10
THE MORNING OREGONIAN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1921
JlTtmuujj(Drrirmtta
mABUSUED BY HENRY L. PITTOCK.
Fubiiahed bjr The Oreknnlan Publtehtn( Co.,
Hi (sixth Street, Cortland, Oresoa.
C. A. MORDEN, E. B. PIPER.
Manager. I Editor.
The Oresonlan la a member of tha Aaeo
elated I'reaa Tha Aaeoclated I'reaa la e-
eluaively entitled to tha uee for publication
of all newa diepatchea eredlted to It or not
fihiirwli, credited In thla paper and alao
the local newa publlahed herein. All rlahta
or publication of apccial dlapaKhea herein
are alao ree-rved.
Subecrlptlon Ratee Invariably la Advene.
By Mall.)
Pally, Funday Included, one year 9.00
I'ally, humlay Included, all month, ... 4 2H
I'ally, Kuniiny Included, three month!.. 2 25
Jally, Sunday Included, one rnnnlh ... .7S
liiy, without Sunday, one year ot
I'ally. without Sunday, ai tnontha .... 23
Iany. without Sunday, one month M
Weekly, one year 1.00
Sunday, one year 2.30
Pr -Carrier.
Pally. Sunday Included, one year $0 00
I'ally, Sunday Included, three mnntha.. 2.2.1
Ially, Sunday Included, one month ... .71
Ially, without Sunday, one year T B0
i'ally. without Sunday, three month,.. 1.0.1
Dally, without Sunday, one month 63
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ici oana. stamp,, coin or currency are
at owner', rlk. Ulva poatnfflce adUreia In
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to 21 pag-ee, 2 rente: 3t to 4S patea. X
cent,: .".0 to paae,, 4 cent: ml to 80
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l'oriitn poataaa double rate.
Kaetern Mil'tlneaa Of'tr Verree AY Conk.
lln, it'll Madiaon avenue. New York; Verree
t onklln. steger building. Chicago; Ver
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trolt, Mich.: Verree 4k fonklln. Selllna
building-. Portland; San Franciaco repre-
A WORLD-WIDE PROBLEM.
If the conference on unemploy
ment should not confine Itself to
finding or making- jobs In the imme
diate future for the unemployed, but
should seek the causes of unemploy
ment and means to remove them, it
Tv-ould branch out Into the entire
field of national and International
affairs. For the reason why a cer
tain man Is out of a Job we may
Jiave to go to some remote country
and consider the state of Its trade
and industry, the manner in which
they have been affected by the
events of the last seven years and
the racial and religious quarrels of
Its inhabitants with their neighbors.
Vnempioyment in the United
States Is caused by the reduced pur
chasing power of its people. That
is in large part caused by the re
duced ability of other nations to buy
our products. They cannot buy be
cause this nation and some of those
other nations cannot buy what they
would produce. A vicious cycle of
unemployment is revolving similar
to that vicious cycle of rising prices
end rl.sing wages which revolved
during the war.
depreciation of foreign money In
proportion to American money Is in
large measure responsible. It has
created a gap between the price at
which one nation will sell and that
at which another nation will buy.
It Is a gap not easily bridged, for
the money of each country is less
depreciated at home than In that of
some other country. Bridging of
that gap either causes the seller to
suffer loss or the buyer to pay an
excessive price. If the value of for
eign money measured In dollars were
constant, the bridge might be built,
but it varies so that an expected
profit la often turned Into loss. Hence
buying is limited, and work in pro
ducing things for sale Is also lim
ited. If other nations stopped increas
ing their debts and began to pay
tbem. the value of their money
would rise, and they could more
easily sell and thereby get moans to
buy, which would make more Jobs
in this and other countries. Hence
the unemployed in America have an
interest in the solvency of govern
ments in distant countries, even the
Balkan states, which are reputed to
breed little but wars.
Armament Is one of the main
r-auxes of national insolvency: un
settled quarrels between nations
cause armament, consequently the
unemployed in America have an in
terest in settlement of those quar
rels, in order that armies may be re
duced, budgets balanced, money
raided In value and thereby trade
revived. Then success of the dis
armament conference would help to
solve the unemployment problem.
Other governmental policies, which
would operate right at home, can
bring quicker results. The proposed
adjustment with the railroads would
provide them with about half a bil
lion dollars, which they would ex
pend In employing labor to Improve
their lines with material produced
by still more labor. These Improve
ments would reduce cost of opera
tion, hastening the day when ,the
roads can reduce rates, causing re
duction in prices, which would stim
ulate buying of goods, in production
of which more labor would be em
ployed. The high Income surtaxes cause
many men to invest their surplus in
exempt bonds, proceeds of which
are not invested in continuously pro
ductive enterprises employing large
numbers of men. Scaling1 down of
those tax rates would divert much
money Into productive industry,
which would reduce the number of
unemployed.
Ily enabling farmers to sell their
crops on a favorable market, the
farmers' credit law will supply
money to pay debts at banks, thus
thawing out frozen credits and set
ting money free for use in business
of all kinds. Farmers will secure
funds to buy seed and implements
with which to cultivate more acre
r.ge and grow more livestock. More
labor will then be employed, both in
producing what farmers buy and on
their farms.
