Morning Oregonian., April 13, 1920, Page 10, Image 10

TUB MORNING . OKEGO'IAX, TUESDAY.
APRIL' !.. 1020
.lltomitttiCDnjmtian
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THE CRKEL SCANDAU-
Grave as are the' abuses charged
against George Creel's management
of the committee on public informa
tion, they are the natural product of
an administration -which used the
war as an opportunity to extol its
virtues at the public expense. For
years the various bureaus of the gov
ernment had flooded the mails with
bulletins which began with useful in
formation, but gradually increased
In number and became mere adver
tising matter," telling the public what
great things'their officials were ac
complishing for them. As the war
compelled exercise of some discre
tion as to what information on the
work of preparation and on the ac
tion of the government should be
made public, there was need of some
agency through which such matter
should reach the people. There was
also occasion for publicity as to the
cause and purpose of the wax and as
to support which the. people should
give .the government In prosecut
ing it.
Those were the ostensible purposes
of the Creel committee, but the com
mittee did not stop there. It did not
confine Itself to facts, but circulated
extravagant promises as to what the
government would do and gross ex
aggerations of what it had done. Its
publications about aircraft produc
tion were almost pure fiction. It
circulated encomiums of department
officials and republished many of
their speeches. The Creel commit-:
tee did on a large scale what the
several bureaus did on a small scale
and it brought to perfection the art
of squandering the public funds on
publicity. The Official Bulletin, con
taining governmental proclamations,
decisions and appointments, had
much value, but was marred by in
elusion oi mucn oiner miner oi me
kinds mentioned. That, too, seems
IU Jl)l.t? UCCU1UC LUC i. 1 1 u J . . I I. w A c
scandalous deal for its perpetuation.
But in the matter of useless print-
Ing, congress is in a poor post
tion to criticize, for members are
allowed to have long documents and
.unspoken speeches printed in the
; Congressional Record and to have
i : ! a .j . i : , . ii
this is done at great waste of paper
when that commodity has become so
scarce and high-priced that many
good country newspapers have been
forced to suspend publication.
rne creel abuses are convincing
rrtrt thuf a hnHtrpl: Y-tM"n ril14
'. tive check on public expenditures.
The sum wasted on printing is .but
a hint at what is squandered in other
ways. In the absence of such a sys
tem, free from executive and parti
san control, there is no responsibility
anywhere, particularly when the ex-
. ecutive and legislative branches of
the government are both in the
hands of one party. Even now, when
control is divided, congress lacks the
proper machinery to make its control
of the treasury effective. The amount
of printing done by each departmen
is one of probably many leaks which
a budget system would stop.
WHY ACSTRIA STARVES.
An Austrian manufacturer is au
thority for the statement that the
cause of famine in Austria is not
under-production or incapacity of the
country to produce its food but gov
ernment control to the point where
it strangles production. Julius Meinl
writing for the London Times, says
that this control began under . the
empire during the war and is a form
of militarism, which "does not know
that modern economic life depend
upon the maximum efforts of all in
tuviiiuals in the economic field," and
lie continues:
Militarism believes that the same result
can be Drought about by forcing all in
divlriua's to work as hard as possible,' by
- a sort of economic conscription, as is go
. Ing to be established in Russia, with what
resulta we shall soon see.
The idea of keeping up production at
the former rate, or even increasing it. bv
. individuals who are .engaged in carrying
on economic life will work to the utmost of
their powers only If a great stimulus is
t held out to -them. .They , must not. be
- driven to work, but they 'must have a
personal interest nn it.
To make control effective, old Aus
.'trlx. closed the frontiers ae-ainst Hun-
tarv and the other nrovinces and
, fixed maximum prices below the true
'- that in 1915 the peasants parted with
- '.only 30 per cent of their normal
Tiroduetion to the government. Each
year the government got less till
. finally it got nothing at all except
from the large land-owners, who
could not hide their produce, and
.-' duce a surplus could not get sup
'v plies, for nobody was allowed to .buy
"Z- direct from the farmers. In the
ruuu KKf i u i r; jiukio l' i wuu' c via iiib
e home market, each province and fi-
nn Hi, Aorth flial ril f n ri ii t - c
. but tbe effect was that farmers hid
their crops or reduced production.
This economic .war has continued
- after tbe empire dissolved and is re
sponsible for the present distress.
All business between the several
countries of the former empire
now done through the governments
and takes the form of .barter, which
is arranged slowly. A horde f offi
cials maintains control and is inter
ested in continuing it in order to hold
' jobs, though it threatens the towns
with starvation and renewal of the
war. .
Tiiis ia aa example of communism
working: out its logical consequences.
It stifles production by removing the
incentive -to individual- effort. Its I
fanatical votaries try to cure the evils
that it produces by applying more
compulsion and more restriction, only
aggravating the evils. The French i
revolutionists tried the same policy
but it broke down, and after a few
months of free exchange the towns
were supplied with enough food.
The sovereign remedy for scarcity
and high prices is free competition.
Prospect of profit leads men to in
crease production until prices fall to
a. reasonable level, while loss or fear
of Joss will prevent over-production.
This is the very A B C of economic
law, and central Europe is paying the
penalty for violating it. Those who
advocate price control in this country
would have us violate the same law,
though the rapacity of the profiteers
would bring its own remedy by in
ducing larger production. Controlled
prices, rationing and requisitioning
are the essential features of com
munism, and their fruits are starva-
ion. .
