Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1922)
12 THE MORNING OREGONIAN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 1922 KST ARLISHED BY BKXRY L. PITTOCK. Published by The Oregonian. Pub. Co., lii Sixth Street, Portland, Oregon. C. -A. MORDEN, E. B. PIPER, ; Alanager, Editor. The Oregonian Is a member o the As sociated Press. The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use for publi cation of all news dispatches credited to ;'. .r rot otherwise credited in this paper and- also the local news published herein. All; rights of publication of special dis patches herein are aJo reserved. Subscription Rates Invariably in Advance. I (By Mall.) I 'ally, Sunday Included, one year .. . . " I-'nily, Sunday included, six months ... -2. laily, Sunday included, three months Z2. Laily, Hunday included, one month. Iaily, without Sunday, one year 6.00 iJaily, without Sunday, six months . 8.25 IJaQy, without Sunday, one month.. .60 burning, ona year 2. ; (By Carrier.) I'atly. Sunday included, one year. ..9.00 I'ally, Sunday included, three months 2.25 aily, Sunday included, one month.,. .75 1 aily, without Sunday, one year . 7.80 J-aily, without Sunday, three months 1.05 Daily, without Sunday, one month.. .65 How to Remit Send poatoffice money order, express or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at owner's risk. Give postoffice address i-'i full, including county and state. Postage Rates 1 to 18 pages, 1 cent; J to 3J pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, 3 tents; 00 to 04 pages, 4 cents; ltt to SO Pages. 5 cents; 82 to SB pages, 6 cents. Kastern Business Offices Verree & Onklin. 300 Madison avenue. New York; Virree & Conklin. Steger Building, Chi cago; Verree & Coi.klin, Free Press build ing, Detroit, Mich; Verree & Conklin, Wonadnock building, San Francisco. Cat ..EDUCATION AM) THE STATE. I (In Several Articles Article 4.) The Oregonian had from Salem, on October 10, a news dispatch which gave a clear insight into physical conditions in the public Kdiools of that city. It was as follows: Bcrause of the crowded condition of the Saigin schools the local commercial cluh toirlay started a campaign for the hoil..rm.n of school conditions. George !lu superintendent of schools, reported ihs- all the buildings are crowdnd to ca Tacuv and that more room is needed to accommodate the students. This year's enrollment Is larger than ever before. It is the same in Portland and 'elsewhere in Oregon. The building programme of the Portia nd district is 3'ears behind requirements so far behind that the device of tem porary structures, known as port ables, has been generally adopted; and yet overcrowding has been carried' to extremes. The situation became so critical that the school board last spring caused to be sub mitted to the voters of the district a bond issue of $3,000,000, to be used for new buildings, and a spe cial tax levy of $1,000,000, to be used in part for additions to pres ent buildings. It is not anywhere taid that the new accommodations tli us provided for will bo more than nufficienl to care for the normal increase of pupils ' in the public schools. Any large and unexpected accession of school attendance will put enormous pressure on accom modations, and will automatically require general extension of facil ities. If the number of pupils in the public schools in any city is, say, 10,000, it is foolish, and it would be untrue as all experience proves to declare that 10,060 more pupils can get along with anything less than an outright increase of school room by 100 per cent. The .situation in Portland and in Kalem is much the same as throughout Oregon. In cities and towns there is great crowding; in the country there is doubtless less difficulty; but in the long run the story will be must be a repe tition of what is going on in the centers of population. The application of this situation to the proposed compulsory school bill is obvious. If all children be tween 8 and 16 in Oregon are to be compelled to go to the pub lic schools, and the private and parochial schools are to be closed ind deserted, there will be a now invasion of the pub lic schools an army of children variously estimated to number from "J000 to 12,000 to be cared for; and there is at present no room for them. It must be provided. It will mean increase in investment in school facilities in exact propor tion to the added numbers of school children; it will mean an added cost for instruction and mainten ance more superintendents, more principals, more teachers, more janitors, more heating and the like in exactly the same proportion. There i3 no other sensible way to look at it. It' is misleading and will be shown to be false to say it will not happen. Now here are the figures: The annual cost per grade pupil for actual instruction and for keeping the school rooms heated, lighted and cleaned (including no building costs and no overhead expense otherwise) m Portland for 1920-21 was $72.35. It is estimated that the Average cost throughout the state (including Portland) is about $65 per pupil. If ten thousand new pupils are to be sent to the public schools the total additional cost of instruction will be $650,000 per year. If one-third of them are from Portland as they will be, or more the yearly added cost of in struction will be more than $200,- 000 per year. These are low est! mates. It will be unwise to dis regard the facts. But this is not all. There must be an enlarged building plan. The cost per pupil in Portland, on the basis of present investment, in grounds and buildings, with an al lowance for increased modern costs, will be about $500 per pull, and from $200 to $300 outside of Port land (towns and country). The average throughout the state will tlotibtless be about $300 per pupil, or $3,000,000 in all. The Portland cost will be about $1,666,666. -The $3,000,000 must come from the taxpayers, ultimately. It true that the compulsory school J measure is not to take effect until 1326, but the obligation is assumed NOW (if the measure passes), and the bill must be paid. The four intervenirrg years (if