The trade of this country and of
the whole world may be compared
to a network of streams, flowing
between nations and continents,
feeding one country with the prod
ucts of another and carrying back
the products of that other to the
first in accordance with a system
worked out by many men through
many years. The great cataclysm
through which the world has passed
dammed some of these streams and
diverted others from their course,
disjointing the entire system. The
task now under way is restoration
cf that system, with such changes
as the results of the war dictate, in
order that the flow of trade may be
renewed in full volume. The. con
ference on unemployment can show
the way to mend the smallest breaks,
tut It should point out the greater
breaks and obstructions and their
relation to the problem. Thus it
may spread comprehension of the
fart that unemployment is but a
eymptom of a world-wide disease,
the euro of which must be under
taken by the United States in col
laboration with other rations.
Ten years ago a man went to
work; in aa eastern Oregon ware-
bouas. Ha was Industrious and
saved money. Then he speculated
and ("amassed" a small fortune. Now
f e Is miming and the mourners are
quite a few. A (ew morals can be
worked out of the affair.
FOUR-HORSE OR ONE-HORSE SHOWS?
The lively row among the moving
picture men as to "Four Horsemen
of the Apocalypse" should have real
educative value, to say nothing of
the free advertising given the pro
duction super-production, in the
convincing language of the publicity
agent. It should lead to a general
brushing tip on information as to the
Identity of the gloomy riders of the
equestrian quartette ind to greater
familiarity, we hope, with one of the
wonderful books of the New Testa
ment. Thus far will we go in giv
ing a clew to the uninitiated in the
hope that they will do the rest for
themselves.
But publfc interest in the con
troversy does not end there or It
should not. It goes to the true uses
of the auditorium built with public
funds, maintained In part by box
office receipts and dedicated to cer
tain public uses. What uses?
One of the lawyers in the hearing
before the city commission declared
that the auditorium was a com,
petitive institution: that' is to say, a
competitor of existing private the
atrical, film and other show inter
ests. If that is so, it is the plain
cuty of the auditorium management
to procure from exhibitors there the
largest possible revenues. As it Is
now, the fee for the auditorium is
designed to cover but little more
than operating expenses. At least
we may so infer from the fact that
during the current year the audi
torium receipts will show a small
balance over expenses, with no ac
count taken of interest on the bonded
Indebtedness $1000 per month, or
more which the taxpayer puts up.
Let us disclaim any purpose to pass
Judgment on the merits of the pres
ent interesting controversy. It may
all be "bull," as one of the dis
putants so elegantly and wittily said.
But one of two things is true: The
auditorium should be devoted to the
purposes for which it was built
the housing of large conventions or
big meetings or great spectacles,
tor which no suitable theater or
arena can otherwise be provided
or It should be made a profit-marking
enterprise. The one policy rec
ognizes and asserts a public duty to
perform a public service, which pri
vate capital will not undertake,
without the assurance of adequate
financial returns or at least it has
not been undertaken in Portland
and the other involves the mu
nicipality in the risks and vicissi
tudes of the show business. Waiving
the question as to the ethics or Jus
tice of the latter method, which
means immediate and sharp compe
tition with private concerns, it Is
not to be supposed that the taxpay
ers would be willing to have their
money used in any such speculative
venture.
It is well enough that the audi
torium be employed to preserve the
balance in the local theatrical and
moving-picture situation so that no
combination among local producers
will exclude from appearance or ex
hibition here anything which the
public may have a right to see. It
is complained that the auditorium
may be used, and in the present in
stance has been used, as a "club"
over the film men. Well, a club, to
be Judiciously used on occasion, is
not an unhandy weapon to have
around.
CtTTING THE GORDIAN KNOT.
When the" Greeks fought the
Turks at Gordlum, near the con
fluence of the rivers Sakarla and
Pursak, fast August, their arms may
have been nerved by the thought
that at that ctty in the year 334
B. C. the Greek conqueror, Alexan
der the Great, cut the Gordian knot
and thereby won the title of lord of
Asia. In the twenty-one and a half
centuries which have intervened.
Greece has seen the empire of Alex
ander extend over all western Asia
as far as the River Indus, over the
Balkan peninsula, Egypt and north
ern Africa, as far as the ruins of
Carthage. It has seen that empire
break Into fragments and has itself
been subject to a succession of con
querors. A century ago it rose
against the Turks, and now it has
recovered all ancient Greek lands.
end has carried its conquests over
its former oppressors to the ancient
city in Asia, from which Alexander
started on his victorious campaign
against Darius, king of Persia.
The story of the Gordian knot Is
that after advancing from the alte
of Troy, defeating the Persians on
the River Granlcus and conquering
all of western Asia Minor, Alexander
arrived at the close of summer 124
B. C. at the city which had been
founded by Gordlus, who was elected
king of Phrygia. The king cele
brated his election by dedicating to
Zeus his car, of which the yoke was
bound to the .pole with a knot of
cornel bark. An oracle declared that
whoever should untie that knot
should reign over all Asia. Alexander
proved his superiority to oracles by
cutting the knot with a stroke of his
sword and by conquering all of Asia
that was then known to the western
nations. When he reached the Indus
he thought he was near the end of
the world, and would have gone
farther to finish its conquest, but his
soldiers refused and he was com
pelled to turn back.
Since Alexander wielded his sword.
the Gordian knot has been cut many
times in metaphor by those who
gave no thought to the origin of the
phrase. In a sense, the Greeks are
cutting it for the allies. The na
tionalist revolt against the treaty of
Sevres was a Gordian knot which the
allies could cut only with the sword.
They shrank from wielding it, both
because they were satiated with war
and because they feared to provoke
revolt among their Moslem subjects.
Greece has no cause to respect the
teellngs of the Moslem, therefore has
undertaken the task, and will expect
to be paid handsomely with a large
part of the. territory that Alexander
won.
GUESS AGAIN.
It is tritely said that we learn' by
experience, which Implies either sat
isfaction with a successful course of
action or regret for one that failed.
