THE SUNDAY OREGONIAX, PORTLAND, SEPTEMBER 16, 1906.
Wit (Drggfflttan
Entered at the Fostofflce at Portland. Or.,
aa Second-Class Matter.
N SUBSCRIPTION BATES. '
tT INVARIABLY IN ADVANCE. 3
(By Mall or Express.)
DAILY. SUNDAY INCLUDED.
Twelve months $8.00
Six months 4 25
Three months 2.25
One month .73
Delivered by carrier, per year 00
Delivered by carrier, per month.... 75
Less time, per week..
Sunday, one year 2.50
. Weekly, one year (issued Thursday) ... . 1-50
Sunday and Weekly, one year 3.50
HOW TO KE.UIT Send postorOca money
order, express order or personal check on
your local bank. Stamp, coin or currency
are at the sender's risk.
KA STERN BUSINESS OFFICE.
The 8. C. Beckwlth Special AjremT New
York, rooms 43-50. Tribune building. Chi
cago, rooms 510-512 Tribune building.
KEPT ON SALE.
Chicago Auditorium Annex. Postofflce
News Co.. 178 Dearborn atreet.
St. Paul. Minn. N. St. Maria, Commercial
Station.
Denver Hamilton Kendrick. 06-O12
Seventeenth street; Pratt Book Store, 121
Fifteenth street; I. Welnstein.
tioldlirld. Nev. Frank Sandstrom.
Kansas City. Mo. Rlcksecker Clear Co,
Ninth and Walnut.
Minneapolis M. J. Kavanaugh, 50 South
Third.
Cleveland, O. James Pushaw, S07 Su
perior street.
New York City L. Jones 4b Co.. Astor
House.
Oakland, Cal. W. H. Johni-ton. Four
teenth and Franklin streets; N. Wheatley.
Ogden D. L. Boyle.
Omaha Barkalow Bros., 1612 Farnam:
Mageath Stationery Co.. 1308 Farnam; 240
South Fourteenth.
Harramento, Cal. Sacramento News Co.,
430 K street.
Salt Lake Salt Lake News Co., 77 West
Second street South; Miss L. Levin, 24
Church street.
Los Angelea B. E. Amos, manager seven
street wagons; Berl News Co.. 32 V4 South
Broadway.
San Diego B. E. Amos.
Paaadena, Cal. Berl News Co.
Man FranclHco Foster A Orear, Ferry
News Stand; Hotel St. Francis News Stand.
Washington, I. C. Ebbltt House, Penn
sylvania avenue.
PORTLAND, SUNDAY, SEPT. 18, 1906.
POPULIST THUNDER.
Mr. Bryan never recedes. He always
advances somewhere. He was a Dem
ocrat. He Is a Populist. He repudiated
the Democratic platform of 1892 and
read the Democratic President out of
the party. He insisted that no Demo
crat could be a Democrat who did not
stand squarely on the Democratic plat
form of 1896, declaring that all former
Democratic principles had been super
seded and transcended by the para
mount free-silver propaganda. Now
ho says the Democrats can make
any platform they please. He sim
ply reserves the right to think
what he thinks and say what he
says and to do what he does, having no
purpose to dictate to the Democratic
party what Its principles or doctrines
shall be. This means, of"course that Mr.
Bryan is willing to run for President
on any conditions that the frightened
and dismayed Southern Democracy
may Impose. Mr. Bryan sees that his
Government-ownership scheme has en
countered a stone wall south of the Ma
son and Dixon line.
John Sharp Williams, the Southern
Democratic leader, voices the universal
sentiment of the whole South when he
says:
.1 am opposed to government ownership of
railroads irrevocably, now and ' forever, in
theory and in practice. We will simply vote
it down if offered as a plank in the Demo
cratic otatform.
Colonel Watterson, the?editor, takes
direct issue with Mr. Bryan, and every
other Democrat of Importance through
the South has made it clear that the
party will be wrecked if the Govern-.ment-ownerehip
idea is forced forward
as an fesue. No wonder Bryan is stag
gered, and no wonder that the rising
Bryan tide has subsided with painful
and significant rapidity.
The New York Sun points out that
Government-ownership is not a Demo
cratic principle, but that it Is an orig
inal tenet of Populist radicalism. The
National Populist platform of 1892 de
clared: "Transportation being a means
of exchange and a public necessity, the
Government should own and operate
the railroads In the Interest of the peo
ple." The National platform on which
"Watson and Tibbies ran In 1904 declared
that "to prevent unjust discrimination
and monopoly, the Government should
own and control the railroads and those
public utilities which In their nature
are monopolies." No Democratic plat
form has declared at any time for Government-ownership
of railroads. The
platform of 1896, on which Mr. Bryan
nrt ran for President, called for "the
enlargement of the powers of the In
terstate Commerce Commission and
such restrictions and guarantees in the
control of railroads as will protect the
people from robbery and oppression."
