1&
TIIE 3IORXING OREGOXIAN, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER 18, 1918.
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PORTLAND, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 1918.
THE DELATED CASUALTY LISTS.
While it is realized that a certain
amount of waste and delay Is insep
arable from war, the inefficiency dis
played by the War Department in con
nection with the casualty lists un
doubtedly has strained the patience
of Americans almost to the breaking:
point. More than five weeks since
the armistice was sigrhed the. list is
far from complete. We do not like
to contemplate what the situation
would have been if the war had con
tinued the additional ten days which
it its "Bald Marshal Foch estimated
would be, required to accomplish the
complete military victory, the glory
of which he renounced in a spirit of
humanity that stands out as one of the
finest manifestations of the century.
The Washington correspondent of
the Boston Transcriptafter a painstaking-
investigation of the causes of
delay, finds that there was serious in
efficiency both in the home and for
eign offices, and points out that a
single change in the system would
have greatly simplified It. There was,
lie says, no separate file of casualty
cards, so that when a man was re
ported to have died the office was
compelled to plow through cabinets
containing more than 2,000,000 names,
instead of a simple file, such as waa
proposed by the Red Cross, of only
about 150,000 cards.
A leading Administration official Is
reported to have been Informed soon
after this country entered the war
that the British War Office had said
that If it had to go through the war
again it would turn the duty of notify
ing the families of casualties to a pri
vate organization. This our own War
Department refused to do. Suspicion
that Jealousy was a factor in per
petuating a system which had already
been found wanting by our ally will
not promote good feeling on the part
of those .who have suffered unneces
sarily because of red tape and delays.
The situation was at its worst last
Summer and Fall, when, according to
thiscorrespondent, reports of wounded
were reaching relatives by thousands
far In advance of announcements by
the War Department. Mothers and
fathers were even receiving letters
which they had sent their sons, from
the postoffice with "deceased" stamped
on the envelope. This caused a tardy
reform: and, finally. Secretary Baker
authorized the Red Cross to send out
reports of deaths which it had verified
without waiting for official authoriza
tion. The department itself, however.
as is well known, is still far behind
with its own work.
Critics of the tlepartment are right
In condemning its refusal to accept
the experience of others as its guide,
and its refusal to co-operate with any
agency which would have facilitated
the work in hand. Next to the con
duct of the war itself, this was per
haps the most important activity with
which the department was concerned.
Mismanagement in this respect has
left a bad impression which it will be
almost Impossible to eradicate.
BUILD THAT DRYDOCK NOW.
Those persons and organizations
which try to influence the Commis
sion of Public Docks to postpone an
important and vital Dart of the nro
gramme of improvement with which
tho Commission went before the peo
ple at the election have taken an over
cautious and decidedly erroneous
view of the urgent needs of the time.
Delay in construction ofan additional
drydock would be suicidal to the port.
It would exactly meet the wishes of
hose ports which are doing and will
do all in their power to prevent ex
pansion of Portland commerce.
The operating department of the,
snipping noara inciuaes a iz,uuu-ion
drydock among the facilities which it
considers a necessary condition to al
lotment of tonnage to Portland com
merce during the next year. The,
board has shown indifference to the
interests of Portland by cancelling
contracts for wood ships. Sound policy
dictates that the port give it no pretext
for like indifference in allocating ton
nage, as it would do by falling to
provide all the -facilities which the
operating department has declared
necessary.
Irrespective of the wishes of the
Shipping Board, the most superficial
knowledge of the situation proves the
need of an additional drydock. When
the Port of Portland Commission al
lowed the Oregon drydock to slip
through its fingers and to be towed
away to another port, the docking fa
cilities were already inadequate
promptly to handle the business which
came from shipbuilding activity. Ad
dition of a section to the Port of Port
land drydock would not supply what
is wanted, which is not only a larger,
but an additional drydock.
Building of wood ships will not stop
because the Shipping Board no longer
wants them. Before the board en
tered the market there was already
an active demand among people who
know much more about ships than
the board has yet learned, and that de
mand will revive. Building of steel
ships is firmly established and should
thrive when cost of production has
become normal. The St Johns ter
minal wilf attract more vessels here
for ocean commerce. All of these pros
pects of the immediate future mean
- mora work for drydocks. We may ex
pect to keep the present dock em
ployed with smaller craft and to need
the additional 12,000-ton dock as soon
as it can be built.
The Dock Commission has full au
thority to go ahead with -its pro
gramme according to its own judg
ment of the port's needs without being
unduly influenced by any other or
ganization. After having: been fully
informed of its plans, which Included
the drydock, the people provided the
$5,000,000 for -which it asked by a
vote of four to one. That was both
a public-approval of the programme
and a vote of confidence in the com-'
mission as the proper body to execute
it. The people of the port want prog
ress. They see opportunity knocking
at the door, and they wish to open
wide to it. They have seen other ports
prosper by anticipating- the wants of
the futnre, and they do not wish to
lose by lagging: behind the needs of
commerce. Abundant labor will be
available to build the additions to the
St. Johns terminal and the new;dry.
dock at the same time, and construc
tion of both will accord with the policy
advocated by the Government for era
ploying: men discharged Irom the
Army and from war industries.
