Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 18, 1922)
8 THE 3I0RNIXG- OREOOXIAX, MOXD AY, DECEMBER 18, 1923 illorninDitoirimmn ESTABLISHED BY HENRY L. PITTOCK Published by The Oregxmlan Pub. Co., 135 Sdxth Street, Portland, Oregon. C. A. MORDEN. E. B. PIPER, M&naffer. Editor. The Oregon tan i a, member of the As sociated Preee. The Associated Press is ajciisively entitled to the use for pubtt ' cutton of all news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited In this paper and clso the local news published herein. All rlg-hts of publication of special dis patches herein are also reserved. Subscription Ratee-lnvariably In Advance. (By &Iail, In Oregon, Washington, Idaho and northern California.) dally, Sunday Included, one year ....$8.00 Daily, Sunday Included, six months 4.2Q Dally, Sunday lnoluded, three months 2.25 Daily, Sunday Included, one month .75 Daily, without Sunday, one year 6.00 Dally, without Sunday, six months .. 3.:J5 Daily, without Sunday, one month . .60 Sunday, one year 2.50 All other points in the United States: Daily. Sunday included, one year ... $12.00 Dally, without Sundiay, one year . . . fl.uo Sunday, one year. 5.00 Single copies, daily, 5c; Sunday, 10c (By Carrier.) Dally, Sunday included, one year. .. .19.00 Daily, Sunday included, three months 2.25 Daily, Sunday Included, one month... 75 Daily, without Sunday, one year 7.80 Dally, without Sunday, three months. 1.05 Daily, without Sunday, one month... .05 How to Remit Send postoffice money local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at owner's risk. Give postoffice address in full, including county and state. Postage Kates 1 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, 3 tents; 50 to 64 pages. 4 cents; 66 to 80 pages, 6 cents; 82 to 96 pages, 6 cents. Eastern Business Offices Verree & Conklin, 800 Madison avenue. New York; Verree & Conklin, Steger building. Chi cago; Verree 6 Conklin, Free Press build ing, Detroit, Mich.; verree & Conklin, Monadnock building, San Francisco, Cal. GOING BACK TO EC ROPE. At last the irresistible logic of facts has convinced President Harding that the United States has such an interest in the affairs of Europe as demands that he help to save it from ruin. For two years he has acted on the contrary the ory, namely, that it does not matter to us if Europe should relapse through economic decadence and renewed war into barbarism, that America can live in peace and prosperity amid a world on fire. That theory is the ultimatum of the irreconcilables to which he sur rendered in 1920 and' which that arch-irreconcilable, George Harvey, reaffirmed in his speeches as am bassador to Britain. After Europe Has oeen suaing aown iu ciiaua iui two more years and is literally on the brink, Mr. Harding takes alarm and reaches' out a cautious hand to prevent its descent. To use a his toric phrase, he is going to Ca- nossa. The cardinal vice of the oppor tunism which is Mr. Harding's policy is that it delays action while a bad situation steadily grows worse and cherishes the Micawber- like hope that something will turn up to serve as an excuse for doing nothing. The result of this policy in almost every instance has been that drastic remedies became nec essary where milder ones would have served if used at an earlier ntncA nf tTiA HqnpHpi" "Writ until n definite breach has opened between Britain and France and threatens catastrophe does he realize that in human affairs, as in the physical universe, the area affected by a disturbance is proportionate to its extent and violence. While a local earthquake sends through the at mosphere a tremor which is known and recorded only by a seismo graph on the other side of the world, a military, political and so cial convulsion which engulfs an I entire continent cannot fail to re 1 act violently on another continent. I Against it the' oceans to which we look for security afford no more protection than" did the narrow seas of Europe protect any land against air raids. as it nas Deen tnrougnout the period since our relations with Europe became the subject of po litical controversy in this country, origin of the crisis is the failure of Germany to satisfy the claims of the allies for reparation. Determi nation not to pay and inability to pay in full have led Germany along a course which has ended in inability to pay anything without both help and compulsion from outside. Britain, needing foreign trade to provide work for its great army of unemployed, is more in tent on help than compulsion. France, needing payment to reduce the burden of debt incurred for reconstruction and in dread lest virulent German 'hatred bring an other war, is more intent on com pulsion than on trade. Germany, a prey to the hysteria produced By an orgy of inflation following the orgy of war, looks to Britain to block French plans for military oc cupation and rejects all plans for financial control which could re store its economic health and de velop an ability to pay that would then exist. So grave is the plight of all three countries that a positive move by any one of them that was deemed harmful to it by either or both of the others might light a flame of war that would soon become a con flagration enveloping the old world. If a French army should advance into Germany, not only might it meet armed resistance but it might easily start a war that would spread eastward. Allied with Ger ' many is Russia, and allied with Russia is Turkey. .These three are the making of a new triple alliance, hungry, destitute of all but arms and fighting capacity, but in the desperate mood to defy a world that is utterly weary of war. If Britain and Italy should stand aside, these desperadoes might defy France and might strike to regain all that they have lost and to take much more. Such a war would sweep over Poland, the Danubian states and the Balkans and could not fail to involve Britain and Italy. It is doubtful whether the United States could keep out. If we should, it would be at