10
TIIE 3I0RNING OREGONIAX. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1918.
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PORTLAND, TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 1918.
, WHAT KIND OF A LEACrEf
The league of nations, to do justice
between nations and keep the world's
peace, is a noble idea. But it is one
thing to have a. commendable concep
tion, shared in by all right-thinking
men and women, and another to apply
it to practice. That is the reason that
the league of nations is as yet but an
attractive generality.
Already we see that Great Britain
will insist on its old status of a two
power nation. It will have, if it can. a
navy, twice as powerful a3 the next
greatest navy. Will it be desirable to
: have the seas, which are hereafter to
be free, dominated by any one nation?
: Or is the league of nations to control
the seas? If so, how? Through Great
Britain's navy? Then, of course. Great
, Britain will control the seas and to
that extent a very great extent
dominate the league of nations. x
Perhaps Great Britain will turn its
treat navy over to the league of na
tions. Perhaps. Then, of course, the
navy of the league will be an instru
ment which may be turned at some
time against Great Britain.
America, too, is thinking now In
terms of a large Navy, as large as
Oreat Britain's. On what conditions
is it planned that America shall sup
port the league? Will it also surren
der its Navy? If so, and if Great
Britain does likewise, the two greatest
navies will be the league's very own.
It becomes Important, then, to con
eider how the league itself is to be
formed and controlled. Are Great
Britain and America jointly to domi
nate? Or is each to have the same
voice and authority within the league
as other nations?
Shall America, for example, have
more to say, or less, in the league,
than Italy, or Siam. or China, or
Liberia? Or shall it have power com
mensurate with what it may have sur
rendered to the league, and with its
true position in the world? If so, and
if other nations have the same, the
league will be dominated by the great
powers.
Perhaps that is the intention.
America can, of course, commit its
destinies to no combination of nations
that reduces it in prestige and in
fluence to the status of Liberia and
Siam. But, on the other hand, it must
take no chance of endangering its
sovereignty in any pooling of inter
ests, real or supposed, with any other
power whatsoever. No one desires it,
end no one, so far as has been dis
covered, proposes it. But the way to
-get into the league, and make it ef
fective, without concessions all around
by America and all the others has
not yet been made clear.
What concessions to a. league of na
tions is America willing to make in
the way of modification of the Monroe
doctrine, involving its domination of
the Western Hemisphere, and the righ
to develop its National existence with
out consulting any European or Asiatic
nation?
Is America willing to consult and
be guided by Europe as to its expan
sion on the Pacific?
Is America ready to neutralize the
Panama Canal?
Let us not say that a league of na
tions is impossible or ,even Imprac
ticable. We hope it is" both possible
and practicable. A league committed
to certain definite principles such as
the fourteen Wilson articles of peace
is within the range and scope of In
ternational agreements. But what
else?' Are we to have a paper league
or some other kind of a league?
r THE GOVERNMENT IX BUSINESS.
One of the new devices which has
irrown out of Government activity in
commerce and industry to meet war
emergencies has been the Government
owned corporation, which enjoys all
the rights and is subject to all the
liabilities of a private corporation. The
first of the kind was the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, but several others
have been formed in imitation of it,
one having taken charge of spruce
production in the Pacific Northwest.
Where these industrial and business
operations were necessary to provision
of war supplies, there was good cause
for their segregation in this manner.
But it has not stopped there. The
Commerce Department has organized
a corporation with Federal officials
as directors and with public funds as
capital for the purpose of trading with
Siberia. That is as far as the Govern
ment has gone toward supplying the
economic needs of Russia, since a
declaration of Administration policy
toward that country was made last
Summer. At that time it was proposed
to send an economic commission, ,but
no more has been said of that scheme.
Instead, the Government uses the peo
pie's money to engage in the import
ana export trade.
No war emergency justifies this pro
cedure. Private enterprise is ready to
enter the field whereever stable and
safe conditions have been established,
and to advance as fast as the country
becomes pacified. Government traders
cannot go any farther or faster, for
trade is practicable only where the
provisional government of Siberia or
the allied forces have restored order.
If Congress had been asked for au-
i thority for the Commerce Department
to go into foreign trade, something
would surely have been heard about It.
There is a decided tendency for the
Government to undertake to do any
thing and everything that needs to be
done. It does not exist for that pur
pose, and it is not qualified to do the
work well. The Department of Com
merce was established to discover and
make known opportunities for Ameri
can citizens to-do business abroad and
to facilitate their operations, not to go
into business itself. The United States
Government was never Intended to
become a huge co-operative enterprise,
which should branch out into every
field of endeavor, and before it be
comes such the people, must be con
sulted and must give their decision. A
halt should be called on Secretary
Kedfield's exploits.
WITHOUT MONET OR PRICE.
The Red Cross succors and saves.