SHORT-SIGHTED, AS rSCAL. :
While Chairman Hurley, of the
Emergency Fleet, is in Europe, on the
quixotic errand of persuading the
British government, or the British
shipbuilder, or somebody, or anybody,
to raise seamen's " wages. Chinese,
Lascars and the others so that Amer
ica can compete with Great Britain
on the sea, affairs with the Shipping
Board are hi the usual press. That
body, created to build ships, has at
last decided that it will have no wood
ships, which have served all maritime
nations since the days of the Phoeni
cians, and that nothing will do but
steel vessels.
Tet here Is the Foundation com
pany, a reputable ana responsiDie
concern, striving to get a release from
the Shipping Board so that it may
build steel ships for the French, in
competition with the builders of the
world. It cannot get consent of Mr.
Hurley's board; nor, so far as has been
disclosed, has the United States of
fered a steel contract to the Founda
tion corporation to keep Its yards
going. In effect. Foundation cannot
build for the French nor for any one.
Here, again. Is. a continuation, in
the old familiar fashion, of the Ship
ping Board policy that drove this
same Foundation company to build
yards in' Canada, where it would , be
free to construct on foreign account
No difficulties are encountered there
about the appropriate development of
a sound policy by which any concern
may build ships for anybody who can
and will pay for them. -
Here, however, thousands of men
are to be thrown out of employment.
and a growing industry paralyzed, .by
failure of the Shipping Board to see
that the way to make the United States
a great maritime Nation is to encour
age it to become a great shipbuilding
Nation.
INVERSE LOGIC.
The letter from Mr. Fenlayson is
published today only because it is a
conspicuous example of the argument
of a class who build tip false premises
in order to reach a preconceived con
clusion. The correspondent, out of
some peculiar twist of the mind, is
convinced that war is created by the
plunderbund for purposes of profit. If
is thereupon necessary to discover
why the people permit themselves to
be led into war. It follows that they
must be ill-informed. Who is to blame
for that? It must be the press and
the pulpit.
Just why the pulpit has not preached
against war to are extent that would
turn congregations against it, the cor
respondent does not yet appear to have
determined. But he finds the - omis
sion of the press easily accounted for.
Newspapers and magazines live on ad
vertising and the advertisers wanted
war in order to enhance their profits.
The press did not cry out continually
against war for fear of offending the
advertisers.
One can apply the same flabby
method of reasoning that- is, adopt
an opinion and build up to it to other
agencies of public opinion.' What of
the schools? Histories tell a" great
deal about war. Teachers do not
deprecate war because they have not
the initiative to depart from the text.
The histories are replete with war be
cause school book publishers know
that a world war will make newhis
tories and new geographies necessary,
and that they will coin money out of
them. So "Mr. Fenlayson could argue
with equal force.
There are the farmers, too. In their
organizations they have not preached
against war with strength sufficient
to make it so abhorrent that their
members will not in any circumstances
approve it. Why? To use the corre
spondent's argument, it is because the
grain buyers and the millers and the
packers, to 'whom the farmers sell
want war profits and would not buy
the farmer's wheat, or corn, 'or hogs.
or cattle, if the farmers bpposed the
dollar-clutching desires of the war
mad interests.
It must be an unpleasant frame of
mind, that which sees in great events
nothing but the sordid outcroppings
of avarice. One must live a dour life
who can see nothing in defense of
honor except the hand of greed. But
one who can imagine that among the
thousands upon thousands of adver
tisers of the country there has been
an understanding -that they would not
patronize newspapers or periodicals
that preached peace, and that such an
understanding existed and no member
leaked for forty years such an one is
little short of crazy..
THE TURK IS STILL UNSPEAKABLE,
The Turk is still unspeakable. He
has a method of his town for applying
the principle of self-determination of
peoples, namely, massacre or deporta
tion of any race which disputes his
supremacy. This Is probably the true
explanation of the atrocities perpe
trated on the Greeks, which have been
exceeded only by those committed on
the Armenians. It probably also ex
plains the hostilities started by the
Young Turk party in Smyrna, which
had a large Greek population before
the latest massacres, also the attacks
on Greeks in Constantinople. Bom
bardment of Smyrna by the allied fleet
Is welcome news, for It shows that the
allies are determined to standno more
There is only one thing to do with
the Turks throw them bag and bag
gage" out of Europe, as Gladstone
proposed in 1S76. Ihelr presence
there has been a blot on' civilization,
and since the decadence of their em
pire began it 'has been continued only
by playing the other nations off
against each other. With the utter
defeat of Turkey and all the othe
despotisms, this game Is played out,
and no obstacle to their expulsion from
Europe remains except an absurd mis
application of the principle of th
rights of nations. The Turks have
never Justified their presence by amal
gamation with " the subject peoples.
