10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, JUNE 27, 1913.
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POKTLAND, THURSDAY, JINE 27. 1918.
REVISING THE DRAFT SYSTEM.
Proposals in Congress that the Army
be increased to 5,000,000 officers and
men, and that of the President that
there be no limit except the force
needed to -win the war, have brought
to the front the question of both rais
ing and lowering the limits of draft
age. Rapid increase in the supply
of tonnage will "soon practically re
move the limit on ability to transport,
arm and provision men. We may feel
confident that a second million will
be sent over in the next six months,
and a third million in time for the
opening of the 1919 campaign. That
will come within 300,000 of the num
ber estimated to be in the field or in
camp at the end of August. Before
that time arrives it will be necessary
to decide how men are to be obtained
to continue the movement next year
until the Army is large enough to win.
Several factors enter into considera
tion. The minimum age should not
be so low that boys are taken before
they have reached physical maturity,
nor should the maximum age be so
high as to include men whose powers
have begun to decline. The generally
adopted limits in other countries are
18 to 45, and it is often recalled that
three-fourths of the soldiers who
fought in the Civil War were under
21. But wars have changed. The
physical and nervous strain has be
come so great that compunction is felt
at sending boys under 21 to the front.
The life of a nation has become so
complex that men of 45 often cannot
be withdrawn without dislocating In
dustry and business, for many such
men are more valuable in their civil
vocation as non-combatant auxiliaries
than as fighting men. The system of
classification now in force might place
so many men of higher age so far
down on the list that the draft, as to
older men, might prove barren of re
sult. The older the men drafted, the
more dependents they would have,
and the greater would be the burden
thrown on the Government for their
support.
A good rule might be to subject no
man to draft until he was 21, but to
provide that all should go into train
ing at 20 and be ready for active
service at 21. That would exclude
the immature, but would hasten phys
ical development after the twentieth
year. It would also permit a larger
number to finish high school and to
begin learning a trade before going
into the Army. Thus their particular
aptitude would be discovered, could
be further developed and could be
made useful to the Nation. It might
be provided that men over a certain
age say 36 should be drafted into
the non-combatant branches of the
service, where they could apply the
special skill they had acquired. War
now requires so much scientific and
industrial specialization that these
branches would absorb a very large
number of older men. Possibly the
registered men might be classified as
to age as well as occupation and de
pendency. That plan was adopted in
Great Britain, each year of age form
ing a class and the youngest being
called first, the unmarried before the
married. In that way the Army would
secure the men most useful to it and
least useful by comparison in civil
life.
But the rule should not be so rigid
as to exclude desirable men above or
below the age limit. Some males are
full-grown men at 18, while others are
still boys at 21. Some men over 50
are in as fine condition as the average
man of 40. A rugged, clear-eyed old
prospector recently enlisted, giving his
ago as 40, but privately admitted after
ward that he was 56. He would make
a good soldier and was rightly ac
cepted. Such men at either end of
the scale should be enlisted as volun
teers. The United States has tbe oppor
tunity of working out a more nearly
perfect system than any of the allies.
for it has the great fund of their
experience as a guide. It needs such
a system, for it must supply not only
its own Army with munitions and iU
own Army and people with food, but
must help to supply those of the allies.
They, on the other hand, were able to
draw on this country for both from
the beginning. This country also is
the final resort of the allies for
finances, and can borrow little from
other countries. In order to produce
the needed material and capital it
must maintain its industry and com
merce at the highest efficiency. This
makes it imperative that great care
be taken lest in taking men for the
Army we impair our industrial and
financial resources.
American dependence upon Greece
for the dried "currants" which are so
widely used in this country has been
ended by the discovery by agents of
the United States Government of the
secret of the Greek growers. The so
called commercial currant is, as a
matter of fact, a raisin, attempts to
introduce which into this country
failed repeatedly until, only recently
it was found that they were made to
bear prolifically by cutting a ring in
the bark of the vine, the theory being
that the sap on its upward course was
thus not inhibited from passing freely.
but that being interrupted on its re
turn it aided in the production of
more and better fruit. The commer
cial value of this discovery may prove
to be very great, since it will not only
reserve the present home market to
home growers, but by reducing the
rrice also induce consumption of
much larger quantities than are now
used. It also opens an inviting field
to viticulturists who detect in the fu
ture omens of reduced. consumption of
wine.
. NOT BEER PATRIOTS.'
jf A current cartoon shows a Sinn
Feiner fishing on the bank of a
stream, and an immense fish labeled
"Home Rule" has taken the hook.
From the near background emerges
the ominous figure of the German
Kaiser, representing autocracy, about
to make a murderous attack on the
fisherman. "I hope I can land this
fish before the Kaiser gets me,"
cries the Sinn Feiner.
