10
THE MORNING OEEGONIAN. WEDNESDAY, MAT 17, 1922
ESTABLISHED BT HENRY L. PITTOCK.
Published by The Oregonlan Publishing Co
135 Sixth Street, Portland, Oregon.
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AN AFFIRMATIVE POLICY NEEDED.
Russia having rejected the condi
tions proposed at Genoa, -which
stated the principles essential to in
ternational intercourse and com
merce and by which the United
States has steadfastly stood, Sec
retary Hughes was consistent in re
fusing to take part in the conference
at The Hague, as It is merely an ad
journed session of that at Genoa. The
conference at Genoa was wrecked by
the attempt to Induce the rulers of
Russia to accept those principles of
personal right and of relations be
tween nations on which civilized
government and society are founded.
An effort at compromise failed, the
bolshevists refusing to depart from
their theory that all property be
longs to the nation. The Hague
scheme is but a new attempt to
compromise where this is impossible.
France refuses to accede, taking a
stand identical with that of ; the
United States as to the impossibility
of agreement between nations which
maintain two conflicting basic prin
ciples. The absence of these two na
tions removes any hope that the bol
shevists can be brought to reason.
The deadlock does not, however,
justify President Harding in persist
ence in a strictly negative policy
one of merely saying "Xo" to every
proposal that comes from Europe.
The circumstances demand, in the in
terest of the United States as vitally
concerned in the peace and restoration
of the world, that the president take
a strong initiative for economic re
construction of the world, wherein,
that of Russia is an important but by
no means the largest part. The
source of the economic disorder from
which this country suffers in com
mon with the whole world, though
in a less degree than other nations,
is in Europe, and it can be stopped
only at that source.
All faith-keeping nations of Eu
rope are at one with the United
States on the issue between indi
vidualism and Russian communism,
though several of them have been
driven by distress to make trade
agreements with the soviet. They
lack the strength and the unity of
policy necessary to enforce abandon
ment of the communist system as a
condition of help to Russia. Discord
between France and Great Britain,
the latter supported by Italy, en
courages Germany to resist demands
for reparations. The pressure ex
erted simultaneously on both Ger
many and the bolshevists has been
too weak to overcome their resist
ance, but has driven them into one
another's arms. The net result is to
fortify the Moscow junta and to de
lay the economic reorganization to
which German delinquency is the
chief obstacle.
The alternative to acceptance by
the bolshevists of the principles em
bodied in the Cannes resolutions is
that each nation will make the best
terms it can with the soviet. The
latter is already increasing produc
tion by granting concessions which
establish islands of capitalism in an
ocean of communism. The largest
and most liberal concessions have
been given to Stinnes and other Ger
man industrial magnates, and under
the Rapallo treaty Germans are in a
fair way to obtain a strong grip on the
resources and industry of the country.
The bolshevists, having destroyed the
brains of Russia, have thU3 begun to
replace them, with German brains,
whose serfs the workmen and peas
ants would be. Holders of conces
sions purchase immunity from com
munist laws and from the tyranny of
the Cheka by paying tribute to the
soviet, whose leaders are enriched
and supplied with funds for their
propaganda of world-revolution by
the formation of a new privileged
class. The combination of German
brains and Russian labor under the
dual control of Moscow and Berlin
has undertaken "the restoration of
productivity in Russia" and is pro
viding the "essential conditions with
in Russia herself," to use Mr.
Hughes' words, but not in a manner
which he can contemplate with sat
isfaction. An alliance of treaty-re
pudiating Germany and bolshevist
Russia bodes ill for the peace and
reconstruction of the world.
Intimations have come from the
White House that the president con
eiders German reparations America's
business and that this country should
be represented on the reparation
commission. Mr. Hughes now says
that the United States "has always
been ready to join in arranging for an
Inquiry by experts into the economic
situation in Russia and the necessary
remedies." But, as Mark Sullivan
says, every such suggestion is fol
lowed by protests from irreconcil
?.ble republicans against any move
Coward adjustment of Europe's af
fairs, and the president draws back.
Though these protests are made in
the name of Americanism, their
popular support, is derived mainly
from alien elements which, as Gen
eral Pershing said, decide American
questions for foreign reasons.
The great majority of republican
senators, as evidenced by their vote
for the league of nations with reser
vations, favored active co-operation
with Europe in 1920, and there is
good reason to believe that subse
quent events have strengthened that
disposition. The irreconcilables were
then less than a third of the repub
lican eenators and are now little
more-tAau a. fourth. The yat .ma
jority of the people, both republicans
and democrats, favor the degree of
co-operation with and aid to Europe
that Is demanded both by our na
tional interests and by our proper
part in the world's work. How
much longer are their wishes to ba
ignored in 'excessive deference to the
objection of a minority of the party
representing those who are actuated
by foreign motives? They may talk
of bolting, but whither would they
go? They would be In still more un
congenial company among demo
crats, and national isolation would
not be a winning slogan for a new
third party.
A policy of isolation may have as
disastrous consequences as had the
policy of neutrality in which Presi
dent Wilson persisted through 1915
and 1916. Lack of American help,
counsel and restraint may cause Eu
rope to drift into another war more
quickly than many conceive. The
irreconcilables are strongest in those
sections whence comes the demand
that we make the allies" pay their
war debts, but their best prospect of
paying consists in obtaining payment
from Germany. By refusing to help
them to collect, we encourage Ger
many's breach of obligations and by
our generally negative policy we
have emboldened Germany to form
an alliance with the bolshevists.
