THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAy. PORTLAND, JULY 3, 1910.
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.PORTLAND. &CNDAY. JtXY S, 1910.
- MANIA OF "DIRECT" GOVERNMENT.
. Men fought through thousands of
" years of political strife until they
learned that representative, constitu
tional government is indispensable to
" democracy. In Oregon, however, is a
group of "statesmen" who have not
... read the world's experience. They urge
-the people to dispense with delegated,
constitutional government and to take
as substitute the "direct" method of
legislation initiative and referendum"
and -the direct method of choosing
officers non-assembly, non-deliberative
primary and election.
Just 2200 years ago democracy of
Greece succumbed because its con
stituent states and their federative
leagues lacked cohesion and constitu
tional restrictions or wnai naa smcc
come to be known as representative,
delegated government. Initiative and
referendum had plunged Athens into
excesses and ruin. The citizens there
"took a vote" on every matter, instead
of considering it in representative as
sembly for guidance of the multitude.
The people threw off restrictions of
law, just as in Oregon they have prac
tically thrown off restrictions of con
stitution, and ruled Athens, not by
law, but by the popular vote on the
law. Aristotle thus describes the spe
cies of democracy In his "Politics."
book IV. chapter XV:
. . . For where a democracy is gov
erned by stated laws, there is no room for
a demagogue, but men of worth fill the first
offices in the state; but where the power is
not vested In the laws, there demagogues
Abound. For there the people- voice be
comes that of a King, the whole composing
one body; for they are supreme, not as in
dividuals, but in their oollectlvT capacity.
Homer also "ays. "Ill fares Jt where the
multitude hath sway"; but whether he
means thia kind of democracy, or one where
the many are individually supreme, is un
certain. .Now, when the people possess this power,
they desire to be altogether absolute, that
they may not he under the control of the
-law. and they erow desDotlcal. so that flat-
' pie -become analagous to tyranny among the
forms of monarchy; for their manners axe
the same, ana tney DOtn noia a aespouc
power over better persons than themselves.
For their decrees are like the others' edicts;
end a dmagogue with them Is like a flat
terer among the others; but both these two
classes abound with each, flatterers with
tyrants, and demagogues among such a peo
ple. And to them it is owing that the
supreme power Is lodged In the votes of
the people, and not in written laws; for
they ferine everything before them. And
thin they do because they have Influence,
on account of the supreme power being
lodged- in the people: for these are they
.whom the multitude obey.
-Besides, those who inveigh against rulers
are wont to say that the people ought to
toe the judges of their conduct; and the
people gladly receive thoir complatpts as the
means of destroying all their offices. Any
one, therefore, may with great Justice blame
such a government by calling it a democ
racy, and not a free state; for .where the
government Is not vested in the laws, then
there is no free state, for the law ought to
be supreme over all things; and particular
incidents which arise should be determined
by the magistrates or by the state. If,
therefore, a democracy is to be reckoned as
one among free states. It is evident that any
such establishment which centers all power
In the votes of the people cannot, properly
sreaking, be a democracy; for their decrees
cannot be general In their extent. Let this,
then, be our description of the several spe
cies of democracies.
Oregon has "flatterers" and "dema
gogues" of this same sort. They say
the people are fitter to legislate and
name candidates for office than any
selected body of representatives. They
call upon the people to demand initia
tive or referendum upon every ques
tion of government, although the mass
of the people lack information of de
tails, if not intelligence, to vote com
petently. Oregi a will not go to the dogs
through this direct "system," as an
cient democracies did. Its Intelligent
citizenship will not permit "reformers"
of the URen sort to cut loose popular
Government from the moorings of del
egated government. Senator Bourne's
mania for relegation of delegated gov
ernment will not be accepted as the
policy of this state, nor will it endure
criticism In the older commonwealths.
The inevitable outcome of ITKenism
abuses will be subordination of initia
tive and referendum to the time-honored
system of representative legisla
tion. f THE GROWING ASSEMBLY.
- Each county in Oregon promises to
be fully represented next month in
the Republican State Assembly. So
favorable is the outlook for this con
certed method of eliminating minor
ity factionalism that Democrats are
sorely distressed. The Democratic
brethren and their assistants of al
leged membership in the Republican
-party profess to see the Republican
" party and its assembly traveling the
road to ruin.
As if any outcome could afford the
Democratic brethren more heartfelt
pleasure than Republican ruin! As if
they would desire to steer their Re
publican neighbors any other way! As
if, were Republican ruin at the end of
the assembly road. Democrats would
work so desperately to turn" them from
it!