the sacrifice of civilization in Europe. Though that might not move our isola tionists, the loss of the market for three-fourths of our exports would. At the best, Germany would sul lenly submit to armed occupation and France would probably collect from a nation that, having lost hope, had abandoned itself to bankruptcy, no more than would pay the cost of the army, while all Europe would continue to slide down the slope of moral and ma terial decay, more slowly though no less surely than if hastened by war. Admonitions about the moral ob ligation that we owe to Europe to finish tne worn to wmcn we put our hands in 1917 and which we left unfinished in 1918 have fallen on deaf ears, therefore are fruit less. So are reminders that by the separate treaty with us, Germany made us parties to the reparations and military clauses of the Ver sailles treaty. The only argument that seems to have weight is that if Europe should not recover our prosperity will shrivel, our boasted standard of living will fall, and our existence as a nation will be in danger. The disease that has deeply and widely infected Europe cannot be kept away from us, even though the states of that continent should remain as they are politi cally and though those states re main at peace. But, failing recov ery, Europe will continue to go down and drag America on the slippery descent. This nation is able to exercise moral compulsion far more power ful than t,he physical compulsion that France threatens. It should be exerted against Germany first to exact the conditions on which alone a loan and a moratorium should be granted, but also on France to stay its hand, and on Britain and Italy to impose sternly that control of German finances that is neces sary to re-establish German credit. Until these conditions are estab lished, there should be no remis sion of allied debt, but congress ought, in the interest of this nation, not of its debtors, to relax the re strictions imposed on the presi dent. Secretary of State Hughes has the understanding; courage and public confidence -requisite for the complex emergency and Secretary of Commerce Hoover is an able, well-informed second. But no timid offers of mediation, no sending of mere observers, will suffice. Dele gates with power to act according to instructions that give broad dis cretion should be sent. America should not "return to Europe" with faltering steps and distrustful air, but should step forward boldly with hand extended to offer help and to share the burden. HEARTLESS CORPORATION 8TCFF. A letter from a motorist pub lished today illustrates, we think, one of the greatest of our traffic problems." It is indifference to the rights of the majority. Here is a citizen who refers to the comparatively few who insist on making use of automobiles when the streets are filled with newly fallen snow as "the public." What he conceives the great mass to be who travel by street car and whose interests are in mind when ever outside encouragement is given to the streetcar company to keep its lines open, we do not know. Probably cheap skates who have no rights anywhere. It will be noted that the corre spondent insists upon the right of automobiles to travel along and ob struct the newly-cleared streetcar tracks, because in the clearing thereof, windrows impeding to the autoist have been thrown up on the sides in a "public be damned" spirit. Yet only 200 feet away is a nice, wide street where the trolley cars cannot go, because they have no tracks to run on, and where the streetcar company piles up no windrows of snow to annoy the progress of the haughty motorist. Of course nobody complains of necessary traffic along the cleared tracks. The objection is to obstruc tion to essential public service by automobiles that ought to have been left at home and to the self ishness of the fellow who ought to break his own road rather than undo the enterprise of others. Everybody knows his type. As said before, his contempt for the rights of pedestrians, the rights of streetcar riders.'and even the rights of other drivers, presents one of our most serious traffic problems. COMPLETE THE DEVELOPMENT FUND. Attention of Portland citizens, which has properly been diverted to the pressing necessities of As-; toria diiring the last week, should be turned again to the Oregon de velopment fund, in order that the entire sum asked by the Chamber of Commerce may be raised in this week before Christmas. The sum is within the resources of the city, and can be paid in such manner as not to prove a heavy tax 'at any time. Its expenditure is to extend over two years, and before that time expires results should be seen which will justify the investment. For, rightly viewed, the fun9 is an investment in expansion of Portland's business. It will con tribute very materially to the pros perity of farmers and of every city and town in Oregon, and to that extent is a gift from the metropo lis to the whole state. But the prosperity of Portland depends on that of the state of which it is the mercantile, commercial and trans portation center. Oreg6n needs more people, and their incomes should be enlarged by the means which the chamber proposes to adopt. A time like this is the best in which the state can prepare to go forward. The tide of national prosperity has turned after being on the ebb for two years. Positive action is evidently about to be taken that will start the return of prosperity , in the world at large. Foreign trade has declined so far that -there is abundant room for its increase, and the products of Ore gon are of such character that this state has a good opportunity to se cure a generous share of that in crease. An investment in Oregon development will surely return good dividends. BUYING BACK A COLONY. A profoundly interesting question of ethics is involved in the proposal credited to German medical scien tists that a cure for sleeping sick ness which is reported to have been found shall be made the price of the restoration to Germany