These are rich fruits of isolation.
WHO WASHES HIS SHIRT?
There was a famous campaign in
Oregon, years ago, where the issue
hinged on the momentous question
as to where the candidates for gov
ernor had their shirts washed. It
was conclusively shown that one of
the candidates never wore a shirt a
washable shirt except 6n state oc
casions, and the garment was fash
ioned in a home laundry by his wife;
and certain defeat was in sight for
him until " It was learned that the
opposing candidate patronized a
Chinese laundry. There could be, of
course, only one result. No free
American community could tolerate
in an executive chair a governor who
took from his wife the privilege of
looking after his most intimate gar
ment and farmed it out to oriental
labor. The one-shirt candidate won.
Just now an equally important
contest is engaging the public inter
est. The great question as to what
right a candidate has to employ a
Chinese-American foreman in a hop
yard is to be determined in the elec
tion of a national committeeman.
The fact that the foreman is an
American citizen, with an American
wife and four children, and is a tax
payer, cuts no figure. The blood of
the yellow race courses in his veins
and no man shall hire him.
Mr. Williams is the owner of the
hop yard where the luckless half-white-half-Chinese
foreman is hon
estly earning the day's bread for his
family. Mr. Williams is the present
national republican committeeman
for Oregon, as he has been for four
teen years. He is vice-chairman of
the committee with a reasonable
prospect of becoming chairman an
important distinction for Oregon. It
is a political office nothing else.
Experience, judgment, discretion,
capacity, decency in politics count
nothing else.
What has the hop yard in Polk
county to do with it?
PREPARE FOR TRADE COMPETITION.
All who watch the course of events
and the trend of business will agree
with John Barrett that now is the
time to make the adjustments that
are to establish the American mer
chant marine and America's place in.
world trade, for the next few years
will be decisive. Though the Genoa
conference has failed and though
there is small prospect that anything
will be accomplished at The Hague,
the perseverance wtih which Europe
seeks a solution of its problems is
notice that economic reorganization
is at hand.. When it is effected, we
may expect to enter upon a period
of intense competition in shipping
and commerce which will decide the
leadership for many years and will
push the inefficient nation to the
rear. Size and wealth will not be
determining factors, as the commer
cial success of such small nations as
Holland shows.
First among the domestic meas
ures to be taken is enactment of a
law under which American ships can
be profitably operated in competi
tion with those of any other nation
and under which the emergency
fleet will soon pass into the hands of
private owners. Unless the former
condition is complied with, it will be
impossible to comply with the
latter. The scheme of government
aid proposed by the shipping board,
while liberal in Its financial pro
visions, is marred by the unlimited
discretion that It gives to the board
and by the lack of provision for
hearing all interests and for pub
licity in its administration.
It is not enough to promise that
when a ship-owner does certain
things the board shall pay him a cer
tain subsidy, if the board at the same
time is given discretion to pay him
half the amount and his competitor
double the amount, and to do so
without open hearing of the merits
of the claim and without making
public the reasons for its action
Men will not invest Capital in ship
ping lines when the question be
tween profit and loss will probably
be contingent on the changing opin
ion of a board whose membership
changes from year to year. Some
precaution should be taken that
when a ship-owner has complied
with legally-defined conditions the
subsidy shall accrue to him auto
motipallv and sshnll rtA en fnroen.rtlp In
court, and that the rate shall be as
high as that paid any competitor on
the same type of ship in the same
trade. An American ship that is
paid a small subsidy can be put out
of business as easily by one receiv-
ing a larger amount as by a British
or Japanese ship.
Laws governing operation of ships
need wholesale revision with a view
to excission of all that works against
economy and .that is not necessary
to safety of life and proper protec
tion of labor. In many respects our
navigation laws are archaic, contain
ing requirements which add expense
without any equivalent benefit. The
seamen's law, while good in the
main, contains some sections that
protect only the shiftless and ma
licious, not honest labor.
The time has gone by to deal in
generalities on the need of an Ameri-
, can merchant marine and of govern-
! a -: l i : . rm ,
muni aiu tit uieiiiiia,iji il. j.ue popie
are practically united on that point.
The time has come when the text of
the proposed scheme should be criti
cally examined to insure that it es
tablishes conditions under which the
jeonle t JagA-eoHt eleotiesxvivJU,
buy ships and operate them under
the American flag and will thus take
the government out of the shipping
business. Laws have been passed,
beneficent in their purpose, which
have failed because too great confi
dence was reposed in the judgment
or the good intentions of their spon
sors. Care should be taken that the
new shipping bill does not miss the
mark.
A COUNTY IN THE RED.
When the skillful transfer of
money from one fund to another was
accomplished at the courthouse a
short while ago, it was suggested
that the device might tide the gen
eral fund over the primaries to the
political satisfaction of all who love
to be buncoed.
Now Mr. Holman, of the county
board of commissioners, points out
triumphantly that only last Saturday
there was a balance In every one of
the five county funds, thereby seem
ing to shatter the report that county
finances are in distress.