J Truth is, the trouble and distress
that will come from the Republican
assembly will beset not the Republican
na rtv hut trtA T r- m r t- '.) i r. rti- Tv, , .
f -II ua, ,j i -4. XX tl. I.
iaw Democrats make out so pathet
ic a spectacle. Republicans, when
united again by assembly rule of ma
jority within their party, will not be
raided, as they have been, by. Demo
crats. That means Democrats will not
bo able to snatch spoils of office from
Republican minority dissensions of
plurality primaries.
Thus, Republican assembly makes
-Jusorry prospect, in the eyes of the Dem
ocratic raiders. The general public,
" having the reasons in mind, can under
stand why Democrats are "fighting"
Republican assembly and putting up
such a pout lip; also why they wish
the Republican party to follow their
assistants, the anti-assembly "leaders."
, .. But suppose the Republican party
should follow the lead of U'Ren,
Browncll and the rest. Then wouldn't
the Democratic brethren find things
to howl about? They surely would.
Such leadership would afford Demo
crats abounding opportunities for glee
ful campaigning. Every element in
human nature would demand that it be
repudiated. Brownell, spewed out
four years ago by voters of Clackamas
county, on account of his parti-ipa-tion
in old-style politics in conven
tions and Legislature, and now seek
ing popular favor again by "turning
State's evidence" and exposing the old
"game" wouldn't that 'be "rich" for
Democrats? And TTRen, with his
back-room clique of politicians in Ore
gon City seeking to dictate the politi
cal affairs of the State would that
also be "rich?"
Democrats are petting up these as
sistants of theirs and making the most
of them in the Republican party
this for political purposes. These near
Democrats do not belong in the Re
publican party and never did. Neither
do their popullstic schemes belong
there. The assembly will afford
the Republican party opportunity
to slough off these political excres-censes.
A CLIQUE OF OFFICE-SEEKING OFFICE
HOLDERS. Every candidate for party nomina
tion will be free to enter the primaries,
whether recommended by party as
sembly or by petition. Voters will
judge the candidates and nominate
with ballots. Assembly will not cur
tail this privilege of officeseekers.
But when certain officeseekers chal
lenge or denounce the law-given priv
ilege of citizens to consider the merits
of candidates in assembly and make
recommendations for guidance of the
electorate, they raise a real Issue be
tween themselves and the people.
When these officeseekers are fat office
holders who aim to "hang on" just
because they want the Jobs, irrespec
tive of whether a representative as
sembly of citizens can recommend fit
ter men, then this issue makes itself
especially prominent.
In the Multnomah Courthouse
thrives a body of such office-seeking
officeholders. They denounce the Re
publican assembly of 827 delegates, to
be held July 16, as a machine and
themselves as the true friends of the
people. On this basis they call to the
people to nominate them and put down
the candidates of the assembly.
If there is any machine it is that
of the Courthouse clique. One evi
dence is their organized 'bands of dep
uties and petition circulators.
The -candidates recommended by a
deliberative body of 827 party repre
sentatives will be men qualified for
office. Fitness will wholly determine
the selections of the assembly. Yet the
Courthouse clique is very sure that its
own members are the only "right"
candidates, and they profess to know
this two and three weeks before the
assembly meets.
Is it not coming to a sorry pass
when only one man in the whole
county is qualified to hold an office,
and that one man is the present in
cumbent, and any other candidate is
a tool of boss and a cog of machine?
Tet certain officeholders are trying to
force this absurdity upon voters of
Multnomah County.
These men call themselves Repub
licans. But if Republicans, they are
such for self and salary, instead of for
party, people and principle.
ECONOMICAL USK OF- MEAT IN THE
HOME.
A farmers' bulletin (No. 391) re
cently sent out by the United States
Department of Agriculture, under the
above title, is most timely and in
structive. It is being circulated to
some extent under the franks of mem
bers of Congress, and forms an ex
ception to the great bulk of such mat
ter with which the mails are burdened,
in that it is interesting and has wide
application. The subject matter is
compiled 'by C. F. Langworthy, Ph. D.,
expert in charge of nutrition investiga
tions, and Caroline L. Hunt, A. B., ex
pert in the nutrition office of experi
ment stations. Assumption that these
compilers know what theyare talking
about is therefore well 'based.
The value of meat as food is treated
at some length, though as concisely
as possible. Its utilization to the best
advantage is manifestly of great im
portance to every housekeeper. Prob
lems connected with the nutritive
value of various kinds and cuts of
meat are not difficult to solve under
the light furnished by this bulletin.
Preparation of meats for the table,
looking to their digestibility, palata
billty, hygienic and economic qualities,
is too little understood ty the aver
age housewife. -
' It is shown by data carefully com
piled that meat and poultry supply 16
per cent of the total food material in
American homes, 60 per cent of the
protein and 69 per cent of the fat In
the average American dietary. "We
are all familiar with the assertion that
Americans, as a body, eat too much
meat. This statement, taken by itself,
Is cf little value. What is necessary
to know in this connection is how to
make the meat portion of the daily
menu conform to the family purse, or
the purse of the wage-earner and that
of the man of small means, and still
supply the required nutriment alike to
workers and growing children.
