what
Is due.
Bmerlnus Versteeg is no longer a
solitary nominee on the local Demo
cratic ticket The Jackson Club gives
him a running mate, as if the Hon.
Km. needed speeding up.
Stretching the Monroe Doctrine a
bit might cover German radios in
Mexico. If necessary, Mexico would
be a fine training field for one of the
millions going abroad.
American aviators are doing great
work with foreign machines, and
when they get something made In
America it will be good-bye to the
Hun.
(By B. L. T. Published by Arrange
ment With Chicago Tribune.)
HOME bound from the battle front
Commander Sekl, of the Japanese navy.
In reply to the question. ."What was
the purpose of your visit?" said In part:
"America is a wonderful country." Well,
If it comes to that, the Japs tire a won
derful little people.
Problem of Conduct.
Sir: At a Red Cross sale a young
woman put up a lot to be auctioned.
The final bidder took it only with the
stipulation that the original owne
take him to Michigan and show him
the land. The bidder is an unincum
bered bachelor. What shall the young
woman doT MAB.
A Berlin newspaper advertises
new drug that allays hunger and en
ables one "to hold out until the next
meal time." When, presumably, one
ta4ces another dose. But the contln
uous smoking; of tobacco is almost as
good. It was a German philosopher
who said that smoking, with his people,
was a substitute for thought. It is a
pretty fair substitute tor food.
Testimonial.
Sir: We have lately observed a rem
edy for Summer complaints which may
be of service to others. The remedy
consists simply in having your phone
removed. Our landlord submitted to
this operation two weeks ago and we
have been unable to lodge a complaint
since. . PAN.
Speaking of sugar, J. F. nominates
for the academy. Miss Maple Grove, of
aaiiaa, uolo.
Luck, including the luck of the
weather, is said to be against the Ger
mans. This is ominous, as they have
had nearly all the breaks of the game,
and It may presage the withdrawal of
Von Gott from the firm.
Cleanllneaa and Godliness.
(From the Niles, Mich.', Star.)
Mr. Crume, formerly a preacher and
whose education as a Bible student Is
known and accepted for miles around,
is now a manufacturer of brooms.
Advice to Voters.
In the o. f. novel, when the hero or
heroine was packed off to boarding
school, the reader knew that he could
settle down to 10 or 15 chapters de
voted to that particular Institution of
learning. In the new novel one may
get by the school In 100 or 400 words.
This is how Mr. Fuller manages it in
"ON THE STAIRS."
First, however, this: I do not Intend
to magnify the academy and its stair
way. The academy did very well in
its day ana it happened to be within
easy distance of James Prince's resi
dence. If its big green doors were
flanked on one side by a grocery and on
the other by a laundry, and if its stair
way was worn untidily by other feet
than those of Dr. Grant's boys, I shall
simply point opt that this was In the
day of small things, and that Fastid
iousness was still upon her way. Should
this not satisfy you, I will state that
In the year following the academy
moved Into other quarters; It lodged
Itself In a nearby private residence
whose owner, in real estate, senses
down-heeled Decadence stealing that
way a few years before any of his
neighbors felt it. and who ,made his
shifts accordingly. If even this does
not satisfy you. I might sketch the en
trance and stairway somewhere In
Massachusetts, which are to know the
footfalls of Lawrence D. McComas, aged
10. grandson of Johnny;' but such a
step would perhaps take us too far
afield as well as slightly Into the future,
One does not pass a lad through that
gateway on the spur of the moment.
Nor ought I to magnify, on the other
hand, the marble stairway of the Mid
Continent. This was not one of the
town's greater banks; and the stairway
was at the disposal not only of the
bank's clientele, but at that of 16 tiers
of tenants. However, it represented
some advanced architect's ideal ot
grandeur and it served to make the
bank s president seem haughty when in
truth he was only- preoccupied.'
