10
TIIE MORNING OREGONIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 21, 1918.
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1'ORTI.AXD, IIKD.1V, MAT 21, 1918.
XMV SCHKMES FOR VOIR .MOStV.
The Oregon ian notes that the Sa
lem Grange, No. 17. would socialize,
or publicly monopolize, all the ptoc
tF.ses of industry for war purpose;?,
ami tlint it wouM also have the state
undertake to control the machinery of
manufacture and distribution, so far
as it relates to the farm output. It
is an ambitious programme. It is the
Non-Partisan league in new guise,
but without the name. Doubtless the
Salem Grange felt that there Is an
odium of public suspicion and disfa
vor about the League, and It decided
to run no risks. Doubtless, too, the
grange is intensely patriotic. The
League management and Townley.
the manager, is the League Is not
Intensely patriotic.
The grange would curb profiteer
ing. Certainly It would. Every
American worth the name and privi
lege would destroy profiteering and
punish profiteers. But whether or not
the Government shorild engage in
manufacture of all war supplies,
merely to head off the takers and
makers of large profits. Is quite an
other question.
Just now the United States Is en
gaged in gig-antic undertaking in Its
preparation for war on an unprece
dented scale. It would be remiss in
Its full duty if it failed to utilize every
available agency, public or private, for
the making of war materials. It was'
sought at the outset to prevent finan
cial exploitation by contractors and
others by the cost-plus system. It was
a failure. The more it cost to build
a ship, or erect a cantonment, or to
create any other product, the more
profit the contractor would make.
The easy solution of taking over all
war works is, of course, in many
minds. But the Government itself
must operate with and through the
same men as the private contractor.
It is the wise desire of the President
and his advisers to avoid com
mandeering when there is a guarantee
of a reasonable efficiency and output
by present methods. The public task
of running steel plants, coal mines,
railroads, shipbuilding establishments
and the like is colossal, and, more
over. It is something wholly new in
America. No wonder a scheme of
regulation is preferred to the direct
responsibility of outright control.
The Salem Grange does not end Its
drastic recommendations here. It
would also particularly look after the
farmer by a system of state-owned
terminal elevators, warehouses, flour
ing mills, packing plants, creameries,
cold storage plants and the like, all
to care for the products of the farm.
The problem of remunerative sale of
agricultural products Is a serious and
vital one, and we would not hastily
reject any proposal in good faith of
fered for Its solution. But a word of
caution to the Oregon farmer is not
amiss. Who is to run these public
utilities? How are the managers to
be chosen? Through politics? If
not. why not? If through the present
instrumentalities of political action,
what assurance have they that
expert management will be secured,
and retained? What other way Is
there to choose? The state recently
made an experiment In flax culture.
There was an opportunity for skilled
direction and wise and careful over
sight. Yet there have been constant
friction and divided counsels from
the beginning, and no man can say
with confidence that the same amount
of money expended under the auspices
of private investors might not have
brought far more satisfactory results.
If we are to have publicly owned
elevators, flour mills and so forth,
we shall have politically-controlled
institutions, unless we abolish politics
from our public affairs. Can it be
done? If so, how?
It is a curious echo of socialistic
agitation, often heard before the war,
that "wealth be Immediately con
scripted to pay the expenses of the
war." Could anything more disastrous
happen to the country than any policy
by which the great war for liberty,
freedom and right be a rich man's
war? Should the rich and well-to-do
alone subscribe to Liberty Loans and
give to the Tied Cross? Heaven for
bid. The essence of success in the
war is an equal participation by all
citizens in its responsibilities and an
equal expectation as to its rewards.
President Wilson seeks the widest dis
tribution of interest and accountability
by all citizens in his appeal for every
one not alone the wealthy, the. mod
erately well-off to take a bond, or as
many bonds as he can pay for. Eigh
teen million Americans enrolled them
selves for the Third Liberty Loan. It
was a mighty" army. The Loan would
have been an unquestionable failure
If the millionaires alone had furnished
the money. It is a success because all
Americans, in every state, got behind
the war with their money, by a direct
investment of money . according to
their means.
Let not the Salem Grange imagine
that the rich are being in any way
favored by light war taxes. Let some
enterprising member present to the
next grange meeting a copy of the
new war revenue bill passed October
3. 1917. If so, .we can Imagine the
grange will quickly pass resolutions
of sympathy for the poor plutocrat.
The unfortunate recipient of a 1.000,
000 Income must give $475,180 to his
country in taxes and the other un
happy possessor of $3,000,000 income
must iv up $1,806,180, No account
is here taken of corporation taxes or
excess profits taxes, all of - which
serve to reduce the incomes of the
owners of large fortunes, so that be
fore the $1,000,000 to $3,000,000 man
gets his money a generous slice has
already been taken away.
