10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1919.
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United States and of the world at
large? Mr. Taft, the foremost cham
pion of a league in this country and a
leader of the party opposed to Mr.
Wilson, says it will, and his opinion
should carry weight, for he has talked
with the rulers and statesmen of
many nations and was at the head of
our government for four years, and
therefore knows world politics. The
plan is not perfect, but it is the best
possible at this time, and the alter
native is a league of European nations
with their colonies and Japan or no
league. That is not an inviting pros
ment that never came under the
"broad and generous provision" which
the administration made for the
soldier.
The peculiarity of a pacifist secre
tary of war is that the more inclina
tions a man shows to fight the less
consideration is shown him, and the
more reluctance he shows, the more
tact and consideration are displayed.
It is a wonder Mr. Baker did not make
a written apology to the slackers for
giving them so much unnecessary
trouble over our little difference of
opinion with the kaiser. There is a
pect. for it forecasts another such war Popular impression that the war de
as that just ended, and one in which
we could not escape being involved.
CONOR ATCLATIONS.
The qualities of Mr. Hugh Wallace
as a diplomat are considerable. They
have been shown by the remarkable
way in which he has maintained his
c -1 t 1 1 ii ac on -i tvc.,t.&i rniHont nf
"a. cents: 'J to . P"-. - v..
- pages, t cents. Foreign pos.-1 Tacoma, and at the same time held
vii iu nit; ucijiucruuc uieiuuetaiup vi
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I'OK TLAND, FRIDAY, FEBKI ARV 28. 119.
AMERICAN ISOLATION CONE.
Opposition to the league of nations
a: the White House conference is
founded on the false assumption that
the L'nited Stales is still isolated from
otr.er nations and can remain isolated.
'J'l-.e first breach in our wall of isola
tion was made when we made war
on Spain and annexed the Philippines,
(mother breach was made when our
srmy participated with those of othe
powers in the expedition to Pekin, and
the wall was torn down completely
hen Germany forced us into war by
bii attack on our independence and
by an attempt to form a league to
jc.-poil us of part of our territory
Those persons who insist on isola
t.o:i cling to an exploded theory. It
i- a condition, not a theory, which
confronts us. We are no longer iso
lated, and we should attempt a return
t :i position of isolation at our peril
wt- cunnot avoid alliances, for Ger-
ivany no sooner dragged us into th
war than wc found ourselves in alii
unci: with a score of nations. It is
now proposed that we join a league of
nil rations as a means of avoiding
future wars and future entanglin
alliances. The league will not cn
t-ingle us in tho sense intended by
George Washington when he gave his
risloric warning: it would keep u
free from them, free to pursue ou
cn aims and to work for realization
t our national ideals with the world
for a field. Alliances which entangle
are those which are formed with one
or two other nations to fight for each
other's selfish ends as well as for
mutual defense. Without a league and
our isolation gone, we might be driven
perforce into such an alliance for the
sake of our own security. e should
need it sadly if we were to relapse into
our old condition of unpreparedness.
The league would be a society for
mutual insurance of its members
against war. Wc cannot get fire in
surance without paying the premium.
and wo cannot get insurance against
war without making some sacrifice
and assuming some obligations. Wc
get an ample equivalent in the se
curity derived Irora corresponding
sacrifices made and obligations as
sumed by other members. The plea
that by joining the league and by per
mitting it to decide the extent of our
armaments wc should make a danger
ous sacrifice of our national inde
pendence is that of an alarmist, livery
treaty by which we concede certain
points to the other party limits our
independence, but is recognized as
mutual advantage. Our armaments
ro limited by the agreement not to
fortify the Canadian boundary, but it
does not impair our independence no
ticrably, it saves ns much money and
it has contributed to increased com
merce and friendship with a neighbor.
J.ikc sacrifices arc well worth mak
ing, when all other nations join in the
agreement.
Those who dwell on what the
I'nitrd States would give up and on
the duties which it would incur should
remember that other nations would do
likewise. They would have a volco in
natters affecting us, but wo should
h.ivc a voice in their affairs. Still, all
activities of the league would be re
stricted to certain defined laws and
principles and modes of procedure of
which this nation has long been the
champion. Other nations arc. not
m!- willing but anxious to adopt the
y'.ins which wo put forward before
'"" war, and they have a right to et
pect that wc shall stand by our own
proposal.
It wu.s the I'nitcd St:itcs. through
President Wilson, which added the
h-MSue of nations and the. self-deter
mination of the peoples to the aims
for which the nliies fought. If they
had won without our intervention, the
Mctorious ajlies would hae been free
to form a league, to gratify their
greatest ambitions, to impose tho se
verest terms cn Germany and to par
tition Trrkey and the Oman colonies
among them. When this nation Inter
vened, they gave up this prospect and
revised their aims to conform with
ours. From their view point, this was
no small sacrifice, made not only in
consideration of our aid in making
war. but of our aid in securing peace
by forming a Icacuc. It is obligatory
on us to realize their hopes.