CHANGES IN 38 YEARS. . .
Captain Manby, whose interesting
reminiscences of Portland as a port
in 1882 are published In another col
umn, may feel reassured to know
that the Columbia river bar .as an
obstruction to navigation is a thing
of the past and that he could steam
the Imperator across it in confidence
that she would not strike bottom.
A special board, of the navy depart
ment on naval bases late in 19191 re
ported: It ia the opinion of the board that the
problem of the Columbia river bar has
been satisfactorily solved, there now being
a depth of 42 feet over the bar, and the
board is also of the opinion that it will
be only a short time until a minimum
depth of' SO feet will be obtained, thas
making this a practicable port in any
weather.
The width of the bar has also been
reduced from 16,000 to 4,000 feet and
is being-worn away so fast that it
may soon disappear. The channel 'of
the Columbia river is maintained at
a depth of 30 feet at low water
and at a minimum width of 300 feet.
and is to be widened to 500 feet this
year. A great ship terminal and
elevator have been constructed which
are equal in facilities to any on the
Pacific coast. The locks at the Cas
cades and the Celilo canal have been
built. and river steamers can ascend
the Columbia as far as Priest rapids.
The things which were talked
about the last time the captain was
here have since been done, and if
he comes again in four or five years
some more things will be shown him
which will convince him that Port
land is in fact a seaport.
FRY THEM OFF THE PAYROLL.
In the shift and flurry of war
thousands of new official positions
were created and filled. - When the
German armies were broken, at the
hour of their signature of defeat, by
far the greater portion of these emer
gency office holders were rendered
non-effective and purposeless. They
should be pried from the payroll,
where a multitude yet remain.
Mr. Mondell. in opposing a recent
-senate amendment providing for
$1,500,000 for additional clerks in
the war' department, enlightened his
colleagues with astoundingly expen
sive statistics. Employes in Wash
ington nuntbered 37,908 when the
war began. Today they answer the
roll at 100.194. Less than 18,000
have, lost their positions since the
war ended. -
.In the struggle for national honor
and ideals, when we went into war.
these matters seemed small. Bil
lions were sums to be talked of as ,
ordinary necessities and raised as
matters of course. An army of offi
cialdom must be maintained as well
as an army overseas. - But the neces
sity for both has ceased.' .
. With Mondell, the country will
agree that the governmental pay
rolls should be pruned unsparingly.
America's load of economic troubles
would be well rid of the swivel
chair patriot.
THE LATIN-AMERICAN LEAUtE.
Salvador's proposal to form a
league of Latin-American nations is
evidence how far the Monroe doc
trine is from beipg a "regional un
derstanding," as it is termed in the
league of nations covenant. Salvador
proposes that the Latin-American
nations form a league of their'own,
expressly excluding the United States,
that they establish a court to arbi
trate not only between members but
between members and outside na
tions, and that in case it should fail
to effect a settlement all members
shall make common cause against
the offending outsider. ...
This would be a rejection of the
protection which Americans have
imagined the Monroe doctrine to
give all other American nations, but
it would be much more. It would
be a league against intervention of
the United States as well as Europe
in I.atin-American affairs. This
country would be barred from inter
vening in quarrels between tw"
states, and by implication it would
be barred from intervening in civil
wars in Latin-American republics,
for it is proposed that the court shall
intervene and that the other powers
shall lend their aid.
This move of Salvador is probably
the outgrowth of our treaty with
Nicaragua, by which we secured the
camj route through that republic,
cession of the islands in the bay of
Fonseca and control of the finances.
Salvador protested against cession of
the islands as affecting its inde
pendence, but the treaty became ef
fective. Salvador has seen our fi
nancial control over Honduras es
tablished, has seenus force out a
president of Mexico and has seen us
assume control over Haiti and Santo
Domingo. Being the smallest of the
Central American republics, Salvador
may fear that its turn may come
next, and it looks for protection to
its neighbors to. the south. It will
probably find sympathy in Colombia,
which has not forgiven us for the
loss of Panama and of the price
which its predatory statesmen failed
to get for the canal franchise. Vene
zuela also may give ear, for we have
interfered with its unrestricted right
of revolution. Chile is in the same
frame of mind, having lately told us
to mind our own business when we
meddled in the Tacna-Arica affair.
Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Par
aguay are decidfedly friendly to us
and may hesitate to give offense, but
the two former feel their growing
strength and are gaining independ
ence or spirit, especially as all
danger of European aggression seems
to have passed. There is a decided'
possibility of our being isolated frbm
the rest of America as well as from
Europe, for Canada's tie with Eng
land' has been strengthened by the
war and it has been irritated against"
us by the discussion of dominion
votes in the league. '
The effect of the Latin-American
league would be to fix the status of
the Monroe doctrine as what it
always has been a cardinal prin
ciple of the foreign policy of the
United States, which was adopted
without the consent of the other
American republics and to which we
shall adhere against their protest.
They were glad of its protection
when it was announced, for they
then were weak and feared conquest
by European autocrats; only when
that danger is past and they have
grown strong do they resent it, for it
is now invoked to impose good con
duct on them and to prevent wars of
aggression between them. They still
have interests in common with this
country which should bring them into
co-operation witli it, but they should
understand that the Monroe doctrine
will be maintained as a policy of na
tional defense for this republic, not
as a "regional understanding" to
which they are parties. .
'" EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION.