Mr. Bryan and his prohibition
friends might be substituted with en
tire propriety for the over-enthusiastic
man on the river bank, who was so
determined to catch his fish that he
was willing to take the chance of
losing his life. Home rule is a proper
aspiration for Ireland, and prohibi
tion has proved " its merit in states
which want it. But prohibition and
home rule can wait. The Kaiser won't
wait.
The statement of Mr. Colby, of the
Shipping Board, before the Senate
agricultural committee, that unless
the shipyard workers have their beer
the output will decline 25 per cent
is ridiculous. There is no provision
for beer or other liquor in Washington
or Oregon, and the efficiency of the
shipworkers is not below par. There
is ground for saying that it is above
par. Results prove it. They do
not depend on the stimulus of beer
patriotism.
Yet the protest of the Shipping
Board and of the president of the
American Federation of Labor, sup
plying most of he shipyard men,
should have due weight. The men in
the wet states do not want prohibi
tion, though the men in the dry states
doubtless favor it. Besides, they are
not all without certain domestic re
sources for the making of beer. Those
who want it can get it, though not
in a saloon.
NEEDLESS ITRES.
"The most disastrous blaze in the
history of the city" so the news ac
counts describe it, in graphic phrase
has just visited Cle Elum, in Wash
ington. It is a coal-mining town, with
the characteristic hodge-podge archi
tecture of its kind. There was a busi
ness section, and it went down before
the flames, and there were many
dwellings which met the same fate,
Fifteen hundred people are homeless,
Every town and city has its . great
fire, due usually to inadequate pre
paredness and to poor building re
quirements. Seattle burned up, or
down, in 1889. It is a continuing won
der, to all who saw Seattle in those
days, that it survived so long. It was
a sawmill city, irregularly laid out on
sawdust streets, or plastered against
the rough hillsides, and it had a hun
dred flimsy wooden buildings where
it had one modern business block. A
pot of burning glue, spread among
shavings, did as much damage rela
tively as the famous O'Leary cow,
The flames licked up everything in
their path. During that same year
the city of Spokane suffered similar
misfortune from fire; so did Ellens
burg and Vancouver. Long ago, in
the '70's, Portland had a great fire;
there have been single conflagrations
since that time which inflicted greater
money loss; but none which reached
the dimensions of a community dis
aster. Every city has to learn for itself
that it will pay in the end for cheap
structures in the congested district,
and for insufficient fire apparatus,
supplemented by an incomplete water
system. But this is not all. The true
solution of the fire problem lies not
only in suppression and fortification,
but in outright prevention. The way
to avoid fire loss is to have no fires;
and the way to have no fires is to
reduce the hazard caused by careless
ness, . and improvidence in needless
exposure. To put out a fire once begun
is good; to prevent a fire before it is
begun is better.
Portland has led the way to sys
tematic fire prevention. The results
are marvelous. There has been great
reduction in fire losses, because there
have been far fewer fires.
Every city, town and village could
and should do as well as Portland.
TLATIN AMERICA FOB THE ALLIES.
The German sutamsrina mmntilini
off the Atlantio Coast of th TTnlt1
States gives point to the movement
ior military aid to the allies bv Latin
America, for it is a direct attack on
the steamship routes between the
United States and Latin America and
may be designed to strike terror into
the South American states. That
movement has been starter! Yiv T?iv1-
ard Balzac, a Porto Rican merchant
in New York, and has been taken up
by Alexandro Rivas Vazquez, of that
city, who nas written letters to the
New York Times callintr
Latin American states to take up tho
wrman challenge by pledging them
selves to the cause of the allies and
Dy raising an army of 100.000 mpn tn
be sent to Europe, each country con-
triDuung its auota according to nnnn.
lation and providing food and muni
tions.
In one of his letters Mr. VumiM
says that unanimously Latin America
realizes mat tnis is the decisive hour
for the loss or retention of rlpm no-
racy, and that it is "reasonable to sup
pose that all the Latin American
countries wm go to war against Ger
many." They not onlv have nnnnln
with "inborn aptitude for war " Vint
they can provide immense supplies of
100a. vvitn their 70,000,000 people
they could furnish furth
ments and could secure th rear nf
the United States until this country
can provide snips to carry their con
tingents to the front.
The provision in the Army bill for
training troops of foreie-n nation tn
the United States and the statements
from Washington that the Latin
American states already at war with
Germany could furnish 2 inn nnn mo.
implies that the Government is seri
ously considering military aid from
that Quarter. Befnrs nianv mnnthe
have passed the Government may
have ships to spare for the transpor
tation of troops from Latin American
countries to the southern states for
training. If trained there anil n-rari
ually moved northwarrl. th
be acclimated for active service in
Europe. This movement of the bellig
erent republics would Iiavn a mac
netic effect on their neutral nierhhnr
and would stir up their people to
overcome tne caution of their rulers.
They would be inspired to cmsh th
German propaganda which is st.m rif
in some republics and might finally
draw all of Latin America into solid
alliance with the United States against
uermany.