It gives without stint, and helps with
out quibble or question. When the
soldier is hungry, the Red Cross feeds
him; when he is wounded, the Red
Cross cares for him; when he is sick,
the Red Cross cures him; when he is
dying, the Red Cross comforts and
relieves him. It is always on the Job.
It asks no reward, exacts no price, but
just serves and gives.
No one who has been in France can
fail to acclaim the Red Cross. Every
soldier who is there, and every sol
dier who has returned, knows about
its good work, and will tell about it.
He will tell you that it Is efficiently
organized, but that it has the human
touch, and it is in sympathy with the
soldier and he is in sympathy with it.
Good men and good women are there
to carry the Red Cross to the Army.
They are doing it. ,
,If any father, or mother, or brother,
or sister, or friend of a soldier has any
doubts about the Red Cross, let such
one "ask that soldier, or any soldier.
WAR ON WASTE.
The record of reduction in food
waste effected in one month in the
lumber industry of the Pacific North
west is instructive to all the people
of the United States. It shows what
can be done by systematic, co-operative
effort toward curing one of our
worst National vices. Only one in
dustry in one corner of the country
was concerned. If an equal effort
were made in all sections, enough
might be saved to feed a nation such
as Belgium or Serbia, yet all in
America would still have not only
enough but abundance.
But after reducing waste by 9 36 tons
in October as compared with August,
the logging camps still wasted 1219
tons of food. There was still much
room for economy, for they had made
only a beginning. There is much
farther to go before the irreducible
minimum is reached. The incentive
to economy will continue through next
year, for the whole world is short of
food, and will not begin to make good
the deficiency until a harvest has been
reaped in Europe.
But that incentive will always exist.
We have been reminded by the high
cost of living since millions of people
suspended production that prices are
fixed by the action and reaction of
supply and demand. Those who waste
diminish supply, thereby increase de
mand and raise prices." If all were to
stop waste, they would in effect in
crease supply, reduce demand and re
duce prices. Decrease in production
might follow, but at least the con
sumer would get one lap ahead in the
race. By waste the consumer himself
raises the price of what he eats.
KITAKI COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE.
The ambitious scope of the -plana
for the "University in Khaki," which
is being rapidly organized for the ben
efit of our soldiers overseas, is re
vealed by the announcement that espe
cial weight will be given to the study
of agriculture. President Butler, of
Massachusetts Agricultural College,
has already sailed for France and he
is to be joined abroad soon by eight
presidents and deans of American ag
ricultural colleges, who are to act as
regional directors of the "world's
greatest university." The educational
system is being whipped into shape by
the Young Men's Christian Association,
in co-operation with the Army. Educa
tional Commission. In view of the
probably prolonged stay of our Army
of occupation, the practical trend of
the course of study is significant.
Sundry opportunities for field work,
which is inseparable from efficient in
struction in farming, exist in France
and Belgium, where intensive meth
ods of cultivation have reached a state
of near-perfection attained nowhere
else in the world. In these regions.
for example, the. use of fertilizers is
made to correspond most nearly to the
needs of the soil and the profit to be
derived from the crop. There is not
the same tendency as has recently ex
isted in the United States to expect
chemicals to atone for poor cultural
methods and to apply them in a hap
hazard way. The student farmer will
be particularly unlikely to come un
der spell of the German potash propa
ganda, which has been responsible
for use of quantities of this fertilizer
greatly in excess of needs In America.
Indeed, the German experience, near
at hand, is likely to operate as a re
straining influence, for it is now well
known that during the war, while the
product of the Stassfurt mines has
been diverted to munitions rlants,
German production has not suffered
thereby.
It is in the department of animal
husbandry that Americans will profit
most by contact with. their allies, for
breeding is a fine art in both France
and Belgium. The came is true of
feeding to obtain maximum results, a
study of which is particularly advis
able now that the United States is ap
proaching the end of the free range
and cheap pasture period. There will
be something to be learned In horti
culture, although Americans them
selves have been well in the fore in
this industry in recent years. An
other department in which the method
of study by visitation ought to be
illuminating is that of farm economics
and country life. Our European
brethren have succeeded conspicu
ously in solving the problem of mak
mg the farm community also a com
munity of homes, and by catching the
spirit of this we shall do much toward
checking the movement away from
the land.
It is worth noting that French in
stitutions of learning have indicated
their intention of placing all their fa
cilities at the disposal of Americans.
In doing this they show their wisdom
no less than their benevolence. It will
not be altogether a one-sided bargain
European farmers have something to
learn from Americans in particular
as to the conservation of man power,
by the use of modern machinery and
by economies of arrangement of the
farmstead. The ideas of the European
peasant may be greatly expanded and
his wisdom broadened with profit to
society. The American way has no
doubt been wasteful, but it usually has
been nicely adapted to the needs of
its time. Sweeping condemnation of
American agriculture, which has lately
become fashionable, is not always
justified. It is probable "that Euro
pean and American farmers will learn
from one another, to the ultimate ad
vantage of all concerned.
