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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (April 30, 1919)
10 ' THE MOHXIXG OEEGOXIAX, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1910- iltominjj (Dmrtmtmt ESTaBLISHU BI BSXBT L. MTTOCX. published by The Oreironlan Publishing Co, 1U Sixth Strssl, Portland, Oregon. C. A. JIOHDK.V. B. B. UPER, - Ma-er. v editor. Ths Orst-oman l a itmbtr of ths Asso clsted Press. The Aiucuied press la x c.uslvely entitled to the use for repabllea tioD of all news dispatches credited to it or not otherwise credited In this paper, and a '. ui iha wai aiib;iahai1 hpiain. All r.g-hta of republication of special dispatches f: -rein in a so reserved. Subscription rata Invariably la advance: (Br Mali.) Xai:y. Stmdsy Included, one year W Iany. Kunday Included, aix month ..... 4.-3 Ially, Sunday Included, three, months . - Ial.y. Kuodar Included, one month - ' 5 Iai.y. without Sunday, one year ........ J-' Iat.y. without Sunday, six months ...... ; lal.r. without Sunday, uaa month ...... - Weekly, on. year 1 hunday. one year ........ - feiudaj and aeek'y lv I By Carrier ) Xai:y. 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The New Tork Evening Post is in formed by its observant correspondent, lavld Lawrence, that the "progres sive west is virtually ready to discard the primary or at least to amend it so that the party convention shall be in effect restored." This conclusion was reached after Mr. Lawrence had sounded sentiment In Idaho and sev eral other western states but not in Oregon. Washington or California. Idaho restored the convention system as a corollary of the direct primary at the taut session of the legislature. Nebraska had previously returned to the older system and Minnesota is wrestling with it It is probably premature to say that Oregon. Washington and California are virtually ready to restore the po litical convention, though there is a greater frankness concerning deficien cies of the direct primary remarked among those who are not ordinarily listed as confirmed politicians. The politicians themselves are still divided between those who profited from the cld-Ume convention and long for its reinstatement, and those who did not profit from the convention but now either derive some; personal benefit from the primary or still hope to do so. The objectionable features that Mr. I-awrence point. out in the Tost are generally admitted It produces in ferior candidates In many Instances; there is no direct responsibility .'or Improper nominations: no man with out money and a willingness to spend It can hope to defeat an organization candidate. To which may be added that It promotes a multiplicity of can didates which in turn at first creates despair of proper selection and finally produces party apathy and govern mental indifference among the voters. But Mr. Lawrence's letter Is most Interesting in its designation of the real instigator of return to the con vention. The nonpartisan league is the on named. This league's process of gaining control of state government has been to invade a regular party's primaries and rapture the name and organization. In North Dakota the nonpartisan league members are known politically as republicans: in Idaho they are known as democrats. With this explanation it is understandable why opposition to the primary cul minated so much sooner in Minnesota, Idaho and Nebraska. In the Pacific coast states the non partisan league's activities have been lacon.iof,ucntial. In Oregon something like the counterpart of its policy is practiced by other political organiza tions and has caused protest. Members of minority parties have gone un Mushmgly into the republican pri maries and attempted to influence nominations. Whenever successful, this practice has resulted In nomina tion of weak candidates. It Is perhaps not wholly accurate to say that the invaders deliberately In all Instances pick out Inferior men with the Idea that they will be defeated in the gen eral election. Inclination to get Into every political fray to which the way Is open Is Irresistible to many men, and the majority party's Internal con tests are usually the liveliest and most interesting. But It is a definite rule that the re publican who Is most acceptable to the democrats is not usually accept able to a majority of republicans. Occasionally the balance of power of democrats voting in the republican primaries has been felt with the ulti mate e ection of a democrat to office, for the democrats who vote In repub lican primaries invariably return to their own party In the general elec tion. Still, deliberate attempts- by democrats to nominate weak repub licans have been seriously suspected. After much experience and unpro ductive protest Oregon now looks upon this practice with a partial degree of fortitude, but not such fortitude that the derl'ne of the direct primary else where Is viewed with dismay, or that the subtle processes of the nonpartisan league would not be resented In this state. It Is not unsafe to predict that the future but not the immediate future will bring forth a rational nominating system In Oregon, one which does not wholly commit selec tion cf candidatei to steering com mittee or other methods of manipu lating conventions, nor continue It under the present free-for-all self aggrandlxing process. Widespread ad mission of the primary's defecu is an early sign. rOKEH.VNDEOXEKA IN PEACE. An instructive contrast with the lack of preparation for peace which marks the situation in the United States is found In the summary of what other nations are doing toward reconstruction. Franc, which suffered most in the physical aspects of the struggle, began in 116 to consider plans for demobi lization and for the