Aside from its military arl van fa frs
such an alliance would bring North
ana boutn America into closer inter
course and friendship. Relations
would be further improved if -the
united states were to adopt Mr
Balzac's suggestion that it send "a
regiment of good, bright, young men,
American citizens with a knowledge
of Spanish and familiar with the
psychology and traditions of the
Latin American race, to Latin America
to work under the leadership of ex
perienced American diplomats, so as
to maintain alive the interests in those
countries for American ideals and
American manufactures." The reac
tion from Germany's bid for world
dominioii of autocracy might prove
to be a genuine and permanent Fan
American union for democracy.
NO PLACE FOB THE IDLER.
The persistent idler might as well
emulate the example of Davy Crock
ett's coon, and come down. By doing
so he will prevent useless expenditure
of ammunition, and also preserve a
whole skin. There are so many folks
gunning for him that it is practically
impossible for him long to remain at
large.
Adjutant-General Williams has in
dicated that it is the duty of patriotic
citizens to give information as to
idlers who may come within their
knowledge. Indeed, -this duty is pre
scribed by the regulations. The Amer
ican who knows that the war regula
tions iu this or any other respect are
being violated, and who keeps it se
cret, is, in fact, a party to the offense.
Men "are needed for war service, and
it is not proposed that slackers shall
be tolerated while other men are ac
cepting the situation uncomplainingly
and are entering training to fight the
Huns.
It is no petty call to "tell tales out
of school" tthat now comes from the
War Department. It is asked only in
simple Justice to the real fighters and
the real workers that their efforts
shall not be nullified by anti-patriots.
They will work and fight with more
enthusiasm if they are assured thai
the law is being enforced without fear
or favor. Senator Hitchcock's .est!
mate that by the time class 1 of the
draft Is exhausted there will be 3,300
000 men in the Army indicates the
number of men whose relatives and
friends at home will have a direct in
terest in seeing the law enforced. With
these millions watching them the
idlers will have small chance.
It is important to bear in mind that
the designation "idler" is comprehen
sive. It is not limited to those who
have no occupation at all, but in
eludes also those of draft age who
are unproductively engaged. There
may be some callings still open to
dispute, but there are others which
everybody recognizes as non-essential.
The "work-or-fight" regulations be
come effective on July 1 next. Reports
are to be made to the nearest draft
boards. The War Department has
provided against embarrassment of
informants by promising them that
their, communications will be treated
as confidential. Considering all the
circumstances, it will be surprising if
there is a work slacker in all the land
a month from now.
ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO DIVIDE.
The speech of Dr. von Kuehlmann,
the German Foreign Minister, to the
Reichstag is another of those adroitly
worded specimens of mendacity which
periodically emanate from Berlin.
There is only one statement of un
qualified truth in it this statement in
denial of the charge that Germany
piannea tne war and deliberately
forced it on the world:
At no moment of our later hlstorv was
there less occasion for us to start, or con-
triDute to tne starting or, a conflagration
man tne moment in which it occurred.
That statement is proved by the
revelations of Prince Licbnowsky and
by a comparison of the situation when
the war broke out with the Foreign
Minister s definition of what Germany
now desires. At that time Germany
had "a free, strong and independent
existence" not only within but beyond
the boundaries drawn for us by his
tory." Germany was in undisputed
control not only of all truly German
territory, but of that which had been
stolen from Poland and Denmark and.
unless challenged to a war which
could not have been honorably avoid
ed, France was not then disposed to
attempt the recovery of Alsace-Lor
raine. Germany then had "overseas
possessions corresponding to our
greatness and wealth," for arrange
ments with Great Britain and France
had given her extensive colonies in
Africa, and Llchnowsky had Just com
pleted treaties by which German in
terests would have been extended in
the Portuguese colonies, the Bagdad
railroad would have been completed
under German control and, in Lich
nowsky's words, "the whole of Meso
potamia up to Basra became our zone
of interest." Germany also had "the
freedom of the seas, carrying our
trade to all parts of the world," for
German ships freely navigated all seas
and carried German commerce to all
ports. The expansion of German com
merce and shipping during the last
half century gives the lie to any
charge that Germany was denied the
freedom of the seas.
In order to prove Germany's guilt
ana tne innocence of both Russia and
Great Britain in causing the war, it is
only necessary to call as a witness
Prince Llchnowsky, the Kaiser's own
Ambassador to London, who conducted
the negotiations to prevent war. This
is his summing up of the whole Btory:
We encouraged Count Berchtold to at
tacit Serbia, although no German interest
was involved, and the danger of a world
war must have been known to us.
In the days between July 23 and an. IBM.
when M. Bazanoff emphatically declared that
Kussia coma not tolerate an attack upon
Serbia, we rejected tho British nronouli
of mediation, although Serbia, under Rus
sian and .British pressure, had accepted
almost the whole ultimatum and althouch
an agreement upon the two points in ques
tion could easily have been reached and
Count Berchtold was even ready to satisfy
himself with the Serbian reply.
