THE STTSDAT OHEGOS1A3T, JpOBTTjAXIfc, JA2TTTAEX 6, 3898
warn.
Entered at the Postoffiee at Portland,- Oregea.
as second-class matter.
REUSED SUBSCRIPTION BATES.
By Mail (postage prepaH) in Advance.
jJaHy. with Sunday, per month... .-? 1 00
baity, Sunday excepted, per year 30 00
Dally, with Sunday, per year 12 00
Sunday, per year.. ...... .... ...... - 00
The "Weekly. pr year............. ..-- 1 5
The "Weekly, three months.. .-.. 5
TO CITY SUBSCRIBERS.
DaMy, per -week, delivered. Sunday excepted..25c
Dally, per week, delivered. Sunday inoJuded.JOc
DAILY METEOROLOGICAL REPORT
PORTLAND, Jan. 5.-8 P. M. Maximum
temperature. 40; minimum temperature. 30:
height rf Hver at Jl A. M., 30.S; change in the
paM. 24 hours. S.4; precipitation today. 0.2S; pre
cipHation from September I. 1SG1 (wet season),
to date. 15.92; average. 21.57; deficiency, 5.C5.
WEATHER SYNOPSIS.
There extete a condition of tle Harometer
touch below the normal at all stations, and the
readings hi Northern Washington indicate the
storm central in British Columbia. Precipita
tion in the form of rain occurred from Central
California northward. East of the Cascades the
weather remained fair. Light rain is expected
lo continue In the western portions of Wash
ington and Oregon. At plaees on the Willam
ette river readings were made at 4 P. M. Sat
urday, and ere above the zero of the gauge, as
roltowa:
Feet. t.
Dregsn OMy, above (tSalem .. -
e Tall 11.3:Alhany KM
Dregon City, below JEugene .......- 5
the falls li).,
WEATIIEK FORECAST?.
Forecasts made at Portland for the 24 hours
ending; at midnight January C:
For "Western Washington and Western Oregon
t-Oeeasional light rain and .slightly cooler, with
tresh southerly winds.
For Eastern Washington, Eastern Oregon and
Idaho Fair weather and cooler, with fresh
boutherly winds.
For Portland Occaslcnal light rain and cool
er, with fresh eoutherly winds.
B. S. l'AGUE. Local Forecast Official.
PORTLAND. SINDAY. JANUARY .
IT IS XOT "WISE.
One of the little silver organs of the
State, which are attempting to intro
duce the heresy of free silver as a new
test into the republican party, trieg to
maintain that The Oregonian is not
fconsistent in opposing the introduction
of this issue, because it supported for
congress both Ellis and Hermann, who
Were known to be silver men.
The charge of inconsistency is at once
Ihe weapon and the dread of little
minds. But In fact The Oregonian has
not been inconsistent in this matter at
all. The republican national platform
of 1S92 declared for restriction of coin
age of silver: the Oregon republican
platform of 1894 followed it strictly; and
Messrs. Hermann and Ellis accepted
nominations upon it. It was for them
to say whether they would be candi
dates on such a platform; it was not
the business of The Oregonian to as
sume that they would violate it As
matter of fact, both Mr. Hermann and
Mr. Ellis had put themselves on record
in the house against the sixteen-one
ratio; both had favored the policy of
putting more silver into the dollar so as
to bring the mint ratio and the mar
ket ratio together. This we believe to
lie wholly impracticable, and doubtless
by this time they so believe it too.
But what is the contention now?
Simply that the free coinage of silver at
16 to 1 shall be made the test in the
election of a senator. This proposes a
reversal of the position of the republi
can party as to money and the money
standard. If successful, it will be an
announcement that the republican
party of Oregon has passed tinder the
control of men who are devoted to the
silver standard, and that those who ad
here to the position which the party
lias heretofore maintained are to have
no recognition in the party hereafter.
That is, the issue will radically divide
the republican parly of Oregon.
They who insist on adherence to the
Standard of sound and full money, the
country's present standard, the world's
standard, the gold standard, have not
made this Issue, nor in any way pro
voked it. It has been made by those
Who say that no man who would main
tain the gold standard shall be elected;
that neither Mr. Dolph, nor any one
iplse who opposes free coinage of silver,
bhall be elected, if they can prevent
it. That is to say, the advocates of the
ullvor standard propose to declare that
no one shall be deemed a republican,
shall be called into the service of the
jwrty, or have any honors at its hands,
unless he is a silver man.
Hitherto this issue has not been
pressed between the republicans of Ore
Kon. Neither Mr. Hermann nor Mr.
Ellis was opposed by those who ob
jected to their silver record, nor was
Mr. Mitchell. The supporters of the
standard of sound money were content
to rest on the national republican plat
form and on the long-continued policy
of the party, which ever has been op
posed to free coinage of silver, since
silver began to fall in the world's mar
3cets. Mr. Dolph's friends supported
Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Hermann and Mr.
23111s. Now are friends of Mr. Mitchell,
Mr. Hermann and Mr. Ellis going to
take the position that Mr. Dolph, be
cause he is not a free-silver man, shall
aiot be re-elected?
It is not a personal matter at all. It
5s a question whether those republicans
Nvho object to a demand that would
shift the money standard from gold to
silver are to be proscribed, or not. If
this Issue be forced, it will divide the
republican party of Oregon in the most
violent manner in 1SD6. "What will be
come of Mr. Ellis. Mr. Hermann and
Mr. Mitchell in that event? "What will
become of their supporters and follow
ers? Can they for one moment believe
they can succeed without the help of
the powerful body which this policy
would proscribe? Moreover, the na
tional republican party is going to ad
here to the course, as to silver, that it
has so long pursued. It can do noth
ing else. Even the democratic party,
pretending when out of power to favor
free silver, dares not when in power
take a single step in that direction.
