TIIE MOKXIXG OREGOXIAJf, WEDNESDAY. DECEMBER JM, 1018.
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PORTLAND. WKDNL'SnAY, DEC, S3, 1DI8.
riiACK OX KAIlTlt.
We shall miss the spirit of the most
significant Christmas day that the
world has known in many years if we
rc-frard it as only a time for exchanging
(rifts, and singing carols and stuffing
ourselves -with turkey at 50 cents a
pound. There has not been a Christ
inas within the life of the-present gen
eration which has called for more
serious contemplation of the deeper
lessons of the day, or for exercise of
a more catholic spirit of forbearance
and charity and benevolence.
Christmas today finds America en
Joying not only material prosperity
but relaxation from the trials and
griefs of war; it finds us, moreover,
practically whole and bearing fewer
of the scars of the conflict than any
other great nation in the world. Yet
the essence of the Christmas spirit Is
unselfishness, and if we give rein to
the. pleasures of the table and of the
festal tree without making room in
our minds and hearts for the less for
tunate peoples bf the world, we shall
be foregoing the most permanently
satisfying sensation of all. Christmas
was made for no one man, nor one
family, nor one nation. It ought to
be a universal day of peace for all
the world.
This means neither that there should
be sudden giving way to emotional
excesses nor that we should mistake
miscellaneous "forgiveness" for justice
and rehabilitation of ideals which are
worthy to endure. There will be some
confusion, perhaps, as to our duty
toward our enemies on this day on
which we are enjoined to bold nothing
but good will toward men. We are
still right in insisting, on Christmas
as on every other day, that, for the
ultimate spiritual good of the sinning
one there shall be substantial evidence
that he has seen the error of his ways,
that it shall be made clear that he
lias repented, and that he knows that
restitution so far as may be is a car
dinal requisite of absolution for his
crimes. This we may do in full
knowledge that forgiveness need not
be maudlin, and that the victim of the
evil-doer is entitled to at least as much
of our sympathy as the criminal him
self. v
We shall require, if we are 'to do
our full duty in the months immedi
ately to come, a greater extension of
the Christmas spirit than ever before.
It will not be sufficient if we limit it
to the day or the week. There never
were so many peoples looking to us
for spiritual and material guidance,
or so insistently demanding for their
own uplifting the reinforcement of
our own example. Precept alone sadly
falls short of the needs of the occasion.
If the Christmas lesson has been
learned by us, we shall have peace and,
good will at home first of all. The
opportunity is presented for every in
dividual to exert a mighty force in a
modest and unassuming manner. More
momentous than we may suppose in
' their influence upon the world are the
thoughts which govern our acts in
little ways. The will to have peace
lias its roots in many unconsidered
places. The litigious, the quarrelsome
and the uncompromising in their
eyery-day affairs have no business to
be talking about the great things they
Would do to bring peace to the world.
We greatly need the Christmas
spirit now both because of the miseries
of others and because of our own
prosperity. The fact that good for
tune does not always soften those
upon whom it is bestowed should
put us on our guard. It is by
no virtue of our own, but rather by
the beneficence of a Providence whose
ways are still inscrutable to us, that
we . have been spared for a mission
that will be unfolded and expanded
in proportion to our fitness to assume
the responsibility. It is pre-eminently
bl time for self-examination and for
due humility, albeit for confidence and
determination to prepare ourselves for
the great task. The star of the East
lias not been dimmed by the gold stars
in our service flags. Some of us have
been ennobled by our sacrifices, and
those who have been spared the deeper
and more personal, poignant griefs
must not fail also to grasp the mean
ing of a Christmas in which joy and
sadness are inextricably mingled but
out of the reverent contemplation of
which the realization of our fondest
hopes may come.
PHOTOGRAPHY A3 AX AVOCATION.
There is a good deal to be said In
favor of photography as a pastime,
and some of the pleasures of it are
emphasized by the exhibit of the Port
land Camera Club. Amateur photog
raphy ranks among the arts, the
sciences and the sports. In the last
named field it is both an outdoor and
an indoor amusement. If it is ap
proached in the properly reverent
spirit, it possesses almost endless pos
sibilities, requiring technical skill, ar
tistic Instinct and originality. It is fit
for all seasons an all times. Seeming
difficulties only add zest to the game
for the enthusiast.
Outdoor photography is not, as many
have supposed, restricted to pleasant
days. The business of the photog
rapher is to record -things as they are,
and sometimes, although it may seem
a paradox, to avoid too great "pho
tographic fidelity." It is because the
camera, obeying certain physical laws,
so frequently records details which
are inconsequential, which the eye it
self does not take in and which only
confuse the mental impression we re
ceive, that the photographer finds op
portunity to exercise the repression
that is the basis of true art. If the
beginner does not understand this at
first, it is soon revealed to him. Be
cause there is no limjt to the excel-
lencewhich may be attained, it is an
avocation which lures on and on.
So large a proportion of picture-
taking, however, is done out of doors
that it is fairly entitled to be classed
as a sport, in addition to its other
claims upon the interest of healthy
human beings. If is a normal adjunct
of the hike, and a fair substitute for
hunting and fishing. It may be prac
ticed alone in the great silences, or in
the companionship of the crowd.
