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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (March 17, 1919)
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, MONDAY, 3IARCIT 17, 1919. 8 PORTLAND. ORKOOS. (Buret a: Portland iOr-on Poetoftica a Moaclu mail matte.. bcrtpt.on rarea InrariabSy' tn advance: (KY 3faH. Xti:y. Punday Indued, on year .... Ja:.y. Hunday Included, montni. . . Zai;v, Sunday included, three, pinnttoa iMi'. (tnndgr tnclu.lrd. one month . . 3 'aily. without Sunday. on r 3 'a.iy. vtthoul Sunday. montha ... 3 mMy. without Sunday, one month . . . T."v'KIy, on )ar . 4. 'jr. . . . . 6.00 "So .... l.o .... 2 JO .... 3.50 ....3. 75 (Sunday, one yrar tunday and weekly 4 By Carrie r. Xal!y. Sunday Included. one year Um.i.y. Sunday included, on month . . j'ny. (sundry included. three monthi f 'a.ly. witnout Suncay. n year .. ... Tntiy without Sunday, three months Daily, without Sunday, one month.. 1.23 7 80 .0 Haw to Brmlt Send postoffice money or--Irr. express or prana. "S unk. Stamps, coin or currency are at r m risk. Give Dostoff.ra addxta In loll, tiudini county and state. rst.. R-t-l2 t. l pages. 1 " r.o in k:es: 4 cent.; 6i to T PM cm.: TS to 2 pages. S cents. Foreign w.l double riles. --,. nnJnpu Office Verr. Conk- Jlu. Hruuwrk building. .New York . Verr. .onklln. Sieger building. Chicago; Verre r.nli.i. Kree Pre building. D"'''., n Francisco reprewitative, R. J. fliaweii. MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. The Associated Press Is exclusively entl t d to the use for-republlcatlon t ell l.warches credited to it or not etherwle credited to this paper, anil also trio loia. Hew. published herein. All rlithi. of republication of special dls- Bau-hee herein are also iwi'tu, WRTLIXD, I HONUAT, MARCH 17 WILSON IN 19?: OR SOME OTHKR? The New York World has made an Interesting contribution to current po litical discussion on presidential poli tic by asking a large number of demo rratic and independent newspapers throughout the country to forecast the probable democratic nominee in 1920. There are replies from exactly fifty editors from many states, including Oregon, which is represented by the .Astoria. livening Budget. The pre dominant notes of the discussion are the league of nations and the third term. There is general agreement that President Wilson towers head and xhoulders above his party, and one of the correspondents Is rude enough to ny that all other candidates in cither party arc mere pigmies beside him. It appears to be accepted that the league t nations Is not the peculiar property if tfce democracy, though there is a chorus of "buts" and "ifs" about It. Clearly, the editorial voices of democ racy foresee a possibility, not to say probability, that the parties may di vide on the. subject: and it is likely rnough that some of them hope for uch a contingency. The senate leaders, like Penrowc, Knox and Iodge. are generally de nounced as reactionaries, and one of the papers bluntly speaks of their "criminal opposition to the sacrosanct league. Senators Borah, Reed and Thomas are. curiously, overlooked: und there is but a lone cry from far Minnesota for Senator Johnson of California, with the confidential Inti mation to the republicans that if he Vc nominated he may be elected. The World faithfully prints the re plies of the "independent" newspapers: but it Is to be observed that all of them half a dozen are represented vre not at all cheerful about the demo cratic outlook. For example, the Atchison (Kan.) Globe is in the non partisan list: and the Globe speaks fclraagely like a newspaper which is rot at all in accord with democratic J: opes or policies. For illustration of that type of independent thought, here is what the Globe says: Kansas Is overwhelming')' rrpublicnn at this lime. If election were held toduy Wilson would not carry a county In the state. Out a.do of a few democratic officeholder, there a. sentiment for a third term for Wllion. Th deraocrutio adroirti.tratton has Its strongest following In Kansas in the labor unions, but unprejudiced observers do not lllv Wilson, or whoever may be demo cratic endidate. will even carry the union .e. Trio farmers and business men, as well as the returned soldiers, favor a change ?n the national administration. DissatlKfac Von over the extravags.nl management of i:ie war and the conviction that the demo va;s lack good business Judgment have turned the tide against the dcmoc.-ais. When it Is recalled thaf the Globe S the paper of K. W. Howe, the out pokcn opposition to Iresident Wilson Is explained: but there is no question sbout the reality of Mr. Howe's or the (Globe's independence. The attitude of many democrats is yrell enough expressed by the Albany Vew York ) Argus, the paper of ex (Suvcrnor Glynn, who sounded the xcpt-us-out-of-war keynote in the na tional convention of 1916. The Argus tays: If the new rcpuNllran senate rotes against the league of nations plan President Wilson Will Ik- a candidate for ro-electlon. lie will l.ave to go before the people to be vindi cated. Tie will bo re-clcctcd in IUI'0. If the new senate Is not stupid and -otes in faor of the leseue p;an. President Wl'ion will not be a candidate for re-election. I do ot believe he cares anylhlnK about another Trro as president, simply lo be president, t'ut dofeut of tho league plan by the senate would compel him lo prove once more that )te is not too proud to flcht for the rfhts .1 the American people. There you are. If the leaguo of a.ttions is rejected by the senate, I'rcsi tient Wilson will bo a candidate: if it is accepted, he it ill not be a candidate. 