Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 2, 1919)
THE 3IOKXIXG OREGOXIAX, SATURDAY, AUGUST S, 1919. ESTABLISHED BY HENBT I.. riTTOCK. Published by Tho Orer-onlan Publishing Co.. l:i. Sixth Street. .t-ortland, Oregon. C A. MOKDKN, IS. B. PIPER, Manager. Editor. Th OrCKonian Is a. mmbcr of the Asso rl:ted Press. The Associated Prtsa is ex-t-luslvely entitled to the use for publica tion of all news dispatches credited, to it or not otherwise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein. All rishtu of republication of. special dispatches herein are also reserved. Subscription Rates Invariably in Advanced I By Mall.) Tally, Sunday included, one year . ... , rally, Sunday included, six months Daily, Sunday included, three months Ially, Sunday included, one month .. J'aliy, without Sunday, one year Ially. mithout Sundav. Riie months ..O0 . 4.1! .1 . .75 . 6.00 Iaily, without Sunday, one month ctpiij, one year Sunday, one year Sunday and weekly (By Carrier.) Pally, Sunday included, one year Dally, Sunday Included, one month . . . Pally. Sunday included, three months . 1.00 . J.DO . 3.50 .J9.00 . .73 . 2.-JH Daily, without Xunilnv. one vear 7.80 J 'ally, without Sunday, three months ... 1.9B Dally, without Sunday, one month .65 How to Remit Send postoffice money or !er, express or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at own. ers risk. Give postoffice address in lull, ia cludinz county and state. Postage Kates 12 to 16 pases, 1 cent: IS to 312 pages. 2 cents; 34 to 4H pages, 3 cents: fiO to HO pages, 4 cents: to 76 pages. 5 cents: 7 to pages, 6 cents. Foreign post age, double rates. Eastern Business Office Verree & Conk Tin, Brunswick, building. New York; Verree & t'.onklln, Steger building. Chicago; Verre & 'onklin, Frte Press building, Detroit. Midi, fcan Francisco representative. K. J. Bidwell. THE FVXXI Cl'MMTXGS. Mr. Cummings has a nimble wit, and he makes a bushelful of fun for the galleries when he turns into burlesque the inquiry into aviation by the con gressional sub-committee. It was the very acme of humor for him to address Chairman l''rear as "my good fellow," and uproarious laughter doubtless greeted his little vaudeville stunt of lighting one cigar with another while on the witness stand. It would have added to the gayety of the occasion if Mr. Cummings had brought along his slapstick and spatted Mr. Frear across the broad of his back, at a suitable spot between his heels and his shoulders. It is quite probable that the con gressman took Chairman Cummings and his democratic publicity bureau a little too seriously when they called him to account for describing the trip to the Pacific coast, to inquire into spruce operations, as a "junket." Some latitude must be given to the busy campaign press agent. 'When a lawyer lias no case, he clouds the issue by abusing the opposing counsel. Mr. Cummings' resourceful boiler - plate writer yells "junket" when congress proposes to send its representatives to the scene of action and see about the spruce business. What do they fear? Mr. Cummings. as chairman of the democratic committee, in effect takes the position that congress, being re publican, has no right to investigate the conduct of a democratic adminis tration in the war. The fact that the war ws sought to be run as a demo cratic war made it inevitable that a republican congress would seek to take off the ceer and let in the light. The public is anxious to know about the spruce operations in the northwest- It is more than anxious; it is determined to know. It does not help the administration, or its agents in spruce or in aviation, for its political representatives to throw bricks at any investigation. THE DAY OF RECKONING COMF.S. That which goes up soon or late is pretty sure to come down; likewise every dog has his day. . There was an humble toiler who took counsel of his own heart and said: "Verily, the land looks good to me. Here will I abide, I and my chil dren, even unto the tenth generation if so be it there be any tenth. And we shall wax prosperous, and store up iron dollars, and serve the Lord; and if peradventure we raise a little dust now and then .as token of our pros ence in the land, who shall say us nay or bid us hence?" And he proceeded to do even as he had said, for he was a mart of mighty resolution, and the toil and trouble he faced in the creation of a new do minion terrified him not, for his head was level and his heart was light. And the Lord saw that he was no quitter and blessed him, saying: "This day have I lifted this son of the soil into the sunlight and set him at the wheel and cranked him for a long and toil some run. May his gas hold out and his carburetor fumble not, for the road that he must travel is a rocky one and goeth verily through Tar tarus, and there are gins and pitfalls that he wots not of." And the toiler remembered his reso lotion, and he was diligent, and out of the wilderness he wrought a home stead that was fair to look upon. And nobody hungered, for there was plenty in the land. And when toil was the common lot there was no curse upon it and all were happy. And the night brought rest that verily was a bene diction, and in the still watches when the world slept the toiler saw visions that brightened his waking hours and heard voices which said: "Well done, good and faithful servant." And the nation became" great and populous, and industries multiplied end cities arose on every hand, and strange new mechanical devices ap peared and wrought a transformation in the lives of all men. And there was