rehabilitation of industry'. In that year a commission on reconstruction was appointed by the president, and a year later the commission was reorganized to in clude the ministers of public works, transportation, agriculture and labor, and in the same year laws were passed to create an agricultural credit of $300,000,000 for restoration of farms and purchase of farm animals and other necessities. Great Britain's ministry of recon struction was established In the sum mer of 1(18. more than a year before the armistice was signed. Canada laid plans early in 191S hating the same end in view, and by the time the homeward movement of the soldiers began had co-ordinated most of the governmental departments and private activities concerned with problem of re-employment and restoration of peace-time conditions. Italy at the same time created a commission with large powers to for mulate restoration plans. Elisha M. Friedman, who has studied the prepa rations of the various nations and has written a book about them, says that Japan has shown (Treat forehanded nesa In this regard, and that even Greece and Spain are not without defi nite programmes. Not the least surprising- fact that he discloses is that some of the South American republics an progressing favorably with their after-the-war measures. Chile, Brazil and Colombia are in the lead among these. The essence of all the plans to which reference has been made is their centralization. Vast unnecessary labors are saved by. co-ordinating many Interests and avoiding duplica tion and overlapping. It may yet be shown that the nations which pre pared for peace even while the war was in its most Intense stage will be first to resume the normal tenor of their ways. COLLAPSE OF THE FEReiHING -IDEA. The public hears little nowadays of General Pershing for president, but much of General Wood. What is the reason for the growth of the Wood movement and the decline of Per shing's little boom? The uncertainty of Pershing's polit ical status whether he be republican or democrat may be one reason. The attitude of the general himself, in his refusal to regard himself as a candi date, but as a soldier, may be an other. The lack of enthusiasm for him by the returning soldiers is un questionably a potent cause of the ap parent collapse. The suspicion that Pershing had more or less to do with keeping General Wood on this side of the water has also probably had its effect- Altogether the Pershing Idea appears to have disappeared from the general mind. But not so as to General Wood. He is a strong man, a soldier with ideas and the power both to express them and to make them effective. He has assumed an admirable pose under the discriminatory and very unwise action of the administration In keeping him at home. He has the favor of both the progressives and the regulars in the republican party. He would be a popular candidate, if nominated, and a good president if elected. If Wood shall be nominated, or any of the others like Hughes, or Taft. or Knox, or Lowden. he will be opposed probably by Mr. McAdoo, who will be urged upon the country as a "busi ness" candidate. He is a business man. all right. There has never been a president who was nominated and elected as a "business man." States manship, not business especially big business, exemplified in concerns like the motion picture trust is the prime qualification. TAKE CARE. A republican conference of senators Is to be held at Washington to deter mine what attitude shall be adopted towards the league of nations. It is well enough that it be held; but it will not be wise, or expedient, or politic for the republican senators to seek to commit the republican party to a posi tion of opposition to the league cov enant. Nor will it be possible. Many republican senators have been at home during the congressional va cation, and have learned something of the temper of the people. Others have remained at Washington, . but have read the newspapers and have heard from their constituents. They know, or should know," that the great body of the American people are for a league, and that the vast majority of them now support THE league, as revised. A few, like Senator Borah and Sena tor I'olndexter, have been running around the country making speeches, and perhaps procuring a convert here and there to their point of view, which is that America has no compelling duty to the world, but only to itself. They profess to have ascertained thai public sentiment is with them. They are mistaken. It is a grave mistake for a politician to be mistaken about what the people are thinking. It is an error neither Borah nor Poindexter has often made heretofore. Crystal-gazing Is, In the end, a poor substitute for statesman ship. fc The league of nations is not a party issue. It is in a high and noble sense a national Issue. If such senators as Sherman, a corn-cob villager from the state which holds kaiserized Chicago, have the offensive presumption to speak for the republican party, they are to learn that their provincial lead- ership will be repudiated. This is not the era or the opportunity of Sherman and his hard-shell crew. The voices which the rank and file of republicans will heed are Taffs and Hughes' and Roofs and Hays. Above the counsels of these far-sighted Americans. Is the good sense and true patriotism of the party Itself. It is capable of doing its own thinking. AS INTERESTING EXPERIMENT. Henry David Watson, who proposes to enter upon an elaborate experiment in modern farming as a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt. Is a man with Imagination, as the outline of his scheme gives evidence, but It is interv estlng to know that he is not a mere visionary. As the owner of an 8000 acre farm, and as the reputed dis