Snowcapped mountains and sunny
glades, peaceful valleys and storms at
sea. wild animals and pastoral flocks
and a thousand other subjects are al
ways at hand. Amateur photography
resembles literature in the respect that
it 33 the method of treatment rather
than the topic which makes the prod
uct great.
It is, as has been suggested, a uni
versal avocation. It is particularly to
be commended to those who require
an interest in life outside the daily
grind. Like golf and gentleman-farming,
it contains the germ of a length
ened and a happy life. Also like these
pursuits of middle life, it is adaptable
to the leisure and the purse of the
devotee. A good deal of fun may be
derived from it with very simple equipment,-
or, on the other hand, it may
be taken up on a highly elaborate
scale.
NOT MERKI.Y EIGHTS, BIT DUTIES.
The best sign that the Czecho-Slovak
peoplo will establish a well-governed
republic, free from any of the disor
ders and excesses which marred the
revolutions in France and Russia, is
to be found in the proclamation with
which the National Committee took
charge of the government of Bohemia
j at Prague on October 28. In that
praciatuatiuu it says lu imuiiic.
The whole world watches your first steps
Into the new life your entrance into the
promised land. Let your shield remain un
spotted, as la the shield of your national
army, the Czecho-Blovak legions, Do not
forget national discipline, but remember al
ways that you are citizens of a, new state
and that you have not merely rights but
also duties.
At the opening of the ftreat undertaking
your national committee, from now on your
government, lays the charge upon you that
your conduct and your behavior be worthy
of thia great moment. Our liberators.
Masaryk and Wilson, must not be disap
pointed in their belief that they won liberty
for a people that knows how to rule itself.
These great days must not be marred by a
single ugly act. not one of you shall commit
any deed that would throw a shadow on the
pure name of your nation. All of you must
unconditionally be regardful of what is
sacred to another. Personal liberty and
private property must not be touched.
How well the people lived up to this
exhortation is proved by the -statement
in the account of the revolution pub
lished by the Czecho-Slovak Review of
Chicago that "during the entire course
of the sudden revolution there were
no riots and not a single life was lost."
It is hot safe to lay too much stress
on this last act in forecasting the fu
ture of Bohemia, for the French and
Russian revolutions begen with little
bloodshed and with general expres
sions of good will. But the French
Declaration of the Rights of Man dealt
entirely with the rights which liberty
confers and said nothing of the duties
which it imposes. The Czech leaders
tell the people that "you have not
merely rights, but also duties," and
that they "must be regardful of what
is sacred to another." Those admo
nitions raise hope that Bohemia will
come through the transition as a self
restrained democracy after the Ameri
can pattern.
NEWS PIRACY DEFINED,
The International News Service is
Hearst; and Hearst is what he is andi
was a journalistic freebooter, a Na
tional menace in time of peace and
an international menace in time of
war. None other in America has im
peded so much as Hearst a true un
derstanding in America of the wiles
of German intrigue and the crimes of
German policy, and none but Hearst
has done so much to foment possible
misunderstandings between the allies.
Just now in America the name of
Hearst is anathema. He and his papers
are everywhere on the defensive, for
their attitude in the war and for their
dealings with the country's enemies.
Lip professions, hig headlines, with
constant and conspicuous wavings of
the American flag, areo-not in them
selves proofs of loyalty. Results count,
and motives also.
The devious and disreputable ways
of Hearst in his public service, or dis
service, are in accord with his theory
and practice of journalism. He recog
nizes ho code of ethics, no standards
of professional conduct, but his own.
There is a certain comity of fair deal
ing between newspapers and news as
sociations, for example, in the great
business of gathering and disseminat
ing news; but Hearst has been a most
persistent and unscrupulous violator
of its reasonable rules. He takes what
he can get, wherever and however he
can get it, and calls it his own, and
prints and uses it as his own, for his
own profit, and defies both the law
and the tenets of good faith with his
competitor and his public in doing it.
Now the Supreme Court of the
United States has made a definition
of Hearstism, so far as it gathers and
purveys news. It puts the stamp of
its disapproval upon his methods and
forbids him to pursue them. It up
holds, throughout, the contention of
the Associated Press that it has a right
to the legitimate benefits of its own
industry and enterprise; and it de
scribes as "unfair competition" the
outright appropriation by Hearst of
the news which it has brought at great
expense from all quarters of the earth.
The facts about the International
News Service are that it is an organi
zation which sells news to some 400
newspapers throughout the United
States. It sought secretly to obtain
the use of the' superior facilities of the
Associated Press by bribery of sundry
of its agents. This nefarious scheme
was exposed, and stopped by court in
junction as well as a further plan to
induce Associated Press members
otherwise to permit Hearst to obtain
the news through publication by them.
These things were on their face wrong,
and no serious effort was made by
Hearst to uphold them through judi
cial process.
The larger question as to whether
there is a property right in news, with
the related issue as to unfair competi
tion, was taken to the Supreme Court
of the United States. It was denied
by Hearst that the Associated Press
had any claim upon the news, or its
dispositionafter it had been released
for publication anywhere; and it was
boldly asserted that he had a right to
take it from any newspaper or any
edition of any newspaper that printed
it, or from any bulletin board that
displayed it, and to distribute it among
his clients for publication by them.
