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About Morning Oregonian. (Portland, Or.) 1861-1937 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 23, 1922)
to THE MORNING OREGONIAX, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1922 illonunc(!Drjfrmuan ESTABLISHED BV HENRY L. PITTOCK Published by The Oregonian Pub. Co., 135 Sixth Street, Portland, Oregon. C. A. IIORDEN, E. B. PIPER. Manager. Editor. The Oregonian is a member of the As sociated Presa. The Associated Press Is exclusively entitled to the use for publi cation of all news dispatches credited to It or not otherwise credited In this paper and also the local news published herein. AH rights of publication of special dis patches herein are also reserved. Subscription Rates-Invarlably In Advance. (By Mall, in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and northern California.) Daily, Sunday included, one year ....$8. 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Postage Rates -1 to 16 pages, 1 cent; 18 to 32 pages, 2 cents; 34 to 48 pages, S cents; 50 to 6 pages. 4 cents; 66 to 80 pages, 5 cents; 82 to 96 pages, 6 cents. Eastern Business Offices Verree Conklin, 300 Madison avenue, New iorK; Verree & Conkim, Steger building, Chi cago; Verree & Conklin, Free Press build ing. Detroit, Mich.; Verree & Conklin, Monadnock building, San Francisco, Cal. HOMICIDE CONE MAD. The homicide record for 1921 in twenty-eight American cities, just compiled for the Spectator, an in surance Journal, contains much material for reflection. Not only the actual number of murders com mitted hut comparison -with previ ous years will cause the thoughtful to pause. The cities in question had in 1921 a total population of 20,558,770; the number of persons unlawfully slain was 1910; the rate per 100,000 was 9.3. The striking fact is that in 1901 the rate was but 4.9. Incidence of murder has nearly doubled In two decades. Nothing in the statistics warrants belief that the end has been reached. Each five-year period shows an increase over its predecessor. Moreover, there is reason for supposing that the official records do not tell the whole story. "They fall short of the truth," observes the compiler, "since to an increasing extent the facts or statistics are confused, leaving a doubt in the classification us regards deaths attributed to sui cide or accident, but that were possibly homicides." ' There is a fruitful field for spec ulation in the comparative figures, not only of periods but also by geographical divisions. Thus, the south, the home of one of our older civilizations, holds the palm with a rate of 11.8 per 100,000, while the Pacific coast states, last to be set tled, are third on list, with 8.4. But the New England states, also homes of pioneer immigrants, to these shores, make the most favorable showing of all, their rate being only 2.7, despite a recent influx of alien inhabitants. Among the cities, Memphis, Tenn., continues to lead, as it has done for lo! these many years, its record as a whole measur. ably offsetting a slight improve ment observable in the figures for 1921. The latter show 56.8 mur ders per 100,000 of population. For the five years, 1916 to 1920, in clusive, there were 60.9 per 100, 000; for the five years before that, 69.7. Another southern city, Nash ville, holds the unenviable distinc tion of being second in the line. If it were possible to arouse pub lie indifference to an aggressive at titude in dealing with the subject in proportion to Its importance, it would seem that the totals for the nation which are deducible from the foregoing would be effective The number of homicides in the twenty-eight cities in question at the beginning of the century, in 1901, was but 609, when those cities had a population somewhat short of 12,000,000. In 1921, with a little more than 20,000,000 inhab itants, an increase of two-thirds, there is an increase in murders of 1300, or more than 200 per cent. The total for the whole country from 1916 to 1920 was 8776. The total for 1921, if maintained at the rate prevailing in the cities, would be 10,028. This In all probability is not far from the truth. Perplexing details of the admin istration of justice, as was held by a committee of the American Bar association not long ago, are in volved in solution of this most seri ous problem, but the layman will incline to believe that the real cause lies deeper than that. Yet even this will not be ignored. The bar as sociation is on record as stating that much remains to be done to improve our judicial procedure, "to the extent that punishment shall be more swift and more certain in cases in which the evidence seems sufficient to warrant a conviction.' The low record of New Jersey, with its proverbial Jersey justice, would seem to bear out the as sumption that speed and certainty help, for with a few exceptions it makes the best showing among the states. It is incidentally interest ing to learn that Oregon, with 4.4 murders per 100,000 population, is the most favorably situated of the western states. Its neighbor, Cali fornia, has more than twice as many, or 10.1. It is nevertheless open to ques tion, as we have previously pointed . out, whether the proposal of the bar association to prohibit the sale of firearms, or whether another suggestion that "indiscriminate sale of poisonous substances" be prohib ited will prove the panacea that their advocates believe them to be. ' The efficacy of a murder pre ventive which disarms the pros pective victim, while it leaves with the outlaw the advantage which his superior cunning and want of restraint give him, is at