We are a little curious as to why
the grange thinks it would be well
for the state to own and operate
paper and pulp mills and furnish
print paper at cost. Naturally, The
Oregonian would like greatly to
cheapen the cost of news print, being
the largest consumer in Oregon or
Washington. But we fear greatly
that present prices would not be less
ened by public ownership, but in
creased. Let us commend to our Salem
friends the idea of making a careful
survey of the taxation situation in Ore
gon. Let them find out how much
tax per capita the average citizen
paid a decade ago. and how much
now. If there has been an increase
as there has been what has the citi
zen to show for it? If he is satisfied
with his tax investment, it must be
because public affairs are wisely and
economically administered. If he is
not satisfied, it will be because he
will think there have been inefficiency,
extravagance, waste, poor public in
vestments in wrong schemes. What
promise, then, is there that public
control of these costly new grange
schemes, and expenditure of the
moneys to maintain them, will be any
more profitable to hire?
IS IT A SIGN?
At this distance it is not possible
to estimate at its true value the report
that German troops on the western
front are subsisting on greatly re
duced rations, having been disap
pointed in their hope of obtaining new
stores in captured territory, but it
serves nevertheless to emphasize once
more the importance of food in win
ning the war.
If Germany has cut down the ration
of its fighting men even slightly, it is
a sign that the pressure is beginning
to tell, and it means also that civil
ians must be making still greater sac
rifices, since the Prussian policy Is to
give, first consideration to the effi
ciency of its soldiers.
It Is at least two month's before the
yield from the next harvest will have
an appreciable effect, and meanwhile
momentous events may be recorded.
It is the time for us to redouble our
economies and double our help to our
allies. A well-fed army confronting a
half-starved foe has an obvious ad
vantage. NOBODY LOVES A CORPORATION.
There was in the special city elec
tion the usual wise discrimination by
voters as to measures submitted, to
gether with the not wholly uncommon
exception born of prejudice or misun
derstanding. In another year the peo
ple of the whole state, out of preju
dice against the railroads, adopted a
freight-rate bill that experts could not
understand, and it finally fell foul of
the courts. Wore recently the people
refused to eliminate from the consti
tution a measure denying the fran
chise to negroes, although It had long
before been invalidated by the Fed
eral Constitution.
These exceptions, due to neglect of
study or of attempt to understand,
furnish material for opponents of di
rect legislation. Approval of the prop
osition to open once more the streets
of the city to jitney traffic is quite
similar. The public became aroused,
or rather was aroused, by persistent
propaganda, against the 8-cent fare.
The people well knew that every arti
cle of every-day life had risen in
price, from postage stamps and bread
and milk to fancy millinery and auto
mobiles. But the company, years be
fore, not anticipating war or war
prices, had accepted a franchise call
ing for a maximum fare of 5 cents.
The people insisted on the pound of
flesh.
To enforce the high-minded propo
sition that a contract is a contract and
should be kept regardless of conse
quences, it has turned to the other
high-minded proposition that the way
to beat the devil is with fire. The
jitney business is a gold-brick game.
It is alluring to a class of individuals
who cannot figure more than a. month
or so ahead on expenditures. So the
public will sell gold bricks to a few
hundred jitney drivers who could be
better employed and would be better
off In filling the scant ranks of labor
In necessary war industries. all for
the purpose of getting that pound of
flesh out of the street railway.
We wonder if, had there been the
same virtuous indignation expressed
over violation of contracts, the people
of Portland would have risen as
mightily against the prohibition law
or the minimum wage law, or a dozen
and one other police measures that
have been enforced for the common
good regardless of their effect upon
previous agreements.
It may be a fine thing for the town
to restore the 5-cent fare, if that be
the result, even though the company
goes bankrupt. But would it not be
as fine for the community if we could
say that no baker had raised the price
of bread, that no dairyman had raised
the price of milk, that no workman
had accepted higher wages than in
peace times; that they had done this
for the glory of the city and the com
fort of the population thereof, and to
help the prosecution of the war, facing
failure and starvation with a patriotic
fortitude?
We do not suggest that they do it.
Dear, no. The point is that, it's a
great life for everybody except a cor
poration. DELATED RAILROAD IMPROVEMENT.
Nearly a billion dollars is the
amount which Director-General Mc
Adoo considers it absolutely necessary
to spend on railroads this year in or
der to make them nearly equal to war
emergencies. That is the sum which
the late James J. Hill said some years
ago should be spent every year for
five years in order to bring the roads
abreast of the country's transportation
needs and to keep thenv. there. No
approach has been made to that total,
and there are consequently heavy ar
rears to be made up. It is probable
that two billions could be spent to ad
vantage, ajMl that the programme has
been cut to the bone because of the
difficulty of getting labor and ma
terial without interfering with more
essential war work.