coverer that alfalfa can be grown profitably without irrigation, he com mands respectful attention. Mr. Wat son has been a farmer for more than half a century. Succes of the experiment will cen ter around the wisdom exhibited in the selection of 125 families who Would constitute Its basis. They must be families who strongly desire to return to the land, are without means, but probably possess other qualifications, such as Industry, continuity of pur pose, fair intelligence and willingness to co-operate with others. The colony which would be established would be highly communistic at first; evidently it is hoped that the mistakes made by early experimenters along the same general lines can be avoided. Mr. Watson wants to raise a memorial fund out of which all the preliminary needs of the colonists. Including "food, shelter and entertainment." shall be provided for until the enterprise has paid for itself. He thinks that it will take a family inexperienced In farm ing but willing to work and learn about ten years to acquire title to its own home. This will not appeal to those impatient ones who expect to step into immediate ownership, but it represents a conservative estimate of w hat might reasonably be expected. Whether the venture ultimately is made as a "memorial" or as a straight business proposition, it promises to constitute a valuable object lesson. The crux of the plan Is scientific manage ment and provision for technical edu- cation In agriculture. A competent superintendent would be employed, "regardless of cost." There also would be a dairy manager, a swine director, a shepherd and a poultry chief. Pro vision for 1250 cows and 1250 pigs, or ten of each to the family, will mean that no family" will lack work to do every day in the year. No cow can hope for a place in the herd which produces less than 10,000 pounds of 3 per cent milk or 360 pounds of butter a year. The farm unit is to be 160 acres of unirrigated or eighty acres of irrigated land, from which fact It may be deduced that those who enter Into the spirit of the Roosevelt memorial will share the colonel's well- known views as to the size of families. Nothing, says Mr. Watson, is to be left out. One is the more inclined to assent to this after reading that the community laundry and the commun ity creamery have places of equal im portance in the scheme. They are to be built under a single roof, for econ omy in the use of power machinery. By the elimination of churning day and wash day at one sweep from the farm routine, it would seem that the final appeal had been made to wives and mothers to Join in the experiment. So organized, and with its community center, its provision for gratification of longings for the higher life, and its scheme of co-operation in buying and marketing, it approaches very near to the Ideal. But the rock upon which other com munity experiments have been wrecked has been the element of personality which is inseparable from community life. Can so many as 125 families be found who will, for ten whole years, dwell in complete harmony, submit to superintendence with which most of them at some time will disagree, and submerge their individualities in the common plan? It Is probable that more will depend upon this than upon the issue of management. Mr. Watson has proved that one man can run an 8000-acre farm; the question whether 125 families can manage a huge enter prise, however, is not determined by his own success. PROHIBITION AND CRIME. On the last day of December, 1916, The Oregonian published a painstak ing analysis of the effect socially and economically of prohibition In Port land and Oregon. Prohibition had then been in effect one year. There had been no material change in the total population of Portland, such as has occurred with the advent of ship building and other war industries. It is Just as well to reprint some of the 1916 figures. Inasmuch as the question is again raised as to the effect upon crime of abolishment of the liquor traffic. The letter of Mr. Mitchell, published today, with Its de mand to be shown, is typical of the doubt raised by perusal of newspaper reports concerning conditions with which prohibition has nothing to do. At the time the figures were printed in December, 1916, the total number of arrests In Portland was available only for the preceding eleven months. The figure was 10.042. In the corre sponding eleven months of the preced ing year, when saloons were operated under a licensing system, the arrests aggregated 18.243. Non-support cases showed a reduction from 91 in 1915 to 31 in 1916. Insane commitments to the county jail were reduced from 344 to 256. The number of vagrants arrested in the last year of the wet era was 406; in the first year of prohibi tion 32. In the latter -end of 1915 there were 215 prisoners in the county jail: In the latter end pf 1916 there were 69. In December, 1915, the num ber of convicts in the state peniten tiary numbered f66; in December, 1916, they numbered 440. The correspondent quotes figures only on capital crimes, comparing the num ber of murders in Oregon with the number in Nevada and California to the discredit of this state. If correct they are as enlightening as to capital punishment as prohibition. The death penalty for murder has been abolished in Oregon: It has not been abolished In either California or Nevada. More over, a considerable number of the Oregon homicides were incited by drink Illicitly obtained. The last im portant murder In Portland was com mitted by a druggist who had been imbibing from his stock of raw alcohol It has never been contended that prohibition would "put the kibosh" on crime, if by that expression is meant extermination of crime. Some habit ual criminals never touch intoxicants. Men