Ty Cobb, ex-star of major league
baseball and present manager of the
letroit team, testifies that the most
perilous psychological factor in the
game is second guessing. That Is to
say, the predilection for mentally
revising a futile play and wasting
time and spirit in vain remorse. Such
a course, he implies, is fatal to that
Instantaneous sagacity with which
f
the big leaguers meet and best their
emergencies.
"The second guess In baseball, and
lis twin brother, the post-mortem in
poker," Tyrus is quoted as saying,
"are the greatest enemies of man
kind." He is pleased 'to be facetious, even
when declaring his truism of the na
tional game. With that his readers
have no concern, but they so often
have been informed that all games
of athletic skill are singularly like
the greater game of life that they
cannot fall to discern here an im
portant distinction. The second
guess in mortal affairs is that potent
essence of Judgment which revives
and stimulates the, strong of heart,
as it enervates trie coward. One
cannot imagine a successful business
institution, with a well-defined code
of procedure, that has- not learned
its lesson and written its rules from
the wisdom of the second guess. Tlje
first may, as in baseball, be an in
spirational flash or a baldly apparent
fact, but there is all about us the
wreckage of first guesses that were
Deither. It is different with the
second guess. Given leave to make
it, and to apply Its logic, the player
wins more often than he loses.
The difference seems to ' be that
few mistakes may be rectified by the
sthlete, while life Is liberal and mag
nanimous to those who play the
greater game. Guess again, is the
genial challenge of fate.
MEXICO COMINO TO TERMS.
Mexico presents an example of
sudden cooling of the ardent Latin
temperament when capital goes on
strike. Having refused as a condi
tion of recognition to make a treaty
with the United States declaring
article 27 of tha Mexican constitu
tion not retroactive, thus exposing
American oil men to the risk that
their property would be confiscated.
President Obregon increased the ex
port tax on oil. The oil companies
at Tamplco then shut down their
plants, stopped exports and with
held back taxes. That stopped the
flow of money into the Mexican
treasury. On August 12 Under-Secretary
of State Fletcher repeated
that a declaration holding article 27
non-retroactive was essential to
recognition.
Then things began' to happen in
Mexico. On August 2 the heads of
five American oil companies arrived
to confer with Obregon. On the
10th the Mexican supreme court de
clared that article 27 was not retro
active, thus confirming title to their
property and declaring that It could
not be confiscated. On September 4
an agreement on oil taxes was
reached between Mexican officials
and the oil mem A few days later
exports were resumed at Tamplco
and back-taxes were paid at Mexico
City, the strike thus being off. Ob
regon on July 12 had asked all na
tions whose citizens have claims
against Mexico to appoint members
of a commission to arrange adjust
ment with Mexican representatives.
Mexico thus, by the Judicious ex
ercise of pressure, has ret matters
right with the United States, but
something remains to be done in
order to secure the adjustment
against change. In this country a
supreme court decision would be
considered the best securLty in such
a matter as the interpretation of
article 27, .but the Mexican supreme
court has been known to reverse it
self and It might do so again. There
fore a treaty signed by both nations'
delegates,) desired as a condition of
recognition, "safeguarding property
rights against confiscation" by
means of a declaration that the
article is not retroactive. Obregon
has objected that Mexico had al
ready pledged its faith to that ef
fect and that "there are certain
things which a country may not do
without surrender of sovereignty
and self-respect," a treaty stipula
tion to place a certain interpreta
tion on its constitution apparently
being one, for he preferred to await
a supreme court decision. He also
holds that recognition should pre
cede a treaty, while the state de
partment holds that making of a
treaty would of itself constitute rec
ognition. Obregon seems to stand
on punctilio and should find no ob
jection to an agreement to do what
his constitution requires, as now
construed.
A treaty can hardly be long de
layed by which Mexico will re-enter
the company of responsible nations
from which civil war and outrage'on
foreigners removed it ten years ago.
The practical assurance of immunity
from responsibility for crimes
against foreigners which was given
by President Wilson's watchful wait
ing was a temptation to crime. That
immunity is now denied by Presi
dent Harding, who without the
slightest Intention of aggression has
given Mexico to understand that
American rights will be upheld.
There is no hint of force in the
American policy, but Obregon knows
that force Is behind It, ready for use.
That Is enough, for It will secure
American rights and will Inspire re
spect for the United States without
the firing of a shot.
HOPES FOR PEACE IN IRELAND.
The most encouraging fact about
the latest correspondence between
Lloyd George and De Valera is that
neither is willing to say the last
word which would end negotiations
and renew war. Neither dares as
sume this awful responsibility.
Behind De Valera's words can be
visualized on the one hand men who
would risk all for an independent
Irish republic and who believe that
now or never is the time to stand
unflinchingly for this extreme de
mand; on the other hand a great
rumber, probably a large majority,
of the Irish people who are weary
of war, who shudder at the thought
of its renewal and whom it would
be difficult to convince that the dif
ference between independence and
dominion government was worth its
price In blood and sorrow. Hence
he insists that Sinn Fein delegates
would represent an independent,
sovereign state, yet he maintains
that assertion of this claim on his
part does not imply that conference
with Sinn Fein delegates would
constitute recognition of its validity
by Britain.