Men who contend for free silver can
have no permanent standing in the re
publican party except as they subordi
nate that demand to the general course
and policy of the party, and refrain
from pressing it as an issue. Pressed
as an issue in Oregon it will rtrst di
vide the party and then throw them
out of the party. But. on the contrary,
if the Iseue be not raised by them,
affairs in the party will proceed quietly
as heretofore.
They are enemies of the republican
party of Oregon wllo attempt to -raise
this issue of free silver in the election
of a senator. There is party division
in it and a struggle for control of the
state convention in 1896; probably two
conventions, with the certainty that
the one adhering to the settled policy of
the party and opitosing the change of
the present standard of money to the
Ellver standard would have the recog
nition and support of the national re
publican organization- Here is a ques
tion that divides parties, when pressed;
the country will not have the silver
standard, and in that purpose it will
be supported by the vital strength of
the republican paity of Oregon. It is
useless therefore for silver men to force
this issue. It will not carry, for the
country will not allow free coinage of
silver, with Its consequences of de
based money and silver monometalism.
Its only possible consequences will be
fierce contention and sharp division
among the republicans of Oregon, of
which the full storm will be due in 189S.
Isn't it better therefore for the republi
cans of Oregon to let the subject rest
just where it has rested hitherto? They
who want harmony hereafter will not
force this matter now.
CHEAP BOOKS .VXD NASTY BOOKS.
The death in Cooperstown, New York,
last week of E. F. Beadle recalls a
curious epoch in American letters or
at any rate in American bookmaking.
He was the publisher of the series of
Beadle's dime novels, which middle
aged persons remember, as they re
member the New York Ledger of thirty
years ago, as the accepted and notori
ous type of all that was held to be de-"
moralizing in reading matter for the
young.
Yet Beadle's dime novels and the
New York Ledger were mild and harm
less compared with the stuff which has
taken their place as cheap reading
matter for uncultivated youth. They
were not literature, they served no use
ful educational purpose, they neither
conveyed information nor taught the
use of the language; but they taught
no evil, they did not mock virtue, they
did not train young readers in the the
ory and practice of vice. They were
wretched in style and absurd in mat
ter, butthey were clean and wholesome.
Cheap books of the same type today are
neither. They are smutty and vicious.
They provoke base passions and sug
gest vile acts. They attack public
health by undermining public morals.
They are nearly as bad in style and
as false in matter as the Beadle and
Ledger tales of wild adventure. They
are unspeakably worse in influence and
teaching. It would be a positive gain
to substitute the books our fathers
thought most evil and demoralizing for
the best of the cheap books of today.
The trouble is that the literature of
the uncultivated imitates that of the
cultivated classes. When Scott and
Cooper made the standard for Anglo
American fiction, farmers' boys and
factory girls were fed on tales of ab
surd romance and adventure. "When
the cultivated literature of the day be
gan to deal in adultery and seduction
and to hint at lower depths, the same
themes began to be treated in a coarser
way for the half-educated persons who
buy books at railroad news stands and
subscribe for flash newspapers. The
pseudo-literature of the day reflects the
real, just as did that of a generation
ago. The only way " to improve the
lower is to rellne the higher.
Some of the obituary notices of Mr.
Beadle praise him for doing the work
of a pioneer In the field of cheap book
publishing, pointing out that the suc
cess of his series discovered to pub
lishers the possibility of profit in sell
ing paper copies of novels of, Scott and
Dickens at the same low price. Prob
ably it is better to read Scott and Dick
ens than Ann S. Stevens' and Ned Bunt
line, but it is doubtful, after all,
whether there is any real educational
value in any cheap book. It is like
a cheap tool that loses its edge at the
first using, or a cheap garment that
can be worn only once or twice. To be
an educational agent, a book must be
come a constant companion, must be
read and reread, must lie on a shelf
year after year, to be taken up at odd
moments for a closer acquaintance or to
refresh a faded memory.
Books must have physical endurance
to be used in this way. No high quality
of interior matter compensates for the
disqualification of flimsy covers and
weak backs, fading ink and rotting pa
per. In books as in most other things,
that which has real value has a corre
sponding price. It is not at all certain
that the man who invented cheap books
benefited the world in any way. It is
very certain that he injured it by dis
seminating much harmful stuff.
THE HORTICULTURAL HOARD.
The annual report of the state board
of horticulture, a synopsis of which is
printed elsewhere, shows that for the
limited amount of funds at their dis
posal, the members of the board have
done an enormous amount of work, not
only inspecting orchards and fruits
with a view to treatment for parasites,
but in other useful ways. Some com
missioners have carried on extensive
experiments in compounding and test
ing spraying materials, in evaporating
fruits and in pruning, spraying and cul
tivating orchards. Practical informa
tion has thus been acquired and trans
mitted to fruitgrowers throughout the
state. One of the commissioners, it ap
peal, has himself visited in this ca
pacity something near 1200 large and
small orchards.
Tlse reason why this good work has
been done is that the commission is
composed of practical fruitgrowers.
