10
THE MORX1XG OREGOXIAX, MOXDAY, MARCH 24, 1910,
PORTLAND. OREGON.
Entered at Portland lOreajon) Poetoffice as
MCOQdlut mail matter.
Cttbacrtptloa rates- Invarlablr l snVsnea
(By Mall)
Tall)r. Sunday Ineliderl. one year ...
rat;jr. Sunday lneturte4. six months. . i
Ii!y. Sunday Included, three montha
Pal.y, SundaaHnc; uded. dim month
lal!y, without Sunday, one year .....
Ti v nn.lv mnnlhl
Imlly' without Sunday.' one month .J
wefUlr. one year J-""
Sunday, one year ...................... - v '
Sunday and weekly 3.oO
(By Carrier.)
Party. Sunder Included, ona year e'X?
Jialiy. Sunday Included, ona month....
t'ally. Sunday Included, three montha.. --
Ttal'y. without Sunday, one year t.w'i
Taily. without Sunday, three montha.. !.
Dally, without Sunday, ona month
How to Remit Send postofflce money or
der, eapresa or personal check on your local
hflnb .mM rain nr fHTT.HCt MT9 at C1I'
ere rtak- Give postofftce addreaa In lull. In-
4. S3
2.25
- .73
"I
pac) conference bind nobody: the regular processes of law, so that upon
league can be bound only by the terms the whole the incident has put a. strong
of the covenant. check upon repudiation, wherever this
Aitnougn toe peace commissioners may nave Deen suggested.
appointed by President McKmley at
the end of the Spanish war were not CQ ajnsaj,. prices WHX NOT TALL.
coniirmeu oy uie KiiBie, 111a jiruceuuie
was & marked contrast to that of
President Wilson. Congress had ad-
journed on July 8, 1S98, and did not
meet again till December 5. The pro
tocol with Spain was signed August 12
and required that the peace delegates
meet In Paris not later than October 1,
hence the delegates could have been
confirmed only by hastily calling an
extra session of the senate. The ar
mistice with Germany was signed No-
Many new buildings are wanted all
over the country, but those who would
build are waiting for prices to fall.
Stocks are low in many stores, but
merchants buy from hand to mouth.
They wait for prices to fall. That is
the reason for the stagnation in busi.
ness which has prevailed since Novem
ber. Everybody thought that prices
had been inflated by war, and that
now they would fall.
More than four months have passed
December 2 and the president and the sintc ar ended but still prices have
delegates whom he had appointed
sailed on the night of December 3.
No injury would have been done by
a day or two's delay. There was op-
not fallen, except in a few commodi
ties like steel and copper, which are
exceptionally affected by war. Lum
bermen held a conference with the
eluding county and stale. M.t..nu ,a .natA n h, I commerce department about a new
P... Kate 13 to 18 page 1 t Mnf tt, tha level of prices, but they could not see
i to m parea; 4 cents: j to Td Pa"- I president on the terms of peace and
re. double rates.
Mm Bnnlnrae Office Verra Conk-
ln. Brunswick bulldlne-. w York: erre ft
Oonklln. Ktecer buildlnc. rhfaao: Verra
Conklln. Free Pr. buildinit. Detroit. Mich. :
(fan Francisco representative. . a.
MrVBER OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.
Th Associated Preaa la exclusively entl
t'ed to tha use for republication of all news
llrarhe credited to it or not otherwise
credited to thla paper, ana also no ..
yjeira ptibllshed herein.
All rirhts of republication of special dis
patches herein ar also reserved.
PORTLAND. MONDAY, MARCU 14, 11.
LAWLESS PROTECTION OF SLACKERS.
One of the most serious things in
regard to the conduct of the war
which congress will be called on to
Investigate will be the flagrant viola
tions Of law by Secretary of War Baker
in his treatment of fake conscientious
objectors. The provisions of the draft
law were plain as to what classes of
men should be exempted from military
ervice on the ground of conscientious
objection, and the subject was fully
discussed by congress. But Mr. Baker
gave secret orders that exemption from
any but the most nominal punishment
should be given to many men who did
not come within the definition which
congress had made. He finally turned
loose a whole gang of them with full
pay and an apology.
This arbitrary over-riding of the de
cision of congress is one of the evil
consequences of the sort of govern
mcnt we have had in the last two
years. Before that period opened the
legislative independence of congress
had been pretty well broken down by
executive dictation. The emergency
of war was used as a pretext to destroy
it completely and to reduce congress
to the position of a rubber stamp. Mr.
Baker's actions have gone even farther,
for they have the effect of rubbing
out the imprint of the stamp.
If congress had established a com
mittee on the conduct of the war. this
gentleness with slackers would have
been revealed so soon after it began
that probably it would not have been
attempted, but the president sternly
suppressed any move to appoint such
a committee. The revelation was,
therefore, postponed till discharge took
the gag out of the mouths of the offi
cers and men who knew the facts.
Mr. Baker's conduct is an insult to
very soldier who did his duty, for it
Abolishes the distinction between him
and the slacker. It did a wrong to
those men who had to serve in place
of the slackers. It is an insult to the
sincere conscientious objectors, many
of whom willingly exposed their lives
in non-combatant service.
of the league of nations, but he did
not advise with the senate at all.
their way to make a change.
