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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 11, 1918)
THE MORSTNG OREGOXIAX. WEDNESDAY, ; SEPTEMBER 11, 1918. s n . . .-n . T". T Xntered at Portland (Oregon) Poatofflea as Subscription rate Invariably In advance: (By iiall. Dally, Sunday Included, one year Uaily. Sunday included, six moathi lJai;y. Sunday Included, tnree montna ... Iai!y. Sunday included, one month .10 Xai!y. w ithout Sunday, one year o- j-any. witnoui ouiiviaj. -a y. without sunilav. one month .77 Weekly, one year J?" bunaav, one jwr -n By Carrier.) Bally. Sunday Included, one year . Staiiy. Sunday included, one month . . Iailv. Sunday included, three month! . .. -- Paily. without Sunday, one year DaDy. without Sunday, tnree muiiLu. .... -,-liaiiy, without Sunday, one month How tat Remit oena pw""'" " " J, de"xpre,. per.onai check on your ioca bank Stamps, coin or currency are at own er. rlk!o.?? poatofrice addreaa in full, In cluding county and atate. fotUre Kate to 18 pares. 1 to SJ pafea. S centa: 34 to 4S pases. 3 cent.; .0 to 60 pases. cent.; 02 to J2 paae.. 5 cent.: T8 to M page cents. For.lgn post age, doubt ratea. . Kutera Business 0'"V" A-.. Hn. Brunswick building. ew lork. err at Conkiin. Steger building. Chicago. V err. Conklln. Kre. Pre., building. jItoH. San Francisco representative. K. J. .Biame". MKMBF.K OF IHK ASSOCIATED PRESS The Associated Pres. I. exclusively enti tled to th u.e (or republication ' dispatch., credited to It or not credited to thl. paper, and also the local new publiahed herein. All Drhta of republication of apeclal a. patche. herein are alao reserved. PORTLAND. WEDNESDAY, SEPT. It. !. WHAT IS GOOD AMERICANISM? ' A -modest citizen, -who has a state wide name for his public spirit, -which takes the form of work and money ; contributions, sends to The Oregonian a. letter Just received from the Na tional .Democratic committee, asking for a campaign subscription. The letter say: ' -It 1. incumbent n every cltlien to make n xtraordlnary effort to uphold the pol Jcle. of our great Pre.ldent. which can be don only by ejecting to the Senate and " House of Representatives tho.e wh ar on hundred per cent American. In accord ance with th aim. of th Administration. An election has Just been held In Maine, where the Republican Senator and the four Republican Representa tives were elected. The four Repub lican candidates for Representatives ' are all, we believe, members of the . present Congress and have a clear record in all test measures on the war. The Democratic candidate in the Second District was McGillicuddy. a member of the Sixty-fourth Congress. He is given by the National Security League a standing of fourvtimes wrong out of six votes in major war or pre paredness proposals. If that assess ment is correct, he is about 33 per cent American. . Yet the Democratic organization got behind McGlllicuddy and all the other ' Democrats in Maine, against other candidates who had stood at all times for preparedness, and had at no time voted against any essential war meas ure. Is it 100 per cent Americanism for any organization or citizen to demand the election to Congress of a 33 per cent American against an 100 percent American, merely because he is a Democrat? THE COMMUNITY KITCHEN. Mrs. Emmellne Pankhurst the Brit ish suffragette, has undertaken a new reform in which all her. efforts will be futile unless she succeeds in con certing the members of her own sex, with whom' the methods which she employed in her memorable suffrage campaigns in Kngland may not be in fluential. She has set out to abolish the home kitchen. She says that the kitoien cookstove encourages waste both of materials and labor. It ham pers the development of women, it ab sorbs their economic energy, it causes weariness and sometimes leads to de spair. This is especially true of women who abhor "housework," and all that this implies. The substitute which Mrs. Pank hurst offers is the community kitchen, which is not novel, but has never had behind it the energy and Initiative which Mrs. Pankhurst is wont to put Into her propaganda. "Is it fair," she asks, "to expect a woman to sew ail day on uniforms and then go home and cook dinner for her six children and her man?" Well, most persons will agree that It is not fair, when it Is put that way, but the chief obstacle to the community kitchen, or any other domestic reform, in the past has been the opposition of women them selves. Woman has nearly always ruled the home in essential particu lars. The home kitchen has stood be cause women themselves wanted it to GO SO; It Will De aouiisueu, wueiictci they demand it. Her task consists of pointing out to her own sisters that they will be better off, not only eco nomically but otherwise, when a new form of co-operation has been estab lished. We now have two substitutes for the home kitchen the restaurant or boarding-house, and the delicatessen jit ore. The community kitchen prob ably will be something like the latter. It is already possible to carry home a slice of roast beef in one bag and a helping of gravy in another, together with all the other concomitants of an excellent meal, which friend husband can drape about his person as he runs to catch the streetcar. At pres ent, this resource is employed chiefly In emergencies, and the few families which regularly resort to the practice are likely to be heard from- in the divorce court. The personal touch is lacking, and the element of daintiness. Also the spirit of emulation, of pride In excellence of cookery, of individual ity of taste. The products of the shop taste monotonously alike. Perhaps the community kitchen will remedy this, but it does not seem to be a simple matter. Nor do we know that the best cooks always will be chosen for com