With this end in view, a table is
furnished which shows the food value
of different cuts of meat. We find
from this table that tpie workingman
loses nothing in the food value of his
meat ration by being forced for econ
omy's sake to purchase the cheaper
meat, always providing that his wife
knows how to cook it so as to con
serve its nutritive qualities. Thus por
terhouse steak contains 21.9 per cent
protein, while the despised neck por
tion contains 20.7. In the substances
which build and repair the important
tissues of the body, very little differ
ence is found in the various cuts of
beef, the maximum being, as above
stated, 21.9 in porterhouse steak, and
the minimum, 15.8, in brisket of beef,
a range that is not especially signifi
cant when the total quantity of meat
protein in the ordinary diet Is taken
into account.
For all practical, every-day pur
poses, therefore, it may be considered
that the protein obtained from a given
weight of meat differs very little in
the cut. It is manifest that the ques
tion of an economical meat diet is one
for the cook rather than for the wage
earner to solve. Therefore, those who
find it necessary to use the cheaper
cuts need not feel in so doing that their
families or they themselves are less
well nourished than are those who use,
largely from habit, the more expen
sive meats. No matter what the cut,
whether expensive or cheap, it cannot
be utilized to the best advantage un
less it is well cooked. Poorly pre
pared meat dishes are almost invaria
bly wasted at the table. Studies car
ried on at the experiment stations
Bhow that in many families where the
Income is fairly good, the table and
other conditions are far from satis
factory. The marketing is in many
cases done 'by a child or some one j
without experience or knowledge, the
selection quite often being an expen
sive steak which later is so badly
cooked as to be unpalatable. A
cheaper cut well cooked - would be
more economical and altogether more
satisfactory.
For general application of the facts
set forth, as briefly outlined, the bulle
tin under consideration contains a
number of recipes for preparing meat
dishes in conjunction with vegetables,
dumplings, macaroni, farina, eggs,
etc., which make it of practical value
to the housewife. It is, in fact, a
miniature cook 'book, and is worthy of
wide circulation. It is free to appli
cants as long as the supply lasts, and
concludes with the following sentence:
"Surely it is not beneath the dignity of
any family to avoid useless expendi
ture, no matter how generous its in
come, and the intelligent housekeeper
should take as much pride in setting
a good table at a low price as the
manufacturer does in lessening the
cost of production in his factory."
WHERE NOW 19 SPOKANE?
Not even yet has Spokane obtained
lower railroad rates than Portland.
That was the goal Spokane set out to
gain, when it lent itself to the long-and-short
haul movement. Now the
movement is about to disarrange and
upset all the rate schedules of the
West, and make and unmake "zones"
of trade, and still the booster of long-and-short
haul is unsatisfied.
Cities entirely dependent on rail
road rates for its business will be anx
iously wondering "where they are at"
until this present upset shall bo end
ed, yet whatever gain shall be conced
ed to interior districts, Spokane can
not reasonably monopolize them; other
cities of the Interior will toe entitled to
the same benefits. But ocean com
merce cities are the least dependent on
railroad rates. Water transportation
is open to them, irrespective of rail
road companies and Interstate Com
mission, and railroads will have to
meet the competition of ships.
The City of Spokane has helped to
stir up a hornets' nest and now is in
dread of the stingers.
A PATRIOTIC MEDITATION.
Patriotism Is one of the great words
of the English language but perhaps
no two people would quite agree upon
what it signifies. We all hold that it
moans something indispensable to
good citizenship and noble manhood,
but what that something is nobody
has yet found it possible to define pre
cisely. No doubt patriotism is like
religion in being difficult to fit with
any exact formula of words, though
it is something which very few would
wish to dispense with. Life itself pre
sents the same difficulty to the makers
of definitions. They have all tried to
tell what it is but none of them has
succeeded. Like other noble words
patriotism has often been misappro
priated by scoundrels. As hypocrites
borrow the cloak of religion to hide
their deviltry, so rogues mask their
evil designs under pretended love of
country. The army contractor who
feeds soldiers on embalmed beef is
loud in his protestations of undying
patriotism and . the thieving parasite
who fattens on pickings from the gov
ernment never wants words to express
how much he loves it. Dr. Johnson
was so impressed with the baseness of
this sort of patriots that he gave up
the hope of rescuing the term from
the infamy they had smeared it with
and actually defined patriotism as
"the last refuge of a scoundrel," but
we might as well define religion as the
iast refuge of a hypocrite. Both defi
nitions would be partially true but
neither would be adequate.