The truth is that prices are not
going to fall. Professor Irving Fisher
. o, .,h I read at the conference of governors
and mayors that "we are on a perma
nently high-price level," and we may
as well make up our minds to It and
of whom three were senators, and, we
believe, members of the committee on
foreign relations namely, W. P. Frye,
v,ueu.uu a ia.io o.iiu u:u.Eo .y -j , 1,.1 n
the last named being A democrat and T.r"" '
f?ein?r!.LdntI0i!- w therefore we cannot expect an inftux
of low-priced goods. By using paper
credit instead of gold as currency and
mnfa 1a nnAna Immolotalv iiimt, 1 " . um.nu vjt -1"u'Li " c
.. . I have changed the conditions on which
senate. The other two were W. It.
Day, secretary of state, and Whitelaw
Keid. He announced these appoint-
the meeting of congress on December
S. the treaty was signed in Paris on
December 10 and was submitted to the
senate early in January, 1899. Presi-
prices were based. Professor Fisher
says that "to talk reverently of 1913
14 prices is to speak a dead language
delegates and did not announce his
appointments to the senate.
The Oregonian deprecates all par-
do is to stop waiting and go ahead on
the new price-level
Thou ..Tt aA ,1..
" . . T. . J!,Kif v,i f .i.a. I Pacific northwest for going ahead.
above all parties, for it concerns the t" LZ.Wu Z YZlr, T.Z7a
future life of this nation and the future ?!?Um.ber, 'SAn leni dmand
peace of the world. For this, reason "
"1. .. , . . wiia v I wool-growing animals of Europe have
we regret that President Wilson has K T,,,. ? nli "
rrsvA. ,an.a jM,f..ii, 1,66,1 kllled bv millions, Europe must
h ",Cr ... .,: ."T ;, .: have meat and clothes, and Oregon
and has thereby provoked like display I. z 1 , ,
, . . , i I been cut down, and Oregon can supply
publican but in his own party.
WHf THE
COVENANT
AlltMltU.
SHOIXD RE
A communication published in an
ther column commenting on an ar
tide in which The Oregonian discussed
the league of nations opens the way
for the following observations:
Although there seem to be no sound
reasons why a nation should be free
to withdraw at will from the league.
there may be good reasons why a
nation should reserve the right to
withdraw after due nottce. It is not
to be expected that the nations would
bind themselves to remain members
-- f the league for all time: if that were
proposed, none might join. In the
course of events, some nation might
be faced with the alternative of sac
rificing its vital interest in -order to
fullfil its obligation, or violating its
obligation. It would desire an honor
able way of escape from such a
dilemma, and withdrawal after notice
would provide that way. That would
be radically different from withdrawal
at will, which would make the league
a rope of straw. But the weakness
of the argument advanced by senators
In favor of this point is no ground for
rejecting anything they may say on
the other points raised. Their argu
ments should be weighed on their
merits, regardless of what they may
have said on other points or of their
motives in making those arguments.
" ' -T2ere are good reasons why mainte
nance of the Monroe aoctrine should
be reserved by the United States in
joining the league. Without that res
ervation the league might give Euro
pean or Asiatic powers a mandate to
adjust troubles on this hemisphere,
which the Monroe doctrine makes the
province of the United States. That
doctrine would be strengthened by the
league's support only if the league
were to support it as it now stands
namely, that it Is the province of the
United States as the chief American
power to lead in protection of Ameri
can republics from outside aggression
and in adjustment of American dis
putes. Without that stipulation the
addition of other nations' support to
the guaranty of American nations' in
tegrity would be accompanied by a
right of nations on other continents
to invade the United States' sphere of
influence.
Recognition of the Monroe doctrine
would not open the door for other
nations to make other territorial
v claims, except such as will be recog
nized by the treaty of peace as con
forming to the principles to which the
allies are pledged. It would not be a
concession of our claims in exchange
for which we must make like conces
sions. It is not as though we had
dragged Europe into an American
war: Europe dragged us into a Euro
pean war. and thereby made it neces
'rary for us to take a haad in settling
Europe's affairs in order that this may
not happen again. That situation im
poses no obligation on this nation to
give up any rights or policies which
are consistent with a proper settlement
of world affairs.
There Is need to specify the general
class of subjects which is excluded
from the jurisdiction of the league,
such as domestic or internal affairs,
for disputes on such questions have
been used gradually to break down
the independence of a nation, or as
pegs on which to hang extravagant
demands backed by force. Speeches
er explanation by members of the
fruit. The new price-level is especially
permanent for what we produce. Then
we can safely build, for material prices
the governor's term. 1 will not fall and the price of what we
There was not a long tenure of have to sell will not fall, either. Th
office at stake in the Chadwick case man who waits is like the dog who
cited by Attorney-General Brown as
sustaining his opinion that Mr. Olcott
will serve out the remainder of Gov.
ernor Withj-combe's term, but all the
elements of the present situation ex.
isted then with an additional one.
lost the substance in grasping for the
shadow.
PLANTING ROADSIDE TREES.