Some express alarm at the possi
bility that the league may appoint the
Fmted States mandatory for Armenia
or some other country. What would
they have? Leave the Armenians the
remnant of them to be massacred by
the Turks and then to taue another
war. or have Americans guide them in
establishing an independent state and
protect them from the Turks until
they are strong enough to stand
alone? We made this nation man-
d.itory for Cuba, and that has been no
great burden, while it has greatly pro
moted the prosperity of both Cuba
nnd the I7nited States. Why not do
as much for Armenia? We have been
ax-nding munionanes and spending
money for the Armenians for many
rs. but were unable to save them
from the Turks. If by sending ad
ministrators and a small body of
'troops, we can not only se them
hut save the world and probably our
selves from smother war, should we
hang back and say It is r.o affair of
ours?
This is a matter of too great mo
ment for lis to let our decision be In
fluenced by the personality or the
politics ef Its sponsor, or by the ques
tion whether the particular plan
adopted at Paris is of American or
British or South African origin. The
sole question is: Will it help to se
cure the rescc and freedom of thv
the national committee for Washing
ton. His standing with the demo
cratic party is good, notwithstanding
a momentary excursion in 1896 into
the ranks of the gold democrats. But
about that time, or a little later,
Woodrow Wilson was writing a letter
in which he proposed the cruel and
unusual punishment of knocking the
Peerless One into a cocked hat
Time works wonders in politics.
Mr. Bryan forgave Mr. Wilson, doubt
less on the ground that it was a mere
professorial outburst of academic en
thusiasm he was then at Princeton
college and President Wilson per
mitted Mr. Bryan later to knock him
self into a cocked hat, as secretary of
state, by mussing up our foreign re
lations. Mr. Wallace, after a brief so
journ at the mourners' bench, was re
ceived with full fellowship as a demo
crat by Mr. Bryan and Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Wallace has had no experience
in the government's diplomatic serv
ice, but it should be said for him that
he is as well qualified as most of our
ambassadors, and better qualified
than some. He is a keen-minded,
alert, presentable and prosperous citi
zen, with strong social instincts; and
ho is not likely to worry' the presi
dent or his administration by advanc
ing views of his own as to the league
of nations, or anything else that will
complicate our friendly relations with
France.
The people of Tacoma may be con
gratulated on the honor conferred on
an eminent citizen. Some of them
know him, and some others have seen
him
partment was established to organize
an army to fight. Evidently in Sir.
Baker's opinion that is a mistake. To
him the fighters are "roughnecks" who
should be courtniartialed at every
chance, while slackers are good young
men who should be treated with dis
tinguished consideration.
perate South America, or for the Cau-1
casian race, but they do not suit
tropical Africa or the negro race. It
is not necessary that as soon as a
negro acquires education, culture, re
finement, good morals, he should ape
the white man: cannot he have all
these things and still remain in ati
respects an African? In trying to
make a white man of him, the Mps.
Jellabys have done what the kaiser
aimed to do when he tried to force
his kultur on an unwilling world. "We
need variety in mankind as in other
things, and an African may be edu
cated, cultured and do useful work in
the world, even without a shirt.
1012
11)14
til IT E A CHANGE.
The state of Oregon has been with
out a lieutenant-governor for sixty
years. There are some citizens and
number of legislators who think
that the present political situation
calls Imperatively for creation of the
office. A constitutional amendment
to meet the emergency has passed
both houses and will go on the ballot
in June.
The people have twice voted on
the lieutenant-governorship, once in
1912 and again in 1914. The election
returns made the following interest
ing showing:
T. No.
r.o.:,2 fii.M
.0-10 14J.SU4
To the Oregonian these figures
have much significance. In a short
biennium the total gain in sentiment
for the proposal was represented by
1473 votes, while the opposition had
accessions in the formidable total of
82.160 votes.
If the people change their minds
about the lieutenant-governorship
why. they will change their minds. It
w ill bo quite a change, quite a change.
It will be due. doubtless, to the univer
sal alarm that something will happen
to the gubernatorial succession, in case
of a vacancy, which they are pro
foundly determined shall not happen.
The signs of agitation and alarm at
the present time aro visible mainly a'
the state capitol.
MR. K.U'ING-TWO-WAYS BAKER
The consequence of having a paci
fist secretary of war was thrown
nto startling relief when a secret
order of Mr. leaker was read to tho
military committeo of the senate. By
his order conscientious objectors in
lie army were to be segregated and
"handled with tact and considcra-
iou." ... "not to be treated as
iolating military laws," . . .
'treated with kindly consideration."