least dubi ous. But there are possibilities in the method now being tried in Eng land, which assumes, as the Lon don Times says, "that the only ef- - fective deterrent against the misuse of firearms is the knowledge that if the unauthorized individual is caught with arms in his possession, whether he uses them or- not, he will be treated, without possibility ; of escape, with the utmost rigor of the law." But here, as the Times points out. It is also a long way from the passage of a law to its en. forcement with the relentlessness , necessary to drive its purpose home. Law officers not much less fre quently than juries are prone to ignore the underlying principle of ... a statute and to be swayed by the circumstances in particular cases. The new English law makes it an offense punishable by penal servi tude for twenty years to be caught in unauthorized possession of arms. Its design is to make the carrying of firearms so costly that "every motor thief and burglar and violent criminal, knowing that if caught with a revolver on him he will in fallibly go to penal servitude for at least ten years, will leave his re volver at home." In practice, how ever, there is reluctance to prose cute unless actual violence has been committed and juries incline to leniency to the prisoner in entire forgetfulness of their duty to soci ety as a whole. It comes then to an issue of re sponsibility of the people in the mass, which does not greatly clar ify the situation or present a con structive solution. Undoubtedly it will be desirable to awaken the public to an understanding that the essence of crime is the intent to commit crime, that by going armed and by being willing to com mit murder if thwarted in a lesser design the criminal forfeits claim to consideration and that thajnter esU of people who live in homes or walk the streets are paramount tol those of any plotter against the security of-life and property who ever lived. ' And If there are any who seriously believe that the now- prevailing practice, largely based on a misdirected emotionalism, is getting us anywhere, these are ad vised to consult the record of recent events. . It will bear repetition: There were more than 10,000 murders In the United States In 1921. In pro portion to population, the number was nearly double that of 1901. MAKING JjODGE THE SCAPEGOAT. The man who contests the elec tion of Senator Lodge asserts that his motive is "to unseat a man who has accomplished more harm as an obstructor of worid peace and the natural expression of human thought than any man since Nero," hence he does not care about seat ing the man who had an honest majority of the votes. - World peace was not obstructed in the debate on the league by Mr. Lodge and his associates. They sought a basis of compromise on which republicans and democrats could unite to ratify the Versailles treaty, and half the democratic sen ators voted for that compromise on the final ballot; the other half of the democrats, in submission to President Wilson's dictation, voted against that compromise, to gether with the republican and democratic irreconcilables who op posed the league on any terms. Be cause Mr. Lodge led the forces which refused 4c accept the treaty in the precise form in which Mr. Wilson brought it home from Paris and insisted on amendments both to satisfy their scruples and to secure the votes needed to ratify, he has been singled out by the Wil son die-hards as the particular ob ject of their enmity. Mr. Lodge may not move polit ically as fast as the political speed ers of the present day would like, but he was progressive enough to be the trusted lieutenant of Presi dent Roosevelt. He has rendered distinguished Bervice to the nation and he well represents his state. The contest of his seat reflects on its instigators rather than on him. PROS AND CONS OF IMMIGRATION. The immigration restriction law is under fire from farmers, manu facturers and financiers on the ground that unskilled labor is scarce, wages high and industry cramped. They suggest that emi gration of each nationality should be deducted from immigration in calculating quotas under the 3 per cent law; that selection should be practiced at the port of embarka tion; that the secretary of labor control immigrants after arrival, both for the purpose of education and to prevent congestion near the seaboard; that the secretary of la bor ' be given authority to exceed the quota when shortage of labor is demonstrated. One manufac turer would abolish the literacy test and would exclude only the diseased, criminal, defective and enemies of government. On the other side of the case Representative Johnson of Wash ington contemplates a bill "which will correct the present quota act, further restrict immigration of tin desirables, avoid the splitting of immediate families, increase the mental and health tests and carry a clause denying permanent residence to aliens not eligible to citizenship." He says that the care of the for eign born in state prisons and eleemosynary Institutions costs 7 per cent of the gross income of the states and twice as much as their interest charges. He asks what are those people thinking about who cry for more Immigrants "in order to supply us with more and cheaper labor profits, population or pos terity?" The farmers would not be relieved, for of the immigrants who came -in the year ending June 30, 1921, only 2 per cent were farmers and 3 per cent farm laborers. To the tailors who complain of labor shortage he replies that clothing Is now manufactured, that the indus try is largely recruited by Russian immigrants and that