of her lost colonies in Africa. Assuming the remedy to be all that is claimed for it, the question arises whether the discoverer is justified in with holding it from humanity, and whether the appeal of the sick and suffering is inferior to the expedi ency of world politics. The pro posal in question is reported to have been made at a recent meeting of the German Association for the Study of Tropical Medicine at Ham burg, where one of the speakers is quoted as having said: This medicine is the key to tropical Africa and consequently to all the colo nies. The German government must, therefore, be required to safeguard this discovery for Germany. Its value is such that any privilege of a share in it must be conditioned upon restoration of her colonial empire. It Is true that an important "key to the tropics" is the control of diseases peculiar to the tropics, as to which great progress has been made since the Spanish war but is refreshing to discover a man which have not yet been completely not long ago an alien who sees conquered. Malaria and yellow that the spirit of "aristocracy" fever are examples of maladies that which he encountered in an Ameri have been virtually checked. De- ; can college is "an aristocracy of velopment of a region of almost in. the same as existed in my native calculable extent, containing re- sources which some economists re- gard as sufficient to sustain the American traditions unconscious present population of the globe, de- because entirely lacking in the pends on making it habitable by noisy chauvinism and racial intol white men. The, engineering prob-J erance which characterized the lems of drainage, irrigation and Teutonism of Austria and the clearing of land are simple by com- Magyarism of Hungary. "A name parison with those which confront with a fine American tradition the physician and sanitary expert, back of It attracted much atten Not only Germany's former col- tion, but it was only a letter of onies, comprising a million square recommendation." Professor Pupin miles and containing some of the has no quarrel with the spirit in most fertile land on the globe, but which those are received who are also other districts, in equatorial thus introduced, but he is sure that Africa are relatively wasted be- they will have a lonely time in any cause they are . perennially dec!- : company of young Americans if mated by disease. they are found wanting in makeup It was thought nearly twenty or conduct when weighed by the vears aeo that the secret had been best American standards. On this discovered when a German scien- when injected into the blood of the patient, was said to kill the germ i of sleeping sickness. French scien- ' tists working independently con-i firmed and added to the German's j findings, but while their dyes were i temporarily beneficial they did not effect permanent cures. The Ger. mans are now said to have isolated a principle, not from the dye but from basic materials from which it is made, which accomplishes re sults. This is the secret which it is pro posed to exchange for an empire. Will the Germans get their price, or will the research workers of other countries discover what they have done and either duplicate their ' work or find a remedy equally serviceable, as the French did with Ehrlich's original discov ery? The chances are that the latter will come to pass. The. Ger mans have at least estopped them selves from claiming Uie benefits of a monopoly by their own acts. The secrets of the laboratory are extremely difficult to keep, as was shown by experience with noxious gases in the world war. FLAYING THE GAME. It is impossible to read the life story of Michel Pupin, the Serbian immigrant who rose to eminence among the physical scientists of America, without wishing that a way might be found to impart to all immigrants the understanding of and reverence for American in stitutions which permeates Profes sor Pupin's writing. Yet Professor Pupin indicates, we think, where at least part of the fault lies. He does not criticise in a fault-finding spirit, but describes an incident whih occurred at a memorable point in his career. "Two ceremonies," he relates, "which are recorded in my life as two red-letter days took place on two successive days." It is instruc tive, as the writer says, to give a comparison between them. In one he received his college degree of Bachelor of Arts; by the other he was made a citizen of the United States. He stresses the utter want of impressiveness in the latter, and while he does not undervalue the importance of the former, he is moved to remark: All those things served to increase the painful contrast between the gay com mencement ceremonies and the prosy procedure of my naturalisation on the preceding day. One ceremony made me only a Bachelor of Arts. The other made me a citizen of the United States. Which of the two should have been the more solemn? Two phases of the development of the true American spirit in this former. young) Balkan herdsman stand out in the pages of the in stallment of 'his autobiography published in the current Century. One is the far-reaching influence of the early study of American history on the direction of his thought, and the other his complete acceptance of the principle that to "play the game" is to be an Ameri can of the best sort. While pre paring for college he became in terested by a fortuitous circum stance in the life of Alexander Hamilton. "What an appeal to a young imagination," he exclaims, after recounting how he was im pressed by the facts of that revolu tionary statesman's early career. "Every American youth preparing for college should read the history of Hamilton's life." Study of Ham ilton led to acquaintance with the life and work of John Jay, first secretary of foreign affairs and first chief justice of the United States supreme court, and with Robert Livingston, who completed the purchase of Louisiana from France. These' names, .associated with those of Madison and other leaders