Every member has an orchard of his
own, and has a direct personal interest
in the discovery and development of
the best -methods of fruitgrowing, cur
ing and marketing. This is the sort of
men who should be entrusted with this
important work not visionaries or
place-hunters, but actual orchardists in
different sections of the state. Three of
the present board go out this year, their
terms expiring. Their places will un
doubtedly be well filled by the appoint
ing power, which is vested in the new
governor, secretary of state and state
treasurer.
The extent which this report, by care
fully compiled statistics, shows the fruit
industry of Oregon to have reached
demonstrates how utterly suicidal
would be the withdrawal of legal en
actments for the conservation of our
orchards and vineyards. Rigid inspec
tion of growing fruit and of wares in
transit, with authority of purging and
of quarantine, the experience of older
states has demonstrated to be essential.
No better plan has ever been proposed
than the execution of an approved law
by a board of practical horticulturists.
And whatever appropriation, consistent
with economy and justice to other nec
essary public expenses, can be made,
should cheerfully be provided by the
legislature.
The feature of the weekly bank state
ment still is increase of specie in the
reserve. This week it balances with
increase of deposits, indicating that
persons are drawing gold out of the
treasury on notes obtained by them in
the ordinary pourse of business and, de-
positing it to their credit in the banks,
instead of depositing the notes them
selves. That is, business men and cap
italists, sharing the distrust of bank
ers and foreigners of the permanent
value of our treasury notes, are joining
in the scramble for gold. This distrust
and consequent tendency to get and
keep gold will extend till it embraces
all classes, drains the treasury of gold
and sends it to a premium, unless con
gress shall put an end to it by retiring
the dangerous excess of treasury notes
by removing the superfluous volume of
government credit money.
TIIE ARMENIANS.
The Armenian people, whose brutal
treatment by the Kurds while under the
nominal protection of the Turkish em
pire threatens to set Europe ablaze, has
a curious and interesting history, not
unlike that of the Jews. They are the
homeless race of Aryan, as the Hebrews
are the homeless race of Semitic blood.
Both are tenacious of life and very pro
lific Both have great endurance as a
race and have spread all over the
world, but neither seems to have ca
pacity to organize a state or maintain
a government of its own. The Jews
never had a civil state, though they
were organized for several centuries
under a theocracy. When that broke
down, they became homeless wander
ers. Armenia existed as an independent
kingdom for several short Intervals be
tween the dawn of history and its final
conquest by the Turks about 1600, en
during much longer periods of subjec
tion to whatever conqueror came along,
from Alexander to Timour. It has been
subject to every empire of the ancient
and medieval world Persian, Mace
donian, Parthian, Horaan, Byzantine,
Greek, Mongol and Mohammedan.
With division of the latter upon the
conquest of Constantinople, it was di
vided between Turkey and Persia. In
the present century Russia came in as
a third spoiler and the ancient king
dom now is shared between the three
empires, with prospect of falling at
last to the czar.
The Armenians have no special kin
ship, either ethnic or religious, with
the Russians. By their language, they
seem to be a branch of the Iranian Ary
ans, most nearly kin to the Persians.
The Armenian church is Christian, but
partakes of neither the Greek nor Ro
man communion, claiming an origin
supported by legendary history older
than the apostolic age. Incorporation
with the Russian empire and the Greek
church would be very distasteful to this
people. What they desire is autonomy
under British protection, but, never
having shown any capacity for civil or
ganization or self-government, it is
doubtful if they could maintain such a
status, even if they were permitted to
assume it.
The historic thorn in the side of Ar
menia has been the Kurds, a fierce Mo
hammedan people of Aryan origin, but
mixed race, inhabiting the hill country
bordering the Armenian plain to the
north and east. In all periods of un
rest due to weak government and an
archy, perpetual conflict has waged be
tween the Kurds and Armenians, in
which the latter usually managed to
hold their own until the former were
enlisted and armed as soldiers by the
Turkish government, as the only means
of engaging their activity and divert
ing them from a. growing purpose of
revolt against the decaying Ottoman
power itself. This delivered the Ar
menians bound and helpless into the
power of their hereditary foes, whose
fierceness has marched from outrage to
outrage until it culminated in the
bloody deeds that have shocked the
world, and which probably will result
in some form of European control over
the region between the Black and Cas
pian seas, until Russia shall work out
her destiny there.
Does any person believe that the
bonds which form the basis of circu
lation under our present bank system
are printed and issued by the govern
ment for that purpose and furnished
by it to the banks as a gratuitous con
venience? One would suppose so, to
read some of the public discussion on
the subject. Is there any one who does
not know that the government sells
these bonds for money which It needs
to pay pressing obligations, like those
created by appropriations of congress
or presentation for redemption of de
mand treasury notes? It would ap
pear so, from the ridiculous clamor
about the extravagance of paying inter
est on bonds just to furnish banks
with a basis for circulation. Is any one
ignorant that the banks buy all the
bonds they deposit, generally in open
market, except when bids are invited
for a new issue; that they pay out their
money for them, usually with from 5 to
20 per cent premium added; that the
bonds deposited in the treasury are as
much a part of the capital of the banks
as if gold were deposited? One would
think so, from the gabble about special
favors to banks. It is true that the
government pays interest on these
bonds to the banks, but it must pay the
Interest lo somebody, and the banks
could get the same or more interest on
the same money invested in other se
curities. It ought not to be necessary
to reiterate elementary facts of com
mon knowledge like these, but unless
persons are ignorant of them, it is im
possible to understand many popular
arguments about money.