set a new sign in tho heavens Prosperity which some understood and many, misinterpreted. And as wealth increased came also poverty for in all times have these twain gone together, and the fast men killed the elow men, and the race verily was a liot one. And the lure of the city laid hold iof the younger bloods of the country- Fide, so that in time they forsook their fathers and went down to the towns to worship at up-to-the-minute phrines and become sophisticated and polished and what not. And the toiler saw all these things and his soul was troubled, for his son had hired himself to a plutocrat at twelve" per and his daughter said "Ditch the ranch" and fled to the town in quest of thrills end a career. And the difficulties of the toiler multiplied, and it -looked as if he could neither go nor stay. And the ell i homestead was getting, frazzled ar.d weeds were rioting amidst, the corn, and neighbors with whom he conversed said privily .there was a curse on agriculture and went their way in search of urban uplift and tommyrot diversion. And in the fullness of time came pcarcity, and hunger, and high prices, lut the dizzy life and the chase for pleasure abated not at all. And out of all these evils came bolshevism. End strikes and sabotage and anarchy. And the world finally was rent with war, and killing for a little season became the business of man. And the toiler beheld all these things and his soil was sorely vexed, lor the nations now were calling for bread and in tho hour of need all had forsaken him. And he said "Hell" many times, but he remembered his resolution and he girded himself for yet another drive. And the Lord was with him and ho knew that all the hosts of evil could not prevail against him, and the day of hi3 deliverance was near. Kor now the chastisement of God was upon all mortals who like sheep had gone astray, and men long smit ten with the distempers of a delirious age besought his counsel and his aid and his example. . And the scales were removed from "their eyes and they abjured the false gods they had worshiped, and the toiler, though humble, was set before kings and his place in the world made manifest to all. For in evil hours he kept the faith and wavered not and in the day of world adversity he was in his ap pointed place, to serve and to deliver. And he that was last is made first and he that was humble Is exalted. And wheat at $2.20 is but a part of his reward. WAVERLT HOME. The child welfare commission plainly conducted its investigation of the Waverly baby home with care and sympathy. While faults have been pointed out and recommendations made there is nothing in the report that need discourage or embarrass the board of directors. The. directors are. s the commission says, above criti cism as to character and intention. Doubtless they have been handicapped by insufficiency of finances. As per sons of high purpose are prone to do they have attempted too much of the management for a volunteer body. They have not only had the harass ment of money needs but that of the thousand-and-one incidentals that In variably develop in an institution of that character. It is not uncommon for fairly pros perous business organizations to sum mon advisors to invite for their own benefit a survey of the methods of conducting the enterprise. It is often wholesome to get the views of others on management, for the obvious bet terment is often the most readily over looked by those confronted by it daily. The directors have now the benefit of an impartial survey and of recommen dations whose fulfillment should make their own labor lighter and yet benefit their charges. The report should be of benefit to the home. For while it reveals some mperfections that the board alone can correct, it discloses needs that only the public! can supply. When an institu tion whose support is benevolences falls short, for. lack of finances, of doing thoroughly that which it under takes, the public itself cannot escape some of the blame. The needs of the home as regards equipment have now been prominently brought to public attention through an investigation in dependent of the management. They should be supplied freely and with a renewed confidence that the money will be expended judiciously in an appealing cause. THE NECESSITY FOR ECOXOMT. Writing in a recent issue of the Outlook, Theodore H. Price expresses himself on the widespread necessity for individual economy with the com plete confidence of a man who has made a great fortune, and los,t it, and paid his way out from under-' A.-moun tain of debuand is presumably on the way to competence again. He has seen the question from both sides and his association with large affairs has given him a broad outlook. He can afford to be frank, which some people think they cannot. He finds it impossible not to be deeply concerned over the tendency of the American people "toward unbridled extravagance among those who cannot afford it" which has become so manifest within the last three or four months." It is here. Mr. Price believes, that we ought to look for the real secret of the high cost of living. People by spending lavishly for the things which they could get along without are restricting production of the things which sooner or later they must have. Now that there are no more liberty loans to subscribe to, the idea seems to be that a nation that could furnish the government with $25,000,000,000 for war in two years can easily afford to spend $12,500,000,000 a year for unnecessary things when the war is over. So observes Mr. Price, who re minds us