The platform in 1904, on which Bryan
did not run for President, but in the
making of which he had a large voice.
and which was modified In more than
one Important particular to suit his pe
culiar views, said: "As the most potent
agency in promoting and strengthening
these unlawful conspiracies against
trade, we demand an enlargement of
the powers of the Interstate Commis
sion to the end that the traveling public
and shippers of this country may have
prompt and adequate relief for the
abuses to which they are subjected in
the matter of transportation."
These planks are the cole basis of the
general Democratic charge, repeatedly
made oy Mr. Bryan and many others.
that Mr. Roosevelt has stolen the Dem
ocratic thunder. For the Republican
party has done, or undertaken to do,
through Congressional enactment, pre
cisely what the Democratic party said
should be done. But, if the Republi
cans have feloniously confiscated Dem
ocratic doctrine, what has Mr. Bryan
done? .He has espoused doctrines
which the Democracy distinctly repudl
ates. He has become a Populist. Yet
in recent years Mr. Bryan has on every
occasion proclaimed himself a Demo
crat and resented any Intimation that
he was a Populist. Is he trying: to get
Democratic support under false pre
tenses, or Populist support under false
pretenses, or both?
During the school season the cli
mate of Western Oregon does not lend
itself to dally systematic exercise out
of doors'. Especially Is this true of
children who cannot, or if they could
would not, protect themselves against
the rains and consequent danger to
health. Whether the exercise be play.
pure and simple, or athletics In any of
its various forms, only the very ro
bust among youngsters may safely
undertake It. For this reason physical
training in the public schools fur
nishes a substitute that experience has
shown to be a distinct benefit. What
Portland has done in past years
and will resume " tomorrow Is
set forth In aa article on another page
of this Issue. Any regular exercise
that will stretch the muscles, expand
the chest, turn a tired mind for a few
minutes away from drudgery, culti
vate grace of movement and supple
ness of limb is to be commended. In
the city schools, this healthful recrea
tion has never been carried to excess,
but always held within rational
bounds, and so long as the present
policy Ib pursued it will have the ap
proval of parents and, what is more,
the support of taxpayers.
MAKING A GREAT RIVER,
No river Is deeper or better than Its
entrance. No river can be a great
commercial highway unless it has un
obstructed access from the sea. No
river can eerve the needs of Its tribu
tary territory unless it shall be im
proved to the greatest extent of which
it Is capable. Every river susceptible
of navigation and draining a wide and
large territory deserves improvements
for its whole length.
All these things being true, there Is
no necessary conflict between the state
ments of Lieutenant-Colonel Roeee-ler,
United States Engineer, that the mouth
of the Columbia River deserves Imme
diate and , urgent attention, and of
Representative Ransdell, that the up
per and lower rivers are alike Im
portant. Certainly. But if the Jetty
is to be completed, it will need prac
tically all the money possible to ob
tain now from Congress. People of
Portland and Oregon have given abun
dant evidence that they are altve to the
great value of an open river to be at
tained through the Celllo Canal. They
have themselves contributed $300,000
for the portage railway, and to pur
chase right of way for the canal. They
have endeavored always to make clear
to Congress that they stood as a unit
for . the Improvement of the entire Co
lumbia River. When It was proposed
to make a choice between the mouth
of the river and the Celllo Canal, they
declined. There could be no choice.
But now we are told on unimpeach
able expert authority that there must
be a large appropriation for the en
trance of the river if the engineers are
to make any progress at all. The plain
truth is that for several years the
mouth of the river has not been deep
ened and the appropriation by the Gov
ernment for prosecuting the work has
not been adequate. It Is not sufficient
to provide engineers with money
enough merely to hold their own
against the encroachments of sea and
sand. What must be done is to get a
arge appropriation that will permit the
engineers to complete the Jetty. And it
can be done only by continuous and
uninterrupted work. A sufficient ap
propriation - can be obtained only by
undivided effort and unanimous senti
ment on the part of the people of Ore
gon. IS THERE VALUE IN BLACK SAND?
It is a surprise to find a periodical of
such high professional standing as the
Mining and Scientific Press, of San
Francisco, ridiculing the black sand
experiments of Dr. David T. Day, of
the United States Geological Survey.
Dr. Day has been making searching
scientific examination into the chem
ical and mineral composition of the
black sands, with a view to testing
their commercial and industrial possi
bilities. The Mining and Scientific
Press complains that many sensational
stories have been printed by an irre
sponsible press about the black sand
experiments, citing a news dispatch
from Cheyenne, Wyo., wherein It was
said that an aay of black sand made
by Dr. Day "shows that the dirt runs
$7800 to a ton in gold, 30 per cent mag
netic iron, 64 per cent hematite, making
these claims the richest placers in the
world." The -Mining Press should be
the last to-criticise publications of this
kind. They are characteristic of the
whole pursuit of mining. Phenomenal
assays mean little or nothing to the
miner or Investor of experience, be
cause he knows that they are Invaria
bly made from selected ore or gravel.
and that they are not true tests of the
value of any mine. If the character of
the mining industry were to be deter
mined by the marvelous lies told about
it, the result would be that nobody any
where in the world would be Justified
in believing that there is truth, integ
rity or honesty in it. But, of course.
everybody knows there is vast wealth
In American mines, quartz and placer,
despite the continuous stream of fables
poured forth about them. It is unrea
sonable for the Mining Press to apply
the harsh test of truth to a romance
about the black sand Industry a test
that It would at once object to for any
other branch of mining.