The Department of Agriculture re
veals that which, isno eecret-t true
epicures in making known the delights
of sweet potato pie, but it has con
ferred a boon upon humanity, and,
incidentally, extended widely the mar
ket for an excellent vegetable product,
by demonstrating the ease with which
this pie can be constructed from dehy
drated sweet potatoes. The squash
and pumpkin will now need to look
to their laurels, teut they are placed
on an even footing by being dehy
drated also. It is predicted that the
American Army in Europe during the
remainder of the period of occupation
will be supplied with greater quantities
of dehydrated vegetables than were
ever produced In the world's history.
Dehydration is hailed by one authority
as having done more for the farmers
of the United States than any devel
opment in fifty years. It is counted
on to stabilize production by provid
ing a market for "carry over" crops,
and to increase profits by reducing
transportation costs.
WORK OF THE MARINES.
Major-General George Barnett, com
mander of the United States Marine
Corps in France, returning home on
the giant transport Leviathan, has
especial reason for being proud of the
men whom he commanded while
abroad. It does not detract from the
records made by other units to make
reference to the service of the marines
as summarized recently in the report
of Secretary of the Navy Daniels.
About S00O American marines en
gaged in heavy fighting in France, be
ing among those first employed on the
line because they were already trained
and numbered many veterans of the
service. Of these, approximately BO
per cent were casualties and nearly
20 per cent lost their lives. The dif
ference between the total casualties
and the total number of dead is almost
wholly made up of wounded. Only
fifty-seven were captured In the entire
wa r.
This was due to a combination of
training and opportunity. When war
was declared the marines, aside from
a comparatively smalf number of reg
ular Army soldiers, were the only in
tensively drilled force which we pos
sessed. For this reason when it be
came necessary to make a showing
with American troops in order to
heighten the morale of our allies, a
disproportionate burden fell upon the
marines. How well they bore it, at
Belleau Wood, around Soissons and at
St. Mihiel and at other places, is a
matter of history.
RIVAL SHIPPING POLICIES.
Of equal importance with the ques
tion. What shall we do with the rail
roads? is the other question. What
shall we do with the ships? The end
of the war will find the Government
with a great tonnage in operation or
under construction. It was built as
Army transports, . but a year hence
only a small proportion of that which
is already afloat will be needed for
that purpose, and employment must
be found for the bulk of this tonnage.
The only profitable employment will
be commerce. The American people
have determined to expand their com
merce, to employ their ships in that
work and to retain them under the
American flag. The immediate ques
tion is. How shall this be done?
Two alternative plans are proposed
one by the Shipping Board, the other
by private ship owners and operators.
The Shipping Board proposes to sell
the small ships, both steel and wood,
to the allies and neutrals, to retain
the larger ones under Government
ownership and to charter them to pri
vdte operators. It has already begun
to carry out this plan by establishing
an operating department, which alio
cates skips to various ports and char
ters them to operating companies.
Chairman Hurley believes that by im
proving harbor facilities and by apply
ing American efficiency methods we
can pay. feed and accommodate on
board ship American seamen on Amer
ican standards and still compete with
foreign ships which would retain their
lower standards. In support of his
opinion he cites our railroads and our
steamers on the Great Lakes, which
operate profitably at lower cost and
charge lower rates than foreign rail
roads and ships. He attributes this
success to quick turn-around of lake
ships and to the many points in which
American railroads keep down cost.
all by the efficiency methods on which
he relies.
The ship-owners' plan is put for
ward by Captain Robert Dollar as
their spokesman. He says Govern
ment ownership or operation of ships
would be "destructive and disastrous,
and that Government chartering to
individuals would be a "fatal mistake."
He proposes that the Government eell
the ships at prices to meet competi
tion, one-fourth cash, the rest In two,
three and four years with 4 per cent
interest, keeping the price equal to
that of foreign ships and charging to
the war the difference between cost
to the Government and price to the
buyer.
As to wages, he says the American
cannot be leveled down to the foreign
scale nor can the foreigner be raised
to the American scale. His solution
is to let ship owners pay their crews
American "wages and that the Govern
ment pay the difference between these
and Japanese wages. He says:
This la no subsidy to shipowners, but only
an equalization of American versus foreign
labor. '
If this were done, "such fine young
Americans as are being trained in
great numbers now would be sure to
continue to follow the sea when the
full crew was American." This would
especially be so If the clause in the
seamen's act were abrogated requiring
that "65 per cent of the crew be cer
tificated able seamen." No other na
tion makes this requirement and it
would tie up half our ships, "as there
are not nearly enough of the so-called
able seamen to go around." Licensing
of officers must also be modified to
be the same as that of our competitors.