that the debt must be paid that that debt amounts to about $1000 per capita for every male money earner in the country, and that until it is paid there can be no substantial re duction of the taxes now imposed. It is wrong to suppose that national prosperity is increased by liberal spending. "It is our investment in productive enterprises, not our expen diture for useless or needless things, that makes for prosperity." There is the future to look out for. It. is sure to have many attractive opportunities for investment; the ques tion is whether we shall be in a posi. tion to take advantage of them. There are few individuals of ordinary breadth of experience who cannot visualize out of their own lives the situation to which the writer alludes. The country is filled with those who could have made attractive investments once, if they had had the few hundred or few thousand dollars needed, and - who never cease to regret their lost oppor tunities but go on wasting quite as if they never had had a lesson. As a people, says Mr. Price, we shall never be able to recover our ground if we go on spending the profits of this extraordinary era' for things we don't require. The list of things we really need is a short one. It includes only 1. Food that la healthful and nourishing. 2. Shelter that is hygienic, 3. (nothing that will protect us. 4. Fuel that will keen ua warm. 5. Education that will make us efficient anil philosophical, and therefore happy. b. .Medical attention that will preserve our vigor while we live. 7. Transportation. . 8. Amusements that are rational, but not demoralizing. 0. Tobacco at least in my own case. The list furnishes at least a ground work on which to base our reflection. Food that is healthful and nourishing may be subject to the liberal construe tion that it ought also to be palatable and in variety, and that it may without violating the proprieties -of economy even be delicate on occasion. The spirit here is no doubt that we should be content with good food well served and be willing to eschew the super- impositions which bring its cost beyond all bounds. Hygienic shelter does not preclude ownership of a home of such convenience and design that its tenant may feel a wholesome pride in it; and protective clothing, those who know Mr. Price will suppose, does not mean clothing from which all the quality of adornment has been omitted. Mr. Price is tolerant as to tobacco. "At lease in my' own case" leaves the matter to the conscience of each other individual. No doubt there are many who derive sufficient comfort and sat isfaction from gratification of a taste already acquired to make it a non essential economy for them suddenly to abandon it. But in the main, there is in Mr. Price's outline something to reflect over. In these questions, for illustra tion: Is it not true that most of us really find more enjoyment In a simple and inexpensive meal than in things which are exotic, out of season and costly? If we are dining alone, or where we are not likely to "be seen," are we not content with a few well-cooked and homely dishes? But if we are with a friend, or even our family, do we feel a sense of embarrassment if we are unable to order more than any of ns needs, and at least one or two things that are expensive and in digestible T And as to clothes, Mr. Price has this to ask: Is it not true that a very large propor tion of what we spend for them is due en tirely to our vanity? Many of us deceive ourselves into believing that we dress for the effect that our costume will have upon other people. As a matter of fact what we wear makes little impression upon those we meet, provided we are not in tatters or uncleanly. If you doubt this, try to de scribe the costume of the last man you were talking to and the effect that it had upon you. There was during the war much talk on the subject of "sensible economy." We had just arrived at an understand ing of this when the armistice was signed. There was not much disagree ment as to what constituted necessary economies; this was quite apart from the temporary self-denial enforced by shortage of certain commodities. The present danger seems to be that the pendulum is swinging too far in the opposite direction. There is wild ex travagance that cannot be condoned by any thoughtful student of economics. It is no secret among dealers that many buyers "simply don't care what they pay," .and it will be suspected that this constitutes not a little of the temptation to profiteer. The people themselves are not free from blame for the high cost of living. Those who show no tendency to economize, who insist on non-essentials regardless of cost, will find dealers always willing to cater to expensive tastes, and to charge accordingly. These help to create meanwhile an atmosphere un favorable to the practice of economy by others even those who find it a struggle to make both ends meet. THE STREET RAILWAY PROBLEM. The serious predicament of street railways generally, faced as they are by the depreciated power of the nickel to purchase labor and materials, is illustrated by the testimony before the federal investigating committee. The properties of sixty companies, it is dis closed, have been abandoned, while sixty-two other companies operating 6000 miles of rails are in receivership. The net income of roads in 1918 de creased 75 per cent from that of 1917. It is suggested by the New York Times that riders may have their choice between an increased fare and loss of service by inability of the com panies to finance extensions and better ments. But