The Fourth of July is an excellent
time for meditation upon what we
really mean when we talk about pa
triotism since it is above all things
the patriot's day. As Sunday has
been set apart for thought about the
deep things of the soul, so the National
holiday ought to be devoted to serious
reflection upon the relation of the citi
zen to his country and before our
thoughts can be of much avail we
must be pretty certain what we mean
by the words we use. How would it
do to define patriotism tentatively as
the desire for National success? Of
course this would not solve the prob
lem for we should Immediately have
to decide what we mean by success,
but it would help. Success is a more
concrete notion than patriotism and
to say that a patriot is one who wishes
his country to be successful brings the
argument down among common
things. What then shall we understand
by National success? Certainly not
mere extent of territory. A man who
weighs 300 pounds Is not necessarily
more successful than one who weighs
only a third as much. Fat is nr-t in
itself a desirable thing and neither is
territory. The empire of Alexander of
Macedon fell apart of its own weight
as soon as he died and so did Charle
magne's. The largest countries are
not always the ones which a. sensible
person would select for his home. Den
mark is a better land to live in than
Russia and Switzerland Is more desir
able than Turkey. From every point
of view the most successful nation of
ancient times was Greece which had
not territory enough to make more
than one state of the Union. When the
city of Florence made its most bril
liant contributions to literature, paint
ing, sculpture and architecture it had
no more than about 50,000 inhabitants.
It was only a fourth i s large as Port
land. The extent of a nation's territory is
no measure of its success any lore
than the money a man leaves when he
dies is an index of the good he has
done to the world. If we accepted the
money standard we should have t- de
cide that Dr. Pearsons, the friend of
the small colleges, had been a failure
for he will leave nothing behind him
but his good works. And similarly by
the financial footrule Scandinavia
ought to be accounted the least suc
cessful of nations for it has little
wealth. As a mother of men, however,
the nort'tern peninsula cf Europe has
surpassed most other parts of the
world. If a competition were to be
held among the nations for a prize of
merit Scandinavia could only Imitate
Cornelia, the mother of the Gracchi,
and bring forward her sons as her
proudest jewels. But are they not
enough to be proud of? W'hat country
has anything better? Is it not the
dearth of men that is frightening
France and frowning like a dark cloud
on the horizon of our own future?
Land and gold do not by themselves
make a country successful except In
the estimation of simpletons. Terri-
tory is a fine thing if it is used nobly
and wealth is desirable inasmuch as it j
magnifies opportunity, but these things
are means to an end. They are not
themselves the end for whl-"- nations
ought to strive.
But, on the other hand, a huge pop
ulation Is no more a sign of national
success than a vast territory is. India
is the most populous country in the
world, perhaps, but it can hardly be
called one of the most successful.
Neither can China. In all that makes
for the excellent things of life both
these swarming countries are failures.
If the Inhabitants of a land are
doomed to misery they gain nothing by
multiplying. As their numbers in
crease so does their wretchedness and
It would be strange to call a govern
ment successful which ruled over mil
lions of unhappy people.
Thus we are brought down to the
only legitimate test for national suc
cess. It Is the condition of the peo
ple. If the population of a country is
intelligent, progressive, watchful over
its liberties and diligent to guard its
rights that country is on the way to
success, and If the people besides all
that have the means of living without
excessive toil and understand how to
enjoy the beauties of nature, literature
and art we may call their nation truly
successful.
THE OPEN ROAD.
Dr. W. H. Nichols, chairman of the
board of trustees of the Brooklyn
Polytechnic Institute, delivered a short
address to the graduating class of that
Institution a few days ago from Davy
Crockett's famous motto: "Be sure
you're right, then go ahead." The
text was most appropriate and the
lesson drawn from it was a wholesome
one and can hardly fail to prove salu
tary. Said Walt Whitman after a care
ful sturdy self-estimate:
Afoot and light-hearted, I, take ths open
road.
Healthy, free., the world before me.
The lone brown path before me.
Leading: wherever I choose.
Henceforth I ask not good fortune,
I myself am cood fortune.
Guided by Davy Crockett's motto,
the young man fresh from a training
school may thus confidently take
stock in himself and go forth to his
life work, "strong and content to fol
low the open road."
REMEDIES FOB RACE StrtCTDB.