it is controlled by a union whose organ is the red dest in America. The quotas from northern Europe are unfilled. Those who call for more immi grants think chiefly of a supply of cheap, unskilled labor. From the ranks of immigrants have been re cruited the revolutionary societies and conspiracies which aim at rev olution. Immigrants are more than labor; they are the material of which we make citizens. The quan tity and quality of this material that we admit and the care we take in handling it will decide the char acter of that posterity of which Mr. Johnson speaks. The literacy test was adopted as the readiest means of selecting those immigrants who shall be ad mitted and of excluding the unde sirable. The nations of southern and eastern Europe have both the largest proportion of illiterates and the strongest disposition of violent revolution among their working people, and from them had come the bulk of our immigration during the twenty years preceding the war. The more educated and less revo lutionary peoples of northwestern Europe are more desirable, both as workmen and citizens, being more readily assimilated, but they do not come in sufficient numbers to fill their quotas. If we should let down the bars, more of the unassimilable would come, but no more of the class that we most desire. The law might well be amended to avoid division of families, but the literacy test would better be more severe, and greater precau tions are needed against admission of criminals and defectives. Em ployer! who call for immigrant la bor should remember that , their worst labor troubles, growing into destructive conspiracy and open in surrection, have sprung from that source. Better be short of labor and grow more slowly than open the gates to the kind of labor which would work overtime to overthrow the republic. HOW TO STOP MURDERS. A contemporary which has wept many a tear over the brutality and vulgarity of capital punishment is now moved to admit that a life sentence in the penitentiary "has come to be a mere joke. Almost before the body of the victim is In the grave the guilty murderer be gins to anticipate a pardon." It is further regretfully observed that "that is one reason why Oregon has capital punishment." When Governor West made his sensational last minute rescue of Jesse Webb from the gallows, by a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment, he required a def inite verbal contract from the mur derer and his family that they would never ask for a pardon, and would discourage any such effort, by their friends. Yet the move ment to release Webb from prison was actively under way before West retired from office, a year or two later. It was a clear sign of the general opinion that no one can be made to spend all his days behind prison bars in Oregon. Jesse Webb served eleven years. The av erage for convicts guilty of murder is seven years, or less. The Oregonian has never insisted that capital punishment is more of a deterrent for crime than life im prisonment. But it believes . in justice, and thinks that the man who slays in cold blood of right forfeits his life. But who does not know that twenty murders are odmmitted where one murderer Is hanged? The noose has no terrors, for it is mostly a phantom. Juries are lenient and acquittal is not only possible but probable. The man with the pistol, or the knife, or the ax, which he plans to-wield on his enemy, knows consciously or sub consciously that even if he is dis covered the chances of acquittal are favorable. If juries would convict and if governors would not pardon, life imprisonment would be a reality, and crimes of the blood fewer. But governors are human, and will not to the end resist persistent appeals for clemency. The pardoning power is a great privilege, but it is also a great burden. Most governors would be glad to be rid of it. It might be of service to the ef fective administration of justice if the right to pardon in capital crimes were to be taken from the governor and placed with the supreme court. to be exercised only after formal public hearing. SENATOR BORAH'S FORWARD STEP. Senator Borah's proposal of an international conference on both the economic situation and dis armament recognizes the close re lation between the two subjects and the necessity of carrying agree ments to reduce armament farther than was provided by the Washing ton naval treaty. Though the three principal powers signatory to that treaty hav begun to dismantle capital ships that are obsolete and though some have halted construc tion of those on the ways, they postpone carrying out the pro gramme in full until France and Italy ratify. Britain improves guns and armor to the limit agreed on. both Britain and Japan add auxil iaries on which no limit is placed, and the navy department of the United States submits an enlarged programme for ships of that class in order to keep on even terms with them. If France or Italy should refuse to ratify, the hopes that the treaty has raised will be blasted, ana ii Dotn snouia ratify, a new race will begin in improving guns and armor of battleships and in building cruisers, destroyers, sub marines and minelayers, to which the war gave added importance. Evidently limitation is Impos sible unless France and Italy par ticipate a: d it may give slight relief if they do participate unless it be extended to auxiliary craft. In order, that the five leading powers may thus extend it, others must join in the agreement, for the minor powers would be able to build a disproportionate number of less costly ships, and several of them might, by uniting their