it has been disclosed by operations in several cities that the gain in percentage of total in come does not equal the percentage in increase of the individual fare. If the fare is raised from 5 cents to 6 cents, the increase is 20 per cent. But total revenues do not ordinarily imme diately jump 20 per cent when the 6-cent fare is imposed. Clearly the additional one cent required of them causes many persons to walk who for merly rode. The higher fare does not seem to be a perfect solution. In Portland a condition is developing that ought to give some hope of bet terment to the street car company. A home-building campaign has begun and in the absence of possibility of street railway extensions, this con struction is being done in districts at ready served. The large vacant spaces in Portland's residence districts have frequently been subject of comment by visitors. Nearly every street car that crosses the river passes large unlm- proved tracts before it reaches its destination. In some of these tracts there is still no building movement. In others there is a gratifying show of activity. If Portland shall for the time being sprawl over no new territory but build on the countless homesltes available within easy reach of street cars, the prospect of an efficient service at rate that all can pay will b enhanced. If living and material costs could now be stabilized, the street railway prob lem might be worked out by increased density of traffic. "MY BROTHER'S KEEPER" ASSUREDLY! "We are gradually passing out of the conflict and competitive stage of life into the co-operative," said Dean A. R. Mann of the New York State College of Agriculture, in an address both illuminating and pjophetic at a recent rural community conference at Cornell university. Dean Mann was discoursing on "The Social Responsi billties of the Rural Community," and in his address took note of influences quietly and more or less silently at work throughout the land, in city and country, that are making for a better rural life, and a broader and more wholesome urban life as well. "The 6pirlt of working together is upon us; it is fundamental," said the speaker. More and more, it was shown, men are coming to realize that they live not In spite of one another, but because of one another, and that the duty of each is to promote the common welfare. And with this realization of the necessity of com munity action, instead of individual effort, for the general betterment, is coming organized action In all the walks of life, ill or well devised, but always with a worthy aim and one that cannot fail altogether. It will be a surprise to many to learn how broad and general this leavening, up lift movement not from without but within the rural communities them selves has within recent years be come; and its promise of infinite good is obvious. The old fetish of independence is fast disappearing. The moral obliga tion of every man to return some thing to the common lot is rapidly coming into recognition and finally we see "how utterly dependent each of us is on all the rest and how impossible and absurd is the idea that there can be any great amount of actual indi vidual independence." The American people, it would seem, are discovering anew one of the old, old facts of life a truth as old as the Bible that a man cannot live wholly to himself, and with charac teristic American zeal are putting that great . truth into life, vitalizing it. The war, it would appear, in the larger aspects of the movement, has been a factor in drawing men to gether, but the brotherhood instinct and inspiration of the small towns and rural communities were in action before the great conflict between au tocracy and democracy began, and beyond question contributed in no small measure to the defeat of des potism. "Am I my brother's keeper?" once was asked. "Assuredly" is the response of Americans In all the realms of life, and more and more willingly they are assuming that re sponsibility. In his discourse Dean Mann touches a number of the fundamental rural interests where mutuality and inter dependence are the only assurance of enduring success, and at the head of these he places good farming. Good farming, he declares, lies at the root of good living and of good community building, and a farmer's system, methods and habits are very greatly a concern of all his neighbors. The community has a right to demand that a farmer shall not resort to agri cultural vandalism, pillage of the soil, which means robbery of posterity. At the same time it is contended that the farmer is entitled to such a return for his labor as will make good farm ing methods possible. Gradually and surely, the eastern educator asserts. the farmers of this country are dis carding the old theory of every man for himself and subscribing to the new gospel that deals with the rights of all. A plea for better schools In the country districts also is made, for weak schools indicate a weak com munity weak in child resources, weak in attention to Its public needs." In the matter of education. Dean Mann says, we have not made the headway that should have been made, but he notes a tendency in the right direction and a movement toward larger units in school administration, town or county, instead of district, and a more effective system of general school work which Is held to be distinctly promising. Good communication is another topic considered, and here the good roads problem looms importantly, for the roads are the farmers' primary high ways of commerce and communica tion. Bad roads eat away the farm ers' profits, adversely affect land values and, in the long run. determine the accessibility of school, church, grange, shop, mill, postoffice and the markets of the town. And closely identified with roads are the other means of communication, such as tele phone service, mall delivery and trans portation facilities. As never before in the history of this nation the im portance of good roads now is real ized, and the work of road building is going forward at a steadily accelerat ing pace. 