It has long been known that there
was and Is much gold in black sand,
and much has been taken from it. If
the experiments of Dr. Day shall result
in improved methods of gold extraction
from the sand, they will have been
worth while; or if they shall develop a
great steel Industry, the small Invest
ment of the Government will have paid
well; or if they shall show that, there
is no further commercial value to the
sand, the knowledge will be of incal
culable service to the hundreds and
thousands of the Pacific Coast miners
who have tried or who are trying to
make their fortunes from the sand.
IJV1NO BEYOND ONE'S MEANS.
The Springfield (Mass.) Republican
asks a pertinent question as to what
extent people are living beyond their
means, with the accompanying pointed
comment:
To what extent are people living; beyond
their means? This Is a question much more
apt to raise Itself well alone In a period of
prosperity than during a time of industrial
depression, when economy becomes a neces
sity through the restriction of credit and
develops Into a passion for saving. Here Is
one with an automobile whose income Is not
up to the obvious requirement. Here Is an
other given to other showy extravagances
whose Income is supposed to be less than
our own. How can they afford It? Do they
pay their bills? Is the grocer being
negtecteoj in. lavor of dealers In luxuries?
Is there a mortgage behind a gay vehicle
of pleasure? Are bad debts accumulating
in mo train ox extravagant display?
No doubt a multitude of observing
persons have asked themselves these
same questions and given the logical
affirmative answer. If everybody lived
within his Income, how could 5-per-cent-a-month
money clerks get rich?
If everybody paid his bills, what would
become of the little army of collectors
that thrive In every American city
Reckoning wage-earners who hypothe
cate their monthly salary before it is
earned, the unrecorded mortgages
probably outnumber those at the
Courthouse one hundred to one.
Love of display Is a universal weak
ness; often a vice. Between the Piute
squaw's beads and Mrs. Howard
Gould's million-dollar stomacher of
diamonds, emeralds and rubies, there is
a difference only of degree, not of kind,
The negro's loud-checked vest Is of a
piece with Harry Lehr's sartorial crea
tions. The thousand-dollar sealskin is
not more dear to the mistress than Its
cotton imitation is to the maid.
They are doubly dishonest who for
display live beyond their means. De
ception of friends by pretense of wealth
may be forgiven, but going in debt be
yond one's power to pay is not far re
moved from theft. To borrow from the
butcher to pay the fashionable dress
maker, and from the grocer to pay the
butcher, with some creditor at the end
to hold an empty bag, is indirect rob
bery, though the law within the past
century has taken a more charitable
view.
Only a small soul Is gratified by ex
travagant display, whatever form it
may assume. It is the poorest use to
which wealth can be put. Those who
haven't the coin to "hold their own"
among acquaintances and friends who
have the money will always do well to
live the simple life. v Loss of self-respect
and departure from common hon
esty are too big a price to pay for
making a false show before the world.
EARTH BURIAL.
From Kansas City by way of' Denver
comes an extraordinary story of the
resuscitation, or - possibly resurrec
tion would denote it better, of a
young man who had been ap
parently dead for some eigtit months.
With the pleasure which such
stories always inspire there is mingled
In this case a drop of regret, that the
report did not come directly from Kan
sas City, where the miracle occurred.
It Is a long way to Denver, and the
suspicion intrudes that on the route
thither the details may have become
somewhat distorted, not to say ampli
fied. Still, suspicion is an ignoble habit
of mind, not to be encouraged by those
who would . lead the simple life, and,
therefore, with a confiding Innocence
which one may flatter himself Is child
like, the tale is accepted Just as it
came over the wires.
A young man whose name was Fred
erick, not Lazarus, died last January
in Kansas City and was duly Inurned
in the ponderous and marble Jaws of
the sepulcher where his ancestral Har
yeys have slept the sleep of 'the rich
and just for heaven alone knows how
many thousands of years. But no dim
aeons were destined to wing their slug
gish flight above the slumbers of Fred
erick, for, though he had no sister
Mary to burst the bonds of death by
her Intercessions, he had a Lilly who
was his promised bride, and -she did
Just as well. Inspired by that love
which scorns doctors and laughs at
bolts and bars, Lilly declared that her
Frederick was not dead, contrary to
the opinion of the pnysicians of Kansas
City; and -during the entire four
months of his solitary repose in the
Harvey tomb she steadfastly main
tained her faith, insisting that he had
been buried alive and pleading with his
relatives to unseal the door and inves
tigate. Finally, early last May, they
consented. The vault was opened.
Lilly Godfrey, with young Harvey's
mother, entered its chilling shades and
advanced to the spot where the body
was sleeping whatvwas supposed to be
its last sleep.