This order was in direct violation
of law and was an arbitrary exercise
of official power. The draft law
grants exemption to real conscientious
objectors members of religious de
nominations existing before the law
was passed, a tenet of whose faith for
bids taking part in war. Tho Baker
order applies to men w ho are not en-
itled to exemptlof!" who refused to
fight on the. pretense that they have
onscienlioiis objections, but whose
real reason is disloyalty, cowardice or
ust plain unwillingness to do any
thing for their country'- But such men,
who arc fit subjects for a courtmartial,
were handled "with tact and consider-:
tion." It is not too much to say that
n official who assumes authority not
granted by law invites impeachment, i
But that was not all. Several hun
dred men of this stripe were, by order
f Mr. Baker, Fivcn honorable dis
harges from the army, civilian
lothes and full pay for time they had
pent in a prison camp, and were sent
oyously on their way. The way of
ic slacker who camouflages as a con
scientious objector is not hard under
Mr. Baker's tender care. That is how
It differs from the way of the ordinary
transgressor.
The record of courts-martial during
the war, also under Mr. Baker's direc
tion, shows that when the man who is
illing to fight commits only a slight
ffense, lus'way is not merely hard
but covered with sharp-pointed rocks.
Brigadier-General T. Ansell, the acting
udge advocate-general, told tho scn-
te committee that "the sentences im
posed for slight offenses have shocked
every sense of justice" and "bear no
reasonable relationship to the of
fense committed." He says the army
"has been cursed with red tape in its
courtmartial proceedings," and that
"we need more humanity in our judg
ment of the men's offenses," and he
calls the system "cruel."
General Ansell has been reviewing
harsh sentences under an old law,
though Mr. Baker says there is no
authority for his doing so. That at
titude of the pacifist secretary bring
Into contrast his cautious abstinence
from exercising unauthorized power in
behalf of the fighting soldier who is
cruelly and excessively punished for a
slight offense and his eager readiness
to violate the plain provision of the
law on behalf of the camouflaged
slacker.
The man who fights but does not
transgress th law escapes these cruel
sentences, but ho lands from France
with his pay months in arrears to find
his wife still waiting for the aiiot-
A FEW WORDS TO A NEIGHBOR.
Portland is accused by a corre
spondent of the Vancouver Columbian
of "jealousy on accofint of the great
water front we have here at Van
couver," and he says that "so-called
big men of Portland cut off their
noses and thus spite their faces by
advocating the building of elevators at
Astoria instead of here, 105 miles in
land but still on the ocean." He asks
why Portland does not encourage
Vancouver, build docks and elevators
on the south side as well as the north
and make Vancouver's water front
Portland's water front, and proposes
that we make a second New York out
of Portland and a second Brooklyn
out of Vancouver.
There is no jealousy of Vancouver
in the mind and actions of Portland.
This port is ready to support, and ac
tually supports, every "movement for
the growth of the thriving city across
the Columbia, for it regards the two
cities as one community commerciallv,
but the fact that they are in different
states prevents Portland from joinin
in aeveiopment or Vancouver as
though the two were one port. Nor
are the big men of Portland advocat
ing the building of docks and elevat
ors at Astoria; that is the work of a
few who have interests in and around
Astoria and of some others who have
been misled into support of an absurd
scheme to establish a port of the Co
lumbia extending from Portland to the
ocean, with the half-confessed pur
pose of transferring the commerce of
Portland to Astoria. These are not
big men, and they do not speak or act
for Portland.
The i-eople of Portland are devoting
their energies to the development of
their own port, and they go about it
on sensible, businesslike lines. Those
lines require that they work from the
center outwards, and there is plenty
within and immediately contiguous to
the city limits to employ our resources
for many years without crossing the
river to Vancouver. We may. how-
over, look forward to the day when
tne soutn bank of the Columbia in
and near Portland will be lined with
docks, elevators and warehouses, and
we shall then view with pleasure a
similar development across the river
at Vancouver. Portland also has at
great cost dredged the channel of the
Columbia river, and has asked no
contribution from Vancouver, thouch
that city shares the benefits and need
only extend the work from the mouth
of the Willamette in order to enjoy
them fully.
Multnomah county's partnership
with Clarke county in the building of
the interstate bridge is an examnle
of tho spirit of co-operation displayed
ty jortiand toward Vancouver. Port
land has been anxious to go farther
in promoting close communication by
bolishlng tolls on the bridge, but
Vancouver objects. On what grounds
the objection is based it is not easy
to understand. If it was a good thing
to mako communication easier by
building the bridge, it would surely
be still better to make traffic toll
free. The great prosperity which has
come to Vancouver since the bridge
was opened is certainly duo in part
to it, and the larger traffic which I
would follow abolition of tolls may be
expected to increase that prosDcritv
further. The comparative population
or tho two cities suggests that manv
more people would go from Portland
to ancouvcr than would come fro
Aancouvcr to Portland. That is food
for thought ou the nart of the. rn.
umbian s correspondent.
TABLE D'HOTE AND A LA CARTE.
Restoration of dining-car service
a la carte" by the director-general of
the railway administration reminds us
of one American institution which has
failed to stand the test of time. The
"table d'hote" dinner is a relic of the
days of prodigal living, when we could
afford to select from a too bountiful
offering the things which pleased us
and reject the rest. The full-course
dinner was wasteful for most men.
Even the "choice of meat" or vege
table did not redeem it.