it shall be determined that the bill is const! tutional) will have been lost this time of grace will have been granted in vain if it shall not be a time of. preparation for the new situation created for 1926 and subsequent years. This is the compulsory school bill in its material aspects. If the voters of Oregon think the gain to be secured by requiring all children to go to the public schools is greater than the cost in money, they will, no doubt, be satisfied to enact the measure. But certainly they will not want to be under any -kffor or misapprehension as to t.'it it means to them in added Mtva. This In a time when there is a truss1. x)t1oub and doubtful scrutiny oJ lax coht. Much of the increase :om made, on the basis of greater service to the public. The same plea is now made by those proponents of the measure who are candid about conditions. It is de nied only by those who want to conceal the facts or who are blind to the lessons of experience. But the facts nevertheless are, or will be, $650,000 and more per annum for instruction and $3,000, 000 for more buildings and grounds. BANKRUPTS ON A WAR SPREE. What Secretary of Labor Davis said about the squandering of money on war and armies by the allies while they plead for cancel lation of their debt to the United States has a particular application to the fascisti government of Italy. Although their country is swamped with debt, shows a budget deficit every year and has a badly depreci ated currency, the Italian jingoes who have climbed to power by civic turmoil have dreams of conquest that rival those of ancient Rome, and have already begun war to realize them. The attack on Sushak, the Slav suburb of Piume, is an even more shameless violation of a treaty than was the German invasion of Bel gium. Germany could at least plead that the Belgian treaty had outlived its original purpose and had become obsolete with some plausible show of reason, but no such excuse will serve Italy for tearing up the treaty of Rapallo with Jugo-Sliivia. That treaty is scarcely two years old and was a fair compromise which prevented war. By tearing it up the fascisti have entered upon a war that has possibilities of indefinite expansion. The creditors of .such a country could show no leniency. But the best way to enforce pay ment is to prevent. war, not merely lecture those who make it. In co operation with other powers we might have done something in that direction: alone we can do little. MR. Me ARTHUR'S RECORD. The just reward of service and efficiency is' continuance in office. Such a reward is deservedly due to Representative McArthur, repub lican candidate for re-election from the third congressional district. Four terms in the Mower house of congress have proved him staunchly reliable and courageous in the sacrifice of self interest for the welfare of the state and nation. His candor, his absence of fear, have made enemies for him. What manner of enemies are they? What manner of man could serve in con gress, with loyalty to his plain duty, and not earn enmities? Words are cheap to the dema gogue and easy to his tongue. It is charged that Representative McArthur has a "do-nothing" rec ord. There is no argument behind that charge, no basis for it save wind and political expediency. Mr. McArthurs record nails the lie. From the outset of his service to he present he has, by sincere en deavor and application, and dint of fighting in timely hours, made for himself a record that is unassail able. He has worked for Oregon as for the nation, whole-heartedly and without reservation. He is fitted by experience and his own native capabilities, by his prestige in the house, to extend that record. Why should the third district re tire this effective public servant, and replace him with his wishful opponent? What would be the rank, the experience, the effective ness, of his opponent if Mr. Mc Arthur were retired? Would Ore gon benefit? Could Oregon possibly benefit? Do we discharge our debts of gratitude . by payments of in gratitude? These questions are pertinent. Mr. McArthur should be returned. A LIBRARY CENTENARY. The centenary of the founding of the first public, library in the United States provokes reflection on the enduring quality of some literature and reminds us also that the raw material of which libraries are made has grown enormously in volume in the hundred years since then. The pioneer free library was established in a rural community in New Hampshire, that is to say, in a town depending almost wholly on agriculture for its existence. This seems to have been the history of the library movement throughout the country. Philadelphia had a predominantly agricultural back ground when Benjamin Franklin introduced the Idea of co-operation in the buying and circulating of books. With minor exceptions which related to collections of technical books, the history of lib rary expansion has been synchron ous with the advancement of the farm frontier. Is there a definite relationship between the calling of the husband man and desire for breadth of knowledge? It Is significant that these first libraries grew out of mo tives other than the purely utili tarian. The pioneer of all free libraries appears to have catered heavily to demand for uplifting, or at least informative, works. Gib bons' Rome, Johnson's essays and the writings of Addison and Steele were among tjiem. Johnson's "Lives of the Poets," a life of George Washington as a matter of course, Franklin's "Autobiography. files of the Federalist and similar volumes attest the gap between the psychology of the weary farmer and that of the tired business man. The library was dedicated expressly to the use of children, but not flip pantly, it appears, and youngsters and their parents were nourished on a pabulum of solid literary food. The first comers to Oregon, also pre-eminently men and women of the soil, assembled a public library at their earliest opportunity. The first immigration of any importance was that of 1842 and it is worthy of note that the- beginning of a library was made In the winter of that year. The Multnomah Circulating