of their time, and, by a curious sequence of eventst with that of Harriet Beecher Stowe, whose "Uncle Tom's Cabin" he had read while on a railroad journey from Vienna to Prague, and with that of Mrs. Stowe's brother, Henry Ward Beecher, whose church he attended on reaching New York, created an impression which we are led to suppose greatly inspired him in his efforts to overcome what he aptly calls his "social u preparedness," of which he became acutely conscious shortly after his determination upon a college career. " r. The ' processes by which Pupin became aware of the difference be tween the traditions common to the peasants of his native Serbian village are illuminating, as. also is his theory as to the reasons why other young immigrants 'do not always succeed as he has done. He exalts tradition "my respect for the traditions of my own race," he says, "had taught me to respect the traditions of the country which here I expected to adopt" because of its value in fixing a purpose, but he finds that an important tradU tion of American national life is expressed in the phrase heretofore quoted. He says: , i "Play the game!" What a .wonderful phrase! I studied it long, and the more I thought about it the more I was con vinced that one aspect of the history of ihe country with all its traditions is summed up in these three words. No foreigner can understand this country who does not Know tne tun meaning ot this nhrase. No foreign laneuaae can so translate the phrase as to reproduce its brevity and at the same time convey its full meaning. Put when I heard it, 1 thought of the bootblacks and news boys who, five years previously, had acted as umpires when I defended my right to wear a red fez. To "play the fame" according to the best traditions of the land which offered me all its op portunities was always my idea of Americanization. But how many im migrants to this land can be made to understand this? Professor Pupin plays the game by declining to hold that Ameri cans are alone responsible for the failure of the melting pot to fuse all the material that it receives. It peasant village." It was a spirit of unconscious reverence for the best heading the writer can be said to j less son of a Serbian peasant vil- lage, as he proudly subscribes nim- self, he was elected president or a class of college boys having among them a Hamilton, a Livingston, a DeWItt and several descendants of John Jay. The spirit or American democracy, he is convinced. Is very much alive and in excellent cus tody. - '. A ripe classical scholar, though distinguished as a scientist. Profes sor "Pupin will prove an interesting study for those who lately have contended that the humanities are but a waste of time to all who do not aspire to the polite professions. His reminder that there is poetry in science shows how vastly the life of the physicist is broadened if he possesses imagination and indulges his inclination for culture. Tyn dall's "Heat as a Mode of Motion," Bryant's "Thanatopsis" and Long fellow's "Hiawatha" all appealed to him in very much the same . way. "Science," he writes, "on its ab stract side is poetry; it is a divine philosophy, as Milton calls It. Science is a food which nourishes not only the material, but also the spiritual body of man." But that everybody realizes tins', as Profes sor Pupin assumes, we are moved to doubt. One wonders how greatly the idealistic philosophy manifest throughout Professor Pupin's re miniscences may have been nour ished by the thorough preparation in ' the classics which constituted the foundation fof his scientific career. There are lessons, of course, in every completed life lessons for others to scan. But it is seldom that a life presents more whole some and genuine illustration of how to live than did that of George Lawrence Sr., a pioneer of Port land, who died last week. Mr. Lawrence was more than 90 years of age, yet by application to hisM daijy duties, by the. constant bur nishing of his mind against both tasks and thought, he retained the spirit and zest of youth. Some there are who at a far earlier year betray evidences of that rust which mars the sheen of the spirit and lessens the physical endurance. This man would not and did not permit himself to rust. Because of that he could laugh at the years, as he did, and to the close of the chapter maintain a poise and con fidence that enabled him to extract from life the real essence of living. The father of a young robber not old enough to go to the peniten tiary protests against sending him to the reform school, as he has been tbere and learned more wick edness. He offers to take him back to Montana, which simply will be sidestepping an issue. A right and just course cannot be followed, be cause humanity forbids to thrash the wickedness out of him. The treasury department's policy of encouraging the use of gold coins as Christmas gifts has the double merit of making Christmas cheerful for the recipients and sat isfying the curiosity of those who haven't seen a gold coin for an in terminably long time. Somebody has sent the president an opossum for Christmas; but 'possum requires an educated ap petite. An old newspaperman, however, can accomplish it and Mr. Harding will be envied his Christ mas dinner. The president of the Polish re public was killed by a shot in the back by a man "mentally de ranged," yet sane enough to at tempt a getaway. Hanging is a great cure for that kind of insanity. Ever consider the "boys" who handle the money in your bank? An occasional fall from grace shows the sterling character of more than 99 per cent of these young men. Fifty years ago the "epizoot" raged over the country. Horses had it first. Having put the horse out of business, the auto cannot start an ill of the kind. One of the hard lucks of the sea son is the rain that melts the ice about the time a boy gets a pair of skates in his Christmas stocking. Those fellows planning a flight over the north pole can find a good rehearsal location in th