3t sounds very much like a threat; but Jicverf heless it is in accord with the ellef of many observant republicans ii to what is likely to happen. The democrats, however, are by no means sure that Mr. Wilson, with his (idmitted prestige and popularity, could overcome the third-term precedent. On that ciuestion, they divide in very jiearly equal numbers. Nearly all admit that tho sentiment against the third term Is strong, and that "under ordi nary conditions" It would be a hazard ous experiment: but some of them think that there will be nothing else to do. Obviously they are not at all satisfied with the weak alternatives presented in McAdoo. Marshall. Clark, Baker yes, somebody in Iowa men tions Secretary of War Baker and Xtne. Over In Idaho the New Freedom names Senator Chamberlain. but gloomily "adds that his unfortunate misunderstanding with the president eliminates him. Yet the editols not pleased with the general outlook, for lie say "Burleson. Creel, and the little men who cling to Wilson's coat tails, and the nauseating , adulations of toadies are the president's only weak nesses, tn addition to tho third term." Not a Very nice, thing for a loyal par tisan of the president to cay, perhaps; but doubtless it is meant for his good. However, it is a long distance to 1'aris. and it may not reach. There are some other democrats who have found that the White House is also so remote tiiat such admonitions fall without its vnresponsive walls. The editor of the Delaware Kvery livening makes the sapient obfer MUion that the "president could be re-elected provided the people want him," and the testimony from - Wheeling, West Virginia, is that 'he can either be re-elected, or name and elect his successor." TVown In Tennessee there is an editor f (Knoxville Sentinel) who disposes of the whole problem by the sententious pronouncement that "it will be NVood row Wilson, because he is eternally right, and the country and the world need him." The word from Georgia (Augusta Herald) is that "it will be useless for the democrats to nominate a candidate in 1920 unless he is Wil son." and the National Democrat (Iowa) says "Woodrow Wilson will be our candidate in 1920"; but the Inter esting conclusion is reached that "if elected he will be the ideal man for president." The Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette believes that Wilson -can suc ceed himself, and the Lynn (Mass.) Telegram - News enthusiaistieally de clares that he "can be re-elected by a tremendous majority." But the opposition to a third term among the democrats is formidable, and includes the Austin (Tex.) States man. Asheville (N. C.) Citizen. Hart ford (Conn.) Times, New Orleans Times-Picayune. Tampa (Fla.) Trib une, Kansas City Post ("he should not run unless desperately needed"), Jef ferson City (Mo.) News. Peoria (111.) Star, Anaconda (Mont.) Standard, and others. The opinions of these repre sentative papers range from doubt as to the expediency of a third-term nom ination to outright objection. The lone Oregon opinion (Astoria Budget) is not in tune with the others, for it says that the Pacific coast will demand a third term for him "if Wil son's plans are adopted." It appears to be elsewhere the nearly unanimous judgment that if the league of nations is ratified by the American senate, Mr. Wilson will automatically drop out. Here and there, it should be added,' there is a call for Mr. McAdoo, and one or two have the Pershing idea. An Oklahoma journalist says that Per shing will be "drafted." if it is not Wilson. Not long since, it may be remembered. General Pershing was under discussion as a possible repub lican candidate; but now the ungrate ful republicans appear disposed to turn him over to the democrats. From these illuminating democratic sentences, and from what appears to be the general state of democratic opinion. The Orerjonian is warranted in adding the observation that Wood row Wilson can be nominated in 1920 by the democrats, if he wants to be; but whether or not he can be elected does not at all depend on his wishes, but the peoples'. WISE POLICY. Governor Olcott's formal announce ment of his policies is wise and oppor tune. It early sets definitely at rest the obviously unwarranted specula tion concerning ah up-set of state officialdom and it promises the smooth operation of the state's ordinary funo lions. In making his decision he has doubtless rejected the Importunities of many unthinking friends and selfish politicians. It will not be expected that Mr. Olcott will accept the present patron age personnel of the governor at face value. There must be dutiful and capable attention to the state's busi ness by every department. In inherit ing the official family of Governor Withycombe he has also inherited the right to insist that there shall be com petency and faithfulness regardless of implied tenure of office. Changes made for good reason will not be objected to by the public. But it is no thoughtful well-wisher of the governor who would have him embroil himself in factional troubles when the future promises to demand so much of the attention of himself and the people to problems of grave moment. A difficult era is undoubt edly ahead, one that will require as a measure of safety the sincerest co operation of all classes. That the state is not to be guided in trying times by one influenced by caprice or factional adherence or personal friendships and animosities is gratifying Information, though an expected assurance by those who are fully informed as to the char acter of the new governor. THE GREAT BAKER SHAKE. 