"Let's put Normal, 111., on the list
writes Curly the Gadder. "Chief White
wears a red helmet labeled Chler when
on the hose cart and has a bright star
on his breast labeled "Chief of Police.'
In his 1917 report to the village board
he mentions 23 fire alrams and 11 ar
rests. Why hire two men?"
Why the Germans Fled.
(From "Songs the Soldiers and Sailors
Sing.")
Dixie gave us men like Robert Lee,
Men like old Jeff Davis, too.
And Stonewall Jackson was there In
action.
Sherman marched through Dixie to the
Antl-Ioafing laws are spreading a
reign of terror among those who toll
not What a sad world it will be
when they can find nothing to do but
work.
The American troops have found
the way to make the Germans aban
don poison gas. It is to give them a
double dose of the same medicine.
EATrOC OPTTMISM.
It will not be possible for thought
ful observers of the farm labor situa
tion In the Northwest to share the
optimism" of the Oregon State Labor
Commissioner, unless there shall be
definite Indication, and more than a
mere belief, that there will be suffi
cient labor on hand to put in the
crops and harvest them. Making a
'-'survey" of the number of men and
women and boys available is, unfor-
unately, far short of turning their
efforts to account
It seems, according to the estimate
now made, that there are approxi
mately 10,000 farm laborers for all
year work, and about 17,000 available
for haying season help, with a pros
pective need of 36,000 laborers for
the 60.000 farmers of Oregon. This
on Its face leaves a shortage of some
6000 men. which may be partly made
good by employment of the Boys'
Working Reserve, and of women who
Verily, the times have gone Into
Innocuous desuetude. No big rallies.
no whooping er up, and, best of all,
no promiscuous booze.
If the defeated candidates only
kept lists of the men who promise to
vote for them, what a census of grand
liars could be made!
Summer this year will begin May
25, which is the date set by Mr.
Cord ray, according to his time-honored
custom. '
The Turks are having so much
practice that they ehould win all the
long-distance races at the next Olym
pic games.
Every man with a few dollars in
the bank is proud to note the gain
in Portland deposits.
The municipality, like the Indi
vidual, needs more money and has but
one way to get it '
Diver dreadnoughts will be bigger
targets. Bring them out O, Hun, and
speedily!
Regular old-time Oregon rain, Just
tight for the early gardens.
The war is not over. Why Is your
pole bare? Fly that flag! -
sea.
We're taught that they fought in the
South to win our Liberty,
In Civil war time. Sixty-four time;
If these grand old heroes were alive
today, .
They would fight our battles too;
They're the kind we sigh for.
They would gladly die for Mother, Dixie
and You:
"Don't let 'em -bluff you," writes C.
C. from Camp Grant "about the soldier
on the Lit'ry Digest cover.- I blistered
my hand on the same sort of gun with
the same 'jollng jacKei.
Ttoaan-Lake
Sir: Has anyone reported to you the
engagement of Miss Emily V. Rough
and Dr.Guy Melvln Lake? Oh, yes, both
live in Weeping Water, Neb. W. S.
The next offensive will bring "the
longed-for German success," declares
the German press. Always the next
one. Hope deferred maketh the Hun
sick.
Wooed and Willing.
Great Phoebus, northing, hastes his
flaming steeds
From south the line through space's
countless miles.
He warmly wooes the while he swiftly
speeds.
And darling Mistress Nature shyly
smiles. I
Br blasts belabored while he fled afar,
Bereft of bloom, her case exceeding
dire.
She thrills throughout to view bis shin
lng car.
And burgeoning anew dons fair attire.
Full amorous he, and eager in his suit,
His gase more ardent grown with every
glance.
She dreams of bud and leafage, bloom
and fruit
And waking, yields her to his each ad
vance.
Her features, frigid late and hid 'neatb
hoar
Ah me, for moons how wan and woed
. her face!
Beneath his fond caresslngs more and
more
Take on again their lovely vernal grace.
But prithee, Phoeb, Just mind thy q's
and d s.