The example of a Minnesota village.
which is nl .') n f i n f rrvw.q fit finnlit rrnen
Governor Chadwick. who was secre- a,onff ts roadsides instead of the more
conventional Lombardy poplars, Nor
tary of state , succeeded Governor
Grover upon the latter's resignation,
About one and one-half years of Gov- way maples, box elders and white
ernor Grover's term remained to be I elms, is capable of adaption to almost
served. It expired on September 11. every American community. The
1878. Mr. Chadwlck's term as secre- Practice, like a good many others
tarv of state expired on September 2 which now commend themselves to
of the same year. State elections then I favor, is the result of individual ini.
were in June. I tiative. About twenty years ago, it
Thus on September 2 Mr. Chadwick I seems, a retired minister introduced
was no longer secretary of state be-1 fruit trees to the roadway running
cause R. P. Earhart had succeeded I through his own property. The school
him in that office. In the previous I district, seeing their value, has now
June W. W. Thayer had been elected I arranged for planting 250 more apple
governor, but had not yet qualified trees of an approved variety and has
for the office. So, in spite of the I committed itself to care for them.
fact that he was no longer secretary These are theoretically the property of
of state and that a governor-elect was I the lot-owner, but it Is a safe guess
available to take his place. Governor I that the public will harvest a good
Chadwick remained in office nine days, I deal of the crop.
and his right to the office during that it Is nevertheless a pleasing custom,
period was later sustained by the su- nd one which is not likely to inter
preme court. I fere seriously with the commercial
The opinion of the attorney-general I side of. fruit growing. The spring
seems to have followed the court de- I months' must be particularly beautiful
cision. Though having no quarrel with I in this part of Minnesota, to say noth-
it, one may reasonably speculate why. I ng of the annually recurring harvest
if it is the proper construction of the I festival every autumn. One would no
constitution, the framers of that in- begrudge the passerby his share of the
strument put the president of the "Pe pomes, and it is practically cer-
senate in line of succession. Except tain that the privilege would not be
in the remotest contingency of death I greatly abused if planting of this kind
or total disability of both governor were general. The experience of or
and secretary of state at the same chardists in such regions, for illus-
insiant it is unnecessary. it seems irauon, as ine greai prune growing
inevitably to follow that, if a secretary belts of Oregon and Washington
of state who has become governor I shows that when certain fruits become
continues to be governor after expira- I reasonably common loss from pilfer-
tion of his term of office as secretary 'S is negligible. But part of the value
of state, he can terminate the latter I of the roadside tree would be the tacit
position himself by resignation and I invitation to share in the product
still remain governor; he can then thereof.
appoint a secretary of state who. ob- In the Pacific northwest various
viously, would become governor if his varieties of nuts probably would bet
predecessor died while governor or ter lend themselves to community cul
became lncapaciated. I tivation. This is particularly true of
But law is what the supreme court French and English walnuts, filberts
says it is. If the attorney-general ana even chestnuts, notwithstanding
shall be sustained in his opinion that the danger of blight in the latter va-
Mr. Olcott is not ex-officio governor I riety unless extra care in selection is
but governor in fact, there will be an exercised. Nut trees possess the ad-
opportunity for all to smile over an vantage among others that they shed
interesting and general accurate book I their fruit when it is ripe and after
that Mr. Olcott prepared when secre- I the tree has outgrown the tallest lad
tary of state. Mr. Olcott in the offi- der, and that they require a minimum
cial Blue Book has entered the names ot spraying. A pest-proof apple is yet
of both Chadwick and Benson as "ex- to be propagated. There are certain
officio" governors of Oregon. The varieties of pears which develop
errors one makes are seldom corrected stately proportions, an example of
in such a gratifying way to the maker. I which may be seen on a business
street In the heart of Portland, but the
pear tree loses much of its beauty
when neglected by the pruner. How.
ever, it will stand a good deal of neg
lect and still compare favorably with
the poplar for decorative purposes.
The genius of the roadside fruit or
nut tree is the hospitality which it
symbolizes, and the spirit of neigh
an estab
lished institution in parts of Europe,
It
A riCTlKESQlE WAR ENDED.
There Is a moral, perhaps, in the
tale of St. Clair county. Missouri,
which agreed the other day to com
promise a debt which for nearly half
a century it had tried to repudiate. It
is an interesting story, in any event.
The county had been made the victim, brIv co-oneration It is
during the railroad boom which fol- . ?E!.
owed the civil war, of swindling m ir t,,
lur - rmiroaa wnicn was rftl -tllH .-a TO...
naval Anaeota fna a,iRta.. V. . .1 n vtrc
. J". ' . would be served by general adoption
nbTlli! . 8,ld lnnocfnt of the rule In communities sufficiently
purchasers. The county, after paying ,,(,a ,, 1
. In.a.aa a. at , a I W (5 Oalaialt U VU 5"C UCt-CCtiHW J llv IUO
'r Vr: .T:r,- u"?.:. trees once they have been planted.
