8
TnE MORNING OREG ONI AX, TUESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1919.
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rORTLAXU, TUESDAY, JANUARY 21. 1019.
INDICATED PRECAUTIONS.
The uncertain, freakish course of
the influenza epidemic, which makes
it extremely . difficult to put one's
finger upon the cause, yet indicates
that every precaution which gives rea
sonable promise is worth attention, is
shown by the variable success which
lias attended methods of prevention
attempted in different communities.
If, however, a corelation can be estab
lished between the death rate from
influenza in a number of localities and
any other circumstances which do not
appear to be mere coincidences, it
would seem that a step forward had
been made.
The United States Health Bureau
lias recently published statistics show
ing the mortality rate due to the epi
demic in forty-six of the largest cities
in the registration area of the country,
and has. as to fourteen of these cities,
published also the comparative death
rates for 1!)17 and 1918. The latter
figures are especially worthy of study
because they indicate a rather con
stant relationship between "normal"
death rate and the mortality rate as
the result of epidemic. It is true that
thdre are three minor' exceptions to
this rule in the list of fourteen cities,
and also tha'. it would be desirable to
have a larger number of cities upon
which to base a conclusion. The
Springfield Republican, which has re
arranged the figures in the order of
the 1917 death rate, makes out an ap
parent case, however, in favor of its
theory that conditions which make
for generally good health are favor
able for fighting influenza. It sim
mers down to this, that "good sanita
tion" pays for itself in epidemics like
the present one, as well as at other
times, and that the clean city is worth
all that it costs.
In the list of fourteen cities, begin
ning with Milwaukee, which had the
lowest death rate per thousand in
1917, and ending with Pittsburg,
which had the highest, there are al
most no exceptions to the rule that
these had the same relative experi
ence with influenza and its sequel,
"pneumonia. Newark, N. J., San Fran
cisco and Cincinnati appear out of
their order in the list, but it is pointed
out that there may be other reasons
for this than appear on the surface.
Newark is practically a suburb of New
York, and San Francisco is a seaport
which presents unusual opportunities
for spread of plasrue. These facts
might account for the unusually higTTj
proportionate influenza rate. Cincin
nati, on the other hand, which appears
to have had fewer cases than its posi
tion in the list would indicate, did not
begin to suffer until rather late in the
vyear, and so the figures here may be
misleading because incomplete. But
there seems to be some relation be
tween those conditions which upon the
whole have made for a healthful city
and those which have contributed to
the spread of the new plague. This,
as has been said, is at least worthy of
more detailed inquiry.
The present epidemic has proved, if
it has proved anything, the futility of
generalizations from insufficient data
yet progress will be made in the long
run if data are perfected by extending
the "registration area" and taking
additional factors into account. The
theory that "septic throats," due to
defective municipal sanitation, are re
lated to the occurrence of pneumonia
in influenza cases may not be ac
cepted without reserve, and yet it will
have been noted that heavy rains in
Portland, which operate to cleanse the
streets and also the air, have been
followed by subsidence of the death
rate. It is true that other measures
have been adopted, and we shall not
give the rain all the credit; but per.
haps it has helped. It is not a new
thing, the idea of thorough washing
of everything as a preventive of sick
ness of various kinds.
This would point also to the advisa
bility of cleanliness in every form, not
only of streets and alleys, and house
tops and cellars, but also of the per
son and the immediate surroundings
It will be admitted that the clean
city is worth the cost of keeping it
clean for many reasons; if we add to
this even a gambler's chance that it
also reduces the influenza death rate
there is sufficient reason why sani
tary measures ought not to be ignored
The face mask- is only part of the
scheme. Physicians have all alon
preached the advisability of using an
tiseptic gargles and mouth washes.
The hands should be kept more than
commonly clean. Frequent ablutions
are indicated. As to tfce city itself,
when rain does not favor us, jt will be
well to wash the streets a little oftener.
The beauty of the whole scheme o
cleanliness is that it offers a reward
quite apart from the situation immedi
ately under consideration. It would
pay on general principles, but if it is
true that it also plays a subsidiary
- part in keeping .down the latest
scourge, then it ought, by all means
to be made the universal practice.
CONSERVED FOR ETERNITY.
Alaska has called on Congress for
funds to fight influenza, and an appro
priation of $100,000 is proposed be
cause so much land has been with
drawn from settlement that there are
fewer settlers to tax. The bill gave
rise to these remarks in the Senate:
Mr. Weeks There are less than half the
lumber of Inhabitants there (Alaeka than
there were two years ago.
Mr. Smith, of Arizona The great bulk
of Alaska has Deen. withdrawn from set
tlement. Mr. Thomas It Is being kept for poe
teritv. Mr. Smith, of Arizona It la being con
served for eternity.
A few years ago we were told that
Alaska was a land of vast wealth and
that hosts of greedy fellows were
aching to grab a piece of it. Congress
locked up the forests, so that nobody
could get in without a passport, and it
made strict rules to govern mining of
coal. Promptly half of the greedy men
in Alaska came away, and those who
were outside stayed away. They have
lost their appetites for Alaskan wealth.