Appropriations are made almost
entirely for improvement of existing
roads, only $18,203,000 being provided
for extensions. Yet it Is certain that,
if more extensions had been practica
ble, many commodities of value in the
war would have been made accessible.
Oregon furnishes several examples,
for short roads would bring the
chrome and copper ores of Southwest
ern Oregon to market, while the Stra
horn roads would add much grain and
livestock which would then be grown
in Central Oregon. Some short
stretches of these roads may be built,
but tha Government is likely, to. post
pone more ambitious schemes until
peace time.
In deferring necessary additions to
his transportation system, not only by
rail but by water, until the war began.
Uncle Sam has acted much like a man
whq does not buy a, gun till the shoot
ing begins. He is late for the fight
and pays a fancy price for his gun. if
he does not find the supply sold out.
TRACTORS FOR FRANCK.
American women who propose to
raise funds to provide tractors to be
used in farming in the devastated re
gions of France are giving a distinctly
practical turn to their philanthropic
instincts. It is doubtful whether any
gift would be more welcome than a
tractor so constructed as to meet the
demands of a region of small farms.
At the same time, such a piece of
machinery would have the fairest kind
of test, because it would fall .into the
hands of a people long accustomed to
community co-operation. Villagers
to whom the community well and the
community bake oven are a common
place will have little difficulty in ad
justing their affairs so as to enjoy
the fullest benefit of an engine oper
ated for the good of all.
The tractor- is Just another step in
the direction of reducing the human
labor required to produce the bare
necessities of life. If we were reduced
to the methods in vogue even so re
cently as 1830, for example, it is. in
teresting to speculate upon what we
should do for wheat. G. K. .Holmes,
of the United States Department of
Agriculture, has estimated that in
1896 the average amount of labor re
quired to produce a bushel of wheat
was ten minutes, whereas in 18 30 it
was three hours and three minutes. In
the earlier time a clumsy plow was
used, and seed( was sowed by hand
and harrowed into the ground by
drawing bushes over it. The grain
was cut with sickles, threshed with
flails and winnowed in the wind. We
now perform all of these operations
with machinery. Even the horse is
being eliminated as a factor by the
growing use of the tractor engine.
France also stands in peculiar need
of the .help of powerful machinery
because of the condition of her de
vastated fields, and also her greatly
reduced man power. It is expected
that women will be trained to operate
tractors, as they have done success
fully in the United States, and this
will greatly widen their opportunity
for usefulness. In France, as else
where in the world, ever-Increasing
use of power will be stimulated by the
killing of men in battle and by the
continued necessity of provisioning
the people while the armies are in the
field.
APH1DS.
Spring brings with it to the farmer
and fruitgrower the aphid to add to
his many vexations. Etymologists
say that the name probably was de
rived from a Greek root meaning
"unsparing," and entomologists point
to the eating habits of the aphid to
show that the method of combating
it also must be unsparing. No better
method has been found, aside from
the thorough cleaning up of field and
orchard in the routine of good farm
ing, than to apply a contact spray so
thoroughly that each aphis shall be
covered with it. This requires much
care, and it is costly In time and la
bor, but there is no other way.
There are several varieties of
aphids, but they are alike in their
common practice of attaching them
selves to young shoots and tender
leaves, and sucking the sap from them
through a long, slender proboscis.
They do not feed upon the surface of
the plant, and poison sprays are for
this reason Ineffective against them
Those who employ other sprays than
those which depend upon contact
with the body of the aphid only waste
material. Emulsions of kerosene,
soapsuds and certain forms of nico
tine are effective, but everything de
pends upon thoroughness of applica
tion. An annoying feature of the
work of the aphid is that in a few
days it causes the leaf tc curl in such
manner as to form a protection
against the spray. The lesson from
this is that the man who begins the
battle early greatly simplifies his
task.
The aphid seems to contradict the
theory held by some that everything
in nature was made for a good pur
pose. It does not appear to exercise
any beneficial influence in nature. It
Incidentally exudes a honey-like sub
stance which is greatly relished by
ants and is called by some writers
the "milch cow of the ant." but no
good end is served to the farmer by
maintaining the supply of ants. The
latter, with their well-known Indus
try, protect the aphid and convey
them from place to place. The cam
paign against the aphid is not com
plete if it does not include measures
for the destruction of ant hills, which
are particularly plentiful this year.
The visitation of aphids this sea
son should not, however, cause the
farmers to give up in despair. Its
gravity may not be minimized, but
there is some comfort in the reflec
tion that there have been other such
years and that reports usually are
exaggerated. Besides, a cold, wet
spell is often fatal to the newly-
hatched aphid and this week's weather
is nicely calculated to help the farmer
in getting rid of the pest.