A wealthy citizen of New York, who
withholds his name from the public,
has given $30,000 to the board of health
of that city to enable it to proceed at
once with the production of scientifi
cally prepared serum for the cure of
diphtheria. The same work is in prog
ress in Boston under the direction of
the health authoi-ities. The scientific
work is being prosecuted in the labora
tory of the Harvard medical school,
under the direction of Dr. Harold
Ernst, and the horses inoculated are
kept on Gallop's island. The experi
ment began the first week in December,
and definite results are expected in the
near future. In the meantime, diph
theria is epidemic in various sections
of the city, and there is danger that
the stress will provoke an undue haste
in the work that will be detrimental
to the character of the treatment. It
will be well to remember the bitter dis
appointment that followed the introduc
tion of tuberculin as a cure for con
sumption and make haste slowly in
regard to the serum treatment as a
remedial or preventive against diph
theria. The will of a Chicago man recently
probated was more unique as a testa
mentary document than that of the late
James G. Fair. The testator states
that he was married three times, that
he had five children by his first wife
and two by his second. Of the seven
children thus acknowledged he remem
bered the names of but three, and yet
he left the bulk of his property to the
mysterious four of whom he knew noth
ing. It may be hoped that his last
hours were consoled by the reflection
that he had not knowingly endowed
profligate young reprobates with the
accumulations of his industry. It will
not be surprising, however, if the in
firmity of memory confessed proves an
open door through which more than
four forgotten children will enter,
equipped with the usual proofs of iden
tity and legitimacy so familiar to the
courts in will contests.
The ship Pewabic, copper-laden and
bearing coined gold to the amount of
3300,000 or $300,000, was sunk in a col
lision some thirty years ago in Lake
Huron, opposite the entrance to Thun
der bay. That so rich a prize has so
long lain unreclaimed in twenty fath
oms of water is not due to lack of
energy or enterprise on the part of
treasure-hunters. The wreck was defi
nitely located some years ago, and
three divers have lost their lives In
the effort to explore it. Recently a
company was formed of Minneapolis,
Detroit, Duluth and Chicago capital
ists, the object being to make one more
attempt to recover the treasure from
the sunken vessel. The work will be
done under patents for subaqueous
travel, owned by a man who believes
that he can go to a great depth, ac
complish any reasonable task, and come
up alive. A system of air bags for lift
ing the vessel and cargo will be used,
and the adventurous diver will descend"
into the depths and perform the work
In a special armpr.of his own invention.
The venture will be made early in the
spring, and its outcome will be watched
with interest by the not inconsiderable
number of men who dream of the possi
bilities of recovering some of the enor
mous stores of wealth that have from
time to time gone to the bottom of the
sea in wrecked vessels.
A new feature in intercollegiate foot
ball has been developed by some of the
games of -the past season, in the shape
of complaints for assault and battery.
This Is a grave, not to say disgraceful
outcome of what is supposed to be a
friendly rivalry in athletics, but tf
the reports of malicious slugging that
have been sent out in connection with
some of the great games are correct,
there seems to be no reason why the
processes of the law should not be in
voked in behalf of the injured, as In
other cases of extreme brutality. Foot
ball is. a strong and sturdy game, in
which hard knocks are expected, but it
should not be allowed to cloak ruffian
ism. The Sacramento vigilance committee
is running tramps who will not work
out of the city in good old mining
camp fashion, breaking up the hobo
camps and throwing incendiary lead
ers into jail. After they are done with
the tramps, they would better run out
the city authorities, mayor and council
men and police, whose neglect of duty
has allowed an organized band of
sturdy beggars to terrorize the city for
months.
Steeves is adjudged guilty of man
slaughter on the theory that he entered
into a conspiracy- with Kelly against
Sayres, but.dklno.t intend that Sayres
should be nhseretL, Further, that
Steeves could mit be responsible for
what Kelly did, when Kelly went be
yond Steeves' intentions. The verdict
therefore is regarded by lawyers as be
ing in accord with the statute in such
cases.
YAMHILL'S POSITION.
"Wliy the Members From tliat County
"Will Support Mr. Dolph.
Yamhill Reporter.
The Yamhill delegation were not pledged
to Mr. Dolph during the compaign. They
were only pledged to carry out the wishes
o the republican party in the choice of
a United States senator. They will do
that by voting for Mr. Dolph, whom the
republicans in convention unanimously in
dorsed and who commands their respect
and confidence. But "Why should the
members from Yamhill be for Dolph any
more than for Tongue or Fulton?" he in
quires. Primarily because their constit
uents do not wish to swap experience,
ability and state influence for an unknown
quantity. Secondly, the people of Yam
hill, nor their representaives, have not so
soon forgotten the sound doctrines of
finance taught them by Tongue and Ful
ton on the stump, as to take any stock in
free-coinage candidates now. Mr. Tongue
told them last spring there was plenty of
money in the country, and the only mis
sion of free coinage would be to enable
one class of citizens to defraud another by
paying them in depreciated currency. Mr.
Tongue, Mr. Fulton et al. are now PPsiflg.
as free-coinage candidates for senator
and are being boomed and coddled by all
the opposition forces. That is the why.
rERSOXS "WORTH KNOWING AROLT.
Moncure D. Conway, who was an inti
mate fnend of Froude. thinks that if it
had not been for Carlyle's influence
Froude would have cultivated the field of
romance instead of that of history.
The dowager-tmpress of Russia has no
fortune in her own right, as no settlement
was ever made for her. Russian papers
say that she is dependent upon her son,
the present czar, who, however, will pro
vide for her handsomely.