munity kitchen work. The cooks who work for wages will be those who are willing to adopt cooking as a profes sion, aot necessarily those who possess natural genius for it. Mrs. Pankhurst's secondary demand for community laundries seems to present fewer difficulties. All that it Involves is a reconstruction of the building scheme, by which a central building may be made to serve the purpose for a group of dwellings. This would not seem to require so much the passage 'of laws as the conversion cf Individuals, and the creation of demand would be felt by builders. If, however, there is anyone who can de vise a plan for avoiding friction, such as is manifested by the "clothesline lights" familiar to Tat dwellers, ho Fhould make himself knows at once. It is easier to preach mutual for bearance and good will than it is to enforce their application. Mrs- Pankhurst is going to demand the abolition of the home kitchen by law, and she and her coworkers, it is said, will demand pledges from candi dates for legislative offices as a condi tion of women's support at the polls. Perhaps her method will be successful In England, which has learned to dread suffragette methods, but it is -fiot, so, certain, that its: iU succeed in America. Here we are more likely to view the Issue as one for private en terprise. There is nothing now to prevent the building of communities of homes, with common kitchens and laundries, whenever there seems to be a market for them. It has been tried in a few places, and the community garage is already an institution in others. The entry of women into in dustry may bring individual house work Into disrepute in certain quar ters, but when it does so there will be a private solution. It is not easy to see what the law can do about it. If the women themselves want com munity kitchens they will have them; the law will hardly go so far as to tell them that they may not go on cooking at home if they prefer to do so. . , TREASON TO THE SYSTEM. The other day The Oregonian ex pressed some mournfAl observations on the breakdown of direct legislation in the sense that public officials have come to disregard certain expressions of the people rendered at the polls. Dr. Gilbert, whose letter condemning defiance of the public will in the mat ter of water, meters inspired this dole fulness, assumes in another letter that The Oregonian acquiesces In this trea son to the Oregon system because it spoke in sadness rather than in anger. The faithful and consistent reader will recall that The Oregonian has times almost without number de nounced this trend of officialdom. It has,, indeed, taken the somewhat un popular position that an initiated law ought to be subject to amendment by the law-making body if errors or un workable qualities are discovered after its adoption. It was held, however, that' a "no" or a "yes" expressed on the main principle Involved ought usually to settle the. issue so far as Legislature or officials are concerned. But" lawmakers and administration officers are practical politicians. They have unhappily discovered that a great many persons vote "no" or "yes" on a measure without caring a great deal either way about it- They have found that the people's will may be con travened without causing" riots or re calls or always subsequent defeat for re-election. A stubborn opinion that the people ought to have that which they do not want is often applied by forcing it upen .them. In gentle hypocrisy the same persons are wont to ;turn about and refuse to provide some needed amendment in a law be cause It is a people's law. These circumstances can be recited without thereby giving them approval. The Oregonian would like to wit ness a reawakened respect for the people's expressed will by officials and also a reawakened respect by the peo ple for their own decisions. Unless both come we might as well quit the useless trouble of voting our opinions. . AN UNDESERVED REBUKE.' President Wilson seems to have been misled into condemning the "net In vestment" clause of the Sims water power bill by misrepresentation on the part of its opponents and by failure to consider Us merits for lack of time. He has thus put himself in the posi tion of repudiating the action of three members of his Cabinet Secretaries Lane, Baker-and Houston and has renewed a controversy which was in a fair way to be ended. - By adopting the ntet Investment" clause over the President's objections the House shows its preference for the matured judg ment of the three secretaries and its resentment of ill-considered executive interference. As submitted to and approved by the President, and as sent by him to the House, "the . bill contained the clause providing that "fair value" should be paid for power plants on recapture by the Government, but the history of the bill as brought out by Representative Sinnott in his speech to the House shows that -Hhere was no subterfuge about the substitution of the "net investment" clause. In the light of what he said, the President's letter is nothing less than a direct public rebuke to the three secretaries. Mr. Sinnott denies that the net Invest ment originated with the House com mittee, but says -that it was "com municated to the committee by the .oratarioc" n nd that "thev ap peared before the committee in sup port of it." He quoted air. Bauer an lnvinr anid at the committee hearings that "net investment" was "a clearer definition of exactly the same inten tion as had been expressed In the nrltrlnal nhM.d "Mr. HOUSton Said the difference between the two phrases is one of "definiteness ana clearness ; nrii. thA "net Investment" amendment "both parties would know more clearly how to proceed, ana that "net investment would furnish a Mrt.lii hoL-i. fnr thn commission in establishing rates, which fair