Over expenditures from three of
the five unds the county commis
sioners exercise little or no discre
tion. In the general fund there was
nearly $32,000; in the county road
fund $39,000. These are the two
funds under jurisdiction of the com
missioners. Multnomah county Is a' sizable
corporation. Its assessed value is
more than $300,000,000 and it levies
in taxes for general county pur
poses about $1,800,000 a year. Natur
ally a balance of $32,000 in the gen
eral fund is subject to sudden in
roads. So it happened that whereas there
was $32,000 in the general fund on
Saturday, there was Issued in' war
rants against that amount on the
following Monday a total of $49,
238.60. The shoe-string balance so
pridefully pointed to had been wiped
out, or was present solely on suf
ferance of the warrant-holders be
fore Mr. Holman spoke.
County finances are now In the
red. There in no probability that they
will be in anything but a state of dis
tress during the remainder of the
year. One-half of the taxes have
been collected and only one-third of
the budget expended. The county is
now $17,318 in the hole and there is
no other prospect than that it will
end the year with a deficit of approxi
mately $600,000. So far this year
the county has paid out $13,168 for
interest on general fund warrants
for Interest on indebtedness for cur
rent expenditures.
In the county commissioner's of
fice there is a newly prepared con
tract for $258,000 for the purchase
of marble, glass and other materials
for the new county hospital. Marble
halls for ailing paupers and expert
figure juggling for distressed tax
payers'. There s a slogan ror you
county.
CHILD LABOR TAWS.
In declaring the federal child
labor law unconstitutional, the su
preme court does not say whether its
purpose is good or bad; that Is not a
court's function. It declares that the
constitution does not give congress
power to pass such a law. The evi
dent purpose was not to raise reve
nue by taxing the products of child
labor, but by means of the tax to
usurp for the federal government a
power which the constitution left to
the states..
There is practically no difference
of opinion, not only among the hu
mane but among those who regard
well-developed men and women as
an asset to the nation and state, that
child labor as practiced in many
cotton mills and other factories does
a wrong both to the child- and the
community. By using energy that
should contribute to full physical de
velopment it stunts growth and pro
duces weaklings. By putting the
child at work during the years when
he or she should be at school devel
oping the mind, it inflicts on the
state ignorant citizens of low earn
ing capacity and thus limits the pro
ductive power of the community.
The law now annulled is the sec
ond having the same purpose to
meet that fate. No remedy for the
child labor evil seems practicable
under federal law. The only re
course Is to educate public opinion in
the states where that evil prevails,
that those states may enact proper
laws exercising the power which the
highest court has twice declared to
be theirs. As the wrongs of child
hood appeal especially to women, it
behooves the women voters to tinder
take a campaign of education. .
WEARIED OF "WEEKS."
Signs of public impatience with
the setting aside of certain weeks for
the observance of particular virtues
have been manifest of late. Praise
worthy as the purpose of each has
been, from "clean-up week" to
"music week," their frequency had
the not unnatural effect of causing
disinterest. There was a surfeit of
such arbitrary arrangements of time.
The average cititzen, believing that
all things considered he was not a
bad fellow nor a futile citizen, came
to resent not only the Intrusion upon
his affairs but the peremptory tone
of the summons. Quite literally the
ardent civic crusaders had ridden a
willing horse to death. We were as
a nation fully as wearied of week;
and are as we were of drives when
the war was won. There is no deny
ing the fact that the old spontaneity,
the former verve, let us say, no
longer animates either device.
Possibly the proponents of the
special week method of stimulating
and instructing a laggard public In
its duties have information which
justifies their claim that each week
performed a lasting service. This, of
course, would be true of such as
were targeted at material objectives,
like mowing the lawn punctually.
But it would seem that only the haz
iest surmise might answer for the
rest. Those whose aim was cultural
were so many shafts loosed in a fog.
One would have to find their billets,
would need to discover their intan
gible effect upon as many lives, be
fore he could with certainty evaluate
their effect An eastern contempo
rary Is bold enough to classify them,
either as effective or ineffective,
these weeks that have taken so much
of the year throughout America. It
would seem, however, that inasmuch
as merit or unworthlness cannot be
proved, in many instances, the plan
Itself may justifiably be suspected of
failure.
Fundamentally it Is error to pre
tend, or to cozen ourselves with the
belief, that, a . people who pause in
their occupations now and again to
take a cultural pill are going to de
rive much benefit from the treat
ment. It is more than probable that,
xrfth, to .aeuee Af distasteful
4ut
well done, they will turn thereafter
to their own affairs and to the total
exclusion of the shining truths they
were drilled in, save as olden custom
impels them. The important fact is
that each reform, each civic en
deavor, dignified by an individual
week is and has been a part of the
normal life of the average citizen.
Below the average we may not hope
to reach save by an intensive and
continued system of education that
will occupy each year, unostenta
tiously, for its entire fifty-two weeks.
Criticism of the special device- does
not imply that all should be discon
tinued, for the device in itself is an
excellent one and most efficacious
when not overworked. Common
sense and not zealous enthusiasm
should be drafted to determine
whether It is essential to our happi
ness, our progress as a people, that
we be hustled Into bandwagons
whenever some bevy of serious
thinkers decides upon that dlvertise
ment GENIUSES AND COMPLIMENTS.