We could make good use of Alaska's
wealth now. We need its coal, copper,
gold, fish; even the meat of its musk
obc and reindeer begin to look good
to us. But the rangers and inspectors
and special agents are on guard in
those far northern solitudes, deserted
by half the population, and Alaska's
wealth is conserved for eternity.
United States, Brazil and other nations
of the new world in line with the law
abiding nations of the old world, and
they would be vastly, stronger than at
the outbreak of the late war. They
would not come straggling into the
field one at a time, but would spring
forwArd together to arrest the law
breaker. They might rely on a con
cert of purpose for concert of action
without any formal agreement.
Elimination of the plan for a world
army and navy under the direction of
a league council, which would, in ef
fect, be a world government, would
dispose of the most serious objections
to the league which have been raised
in America. We should surrender no
part of our sovereignty. vEach of the
principa.1 nations of the league would
undertake the duty of policing the
part of the world nearest to its own
shores, and under that arrangement
the American hemisphere would nat
urally fall to the United States. This
country would be solely responsible
for maintaining the Monroe doctrine,
while danger of its infraction would
be reduced to the minimum by disap
pearance of aggressive autocracy from
Europe.
The league will be stronger and
more enduring through omission of
the impractical from its aims and pow
ers. We should rejoice if the highest
ideals of the sanguine optimists could
be realized, but they cannot, and any
attempt to realize them now would
but wreck the whole scheme. If the
peace conference builds to suit the
world as It is, its work may not only
endure but develop into something
which will in time realize those ideals.
As yet the nations are only half weaned
from the idea of force, some are in
a state of fusion and others hate
each cordially. Thev are not the ma
OBh OB state commmission. terial out of which a republic of the
The activity of the public service World can be formed.. The task of
commissions oi several states in re-1 the Paris conference is to make a
sisting the arbitrary attempts of Post- beginning toward educating them up
master-General Burleson to raise local ! to that point.
telephone rates . without complying
stimulate import of raw materials to
build up new industries, as copra sup
plies the kaola factory, and would find
foreign and Eastern markets for Ore
gon wool, mohair, woolen goods, dairy
products, fruit, canned goods, furni
ture, fish. Such a company would
furnish employment for general cargo
carriers, as well as lumber-carriers,
to export the goods made of the mate
rials which it imported; as well as
products of Oregon raw materials.
If the ' best business heads apply
themselves to formulate some such
plan In detail with a single, purpose
to organize on sound business lines, to
protect the interests of investors and
to Insure able, expert and honest man
agement, it should command public
confidence and should achieve suc
cess. ' Oregon should then be able to
put an organization In the field simi
lar to that which conducted the several
Liberty Loan and war drives with con
spicuous success. The two things
which are essential are a sound, prac
tical scheme and the enthusiasm to
put it through.
Keep the home fires of Oregon In
dustry burning.
with state law proves that they fill a
useful place just when there is much
talk of taking away their power. Al
though long distance telephone service
crosses state lines so frequently that
THAT HE WHO RUNS MAY READ.
The Russian Bolshevikl are not
alone In the twisting of the scripture.
Others are given to misquoting the
rates should be subject to Federal h.fase;J'thaiho "T, that readeth
unique in their conception f f the man-
regulation, the bulk of telephone serv
ice is local and properly falls under
state or municipal jurisdiction. The
attempt to set aside the authority of
state commissions in this field is
usurpation.
Proper regulation of railroads re
quires that the Federal Government
control rates within as well as between
the states as well as other features
of the railroad "business, but there is
still a wide field within which state
commissions can act with advantage
to the people-. It should have been
possible for the Oregon commission
to prevent such flagrant wrongs both
to the investors and to the population
as have caused the suspension of oper
ation of the Sumpter Valley and
Pacific & Eastern railroads. The com
mission should 'have the. power to
compel pro-rating with these roads by
connecting roads. 'It should have the
right to present the case of the state
as a whole in rate hearings, and to
nitiate proceedings for the correction
of such wrongs as the Portland fate
situation.
Your Boy in France.
"What lie la Bolng and Thlnklnc
About. (.IraMfd From The SUn
and 3 tripe a. official Newspaper of
the A. 1 I".
I
ner in which an education is acquired.
Witness their latest scheme of popu
lar education, by which each principal
thoroughfare of Moscow is to be con
stituted a department of a government
university. Walls of the streets will
be placarded with posters containing
information in the branches which
each street is supposed to represent.
Thus, we presume, there will be a
"Literature avenue," a "History place,
a "Sciencex square," and so on. Avid
for knowledge, the citizen will need
only so to order his evening stroll or
his morning constitutional as to pass
the billboards in which ha happens to
be interested. "Instead of wasting
years at a university," says the Bol
shevlst government organ, "he can
pick up a general knowledge of edu
cational subjects as he goes along.