by giving them good government unde
Just and equal laws or by co-operat
ing with them in development of th
country. The Turks have always acted
the part of predatory intruders, con
querers and oppressors, as a military,
tax-collecting and blackmailing gar
rison, and their conduct condemns
them to expulsion. ' ,
No religious question is actually in
volved, for they number only about
ten millions, while almost all the other
Moslems in the world in Arabia,
Egypt, India, Algeria, Tunis and
Morocco have been fighting on the
side of the allies, and they are many
times as numerous as the Turks. No
reason of principle or policy remains
for leaving them free to misgovern a
minority race or for any other course
than to herd them in a part of Asia
Minor where they may misgovern each
other.
PIONEER TRAILS.
Seldom if ever do those who enjoy
the luxury of living in a country that
has been won from the wilds appre
ciate their blessings or even apprehend
the- hardships of the pioneers who
made their comforts possible. It also
is a common but mistaken supposition
that the work of these pioneers is
already ended. But there are still
frontiers beyond the old -frontiers, all
within a relatively few miles of c,en-
ters or civilization nice rorua.ua. -
The Hoquiam Washingtonlan records
an Incident of pioneer life that illus
trates the point. Mrs. Antone Kestner,
a pioneer woman of the Quinault Val
ley, became seriously ill recently, and
it was imperative necessary to re
move her to a hospital for medical at
tention. A storm was raging and both
the Quinault and the Humptulips val
leys were flooded. The roads even
Where they were not under water were
almost impassable.
Then began such a Journey as might
haVe" caused even a well person to
hesitate. The first stage was- made
n & lumber wagon, from which the
improvised bed supporting the patient
was transferred at the first flooded
spot to a canoe. It became necessary
a little farther on to dragcanoe and
all over high ground and then back
into the water again. For a mile the
frail craft was paddled through brush
and fields to a point on a lake where
a launch was obtained, but the launch
would not accommodate a passenger,
and so the canoe was towed several
miles.
At this point a echool stag. (for
the progressive people of this region
furnish transportation to their chil
dren) was. pressed into service. The
roads nevertheless were exceedingly
rough and the Jourtfey difficult. There
intervened sundry other obstacles, such
as an Impassable space on the beach
road which compellen the travelers to
turn back to a crossing and also
caused them to ftiiss the railway train
for Hoquiam. But a section foreman
was equal to the emergency, and a
track speeder with a trailer entered
upon the last stage but one of the
trip, which was completed by an am
bulance sent from the hospital. It is
worth noting, we think, that the whole
journey of fifty-five, miles was made
In a little more than ten hours.
The whole occurrence was remark
able no less for the fortitude of the
patient, perhaps, than for the spirit
of neighborly co-operation which made
it. possible. We do not know how
many Individuals were concerned, di
rectly or indirectly, with its various
stages, but the number must have
been considerable. We know that it
was limited only by the number re
quired for the duty to be performed
It is the way of frontier communities.
There is a spirit of freemasonry In
the back countfy which we would do
well to cherish and which we cannot
afford to lose.
It is doubtful whether many per
sons who take up residence in a set-
tied country appraise at true value the
advantages which they enjoy. The
labor of clearing the land and of build
ing the roads and schools is only a
part of -the price of them. Ordeals
such' as have Just been described, and
which were too common in the early
days to evoke much comment, ought
fairly to be reckoned in the account.
Few of the pioneers received mate
rial compensation in proportion to the
hardships which they endured. Yet
there was some recompense in achleve-
mept itself. Judging by the outgivings
of the average man, we do not seem
to be any happier with our paved
roads and Jitneys and open plumbing
and other modern doodads than we
were in the good old days. 's
SUDDEN WEALTH.
It will not be a popular doctrine
with the multitude, but observation
will confirm the statement that sud
den wealth often if not always proves
the reverse of a blessing. There is.
for illustration, the case of Max -A.
Anderson, a laborer, of Two" Rivers,
Minn., described in the New York
World. Anderson a few weeks ago
Inherited more than a million dollars,
He had not lived in expectation of
this noble bequest; nothing in his life
prepared him, spiritually or otherwise,
to receive it- When it came he could
think of nothing to -do to express his
joy except to have a high old time.
Physicians, says the correspondent
who reports the incident, said that
the change in his mode of living con
tributed to his death. Now the burden
is to be shifted, through the probate
courts, to his heirs, if he has any, and
we have no means of estimating the
amount of misery that will be caused
by that ill-starred million before it is
finally dissipated.