Against the .report that -large num
bers of Czecho-Slovaks are planning
to return hone to participate in the
reconstruction of their native lands,
now newly cemented into a republic,
will be placed the news that 2000
immigrants from Italy arrived in
New York on each of two succeeding
days recently and that all. vessels
from. Italian ports have full passen
ger lists. Immigration from Scandi
navian countries and from England
and Ireland also is increasing. Ap
parently there are offsets to the out
ward flow, although immigration of
ficials have not had opportunity to
analyze them.
Early enthusiasm engendered by
making over of the map of Europe
("united with dissatisfaction with the
high cost of living in the -United
States to produce excess of emigra-
tion. There were alarmists, indeed,
who predicted that it would continue
to the point of depopulating the
country of some of its most desirable
- because most industrious, ambi
tious and thrifty workers. - But so
far as the cost of living may have
stimulated the movement, it has been
discovered that elsewhere it is ex
pensive to live. The purchasing pow
er of a day's wages is at least greater
in the United States than in most of
the war-torn countries of the old
woria. nose wno think -or wages
in terms of what they will . obtain
for the wage-earner are likely to
turn westward again when they find
by experience that conditions here
are relatively better, than they are
eisewnere. Italian emigration from
the shores of America, has been due
in ,the past to a fixed habit of visit
ing' the mother -country at intervals.
When the war ended the customary
period of absence had'been exceeded
by many Italians. It is now ob
served that recent home visits have
been more than usually short.
Out of it all there appears the
promise that while there may be
here and there a change in the na
ture of immigration there will not be
permanent cessation of'the current.
Greater permanence of the new ac
cretions to our population is indi
cated in. -part by geographical data,
since northerners in the past have
teen more largely disposed to com
plete transplantation,' and in part by
the circumstances that comparison
of the reconstructive possibilities of
this country with others has invar
iably resulted in conclusions favor
able to the United States.
FISHING AND THE SPRING FEVER,
The season of the spring fever,
malady more subtle than any in the
books of medicine, is upon the pleas
ant land of Oregon. There are few
indeed, who escape the dreamy in
fection that seeks a dozen differen
antidotes and correctives. And those
to whom the unrest of springtime
does not speak are to be pitied fo
their loss. Having contracted the
malady, it remains for tbe individual
to seek the preferential remedy to
spade the garden, to motor into the
country, to plant new shrubs, or to
go fishing. Truth to tell, ' there are
more advocates of the latter treat
ment than of all others combined
The elfin call of spring, to many folk
grown weary with winter and in
doors, translates to the promise o
spprt with rod and reel somewhere
beyond the town.
Jvone but the fisherman under
stands the depth and potency of the
obsession that comes with the first
warm, rain-sprinkled days of April.
None but the fisherman realizes that,
for one beneath the spell, no other
outing or employment will answer
the purpose of expression, or thrill
the veins with keen delight and the
head With whispered song. Back
east, where the tributaries bear their
muddy currents to the muddier
breast of the Mississippi, the big blue
channel catfish is sacrificed to the
same gods of tbe out-of-doors, the
unseen, immortal presences of na
ture, to which the Oregon angler
makes his plea when' he wades a
clear, swift current to cast the fly
for trout. t
But catfish are not, of course, com
parable to trout though there is a
great deal that may be devoutly said
for and of them when they are on
the platter. The Oregon sportsman
is one of the most favored of his
kind, whatever the clime or country,
in the dower of fine salmon and lusty
trout with which the lakes and
streams of the state are populous.
When the "red gods" call to him, and
he hasn't time to strike out for the
uttermost parts of earth, there is al
ways a bit of rough country close at
hand, with a riotous cold-water tor
rent bent for the Pacific, and riffles
and eddies where cutthroat and rain
bow await the lure.
The streams that course close by
the larger .towns and cities have.
through accessibility, been depleted
to a certain extent according to tha
western standard. But Oregon sports
men, complaining of this, should bear
in mind that the poorest fishing here
abouts would rate as royal sport in
many eastern states. The cautious
angler, who has onfidence in great
er degree than time or cash, will
remember that likely water always
holds trout whether it be a riffle
in the Deschutes river or the nearby
Sandy. Good sport and comely
catenas are sometimes near at home
in neglected water, for the benefit of
the- fisherman who will cover the
current carefully, with due regard
orthe intelligence of the fish he
seeks. ' '
streams that have been VJepleted
of fish,- both by angling and by mi
gration, during the oloae of the pre
vious se'asoa, are always restocked.!
by natural processes during' the win
ter. It is then that the larger cut
throat and raftibow, as salmon trout,
come back from the sea to spawn
and when spring comes the pools and
swift white water hold their heritage
again. A great many anglers know
this, and apply the knowledge by
edulously visiting the smaller creeks
and more convenient rivers ere they
pilgrimage further. The little, stride
wide creek that tumbles .its way to
tho Willamette, and that in June will
be all but dry, is not to be scorned
by the Walton who seeks his sport
near at home,, For the winter-run
trout turned to it quite as naturally
as they did to the larger streams,
and it is obvious that fishermen must
have passed it by. The odds are that
t holds trout and large ones. At
any rate, it 1s worth the gamble of
a cast or two If only, to test fishery
men's luck and the tangful element
of the unexpected.
Out beyond Linnton,"for example,
at the western doorway of the city,
a motoring party stoppedfor lunch
beside just such a stream,, not more
than a fortnight since. From bank
to bank was but a step. Its wicked
little cascades were muddy, and its
eddies wore miniatures of froth and
fury. The boy of the party, against
the complacent counsel of his elders,
insisted upon fishing therein. In an
hour's time, within a rod of the St.