In their soberest moments some times rob, assault, burn or murder. Intoxication is but one of numerous incentives to crime. That its partial eradication has produced a wholesome reduction in criminality cannot be de ",e"' " l evIQen statist'cs- f nv nied. It is evident, even were there no competent observer who lives In Oregon now and lived here prior to 1916. A MANDATE FOR ARMENIA. Armenia asks that the United States accept a mandate to help it in estab lishment as a free nation, but some timid Americans say that we should refuse the task as too great a burden after this country has borne the strain of the great war and still finds its strength unimpaired. How great a task is this from which Little Amer icans shrink and what are our moral obligations to the Armenians? The territory which the Armenians propose to Include In their republic comprises from 125,000 to 135.000 square miles, less by at least 30,000 square miles than Oregon and Wash ington combined. Its present popula tion Is estimated at 4,300,000, of whom 2.500,000 are Armenians, 500.000 other Christian nations, about 1,000, 000 Moslems and 300,000 miscella neous. The Greeks of the Trebizond district are the most numerous of the other Christian races, and they are willing to unite with the Armenians in an independent republic. There are probably 1.000,000 Armenians in other parts of Turkey, in Russia and else where, most of whom would return home, while an equal number of the Turks, Kurds and other Moslems would migrate to their home states, thus making the Armenian majority still more decisive. If a million Armenians had not been massacred, starved or exiled by the Turks during the last five years, the majority would be even greater. The new republic has about 20,000 square miles more area but only half as large a population as the Philippines, care of which did not prove a severe strain on our resources. Nor are the Armenians a crushed, downtrodden race, reduced by oppres sion to semi-barbarism and serfdom, lacking Initiative to hold up its head. Rather, they are like Belgium, which was defeated and oppressed but not conquered during German occupation. The last independent kingdom of Ar menia was not subdued by the Turks till the year 1375, and the mountain eers of Zeitoun and Sassoun continued resistance to the present day. The people have preserved their ancient civilization and religion, have a high standard of education, share with thef Greeks the commerce and industry of i Turkey and have supplied that country and Russia with some able statesmen and generals. They are not helpless, though they need help. They have managed their local and church af fairs, and they possess the qualities requisite for self-government, lacking only experience to run an Independent state. The services rendered by the Ar menians to the cause of freedom have been overshadowed by their sufferings, but are so great that they give that nation as strong a claim on the aid of other nations as Belgium has estab lished. Armenia stood across the path way of invaders who went from cen tral Asia to Europe from ancient times to the Turkish conquest, and has been repeatedly overrun for thousands of years. Its survival and Its preserva tion of its culture and religion under the heel of successive hordes of bar barians are one of the marvels of his tory. When Turkey entered the war it offered the Armenians self-government if they would light for it. Though they had been oppressed 4ty the Rus sians only less than by the Turks, they organized volunteer brigades which joined the Russians and by delaying reinforcements in a desperate battle they brought upon the Turks the crushing defeat at Sarikamish in Jan uary, 1915, which saved the Caucasus to Russia. When bolshevism broke Russia's Caucasian front in 1917, an Armenian force of 60,000 men con tinued its defense for seven months of 1918, prevented Turkey from carry ing the holy war to the Tartars and Turkomans of the Caspian region, held Baku till a British expedition arrived, and caused the Turks to divert con siderable forces from Mesopotamia and Palestine. Liman von Sanders, the Turkish commander In Syria, ascribes the Turkish collapse in that country to this fact. An Armenian legion of eight battalions joined General Allen by's army In Palestine and. In his words, "fought brilliantly and took a leading part in the victory." It Is esti- mated that from 150,000 to 2007-00 Armenians fought In the several allied armies, including the American. Much is said about sending our sons to fight in this distant country, as though a large army and a regular campaign like that in France would be needed. A few troops would be suffi cient, and the fighting would be only against marauding bands of Turks, Kurds and Georgians. The Armenian delegation to the peace conference says that one or two brigades would suffice till the spring of 1920, "largely for the, .moral effect that such expedi tion will produce upon the native population," and continues: This means that Armenia does not need American troops for police duty or for the protection of its frontiers. There are now sufficient Armenian troops in Ar menia to do these tbiags. That army will doubtless need arms and equipment, but the delegation thus describes the help that is asked from America: To aid the Armenians in an advisory ca pacity to establish a government on a per manent basis. To send to Armenia possibly two or four regiments, to remain for a brief period, which will exert a steady effect upon the native population. To co-operate with the Armenian govern. ment in the repatriation of 1,500,000 Arme nians. To make provision for the care of 300.000 m mure urpiians. To help Armenia, through technical com missions, in the construction of her trans