The case of Max Anderson is not
exceptional. The fact is thaf it re
quires exceptional, although not neces
sarily superior, ability even to take
care of wealth After one has acquired
it. In the more usual process of piling
one dollar on top of another, the ac
cumulator commonly accumulates also
the experience Indispensable .to safe
guard it. The money sense which
enables him to become rich In the
first place stands him in good stead
But money sense is rarer than many
persons suppose. It is at least as rare
as common sense, if not more so
Leaving the desire and Instinct for
acquisition out of the account, there
are numerous technical considerations
involved. Conservation of large prop
erty interests is no Dusiness for -..a
novice, however honest. The funaa
mental laws of business are increas
ingly complex, and business acumen
and foresight are rare birds.
One need not turn to the Max An
dersons and the Coal Oil Johnnies for
examples. These are merely the more
spectacular manifestations of the ef
feet of riches thrust upon individuals
unprepared to receive them. Babies
are "born rich" every day who never
develop the sense of responsibility that
oight to go with stewardship. "Three
generations from shirtsleeves to shirt
sleeves" is not an idle phrase. A far
greater number of large fortunes are
broken up by the deaths of their
originators than are increased by thei
heirs. Title to great properties is
constantly shifting.
Perhaps ninety-nine men out of a
hundred without experience in busl
ness affairs of the larger sort would
find it difficult, if they found them
selves suddenly in the -possession of
a million dollars, to dispose of it so
that it would not shrink. Few would
be content, for example, with the cer
tain but moderate return promised by
Government bonds. The moment they
stepped Jrom the secure realm of
ultra-conservative investment, ' they
would find themselves without a com
pass upon an uncharted sea.m Out of
many volunteer advisers, th,ey would
find it difficult to choose the ingenu
ous and -the competent. The growing
practice of rich decedents, of leaving
their estates In trust for their heirs,
is a recognition of this principle.
Still, it must be pleasant to wake up
on a tine morning and find oneself a
millionaire. No amount of preaching
would induce one to renounce such a
prospect. Yet there is something to
be said on the side of those who, once
they have experienced the thrill of
possession, proceed .to relieve them
selves of the burden of stewardship.
It is almost as tedious to learn how
to enjoy wealth as it is to learn how
to accumulate it. -
THE REGON CHAMBER. OB" COM-
MEUC'E.
Organization of an Oregon Chamber
of Commerce is an event of good
augury for the development of the
state. It will unite the 'civic energies
of all Oregon in carrying forward the
work which was undertaken by the
Oregon' Development League, but
which has lagged during the period
of depression and amid the excite
ment of war. "The work of readjust
ment and progress which Is before the
state can now go forward.
The Portland Chamber acted wisely
in not only agreeing but in stipulating
n advance that control of the Oregon
Chamber should be in the hands of the
counties outside of the metropolis.
That arrangement emphasizes the truth
that development of the state and pro
motion of its industries and commerce
are the task of the entire stale, riot
merely or chiefly of the principal city.
The port and the interior have a com
mon interest in all that concerns their
prosperity, for a great seaport is neces
sary to market the prdMucts of the
interior, and increase in production is
necessary to the commerce of the port.
All natural lines . of communication
from inland Oregon lead to Portland
and would affoid the most economical
transportation lr natural law prevailed.
The entire state, Portland Included,
therefore has a common interest In
revision of railroad rates and estab
lishment of water lines so that nat
ural law. shall prevail. Portland can
Increase Its volume of business by
aiding settlement and development of
the whole state, and the interior can
hasten its own development by aiding
the expansion of Portland's industries
and commerce.
No better means of bringing to
gether all parts of the state to serve
these common interests can be found
than such an organization as the Ore
gon Chamber of Commerce. It should
bring home to each county and 'city
the fact that the success of -one will
promote that of the others, and thereby
should diminish rivalry and supposed
conflicts of interest. It will assist all
the people of Oregon to know each
other and to learn each other's view
point. This state is destined to share
with the whole country Indeed, the
whole world the blessings of an un
precedented era of progress, and the
Oregon Chamber should be the means
of organizing its forces for that bright
future.
If the farmers should harvest near
all the Winter wheat they have sown,
and if they should have a good crop
of Spring wheat into the bargain, all
at a guaranteed price of $2.20 a bushel.
they may grow so rich as to convert
the rural credit system into a scheme
for lending their fortunes to the people
of the cities.
The hours following the close of the
day, in the transition from light to
darkness, are the danger time for
pedestrians, and it is well to take no
chances. Safety through delay 4s bet
ter than injury.
The alien who has., served In the
Army has -shown his loyalty and de
serves the right of citizenship, which
will be given him without the usual
formalities. He la a' good citizen, at
the start.
The quickest way to satisfy the
world will be to place on trial every
German, Austrian, Turk and Bulgar
above a certain rank, making it low
enough to catch the worst.
Do not fall to consult a doctor on
finding the first symptom. Doctors
are -cheaper than undertakers, not to
mention the comfort of staying alive.
The strength of opposition to Bol
shevism 4n Germany proves that the
Germans are averse to a dose of the
medicine they gave to Russia. -.