On July 30, when Count Berchtold wanted
to give way, we, without Austria having
been attacked, replied to Russia's mere
mobilization by sending an ultimatum to
St. Petersburg, and on July 81 we declared
war on the Russians, although the Czar
had pledged his word that as long as ne
gotiations continued not a man should march
so that we deliberately destroyed the pos
sibility of a peaceful settlement.
In view of these Indisputable facts. It Is
not surprising that the whole civilized world
outside Germany attributes to us the sole
guilt ior tne world war.
That testimony is "corroborated by
the statements of Dr. Muehlon, of the
Krupp company, and of August Thys
sen, the German steel magnate. The
truth is so well known outside of
Germany and the countries allied with
her that the only purpose of repeat
ing the falsehood can be to continue
the deception of the unenlightened
people of Germany and her vassals.
Other parts of the speech appear
designed for foreign as well as do
mestic consumption. The talk about
the annexed provinces of Russia had
to be carefully framed in vague lan
guage in order to maintain a pretense
that the treaty of Brest-Litovsk had
been observed and at the same time
to satisfy the Pan-Germans that they
would not be given up or be actually
independent. The talk about the de
sire of the Letts for deliverance from
the Red Guard was mere buncombe
to cover the latter purpose. Though
no peace offensive is directly at
tempted, one is concealed behind the
transfer of responsibility for the war
from Great Britain to Russia and
behind the quotation of Asquith. who
is no longer the spokesman for the
British nation, in place of Lloyd
George, who speaks for it with the
authority of Premier.
Holding Russia to blame furnishes
a pretext for the outrages perpetrated
on that country. Exoneration of Great
Britain from the chief blame opens the
way for a. cunning attempt to co
operate with those elements in that
country .which are inclined to peace
by understanding and to oppose war
for the destruction of Prussianlsm.
One of those elements is the bid Ton',
aristocratic landlord clique headed by
Lord Lansdowne, which is alarmed at
the spread of democracy, at the su
premacy of that arch-radical Lloyd
George, and at President Wilson's
slogan, "Make the world safe for de
mocracy," for it is interpreted to
mean. "Make the world unsafe for
aristocracy," in Great Britain as well
as in Germany, since, if the Hohen-
zollerns fell, the Junkers would fall
with them. Another is the regular
Liberal, ofiiceholdlng crowd headed by
Asquith, which regards Lloyd George
and. his Liberal supporters as a flock
of cuckoos which has stolen their nest.
Asqulth's recent speeches have
shown a slight leaning toward the
Lansdowne position, and his organ,
the London Dally News, is outspoken
against war to the finish of Prussian-
ism. The third element is tbe old
British army crowd, which made an
uproar about the resignation of Sir
William Robertson as chief of staff
and which probably put up General
Maurice to write the letter attacking
Lloyd George's veracity. Asquith
seized on both incidents to attack the
Cabinet In Parliament.' thus showing
his affiliation with the military mal
contents. To them always rally the
little knots of incurable pacifists and
conscientious objectors.
This faction in Great Britain is Ger
many's best hope at present of cauF,
ing that division among the allies by
which alone she can hope to escape
defeat. Clemenceau has exterminated
defeatism in France by the execution
of Bolo nd the conviction of tho
Bonne Rouge gang, and he success
fully .defies the Socialists. Italy, exul
tant over victory, is in no mood to
listen to those Socialists who talk of
peace. America's eyes are wide open
at last and are fixed on the target of
military despotism, for they are not
clouded by conflicting claims of races,
as are those of some of the allies.
But Germany's is a slender hope.
The American labor delegation which
recently returned from Great Britain
found that, except for not more than
5 per cent, the British nation is united
on its present course. It has had too
long and too bitter experience with
German ruthlessness and perfidy to be
deceived by any fair words from
Berlin. It knows that America is
coming in all her strength and will
bring the bright dawn of victory. That
knowledge steels its heart and gives
strength to its arm.
After all, with whom should the
allies talk of peace? The present
rulers of Germany are of the same
class which plotted the war at Pots
dam, trampled on the Belgian treaty,
murdered Belgium. Serbia. Poland.
Rou mania, laid waste and outraged
Northern France, Imposed a conquer
or's terms at Brest-Litovsk and then
broke them. A treaty with such a
power would be observed only so long
as the allies maintained the military
power to enforce its observance and
remained united, while Germany would
strive to build anew a superior force.
Better to fight on and make an end
of the Hohenzollerns and their whole
crew, and by so doing to drive the
carefully nurtured delusion of great
ness from the minds of the German
people.
When Kerensky reaches America
all the anti-Bolshevik revolutionist
parties will be represented here to
urge the claims of Russia on the
United States. One thing is certain,
no arms and munitions should be
given to the Russians without an
American Army in Russia, if only to
prevent some grafter from handing
them over to the Germans. The allies
had more than enough experience of
that kind.