Reports from France indicate that
the legislative 'body of that country
has resolved to attack seriously the
problem of race suicide. Many ob
servers of current events will say that
it is high time. Since 1851 the popu
lation of France has increased but
about 3,000,000, while in Germany and
Russia the human race has multiplied
many times as fast. Germany is noted
as one of the most prolific of modern
nations, though not quite equal to
Russia in this respect. France, on the
other hand, as everybody knows, has
an impoverished birth rate and has
just about reached the point .where its
population will actually begin to fall
off in numbers. To prevent this ca
tastrophe, as statesmen eeem to regard
it, bills have been introduced in the
Assembly to stimulate fecundity in
several ways. Bachelors are to be
compelled to serve an additional term
in the army if they refuse to choose
wives. Civil servants must marry be
fore the age of 25 on pain of discharge,
we suppose, and when one of them
becomes the father of more than three
children he is to iecelve an increase
of salary with superior pension privi
leges. The last measure is likely to be
rather efficient. Frenchmen dearly
love places in the civil service and
most of them would make any rea
sonable sacrifice rather than seek an
other employment. Besides that ths
principle of rewarding the production
of children, will appeal to the French
as economically sound. The main rea
son why they do not hava larger fam
ilies is their universal dread of pover
ty. The nation, as a whole, has
reached an extraordinary degree of
comfort by centuries of hard work and
rigid thrift. The Ifvr compels parents
to divide their property equally among
all their children so that if they have
more than one or two the consequence
must invariably be severe poverty for
the whole brood. To avoid this mar
ried people deliberately limit the num
ber of their offspring. It is a popular
maxim among the French peasants
that a stationary popalation existing
in comfort is better than an increasing
one under the harrow of misery. But
statesmen do. not think so. In their
plans soldiers are necessary and in
order to supply armies upon the scale
demanded by modern military strategy
a high birth rate is essential.
French radicals have often declared
that if the statesmen wanted more
children brought into the world they
could have their desire by paying for
it. Parents, they alleged, would be
willing enough to produce offspring if
the -6tate would assume the expense of
their birth and nurture. The proposal
to reward civil servants whose families
exceed, three children is clearly a step
in that direction, but, of course, rt
does not go far enough to effect a
great deal. Suppose, for example, the
reward were large enough to double
the family income, which Is an extrav
agant estimate. It cannot be obtained
until the family numbers at least six
and any school child can figure out
that twice a given income divided
among six persons gives each one not
a penny more than would the origi
nal amount divided among three.
Hence the new regulation would not
benefit civil servants economically,
while if they accepted, it they wruld
have the care of a larger brood on
their hands. To Frenchmen the lat
ter consideration is important, for
their habit of life are thorough!;- es
tablished and any increase of trouble
and worry is repellent to them. The
proposal to repeal the law which di
vides an estate equally among the
children of the family might possibly
encourage the reckless multiplication
of offspring since a favorite child ould
be provided for even if the rest
starved, but viewed philosophically it
is not free from an aspect of cruelty.
Commenting on these matters the
New York Evening Post sees a great
mystery in the fact that the misery
haunted Russians are so prolir; while
the well-to-do French scarcely keep
their population from declining, but a
student of biology would see nothing
surprising in the matter. It is in per
fect a-cord with well known laws, even
if the laws cannot be completely ex
plained. All living things tend toward
fecundity when they are deprived of
sufficient nutriment. Plants go to
seed when food or water fails. Slum
populations are notoriously fecund and
Russia, so far as its peasantry Is con
cerned, is one vast slum, though more
wretched than most others. The fer
tility of the Germans must be ac
counted for on other grounds. It Is
explained by the same causes as our
own rapid Increase in pioneer times.
Germany has just experienced an
economic and political renaissance.
Her resources have multiplied. Her
energies have been profoundly stimu
lated. The consequences show them
selves in the birth rate as well as in
bank accounts and new colonies, but it
is not to be supposed that German
population will continue to increase as
it does now. As soon as prudence
overtakes advancing comfort we shall
see a change and conditions will begin
to approximate those in France. The
Germans are fully as intelligent as the
French and they will not multiply pop
ulation recklessly after they have been
led to reflect upon the economic con
sequences of it. Statesmen may cry
for babies as much as they please, but
they will not be listened to unless they
provide the means for taking care of
them.
A DOTTBTFTJI, POLICY.
This, we are told, is the age of young
men. All along the road of endeavor
lies opportunity waiting to engage
them. Tet in the light of occurrences
of almost every day, in almoc": every
community, is it not a mistake to ad
vance young men too rapidly to posi
tions of responsibility that call for the
exercise of well-governed temper and
deliberate judgment? '
It is a fine thing, for example, In
theory, for a youth of nineteen to have
attained to the important position of
train dispatcher or as foreman in a
mill or other industry where many
men are employed. But the very
doubtful expediency of setting a boy
over men is demonstrated in the scant
respect that is given to his authority
in the important details of. his busi
ness, and the attempt of subordinates
in position but superiors in age and ex
perience to ride over him.