'We can levy taxes for schools and roads, but the church thrives or lan guishes on the voluntary support of the locality," says the dean in his plea for the maintenance of that institution as one of the fundamental rural needs. Good government, good recreation and good health are other present-day problems dwelt upon, and in ail It is shown that America's genius for or ganization and united effort is scoring triumphs, though progress in some lines at times seems painfully slow. Finally, touching social welfare in the country, he says: Any prorramme for rural aorlal betterment must be elastic and adapted to the varytuK condition In different places. No programme manuractured on the outside by an over head organization and sold to the rural com munity, ready-made and set up. Is likoly to fro. It must sprinir out of the locul con ditions and be Reared up to meet those conditions. Superimposed organizations usu ally are doomed to fuilurc. In a word, every community must be permitted to lift itself; aided when that is possible and encouraged In good works always, but never lifted by any purely outside force, however kindly or benevolent may be the motive of the would-be upltfters. In the old days railroads would change schedules and merely adver tise the fact. Now they call attention to the danger of getting left. This is not because the railroader is getting better, for always he was about the best going. It must be a. government idea of making the service popular by extra attention. A lot of so-called entertainments are being voluntarily closed in New York because they have ceased to entertain. It is not complimentary to an enter tainer to find that sober people cannot enjoy his work. About all the policemen in and around London are on strike because the government objects to their or ganization. Here is where Knglish stubbornness, alias firmness, runs up against itself. - Among alleged grievances of a Salem man seeking divorce from his second wife is that she speaks disparagingly of her predecessor. Somehow, a fel low never can forget the wife of his youth. Those aviators who are flying around the rim of the United States are going to beat the fellows who announced sometime ago that they would fly straight across in two Jumps. A wife in this city who thinks her husband is a bootlegger because he has been missing for a month is anxious to learn his whereabouts. Per haps he is in jail. Five years ago today we were prais ing the self-denial of the Belgians. Now we have a chance to practice it. at - much smaller cost, on our own account. Doubtless they call the latest brand ot bootleg "white mule" because of the kick, but does a white mule kick harder than a mule of any other color? Acting Municipal Judge Delch gave his first "victim," an addict, sixty days, and at that rate a confirmed speeder is due for a year or two. There is an unusually large crop of rye in the country this year and a larger proportion of it will be eaten than in previous years. Back .Into the ring, Clarence Mackay of the Postal company would like to have somebody put on the metaphori cal gloves with him. Though good wages are calling men to the wheat belt, all men are not able for that kind of work, though they be overseas veterans. Those army supplies if put on the right market ought to be food for thought for some of the profiteers. We are beginning to think that we could establish order on the Mexican border if we only tried. Shoes will bo higher next spring, and one of the causes is that wearers have more money. Those fly fellows never thought of forging Dr. Parrlsh's name on a pre scription. Dig and grin. The phone rise had all the authority in the world Bur leson. Feels like the cold spell is over. Those Who Come and Go. There are more people at Seaside this year than ever before in its history. M. P. Hardesty, -who has for 30 years been a resident of Clatsop county and. who is now operating a dance hall, Is authority for the statement. Before pro moting jazz, Mr. Hardesty promoted juice, being in the electric business. Last year there were about 3000 spruo ers around Seaside and business at the dance hall was good. This season, with no ."sprucers." the attendance Is far greater, the nightly attendance being 30 per cent greater, although the Sat urday night crowds are not so dense. Saturday and Sunday was when the spruce workers were at liberty. Mr. Hardesty came to Portland yeste'rday to deposit with the collector of inter nal revenue the war tax which he has collected at his dance hall. The size of the check was ample proof of hts statement that business is good. It is better than good. Mr. Hardesty Is at the Imperial. "Personally, I see no reason why there should be a special session of the legislature." said K. I. Ballagh. rep resentatlve for Columbia county. "Jf the governor calls an extra session will attend, but there doesn't appear to be any necessity. It the session Is called, however, I will not bind myself to any one measure, but will be free to consider any number of measures which may be Introduced. It