If the President should settle the
quarrel between the Pope and the
King of Italy, he will be the greatest
of ail conciliators.
Why will a youth enjoying advan
tages go"wrong? There is excuse but
not Justification for the others, but
neither for him.
These are the days when the favored
fellows indulge in delightful d renins
of the Christmas bonus. "Them as has.
gets," too. t
One week to Christmas and do yonr
shopping early and late if you must.
This Is not a hard times holiday season.
There can be little peace on earth
and good will to man while the atroci
ties of the late war are unpunished.
Archduke Maximilian may take the
crown of Austria, but that is about
all he will get.
Suppose Mr.-Wilson did drink Bome
thlng else than grapejulce. Consider
where he was.
. '
The 100 per cent endeavor, with a
dollar the unit, is not burdensome this
time.
The airplane trip across the Atlantic
will be fine for the honeymooners.
. It took a woman to put one over the
flatfoots of the Coast.
An American Provost-Marshal can
straighten out Berlin.
It's Senator MeNary again, and for
a long time to come.
"Young Davis realizes what a fool he
was to rob a bank.
By the way. is anybody eating "sub
stitutes" now? .- . . .
Those Who Come and Go.
Walter F. Foster is down from Seat
tle and la at the Multnomah. He Is
the senlor member of .the firm of
Foster & Kleiser. who handle the bill
board business of the Northwest.
Mr. and Mrs. Guy Sanborn and F. H.
Sanborn, salmon packers of Astoria,
are at the Benson.
I W. Martin, accompanies by Mrs.
Martin, are registered from New York
at the Imperial. Mr. Martin is a former
Portland resident, but for several years
has been living in the East and is
representing a manufacturing concern
which makes oil from vegetables.
Chaplain and Mrs. Frank James are
among the arrivals at the Seward from
St. Helens.
John Ta.lt. who used to take an ac
tive part in the actual work of the
Portland Chamber of Commerce when
be was at the head of a big laundry
concern in this city. Is registered at
the Multnomah, giving Astoria as his
home. Mr. Talt Is In business in As
toria, and Is working on schemes to
have an Oriental steamer line operate
from Astoria. He was the originator
of the. plan now being worked out
In Oregon for the reclamation and set
tlement of waste lands.
Mrs. John C Shillock and her son.
John C. Shillock, Jr are seriously ill
with Influensa at their home. 588 East
Forty-second street North. Mr. Shillock
and their other children have so far
escaped the disease.
The Class Club of Surveyors of the
Oregon- Agricultural College was at
the Imperial yesterday, holding a get
together meeting.
Peter Flgbed. of Portland. Ma. a
shipping man, is staying at the Ben
son. He is here on a business trip.
John Fox. formerly collector of cus
toms at Astoria, but now In business
in Seattle, Is at the Imperial. Mr. Fox
Is engaged in the manufacture of ma
chinery for salmon canneries.
L M. Wagner. & Moro County stock
man. Is In town from lone with his
family. They are at the New Perkins.
Colonel GMrra A. 7in wttt Hvm
at the Multnomah and who has charge
or me river ana harbor improvements
on the Columbia River for the United
states Government, went to Tillamook
yesterday to inspect personally some
of the things the nort and his assist
ants have been doing.
E. L. Merserea.ii- of Dotv. Wh la
at the Benson. Mr. Mersereau is In
the lumber industry.
Mrs. W, L. Thompson and Mrs. E. TT.
McComas. well-known matrons of Pen
dleton, are In the city on a visit, and
are at the Hotel Portland.
Leo Wise passed through Portland
yesterday on his way home to Astoria
He has been attending the Oregon
Agricultural College. Mr. Wise is the
son of Herman Wise, postmaster at
Astoria. '
All the hotels are doing a big busi
ness. The demobilization of the Army
In the concentration camps is giving
them en unceasing flow of patrons.
The ex-privates pay for a room In
advance, and generally demand a bath.
Mrs. Thee ITaase. of California, Is
a visitor at the Multnomah, and is
hoping for a white Christmas, as she
never aw It snow in her life,
Harvey Hutson, a Hood River apple
grower. Is here for a few days and
Is at the New Perkins.
Mr. and Mrs. VIrpir Findall. of New
berg, are at the Washington Hotel.
CHILEAN PEOPLE ARE PRO-ALI.T
Native In V. 9. Army Declare Govern
ment Out of Sympathy With Public.
fOilTLAND, Dec 17. (To the Edi
tor.) In relation to the article "Hot
Head In Chile," In a Portland paper
December 11, my friends in letters and
personally have asked me the real in
terpretation of the rumors circulated
In Santiago, Chile, concerning the re
fusal of American mediation In the old
Tacna and Arica affair.