The notion that education is a
process of cramming with facts, rem
iniscent as it is of Mr. Gradgrind and
not a few schoolmasters of better
repute, nevertheless is a sign of
progress in a political party that only
a few months ago was talking of kill-
THE rossiBEE LEAGUE OF NATIONS, ing the educated citizens of the com
The league of peace scheme at Paris I munity, and abolishing the schools on
is still in embryo, but the tendency! the ground that they created a condl-
seems to be toward a league of the I tion of inequality. Some men, they
nations that are already leagued I argued, would absorb more education
against Germany, in which the great I than others, and thus would not al
would exercise a sort af guardianship I ways continue to be equal, as our
over the small nations. These nations j own Declaration of Independence tells
would be pledged to act in concert for I us that we were created. But they
the principles for which they have I at least have advanced if they are
contended, but would retain their free- willing to turn their boulevards into
dom of action as to making war for schools. We cannot help thinking
maintenance of those principles. Thus I that the billboards will whet the appe-
a supreme council of the league would tite for sounder knowledge, and per-
not have power by a majority vote haps set men thinking, and in due
to commit the United States to war I time result in a school system less
and thereby to abrogate the authority, casual in administration and as nearly
or congress in that regard. universal as an opportunity tor eau
It is not to be presumed that law- I cation ought to ho.
less, ill-organized nations would be ad
FRENCH INTERESTS IN THE FAR EAST.
The effect upon the "plans of the
Zionists for the creation of a Jewish
state In Palestine of the announce
ment of the French Foreign Minister,
M. Pichon, that France's rights in
Syria, Palestine and Lebanon were
"incontcstible" is believed to have been
partly cleared up by the fuller text
of the Foreign Minister's speech. By
this it is made to appear that he said
that, although the subject was one
with which the conference might deal
in general. France considered that her
rights were fully established by agree
ments with Great Britain.
Zionists, who recently have made
definite progress in organization pre
liminary to financing the new state.1
have relied upon the promise of Mr.
Balfour, made early In the war, that
they could count upon the support of
the British government in their enter
prise. The subsequent statement of
the French Minister caused uncer
tainty, which is now regarded as hav
ing been removed by the reference to
"agreements with Great Britain." It
is supposed that In these the Jewish
interests have been taken into account.
The French interests in the Near
East are sentimental as well as com
mercial, and are historically strength
ened by French activities at the time
of the crusades. French interests in
Turkey itself are represented inci
dentally by a claim for at least half
of the Turkish pre-war debt of 6,000,
000,000 francs or more. In Syria most
of the railroads were built by French
capital. '
It is easy to believe that agreement
may have been reached as to the state
of Palestine if, as M. Pichon says,
there has been a general understand
ing with Great Britain as to the three
districts he mentions. Further con
firmation of this would seem to be
found in- the fact that the British
promise to the Zionists, when officially
announced, was not disputed, and is
not now contested by the French min
ister. It is probable that the British
statement was made only after con
sultation with the French government
Hope for the new settlement of Pales
tine is not made less bright by recent
events.
F the Man from Mars were to visit
Rhenish Prussia these days and
Journey along the sepentlne Moselle
from the frontier to the Rhine from
Trier to Coblenz he would have to
be an unusually keen observer were
he to suspect that the American sol
diers he saw were "conquering troops,"
making their victory certain by tak
ing over for a time one of the fairest
provinces of the enemy.
When the first week of the occupa
tion was over and the troops were
already in Coblenz, the docket at head
quarters, set aside for civilian protests.
was absolutely empty. A bouncing
young Army, of considerably more than
2 00.0 oO men, had spent its first week
In undisputed possession of a well-or
dered countryside whose sons had keen
lately at their throats In the Argonne.
and there was not a single complaint.
Not au instance of disorder or friction.
Not ar-rlpple, not a breath.
Surely never was such another mili
tary occupation in the history of the
human race. Under it, the orderly life
of the German people has flowed un
ruffled, undisturbed. Letters and tele
grams have gone to and fro. unmo
lested. Passenger trains come and go.
trolleys trundle on their way, news
papers apgear, schools are open. With
the Germa's it Is "business as usual,"
and the Yankee visitors go non
chalantly about their own.
The Americans had not been In Trier
24 hour's before they were completely
at home there. They haunted the candy
stores and the beer halls, they went
to the movies, to the .pera, they sub
mitted nervously to the attention of the
German barbers, they stared Into the
neat, bright shop windows all gay
with Christmas cards, and they saun
tered along the lamplit streets taking
lessons In German from Lena and
Gretchen.
mitted to equal membership in the
league until they lived up to its pre
cepts in their ow.n organization a.r
in their external relations. This would i
exclude such a nation as Mexico, which
has not been able to stop Villa's raids,
which still has a minor revolution or
two in progress and which gives no
security to foreigners or their prop
erty. It would exclude Russia, which
haa several governments at war with
the Bolshevik system of organized
murder and rapine. It "would also cx-
KEEP THE HOME TTRF,S OF INDUSTRY
IS URN ING.