Take, for example, the youth at
Ridgefield, Wash., a telegraph oper
ator, who, it is said, had been bullied
by men who came to him for train or
ders, until, lacking in discretion and
Impelled by the boyish determination
to defend himself, he purchased a re
volver which he used upon a train
conductor with such deadly effect that
he is now in jail at Vancouver await
ing a charge of murder which will al
most surely be lodged against him. It
is clear that this boy was not fitted
by the discretion that comes with the
drill and experience of having worked
up to a position of authority for the
place that he occupied. The male an
mal, human or brute, has very little
regard for the" young of its sex and
species who enter the lists against
their elders. The man who does not
bully and snub a boy out in the world
for the first time, who has attained to
a position, whether by study or favor,
that is generally reached only through
the lower levels of the business, is the
exception in the commercial or labor
world. The boy who restrains his
temper and speech when being bullied
by those with whom he comes in con
tact in the course of the day's work, Is
also the exception. He is certainly
very badly advised when he Is told
by self-suggestion or otherwise to
carry a pistol in order that he may de
fend himself against a mean tyranny
that may at any time pass from taunts
to blows.
The policy of placing a boy in a posi
tion that is not justified by his age or
experience is, at best, ill advised. In
finance it has led to many a young
man's undoing; in the transportation
business It has led to more than one
trainwreck, with its attendant loss of
life; in business or labor it has led to
countless altercations and not infre
quently to serious and irreparable dis
aster. It is better for all concerned,
and first of all for himself, to let the
boy begin at the bottom and work up
by relatively slow processes to a posi
tion of authority, emolument and
trust. The training that he will get
along the way will prepare him for
higher duties without engendering the
antagonism of his fellow-workers, be
sides enabling him to bring to the
work the experience upon which suc
cess very largely depends.
THE HIGHER STANDARD OF I.IVINO.
The Republican members of the
United States Senate committee on the
high cost of living have absolved the
Payne-Aldrich tariff law from all
blame for the upward tendency of
prices -and have placed the responsi
bility upon a variety of causes, which
they specifically indict under this
great change. Among these causes is
the increased cost of production of
farm products by reason of higher
land values and higher wages, the in
creased demand for farm products and
food, and the shifting of population
from food-producing to food-consuming
localities. The committee does not
specify any one cause as contributing
more to -he general aggregate of
high prices than another, but prec
edence is given in the list to the first
cause above named; hence it is appar
ent that it considers this, the most
important factor In the general up
ward movement of prices.
The farmer enters a demurrer to
this indictment not as to the in
creased price of land and the higher
wages of farm labor, but to the im
plied fact that ho receives much higher
prices for farm products than in for
mer years. Except in the case of
fancy orchard products and at certain
seasons of poultry products, and with
in recent months of bogs, the surplus
of agricultural labor brings little if
any higher price to the producer than
in average years, when "hard ti tes"
and not "prosperity" was the National
watchword. The consumer shows his
monthly expense account to prove that
everything that comes to his table has
doubled in price in the last five years,
whereat the middleman springs to his
own defense, asserting loudly that the
profits of his business were greater
before the cry of high prices was
heard than they are now.
Amid all this clamor who shall de
cide where lies the blame? Who, in
deed, is competent to sit with unbiased
judgment upon a jury before which
the charge of the cost of high prices
is to be brough " Not the tariff
makers and tinkerers, certainly, since
at the outset they proclaim the tariff
Innocent of the charge.- Not the farm
ers, who Break hotly of the dwindling
profits of agriculture, after the high
wages that they are coi... elled to pay
are taken from the sum total of their
rtceipts; not the commission men;
nor yet the retailers, who ffer their
trade balances at the end of a year's
business in evidence that they are not
responsible in the premises. Is it
possible, after all, that "the complain
ants themselves, the vast army of con
sumers, are to blame for prices of
commodities all along the line, against
which they so loudly protest.
Concluding the list of causes for the
increased cost of living, as tabulated
by the Senate committee, Is this sig
nificant item: "The higher standard
of living." Against this final Impres
sive cqunt in the indictment who shall
protest? Who, indeed, desires to pro
test it? Do we not, as a Nation, boast,
the constantly advancing standards of
our civilization ? And is it thought de
sirable in this ad' .nee to have our
standard of living lowered, or, what
amounts to the same thing, remain
stationary amid the general onward
movement? Do we wish t' return to
the tallow candle wherewith to light
our homes during the long Winter eve
nings, or are we willing to pay the
difference in cost and have gas or elec
tricity as an illuminant?
Distance lends enchantment to what
we are pleased to term "ptein living."
We could live plainly now, according"
to the standard fixed by memory as
"good enough" fifty years ago, and
save on our household expenses, our
clothing and our general outlay all
along the line, if we chose to do so
and had the fortitude and self-denial
to carry this wish into effect. But
do we really desire to return to the
simple life, as exemplified by bare, ill
lighted homes and cheap, though
abundant fare, served on homespun
table linen and cojj-se, heavy "iron
stone china?" If so, the road is open.