By a queer oversight the undertaker
had left the coffin open. One is at no
loss to explain this oversight when he
remembers Miss Godfrey's lively belief
that Harvey was not dead. She may
have contributed to the undertaker's
forgetfulness by her intercessions and
perhaps by means still more persua
sive. At any rate, the coffin was open
and there lay young Harvey's body so
lifelike that his mother was easily
persuaded to have it removed, from the
tomb and taken home. . Here it was
watched and tended for nearly four
months mare, when suddenly on a day
In September, . eight months after the
doctors had pronounced him dead, the
young man rose from his bed in perfect
health and was married to his faithful
betrothed the next day. Nothing Is
lacking to this tale either of romance
or marvel. If its credibility seems a
trifle shaky, the reader must replenish
his faith. It will not do to be doubting
every pleasant story that we hear.
Suppose Miss Lilly Godfrey had ac
cepted the word of the physicians.
Suppose she had grown weary in her
long effort to have the body exhumed.
What would have happened? One of
two things. Either the cold and damp
of the vault would have finally extin
guished the last spark of vitality in
the young man's body and -he would
have passed from his trance to death
with no interval of consciousness, or
his strength would have returned at a
certain moment and he would have
risen from the coffin to find himself im
prisoned in a sealed vault, doomed to
perteh of starvation and mental agony.
Very few persons whom the doctors
pronounce, dead have affianced brides
as persevering as Miss Lilly Godfrey.
How many of them for lack of some
such friendly rescuer waken to find
themselves burled alive and to experi
ence the agony of a second death In
circumstances from which the imagina-
ion shrinks in horror? Is it true that
in many or most cases those who bury
a body In the ground run the risk of
consigning a human being to- a living
grave? .
Very likely not. The doctors have no
Infallible means of deciding between
death and life, but in most caees, let
us hope, the conditions allay all possi
ble doubt. Wounds, lingering fevers.
consumption, all the common diseases
which reap their abundant harvest
from the ranks of human kind, slay so
indubitably that there is no need to
shudder above the graves of their vic
tims In dread lest a living man writhe
In torment below. But, granting all
this, the cases of possible doubt are still
so numerous as to make us pause and
wonder whether the time has not come
to make some radical change in our
burial customs. Cremation would, of
course, destroy the lingering spark of
vitality quite as effectually as burial,
but the deed would be done instan
taneously. The victim would expire
without a return to consciousness and
the grisly terror of a slow death in the
tomb would cease to haunt the bed of
sickness. I
Poetry and superstition have done
their best to surround the grave with
charm. We read that the dead lie
softly and sleep sweetly low in the
ground. We love to picture the depart
ed resting beneath the sod in all the
serenity and beauty of perfect peace.
But we know how far from the reality
all this is. We know what goes on in
the grave beneath the grass and flow
ers, and If we had the courage to face
the repulsive fact and admit the reality
as we know it must be, it is impossible
to think that any human being would
consent to the burial of a friend.
To He la cold obstruction and to rot;
This sensible - warm . motion to become a
kneaded clod 'tis too horrible.
The disposal of the dead has been a
problem for all nations in all ages. The
American Indians bound; their corpses
to the boughs of trees; the Scythians
ate their dead; the tribes of interior
Asia expose- them to be devoured by
wild birds and beasts. The Greeks
buried or burned them. Christian na
tions cling to burial because of some
shadowy belief that the Identical par
ticles of the corpse are to be reunited
Into a living body on the day of the
resurrection, forgetting that long before
the trumpet sounds to burst the tombs
and call the dead before their Judge
every atom will have been scattered to
the four winds of heaven, dispersed
and lost by decay as irrevocably as if
it had been consumed by fire. Perhaps
there Is no better measure of advanc
ing civilization than the slow replace
ment of our superstitions, barbarous
and ofttimes cruel earth burial by the
cleanly and -beautiful process of cremation.
BEATS FOR RAILWAY PASSENGERS.
There are two sides to every ques
tion, including the vexed question of
the passenger's right to a seat in &
railroad coach after having duly paid
for transportation from one point to
another with the fair presumption
that a seat will be provided.
Attention has recently been brought
to the railroad company's side of this
question by an incident in which
three prominent citizens of Connecti
cut, ex-Governor Chamberlain, Attor
ney William H. Ely, of New Haven,
and Edward I. Atwater, president of
the Connecticut Business Men's Asso
ciation, were the principal figures.
Boarding a trainof the New Haven
Railroad at the Grand Central Sta
tion, New York, a few days since,
they found no seating accommodations
in the overcrowded cars. They re
mained standing in the aisle, and.
when approached by the conductor,
refused payment of their fares, al
leging that they did not pay for stand
ing privileges on the train. The puzzled
conductor promptly reported the facts
in the case to his superiors and the
legal advisers of the road issued a
statement that these eminent citizens
of Connecticut should have been ar
rested on the following grounds:
A common carrier of passengers Is bound
to furnish reasonable seating accommodations
for "the average number of passengers carried
by It. A passenger has a right to a seat in a
train, but he has not a right to a' aeat In any
particular train. If he boards a train and
finds the seats are exhausted, it is his option
to travel oh that train without a seat or take
the next train upon which he can get a seat.
