10
THE 'MOUSING OREGOXIAX, THURSDAY, DECE3IBER 9, 1920
4V--- 4w
2iw uiiiiu vyiijyHuw
ESTABLISHED BY HENRY L. FITTOCK.
Published by The Oreiconlan Publishing Co,
133 Sixth Street, Portland. Oregon.
C. A. HORDES-. B- B- PIPER.
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WHAT UK KNOWS ABOUT ECONOMY.
Nothing but total mental blindness
to his own failures, utter incapacity
to understand the motive of the peo
ple in taking the government out of
the hands of his party, can account
for the solemn exhortation to econ
omy which President Wilson ad
dressed to congress. For the con
duct of Mr. Wilson during the war
and more especially since the war
shows that he does not know the real
meaning of the word "economy" or
does not know how to practice it.
The principal work of the republican
administration will be to uncover
all the facts of the' waste which
has gone on and is still, going
on and, in order to stop it, to rip
wide open the"vast, disorganized ma
chine by which it is perpetrated, to
expose it to the people, to punish
those who are criminally guilty, and
to build anew. Though much has
been revealed, every day brings some
new revelation indicating that it is
but half of the whole truth. The
people sensed the worst, and made a
clean sweep of the wasters.
When the United States intervened
in the war, the people expected
waste, for they knew that war was
waste, that unpreparedness doubles
waste, and that by their own act in
re-electing Mr. Wilson they had ap
proved unpreparedness. They knew
that time was. more essential lhasi
money in wari and that, in order to
win, it is justifiable to double ex
penditure. But they saw unstinted
expense accompanied by delay1 that
well nigh proved fatal to success.
Added billions should have brought
added- military efficiency more
guns, shell, airplanes, tanks at the
front when the decisive struggle be
gan. They saw the billions spent,
but' few of these weapons of Ameri
can make at the front. They saw
$ 1,200,000,000 spent on army camps
to train troops, but only 300,000
Americans were in France when the
Germans made their last bid for vic
tory on March 21, 1918. They spent
billions for ships, but much more
than half of the troops were carried
on allied ships. Congress gave the
president unlimited power to reor
ganize the government for greater
efficiency, but he added more boards
with duplicated power to the exist
ing inefficient organization, produc
ing less result for more expense.
When the armistice was. signed, J
the need of lavish expenditure ended.
The people were disposed to call the
money already wasted water over the
wheel, if then a real beginning at
economy was made. They wanted
generous provision for demobiliza
tion of the army and for the care of
the disabled and the families of the
dead and permanently Incapacitated,
out tney expected an early end to
war expenditure. That work should
have held equal place in the presi
dent's estimation with making a
peace treaty. He gave it practically
no attention, but went to Paris, leav
ing the spenders to go on spending;
they did not know how to do any
thing else. The greatest opportunity
to practice economy to good purpose
was during the eight months between
Armistice day and Mr. Wilson's final
return from Paris, which practically
closed the fiscal year 1919, but it
was thrown away.
During those eight months the ad
ministration continued to build sev
eral army and aviation camps, which
had become unnecessary. Work had
just begun on a camp in Georgia,
and the house military committee
exacted a promise from Secretary
Baker that it would be stopped, but
after congress adjourned he resumed
land purchases and building. Work
was continued on a vast naval base
at Norfolk, Va. Shipbuilding con
tinued on only a slightly reduced
scale on the Atlantic coast, though
the unfavored Pacific coast suffered
wholesale cancellations. These are
but examples of general improvi
dence. In disposing of munition fac
tories, from which the army and
navy had derived little or no benefit,
recklessly bad bargains were made.
For example, the powder plant and
material stored at Nitro, W. Va.,
cost over $.70,000,000, but were sold
for $8, 551. 000. On the other side of
the account, the shipping board held
. . . " mmc ui suiys mat
far exceeded their after-war value,
and thus kept on the hands of the
government an asset which steadily
depreciated. Its only apparent rea
son being reluctance to take a loss
by charging the depreciation to the
war. The war risk bureau was the
only one where added expense was
justified, but with an immense staff
it continued in dire confusion, and
claims made two years ago have not
been settled. There was as great
need of a general plan for getting
back to a peace basis as there had
been of a plan to get on a war basis,
but the government ran at loose ends
while its head was absent. His con
duct of the war does not indicate
that there would have been mucl
improvement if he had stayed at
borne.
After the war had ended, the ex
ecutive departments asked congress
la .December, 1918, for appropria
tions for the year-ending June 30,
1920, exceeding 111. 500.000. 000. Thai
was a democratic congress, but it
cut these estimates deeply. A fili
buster held over several appropria
tioa bills for the new republican
ongress, which cut off almost an
other billion dollars-and could have
cut artill more if It had "been dealing
Tvith an administration that was will
:nc to economize. As it was, the total
c ppropriations for that fiscal yea
" a yoar of poace which began almost
eight months after the war ended (
were $3,848,738,332 less than the !
sum asked by departments. j
Even for the fiscal year ending I
June 30, 1921, which opened twenty
months after hostilities ceased, the
administration was unable to get
back to a peace basis. It asked congress-
for $5. 785, 812, 929. Exclusive
of the postal and railroad services
this was 516 per cent of the appro
priations for 1916, and forty of the
major items exceeded those for 1920
by an aggregate of $989,715,687.