In a recent address at Manchester,
England, Irving stigmatized Macbeth as
"one of the most bloody-minded, hypo
critical villains in all the poet's long gal
lery of portraits of men instinct with
the virtues and vice of their kind."
Captain Hornfrey, a retired officer of
the Eleventh Hussars, who, after stirring
experiences in the British army, fought in
the war of the Rebellion, and under Gar
ibaldi, being wounded in battle six times,
met an inglorious death in London the
other day, being run over by a butcher's
cart and killed.
The czar of Russia promises to be one of
the most popular rnonarchs in Europe.
He has completely won the St. Peters
burg populace by his lack of fear in going
about the streets of the capital unat
tendeda great contrast to the manner
of his father. The police, however, do not
like his ways, as they are in constant
fear that he will be killed.
The Rev. AY. R. W. Stephens, the new
ly appointed dean of Winchester, Eng
land, is prebendary of Whittering in the
diocese of Winchester, and rector of
Woolbeding, Midhurst. He was educated
at Balliol college, Oxford, where he was
graduated in 1S62, and took his M. A. de
gree in 1S83. Mr. Stephens has held a
number of appointments, and is the au
thor of numerous works, including "The
Life and Letters of Dr. Hook" and "The
Life and Times of St. John Chrysostom."
The Rev. Charles Gore, the new canon
of Westminster, was educated at Har
row, and, passing to Oxford, quickly won
a scholarship at Balliol. His election as
fellow of Trinity soon followed. He was
ordained in 1S76, and for the first five
years of his ministry he engaged prin-
l clpally in tutorial work. He has been se
lect preacher at Oxford and Cambridge,
and is a theological writer of high repute.
The controversial work, "Luz Mundi." of
which he was editor, at once brought him
to the notice of theological scholars on
both sides of the Atlantic
Congressman Thomas Dunn English,
who is popularly known in Washington
now, since Du Maurler revived the vogue
of his song, as "Ben Bolt," is said to be
almost blind. He walks about the halls
of congress with the facial expression of
a man groping in the dark.
HOFER AT HOME.
"What Is Thought of Him in HI Ottb
Count-.
Gervais (Marion County) Star.
The Oregonian of Wednesday, January
2. gives E. Hofer, of the Salem Capital
Journal, a deserved roasting. That paper
does not tell just how Hofer came to
represent (or, probably, we might say, mis
represent) this county in the coming legis
lature. Before the primaries he took a
deep Interest in political affairs and made
many speeches in his own precinct and
those surrounding. The party leaders
saw it all, and made up a slate for the
precinct, leaving Hofer off, but by per
sonal eftorts he got into the county con
vention and then claimed "trading stock"
in the way of "eight" votes, promising
support In every direction anything to
get to the legislature. The convention
which nominated him have many times
since regretted it even the Statesman,
after saying that the convention "made no
mistakes," has since admitted it was a
great error. This is not the worst part
of the case. Hofer was everything during
the canvass. It is claimed that in populist
precincts he gave a splendid populist talk,
to republicans a rousing republican speech
while democrats were largely cultivated;
but, worst of all, he would pose as a
Catholic or A. P. A., just as he saw fit,
or as he thought he could best make
votes. In other words, he was an all
'round political athlete and there was
only one thing he did not try to do, and
' that was to carry water in a sieve. This
is why Marlon county is inflicted with an
"accident." It was a Gervais r-jpublican
who said to Hofer, during the canvass,
when solicited to stay with him, "Yes, I
will, but Its the bitterest pill I ever swal
lowed, Mr. Hofer." It was the universal
cry, during the last election, "Vote for
the republican ticket, even if it has a yel
low dog on it," and in several Instances
in this county it came near being the case.
The editor of this paper was condemned
by county papers, and personal friends,
during the last political contest for dar
ing to say what he thought was right, but
since our utterances have largely come
true we allude to them at this time as a
matter of reminiscence.
ROUGH, BUT NOT UNDESERVED.
The Salem Idea of Economy Perspica
cionsly Set Oat.
Eugene Guard.
The Salem committee of 100 want the
next legislature to make the government
run the weather bureau, to do away with
the office of attorney-general, to reduce
the N. G. to seven companies, to reduce
the appropriation for the state university,
agricultural college and normal schools,
to keep paupers. Imbeciles, harmless idiots
and inebriates out of the asylum, to em
ploy the convicts, to make all fees go into
the state and county treasuries, reduce
mileage to 3 cents, to make knowledge of
lands more accessible and grade timber
lands, to make it a felony for teachers'
Institutes to fix salaries of teachers and
to leave selection of school books to school
directors, to punish as felons county of
ficers defrauding the state of taxes. How
ever, that self-constituted assembly of
gentlemen does not object to having the
superintendents of the asylum, peniten
tiary, reform school and all the employes
of those institutions. Nor does it say a
word in condemnation of the annual horse
rafce appropriation, made for the especial
benefit of that city. She exists by the
hard-earned tax money paid by the differ
ent counties of the state, and naturally
enough hog-like does not want even a
little of the bran scattered to the other
sections of the state. For pure and un
adulterated cheek and selfishness, we will
match Salem against the world.
THE NEW YEAR'S OREGONIAN.
Out; Copy nt Least.
Gervais Star.
The finest newspaper ever issued In
the state was the New Year's number
of The Oregonian. It consisted of -10
pages of solid meat in the way of choice
reading. It was highly illustrated by well
printed cuts. The typographical work
was perfect in every detail. It will make
a splendid advertising medium for ad
vertising Oregon. All subjects treated
were fairly dealt with and not colored.