If he Insists upon remaining upon a train
where there Is no seat he must pay his fare.
Thia contention is supported by Baldwin's
American railroad law and by other authori
ties.
This ' is the railway company's side
of the question. The Springfield Re
publican gives the standing passen
gers' side and quotes Beach in his
"Law of Railways" in support of it.
According to this authority, if a rail
road company fails to seat a passen
ger in ordinary conditions Of traffic,
though he may be ejected by the com
pany's servants from its train if he
refuses to pay his fare, an action for
damages may lie against the com
pany for breach of contract. It is
urged in this connection (conditions
of traffic being out of the ordinary)
that it was within the ability of the
company to add more cars to its train
and that it was Its duty to have more
cars in readiness at a terminal point
to meet an always possible and very
frequent emergency.
. There is reason in this assumption,
yet It is not all reason. Cars cannot
be added to passenger trains to meet
every emergency, the trains still
keeping to their schedule, and "emi
nent citizens" would not be behind the
ordinary passengers in protesting at the
delay occasioned by a train unduly
elongated. The "second section" is
frequently made up at the terminal
point to relieve the congestion caused
by an Unusual condition of traffic, but
this is not always possible during the
"rush season," nor is the overflow
upon the regular train, represented by
passengers standing in the aisles, al
ways sufficient to Justify the company
in making up the second section. In
that case the railway officials could
hardly be blamed for falling back upon
their legal right, as uttered in the
above extract, to provide seating ac
commodations for only "ordinary traf
fic."
While much more might be, and
should be, done than is done by rail
road companies to provide suitable ac
commodations for local traffic. It is
manifest that, with the best inten
tions and the best service that they
are able to provide, conditions will
now and then arise wherein it is im
possible to seat every passenger who,
burning with the American desire to
"get there," insists on boarding a train
the seating capacity of which is al
ready exhausted. When these condi
tions apply to a daily traffic they are
without excuse and a remedy should,
kif possible, be forced. But when they
result from a sudden emergency, as
in the past week in Oregon in the case
of the premature return of an army
of hoppickers, the railway company is
clearly within its rights, moral as well
as legal. In claiming "extraordinary
conditions of traffic" as sufficient rea
son for failure to seat all who buy
ickets and Insist upon boarding Its
ars.
THE THEATER AS A BCSTNESS THER
MOMETER. The prosperity of a community may
usually be gauged by the amount of
money it spends for luxuries, for the
majority of people are sensible enough
to .curtail their outlay in times of
stringency for those things which are
not' absolutely necessary to their
health and comfort.
Chief among our modern luxuries is
the theater, and the fact that this
particular institution for catering to
our pleasure is generally patronized in
Portland is in itself good evidence
that the population has a large sur
plus of money, not needed for the
actual requirements of living.
Portland has seven reoognlzed thea
ters of varying admission schedules,
from the "classy" playhouse where the
price of a seat Is from $1 to $1.50, down
to the houses which aim directly for
the patronage of those who consider a
10 and 20-cent toll the limit of their
capacity to pay for entertainment.
Each of these seven theaters is now
in . full operation, every night in the
week, and some of them every after
noon. At the close of their dally and
nightly performances the streets are
crowded with the throngs of people
they have Just unhoused, until the ob
server Is amazed at the size of these
crowds which have money enough to
pay for theatricals. . Several of these
theaters have been open through the
entire Summer, their attendance hav
ing been practically undiminished in
spite of the warm weather and the
exodus to the various resorts. At this
time every playhouse in town is open
regularly and is taxed to its fullest
capacity, notwithstanding the fact that
a number of out-of-door places of rec
reation are still running.
The lessorr to be learned from this
is, that our people are prosperous.
They have plenty for their positive
needs and enough more to make the
spending of it for public entertainment
at the theaters a pleasure and a fixed
habit. Crowded theaters are among
the best evidences of prosperity.
Therefore it is safe to assume that
Fortlanders are making money enough
to warrant them in spending it for
the luxuries.
Present theatrical conditions also
prove that our people have become
metropolitan, and the marked increase
in out pleasure-loving class is the nat
ural sequence of our transition from
a provincial town to a city of first im
portance. At this time there Is much
complaint that the present theaters are
inadequate for the city's needs, per
haps not In numbers, but in size and
quality. There is no theater in town
which fully comes up to the modern
requirements. We need an auditorium
large' enough to accommodate the
great audiences attracted to conven
tions, political gatherings, and notable
theatrical and musical events. It
should be thoroughly equipped with all
the comforts and safeguards, and
should be sufficiently ornate to make
it a pleasure to spend an evening with
in its doors.
There is a great opportunity here-4
for some enterprising capitalist or
syndicate to erect a capacious and
stately theater in Portland and earn
profitable rate of interest on the in
vestment as well as the gratitude of
large and constantly growing class
of patrons who are able, and willing
to pay well, but who desire entertain
ment amid safe and luxurious sur
roundings. Jl'DGE NOT.