The plan offered by F. C. Knapp
for employment of returned soldiers
and of men released from war indus
try is well worth the favorable con
sideration of every patriotic citizen of
Oregon. It is, in short, a plan to unite
our efforts and our money to keep the
home fires of industry burning, as we
combined our efforts to support the
soldiers in Europeand thus to prove
to them that wo kept the home fires
The report, that British prospectors
have located practically unlimited de
posits of high-grade iron ore in Spitz
enbergeu, taken in connection with
our own experience with Alaska, will
go a long way toward overcoming the
notion that a land is worthless be
cause it Is in the Arctic region. The
Spitzenbergen discovery is said to re
scmble that of the Mesaba iron range.
n the respect that the ore occurs in
the form of a mountainous surface de
posit, which can be worked at low
cost and transported to ship landings
by gravity, involving only the prob-
ems of a long voyage and a limited
open season in tho Arctic, which are
regarded as negligible, since the ofa
s described as 66 per cent metallic
ron and of sufficient extent to supply
British needs for many generations
Spitzenbergen was discovered by
British navigator in 1563, but until
recently was regarded as worthless.
Additions of the word "Victory" to
the designation of the next liberty
loan will serve the purpose of remind
Ing buyers that without past loans the
victory could not have been won, but
they must not overlook the fact that
the fruits of victory cannot be enjoyed
unless there is orderly recpnstruction.
And reconstruction in these times is
an expensive process, as we are be
ginning to find out. It is so impor
tant, however, that it shall be com
pleted that the duty of the individual
to subscribe to the best of his ability
is not less clear than it was while the
war was .at its height. Uncertainties
elude Turkey or what the allies will of patriotism burning. They fought
leave of it, for that country is the the battle on the Marne, the Mcuse
decrepit ruin of a magnificent system and the Scheldt, and they now keep
of brigandage. It would not include the watch on the Rhine. It is now
Germany, or German Austria or Hun- up to us to fight the battle for Ore
gary until they had atoned for and gon's prosperity on the Columbia and
purged themselves of their crimes, the Willamette
thus proving that they had qualified It is an old saying that "God helps
themselves for membership in the those who help themselves," and we
league. The nations which have fought have abundant means for this self-
and won the war for justice among I help. We have the timber which the
nations have the right to constitute I whole world needs. We can build
the original members of the league, I the ships to carry, that timber, for we
and to decide which other nations are were building them before the Ship-
fit members. I ping Board existed, and we have the
The nations composing the league I yards in which to build them. We
would be bound to arbitrate all justi- I have the energy and the co-operative
ciable disputes among themselves and I spirit necessary. That was proved by
to adopt the Bryan idea of waiting the vim with which we worked and
a year before resorting to arms for I lent and gave to the cause of de-
settlement of other disputes, ' the I mocracy. Shall It not bo invoked suc
league's machinery of conciliation be-1 cessfully for the cause of Oregon's
ing brought Into operation during that I prosperity ? Less than the amount
year. But that arrangement should I by which the various war funds were
not forbid a nation to take prompt I oversubscribed would build the forty
measures against any sudden outrage. 1 lumber-carriers which Mr. Knapp
It would be absurd to propose that. If I proposes as an initial etep. It would
Villa should raid another town on the I be an investment in the prosperity
mo uranae, American troops must I or Oregon in the subscriber s own
not pursue him immediately, or that, I prosperity and at the same time a
if a Mexican mob should attack a party means of employing the fighting men
of Americans at Tampico, American. I when they come home. They will be
warships should not send an armed I ready to fight for prosperity as zeal-
force to the rescue. There should be ously as they fought for democracy
no year of waiting in such an event. It is up to us to furnish the oppor
and there should be arbitration only tunity.
to decide whether there was good . The proposal is that, without wait
cause for the pursuit or the rescue. Ing for or relying upon any outside
The American people do not want, and! help, Oregon provide means to deliver
no other nation desires, such fiascos 1 its chief products to its customers all
as the Vera Cruz occupation or the over the world. The market for lum
Pershing expediton into Mexico. I ber already exists; it only waits for
An insuperable obstacle seems to I the goods. These cannot be delivered
exist to the establishment of an inter- for lack of a delivery wagon the ship.
national force to execute the decisions I Vessels will no sooner be built than
of the world court which is to arbi-1 cargoes will be ready to load them
trate disputes. No nation is willing for customers who are eager to buy
to surrender to any international body I The ' outward cargo is already pro
file right to decide whether it shall vided.
make war or when it shall make peace. But we are reminded that "we shall
The United States could not make such have a fleet of forty ships coming back
a concession without a change in the I in ballast unless it becomes some-
Constitution which would cause acute I body's business to work out a use and
controversy. But the common agree- sale for the products which could and
ment of the nations to support the should be brought back in these ships.
league's principles would prompt them That shows the need of a second or
to resort to arms in the common cause ganization to operate the ships and
and would convert their combined I to find inbound cargoes for them. I
armies and navies into a world police I also shows that a third organization
force for maintenance of international is needed to provide those cargoes.