'Preposterous nonsense!" iid Secretary ol var faKcr. "Jt Is preposterous non sense for anyone to say that Senator Cham berlain would not bo as welcome on a ship Koine to Europe with trie as any other mem ber of congress. I saw nn editorial on the subject. There Is nothing to it- From an interview in Th. Oregoaiao, llama lii. 101'J. Senator Chamberlain's welcome aboard ship with the party of con genial souls Secretary Baker has sought o organize for that proposed trip to Kurope would make a great historic picture. The invited guests, who do not in clude Chamberlain, are grouped about the affable secretary on tho quarter deck of the noble ship which is to bear Its precious human cargo across the broad Atlantic. At .tho gang plank appears the chairman of the cenate military affairs committee, self invited, and waves a friendly hand to the gracious and hospitable secretary, who is as pleased to see him as he would be the black plague. The sec retary rushes down the gangway, and gives him the great Baker shake. This Is the time for the photog raphers to get busy. If taken at the right moment, the picture will show that the Baker shake is a cordial clasp of his good right hand, and is not a painstaking effort to hurry off to Kurope or anywhere, before any one left behind, like Chamberlain. knows he is gone with a preferred list of guests, and wilh a parting message of regret that undesirable senators, also like Chamberlain, did not see fit to accept the suggestion that they would, of course, have been welcome if they had had the nerve and bad taste to butt In. May we not call to the attention of the excellent secretary, who would not misrepresent us. or anybody, or anything, for the world, that The Ore gonian never said no, never that he would not welcome Senator Chamber lain on the European trip, but that the senator had not been invited. Now the secretary makes it clear that the way for the senator to get an invita tion is to Invite himself. STEFAJ.-SSOX OF THE ARCTIC. The man whoonquers nature is no less a hero than those who conquered the Germans. Hence, interest attaches to Yilhjalmur Stefansson, the Arctic explorer who i3 to lecture in Portland tomorrow evening. He comes of the right stock for Arctic exploration, for his parents were Icelanders, born within a short distance of the Arctic circle, and he was born in Manitoba when Uiat province was still a raw prairie swept by blizzards. His youth was spent in North Dakota, which has a similar climate. This was good prep araton for his chief life-work, for it inured him to cold and taught him how to combat the rigors of the north. Mr. Stefansson has done service to science equal to that of any man who has attacked the mysteries of the north. He not merely sailed to the Arctic and then dashed across the ice to the north pole and back. - He drifted on Ice floes for months, camped whole winters on an ice- covered island.' ate the food of the. frozen sea and lived with the Eskimo as they live. Ho found new land and proved its existence by standing on it, and he proved others' discoveries to be mere mirage. While credit for having financed his expeditions is due to the Canadian gov ernment, some credit for his achieve ments goes to the United States, for he has remained an American citizen and is proud of his allegiance to this country- HOW NOT TO RECONSTRUCT. The government did nothing to keep men at work or to employ idle men when war industry stopped; it left that to the states and private indi viduals. But the shipping board has gone farther: it prevents shipbuilders from providing employment to those men who are no longer needed after government contracts are completed. When a move is made in congress to lift its prohibition, the board obstructs and an intimation is given that if the bill should pass the president would veto it. That Is the plain meaning of a dis patch stating that Senator Jones' bill permitting steel shipbuilders to take foreign contracts failed to pass, and that the administration does not ap prove it because it would interfere with sale of wood ships. A great in dustry must gradually lapse into Idle ness in order that Mr. Hurley may club other nations into buying his misfits, which they do not want. This is the administration idea of recon struction. During the war the shipping board as a builder and owner of ships was a necessary evil. As the need for the government to own ships diminishes, the board becomes less necessary and more evil. Congress may not be able to pass over the president's veto a bill abolishing the board or reducing its power, but congress can refuse to appropriate a dollar for tho board's continued operation. The president cannot veto an omission to appropriate money. If the republican majority were to pursue that course, it would only do as the democrats did when they killed President . Taffs tariff board by voting no money for it. TV A R AS ONE POET SAW IT. One may fight as stoutly as any paladin, with body and brain in thrall to the duty of waging war. and yet hate the fighting itself. And one may win the military cross while his own heart is hot against the brutality of battle. Herein Is something for the psychologist to muddle with as strange a. clash of impulses as ever the mind of man registered. Siegfried Sassoon was an English captain in the late war. He was also a poet. He fought in France and Palestine. How well he upheld the honor of English arms, all those re splendent old traditions that count it shame for a Briton to falter or turn hack from death, is evidenced by the fact that he won the military cross More than all others who fought and sang in the great war, Captain Sassoon freighted his verse with passionate, uncompromising hatred of battle and its vulpine savagery. The title of his collected poems of tho war bears with it the very nature of the purposeful power of his assault upon trial by arms. His book is called "Counter- Attack." Tho critics are. puzzled about Cap tain Sassoon. They say that his im pulsive rush to grapple with the thing he hates has