The Grants Pass Courier appeared
on time the day after fire almost de
stroyed Its plant. The Observer ex
tended courtesies. That Is newspaper
ethics. It matters not how the
brethren wrangle at other times. In
time of stress they are brothers in
deed. Where there are not enough men
to do the work and women can do it.
men are foolish to object. The right
kind of man need not fear for his
Job. Woman is supplemental. This is
much of a woman s age, anyway.
No one will begrudge any excess
profits a poultryman may be able to
wrest from .his business. If only he
will keep right on producing eggs.
A stamp a month is a dollar a week
until New Year's, and one for the
"missus" is another dollar, easy to
plan and easy to do.
That man in New York who paid
$14,000,000 income tax the last day,
hiding his identity, has modestly
backed off the record.
Governor Withycombe may not do
the light fantastic, but he is due to
lead the grand march at Eugene on
the Fourth.
The "kid glove aristocracy" has
been put on notice that it can main
tain its ascendancy only by shedding
its gloves.
The Chinese bride of five days starts
a bad fashion in applying for a decree
the day her soldier husband left for
cany?.
The best Christmas present will be
a fourth liberty bond. Twenty-six
weeks to Christmas; begin saving now,
Tie most important achievement of
the submarine raiders is the reduc
tion in the supply of Cuban sugar.
Allegations of cruelty against a wife
make a man s man laugh. The victim
needs a partner of size to match.
When disposed to perspire, think of
the ships icebound off Nome, but do
not go there.
When the resorts that hold the
idlers are closed to them, the police
will do the rest.
Kid gloves are off color until after
the war. That's the way to figure it.
Italy' credit is good in.Amerl.ca.
Stars and Starmakers.
By JLoobci Case Batr.
MARGARET MATO' and her "stunt
troupe" have completed their plans
for tb Journey overseas to become the
first accepted unit for the entertain
ment of the soldiers and sailors in the
huts, headquarters and encampmment
"theaters" of France.
The long-exacting questionnaires
were filled out satisfactorily, the physi
cal examinations and preventive inocu
lations - were successfully undergone
and the little show which they will
present had its official "acid test" at
the Davison Theater. In Governor's
Island, last week, before a committee
of the War Department and the Y. M.
C. A. The passports have been an
nounced as ready and one day this
week the "Somewhere in America"
company. Including Margaret Mayo,
Ray Cox, Will Morrissey. Ines Wilson,
Roland Young and Henry Souvaine,
will sail from an Atlantic port for Bor
deaux. Preparations for the land tour abroad
have been completed and a Ford tour
ing car is to be the extent and limit
of the rolling stock employed in trans
porting the Mayo show. Scenery Is dis
pensed with and the "costumes," It la
expected, will be sufficiently pictur
esque and even comical after the
troupers have completed a few cross
country runs under fire. Ray Cox is
publicity manager. Miss Mayo stage di
rector. Will Morrissey transfer agent,
Inex Wilson, who is the only member
of the cast who can sew, is wardrobe
mistress; Roland Young is stage car
penter and Henry Souvaine property
man.
Only hand luggage will be permitted
after they leave Paris and every mem
ber of the company will be required to
wear a service uniform and abide by es
tablished military regulations.
John Drew, star, has now become
John Drew, grandfather.
His daughter, Louise Drew Devereaux,
wife of Lieutenant John Devereaux, has
a baby boy, who will be christened
John Drew Devereaux.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Devereaux are
well known to the stage. Before en
tering the service of his country Dever
eaux was one of the foremost musical
comedy actors of Broadway. He was
commissioned last Autumn following a
course at the Plattsburg officers' train
ing camp and Is now stationed at
Camp Dix.
"We think people on the state
ihould not tell the audience about
members of their acts Erolnsr to war
Most everyone in the audience has some
members of their families in the war
and they are not seeking kind applause
on It. It's cheap stuff."
So says Tommy Gray in Varietr. and
so echo a lot of us.
Cyril Maude Is to start next season
In "The Saving Grace," by Haddon
Chambers. The play was originally
produced in London. Mr. Chambers
has been in Australia, but came back
especially to put the play on for a
New York opening.
She Burnt Her Fingers" is the title
of a new four-act comedy by Cosmo
Hamilton, which the Selwyns are try
ing out.
Rehearsals started Monday In Los
Angeles for thenew Morosco musical
show, "Look Pleasant," with Walter
Catlett, who is to be starred, direct
ing. In Catlott's support will be Jack
Pollard, James Gleason and Marion
Van Tine.
Ballard McDonald, who wrote the
lyrics, is in Los Angeles on leave of
absence from the Army. Harry James,
who will stage the numbers, is also at
tending rehearsals.
James Gleason is remembered of the
old Baker stock days here.