A nation of diners-out has acquired
the habit of choosing its own food.
From soup to dessert, people want the
privilege of making their own selec
tion. It is not quite the same at home,
where the menu presumably has been
constructed with affectionate thought
to individual preferences. But the
great growth of the a la carte system
and constant expansion of the cafe
teria style of living have militated
against the old way.
Any observant habitual diner in
American restaurants will have no
ticed a recent increase in the number
of people possessing 'odd notions of
dietary proprieties. A man who regu
larly makes his luncheon of head let
tuce and whipped cream, and another
who insists on pumpkin pie three
times a day, are only types of a wide
variety. We demand the right to be
cranks at mealtime if we want to be.
It is true that the table d'hote dinner
had its possibilities in the way of
scientific construction, but it infringed
upon an elementary right.
It has been plain ever since the
latter institution was installed by the
railways that the public was not
pleased over it. While the war was
on people were willing to endure it.
Restoration of the former system is
one of the first hopeful signs that the
railways of the country are returning
to a peace basis.
Those Who Come and Go.
Statistics compiled for January by
the federal bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce are more than
usually interesting reading, showing
that our export balance is being main
tained despite the armistice, and that
excess of imports over imports for
this month alone was nearly as great
as the entire excess for the entire
year 1914, the last normal year. We
exported in January, 1919, goods
valued at $623,000,000, as against a
total of $566,000,000 for the preceding
month, and 5505,000,000 for the cor
responding month of 1918. Exports
for the seven months of the fiscal
year ended with January represented
a total of $3,798,000,000, as compared
with $3,450,000,000 for the corre-
sponding period of the previous year.
Imports meanwhile showed a slight
gain, but undoubtedly were restricted
by the demands made upon tonnage
by the necessities of transport service.
AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS.
Right of self-determination for the
people of Africa is claimed by W. E. B.
Dubois In such terms as indicate the
wide application of which President
v ilson's dictum is capable. The editor
of the Crisis, organ of the colored
people, admits that the principle can
not be wholly applied to semi-civilized
peoples, but he says that it can be
partially applied, and claims a de
cisive voice in the matter for the
civilized negroes of the. United States.
Haiti, Abyssinia and Liberia, the chiefs
and intelligent negroes among the
people of German Africa and the edit
cated among the negroes of other
African colonies. He suggests that
the German, Portuguese and Belgian
olonics be constituted an "Africa for
lie Africans" under the guidance of
an international commission, on which
the civilized negro as well ns the white
world should be represented.
The most interesting point about his
scheme, however, is that he would
combine with modern culture "a thor
ough and complete system of modern
education built upon the present gov
ernment, religion and customary law
of the natives." He objects to "violent
tampering with the curiously efficient
African Institutions of local self-government
through the family and the
tribe" and to "sudden conversion by
religious propaganda." He would grad
ually abolish "obviously deleterious
customs and insanitary usages" and
would build the government on "rec
ognized, established foundations." He
would modernize Africa "through
schools rather than churches."
That is, in substance, a rrotest
against the effort to Europeanize the
African, of which missionaries have
been the chief agents, but in which
British administrators have refused to
participate. To that policy, pursued
alike in Africa, India and Egypt, the
British owe their success in ruling
alien races. The African claims his
right to remain an African and not
to have the customs of the white man
forced upon him. For example, he
had never worn a shirt, did not need
it. for the weather was never cold
enough, but the certain missionaries
Insisted that he must wear one, and,
to please the white man, he reluctantly
donned one; at least many did. Yet
a broader-minded missionary to the
Pacific islands found no connection
between clothes and morality, for he
pronounced the naked native girls
models of modesty.
As with shirts, so with other things
which the white man has forced on
the negro. They may be all very well
fur Eurcse, North America or tciu-
It Is significant of the- agricultural
bent of the people of Canada that of
approximately 300.000 men in tho
overseas forces who have been polled
105,000, or So per cent, have ex
pressed desire to take up farming. Of
these, 78,000, or 78 per cent, have had
some experience, and 61,000, or 58
per cent, have had three years' ex
perience or more. Almost 11 per cen
naa naa twenty years experience or
more. Only about 40,000, however,
were, actively engaged in farming at
the tune of enlistment, so that the fig
ures reveal a distinct gain for the
back-to-the-land movement under the
stimulus of government aid. Nearly
one-half of them said that they were
willing to work for wages to get ex
perience. More than 90.000 expressed
preference lor the western provinces.
where grain-growing is the chief agri
cultural industry.
Activity against the pro-Huns should
not stop witli inquiry by Senator
Overman s committee, but needs the
energies of the new attorney-general
though they have now assumed the
disguise of I. W. W., bolsheviki or
just plain socialists.
Bcforo the interstate bridge was
built not a fourth of the number
crossed the river that did last vear.
which denions'trate that anything that
facilitates traffic increases it. Good
roads bring a similar result.
The time may bo near when the fa
vorite amusement at every allied sea
port will be to go down in one of the
surrendered German submarines, as
we used to go down in the diving bell
in former years.