detracted from the quality of his verse. The poems them selves, the critics agree, are living briefs against battle as trenchant as a two-edged broadsword shearing away the armor of the dragon. However, they continue, the poet's black hatred has clouded his earlier idealism until his muse stammers and occasionally seizes the wrong word in her haste toward expression." In one of the poems, "Attack," Cap tain Sassoon gives a hew angle of in sight concerning the sensations of sol diers who "go over the top." Perhaps they are but his own impressionism, finding voice but one Is inclined to believe that there is enough of the poet in all men, sufficient keennessJ- of sensibility, to justify the belief that he has portrayed the zero-hour im pressions of many thousands of sal diers. At dnwn the ridge emerges, massed and dun. In the wild purple of the glowering sun. Smoldering through spouts of drifting smoke that Khrouti The menacing scarred slope, and. one by one. Tanks creep and topple forward to the wire. The barmge roars and lifts. Then, clumsily bowed With bombs and guns and shovels and bat tie gear. Men Jostle and climb to meet the blister ing fire. Llnea of gray, muttering faces, masked with fear. They leave their trenches, going over the top. While time ticks blank and busy on their wrists. And hope, with furtive eyes and grappling fists. Flounders in mud. O Jesu, xnak. it atop! Presumably these are to be counted among the lines that critics would have the captain polish, facet by facet. They are graphic, we grant you, chorus tho critics, but ure they gracile? Chuck in a flower or so, they urge; tinker with this open awkwardness of rythm; go seek another word, another phrase, for this or for that. They beg that the captain, or some other "sensitive workman." begin without delay the important task of perfecting the sym metrical absolute or something of the sort. Well, it was Captain Sassoon's bat tle. He saw it. Granted that he can write graceful verse, if he will, who is It that would take one tithe away from the picture that blazed itself so vividly upon his mental vision? Not the folk who will buy the book and read the poems of the things he saw in war. In English poesy there was never another stylist more superlative, more fanciful in conception, more meticulous in versification's exactitude than Oscar Wilde, who wrote "The Ballad of Reading Gaol." Among his other poems this one alone is marked with a strange carelessness, an abandon of despair, that breaks wholly away In style from aught that he had written or would write again. But was it care lessness, a strange apathy toward form. induced by the woes around him, that so curiously altered the character of Wilde's verse in "Reading Gaol"? Or was it art? It is said that this poem stirred laggard Kngland to the need for prison reforms. Its powerful terse ness wrought- upon the public mind as no lyric ever did. Before the eyes of those who read were the gloomy agonies of mefj who were paying a greater penalty ior crime man hu manity had the right to exact. Sordid, brutal, with the wraiths of fear and frenzy clutching from the shadows. England saw her prisons, at last, with the eyes of their inmates. Perhaps it was some such vehicle of verse that Captain Sassoon chose, deliberately, with the intuitive feeling that it alone would carry the weight of his hatred for war, or could bring to others the vision of a monstrous strife in which there was nothing save evil. "Let no one ever from henceforth," wrote the poet who won the military cross, "say a word in any way coun tenancing war. It is dangerous even to speak of how, here and there, the individual may gain some hardship of soul by it. For war is hell and those who institute it are criminals. Were there anything to be said for it it should not be said, for its spiritual disasters far outweigh any of its ad vantages." Many of Captain Sassoon's poems of war are satiric. They tilt at the in gratitude of nations toward the maimed and broken servitors who return from battle. There is room for disputation here. That may ha-e been the attitude in other aftermaths, but it is far too soon to pass judgment upon the present. Nations have been reborn to the sense of duty. It is unthinkable that they should forget the sacrificial de votion of their sons. And there are idealists, as well as practical men, who will see that nothing of the sort comes to pass. THAT MATTER OF SOVEREIGNTY. One of the high-sounding arguments of objectors to the proposed constitU' tion of the league of nations is that by accepting it the United States would surrender part of the national sov. ereignty. It surrenders just as much as each other nation surrenders, no more. All would be left in as good position with relation to each other as before and all would remain on an equality. If this nation should refuse to yield a fraction" of its sovereignty, other nations would refuse also, and there would be no league. Senator Walsh of Montana punctures the sovereignty objection when he says that sovereignty in this connection is "the right to make war on whomever we please at whatever time we please, that that is the right the kaiser stood for and that his exercise of that right brought on the war. That is precisely the right which "all allied nations wish to abrogate, and each will gladly give it up if all others do so. All through the discussion of the league by its opponents runs the same error they expatiate on what this na tion is required to do and to give up and say nothing of what other nations must do and must surrender. In fact. it is a far greater concession and risk for France to limit armaments than for this country- Much as modern in vention reduces Distance, a German army need only step across