Library at Willamette Falls was the inspiration of the Pioneer Lyceum and Literary club, which was the cultural center of the region during the months immediately preceding organization of the first govern menu In' all probability it had a good deal to do with shaping the course of subsequent political events. The charter granted to the library by the legislature of 1845 was one of the first few acts of in corporation and the first covering an educational institution. "A very good circulating library," was the comment of J. W. Nesmith, who was not a man to have been at' traded by trashy reading matter. It ought not to be forgotten that congress when It passed the terrl- torial enabling act of August 14, 1848, though it dealt with funda mentals, provided an appropriation of $5000 -a rather large sum in that time for a library and that the original constitution of the state, when it made provision for an ir reducible school fund, included libraries among the purposes for which its income might be ex pended. The fire which destroyed the ter ritorial capltol in 1855 consumed among other tomes "The' Philoso phy of Living." Goethe's "Faust," Locke's "Essays," including, no doubt, that on the human under standing, and the works of Maria Edgeworth and Hannah More. When congress responded to a leg islative memorial requesting an ap propriation of $20,000 for more books by cutting the sum to a trif ling $500 it clearly underrated the cultural aspirations of the people of Oregon. Nevertheless, as every citizen of Oregon now knows, or ought to know, the people have found ways to propagate the seed sown in pioneer times. The centenary observed this month presents, as has been sug gested, a study in contrasts. The first free library disarmed opposi tion because it was a voluntary af fair, but it was looked at askance by some. The free library as an in. stitution deriving unquestioned sup port from public funds and as an agency of co-operation in edu cation is of much more recent date. VIRTUES tVORTH KEEPING AT WORK. If there are in fact any" grada tions in honesty it may be said that the honesty of Governor Ol cott has a meticulous quality. We have in mind some things that are often said, with a good deal of truth, about public men, but which have never been said about Ben Olcott. . It has never been charged that he promised a man political place and. failed to keep the promise. It has never been charged that he took a dollar of public money for which he did not give a dollar in service, or laid the foundation of a private fortune with the re ceipts of public job-holding. It has never, been charged that in order to get votes for himself he promised to do things that he could not do. It has never been charged that he did not give the most ordinary citizen the same courtesy that he gives to the highest. Some cynic has said that when the private citizen errs . for the benefit of his pocktttbook we some times send him to jail, but that when a public servant takes that which is not rightfully his we1 gen erally give him a better office, Perhaps Governor Olcott would be a better politician if he were a little more grasping with his hands and a little less guarded with his speech. This is not said as a mat ter of regret. We shall be in tensely interested in seeing what Is the result of the contrast in per. sonalities presented to the elector ate in this campaign. We shall plainly come soon to know which is the most effective in politics, what a man does or what a man says. Ben Olcott went into office with U-lean and empty hands. His hands are still clean and they are still empty. With all his quietness of manner he is a man of courage. When members of the legislature engaged in logrolling over local roads and the highway programme was menaced he applied the veto to local road bills without mercy. Yet when he saw the paramount need of getting the young wards of the boys' training school out of dungeonlike quarters into buildings where there would be less taint of jail to make reformation impos sible he demanded a diversion of certain state road funds to that' purpose and got it. There will be no attempt made herein to describe, in detail, his achievements, which include con solidation of elections, blue sky1 law, elimination of costly state census and numerous other efficiency and economy measures. It will be pointed out, however, with some particularity that Governor Olcott discerned the pressure of high taxes long before the present cam paign commenced and that he be gan an effort for their reduction. Governor Olcott's message to the legislature of 1921 is a public docu ment. It begins with a solemn warning that the period of defla tion has commenced and that the state must prepare for it. His message draws attention to the large taxes voted by the people with consequent heavy demand upon tax resources. He made plain the inevitability of his veto of ap propriations that exceeded the 6 per cent limitation. He directed attention to the fact that land is paying an . undue proportion of taxes, referred to his appointment of a committee to survey the field for property that was not paying its just proportion, and announced to the legislature that this com mittee of his conception would ul timately have a report for legis lative consideration: He called upon the legislature for a strength ening of the budget and he warned against a movement to enlarge the state capitol at expense of other and more worthy needs. It is worthy of note that one of the men Governor Olcott , set to work to devise a constructive method, of equalizing the tax bur. den, of taking off of farms and homes a share of the undue pro portion now laid upon them that one of the men called to this work was one who had never exhibited theretofore in any of his public activities which had been num erous a knowledge of the con. dition whose unfairness Governor Olcott had set out to remedy. That man was Walter M. Pierce. He apparently got his first Intimation that the farmers of the state were complaining of unjust tax treat ment from the farmers themselves who turned out to voice