The high cost of living in the conn
try at large is not a circumstance to
the high cost of drinking in San Fran
Cisco; and what will become of the
Barbary coast?
The first woman to wear a turban
of "the shade Mrs. Wilson had on" in
Boston will be envied by her less for
tunate sisters. Pity the poor milliners!
Good work. Chief Johnson, good
work! Keep it up! Run in all the
vicious loafers you can, and when the
weather settles start that rockpile.
The bolshevik proposal to exchange
prisoners shows that there is no doubt
in their minds that they are at war
with the l nited States.
It Is barely possible these rains are
a provision of nature to keep people
from making garden too early.
The open season on bills has been
good and the killing soon will stop.
As a slayer a solon is a success.
Modesty is not a flower that blooms
in Kansas, which explains Campbell
in the race for speaker.
If you believe you do not want a
car this year, go to the auto show and
change your mind.
The troubles of the officials only
begin when they have put a suf
fragette in jail.
Just as it is every year in Oregon,
April weather comes ahead of the
calendar date.
Chicago runs true to form, and
strong at that, in renominating Mayor
Thouipson.
The incidental perils of stock-breeding
feature in a one-reel . thriller
brought to Portland by C. W. Vail, real
estate dealer of Carlton, who is at the
Oregon. Actors in the drama, which
came near to coeting one of them his
life, were Hans Leifler and a blooded
Guernsey bull, both of Foothill farm,
a model stock ranch owned by W. B.
Ayer of this city. Hans was leading
the Guernsey down the road a morning
or so ago, when the hitherto placid ani
mal rushed him and knocked him down.
There were no witnesses to that
struggle -in the impromptu wayside
arena, but the belligerent bull tossed
Hans hither and yon, and trampled
upon his body. One rush bore the
drover through a fence and slammed
him against a telephone pole. It was
here that Hans snubbed the lead rope,
just before he lost interest in mun
dane affairs.
R. G. Fowler, manager of the Foot
hill farm, came down the road a half
hour later, to find the Guernsey snort
ing at the end of his tether, with the
unconscious form of Hans just beyond
reach. "He wasn't hurt a great deal,"
said Mr. Vail, "considering the maul
ing he got. Two or three busted ribs,
a hundred bruises, and nearly every
stitch of clothing were the toll that
tho bull took."
James F. Pershing, brother of Gen
eral "Black Jack" Pershing, victorious
commander of the American overseas
forces, is at the Portland for a day or
so as reticent as usual. It is gath
ered, however, that General Pershing
a thorough American and an ardent
republican, would not be averse to con
sidering nomination for the presidency,
providing there is a wide and forceful
attempt to thrust this reward upon
him. During Mr. Pershing's visit yes
terday he was entertained by Grant
Phegley, of the firm of Phegley & Cav-
ender. A big man in every way
Mr. Phegley's appraisal. "One of the
most lovable fellows you'd meet any
where." Mr. Pershing is representa
tive of a large clothing concern of Cincinnati.
When Phil J. Sinnott went to war
ho joined a machine-gun battalion
the hope of getting overseas quickly.
After looking toward France from Ho
boken pier he tiad a chance to rumi
nate on the dilatory tactics of the war
department at Camp Dix, Camp Lee
and other eastern resorts of men in
uniform, but finally was discharged at
the presidio of San Francisco. Mrs.
Sinnott was employed in the office of
the American Railway Express com
pany here while her husband was ii
uniform, and welcomed him home on
h's return last Friday. Yesterday Phil
resumed the position which ho left last
year as business representative of the
United Press on thij Pacific coast and
left for San Francisco, where he will
have headquarters.
H. 1. Pillsbury, vice-president of the
Pacific Telephone & Telegraph com
pany, is here from San Francisco,
watching the merger of two distinct
phone systems into one, as the Home
company undergoes the process of ab
sorption. Mr. Pillsbury says that the
new system, under the merger, will be
semi-automatic that is, subscribers of
the present Home system may keep
their automatic equipment for calls
upon the same system, and may secure
numbers on the manual system by call
ing central.
Mark Woodruff, gladiator of many a
stern assignment in the days when he
was a star reporter of Oregon news
paperdom, has resigned his position as
publicity director of the Multnomah
hotel after a year's service in that
capacity. In the opinion of the hotel
fraternity Mark's famous smile and
indefatigable zest for his job added
not a little to the popularity of the
big hostelry. It is understood that he
may engage independently In the ad
vertising business.
J. B. Kerr, of Carey & Kerr, is back
from Philadelphia, where he spent sev
eral days in conference with officials
of the emergency fleet corporation as
a representative of the wooden ship
builders of Portland and Oregon, rela
tive to the adjustment of contracts
canceled by the government at ' the
stroke of the armistice. Mr. Kerr will
present his report tonight at a meeting
of the Oregon Wood Ship Builders'
association.
IS THE SOUL ONLY TO BE SERVED I
Writer Alarmed by Tendeaey t Ignore
Natural Physical Cravings.