law. Though unprepared and taken I namely, an import and export com
by surprise, the law-abiding peoples! pany which would send" "some of the
came to the support of the law of na-I younger men in the capacity of bus!
tions in the war and have established I ness scouts into some of the new mar.
its supremacy. Their armies and I kets of the Orient, Siberia, South
navies maintain the law today. No America, and the Islands of the Pa.
such formidable assault as that oflcific, to blaze the way for future busi
Germany can now be foreseen, and, if I ness in .which the whole of Orerron
apy should be madet it .would find the I would share." Such a fiomgany. would
The German soldiers, whom the Yank
meets, are in uniform, for the excellent
reason that otherwise they would catch
cold. They have, for the moat part, been
duly discharged, though onu of them
have Just floated away from the army,
sometimes bringing a bit of its prop
erty along with them.
Here and there a German artillery
man, having decided that the time had
come for him to be demobilised and
that the least the quartermaster could
do was to "furnish this soldier the
necessary transportation," would shove
his gun Into the ditch and drive his
horses home. More than one American
soldier, a trifle weary of the business
of walking from Bar-le-Duc to Cob
lenz. has been sorely tempted by tho
offer of .such a pair of nags for a
hundred marks.
m
The returning German soldiers and
the Americans pass each other stiffly
and eye each other askance. The
doughboy Is quite willing to leave to
the powers that be tho question as to
whether or i.ot he has any quarrel
with the German people, but apparently
lie has decided for himself that he lias
no quarrel with the German children,
of which Rhenish Prussia appears to
have an unlimited output.
As the Third American Army saun
tered to the Rhine, It found German
children always underfoot, flaxcn
haired youngsters on every fence, in
every window, on every curb, little
boys wearing the red and gray caps
of the German soldier and saluting the
Americans, little boys and girls who.
without waiting for Mr. Hoover to in
vestigate their "tummies. demand
chocolate on all possible? occasions.
Th German stores have plenty of
candy, but it costs two marks to buy
a sack of all-day suckers that would
not have cost a nickel back in the
states before tho war. For chocolate,
the enemy infants or Hunlets,,a the
doughboys call them bring helmets
and lugers as bribes. If a field kitchen
pauses for business by the roadside.
If a car halts at a city curb, the chil
dren swarm around It like bees around
a honey pot and always with souvenirs
to swap for something to eat.
Writer Uinesurs Efforts to Build
Destroying? Others (irentnras.
BORING. Or.. Jan. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) 1 was again ' pressed with the
1 spirit of fairness The Orcgonlon has
t-hown toward our Democratic presi
dent while reading a recent -. of
the North American Review's War
Weekly. In these days when liberty
speaks for higher ideals and freedom
will not cringe before the altar of self
ish idolatry are not we Americana big
enough to arrange and rearrange tho
vital questions before us without being
faults-finding disturbers of the present
constructive work? I am wondering
why large eyes (like Colonel Harvey')
are sometimes so email visioned that
he raises the cry: "Have we lost our
republic?" even a little louder than
did Mr. Hughes in his recent address at
Columbia University. Is It because euch
eyes cannot focus ort-a larger perspec
tive than l-.dlvidual qr party desires?
I particularly enjoy anything that
helps one to sense the pulse of the
public, and. though not in sympathy
with thrusts. Intimations and touches
of ridicule evidently intended to cre
ate a "feeling" against the "powers
that be," still I enjoy trying to measure
the strength of the . "aggressor." and
cannot help wondering how much of
the spirit of the "divine right Is hidden
In the plaintive heart which cannot ac
cept the great worl.s of another who
was not born In the same political line
age! Big thoughts from big men, small
thoughts from big men are "straws."
and to be fair one must study the vari
ous causes which make the critical
winds blow!
as our adjustment of things vital
moves on, mental guns will flash con
tinual fire, much of which will neces
sarily miss the mark. Humanity is a
queer composition and few, if any, can
get very far away from petty Jeal
ousies, great distrust and selfish aims.
That a clamoring for supremacy by
ambitious politicians of tho hour Is rl
reatjy being heard is not strange. The
pity of it is that we have not learned
to bulk! on our own merits and too
many have adopted the poor policy of
trying to build by tearing down the
greatness of others. No. Colonel Har
vey; no, Mr. Hughes, we have not ""lost
our Republic!"
EMMA BENNETT MILLER.
Fifty Year Abo.
From The Orcsonlan-.anuary 21.
Washington. In the Senate Corbett
presented a memorial from the citizens
of Washington Territory against the
submission of the question of the own
ership of San Juan Island to arbitra
tion. Madrid. The returns of the elections
for the Cortes show an over helming
majority in favor of a monarchy.
Lexington. The largest distillery in
the country has Just been finished here.
It will be able to make -400 gallons of
w hisky per day.
Tnept y-Flve 1 cam Ago.
From The Orrjomlu. January 21. 1S94.