value does not. You would nave lo aeoate h time what was meant by 'fair value' and haggle over it." Fnholdine the soundness or tne opinion, Mr. Sinnott said: "Fair value." unqualified or unrestricted In meaning or application, varies with the ease in wnien it i .iinwjru. . "Jack-in-the-box" springing up at new and Ineenlnu. angles and with a different as n.rt nrh time. It. caper, elude the mo.t circumspect. t Its lndefihiteness he H-uinn nf the Supreme Court in the case of the City of Denver vs. Denver Water Company, ana saia that "the citjof Denver and the water .nmn!inv harrcriprl for four years, and after eight years the Supreme Court made the decision." "iair vaiue dcui. the bono of contention. To determine the value of the Texas Midland Rail- thA Interstate Commerce com mission read 3000 pages of briefs and l 1 C.li noiroa nf tpstimonv. From U (" " - a brief of Interstate Commerce Com missioner Aitchison he quotea several authorities to the effect that the term is indefinite, among them being the Supreme Court. That the public Interest would be better safeguarded by the "net invest ment" clause than the "fair value" clause was demonstrated by Mr. Sin nott by comparison of their provisions .-.a ffaoi Ha said of the fair value" clause originally included in the bill as well as in former ouis, in cluding those which Mr. Ferris has fathered, that it "would allow pay ment for increases or appreciation in value of machinery, fixtures, trans ninn tin or structures." all of trhich are excluded in the "net in vestment" plan. Kepreseniauve An derson, of Minnesota, explained that the "net investment" plan would re turn to the investor "tne actual origi nal cost of the project," less unappro- i -mmine snH rtnlnnres set aside for depreciattpn and amortization. The licensee wouia De reuuircu ; accounts as directed by the commis sion and subject to examination Dy ic to make reports and statements of liaKiiftiAQ mnitAlization. cost of project, cost of operation and the production, transmission, use ana saie of power, to maintain the works In a condition of repair adequate for effi AMntiAn tr maVft all necessarv 1 - ami ,-rl f-m n t5l to TT! Fli fl- tai- ftdeq.ua te depreciatlpA reserves V and to amortize the cost of the project if it earns more than a specified re turn, and to operate and maintain the plant at the full capacity of the avail able market. This plan would give the Government knowledge of the net Investment from year to year and at the expiration of the lease. leaving small room for dispute or litigaton, while the fair value would have to be determined at the end of fifty years, probably after long litigation. Mr. Sinnott showed by comparison that the Government might be re quired to pay a far higher price for a project under the "fair value" than under the "net investment" plan, in cluding a considerable speculative ele ment. He clearly proved that the latter plan would eliminate uncertain ties, reduce the speculative element, which "means a less cost of capital, and, consequently, a less cost for the service." This last point, which should be de cisive to a man who professes to legis late in the interest of the public, is precisely the one to which the brain of Mr. Ferris seems to be impervious. In his reply to Mr. Sinnott he en larged upon "the water power inter ests." among which he included "de velopers and promoters, bond-brokers who lend money at high rates of in terest and hydro-electric engineers." He appears unable to understand that whoever invests or procures the capt tal must be paid, that .the greater the risk and uncertainty the higher the price, either in the form of interest or of discount, and -that this price will finally be paid in the shape of higher rates for power by the consumer, whom he is trying to protect. FORD. WALLA -WXLJLA. Wash.. Sept. 8. fTo the Editor.) Notwithstanding what The Oregonian .ays about Henry Ford, ho sixes up with me O.- K. I do . not see many patriots refusing their millions of war profits. As far as statesmen are concerned, name on now in the Senate. I think Henry Ford would measure up with any of them when he got down to business. - . - A. JOHNSON. . "What business? The Nation's busi ness, of course. Mr. Ford knows noth ing about It, confesses that he knows nothing,- and openly flouts those who know more than nothing. A candi date at the Republican and Demo cratic primary for Senator, he showed the quality of his citizenship by fail ing to vote. An American, he pro claims, that the flag means nothing, and that after the war he will take It down. A late-day convert to the cause of his Nation, in war, he procures an executive order exempting his .son Edsell from conscription. There are a thousand counts in the indictment against Ford for his dis qualifications and non-qualifications to be Senator. - The. Oregonian gives only the mildest of them. It is no reason to elect Ford to the Senate that there are few-or no statesmen there. He is not one, whatever the others are. Yet there are in the Senate many well informed. - well-equipped, well-intentioned and highly vseful Senators. Ford would be the least useful among them. Let it be granted -.hat Ford is an honest man. Certainly he is a philan thropist. Let him have all possible credit for turning over his war profits to the Government. Let it be agreed that he makes a popular automobile and a good one. Yet he is a manu facturer before he is a statesman, a humanitarian before he is art Ameri can, a -pacifist before he is a soldier through the offering of his son. It is not now material that he be a Repub lican or a Democrat. though it is per tinent to the discussion of him to judge his political "qualifications by the fact that he is neither, and doesn't know the difference, present or past. , If Ford Is