Helen's road, twelve trout were taken
ranging from twelve ' to eighteeD
nches in length."
- IVov this narration is by no means
an argument, that all such rivulets
hold trout .for the taking but it is
proof that the remote and difficult
streams are not alone in their pos
session of fish. Every genuine an
gler, jfor that matter, knows that the
true pleasure of the rod is not in the
number of trout that are taken on
a single day, but in the skill with
which that implement is plied in
taking even occasional toll, and in
the incidental -enjoyment of cloud
and sunshine, of white waten, and
green bank, and of such prodigal
beauties as the wild currant in full
bloom. . .
For the present, with every day
bringing more than its quota of rain,
the streams of the coast district are
almost or entirely too muddy for
the Tly leaving to the angler the
plebean salmon egg as his only lure.
Yet it is sooth that a trout fights as
gamely for his freedom when hooked
on light tackle with bait as when he
rises to the gossamer deception that
ought to be a living, luscious blue
upright.
The rains that paint the streams
with ochre the rains that fill the
creeks bank-full and breast-deep
they re the same rains that call the
salmon in from the sea. When the
water clears a trifle the Willamette
will be regal fishing for the roval
Chinook. Not here alone, but in all
the tributaries, the flashing big fel
lows, back from uncharted ocean.
will contribute to the restocking of
Oregon's streams. -
Don't you remember, in "The Wa
ter Babies," when Tom went dizzilv
down the crag and found surcease
in the brook so that mortals said
he had drowned how he met the
salmon adventuring up from the sea?
Met them when the river was high
and swollen with rain, heavy and
dark with silt, driving upward from
the channel? Even muddy water is
an omen of fine fishing when the
streams go down 'again.
Judging from the report of tha
congressional investigating commit
tee which has ."discontinued" 111 of
deorge Creel's "war time" publica
tions, the paper shortage should im
prove immediately. .
If ten per cent of what the variou
managers of candidates frankly adT
mit concerning them is true, any one
of the bunch would make the "best
president the United States ever had.
There are declared to be 1423
streams tributary to the Rogue river
that have no names. What sur
prises us is that 1399 of them are
not called Bear river or Beaver creek.
The late Theodore P. Shonts of
New York, according to the "other
woman, has "an aversion to "foreign
alliances. Ana yet he seems to
have formed one himself.
A wounded ex-soldier was restored
to speech at Seattle by electric shock.
Under the circumstances this would
sound just as believable if the word
electric were omitted.
Nebraska had another Sunday, but
they are so common the people do
not call them "silver thaws.'1 A sil
ver thaw is a Portland specialty
ana a rarity, too.
It is o be hoped the raiders clean
up everything before warm weather
comes. Seizures by 600-galIon grabs
will create riots when throats, are
parching.
A New Yorker charged with prof
iteering brooded himself into com
muting suicide, but there's a "fat
chance" of that being "catching."
The next invention or discovery by
Mr. Burbank or a wizard to be un
covered must be an edible corncob,
Wouldn't that fill you!
The man arrested for beating up
his landlord committed a grave of
fense, but what is law to satisfac
tion?
. Wherever Colonel Dan Moore goe
to open a summer resort, the
thoughts of lots of people go with
him.
The latest press pictures of Mary
and Doug show them laughing, evi.
dently at the Nevada divorce law.
The next business of the outlaw
un-n will be a motion to declare the
strike off and get back the jobs.
Mr. Wells kindly will run off all
his rain this week, bearing in mind
what day is next Tuesday.
Other vegetables can be made as
palatable as the pota.to.vbut are not
so filling. .
"Lesson of the year:' Lay in pota
toes in the fall and fuel in the spring.
The Chicago thieves who stole
123,000 bibles certainly needed them.
Next will be spud hounds to follaw
the booze hounds in a fellow's cellar.
You cannot have the May flowers
without the. April showers.
BY-PRODUCTS OF THK TIMES
Thrilllna; Itomaace of Mar-y and Donaj
Told In Marie Style.
'Ivanhoe Deerslayer Douglas, scion
of an aristocratic New York family,
was awakened one morning by the but
ler and his valet, relates a vivacious
writer .in the Chicago Tribune. He
bounced from bed and chinned him
self 20 times on the very expensive
chandeliers of his room in tho costly
mansion and Jovially slapped the but
ler so briskly on the back that the
faithful servitor swallowed his con
venient and helpful store teeth. - He
then, . laughing, stood the butler -on
his head and shook his teeth, back
into place again with a snap, grinning
delightedly at his own cheerfulness.
In order that the valet also might
feel happy Ivanhoe Deerslayer Doug
las seized him by the coat collar,
climbed out of the window, and with
his free hand . traversed 30 feet of
water spouting, returning safely by
the w'ndow to the room, where he
proceeded to divest himself : of his
evening clothes which his proud and
artistic parents compelled- htm to
wear in bed in conformity to the
demands of high society.
"This life palls me," said Ivanhoe.
"I need the air." Brushing the faith
ful butler aside Into the bathtub full
of water and the valet through the
wall of the "room into a tall and
handsome chestnut tree which -was
one of -the ornaments of the lawn.
and, grinning cheerfully, he dashed
through the palatial residence, grab
bing two soft-boiled eggs as he went.
He leaped to the top of a passing
automobile and was driven downtown.