Believing that he has offered
everything possible consistent with
Ireland's remaining a member of the
British commonwealth of nations,
Lloyd George Is cautious not to be
drawn into further concessions, even
by implication. Ills refusal to re
ceive a letter asserting that Sinn
Fein delegates would represent an
Independent, sovereign republic
spring? from the rule of diplomacy
that, when agents of a country ap
pear as acting in a certain capacity,
their reception and negotiation, with
them recognizes their right to act in
that capacity. ' Thus in the British
premier's view, if he went into con
ference with the Sinn Fein delegates
after their authority had been thus
defined, he would by so doing rec
ognize the validity of the claim to
independence and separation which
he brands as secession and which,
he has said, will never be recognized.
When the premier appeared to
have brought negotiations to the
breaking point, the Sinn Fein chief
adroitly showed a way to avoid that
catastrophe. He does not ask Lloyd
George "to abandon any principle":
he only affirms Sinn Fein's self-recognition
as "what we are." On that
footing he and the premier have already-conferred;
then why cannot
they or others in their-place confer
again without sacrifice of principle
on either side? The Irish leader's
definition of the status of the Sinn
Fein delegates may have, been de
signed to win tacit recognition of in
dependence. If so, he abandons the
attempt without withdrawing the
claim.
To this Lloyd George objects that
the Sinn Fein delegates' claim to act
"as representatives of a sovereign
and independent state" is contrary
to the purpose of the proposed con
ference, which- is to arrange terms
cn which Ireland shall remain a
member of the British common
wealth, and that by meeting them as
such the British ministers would be
guilty of disloyalty. De Valera re
plies that he does not ask prelim
inary recognition of the Irish re
public, therefore Lloyd George
should not ask surrender, of the
claim of Sinn Fein to act for an in
dependent nation. Because neither
jarty accepts the position of the
ether, there is a dispute and a con
ference Is necessary. But he in ef
lect assumes that the conference
would be between representatives of
two independent states when he de
scribe the proposed arrangement
as "a treaty between the people
of these two islands and between
Ireland and the states in the British
commonwealth."
As matters stand, each party
maintains a principle conflicting
with that of the other party. They
desire to confer with a view to re
conciliation of the one principle with
the other. That does not imply that
either would abandon its principle
as a condition of its going into con
ference. It does imply readiness to
compromise, without which agree
ment would be Impossible. It re
quires descent from the theoretical
to the -practical. Lloyd George has
confessed by his offer of dominion
government that the home rule law
of 120 cannot end the conflict. If
De Valera should confess that an
unyielding demand for independence
would not end it, the question for
discussion would be: How close an
approach to independence can be
made while retaining Ireland as a
member of the British common
wealth? What degree of independ
ence should Sinn Fein sacrifice in
order to win the rest, no longer dis
puted?
There Is hope in transfer of the
discussion from the domain of pas
sion to that of reason, from that of
recrimination to that of conciliation
The most potent force in bringing
about this change has been public
opinion, both in the British coun
tries and the United States. The
British offer has detached some
sympathy from Sinn Fein, and the
latter surely realizes it. Lloyd
George sees that he has thereby won
a great advantage, and he is careful
to hold it. Each party is careful not
to put, itself In the wrong in the eyes
of the world, for all minds are on
peace as a few years ago they were
on war, and invisible, spiritual forces
are exerting pressure for peace in
Ireland.
An Iowan of 90 acquires fame by
marrying his seventh wife all sis
ters. Disposition of the other six is
not given In the news report, but
he must have a classy lot In the
cemetery. Anyway, he is good ma
terial for a psycho-analysis problem.
Now that the Stokes divorce case
has been disposed of. the public may
have hope that the equally evil
emelling Stlllman case, eventually
will come to an end.
More than half a million bushels
is the record day's receipts of wheat
In Portland. There is nothlnsr in
her class on this coast arid little on
the other.
A woman who knew what she
wanted leaped into Niagara falls the
ether day a most successful way of
committing suicide.
Mr. Wells, weatherman, is serving
"fresh-to-whole gales," and in meet
ing one of the latter you would bet
ter crawl under.
It was all a delusion. The 200
gallons that can be made at honfe
must be non-intoxicating fruit Juices.
Watch Tacoma taxes grow. It
takes more than four millions a
year to run her. Some burg, eh?
Hydro-electric Improvements are
only fairly beginning in this section.
They foretell a large population.
The governor of Idaho will meet
the governor of Oregon tomorrow,
and the prune Juice is ready.
Austria is giving its "ultimatum"
to Hungary, and there must be left
a little meat on the bone.
Memorize the numbers of the
police calls, not to waste time when
an officer is needed.
It's a sign of the times that cer
tain lawyers are becoming specialists
in home-brew cases.
Dining-car prices are coming
down, therefore one cost of travel
ing is reduced.
Coast cranberries are In the mar
ket and sugar is cheap. It is a good
combination.
Having ridden his line fences, so
to speak. Senator McNary is off to
Washington.
Another world-milk record has
been set. Some of these bovlnes will
"bust" yet.
The Stokes divorce case is settled,
but where are the Stillmans?
Just enough stray streaks of sun
shine to be tantalizing.
Wet weather for Gardner, though
te may fie sheltered.
BY - PRODUCTS OF THE TRESS !
Professional Says Loafers Knock
Bottom Out of Begging.
Peter Snider, a blind violinist "of
Chicago, says that the bottom has
dropped out of the begging business
and until some of the millions of loaf
ers go to work professional men like
himself are going to have a hard
time. Snider is laying up in Chicago
until he can procure a chauffeur for
his flivver.
"As soon as I can get a chauffeur I
am going to hit for the west and
south." said Snider. "I am willing to
pay S40 a week, but I want a driver
who will not be In too much of a
hurry. Unemployment in this sec
tion of . the country has ruined the
begging business. The country ha
come to a rotten state of affairs.