their pro tests before the commission which Governor Olcott conceived and ap pointed. As said before. Governor Olcott does not make rash promises. The systematic effort that he initiated for reform of taxation in Oregon is virtually at the productive stage. The next legislature will have be fore it the results of the Olcott tax investigation whether Mr. Olcott be re-elected or not. It is character. istic of Governor Olcott that this investigation was Instituted and insofar as he has directed its move ments, has been carried on with out ostentation. There la no co- litical reason why Governor Olcott should not have made tax reduc tion a noisy, windy, jazzy issue of his own campaign. He had laid the groundwork for it by making a consistent, record of careful con sideration ef the public interests in his own official acts, and he had instituted a plan for composing taxation inequalities and tax bur-J dens which he had had no part in creating. We fancy that the thought never occurred to him that here was a way t pull votes to himself. It did not occur to him that intelligent exercise of func tions that are rightfully imposed upon a governor was anything more to make a noise about than his honesty in declining to accept two salaries. That's Olcott. The outstanding characteristics of Governor Olcott are modesty, prudence, honesty, efficiency. . The Oregonian thinks that a governor who has so consistently exhibited those four commendable virtues should be re-elected. Italy CONJURES IP A WAR-CLOUD. Reaction, as socialists call it, Is going to the extreme in Italy. Fascism is a revolt against both the economic and the international ideas of the socialists, for it com bines war on nationalization of in dustry with efforts to realize the most extravagant territorial claims of nationality. It now rules Italy in fact and may soon do so in name through formation of a fascist cabinet. Alone among the great allies, Italy entered the war frankly for aggression, only inferentially for defense. The war aim was to ac quire Trentino and the east coast of the Adriatic, which had not been Italian since 'Italy became a na tion. In consequence, when Presi dent Wilson stood out against the claim to Fiume and the entire east Adriatic coast, and when Giolitti compromised with Jugo-SIavia by the treaty of Rapallo, the Italian veterans believed they were being cheated of the spoils of victory. At the same time the socialists at tempted by strikes and violence to force their system on the country. and successive governments seemed impotent agaTnst them. By an ap peal to nationality, the fascists en listed the support of the ex-soldiers of all classes and thus weaned many workmen away from social ism, and by an appeal to the aris tocracy and property-owners, they won over the upper and middle classes. They did not content them selves with pressure on the govern ment to exert its authority against the socialists; they fought the latter with their own weapon direct ac tion and have beaten them. Triumph of fascism threatens consequences not only to the inter nal government of Italy but to the peace of Europe. The fascists are openly hostile to Great Britain, by which Italy has stood from th armistice down to the recent Turk ish crisis in a spirit of friendship which began in the days of Gari baldi. Repudiation of the Rapallo treaty may bring war with Jugo slavia and Albania, possibly with Greece, for the fascist claims imply attack of Jugo-Slavia's outlet to the sea, Albania's independence and Greece's new territory in southern Albania. If war should come, Bui garia might attack Jugo-SIavia on the east and the Turks might strike to recover Macedonia. Hungary would be tempted to fight for re covery of its lost provinces, and Czecho-Slovakia and. Roumania would -then be involved. If Italy should tear up the Ra pallo treaty, the efficacy ' of the league of nations -a means of keeping peace would undergo supreme test. That action would be flagrant violation of a cove nant,and it would be incumbent on all other members to defend Jugo slavia, by economic means or by arms. A little over a year ago i mere threat sufficed to make Jugo Slavia draw back from an invasion of Albania, but Italy is a first-class power with permanent membership on the league council. If the league should fail to compel Italy to re spect a treaty only two years old it would break down under the first real test; if it should force Italy to observe the treaty, it would most dramatically establish its power as a means of keeping peace and of enforcing respect for the law of nations. Ambassador Harvey's proposal that the ten commandments be re vised to conform to the modern status of women has disclosed. among other things, judging from the discussion it has created, that both sexes are about equally lack' ing in the sense of humor. nouaini nas riiea a petition in bankruptcy, showing that there are some tight places he can't get out or, even when he has made them himself. Germany proposes to issue fif. teen billion marks as emergency money. The cigar coupon business must speed up to keep in the race. The ex-kaiser's wedding presents to his bride cost 800,000300 marks They ought to pawn for at least a twenty. The woman charged with killing a Bheepherder in Klamath county was acquitted, for lack of evidence, though. Young Mr. Ford is In Portland today. What a parade he could head if he would hold up one finger! Oregon for wonders! A state official has .returned an unex pended balance of over $13,000! Toungs river Is said to be full of shad, and if the shad are full of bones, why, that's that. It's an ill wind that blows any. body good. The golfer's woe Is the duck hunter's delight. Air. piummer will have every kind of cow but the self-milker at the Pacific International. It is Just as well we approach the end of the year. There la "honey" week coming. The meaning of "caveat emptor1 might be amended to Include nego. tiating a crossing. The "Gorilla" was identified. The rest should be simple, PJt 3i ft peaeelnl set fcl POLICIES IN LEGION DEPLORED Comrades of Wars Comprise Men of All Faiths