Leaping from the top of the automo
bile he hit a stern, elderly gentleman
with white side whiskers and a white
waistcoat, knocking the wind and a
folded paper out of him. Without
stopping he picked up the paper and,
running very rapidly, read:. "Dear
nele, 1 am very unhappy. Cinderella."
He Immediately swung on to the
andbars of a rapidly passing freight
ar And was attacked by six . bums.
who were attracted by his winning
mile and evident prosperity. The
fight raged until the Mississippi river
was reached. He then, smiling.
lrfrew all into the river and continued
his Journey until the freight car.
skirting a lake, was derailed. He
swam 16 miles to a lonely ranch
house, where he made inquiries.
End of Part Three. Four Follows
mmediately.
Cinderella Pollyanna Mary, the
drudge of a very large and unpleasant
looking fam'ly of lady cousins, had
ust picked the kitten out of the gar
bage can and was feeding it Russian
caviar in her kindness of heart when
the most unpleasant of the lady cou
sins caught her and cuffed her ears
and made her work the mangle for
six hours. She then milked a large
herd of thoroughbred Jersey cows
and r-.ide butter.
She was very ragged and needed a
pair of shoes. She cooid hardly expect
a pair, but If she could get a good
right which someone had thrown
away because it was not fit to hall
sole, and then could find a left which
had fairly good uppers, she would be
all right. ,
She had one bright moment when
she stole a little of the white cake
frosting and got a smear of it on her
nose. Looking at herself in the mir
ror she laughed, happy to think that
no matter how unhappy and ragged
she was she could still be funny. This
bright moment was blasted by over
hearing the unpleasant lady cousins
deciding to marry her to the super
intendent of the country poorhouse in
order that she might never discover
that she was the rightful heiress of a
$10,000,000 estate.
This conspiring was suspended be
cause one of the unpleasant ladies
said she thought a hard rain was com
ing up. Another, alarmed, said it
must be a tornado and a third thought
it was an earthquake.
It was not. It was Ivanhoe Deer-
slayer Douglas, coming by stage, au
tomobile, steamboat, handsprings,
wire walking and house Jumping. As
he neared the fated house he aban
doned all these methods of locomo
tion and took to the tree tops, mov
ing from one branch to another until
he Jumped to the root and down the
chimney, landing in the ' room, and
bringing down a great cloud of soot
which blinded the hateful cousins.
He seized Cinderella, carried her out
side, pushed the house down behind
them,' and they agreed to put their
Joint funds in 7 per cent Standard Oil
company gold bonds. Clinch and fade
out.
Finis.
The following samples of current
fiction are supplied by the Cincin
nati Enquirer:
"Excuse me I"
"I beg your pardon!"
"Be sure and come to see us!"
"I've had a lovely time."
"We've never had a cross word since
we've been married." x
'M'll py you this tomorrow, sure!"
"I'd rather have my Ford than jour
big car."
"I'd trust my husband anywhere."
"Oh, it's no trouble at all!"
"It isn't the money; it's the princi
ple of the thing!" I
. "I just finished the last quart I
had, old man!" - - j
-
The pathetically expressive phrase
"gone west" is the soldier term that
came to be almost universally adopted
to designate death. It would be dif
ficult today to find a reading person
who does not instantly perceive the
affectionate pathos of this term.
The New York Times recently ex
plained that more than 3000 years ago
the ancient Eyptiana spoke of the
dead as "the westerners," or those
who had gone "west." The abode
of the dead was believed to be in "the
realm of, the setting sun. This belief
of the ancients in the ; soul going
west has at least a reflection in the
customs of some of the North Ameri
can Indiana, who cherished tha belief
that their "happy hunting grounds"
lay in the west. These Indians also
practiced the custom of laying their
dead in carefully constructed scaf
folds facing the west.
The girl had been sent down to the
brook to fetch a pail of water, but
stood gazing at the flowing stream,
apparently lost in- thought.
"What's she waiting for?" said her
mistress, who was watching.
1 "Dunno," wearily replied hubby.
"P'raps she hasn't seen a pailful she
likes yet." Houston Post.
Tho kindly philanthropists who ad
vise us to 'eat cheaper cuts of meat
should be' informed that there aren't
any cheaper cuts of meat Kansas
City Star. '
Those Who Come and Go.
It requires one and a half gallons
of coal oil a night to keep the New
port lighthouse working for mariners,
according to Charles Miller, assistant
keeper, who Is at Iho Perkins. Before
the present type of lamp was installed
four gallons of oil were required
nightly. At present about TOO gallons
of oil are used annually. This is the
only light on the Oregon and Wash
ington coast which is stationary: all
the others revolve or flash. From
the navigator's bridge the Newport
light can be seen 21 miles at sea and
from the crow's nest much far'her.
Mr. Miller served first on Tillamook
rock, the lighthouse where the new
men are hazed, as.it were. Out on the
rock a tyro gets enough experience
to send him a long way toward pro
motion and the- men on the rock are
always ready to take a shore station
when their turn conies. Tillamook
rock light is one of the most famous
in the world.
If anyone has a couple of hundred
cots and about 400 blankets lying
around loose, just tell James J. Done
can, who is at the ImtjeriaL Mr.
Donegan considers that the Portland
problem of taking care of the Shrin
ers isn't a patch on what Burns is up
against in accommodating the stock
men's convention, which will be held
in the Harney county metropolis May
24 and 25. Mr. Donegan is in town for
the purpose of borrowing cots and
bedding and, although he has secured
200 cots and 400 blankets from the
state, he needs just as many more.