TOO TENDER WITH OFFICEHOLDERS.
The Senate was se scrupulous about
passing retroactive laws that, in con
sidering the sabotage bill, it refused
t6 provide for dismissal from office
of men who have been guilty of acts
which are offenses under that bill,
unless the acts shall have been com
mitted after the passage of the bill.
This was done by adoption of a sub
stitute proposed by Senator Jones, of
New Mexico, for an amendment pro
posed by Senator Penrose, which, the
latter admitted, would have been
retroactive and would have required
the dismissal of men for acts and ut
terances in favor of Germany or the
I. W. W. before the United States en
tered the war. Both amendments
provided for dismissal upon convic
tion after hearing by the head of de
partment or by the appointing officer.
In this decision the Senate showed
excessive tenderness for men who
were pro-German before the United
States declared war, but who there
after suddenly became patriotic. Such
men two or three months before we
entered the war, in the language of
Senator King, "denounced the Con
stitution of the United States and our
form of government and denounced
the flag." Doubtless many of these
men have experienced a change of
heart, but with many others loyalty
is only skin deep and is prompted by
anxiety to hold their jobs, and they
would be good material for spies to
work upon. Some may remain in the
service for the secret purpose of serv
ing the enemy. Surely the safety of
the Nation demands that cognizance
be taken of men's acts and utterances
from tie beginains I tbg war in
judging whether they can be trusted
to serve the United States faithfully.
The Senate's error seems to have
been predicated on the opinion that
pro-German sympathy prior to April,
1917, would have been made an of
fense against the law and that dis
missal from office would have been
made the penalty for that offense by
Mr. Penrose's, amendment, "rte ques
tion is not one of legal offense: it is
one of fitness to hold office under
conditions created by war. The Sen
ate has frequently refused to con
firm appointments of men on the
ground that they did not possess the
proper qualifications for office, but it
did not regard their disqualifications
as a crime, nor exclusion from office
as a penalty for that crime. When
Mr. Brandeis was appointed a Justice
of the Supreme Court the Senate ex
amined minutely- into his entire pro
fessional career to determine whether
he was fit. but an adverse decision
would not have branded him as a
criminal or made his rejection a pen
alty. The Government Is in duty bound
to consider the entire record, charac
ter and affiliations of a man when
deciding whether he shall be appoint
ed to or retained in office at this time,
when many are known to be in sym
pathy with the enemy, and when
spies are scattered all over the coun
try. This is necessary to prevent be
trayal of important military secrets.
DEMOCRACY.
The "California lawyer who decTtnes
to accept a nomination on the Social
ist ticket, and in doing so accuses the
party of "secret sabotage against the
Government," has grasped a .great
principle underlying American gov
ernment, which is majority rule, and
with it acquiescence by the minority
in the decision of the majority until
the time comes when the figures have
.been reversed, if orderly and educa
tional methods can bring this about.
It is surprising how generally those
who begin by clamoring for "rights"
as a minority lose this respect for mi
norities once they have attained
power. The Bolshevlkl of Russia are
a noteworthy example. They no soon
er obtained the reins of government
than they became as intolerant of
every other party as the Czar and the
reactionaries had been.
With all its faults, the majority sys
,tem must remain untij some construc
tive statesman has devised a better
one.
If the Dutch warships should fol
low the examples of the famous Ad
mirals, De Ruyter and Van Tromp, by
hoisting a broom at their mastheads,
there might be something doing be
tween Holland and Germany after all.
It was not formerly the custom of
Dutch seamen to run before any en
emy.
Foul language gets nobody any
where but into jail. There Is nothing
to be said in favor of obscene or blas
phemous talk. The habit can be
checked; man never Indulges the li
cense around home, it would shame
him.' Like other bad habits booze
and tobacco It can be stopped.
If the American Sinn Fein expect
any sympathy with their imprisoned
brethren in Ireland, they will be dis
appointed. American sympathy will
go to the people who fight shoulder to
shoulder, not to those who refuse to
fight anywhere except on the side of
Germany. '
Rather than half fare for soldiers
and sailors, why not consider the uni
form a ticket? Trains must be run
anyway, and there will not be enough
to swamp them. This country owes
its boys more than pay, and half fare
is a kind of charity at best.
The U-39, that sank the Lusitanla
Is in a Spanish harbor crippled, and
we might violate a little neutrality by
yanking her out for a finish. Play
ing square is hard work for America.
All these young men about the city,
well dressed and apparently without
employment or a care, cannot be cap
italists or the sons of capitalists. The
wonder is who is keeping them.