portation system, docks and harbors. a,n,d inaugurate modern improvements and means ol sanitation in its towns and cities. The principal aid which Armenia will ask can be rendered by a Red Cross expedition, by a. few skilled ad ministrators, such 'as - organized the Philippine government and set it going, ciyil and sanitary engineers and con tractors, agricultural and mining ex perts. The country has been laid waste and plundered, and will need capital, but Its reparation claims against Turkey and Germany would be security. The damage is estimated at 83,750,000,000, but only a part of this can be collected. The country will well repay the ef fort which the American people will put forth on Its behalf. The soil of its valleys and plains is rich, the moun tains have valuable deposits of iron, silver, coal, zinc, copper and manga nese, two of the richest mines of the latter two metals being in Armenia; it has great rivers and lakes, which will furnish water for Irrigation and power. Above all, it has an industrious people skilled in many crafts, who will be given new energy and hope by free dom. The American people should welcome the opportunity to start such a people on the road to freedom, pros perity and happiness. That it is for his own use is not a proper plea for possession .of liquor, and officers do well to resist the drawing power of the tearful voice. "Thou shait not" means what it says. If you get caught. What are you doing about the "made- in-Oregon" plan ? Candy, for example, of which there is much consumption. Oregon candy is the best in the land and cheapest for the least handling. Next time you are waiting for number, pick up a classified page and glance at the "ads." Chances are you will find so much of human nature there you will forget your call. The first American corset maker is dead, and he has to his credit the glory of opening the way, front and back, to a tremendous line of illus trated advertising. Popular idea of Japanese houses is they are made of paper and bamboo sticks, and news of great fires in that country is held commonplace in the same popular idea. In this matter of victory garden, a fellow does not take his wife along to see how well he works. Not at all. She just goes. Pushing aside the calendar as super fluous, this weather has a "feel" of Mr. Cordray and his delightful Oaks. Printing the names of the buyers of bonds will be to issue a sort of pa triotic "Dun and Bradstreets." Wilson's one omission in the coven ant was failure to make American the language of the world. The Oregon will not be junked, and once we get her here we'll tie ribbons on her every May day. When Italy sees how lonesome Mex ico looks on the outside looking in, it may change its mind. No, the bolsheviki do not need science. They want to go back to the stone age. The Beavers are in lowly place, but a beaver may yet climb a tree. The world loves a sailor. Those Who Come and Go. "Big travel north from California," says Lot Q. Swetland, who returned Monday from down below. "The tour ists who have been wintering in Cali fornia are leaving for home and hun dreds of them are returning by way of the north, due to the fact that there Is a publicity campaign conducted in Los Angeles papers calling attention to the Pacific northwest. The train I came back on had to travel in two sections, which will give some idea of the traf fic." Mr. Swetland is the guiding hand of the Perkins and once, upon a time was clerk of the circuit court Newly appointed as chief national bank examiner at San Francisco, H. R Gaither is in the city on his way south. Mr. .Gaither, who is a son-in-law of United States Senator Chamberlain, was formerly a national bank examiner in Portland, succeeding L. L. Mulit. who resigned to become vice-president of the Norwestern National. Before suc ceeding Mr. Mulit, Mr. Gaither was tel ler in the United States National of this city and after leaving Portland he was chief examiner at Kansas City. The McGowan brothers of McGowan, Wash., are at the Imperial. H. S. Mc Gowan was formerly a member of the state senate of the state of Washing ton, but J. D. McGowan never cared for; politics. The McGowan family ls one of the pioneer families of salmon packers on the Columbia .and in their career the McGowans have packed enough salmon if placed head to tail to form a line of fish as far out as Hawaii and then some. "Medford Is strong for the Roosevelt highway," declared Dr. Jr F. Reddy, former mayor of that town. "We are so much in favor of It that we would vote to build it without federal aid. if necessary. Our section of the state has pioneered the good roads movement in Oregon. No part of the state more fully realizes the benefit to the entire state of road construction anywhere. All of southern Oregon is heartily in favor of the Roosevelt highway." One of the tomcats of the tanks who never had a chance to concatenate in France is Alex M. MacLeod. He had a swell job in the Standifer shipyard until he went to war and then the war busted up before he could go piloting an iron battering ram across No Man's Land. Mr. MacLeod registered at the Hotel Portland, stopping off to look over the town on his way to California. From the Fhez factory at Salem a delegation arrived at the Multnomah, headed by Mr. and Mrs H. S. Gile and Otto F. Brandt. The Phez outfit manu facture loganberry juice and are spend ing about 893,000 in advertising in one publication this year. Growers who made contracts with the Juice company a couple of years ago for 3 cents a pound,' or thereabouts, are discussing paying a penalty for breach of con tract and selling their crop at 8 cents or the like, because the cost of produc tion is higher than when the contracts were made. With a wound in his side, received