The cots will be placed in the school
house and out in the open. The visi
tors will be fed from the chuck wag
ons of the cattle companies, the meals
being prepared by buckaroo cooks and
served at a cow camp without any
frills, but mighty filling. Five chuck
wasrons have been assigned to the
task. The gathering is the annual
meeting of the stockmen of Oregon
and it is a sort of round-up for them.
Declared to be the biggest irrica
tion project in the northwest that has
got beyond the paper stage is the
Harney valley irrigation district,
which will embrace 8". 000 acres. Will-
lam Hanley of Burns, who left the
Multnomah yesterday to go home to
look after details of the project, is
chairman of the board of directors.
The plan is to store the flood waters
of Silvies river and of Einierant
creek by building two dams. These
two streams form Malheur lake. Em
igrant creek is so called because it
was on a part of the old Oregon trail
and there are plenty of evidences of
emigrants in the vicinity. At least a
hundred prospectors have browsed
along Emigrant seeking for the lost
Blue Bucket mine, but up to date the
mine is as totally and completely lost
as though a water bucketful of nug
gets had never been found in the
first place.
Not all the stockmen were held up
with their shipments- by the railroad
yard strike, for some shippers got
through. Fred Harrington and his
partner, W. tl. Ward, arrived from
i'aldwell. and C. A. Johnson from
Klmberly, with a stock train, and are
at the Perkins. The usual big crowd
of cattle men who are seen in the
hotel lobbies on Mondays was absent
yesterday, the explanation being that
they have not been able to get through
or. fearing a tie-up, did not leave
home. Anyway, there Is a notable
absence of Stetsons and boots in the
lobbies of the hotels which the stock
men ordinarily patronize. Messrs.
Ward and Harrington formerly
shipped to the Seattle market, but
now deal with Portland. The same is
true of Henry Chambers, a stock man
of Olympta. who prefers shipping to
Portland rather than to Seattle. Mr.
Chambers is also at the Perkins.
Near the entrance to Lithia park
there is a bank in Ashland, and the
presiding genius save in warm wea
ther when the p. g. is fishing at Lake-of-the-Woods
is E. V. Carter. As
the mediator of the fish and game
commissions. Mr. Carter is in Port
land, Jeaving his campaign for repre
sentative to the legislature from
Jackson county neglected and ig
nored. Being a lawmaker has no
novelty for Mr. Carter, who has been
speaker of the house and also a
member of the state senate. He is
registered at the Imperial.
George B. Small and family are at
the Hotel Washington, after spending
several months in California. Mr.
Small was for years in the newspaper
business in Baker but sold out last
year and is now a gentleman of lei
sure, flitting between California, Sea
side and Baker.
Mr. and Mrs. Henry "Fischer of Le
ona are at the Hotel Oregon, accom
panied by their daughter. Leona is a
village with a sawmill, on the Pacific
highway, and it is the scene of the
arduous labors of Frank E. Dooly
since he resigned from being a bank
president in Portland.
O. Winningstad, a ' railroad con
tracting engineer, is at the Multno
mah while in Portland on business.
He was located up in the northwest
for a number of years while doing
work for the O.-W. R. & N. company.
He built the double track between
The" Dalles and Celilo.
Joseph G. Richardson, deputy treas
urer and former member of the legis
lature from Multnomah county, is at
the Hotel Oregon, and there is a sus
picion that ha may announce his can
didacy for representative . before
Thursday night, which is the latest
time for filing.
C. R. Manville,. connected with the
Johns-Man ville company, is. at the
Benson.' He Is a son of the Manville
whose name is linked with Johns'.
This firm is said to control more as
bestos than any other concern in.
America, if not in the world.
Marion Jack of Pendleton and
Charles Stone of Klamath Falls are at
the Imperial., being here to attend a
session of the state game commis
sion. Another game commissioner in
the city is A. C. Simmons of Eugene,
who is on the Benson book.
W. G. . Wells Jr., examiner for the
state securities commission of Minne
sota, with headquarters at St. Paul, is
at the Multnomah while getting ac
quainted with the Pacific coast. He
is accompanied by Mrs. Wells.
O. B. Robertson of Condon, candi
date for the state senate, is at the
Multnomah. He hasn't any opposition
for the job and so is not worrying
about the result of the May primaries.
C. E. Westenhaven of Aberdeen,
Wash., considers Portland a pretty
good place to trade in and so he is
here shopping among the wholesalers
for his dry goods establishment.
Will Wurtsweiler, president of a
Prineville bank, is in the city and is
frequently in the Imperial lobby dis
cussing the political situation in cen
tral Oregon.
L. G. Horton, president of the Cedar
Lake Logging company, with head
quarters in Seattle, is at the Mult
nomah. Mr. and Mrs. F. L. Fry of Astoria
are at the Multnomah. Mr. Fry is
teller in the Astoria National bank.
After several months in Alaska on a
vacation trip Mrs. Clara L. Warren is
at the Hotel Washington.