Americans, however, will not stand the
work in the fireroom on ships running
to the tropics, and he doubts whether
they would work In the steward's de
partment on those ships. Captain
Dollar says that no further financial
assistance is needed from the Govern
ment than to equalize wages and to
pay for mail service.
But he details many particulars in
which our laws and regulations raise
the cost of operation under the Ameri
can flag. The American system of
measurement makes net tonnage of
American ships 25 per cent more than
that of British ships of the same cargo
capacity, increasing In that proportion
all port charges, pilotage and dry dock
charges. By the admission of General
Goethals. Panama Canal tolls on an
American ship are $500 more than on
a British ship of the same size. Cap
tain Dollar makes this remark in that
connection, which is of interest to
Pacific Coast lumbermen:
It might be pertinent to ask why an
American ship carrying a cargo of lumber
pays mor tolls than a. ship carrying mer
chandise, coal or iron.
Under American regulations all
work must top 'while-inspection goes
on. On British ships It is made while
cargo is being handled, and. if it is not
completed when the ship is ready to
sail, the ship is allowed to proceed
and inspection is finished at the next
port. Thus quick dispatch is pro
moted. The system of boiler inspec
tion "racks the boilers and pipe, causes
much expense and shortens the life
of the boilers." Other nations do not
require boiler inspection annually "and
they have no more explosions than
American boilers so inspected." Though
it is claimed that Americans can do
more and better work than any others,
the regulations require an American
ship to employ 30 per cent more men
In the engine-room than any other
nation requires on the same sized ship.
It must have four licensed engineers
to the British four: three oilers, while
the donkeyman. storekeeper and a
greaser do the oiling on foreign ships;
and three water-tenders, who are un
known on foreign ships and who "do
nothing but sit on a box in the fire-
room arid draw wages."
According to Captain Dollar, several
clauses of the seamen's law should be
amended or repealed. He would re
tain the provisions for safety and for
better accommodations for the crew,
but would eliminate that requiring 65
per cent of the crew to be able sea
men, which was "so impossible and
unreasonable because they could not
be obtained that no notice has been
taken of it during war-time." He con
demns the provision that "any reput
able citizen" may cause a ship to be
held for investigation. He interprets
"any reputable citizen" to mean "any
waterfront sorehead," and says the
provision "is so drastic and vicious
that it also has not been enforced."
He condemns the clause allowing a
seaman to collect half his earned
wages at any port and every five days
as having done much harm, "as it
gives the men money to keep them in
a drunken state" and as intended "to
allow the men to draw their wages
and desert," though it did not work
that way. The requirement that the
crew be divided into two equal watches
is also bad, for men cannot do any
work at night except navigate the
ship, and a larger day watch is needed
to keep up the ship in good condition.
Possibly if the handicaps enumer
ated by Captain Dollar, all of which
are Imposed by law, were removed,
such results might be achieved by Mr.
Hurley's efficiency methods that no
aid from the Government would bo
needed to equalize labor cost, for the
American standard could be main
tained. But it must be obvious to any
intelligent man that wholesale re
vision of the shipping and seamen's
laws would accomplish far more for
the merchant marine than would Gov.
ernment ownership and operation. We
need less, not more. Government inter
ference, and we need more common
sense mixed with the law that remains.
The story of the latest Tampico in
cident reads sbmewhat better than that
of 1914, when American ships left
British and German ships to rescue
American citizens from a mob and
when Secretary Daniels told them they
ought to be glad they were alive.
There are fighting Americans on every
ship, and, when attacked, they do not
await orders from Washington to
shoot.
The Canucks they are all that, f ron
ocean to ocean take a solemn and
serious view of vice. A former pro
hibition commissioner of British Co
lumbia has been given six months or
$1000 for Importing liquor. .
Perhaps the British found it neces
sary to put Cologne under martial law
in order to suppress those seventeen
distinct odors which an English poet
said he could smell at one time.
The question of Government control
of railways might be left to vote of
the country press, each member of
which Is out five or ten dollars a month
since McAdoo took over the roads.
It is within the law to shoot a
burglar entering or in action, but not
when departing, as the danger to life
Is past. It is well to be safe, however,
and get him coming.
Get your parcel post packages Into
the mails early and avoid overworking
a lot of good people. A kind Govern
ment might allow a "Don't Open"
label if asked.
The Portuguese republic is decidedly
rickety, but would gain stability if
Spain also became a republic and
ceased to be a refuge for monarchist
plotters.
It is all very well for Dr. Conklin.
of the University of Oregon, to spy
out the superstitions of his students,
but would he walk under a ladder?
The more intricate the plan of
smuggling "booze," the easier caught.
Officers look for the brainy ways,
while something simple gets by.
. Washington desires to copy the Ore
gon system of licensing cars. Oregon
has a lot ot systems of which Wash
ington can have the originals.