Nor was Hearst, according to his con
tention, under any obligations to give
credit to the Associated Press; but,
on the contrary, he might send it out
in the original text or rewrite it, and
sell it as his own, and take his pay.
It is this practice of Hearst that the
Supreme Court condemns by its de
cision. It holds that there Is a quasi
property interest in news, and that any
organization or individual newspaper
gathering is entitled to a reasonable
opportunity to benefit by its enterprise.
Obviously, there is to be no restraint
upon the person who may have read
the news in any paper in passing it on;
nor is the right of the public to receive
it, discuss it, and spread it interfered
with in any way. The iujtiry to the
Associated Press arises solely from the
appropriation by a competitor of its
property for gainful purposes. It is
unfair competition, obviously; and the
court says so.
Two members of the court took the
ground that there was no property
right in news, after its release for pub.
lication, but agreed that the Hearst
practices were unfair competition, and
would have required him to credit the
Associated Press with its news. It may
bo said thr.t the Associated Press was
not seeking any mere advertisement
by a competitor, and that the dissemi
nation of its news by him without
compensation to it in itself constitutes
damage, and limited to that extent the
fair field of its endeavor.
Justice Brandeis had his own -singular
opinions of the merits of the case.
He could see nothing objectionable in
the Hearst methods. Ho had evidently
the extraordinary idea that there was
actual merit in the Hearst failure or
refusal to credit Associated Press news
to the Associated Press, and in its use
as his own; but he agreed that the
Associated Press thus suffered injury.
But he thought the public all news-
papers was entitled to have the news
of the Associated Press, and he sug-
gr-stod legislation to bring about that
result. Thu3 we should have a long
step taken toward public control of
tho machinery for tho spread of in
telligence. How long would a free
press subsist in Government hands?
It is one of tho peculiarities of Jus
tice Brandeis' logic that it fails to see
that the Hearst news policy is based
upon the pfactice of common thievery,
or but littlo better. He admits the
wrong done But finds that it is done
in ways not "objectionable." He would
not penalize the faker, the taker or
the fruits of others' work; but he
would penalize the innocent party. Is
that the way for a court to do equity?
OPPOSIN G TIIE METRIC ST8TEM. '
The bill for the adoption of the
metric system, introduced into Con
gress by Senator Shafroth. of Colorado,
and said to be the forerunner of an
effort to have the Peace Conference
at Paris adopt the metric system for
the whole world, is certain to encoun
ter opposition. To the many argu
ments in its favor, which are theoret
ically simple, the chief rejoinder will
be that trade customs, like civil laws,
are the result of slow growth, and
cannot be overturned by a single ef
fort of legislation without profound
disturbance of industry. It is possible
to show that transactions would be
greatly simplified by universal adop
tion of a decimal set of standards
without at the same time making an
effective impression upon men who
understand the psychological difficul
ties involved.
Frederick A. Halsey, secretary "of
the American Institute of Weights and
Measures, pointed out recently at the
annual meeting of the society that the
difficulty of learning to think in and
to visualize strange values would long
continue to be a bar to adoption of
metric units. The American-British
system now prevails as to a greater
output of goods than any other sys
tem in the world. Adoption of metric
standards by ten countries of Latin
America is said to have failed to
make a deep impression even in those
countries.
An even greater obstacle, however,
would seem to be the repugnance of
most people to making a crime, of a
private, harmless and established
practice. A storm would follow
an attempt, for example, to prose
cute an American grocer for selling
sugar by the pound. "Fancy," sug
gests Mr. Halsey, "art American jury
convicting a merchant of a crime for
selling drygoods by the yard!" It
would be equally hard to imagine a
conviction on the charge of selling by
the kilogram or the meter, for that
matter, if an American merchant were
disposed to fly in the face of custom
and adopt that strange practice. Che
point is that there is a line beyond
which official interference is almost
universally resented, and maintenance
of separate standards for domestic
and foreign trade presents difficul
ties too obvious to need elaboration.
If the Paris Peace Conference is wise
it will not add a compulsory metric
system to its already multifarious and
altogether more important difficulties.
MARRYING IX HASTE.
The Provost Marshal-General of the
Army in the role of censor of soldiers'
weddings presents a new manifesta
tion of the inconveniences or the
benefits, according to the angle from
which one views it of military dis
cipline. Tet upon reflection it will
seem to observers of matrimony in
general that the scheme has ita ad
vantages. It has been called into
vogue at certain centers, notably in
New York City, by a sudden rush to
the marriage license bureaus by 60l
diers who, now that the war is about
over, have decided to "settle down"
in the conventional way. The War
Department feels bound to protect
them whenever they seem' to need
protection, and so it is stationing offi
cers at strategic points whoso duty it
is to ascertain the facts in each in
stance and where the intended wed
ding is the outcome of a "sudden
romance" to bid the applicants to
"think it over for a day or two."
Thinking, it has been shown b-y ex
perience, is a cruel enemy of Cupid.