Corvallls. In mud six inches deep
and rain failing- in torrents the Oregon
Agricultural College football team -.on
the ehnmpionshlp of Oregon by defeat
ing the Multnomah Juniors. 6 to 0.
New York Cliuuot. a French
Canadian sword swaliower, today swal
lowed 14 22-incli swords at one time
and tonight lies unconscious and suf
fering from Internal Injuries at the
Union Square Hospital.
Yaquina. The bay is excited over a
coal vein that has been struck within
two miles of Yaquina City and that is
three feet thick and carries f.4 per
cent of fixed carbon.
The Committee of One Hundred held
Its weekly meeting in the Worcester
block yesterday afternoon. Anions the.
speakers were: Chairman Carbett. Mr.
Woodward. Mr. Teal. W. P. llonevniHu.
J. W. Cook, Charles IZ. Ladd and Mr.
Henry.
Nationality of T. J. 3looney.
OLYMPA, Wash., Jan. 19. (To the
Editor.) Is Thomas J. Mooney a citi
zen of the United States; also when
and where was he born?
A SUBSCRIBER.
PORTLAND. Jan. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Please inform me if "Mooney"
is the real name of Thomas J. Mooney.
What Is his nationality?
INTERESTED.
The San Francisco authorities have
no information that contradicts
Mooney's statement that he w as born in
Illinois, of Irish parents, and that that
his true name. "When arrested in Marti
nez, Cat., In 1914, on a charge of having
high explosives In his possession, he
gave the name of King, but It was a
temporary alias, and was discarded
as soon as his identity was positively
established.
How Influcnsa Is Spread.
PORTLAND, Jan. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) It has occurred to mo that one
of the very best ways of spreading
the Influenza, in spite, of all tho work
of the authorities and doctors to stamp
it out, is the horrible habit that 10
out of 12 people (especially men! have
of spitting and blowing their noses out
Into the air for passershy to breathe
the germs of the dread disease.
It Is possibly carelessness that makes
people resort to the method mentioned.
but one could easily and cheaply use
paper handkerchiefs and burn after
using them.
As It Is claimed to be a germ dis
ease every one should try to keep
the air as clean as possible.
A SIRSCR1BF.R.
Since a traveler from San Francisco
s looked upon with -suspicion and
often caught, he should come around
by Ogden. That is more expensive,
but not equal to a fine of $250 and
incidental confiscation.
Ignace raderewskl ' describes the
Bolshevist aim as being to "kill all
users of the toothbrush." A trifle of
hostility toward the safety razor may
also have crept into the movement.
The Senators who proposo that the
allies abandon Russia to the Bolshe
vik! need to hear some truths from
Catherine Breshkovsky, grandmother
of the revolution.
Perfectly natural the Tank, the
Tommy and the Pollu should fuss and
fret with each other hi times of peace
and comparative Idleness. Their busi
ness is to fight.
Congress puts forward appropriation
bills, but says not a word about bills
for relief of tho soldiers. Being no
longer needed, they are ignored.
There was a difference" of thirty-
seven years in .the ages of the Colby
couple at Beaverton. That in Itself
would be one cause of trouble.
ine, t-partacans have as deep a
hatred for the ballot box as Bismarck
had, and for the same reason; they
want minority rule.
The proposal to compel everybody
to vote can be amended to send a man
with a taxi and two-dollar bill after
the voter.
Local Bolshevikl who assert they
will "capture" the city at the next
election are educating the people In
time.
Marconi's messages may reach the
stars a few years hence, but who will
translate them into star language?
Naturally, some think $100,000 too
much for relief of the soldiers. Also,
naturally, some pare the cheese.
Much a suicide cares about his
burial. If lie did he would stay alive
and fight out his troubles.
Kings, like common people, lose
their sons by death, and the affliction
is as great.
Bring home all the gifts. Mr. Wilson,
There must be swap shops in Wash
ington. .
. How is the man out of a job to sub
scribe to tho fifth liberty loan?
HSTfcKIA SKHlM IS tiltKAT NCKI)
Calm Mind and Doctor's Ser Ices Aid
tlalck Recovery From Influrnsa.
PORTLAND, Jan. SO. (To the Edi-or-
The doctors are booelosslv in
disagreement us to causes, epidemical
nature and effective remedies to pre
vent spread of influenza. To begin
with, the word influeus.i is a hideous
misnomer and has been contracted iti
the usual American way to "flu." The
word is commonly used to embrace
nlmost anything in the nature of-a
disease of the nose, throat, lnnss.
stomach or Intestines. The doctors
take no time to differentiate tho pre
cise epidemic In the minds of the pub
lic, hence it must be assumed that peo
ple aro getting to believe that every
death now is due to influenza. It
causes great fear whenever a slight
ailment occurs. This brings on a
most unfortunate mental condition and
hastens real trouble.