It is not my business, end, anyway, I
do not want to defend the acts of the
Chilean government durlnar tha oast
horrible world conflict. I understand
that there .are too many reasons for
doubting the sincerity of its neutral
politics. This. I realize, onlv results In
giving us the name of "The black
hearted people." and If I write this to
my dear friends It Is only to tell them
that the actions of the Chilean govern
ment are not the actions of thema
Jorlty of the Chilean population. . .
Mixed with the most elegant ancTcor
rect society of Chile there is a plague
of poisonous parasites who only suck
the red .blood of the entire country and
in their insatiable greed for gold im
pede In every Imaginable way the
movements of social reaction that are
promoted by the real liberal and demo
cratic Chilean younger generation. This
yountrer generation have only Ideas,
but their enemies have fabulous ricbes
to use in putting obstacles in the way
of obligatory Instruction.
Light for the Chilean ' population
means ruin for the autocratic despots
of the Chilean chmrch, who today and
always have controlled the destlaee of
the Chilean country.
Chile Is "GermanophileT" Never! If
the Chilean government did not declare
war on German Prusslanlsm. the Chil
eans did, and the proof of this Is that,
like myself, thousands of Chilean boys
joined tha allies' army and abandoned
forever country, fortune and home and
gave their lives If necessary. Because
some doubted the sincerity of our ac
tions, the undersigned and many other
Chilean boys did not hesitate a moment
In taking naturalization papers in the
only real democratic country In the
world, the United States of America.
It la true that In Chile we use the
German military tactics, but not one
German Is In the Chilean army? On the
bther hand we have the English tactics
In the navy, and still more important-
most of the superior Instructors la the
navy are Englishmen.
My uncle and my father have been of
ficers in the Chilean navy for more
than 25 years and both are Scotchmen.
I make-thls sincere explanation to
clear up the many misunderstandings
with my American friends which have
arisen because of the hot-headedness of
some irresponsible Chilean politicians.
JAMK3 J. PHILEMON-.
Private. U. S. Army.
Fort Stevens, Or.
Olat In Action. -
HOOD RIVER. Or.. Dec '18. To the
Editor.) Tell me If the 318th Field Ar
tillery of the 9lst Division was in ac
tion between October 21 and November
11? Have they been In action and have
they been useM for replacement? Will
they be ordered to Germany or the
United States? READER.
The 91st was in action In Flanders
between October 21 and November 5. It
may be taken for granted that its ar
tillery was busy at the same time and
was not In action prior to that time,
as the 91st was not. The alvlslon will
doubtless be held until peace treaties
are signed or at least assured. As it la
not In the second line. It seems improb
able that It will be sent into Germany,
J but may be needed there.
IGNORED
oclallam In '
Writer Sees Drift Toward Soeli
Present-Day Extravagances.
ALB A XT, Or.. Dec. 16. (To the Edi
tor.) Treves, a city of Germany, lately
occupied by the allied army, was the
birthplace of Karl Marx, one of the
founders of Socialism. Driven from Ger
many, he found & home In tolerant old
England. The ultimate aim of Socialists
Is the overthrow of the Constitution
and laws of the United States, as well
as the destruction or all governments
as now constituted. It Is their purpose
to destroy the right of personally ac
quiring property as the fruits of a
man's own labor. They claim that
wage labor doea not create any prop
erty for the laborer, not a bit, but
that It does create capital which they
claim exploits labor.
They say that the worklngmen have
no country. Briefly, among other
things they have long advocated abo
lition of private ownership in land:
confiscation of the property of all
rebels (they mean by rebels, I presume,
all those who .fight for the constitution,
laws and individual property rights),
abolition ot all inheritances, a heavy
progressive and high graduated income
tax, centralization of credit In the hands
of the Nation or state, the Nation or
state to have the sole monopoly of all
enterprises and Industries, factories and
nstrumenta of production; concentra
tion of the means of communication and
transportation. In the Nation or state:
that all arid or waste lands-be brought
In tocultivatlon at trie expense of the
Nation or state, ana that such lands,
and all other lands be parceled out to
those who are too lazy to acquire by In
dividual labor and economy a home,
and to take from the Industrious man
that which by his labor and economy
he has accumulated; that ail be brought
down on a common level, so that all
persons shall labor equally (of course
the leaders will expect to take the jobs
of office-holding, banking, teaching and
occupations where manual labor Is not
necessary); In fact. tielr system pro
poses to turn the existing order of
things upside down. In this programme
they will' doubtlessly have the support
of every I. W. W. and every person
who has mado a failure in his own
business.
Many of our so-called statesmen by
their extravagance in appropriations.
both National and state, are working to
the very end sought by Socialists,
though doubtlessly they do not realize
It. The creation of a huge public bonded
debt, bearing Interest, und no endeavor
on the part of our statesmen to curtail
many needless appropriations: tho huge,
schemes of public works, of various
kinds, being constantly hatched In
both state as well as National bodies
look to one who compares the public
utterances of Washington. Jefferson
and others of our early statesmen, with
socialism, as If already our statesmen
had abandoned the .sound wisdom of
our forefathers and had recklessly em
barked on a mission which has as its
ultimate goal such burdens ot taxation
as will bring about Just what the So
cialists desire.