street, so to speak, in order to invade France, while it must assemble an armada and cross the Atlantic to invade the United States. We. certainly should not hesi tato to take a risk which France ready to take after having gone through so terrible an experience. PROFIT IN WIND. Even in stating a scientific propo sition, a Frenchman can be poetical A writer in La Science et la Vie notes there is in the bosom of the atmos phere an enormous force capable of being transformed into motor force and utilized for the needs of industry- An American probably would be content to say that he had noticed a lot of wind going to waste that ought to be put to work. This has been ob served by a good many of our soldiers who saw service in Flanders, and who ought to make first-class boosters of the windmill business now that they are home. Even in a couptry where water power remains unharnessed the wind mill has possibilities. It is particularly adapted to the needs of the small farm, and with a storage battery attachment more can be gotten out of it than is commonly realized. The initial investment Is not large. As a competitor of fuel at present and prospective prices, even a light breeze ought to be worth a good deal. The drive to raise J30.000 this week is not for war work nor to aid suf ferers. Its object is as worthy more so, perhaps, when one considers the good work done by the Young Wom en's Christian association. We of the Oregon valleys who think .6 of an inch of rain in a day is too much can contemplate tfiat section of Florida that had eight inches Saturday and lost its winter tomato crop.. A man who has been managing edi tor of an eastern paper more than forty years has just resigned. In that time more than forty cub reporters must have lost their ambition. Creation of another office, perma nent boiler inspector, will find no ob jection if his work shall prevent repe tition of the fatal incident in the Corbett building. Since policemen and firemen must be vaccinated, it might be well for the common citizen to acquire a sore arm A bit of prevention keeps the under taker away. The conscientious objectors must be suffering their punishment as they ob serve the favor in which we hold the returning soldiers. All who wear the green today are not Irish, but they can wish they were and no harm is done. The real article requires no brand. Those German ships interned In Chilean harbors will be more or less bum junk when turned over to the United States. Among the not-to-be-forgotten re sources of Oregon is now to be added a considerable sum in interest on lib erty bonds. First thing laundry men know, they will be in a lively fight for business. starting with cut rates on the wet wash. The allies cannot have exterminated the bolsheviki in Vladivostok; bur glary and highway robbery still pre vail. Seattle believes it has a bandit queen and facts sustain the belief. Seattle must have something all the time. Doesn't reading about that airplane voyage across- the Atlantic next sum mer make you want to go along? Secretary Baker is on a trip of in spection, but nobody slows down the films. He is "going some." Is it possible that Villa has joined the boycotters of Hearst? Those who wear 'em of silk and such find the luxury tax exists. AU Governor Olcott asks is loyalty to the state. Those Who Come and Go. "There are hundreds of big mines id Oregon, and all they need is someone to get in and develop them." Such is the opinion of Benjamin Qutmby Partridge foss of San Francisco, inventor and patentee of the Foss process of reduc ing ore, who is now at the.Portland, while conferring with Dr. H. S. Wal lace, of this city, relative to develop ment of the Big Dike mine, a quarti property in the El Dorado. Cal.. country. "Oregon's mines are going to have a big part in the future of your state," predicted Mr. Foss. "Apparently your home people won't develop them, but the time will come when all of them will be producing. The Almeda mine, for example, near Grants Pass, is one of the finest producing proper ties in America." Mr. Foss is rather a departure in characters wearing the watch-charm insignia of Royal Arch Masonary. with a tiny kewpie repre senting his second initial. The kewpie. for that matter, is wholly character istic of the optimism that fairly bubbles from Benjamin Quimby Part ridge Foss. Burt A. Adams, former superintend ent of schools at Lakeview and at Gold Hill, Or., returned to Seattle yesterday after a preliminary view of the local field with regard to subscription pros pects for the Red Cross magazine. Mr. Adams has been associated with the Pacific northwest division of the Red Cross for some months, prior to which he spent some time in lyceum lecture tours. He has been appointed director of the subscription campaign of tho Red CrooS -official magazine,, with supervision in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. Alaska hRS been thrown in for good measure, and it is not improbable that the duties of his directorship will summon hi;n to the north during the coming summer. Patrolman Russell E. Butler doesn't count his leghorons before they are hatched. He leaves that to other people, with considerable success. A recent order for fancy egg settings was re ceived by Patrolman Sutler from Ketchikan, Alaska, with instructions to ship 100 white leghorn eggs each week throughout the summer season when the lanky "copper" isn't on duty as recording clerk at police headquar ters, he Is engaged in efficient putter, ing around his poultry ranch at Jen. ulngs Lodge. "The white leghorn," said Kuss, without a trace of argument, "is the uncrowned queen'of tha chicken ranch. She is an egg machine 'n feathers!" Albert Gynn, a merchant of Puyallup, Wash., accompanied by his