fleets. attain equality with one of the great powers. Hence the Washing ton treaty may prove to have only prepared the way for a compact covering the whole field of naval armament, to which practically all maritime powers, great and small, would be parties. The broader the scope of such an agreement and the larger the number of nations that must necessarily be parties to it, the more will be the national hopes, fears, ambitions and grudges that will stand in the way of its ac complishment. Obstacles delay final consummation of the Wash ington treaty, in which only five powers are concerned. How much greater obstacles would a treaty encounter that must affect the en tire naval force of many more na tions! No reasonable doubt exists that France hangs back in hope of gain ing an equivalent advantage from the United States. The French navy has been terribly reduced, and France feels need of its expansion until secured against danger of war. France would need warships to protect transports bringing troops and munitions from distant colonies, to protect its merchant ships and to guard its coast. Italy insists on equality with France or any other Mediterranean power and, though willing to ratify the Washington treaty, would not act upon it unless France should ratify. Though all navies should be lim ited as to all types of ships, the greater part of the disarmament problem would be untouched so long as armies were not reduced. So far are many nations from being ready to reduce armies that a pro test from France sufficed to ex elude them from consideration at Washington. Until armies are re duced, their size will limit the ex tent to which navies can be re duced, for nations with, oversea possessions want naval force to protect them and communication with them. Excessive armament on both land and sea, but on the continent of Europe principally on land, is the chief cause of Europe's eco nomic distress, of restriction of our foreign trade, of the low price of farm products and of the idleness of two thirds of our ships. Reduc tion of armies and navies would not only cut down the direct cost, but would increase wealth, consequently public revenue, with the produc tive labor of men now In military service and uselessly employed in producing implements of destruc tion. By including economic troubles among the subjects of the proposed conference, Mr. Borah recognizes the close relation be tween armament and economic dis tress, and he admits that it reacts injuriously on the United States. But those twin evils cannot be successfully attacked unless we un cover and remove the underlying causes. These are disputed fron tiers, unfulfilled treaties, national hatred and distrust, desire of the defeated for vengeance, determina tion of the victors to hold what they have won. France will not disarm while Germany welshes on reparations and maintains cam ouflaged armies and secret stores of arms far in excess of treaty lim its in preparation for "the next war." Poland will not disarm while menaced by Germany on the west and Russia on the east. The little entente will remain armed while Hungary nourishes hope of recovering lost provinces, while Russia threatens to retake Bessari abia from Roumania and while the only limits to Turkish designs of re conquest are those of Turkey's mil itary powers and of unity among its enemies. Until all these causes of conflict were removed, a confer ence would be apt to degenerate into an angry debate on all of them. As the armament problem is hopelessly involved with' that of economics, so are both with the political problems which divide Europe. Since the United States withdrew from the peace councils, no decision has been accepted as final, for the nations whose com bined power should ' have made them final have drawn apart from one another and have become more ngrossed in their internal troublesAing, ut it is distinctly a physician's which have been aggravated by dis. cord. They need the aid of a na tion which is the friend of all of them in bringing about agreement among them, It would be useless to go half way in response to Clemenceau's appeal to come back. Discussions of economics would surely lead to that of armament, of armament to that of economics, and both would lead to that of politics. The dis putants would be likely to call on the United States to arbitrate or mediate and, if they should not, our government would be impelled to offer its services lest another conference fail. Senator Borah should recognize this logical sequence when he re calls the results of his efforts at naval disarmament in 1921. He proposed action by the United States, Britain and Japan, but Pres ident Harding found it necessary to call in France and Italy also, then to expand the programme to cover far eastern affairs, for a political settlement was indispensable as the basis for a naval limitation treaty. It now develops that, lest that treaty fail, the affairs of Europe must be set In order, and all na tions turn to the United States as the only one that can break the jam, Not even the Christmas stories of Dickens carry the appeal of a little poem of which the present holiday season is peculiarly a reminder. It is just a century this week since Dr. Clement C. Moore, a Chelsea col lege professor, head of a large fam ily, framed while returning home from a shopping errand the verses to which he gave the title "The Visit of St. Nicholas," but which have become better known as "The Night Before Christmas." Like that other creator of delightful reading ior . cnuaren, .Dr. C. L. Dodgson, Moore's vocation was far removed from the