The soldier is now required to tell
where and when he met the girl, how
long ago they decided to get married
and whether or not he knows her
parents. There is method in the sys
tem. Without reverting to the prac
tice which once prevailed in some
countries of leaving all the arrange
ments to the old folks, thero is a good
deal to be said in favor of giving the
latter an opportunity to be heard.
Parents usually have the interests of
their children at heart and it Is rea
sonably safe to take their judgment
into account in most cases, even if it
is not always accepted as final. And
whether there are parents or not, there
are still other arguments in favor of
a moderately protracted courtship as
the forerunner of the adventure which
in the most favorable circumstances
is a kind of leap in the dark.
Love at first sight is mostly story
book stuff. Those who regard mar
riage as a serious commitment, if not
a sacrament, will agree that affection
which is not wholly disassociated from
calm deliberation and began in friend
ship which subsequently ripened into
love, Is more likely to withstand the
strain which is sure to be put upon
it than the impulses which make busi
ness good for justices of the peace in
Gretna Green. There is probably no
mere coincidence between the grow
ing habit of marrying without the pre
liminary delights and enlightenments
of courtship and the alarming growth
of divorce. The chap who wrote
"marry in haste and repent at leisure"
know what ho was talking about.
1$ is admitted that tho Provost
Marshal-General has no intention of
carrying his policy to extremes. There
is perhaps a special reason why he is
now standing guard in tho great cities,
where girls are said to be more sophis
ticated than elsewhere although we
do not know that they arc. But If
the young folks, upon reflection for
a day or two, are still insistent, even
the military authorities will not sty
them nay, Tho injunction to "think
it over" represents the full extent to
which military authority intends to go.
Still, judging by tho outcome, the
plan seems to have justified itself.
Some couples do not return. And who
is there who will contend that those
who have been so easily diverted from
their purpose are fit candidates for
matrimony in the first instance? Some
thing like the new plan might be
adopted with advantage to all con
cerned, including society at large. It
is worth whilo to consider, for illus
tration, whether a law requiring a
certain number of days to elapse be
tween the application fop a marriage
license and tho issuance of it might
not produce benefits which would out
weigh the inconvenience it would
cause.
It will interest those w ho are revel
ing in unrestricted Christmas food
buying to learn that Kngland and
Wales, despite tho armistice, are en
joying only comparative freedom of
action. The Food Controller has per
mitted each of four food coupons to
bo considered as of double value in
the ten days immediately preceding
the holiday, but this Is far from guar
anteeing an orgy of eating. The
amount permitted to be purchased is
still limited to eight, pence worth of
"butcher's meat" and a similar value
in suet or other by-products. By an
other special concession, three pounds
of poultry for each coupon is per
mitted instead of the meat. Fruits
and other accessories of tho Christmas
dinner are still restricted and exist
only in small quantities and the tea
rationing system is still in force.
Heavy shortage of butter has caused
further extension of the privilege of
buying margarine. The holiday table
today presents a far different aspect
from that in the United States.
It is encouraging to know that the
Cologne Gazette admits that German
honor is lost, but it is discouraging to
learn that that paper is mistaken as
to the occasion of the loss. The
Gazette dates it from the surrender
of the U-9, the submarine which sank
three British warships in the North
Sea in 1914. The loss actually dates
from the beginning of the war, was
confirmed by the invasion of Belgium
and further Confirmed by the many
other crimes of Germany in the war.
The honor won by the U-9 in fair fight
against warships was afterwards for
feited by murderous attacks on, mer
chant craft. Not until the German
people admit their crimes can they
clear their honor from stain and be
come fit to associate with other nations
in a league of peace.
Minister von Eckhardt may be ex
pected not to be the only German
diplomat who has become persona non
grata to the government to which he
is accredited. Other countries than
Mexico have been put in an embar
rassing position by their tolerance of
propaganda under the delusion that
Germany was invincible. They are
now hastening to get in good standing
with the nations which will hereafter
regulate the affairs of the world. Pres
ident Carranza will also tako note of
the fact that the United States has- an
Army of some proportions with plenty
of guns and aircraft, and that Ameri
can soldiers fight and win. Having
learned this, he may not provoke an
American visit to Tampico.
The German seems to have imagined
that the armistice would no sooner be
signed than the bars would be raised
and they would be able to Import any
thing from Christmas turkeys to shoes
made of real leather. They are now
learning tho difference between an
armistice and a treaty of peace.
Merry Christmas to the Police Bu
reau, officers and men. who have done
great work for the city in the year
past! May their morale never grow
less!
An evening newspaper wonders how
the former Crown Prince will spend
this Christmas and the answer is easy:
As usual, if not watched too closely.
The unanimity with which drivers
of automobiles are cleared of respon
sibilities for fatalities leads to belief
the victims courted death.
If you have not joined the Red
Cross you do not deserve a merry
Christmas, and the chances are you
will not have one.
The weather people do their best
by sending gentle easterly -winds to
day, which means hot off the- ice of
Mount Hood. -
The Tank, unlike the Hun, did not
war on children nor kill babies, and
cannot help a smile for the little
Germans.