brother. jactv uynn, recently in Business at Bot tineau, N. D., arrived In Fortland yes terday. The two brothers are scouting Rround Oregon for a business location where they can combine their talents and open a mercantile store that will amaze tte natives. Both use-", t- play tolerabl basebi.ll, years ago m Xeche, N. D., when Hex Lampman, a former Portland newspaper mnii. was a bril liantly erratic fielder on the same team and diamond. The languid young man who lounged about the lobby of the Benson yesterday afternoon, impeccably attired, was not in thu dry goods and notions line, nor yet a scented soap salesman. He was young Abe Attell, rather well known as a lightweight from Denver, but no kin to the famous little fighter of the same name. Young Abe was looking over the Portland fighters, while on his way to California. The Multnomah's 'mezzanine yester day afternoon was fraught with bustle and hustle as the Elks committee pol ished off preparations for the big ball to be given tonight in the hostelry's two ballrooms. Members of tho commit tee, who have their ears applied to the track of coming events, were as one in predicting that the dance will break all previous records for attendance ami gaiety. Robert Witycombe. son of the Intr. Governor Withycombe, was at the Im perial yesterday, having brought soma choice stock to Portland from the eastern Oregon experimental station at Union. The Withycombe strain of farm ing blood, which made his father a well-loved authority in Oregon and the northwest, shows in this nuief. contained young man, who has chosen me same iiie-caiiing. Mrs. E. H. Cooney. of Great e-nllo Mont., and Mrs. W. A. Serrurp, of Ta- coma. Wash., arrived yesterday at the Portland and will visit here for an in definite period. J. C. Wcatherford. who is in the mo,-. cantile business at Dayton, Wash., is at the Imperial while on a visit to Portland wholesalers. ' G. J. Price of La Grande is reo-it:ter,i at the Perkins, while chaperoning a carload of choice stock to the local Shelby H. Reames, who runs a thriv ing mercantile business at The Dalles, " "uwj "iiai at tne -erkins. Ed Earr and B. H. Somervlllo t aieton merchants, are recent arrivals cii. uie rcmina. L. B. Raffee, accompanied hv nrr. Raffee, is registered at the Imperial iroui opoKane. George E. Gibson of The Dallm Is a recent registrant at tho Multnomah. Mildred B. Kull of Lake Geneva. Wis is registered at the Portland. .T. M. Johnson, a stockman of Sh,i. lao, is at tne fcrmns for a few days. W. C. Burcrofr. a merchant of Mm uuy, is at tne Oregon. A. E. Trask of Corvallis is a reennt arrival at tne usegon. O. B. Robertson, banker, of Condon, is at the Imperial. E. A Stuart of Seattle is registered at tne isenson. -D. A Walker of Astoria Is registered at tne Oregon. T. H. Payne of Warrenton is at the Multnomah. False Story Stilt Elves. PRINEVILLE, Or., March 14. (To the Editor.) The following was in a public speech of a returned United States major. Is it true? "Remember this, that just as soon as American soldiers advanced and cap tured a trench and a piece of ground around it, just that same minute our American government commenced pay ing to the French government rent for that same ground." E. G. CHURCHILL. The story has been officially denied by both American and French mili tary authorities. When Income I. $1200. PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Edi- or.) I am a single man. My wages for one year are about $1200. I am paying for a house on the instalment plan. Am I subject to income tax? If not, do I have-to fill out a blank? A READER. You may. not be. married and still be the head of a family. If not the head of a family you will have to pay taxes n the amount above $1000 of your in- I come, after deducting interest pay- ments, taxes and other offsets indicated J on the report blank. REMOTE! ISLANDS ONCE GERMAN. Island. Seised by Japan Hold Dark People of Strange Custom.. g The Marshall islands which, along with .the Carolines, were seized by Japan from Germany soon after the outbreak of the world war, are de scribed in a bulletin issued by the Na tional Geographic society. t "The two chains of curiously shaped atolls, or coral islands, consisting of low-lying coral reefs encircling la goons, known as the Marshall group, lie a little south of the center of an Imaginary line between the Philippines and Hawaii." the bulletin says. "Guam. Samoa and Honolulu form a triangle of trade routes. vvithits sides not penetrated by important steamship lilies. Near the center of this isolated Pacific zone are the Marshall is'anas "Before the war Sydney was reached bv steamer, a voyage of more than 8000 miles. The only other egress is a steamer to Ponape which connects with the French line to Singapore. "Like two loosely strung chains ot jewels, the islands stretch from north west to southeast, each with its lagoon setting encased by a strangely shaped circlet of coral, some like triangles, harps and stirrups, and one outlining a bull's head with its horns. "Straight-haired, dark brown natives, still preserving the religious signifi cance of tattoo and taboo., are to be found. Once a sturdy, reliant, seafaring people, for they were the best mariners in the Pacific, the white man's coming, as in the case of his advent among the Eskimos and the Indians, did not seem wholly beneficial. In teaching them ways to live more easily civilization robbed them of that boldness and ad venture which made them the hardiest of the Micronesian peoples. Many of the voting diedNof tuberculosis. "Native society was rigorously .or ganized into at least three clans, called septs. First were the nobles, from whom each community chose its chief. then the lesser nobles and a third group, some of whom might own