to be .sleeted Senator? be cause he is a great philanthropist, why not elect Billy Sunday because he is a great evangelist, or Ty Cobb be cause he is a great ballplayer, or Jess Willard because, he is a great fighter? They are as representative American citizens as Ford; aye, more represen tative. THE "VESTIBULE SCHOOL. The "vestibule school" is a creature of war necessity, but It is serving a permanently useful purpose In giving us a new basis upon which to appraise the apprenticeship system. It is a form of intensive education which harms po one, least of all the recipient. It adds mightily to the output of war plants, as it would add to those of peace if it were applied to them. It puts a premium upon knowledge, which is worth a premium. It saves valuable time. It is impossible to esti mate the vast amount which it would add to the wealth of the world. The practice of assuming that It took a' certain number of years to "learn" a certain trade, regardless of the ability of the apprentice, . Is fa miliar. It may have been based upon the rule of averages, but It was not disassociated from a certain desire to restrict the number of craftsmen in certain lines. It often was accom panied by deliberate limitation upon opportunity .to learn. Apprentices were employed for jlong periods at simple tasks, long " after they had learned all that there was to know about them. It took a good deal of the zest out of work. If the method were enforced in the common schools, if a boy were told that he could learn only so much, and must then stop learning, there would be an uprising. When the war emergency arose, and with it the necessity of providing great numbers of workers skilled in particu lar lines which were non-existent be fore the war, the intensive training school was created. Time being the essence of war work, there was no foolishness about holding back. It be came necessary to "improvise" skill, and it was surprising how easy it was to do this. France aid England have been through the mill. The United States, especially in its shipyards and munitions plants, is applying the same system. England and France now by law compel every manufacturer to provide "vestibule schools," which take the . employe at the door of the factory and seek to fit him in the shortest possible time for the work which he is best fitted for. There is In the report of J. J. Pickton, dilution officer of the British Ministry of Mu nitions, this significant paragraph: Tou can make av toolroom operator of a woman in three weeks. If you can't do It In three weeks, you can't do It at all. You have simply got the wrong woman. Pick; out a 'long-fingered, sensitive. Intelli gent woman from the shop force who haa been carefully trained and is especially sat isfactory and exact In her production, and upgrade, her in this way. It is not pretended that one can make an all-around artisan of the novice In three weeks, but It Is demon strated that tBe time can be greatly shortened. The worker with natural aptitude advances by leaps and bounds, because the National interest demands that his talent shall not be wasted. Tho grading is upward and not down ward. The exceptional man does not hang back in waiting for the average man, or the average man dilly-dally while the inferior one is catching up wits. hi,. Tie -y oxter who, i fiSfitent , to plod may go right on plodding, but he is not a brake onthe wheels of anything. The lesson will not be overlooked, we believe, when Industry is put upon a peace basis. Skill will always be at a premium; it always has been, even If everyone did not know it. Appren tices themselves will chafe under re strictions upon their acquisition of knowledge when they see the drift of events. It is desirable that the work man shall be thorough in the mastery of his craft, but is wrong to compel him to be unnecessarily long about it. THE INFORMER. An Informer, according to sound lexicographicalMefinition, is "one who makes a business of informing against others; a mischief maker." It is an unenviable role. When the informer bears false witness, it is a despicable role. The Evening Journal, in its tattle-tale part of informer against the entire press of Oregon belongs in the latter classification. Four times in the past five years it has printed the de linquent tax notices of Multnomah County, and been paid the full rate for them; and now It says that the scheme is graft and has got up a bill to prohibit it. Participation in "graft" four times out of five are the Journal's qualifications for its nasty role of In former on the other "grafters." The Journal project, through its initiative bill, is to give notice by mail (letters) to individual taxpayers of tax delinquencies. It would stop all news paper notice to the public. The pub lic will pay for the mail notices. The delinquent now pays for the newspaper notices. The Journal would relieve him .of the proper penalty of his re missness, and. make the other tax payers, who are not delinquent, pay for it The present law provides: (1) For notice to- delinquents by mail. . - (2) For subsequent newspaper pub lication of delinquencies which stand thirty days after mail notice. The purpose of legal newspaper pub lication, at a fair rate, fixed by statute, is to advertise the delinquent property for sale or, more accurately, to ad vertise the sale of certificates of delin quency.. The effect is to compel, or induce, the delinquents to pay up. The Interest of the public is obvious and proper. Furthermore, it is paramount. If i taxes are not to be collected, and their payment is not ,to be made com pulsory, why levy them? The Journal, complaining that it is being subjected to abuse for its scheme, repeats daily the falsehood that The Oregonian Is active in promoting oppo sition to its bills