field of juvenile litera ture. He was professor of Greek and oriental languages in a theolog ical seminary. Like Dodgson, he is famous for his avocational work, while in the field of his chosen pro fession he is practically unknown. The turkey shoot is survival of the custom of sallying forth in the early morn with the old muzzle loader and powder horn and bring ing home a wild gobbler before noon. Some of present-day ama teurs could not bring home one before the next week. If this foggy weather continues somebody will be introducing a law in the legislature requiring auto mobile drivers to equip their cars with compasses anH learn seaman ship and navigation. Pink sunsets are common, but only in Portland is there a pink sunrise when the sun swings around Mount Tabor and shines through the fog. Make the mail carrier load both ways on that single trip Monday. Hang something on the mail box for him candy perhaps, or a smoke. He's a good fellow. "California dry law becomes ef fective," says a headline. More to the point is whether drought con ditions will actually prevail. Dr. McElveen would have most of us meditate more. Not just now, doctor, but when the Christ mas bills come in. Nearing the end of the seals sale. Put her over. The pennies, nickels and dimes will do it. The Denver bandits will be found by means of airplane if somebody will hurry. Fire Chief Young says don't put a lighted candle in your window. He knows. Many who put on the bravest air are the poorest in Christmas time. Old Dr. Stork is the best Santa Claus and a welcome one. Be on hand at opening time last day for buying. This is the season for giving and for getting, ' Burroughs Nature Club. Copyright, Houghton-Mifflin Co. CAN YOU ANSWER THESE QUES TIONS? 1. Can you identify from enclosed drawings, the insect represented? 2. Do they still get eider down from duck's nest9, and how much down will a duck give at a time? 3. Are any fishes nocturnal? . Answers in Monday's nature notes. " Answers to Previous Questions. ' 1. How did codfish get their name? Some writers go into a rather in direct explanation to connect "cod" with the Lattn. name of Gadus, which means a rod or stick. The most plausible suggestion we know comes from Thoreau's book, "Cape Cod," in which he says "cod" comes probably from the Saxon "codde" meaning a case containing seeds. (The old fashioned "pease-cod" is an example of this use). The fish, Thoreau things, might have acquired the name from the resemblance of its body to a codde or pod; or from the amount of spawn the cod contains, which might suggest a pod full of seed. - . I. Do vegetable-eating animals ever consume their own young? I ask because our young rabbits sud denly disappeared. Animal parents often 'kill their own young, but not to eat them. The object is to dispose of them when apparently some foe threatens. In the case of the rabbits, it is more likely a roving cat killed and ate the babies. Rat parents might actually eat the young they had killed. 3.. How big is the sparrow hawk, and does it live on sparrows. About ten to 11 inches, smallest of our hawks. It kills various small birds, but also eats quantities of beetles or similar insects of any size, and mice. Considered very ben eficial, and should be protected, as the vermin it eats more than bal ances the bird part ot Its diet. WHERE TO START MORAL WAVE Better Crime Curative In Schools Than In Marriage Restrictions. CANBY, Or., Dec. 21. (To the Ed itor.) Dr. Owens-Adair's article on the "crime wave" is indeed interest- point of view. Stringent marriage laws, prevent ing incompetent parenthood, would no doubt insure better offspring and partly cure the divorce evil, yet the doctor's suggestion all the way through is only a one-sided solution. Too stringent marriage regulation would add immorality and crime, at one end of the scale while it is being subtracted at the other. But hereditary influences are not our principal crime breeders. Nine ty per cent of our crime is only a foul contagion which is part and parcel of an unjust social system. Extreme poverty on one hand and "married" profligacy on the other are the chief causes of criminal law lessness. It 1b the environment into which children are born rather than pre-natal influences that offer the gravest dangers. Experience a.9 a school teacher has thoroughly convinced me of the need of educational reformation. Through establishing a definite moral, spiritual and social ideal, the school offers one of our best "crime wave" curatives. This, of course, does not pre suppose the necessity of inane Ku' Kluxism, but a broad progressive pedagogical programme which will make the public school system what ltJihould be. JOHN H. BATES. RELATION OF DIET TO CANCER Pork No More Harmful Than Other Meats, In Opinion of Specialist. NEW YORK, Dec. 16. (To the Editor.) My attention has been called to an article in The Orego nlan of November 29 in answer to a letter of R. H. Tate in regard to the relation of pork-eating and can- C6l' note the very kind references you have made to my book on "Can cer and Its Non-Surgical Treatment" and the chapter on "Relation of Diet to Cancer," and I compliment you on the very clear way in which you have put the matter. I cannot eay that I nave ever od- served any connection between pork-eating and cancer. I see many, many cases of cancer in the Jews, who do not eat pork at all, so that I think that really it is only the meat substance that is of harm, as are also tea, coffee and alcohol. Of course, I am particularly glad of your little article, in view of the recent campaign which has been held by the