in France. Joe A. Cook was at the Benson yesterday with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Cook, and sister Julia, the family coming from the east in the interest of the Kelly-Springfield Tire company, of which the elder Cook is vice-president. The Cook family, who left for Seattle, but will return Thursday, are accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Sweitzer, who is another vice-president of the company in ad dition to being the advertising man ager. He had to travel 200 miles cross lots before he could get a train to ride to Portland, did D. Z. Robinett, who ar rived at the Imperial yesterday from Silver iake. It is midway between Bend, in Deschutes, and Lakevtew. The state highway commission this month announced plans for giving Silver Lake a good road to the outside world. For years and years and years D. C. Gilliland has lived at Fossil, being a pioneer carpenter in that section. He arrived yesterday at the Perkins with W. H. Watson, who used to run a livery stable in Fossil, but who is now in terested in motor cars, since horses are becoming passe and there is a good road to Thirty Mile more or less. Lieutenant William D. McAllen, of the flying service, left Sunday for San Francisco after a two weeks' visit with his parents, Mr. and ' Mrs. Dan Mc Allen. The lieutenant has been ordered to Honolulu to serve as instructor in the school of aviation. Mr. and Mrs. E. B. Graves from Cas cade Locks are at the Multnomah. When they settled near the Cascades no one dreamed that there would ever be a paved highway from that place to Portland, nor any other way of reach ing the city except by water. How many Oregonians, native or otherwise, know where Walton river is? J. D. Harvey of Walton is at the Im perial. Walton has a population of 85, or had when the last census was taken. The town is on Walton river and is 31 miles west of Eugene. Graduate manager for the athletic activities at the University of Oregon, Dean Walker arrived at the Benson yes terday. Accompanying him is Mrs. Walker, who was formerly an Astoria glrL Captain and Mrs. W. C. Hanna are at the Imperial for a few days. The cap tain, who is of the 1st Infantry, U. S. A., will return to duty at Camp Lewis and Mrs. Hanna will visit with Mrs. W. A. Hoover, at Detroit, Or. One of the first counties over the top in the victory loan drive was Union, and the man who had more than a little to do with It was former State Senator Ed E. Kiddle of Island City, who registered at the Imperial yes terday. On a business trip from Shanghai, China, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Barkley and W. S. Barkley are at the Benson. Mr. Barkley represents considerable commercial interests in the Shanghai district- Raymond M. Hudson of the United States railroad administration is at the Benson. Chester Bell is at the Multnomah from Magnetic Spring, Ohio. FIGrRES ASKED OSf PROHIBITION Correspondent Donbts That It Has Brought Crime Reduction. PORTLAND. April 29. (To the Edi tor.) Does prohibition prevent crime? have' been a very close observer in regard to this matter since prohibition took effect. The prohis predicted that there would be necessity for but few peace officers after prohibition came n and that jails would be unnecessary. It seems to me that there are just as many peace officers now and they seem to be kept just as busy as they were when the saloon doors were open in Portland. During the past 21 months, according to newspaper reports, there have been n the state of Oregon 49 killings, wnne California has had 11 and Nevada 13 for the same period. Kansas, the star prohibition state, is now organizing vigilante committees to prevent crime as the officers don't seem to be able to handle the situation. I am no saloon man, but at tne same tim I am oDDOsed to aepriving me people of their personal rights and if prohibition is putting the kibosh on crime you have got to show me. .lowrv MiivnaiAi. The figures Mr. Mitchell desires are given in another column on this-page. The Lady and the Spider. By Graee K. Ball. When the 'summer sun was shining and the gentle zephyrs blew, Swung a lasy yellow spider in his hammock built so true; Lolled and waited, seeming Idle, but with cunning, crafty eye Fixed upon the point where hapless things with buzzing songs went by; Swung and waited, 'til a curious one a moment paused to see What the waving, mist-like grayness in the scented air might be. Then, as eager spider feasted on the quivering, helpless fly. Came a maiden with her lover In the -near-path passing by. Gave a gasp at mottled monster as he plucked his twitching prey, And with pitying exclamation turned her troubled eyes away; When the spider waxed indignant and , gave back this scathing fling: "There are many ways of doing what may be the selfsame thing. "You In all your gorgeous raiment now are seeking, in your way. For the one who'll most contribute to your comfort, day by day; You may snare with youthful beauty, while 1 use a cunning net. But we both are surely casting for the best that we can ret; Scorn me not then, haughty lady, for 1 promise, ere you leave. When you are no longer subtle, then shall spiders cease to weave." MOST DIVORCES BLAMED ON LAW "Cruel and Inhumaa Conduct" Provi sion Lends Itself to Grave Abuse. PORTLAND, April 29. (To the Edi tor.) Seeking a solution of the divorce problem leads to a study of the people. I It may be that the vibrations from the social discord of the old world have awakened responsive chords here. The key note is b flat (not a pun) meaning "Get off the earth." And the refrain is iconoclastic. Down with anything fos tered by society a social reaction. This public discord, In turn, awakens respon sive chords in private life. The public finds