Time was, or so tradition paints
the scene, when genius toiled in &
lonely attic and made friends with
mice. The most forsaken of men
was the poet forever misunder
stood. True they brought wreaths to
his resting place, when he had done
with rhymes, but in the cold reality
of life itself his heart never tingled
to a friendly word. However this
may have been it is not so these
days, the New York Times observes
with mirth. Now it is that any
genius, near genius, or claimant or
poseur is the centrifugal center of
admiring satellites, who discover in
him or her attributes identical with
those of the immortal bards, the
shining novelists of the past, and the
most gracile or pungent essayists
that ever dipped a quilL The amuse
ment of the Times, and very tolerant
and gentle is the smile, is particu
larly directed at the mutual admir
ation so manifest among our young
people of letters, who have yet their
spurs to win.
"Admirable," insists that paper, "is
the ardor with which our geniuses go
on discovering one another. The es
sayist throws himself almost sob
bing into the arms of the poet. The
poet takes the earliest occasion to let
the world know that he finds the ap
preciations of the essayist shot
through with superhuman Insight.
Thereupon the novelist comes along
to Join the two, and the mutual ador
ation becomes threefold."
No uncommon perspicacity is
needed to- perceive this identity of
mutual interest, nor to appraise Its
profitable operation. Yet to declare
such friendships and their praise but
sham and subterfuge, selfishly
prompted, Is to deal rather sharply
with many whose enthusiasms may
be fully as genuine as they are hasty.
There is that about literary endeavor,
one imagines, which inclines its fol
lowers to seek the approbation, of
one another, much as artisans de
light to talk shop with members of
their own crafts. If admiration be
comes, let us say, a trifle hyperboli
cal in its expression no harm what
ever is done providing always that
the work so signalized has merit.
And if It has not, wherein lies the
harm? The geniuses are well con
tent. The truth is that aspiration is
stimulated by praise, and that the
youthful poets, essayists and novel
ists have resolved to make the most
of that fact If it is fittingly be
stowed the public will approve in
due season, and if it be not well
given the literary record will be in
scribed with the name of one who
would have failed in any event The
important thing is that this com
pact of mutual admiration may
serve some genius in good stead,
may redden his courage and stiffen
his resolve through the lean years
before recognition and royalties. No,
the mutual admirationists are not, as
the Times maintains, quite the most
ridiculous of literary phenomena.
That dubious pre-eminence is re
served for the magazine "blurb."
Every other nation is reducing
naval expenditures, in line with the
Washington conference treaties, but
France has increased her navy bud
get for next year by 325,000,000
francs. This probably presages an
other interesting announcement
from Paris that it is out of the ques
tion to pay interest on that debt to
the United States.
Three brothers named Hall, com
ing from Idaho, have bought the
Lincoln County Leader at Toledo,
where they find a fine field. Three
make an ideal partnership for a
newspaper (there is one unsurpassed
at Corvallis) and the Halls will be
heard of in this section of the fourth
estate.
The amount the candidates and
their friends spend in election cards,
circular letters to voters and "the va
rious "tickets" that are flooding the
streets, If applied to municipal and
state expenses, would automatically
reduce taxes more than any official
Is likely to do.
Maximilian Harden says the Ger
man crown prince still Is a great
fool. Even a greater fool than his
father, who at least has sense enough
to saw wood and keep his mouth
shut .
A man twice divorced has no
legitimate business in "fooling
around" his ex-wife, and If she re
pulses him with the sole weapon at
hand he gets the stranger s welcome.
Anybody should be willing to serve
on an election board this time. The
work Is light, the company good, the
pay fair, all with a thrill that in
creases as the hours pass.
Assurance Is given of adequate
supply of gasoline this summer.
That's all needed by the man who
enjoys the. Saturday half holiday.
He'll have the price.
Detroit is to try running her street
railway lines. If it works out any
thing like the Seattle experiment,
presently the street railway lines will
be running the city.
. Canada claims Wrangell island,
which may be United States territory
by right of discovery; but if It Is a
"land" of all Ice Canada may be
welcome to It
. The government seems to- be un
certain whether to regard the new
Bethlehem - Lackawanna combina
tion as a steel or a steal merger.
Connubial experience, regular or
Irregular, seems to be the need of
ib film, ftttet sit aiUier. sex
The Listening Post,
By DeWltt Harry.
A FEW nights ago the district at
torney held school for the elec
tion officials. So popnlar did his night
classes prove that overflow meetings
had to be arranged. It gave some of
the judges and clerks of the boards
an excellent opportunity to air their
mines of misinformation. As a mat
ter of relief for the debatable angles
of election procedure the classes were
revealing.
Contrary to most opinions, it was
not the women who seemed' the most
in need of information, but the men.
"Nut" questions flew thick and fast
and even the astute circuit judge and
th district attorney himself were at
loss at times for the proper answer.
All manner of complicated situations
were "supposed" by the seekers after
Information. In any event the
classes served to prove, if nothing
else, that the officials felt the re
sponsibility of their positions and
were determined to handle their
duties properly.