These are the days when the old
gentleman's pocketbook has th "Open
Evenings Till Christmas" sign on it in
invisible ink.
An aviator has crossed the Andes.
Now if he will go up and knock the
spots off the sun, we shall be satisfied,
The better way is to give something
nseful and something frivolous. Why
be too serious at Christmas time?
The suffragette "martyrs" in Wash
ington do not get medals of leather,
but those are what they deserve.
Secretary Olcott, who has auto plates
to sell, should know the Procrastina
tion family la strong in Oregon.
Perhaps one reason boys go wrong
is for lack of a little pocket money
and opportunity to earn any.
The best Christmas cigars are se
lected by the bands and box trim
mings. Any wife knows.
Somebody was thinking of T. R.
when the Arizonans were made the
guard of honor at Paris.
Italy will not demobilize for a while.
She was late getting In and wants to
be sure of the finish.
Did those Parisians expect to see
Wilson on the mourners bench?
Why not make the Christmas turkey
a goose this year? .
Mars can depend on Mexico all the
time. i
Where's tout button. Z
Those Who Come and Go.
To buy a soda fountain to replace the
bar In his hotel at Great Falls. Mont.,
is the purpose of A. J. Brletenst ein's
trip to Portland. He is at the Multno
mah. Prohibition goes into effect in
Montana on January 1, and at 1 o'clock
that morning the famous old bar of the
Rainbow Hotel will disappear. In that
barroom have been consummated some
of the big political and financial deals
in the history of the state, and its bar
tenders have served notables of the
world as they visited Great Falls. Mr.
Breitensteln expects Montana to remain
dry for a long time to come.
Alex Nibley, who left Portland to be
a Mormon chaplain In the service, re
turned Saturday night from 'Washing
ton, D. C, which Is as near the war
cone as he could manage to get. A bro
ther. J. F. Nibley, Is staying at the Ho
tel Portland.
Mr. and Mrs. S. J. Miller, of Newport,
arrived at the New Perkins yesterday
to do their Christmas shopping,
e
Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Ehrmann and B.
Charles Ehrmann, of Ean Francisco, are
at the Benson. They represent the Ehr
mann end of the Mason & Ehrmann
firm.
J. W. Beymer, of Heppner. and J. M.
Lundy, of lone, two prominent stock
men of Moro County, brought ship
ments to Portland yesterday and are
at the Imperial.
Lieutenant T. J. Sheeny, former snort
ing editor of the Brooklyn Eagle, was
at the Multnomah yesterday while in
terviewing the powers that control
transfers from the Spruce Division to
some other section of the Army. Hav
ing passed all the examinations qual
ifying for appointment as an instruc
tor at any of the National Military or
Naval schools, friends of Mr. Sheeny
are hoping that he will be sent to one
of them. During recent months he has
been In command ofthe 85th Squadron
of spruce men and has just arrived
from railroad construction Jn the -l-
cinlty of Puget Sound. Coming down
from his work, the Lieutenant enjoyed
a turkey dinner In the private car of
the president of tho Milwaukee rail
road.
I. T. Boak, head of the Woodmen of
the A orld, was at the Hotel Oregon
yesterday, registered from Denver.
H. W. Beeeher. representing the C C.
Moores Construction Engineers. Is at
the Benson. This company built the
power unit for the big Government
plant at Toledo. In Lincoln. County
which plant was shut down whan the
armistice was signed.
Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Hayter. of Dallas,
are at the Hotel Portland for a few
days.
W. T. Hasklns arrived from Ran
Francisco yesterday and la at the
Multnomah. He carries a pet billiard
cue in a leather case and no bell-hop
is permitted to lay profane hands upon
it. He expects to have a few conteata
with local cue experts before he leaves
town.
A. C. Marsters. a member of the State
Fair Board, is at the Imperial, from
Roseburg.
Miss Helen M. Engbersr. a school
teacher from Condon, is visiting In the
city and is staying at the Benson.
Max Roberts, a business man of
Joseph, Or., Is at the New rerklna,
Cal. E. Stone, general passenger
agent for the Great Northern Railroad
was at the Multnomah yesterdey, and
confirms predictions of other railroad
men that travel toward the Coast will
soon Increase.
Mrs. L. W. ITIlliard. of Seaside, has
engaged apartments at the Imperial
for tho Winter.
G. W. Woodworth, a prominent or
chardlst of the Hood River country, is
at the Hotel Oregon.
Otto IL Wolf, a big cafeteria opera
tor of Seattle, la at the Multnomah. "ac
companied by hia aon.
"WHY SHOULD I SMOKl'.r ASKS 0K
Soldier Whs Does Net la Unable to
Kind Reasoa for BtglnBlng.
VANCOUVER BARRACKS. Dec. 15.
(To the Editor.) I have been interest
ed lately in some of the letters written
to the Portland papers about smoking.