means of expression at the polls and the militant spouse finds it in the divorce court. It is vain to appeal to legislatures, courts, juries. All are poll ticians and hear "the roaster's voice" and well know the folly of being wiser than their generation. Observe how things favor divorce since the women got to voting. The wife now gets, in addition to suit money, a support for herself and children during suit. Again divorce for inhuman conduct, etc., fraught with less pain. The mystery is that since divorce is such a blessing, so many remain fet tered and the young continue to plunge The fact Is most are densely ignorant and many have religious scruples. As L. A. G. argues, why does not the state screw up her speed another notch and beat France to it? How? "Go the whole hog" by making the marriage partnership like any other termina ble at the will of either. Right here it occurs that the women who were so grateful to the returning soldiers for their sacrifices have a mid die-sized opportunity to give a substan tial testimonial of their appreciation ol their protectors and scorn the devil the divorce lawyer, who, alone, is in terested in the perpetuation of this ambiguous statute about "cruel and in human conduct making life burden some," etc. This hocus-pocus law places the ex istence of every marriage at the beck and nod of a court and is directly re sponsible, with its devils-double ex ploiters, for most divorces. They could demand that this law be supplanted by one that nobody could misunderstand "The laweis no respecter of persons.' A hole in the marriage law made by one is at the service of all. Why should the domestic happiness of every family in the state be jeopardized because some one person does not want a hard and fart rule in the most important relation in life? Wants a chance to split hairs; play horse; play politics and plab hob generally, with a relation that formerly could not be questioned at all and cannot to this day in most of the older civilizations, except for in fidelity? But looking back to the "wide open town" and "wet goods" days, now past and gone forever, as I hope soon will be the days of marriage by sufferance of the courts, and recalling the prime movers in that uplift, among whom the Americans were most conspicuous, I am led to believe they have always been against the evil and will soon send it the way of the others. STUDENT. AMERICANS FOR PORT MANAGERS Other Countries Profit Most When Traf fic la SuperviNed by Foreigners. PHILADELPHIA, April 24. (To tne Editor.) The Oregonian's editorial en titled "Portland's New Start as a Port," which appeared Monday, April 14, was received and read by me with en thusiasm and interest. It surely mani fests the spirit which.-should permeate Portland's citizens. It depicts the real ity of opportunities. It arouses action and begets loyalty. Your suggestion as to the appoint ment of a traffic manager to canvass for markets and cargoes hits the proper key note as a fundamental need. Allow me to mention here that iit a proposed manual for export shipping (now in the hands of a publisher), compiled by the writer, a chapter is included as you advocate as an adjunct to an export shipping organization or to a commun ity port organization. My reasons for so doing are based upon the experience which 1 gained here in Philadelphia as port supply of ficer for the army in handling overseas shipments. It was very forcibly im pressed upon my mind that if Amer ica's export business is to grow and reach successful state, the movement of materials must be controlled by loyal Americans for American shippers from the time that supplies are ready for packing in the plant until such mate rials are delivered into the hands of the purchaser. Then such a one as traffic manager, as you suggested, should be a red blooded, truly loyal American. The lack of this one thing retarded and nearly ruined the export shipping business of some eastern ports, due to the fact that many export shipping organizations were operated and controlled by for eigners, not interested in the develop ment of America's export trade. Many times it was demonstrated that these organizations were Interesed only in fulfilling the policy of some foreign governments. EUGENE H. LEDERER. Captain Q. M. C. REVENGE. w2te a cootie, and perchance should find the man If I Who first conceived the Idea of the davllKht-saving plan. I'd bite him right and bite him left, and bite him up and down; I'd bite him fore and bite him aft, and bite him an arouna And then I'd c-r-a-w-1 and c-r-a-w-1 and c-r-a-w-i until tne cany aawn. A .WEBFOOT. -Whereabouts of IT. S. S. Canton.' ASTORIA. Or., April 28. (To the Ed itor.) Kindly inform me where the U. S. S. Canton, formerly a Holland navy vessel, is now and when will she return to the states? A SUBSCRIBER. The last report made public regard ing the Canton was that she sailed from Baltimore March 18 for Dantzic. The navy department has not indicated where the vessel will proceed from Dantzic, In Other Days. Twenty-five Years Ago. From The Oregonian of April SO, 1994, Washington. Citizen G. S. Coy.ey, commander-ln;Chief of the Good Roods Army of the Commonwealth, arrived yesterday and fron. his rickety wagen announced that the greate.it march of the world's history had been completed. His aggregation was inspected by thousands of curious spectators. Lieutenant Donworth. of the 14th United States infantry, in charge of tha recruiting office here, reports a goorily number of recruits enrolled during tha past few weeks. The New Evana-elical church. East 18th and Ellsworth streets, was dedi cated with appropriate ceremonies yes terday, as was also the Universalis! church. East Tenth street, near East Couch. Fifty-two of the ringleaders of the