prop erty, but none ot whom could have more than one wife. "Woman was given a higher position than among most savages because suc cession was through the female line. But the chief's power was absolute, to the point of life and death. One am bitious ruler learned an alphabet and is said to have beheaded all his subjects who seemed likely to acquire more knowledge than he had. In some islands the mother was allowed to keep only the first three children. She had to bury the fourth. "Skilful and fearless navigators, the natives used bread-tree wood to make sailing canoes in which they would voyage for months. They devised charts made of sticks, showing the location of islands and the directions of prevailing winds. "Ancestor worship was their predom inant religious sentiment. With peti tions and gifts they worshiped the departed whose spirits were supposed to return to earth in certain palm trees which they set off in stone en closures. Birds and fishes sometimes embodied these spirits, they believed, and thus certain species became taboo. ... "Examples of taboo abound. Some served a useful purpose. Cocoanut fruit might not be eaten until the bread fruit no longer was available, thus giv ing the former a chance to ripen. Fruit from the trees of a departed tribesman also was taboo for a time to those out side his family. This assured his wife md children a means of sustenance. Chiefs and others of the highest class also were immune from injury. "Tatooing of the young was a re ligious ceremonial and, like the Pap uans, they inserted wooden discs in their ear lobes to distend them. "Homes of the natives were not pre tentious. Floors were raised above the ground to escape the rats, and thatched roofs covered the combination house and storage room. "The two island groups are known as Ihe Ratak and Ralik chains. Their en tire area is not more than 160 square miles; their native population, 15.000, with fewer than 300 foreigners. The seat of German government was on Jaluit and the most populous island is Majeru, with but 1600 persons. "Other explorers had touched at the islands but they, with the Gilbert group, took their names from Captains Marshall and Gilbert, who explored them in 1788. The Germans annexed the islands in 1886." HOW FIRST BEES REACHED OREGON Native Packed Hive Across Isthmns for Eate John C. Davenport. SILVERTON, Or., March 15. (To the Editor.) John C. Davenport, who died recently at Hoquiam, Wash., was a man' of rare personality. He came to Oregon in, 1851, returned to Ohio, his native state, in 1S52; returned in 1853 by water and brought the first hive of bees. He hired a native to carry them across the isthmus on his back. My father, James Brown, bought them for J125 in 1854. In crossing the plains in 1851 Mr. Davenport's party undertook to swim their stock across tho Snake river above the Amer'can Falls, and the stock did not swim across but swam around in a circle. Mr. Davenport and another swam out and undertook to break up the circle and direct them across,' but failed. The stock finally landed on a shoal about 40 yards above the falls in shallow water. The men hired a couple of Indians to go out and.push them off. The Indians swam across to an island below the farts and worked their way up on tho crest of the falls and from there they reached the stock and pushed them off. The stock went over the falls without serious injury. Mr. Davenport, after his return in 1S53, went to southern Oregon and worked in the mines and opened a general store at Phoenix, a few miles north of Ashland. He built the first brick building there in 1857, closed out in 1861 and went to the Clearwater mines. From 1862 to 1872 he was en gaged in general merchandising in Sil verton. We built the first brick In Sil verton the fall and winter of 1868, and in 1872 we sold out our store building and our interest in the flouring mill to Coolidge & McClain. Mr. Daven port then went to Colfax, Wash., and started a small store and flouring mill. A few years later he removed to Cheney, in Washington, remained there a few years and removed to Hoquiam, where he died recently at the age of 89 years. Mr. Davenport never grew old, and was always an admirable companion and relator of things that happened within his knowledge. J. M. BROWN. s Union Army in 1865. PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Ed itor.) What was the etrength of the Union, army at the close of the civil war? HEADER. The Union muster roll on March 1, 1865, shortly before Lee's surrender, showed an aggregate force of 965,591. of whom 602,593 were "present for duty." By October 15 785,205 had been mustered out. Taxes on Anto. PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Ed itor.) I received a statement for last vear's taxes against an auto which I sold a year ago this month and would like to know who should pay the tax, according to law. E. P. If you owned the machine on March 1, 1918, it was properly assessed to you and the tax becomes your debt, . In Other Days. Twenty-five Year. Ago. Prom The Oregon lun. March IT, 1S0I. Paris. Prince Henri d'Orleans, the son of Duo de Chatres, an indefatigable explorer, is starting for an Asiatic tour that will last 15 months. Spokane. The Northwest Fruit growers' association was organized to day. J. R. Cardwell of Portland was chosen on the board of directors. Washington. The senate adjourned today after spending the better part of two days in considering the nomination of W. H. Peckham of New York to be associate justice of the supreme court. Vilas and Mitchell of Oregon spoke in favor of Peckham. The Burnside bridge right-of-way-suit Is being heard before Judge Sliat tuck. . Fifty Year. Ago. From The Oregonian, March IT. 1369. New York. Whitelaw Reed lias ac