Akron used to be the best town in
the country but now you couldn't pry
a dime loose there with a twisted
arm, club foot, broken neck and hair
lip combined. Until some of these
6.000.000 loafers go to work profes
sional men like myself are g3ing to
have a hard time marketing their
personality."
Laaghter. .
Nothing there is more varied or apart
Than different people's laughter.
some young girl's
That like a rippling silver stream
let purls;
A hypocrite's that makes one writhe
and start.
So plainly t reveals a crooked heart;
A lover's, breaking on a whispered
word;
A young wife's, lyric as a mating
bird;
An actor's, subtle with consummate
art.
The bubbling mirth of some gay tem
pered child.
That f'nds the world constructed
for his play;
The nervous giggle cf a spinster,
gray
With wondering how others Love be
bulled. And saddest, covering a mother's
fears.
The little smile that is near kin to
tears.
Charlotte Becker, in Sew Tork
Herald.
"There are no hard times coming.
Just soft times going." That was the
keynote of the address by President
Harry W. Shaffer of Lock Haven
at the opening session of the 25th
annual convention of the retail mer
chants' association of Pennsylvania,
reported in the Philadelphia Public
Ledger. This was his fifth message
as president. Mr. Shaffer urged that
Pennsylvania enact a law whereby
unnaturalized persons would be pro
hibited from engaging in mercantile
business in the state. He is in favor
of the abolishment of the mercantile
tax.
Mr. Shaffer said: "I do not believe
In the much-talkedrof buyers' strike
There is no such thing. We are Just
sobering up from a reckless orgy of
spending. People are Just waiting
proper adjustment before they buy
again. There is no shortage of money
in America. This period of depres
sion and non-employment should
have a wholesome effect, and I look
for great prosperity in the near fu
ture." F. B. Cameron, editor of the North
Bend Bee, has gone on a vacation
He Issues a public statement that his
weight is 220 pounds and he Is out to
reduce on a mountain trip. In the
meantime he has "lowered the. bars"
to all his readers, throwing open the
columns of his paper to anyone who
wishes to tell how to run it or criti
c'se the editor.
"I will be far away anl can stand
the rough stuff, and if there are any
bouquets my blushes cannot be seen,"
is the manner In which he clJses bis
announcement.
a
Kissing is blamed by physicians of
Uniontown, Pa., for the spread of an
epidemic of blisters, which now has
grown to such proportions that the
board of health may be called on to
place a ban on osculation until such
time as the disease has abated or
disappeared entirely.'
Local physicians are authority for
the statement that there are hundreds
of cases of a skin disease which
spreads in a manner similar to nox
ous weed poisoning. The disease has
the nature of an eczemous rash an!
has been found very diff cult to con
trol and even more difficult to eradi
cate once it has taken hold.
While not all the persons affected
with tha "blisters" are in their teens
and early 20s, a great majority of
them are 'at what is known as the
"kissing age."
a a
Caruso's death is being handsomely
capitalized along Fifth avenue and
on Broadway, New Tork. says the
Philadelphia Public Ledger. Never
has been such a demand for his pho
nograph records as now. The shops
where they can be obtained flaunt
placards listing the songs he sang.
The prices, remarkable as it may
seem, have not been advanced. In
the windows of many music houses
are pictures of the dead tenor draped
in black. At a Broadway film the
ator. a few blocks from the Metro
politan opera-house, is being shown
"My Cousin," tha only photoplay In
which Caruso appeared. Even after
death Caruso continues to roll dollars
Into the pockets of those who share
In the magic of his voice.
a a a
A class of school children had been
struggling with the problem: "If a
cask contains hi gallons, how many
times can a pint be filled from it?"
relates the New Tork Globe.
It proved too much for them, and
as It was near the end of the after
noon .the teacher said:
"Well, boys, you can take that sum
home as your home work tonight anl
let me know the answer tomorrow
morning."
Next morning one member of the
class turned up an hour late.
He brought a written excuse a
scribbled note on a rough piece of
paper. It read:'
"Dear Sir: Please excuse Tommy
for being late, and please do not give
him any more of those sums for
home work. My husband spent all
the evening working at it, with two
friends to help him. In consequence,
we were all late up this morning, and
my husband is not fit to go to work
today, and has forgotten the answer."
The Boston Commercial Bulletin
says:
Our American government is badly
In need of stingy men to conduct
public business as they conduct pri
vate business, not with a view to
personal popularity, but on sound
principles of economy, efficiency and
regard for the public welfare.
Those Who Come and Go.
Tales of Folic at the Hotels.
Since the first of the year Zoe
Hcuser, sheriff of Umatilla county,
has captured 0 moonshine stills and
has turned into the treasury of the
county about 13000 from the prohibi
tion activities of his office. He has
spent $800 out of his own pocket to
defray expenses In carrying on his
operations against the moonshiners,
and up to date has been unable to
have the county refund him a single
dollar of the outlay. The sheriff,
who passed through Portland escort
It.g .a prisoner to the penitentiary at
Salem, was opposed when he was a
candidate last year on the ground
that his age would prevent him from
being an active officer. As a re
buttal of these aspersions, the sheriff
points to what he has been doing in
enforcing the prohibition law.
"During the war the government
melted up silver dollars into bars and
shipped them to foreign countries,
where they were used by allied gov
ernments. This caused a shortage of
silver In the United States. The gov
ernment, however, agreed to buy sli
ver from the American producers at
a dollar an ounce, with which to re
place the sliver shipped out of the
country. For this reason, the silver
shines are doing very well, thank
you." says Harry McAllister, formerly
of Portland but now of Wallace Ida
ho. Mr. McAllister was the executive
secretary the time the Elks had their
famous reunion In Portland In 1I2.