Public retrenchment should be the
bat41e cry now of every true American
Now that our brave eoldters have
brought our great war to a glorious
end. every loyal man should see for how
little money he can eerve the nubile
Instead of clamoring for hisrher salaries
at the expense of the tax-ridden people.
It portends no good to our republic
to see the spirit of paternalism
growing among the people. I'n
der the safe, sound conservative
principles advocated by Washington.
Jefferson and others, individuals were
urged to rely upon their Individual in
dustry, and the function of government
was declared to be "to exact no more
money from the pockets of the people
than would run the Government or state
economically administered." Times may
have changed, but conditions do not
call for extravagance In public affairs.
The money exacted from the people is a
sacred fund and all loans to our allies
should be returned to the Treasury
But any hopes of a return seem to be
doubtful, as some of our legislators
are inclined, like the Socialists, to de
stroy the safe policies of the framers
of our country for a new cult of their
own, retrardlesa of public expense
Truly, tha price of liberty is eternal
vigilance.
GEO. WILLIAM WRIGHT.
LAFAVETTE.
I-Jttle ye wot
Of the deed that ye wrought
When ye came to us, Lafayette,
When ye brought us your wealth
And your own true self.
But we never shall forgetl
And ye planted a seed.
In our hour of need
God sent the sun and It woke
'Twas an acorn then.
Now. our millions of men
Are the towering, full-srrown oak.
MAKY AGNE3 KKLLST.
2flth Division Still Over There.
PORTLAND, Dec 17. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) Please tell me If the 26th
Division, Engineers, will return home
soon. It waa sent from Fort Meyer.
Virginia. .
(2) Is Alaska a state? Has It any
chance to be one? Have the Hawaiian
Islunds any hopes of becoming a state?
.Can.it be done? SUBSCRIBER.
fl) Whether you mean the engineers
of the 26th Division or the 26th Regi
ment of Engineers is not clear, but
neither Is yet listed for return.
(2) Both have territorial form of
government. It is possible to admit
either as a state, but admission is not
In early prospect.
107th In National Gnard Division.
ASTORLV. Or, Deo. 16. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) Has Company C of the 162d
ReKiment been ordered back to the
States?
(2) Would like to know If the 107th
Infantry Is National Army or regular
and what division it Is In,
(3) Has it or its machine gun com
pany been listed to be returned?
A READER.
(1) No.
(2) Neither. It Is a National Guard
organization of the 27th, a National
Guard division.
(3) No.
HoiaeesmlBC of 40th Artillery.
CANYON VILLE, Or., Dec. 15. (To
the Editor.) Has the 46th Coast Artil
lery ever seen active service? Also,
could you give any idea when this par
ticular division may be expected home?
INTERESTED.
. We have no record of the regiment's
service. The War Department is vague
In forecasting how Quickly units desig
nated for return will be gotten back.
The 46th should be on American soli in
six to ten weeks.
ISth Railway Englnera.
WHITE SALMON. Wash.. Dec IS.
(To the Editor.) Please tell us to what
division the 18th Engineers (Railway)
belongs and whether any data have
been given as to their return.
MRS. C. R- ZENER.
The Railway Engineers were not as
signed to divisions. It 3 not yet
booked for return.
17th Aero Squadron Still in France.
PORTLAND. Dec 17. (To the Ed
itor.) Please tell me if the 17th Aero
Squadron has left France. If .not,
when do they expect to leave?
A MOTHER.
It has not. and no announcement as
to when it will be sent home has been
made.
FOREFATHERS' WISDOM
In Other Days.
Tnrnly-fl re Years Asro.
From The Oreg-onlan, December IS. 1 995
The Burnside bridge, so far as it is
under construction, is about completed.
The draw span is all riveted and is be
ing painted red. The lSx30-foot house
for the man who Is to operate the draw,
now In course of construction. Is 0
feet above the roadway.
Good progress was made last week
In the filling of Couch Lake aft-.d the
small portion yet covered with water
will soon be filled. In the third story
of the Union passenger station a lot of
the wooden frames axe being put In po
sition.
The committee appointed to solicit
funds for the Improvement of the
threatened damage to the Eugene
water power has succeeded In raising
a little over 100 and is still at work.
St. Petersburg. At the annual ban
quet Monday last of the soldiers deco
rated with the cross of St. Andrew and
St. Georfre 40 cruests are said to have
partaken of meat pie In a, putrid state.
The result is 16 have since died of
cholera -and others were very sick for
several days.
Firry Ttsn A?..
Prom The Oreronlan. December 19. 1WS.
The mtleage of the messenger who
carries the electoral vote of this state
to Washington is about $1500 in cur
rency, which will barely pay expenses.