A few months ago temperamental
Fritxl Scheff walked out of the bill at
the Palace, New York, because the bill
ing read Fritzi Scheff and five .other
star acts. Fritz maintained the other
five were not star acts. The manage
ment declared it wbuld be a cold day
when little Fritzi ever played in their
theaters again. Well, it must be that
tbe cold day has arrived, for Fritzi
opens at the Palace as the headline the
veek of July 1.
v
Fritzi s orchestra leader. Gus
Kleinecke, has been languishing in jail
pending an alimony claim of 225, due
his ex-wlfe, who,, by the way. named
Fritlzi Scheff as co-respondent when
sbe got the alimony a ytar or so ago.
However, Kleinecke was released from
jail through the solicitation of Miss
Scheff and the agent who booked her
act, so if nothing else happens Miss
Scheff will be at tbe Palace next week.
Fletcher Norton, Maude Earl's hua
br.nd. but better known as the chorus
man who married Veleska Suratt one
day and was divorced the next, has
Joined the Naval Reserves and Is sta
tloned at Pelham Bay.
m
John Wilatach. Just returned from
advance with "Flo Flo," has Joined
the Naval Reserves with a petty of
ficer's rank.
Thomas Clark, Jr.. husband of Elsie
Ferguson, has enlisted, and is sta
tioned at Governor'. Island.-.
Tom Powers.- the orjglnaf boy of "Oh,
Eoy." is overseas in the-Royal Flying
Corps.
'.
John McMahon, . business manager
"Love o' Mike," was talking to
couple of the colored boys of the 367th
Infantry in front of the theater. Mac
asked one if he had heard about the
new gun the Germans had that shot a
distance of 25 mllesv The colored trooper
looked at Mao and said: "My goodness,
man. you run all day to get shot in the
evening."
Ethel Barymore donated a big flag
pole to the Y. M. C. A. which now
stands in front of the first Eagle Hu
erected by the asociatlon in the Btates.
This but la In Bryant Park. New York,
with Miss Barymore's gift put to pa
triotic use last week when the hut was
dedicated with appropriate ceremonies.
Anna Held's daughter. Llane Held
Carrera, Is now working in a Fox pro
duction starring Virginia Pearson
which Is being produced in the J.
Stuart Blackton studios in Broklyn.
Miss Carrera has taken up this work
on the advice of her physician who
suggested it as a relief from the tense
mental strain she has been under on
account of her mother's serious illness.
While with the Fox company she re
ceives word every hour as to her
mother's condition.
Anna held continues, to improve, but
she is still very ill.
Belgium Watts.
By Edisr M. Mumford.
(Inspired by conditions in Belgium, as
portrayed tn a lecture clvnn in Portland. Or..
June 14. 1918. by Mrs. Vernon Kellogg, th
enty woman member of the Seiflan Relict
Commission. )
Sexes, forego the thought of ease.
Buckle vour armor tla-ht.
Great is the task; and the vision great.
ior a greater day unite.
Down deep in the valley where women
must go, there's death In the
cud and life.
The ridges are red where the men make
f land; and all have a part in the
strife.
Creeds, be peaceful anions; yourselves;
your bickerinsa forbear.
Let East and West and North and
bouth one common Durnose share.
Touching tho hem of the garment of
lite, washing her eyes in the
clay.
Bathing in pools of sacrifice Belgium
waits today.
They wait ten million Belgian-French,
encircled and enslaved;
Nor sex, nor creed, nor party voice
should speak till these are saved.
Belgian. Frenchman. Serbian. Pole.
Roumanian, Roman. Russ,
They each have a faith but the Bel
gian French have a cpeclal faith
in us.
Does it move you, friends their faith
in you unwavering and braver
Arouse! And show them Freedom's flag
pray for the power to save!
Power? Indeed, you have the power.
and you have the price to pay.
'Where bathed in blood and sacrifice
Belgium waits today.
The heart of God is the heart of love
and the heart of the commonweal:
The heart of tbe Hun Is the heart of
liato that bullded a wall of steel.
When God looks down on the wall of
steel and the helpless folk within
And sees the Hun who holds them
there committing this awful sin.
Will God In pity remember the Hun,
or remember the Belgian- rencn i
For answer ask our ships at sea, and
ask our men in the trench.
And ask the Bel.arlan Commission folks
on whom the burden lay.
And ask I pray you, ask no more!
for Belgium waits today.
Our ships, they know who sent them
out, and tbe men in tne trencnes
know:
The Commission knows And God
knows well the force of the last
big blow
That soon shall fall on the great steel
wall and the Hun who placed it
there:
So the God of love and the arm of right
will answer Belgium's prayer.
A land restored shall be their lot.
where Ood has looked and smiled;
And praise shall rise from the sodden
earth and the heart or tne Bel
gian child.
T were praise enough, for those in the
- work, to hear the children play
When God has wrought, and our men
have fought where Belgium
waits today.