Send a copy to Eastern friends by all
means, price 5 cents.
Inciilcnluble Good "Will Full.
McMinnville Reporter.
The 40-page New Year's issue of The
Oregonian is a credit to the city of Port
land and the state of Oregon. No more
compact, truthful and up-to-date review
of the state's resources and growth or
better outline of her future possibilities
can be obtained anywhere, and incalcul
able good will certainly fall to the state
by the broadcast-distribution of this great
paper.
Typogrnpliioally. Gem.
Hoquiam Washingtonian.
The New Year's Oregqnian was one of
the finest, most comprehensive and neat
est papers ever printed, containing 40
pages of valuable matter pertaining to
the great Northwest. The Oregonian
easily holds its place as one of the few
great dailies on the Pacific coast.
"Will Ilcneflt All Portions.
Corvallis Gazette.
The New Year's Oregonian is the most
creditable special edition of a newspaper
ever gotten out in the state. The enter
prise is aconmendab!e one, and this paper
throughout the East will be of Incalcul
able benefit to all portions of the state.
And the Most Creditable.
Roseburg Review.
The New Year's number of The Ore
gonian is the most creditable that paper
ever issued. It consists of 32 pages of
general information and statistical mat
ter concerning the state. The illustrations
are excellent.
Rest Ever Issncit.
Riddle Enterprise.
The Oregonian's mammoth New Year's
edition is at hand. It contains 40 pages, is
handsomely illustrated, and surpasses all
former holiday editions of that paper.
Great is the enterprise of our big daily.
It Is Reing- Distributed.
Newberg Graphic.
The 40-page New Year's edition of The
Oregonian is a credit to the state of Ore
gon, and ought to be widely distributed.
o
ONE "WAY TO FIX IT.
PORTLAND, Jan. 4. (To the Editor.)
As everybody seems to be a statesman
and a financier, please permit me also to
throw a few remarks into the general
caldron; it may help the process of fer
mentation. Let our representatives in congress In
troduce a bill for the free coinage of sil
ver and hasten its passage as quickly as
possible, but not at the ratio of lC-to-1 or
32-to-l, or at any ratio at all; simply silver
to be coined into pieces of 480 grains, or
one ounce each, less alloy required.
If our friends, the advocates of free
coinage of silver, and its universal usage
as money are sincere, they will favor this
method, because then it will show whether
or not their theory Is correct, and silver
will take its old stand again amongst the
nations of the world.
This piece of silver would have a true
purchasing power, according to the mar
ket of the world, and would be exchange
able for other commodities just the same
as wc exchange today wheat Into dollars.
etc If. for Instance, an ounce of sliver
is worth 60 cents in the world's market, it
would buy li bushels of wfteat or two
dozen eggs. If the price of silver should
advance, as the theory of the free-coinage
advocates claim, the fluctuations would
not interfere any more with trade, than
the fluctuations of any other commodity
do. Does it Interefere with trade that
wheat, cabbages, potatoes, pork, etc. are
worth so much today, and a week hence
either more or less according to the fund
amental rules of all business transactions
supply and demand? No more would it
interefere with our ounce of silver, if the
same is worth today CO cents, in a week
or 70 cents. All a man has to Co is to
look at the quotation of silver in his
morning paper and regulate his purchases
or exchanges for the day accordingly.
This method would answer the mention
if this nation really desires the increased
use of silver, as our silver advocates
claim, or if the whole matter should fizzle
to nothing and be laid to rest for ever.
ALEXANDER KUXZ.
"WAS A HARD YEAR.
Bat Settlers Came to Washington
Just the Same.
Spokane Chronicle.
Times were hard last year. Money was
scarce. Farm products were cheap. The
Colville reservation was not opened.
There was no special feature to attract
the attention of the world to Washington.
Railroad rates were high. Not one soli
tary homeseekers excursion extended
farther West than Helena all through the
year. No one was making any particular
effort to secure immigration. The gen
eral opinion seemed to be that if a new
state held what settlers it had in such
times it was doing very well indeed.
On top of all these sombre statements
comes the report of the transactions of
the Spokane Falls district land office for
1S94. In spite of hard times 500 new claims
for land, representing more than 110
square miles of the public domain, were
filed by actual settlers at this one land
office during the 12 months ending last
Monday. More than SCO other settlers
made final proof on lands aggregating
more than 70 square miles In area during
the same period.
If a single land district can make such
a record in a dull year, what can't the
whole state do In better times?
In spite of the grumbling, last year's
record is even better than that of 1S93.
Here are the summaries for the two
years:
Filings for 1S93 3G6 homestead entries,
33,214 acres; pre-emptions, etc., 9254 acres;
total new lands taken, 62,467 acres; 32
final timber proofs, 7220 acres; total final
proofs, 48,553 acres.
Filings for 1S94 SS3 homesteads, 53,026
acres; 86 declaratory statements (ap
proximate) 13,760 acres; other filings, 1905
acres; total new lands taken, 70,691 acres;
39 final timber proofs, 5503 acres; total
final proofs, 47,824 acres.
During the year 361 patents were re
ceived for distribution in this district.
The total cash receipts of the office for
the year were $15,55S 17.
FOR, WIDE TIRES.
EUGENE, Dr., Jan. 5. (To the Editor.)