E. B. Chinn. president of the lumber
company of that name, is at the Mult
nomah from Seattle
NO TUlli (111)11 K OF t'AMUD Ti:S
Prlliary Voter ('unfinrd in Mrlf
Seekrra and Mo nrttrrnirnt Hroll,
PORTLAND, April 1 i. (To the Edi
tor.) Ei-Uovcnior Ucer in his t ritic
i.ni of an article by Samuel Blythe in
the Saturday Evening Vust says in
The Oregonian: "Why even all the
school boys in the United States know-
that in most of the states we have
a direct primary law under the opera
tion of which- every voter decides for
himself, indi viduaily. his preference
for the presidency and the 'bfsscs
stand aside and wait for the declara
tion of the 'masses.' "
Friend Geer hits the nail on the
wrong end: instead of every voter
being permitted to decide for him
self his choice for president, he is
limited to his choice of self-seeking
"would bes," reduced to the neccssity
of choosing as between two or more
evils. Our country is being si andaliaed
by the arrogant assumption of "would
bes." and the "bosses" are in the
fiaddle, boosting their favorites with
barrels of money, prostituting, as far
as possible, the public press with
laudistic writeups and the employ
ment of oratorical spellbinders, in
platitude of special fitness: Mixing
the king's english for appreciative
terms of expression.
The primary law, as it affects fed
eral and state elections, is an ex
pensive, demoralizing farce. It gets
nowhere except to disrupt some
methods and foster psucdo fads and
faddists.
A statesman broad enough and
patriotic on li-nes of true American
ism, is not going to enter a scramble
for political preferment, under special
obligations for favors to boss boost
ers. While perfection is not possible
in human endeavor, the experiences
of the past show that the nearest ap
proach in the matter of selecting
leaders for federal, state and munic
ipal offices is found in the old sys
tem of calling at stated times, assem
blies or conventions in the smallest
units of settlements townships or
precincts in which the members of
the several political parties so meet
ing make choice of the most capable
and trustworthy members, of whom
they have personal knowledge, to rep
resent them In the larger assemblies
or conventions on up through all the
grades from county to state and. na
tional. With these representatives, drawn
from the minor units, representing
the diversified Interest and local
thought, thus met and with due de
liberation in mutual consultation, the
best results nave followed.
If the voter cannot in this way
make choice of capable and trust
worthy representatives from anions:
personal acquaintances he certainly
cannot from self-assertive aspirants.
The records of past achievements
do not disclose any compensating
fruitage for all the expense and
worry of primary nominations. Khere
is no marked Improvement in our leg
islative department. Mediocre ability
predominates more generally in all
the administrative departments.
I doubt very much whether any
one of the self-boosting and being
boosted aspirants would be even a
third-choice, ranging from that down
to 42d. if the voters of either party
could have an opportunity to make a
free and intelligent choice for presi
dent. Note the fact that Oregon
pledged Its vote to a nincompoop for
vice-president four years ago and
will probably do so this year.
W. H. ODKLL.
PRE-RAILHUAI) TDIKS RKCAM.ED
Seafarer In Portland After 38 1 ears
Feels Like Rip Van Winkle.
PORTLAND. April 12. (To the Edi
tor.) I read with interest an article
in The Oregonian in which the writer
professed to make Portland a great
sea port and establish direct trade
with Portland and Australia. I came
here in the sailing ship John O
Gaunt with a cargo of coal from
Sydney, Australia, September 5,
and left October 5, 1SS2, with a cargo
oi Hour for Liverpool, and 1 have not
been back since.
In those days the river front was
full of sailing ships and there were
the Oregon, Columbia and State of
California plying between here and
San Francisco, which were the only
means of communication with the
outside world.
I knew Harvey Scott, who was
editor and part owner of The Ore
gonian, which was a little two by
four paper in those cays.
We used to play ball in those days
right across the river where Kast
Portland is. There was an open fiat
between an old orchard and the Kast
Portland elevator and docks, which I
partially destroyed by running the
John O. Gaunt through them with
a port helm heading down the river.
But orders were orders. The pilot
had signaled the Thompson, which
was towing us alongside "full speed
astern." and told me hard "aport."
but the signal in the engine room
showed full speed ahead. 1 could see
what was coming, but dare not dis
obey orders.
In those days Portland bad a pop
ulation of about 10.0U0, and the cry
was if we could only get a railroad
into Portland and get locks at Cas
cade and The Dalles to open up the
upper river country this would make
the greatest sea port on the west
c ipat. But now you have got those
things. It is evident that there are
two obstructions that I struck going
out in 1882. One was the St. Helens
bar and the other was the Columbia
river bar, the latter we struck three
times and we were badly dent in the
bilge when we reached Liverpool
April 25. 1883.
In those days shanghaiing was a
remunerative business, and Sam Turk
and Jim Cook were coining money.
Wages were $35 per month, and it
took $100 blood money for every
able-bodied man. Three month's pay
was advanced so that each seaman
left $2u5 behind and got a bar of
soap, a box of matches and a plug
of tobacco for the consideration.
This is a wonderful city, and I feel
like Rip Van Winkle must have felt
when he woke up. But don't forget
that the Columbia river bar must be
made safe for large sea-going ves
sels and you may still have the great
est sea port on the west coast.
J. B., MANBY.
Hi tr lit of Eminent Domain.
HILLSBORO. Or.. April 10. (To the
Editor.) Please , define eminent do
main. SUBSCRIBER.
The right of eminent domain is the
right under prescribed forms of law
to take private property for the pub
lic good, making compensation to the
owners thereof. "Public good" in
modern practice has been widely ex
tended, so that it includes not only
public improvements carried on by
the state, such as construction of
harbors, canals, fortifications, etc.,
but also private or quasi-public en
terprises in which the public have
an interest, as railroads, ferries,
bridges, power enterprises, etc. The
precise manner of determining Just
compensation for property taken is
usually regulated by statute and va
ries in different states.