BIO CARGO SIBM1BIXES I'RGED
Writer Holds TOOO-Tom Underwater
Craft Are Feaaible and Economical.
PORTLAND, June 26. (To the Ed
itor.) For 25 years, in season and out
of season, in private and public speech.
I have advocated the upbuilding of a
merchant marine to engage in the for
eign carrying trade of the United
States. Once the American flag occu
pied a prominent place on the high seas
and 90 per cent of the exports and im
ports of the country were carried In
our own vessels. Then came a period
of unwise legislation and surrender to
foreign competition, which virtually
drove our ships from the seas, until we
were doing less than 10 per cent of the
ocean-going business in foreign fields.
During this time we paid hundreds
of millions of dollars to Europeans for
carrying our exports and imports, pas
sengers and mails across the water.
We built railroads from one end of the
country to the other, but when we got
to the water's edge we stopped and
called upon outsiders to do the rest.
All arguments and entreaties to rem
edy this condition of things fell upon
deaf ears and it took the shock of a
world war to open our eyes to the sit
uation. Just now we are being called on to
build ships and then more ships. Ger
many responds by building submarines
and more submarines and larger sub
marines. The submarine is an Amer
ican Invention: others have improved
it. but it remains for us to perfect It.
Germany has shown us how to con
struct a Deutschland of 1000 tons' cargo-carrying
capacity, which crossed the
ocean safely through the greatest
blockade the world ever saw. with hos
tile eyes everywhere looking for her.
Let America show Germany that a
submarine of 7000 tons' capacity is just
as feasible as one of only 1000 tons.
I believe the safest and most speedy
remedy against the German submarine
menace as it stands today so far as
the transportation of freight Is con
cerned lies In the construction of large
submersible boats which could carry
with a minimum of danger the supplies
needed across the water. Such vessels
would operate most of the time on the
surface, because between this country
and Europe there are no hostile ships
outside of German submarines, and it
one of those is sighted let her sub
merge and proceed. The cost of such
a craft would probably be about
$1,500,000 and It is believed that it
could carry fuel enough for the round
trip to France, steaming at 10 knots
an hour. The advantages of such a
vessel under present conditions over
one of the ordinary type operating
wholly on the surface are obvious.
C. E. KINDT.
"WET" INQTJIRE3 ABOUT CASDT
Same Conservation Arguments, He Con
tends, Apply to Sweets aa to Beer.
PORTLAND. June 2S. (To the Edi
tor.) I read in The Oregonian that the
prohibitionists are accusing the liquor
interests of being pro-German. Such
a statement should not pass without a
protest- This Is a fair sample of pro
hibition logic.
Is it reasonable to believe because a
person wants alcoholic beverage and
believes it should be manufactured, that
he is disloyal to this Government and
country? in the first place I want it
distinctly understood I am In no way
affiliated with the liquor interests of
this country, but I am an American citi
zen and love liberty in every form. I
am opposed to absolute prohibition be
cause I believe it takes away the lib
erty the American people should enjoy.
The wets have always stood for liberty.
They want to preserve personal and
constitutional liberty and they will al
ways stand ready to defend the cause
of freedom
As far as I am concerned I have never
used any kind of liquor except beer.
Since prohibition has deprived me of
that my health has been greatly im
paired. A correspondent in The Oregonian
tells us beer should not be made be
cause it takes so much labor and mate
rial to manufacture it and the labor
should bo used for other more useful
purposes In time of war. Thl same is
.rue of many other things. How about
candy? It takes much sugar and labor
to make It. Couldn t we get along with
out that? Jt is Just as reasonable to
say those who make and ufc candy are
pro-German. How about near beer? It
takes as much grain to maae mat as it
does to make genuine beer. They throw
away the best part of the grain to keep
the alcohol out and we get the slop.
I wonder If they are pro-uerman:
A WET.
In Other Days.
Twesity-liTe Year Age.
From The Orcgonlan of June -,
New York. At the sub-treasury to
day tire payment of IntorcPt on the
I'nited ftates 4 per cent bonds duo
July 1 began. Th total payment will
amount to 6.000,0ii0.
Officials of tho Northern raciric.
nail load today lowered the rates on
that road. They will sell tickets from
Portland to St. Paul for $25, first class,
and make correspondinsly low rates
to all Kastern points. These are the
lowest rates ever named by any line
from Portland.
Astoria, Or. It is now considered al
most certain that, contrary to the
usual custom, the canneries along the
river will be compelled to pack salmon
as far along as October, on account ot
the great railing off in operations
this year.
The Cincinnati and New Tork teams
of the National League played a 17
innins; game yesterday at the former's
grounds. The game was halted with
out a decision on account of darkness.
The East Side Mill Company's fac
tory. Crosby street, between Larrabee
and Halsey, was totally destroyed by
fire a little before 11 o'clock last
merit, entailing a loss of about 110.000.
insurance j000.