doesn't look fair to the members of eastern and central Oregon to ask them to go to Salem at their own expense. It costs some of them $100 to make the trip. It Is ail very well for the members from Marion county and those nearby in the valley to say they are ready to serve without remuneration, for they would be out only a few dollars, but how about the boys who live in the distant places? And. anyway, who is stirring up a demand for a special ses sion?" Parsees from Bombay are Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Mehta and Mr. and Mrs. T. Lama, who arrived at the Multnomah yesterday. The Parsees were once upon a time Persians, but they left In the days of Alexander the Great, and shifted over to India, where they have lived ever since, a nation unto them selves. The visitors at the Multnomah are on a two-year trip around the world and have been away from home for seven months. They arrived yesterday from California, where they have been looking at everything from the movie factories of Hollywood to the home of Kamona at Old Town, near San Diego, and from Telegraph Hill to Yosemlte park. Thus far they are of the opinion that India has America "faded" for scenery, but they admit that they have not had time yet to explore Oregon and the rest of the country. According to Walter L. Tooze Jr., erstwhile- captain in the service, the peace treaty Is not popular in the east In its present form and will not be adopted without reservations. Also, ac cording to Mr. Tooze. there Is consid erable talk in the cast that the repub lican presidential candidate should come from the west. Mr. Tooze says that Jonathan Bourne is behind the Polndexter boom and that tho former senator from Oregon is still a man of powerful influence among the republic ans in Washington. Mr. Tooze is reg istered at the Multnomah. Dr. J. H. Thompson, late of Enter- prise. Or., but more recently of Mas sur-Allier. France, arrived at the Im perial yesterday. The doctor is now a major and was at hospital basis 110, being chief of the medical service there, and looking: after the laboratory. It is 13 months since the medical major left Wallowa, county and the fair city of Knterprise. When he obtains hi discharge and returns home he will find a mile of hard-surface paving in the heart of the town, which is prob ably more than Mas-sur-AUler can boast. It Is probably the greatest headquar tors for honeymooners in the world, is Niagara. Ont., the home of Mrs. K. Tay lor, who is an arrival at the Oregon hotel. The bridge connects the two Niagara towns, on the American and Canadian sides. The Niagara falls is listed as one of the seven wonders of the world, but the seven wonders were listed before people knew anything about Crater lake, the Josephine caves. the Columbia river highway and forty eleven other wonders in Oregon. rr. A. F. Tsham, an old-time physician and druggist of Caldwell, Idaho, is in town for buyers' week. The doctor went to Caldwell from Vermont in 1SS4, a young man, and like all the Green Mountain boys who spread out has made good in profession and busi ness. The doctor has visited the home of his youth eight times and has al ways been glad to get back to the sage brush and lava. To view the Oregon scenery. Miss Harriet H. Little and her mother, Mrs. A. S. Little, came from Denver, Colo'., and are at the Washington hotel. The tourists, as their Initial venture, went over the Columbia highway yesterday and, as all other tourists do. they are raving over the beauties of that trip. The beach weather was too cold for Mrs. Sydney G. Babson of Parkdale so she Is back at the Hotel Seward on her homeward way. Parkdale is the little town which snuggles under the shadow of Mount Hood and which will in a couple of years, be a great place for people touring the Mount Hood loop. From the land of poi come Alice E. Knapp and Mildred II. Ayres. They are registered at the Hotel Washington from Honolulu. The visitors have been browsing around the city and have de cided to remain here for a time be cause of the delightful surroundings and summer climate. Director of the war savings stamp drive for Idaho is Monte B. Gwinn. who is at the Portland hotel. Mr. Gwinn was identified with the liberty loan campaigns in Idaho and made such a good showing that he was assigned the job of handling the stamps. Members of the French high com mission arriving at the Benson on of ficial business are Captain A. Rio and M. Grandjerlan. Also at the Benson Is Mons. K. Duchasne of Nantes, France. Mr. and Mrs. C. N. Green, with Har vey A. and Rlalto Green and Freda Fancy, arrived at the Perkins yester day from Etna Mills, Cal. The party motored up over the Pacific highway. Snecess and Money In Literature. Girard in the Philadelphia Press. The fact that Amelia E. Barr wrote 65 books and died worth less than $600 will renew the talk about lack of money In literature. But don't forget that Amelia had lived comfortably for many a year on her pen, A great number of American writers of the past generation have earned double as much every year as the sal ary of a United States senator. Their Income matched that of the chief jus tice or the admiral of the navy when we had one. Richard Harding Davis, Robert W. Chambers, George Ade. Rex Beach, Mrs. lUnehart, are only a few of quite an array of writers who lived handsomely on their Imagination. - I know well a man who mads $50,000 on one book which was written in the past year. Not whajt Mrs. Barr left, but what aha spent, is the index of her success as a novelist. More Truth Than Poetry. By