It is an interesting question whether
Jesus, if he had lived in the modern
world, with its conditions so different
from those of Jerusalem and Galilee,
would have put his Immortal maxims
in the exact form which has come down
to us. Many of them are dally quoted
as a license to sin, though he, of course,
meant them as an aid to the higher vir
tue of charity. "Let him that is
without sin among you cast the first
stone," Is seldom or never heard in mit
igation of the penalty of a degraded
sinner like the one Jesus had in mind
when he spoke the words, but almost
always to avert merited punishment
from some powerful offender like
Rockefeller, who is able to purchase
the voices of reverend advocates. The
Scriptures have all through the course
of history been quoted a dozen times in
support of evil to once on the side of
the good. Most reforms have been un
scriptural up to the moment of their
triumph. Think how the Bible was
quoted for slavery, for intemperance.
for the tyranny of the Stuart kings, to
bolster up feudalism. Scarcely a tyr
ranny or wrong has ever existed in
modern times which could not Justify
Itself with, copfous texts.
This illustrates the danger in making
a fetich either of a man or a book
The Bible was written by men who
spoke the language of their own times
and who were subject to the moral as
well as intellectual limitations of their
contemporaries. For the age when they
were written, the sentiments of the
poets and prophets of the Bible were
advanced or even radical; but the world
overtook and passed them in the slow
course of the centuries; and then the
reverence for these writings often be
came a positive drag upon progress.
No code of precepts, however advanced,
can suffice for all time, since new prob
lems demand new solutions and
changed conditions demand new pre
cepts for conduct. No maxim of Jesus
Is more often quoted than "Judge not
that ye be not Judged," and. none Is
more misleading for the modern man.
Applied, as he wished it, to the rela
tions of private life, it is still whole
some. Applied to public life it Is per
nicious. When he uttered the immortal
sentence, Jesus had no thought of the
modern duty which lies upon the citi
zen to choose his rulers.
The people had then' nothing to do
with the choice of rulers. It was sup
posed to depend entirely upon the will
of the higher powers. Jesus had, in
fact, little to say about political rela
tions. The sole political duty of the
subject at that time was to obey. This
duty he inculcated with sufficient clear
ness, but of the present day duties of the
citizen he neither spoke nor thought.
It is commonly taught in the churches
that the practical application of the
precept to "turn the, other cheek" would
overthrow society. Certainly obedience
to the command not to Judge others
would make politics unspeakably cor
rupt. The man who is called upon to
choose his rulers must decide upon
their character. He is compelled to
Judge them by the nature of the case.
If he does not judge he acts blindly
and viciously. It is a social crime to
put a bad man in office or to condone
his crimes, if he already holds office.
We are often told that it is better to
look for the good rather than the bad
In public men; but this is a fatal doc
trine. The good in them will do no
harm. The bad is what we have to
dread. Hence, while it is pleasant to
recognize the good, to observe and con
demn the bad Is necessary. Govern
ment could remain honest and Just for
ever without a word of praise to up
tight politicians; but If the rogues were
left to take their own course without
detection and punishment, society
would become putrescent.
While humanity remains as It is, the
fear of exposure will be the most potent
force for keeping public men honest.
Secresy means safety to delinquent of
ficials and both secrecy and safety
arise from the overconfldence of the
people in their servants. It is impos
sible for the public to be too critical of
its rulers. Mr. Roosevelt once said,
when some flaw-picking mugwumps ir
ritated him. that the moralists were the
worst foes to political honesty, because
they confound the good and bad in pub
lic life. In one sense this is true. A
finicky, puritanical Pharisee is an evil
without mitigation wherever he is
found. Criticism must be discriminat
ing to be effective. But If we must
choose between too much fault-finding
and too little, the former is better.
Power is in its very nature corrupting.
For criticism to be Intelligent all of
ficial acts should be done in the open.
Secrecy in the conduct of government
means in the long run corruption. The
very word "secrecy" has a dishonest
sound. Perhaps that is the reason why
the United States Senate has slipped
away from the constitutional phrase
"secret sessions," and now calls them
"executive sessions." Some acts of
government cannot be done in the open;
but the fewer such we permit the bet
ter; and of those which are at first le
gitimately secret, the particulars should
be published without much delay. Pub
licity brings honesty not only in the
affairs of government, but also in those
of the great corporations. Those trusts
which are most charged with corruption
and inhumanity, like the Standard Oil,
are the ones which have maintained
themselves in darkness. They love
darkness, the people believe, because
their deeds are evil. At any rate, dark
ness is the friend to evil, and publicity
In the long run favors honesty and jus
tice. This is so because what is known can
be Judged and what is secret can escape
judgment. The experience of the last
year or two has convinced every ob
server that public Judgment and con
demnation are the most potent of all
aids to purity In politics and business.