I notice by a recent number of your
paper that some one is claiming the de
mand for a law requiring wide tires or
iginated with wagon dealers. This is cer
tainly a mistake, for all wagon dealers
know that wide tines mean better roads
and better roads mean that wagons will
last longer, and not so many will be sold.
There can be no possible show for selfish
motives among the dealers, for wide tires
are not patented and cannot be mon
opolized. The true origin of this move is
found in broad-minded and progressive
common-sense and common experience.
Everyone knows a wagon with a wide tire
will not sink into the mud or turf as deep
as one with a narrow tire, and will there
fore not require a3 much power to pull
It with the same load. Experiments have
demonstrated 'this fact beyond any doubt.
Upon ordinary roads a team will draw
one-third more upon three-inch tires than
on one and one-half-inch tires, with the
same exertion. The wide tire is a road
builder, while the narrow tire chops it into
cluck holes and ruts. The wide tire stays
on top of the road and beats it down
smooth, while the narrow tire cuts
through. The wide tire makes a smooth
broad track for the horses to step, while
the narrow tire cuts a trench that is
difficult and even dangerous for the
horse's feet.
Let us profit by others experience. Ger
many, France, and all progressive coun
tries prohibit the use of narrow tires for
freighting on the public roads. The state
of New York, after 2C0 years of expeii
menting, has passed a law encouraging
the use of wide tires on all freight wag
ons. Have we got to wait another hun
dred years, or shall we profit by the
knowledge of others? I have bought and
used two wide-tired wagons, and from
my experience, I can say I would not
take the narrow-tired wagon as a gift as
long as I could buy the wide-tired wagon
at the usual price. If you are prejudiced
against the wide tire, the sooner you drop
that prejudice the better, for nothing
could do more for the improvement of our
roads than to prohibit the sale of narrow
tired wagons. By stopping the sale of
these road spoilers, farmers who already
have them, could continue theic use until
worn out, and the law would entail no
hardship upon them while it would even
tually secure the exclusive use of the
-wide tire. While I am sure none of the
wagon dealers, as such are urging this
law, all progressive people who have
studied the subject are in favor of the use
of wide tires. GEO. M. MILLER.
A CHARITY HOSPITAL.
PORTLAND, Or., Jan. 5. (To the Ed
itor.) The reports of the money spent by
the city and county for the indigent sick,
at the interesting meeting on Friday in
the interest of charity, seems to show
that the time has arrived for the build
ing of a city and county hospital. Such
an Institution under control of the city
and county can be found in most cities
the size of Portland. The necessity for
this institution was urged some years ago
and it is becoming more needful every
year. It Is as much a matter of economy
for the city and county as well as for
charity in its inost approved and proper
form.
Portland's public improvements, barring
the streets and sidewalks, are such as to
make any resident proud, but as yet we
cannot boast of a charity hospital, though
due credit and honor must be given to the
existing hospitals for the large amount of
daily charitable work they do. This, how
ever, does not obviate the necessity of a
city and county hospital, and it is my
earnest hope that such an institution may
soon be added to our charitable organiza
tions. DR. J. HUNTER WELLS.
Newspaper Reading: for Children.
Toledo Blade.
Some narrow-minded parents endeavor
to discourage children from newspaper
reading, on the plea that they thus be
come acquainted with crimes and similar
events of which they should know noth
ing. This plea is not sound. Parents who
will have to trust their children out In the
world need not fear to trust them to the
newspapers. They will find that children
will soon learn to discriminate and to pay
no undue attention to criminal matters.
They readily see that they are not mat
ters of real history or concerned in the
world's progress. It is no more demoral
izing or distracting to know what is going
on In the world than to know what is
tgoing on in a neighborhood, for gossip and
scandal are worse than wars and murders
and the other great crimes which news
papers chronicle in extenso.
Always be Conrteous.
Salem Statesman.
The Oregonian Is growing extremely
polite, so much so that it designates an
old-fashioned cabbage-head a "mega
cephalous prodigy."
SEWS OF THE NORTHWEST.
Orejfon
A colony of Nebraska people has ar
rived at Independence, to settle on Polk
count- farms.
Dr. W. A. Cusick, George S. Downing,
Dr. A. B. Glllls and George Putnam, of
Salem, are fitting out a carload of whaat
for Nebraska sufferers.
The Klamath Falls Express Issues a
New Year's number of great value and
interest. It is full of information about
the rich and promising district of South
eastern Oregon, especially Klamath
county.
It cost 529.S29 25 to run Yamhill county
during ISM, as indicated by the record of
bills audited, which was $996 63 less than
for the year previous. The expenditures
of the last half of 1S04 were $2619 12 In ex
cess of the corresponding months of 1S93.
Hon. T. J. Stltes, senior editor of the
Albany Evening Democrat, has received
a private dispatch from Washington In
forming him that he had received the ap
pointment as postmaster or Albany. It
is not yet known when he will assume the
duties of the office.
Collections are being made In Medford
for the benefit of the Nebraska sufferers.
Mayor Hasklns. in response to the call
made by Portland committees, brought the
matter to the notice of the several chari
table associations in the city, and a num
ber of contribution were made, and some
are still being received.
Mrs. Eliza J. Smith, of Spencer precinct.
Lane county, jointly wanted for adultery
wlth one John Sexton, was arrested Fri
day. She is pretty well along in years,
being a grandmother, and having a family
of grown children. Sexton is about 23,
and cannot be found. The prosecution is
instigated by the woman's husband.