PORTLAND. Feb. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) The Rev. Clarence True Wilson's
letter to the ministers of Portland, pub
lished in The Oregonian, is the last
word in ultra-abstemiousness. It is the
forerunner of a concerted sanctimo
nious movement to produce for the more
human element of the world a future
era of innocuous desuetude, where ev
ery physical craving shall be gently
subdued, and where only the soul may
be served.
Here , is a brother who, it is safe to
assume, has not so much as made his
first love to Milady Nicotine: who be
like knows nothing of the divine sol
ace concealed in the herb which has
been to man one of the kindliest gifts
of the Creator.
Bulwur Lytton, master-mind of liter
ature, poetically expressed himself in
this wise: "He who doth not smoke,
either hath known no great sorrow or
hath denied himself the greatest com
fort short of that which cometh from
above."
The curling wreaths of fragrant
smoke, in which a man of imagination
may find poetry, have been refersed to
as "a stench in tne nostrils oi uoo.
Few of us there are who have enjoyed
such intimate companionship with Je
hovah that we can boast of a knowl
edge of -his olfactory likes and dislikes,
and we are therefore inclined to attrib
ute this remarkable statement to some
sad and disagreeable experience, such
as an uninitiated nose coming in con
tact with the unventilated fumes of an
ovrcrowded smoking car.
Our soldiers, who have suffered more
tortures in this war than the most en
thusiastic orthodox could ever depict
for the damned (and he was some little
depicter, too), are about to be asked to
abjure this balm of life, to forswear
the cigarette, their one great solacu
through the days of Hun, hell and
horror.
Before an' undertaking so absurd, the
imagination falters; the mind pauses In
astonishment before a spectacle so rare
that its counterpart could perhaps not
be found outside the pages of religious
history. If a certain pious, over-zeal
ous minority, lacking in ordinary hu
man emotions, will find support in th's
attempt to plunder the human race oi
one of its few remaining privileges, then
I want to go away from here far away
to the whited sepulchers of Egypt, to
a sarcophagus covered with the dust of
dead ages; and I want to whisper into
the withered ear of the mummified
form of Ptolemy's reign: "Old son
you are a lucky stiff; you have been
dead these 4000 years, but as dead as
you are and as musty as you seem, you
look good to me." H. H. BOND,
In Other Days.
Twenty-live Years Ago.
Prom The Oregonian of February 2S, 1S94.
San Salvador Sixty prisoners, prin
cipally military, were shot today. Nic
aragua's demand from Honduras was
the indemnity for all expense incurred
by her troops with Bonilla probably
over $2,000,000.
London. The Edinburgh Xews an
nounces on what it calls reliable au
thority that Gladstone has resigned as
premier..
Berlin. Caprivi defended the German-Russian
commercial treaty in the
reichstag today, reading a portion of
the speech delivered in 1879 by Bis
marck in the reichstag.
During the next six weeks it will be
unlawful to fish for salmon in the
Columbia river and its tributaries or
for one to have'salmon in his posses
sion.
THE KIXDLY WORD..
Ob, for a friend that is tender and true.
With a kindly word when our hearts
are sore.
Life would take on a brighter hue
If we could love each other more.
There are many aching hearts today.
Would welcome a smile and a word
of cheer.
It costs so little a word to say.
To help them carry their burden of
care.
Would that we all would try to say
A word of comfort now and then.
To the weary wanderer on his way.
For we shall not. pass this way again.
M. L. P.
MY PATHWAY.
Xo more my soul, those mountains high
Shall lift and hold ur.tolhe sky.
Nor vision's unquenched thirst shall
slake
From mirrored calm of beauteous lake;
Xor wild birds call.
Thrilling through all.
An hour of rapture make.
My pathway o'er the plain must go,
But imaged spot I cherished so,
Shall be a mirage in my plain
And make the crossing not in vain.
'Twill beckon me.
Till shadows flee
And haven I shall gain.
JANETTE MARTIN.
O. M. Plummer is in Spokane, whither
he was drawn by the seductive offer of
$10,000 in subscriptions to the proposed
$2.0.000 Portland home of the Pacific
International Livestock association.
"Will they make good?" was Mr.
Plummcr's parting shot, as he left for
the inland empire. "Watch me!"
"We like tho ton." With this
cryptic answer a party of Seattle and
eastern business men dispose of their
visit to Portland. They arc registered
at the Multnomah as W. F. Carey, J. H.
Kane and W. R. Walters of Seattle,
II. S. Kerbaugh of New York and Allan
Scims of St. Paul.
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Ed60n of Carlton
are at the Cornelius while attending
the auto show. Their visit to Port
land will be shortened by the neces
sity of Mr. Edson's return to Carlton
to conclude a $4000 deal for a choice
Felgian horse, which will go to a
Walla Walla ranch.
George Cecil, who fosters the Oregon
timber as district forester, returned
yesterday from Seattle, where he was
conference with other officials of
tho rjervice on the matter of trail ex
tensions and improvements.