Nor let thy beams be mixed with burn
ing bombs.
Few folks are fain to melt as few to
freese.
So Hooverlxe on heat when Summer
comes. AKlLb.
A Flying Start Toward Fame.
Sir: Mr. Settle Is the check-out clerk
at the Statler, -in -St' Louis. My first
contribution, so please give a beginner
a chance. W. o. F.
The Oregonian herewith publishes its
conclusions as to the merits of the
measures submitted for vote of the peo
ple in the special city election. May 17.
Only a portion of the official title
sufficient to enable the voter to iden
tify each measure Is given, but the
measures are listed In the order they
will appear on the ballot:
Ordinance requiring any person operating
a motor bua over a definite route to take
out lleenie. obtain bond, define route, etc
100 Tea; 101 No.
Vote 101. Ko.
An act to amend tha charter by adding
a new section authorizing an additional levy
oi i miu to cover increased expensea ot
tha city cauaed by the war. 102 Tea; 103
No.
Vote 102. Yes.
An act to amend the charter as as to
give the council discretion. In awarding
contracts, to accept bids of Oregon persona
when aucn blda do not exceed the lowea
submitted by mora than a par cent. 104
Yea; 103 No.
Vote 104. -Yes.
An act to amend tha charter by addln
a new section permitting tha reorganization
of the Fire Bureau into two platoons and
authorizing a lour-tentha-mill tax. 10S las
107 No.
Vote 107. No.
An act to amend section 22ft of tha charter
authorizing tha refunding- ot water bonds.
ius ici; iu ra.
Vote 108. Yes,
An act to amend tha charter by repealln
three sections and substituting therefor
three naw aecttons authorizing a levy of not
to exceed 1 siill lor a free garbage collec
tion system. 110 Tea; 111 No.
Vote 111. No.
An act to amend the charter by addln
a new aection provldinc an additional
method of collecting delinquent assessment
by Issuing- bonds not exceeding 11.500,000
113 las; IIS No.
Vote 112. Yes.
An set to amend section 192 of the char
ter so as to authorise transfer to tha general
fund of balances left In special funds no
longer needed. 114 Yes: 113 Mo.
Vote 114. Yea.
An ordtnanoa reaulrinr operators ef mo
tor vehicles to file bonds. 116 Yea; 117 No.
Vote 117. No.
An act to amend the charter by vestln
In the council power to relieve transporta-
tion agenclea ot bridge tolls, paving costs
and other extraordinary charges. IIS xes
11 No.
Vote 119. No.
In Other Days.
NOTHING TO JUSTIFY QUARREL
Mr. Schnabel Deprecates Tenor of He
Nary-Stanfield Campaign.
PORTLAND. May 14. (To the EdI
tor.) You are to be commended in en
deavorlng to pour oil upon the troubled
waters in the Senatorial contest for
the long term. It must be conceded
that the present acrimony does not
augur well for Republican success In
November. Things are being said
about the candidates which would not
be said other than during a political
campaign.
' Mr. McNary and Mr. Stanfleld are
both splendid and capable men and
both would make excellent Senators.
The Republican party Is a party
principles and not of men. It is not
interested in the political fortunes or
misfortunes of either. The paramount
question is which would make the best
candidate and who could lead our ban
ner to success. That Is what the rank
and file of Republicans wish to know.
It has been a long time since a Re
publican has sat in the United States
Senate from Oregon by virtue of an
election. No Republican has sat in
the Senate from this state for years
except by an act of God. It is high
time that we should ceese to consti
tute ourselves to be "a bouse divided
afcalnst Itself.
Let the merits of these gentlemen oe
placed before the electorate solely
upon the question as to who could
win In Novmeber. Let the Republicans
decide this question in the primaries
and then let all Republicans abide oy
the primary choice and present
united front to the enemy.
CHARLES J. SCHNABEL.