Inland Empire just now. ' Based on Thanksgiving week ex perience, probably the best Oregon turkeys will stay in Oregon for Christmas. Those who put faith in "changes of the moon" may be rewarded with rain following today's - new moon. ' Any boy troubled by "unrest" should read the story of young Vanderzanden and let it soak in. In this weather a whole lot of the day's work depends on -the '.,,,. . breakfast a man gets. The auto that bumps a man into the snow is merciful in picking a soft spot for him. . Labrador is about right for a gold rush. A location hard to reach has an attraction. . , How much of the proposed Ger. man 'Igian can be kept out of munitions? "Do it now" week is just before Christmasnow, WHAT FOLLOWS FREE BOOKS Free Pencils, Las. cars. Clothes and Finally Comntnnfsm. OSWEGO. Or., Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) The Oregonian's editorial and Director-Representative Wood wards letter, both on the subject of free text books, might well toV six years have been in Dayton, prompt a question or two. j 0 George W. Simons, formerly ot Here Is the first one: Is there ' the Pacific Bridge company, with of going to be a stopping place on our i fices nere gtiu holds Portland as Ms federal-state paternalistic road to h Mr Simons is at the Seward communism or are1 we going to go . , ' .,, . . .., ,,,, the entire route? hotel an(I wl11 remain in this city The second question might well, for a week. 1 saw Portland grow be: Are we in the future going to for 32 years and I will never forget encourage the development of the i it or cease to be loyal to it," said individual'stic genius which has jj, - gimons yesterday. "When I iiia.ue AWBrica grcai ur m e w u going to make it a public purpose to reduce all our citiens to a standard pattern just as like and common- place as peas In a pod? Your editorial says "Books are a fh6CeHtflotl,eTfaMyt the public schools. It would ap- pear as logical and fair to require a pupil to furnish his own desk as his own books." We are mostly agreed that society should do some things for its mem- bers that individuals cannot do and that society should restrict the ac- tivities of the individual when those activities unrestricted would result in iniTirv tn hu neiirhhnrs ThiH j, why" w7 have" public schools ? 1 l- wl. .w thiA imprisonment for burelary. auaran- tine laws, etc. But should not there be a stop ping place somewhere? The school desk cannot well be individual prop erty but the school book should be individual property. The owner ship of the school book is one of the child's earliest lessons in prop erty rights. The child who takes good care of his school books, keeps them clean and orderly, takes them home for home study, has a right to the pride which he takes in them. He should not be penalized for the sins of the child who defaces his books, keeps them unclean, and takes no pride in them. Some of us of mature age have at home the books we first used in school. They are a priceless heri tage. They represent to us a value tremendously greater than the memory of some state-owned books we once looked at could ever repre sent. Then there are some features of sanitation to be considered. Johnny Smith licks his finger and turns the pages of a state-owned text book. Sutie Jones gets the same book the next day and mixes her lickings with Johnny's. Some of ns would prefer that our ch'ldren licked only their own books. If it is logical to furnish pupils in a free public school with free text books it is equally logical to fur nish them free pencils. Lunches are also a necessary part of the ma chinery of public schools. Why not go the whole way and furnish free lunches. Children who attend public schools must have cloth'ng. If text books, pencils and lunches are free, why not free clothing? And then it is but a step to the thing that many of our communistic friends are hop ing for secretly or openly the child from birth the ward of the state; the abolition of the home; all children reared to conform with certain state standards, made to think alike, dress alike, look a'ke as far as possible communism pure and simple. J. A. DAVIDSON. THE LAW OP THE SAGEBRUSH LAND. Out in the land where the sage- brush nods Back at the smile of devils or gods (And it matters not which one smiles first, If only he quenches the gnawing thirst Of " its tangled and twisted and bent-up roots, And it matters less if he prays or shoots) Is a shimmering shining, gray ex panse Where angels and demons hold dally dance. It's gray in the daytime and white at night; At sunset, fringed with a golden light That deepens down to sombre blue, And cloaks the land with purple hue. Turning to white with the moon's advance; While out from the silent, wide expanse. Comes the plaintive, whining, pining drawl Of the mother-coyote's warning call. Somehow, there's something pulling there. Where the smell of sage pervades the air. The plateau throbs with a silent life. As gripping and strong as the city's strife; And, undisturbed by the tramp of men. Unreached by restless noise and ' din, The silence holds resistless beck A epell somehow you just can't check. I'll tell you, Pard, if you want to know, That's where God and the devil go To think and plan in the silent lands. Each , by himself on the lonely sands. And I tell you, Pard, you'll meet them there, Where weak men fall and strong ones. dare. If you're weak you fall; if strong you stand. And this is the law of the sage brush land. And I'll tell you, Pard, you've got to fight To stand up straight and turn to the right. Many a hero has slumped his chest. Missed his step like a thing possessed, Slid in his weakness, weaker still. Till his poor, wretched carcass wasn't fit to kill It'll use you hard, old Pardner Dan But if you're a man, you'll come out a MAN. , ANNA JERZKT. j Sutcharge ln Pullman. EUGENE, Or.. Dec. 16. (To tie Editor. )-On my Pullman sleeper ticket it say: "Pullman company's IIZJJ-5-1 cmPany's sur charge, $1.25." Total $3 75 9 wV!