Give the man in uniform the best
to be had today. If we were not for
tunate he would be abroad fighting
for us.
Tou have remembered your sick
friends, of course, but suppose you
call and make it a personal matter
today.
The man who goes home late at
night or in the early morn, known to
carry money, would better take a, taxi.
Everybody is saying it, but to be
sure none is omitted, here ' it is:
"Merry Christmas to one and all!"
The boys are out of the trenches
and Roosevelt is out of the hospital
today, and can more be desired?
One of the first tasks before the
League of Nations will be to establish
a quarantine against Bolshevism.
One of the contraries of city life is
shown in extension of the parking ban
as the cars increase in number.
This is good Christmas weather, but
four inches of snow or an Oregon rain
would be more to the liking.
-
Popularity of "The Watch on' the
Rhine" in Germany is contingent on
who does the watching.
Enemy aliens have the freedom of
the city tor a Christmas gift.
Those Who Come and Go.
Chief Engineer George E. Wilcox,
connected with, the Shipping Board on
the side of navigation, is at tho Mult
nomah. Under Captain C. S. Auies.
hn will soon assist in taking out the
West Warnekc. a steel ship being; con
structed by the Columbia River Com
pany. Engineer Wilcox sailed the war
zone aboard the Wcstlake, known as
tho David Rogers, when she sailed the
Pacific. lie saw -the Buena Ventura,
of San Francisco, sunk by submarines,
but bis own vessel was not attacked.
G. L. West, Mrs. West and ton and
W. T. West, Jr.. arrived from Seatttle
yesterday and are at the Benson toj
celebrate Christmas. W. T. West, Jr.,
is in tho military service.
As Captain A. W. Clothier, at Camp
Ixswis, was unable to secure a fur
lough to visit his fireside for Christ
mas, Mrs. Clothier, accompanied by hert
three children, arrived in Portland
from Wasco yesterday on their way
to spend Christmas with, the husband
and father. Two of the littlo boya
made-brave figures In their soldier
suits and were practicing in the lobby
of the Imperial how they would salute
their father. -Make it snappy." or
dered the youngest.
J. II. Barton, a merchant of Boise.
Idaho, is observing the holidays In
Portland and is staying at the Wash
ington. Thirty-ylx sailors and soldiers were
housed at the Multnomah Monday
night at the expense of Emery Olm
tead. vice-president of the North
western National Bank. Mr. Olmstead
found the boys at the Union Depot,
ordered tho company to fall in and.
after having had the pleasure of com
manding them on the journey uptown,
he cheerfully paid for their beds. The
boys declare ho is one of the best
captains they ever took orders from.
Colonel Emmet Callahan, erstwhile
Progressive, returned yesterday from
Washington, D. C, where he had been
on business. He is registered at the
Hotel Portland.
Nicholl Hernandez, a tourist from
San Juan, Porto Rico, is at the Ben
son for Christmas.
,
Mr. and Mrs. J. C. James, well
known residents of Pendleton, are at
the Hotel Oregon for the big day.
Charles W. Brown, a chrome miner
operator of Canyon City, arrived at
the Imperial yesterday on his way to
spend the holidays with his family.
W. B. Hubbard, assistant to the
president of the Spokane & Eastern
Trust Company and owner of the Spo
kane Hotel, paused at the Multnomah
yesterday while en route north from
California. Mr. Hubbard says that the
epidemic of influenza, which has been
exceedingly bad in Southern "California,
is ..receding and that the hotel men
down there are expecting a fine busi
ness during the balance of the Winter.
L. IC Elaln, a rancher, of Elaln, Or.,
is at the Washington Hotel for
Christmas.
C. H. Kappers, a logging operator
from Scappoose. is at the Hotel Port
land. Lester Wade, a merchant and stock
raiser of Olex, Or., Is at the Imperial.
E. I. Ballaugh, of St. Helens, was
at the Imperial yesterday. - Mr. Bal
laugh is Representative for Columbia
County in the coming Legislature.
Mrs. E. I Howe, of Mosier, accom
panied by Miss Biles, is at the Mult
nomah, for Christmas.
lttlk C'aaait Artillery..
AURORA. Or., Dec. 23. CTo the Ed
itor.) Our son was in the 16Gth Depot
Brigade at Camp Lewis, was then
transferred to the Eighth Company and
later to the 16th Company, Coast Artil
lery. He started East for Prance on
October 1 and last wrote from Sharon.
Pa. Wc received the card stating he
had arrived safely overseas. We also
got the slip for his Christmas package.
It gave the address as "Second Det.,
O. A. R. D., Fort Stevens, Or.," but the
package was to be sent to Hoboken,
N. J. What we would like to know
is what division he was put in and
where his unit Is situated, also if it
will be sent home soon.
MRS. S. SEDORE.
Coast artillery units were never as
signed to divisions. Your soil's is such
a small contingent no mention may
ever be mads of It In official reports.
Tou may rest assured, however, that
it will be soon sent home. Some of
the units which reached France just
as the armistice was signed were re
turned without being permitted to land.
Address letters just as you did the
package.
Federal Ileserve Bank Members.