Congress reduced the total to $3,
975.000.000. Kqually illustrative of the inca
pacity of the administration to re
trench is the small decrease in
number of government employment
employes at Washington since the
armistice. The number grew from
37,908 on April 1. 1917, to 117,454 on
November 11, 1918, and had only
shrunk to 96,266 on March 31, 1920,
almost seventeen months later. There
was a decrease of. 19,518 in the war
and navy departments, but this was
partly offset-by an actual inerease in
other departments. But when con
gress passed a law imposing some
duty on a department, the head
pleaded that he could not do 'it with
out still more money: "
The head of such, an administra
tion does not know anything about
economy, except to talk about it. One j
or tne imperative duties or tne ward
ing administration will be to learn
where the money went, who got it'
and why he got it Though no dis
honesty may be proved against any
high officials, when they run affairs
so loosely, they throw the door wide
open to thieves to steal millions. Evi
dence against the shipping board"
and regarding cantonments indicates
that many . billions were stolen. The
people will not be satisfied . unless
the rascals, big and. little, are
brought to justice, and the parasites
who hang on the public payroll are
sent to their homes, mostly in the
south. -
NOT TO BE DKIVEN.
Somehow we are not surprised to
find behind the new movement for
a sinless Sunday the impeccable fig
ure of the Reverend Clarence True
Wilson. True, the National Reform
association, whatever that is, has
the great benevolence In hand; but
Brother Wilson is co-operating, as
might be expected. In an interview
he is quoted as saying:
I believe that instead of importing the
continental Sunday with its loose morula
and low idea's, we sliould replace our
American Sabbath on its civic fituudatiotis.
We need the Sabbath day for the sake of
the men and women who toil, for the sup
port of (he family life of the Republic, for
the opportunity of the church. We should
have .Sunday rest laws made for man apart
from the rfillyioua significance of their re
lation to God.
What the nation needs is to have
the civic foundations fcf its morals
and ils religion made more firm, not
for one, but for seven days, in the
week. It may be doubted if the
cause of the church is advanced by
depriving the man of his jarolf, or his
baseball, or of his automobile trip, or
any other recreation on Sunday. But
certainly it would be done if the
church would offer him something
that would lead, not drive, him away
from his amusements. This ' the
wise authorities of the church, in
most of its denominations, see clear
ly; and they are not joining any ef
fort to create a puritanical sabbath.
TOO MUCH JNDIFTc-KKENCE.
The tragic and needless death of
Miss Maud Ferguson, a valuable and
esteemed school teacher, brings
again to public attention the in
creasing perils arising from reckless
automobile driving. It may transpire-that
the motor car which ran
down Miss Ferguson was not going
at excessive speed, . and that the
driver was using what he deemed
ordinary care. The night was dark,
the streets wet and slippery, and the
rain had made the usual blur on his
wind shield. Yet it is true that any
accident which might have been pre
vented should be classed as due to
carelessness or recklessness.
Every automobilist knows the
dangers of night-driving in the rain
The hazard is then vastly increased
and there is no commensurate meas
ure of caution on the part of the
man at the wheel, if it be assumed
that the accident which befell Miss
Ferguson was attended by no excep--
tional circumstances, it is not too
much to say that it might have hap
pened to four out of five motorists
in Portland on any rainy night, in
any part of the residential district.
Not one person who runs a car has
failed to have the disconcerting ex
perience of discovering in his effurse
the unexpected apparition of a man
or woman materialized with star
tling vividness from somewhere or
nowhere out of the dark and the rain.
He or she is usually seen In time,
and a tragedy is avoided; but the
happy outcome is' as often due to
luck, or to the agility of the pedes
trian, as it is to the skill of the man
in the speeding automobile.
The records of the census bureau
disclose that in 1919 a total of 3S08
persons were killed in the United
States from automobile accidents. In
New York alone the aggregate -of
fatalities reached 780, an increase of
89 oyer the previous year, and more
than double the number in 1915. The
death rate in the nation is 14.1 out
of every 100,000 inhabitants.
These figures are appalling. The
public reads them and virtuously re
solves that something should be
done. There is talk of one-way traf
fic, safety islands, danger signals,
limitation of licenses for drivers, re
duction of the speed limit,' and the
like. But very little is done. The
reason probably is that nearly every
person owns an automobile, or hopes
to own one, and resents any real test
of his ability as a chauffeur, or in
terference with his freedom to go
where he pleases, whenever he
pleases, and. in too many instances,
as fast as he pleases. Occasional
fines accomplish small results; the
threat of jail deters few; actual in
carceration for any offense with an
automobile is almost unknown.
The time is at hand when the pub
lic must take a sensible view of traf
fic regulation. - Few people counte
nance manslaughter; but that part
of the public a very great number
; which is indifferent to the neces
sity of real anti-speed laws and their
effective enforcement is neverthe
less an accomplice before the fact in
many preventable deaths.
By putting the financial screws on
Greece, the allies have led that fickle
people to take sober second thought
about restoring their exiled king.'
Greece has borrowed much money
from Britain and France, and will
need much more if it is to retain and
develop the new territory given it by
the treaty of Sevres. If it should
persist in its Infatuation for Con
stantine, its only friends would be
bankrupt Germany, Austria, and
Hungary, with the possible addition
of Roumanla. among the allies, svnd it
could get no loans from any of them.
The allies have another string- to
their bow. for several treaties give
them a voice in the affairs of Greece
through guaranty of a constitutional
government. By the treaty of Sevres
they renounce thes rights, but it
has not yet been ratified, and' they
may revise it by cutting out the
clause mentioned. Greece may yet
prefer greatness under Venizelos to a
shrunken, starved existence under
Constantine.
1DKAL1S.M AND FB.KK TOLLS.