One woman, chairman of the board
in her precinct wanted to know if
she would be forced to bring in the
ballot boxes personally if the count
was not completed until after mid
night or if she could not turn them
over to one of her judges, to save the
trip so late in the night They were
all proud of their records, especially
the women, and would usually pre
face their remarks by saying, "I have
been first clerk of our board for the
past three years," or "I have always
ruled this way as judge of my pre
cinct." The new counting boards were
anxious to 'know, in many cases, if
they would be allowed an extra sum
for breakfast if they did not com
plete their count until morning the
following day.
"Tessir, we sell lots of them yet"
said the clerk in the glassware de
partment, "but they're getting mighty
small." The subject under discussion
was glasses, not water nor eye
glasses, but whisky glasses. '
"More than four years ago? Well,
I don't know abont that, but we sell
nearly as many and the cost is about
trebled. It's not only one kind of
glass that is in demand, but the gen
eral line is sold. The demand for
whisky glasses is steady and they
keep getting smaller. The old-style
bar glass that would contain a couple
of swallows is not popular any more.
It's the tiny little chap that just
holds about enough to inhale one
whiff that meets the' demand.
"I guess the new style toper uses
any old glass he can get hold of these
days, but we manage to sell all styles
of glassware. Water glasses are
used mostly by the home-brew drink
ers, for they do not care to stock up
with the old-style beer glass. Yet
we manage to dispose of quite a few
of the heavy beer glasses. Highball
glasses are. steady sellers and hollow-stemmed
champagne glasses also
are in demand. Decanters are mov
ing out well and the glassware in
dustry seems to be a steady one,
even if the country iB dry.
"Our line of bar equipment is not
so heavy as 'in the past, but shakers
and combination flasks sell well. The
silver-mounted flask is an excellent
seller and the newer styles have
heavy caps, so that they may be used
to prepare cocktails. Of course, we
do not know to what use the" glass
ware is put that we sell, but we can
always surmise."
Strange and weird are the book
marke taken from the library vol
umes In the circulation department
of the Portland public library. The
pages, on sorting out the returned
books, find therein hairpins, chewing
gum, photographs, love letters, crusts
of bread, safety razor blades and
even coins. At that they are better
satisfied to find foreign matter be
tween the pages than to find the
corners turned down and creased.
One of the latest and most interest
ing radio announcements comes from
the office of an oil development com
pany that Is drilling in the central
part of the state. They plan to equip
each of their outfits with a complete
radio receiving apparatus, and a
short-distance sending set, as the
country in which they operate is de
ficient in means of communication.
,
Knowing from experience how
things will be in "a few days with
this sort of weather there is no
chance of error in predicting a. fer
vent series 'of wishes for rain on the
part of the same people who, just a
week or so ago, were cussing the
continued downpour.
Tactful tailors and retailers of
Ilwaco, Wash., always ask their cus
tomers If they want extra large hip
pockets, swears Bilbates. And the
customers usually eay yes and also
give instructions to make them deep.
The present period in our city's
history might well be termed the age
of straw hats and straw ballots. Both
axe flooding the city and the hot
weather and the hot campaign force
everyone to hunt out the shady side
of the Btreet
DAWK.
The night wears slowiy on. The
watcher there
Beside the bed of pain, longs for the
dawn.
The very silence seems to cry aloud.
And doubt and fearfulnees weigh
down the heart
Where hope and trust should dwell.
The sleeper's breath
Seems almost to have ceased so still
It is.
Can life be ebbing?
Mutely the watcher's .eyes turn to
ward the east,
And, lo, a pale, clear light Illumes
the skyl
A faint, ineffable , stir breathes
through the air;
The twittering of birds is heard; pale
light
Changes to rosy flush of early dawn.
The haunting shadows of the night
are gone
And hope springs up again within the
heart.
Another day is born!
So will It be with us, on that blest
morn.
When dread of earth' last night, and
doubt and fear,
That have enchained our eouls and
made us cowards.
All fade away, as on our longing
sight
Shall burst at last the clear and radi
ant dawn
Of heaven's eternal day!
GRACE PADDOCK EDGEKTON.
Those Who Come and Go.
Tales of Folks at the- Hotels.
"The average citizen of New York
little realizes what takes place near
him and never knows that In some
sections, right beneath him, men and
machinery are at work day and night
building gigantic tunnels, to carry
water and transport people to and
fro under the rivers," says K. P.
Murphy, a civil engineer of Gotham,
who is at the Multnomah. "Now
there is talk of extending the city of
New York out into the harbor. Under
one. street there are three tunnels, one
under the other, to carry people be
tween New York and Brooklyn; while
at another place there is, ,way be
low ground, a large tunnel for city
water, then beneath it a tunnel for
electric trains above these on the
surface is a . trolley line and above
this two elevated railroad lines." Mr.
Murphy says that there is consider
able home building going on, that lots
at Coney Island sell as high as $20,-
000 and that thevold beaches are be
ing cut up into building lots. What
ever may be the condition in some
lines of endeavor in Manhattan, the
civil engineers are, at least, busy.
All the people In Seattle and a big
percentage of the people in the state
of Washington know Thomas Burke.
He has been in Seattle since the days
of the Chinese riots, which means
'way back in 1887 or thereabouts, and
that was before the Seattle fire.