PORTLAND. Dec. 24. (To the Ed
itor.) While discussing; the purpose of
the regional bank I claimed that all
banks had to be members of the Federal
Reserve Bank and if they did not be
come such the Government would re
volte their charter.
My friend claimed that all banks did
not have to be members of the Federal
Reserve Bank, that it depended upon
their capitalization, while I claimed It
did not depend on the capital of the
bank. Kindly tell me who la rieht on
this point. CHARLES D. KINO.
All National banks, without regard
to capital, must be members of the
Federal Reserve Bank or forfeit their
charters. It is optional with state
banks whether they become members,
but if they do not they cannot avail
themselves of the rediscount privilege
of the Federal Reserve banks, except
though a member-bank.
Demoblllaatlem ( Medical Corps.
REEDSPOHT, Or., Dec 23. (To the
Editor.) Has the War Department
made any. announcement at all about
demobilisation of the Medical Corps?
especially want to know of those
overseas In evacuation hospitals In re
serve corps. SUBSCRIBER.
No announcement has been made. Re
turn of hospital units promises to be a
slow process, scattered over a long
period.
Foorth Engineers la Battle.
ST. JOHNS, Or., Dec 24. (To the
Editor.) Did the Fourth Engineers
take part in- any battles? If bo, please
state the battles and if they received
any honors. Q. M. B. K.
Official data answering your queries
is lacking. Possibly some reader will
recall if mention of honors to the regi
ment has been made in press dispatches.
- 120th Machine Gun Battalion.
PORTLAND. Dec. 24. (To the Ed
itor.) Would you kindly aive me the
whereabouts and division of the" 12"th
Maohine Oun Battalion, alno if they are
listed to return soon? MRS. E. L. O.
So -far as records reveal the unit was
in the 32d Division, now in the Army
of Occupation.
373d Air Squadron.
ASHLAND. Or., Dec 23. (To the Ed
itor.) Kindly tell mo if possible
whether the 373d Aero Squadron Is list
ed to return soon from Prance, and If
not. how lonnT it is likely to remain
there. . A SUBSCRIBER.
It Is listed for convoy home In the
Official Bulletin of December 14.
m:w iiki.i favored by company
Telephone Operator Comphiins That
Kalthful Servire Is ."Not Ilecosniaed.
POKTI.AXD. Pec. 2t. (To the Ed
itor.) As I am one of Portland's oll-ot-t
operators working for the Paciuc
Telephone & Telegraph. Company, per
mit mc the time and ppace to enlisrhtP"
tho thinking: peoplo of Iorllund as to
tho principal reasons of poor service
and poorer telephone operators.
I have worked in Seattle, Taconia
and Spokane, but tho longest period of
time I have H'fnt In Portland about
eight years, I believe joining the
ranks of telephone girls at the ago
of 13. '
First of all, the company constantly
advance new help in preference to the
older and ntoro experienced operator?,
evidently working tinder the tlnory
that the older onrn will stay a whilo
longer anyway. They are not so i-ure
about tho new girls, jo they put polite
of them on "the Iloor" as supervisors"
and pay ihera $2 per week more than
any day operator can get. no matter
how many years she has worked.
The older Bills have absolutely no
em-ouragemont und foci that they have
nothing to work for. I am Hire my
readers will agree with me that unless
a girl lias Fome incentive for hard work
and a goal that she may reach at lust
ehe soon lones !irterett. A pood many
of us feel "JkVhafs tho ilse?" We all end
up in nervous wrecks anyway and then
after many years as a telephone oper
ator a girl is unfitted for other work.
As for the Telephone Operator Girls'
Union, the company excludes union op
erators as far as possible.
It is also true that many operators
marry every month, but It is an undis
puted fact that only about one in ten
marries a -man that can support her.
The result iy. back to the switchboard
in a month or two.
As for the recent wago increase, the
new operators received the, largest
raise, tho older girls like myself re
ceiving from 25 cents a week more up
to $1.50 per week more, or from J 1 to
S,S more a month. That la the first
raise since the strike in November, 1U17.
At the close of the strike we all got 60
cents a week more, union and nonunion
girls alike.
I 'believe in giving credit where credit
is due of course, and the company cer
tainly did do everything in their power
for the comfort of tho girls during the
strike last year, but that Is a thing of
the past now and what the girls want
is a salary Increase according to length
of service with the company and also
to be given a chance for other work
when their turn comes.
The company also have certain "su
pervisors" who "listen in" with opera
tors at certain times every day. correct
ing them for every wrong phrase used,
when the phrases themselves really
have nothing to do with the service at
all. After all, the people of Portland
want service pure and simple and ordi
nary courtesy. That's all they ask.
Surely are they not entitled to It and
are we girls not entitled to "our
chance" after several years' service?
ONE OF THE GIRLS.
MEMORIAL SHOULD BE CHEERFUL
Enonitk Sadness Without Hospital Re
minder, Say a Road Advocate.
PORTLAND. Dec. 24. (To the Ed
itor.) Kindly allow me a few words
in favor of the liberty highway to
Mount Hood as a monument to the Ore
gon boys.