For savers! years he has been la the
mining business In Idaho.
'The Crook County Irrigators," said
N. O. Wallace. Crook county Judge,
at the Imperial, "feel that the Inter
slate fair which will be held at Prine
viile October e to 8 will be the biggest
and best ever, and the people of Port
land are warmly Invited to celebrate
these days in the land where alfalfa
grows." In addition to which, Judge
Wallace came to town to see about
the highway pnmmlaiinii .t i .. -
contract for graveling ten miles of
me ucnoco highway between Frlne
ville and the forest reserve. This
read was graded some time ago and
the SUrfaca la nereeaaetr
the eTrade, The contract was awarded
to greenwood & Dann for 121,000.
James Myers, formerlv n thi mm
department of Multnomah county, is
in iu-n on a leave of absence from
AiasKa. .sir. Myers is In the road bu
reau in Alaska and aan that rnnaia
erable progress Is balner mart in
highway development. Most of the
work this year has been done by
"station" men who had formerly been
working on the construction of the
government railway. Slnca r.tnrr.
ing to Portland Mr. Myers' chief en
tertainment is to stand on Broadway
and match the crowds go by. "What
we need n beward and Cordova
said he, "is a lot of money, but I
don't know Just what could be done
wun it if we had it there."
Tnll n Tw ln.A " J A ft
-'- iiu Aiit'n x-awrence,
from Gold Beach, are at the Hotel
Oregon. This is the county seat of
i-uumjr, na yet ii is not in
corporated, nor is there an Incor-
nnratAt fnw. In . i . .
, -v..,, ... in., r ii in a LUIIIIl.
The name comes from the black sands
' "J " im.li cumain goia. out in
such fine particles that no means has
ever been devised of successfully sav
ing the precious metal. It was an
important outfitting point in the early
minhr riava R,, nm , u nkt. t
.-, J I nun IMC V LI It , III-
i4..-t-lA- ,1.1.1 . . .
uuoki a ( a nailing; una oairying.
George Alexander, sheriff of Wash
ington county, passed through Port
land, on his way home from Salem
where he attended a conference of
several other sheriffs with the fed
eral prohibition director. Sheriff Al
exander says that the conference was
interesting from a prohibition stand
point, but he was equally Interested
in trying to get information from the
other sherifrs as to certain men who
are "wanted" in Washington county.
Judge Wilson of Benton county and
Commissioner Von Lehe were In 'ort
land yesterday to discuss with the
highway commission the matter of
work on the Alsea road. The vis
itors requested a survey of Alsea
mountain, but there are no survey
crews available at this time. The
matter of state co-operation on the
Alsea road will be considered by the
commission when it assembles again
on October 2s.
Nelson H. Jones, hardware dealer of
Weston, Or., Is at the Multnomah
Weston was at one time the seat of
a state normal school, but one year
the legislature cut off all of the nor
mals except the one at Monmouth.
Prior to that time the normal schools
played an Important part in the elec
tion of United States senators and
in all pieces of big legislation.
Miles Lee, a pioneer of Baker
county and one of the Important
sheepmen in that part of Oregon
arrived In town yesterday. His fam
ily Intends remaining here for the
winter. Mr. Lee's sheep holdings
shrank vastly in value last year, the
same as the value of sheep owned by
all tne other growers.
J. T. Adklsson of The Dalles, who
Is Judge of Wasco county, called on
the highway commission yesterday
to urge work on The Dalles-California
highway between The Dalles and
Dufur and the location of the high
way through Maupin and to have- a
contract let for the Cow Canyon sec
tion in Wasco county.
George H. Merryman of Klamath
Falls is registered at the Imperial,
Mr. Merryman has served in the state
senate and also in the house of rep
resentatives, being a representative
in the 1919 session.
J. L. Dodson of Baker, county Judge,
is registered at the Imperial. Judge
Dodson made the trip in the interest
of the old Oregon trail and the
Baker-Cornucopia highway.
P. L. Taggert. at the Hotel Oregon
registers from Osslning, N. T., and
the only bid for fame which Osslning
has is that It is the place where Sing
Sing prison Is located.
I. B. Cushman of Cushman, Or., Is
at the Imperial. Mr. Cushman is
president of.the port of SiUBlaw com
mission in Lane county.
C. P. Johnson of Izee Is at the Im
perial. Ixee is a postofflce on the
fork of the John Day river in Grant
county.
J. A. Thornburgh, accompanied by
his wife, is at the Hotel Oregon. Mr.
Thornburgh !s a banker at Forest
Grove.
Books oa Mining Laws.
REDMOND. Or Sept. 18. (To the
Editor.) Please inform me of the
sise of a lode or ledge mining claim
and where a copy of the mining laws
of Oregon could be obtained.
M. A. B.
Filing on mining claims on public
land is governed by federal law. A
quarts claim is 1500 feet along the
length of the vein and extends 100
feet on each side of the center line
thereof. Portland book dealers carry
"Wilson's Mining Laws for the
United States, California, Nevada,
Oregon and Utah," 21.50; also "Man
ual for the Use of Prospectors on
Mineral Laws of the United States,"
dated 1908, 60 cents. Or apply to
your local dealer in books.
Burroughs Nature Club.
Copyright, Hoaghtoa-Mlff lln Co.
What do you want to know about
nature subjects? Send any questions
of general interest to the nature
notes deportment of this papor. Look
for answers in this column.
Answers to Previous QnMlona.
1. Why did swallows evtr leave
their original homes to build under
the eaves of barns and houses?