James J. Montague. CANT BE DOXE. T. P. O'Connor, now the British movie censor, is seeking- to bar all profanity from motion pictures, ana nus ena-aiteu up rentiers to see that the actora do not swear in pantomime. We remember, when we saw "The Lights o' London." That it never struck the audience as odd When the villain, badly baffled and in danger of the scaffold. Quoth, sincerely and convincingly, My !" There was something in a few well- chosen cuss words Which was pleasing to the proletariat. Three or four strong imprecations gave a sip to situations That would - otherwise have fallen pretty flat. But they're getting more meticulous in London. When the. hero cops the lady and the pelf. There is never any thrill In the remon strance of the villain. For he's forced to do his cursing to himself. Though convulsed with boiling fury by his troubles. He must guard against the slightest verbal slips. For a governmental power will confine him In the Tower If he even frames a swear-word with his lips. They are sending lynx-eyed censors to the movies. Psycho-analyists they are remorse less birds. Who derive keen satisfaction as they watch the drama's action In deciphering a man's unuttcred words. And if any actor, moved by inspiration To pronounce a single pantomimic d n!" Just to make a scene intenser. Is tie tected by the censor He discovers that he's got into a jam Now we strongly disapprove of, bar - room language Such as thieves and gunmen bandy in their rage. But mild oaths in moderation, used to voice strong Indignation. Have been used since the invention of the stage. And we think an absolutely cussless movie. Though with fascinating crime It overflowed. And was perfect in construction and masterly production. Would go busted on the second night it showed: Censored. Clearer t'onaeiesecB, Not so much need of saving daylight now .that so many more men are not afraid to go homo in the dark. That's the Way It Always Breaks for I s. Just as we discovered that locusts were good to eat we found out that this is the worst year for locusts in the his tory of the country. An automobile is faster than a cow but when you take it down you Ret only a few dollars" worth of Junk whereas when you take down a cow you itet about $10,000 worth of beef steaks. I.KT PRICK STA"DAROS HK KIKr Control Propones Similar to That Over Hal I road Rates. PORTLAND. Auc. 1. (To tho Edi- tor.) Apropoa tho 'hiich cost living." a general discusHton of which broke out with considerable energy this morning throughout the country Most of us will remember the problem of railroad rates, rebates and discrim (nations with which we were long and sorely vexed prior to the creation and proper constitution and functioning o the interstate commerce commission There was no system at all except th wholesale system of robbery. the natural result of Huntington's theory of making the rates "all the traffic would stand." When the interstate commerce commission was created and In time properly constituted and func tioned It was able to say what was a fair and just rate and had the author Hy to establish that rate. The lesul was that with tho aid of the Sherman law prohibiting rebates and dfscvimina tions, the interstate commerce commis sion not only restored order out of chaos, but established a schedule of rates which are universal in their ap plication and fairly Just and equitable. It not this problem of the prices of the commodities of life rather analo gous? The industrial commission or some other similar commission, prop erly constituted and functioned, will standardize articles of necessity at least and standardize their prices, auto matically eliminating the vicious ele ment of profiteering, the lavish and in discriminate "overhead" expenses and other vicious practices which we have tolerated and which are responsible for much of the present overbearing and really serious situation, which, like all other problems, is being pressed for solution by the sheer arrogance of those responsible for it. This would probably involve an amendment to the constitution, but I assume that the peoplo are about ready to do anything looking toward relief from an actual and impending danger. GEORGE ARTHUR BROWN. Mall to Germany. GASTON. Or.. July 31. (To the Edi tor.) When the blockade was lifted from Germany were the malls opened too? Or will that be decided later? ANXIOUS. Under a ruling of the United States government all c.asse, of mail were re- ceived for destination In Germany, from and after July 15. This does not In - elude money orders, however. 1 ' SUMMER PLEASURES IN OREGON and the beauties of western scenery, as seen on automobile trips through the Pacific Northwest, will prove of interest to those who are- contemplating; vacations, on the road. Profusely illustrated with views of beauty spots, including parks of Portland, is an article that will appear in The Sunday Oregtmian. VALUE OF STATE EXPERIMENT FARMS Findings of a trip over the state are contained in an article by Addison Bennett, with accompanying views which show some of the accomplishments of recent years in intelligent farming. WHAT HAPPENED TO EUROPE Another of the series of articles by Frank A. Vanderlip continues the recital of conditions in war - torn Europe, as noted on a five-months' investigation. NEW DIANAS OF OUTDOOR DANCING This is an article dealing with interpretative exercise as an educator and health stimulant for the young. AMONG US MORTALS W. E. Hill in his inimitable drawings this week deals with the prohibition question in a manner that will cause mirth. "The