and Parties. PORTLAND, Nov 1. (To the Ed itor.) The American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are two organizations that up to the present time have exerted a power ful influence in American affairs. This has been brought about largely because of the fact that they have not as yet entered into politics. It has been the policy of the various organizations and the majority of 4he local posts to hold aloof from the discussion of political and re l'glous affairs. But it has come to the attention of the writer within the last two or three months that this one great principle of our two organizations is being lost s'ght of and instead a: free and unrestricted discussion of these subjects is being carried on right within the walls of our post buildings. Some of us seem to for get that our membership consists of more than one religious creed and that unfavorable remarks, whatever our private opinions may be. ulti mately will lead to a disruption of our organization, and instead of comradeship and good fellowship based upon our service to our country we will have bitterness and hatred. Literature in regard to the pres ent political campaign should not be given out within our post build ings. Personally the writer has agreed with many of the various arguments advanced, but there is time and place for such things and it is not in the home of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. So let us try to keep free from internal strife and express our religious and political opinions in their proper place, which is not within the wails of the two greatest organizations in American history with the exception of the G. A R. H. D. STONE. SCHOOL BILL CALLED VICIOUS Writer Compares Measure to Enact ments of Dark Ages. PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Ed- tor.) This school bill is the most vicious legislation that has ever been submitted to any civilized com munity. It is an echo from the dark ages, a groan from the inquisition. It is a relic from the good old days when they tried to make all people think alike: when their arguments were the rack, the noose and the burning at the stake; when the church had the power and used it without mercy to convert everyone to its belief. It required 600 years to civilize the church, and now it looks as if It would be necessary to start in to civilize tne Masons. Are they going to follow in the footsteps of the old church? BecauBe they think they have the; power to do so, are they going to rorce everyone to think alike? Are they going to put people in jail who differ from them? Are they going to crush out the life of everyone who toes not follow their doctrines? Not in America. No such un- American policy will ever be toler ated in the land of the free. Who ever calls such a pVicy an American policy knows not the first principle or Americanism. The bill can never be enforced in America. I would like to see an American jury con vict a man of the unthinkable crime of judging for himself in matters of religion, just think of sending a man to prison for thinking contrary to an edict put out by the Masons! When did they assume authority to do the thinking for mankind? GEORGE KING. PLEA FOR MUTUAL TOLERANCE Where Providence Has Blessed Man Should Not Seek to Destroy. PORTLAND, Nov. l.fTn th V.AI- tor.) This fair and fertile state has oeen cnroniclea to the world throue-h emissaries, lecturers, evangelists and missionaries as a wonderful land of wealth and opportunity, a favored section of liberty loving America We know that nature has been lav- isn in ner gifts and that providence has been generous in the manifold blessings we enjoy as to health, so cial environments and climatic con ditions. It behooves us at this time to balance our mentality and ask ourselves soberly who is our neigh bor. We are reaching away for fame and notoriety to foreign shores in viting strangers to our hospitable land ana almost in the same breath there are some who would drive away and make Ufa miserable for those staunch pioneers and their children and children's children who happen to believe more or less than a certain standard. During the late war we got a fair test of "who is who" in Oregon. It made no difference, whether his name was Mike, Pat, Percy or Claude when the call to arms was sounded to protect our glorious and incomparable flag from the on slaught of invasion. Let us be con siderate of all creeds and races1, as they may be called again to uphold our country's tradition and show a real test of this much-abused 100 per cent Americanism. D. W. LANE. WORLD TOO SEVERE ON BOYS "Why Pick on Them Just Because They Choose to Adorn Themselves f ' PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Ed tor.) I have been reading the ar ticles in your paper concerning the new fad among the boys, and it oc curred to me that maybe the world in general was just a little lit hard on them. Take the girls. A girl can put on a dress that came direct from Paris, and when she stages her entrance among her friends some sweet young thing will rush up and rap turously proclaim: "Oh, how cute you look. Why, it's perfectly ripping. Look, Mae. Isn't she too sweet for words?" Even the men do not look In the opposite direction if one of the fair sex displays her pink shoulders In a gay French gown. So why pick on the boys? Poor fel lows. It's a shame to compel them to make their hasty journey home ward down back alleys and deserted side streets with nothing to cover them but an unwieldy barrel. Why make them go through such torture merely because they choose to wear the becoming peon pants Why can't a flipper wear pants made in the United States, even though Spanish in style, when his sister the flapper imports both her dress and style from a foreign country? She does not raise a revolution! Don't you think we're a little hard on the fellows? I do. LUCILE GLOVER. GOVERNOR OLCOTT ANSWERS Never Knowingly Permitted Unlaw ful School Land Loan. BROWNSVILLE, Or., Nov, l-(To the Editor.) In answer to your in quiry, I wish to say that as a mem ber of the state land board I never knowingly permitted