2. Is there such a thing as a sea
serpent?
S. How can I fight the bllfcl.t that
comes on my rose bushes?
Answers in tomorrow's nature notes,
a a a
Answers to Prevloaa Qoetalona.
1. How do snails propagate?
They lay eggs about the site of
small peas, with very soft shells, and
held together by mucous, undr stones,
or sometimes decaying leavta. The
young have the rudiments of a shell
.hen they hatch, with the teglnn
rings of the spiral turn. This is
added to with growth, at the rim of
the shell.
e a
2. I want to know if there are as
many species of birds as of fishes,
and the average life of Doth species,
and what species live longes.?
About a thousand more species of
f.shes have been listed than of birds.
Impossible to guess the "avenge life"
of any one species, let alone thou
sands. Eagles are thought tj be long
kved. If not molested. A little In
formation on individual birds is being
gathered by tagging with numbered
aluminum legbunds. and a few ex
periments have been made by placing
rietal buttons through fins of fishes.
Not enough data are yet available
to make generalisations on any one
species. Accident plays too much in
the lives of wild creatures for the
history of any one to be typical of
its kind.
S. Is honeysuckle a good plant for
city back yards?
Excellent for any kind of yard. It
does well even In poor soil, and has
few Insect enemies. It Is cheap to
buy. and once well established, will
give any number of young plants
simply by layering, so that in a few
years a fence may be covered at little
expense.
EW TRAFFIC LAW IS PI ZZLE
Salesman Tfclaka It Is for Benefit ef
Ttear Who Kanplay Chanffeara.
PORTLAND. Sept. 20 (To the Ed
itor.) There must be a reason for
the new system of parking that can
be explained In such a way as to sat
isfy a greac number of reasonable
people who object to many of the
provisions of the new regulations.
Outside of the big metal signs and
"left-hand turns" the ordinance seems
merely confusing to the ordinary per
son who takes the trouble to give the
matter some honest thought. Why
the two-hour. parking district? There
Is no apparent difference so far as
inconvenience to property owners
and occupants is concerned between
the "two-hour" and "all-day" park
ing regulation. All the automobile
owners whom I have Interviewed say
they prefer the old parking system.
Perhaps the city officials consider
two hours about long enough for out
siders to stay in town. Perhaps they
feel that people wishing to stay
longer than two hours should patron
ize the street cars.
Under the new regulations we are
permitted to stop our cars In the
business district for half an hour
provided we leave a competent driver
in the car. I stop my car In front of
the bank, line up for a chance at the
window; after 13 minutes return to
find a police card In my car; the
Judge fines me S3 and Informs me
in effect that the half-hour parking
privilege is given only to those who
can afford a "shofer."
I am only a traveling salesman
serves me right but the principle Is
wrong. It seems to me.
P. J. HOLOHAN.
The no-parking provision applies
to Washington, Alder and Morrison
streets within the congested district
and to the ends of streets leading
to the river bridges and waterfront.
You may leave your car without a
a driver in it on other streets within
the congested district for 30 minutes.
The main object of establishing no
parking atroets la to eliminate con
gestion; that Is. provide arteries
where traffio may flow freely. A car
is permitted to stop therein if pome
person competent to drive Is left In
charge. This Is not for the benefit
of those who employ chauffeurs, but
to make certain that all traffio can
be set in motion at any time.
XO COM ED V IS BEE IV CRIUK
Chrerfalnraa of Robber Does Not Lea-,
ara Gravity of Ilia Offense.
TILLAMOOK, Or.. Sept. 18. (To the
rditor.) Please permit me to con
gratulate The Oregonlan on its firm
stand for law and order, nlso for
decency and right. The editorials
entitled "The Harvest" and "Immoral
Entertainers" are especla'ly fine,
Such an attitude on the prt of a
ereat daily newspaper like The Ore
gonlan Is inspiring and elevating,
because It Is creative of lofty patriot
ism and a better citizenship.
No criminal who violates the laws
of Uod and man Is a nobla patriot.
The crlma with which Roy Gardner
is charged Is that of robbing the
United States mail. In that registered
mall rich and poor entr't their
money to be transferred fr?m one
-;ace to another. Even the living
of widows and orphans sometimes
depend upon the safe arrival of a
letter. No man or woman sends a
letter through the mail with the ex
pectatlon that some devil-may-care
happy banait win steal its contents.
If a highwayman holds you up and
takes your money. It does not add to
your satisfaction If you know that he
treats the whole performance as a
huge Joke. Comedy is fine ar.d dandy
in its proper place, but in real life
sny crime is a tragedy, for It brings
remorse and suffering. The spirit
of sentimental sympathy for any
criminal is weak and unwholesome.
It Is an exhibition of "sob-slterIng
in the wrong place. It engenders
disrespect for law and rlghtousness.
Justice for tha criminal, yes. Dut
lustice for the nation and society
also has its Inexorable demand.
ALLAN A. AIC.KJSA.
Questions on Decency and Sense.
PORTLAND, Sept. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) Much depends upon definitions.
It would be well for those who dis
cuss and teacn couia iney agree aa
to tha meaning of the leading words,
phrases, sentences, etc., which they
use.
! refer Just now to the way in
which questions come to my mind by
assembling The Oregonian's pertinent
editorial regarding the Dempsey-
Carpentler . fight, Perry's cartoon.
The Onlv Kemeay in borne cases,-
and Mr. Barnett's comments on the
cartoon.
Questions: Was rew Jersey "de
cent" and did she act with "common
senese" In treating her law as a "scrap
of paper" by allowing the fight?