Watch for a great battle in the vl.
cinity of Mount Ararat between Brit
ons and Turks, where Assyrians and
Hlttites used to fight thousands of
years ago.
Having failed to beat the British
army, the Germans strafe the women
and children of Ixmdon from the pre
sumably safe altitude of 12,000 feet.
Every munitions explosion abroad
Is exploited in Germany as & Hun vic
tory, while Teutonic affairs of the kind
are ignored or belittled.
There have been enough rainy Sun
days. The next must begin the rain
less. Perhaps Mr. Cordray, who is in
terested, can arrange it.
A news item tells that two Amerl
can negro troopers, wounded, fought
off twenty Huns. The razor certainly
is a ferocious weapon.
If the Chamber of Commerce has a
publicity man in Washington, he must
get Portland mention into the world
news of shipbuilding.
Warning to new and inexperienced
Sheriffs: Before you demonstrate the
use of handcuffs to a prisoner, be sure
you have the key.
There is one cure for "conscientious
objection" that is pure stubbornness,
and those in authority have found it.
We are all members since the first
drive. Now we are workers, and the
money does the talking.
In the Civil War to be drafted was
a disgrace. In this war it's a glory
for Its very democracy.
Portland's quota is $250,000 less
than a dollar a head. Why not make
it two?
The snow storm in the Inland Em
pire Saturday was a-palouser for a
finish.
Pretty soon every tough-looking
character will be a Jeff Baldwin.
Georgia !s .at It again, with four
lynched negroes to its discredit.
Omaha starts a good fashion in
classing lazy men as traitors.
Anybody still sore? Lots of room
on the front bench.
The Marquam Gulch playground is
a dream realized.
All seem to be coming up as good
losers,
LARGE COXTRIBCTOR TO COrXTRI
Nearly Fourth of C f b. Medical
School Graduates Are- 1st Service.
PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Edi
tor.) Anent your editorial Sunday re- j
garding physicians in the Army medical
service allow me to state what the
medical school of the University of Ore
gon has done In this regard. First let
me state that the University of Oregon
medical school now Includes the gradu
ates of what was the medical depart
ment of Willamette University before
the, two schools were merped into one.
The first class was graduated in
1SS7, so please bear this fact in mind
when considering the following figures
as physicians who received their de
grees much less than 61 years ago are
not eligible for medical service in the
Army on account of their age.
The present addresses of 556 of the
graduates are known: of these 125 are
now or nave oeen in the service, or
23.6 per cent of the men (women are
not accepted by the Army). There are
undoubtedly a number in the service
whose home addresses, being in distant
states, are unknown to the comniler
of the above. Other names are being
added to the list from day to day.
xwo or me a Dove nave died in the
service. Four are Majors. 15 Oantaini
and the rest Lieutenants. They are in
an orancnes or tne service.
Not less than 39 of the instructors
are In the service.
The medical school. Unlveraltv nf
Oregon, -will do everything In its power
iuwuru tne reconstruction of returned
wounded soldiers and deserves the un
divided support of the community in
us eiions.
The above statement is made from
figures given me by the president of
the Alumni Association, Medical School,
University of Oregon.
MELISSA UVEDALIA.
GLASSED EGGS IN TIN COTAIKR
Correspondent Finds That They Keep
s Well as In Crockery.
ILWACO, Wash.. May 19. (To the
Editor.) In .this needed day of pre
serving food many may fail to put
away eggs for tile lack of the earthen
ware or glass container.
Some years ago we were short of
earthen Jars and noticing that silicate
of soda came shipped sometimes in tin
cans 1 reasoned that if the pure strong
article was not injured by being in a
tin container the diluted article ought
not to be injured.
So I tried a five-gallon coal oil can
for slllclte of soda preserved etrgs and
could see no difference in the eggs
packed In a tin container and those
packed In an earthen Jar.
We hava used tin containers now for
three years with entire satisfaction. So
the lack of earthen jars need not pre
vent the preserving of eggs. But the
eggs must be fresh and tin and water
absolutely clean.
WALTER SEABORG.
American Born In Canada.
PORTLAND, Slay 20. (To the Edi
tor.) (1) Is the person under the fol
lowing circumstances a subject of Can
ada or of the United States? He was
born In Canada. His parents were
both native American citizens before
going to Canada, and while living there
never renounced their rights as citi
zens of this land. Moreover, some time
after the birth of the person in ques
tion, returned to this country for a
period of several years, after which
they agraln moved to Canada, where
they still reside without, however, hav
ing at any time given up their claims
to citizenship of the United States.
This person has lived in the United
States continually for the past five
years and having now arrived at the
age of 21. he wishes to become a citi
zen If he Is not already such.
(2) In The Oregonian. April 13. 191S.