My father crossed over the Barlow
road In '52. The writer was born near
Eugene in '61 and remembers crossing
over the road in 'CO. It was then a
toll road and has been ever since. If
Mr. Joseph has offered to give the road,
I think the commission should consider
the offer seriously before turning it
down. It would not be much of a task
to build a road from Government Camp
to timber iie that motor cars could go
over.'where one of the finest views in
OreBon may be had. Then if the toll
road was discontinued. Southeastern
Wasco County and Northern Crook
would Join in and make a good road
up from the east sid- and the loop
could-be made via Wapinitia. Tygli
Valley. Dufur and The Dalies and back
over the Columbia River Highway.
Numerous motor cars come up from
the east side to Government Camp
every Summer for pleasure, bad as the
roads now are. The writer ha spent
many happy weeks around the foot of
old Mount Hood, hunting-, fishing and
berrying, and the game and berries are
still plentiful in season.
I have heard somo talk of a hospital
as a monument. The thought causes
the question to arise, why not dig their
graves or have their coffins ordered?
Npt one in 20 would have any use for
a hospital or ever go near it. It would
seem that we have had sadness enough
to last several years and the memorial
should be something that we all could
enjoy and not something that is con
sidered more of a private an'air.
I was over the road from Portland to
Mount Hood once this Summer and I
know I could take fix good men and
In a week could improve the road from
the toll gate to Government Camp SO
per cent- BUD ZUMWAL.T.
DAYS OF WILD Pir.KOXS RECALLED
Birds Clnlibed Out of Itooatlnit Placea
by Indiana Hunter.
INDIANAPOLIS. Ind., Dec, 19. (To
tho Editor.) I read with interest an
article on passenger pigeons printed iu
The Oregonian.
As a farmer's son living in the north
end of this state in the "tius 1 frequently
hunted the American red-breasted
pigeon, which you have called the pas
senger pigeon. 1 recall one instance
when In company with a brother-in-law.
He discharged one barrel of a
shotguu into an oak tree and we picked
up 48 pigeons as a result. I think it
was about or S67knd I recall that
about that time the Chicago dallies
made mention that tho fiisht over that
city was so dense as to obscure tho
ligh of the sun.
I recall also the $3000 offer you men
tion, but I think your data are wrong
as to latt nestins; or roosting place be
ing In Michigan. Rather it was near
Vincennes. Ind., where the hunters went
at night with bright liighta and used
clubs to beat them off trees in very
large numbers. 1 have also engaged
In trapping them, using a large net trap
set on a ilgure 4 trigger in the recently
sown wheat fields, where a single catch
would run iia the hundreds. It lias
always been my impression that the
cause of their decimation was the
change in the plan of sowing the grain
to that of drilling, thus placing the
grain so deep in the soli that they
could not get it. 1 think that comes
nearer the real fact than the one as
signed by your article. '
I am glad indeed to believe that they
will again grace our land and skies. I
think it would.be hard for me to shoot
one now, even if they do come back.
Because they are, as I understand it,
strictly an American bird, 1 would feel
sentiment enough to cause me to let
them pass unharmed. Please consider
this letter simply a contribution to the
pigeon statistics. If they are coming
back I for one will welcome them to
our shores. W. T. C A US K ADDON.
nelease of Men in Navy.
CORVALLIS, Or.. Dec. 23. (To the
Editor.) According to report the sail
ors on the Atlantic Coast are being dis
charged upon presenting an affidavit
sworn to by their parents Matin need
for them at home. Does this apply to
the Pacific Coast and to the Navy Re
serve as well as the regular Navy?
CONSTANT READER.
Application to be placed on inactive
duty may be filed by Navy and Naval
Reserve members on duty anywhere.
Tho difference between being dis
charged and being placed on inactive
duty is that the man is subject to ser
vice again If emergency arises. The
Navy does not discharge men ' whose
terms of enlistment has not expired.
In Other Days.
Tnesty-fhe Venn A sro.
From The Oreeonlan December 2.", 1S0.T.
Baker City. Or., Dec 21. A rich vein
of oro has been uncovered in the Sc.
-lohni mine, located near the While
S :i it.
At a meeting of the Ft ock holders of
Hie Masonic Building Association last
Saturday Theodore Wygarit. II. W. Cor-bett-
I. W. Pratt and Thomas Oray
were re-elected directors for the en
suing year.
Woodbtirn. TMrleen tin i Irll n f- irprfl
destroyed here last nlirht lv fire, -with
a total loss estimated at JlO.OUti.
The bondholders of tho Cable Rail-
WaV t'lMnnutiV Ii:iva ni-.A,itl r, il
check to both the conductor and the
luotortnan who stuck to their posts and
succeeded in btoppins; the car which
ran away on the incline from the
Heights a few days since.
Pllly tears Ago.
(Krom the Or-gotilan, rvcctnher 2". lsr.s.
The Council laFt night adopted a res
olution declaring that tho members do
not indorse the masterly inactivity of
the Street Commissioner and ordering
that ho be Instructed to proceed forth
with to enforce and carry out all tho
ordinances of tho Council wherein lie.
is authorized to act.