The repeal' of the Panama tolls legisla
tion gave the American government a rep
utation for fair dealing and honesty, which
it had not always enjoyed .n forlga cnur
tries. World's Work (New York).-
No one knows why the free tolls
act was repealed, except that Presi
dent Wilson demanded it. He gave
no reason, only that he wanted it
done; and he wanted it done to guar
antee the stability of our peaceful
relations with some unnamed foreign
power or powers. Affairs of "greater
consequence and nearer moment" or
some such Wilson phrase, was as
near as he ever came to giving the
source of the danger in international
complications. Congress, under pres
sure, inspired by the White House
panic, real or simulated, gave in to
the great Wilson ian idea of-internationalizing
the Panama canal. The
Wilson idealism comes high, in terms
of dollars and cents, t
There was idealism in the White
House but practicalism in Great
Britain. No idealism there, but just
hardheaded commercialism. The
real source, of the. demand to impose
on .American vessels tolls for use of
an American canal, costing $400,
000,000 of American, money, was
doubtless Canada. It wanted to use
the great waterway on eiual terms
with American ships. It demanded
aid from the imperial government
and ' It was given. The dusty Hay
Pauncefote , treaty was brought to
light, and demand made on America
to comply with its . terms as Creat
Britain interpreted them In iti own
interest. President Wilson yielded
to Great Britain, and congress yield
ed to "President Wilson; and Cana
dian and British ships are carrying
freight through the canal which
might, and would, otherwise go to
American ships.
An idealism which dreams about
what it can do for the benefit of the
world stands little chance in conflict,
with the commercialism of a nation
which knows what It wants for itself.
HOLD DOWN THE MEMBERSHIP.
The present congress or, failing
action by it, the new congress, has
an opportunity so- prove its sincerity
in promising, to reduce government
expenditure when it comes to .make
the new apportionment of members
based on the census of 1920. IS very
census since the constitution became
effective, with the exception of that
of 1840, has been followed by an in
crease in the membership of - the
house of representatives until it has
reached 4 35. '
This is too large a membership for
expeditious transaction of public
business. It tends to concentrate ac
tual control of business in the'hands
of a few leaders, and it limits the
sense of responsibility of members
both by that fact and bydivision
among so many. It adds to expense
of government without correspond
ing increase in service. Including
salaries Of secretary, clerk afid ste
nographer, each representative costs
$12,000 a year directly, besides the
cost of stationery and of printing
speeches and documents. It buries
many members in a crowd, reducing
them to the status of agents for their
districts and xt pliant party men. A
smaller body is far more efficient,
for each member's sense of responsi
bility is proportionately increased.
As .the population of the country
grows, either the number of mem
bers or the number represented by
each member must . be increased,
tvery state is reluctant to lose mem
bers, therefore congress has taken
the easy way by adding more mem
bers from the states showing large
increase of population.. The people
look' o, the new congress' to abandon
the easy way for the right way,
though, it involve loss of a few mem
bers by- some states. The member
ship of the house should be . de
creased, at the very worst it should
not be increased; in order that one
item in cost of government may be
reduced or held stationary and that
the house may work effectively.
TOWNSHEND SEEKS VINDICATION.
The chickens of British war-blunderers
are coming home to roost.
General Charles Townshend, the hero
of Kut el Amara and the Irian select
ed as the goat by the men guilty of
the early disasters in Mesopotamia,
has been elected to parliament from
Wrekin. When he was nominated
he had an invitation from' General
Wraig-el to take command "o-f one of
the white armies in south Russia,
and he said the alternative for him
was between Wrekin and W ran gel.
The cause of Wrangel is now irre
trievably lost, and his election has
given him 'the alternative.
The episode of the war in which
Townshend was the leading figure
was one of the most shameful for
the Asquith cabinet. The British
government called on 'that of India
to supply troops and material for the
campaign and continually enlarged
the field of operations without con
tributing more than most meagre
aid, after it had for years imposed
the most rigid economy on the In
dian government. It first aimed to
occupy the port of Basra-and vicin
ity, but it was lured on by easy sue
cess to penetrate farther into the
country until after taking Kut Town
shend was ordered to push on and
take Bagdad with a worn and deci
mated army. The result was the de
feat at Ctesiphon, the tragic retreat
to Kut, the siege and final surrender
of that place. Attempts at relief
were bungled as badly as was the
whole campaign. Transport was mis
erably deficient, being dependent on
the Tigris river, the medical corps
was weak and incompetent, and
troops reached tfie front in driblets.
The Turkish lines, were impregnable
and the only chance of relief was to
outflank them with a superior force
But as troops arrived, they were
wasted pieceneal on frontal attacks,
a fine army was ruined, and Kut
was lost.
A commission brought out the
whole story of criminal . folly and
named high officers as guilty, among
them being Lord Hardinge, viceroy
of India, but none of them has been
punished. If that had been done, re
sponsibility would have been traced
up to Asquith, then premier, and . to
Austen Chamberlain, then secretary
for India and now chancellor' of the
exchequer. Influence was too strong
An attempt was made to fix respon
sibility on Townshend, but the worst
that was said of him was that, when
besieged, be scut misleading mes-
sages to the relieving army, and that
is disputed.
Townshend may now demand that
his record be cleared and that the
blame be placed where it belongs.
He will have a forum in the house of
commons from which he can reach
the whole British people and where
he can-not be silenced. Asquith, who
seems to imagine that the people
have already forgotten his utter fail
ure as a war premier, will be on the
defensive, and Lloyd George will feel
bound to stand by his colleague.
Chamberlain.
Admiral Jellicoe. another war
hero, is also under fire. There has
been a lively controversy in the Lon
don Times on the question whether
he showed undue caution at the bat
tle of Jutland and should have fol
lowed up the German fleet and de
stroyed it, though he did lose more
ships by torpedoes and mines. Men
who are proud of British naval tra
ditions are not pleased with' the con
trast between Jutland and Trafalgar.