What is condemned by the people can
not live. No reputation Is great enough
to survive the sentence of the people;
no fortune can compensate for univer
sal reprobation. It follows that the
agencies of publicity are the really sav
ing elements In modern society. They
make judgment possible by supplying
the facts. No wonder that the grafting
politician and the subservient Senator
hate the newspapers. It Is for the same
reason that the devil hates holy water.
Graft, dishonesty, servile corruption
cannot thrive in the l.ght, and the
newspapers let in the light. Were
Jesus now alive he would, perhaps, al
ter the wording of his maxim and in
stead of telling us not to judge, he
would bid us Judge, condemn and exe
cute, though with the caution first to
be sure of our facts.
The Deputy Prosecuting Attorney of
King County, Washington, has ex
pressed his disbelief in the statements
of O. V. Hurt and other sufferers from
the .Holy Roller orgies Of Immoral
practices of these people under the
leadership of Creffield. The general
public, judging Holy Rollerlsm from
its fruits of shame and insanity, dis
grace and murder, disruption of fam
ilies and the wreck of homes, is pre
pared to believe any statements, how
ever black. In regard to the practices
of the victims of this strange frenzy,
miscalled religion, that those who
have have suffered from It and still
retain their reason may make. Noth
ing can be more unbelleveable than
the crime which Esther Mitchell and
Maud Creffield committed, yet it is
a fact inexplicable except upon the
hypothesis of the mania called "Holy
Rollerism."
The International Homeopathic Con
gress, now in session at Atlantlo City,
N. J., has indorsed the view that no
cure has been found for tuberculosis
after the malady has taken a firm hold
upon the subject. This is in accord
ance with practically all experience.
The hope of the tuberculosis patient
lies in the early recognition of the mal
ady and in adopting prompt reaction
ary measures along lines that build
faster than the invader is able to de
stroy. Nutritious food, fresh air day
and night, such exerciBe as the patient
can take without weariness, and free
dom from depressing cares, financial
and domestic, these are the remedial
agents that may be with confidence re
lied upon to check the progress of tu
berculosis in its incipient stage and
possibly eradicate it from the system.
An act which commends Pope Plus X
to the affectionate regards of all lovers
of birds and animals was. his special
blessing recently bestowed upon "all
who protect from cruelty and abuse the
dumb servants given to us by God."
This blessing was given In connection
with the approval of His Holiness of
the work of the Neapolitan Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Its simplicity and earnestness will
touch the hearts of thousands who
make friends and companions of dumb
creatures.
The death of Plympton Kelly re
cords the passing of another pio
neer of early Oregon. He was verg
ing upon four-score years, and had
been a factor In the development of
Multnomah County for more than half
his years. A sturdy representative, in
his prime, of a sturdy race, he leaves
the memory and record of a well
spent life behind him.
The State Agricultural College will
be open for enrollment of students to
morrow. The prospect Is for a large
attendance both of former students
and of freshmen. The courses In the
college are practical and meet the re
quirements of the large class of young
men and Women who are in training
for future citizenship.
Wben the Cubans see Secretary
Taft looming up on the horizon, they
will know it's no use, and will lay
down their arms. There will be no
back ' talk when Mr. Taft tells
them that he Isn't intervening, or
interfering, or attending to some
body else's business.
Still. Mr. Bryan wants it distinctly
understood that he Is not trying to dic
tate anything to anybody. He thinks
If he can keep all the Sulllvans oft the
National committee, the rest of 'em
will know enough to take a hint with
out any particular suggestions from
Nebraska. ,
The Valley is not living up to its
possibilities, but it is learning. An
Eastern Oregon man took a carload
of watermelons Into the hopfields
about Sllverton and found a ready
sale. Possibly the pickers thought the
melon a new and rare fruit!
Mrs. Longworth stopped the panlo at
Columbus Friday, and Mr. Longworth
was renominated for Congress at Cin
cinnati yesterday. Let us hope that
everything will be well with the Long
worth family In November, and later.
.The Palma forces won a "great vic
tory" in a fight with the insurgents
near Havana, "but," says the report,
"there is considerable speculation as
to why the enemy was not pursued."
Perhaps he wouldn't run.
The Louisiana Republican Cltrb is
going to participate In the reception
to Mr. Bryan at New Orleans, proba
bly on the theory that somebody in
the South ought to show that he ap
preciates Bryan.
The rains are over and the hops are
saved mostly. We reckon the Lord
isn't very angry with the Oregon hop
growers. Or is it possible that the wet
and dry counties looked alike to him?
It may be admitted, Mr. President,
that some words ought to be spelled
differently. Tet It Is going a little far
to declare that "independence" spells
"Intervention" In Cuba.
The Linnton road highwaymen got
$14 belonging to the passengers in an
automobile, and overlooked $60 in the
pockets of the chauffeur. Amateurs,
or professional courtesy?
The Inch and a half rainfall means
a good start on Fall pasture. Oregon
averages all right.
THE PESSIMIST.
Eeney, Heney, mlney, mo.
Catch a Fordney by the toe;
If he hollers let him go,
Eeney, Heney. miney, mo.