Hon. w. Carey Johnson, late Senator
from Clackamas County, and Miss
Josephine DeVore, of thia city, -will b
married at tho Methodist Episcopal
Church at Oregon City today.
London. Tho Sultan has extended to
three weeks tho tunc for the departure
of the "iteek.-t from Constantinople,
and the Urecin government is rapidly
preparing for war.
The Oddfellows of this city will go
to Oregon City today to attend the
funeral obsequies of Fred Charman.
BODY HAS NO NEED OF TOBACCO
Effect of 1-1 rt Van la Man of fhyslcal
Rebellion.
PORTLAND. Dec. 24. (To the Ed
itor.) I ask space to reply to O. L.
Drain, who has smoked for 20 years. I
wish to tjivo a few of the harmful re
sults to the constant user of tobacco
and also to the beginner.
Tobacco has the efToct of a narcotic
on most people. That the healthy body
has no need of It is quite well evi
denced in the effect it produces, as a
rule, upon the beginner.' The dizziness,
faintness, headache and nausea go to
show that the healthy body. 3pecially
of the youns person, strongly rebels
against its use. There is a tUirerenca
of opinion as to the effect of tobacco
on the adult. Much seems to depend on
the individual. Certain things are
definitely known, however, that indi
cate the harmful nature of tobacco. It
always increases the 'blood pressure.
This surely tends to cause, sooner or
later, a diseased condition of the blood
vessels, especially of the arteries. It
tends also just as certainly to Insta
bility of the heart- "Tobacco heart"' is
a form of heart disease that results
from excessive and habitual ue of this
narcotic. The feeling of palpitation
and the irregularity of the pulse, in a
person suffering from this disorder, are
caused by the toxic t poisonous) effect
of tho nicotine in tobacco upon the
nerves that control the heart's action.
About one-fourth of those who smoke
have narcotism of the heart.
The chief menial effect of excessive
use of tobacco is that It encourages
dreaming rather than doiii?. The cig
arette habit saps the bodily vigor, stu
pulies tho intellect and perverts the
moral nature of many boys and young
men. Healthy bodies and minds need
no stimulant.
Mr. I "rain says that "It also keeps
microbes out of the system." Couldn'-t
we iu this modern aye of science tind
some other medicine to take the mi
crobes out of our mouths? If Mr. Drain
would invest 10 cents or so at the cor
ner drug store, he would find a more
suitable mouth wash, one that does not
cause degeneracy. I have been a user
of tobacco for the last five years and
would still be using it had I not awak
ened to its harmful effects. L F. I.
THE TWO MOTHERS.
My reiRhbor's house is gay tonight,
(Loud beat the wind and the rain!)
With candles set in rows, alight
Before each wreathed pane.
My neighbor, too. Is gay and fair;
(Ah. but my heart lies dead !
She weareth a red rose In her hair
And the Yuletide feast is spread.
The feast is spread, the ship hath coma;
(Dear God, my house seems still!)
Her soldier son is hastening home
To the white bouse on the bill.
While I I have a tryst to kep
In a place where crosses white
Mark the graves where soldiers s'.eep
Who fell in tho thickest fight.
My neighbor today no tears will shed;
While I shall keep my tryst with thw
tlead. M. II. JONES.
Delay In Mail From France.
PORTLAND, Dec 2 4. (To the Ed
itor.) Please tell me how the mail
from France is handled why it seems
to arrive here for five or six days at a
stretch and then no more will come for
about a week and a half.
Are the 31Sth Engineers In the 91st
Division? Were they working in Bel
gium at tho time the armistice was
signed? Are they scheduled for an
early return? SUBSCRIBER.
There are delays in handling and
transmitting the mail from a given
boat after it arrives. Boats carrying
mails do not arrive every day. The
317th Enginers were In the 92d Di
vision, so you probably have the 317th
Engineers properly placed. Headquar
ters of the 91st is at Denterghem, Bel
gium. Answers to your other ques
tions would be mere guesses.
llOlat Air Squadron.
BAND ON, Or.. Pec. 22. (To the Ed
itor.) IMeaso inform 'mo in what di
vision the 1101st Replacement Squad
ron. Air Service, is and if it is desig
nated for early return. This squadron
is of the mechanical division. Will it
be necessary for any airplane mechan
ics to remain for a long period in
France? A READER.
Not yet officially, listed for return.
Air squadrons aro rapidly being re
turned, but as to how many may be
kept in Franco is entirely problemati
cal. Troop B. 311th M. I.
ROOSEVELT. Wash., Dec. 23. (To
the Edtor.) Kindly publish where
Troop B, 514th Military Police, la and
if they will be discharged soon.
W. A. RIPLET.
Doubtless with the 514th Regiment.
89th Division, in the Army Occupation.
Pa Makes a lx-llnltlon.
Kansas City Journal.
."Dad. I see in many wars there have
been privateers."' "Well"."' "Was a
privateer the same as a profiteer?" "By
no means. A privateer preyed on the
enemy, my son."
Iluahaaal In Comforted.
Boston Transcript.
He Mr. Oadby refused, to recognize
me today. Thinks, I suppose, that I am
not his equal. She Ridiculous! Of
course you are. Why, bo's nothing but
a conceited Idiot.