Mrs. A. M. Haradon, whose home is
on the Sunnybrook farm, near Carlton,
is a guest at the Oregon. Her husband
is a noted breeder of shorthorn cattle.
Mrs. Sarah Greenwood, accompanied
bv her daughter, is registered at the
Perkins from Rainier, where Mr. Green
wood ie a well-known timberman.
Lieutenant Charles Despain, accom
panied by Mrs. Despain, is spending a
few days at the Multnomah, register-
g from Pendleton.
W. J. Dill, who sella pickles and other
merchandise at Salem, and Is one of
the city's leading business men, is stop
ping at the Perkins.
R. E. Davis, who is in the lumbering
Industry at Camas, Wash., is stopping
at the Perkins for a few aays.
W. E. Walther and family of The
Dalles are registered at the Benson
while attending the auto chow.
J. W. McCormick. suto dealer of Pen
dleton, is at the Multnomah, accompa
nied by his daughter.
A. W. Hudson and H. W. Preston,
mbermen of North Bend, are epend-
ng a lew aays at tne uenson.
Mr. ind Mrs. Hary Page, well-known
Salem folks, are new arrivals at the
Portland.
F. L. Stewart, former state senator
from Kelso, Wash., its registered at the
Oregon.
Frank A. Moore, successful business
man of Walla Walla, is at the Benson.
Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Roman of Astoria
are registered at the Imperial..
Sherman M. Miles, the St. Helens
banker, is stopping at the Benson.
C. L. Crocker of El Paso Is a recent
arrival at the Perkins.
V. E. Daniel of Baker is at theIm-
pe. ml. I
Government Now Topheavy.
PORTLAND. Feb. 27. (To the Ed
itor.) The suggestion of Myron T.
llcrrick that our government is becom
ing too paternalistic is one deserving
serious consideration. The war has
naturally left us with a topheavy gov
ernment. It has been necessary to em
ploy large numbers of people for vari
ous kinds of work who would not be
needed in government employ in ordi
nary peace times. It has been said o
government workers "that few die and
none resign." The government canno
change over night from a war to peace
basis, but it should not delay longer
than is absolutely necessary in so do
ing. Nor should the government be
encouraged to take up new projects
of various kinds until it has proved
that it can handle the ones already in
hand to advantage.
Unless our people are ready for gov
ernment ownership, which I sincerely
hop they are not, we should not have
a paternalistic government. America's
foremost place among tne nations ot
the world has been on on individualistic
basis and here's hoping it will not soon
be changed. J. R- ELLISON.
ENDOWED COLLEGES ARE LOYAL
Writer Says Trouble-Makers Were
From Tax-Supported Institutions.
PORTLAND, Feb. 27. (To the Edi-
itor.) I read with approval your lead
ing article in Sunday's Oregonian.
wherin you called attention to the
large number of pro-German and other
pernicious propagandists that have tmd
a place in our higher institutions of'
learning. I think your use of terms, in
one respect, was somewhat misleading.
You speak of these propagandists as
having places on the faculties of our
colleges and universities. We have in
the United States a large number of
institutions denominated colleges. For
the most part they are not supported by
public funds, but depend upon tuition
fees and endowments. So far as I havu
seen, these institutions have not been
infested with the trouble makers. Not
only that, but their faculties and stu
dent bodies were most loyal to the gov
ernment in its recent calls for money
and men.
The trouble makers, so far is I have
seen, have come from those institu
tions that class themselves as universi
ties, and the surprising thing is that
so large a proportion come from thosu
universities supported directly by tax
ation. I want to make two suggestions:
1. Is there any good reason why
every petty officer, whose pay runs
into hundreds of dollars only, should bo
compelled to take an oath to support
the constitution and laws of the land
and other employes-of the state, whoso
salaries run into the thousands and who
are paid from the same public funds,
should be left free to damn tho gov
ernment that pays them, and to young
people at the impressionable period of
their lives?
2. Is not the lecturing 1 abit that has
become a feature of university teaching
largely responsible for this question
able propaganda? If the stuff some of
these men teach were put in print, they
could not retain their places as they do.
If there was a text-book that hud
passed public criticism, that was tha
real basis of the teaching of a subject,
the student at least would have some
thing to point hiin to approved grounds.
As it is, the position of these propa-
ganaists is about like that of the horst,
whose "habitual gait was running
away." s. jj. ALLEN.
Release of Drafted Men.
CAMP LEWIS. Wash.. Ken. " rTn
the Editor.) I notice by reading Tho
Oregonian that you answer all sorts
of military questions. I would like
very much to know how long a soldier
can be held in the service with the
United States army after peace is
signed. Was the armistice an official
peace? OREGONIAN READER.
The selective service law placed men
in the army for the "period of the ex
isting emergency." Recruiting offi
cers have been authority for the state
ment that men who enlisted for the.
duration of the war may be held from
three to six months after a peace treaty
is signed and proclaimed by the presi
dent. This elastic interpretation of
ihe law would probably stand unchal
lenged. The armistice is not an official
peace. The. official peace will be pro
mulgated by the delegates at the l'aris
conference.