When our worthy local pastor was ar
guing that man was made perfect, per
haps he was thinking of No, surely he
could not have been thinking of himself.
At last we know the meaning of the
deeply mysterious expression that has
puzzled the entire country for months.
Two meals a day at ll'4 cents each are
served to the Inmates of our county bas
tile. Twice 11H completes the mystic
number. "Twenty-three!" the prisoners
shout when the door opens and they
smell the smell.
The story of the fireman who received
1975.000 for a patent on a new turbine,
engine sounds something like the ya u
we hear of the honest dishwasher who
has Just been informed that he is heir to
an Immense estate in Europe.
After such a long silence. It is remark
able that we should Bet news of Scotty
and Harry Thaw in the same dispatch,
e
Speaking of Scotty, it is reported that
he spent $5000 In Fresno in 'three days,
and went away on a special engine. In
Portland he spent $3 in ten days and
went away in a rage.
If Professor Garner, who is In the Jun
gles of Africa listening to the monkeys
talk, would spend his time attending so
cial functions at home, he could hear
the monkeys talk Just as distinctly, and
be comfortable at the same time.
In the same column of last Wednesday's
paper which contained an Item about a
Portland woman who caused some spirit
ualists in Chicago to be arrested because
they failed to cure her earache according
to contract, was a story from Denver to
the effect that a man who was declared
dead by certain physicians last January
has now come to life after eight months
in the family tomb. He was Immediately
married to the lady who knew all the
time that he wasn't dead and who as
sisted In his resurrection. When they re
turn from the honeymoon, he will prob
ably begin suit against the doctors for
false Imprisonment.
. e
The Poets' Corner.
After this issue poems about the
weather will be accepted In this depart
ment at our regular rates only; 50 cents
a line for the first verse and $3 for each
additional line. The poet to pay the
charges.
The following by J. B. J., If he had
waited until next week, would have cost
him $38:
AN INTERRUPTED SONG.
The Summer sky is bright and free
Of even a zephyr's wings;
High on a hilltop's loftiest tree
A redblrd sits and sings.
A cloud appears; the breezes rise;
The cloud comes swiftly on;
Its' lightnings fill the darkened skies.
And, Jo! the bird is gone.
(The wind blew him off.)
But raging rain and tearing wind (pro
nounced wynd) ,
And thunderbolt pass by.
Leaving their dripping wreck behind.
The sun regains the sky.
Last verse (This Is where the bird
comes back.)
And on the ruins of the tree,
'Mid shining drops of rain.
The redblrd sits and merrily
Resumes his broken strain.
Hereafter the charge for birds will be
$4 for each bird.
THE HUMAN TOUCH.
Richard B .
High word3 and noble in all worlds,
Help me; my soul is fed by such.
But, ah! the touch of lips and hands
The human touch!
Warm, vital, close, life's symbols dear
These need I most and now and here.
If he touches you again, Dick, don't
give him another cent.
The following few lines are from a
poem entiUed "We All Like Bob's Grub
Best." The poem is excluded on account
of Its reminiscent character. Nothing
but strictly original poems will be pub
lished: My! how the prisoners yell,
When they hear the dinner bell,
" Oh! how that hash does smell,
Steen blocks away.
s
We would like to say to Anxious Sub
scriber that he could not have been very
anxious or he would hsve Inclosed
stamp) with his production. He even
borrowed an envelope from the business
office downstairs to mall it in. His poem
consisted of one verse only. At first we
thought It was the work of our late dra
matic critic, as it was written on yellow
paper, such as he. only, uses; but it could
not have been, as he has gone to New
York, and, besides, he never lets go
under six verses. If Anxious Subscriber
will send 30 cents in stamps and his
photograph, his effort will appear next
week. M. B. WELLS.
To Chnrrh With Sylvia.
Pall Mall Gaxette.
Sylvia goes to church today
Much her heart it grieves
.That, a recusant, I stray
Under glancing leaves.
Sylvia goes to church to pray.
Rightly, she believes.
Does she think "His faith Is nought!"
signing then "Alas!
Wnat cares he for 'must' and 'ought,'
Deep in meadow grass;
While the moments, without thought.
Indolently pass?"
Does she wonder, as she kneels
Gravely in her pew.
If into my bosom steals
Love's great truths anew,
As I He with careless heels
Sunk in moss and dew?
Ah, my sweet, perhaps I drink
Some religion In
More of Heaven than you think!
Musing on my sin.
Here beside the streamlet's brink,
'Mid the fern and -whin.
Hott H-i Reverted.
Chicago News.
He was a man among men.
Put a'.as!
'Tls sad, but none the lest true.
He met a woman
A young and beautiful woman
And she made a monkey of hint.
Popular Mary.
New York Times.
Marv had a little tnimo
When playing bridge, you know.
And if her partner played an ace
The trump was sure to go.
It's Up to Yon.
Boston Transcript.
The world owea you a living.
But it's up to you to make
That living simply hash and bean
Or icecream, pie and cake.
f