American Society for the Prevention of Cancer, which has done so much harm by its terrifying everybody and driving them to un necessary and often harmful oper ations. When it publishes the real truth In regard to cancer and its proper treatment I am very sure there will be a great reduction in the terrific mortality which is such a scourge to our country. L. DUNCAN BULKLEY, Senior Physician to the New York Skin and Cancer Hospital; Mem ber of the American Society for Cancer Research, Etc. Marrlaee to Allen. ORCHARDS, Wash., Dec. 21. (To the Editor.) Kindly let me know whether I can take homestead re linquishment, as 1 was born in America and have never been out of it. But I am married to an alien, He has applied for his first papers, I have never used my rights. MRS. ADA WEST. Marriage to an alien annuls your American citizenship and makes void your homestead right. It will be necessary for you to file a peti tion, meet all the requirements of the naturalization laws and take the oath of allegiance before you can take -up a homested. You may se cure application blanks and file your petition in the naturalization office on the second floor of the old post office building., The customary fee of $1 for declaration and H for a petition will be charged. How to Grow Seedless Apples. CHEHALIS, Wash., Dec. 21. (To the Editor.) In the Burroughs club nature notes a question was an swered regarding a seedless apple. This can be produced by budding. Simply insert the bud up end down, when budding will reduce the amount of seed from one-third to one-half the original amount. On a second or third repetition of the operation you get the seedless ap ple. Do you get the Idea? A watermelon can be so done by covering the young vine for a foot or more along the runner and keep ing it damp until it takes root and cutting loose from the mother root between it and where it has taken root. If this is done before the blossom sets the melon will be , seedless. 1, H, CRUMI4ES, Those Who Come and Go Tales of Folks at the Hotels. Not one vote was cast against R. A. Ford for representative for Grant and Harney counties, which shows how Mr. Ford is thought oi "in the community in which he re sides." Representative Ford arrived in Portland yesterday and will re main here until it is time for him to go to Salem and answer the roll call on January 8, 1923." I am for economy," explained Mr. Ford yes terday. t"Last summer we could have used two men riding on the range,' but we didn't hire them be cause we couldn't afford to. That was economy. I don't care how high my taxes are when I am get ting a big price for cattle, but when I have to sell a score or more of head to get enough money to pay taxes, then I become interested in the subject. As I view it, the way to reduce taxes is to economize by cutting down the cost of operation, the -way we did on the ranch last summer. This will not be popular, for no matter what item of expense the legislature tries to eliminate, there will be someone ready to pro test, yet that is the only way to cut down taxes." Mr. Ford favored not less than 1 5000 a year-for a state highway engineer in the 1917 session, and he wanted to pay high way commissioners a good salary, for he supposed that the right kind of men could not be induced to give their time to road building. Now, however, having watched the devel opment of the road programme dur ing the hardest-days and observed it reach the point where the duties of a commissioner are becoming routine, he has less sympathy than ever for the plan of paying the members of the commission. Mr. Ford was one of the pioneer advo cates of the John Day highway. He says that, at Dayville, he can get The Oregonian when it is only one day old instead of three or four days old, as was the case before the highway was built, and there is now a saving of $2 per hundred on freight, thanks to the highway. Towns once having 1500 popula tion have dwindled down to three or four old-timers who have at tained the reminiscent mood, and these sourdoughs pan enough to make a living: and put in the rest of jtheir time telling of the glories of the days that were. There are many such places in Alaska, according- to J. C. Anderson who has ar rived at the Multnomah from Ju neau, where he was engaged in road work. Under the direction of the United States bureau of public roads, Mr. Anderson has been con structing about seven miles- out of Jun'eau, four miles out of Seward and four and one-half miles out of Cordova. In the days of long light it was possible to work two crews, thus getting in 16 hours a day; but now the daylight Is confined to six hours, so work has stopped. White labor was used on the Cordova and Seward jobs, but natives were also used on the Juneau road work. The roads built have been surfaced with gravel. The main road problem to contend with In that section of Alaska is the excessive rain. Mr. Anderson is employed by the con tracting firm of Siems & Carlson of Spokane. I'm a refugee," announced Peter Grant, when he arrived in Portland yesterday. "We lost a couple of buildings on Commercial street, in Astoria. The 'town looks like San Francisco did after the fire there, and if Astoria builds up like San Francisco did then the fire will have been a good thing. The gov ernment should aid Astoria by fill ing in the streets with a dredger. This could be considered as a har bor improvement. Then, too, the state of Oregon should help, and I believe the sentiment throughout the state is to aid Astoria." This is the first time that Mr. Grant has visited Portland in a year. .He is here on his way to