No encouraging word has appeared
In any public notice advising people
to look upon the ailment In a business-like
way, consult a physician
promptly, and. above all. not for on
moment to give way to terror, r hys
teria. Furthermore, nothing has been heard
of a systematic plan to stop this epi
demic, whatever it is. from entering
the city. Tho Government quarantines
every ship from foreign shores. We
allow a Fteudy influx of travelers to
come here without any Inspection
whatever. Of course, it will make ex
pense to inspect them, but money might
be saved elsew here to use for surh a
purpose. The state should un3ert:ik
this matter, as it is lonrciil a burden
for this city and some others. Small
places can do It with very little ex
pense. If done, it ought to be with
thorbhahness. The Legislature can
now act quickly. We seem to need,
very badly a serum or some remedy
acainst hysteria, more than one for
the disease. In other words. l-t our
authorities look after a sound mental
condition and enconraire people. olks
rush to buy any old sure cure and do
a mighty deal of barm to themselves.
ROBERT t!. WRIGHT.
Souvenirs are a drug on the market.
The maiket slumped badly when the re
ceding tlTinars began to shed their
equipment as they went, but the bottom
fell out of It completely when the
Americans reached the Rhine, for here
were warehouses filled with corgeoiis
spike 1 helmets to be had for the ask
ing. A General's helmet was solemnly
e.xch.-tngcd in Trier the other day for a
sack of the "makin's." and the sack
was only partly full, at that.
However, it. Is neither with marks.
of which the market fluctuates wildly
nor -with tobacco, nor with sugar (of
which tho Germans have more than the
French), that the greatest bargains can
be struck. It is not even with, food.
though American mess pergeants are
acquiring fine stocks of fresh beef.
fresh veal and fresh vegetables! by
swapping flour and bacon for them.
e
Some of the sercreants have bought
quantities of freh veal by offering
"corned willy" for it, because It has
been discovered that, among oilier
strange national characteristics, the
German people have an overweening
passion for "corned willy.
But not even "corned willy" Is th
surest legal tender. It is soap. With
a knapsack full of soap a soldier could
travel like a king from one end of
Oct many to the other. Or.e of those
dinky little pieces of soap used on Pull
man trains or In hotel rooms will buy
anything. One of them bought a
pumpkin, for which very good money
had been refused. Another bought a
goose a fine, fat goose.
feuoply officers have found their
kitchens and wagons stripped of soap.
nd certain doughboys, who seemed un
usually burdened with handsome sou
venirs, are under suspicion.
m m
The army of occupation takes no
food without giving food In return. It
does not have to, for Its own problem
of supply is not a vexing one. with
easy train service to Trier and Cob
lenz from Metz and Verdun. In each
of the Rhenish Prussian cities Ameri
can railroad engineers established big
depots before (he troops arrived. Sev
eral times a day long trains wheeze
Into Trier and Coblenz. each train
bringing about SS.100 rations, which is
quite a bit. of nourishment.
Be it said in honor of the T. M. C. A
that on the second dsy of the occupa
tion It arrived on the scene with seven
carloads of material, since which time
its canteens have been selling ad lib.,
some of them administered by those of
the girls that have shown a real genius
for canteen work.
They have been sort of smuggled into
Germany with the occupation Army,
these girls, and their appearance with
the vanguard of the troops gave the
natives a great start "Die Datnen, Die
Damen." in astonished whispers, has
been the music to which tbey have
marched along the Rhine.
For some time the supply trains
have been returning packed with jovi.-tl
prisoners of war on the home atretch.
Into the area of the Third American
Army, stretched like a net along the
Rhine on both sides of Coblenz. have
poured many prisoners who did not
wait to be released, for with the relax
ation of the new regime they walked
past their oblivious guards and hooked
rides to the frontier. They did not
wait for officialdom to return them.
They had but one idea in their home
sick hearts, to get back to America, and
on such a pilgrimage they started by
thousand:!, afoot. If necessary They
have arrived, weary, cold and hungry,
' but overjoyed.
SOOth Motor Transport.
ESTACADA. Or.. Jan. ;. (To the
Editor.) (1) To what division does the
:n;tu Motor Tarnsport Corps belong
and is it slnted for return?
C) To what division does the list
Engineers belong: are they slated for
early return and where are they located
In France? AN ANXIOUS SISTER.
(1) It is not part of a division nor
yet booked for return.
(2) Not part of a division and not as
signed for return. We do not know
their location, but possibly some reader
may supply the Information.
Both and -Mtl Aero Squadron.
PORTLAND. Jan. Id. (llo the Ed
itor.) Kindly advise the approximate
time when the 3"th and 21th Aero
Squadrons will return to the United
States. A. L. B.
Both were assigned for convoy more
than six wee"ks ago. but neither has
been checked as having sailed or ar
rived in this country. Watch sailings
and arrivals in the news coulmns. They
should be expected to arrive at any
time.
OT.tn It. T. C. and l2d Infantry.
EUGENE, Or.. Jan. 19. (To the Ed
itor.) If possible give me Information
as to when Company C. fiSth Railway
Transportation Corps, and Company M.
162d Infantry. 41st .Division, will start
for America.
The Transportation Corps has not
been ordered home. Company M of the
162d has been assigned for early con
voy and should be started back within
two or three weeks.