It was stated that the proposed treaty
In regard to alien draft had been with
drawn from the Senate for the purpose
of modification. Has this treaty been
ratified since and with what changes?
A READER.
(1) Xo naturalization Is required.
He Is recognized as a citizen by the
laws of this country.
(2) It has not been ratified.
HATER DOLOROSA.
The sky Is so blue, the fields so fair,
In the glory of Spring's advance.
Oh, the terrible rain falling today
On the battle-scarred fields o( France!
We emlle, we pray, the mild days pass
In the sweetness of love and life.
Far over there they give their all, '
As they clash In the bloody strife.
Oh, the bonnle lad, my youngest, most
fair.
Is he lying among the slain?
Let me sleep, then he comes in his
youth and grace.
And my heart forgets its pain.
Christ of all suffering eouls, look down.
Let thy children not lose their way.
Where chaos reigns, where murder
stalks.
Keep the boy of my heart today.
J. A R.,
Forest Grove, Or.
Homesteaders in Camps or Mills.
MORSYROCK, Wash.. Mav 19. (To
the Editor.) (1) Can a member of the
Loyal Legion of Loggers and Lumber
men get credit on his homestead for
time worked in camps or mills?
(2) If so, will he' have to complete
the full -amount of Improvements re
quired by law? A SUBSCRIBER.
(1) The homesteader who engages in
logging or mill work for the Govern
ment does not get the period of such
employment credited on his residence
requirement, but is merely accorded
protection against contest. Certain
formalities are necessary. He should
take up the subject with the office
where his filing was made.
(2) The full amount of Improvements
must be completed when he resumes
residence on the land.
Rablts Bat No Market.
PORTLAND, May 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Seeing so much about raising
rabbits for the food of my country
and everybody, I went to work and
saved "my money and have got the
dandiest bunch of rabbits you ever
saw. But 1 11 be blest if I can sell
them not a bit of lt So what's a
fellow to do for they sure eat their
heads off.
The markets don't want them and I
wish you could hear the hotels say
"no!" I wish you would help me, for
hcnestly. I don't know what to do.
A BOY.
It is apparent from your letter that
you have made the error committed
by countless older persons of over
estimating the market demand for a
particular product. The Oregonian
would be glad to help you but It
cannot compel a reluctant public to
cat rabbits.
Employe Gives Hint.
Tit-Bits.
Employer I suppose you have no
objection to early hours
Youth You ca't close too early for
me.
Baseball Over There.
Scores of French hills are being lev
eled to make baseball grounds for the
American soldiers to use with equip
ment furnished by the Y. M. C. A.
Irvine- Cobb Telllnar Stories.
Irving Cobb is up close to the front
lines in France telling stories to Amer
ican, soldiers la l". iL C. A. dugouts.
WHAT HEIXE TBOl'GHT OF PRUSSIA
Germans: Poet Foresaw Resatts 'of
Knltnr'o Methods.
The Outlook. New York.
In a recent address in the United
States Senate the Hon. Lawrence Y.
Shtrmin, Senator from Illin -. quoted
the opinion of Heine as being to the
effect that the Prussian Is by nature
stupid and cruel and by science he is
made ferocious, wicked and dangerous.
The Outlook wrote to Senator Sher
man for the sources of his quotation
and he has replied, giving the follow
ing quotations from the famous Ger
man poet:
It is true that even recently friends of
the fatherland have desired the extension
of Prussia, and hope to see in Its Kings
the masters of a united Oar-many. They have
baited and allured patriotism to it; there
w s frussian liberalism and the friends
of freedom look confidingly towards the lin
dens In Berlin (an allusion toUie famous
Cnter den Linden. the broad highway,
planted with lindens, leading from the royal
castle to the brandenburg gate.
On the contrary. I watched with anxiety
this Prussian eagle, and while others boasted
that he looked so boldly at the sun, 1 was all
the more observant of his clawa. I did not
trust this . Prussian, this tall and csntlni.
whlte-gaitcred hero with a big belly, a
oroaci mouth, and a corporal s cane which
ha dipped in holy water ere he laid It on.
I disliked this philosophic Christian military
despotism, this conglomerate of white beer,
lies, and sand. Keoulsive. deenlv repulsive
ti me. was this Prussia, thla stiff, hypocritical
Prussia, this tartuffe among slatea. Preface
to "Letters From Pans." vol. 1. page 16-
. if the Kichtean dares all dangers
because for him they da not exist in re
ality, and the philosopher of nature will be
terrible because he will appear In the Hon
with tha primitive powers of nature. ab:
to evoke the demoniac energies of old Ger
manic pantheism -doing which there will
awake in him that battle-madness which we
find among the ancient Teutonic races who
fought neither to kill nor conquer, but tor
the very love.of righting Itself. It la the
fairest merit of Christianity that it some
what mitigated that brutal German saudium
certamlnia. or joy In battle, but it could not
destroy it. "Germany," vol. 1. page -07.