CHKIST5L4S TREES.
The ' estimate by -federal forestry
officials that between four and five
million young evergreens are used
annually as Christmas trees is ac
companied, fortunately for the peace
of mind of certain ultra-conserva
tionists, by the statement that the
practice of cutting them does not
threaten our forests witji extinction.
It is the 'opinion of department of
ficials that the custom is so old, so
well grounded and so venerated that
even if it, were economically some
what indefensible, its social 'aspects
would outweigh its disadvantages.
There is, however, little or no rea
son to suppose that the practice on
the whole is incompatible with the
welfare of the forests.
Nature's amazing fecundity is il
lustrated in her forests, in which
millions of seedling trees in excess
of the number necessary for mainte
nance of the species spring up an
nually. The superflous members of
the forest company in due course of
time would fail in the struggle for
existence. ' It is .recognized by the
department that Christmas trees cut
the- vicinity of cities are taken
from land that would never develop
into commercial forests if let alone.
but would be cleared in the ordinary
course' of farm and town improve
ments. For these reasons, the de
partment is inclined' to encourage
the age-old custom.
A word of caution. is spoken, how
ever, against vandalism in tree cut
ting. The supply of Christmas trees,
if not of commercial timber, will be
conserved by care not to denude con
siderable spots in any. one place and
by treating the area from which
trees are taken as a potential source
of future supply. 'Trees ought to be
cut in such, a manner as not to- fh
jure those remaining, and precau
tion should be taken against leaving
litter, to inerease the fire hazard.
With these rules in mind and with a
little of the spirit of give-and-take
such as ought to be easy to Invoke
around Christmas time, the Christ
mas tree ought to give joy perpet
ually.
Douglas fir is pre-eminently the
Christmas tree of choice in the Pa
cific northwest because it is the pre
dominating evergreen, but Engle-
mann spruce and most of the pines
are also utilized. The custom dates
back; to remote antiquity, and, is
so. well established that it would jus
tify' a department in forestry of its
own if there were no other way to
cater to the wholesome purpose that
It serves.
Portland nexxweek will have the
only large poultry and pet stock
show in this region this winter. Sec
retary Whitmore says the exhibits
will be free to the public. That is an
innovation and assures record atten
dance. There is something about, a
chicken show that attracts not
only the "cranks,"' but nearly all as
well: everybody has. an idea as to
getting rich with hens and goes to a
show to prove it to others who will
listen.
The automobile Is here to stay un
til the aeroplane succeeds it as the
car did the bicycle: There will be
accidents, with fatalities. Pedes
trians have rights, but no right to
take a chance; neither has a driver.
The victim who is killed can say
nothing; the ' driver who does the
killing tells his one-sided story. Is a
machine less dangerous than a gun?
Irregularities with women lead to
death and lesser troubles. The coun
try will be deluged with the details
of the killing of Jake Hamon, poli
tician of Oklahoma, to its fill. The
few commandments that pertain still
hold good. ;
Secretary Colby should be given
what he asks to protect the Declara
tion of Independence and the Consti
tution. This country to not given
much to worshiping idols, but those
sacred documents must be kept from
harm.
Some fellows who carry a bottle
of moonshine in the hip pocket may
not know it was made from swill and
may not care. The man who drinks
moonshine has a thirst that passeth
understanding. ',-
Now it seems that Colonel House
got $1000 a. month for the period
when he was one of the peace com
missioners at Paris. No wonder he
maintained a dignified silence.
The name Sandy road was in use
when old citizens were barefoot boys.
Calling it a boulevard was a conces
sion to civic culture. Further change
will be iconoclasm.
Governor Cox in a letter to the
local Cox club blames human nature
for his defeat. It certainly would
have been contrary to human nature
for htm to win.
Test shows many high school girls
at Hood River have defective teeth,
but, pshaw! who up -there eats the
core and grinds the seeds.
. Rains or showers, winds easterly
or southerly, they are- Portland's
own, and who would have them
otherwise?
After all, there's nothing like a
baby for a Christmas present and the
tree that blooms that way is blessed.
Constantine says he expects to sail
for Athens this week. He'd better
play safe and buy a return trip ticket.
Now that the war lords have been
repealed it's really time to repeal the
war laws.
Ants, well diggers and profligates
are builders who begin at the top.
Comment on the weather is risky.
something may jar loose.
Stars and Starmakers. '
By Leone Caaa Baer.
THEDA BARA closed her sbow, "The
Blue Flame," in Chicago two
weeks ago and we saw it the closing
night. Personally I wonder why she
delayed the closing. She is very sad
as an actress on the speaking stage
and the play is a mess. She may
make the play over into a film, or she
announced that she may retire to pri
vate life and enjoy the. fortune she
has accumulated.
Sophie Tucker continues to be the
sensation in Chicago, and her devotees
follow her from one big vaudeville
house to the next to hear her new
songs and see her new frocks. She
has one capital new melody called
"Learning," composed by herself and
Jules Buffano, the piano player in her
jazz band, and which is being whis
tled and hummed by everyone who
hears Sophie sing It. Miss Tucker
will not be out this way this season,
and in May she resumes her engage
ment in Atlantic City. Nfexf season
she may go to London. ; She has been
offered a big. engagement there and
may take - it. i
Chic Barrymore, featured as a Sanc
er and soloist in "Hello, Alexander,"
is in Chicago, with Sophie Tucker.