Were the United States senators and
others acting "decently" in attend
ing the fight7 Were any of Ar-
buckle's guests acting "decently" and
with "common sense"?.
Is the prohibition law "decent" or
sensible"? '
DECENT AND SENSIBLE.
More Truth Than Poetry.
By James J. Montague.
Why We Dlaelpllaed Pnnama.
Before the late mix-up, when nobody
thought
That war was as rough as reported.
Though bantamweight nations quite
frequently fought.
They seldom were hindered or
thwarted.
Big countries looked on with good-
' humored applause.
Great statesmen observed 'em, de
lighted. They found In the picayune fracas no
cause
p For growing alarmed or excited.
The people were jaded and weary of
peace.
And a hot little scrap In the tropics
Was hailed by the world as a welcome
release
From sport and society topics.
Reporters and artists were hastily
sped
To feature each sortie or action.
And all of the details the populace
read
With grins of profound satisfaction.
But now, when republics, no matter
how small.
Indulge in belligerent banter,
We stand 'em both up, with their
barks to the wall
And tell them to stop It, Instsnter.
We selxe all the hardware we find in
their Jeans,
And if they continue to riot.
We send down a half dosen husky
marines
To lock 'cm all up till they're quiet.
For we, for the present, have had
enough war.
We are sated with fury and passion.
The sacking of cities and shedding of
gore
Has gone, for the nonce, out of
fashion.
And that's why we leap, In our anger
and might.
On the neck of the little brown
brother.
We haven't recovered, as yet, from
one fight.
And we don't want him starting
another!
a
Plenty of Opportunity.
Why not set the army of unem
ployed at the Job of cutting down
prices?
eta
He's Always In the Market.
Mah, If we disarm, Henry Ford
will offer us a couple of hundred dol
lars for our battleships and arms and
ammunition.
a .
Bad sign.
Times are really getting serious.
One of the race tracks had to lay off
a couple of bookmakers the other day.
tfopyrlrtlt hv tha Hell Syndicate. Inc )
The Unseeing;.
By Grace K. Hall.
Out on the wind-swept ocean's shore.
Where breakers heave In restless
surge.
The white caps spill in ceaseless roar
Against the rocks that verge
Upon the rim of this blue waste.
While white ships speed with
spreading wings.
And here are petty thoughts effaced.
And life holds mighty things.
Tet, note the atoms on the sand.
With vision earth-bound, never up.
What claim have they to understand
This brim-filled, foaming cup?
They strut tha beach he has made
And cast unseeing eyes to sea.
Nor know enough to be afraid
Of God's Immensity.
In Other Days.
Twenty-Five Yeara Ago.
From Tha Oregonlan of September HI. lsnfl.
Canton, O. Twenty-nine delega
tions are scheduled to meet Major
McKlnley on his front porch.
J. W. Bryant has been arP"Inted
stork Inspector of Lincoln county
with a salary of $10 a year
Robert Andrews, United Ststes In
spector of customs, was Injured In
a runaway accident on Easi Stark
street yesterday.
The court of Umatilla county Sat
urday decided to advertise for bids
for the construction of a El-foot
bridge over the Turn-A-Lum at J. 1L
McCoy's place.
Fifty Yearn Ago.
From Tha Oregonlan of Bt ptember 21, 1871.
The cornerstone of the new Metho
ds t church of Salem will be la'd next
week.
Smiley Tarvlne and Harrlscn Smith
cf Salem have received a patent for a
new dental Instrument.
' Chicago. The remains of 'he late
President Lincoln were removed from
the temporary vault In which they
had been placed and reposrd in a
newly constructed tomb yesterday.
The hull of the old steamer Nes
lerces Chief, which has beon fitted
up for a cattle barge, will be ready
for launching In two or three days.
-What Can She Know Abont III
PORTLAND, Sept. 20. (To the Edi
tor.) What possible grounds can
Mrs. Arbucklc. who has been sepa
rated for the last five yearn from
her husband, have for her assertion
that "when the whole truth Is heard,
Roscoe (Fatty) Arbuckle will be
completely exonerated, and his good
name completely cleared, and he will
be reinstated in the hearts of the
American peorle"?
We want to know Just why does
Mrs. Arbuckle, who has been sepa
rated from her husband for five
years, come forward at this time?
What possible evidence can wipe
away the accusations made by the
dying girl and sworn to by the nurses
In attendance?
What possible new evidence can
wipe away the fact that a wild drink
ing party took place, and that Vir
ginia Rappe is dead as a result?
What new evidence can be secured
to prove that Arbuckle ever had a
'good name, a name above foolish.
wild, drinking parties?
Mrs. Arbuckle is right In her re-
Quest that "fair play" be given, that
justice be done. Let an example be
made of Arbuckle that other Im
moral movie actors may profit ty.
Let thla tragedy do for the movies
what the board of censors never
could do. Let this tragedy effect a
oleanlng up of the morals of the
actors.
Yes, let Justice be done, the vlleness
wiped out, the criminal punished to
the fullest extent of the law.
ELIZABETH TAYLOR.
Addreaa of Authors.
ENTERPRISE, Or., Sept. 18. (To
the, Editor.) Please publish the ad
dresses of (1) Sinclair Lewis, author
of "Main Street." and (2) Dorothy
Canfleld. author of The Brimming
Cup." KANNB H. H EATON.
1. Sinclair Lewis, care Alfred
Harcourt, 1 West Forty-seventh
street. New Tork.
2. "Dorothy Canfleld" is the pen
name of Dorothea Frances Canfleld
Fisher, Arlington, Vt. , , . ,