tramp army which stole the train of the Southern Pacific and rode away on it were returned to the city yester day under guard of United States cav alry. Fifty Yeara Ago, , From The Oregonian of April 30. lS6i. New York. Horace Greelev has been offered a place on the Pacific raii road commission, but has not stated definitely that he will serve. Linen coats and straw hats were in demand yesterday. The sun- shone brightly warmly fiercely. J. C. Cartwright, district United States attorney for Oregon, -has re moved to this city to reside perma nently. The Continental sailed for San Fran cilsco yesterday, carrying a large list of passengers bound for that city. LAND REGl'LATIONS ARE SEVERE Soldier Encounters Difficulties In Ef fort to Prove Vp on Homeatead. MOUNT ANGEL. Or.. April 28. (To the Editor.) After reading The Ore gonian's editorial on Canada's treat ment of her returned soldiers last Sun day I want to tell you what conditions my son found on his return from 20 months' volunteer service. Just before he volunteered, at the declaration of war, he had an oppor tunity to buy a homestead relinquishment- He bought it and paid for it during his first year's service out of his monthly salary. Now he finds he can get credit for only 14 months in service and had to go on it within six months after discharge. He was a sophomore in agriculture at O. A C. when he left, so has two more years In college and needs to work this spring and summer to help pay college ex penses, but cannot, for he had to go to the homestead at once as he just had time to get the seven months In be fore school opens this fall. You can see what his homestead will cost him, for men are earning 85 and 36 per day now anl he has to borrow money to live on this summer besides losing these wages and will have nothing ahead this fall to begin school with. Does any one think this Is justice to our boys who so gladiy gave up every thing to help win the war when the government would not be out one cent by giving them a homestead or at least allowing them the time they were in service on a homestead? A READER. TREATMENT OF SAILORS HERTS Exclusive Recognition ef Soldiers Not Justified! Says Navy Man. PORTLAND, April 29. (To the Edi tor.) I, too, would 1ik to know why the sailors are slighted and everything Is for the soldiers. Have you ever read or heard of any entertainment being given for returned sailors. No, you have not. I was a member of the old Oregon naval militia and we were the first to go when war was declared. We went without anyone noticing us or even a band and we have returned without a hand to greet us or even any enter tainment. We have not had any snap Job either. We have all been convoying Boats through the submarine zone; been through storms of which we dtdn t know the outcome and even soma of us have been submarined. We received 83:1 nonth. out of which we had to buy all our clothes and pay our insurance, as nothing was furnished us. The navy took the army over ana tne navy is bringing the army back. Some of the returned soldiers have never been near the battle front, but receive glorious entertainment, while we receive noth ing, and it Bure hurts. Now vou see why there Is not a very good showing of the navy men In the parades. J. H. SMITH. r. is. v., C. i3. -ru r. HEROES OF WAR DO NOT BOAST. Writer Has More Confidence In Soldier -Who Sits In Meditation. PORTLAND. April 29. (To the Edi tor.) There is much written by men who have been and claim to have been on the firing line of the great war Just ended. We also near mucn of the deeds of heroism. To my mind a man who has been under lire is not ric-htlv termed a hero, any more than any man who goes through danger and survives to tell the tale. If a man has fought In no man's land and killed many men, why should he give details of such exploits to the press to be scattered broadcast? Such a hero who is loud In self-praise of deeds done ana is vain enough to sublet his photograph for the head of the column to my mind is a "braeitart" and I doubt the truth of his deeds of valor in many instances. Rather would 1 oeiieve a man nas tasted the fruits of battle who sits alone since his return from across the sea, his face lined with a million tiny wrinkles, his eyes nan ctosea in aeep meditation. Such a man has really seen a lew things. Far be it from a real hero to hoast. But the silent man who has slain his fellow men and that is per haps the principal reason he Is sad that man is my idea of a hero. Actions speak louder than words. BiAJNlit-I UAViLS. Sulphur and Nncleln. FOUNTAIN, Wash., April 28. (To the Editor.) (1) Does sublimated sulphur (so-called flowers of sulphur) or any other form of sulphur that has not been first assimilated by plants become a nor mal constituent of the blood-stream, and if so, what use is made of it? Is it used In the vital functions as a normal fac tor? Is it used in the reproduction and growth of cells or the building of tissue in a normal way? Or does it never get to be above an abnormal and therefore irritating, constituent of the blood stream, which is cast out by every bod ily means, and In which process other similarly irritating matter, mostly ac cumulated vital refuse, is also elim inated? The answer of unbiased modern science Is what I would like to get on this question. (2) What has become of nuclein? Twenty years ago the medical profes sion told us it made immune to one dis ease at least, (was It diphtheria?) and hope was held out that It would make us or help to make us immune to prac tically all other contagious diseases. Now it seems to have dropped from sight. R- STUEHCK. (1) The modern tendency Is to regard sulphur as an Irritant when taken In Its original form. (2) Some physicians are still pre scribing nuclein.