-t.1L1.8 -urchars:e for? 2. , Who gets this money? T,i-,As ithls was a war measure. Id like to ask whether the war is over and if so, how much longer we must pay surcharge charges? 1. A surcharge is charge made by the railroad for the privilege of traveling In more comfortable sur roundings. 2. . The railroad company. 3. It ,1s the Intention of the rail roads to discontinue this charge, but they are unable to state definitely how soon. The hauling of the Pull man cars entails additional expense. Well Treated. New Bedford Standard. "Mrs. Meeks paid you a very flat tering compliment last night, my dear." . "What did she say?" "She said that I did' not look like a married man." Those Who Come and Go Tales of Polka at the Hotels. Although his business connections first came to the town the only method of getting across the river was the Stark street terry. ,asi (Portland and Albina were separate municipalities. Everywhere I go I Sive.rny home as Portland. While , . ' , , . i 1 ve ln Dayton and nave mf lnter! ests there I register at hotels as of j Portland." Mr. Simons is engaged m the coal mining business in Ohio, , Tearg a at dea; of tBe min. . , ..., . . - i J XJ p0 li?0 i aenm VfJ .JiL Sl t.i 1',' Zn Jackson, Wellston and other towns I elW ,Ch,1'lcotthe the but a few feet under the surface of the R'ound in most cases and in some cases it is visible from above the ground. "Wagon mining" was followed by many and farmers would dig wagon loads from their soil and haul it to market. Mr. Simons and his associates have been mining with steam shovels, and have found the method highly suc cessful. Mr. Simons has a great many frionds here and in addition to transacting . business he is re newing .old acquaintances. After more than ten years behind the walls of the Oregon state peni tentiary at Salem Jesse P. Webb, pardoned murderer, enjoyed his first night of freedom at the Multnomah hotel Friday night. He left yester day for Seattle. More than 13 years ago Webb killed W. A, Johnson in the New Grand Central hotel. Later he was convicted of the crime and sentenced to be hung. As a result of the efforts of his little daughter. who is now dead, Governor West nnmmntort Wthh'. .AntfinrA tn lifo imDrisonment. Webb's reformation ln the years that have passed has been complete. He was pardoned last week by Roy Ritner, acting governor. H. . R. Donovan of Boise, who is field secretary for the International 100 Per Cent clubs, left the Multno mah hotel yesterday after spending several days here. He has ben trav eling extensively over the middle west and the Pacifio coast states and says that everywhere there is a much better feeling regarding fi nancial and business conditions. Pa cific northwest states are in much stronger positions that are the states of the middle west. Portland, he declares, is the best town on the coast at this time. W, J. Martin of Lake Charles, La., was at the Imperial yesterday. Mr. Martin comes from a section -of the country that has depended largely upon the manufacture of southern pine lumber. The Long-Bell Lum ber company, now building exten sively near Kelso, owns a big plant in Lake Charles. Timber around the country is being rapidly cut and manufactured and soon other indus tries must be started. Mr. and Mrs. G. Creighton of Mos cow, Idaho, were at the Multnomah hotel yesterday. They were en route to California where they will spend the winter. "This is the sev enteenth year that they have gone to California for the cold winter months. They shipped their auto moble by train and will make use of it in the south. The severe snows prevented them from driving through to San Francisco and Los Angeles. S. H. Smtther, who Is at the Wash ington hotel, until two weeks ago was a drygoods merchant in Asto ria. The. fire completely wiped out his establishment. Undaunted by the loss of his stock of goods and most of his possessions Mr. Smithar is in business again. He has pur chased a new stock and has con verted his home into a store where all may purchase their drygoods A man who is thoroughly pleased with the conditions of the sheep and wool market is J. T. Updike, of Wei ser, Idaho, who is at the Benson. Mr. Updike is engaged in the sheep business and feels much better re garding conditions than he did a year ago when prices were exceed ingly low and when the sheep in dustry as a whole faced neap ruin. Business men of Boise are work ing hard to raise the $325,009 fund which will mean the building of the Oregon- Short Line into their city according to D. W. Morrison of Boiae, who was at the Multnomah hotel yesterday. The railroad com pany consented to build into Boise providing the town would make a donation to the work. A. K. Peck, attorney of Marsh field, was at the Imperial hotel yes terday. Mr. Peck, who was one of Charles Hall's most enthusiastic supporters in the primary election, has been mentioned as a possibility for a political appointment under Walter Pierce when the new gover nor takes office. G. S. Holden, whose family owns the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Hollenden hotel 1n Cleveland, has been a guest at the Multnomah for several days. While here he made a trip up the Columbia river highway as tar as crown foint, Judgt and Mrs. J. W. Knowles ar rived in Portland yesterday from their home in La Grande and put ud at the Imperial. Judge Knowles will remain here all week and will aid the Multnomah countyircuit court judges in clearing overtaxed dockets. S. S. George, who is connected with the schools in Eugene and who was a candidate as an independent. for superintendent of public instruc tion in the general election, was at the Imperial hotel yesterday. John D. Porter, member of the contracting firm of Portland Broth ers of Spokane, was a guest at the Multnomah hotel yesterday. Mr. Porter's concern recently purchased the Wells Fargo building. C C. Cochran and family of Kerry are at the Nortonia. Mr. Cochran is here for the purpose of purchasing equipment with which to clear snow from the wagon roads. The name of Mrs. B. Pancake ol Halfway appeared on the list of the Imperial hotel's guests yesterday., E. C. Simmons, business man of Eugene, was at the Benson hotel yesterday. C. R. Shinn, a contractor of Boise, is at the Multnomah hotel. Check for Less Than $1. - PEORIA, Or., Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) Please tell me if there is a state or United States law against a person writing a check for less than $1. I saw an article in print that there was a law against the writing of a check for less. - J. W. LAMAR. There is no such law, ' Burroughs Nature Club. Copyright. Houghton-Mifflin Co. Cam You Answer These Questions? 