WILLINGNESS TO FIGHT COMPARED
Coatraat Drawn Between McArthurand
Lafferty In Hour of Need.
PORTLAND. May 14. (To the Edi
tor.) When the President or tne united
States called for volunteers In 1898
our present Representative in Congress,
Hon. C. N. McArthur, volunteered his
services.
Mr. McArthur did not volunteer his
services as an officer, but as a "buck
private. It was then Dr. Kuykendall
discovered that "Pat" had an athletic
heart and refused to allow him to enter
the service.
Tha SDanish-American War Veterans
of Scout Young camp appreciated iur.
McArthur's efforts to enlist, his noble
fforts In working for pensions for
veterans of all wars, and so, though
the vigilance of the examining physi-
ian did not allow him to enter the
service, he was made an honorary mem
ber of the camp.
"Where was Lafferty In 1898 7
Whv didn't he attempt to enlist in
defending our country? He must have
passed the physical examination to go
to the training school, so he must be
fit to enter the service. Why has he
not taken any place In the service, es
pecially when the need for able-bodied
men Is so great? A. C STUBLING.
66 Sixth street.
- Slackers of the Knitting Needles.
CORVAMJS, Or., May 13. (To the
Editor.) When tha service flag was
being dedicated at the Oregon Agri
cultural College, President Kerr aeked
everybody to bow the head In prayer.
While the prayer was being made two
young women students sat knitting,
on a pink and one a bluo sweater, for
their own use. The following lines
have been suggested by a mother who
has a boy In France:
The people came, an earnest throng.
To dedicate by speech and song.
Tha aervlce flag a thousand strong
6be knit on.
And when wa bowed In reverent prayer
For all those dear boys "over there"
That God would have them In his care
She knit on.
Her face waa wondrous sweet and fair, '
A glorioua ntmbua was her hair.
She sat with an absorbed air.
And knit on.
The dainty garment that she wrought
No help to suffering mortals brought,
A Blacker she. In deed and thought.
She knit on.
MRS. ANNIE M. BEALS.
jrweaty.iveYears Age.
From The Oregonian of slay 15, 1893.
Jacksonville, Or. Old Jennie, the last
of the famous tribe of the Rogue Rivers,
died here this morning after a pro
tracted illness.
A number of local turfmen went out
to take a look at the new Albina race
track yesterday. The roads leading to
it are in a bad condition.
There were numerous Impromptu
Democratic caucuses yesterday In Port
land. The work of paving Morrison street,
now that the weather is settled, is be
ing vigorously pushed by the con
tractors, who have quite an army of
men employed.
Webfoot Volunteer Fire Company has
ordered appropriate uniforms and in a
short time the members will appear in
their new costume.
Fifty Years Ago.
From Tha Oregonian of May IS. 186S.
Washington, D. C A joint resolution
was offered today to restore North
Carolina. Georgia. Alabama, Florida
and Louisiana to representation in Con
gress. The Astor estate Is valued by one
who professes to know at about S144,
000,000. San Francisco The Golden Age sailed
for Panama this morning with 224 pas
sengers and 11,006,829 in treasure.
San Francisco After a long period
of distrust or indifference with refer
ence to the railroad project to traverse
the state from the Columbia River to
the California border, the Oregonians
seem at last to be convinced that the
building of the road has been under
taken in good faith by responsible parties.
WARNING AGAINST PRECEDENT
Abandonment of Public Trust Opposed
by High Sense of Honor.
AMITY, Or., May 13. (To the Editor.)
Great wrongs may be committed
against our democratic institutions by
establishing bad precedents, even
though It is done by the compelling
Influence of some strong personality.
The Father of Our Country under
stood the danger of a bad precedent
and wisely counseled against It.
The offices of State Treasurer and
Secretary of State constitute a large
and vital part of a state's business
machinery.
The heads of both of these offices
are elected by the people, to whom
they are directly responsible for the
proper administration of a great publlo
trust.