beeause it is a benefi ciary of the present law. It is not. It has not had a dollar's worth of delin quent tax advertising under the pres ent law. It has no expectation of having a dollar's worth at any time, yet it Insists that the present , law, under which the Journal and the News not The Oregonian printed this year the delinquent .tax lists pf last year, shall stand. The two lowest bid ders will print the lists next year, un der existing .law. The Oregonian is never the lowest bidder, and never will be, in any competition for advertising with other Portland newspapers. Will the Journal, or. any one, give a fair reason why there should be no public notice by advertisement of all tax delinquencies, at a fair rate; after mail notice has been given, and . has yielded no results? Will the Journal, after having solic ited and obtained the delinquent tax publications four times out of five, dare say that the legal rate Is not a fair rate? RECOGNITION OF THE CZECHS. Recognition by the United States Government of the Czecho-Slovaks as co-beliigerents in the war not only ad mits a people numbering about 9,000, 000 to our councils 'in determining the future of the world, but It also brings up agalp the vitality of language as a factor in National preservation. Of the Czechs alone there are perhaps 6.000,000, of whom 3,650,000 live in Bohemia, 1.550,000 in Moravia, 130, 000 in Austrian Silesia, 300,000 in other. Austrian provinces, 30,000 in Russia, and more than 250,000 in America. There were upwards of 100,000 in Germany before the war. Their language belongs to the Slavic group, but presents a variety of well defined dialects. The Germans have long tried to sup press the spirit of Czech nationalism, and they have recognized the power of the lingual bond In their efforts to suppress Czech literature. Because these efforts have been futile, na tional consciousness has endured. It was on the part of Germany a mani festation of Jhe same policy which sought to Germanize the schools of America. The ancient University of Prague is, perhaps, the chief reason why the Czechs of today are able to make a stand. It has long been the rallying point of Czech culture, which is peculiarly opposite to that of Prus sia. Bohemia, although nominally part of Austria, has been subject to German persecution exercised through its influence at Vienna, Much can be hoped for from the Czechs. Already they have given ac count of themselves in battles with the Russian Bolsheviki, but they may play an even more important part by furnishing the seed for revolt In Aus tria. In the latter heterogeneous em pire, no people are so closely knit, or so well able to raise the standard of rebellion. . As the central empire crumbles, the Bohemians and their brothers are quite likely to become a steadying influence against complete anarchy. Leadership will be needed, and the hostility of the Czech con tingents to BolshevikiSm and all that attends It augurs well for the future of many others than themselves. Few games of chance will be oper ated at the fairs this season, judging by prosecutions for offenses up to date. The speeder has replaced the old time "drunk" in police circles, and Is not so messy and much more profit able. . - " As Portland must have one special obiect of pride, here's to the Mult nomah Guard band! . Why not find a way to deport a for eigner who would abrogate citizenship to escape the draft? Those fellows at Aberdeen are able to lay a keel quicker than a hen can lay an egg. "'The man who has made himselt essential will not be "dumped" by his boss. - Th. TTnn needs three speeds "vor- warts" to get ahead of Haig. It's in the line of war work to en courage the stork. Maine went the same Qld-w&s-- r PTTRFOSE OF LIFE DISREGARDED Writer Sees Trend Toward Snow and Luxury Religion the Remedy. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi 'tor.) Not long ago a letter signed "Malthusian" deplored the high" prices of food, predicted a fall in the birth rate and increased agitation for birth control and family limitation. Likely enough what the writer says is true. But It is further true what is not so reassuring to contemplate that much more of what is called birth control will wreck our country and our modern civiliiati jn. We are paying the pen alty for artificial living which mater ialism has brought us. Men and wom en have gotten away -from faith in the ultimate goodness of the universe. We value false standards and our hearts are set on shams and unrealities. Yes, it is certain that the birth rate will fall, but not on account of a lack of potential fruitf ulness of the earth.- The cause is much more serious than that. Talk to the average young woman, find out what is in her mind. (Tho elder ones aid and abet her views.) She is thinking of fine clothes, orna ments, automobiles... "dolling up," a costly house to live In, plenty of money to spend, amusements, social prestige, success in business or a profession, in dependence of income, much leisure, an artistic career, public recognition, "a good time" (whatever that is), power and responsibility in the mar ket place, "realizing her ambition" anything, in short, but home and chil dren. Domestic duties and the rearing of a family sem to have dropped out of her scheme of life entirely. Even our public schools help to create false values. They are using there a text book with the alluring title "The Am bitious Woman in Business." Where is 'the book on "The Successful Mother in the Home?" How long do the leaders of our so ciety think this sort of thing can go on? With most of the women planning to be either' sterile parasites lovely, soft creatures with clinging dresses or equally sterile self-supporting "free women," it must be a dull mind indeed which cannot see the decay and