the issuance of any loan from the irreducible school fund that was against the law or against the Tules and regulations of the board. I certainly would not par ticipate in such a loan for my per sonal benefit, nor permit anyone elBe to d9 88. v EJSN, ,W. OLCOTT. Those Who Come and Go. Tales of Folks at the Hotels. One of the great needs of China today is to have strong, brainy men 'at the helm, for untold wealth is yet to be taken from the soil or China. This is the statement of Sidney K. Cohen of New York and Yokohama For more than a quar ter of a century Mr. Cohen has been in the orient and knows China and Japan and other countries in that region like a book. The habits and customs of the various native peo ples, the trade routes, the best mar kets and the financial conditions are as familiar to him as the alpha bet is to some school boys. At pres ent Mr. Cohen is buying supplies in the orient for several of the largest mercantile firms in the United States. "The people of the United States," says Mr. Cohen, "have no idea of the vast number of Chinese who are starving. And yet thia star vation is going on in a land which is wonderfully blessed by nature in all kinds of valuable mineral depos its which are awaiting the Ingenuity of man to take from the ground. "For untold ages the natives have merely tickled the surface of these mineral deposits. What is now need ed to make China a remarkably prosperous nation is the installation of modern macninery by companies amply financed and directed by good engineering executives. Left to themselves the natives will continue in the same old way, using the age old methods and in no manner de veloping the resources Jo abundant ly provided." Hogs are always in demand, which fact is recognized by farmers in the Hermiston, Or., section and they are preparing to do their share toward contributing to the supply. Dr. W. H. Lytle. state veterinarian, who has returned from a trip to eastern Oregon, says that hogs are coming to the front in that irrigated country. There are men in the Hermiston region who are raising from 300 to 400 hogs. The system is to raise them until about five months old. fatten them and then sell them. It is estimated that these hog raisers can net about $10 a head. The only danger the produc era have to fear is hog cholera, and science has now met this problem. so that cholera can be headed off by a serum. A number of the men who are going, into the hog business so extensively are settlers from lowa. As proud as a boy.used to be of a pair of red-topped boots is Mark A. Mayer of the apples which he has on display in a Washington-street win dow. Mr. Mayer, whose orchard is just east of Mosier and is bisected by the Columbia river highway, has brought to Portland some of the finest apples that grow on his trees. Every apple looks as though it has been treated with varnish, so highly does it shine, but Mr. Mayer insists that the polish is natural. The high color of the apples is due to the vol canic ash of the soil and the cli matic conditions in Mosier. Mr. Mayer is -registered at the Benson for Bi few days. Idaho is yet to come into its own in regard to scenic roads, according to A. S- Peterson of the Gem state, who is registered at the MultnomaJi. "I have just made a trip over the north and south highway in Idaho, from Grangeville, in the northern part of the state, to Boise, in the southern part," says Mr. Peterson. "When this road is complete it will be one of the finest in the west, as there is wonderful mountain scenery along the route and the trip along the Payette lake is beautiful. The highway will also furnish a shorter route for the people living in the southern part who desire to go north." "It took an eastern friend to tell me where the name of this state came from," observed C. J. Downs at the Multnomah. "My friend, in Jacksonville, Pla., writes that he understands that the state was named after a popular man in San Francisco by the name of O'Regan and that later it was spelled Oregon. But, however the name should be spelled or .whatever its source, my friend wants to come out here and make his home in Portland." In the interests of the million dollar memorial to be erected at the Iowa State college. Ames, la.. Dr. Leonard Pierson, president of the college, and M. J. Riggs of the United States Steel corporation and president of the alumni, are in Port land at the Multnomah. They are here meeting with former students of the college. It is said that Mrs. Sade Van Buren of La Grande, Or., who Is at the Hotel Portland, is one of the best insurance agents in the country for the particular company which she writes policies for. In the en tire United States only a few agents in that company have been able to get more signatures on the dotted line. Walter Brown, an automobile dealer of Medford, Or., is among the Hotel Portland arrivals. For the population, Medford has more than the usual number of cars per capita. largely because of the prosperity of the community and the fine road system In that section. Loyal M. Graham, candidate for representative in the legislature from Washington county, is regis tered at the Multnomah from Forest Grove. Mr. Graham, when in the legislature, was largely responsible for drafting the highway bond measures as a member of the house committee on roads and highways. With the big sawmill at Garibaldi. Or., in operation and the lumber jacks in the woods supplying the logs, there is enough activity going on at that point to make Garibaldi a lively and thriving town. Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Repass of Garibaldi are among the Imperial arrivals. 