..!. Lii.u u.1 1 j u icuctai v. u u 1 1
gave Judgment and issued a mandate
ordering the county official to levy! IHE CRISIS ON THE ADRIATIC.
taxes to meet the judgment. The serious crisis in the peace negotia-
mandate was defied. One court after tlons has come, and it realises not
another was elected only to spend its from a dispute between the allies and
entire term in prison for contempt. the enemy but from a dispute between
That it was utterly impossible for two of the allied nations.- Italy insists
an entire community to prosper out- firmly on its claim to the port of
side of the pale of law dawned on oth- I r lume and the province of Dalmatla,
er counties which had been in the and threatens to withdraw from the
same boat with St. Clair and these, one I conference if it is not conceded. The
after another, settled their debts. St new Jugo-Slav state asserts its claim
Clair meanwhile made no industrial with equal force, and appeals to the
progress. It was impossible to build peace conference to maintain it.
new buildings or roads. Every private The embarrassing fact to the peace
activity languished accordingly. The I conference is that both parties to the
factor which probably most greatly in- dispute base their claims on the prin-
fluenced the citizens In abandoning ciple of self-determination, which was
their stubborn resistance to the due expected to be clear and Just enough
processes of law was the contrast be- to satisfy all, and where this falls
tween their condition and that of their short, claims of the Jugo-Slavs are
neighbors in adjoining counties. I backed up by reference to another of
It is a strange story, and one which the fourteen points, which requires
cannot fail to awaken some sympathy I that Serbia shall be "accorded free
for the people who thus are paying I and secure access to the sea. Italy
for something which they clearly nev- looks to the allies to support its claim
er received. The fault was primarily I y reference to the secret treaty under
tnat of corrupt county officials who I wnicn it joined them against Germany
In 1870 permitted the money to be paid and Austria, but that treaty is in direct
10 tne railroad 'promoters without ex- I conflict witn the first of the fourteen
acting requisite guarantees. Citizens I points, which pledges the allies to
are made responsible for the conduct! open covenants of peace openly ar
of the servants they have elected, rnted," also with the covenant of the
which ought to teach a lesson, albeit league of nations.
an expensive one. to the voters of St. I Italy founds her claim on the fact
Clair county. Incidentally it has stim- I that Dalmatla was under Roman and
ulated greater Interest of individuals then Venetian, which was Italian rule,
in details of governmental affairs. I down to 1797 except for a brief period
The obstinacy of St. Clair county has I of conquest by Bosnia and for a period
been widely advertised, and also the I or nominal sovereignty by the Byzan
blighting effect of resistance to the I tine emperors. Throughout those cen
turies the language, literature, art, in
stitutions, in fact the whole spirit of
the country was Italian. Croats and
Serbs came in as invaders from the
seventh century onwards, but they
chiefly occupied the back country.
while the ports and the coast remained
predominantly Italian. The Slavs did
not resist Italian influence or object
to the Italian language until Austria
and Hungary stirred up their peace
consciousness after the struggle for
Italian independence began in 1843.
Flume has had a succession of alien
rulers. It stands on the site of an
ancient Roman town, was destroyed
by Charlemagne in 799 and was ruled
successively by the Franks, the bishops
of Pola, the counts of Duino and the
counts of Wallsee, by 'whom it was
surrendered to the Emperor Frederick
III in 1471, to become a part of the
Hapsburg dominions. The Hapsburgs
permitted it to retain a large degree
of self-government under the old Ro
man laws until 1848, when it was oc
cupied by the Croats and annexed to
Croatia. Then began systematic op
pression of the Italians, suppression of
old rights and efforts at extinction of
everything Italian. These efforts were
more determined after the city was
annexed to Hungary in 1867. Italians
were forced out of public offices and
replaced by Hungarians, they were re
fused admission to the schools unless
they would renounce their nationality,
study of the Magyar language was
made compulsory, Italians were driven
out of business by unfair competition
and census reports and roll of electors
were fraudulent, the purpose being to
understate the number of Italians and
to reduce the number of Italian voters.
The Slavs answer the plea of Italy
by pplnting to the fact that, taking
each province as a whole, they are in
a large majority. They refuse to dis
tinguish between the coast and the
ports, where the Italians prevail, and
the rural sections, where Italy con
cedes a Slav majority. They reason
ably assume that possession since an
invasion which began in the seventh
century gives a good title. They ignore
the Italian charges of artificially stim
ulated immigration, of fraud in the
census and in elections and of perse-
cution which has driven many Italians
to emigrate, and they quote election
returns to prove their numerical su
periority. Against Italy's claim of eco
nomic necessity for harbors, and that
the Julian and Dinaric Alps form a
natural frpntier, they set up the claim
that Fiume and the Dalmatlon ports
are their necessary and natural outlets
to the sea.
This is the worst of many problems
of the same kind which the peace con
ference must solve. It proves that the
wisdom of Solomon is required to de
cide what is justice. One party, per
haps both parties, is likely to be in
clined to contest the decision by force
of arms, and only superior force can
restrain them. Is the league of nations
at the outset to call upon its members
to exercise their combined force against
a recalcitrant member? If so, it will
be put to a severe test, and the spec
tacle will provoke a broad smile from
the woodchopper of Amerongen.
The proposal to amend the Texas
constitution so as to require that a
person elected to office shall take an
oath that he never has participated,
directly or indirectly, in a lynching
appears to be a constructive measure
in the direction of abolishing the prac
tlce which all good citizens abhor yet
confess themselves impotent to deal
with. It runs parallel to the oath
still required in many states, that the
person has never taken part in a duel.
This undoubtedly had a salutary effect
on dueling. The merit of the pro
posal is that it is so self-executing.