Gasoline Shoringe Foreseen.
PORTLAND. Feb. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) In an article on automobiles
The Oregonian failed to note an im
portant factor in their use, thai ot gas
oline.
Taking your estimate of the number
of autos now as correct, the aatiy con
sumntion of trasoline is probably 20.
000.000 gallons per day, 600,000.000 per
month, 7,200,000,000 per year. Jiow long
will the present supply hold out? Is
it not about time to begin casting about
for some other motive power:
W. II. B RACKETY.
'
Cashing AVar Saving Stamps.
PORTLAND. Fob. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Will you kindly tell mo if there
is any place where I can cash my w ar
saving stamps ana get lull value tor
them before the five years after date
of purchase has expired? M. L. M.
The cash surrender value of war sav
ings stamps is printed on the certif
cates to which they should be attached
At this value they will be redeemed at
the local postoffice on giving 10 days
notice.
Dixplay of Flag on memorial Day.
PORTLAND, Feb. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) A says it is correct to fly the
American flag on Memorial day from
8:30 A. M. until noon at half mast; then
fly it from noon until sunset at full
mast. B says it is correct to fly it at
half mast all day. Which is right?
SUBSCRIBER.
It is regarded as preferable to fly
the flag at half staff from sunrise
until noon, at the peak from noon until
sunset.
Address of Adjustment Board.
PORTLAND. Feb. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Please give me the address of
the adjustment board of wages for
railroad employes. JOE MAY.
Railroad wage commission. Interior
Department building, Washington, D. C
Quite a Mental Puzzle.
London Tit-Bits.
Daisy (earnestly) No, she isn't ex
actly pretty, but she has that indefina
ble something
Harold (impatiently) Yes, I know.
My gil l 5 old man has piles of it, too.
Snniruinnry Civil Mar RaMlr.
FOREST GROVE. Or., Feb. 26. (To
the Editor.) General Isaac R. Sher
wood of Ohio, in a -io-niinute talk,
pointed out that there were more ma
jor-generals wounded and killed in a
five-hour fight at Franklin November
30, 181, than all the allien Inst in four
years war, when 17,00l.0lMj soldiers
were engaged. Please toll ine the ac
tual number killed and wounded. 1
was through the battle, but it's been
so long that I have forgotten the num
ber. CAPTAIN G. W. PETERS.
Horace Greeley's "The Amreioan
Conflict" states that on tho union siilv
Major-Geueral D. S. Stanley was
wounded severely. On the confederate
side Major-General P. R. Cleburne,
Brigadier-Generals Gist. John Adams,
Strahl and Granbury wero killed; Major-General
Brown aud Brigadier-Generals
Carter, Manigault, Quarlcs, Cock
rell and Scott were wounded and Brigadier-General
Gordon was captured.
Departure of Krelmcnt Stayed.
liOSUBUKO, Or., Feb. (To tho
Editor.) In The Rummy Oregonian
"Anxious Sister," Rosehtirg, inquired
for information of the 64th regiment,
coast artillery. 1 received a letter from
my son. an officer of the regiment, to
day. He writes: "We wore scheduled
to leave for home on December 13. our
baggage was on the train and we were
ready to move, when orders came to
return to camp, on account of the con
ditions at rlresl, and we archere ye!,
January 28. It has rained, rained,
rained, the mud Is ten inches deep.
This morning attended reveille in a
snow storm."
Will you give me the address of
"Anxious Sister"? I can give her fur
ther information. W. S. HUDSON,
P. O. box 1201.
The Oregonian is unable to supply
addresses of those who Inquire about
soldiers, as no record is kept of them.
Too Rough for Corporal Woods.
DALLAS. Or.. Feb. 26. (To the Edi
tor.) In justice to the people of Dal
las, Or., and especially Mr. and Mrs. I.
Nv Woods, parents of Corporal Laird
Woods, so prominently mentioned In
The Sunday Oregonian, I wish to cor
rect a statement made by your cor
respondent in his report as to his
meeting Corporal Woods In New York.
Mr. Woods is 24 years old, was Born
nnd raised here in Dallas and has
always been conspicuous on account of
his retiring ana modest Disposition.
Three of his comrades of company L.
who arrived here last week from
France, scout the assertion that young
Woods ever boasted in such a rough
manner as to his fighting qualities.
Your reporter was evidently thinking
of someone other than Mr. Woods
when writing. B. O. ABBOTT.
yiolokai for Knlaer WUhelm.
PORTLAND. Feb. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) Many plans have been evolved
for the disposition of punishment of
the ex-kaiser. Iventure to suggcsr
another. Germany has been called the
leper among natfbns. Why not render
its deposed ruler a physical as well as
a mental leper? Let him be banished
to the leper colony on the island of
Molokai. This may not be classed as
a humanitarian suggestion, but it has
behind It the idea of meting out Jus
tice N. O. S 1 Ml .