Neither of the offices just mentioned
was ever Intended to be filled by an
appointee except when unavoidably
necessary.
Abandonment of either of these offices
unless owing to some kind of disquali
fication of the Incumbent would be a
breach of public trust. It would be
supporting a bad precedent and It
would be substituting the principle of
autocracy for democracy.
A high eense of honor and a feeling
of responsibility to the people who
elected them is the only thing that can
save officers of great public trust from
becoming mere playthings In the hands
of overambitlous men.
MRS. ROBERT ARMSBY.
Mall to Sqldlera Abroad.
DREW, Or., May 13. (To the Editor.)
-(1) My husband took out S10.0U0 in
surance since he enlisted. Will the In
surance papers be sent to me or will
they Keep them on record at washing-
ton, D. C?
(2) I have received one letter from
my husband since he arrived in Eng
land and it has been some time ago and
I haven't received any more letters
Please tell me where I could write te -
find out about him.
(3) Can one register letters to sol
diers In France or England?
(4) Are letters we write from here
censored?
(5) Can one send newspapers to sol
diers in England or France?
MK3, V. tr.
(1) You should receive a certificate
from the Bureau of War Risk Insur
ance, Washington, D. C.
(2) Delays In receipt of mall from
overseas are to be expected. You would
have been notified If anything disas
trous had happened.
(3) Letters may not be registered to
soldiers abroad.
(4) They are subject to censorship.
but the extent of examination Is not dis
closed by the authorities.
(5) Yes.
Campaign Methods Questioned.
PORTLAND. May 14. (To the Edi
tor.) Is there not some way of pre
venting what seems to many of us
the unpatriotic method of advertising
of some of our political candidates in
usins-. on moving picture screens and
elsewhere the flag of our country and
our boys at the front for the purpose
f furthering their own political aas
bltions?
I have noticed at one of the local
theaters such advertising In behalf of
candidate for Governor and a candi
date for Senator. Is this not Illegal
as well as unpatriotic?
MRS. ROSCOE HOWARD.
Germany In New World.
WATTNA. Or.. May 13. (To the Ed
itor.) Does Germany own any land or
territory in the new world If so, how
does It affect the great war?
Germany had no possessions In the
new world at the outbreak of the war.
FORGIVENESS.
As the Spring forgives the Winter
For his crimes In Ice and snow,
Slftinar lilies o'er his hoary locks.
Braiding voilets round his brow.
As the morn forgives the darkness
For a long and starless night
Binding up her dusky tresses
With a thousand loops of light.
As the grass forgives the battle.
Growing green above each tomb;
That the dead may rest more sweetly
In each silent, sunless room.
As the sea forgives the river
For the poison In Its tide,
Sending back the land's pollution
In a snow cloud wnite and wide.
So let human hearts give pardon
For the scars they have to wear.
Shedding mercy 'round about them
Like rose petals on the air.
Guy Fitch Phelps.
FREE BOOKS! FREE INFORMA
TION. The service rendered by The
Oregonian Information Bureau at
Washington in distribution of
publications is designed to be
continuous.
From time to time new books
have been listed, but those pre
viously announced are still avail
able. Either of the following may be
obtained for a 2-cent stamp to
cover coat of mailing. There is no
charge of any kind:
Book on Canning.
"German War Practices."
Book on Colds.
Garden Book.
Book on Knitting.
War Cookbook.
Book on Navy.
Book on Drying Fruits.
Book of Recipes.
Bread Book.
"How War Came to America.
Write today and ask for free
copy. Inclose a 2-cent stamp for
return postage and be sure to
write your name and address
plainly. Direct your letter to The
Oregonian Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, director,
Washington, D. C.
P, S. The Oregonian Informa
tion Bureau at Washington will
answer any question you may
submit. Answer will be sent by
letter. Just Inclose a 3-cent
stamp for return postage.
Do not write to The Oregonian
at Portland for these books or for
'letter replies to questions. Note
carefully the address given above.
r