Little Miss Barrymore, who is no kin
to the others "of the same name, left
the Mclntyre and Heath production
In Los Angeles and hurried back to
Chicago and her friend. Miss Tucker,
who has made Miss Barrymore's ca
reer her especial care. Miss Tucker
is writing a sketch, assembling new
songs and music . and fitting the
clever Barrymore youngster out -for
vaudeville. '
Fritz Leiber, who used to play with
Robert' Mantell, is now out on his
own. We saw him billed all over
Chicago in Shakespearean repertoire,
but didn't drop in to see how,' he
does it. You can see Shakespeare al
most any time, but the "Follies and
the "Irenes" and the Winter Garden
come all too Infrequently in one's
life. Ashton Stevens said of Lieber's
Julius Caesar that It was "cheaply
horrible and horribly cheap."
1
We saw the "Honey Girl", in Chi
cago at Cohan's Grand. It is a re
vision of "Checkers" set to music,
with that keen comedian Joe Keno
featured. It is going on the road
soon and "The Hottentot" will Replace
it.
.
Saw Ethel Barrymore in her Zoe
A kins' piece, "Declasse," at Powers'
in her seventh week in Chicago. She
is a tremendous favorite in Chicago
and seats are sold out far ahead.
Another of the George White
Scandals" is a big attraction in Chi
cago at the Colonial, also in its sev
enth week. It is the "1920" version
with White himself a dancing hound
starred with the clever little Ann
Pennington. ' -
Jane Cowl is to have a theater built
and named for her in Chicago a Sel
wyn house. She is a great success
there in 'Smilin" Through."
.
"The Storm," one of the Langdon
MaoCorinick spectacular productions.
is having a big run in Chicago. It
has a sort of a plot, enough to hang
it together until the third act, which
is the forest fire scene that has top
lined on two occasions at the Orpheum.
This is the play Katherine Graham
appeared in when it received its first
presentations in the east. Miss Gra
ham, by the way, has arrived in Port
land to spend the Christinas holidays
with her parents. Captain and Mrs.
A. B. Graham.
Saw "Adam and Eve," a new Corn
stock & Gest -production, in Chicago.
Molly Mclntyre, who brought us
"Bunty PullB the Strings," Is playing
Eva. Molly has made her brown hair
a nice goldy gold.
"
A youthful Portlander, Gladys Wal
ton, has had a phenomenal rise from
an extra girl in the Universal com
pany in Hollywood. Miss Walton is
a type like Mayo Methot and about
the same age, 17. She has moved
her mother from Portland to the land
of her picture activities and now,
with a Persian kitten, an Alaskan
dog- and a roadster, her family is
complete. The day- we were at Uni
versal City Miss Walton was being
made into a film, but between spells
talked of her high school friends in
Portland. She is one of the few who
do not want" to return here. She
loves Los Angeles vnd her work too
much, she says.
"Listen, Lester," we saw In Los An
geles. It is a peachy nonsensical mu
sical comedy, and will be here for the
Christmas week.
Another Lester play has Just been
made from the Cort show, "Jim Jam
Jems." To avoid litigation with the
hectic magazine of the same name
the piece has been changed to "Hello,
Lester."
Arrangements are being made In
San Francisco for May Yohe to be
featured in a play, "Marrying Mary."
May Yohe, you remember, was once
Lady Hope and later married two or
three other gents. The play is to be
sponsored by John J. McArthur. Ned
Doyle has been engaged to produce
the show and Paul Ash will provide
the music It will have about 10 prin
cipals and a chorus of 12 girls.
Th show will probably open the
early part of December on the one
rsighters before trying the larger
'cities.
In Los Angeles, Edward Everett
Horton, who used to play leads here,
is making a wide circle of admirers.
He is featured as leading man with
the Wilkes stock players and his
playing of character roles has atract
ed attention from motion picture peo
ple, who have ofered him positions
at various times which he invariably
refuses. He really prefers the speak
ing stage. Mr. Horton's mother and
a younger brother are with him. They
have a big car and an ever increas
ing list of friends, but they still love
Portland and plan a vacation here
next summer.
-
Trixie Friganza is playing in Mem
phis, Tenn, but she has a new suit
pending in San Francisco in the su
preme court against Thomas Day,
theatrical manager, for $3050, al
leged due her for her part in "Poor
Mamma," whioh was produced' in San
Francisco last yar.
Those Who Come and Go.
"Idaho will have about $10,000,000
to spend for roads in 1921, but prob
ably not more than half that amount
can be used in the coming year," says
W. C. Stone, who has arrived in Port
land for the winter. Mr. Stone was
roadmaster for Bingham counts and
built 105 miles of grades and bridges,
13J miles of gravel road and eight of
paving in one year.- This past year,
as contractor, he built 67 miles of
grade and bridges, 14 miles of gravel
and put in 168 bridges and culverts.
In the coming year he is to build 12
miles of hard-surface. In Idaho, says
Mr Stone, efforts are being put for
ward to complete the north and south
road, which runs . from Lewiston to
Weiser, and is intended to run from
the Canadian line to the Lincoln hign
way. For 125 miles this road follows
along the Weiser river and Is highly
scenic. All but about 30 miles of this
highway has been constructed. Black
top is the pavement used for sur
facing in Idaho. The roads are paved
18 feet wide, with three-foot shoul
ders on each side. The roads are
usually almost level, but in the moun
tain district the maximum is 5 per
cent. With the $10,000,000 in sight,
the road programme In Idaho is be
intr prosecuted as vigorously as pos
sible. With 1000 chickens laying for him.