Let those who yearn to live as their
fathers lived, and to toil In household
ways as their mothers toiled, with only
the crude and clumsy belongings of a
past age as appliances of labor, take
It and plod on. For those who scorn
to turn and walk therein, let them
keep up with the advancing standard
of higher living, pay the tolls exacted
at every turn and pass on, content in
the reflection that they are getting
their money's worth all along the
way.
Candidates who appeal for votes
in the name of party would seem
to be under obligation to conform with
the usages and customs of party. That
is the general expectation of the public
and the reasonable rule of party ac
tion. Now if certain candidates, call
ing themselves Republicans, refuse to
abide by decisions of representative
party assembly and win nomination by
plurality vote, on what basis will they
appeal to majority voters of party for
support? A candidate who rejects the
representative system of party assem
bly must then be sure that he has
backing of a majority of the party
voters before he can lay valid claim
to bejng a Republican. As to these
matters, candidates will do well to
stop, look and listen. Minority nomi
nation gives no assurance of election
In a "knifing" contest. Certainty of
defeat in such caco has been proved
almost inevitable.
For a further object lesson in Port
land's shifting centers, note that the
last "remnant" of the old Central
School is being razed to make room
for a modern class A business
building. This is at the south
east corner of Seventh and Alder.
Thirty years ago, when Henry Villard
Invaded Oregon, Central School was
central in fact as well as name. It
stood on the block now occupied by
the Portland Hotel. Within the next
thirty years at least three school
houses on the West Side, now advan
tageously located, will be quite as un
available for public educational pur
poses. At this time no one may say
how far west, south and north busi
ness houses will extend during the
present generation.
The lawyers club has favorites,
whom it desires elected to preside over
the people's justice according to the
likes of certain lawyers. Therefore cer
tain lawyers organize a political party
of lawyers and call it non-partisan. But
there never was a more intense parti
san purpose than this, that certain law
yers have of carrying out designs of
"court influence." It is an axiom that
no one group of citizens or special in
terest should direct or influence gov
ernment or justice. Yet a few lawyers
are planning this very business. They
have the boldness to say they should
select the people's Judges. This alone
is sufficient to reveal their true intent.
Two accidents ' the past ' week, in
each of which automobiles struck per
sons on the street, fortunately without
serious injury, emphasizes the neces
sity of drivers going slow in the ousi
ness section. Both mishaps occurred
at street intersections and in both in
stances the motorcars were going too
fast for safety. Once more The Ore
gonian urges chauffeurs to exercise
ordinary caution. Speed which Involves
small risk between blocks is positively
dangerous at street Intersections and
in turning corners. The only safe plan
is to go slow.
Of course, no candidate need sub
mit his name to the assembly u-less
he desires. But when he turn-? his
back on a great body of representative
Republicans, what right has he to
complain if they recommend some
other to office and ask all Republicans
to support that other? Is the recom
mendation of many hundreds of dis
interested Republicans, acting for the
party's good, to be ignored for the
benefit v.f a self-seeking candidate, act
ing solely for his own good?
Abe Ruef is still out, of jail, and
intends to keep out of jail if he can.
He has managed to keep his case in
the courts about four years, and the
Penitentla-y hasn't got him yet. The
mills of California Justice grind slowly.
It is pleasant to note that at least they
have not stopped entirely, but are still
slowly grinding.
It would be nice Indeed if everyone
could accept Writer London's invita
tion to go to Reno. But has Mr. Lon
don paused to reflect that there would
not be anybody left to read his bril
liant pyschological observations on the
beauties and wonders of pugilism?
When one considers that the waters
of Lake Michigan were too warm for
comfortable bathing and what all Chi
cago suffered, he can by contrast put
a just estimate on the cool Summers
of Western Oregon and Washington.
Here and there a colored church
congregation meets to pray that John
son .may defeat the white man. Is
there a color line in the eyes of Di
vine Providence?
The forty or fifty millloi . who are
obliged to- stay at home may omfort
themselves with the hope that they
may see the movi--r pictures.
For one day at least let us hope that
we shall have a cafe and sano day-before-the-glorious
fourth.
In either case, r 'fore tomorrow
night Jeffries will have dropped the
White Man's Burden.
A combination of Taft Roosevelt
and Hughes-? Of course, it couldn't be
beaten.
TOPICAL VERSE
The Company Lady.
The Company Lady has a hat on her "
head;
My mamma only has hair.
The Company Lady always wears
gloves;
My mamma's hands are bare.
In Winter, the Company Lady wears
fur;
In Summer, a chain of gold;
And every one always speaks kindly to
her.