Astoria to spend Christmas with his mother. Mr. Grant has been making his head quarters inSan Francisco. He says that Frank M. Warren of Portland has bought a steamer in San Fran cisco which will be worth $1,000,000 when about $20,000 in improvements are added, and the price was very small. In the fossil beds of Grant county It is more profitable, at this time, to raise turkeys than to raise cat tle. A. C. Munro, who, with a part ner, runs a herd of about 450 tur keys, brought a shipment to Port land for the holiday market. These birds were raised' near Goose Rock, which for generations was used as a nesting place by wild geese, but these fowls have somewhat neglect ed the rookery in recent years, probably because the sportsmen, are killing oil the geese, mere is very little trouble in raising turkeys in the John Day valley, for the birds are permitted to roam at will and there is no expense about feeding them until a couple of weeks be fore they are brought to market. Not far from where the Munro birds were raised an immense mammoth tooth was unearthed a few days ago, and was taken, away by a man from Idaho. Mr. Munro is regis tered at the Imperial. Whitefield Stone, garaga man of Dayvule, is registered at the Im perial. Although of small popula tlon. Dayville is incorporated, this having been done in the days of lo cal option, so that the saloons could be retained. When the oone-ary act became effective the saloons were converted into "pastimes" and hard liquor was replaced by soft drinks. Small though Dayville Is, it is large enough to have lively elections, and Mayor Snow was re elected by six vo.tes after a hot cam paign. There is a community hall in Dayville which is so well patron ized that it nets the stockholders about 10 per cent. The stock Is owned mostly by people living out side of the city limits. The next big event at the hall will be the Scotch American celebration on New Year's. When Fremont, the pathfinder, was exploring south central Oregon he climbed over mountains covered with snow and so called them the Winter range. Along the foot of the range was a lake, the shores of which were green as though in June, so he named it Summer lake. John Crump, of Summer Lake, is .among the arrivals af the Imperial. The highway commission would like to locate the highway north from Lakeview on the west shore of Summer lake, but the land there is so fertile and valuable that the farmers do not like to sacrifice any of their holdings, for a right of way. Unless the right of way is obtained the commission will have to make the location on the east shore, which is very cold, and a road there will not serve the people so well. To do a little Christmas shopping, Hamilton McCormack of St- Helens is at the Benson. The McCormack outfit has a fleet of 20 vessels in the coastwise trade, all making money. It Is not generally known, but St. Helens has probably the best dance hall in the state, and the equipment of furniture and lights alone represents more than $2500. There is to be a great pre-Christmas celebration in the hall tonight. George E. Streeter, formerly of Portland, but now receiver for the lumber concern at Bunker, Wash., has arrived at the Multnomah with I Mrs. Streeter for-tha, holidays. More Truth Than Poetry. By James J. Montaarue. EVIL ASSOCIATIONS. (In Maine the use of ice in bever ages is forbidden because it was formerly used with liquor). A little ice," implored the guest, "I'm burning up Inside." T can't comply with your request," The waiter girl replied. For ice once made the highball cool. And chilled the foaming beer; I'd break a legislative rule were I to serve it here." "You bring that ice, and bring it quick!' The guest cried, loud and plain. "You know there isn't any "kick" In all the ice in -Maine!" Tee," said the girl, "in ardent drink, Moved men to ribald song, And so our legislators think To serve it would be wrong!" "But ice is frozen H-2-O," The guest said with a grin, It is an antidote, you know, For whisky, rum or gin." Replied the girl: "Young gentle man, All this is very true. But ice is placed beneath the ban For what it used to do. "Why not prohibit glasses, then?" The guest said, with a sneer, "They once were used by drinking men For liquors, wines and beer." The girl observed: "Be patient, friend; They meet again next spring. And I have heard that they intend To do that very thing!" ' Hard Job. Every time the president names a man for the supreme court he is at tacked either because he is not well known enough or is known alto gether too well. Shrunk. The tiniest elephant in the world has arrived in New York. Perhaps it is to be used as the new emblem for a certain national party. A Hot Competition. The football season is ended, but the race between Santa Claus and the income tax collector to get father's bank roll is providing con siderable excitement. (Copyright. 