John W. Mtnto left the farm yester
day and came to Portland to talk
politics. Mr. Minto brought with him
90 dozen eggs and not one of the
1080 eggs was more than a few days
old. he asserts. Once upon a time
Mp. Minto was more familiar with
yeggs than eggs, but that was when
he was a policeman in Salem and
Portland and when he was warden of
the penitentiary. The evolution from
yeggs to eggs came about naturally,
through the medium of hogs. Mr.
Minto became a swineherd and was
on the way to become a pork pluto
crat until the bottom dropped out ot
the market and then he disposed of
his squealers and invested in cack
lers. The farm of Mr. Minto is only
12 miles outside of Portland, but he
only gets into town about every two
or three months.
To inspect the Oregon dairies and
study the dairy laws of Oregon, J. J.
Farrell, secretary of the Dairy Asso
ciation of Minnesota, is in Portland
and is registered at the Multnomah.
If Oregon has anything that will help
to better dairy conditions in Minne
sota Mr. Farrell wants to know about
It. "Oregon has the best dairy law
of any state that I am familiar with."
said Mr. Farrell. "The Oregon laws
protect the dairymen, the consumer
and the middleman, so that all con
cerned are given fair treatment. The
Oregon laws are firm but not drastic
or unreasonable and they cover every
point intelligently and from what I
can learn, they are satisfactory to
the producers."
About the maddest man in Portland
yesterday was 'John C. Sehulte of
New York, a traveling salesman. Mr.
Sehulte was on a train where the
porter of his car was too everlasting
ly obliging. The porter was so
anxious to give service that he didn't
want his passengers to handle their
own baggage. When Mr. Sehulte got
off the train at the station his suit
case was gone and the obliging porter,
who had taken care of it, didn't know
where he had placed it. The result
of this outrage was that several local
merchants had a chance to sell Mr.
Sehulte a new outfit yesterday after
noon. Mr. Sehulte is at the Hotel
Portland and still indignant.
Bringing a tale of woe. Jay Upton
arrived at the Benson yesterday from
Prineville. Mr. Upton says that there
Is plenty of hay in his district, but no
cattle to eat it. The hay business,
therefore, is suffering the same as the
stock business. Mr. Upton is the
newly elected state senator for Crook,
Deschutes. Jefferson, Klamath and
Lake counties, succeeding the late
Senator Baldwin. It is political gos
sip that Mr. Upton will be chairman
of the senate committee on irriga
tion when the appointments are given
out by the Presi'd'ent-to-be Ritner.
All of the Schmidt boys are at the
Imperial. The Schmidts have done
much for Oregon, although they reg
ister from Olympla, Wash. The
Schmidts, Frank T., Peter and Fred
erick, are in the loganberry juice
business and have spent a fortune in
advertising this strictly Oregon-made
product. A year ago they spent about
$90,000 telling the - people of the
United States the benefits to be de
rived from using loganberry juice in
its varied forms.
State senator for Coos and Curry
counties, member of the state fish
commission, president of the state
chamber of commerce, titles fall read
ily to Charles Hall of Marshfield. who
is at the Benson. When the legisla
ture meets Mr. Hall is expected to be
on the banking comimittee and the
committee on roads and highways. He
may grab off the chairmanship of
the latter committee.
Anyone with 70-odd acres in bear
ing fruit trees in -Oregon is a for
tunate individual. That is the happy
state of F. J. Robinson of Dallas, who
is in Portland on business. Mr. Rob
inson has a diversified orchard, specializing-
in walnuts, prunes, apples
and pears. With the prices command
ed by fruit this year, Mr. Robinson
can ,be envied by the men whose
money is in wheat and cattle.
Ivan . G. Martin of Salem was in
Portland attending to a divorce case
yesterday, his business being that of
a -lawyer as well as a lawmaker. Mr.
Martin has served repeatedly as a
member of the legislature, acting as
one of the delegation of Marion
county, and he will act in that ca
pacity again next month, when the
law 'machine begins grinding at the
state house.
W. D. Walters of Nehalem. Or., is at
the Hotel Oregon with his family.
Down at Nehalem and Wheeler now
the people are talking about a propo
sition to dike 1200 acres, at a cost of
about $125,000, which will provide
homes for 200 families. Plans of the
project have been drawn by engi
neers. F. G. Barnes, member of the legis
lature of the state of Washington, is
at the Imperial. He is registered
from Kelao, and sometime he regis
ters from Trout Lake. The legisla
ture of Washington is not as good as
the legislature of Oregon because the
former remains longer in session.
' Once upon a time, C. W. Barrick
was chief engineer at the penitentiary.
Probably reasoning that the peni
tentiary was filled , because of the
mistakes of lawyers. Mr. Barrick be
came an attorney and is now located
at Tillamook. He is registered at
the Imperial.
One of the best-known druggists
of The Dalles is M. Z. DonnelL He
is at the Hotel Portland with Mrs.
Donnell and came to town to attend
the meeting of druggists, who went
on record favoring the further elim
ination of liquor.
R. L. France, in the railroad bus
iness in San Francisco, is at the Hotel
Portland. During the war Mr. France
used to come to Portland and buy ties
the rialroad, not the neck variety.
Mrs. Charles TJmbach of Iakeview,
Or., is at the Imperial. Mrs. Umbach
Is the worthy grand matron -of the
order of Eastern Star, and Is on a
tour of Inspection. Her husband is
an attorney.
STSTESI IS 1)1 :('I.AItKL PRACTICAL
Christian Scientists Willing to Com
pare Results With Medical Men.