cepted the position of editorial writer on the New York Tribune. He is second to Greeley on the Tribune staff. Washington. A bill was introduced in the house today allowing defendants In criminal suits to testify. London. The Duke de Montpensler declares he does not seek the Spanish throne, but should he be chosen he will accepts the crown, although he wlwhcs the question of his election bo not made a pretext for civil war. Roseburg. Senator Williams hus telegraphed that the bill granting three sections of land a mile for the construction of a wagon road from Roseburg to the navigable waters of Coos bay has passed both houses. EARLIER GENERATION APPRO Kit Dr. Cllne Recall. Plebiscite Taken In Danish West Indies In 1S7, PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Ed itor.) The Oregonian's reply to the inquiry of J. R. stating no plebiscite was taken on the Danish Islands pre vious to their transfer by Denmark to the United States Is partly in error. Passing over a scries of diplomatic incidents, it may tie stated that Secre tary of State Soward, lust after his purchase of Alaska, concluded the pur chase of the Danisn islands, which transaction was ratlflcd by the Danish parliament in both houses without a single dissenting vote; but not till after a vote of the islanders had been taken, which plebiscite resulted In 1244 votes for and only 74 votes against annexa tion to the United states. The transaction was then submitted to our senate for approval, but Mr. Sumner for personal spite, as chairman of the foreign relations committee of the senate, being bitterly hostile to President Johnson and to Secretary Seward, tucked the treaty away In a pigeonhole, where it remained, tho sen ate taking no action. Hamilton Fish, under President Grant, secured a re newal of the purchase, but Mr. Sumner was as hostile to General Grant, then president, as he had been to Johnson. It may be mentioned as a matter of interest that Mr. Seward was opposed to the plebiscite being taken on tho islands, preferring to follow the prece dents established by Jefferson in the purchase of Louisiana and John Quincy Adams in the annexation of Florida, where the people of those territories were in -no wise consulted. But the Danish, government would not sell the islands without consent of the island ers, and after due consideration the plebiscite previously taken eing found good and sufficient, the recent sale of the islands to the United States was eagerly agreed to by Denmark and rat ified by our Senate. . C. E. CLINE. The answer given by The Oregonian to J. R. referred of course to the nego tiations recently concluded. The ple biscite mentioned by Dr. Clino was taken among another generation half a century ago. Further negotiations, not mentioned by Dr. CUue, were opened after the Spanish-American war, but the proposal of the United States' was rejected by Denmark in 1902. CHAMPION GUESSER. TRIES AGAIN Encouraged by Previou. Success Mr. Weston Name. Wood for President. PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Ed itor.) Strange as It may seem, in pre dicting who would bo tho next presi dent of the United States I have guessed correctly in every Instance since Cleveland was elected in 1892. Names are again being suggested and both parties are throwing the hats of their favorites in the ring, but again I am willing to make a guess, and the next president of the United States will be Leonard Wood. General Wood was Roosevelt's friend. The name of Roosevelt has all. the legendary power attached to it pro claimed by Clcmenceau. No man has a chance of election uuloss he was a Roosevelt man. When the sons of Roosevelt etump the country for Gen eral Wood it will be a walk-over. The country has never had an ex perience to equal the present admin istration's inefficiency. The people are tired of it. They are going to inako a clean slate. The friends of Inefficiency, thq pacifists and tho radical elements are against a man like General Wood, but they will not bo in the saddle much longer. From now on it will bo U. S. A. first, last and all the time. General Wood has no political blunders charged against his record; he has obeyed orders, as a soldier should, and he knows how to command, as a general should. Ho has served the Stars and Strips through thick and thin, he has not whimpered but has gone ahead. He has filled the hill to the satisfaction of patriots and the" re ward is now due. C. H. WESTON. Revival of Police Band Urged. PORTLAND, March 15. (To the Ed itor.) Now that the war Is over and the days of reconstruction are here, would it be out of order for an appeal for the return of our one-time pride, the Portland police band? Surely we cannot hold a Rose Fes tival and omit so fine an organization as this one was. What a vacant placo there will be unless our parades are headed by Portland's finest. I give all due respect and credit to the Multnomah Guard band for their noble work and untiring efforts, but the fact Is Portland boasted of having the first police band in the country, and I don't like to see Portland or Oregon lose first place. Now that Drum Major wniett nas returned from France and Is back with us again perhaps he could have a roll call and start rehearsals in time for our rose show. Here's hoping. PORTLANDER. Not Legal Heir. MENLO. Wash., March 15. (To the Editor.) Is it the law in Washington, and Oregon that a child raised by an other than his parent, without legal adoption, will become a legal heir after a certain number of years in the home? READER. It is not. Promotion Doe Not End Allotmeuts. PORTLAND. March 15. To the Ed itor.) Does the allotment to a wifa and children stop when a man in the navy has been made a boat officer or boatswain? A REAL'KR. It does not,