Rival candidates can be depended
upon to ferret out the record of the
individual taking the oath, and to call
him to time if he swears falsely. And
since most lynchings have the tacit
consent, if not the active co-operation,
of some leading citizens, it would seem
that by removing them from partici
pation a real motive for establishing
law and order would be created.
Those Who Come and Go.
Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Davis of New
Haven, Conn., have tarried in Port
land for several days, midway upon a
tour of the coast states. Though they
leave this morning for Salt Lake, ac
cording to the desk clerk at the Mult
nomah, they have promised to return
within the next month or so. "Then
we are going to look around a bit,"
laughed Mr. Davis, "until we find an
acre or so that suits us for permanent
home building. A few old apple trees,
a pasture for the cow and we will be
back to the land in earnest. Oregon,
of all the west, appeals to us."
One of the absurdities of the law
is that after convicting a man of sedi
tion, it releases him on bail to vent
more sedition while it deliberates
whether he should be tried again.
Debs, St. John Tucker and Joseph
Coldwell are examples. There Is a
gleam of reason in letting Scott Near
ing go on talking after his acquittal,
for he may say something which will
cause his conviction.
Jewish residents are not clannish in
raising the $100,000 for the Jewish
relief fund, and any Gentile who so
desires may contribute, but the people
of Hebraic blood went about it in a
nice way and are to be congratulated
on their success.
The American people went down
into their pockets for one billion dol
lars of income tax without a visible
wince, but they have to do it three
more times before the year ends, and
the last will be just before Christmas.
Just watch them squirm then.
Government at Washington can rest
assured that no Swedish subject in
Seattle will be arrested while he be
haves. That is not the way of our
neighbor city. It has a heavy hand for
the bad fellow, an example that well
might be followed.
. It Is to be hoped nothing happens
to that trainload of insane, Seattle to
New York for deportation, that passed
here Saturday. An accident that would
turn loose that crowd would set the
unfortunate township crazy.
Recall how, eight years ago, every
body "invested" in the Elks reunion,
and recall how, the next year, .'every
body realized T It was a great time for
Portland. Now she will go to the end
of the road with the Shrlners.
Louise Bryant should not be per
mitted to speak until she is in the
middle of the ocean on the way back
to Russia. If she loves bolshevism so
much, let her go to the land where it
grows, fertilized with blood.
The Bulgars tried to make a friendly
majority In Macedonia by killing off
the Serbs. The objection to self-determination
is that it tempts such primi
tive races to massacre.
Brownsville maintained its health
during the war with but one prac
titioner, an osteopath at that, but now
with five all the aches and ailments
will have their innings.
Handy little oligarchy we are liv
ing under, according to the deposed
Mackay. Tet orders are orders, even
coming from Burleson.
It is the irony of fate that the mint
crop of the south this season promises
to be the biggest in all history.
"Red" Rupert Is where yon find him.
Phil Metschan will celebrate his 79th
birthday anniversary today and Phil
Jr. will register about 43 on the same
day. The five sons and four daugh
ters of Mr. Metschan Sr., as also his sister.
Miss Anna Metschan of Tacoma, will
be present. Out-of-town relatives who
have arrived are Mrs. George H. Cattan
ach of Canyon City, Mr. and Mrs. J. E.
Flanders, who have the U. S. A. as their
home since Mr. Flanders is In govern
ment service; Mrs. Emella Meredith of
Yakima, Wash.: Mr. and Mrs. Frank
Metschan of Klamath Falls, and Mrs.
Ia. F. Griffith of Salem.
The problem of finding lobs for those
who want them occupies most of the
time of Frank E. Manning, assistant
director of civilian relief. In the Red
Cross service. Mr. Manning, who is
at the Multnomah, recently returned
from Astoria, where he conferred with
local business men and employers. Dur
ing the war he saw overseas service
with the 834th aero squadron. Prior
to going overseas he spoke throughout
New York for the third liberty loan.
The green links of Weverley Coun
try club call first to three New York
book salesmen who travel In trio and
who always manage to "make" Port
land Just about the time the swallows
are beginning to twitter. They are
Harry F. Hull, George V. Seiffert and
Harry V. Patterson, now registered at
the Multnomah. All three are ardent
fans of the golf links and amateur play
ers of ability.
F. C. Cole and Mrs. Cole of Seattle,
C. F. Newson of San Francisco, R. D.
Miles of Seattle, and E. B. McClure of
San Francisco are at the Multnomah
for a few days' visit to Portland. All
are in the auditing service of the West
ern Union and are now in conference
with local officials of the same com
pany. -
W. F. Elliott, former traveling pas
senger agent of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& St. Paul, Is at the Multnomaji from
Spokane, while attending to business
connected with the federal railroad administration.
George L. Burtt, who buys onions and
potatoes in Oregon for Californians. is
at the Imperial, registered from San
Francisco. He is here to meet commis
sion men on Front street.
Covered with mud, the result of dig
ging their car out with pick and shovel
between The Dalles and Hood River,
Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Morgan have arrived
at the Seward.
Colonel E. Hofer of Salem, Mr. and
Mrs. R. M. Hofer, and the children of
the latter, are registered at the Hotel
Portland, being here for a week end.
Mrs. E. M. Coffman, wife of a prom
nent real estate operator of Chehalis,
Is at the Seward accompanied by Miss
Marian Coffman and Mrs. H. A. Camp
bell.