5. B. Crouch, for years In the hardware business at Roseburg, Or., is at the Hotel Portland. The big gest thing in! Douglas county this year has been the prune crop, for prunes are as important to Douglas as apples are to Hood River or ber ries to Marion county. Ira S. .Smith, who registers from Coos Bay at the Imperial, is in Port land on business and is also sound ing sentiment on the political sit uation in Multnomah county. Mr. Smith is a former member of the stte senate for Coos and Curry counties. Rev Elmer I. Goshen of Salt Lake City is registered at the Hotel Port land. Although a minister of the gospel, he is an ardent baseball fan and was instrumental in Salt Lake. City acquiring its franchise for the baseball team. Henry Tourish of Duluth, Minn., prominently identified with the lumber industry. Is at the Hotel Portland. He comes to Oregon about once a year to look over his Interests here. Baron Richard Groedel ana Hugo Bruckman from Vienna, Austria, are registered at the Hotel Portland. They are making a tour of the United States, 6, V, Hunaiker et Chicago, where he is the director of the resaaroh laboratory of a large creamery con- gtm, is at the Hotel Portland, Burroughs Nature Club. Copyright, Houghton-Mifflin Co. Can You Answer These Questions i 1. What is the incubation period of the robin? The English sparrow? 2. Are the little gherkins used in pickle a special kind of cucumber, or just tiny ones? 3. Are flies generally considered better bait for trout than natural bait? Answers in tomorrow's Nature Notes. Answers to Previous Questions. 1. Do squirrels live all over the world? They are not native to Australia and Madagascar, but elsewhere in the temperate and tropic regions are well distributed. In North America alone 38 species have been named. 2. Is there any book giving incu bation tables for birds? Some of the ornithologies mention the incubation period for certain of the birds, but we do not happen to know of one a general bird,Jwok. that is that consistently covers this point for all species. But we have recently been recommended (by one of our advisory board) to a new Dublication. "A Study of the Incu batlon Period of Birds." Dy w. i. Bergtold, as reliable and full. 3. Do different varieties of potato mix in the field? We dbn't know exactly what meant. Cross pollinization of blos soms in the field by visits of insects would affect seeds matured from these blossoms. These would prob ably not "breed true" any more than apple seeds do. But potatoes are reproduced for agricultural pur poses from the eyes of the tubers, just as apples are reproduced by grafts. The plants grown from eyes do breed true. New varieties could be obtained, however, by mixing pollens In the blossoms and thus getting nw seed. NAUGHT TO DO WITH RELIGION School Bill Is Purely Educational Matter, Says Correspondent. PORTLAND, Oct 31. (To the Edi tor.) Are Messrs. Nugent, Wood ward and Malcolm the initiators of this compulsory educational bill? If not, why do Mr. Labbe an$ the opponents of this "bill get personal? To me it seems this measure has nothing to do with religion, lodges, private or quasi public enterprises. It is an educational matter, and the question is "How is the spirit of a free people to be formed, animated and cheered?" I believe, only by free public schools. I know not what more munificent act any gov ernment can do than to provide in struction at the public expense, not as a scheme of charity, but as a municipal policy. Keep and increase the public schools with all diligence,- for out of them come the issues of life, and unselfish, sincere people. There is no danger in over-rating the im portant part which they perform in human affairs. In these institu tions the stock of useful knowledge is ndt only preserved, but aug mented. It is there for everybody; not only for a chosen few. It is passed from generation to genera tion, and each improves on that which went before. What consola tion can be higher than the thought that ' the children under public guardianship may gather the fruits of that learning which ripens for eternity? To us, then, who are met within the limits of a state so distin guished in the annals of human Im provement: to us, who are now de bating whether this system or that system of teaching is the best foi our posterity; charged as we ar with the responsibility of minister ing with pure hands and unselfish interest to the intellectual growth of a rising multitude it cannot be uninteresting to pause a few mo ments by the way and inquire, "Out side of personal mercenary benefit. of what good are the private schools to the public?" What improvements have been introduced through the private schools in our public schools? This school bill should have been passed years ago, but as it's never too late, this bill should receive the support at the coming election of every patriotic man and woman. . JOHN L. SCHMUD LA WOODWARD LETTER PRODUCED Mr. Flagg Clears up Matter of Chil dren's School Attendance. ASTORIA, Or., Oct. 30. (To the Editor.) In answer to William J. Sheeny please publish the follow ing letter from William F. Wood ward regarding the statement re cently made that he sent one of his children to a private school: PORTLAND, Or., Oct. 23. Mr. B. H. Flagg, Warrenton, Or. Dear Air. Fiagff. In response to your inquiry let tha writer state' that his children each and every one attended tho elementary publio schools o this city and graduated therefrom. Two of his daughters are now attending Columbia university, both graduates of Jefferson high school, one holding a degree of B. S. from O. A. C, the other after two years at our state college la now completiirg her course at Columbia. By virtue of sickness, our oldest daughter after graduating from our ele mentary public schools,, completed her high school course in a private school, Mrs. Allen's. As stated above, all our children are graduates ot our elementary public schools. Youra very truly, WILLIAM F, WOOBWAHD. Under the proposed law every one would have the right to do just what Mr. Woodward has done, i. e.. send his children to any school he saw fit after they had graduated from the elementary grades of the publio school. Since asking questions appears to be in order, will Mr. Sheehy answer just this one: If the Catholic church is not the bitter enemy of the public -schools why did the Catholic plenary coun cil of Baltimore, as set forth in a recent number of the Catholic monthly of Astoria by the Catholio Bishop Glennon, declare the church law to be "any Catholic parent who, without grave cause, sends