So far I haven't seen anything defend
ing the use of tobacco. Most of the
articles eeem to be either a rap at the
president of Willamette University or
an excuse by the writer for burning up
his money. Now if anyone has a good
reason for the use of tobacco I would
like very much to see it written In the
form of an argument and not as a let
ter to satisfy a personal reeling.
One writer, if I remember correctly,
says that tobacco wiped out a plaguo
in India some years ago, ana mat it
Is a. nerve ouleter. maker of friends,
helper In business and In general It is
good for everything. But he fails to
explain how it does these things. Any
one can make a general statement, but
it takes evidence with proof really to
defend the use of tobacco, or anything
else that may or may not be objec
tionable.
Six months ago when I enlisted 1
wondered what kind of a soldier I
would make if I didn't smoke. I was
willing to be convinced and ready to
take my first smoke if anyone would
offer a good reason why I should
start. To my surprise. I didn't find
anyone who would even offer me a
cigarette the second time. Every fel
low wished he was as lucky and had
never started himself. I have asked a
thousand or more men during my time
here what they think about smoking,
and have the first one to find who
doesn't say that he wished he had never
started. When fellows wno nave tried
tobacco for a number of years say they
would be better off without it can we
blame a university president for sug
(tenting at a public meeting that "those
who want tobacco should be expected
to buy It themselves"?
Why not put aside all personal preju
dice and consider the question for
what it really amounts to. If tobacco
is good, let's all use it; If not, let's
keep still and not try to make an
excuse for Its existence. I want my
little brothers to have the best that
civilization has to offer and the world
is full of boys needing the same, so
If there is anything to this Idea that
tobacco la necessary, healthful or any
thing else, let a have It.
I am a member of the "fighting J7th."
now stationed at Vancouver Barracks,
where I will not be found, as I just
got my discharge. We have a record
for big victories. On payday we al
ways went through the pay line, and
on Thanksgiving day we licked Turkey,
so write something worth while.
PRIVATE GUSTAV A. ANDERSON,
27th Casual DeL
Ninety-first Division.
WESTPORT. Or, Dec. 14. (To the
Editor.) (1) Please state if the 91st
Division has been designated for re
turn. (3) Is it true that there are at
Camp Lewis, soldiers wounded out of
the 91st Division? (3) When will the
casualty list appear of the same?
A CONSTANT READER.
1. It has not.
2. Wounded men. are arriving at
Camp Lewis and it is possible some of
them were of the 91st Division.
S. Casualties are not published by
divisions. Probably the names of
wonnded now at Camp Lewi- have al
aeadyt appeared in, Aha lists,
NEEDED REFORM IS EASILY MADE
Traaafer et Probate Matters to Clrenlt
Courts Desirable In Oregon.
McMINNVILLE. Or, Dec. 15. (To the
Editor.) While our judicial system In
this state may not bo the best that
could be formulated, it has stood,
without any material change, ever since
the atate was admitted Into the Union,
a period of nearly CO years.
In one respect, it seems to me. that
a material change should be made by
the Legislature at the ensuing ses
sion. Article VII of our nl.it rnntll.
tution. as originally adopted, created a
County Court for each county and
conferred upon this body jurisdiction
of all county business, and, also, of all
probate matters and a limited jurisdic
tion of actions at law.
Under this system. In all counties.
except Multnomah, all county business
is transacted by the Countv I'ourL con
sisting of the County Judge and the
two commissioners of the Countv
Court, while all probate business and
me law cases are determined by the
court composed of the County Judge
only.
In practice, the Countv Judare la
likely either to neglect road and other
county business, in order to be at his
orrice to attend to probate matters
which need his attention and Dresence
about every day. or neglect probate
matters, in order to examine and at
tend to road, bridge and other county
business that seems to need his atten
tion. It is a fact. that, in all or the
larger counties, there Is probate busi
ness to be attended to by the County
Judge on about every judicial day.
it is a tact that all of the real prop
erty in the state passes through the
Probata Court once In about every 35
years and it Is. also, true that will
contests and other Important cases
come up for hearing In county courts
frequently, and' that, in many cases,
large interests are involved. These Im
portant cases have to be tried by the
county judges, and they have author
ity to decide and .do decide causes in
volving large sums in value.
It is a fart that in about one-half
of the counties, the county Judges are
laymen, without any training or educa
tion In legal matters and they are
really not qualified to determine such
cases as frequently come before them
in probate and law cases. Every one
tolerably well informed knows that
these county Judges that have no legal
education are unfit to grapple with
probate and law matters that come be
fore them and that the trial of eu-h
causes before such officials is and al
ways will be a miserable farce.
It may be suggested that litigants.
In such cases, have the right to appeal
from their decisions to the circuit
courts, but it is not right to place
such men in such Important offices and
compel litigants to try their cases be
fore them and force them, in order to
obtain justice, to appeal to higher
courts.