H. S. Gile, the man who put the Juice
of loganberries on the table of the na
tion, is at the Seward from Salem,
where his plant is located.
State Senator Walter B. Jones of Eu
gene Is at the Imperial. - Mr. Jones
served as a representative in the 1917
session of the legislature.
Perry KItzmiller of the salmon
hatchery at Bonneville, came to town
for the week end yesterday and was
at the imperial.
e
Mrs. Silas Christoffersen, widow of
the aviator, arrived at the Portland
from San Francisco yesterday to at
tend a wedding.
Randall S. Pratt, representing the Pa
cific Motor Boat, a Seattle publication,
is at the Perkins on a business trip to
Portland.
Frank K. Lovell, for more than 30
years employed in the office of secre
tary of state, was at the Imperial yes
terday.
Mr. and Mi-s. Ted Preble of Pendle
ton are in town for the week-end and
are registered at the Multnomah.
Gale S. Hill, an attorney of Albany,
was in town yesterday looking after
highway matters.
Dr. Ralph Matson and wife regis
tered at the Benson on their return
from Camp Lewis.
Mrs. M. Mahon of Bridal Veil was
at the Oregon yesterday while in town
shopping.
J. H. Dunlop, lumberman from Lit
tell. Wash., is registered at the Hotel
Portlana.
Attorney-General George M. Brown Is
at the Seward, accompanied by Mrs.
Brown.
D. R. Grove, a mining man from Mill
City, Mont, is at the Perkins for a few
days.
William Hartong and William Leigh,
mining men of New Plymouth, Idaho,
are at the Perkins.
Howard Layton. timberman of Bridal
Veil, is a new arrival at the Perkins.
James Wilson, cashier of a bank at
Prineville, was in Portland yesterday.
R. A Foley, a merchant of Canby,
was registered at the Perkina
T. J. Gill, a St. Helens attorney, ia
among the arrivals at the Perkina
Ia N. Plamondon, banker from Wood
land, Wash, is at the Hotel Oregon.
A M. Prlngle, who has the ware
house at Bend, is at the Benson.
Library Source of Information.
BAKER, Or., March 22. (To the Edi
tor.) Would you please tell me how I
mav secure the publication ana tne
copyright of a popular song?
Go to your publio library for this in
formation. It cannot be satisfactorily
given within the necessary space limi
tation of a published answer.
War Not Over.
SALEM. Or.. March 22. (To the Edi
tor.) To eettle a business deal: Is the
world war over or not? A READER.
It has been held In connection with
a. wage award made "for the duration
of the war" that the armistice techni
cally did not end the war. A state of
war continues to exist until the peace
treaties are signed.
a 1 t
Is This Irony or Fact?
Exchange.
"There's nobody." said a Washing
ton, D. C, lobbyist, "who can get rid
of an importunate caller so quickly
and at the same time so smoothly as
th oresident. Once at a reception a
man held up the long line of guests
waiting to shake the president s nana
while he recounted some tedious yarn
or other. The president stood about
four minutes of this. Then he gave a
start. 'But, my dear eir, I am monopo
lizing you!' he eaid."
NO NEED TO CHANGE COVENANT.
RosebuTg Cltixea Finds Lodge A Knox's
Criticisms Are Puerile.
ROSEBURG. Or., March 21. (To the
Editor.) In an editorial Wednesday The
Oregonian gives tne New York World's
summary of arguments advanced by
those who oppose 'the league of na
tions. According to the World the ob
jections of the protesting republican
senators simmer down to three de
mands: (1) Guaranteeing the preserva
tion of the Monroe doctrine; (-) Spe
cific recognition of the United States
to control its internal and domestic af
fairs; (3) The right of withdrawal from
In Other Days.
Twenty-fire Year Ago.
From Morning Oresonlan. Marcs 24. 1S94.
Washington. Leading silver men
appeared before President Cleveland
today to urge him to sign the Bland
bill. The veto of the measure is now
generally expected.
Washington. Terms of the treaty
between the United States and China
have been agreed upon and the treaty
submitted to the senate.
Chicago. Passenger traffio officials
the league in the event of necessity or of the western transcontinental rail-
desirability.
The Oregonian dismisses clause 3 and
agrees that the "doctrine of secession"
applied to the league would render it
worthless, and in so doing it intimates
the flimsiness of argument against the
league on such grounds.
The Oregonian then asks those who
support the league through "thick and
thin" for a candid statement why Pres
ident Wilson should not accept clause
1 and clause 2 of the senators' plan.
Presuming that The Oregonian's ques
tion is asked in good faith, and not
with the intent in this instance of
heaping abuse and ridicule upon the
one who ventures to disagree with its
opinions and policies, may I venture to
suggest, in the ffrst place that The
Oregonian sufficiently and aptly an
swers its own question. For if those
presumed paragons of erudition, the
"than-whoms" of the republican party,
Senators Lodge and Knox, offer as one
of the serious reasons of their sten
torian opposition to the league, such
puerile argument as suggested In the
above clause 3 of their demands, then
why should President Wilson or the
American people give ear to wnat rur
ther objections may be made by these
adepts in sophistry?.