THF.KS AS OI.IHI-:ltV M KM OH I A I.S.
I'lanllng In Honor of Holla I.Hlvar and
llend Is Commended.
PORTLAND. Jan. :0. (To the Edi
tor. I Memorial tree.s for saflora and
soldiers who gav up their lives in tho
struggle to overthrow- autocracy ate
called the finest tribute that can bs
paid those heroes. I therefor u-.c
the proper setting of memorial trees f-r
whatever memorial may be adopted by
the municipalities of the various coun
tries. An avenue of the allies lined with
trees in honor ef the allied nations is
one sug-jestion. Another plan is tber
planting of memorial trevj along; tho
Columbia Highway. Churches can plant
memorial trees in honor of members
who fell In Ibattle.
The. park d'-parlmeiit could Interest
itself.
hat ffner tribute can he p.i:d
the man w ho came ovit of the Mruccl
alive than the planting of a lung
tree In his honor a living tree thai
will go on after him and keep Cisti
the memory of his deeds?
What finer tribute can be paid tho
men who have given their lives in
the great cause? R. E. P. KULISCH.
Soldier la Allied Army.
PORTLAND. Jan. 10. (To the Edi
tor.) Please inform me who I should
write to in order to locate a friend of
ours we have not heard from for sev
eral years. He would either bo with
tho French er Italian army, ns his home
was in Italy. MRS. BUTLER.
Your problem may be a difficult one,
but we i-iigsest that you get advice on
how to proceed from Albert Ferrara,
representative of tho Italian govern
ment in Portland, and C. Henri Iibbe,
who represents the French govern
in en t.
Answers to Military Questions.
The following correspondents whose
inquiries were received too late to ap
pear in The Sunday Oregonian will
find the Information they seek in
answers giveii to other . inquirers on
page 9, eectioif 5, of The Sunday Ore
gonian, January 19.
Frank Switzer, Grand Ronde. Or.
Soldier's Wife. Portland.
, A rilster. Spanaway, Wash.
Mrs. J. C. Tracy.
A Reader, Portland. Or.
Motor Transport Hits.
CENTRALIA. Wash., Jan. IS. (To
the Editor.) Can you tell mo where
the Motor Transport Corps JDS Is now
situated and whether or not it is listed
to come home?
I AN ANXIOUS MOTHER.
Is not listed in available data. Possi
bly some reader may give you the loca
tion. Has not been assigned to come
home.
17th Aero Squadron.
KNAPPA, Or.. Jan. 1. (To the Ed
itor.) Can you tell me where tho 17th
Aero Squalron is located and if it has
been ordered home? W. L. MOODY.
Locations of aero squadrons have
never been announced. The 17th has
not been listed for return.
M. a. t. i;. 4s.
AURORA. Or.. Jan. IS. (To the Ed
itor.) In what division is M. fv T. U.
403, A. 1". O. 754? SISTER.
It is not a part of a division, but at
tached to the" Third Army Corps, last
reported at Is-sur-Tille.
Alaskan Waters Tree.
GERVA1S. Or.. Jan. 19. (To the Edi
tor.) In discussing ""Freedom of the
Seas" with a friend, he claimed that
in shipping freight from Seattle to
Alaska, we are compelled to pay a tori,
or tax of 50 cents per ton to England
for very ton of freight shipped be
cause we must so through English
waters.
I never hca,rd this assertion before
and I think he Is wrong so please
answer. J. A. FERSCHWEILER.
There is no svich toll or exaction.
Yale Irrigation Projects.
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Jan. 19. (To the
Editor.) What company Is handling
tho irrigation project at Vale. Or.?
Have they an office in Portland? Where
can I obtain Information (general)
concerning Yale and vicinity. C. R.
A. W. Reed, president of Chamber of
Commerce, Vale, Or., will furnish Information.
27StH Aero 9qnadron,
BANDON. Or., Jan. IS. (To the Kd
itor.) Can you tell me when the 27Rth
Aero Squadron will be released or when
I may look for my son home who Is in
this unit? Can he come before his
three years are up, which will be
August 2? SUBSCRIBER.
The squadron has not been assigned
Tor return. As your son seems to be
in the regular Army, you need hardly
expect his release until his term of en
listment has expired.
Motor Truck Company -tni.
HERMISTON. Or.. Jan. 1. (To Gio
Editor.) Can you give me any Infor
mation ss to Motor Truck Company 464.
.V. V. C. 7 74? What does A. I. C. signify?
M. C. W ATKINS.
The Throbbing Question.
Doctor, Doctor: tell me true:
1 had an attack of Spanish "flu"
That laid me low. for a week or two.
Am f nmtfftr-A f.ir s vejar n 1 u .
Against another attack of Spanish tr'cc "d w p ,h""k l,,ls hat ,h
"Vlu."J 'a. C COUli, JcoireipcuUeut wrote, and not A. P. C.
The company is with the First Array,
or was with it at the time you receives
he addresF. A. 1. O. means Army Post-