The Sentinel thinks the Democratic!
messenger who offers the forlorn vote
of Oregon at the crumbling shrine of
Democracy won't have so much to say
about Hepubllcan extravagance by the
time no returns.
One of the road supervisors ef this
county, whose district lies partly in this
city, inrormed ua last evening that
many persons positively refuse to pay
their road tax. either In labor or money.
He proposes to very soon commence
suit against all such persons. The pen
alty in case of- judgment where no
property can be found is the same as
in criminal convictions where & fine
cannot be collected imprisonment.
The road up the canyon Is said to
have become almost totally Impractica
ble. The north road Is good, but the
crossing of Tanner Creek is dangerous.
Some teams are coming in that way.
hut more perhaps now come down the
Kohtnson Hill road or come In by way
of Springvllle.
L. W. Felton. who has Just returned
from a trip through Southern Oregon,
showed us yesterday a specimen of al
most pure copper obtained from a
creek in the Bohemia district. He rep
resents that a company has & large
lode near where this spectmen was
found, which is believed to be almost
pure copper.
NOW IT IS ALL FIGURED OUT
War Dne to Failure of Press and Point t
Properly to Guide People.
PORTLAND, Dec 17. (To the Edi
tor.) For four years the greatest
genius, the greatest brains and tho
greatest ability the world possesses
have been used to Invent, build and
construct tools and Implements to de
stroy human life and property. And
we call it civilization, progress end
Christianity. fiRhtlnir for democracy.
But. due to public sentiment. It Is lg
norunce shooting some Intelligence Into
the masses. Primarily, those respon
sible for public sentiment are to blame
for the lunorance of the masses and
tho conditions that produced war. Tho
priests, the preachers and the press are
the three great potent factors that
mold pubile sentiment. Therefore, pri
marily the priests, the preachers and
the press are responsible for this war.
As a matter of fact, 90 per cent of the
world's trouble can be traced to the
dour of the three "P's."
for 40 years the priests and the
preachers have stood at God's altars,
knowing that Germany was preparing
to conquer the world by brute force and
knowing other nations were preparing
to meet brute force with brute force and
did not raise their voices to heaven
and continually cry out atratnst war,
but stooj at God's altars and preachcj
the glories of the battlefield.
Durlnc; all these 40 years the world's
presss has remained silent on the hor
rors of war, or advocated preparation
so as to be able to do the other fellow
before he could do you. But today the
world's press Is howling for a league
of nations forever to prevent war. Why?
Why this Instantaneous chanjre of heart
to forever forego the glories of the
battlefield?
The world's sentiment has changed
because the "lords of war" that coined
human misery into prold and securities
have learned that this and future wars
will pauperize instead of enriching
them. The long silence of the press
Is due to the lords that pay the adver
tising bills. The price paid for most
papers and magazines would not buy
the raw material In them, much less
pay for the labor of printing. Hence
paid nils arc the only nourcipof revenue
to editors and owners, and they must
live, like all other human beings. There
fore, editors and owners of. the press
cannot advocate that which Interferes
with the business of the "lords" that
pay the advertising bills without facing
bankruptcy. Hence rubllc sentiment is
largely molded by those who pay the
advertising bills.
A free press Is a grand (hlng. but a
free license to mislead the people Is a.
bad thlnjr. Hence the press should be
divided Into two classes: Class 1 for
news and stories; class 2, for advertis
ing and catalogues. Public sentiment
would then find honest expression, un
fettered by those who pay the adver
tising bills. Priests and preachers
should be excommunicated or officially
decapitated that preach the glories of
the battlefield. Sherman said. "War Is
hell." If true, where is the glory In
nations starting hellf
O. C FENLASON.
209 Alma street."
This letter Is discussed on this page
tinder the title "Inverse Logic"
Location of 41at Division.
PORTLAND. Dec 17. (To the Ed
itor.) Will you kindly give me the
present location of the 41st Division?
Early in the Spring of 1917 a squadron
of cavalry was formed in this city. In
the Fall of the same year this squad
ron became a part of the 41st Division.
Is It still attached to that division, and,
if not, where is it now located?
JAMES SHEEITT.
The Separate Cavalry Squadron be
came a part of the 148th Field Artillery,
attached to the 41st Division, and so
remains. Headquarters of the 41st on
November 7 was located at St. Aignon
and Noyers.
Predictions Cannot Be Made,
CORPETT. Or.. Dec 1. (To the Ed
itor.) (1) Has the 34th Aero Squadron
been listed for return? If so. when
will It be expected to return?
(2) To what address should one write
to get the location of a soldier over
seas? SUBSCRIBER.
(1) Not yet so listed, nor can we pre
dict when it will be.
(2) You might write the Adjutant
General. United States Army, Washing
ton, D. C. Whether he would take the
trouble to give the man's location we
do not know.
Information Not Available,
LA GRANDE. Or., Dec 15. (To the
Editor.) Could you inform me In what
division the Sllth Field Artillery is?
A MOTHER.
We de not have this information.