Senator Sherman adds that in his
boyhood hi knew Frledrlch Hecker,
one of the German patriots of 1848,
and that he expressed the same senti
ments as the above concerning the
Prussians. Many German immigrants
of that time settled In and about Belle
ville. 111., and it was among them that
Mr. Sherman had his early experiences.
They were all ardent popular govern
ment people. General Slgel and Lorenz
Hrentano were among the 1S4 8 Ger
mans. They had all left their native
country because of persecution and
imprisonment, and. almost to a man.
they opposed the King, one of the
present Kaiser's predecessors. They
believed in constitutional limitations
on his power. This was regarded as
treason. It made these men exiles and
sent to our soil some of the best of
the German blood on this continent.
UKTHOSPECTIOX,
You once belonged to me! I look at
you today and wonder why
Of all the earth I should have chosen
you.
On whom, throughout existence, to rely!
When trouble came, and you in si
lence went away,
Tho heavens seemed but lowering,
threatening clouds;
The nights were funeral palls, and
every day
Teemed with dead memories, garbed in
blue-black shrouds.
You once were mine! Those vanished
days and years
Seem far remote and fanciful just
now ;
Verily, we two are changed, and it Is
well
Time leaves no telltale shadows on
the brow!
We meet and smile and pass, ond soon
forget
That we have smiled or passed or met
again;
And neither life Is tainted with regret.
And broken ties cause neither gloom
nor pain.
I study you and marvel at the ways
That make you seem a different sort
of man;
I try to vizualize the handsome youth
But frankly, I confess I never can;
And as In turn you study me, there
flames
No' deeper light in eyes I loved bo
well:
No sparkle kindles there, nor interest
bright
To Indicate you still might feel my
spell!
t
You once were mine! How very kind Is
Kate!
As we have changed, how could I love
but you?
And yet, the marriage vow would make
too late
The chance to benefit by changing
view !
I must have traveled far or you have
stood quite still;
There is no common ground on which
we meet;
How grotesque seems that fact, when I
recall
That once you made my life seem
quite complete.
GRACE E. HALL.
I 507 East Forty-ninth street North.
WORK.
vVhcn the heart is wounded, when the
spirit bends.
Scarred and bleeding to depths below.
Give me work! Give me work!
When despair is present and God's
light offends.
And Fate has but sorrow to bestow.
Give me work! Give me work!
Work all powerful restorer!
Work the balm for all ills!
Work Sorrow's destroyer!
Work Vast Emptiness fills.
When your soul has drifted on the
breakers of Life,
cjeaten. broken with each current
sway
Work get some work!
When your heart and brain are numb
with strife.
And Time's soothlngs are but an empty
lay.
Then get work get some work!
Work the great ally of Time!
Work, the healer of pains!
Work the savior sublime!
Work Life's balance retains.
FIFEEN.
Display of Service Flag.
PORTLAND. May 20. (To he Edi
tor.) My two youngest brothers have
been called for service with the Amer
ican Army at Camp Lewis. They both
lived with me in my house because our
parents are in Italy. Can I display the
service flag in my window, and wear
the service button?
A CONSTANT READER.
You certainly may.
Descent of Property.
PORTLAND. May 20. (To the Edi
tor.) To settle a dispute, what is a
wife's dower in Oregon In property
rights where there are no children, in
case of husband's death? J. B.
The entire property goes to the wid
ow in the absence of a will when there
are no children.
Civil Service Examinations.
CORVALLIS. Or.. May 19. (To the
Editor.) When is the next civil service
examination and where can one get In
formation concerning it? Also what are
the qualifications for a general clerical
position In that work? V. P.
Write to civil service clerk, Post
office building. Portland.
There- With the Gooda."
LA GRANDE. Or.. May 19. (To the
Editor.) Allow me to compliment The
Oregonian on its patriotism and war
service. It remind me of o!d Man Ore
gon it is always there with the goods.
A. , GLUDLS,
In Other Days.
Twenty-five Years Age,
From The Oregonian at liny 1. 1(91.
Tacoma. Wash. Special Treasurr
Agent Mulkey, who has Just returned
from British Columbia, says that the
Chinese axe pouring into this country.
Chicago. The executive eosxmlttse
of the National Lrjual ti f fr-asra Asso
ciation met hero today to xxtaJco ar
rangements for a campaign.
The St. Johns water works plant was
purchased from Its former opiums yes
terday y W. A. Wlllison.
Tho Willamette Is still rising; at thla
point, hut It is probable that by morn
ing it will have reached its highest
point for several days.