Judge Burke owns the Burke build
ing and the Empire building and is
said to be one of the heaviest tax
payers in Seattle" and paying taxes
in that city is no joke but notwith
standing, the judge is smiling while
at the Hotel Portland. About a dozen
years ago he decided he would like to
be a United States senator from
Washington, but when the votes were
counted Senator Poindexter had
landed the plum. Every once in a
while Judge Burke makes a trip to
Japan or China in the interest of
commercial matters and can get
around in Tokio as easily as he can
in Seattle.
"When I was in Idaho last week I
found snow banks five feet deep
within 20 miles of Lewiston," says
C. C. Clark of Arlington, Or. "For
that matter there is still snow in
spots on the Columbia River highway.
There was so much snow last winter,
and the hot weather has come on so
suddenly that I wouldn't be surprised
if we had pretty high water. It was
90 degrees in Arlington Monday, and
that was the warmest night we have
experienced in seven months. It was
the only night of growing, weather
that we have had since October."
Aside from people driving through
in automobiles and telling the peo
ple whom they should vote for, Mr.
Clark says that no one is talking
politics in his section.
He is the mayor, deputy sheriff,
constable, justice of the peace, town
council, street superintendent and
postmaster at Timber, but instead of
using all these titles he merely signs
his name on the Hotel Portland reg
ister as N. Bangs. Timber was once
what its name implies, but when the
railroad to Tillamook was con
structed a clearing was made in the
forest primeval and a camp for the
railroad contractors was established.
Gradually more forest was cleared
away and a sawmill was established
so that logs and lumber began to
provide the new railroad with a vast
amount of tonnage. A fire came
along, in time, and wiped out the
town so that little now remains, and
also little remains of the timber.
Louis F. Pridemore of Government
Camp arrived at the Hotel Oregon
yesterday from Mount Hood. One of
the tasks of Mr. Pridemore last sum
mer was to look at Crater Bock
through a telescope every time
someone in Portland thought that
Mount Hood was smoking. It was
Mr. Pridemore who discovered the
outburst of mud and team which
oozed out from the Bide of the moun
tain last autumn. One thing that
Mr. Pridemore desires is to see the
new loop road between Sandy and
Brightwood surfaced. The grade has
been made, but this will.be destroyed
unless it is saved by a macadam sur
face. The highway commission has
expressed a willingness to do this
when Multnomah county contributes
the $82,000 which it promised.
"Fishing is just coming good," re
ports A. Whiznant of Bend, who is in
town for a few days. "We have had
some disagreeable weather, but now
it is getting better and there is good
fishing in the Deschutes river, but
not much in the lakes yet." Mr:
Whiznant, newspaper man, probably
knows about as much concerning the
best fishing and hunting places in
central Oregon as any other man.
Of late he has been engaged putting
the finishing touches to some motion
picture work.
Fred G. Buchtel, public service com
missioner, came to the Hotel Oregon
yesterday and began making Inquiries
en to how the recall against him is
progressing. He did not appear
alarmed at what he heard, for he dis
covered almost no interest being
taken In the movement to pry him
loose from his job.
S. Benson, former state highway
commissioner, arrived at the Benson
yesterday from the Columbia Gorge
hotel. Mr. Benson recently bought
considerable acreage adjoining the
hotel site and will have this land
scaped in keeping with the architec
ture of the building.
R. R. Tait managing director for
a business firm in England, is reg
istered at the Benson while making
one of his annual' trips to America
Mr. Tait's address sounds odd to
American ears, being Saracen's Head,
Snow Hill, London, E. C.
Another of the many cranberry
kings who flourish near the ocean
shore of Washington is H. S. Jane.
Mr. Jane, who is an ardent booster
for the cranberries which are grown
at Long Beach, Wash., is registered
at the Hotel Portland and he is op
timistic for the industry this year.
Dr. and Mrs. J. E. Reedy motored
from Tillamook to the Hotel Oregon
yesterday morning, arriving in time
for lunch. The road from Tillamook
is now paved more than half the dis
tance and the trip can be made in five
cr six hours.
All things considered, the road be
tween Seattle and Portland is pretty
good, reports W. G. Saunders and
Ernest L. Hedburg, who motored
down yesterday and are at the Per
kins. 'Mr. Saunders is a machinist
and was formerly a resident of Port
land. Among the arrivals from Idaho at
the Hotel Portland is Mrs. Joseph
Burgy of Hagerman, Idaho. Her
father, Joseph Kearns, Is said to be
one of the biggest factors in the sheep
industry in that state.
The lumber business is good and
the market is increasing in all direc
tions, according to A. C. Dixon of the
Booth - Kelly Lumber company of
Eugene, who is registered at the
Hotel Portland.
F. W. Powers, manager of the
Fowerg Logging company, which has
headquarters in the town of Powers,
Coos county, is' at the Hotel Port
land. He registers from Coos Bay.
H. L. -Moore, druggist of Woodburn,
Marion county, is registered at the
Imperial.
Burroughs Nature Club.
Copyright. Houghton-Mifflin Co.
Can Yon Answer These Questions t
L How do pond lilies reproduce?
2. Can the snapping turtle draw
its head into its shell?
3. Do birds of the same kind build
the same sort of nest everywhere?
Answers In tomorrow's Nature
Notes.
Answers to Previous Questions.