The special committee appointed by the
state board of agriculture to examine
the miscellaneous exhibits at the state
fair have reported that the most attract
ive and interesting display which came
under their notice was the mining ex
hibit from Jackson county, which was
in charge of Hon. Theodore Cameron,
and have recommended that a cash pre
mium of $20 be awarded it.
One of Medford's new butchers became
involved in an altercation with a person
whose name is unknown and drew a gun
on him. He was arrested and brought be
fore Justice Walton, and during the ex
amination became Involved in a row with
the attorney on the other side, who drew
the gun, which was lying on the table in
evidence, and compelled him to subside.
The attorney is now under arrest for the
same offense.
Jake, the 14-year-old son of H. D.
Smith, of the Whiteaker neighborhood,
near Stayton, was severely kicked in the
face by a colt the first of last week, en
dangering the boy's eyesight, it not his
life. The boy was urging the colt Into
the barn, when the animal kicked him
in the face, cutting a circular gash from
the left eye down to the mouth and across
the cheek. He may get well, but his face
will be frightfully scarred.
Washington.
The Monte Cristo mine will issue $150,
000 in bonds for development work.
The superior court of Clallam county
has adjudged ineligible Miss Ella Guptill.
elected county school superintendent.
Hundreds of boxes of apples are being
sent from the San Juan islands to Vic
toria, where the market is much better
than it is on this. side.
Through the nonpayment of Interest on
$800,000 Everett Land Company bonds,
held by John D. Rockefeller, it is stated
that he will be given control of the prop
erty until the indebtedness Is liquidated.
During the month of December the Ev
erett smelter shipped bullion to the
amount of $107,000. The product for the
month included 3000 ounces of gold, 60,
000 ounces of silver and 500,000 pounds of
lead.
Thirteen tons of smoked herring were
shipped to San Francisco last week, via
Whatcom, by Thomas Bros., of Waldron
island. Thy made a big catch this year,
and will make several more largo ship
ments, i.i.
" Judgment has been entered against the
Tacoma Railway & Motor Company by
Edna L. Mitchell, who recently secured a
verdict against the company for $30,000 for
damages sustained in an accident. An ap
peal is expected.
Walter McNeil, a man working on the
Spokane water works, fell into the river
and went over the dam, but the current
took him ashore after a hard struggle.
When he struck shore, he sprang out cry
ing "Prai&e the Lord!"
Ex-Mayor J. C. Phelps, of Anacortes, has
been arrested on a warrant sworn out
by the Oregon Improvement Company,
charging him with embezzlement. Phelps
was the company's agent at Anacortes,
and during the boom times was a promi
nent real estate operator. His alleged
shortage amounts to less than $600.
Seven of nine applicants for registration
as physicians passed the examination be-
fore the state medical board at Tacoma.
The board has adjourned to meet in Walla
Walla the first Tuesday in July. The
terms of Dr. Pentfield, of Spokane; Dr.
Kibbe, of Seattle, and Dr. McDonald, of
Da'yton, members of the board, expire
next May.
Despite 11 inches of snow, 73 Puyallup
Indians turned out Thursday morning to
confer with the Puyallup Indian commis
sioners, at Tacoma, regarding the sale of
the reservation school-farm. Most of
them came to the meeting on horseback
or in wagons. It seems probable they will
agree to ask the government for the sale
of their lands.
The Puyallup Indian commission, in ses
sion on the Sound, has announced that it
will have a large part of the Puyallup
reservation ready for sale by spring.
Twelve thousand acres can be sold, after
retaining a small homestead for each In
dian. The terms of payment will bo one
third cash and the balance In five annual
installments, bearing 6 per cent interest.
PARAGRAPHERS' PLEASANTRIES.
Teacher Now, Willie, if your mamma
promised you 10 cents and your papa 13
cents, how many would you have alto
gether? Willie The 10 cents mamma
promised me. Inter Ocean.
The leaf turned over last New Year's
Is now quite badly spotted,
It's fully time to turn again
The page so badly blotted.
Atlanta Journal.
Little girl Our baby is smarter than
yours. Little boy 'Tisn't. "Yes 'tis.
Your baby can't say the first word yet.
Our baby is beglnnin' to talk." "Y-e-s,
but your baby is a girl." Street & Smith's
Good News.
"There is no doubt," said Mr. Dolan,
"about there bein' wan great advantage
in bein' born in this country." "An
phwat's thot?" inquired Mrs. Dolan. "It
saves yez the proice av a steamship ticket
over." Washington Star.
"Mariar," said the Mormon gentleman,
"ha'n't you kep them letters I wrote you
when I was courtin'?" "Yes," said the
wife. "I allowed you had. I wish you
would git 'em out so I can use 'em. I got
another wife in view." Indianapolis Jour
nal. He (at the trysting place) What a time
you have kept me waiting! She Quite
the contrary. It is only 6, and I did not
intend to be here before 7. He Just so;
but you have mistaken the day. I have
been waiting here since yesterday. Hu
moristiche Blaetter.
"How is young Blaggles doing in busi
ness?" asked her father. "Splendidly,"
was the confident reply. "He says that he
considers himself very lucky at the store."
"Have they raised his salary?" "N-no;
but they threatend to discharge him and
didn't do it." Washington Star.
In the 30s: An envious contemporary
(to Miss Budlong) And so you are really
engaged to Mr. Timid Smithskins? Miss
Budlong (quite provokingly) Yes, dear;
and I want you to suggest something
sweet and tender to go in my engagement
ring. Envious contemporary If I wer
in your place, I'd just have the simple
; word "Eureka." Tld-Blts.