And her dresses are never old.
One time when I broke one of sister's
best cups
She shook me and made my teeth
chatter.
But when the Company Lady broke one
She said "Oh. it doesn't matter."
I'd like very much to have nothing
to do
But drink tea on a porch that is
shady,
So when I get big I'll try very hard
To be a Company Lady.
New Idea Woman's Magazine.
The Old-Fashioned Mother.
Tiny sprites of every day.
Shining clean, so small, so sweat,
"Welcome twilight after play.
Welcome rest for -weary feet!
Here's your cuddling and your rhyme).
All the charm of story time!
Little son, so eager-eyed.
Little chubby girl o' mine.
On my knee and at my side
Cheeks ablaze and eyes ashine,
Hearing tales of elf and fay.
And their tricksy wanton play!
Stories, too, of heroes bold.
Splendid, savage sailor men.
Legends of the Age of Gold
(Truer than we moderns ken!)
God and goddess lend their glories
To our magic bedtime stories!
Tiny sprites of every day.
Some would steal your ancient rights
Prating of "The Modern Way"
"Not for babes Arabian Nights
No more cuddling, not one rhyme.
There should be no story time!"
Tiny sprites of every day.
We will risk it, you and I:
All the danger of such play
Modern Science we defy!
Dear old Grimm, lend all your glories
To our blessed bedtime 6tor!es!
New York Times.
Vacation Days.
When Johnnie comes to grandma's house
old Towser runs away,
The kitten climbs the apple tree and
stays up there all day;
The chickens in the barnyard are a
flustered as can be
They don't approve of little boys, as any
one can see.
And many a night before he comes pool
Nora lies awake
Devising hiding places for the things that
he might break.
The jam and jelly's sure to be up on the
highest shelf, .
But grandma gets them down, sometimes,
and bids him help himself.
When Johnnie comes to grandma's house
there's mud upon the floor.
And thumb-prints on the banisters and
grease on every door.
The house is always upside down the
whole time he Is there;
Poor Nora sighs and wonders why dear
grandma doesn't care.
But when at last that boy's in bed and
everything is still.
Old Towser leaves the barn and Tabby
ventures forth at will
'Tis then the much-abused armchair holds
conclave in the dark
With the old clock in the corner, stand
ing there so stiff and dark.
"I'm quite worn out,' she limply sighs;
"since that young scapegrace, John,
Came out from town I've been at times
most rudely sat upon."
"It beats my time," the clock replies,
"how modern young folks do;
It wasn't so in my day. What's the world
a-comlng to?"
And the cause of all the trouble do you
think the rascal cares?
Is miles away In Slumber Land in his
email bed upstairs.
But grandma says when she goes in to
tuck the blankets down,
"Dear, dear, we will be lonesome when
that boy goes back to town."
Marie Grove, in Delineator.
She Tames the Tamer.
Said a lion tamer's wife.
As bold as bold could be;
"My husband tames lions,
But he can't tame me!"
Birmingham, Ala,, Age-Herald.
The Man Who Docs.
Here's to the fellow whofmakes things
buzz
The hustling, bustling man-who-does!
The fellow who doesn't sit back and
shirk,
But does his share of the rough, hard
work;
The fellow who doesn't get glum and
blue
When a strenuous Job must be put
through.
But pulls off his coat when ths dark
days come,
And grittlly, doggedly makes things hum.
And now as the hurrying crowd we scan.
Who'll step to the front and say, "I'm
your man!"
He's coming, the man "who makes thmgs
buzz,"
Citizen and statesman, the "man-who-does"
;
The man with the courage and fores antS
tact.
Who turns will power into actual fact.
He's coming, you know, with mind unde
ranged, A mind well stored and well arranged.
For the square deal he's still persistent.
And needs not memory to be consistent.
For right he stands, though standing
alone,
And trueblue "to and including back
bone." He doesn't know how to sit back and
shirk.
But thinks it bully to do rough, hard
work ;
And if ever ho gets glum and blue.
It isn't apparent to me and you.
As for strenuous jobs, he's the original
Dad,
The gritty, the dogged, the bonnie lad;
And look where you will, the horizon
scan,
There's no braver, better, bigger man!
J. A. Mitchell in Kansas City Star.
Reunion.
And here you are again, forsooth.
My trusty pal of yore.
When we were one year nearer youth
We watched the baseball score,
And you went sailing in the air
To help my loud hurrah
How well you've stood the wear and
tear.
My last year's summer straw!
You were a true and steadfast friend.
Let friendship's fate be yours.
I'll press your kindness to the end
While one frail strand endures.
I'll keep you busy day by day.
Naught but the winter flaw
Will send you restfully away.
My good old summer straw.
Washington (D. C.) Star.