1. Hnw H n inMin hntatltA?
They do not breatht through a
head-opening, but through tiny air
tubes penetrating the body, and open
ing in little breathing pores called
spiracles, at the sides of the body.
These air tubes (tracheae) have thin
walls, through which oxygen leaks,
so to speak, into the blood which
constantly passes over the air tubes
to be purified.
2. Why does lapping with its
tongue clean a cat's fur? It does not
seem tret enough to wash the fur.
Feline animals use tne tongue not
so much as sponge as curry comb.
The papillae, or tiny projections on
the tongue, are horny and rasping,
intended to help scrape off all nu
tritious flesh from bones of prey.
When used on the fur coat, the tongue
acts like a grooming pad.
3. Is the sea petrel ever used for
food?
We have no information on this
"ever" is an unsafe word to use about
almost anything In nature. The
petrel's body is tremendously fat and
we fancy would have a horribly rank
flavor. In some localities the bird's
fat has been used for fuel oil, and
the actual body can be set afire and
used as a torch.
"TELEGRAM" ON' R. E. WILLIAMS
Cordial Testimony as to His Value as
National Committeeman.
Editorial from the Portland Telegram,
June 13, 1016.
Ralph Williams is mentioned in
connection with the chairmanship of
the republican national committee.
Mr. Williams has been national com
mitteeman from Oregon for years.
He took his duties seriously; no mat
ter when or where a meeting was
called Mr. Williams made a point of
being present. He considered it part
of his duty. As a result he is now
fourth man in the point of service on
the committee and is a member of the
executive committee. It is not too
much to say that he enjoys the full
respect and confidence of his associ
ates and that he thorougly deserves
that recognition.
While a selection of chairman will
be a matter of Mr. Hughes' designa
tion, and it may go east on that ac
count, Mr. Williams has many advan
tages in his favor outside of his ex
perience. He has been a strong
Hughes man and stood out in the
open when many others were playing
policy and keeping in the background.
Mr. Williams is a thoroughly trained
business man. Whatever may be done
on the committee, if he were in
charge, would be done in accordance
with strict business rules. His recre
ation is politics for which he has
great natural talent and in following
which he has developed great skill
and efficiency. There is no better
balanced, shrewder, more courageous
man on the committee. If he were
elected It would be a compliment, not
alone to Oregon, which played an im
portant part in the ante-nomination
Hughes campaign indeed, that would
be a wise selection of an eminently
qualified man who would fully meet
every expectation in the event of his
selection.
Mr. Williams is not backed as a
matter of local pride, but because he
has surpassing talents to fill the
place.
DIGRESSION HELD DEPLORABLE
People Reminded of the Foundation
of American Nation.
HILLSBORO, Or., May 15. (To the
Editor.) The signs of the times point
to a mix-up in the body politic, body
religious and body social of our coun
try. At times like the present when
the political pot is boiling in Oregon,
is it not to the point that the man
who is desirous of being all and truly
American stop and ponder?
Religious and social strife have ex
isted throughout history, do exist and
will exist as long as men differ.
"Only truth is strong, and albeit she
wander outcast now, I see around her
throng, troops of beautiful tall angels
to protect her from all wrong," says
James Russell Lowell. Truth is a wel
come visitor to the man who wants to
be a true American. How is the truth
to be known?
The Knights of Columbus, the Ku
Klux Klan, the Masons, the Oddfel
lows and other secret orders, the Jews
and the Gentiles, the Catholics and
the Protestants in this country are
all citizens of America and as far as
they point the way to true American
ism, tihey are commendable and should
not s-uffer.
Why is it that we must suffer from
jealousy, hatred and malice? Why is
it that Americanism and true citizen
ship must be stung by untruthful
manifestations? A fair solution of
the matter can be found only in the
scriptural diction: "Prove all things,
hold fast to that which is good."
Our country is well founded on re
ligious and social freedom.
DR. L. W. HYDE,
Dept. Commander United Spanish War
Veterans, Dept of Oregon.
TAX REDUCTION IS A Bid JOB
Clubs Encounter Trouble But Millage
Repeal Bill Is Promised.
McMINN VTLLE, Or.. May 15. (To
the Editor.) The first reason given
for the organization of the tax re
duction clubs, reads: "To, Initiate
measures to( reduce taxes, not new
ways to tax, but new ways to re
duce." The criticism in The Ore
gonlan of the 40 days' struggle to
agree on measures shows the great
task Imposed on those who would
dare try such work. It Is plain that
beneficiaries will move earth, hell
and committees to prevent the con
summation of such an act as will
reduce their share of the tax money.
Committee wrangling and division is
sweet music to such. It breathes the
hope of delay, and failure.
There may have been some incon
sistencies in the work of the com
mittee. There Was one document
signed that may show some of these.
It was treated as a scrap of paper
and contains some good names. The
efforts to sidetrack the measure to
repeal the 1.2- millage tax wpuld
make the oldest congressional com
mittee smile. But It will be out and
on the ballot That It will cripple
or destroy the higher educational in
stitutions is a mistaken claim. There
Is more danger of their destruction
by their top-heaviness in cost to tax
payers. Having no political ambitions I do
not deem it necessary to reply to
personal criticisms. But some car
pet beating is necessary. Who wants
the job? J. C. COOPER.