1!M, by Bell Syndicate, Inc.) It Isn't Life: It's You. By Grace E. Hall. Be glad each day for something It may be hard to find A cause for real rejoicing Amid your sordid grind. You may indeed be bitter And say there's not a thing For which to be just pleasant So tortuous life's sting; , But somewhere in your being Some cheering thought must be, If you will go a-searching For it right honestly. Be glad each day for something It isn't life that's wrong. But only that we humans Forget our smiles and song; The world is full of beauty It has no sordid thing, But, once we bend to burdens. We straightway cease to sing; The creatures in the forest Have, too, their part in life. But with a super-knowledge They work with naught of strife; And if each man would alter His views so hard and grim, And search for bits of gladness Twould change the world for him. In Other Days. . Twenty-Five Years Ago. From The Oregonian, December 23, 1897. Owing to the supplies of various kinds dealers have laid in for in tending Klondikers, Portland Is in better condition to enjoy a spell of snowy weather than ever before. Cold weather is predicted and skaters are hopeful of the ponds and sloughs being frozen sufficient ly for skating soon. Oregon cattle stand to bring bet ter prices next spring than during the past season. Cattle buyers are in all parts of the state, not so much for the purpose of making immedi ate purchases, as to take in the sit uation and learn what number of cattle can be had when wanted next spring. Washington The reciprocity ne gotiations between the United States and Germany are practically sus pended. They never got beyond the initial stage. The report of Agent Emery shows a total of 1020 Indians on the Kla math reservation, an increase of 59 over last year. These red men have been deprived of allowances for the past 12 years, and most of them are supporting themselves well. Fifty Years Ago. From The Oregonian, December 23, 1872. The most disastrous fire which has, without exception, ever taken place in the history of Portland, oc curred yesterday. Over two square blocks of Front street from Morri son to Washington were completely razed. The loss will reach half a million dollars. The fire originated in the back part of a Chinese wash house. Stores in large quantities were shipped up the east side road yes terday fr the scene of Indian troubles. Notwithstanding the advanced period of the rainy season the Wil lamette river is very low, and the boats on the upper river have much trouble in getting up and down. Stockton, Cal. The Hercules Pow der works exploded yesterday, kill ing ten Chinamen and seriously in juring a white man, named Cook. Astoria u a Warning. PORTLAND, Dec. 22. (Tothe Ed itor.) The feeling of sympathy which is aroused by the Astoria cal amity should not blind our eyes to the fact that the calamity itself is largely due to the community which now suffers. Can anything be more insane that erecting hotels, ware houses and public buildings on a foundation of creosoted piles filled in with sawdust? If the piles could not be made fireproof (and no doubt they could), then at least the spaces between them should have been filled in with stones or rubble or sand, properly banked up. Of course, it is always easy to be "wise after the event," but here the danger has been apparent for more than thirty years. We have a somewhat similar con dition on our waterfront; not as bad, but still, bad enough. The wharves on the left bank of the river are disgracefully insecure in respect of fire risk; and if a fire were to break out there it would sweep a great part of Front street, and might, with an east wind, ex tend much further how far, no one knows. Let our city authorities take the matter in hand, and be wise before the event, not after it. The Spirit of Yuletide All the romance and joy of Christmas will be told in nu merous articles and illustra tions to appear in The Sunday Oregonian. 'The Sea King's Christmas Carol" Christmas poem by Ben Hur Lampman set in beautiful color art page by C. L. Smith, in tomorrow's paper. Portland Observance to Be Musical One Department in the Sunday paper to give details of va rious musical features in ob servance of Christmas. Christmas Candies Made at Home Lilian Tingle, The Orego nian's cookery expert, tells how candies may be easily made. Christmas Poem Has Centenary "Twas the Night Before Christmas" occupies unique and lasting place in Yule lit erature of world. "Scarab's Luck" Is Christmas Story Pretty girl was 21 and had never had a real Christmas and then something happened which changed everything. Churches to Observe Birth of Christ Elaborate programmes have been prepared for various Portland churches. IN THE MAGAZINE Brokers Finance Grand Opera Down dim canyon ways of Wall street St. Cecelia sings as sweetly as in less re stricted neighborhoods. - "Puppy Love" Elopers Many Shall children be spanked or their parents? asks Chicago judge in discussing epidemic of runaway matches. Jungle Vine Cures Fear Medical science feels that it has found non-habit forming draught to overcome dis agreeable emption. Dogs May Have Artificial Legs San Francisco physician in vents artificial limbs for canine pet. Hill's Sketches Feature Christmas Page production by popular artist shows how Yule spirit affects different types. What Makes Beautiful Girl? Florenz Ziegfeld Jr., beauty expert, in another of his se ries of articles answers that question. Luckiest Woman Is Found Admirers thus describe Maria Jeritza because she has youth, beauty, wealth, a voice in a generation and a titled hus band. OTHER FEATURES White House to Burn Candles How Yuletide celebrations will be observed in the Hard ing family told with illustra tions. How Auto Helps Santa Art views in auto section show how reindeer have been replaced by gasoline-driven car. Frances Fairchild Famous Beauty Buyer for New York depart ment store called one of 12 most beautiful women. Princess Alice in Banishment With Prince Andrew of Greece, she boards British warship for tnp to England. Portland Radio Heard on Train Fair passengers on transcon tinental trips may now enjoy local concerts. - This Is Decade of Big Events World activities which will go down in history told as they occur in The Oregonian. ' All the News of AU the World Told in The Sunday Oregonian Just Five Cents