1. Do salmon eat before spawning? 2. We have seen sitting on a branch of a dead tree, near a boggy pond, what we take to be a black I crowned night heron, from five to seven birds in an afternoon. Some seem pearl gray and others speckled brown. The heavy bill, red eye and pale yellow legs seem to identify them. Is this right? S. I have, an orange tree 7 years old which wil not bloom. What ails it? Answers in tomorrow's Nature Notes. ( Answers to Previous Qnestiontt. t. Would a large gray garden toad eat a goldfish lour to five inches long? The toad has been in a small concrete louniain penoaicuuy re cently, and yesterday the goldfish disappeared. . Toads eat insects, as flies, ear wigs, caterpillars, slugs, worms, etc., but so far as we know, could not accommodate fish, not having a I stomach large enough, even if tempted to eat It. The gold fish probably' was caught by a cat, or might have been taken by a duck. We know of a case where goldfish in an ornamental small park were constantly preyed on by ducks from a large adjoining park, which flew from their own lake to the well stocked fancy pond of their neigh bor. 2. What is a good species of snake for a pet and for studying? - The gopher or Indigo snake, spi lotes corais, variety couperi, is re commended as hardy, handsome, easy to feed as It takes both warm and cold-blooded prey, useful as a ratter and readily tamed, it is an egg layer. 3. Where can I get detailed in formation on the migrating seasons of birds in the heron class; There is an excellent pamphlet, "Distribution and Migration of North American Herons and Their Allies," I Published by the United States de- partmeni or agriculture, uuuoliu to t the biological survey It has ex cellent maps showing location where the different members of this fam ily locate, tables of time of migra tion, etc. KLAN IS GIVEN UNDUE CREDIT Governor's Statement That Order Carried School BUI Is Disputed. PORTLAND, Dec 16. (To the Editor.) Governor Olcott is re ported to have told the governors assembled at White Sulphur Springs. Virginia, that the people of this state were all torn up in the recent election, families and communities arrayed against one another, all owing to the presence of the Klu Klux Klan, which he asserts secured the passage of the compulsory school education bill. This is news to those of us who took part in the election. The de feat of Governor Olcott seems to have gone to his head as well as his heart. That we differed as to who should be governor, as to what was beat in reference to the school bill and as to other matters is true, but that hatred and strife are rank ling in the hearts of the people of this state as the result of the last election is not true. Neither is it true that the klan was responsible for the passage of the compulsory school bill. Protestants and Catholics dif fered as to the school bill. Mem bers of the same family and of the same church differed on this as on other matters. But that does not signify that they hated one an other. Where there are free men and women there will be differences of opinion. In Oregon as in other states we are 100 per cent Americans, and we abide by the majority vote. We have forgotten that we differed in the last election and are working shoulder to shoulder to make this a better state. When fire swept As toria did we stop to ask whether or not Astoria voted for or against the school bill? Not at all. The assumption that the klan is responsible for this law gives credit to a class that is not entitled to it. Thousands of us Oregonians voted for that school bill that had, and have, little use for the klan. We voted for it because we believe in the American school system. It has been good for 93 per cent of our school population and we fail to see wherein it would harm the other 8 per cent. If our governor wants to htal any scars that remain from the last election, he will do well to abide by the majority vote of the state. J. S. McMURTRY. A WOODED CORNER IN WINTER. Clumps- of brown, fringed fern and hazel. Bare of leaf and bud, Bend and sway in the winter wind. But yesterday your dress was green. With glints ot intermingled gold Between you and the soft dark earth. At your feet, amid the shaded grass, A wood-violet, scented from a sum mer rain, Lifted up its purple face In silent adoration. The chattering squirrel That played among the branches of the tail fir Towering and crooning above you. Is snug within its nest, Feasting on the sweet, rich nuts Of autumn's harvest. Content is he, until the first spring days Warm to life once more the loved children. You have fulfilled the promise, Dead things that you are. Gone is the leaf and bud; The river is silent; The swallow is flown, And the earth's blood is cold. A hushed spirit permeates the tir; All that is left is memory, Hidden 'neath sodden leaf and stone. I wonder if you and I shall be the first To warm and waken When spring calls Flushed with new blood. Love-thrilled while remembering? Something haunts the heath and glen; ' Invisible petals of ancient flowers; A bird's carol an Insect's murmur ing. HELEN CRAWFORD. Heartless Corporation Staff. PORTLAND, Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) In an editorial Dec. 15, you say: "Automobile drivers are asked, but not' expected to keep out of car tracks cleared of snow