PORTLAND, Dec. S. (To the Edl
tor.) A fewdays ago there appeared
in The Qregonlan under the head
line "Christian Science Adherents
Warned," an article from Los Angeles
in which the district attorney of Los
Angeles county was quoted as saying
In a published letter:
It is. of course, well known . . . .
that parents suffering the fanaMHsms and
delusions resulting from the teachings of
what Is known as Christian Sulence or
other cults allow their innocent children
to languisn and die of malignant and
contagious diseases, feloniouslv refusing
and neglecting to provide that-, medics!
aid and attendance required by the statutes
ot the state of California.
The district attorney, it seems to
me, is undertaking overmuch if he
attempts to prove his assertions and
intimations. It sounds as though he
were seeking the limelight by build
ing up a straw man which he may
later take the credit for knocking
down. For he must surely be aware
of what is now so well known and
widely acknowledged, that Christian
Scientists are both intelligent and
law-abiding.
"Other cults" and other non-medical
healing systems should not be
confused with Christian Science as
taught by its founder and discoverer.
Mary Baker Eddy; for Christian
Science stands alone, distinct from all
other systems, as re-establishing the
purely spiritual healing methods of
Jesus Christ. As did he. Christian
Science teaches absolute reliance upon
God as the healer of both sickness
and sin "who healeth all thv
diseases." Ps. cili:3. -If we iude-e It
"by its fruits,'" the success of this
method of healing by prayer, as
taught in our denominational text
book. "Science and, Health. With Key
to the Scriptures." by Mrs. Eddy, fully
justifies the assertion that it Is prov
ing itself to be the most effective and
reliable curatijre system known to
mankind, in innumerable instances
restoring to perfect health after all
oher means have failed.
Christian Science 's pre-eminently
practical, as much in cases of con
tagious and malignant diseases as in
other types, and when parents be
come convinced of this through per
sonal experience, it is not unnatural
they should want, and intelligently
so. the same practical remedy for
their children. Such parents give
every evidence of loving their chil
dren and thoughtfully seeking their
welfare quite as much as do Chris
tians of other faiths.
If Christian Scientists fail to heal
In every case, what Is to be said of
the practice of medicine rii.
and1 death are contlnnaHy occurring
under medical treatment, in spltft of
the best that physicians can do. Why
not as reasonably accuse and threaten
with prosecution those who adhere
to the medical systems for "allowing
their innocent children to Tanguish
and die," because they too have failed
to get the desired results in all
cases? The master gave sound advice
when he said "Judge not, that ye
be not Judged."
THEODORE BURKHART.
COTJXTIES CAW EXDrHB XO MORE
Legislation for Jlor Taxes Would
Wreck Them on Limitation Reef.
TOLEDO. Or, Dec. 6. (To th4 Edi
tor.) I am a reader of the. rimrnn
Voter, and admire the thorough and
forceful way in which all subjt-cts
are handled by that magazine. But
I wish to take issue with it on the
subject of "Getting Around the Tax
limitation," appearing November 27.
In the clos'ng sentence these words
appear: 'The only anoarent remeriv
for this condition is legislative re
straint." I am not quite sure If it is
meant to amend or abolish the mar
ket roads law. "Restraint," as ap-
piiea to a jaw, seems to me means
to make it inoperative.
Under normal conditions the 8 per
cent limitation amendment was all
right, but conditions are not nol-mal
and will not be ' for some years to
come. It has worked a great hard
ship on county funds. County courts
have been up against a 100 per cent
raise In material and labor, and could
only make a 6 per cent raise in tax
ation. If the market roads law was
intended as an evasion of the 6 per
cent limitation, it was under all th
conditions justified.
The funds provided by the mar
ket roads law were a godsend to
most counties. The law seems to be
giving" general satisfaction. It pro
vides a means of permanent Improve
ment for roads of leseer importance
under state supervision. The objec
tionable parts of the law as regards
Multnomah county are apparent and
could be remedied by amendment. At
the same time amend the law so the
counties and state can each vote 3
mills instead of one as at present.
Also amend the law so the state
treasurer will have to turn over to
the various county treasurers their
portions of this money at the earliest
possible moment. This money la stay
ing too long in Salem.
Anything the legislature does at
the coming session will not relieve
the counties from their serious
financial condition for 1921. It can
help, however, by not passing any
legislation whatsoever that will in
crease our taxes. If this cannot be
done, then it should provide for rev
enue from new sources to meet the
added tax burden of new legislation.
Absolutely the counties cannot stand
any increase in taxes and still op
erate under the 6 per cent limitation
law.
The market roada law was the one
anchor to windward that kept the
counties off the 6 per cent limitation
reef. By all means save it.
JAY W. DUNN,
Commissioner Lincoln County.
FAIR.VESS.
How about the one. my brother",
Who in harness works with you?
Do you, for his earnest-efforts.
Aim to give him credit due?
You may wear the gilcred trappings
And empowered to command.
May forget the silent factor
Working for you, heart and hand.
On another's aid relying
Can you truthfully proclaim
To the world what you've accom
plished Without mentioning his name?
Clasp the hand that truly aids you.
Giving earnestness its due.
And the joy of honest sharing
Richly will compensate you.
JANETTE MARTIN.
What Can Lonely Woman Do,
PORTLAND, Dec. 7. (To the Edi
tor.) "A Woman's Plea to Santa" I
read, and it struck home. I am a
lonely widow because I have lost my
mate. Like her, I would like a clean,
home companion. I am a well
preserved woman, but the well
preserved men my age seem to be
looking for chickens, and the others
look as if they needed a nurse. One
does not feel like nursing at my
age, but if one could find a com
panion who had a little home, one
would only be too glad to make that
home attractive and homelike. A
club for the lonely, I am afraid,
would not do. for it would bring
the undesirable. I dare not sign my
name or my people would laugh at
me. WIDOW.