Half a Century Ago.
From The Oreaonlan, June 2T. 186.
Worcester. Mus. The city is crowd
ed with visitors to witness the rea-atta
and baseball match between Harvard
and Vale.
Major-General John Lov. of Indiana,
has organized the cx-soldiers of the
Union Army into societies known as the
Union White Boys In Blue."
Professor C. H. Mercler. haireutter.
has moved to Carter's building.
Lafayette C. Baker, the Government
detective, died in Philadelphia the other
day.
WELL-TO-DO FEEL HUNGER. PINCH
Food Is Common Mediant ef Exchange
Named In Austrian Advertisements.
(Rome Corr. Italian-American News
Bureau.)
The Trieste newspapers devote their
last pages to advertisements which
show the population has been reduced
to barter for tbe necessities of life. The
longest and most varied Is In the La
voratore. which is widely circulated,
especially among the working classes,
and less wealthy. It proves that weU-to-do
families which before the war
enjoyed affluence and comfort, are no
longer able to obtain household goods
and foodstuffs considered indispensable
hitherto. Some iof the advertisements
read as follows:
"Should like to exchange some flour
for a valise and watch dog."
"Bedstead of Iron, second hand, but
tn good condition, a pair of black
trousers and a girl's top coat will be
exchanged for a modest quantity of
eatables."
"I want some linen cloth to make a
gown: payment will be made in money,
or yellow corn flour."
"Am willing to exchange a quantity
of olive oil for some stockings."
Naturally nothing is said about the
quantity of oil or flour offered. Other
advertisements say:
"To exchange a tent, trimmings for
clothes and a waist of black silk for
things to eat."
Another advertisement offers some
French novels for four pounds of food
of any description. Another announces
that a person would be most happy to
exchange stockings of the finest tex
ture for sugar and fat.
A lover of birds would be disposed
to sacrifice his pet goldfish for a rab
bit, and his Japanese flower vases for
beans and lard. Another offers a small
statue "Almost new" for some while
flour.
Notices which give an Idea of the
cost of food say:
"Would like to exchange a bed of the
finest quality for a kilo of coffee."
"A wig. light chestnut la color, for
food or money."
"A baptismal veil will be exchanged
for kitchen oil."
"A workman's blouse will be ex
changed for a pound of fat."
I'armaiter'i Branch of Navy.
RAYMOND, Wash, June 26. tTo the
Editor.) Is the Paymaster's branch of
the Navy open for enlistment? Where
should I apply? Is-the ordnance branch
open? If not, how soon will another
school be established? I am In class
2. in the draft. SUBSCRIBER.
Applicants for enlistment in the Navy
are never taken for any specified line
of duty. They merely "join the Navy.-
with reasonable expectation that they
will eventually be assigned to the kind
of work they do best. Address Navy
Recruiting Station. Dekum Building.
Portland, Or. The ordnance depart
ment is open only to applicants who
obtain an order for their acceptance
from the Chief of Ordnance. United
States Army. ashington, D. C. He
can also tell you about any contem
plated ordnance schools. There is none
open now in this district.
Wordinc of "The Star-Spans;Ied Banner"
VANCOUVER, Wash.. June 26. (To
the Editor.) Please publish the right
words for "The Star-Spangled Banner."
I have seen four instances where it is
"When our cause It is just." One in
stance was taken from the National
committee on patriotic literature. My
father thinks it Is "For our cause lc
is Just.". SCHOOL GIRL.
Oscar George Theodore Sonneck, chief
of the division of music of the Library
of Congress, in his exhaustive "report"
on the history of "The Star-Spangled
Banner," gives the original text and
in this italicizes the words which ap
pear differently in any of the other
five drafts of the poem known to have
been made by Mr. Key. In this the
words are. "When our cause It is Just."
and "when" is not Italicized, indicating
that it is the eame in all of the author's
own drafts.
Fare of Soldier on Furlough.
PORTLAND. June 26. (To the Ed
itor.) Does the Government allow the
enlisted men to travel on the railroads
at the rate of 1 cent a mile? If so,
what would be the fare from Portland
to New York city one way?
SUBSCRIBER.
A soldier who is on an authorized
furlough can travel at the 1-cent rate.
He is required to present hla furlough
paper, properly signed by the com
manding officer of his unit. The fare
to New York City from Portland, in
cluding war tax, is $32.77.
.Campaigning In the Philippines."
PORTLAND. June 26. (To the Edi
tor.) I note an inquiry in The Ore
gonian regarding the authorship of
"Campaigning in the Philippines." It
was written by Karl Irving Faust, and
published by the Illcks-Judd Company,
San Francisco in 1S39. A book of the
tame title was written by Colonel C
U. Gantenbcln, of Portland, and a copy
v. as presented to each member of tho
Second Oregon by the Ftate. It is not
for le. but la la numerous public
libraries. READER.