Dry Cabaret" is the title of the group, and the subject is handled as only Mr. Hill can handle it. THE SUNDAY COMIC "The Gumps," "Mr. Bones," "The Love of Harold Teen," "Mamma's Angel Child." "The Boss," "Bobby Make believe," and "The Stenographer Doll," go to make up a colored comic that will please the kiddies. In Other Days. TTventy-fli r Years Abo. From The Oreeonlan. AuKU-t 2. ISO. London. A dispatch just received from Japan made formal declaration of war upon China. New York. Champion James J. Cor bett, who landed here today from Ku--rope, said he came back for the express purpose of meeting Titer Jackson, The old Pacific dock, at the foot of Salmon and Main streets, is again a mass of blackened ruins for the third time in Its history, having caught fire at 10 o'clock yesterday morninc. An ordinance deslghed to permit sa loons to remain open all night, instead of closing at 1 o'clock, failed to pass he city council last night. Fifty Years Ago. From The Oresonian. Augrust 2. lr. San Francisco. On a recent day there were 29 vessels loadtnir at the docks In this city, tho aggregate ton nage being 15,517 tons. St. Louis. An enthusiastic mectins was held at the Southern hotel to fur ther the move to bring the capital of Missouri to this city. We learn that Senator Williams ar rived at Boise City July 14 and may be expected home some time this week. Nathan Cole, mayor of the city of St. Louis, who arrived here by the last steamer, went to Salem yesterday. XATIO.HS n.n common riBrosT o War Debt of Sentiment to Be Paid by Either Side. Says Writer. PORTLAND. Aug. 1. (To the Edi tor.) In answer to Mr. Theodor Lan- garrd de Menezes suppose Brazil did give her ships and her men to help tho allies as he stated, he certainly has the wrong Impression. This was for self preservation. When Germany invaded Belgium this country was supposed to be a neutral country. Germany forced her way through Belgium for the simple reason that there were mines thero and Ant werp was a seaport which she wanted. There Is not a Brlcian nor a French man who will not acknowledge that the Germans could have cleaned them up in very ehort time. France thought she had an ally in Russia and now she realizes her mis lake. The Germans had Belgium pre vious lo the war divided in the Flemish and Walloon people. The Flemish peo ple were more or less German, while the Walloons really had no use for th--Klemish. But the Kaiser lost all of his tact, as he felt '"miirht was ripht." The English knew that if they kep' out of the war they would be next or the list, and the L'nited Stales wotil-i have been next, and there is no doubi among thinking people that the Hun would have accomplished Ms ambition and controlled the world. The Entrlish did not fro into tho war for the love o the Krench any more than the I nlled States went in for love of EnKland or France, hut they all wont in together because they Knew it was the only way lo save the world from the Hun's grip All these countries Knew that it wa an Impossibility to defeat the Hun sin (r!e-handed. f-o 1 wish to state tlml vhile Braxil put her ships and men to help tho allies it was for self-prser a -tion and to save tile world for de-niocrac-y; that she owes the t'nitov Sta.tes or tho allies noihiiiK and u versa, and as far as a boy 9 years old coming to Brazil from Germany bclnx a loyal Brazilian, can cite such a case here of a boy that was one of our bix Rcst manufacturers and today he ha a $10,000 fine and a three years' jail sentence over his head for passing dis loyal remarks. But I suppose this boy in Brazil knew how to keep his mouth shut. As far as Germany making the alnes pay her war debt, would say that it Is a known fact that Germany previous lo the war had made wonderful strides for 25 years in a commercial way. l'er ships were in every port and she was forcing every nation to learn German in order to do business with her. while the English -were sleeping chasing a rabbit with 20 dogs and amusing them selves. The English lost practically all their business with Japan and China because when the English salesman called on these people he would do business through .n interpreter while tho Ger man made, it a point to learn as much of their language as he could, so that he was able to do business direct. To day if the allies don't wake up wh.it will be the result? There is nothing destroyed in Germany. Her factories are ready to run full blast. She has hi t sons all over the world who are ready to buy goods from her and certainly they will turn a portion of this money over to help pay the German war debt. ALFRED O. CLOSSET. 128 North Twelfth Street. Enforcement, fiat More Law. deeded. PORTLAND, Aug. 1. (To the Edi tor.) In The Oregonian July SO I read a letter on fishing by M. S. Butts of Ilwaco in regard to the published etate ment of Mr. Larson, deputy fish com missioner, and would like to say a few words myself. I have fished several year and know this to be a fact, that the gillnetters hardly ever catch a royal Chinook salmon under ten pounds. They must catch eight or ten In a season of four months, because the little fish aro very small when they leave the river. But the trollers fish in the feeding grounds In the ocean so must expect to catch some. But they can turn them loose again if they will. I think If Mr. Larson will enforce the closed season he will have his hands ! full. I saw small sturgeon on the mar- I kel rre in Portland yesterday that 1 ! to7cW fnead of'tr j inR. to make new ones and the fish j wm be more plentiful, I ARTHUR FOWLER. 1 irm io7.2