Church Membership of Candidate.
PORTLAND, May 16. (To the Edi
tor.) Kindly publish to what church
Judge Rossman belongs.
MRS. JOHN MILLER.
East Twelfth and Lincoln.
First Congregational.
More Truth Than Poetry.
By James J. Montague.
DESPERATE STRAITS.
I used to think that men were wise;
I placed profound reliance
On commerce and on enterprise.
And politics and science.
I used to think that love and law
Were things that really mattered;
And then along came Bernard Shaw
And these beliefs were shattered.
I used to think that by and by
The nations would be willing
The ways of peace a while to try
And leave off war and killing.
I fondly fancied I foresaw
Odl hatreds all forsaken;
And then along came Bernard Shaw
And proved me quite mistaken.
I used to think the golden rule
Was practiced by its preachers.
I loved to go to Sunday-school
And reverenced my teachers.
To own a soul without a flaw
Had been my one ambition.
And then along came Bernard Shaw
And said, "D ned superstition!"
I have no hopes and no beliefs;
My life, once glad and cheery.
Is burdened now with bitter griefs,
And cold and sad and dreary.
In days to come, as in the past.
The wildest doubts will fret me.
Nor can I hope for Heaven at last
For Bernard Shaw won't let me!
Various Ways.
Some men achieve celebrity, and
some men marry Peggy Joyce.
Shortage of Brains.
It's a dull world, after all. Some
people fail in the bootleg business.
It Had to Be an Author.
Probably Mr. Beveridge was made
Indiana's republican candidate for the
senate because Geo Ade is a democrat
and Booth Tarkington was busy.
(Copyright by th Bell Snydicate, Inc.)
Hands.
By Grace E. Hall.
Queer, five-fingered, things of flesh
and bone
Twisting, curving, limber, sprawling
things!
You are the strangest mechanism
known;
The world depends on what . your
cunning brings.
Hands upon levers, moving giant
wheels;
Hands upon sabers, painting crimson
fields;
Hands upon guns, where deadly shot
and shell
Tear human forms in war's inhuman
hell.
Hands upon throats, in darkest deeds
intent.
And hands on keys, where lightning
words are sent;
Rough hands upon the plow 'til day
is done,
Where first the sod is turned to meet
the sun.
Hands supporting flags hands on
drum and flute;
Hands holding pens when nations'
tongues are mute;
Hands on strings and Ivory when
music grandly rolls
Like waves of toneless rapture over
souls.
Sweet, tender hands "upon the in
fant's face;
Hands upon wrists, death's speeding
chill to trace;
Hands upon hands in friendship's
tender hold;
Hands against hands in conflicts
fierce and bold.
Strange, twisting things, your mighty
power dismays!
Like talons, you lay hold on all our
ways;
You form and fashion, model, paint
and brew.
And life itself depends in part on you.
Oh, hands of art, your work is won
drous fine! (
And hands of toil, you keep the world
supplied;
And hands of love, your magic,
touched to mine.
Has kept alive my heart, which else
had died.
In Other Days.
Twenty-Five Years Ago.
From The Oregonlan of May 17, 1S9T.
A. L. Mohler of Minneapolis will be
made vice-president and manager of
the Oregon Railroad & Navigation
company today, in the most Important
change since the reorganization of
the railroad.
Washington. Friends of Cuba are
swarming to the capital to argue for
Intervention by the United States.
Dr. Charles Edward Locke called
the city government a "reign of dev
els" in a speceh at the Taylor-Street
Methodest Episcopal church.
President McKInley is waiting the
election of a senator from Oregon be
fore dealing out patronage here.
Fifty Years Ago.
Prom The OreBonlan of May IT, 1872.
Corvallis. Fire destroyed eight
buildings and caused damage esti
mated at $18,000.
Elmira, N. Y. The republican state
convention came to order here with
the election of Henry P. Pierson as
permanent president
Baltimore. Jews are demanding a
change in the marital laws, which
make the marriage contract valid
only when solemnized by a "min
ister of the gospel."
Workmen are engaged in overhaul
ing a bridge at the corner of Fourth
and L streets, east Portland.
Tears for Tariff Question.
PORTLAND, May 10. (To the Edi
tor.) Why don't you keep Ben and
Ike and Charlie on the tariff ques
tion and have harmony in the grand
old party, instead of mixing things
with Ku Klux Klan and the Cath
olics? If you don't do something to get
back to the tariff and full dinner pail,
you are liable to have a family row
on that will last till frost comes.
you know we democrats are never
happy when you republicans are In
an inharmonius state of mind and I
think your trouble is all caused by
the fact that Ben and Ike and Charlie
have wandered off after strange idols,
or Idols their father knew not.
So let them drop Klan and the pope
and go back to the tariff, for I don't
think Belfast or Dublin have any
place iro the Oregon system.
H. D. WAGNON.
Marriage After Divorce.
PORTLAND, May 16. (To the Edi
tor.) 1. How long after a divorce
must parties "wait before remarrying
in Washington, when divorce is ob
tained in California?
2. Would marriage in Canada two
weeks after divorce is obtained in the
United States be valid? READER.
1. One year.
2. The 'aw of the state in which
the divorce was granted controls..