With tho yellow emblem of pestilence
floating from her foremast, tha British,
tramp steamer Danube Is quarantined
In mid-stream opposite Eighteenth
street.
Half a Cestarr Its,
From The Oregonian for March 11. ljes.
Daniel Webster, In a discussion of
the Influence of the press, spake as
follows: "Every parent whose son is
away at school should supply hlra with,
a newspaper. Those boys who have
access to a newspaper are superior In
debate, composition and general in
telligence." Tho President's last letter has reduced
Grant to a grease spot and wiped him
out with the Cabinet.
Rev. Foster, of the Christian Church,
delivered three lectures at tho Van
couver district school house expoeinjy
the tricks by which so-called spiritual
ists impose upon their audiences.
The Willamette River has been rising
for the last few days. A good part of
the time during last Winter the river
was too low for comfortable steam
boating. SALEM GRANGIS GOES OX RECORD
Adopts the Townley Sehraaea Wlthont
the Xante.
The Oregonian has received the fol
lowing with request for publication:
SAT-EM. Or.. May 18. 1918. Saiam Grange,
No. 17. Natrona of liuabandry. In regular
monthly meeting assembled, hereby adopts
and recommends to tb Oregon State Grange
tor Its approval, the following:
We commend our Government for the
progress It has made In Its efforts to curb
profiteering In the nceeasltles of lite and In
war materials, and In fixing prices. V urge
tha extension of such efforts on the part of
tlia Government and demand that Congress
give the I'realdent whatever authority may
be necessary to carry Into effect such ex
tension. We especially commend the McNary
bill ax a step In the right direction.
Justice demands and wo as a that wealth
be immediately conscripted to pay the ex
penses of the war so that those who do
tho fighting shall not later ba called upon,
to pay a war debt that was created -while
they were sacrificing their all for our com
mon country.
We believe that the Government should
manufacture its own war supplies of every
kind, and demand that In industries where
profiteering In Government supplies holds
sway, the Government take over such indus
tries and operate them with tho workers
encaged In sui-b Industries.
We commend organized labor for its will
ingness to submit to Federal mediation all
industrial disputes during the period of the
war. Wo urge upon the Government the
necessity of commandeering those Industries
where Industrial disputes afreetlng the war
do not promptly yield to mediation.
As a means to Improve the economle con
dition of tho farmers and other workers of
this state, wo indorse the following legisla
tive measures:
state-owned terminal elevators. ware
houses, flour mills, parking plants, creamer
ies, cold-storage plants and any other fac
tory, plant or thing that may be necessary
to take care of the product of tho farm to
the beat advantage.
Kqual taxation of the property of rail
roads, telephones, telegraph, electric light
and power companies, all public utilities or
other corporations, as compared with that
of other property owners.
State-owned and operated pulp and paper
mills to furnish print paper at coat.
A state eight-hour law for all labor ex
cept that cneaged In agricultural persulta.
I'anama Canal Tolls.
DORR. Wash.. Mav IS. (To the Ed
itor.) U) Was the Panama Canal
transferred to Great Britain by or
through the present Administration?
(2) What countries pay toll and how
much? SUBSCRIBER.
(1) It was not transferred to Great
Britain by this or any other Adminis
tration. (2) Vessels of all countries except
Panama pay tolls as follows: Merchant
vessels carrying passengers or cargo.
$1.20 per net vessel ton; vessels without
passengers or cargo, 40 per cent -less
than foregoing rate; naval transports,
colliers, hospital ships and supply ships,
same as loaded merchant vessels; other
naval vessels, SO cents per displacement
ton.
Names of Newspapers.
PORTLAND, May 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly print the names of the
leading publications of Spokane, Pen
dleton. Pullman and Walla Walla.
SUBSCRIBER.
Spokane: Spokesman-Review; also
Chronicle.
Pendleton: Tribune. East Oregonian.
Walla Walla: Bulletin. Union.
Pullman: Herald, Tribune.
Excess Profits Are Taxes.
ILWAOO. Wash.. May 19. (To the
Editor.) I have been looking for .in
formation concerning the excess prof
its tax. Is there any such tax now or
is there any new movement to secure
such a measure?
J. ARTHUR JOHNSON.
The war revenue law taxes excess
profits from 20 to 60 per cent, the tax
being graduated according to amount
of profits.
FREE BOOKS; FREE INFOR
MATION. 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 cost 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.
Rook o Drying Fruits.
Book of Recipes.
Bread Book.
"How War Came to America."
Write today and ask for x-oo
copy. Inclose a 2-cent stamp for
return postage and be sure to
write your name and address
plainly. Direct your letter to Tho
Oregonian Information Bureau.
Frederic J. Haskin. director.
Washington. D. C.
P. S. Tho Orecronian 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.