end cf civilization not many years off. The situation is all the worse because the great majority of men second the aspirations- of the "modern" woman. Try to put vision into the hearts of these wandering moderns and what argu ment do they make in reply? They say, "What's the use? There's only one life and I Intend to have a good time while I'm here. About the future and posterity I care nothing at all." Those words are a confession that the modern world, despite its feverish activities and boastful talk about "progress," has really lost faith In life and the purposes of life. This bleak view pervades all classes. If people take time to ask themselves what is the object -of life, it is to quote th conclusion of science that there is no object or end or purpose ia it all; only a great machlrfe grinding on in im mense cycles of time. Desperately men and women cling to the few mo ments on earth, between what they regard as two eternities of total dark ness, to avoid physical discomfort and pain and to indulge themselves. In the end they exclaim, "The rest is silence." Nothing but religion a religion of mercy and forbearance and hope-r-can remedy the profound pessimism and loneliness of our modern world, despite til its brave show o! material posses sions. If the day is saved spiritually for mankind in the western world, it will be by the .men and women who regard human existence as' having soma purpose and aim other than mere ly secular, and to whom the vision' of the glory of God and the divine ends of life will be restored. '- A CATHOLIC. Youth In Merchant Marine. PORTLAND,' Sept- 10. (To the Edi tor.) lly boy. was 21 years oW on August 13. Two months agt he sailed from a local shipyard on a merchant ship as oiler bound for. Honolulu, and therefore was unable to register for the draft on August 24. He expects to be back in San Francisco soon. Will he be required to register then or can he stay in the merchant marine service if he w!shes? SUBSCRIBER. He should register as soon as he reaches San Francisco. If he desires to remain in the merchant marine he should claim deferred classification as a mariner. If he will call on the United States Sea Service Bureau, Exchange building, San Francisco, he will be aided in preparing his questionnaire. Government Hospital in New Mexico. PORTLAND, Sept. 9. (To the Editor.) t The Oregonian there was an in quiry from Amity by a mother whose soldier son is being returned from France with consumption. The soldier is being sent to. a Government hospital -w i . n tiin mother asked where this hospital is located so that she might go to mm. There is a Government hospital lor consumptives at Fort Bayard. N. M. It is the only one that I know of in the state. Take Southern Pacific Rail road to Deming, N. M. Then, take th Santa Fe Railroad from Deming to Fort Bayard. Bayard is about 45 m les north of Deming and Is about 10 miles . cm-i.,a- n itw hv onto stasre. Camp i rum ' 1 ' j Cody, one of the largest cantonments in the United States, is " "n lng- GEORGE KING. 1 -n-h Rnt Is Raised. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor) Jones, the tenant, has been pay ing $12 per month for rent for several months; has his Winter fuel in. Smith, the new landlord, intends to raise the rent to 20 per month, without making any Improvements on the property. Is there any help for the tenant? That Is does he have to pay th' or move? SUBSCRIBER. Ordinarily the tenant has no recourse. If he is a shipyard worker, however, and he can produce evidence that the landlord Is profiteering, the Govern ment will requisition the property. At torney H. B. Beckett, representing the Emergency Fleet Corporation, looks after such matters. It Is Done in Germany. L. P. Jacks, in the Atlantic. A British officer wounded at Le Ca teau, after nameless sufferings both in transit and In hospital, and after seeing the deaths of many of his com panions through neglect and torture, was at length sufficiently recovered to stand on his feet, and was under or ders for removal to another locality. He and a number of others in a similar condition were drawn up In the station, waiting for their train. Presently a passenger express drew up at the plat form, which was crowded to the edge by the wounded men. , When the train stopped a woman put her head out ot the window of a first-class carriage spat in the officer's face, and without saying a word drew back Into the car riage and closed the window. MarrlaKe After Divorce wiTTDornnR "Wash. .Sent. 9. (To the Editor.) How soon after a final de cree of divorce has Deen enierra . i Ma-v a rmrKnn marrv in (a) Oregon, -(b) Washington (c) . Calif or- The law in the state where the di vorce was granted governs. Men Now ResrUtered. PORTLAND. Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor ) Must men who registered In 1917 roeister this coming registration day. September 12? B. l OUNG. Men registered under previous draft laws need not xegister-Wtaim- J OFFICIALS SHOULD PAT PENALTY Dr. Gilbert Would Pnnlah Politically Those Who Contravene Public W ill. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor.) I have read repeatedly Tho Ore gonlan's editorial ot September ? on "Made for its Friends," and I confess to considerable difficulty in being able properly to interpret the same. It seems to offer tacit acquiescence in or sub mission to the principles Involved. If this interpretation is correct, it is to be deplored that Buch action on the part of public officials does not call out the unqualified disapproval of the press in an effort to support the will of the people. It is difficult to comprehend by what line of reasoning anyone can reach the conclusion that the will of the people, as expressed in a "Thou shalt not," is any less cogent or binding than when expressed In a "Thou shalt." If all nrohibitive enactments were eliminated from our laws, our statutes would be largely blank-books. Even the Oregon commandment, cited in the editorial " "Thou shalt not touch the people's laW'finds its expression in the neg ative form. On the basis of the pnnci pies elucidated in the editorial, even this supreme command of the people would be suoiect to rejection Dy an ar bitrary autocracy, bent upon its own will. The Commissioner referred to, who took it upon himself to disregard the people's opposition to water meters, paid the penalty of political ostracism any any official who persists in the same Una, of conduct is worthy of the same reward. For a group of officials arbitrarily to establish the two-platoon system in the fire department when the people have twice rejected the same would seem to De Dut uttre snon oi treason. It is of such material that rev olutions are made; and, woe to the peo- nle that tacitly submits to such insults. The ballot Is our recourse and It is to be hooed that such actions will Una definite signs of disapproval at the earliest opportunity. J. ALLEN GILBERT. Classification as Agriculturist. PORTLAND. Sept. 10. (Toi the Edi tor.) (1) In securing an agricultural claim, can this claim be entered in the questionnaire or must a separate file be made? i (2) Who must file for agricultural claims, the employer or employes, in case the employe seeks exemption, being engaged in a necessary enter prise? (3) Would deferred classification be given to a son who has one-third i.t,H,, In hlfl fntbA-'n farm, it beinK classed as a necessary enterprise, where he Is tue only son ana ine itmnri ad disabled' physically? H. C..6QLBT. 1. Space is provided in the question naire. 2. Either may do so. 3. The registrant must be necessary to a necessary agricultural enterprise in order to obtain deferred classifica tion on agricultural grounds. The draft board decides the "necessity" in both instances and as it is a matter of judg ment based on numerous conditions, the ruling of the board cannot be here given. Fees for Administering; Estate. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor.) Please tell me what the inherit ance tax -would be on an estate of $14,500 left to the widow and how it is estimated; also the executor's fee and the attorney's fee in the same and how they are estimated. SUBSCRIBER. The state inheritance tax would be 1 per cent on the value of the estate after allowance of an exemption of $5000. The executor's fee is graduated a h in thiA mRA would AR-ft-resTate $410 provided the estate consisted wholly of personal property. Some County Courts allow executors lees only on tne ln--om from real orooerty. and there is MntrnvraT nmonflT lawyers as to the legal requirement. The fee may also be increased by the court for unusual cervices. Attorney's fees are fixed by the court in accordance with services rendered. - a- s First Call in New Draft. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor.) .In looking over the editorial page of The Oregonian. I notice an answer to Subscriber that it will take approximately 100 days to register and classify the new registrants. In a later Oregonian it Is said the Octoben quota would be- called mostly from the men that register September 12. How can it be done? Are not the men called by their number? j A READER. Previous estimates have been changed by a plan Just announced. The plan apparently contemplates delay in class ification of registrants under ' 19 and over 36, with the' result that the Im mediate volume of work imposed on draft boards will be reduced and quicker results obtained. First calls apparently will not take men under 19 or over 36. Yeoman and Yeomanette. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor.) (.1) Kindly state the difference between "yeoman" and "yeomanette". if there is any and tell what it is and where I could apply for the position. (2) I also would like to know if one could send a diamond ring from France without taking any risk; this is to settle an argument. A STEADY READER. (1) Yeomen are clerical men In the Navy. "Yeomanette" is a name given to a woman who occupies a clerical position in a Navy-yard. Apply to com rrmndant. 13th Naval District, Puget Sound Navy-yard, Washington. (2) There is a minor degree 01 nsa.. .Declarants After Seven Years. PORTLAND, Sept. 10. (To the Edi tor.) I was born in Ireland" in 1876; . . -j- I 10QR- trnt mV first came ia aium ii - ----- papers in 1896. Am I .a declarant? Must I taKe out iirpt ipe. o-b-"" to become an American citizen? t. J. McCarthy. For purposes of the selective draft you are a declarant; for the purpose of taking out final citizenship papers a Tint, inasmuch as seven years have expired since you obtained first papers. You will have to mane a new .lareLtlnn and wait two years before being admitted to citizenship. St. Louis Exposition Year. . .rr.T i-.TT'-V -,- Con, S 1 Tfl t l ft Editor.) Can you oblige me by letting me know in what year the St. Louis Fair was held, and also on what date Easter Sunday fell that year? - I need this information before I can m ho mipstinnnaire that will be presented to me shortly. I have to state wnen i cam i ju"w, .. . V. aKn.it it ia that TT1 V first ail a rtuwi""" - , - Sunday out was Easter Sunday, and that the boat was run oi an uno people coming to the St. Louis Fair. The St Louis Exposition was held in 1904. Easter Sunday in that year fell on April 3. Naturalisation of Germans. . Tv-Tr r ,ni tTa the Editor.! Can a German who had taken out his first papers, then neglected getting his second papers, get them now? To whom must one write for information. Yes in certain cases. Apply to United States Naturalization Service. Custom Housertlaod-Xoi;. -aarticulara, . In Other ,Days. Twenty-flye Years Aso. From The Mornlnr Oreronitaa of September 10, 1SU3. An enormous whale was seen off the mouth ot the Columbia River Friday morning. The salary of the principal of th Roseburg School was formerly $1500 a year. It is now $1000 and assistant teachers get- $40 a month. The first Chinamen to have their sen tences of deportation under the Geary registration act executed arrived in San Francisco yesterday from Los An geles and are now confined In the County Jail, where they will be de tained until sent back to China. Congratulatory messages and tele grams continue to arrive at the White House expressing the felicity of the public from one end of the country to the other over the happiness which has been brought to President and Mra Cleveland by the birth of another daughter. Fifty Years Ago. From The Mornlnr Oreronlan of Septaxnber 10, 1808. Sixty cents Is being offered for wheat in Albany. The New Theater, formerly Oro Flno Hall, will open today with a farce given by Mra F. M. Bates. Miss Fanny Toung, George W. Daniels and the accom plished tragedian and comedian, F. M. Bates. ' . The Pioneer blind troupe gave an en tertainment last evening In Union Hill. C A Reed, of Salem, Is painting a canvas seven feet by three of the lower part of Canemah, Oregon City and Clackamas City. PATRIOTIC) SERYICE RENDERED) Multnomah Guard Seeks Recruits for ' Seml-Hllita Work. PORTLAND, Sept 10. (To the Edi tor.) The Multnomah Guard is in tensely patriotic because its members are volunteer citizen-soldiers, serving their "country and state without pay or emoluments of -any kind whatever. Their training and drill is thorough, being practically the same as "our boys" receive in the United States Army. There are nine or ten com panies which meet weekly and oftener for drill and instruction In military af fairs. The Information received is In valuable. Not a few of its former mem bers are now commissioned and non commissioned officers in the regular Army. And its band of trained musi cians; Portland is proud of it! Thoir work is also gratuitous. When called upon for guard or any other duty the Guard members respond promptly. The writer has seen active service on every occasion since its or ganization over one year ago. In no instance have its members refused to perform an irksome, disagreeable or dangerous task. They are soldiers and obey their orders without question. This organization is highly com mended by Oregon's war Governor, withycombe; Portland s war Mayor, Baker: Oregon's Adjutant - General, Charles F. Beebe, and last bi t not least, Multnomah County Commissioners. The Commtffsioners have been the Guard's best friend in every way. Through them have come its equipment uni- .. forms, etc, Cojonel Leader, who has seen actives service in France. ' now 'of the Oregon Agricultural College, will deltver lec tures to the members of the Guard this month and immediately afterward a day will be spent by the entire regi ment on' the Government range at Clackamas. Each company desires to recruit its membership to the maxi mum. Tha Portland Ice Hippodrome, on Marshall street near Twenty-first, is now the Armory for the Guard. Com pany. D meets on Monday nights at 8 o'clock. Don't be a slacker! Show your pa triotic endeavor by wearing the shield which designates your membership in this superb organization and. when the Kaiser and his coterie of murderers are squelched, receive your honorable dis charge from D Company for service well performed. In the years to come you will be proud of this parchment. PRIVATE, D Company, Multnomah Guard, THE WAYSIDE CHAPEL There's a wide smooth pathway wind ing through a woodland velvet green. Towards a gray stone chapel standing in the midst of a forest scene; There are pilgrims ever a-wendlng their way towards this place of prayer. To peacefully kneel and softly feel the balm in the sacred air. They come from their homes of glad ness, they steal from the lowly cot, They come with their joys and sadness and pause in this holy spot; They come with their man-made errors and lay them before the throne. They come with their fears and their terrors and tell them to God, alone. The chancel tapers a-burning glow steadily mrougn au tunc. And they light the way for feet that stray to this comforting wayside shrine; There is a peace and a healing that s wafted like breath of Spring O'er the suffering soul that seeks this goal where faith, is a living thing. Oh, that broad smooth pathway winding towaras mat. uiiac, bj Starts many a stray along the way that enas in iue m;,.., And the tapers that burn by the fftrevw our soul assures That God by his grace will our sin erase it oniy our uuu cuuu.o. GRACE E. HALL. . WOMEN! You will want to have home comforts that you can make with little trouble or expense. FREE Home Efficiency Book to every reader of The Oregonian. Have you envied the owner of a aerving wagon? Have you wished that they were Just a lit tle cheaper to buy. WISH NO MORE MAKE ONE YOURSELF. This Efficiency Book also tells how, at small cost you can make a tireless cooker, an lceless freezer and ever so many home time-savers. Let your kitchen be the MODEL KITCHEN that you read about In all the magazines with the add ed pleasure of knowing that the expense to make every item In it has been trifling. The men members of your fam ily will enjoy helping you do the small amount of carpentry neces ,ary or you can do It yourself. Uncle Sam needs your help. You must therefore make time to do some work for qthers besides your household. This book will help you to savs time. Write your name and address plainly. Direct your letter to The Portland Oregonian Information Bureau. Frederic J. Haskin, di rector, Washington. D. C. , Enclose 2-cent stamp for re turn postage on THE HOME EF FICIENCY BOOK.