Marriage Under False Name.
PORTLAND, April 12. (To the Edi
tor.) If both parties marry under as
sumed names, is the marriatrfj local?
A SUBSCRIBER.
Use of an assumed name by either
or both does not invalidate a marriage.
More Truth Than Poetry.
Br Jamrl J. illontafcae.
JUST A TIP.
Just n minute Mr.' Photo Play Director-There
are lots of things a tjro
doesn't know.
Of the rumpus and the ruction that
you fellows call production.
Which aro requisite to make a,
niovie-show.
But a rank, and quite unprejudiced
outsider.
With no animus nor venum in his
bean.
Though he doesn't criticise you takes
occasion to apprise you
That the vamps that you employ art
far too lean.
We arc basing our remarks on human
nature;
- Who's the girl that makes a fellow's
pulses thump?
Not the lady who is lanky, like a
hungry Cape Cod Yankee,
But the maiden who is beautifully
plump.
Who's (the Jane that throws a fit of
tascinatton,
On the gilden son of Banker Abncr
Jones?
Is it lithe and lissome Minnie, who is
rather to the skinny.
Or Matilda, who has something on
her bones?
If your heroes all were world-worn
Paris roues.
Or were ancient, grizzly headed
London rakes.
They might fall for the attractions
and the anacondish actions
Of the vamp whose architecture
apes the snakes.
But the rubes that you want frisked
of papa's milliona.
When they pick a damsel out to
dance or chat.
Though at Newport or at Coney, shy
at charmers that are bony;
All the come-ons from the country
like 'em fat.
It's the plump girl gets the best of all
the Kleigh-rides.
When they harness up the bob-sleds
up in Maine,
And the lean girl's sighs and glances
never get her any dances.
When the girls of the sorosis enter
tain.' So you'd best dismiss tha svelte and
sylph-like creatures.
And you will if you will only look
about
Though the jaded city rounder may
prefer the hundred pounder.
All the yaps would rather have 'em
rounded out!
-
A Milleaaalm.
For the first time in their lives the
Scotch can get all the whisky they
want at the price they want to pay.
How Cos We Help It. '
Young John D. says we think too
much about the pay we are going to
get. Yet if we don't, somebody else
will get it.
Deductive Rranoalne;.
We don't know what they put into
those bootleg cocktails, but we notice
the price of gasoline has nearly
doubled since they started to make
'em.
Be tolerant of youth's caprices.
Brief their time for heedless play.
Just a pause for mirth and nonsense.
Then they must be on their way;
Burdens even now are fashioned
For the, shoulders you caress.
And they cannot scorn the bearing.
Though the weight may sorely
press.
Let them play! And let them wander!
Far in fancy they will roam.
Building castles in the sunshine.
From materials of their own;
Just a few brief years for growing.
Just a little while to play.
Then the burdens are adjusted
In life's grim relentless way.
In Other Days.
Twenty-Five Yeara Ago.
. From The Oregonian of April in. lStW.
W ash ing ton President Cleveland
has filled out his income tax blank
and has Included his salary of $50,000
a year on which tire tax would be $9L'0.
He will leave it for the proper offi
cials to determine whether he is
legally subject to the tax.
Walia Walla Interstate commerce
Commissioner James D. Yeomans has
included a two days' hearing of the
appeal made by shippers for a "restric
tion of the tariff rate on wheat of
$4.70 per ton from this point to Port
land. Shanghai The Japanese have pre
sented an ultimatum to Li Hung
Chang, the Chinese peace commis
sioner, demanding that China accept
or reject the terms of peace offered
by Japan not later than tomorrow.
Rev. D. C. Marquis. D. D., LL. D.. of
McCormick Seminary. Chicago, has
been secured to occupy the pulpit of
the First Presbyterian church during
the summer months or until selected
by the congregational committee.
Fifty Tears Ago.
Vrom The Oregonian of April 3. 1KT0
Washington Senator Williams of
fered resolutions in the senate rela
tive to the survey arid improvement
of the upper Columbia river. Con
sideration of the Northern Pacific
railroad bill was resumed.
New York A dividend of $3,800,000
will be paid by the New York Central
railroad May 15, said to be the largest
single dividend payment ever made by
an American corporation.
Cheyenne. Wyo. A party of five
Indians came within a half mile of
Sidney station today arid shot and
seriously wounded a herder. Soldier:,
drove the Indians away, but many are
seen on the bluffs. From arrows
found it is thought they are Chey
ennes. Philadelphia At the second re
union banquet of the arm' of the
Potomac General MeauV presided.
President Grant and Secretaries Cox
and Belknap were guests.
Wno Should Pay Taxes.
ORLAND, Cal., April 8. (To
th
Editor.) I sold a piece of real estate
in Portland in January, 1920, and re
ceived payment for same. Who should
have paid 1919 taxes, the seller or
the buyer? MRS. T. A. POWELL
The law provides that when ther
is no express agreement as to which
shall pay the taxes, the taxes shall b
paid by the grantee if the land is
conveyed on or before the date e-f the
warrant authorizing the collection of
such taxes, and by tha grantor if
conveyed after that date. In this In
stance the purchaser would pay the
taxes.
Let Them Play.
By Grace 1- Hall.
Day af Birth.
TILLAMOOK. Or., April V). (To the
Editor.) Please tell me this: A hoy
was horn September 6. 1907. What
was the day of his birth?
A READER.
He was boru on Friday.