As to clause 1: The general inter
pretation of the Monroe doctrine is that
It is a self-imposed guarantee ana
protectorate on the part of the United
States against territorial aggression in
this hemisphere by any foreign power.
There Is nothing in the league as pro
posed to abrogate this doctrine in any
way. On the other hand, under the
league the territories of Central and
South American countries are even
more secure against European and
Asiatic aggression, and the United
States can bring to it3 support the -full
power of the league in enforcing the
recognition of the Monroe doctrine.
Why jeopardize the formation of the
league by insisting for sophistical
reasons the inclusion in the covenant
of that which Is already included and
strengthened? Why specifically name
the Monroe doctrine, which European
nations, in the light of past history,
are wont to interpret as an American,
riffht to exclude the nations of Europe,
while helping ourselves to portions of
Mexico and Colombia? Why open the
door to Japan's preferential claims in
China; the claim of France to dominate
Northern Africa; of Italy to the land
bordering: on the Adriatic, etc., etel
Where would this specific inclusion of
one nation's pet doctrine lead to? Con
fusion and disruption is the only an
swer. As to clause 2: In our own constitu
tion those powers not delegated to the
federal government are reserved to the
states, and such fundamental principle
must needs be recognized in the affaira
of the league. There is nothing in the
league's constitution to indicate that
the league will participate in the do
mestic and internal affairs of the sev
eral nations. In the absence of spe
cific mention of such restriction on the
part of the league, the opinion and
statement of President Wilson, as
chief proponent of the league may be
taken as sufficient guarantee in this
matter. He stated that the league
would have no voice in any matters
that are domestic. Further, Lord Rob
ert Cecil of the British delegation stat
ed that nothing could be included in
the covenant that would interfere with
internal affairs in any way. While the
inclusion of some specific article bear
ing out this idea may seem necessary
to some timorous soul affected by the
Japanese immigration bogie, or some
profiteering tariff-baron, yet when
even so learned and judicial-minded a
man as ex-President Taft, himself a
staunch protectionist, vouchsafes the
opinion that under the league our do
mestic affairs are secure in every re
gard, it .would seem the height of folly
at this time to open the way to every
nation with a pet idea. Confusion
would replace the unanimous vote by
which the constitution was adopted by
the commission in charge.
It is in the closing paragraphs of
its editorial that The Oregonian tacitly
suggests the real cause of the opposi
tion to the league. It is a matter of
opposition to President Wilson a mat
ter of personal animosity ana politic:
an effort on the part of partisan re-
nublicans and two or three disgruntled
democratic senators to discredit the
president and his efforts, regardless of
the consequences to peace ana pros
Derltv the world over.
And much ado is made ot the ract
that the president has not acted "by
and with the consent or the senate.'
In this connection as a matter of infor
mation, may I ask, were the American
Deace commissioners of the bpanisn
American war appointed by President
McKinley "by and with the advice and
consent of the Senate?" (2) Did these
commissioners advise with the senate
as to what should be contained in the
treaty with Spain? While sitting at
Paris Mr. Wilson Is acting in the
capacity of a peace commissioner.
When the treaty and covenant are com
pleted and placed before the senate, it
is then that the senate may advise and
consent as to its adoption.
Respectfully, R. R. TURNER.
roads held a conference yesterday in an
effort to adjust the existing rate war.
It was-reported that the Union Pacific
is, through brokers, making a rate of
129 from San Francisco to Chicago.
A banquet was given at the Hotel
Imperial last night in honor of John
Barrett, the new minister to Slam, who
will leave for his post of duty at
Bangkok in a few days.
Fifty Years Ago.
From Morning Oregonian, March 24. 3809.
Washington. Secretary of the
Treasury Boutwell announced his pur
poes to use the treasury surplus for
the purchase of government bonds to
be canceled.
Boston. A local firm ha received
an order from China for 600 cases of
boots and shoes. This is probably the
first order of the kind ever received
by an American house.
Alexandria, Egypt. The waters have
been successfully admitted from Bitter
Lake to the Suez canal.
There are now in port the steamers
Oriflamme, Gussie, Telfair and Geo. S.
Wright; the barks Helen Angler and
Falconberg, and schooner Alaska,
Cyrus A Dolph was admitted to the
bar In the United States district court
yesterday, Judge Deady presiding.
"Tins NATION" AND MR, VTLLARD
Iarae Not Permanently Denied Mails-
Editor Gets to France.
The Oregonian February 2, 1919, con
tained a news dispatch from Washing
ton stating that "The Nation was de
nied the privileges of the mails be
cause of some alleged Bedltlous utter
ances, but a miia-mannerea ana un-
revengeful state department granted
Oswald Garrison Villard, its editor.
nassports to go abroad as a Journalist
to attend the peace conference. The
British authorities, it appears, accord
ing to reports which reach here, take
the position that the international con
fab now going on at Paris is a peace
and not a pacifist conference and have
refused him permission to proceed fur
ther on his Journey to France."
The Nation feels that it has been in
jured by publication of the foregoing
and is agrieved thereby. The follow
ing is believed by The Oregonian to be
an accurate statement:
On Sentember 14. 1918, an issue of
the Nation was held up by the post
master at New York on the grounds
that certain articles were objection
able under the espionage act. On Sep
tember 17 the solicitor for the post-
office department, after considering
the matter, permitted the issue to be
mailed. The Incident has been re
ferred to on a number of occasions in
the public prints.