True Diplomacy.
"Did you ever try to convince a
man that he is wrong?'
"Well, not exactly. I usually get
him to believe that I am right, and let
it go at that." Judge.
More Truth Than Poetry.
By James J. Montague.
THIS UOLFKR'S DEFIANCK.
I have no quarrel with reform;
I know that it would ill behoove me
To gnash my teeth and rage and
storm
At others' efforts to improve me.
When Mr.' Volstead's law forbade
A further alcoholic diet,
I saved what little stuff I had
And only drank it on the quiet.
I'll not indulge in language blue
Or waste my time in futile croaking.
When in another year or two
I'm ordered to forego my smoking.
I'd not make trouble if I could
Because, as the reformers view It.
They pass these measures for my good
And, anyway, they're going to do it.
But if they take my golf away,
A pleasure I enjoy but ONE day,
(Because I have no time to play
Around the course except on.
Sunday).
Although I'm not a man to let
A casual vexation try me,
I'm going to try my darndest yet
To lay those emus old birds a
stymie.
I don't need
smokes;
booze; I don't reed
And though
I rather hate to lose
em,
ril give 'em up, if better folks
Than I declare I mustn't, use 'em.
I've been an easy man to drive
Resembling muoh dumb driven
cattle
But just as long as I'm alive
111 not quit golf without a battle.
It Makes Difference.
Demand for some things must he
slackening. Nowadays automobile
salesmen almost smile at you when
you go into one of their stores.
a
Far From the Madding Office Seekers.
It strikes us that Mr. Hardinir
would have been wise to remain in
Panama till his appointments were,
all announced.
Here o Stay.
The Volstead law will never be
repealed. The bootleggers' lobbv is
already strong enough to prevent
any such thing.
(Copyright, by the Bell Syndicate Co. Tnc
John Burroughs Nature
Notes.
CAAT YOU A55WKR THESE Q.IES
TIO.S? 1- Is the blue heron easily seen?
2. What i3 the height of the
Yosomite Falls?
3. Why do wild ajiimal-s some
times flee to man for protection?
Answers in tomorrow's nature notes,
a m
Answers to Previous Questions.
1. How do different birds seize and
carry their prey?
One day I saw an eagle flying- over
with somthing like a rope dangling;
from its feet, probably a black snake.
A bird carries its capture with the
member by which it seizes it. which
with birds of prey Is the foot, and
with other birds the beak. The king
fisher lives upon fish, and he always
seizes them with his beak and swal
lows them head foremost.
2. Will coons try and wash their
food even if no water is available?
Dallas Lore Sharp says that hi
tame coon would go through the mo
tions of washing its food on the up
turned bottom of Its empty tub, and
that it would try to wash its oysters
in. the straw on the floor of its cage.
This habit doubtless had, its origin
in some past need or condition ofi
life of the race of coons, and it per
sists after that need is gone.
3. What does a bee never Ieara
from experience?
We marvel at what we call the wis
dom of the hive bee. yet there Is one
thing she never learns from experi
ence, and that Is, that she is storing
up honey for the use of man. Neither
does she ever know when she has
enough to carry her through the win
ter. Gather and store honey as long
as there is any to be had is htr
motto, and in that rule she is safe.
(Rights reserved by Houghton-Mifflin Co.)
In Other Days.
Twenty-Five Tears Atco.
From The Oregonlan of December 9, 1?!5.
Cleveland, O. The first case on rec
ord of a perfect cure of a broken neck
has been perfected here. The patient
is Erwin Keiciei, a 14-year-old boy.
m
Workmen are busily engaged in
laying the conduits for the under
ground lines of the telephone com
pany on Washington street.
The October report of the city
health officer shows 59 marriages and
104 births.
The electric cars will soon be in'
operation on First street, laying of
the track having been completed Frw
day.
I-'ifty Tears Abo.
From The Oregnniao. of December 170.
E. S. Kearney, United States mar
shal for Washington, territory, was
in the city yesterday, en route from
Walla Walla to Olympla.
Ex-Governor Woods will take the
next steamer for San Francisco and
thence will go east on business.
It is reported that a nugget of gold
worth 183 was found In the Eagle
creek diggings last week.
JANITORS STTLL OX OLD SCALE"
One Class of Phone Employes Needs
Part of Proposed New Revenues. .
PORTLAND. Dec. 8. (To the Edi
tor.) I saw in The Oregonlan a short
time ago that the Pacific Telephone
company was asking for a raise in
rates. Now I think that It should
have more money. It pays pretty
good wages to all but the Janitors.
For some reason it pays janitors only
$75 to $80 per month. A man can
hardly live on that money.
They should have at least $1 00.
Rents are high and so is everything:
that they have to buy.
I know that the Janitors are nearly
all old, but they have to live. They
pay the same street car fare, the same
for coffee, tea, flour and everything
else to eat and wear. I know several
of these Janitors and know them to
be good and faithful workers, and I
think that If the commission allows
a raise in rates that the Janitors
should get some of it.
All of the operators and all men in
other departments have had several
raises in wages, but the poor Janitors
none. I hear that the phone com
pany Janitors in Seattle get at least
$90. Now Portland should be as good
a town to live in as Seattle. Don't
you think so? These Janitors work
eight hours, some at night and some
in the day, and some part night and
day. Can you tell me why they
should not have more pay so that
they can live like white people and
be able to dress their families liku
other people? I think if the public
knew it they would be willing 'to pay
enough for their phones o that the
company could pay more for janitors
as well as for material for new line
and automatic phones.
AX OLD MAH.