The Legislature has, under the
amendment to said article VII. adopted
in 1910. power to abolish the county
courts, and to transfer Jurisdiction of
probate matters to the Circuit Courts.
In California and Washington, they
have Superior Courts In each county
that have about the same Jurisdiction
which our Circuit Courts have and they
have, also. Jurisdiction in probate mat
ters.
In Montana and Nevada district
courts have probate jurisdiction and
these systems, existing in the states
referred to, work well and give gen
eral satisfaction.
A short act of three or four sec
Hons, passed by the Legislature, could
abolish county courts and confer pro
bate jurisdiction upon our circuit courts
and another art of similar length
would be sufficient to create a Board of
County Commissioners of three mem
bers to transact all county business
and the present County Judges and
Commissioners could be transferred to
and constitute these boards of County
Commissioners. Multnomah County has
such a board.
The clerks of the Circuit Courts could
be authorized to make exparte orders
appointing administrator admitting
wills to probate, authorizing the eaU
of personal property, etc.. when the
Circuit Judges shall be absent from the
county, but all orders made by the
clerks should be subject to be reviewed
and set aside, for cause, by the court.
By adopting the system suggested,
supra, each county would have a. Board
of County Commissioners to transact
county business and the probate and
law business, now within the Jurisdic
tion of the County Courts, would be
vested In the Circuit Courts, tribunals
presided over by men "learned in the
law." and all Important probate mat
ters would have to be determined by
the Circuit Courts and not by men,
"jerked up off the grass" and made
County Judges, without having any
proper qualifications for euch posi
tions. The adoption of the plan suggested
would not necessarily Increase the ex
penses to the taxpayers, already too
heavily burdened with taxation.
JURIDICUS.
Facta of Early History.
McMINNVILT.E. Or., Dec. IS. (To the
Editor.) (1) Where can I get a good
early history of Oregon? (2) Who
founded the Bethel College, in Polk
County, in early days? (3) Was a man
by the name of Amos Harvey connected
with the early history of Oregon as
Indian agent at the Grind Rondo or
Kiletx P.eservation? (4) Was The Ore
gonian In Its early years a Democratic
or independent paper? READER.
(1) nistory of the raciflc Northwest,
by Joseph Schafer. Is comparatively
brief and of recent publication.
(I) The Kev. John Rigdon. ef the
Christian Church, founded Bethel Col
lege about 1856. .
3) The Oregon Historical Society
has no records of Amos Harvey as an
Indian agent. An Amos Harvey was a
fruitgrower and farmer In Polk County.
(4) The Oregonian has always been
an Independent newspaper, but has
usually found Itself in accord with Re
publican principles.
Dear-eat of Property.
HALSTEY. Or., Dec 15. (To the
Editor.) My husband and I wish to
make a joint will, so that If we should
both die unexpectedly our property
would go to those whom we wish to
have It. We both have brothers and
sisters, nieces and nephews. We have
no children. Will we have to leave a
certain amount to each one, or mention
each name, in order to make It legal?
SUBSCRIBER.
In the circumstances it Is advisable
that you have a lawyer assist you in
drafting the will. If either husband or
wife dies and no will has been made
the property all goes to the survivor,
if there are no children. On the death
of the surviving spouse the property
would all go to his or her relatives,
unless willed otherwise. Nieces and
nephews do not share in an estate, un
less bequests are made to them. If
nearer relatives of the deceased sur
vive. Not Designated for Retara.
CORNELIUS. Or.. Dec 1 (To the
Editor.) Kindly tell me If the Eighth
Division, which arrived In France two
days before the armistice was signed,
has orders to return soon. A READER.
It has not been so listed.
Battery Ordered Rome.
PORTLAND. Dec. 16. (To the Edl.
tor.) Has Battery D. 145th Field Artil
lery, been ordered home? J. F. C.
The 14th Field Artillery- ha been
ordered sent hems,
In Other Days.
Tweaty-flve Years A a.
From The Oresonlan. December IT. 1S03.
Five hundred and seventy-three ap
plications for enlistment In the United
States Army have been made since May.
of which 117 have been accepted. From
present appearances many more will
join and aid Portland In furnishing her
share of the 14th Infantry.
A :0-foot cigar-shaped raft which
has grounded on every shoal In Coos
Bay has finally been taken across the
bar and is on the first lap of her week's
trip to San Francisco. The raft con
tains 331a piles, each 70 feet in length.
Leipsic. The French spies were sen
tenced today, Dubois to six years and
Malavas to four years' imprisonment,
the sentences to be fcerved in the fort
ress. The men were convicted of steal
ing plans of German fortresses.
In a concert In the Kaiser's new pal
ace in Potsdam the trumpeters blew
through their new seven-foot tubes.