Mr. Villard, on his way to Paris, was
held up in England under a regulation
which prohibited a person either of
whose parents was a German to enter
France. He was held in England ap
proximately two weeks because his
father was a German and finally an ex
ception was made and he was vised
through to ranee oy Amn-uaaor
Jusserand.
Paling Will Case.
DAYTON, Wash., March 22. (To the
Editor.) Kindly inform us if the
Fallng will contest has been decided,
and if so, what was the decision?
R. L.
No decision has been given.
LAWS CANNOT MAKE MEN EQUAL
Government Can Do no More Than Give
Men Equal Opportunities.
MARSHFIELD, Or., March 22. (To
the Editor.) The Oregonian's recent
editorial, "How to Fight Socialism,"
more nearly states essential subjects
which we must keep in mind and un
derstand, if democracy is to survive,
than anything I have seen elsewhere.
Socialism is as much German propa
ganda as Prussianism and much mora
dangerous for us. Any scheme that
fails to take into account individual
selfishness is worse than folly.
Selfishness is the force that drives the
world. "Self-preservation is the nrst
law of nature" and s$lf -preservation is
but selfishness in action.
The foremost desire of every human
being is to better his own condition. Ig
norant selfishness leads one man to de
stroy another, but intelligent selfish
ness teaches us that our own best in
terest demands that everybody shall
prosper; for when the individuals pros
per the community prospers. The in
dividuals make the community and
what is best for all is best for each
but people are not equal. They are in
dividual, different, unequal and can no
more be made equal by law than a
black man can be made white.
All government can do is to give
everybody, an equal chance. Law can
not make a man wise, nor good, nor
industrious, nor frugal. Government
can only give opportunity.
Of course it would be foolish to claim
that our government is perfect. There
is some cause for the spread of uniest
and discontent. If the body politio
were entirely healthy the germs of such
diseases as bolshevism, I. W. W.Ism and
socialism would not find lodgment In It,
You say "Revolt is born of ideas
which spread without regard to na
tions and boundaries and lodge In the
minds of men who feel a sense of
wrong, whether real or imagined." It
is indeed true but ret us not imagine
that the wrongs are all imaginary. No
impartial man can believe that a
healthy condition' of society exists
where one man can acquire $1,000,000
while 10,000 others are acquiring J100
each. There is no such difference in
the value of their efforts. There is
something wrong with the system.
Simple creative force does not get
enough of the product. Intelligent di
rection of force gets too much. One is
as necessary as the other neither can
succeed without the other. They are
interdependent and intelligent selfish
ness would teach them to co-operate
for the good of both; but ignorant
selfishness makes war between them,
which is likely to destroy both.
Force without intelligent direction is
destructive. Force intelligently direct
ed Is productive. The trouble is that
the director gets control of the product
in the first instance and divides it much
as he pleases.' It should be more
equally divided not only because that
is right, but because it is wise. It is
wise because unfair division breeds dis
content and discontent breeds war and
war means destruction for the direc
tor as well as for the producer. There
fore intelligent self-interest demands
co-operation. The grasping director
who Is getting more than his fair share
is courting trouble.
But, above all and worst of all and
more dangerous to all Is that made-in-Germany,
unAmerican. false and hypo
critical doctrine called socialism, which
would destroy the individual and make
all equal by making all mere ciphers.
AUSTIN S. HAMMOND.
No Error Made.
RAYMOND, Wash., March 22. (Tn
the Editor.) ; (1) For some years I
have derived so much pleasure and, I
might say, liberal education from your
editorial page that I have come to
consider information there furnished
as not subject to challenge for its cora
rectness. It comes as a distinct shocK,
therefore, to find within the week what
annear to be two errora Answering a
correspondent's inquiry you state in to
day's Oregonian that "bolsheviki" i
"pronounced boi-sne-vee-Ki, accent on
third syllable." Webster's new Inter
national dictionary, 1918, copyright,
gives the pronunciation as "bol-she"
ve-ke" first and fourth syllables ac
cented, with emphasis on the fourth,
and short sound of "e" in "she." 1
would like to ask whether you base
your pronuncation on an author.iy you
consider superior to weDsters, ana, ii
so, what is it?
(2) An Associated Press dispatch
carried in Sunday papers March 9, re
porting a meeting held in Chicago,
mentioned "Howard Elliott, president
of the Northern Pacific railway." Edi
torially, March 15, The Morning Ore
gonian referred to Mr. Elliott in same
capacity. Several years ago Mr. Elliott
left the Northern Pacific, going to the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
railway, being succeeded In the presi
dency of the former roai by J. P. Han
naford. Has Mr. Elliott returned to
the Northern Pacific?
STEADY READER.
(1) The pronuncUtlo'n given was
based on the authority of the editor of
the New Standard dictionary, and gen
eral acceptance thereof.
(2) Howard Elliott returned to the
Northern Pacific as chairman of the
executive committee about two years
ago and recently acquired the addi
tional title and office of president of
that system.
Ant Hill Has 9.1,000 Ants.
London Echo.
An ant hill two feot in height con
tains about 93,000 ants, according to the
observations and counting, extending
over two years, carried out by a well
known naturalist.