by the trolley company. The autoist seeks the line of least resistance, and the other fellow can go hang." Shame on you. The spirit of fair ness was absent and the bias to ward the trolley company was strong when the above inspiration struck you. Don't you know that the trolley company goes up and down its tracks (which are mostly ln the middle of the streets) during snow storms and piles miles and miles of white windrows directly on that part of the street which motor driv ers need, but cannot use? The other fellow may "go hang" sure enough but from the trolley company's standpoint "the public be damned." S. H. B, More Truth Than Poetry. By Jinn J. Montaene. THE DEPARTIXG SULTAN TO HIS WIVES. j d 1ITyo" ?" T . ' Instead of twenty-three, Heart clasped to heart, we might depart Across the tossing sea; And though our former glory Has crumbled into dust We still might share some other where Our last remaining crust. If you and I were one, dears, Instead of such a crowd, Perhaps you'd wait beside the gate, Your head with sorrow bowed. And, watching my departure, You'd shed a tear or two. And hope and pray that, some bright day, I might come back to you. But travel is expensive, And I am stony broke And can't support a beauteous court Composed of women folk. To single one among you Would be far too unkind, And so good-bye, dear hearts, for I Must leave you all behind! I leave you sadly weeping Beside the sobbing sea, ; But do not deem I'll ever dream i That you will wait for me. One might prove fond and faithful A miracle of grief But twenty-two prove always truet That's quite beyond belief! The Hard Part. Each American farmer, says ft farmer's bureau, will earn $465 this year. But will he get it? A Settled Habit. Every morning Ambassador Hai vey takes a cold plunge into de spair. m w To Avoid a Shortage. In the future Greece will prob ably have to conscript her cabinet members. In Other Days. Twenty-five Years Ago. From The Oregontan December 18, 18D7. Salem The report is that Captain E. P. Mahoney, the Cuban patr'ot, is trying quietly to remove from the state some discarded muskets used formerly by the Oregon National Guard. Cuba has many sym pathizers in Oregon, some of whom are willing to prove their sentiment in a substantial manner. The continued wet weather has caused more slides on the line of the Astoria railroad. A B. Hammond has been over the line to investigate and decide the best course to pursue to secure the speedy completion of the road. , Reports from Alaska indicate that there will, be great privation and suffering in Dawson City unless re lief is speedily sent forward. Many are starving. Efforts are being made to get up a relief expedition to reach Dawson by the use of dogs. Fifty Years Ago. Prom The Oregonian, December 18, 1872. The farmers are improving the fine open weather in plowing and making preparations for the coming sowing season. A larger amount of grain will be harvested in Oregon the coming year than ever before. At length, after the expenditure of large sums of money and the per formance of a stupendous amount of mechanical labor, the locks and canal at Oregon City has been com pleted. A large frame house for the new street cars is in process of construc tion at the wharf at the west side depot, just east of the turntable. One of the largest and finest ves sels which have touched at this port. Is the Vistoria Nyanza. This vessel arrived here on Sunday evening and is discharging iron at the west side depot. UNPREPAREDNESS BAD POLICY Training Camps and Battlefront Felt Resultant Losses. PORTLAND, Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) The letter in The Orego nian by a correspondent at Wolf Creek, Or., cannot go by unchal lenged, due to the fact that it reeks of the same pacifist element we had to contend with before the world war. It is inconceivable to suppose that this same element is conscientious when we hark back to 1917 and 191S and view the conscripted men in the training camps. Do these people really know the number of men we actually killed in these training camps. We did not cause their death intentionally, but they died because they were unable to stand the grind and we needed soldiers immediately. They paid the price of unpreparedness. We have but to follow our sol diers to the battlefields of France. They fought like Americans, but lost heavily because of hasty train ing, . which necessarily meant er rors in battle and the resultant price, heavy mortality. Mr. Zoellner states that It is van ity which attracts men to the army and navy. He makes other insin uation which no red-blooded man who wore the uniform can help but resent. We who paid the price with wrecked bodies are slowly awaiting the last "taps." We are not with out a soul or without Judgment and did not enter the service of our country with the prospects of an easy living. We were ready to do our bit for Mr. Zoellner and all the rest. We helped to train the drafted men and but for our regular army, email as it was, it is hard to con ceive what really would have hap pened before the drafted men could be mobilized. Unpreparednss is sin unpardon able and those who advocate it well, let's suppose they just dont understand. Prusslanism and pre paredness cannot be senisbly com pared. We are not too proud to fight, but are not a nation looking for trouble. We absolutely need an adequate army and navy, not to be Prus sianized but to be prepared to up hold our honor and to save Mr. Zoellner's skin again if he needs us. A DISABLED VETERAN. Portland Form of Government. TANGENT, Or., Dec 16. (To the Udltor.) Please tell me the kind of government the c(y of Portland has? ALICE VAN SCHOONHOVEN. It Is known as the commission form of government Its elective officers are a mayor, four commis sioners and an auditor. In addition to legislative duties, each commis sioner, including the mayor, pre sides over an administrative de partment. Assignments to depart ments and distribution ot work are made by tb mayor. V