The Kmperor himself conducted the or
chestra when it played a march by
Beethoven.
Fifty Years Ago.
From Tho Oresonlan. recember 17. IRS.
The whipping post is still among the
cherished institutions of the state of
Delaware, to which torture some half
dosen people were subjected recently.
The report of the case says that tho
punishment was strictly In accordance
with tho laws of the state.
General Grant's report deprecates any
present reduction of the Army, as tho
condition of the Southern states and
the Indians are likely to need all man
now in the service.
Vienna. Memorials to tho Queen,
asking for the release of the Fenians
imprisoned In various parts of the coun
try, were circulated and extensively
signed at the Catholic churches Sun
day. New Tork. It Is reported that the
representatives of France and Eng
land at Vienna have been instructed to
represent to the Austrian government
the dangers to tho European peace from
its attitude upon the return question.
The recall of tho Austrian Ambassador
at Constantinople has been the result
of their representation.
IF I MIOHT ASK.
If I micht ask of God one priceless
gift
To bless my life and make It etreng
and fine.
To help me from the choas ever sift
Those things which are immortal and
divine :
If it wore granted that one blessing
fall
Upon my earthly path, my joy Increas
ing. I'd ask for broader charity toward all.
And in mankind a tender faith, un
ceasing. If I might plead a second time and
gain
The favor that I craved all else above.
I'd ask the power to soothe another's
pain.
And warm some hopeless soul with
human love.
Then, when these gifts had all been
granted me.
And God tho last and choicest one was
sending,
I'd ask onto more still broader
charity.
And In mv fellowmon a faith unend
lngi . GRACK K. H.VI.U
Cable cram to Soldier.
OREGON CITY. Dec. 15.(To the Ed
itor.) please Inform me as to tho pres
ent location of tho Eighth Infantry, of
tho Eighth Division. Am desirous of
.,lx f the death of a. sister
rn u member of this unit, would a.
cablegram be practicable?
Trobrblv due to the fact that it
reached France Just at tho time tho
armistice went Into effect, location of
this division has not been announced.
If you know the soldier's complete unit
designation a. cablegram bearing tho
address you would use In sending him
a letter, except that it is directed to
Paris, will be accepted by the telegraph
companies.
Whereaboats of Klarfcth Dlvinion.
PORTLAND, Dec. 16. (To the Ed
itor.) Can you give me any Informa
tion of the Eighth Division where
thev are located or whether the entire
division has been detailed for early
return? SUBSCRIBER.
Information regarding the Eighth
Division's location has not been given
out. The fact that the advance schools
and artillery detachments of the divi
sion have been ordered homo may or
may not indicate that the entire, divi
sion Is to be demobilized.
llSth Field Artillery.
HOOD RIVER, Or, Dec 13. iTo the
Editor.) Kindly tell m if the 14Sth
Field Artillery, Battery C, 41st Division
of the Fifth Company, is fctlU in Eu
rope? Are they listed for return? Is
tho headquarters troop. Third Army
Corps, in this srtillery? If not where
are they and will they soon b coming
home? SUBSCRIBER.
No report yet Issued thst the 14Sth
Field Artillery has been ordered home.
Your query relating to headquarters
tronp does not furnish details necessary
to identify unit in mind.
I.oeillon of Army Postoffice.
PORTLAND. Dec 1. (To the Ed
itor.) in what part of France is the
Army Postoffice No. 707? Are the
clerks stationed there likely to come
homo soon? Wht Is their division
number? M. S.
Unless some reader is able to supply
answers to tho flret two questions yt
probably cannot get them short of the
War Department at Washington. Tho
Postoffice detachment designations are
in no way connected with the divisions.
When Soldier Doea Not Write.
RlDi'.EKIELD. Wash.. Dec 16. (To
the Editor.) My brother enlisted Jnly 1
and was stationed at Camp A. A. Hum
phrey. Company L. Fourth Regiment.
I have not heard from him since I got
the card that ho landed safely oversea.
Could you tell mo where to write to
find out about him to locate hlra?
MRS. GEORGE GOLLXNGS.
Write to the Adjutant-General. Unit
ed States Army. Washington. D. C.
Xante of French President.
ALBANY, Or.. Dec 13. (To the Ed
itor.) Is President Poincare'a name
pronounced In two syllables or. In
three? Is it Pwan-ca-ray or Pwan-cart
E.
It is pronounced In three syllables.
Marriage After Divorce.
PORTLAND. Dec 1. (To the Edi
tor.) Please state bow long a person
must bo divorced In tho state of Wash
ington before marriage Is legal.
SUBSCRIBER.
At least six months.
Sorry She's Married.
Tit-Bits.
"And when you told him T was mar
ried." said the girl who had Jilted him.
"did ho seem to be sorry?" "Yea." re
plied the other, "he said he was very
sorry although he didn't know the
man .personally."-