his chil dren to a public school is unworthy to receive the sacrament?" E. H. FLAGG. Author of Famous Poem, UNDERWOOD, Wash., Oct.. 31. (To the Editor.) Kindly print that grand old poem "The Burial of Moses" and tell something of the author, whose name I have forgot ten.. C. W. G. You can, no doubt, borrow a book containing the poem from the state circulating library at Olympla, Wash. The poem may be found In "The Speaker's Garland," edited by Phlneaa Garrett, or In any good anthology. Mrs. Cecil Frances Alexander, an English poet, was born In Strabane, Ireland, about 1830. In 1850 she married the Rev. "William Alexander, afterward Bishop of Derry. She Is the author of "Moral Songs," "Hymns for Children" and "Poems on Old Testament Subjects." She (U&d Ootobei la A836, , More Truth Than Poetry. By James J. Montague. THE DOOM OF THE DRAMA. If the drama was laid on the placid old farm. Surrounded with canvas-built greenery. The dumbest of actors could do it no harm It always was saved by the scen ery. One saw lovely meadows, all yellow and blue, And gardens impossibly flowery; And sat there delighted, forgetting to boo At the tramp just arrived from the Bowery. When the banker was stabbed in the ruined old mill, . Where the villains were making a night of it. Your memory woke with a wild, Joyful-thrill, And the tears flowed apace at the sight of it. The murderers' acting was dread fully bad i But you looked at the ancient ma chinery That yoar fingers had nipped, as a bit of a lad. And warmly applauded the scen ery. The plays of the slums were a won derful thing, With the dive and the day-and-night beanery Where the evil pursuits of the opium ring Were plied 'midst appropriate scenery. If you'd mea-sure the actors by merit alone. From the stage you'd have wrath fully hounded 'cm. But you sat through the horror with never a moan Because of the set that surround ed 'em. And now they propose, in the in terest of art -And this is no frivolous .iapery To make every actor perform his own part Assisted by nothing but drapery. The stage of the future, the aesthetes opiue. Will be hare as a countrysld dea.nery Which seems to make certain the drama's decline. For at present it's founded on soenery.- Stow to I.enru. New York city will discover by and by that part-time pupils srn likely to grow up into ..part-time Americans. ' Millions In It. New England is taking up th beet industry. Beets. properly treated, can be made info excellent maple sugar, of. which there is al ways an undersupply. Lost Souls. A spiritist tells us that pe.opl play golf in the life hereafter. Tf they use the same language while playing it that they do here, w think we know in which division of the hereafter the game is played, (ronyrifrht. t!22. by Bell Syndleato, Inc.) In Other Days. Twenty-five Years Ago. From The Oregonian. Nov. 2. 1S97. The wheat-crops of Oregon, Wash ington and Idaho will more than equal one-half the amount of gold taken out of all the mines in the country in 1897. Manchester, N. II. Prohibition's utter breakdown in New Hampshire was confessed at the recent con vention of the Temperance society here where a resolution was adopted declaring "we view with consterna tion the returning influence of the saloon in our state." Mayor Pennoyer has vetoed three reports of the light committee recommending the establishment of arc-lights. Havana. General Blanco on his arrival issued he. following procla mation to the inhabitants of Cuba: "I hope you will salute and em brace the Spanish flag, discarding alliance with those who are stain ing the country with blood." Fifty Years Ago. "From The Oretronlan, Nov. 2, 1872. Turin. The Pp continues to rise and the inundation is spreading. Families are flying. The streams are tilled with carcasses of both men and cattle and wrecks of houses and barns. Seattle. Dr. Maynard, the founder of this city, is -ill at the point of dteath. The last rendition of "Early Cali fornia" at Oro Fino theater last night drew a fair house. This eve ning the great Irish drama "Peep o' Day" will be produced for the first time In this city. New lork. Business is compara tively at a standstill in Jersey City consequent upon the horse disease. Report3 from Chicago are that it is rapidly spreading west, 1000 cases being reported in Chicago alone yes terday. BELIEF IN "MENACE" NOT NEW Ex-Governor Geer Recalls Fear of Church Domination 50 Years Ago. PORTLAND, Nov. 1. (To the Edi tor.) The supporters of the com pulsory school bill which is to re ceive the attention of the voters of Oregon next Tuesday are not by any means a new factor in the political field. I can easily recall that when I cast my first vote 50 years ago (for Joseph G. Wilson for congress, in June, 1872) there were those who thought they clearly saw a "very present" menace to American in stitutions in the destructive inten tions of the Catholic church. I said as much to a man the other day who is at this time certain that he is Justified in destroying all' other private schools in order that all Catholic private schools may be placed under the ban of the law. I reminded this man that the so called "Catholic menace" of 50 years ago was a myth and is today when he replied that there are many more Catholics now than then, which he interpreted to mean a growing danger. To this I replied that there are also many times more Methodists and Baptists and Campbellites than then and that, in fact, there are decidedly more people generally than 50 years ago, and that, further, loyal support of American Ideals is by no means an tagonized by the Catholic church Many of our citizens of the high est type are active members of the Catholic church and the lines in that respect are not drawn accord ing to the affiliation with any church, Protestant or Catholic. Free dom of thought along religious lines is one of the fundamental guaran tees of our form of government indeed, it is clearly set forth as one of the purposes of its organization. I fully agree with Judge Lowell of Pendleton that this mad proposi tion should be defeated next Tues day by at least 100,000 majority, i X 2. QSSBm J