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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 27, 1912)
T.F.TTF.R.S WRTTTEN TO THE OREGONIAN ON MANY TOPICS A Single Tax Is Heartily HEAVY LOSSES IX SINGLE TAX. Terse Figures Are Quoted for Guid ance of Voters. PORTLAND, Oct. 25. (To the Edi tor.) The assessment roll of Mult nomah County Is now made up and it shows: Value. Real estate, town lota 17.1.3S.Vfi1 J Improvements on town lots .... 51.840.110 Acreage 22.i.'!3.aW Improvements on acreage 2.7JO.M5 Personal property M.I-'-Moj Local franchises . Total JS08.S06.O35 Lnder single tax there will do .T.mnt ih. . j n i . 1 fniirlh ttld firth Items above, aggregating 108.6S5.150 Leaving to pay all the tax now l.lul .n S'Klrt UllA iKl.. lh. Slim of $108,120,043 Every dollar of tax which should be paid on $108,685,150 must be added to the tax on lots and land, on the homes of the people. The single tax candidate for Assessor and his hired jawsmiths may tell the small home owner that his taxes will be less tnan now, but above are the figures, study them for yourselves. The storekeepers are being told that all taxes will-be taken off their gooas, but if single tax creates hard times. If the growth of Portland is checked, as hundreds predict, their business will be paralyzed and they will be worse off than now. To show how single tax works In Calgary, I copy a few excerpts from an editorial in the leading paper, the "Calgary Herald." of September 12, 1312, and from a letter by the editor to a gentleman in Portland, dated Oc tober 1, 1912. Editorial: Representatives from 20 Al berta towns have met to protest against the action of the government In forcibly Im posing a single tax system of taxation upon them. Everyone realises that ... It would be the height of folly to smash all existing systems at one blow, and thrust It In Its entirety upon an unprepared community, especially at a time wben public improve menta and growing expenditures demand a stable financial condition. The result (the adoption of single tax) has been disastrous to a number of Alberta towns. Their finances are well-nigh par alyzed. Single tax, as applied to their land on any reasonable basis of assessment whatever, does not come near to supplying their actual financial needs. Public service Is demoralized; public officials can not get their money, and even school teachers have been held up for their salaries because their municipalities have been unable to establish a new basis of revenue. The Herald hopes that steps win be taken at an early date to amend the con ditions which have arisen. Excerpts from the Herald editor's letter: The single tax question has not worked 'out completely In Alberta as yet. It is not In full force In Calgary, although two re ductiona In the rate of assessment on im provements have been made. All the mu nicipalities (small towns and villages) In this province have no'w put It Into effect, in accordance with the provisions of the new law. The result Is that a large number of them are practically broke, being unable to raise sufficient funds to make their Im provements and carry on their affairs. The complaint in this respect la on account of the fact that It was thrust upon them sud denly, and that they had to change Im mediately from a system where Improve ments paid their share to one where It was all put on. the land. After reading the above It should not take surgical operations to get an understanding of the great wrong of single tax into the heads of voters of average Intelligence. GEORGE W. McCOT. HOW TO HOLD DOIV.V A III SB AND. Salem Widow Gives Practical Advice I Aspirins; Wives. SALEM. Or.. Oct. 22. (To the Edi tor.) I have read so many letters from different ones In The Oregon lan that I wonder they , find the question worth diseussinsr when, in this, arrand. erlorloua West, there are so many other inter- j ests. besides the eternal question or love and marriage. Not but what it Is a vital subject, but rest assured, when the right man comes along, there will always follow a wedding. I am a widow, and I think marriage Is the happiest part of woman's life. If she can adjust herself to the mar riage state. All men are like boys, only grown up. They like variety and amusement. You must study moods and temperament. Be just angel enough to Interest them. Yet have a spice of the devil enough for variety. Do not be too devoted to them, as It bores them. Let them think they are having their way. Give tfiem enough freedom to make them wonder If you are not thinking of some one else. A man Is conceited and their vanity Is injured 11 they think you can see anything In an other man to admire. You hare to keep them glesslng. Do not be too good or too wicked. Strike the happy medium. All men love a woman with a spice of mischief in their makeup, yet devout enough to worship their creator. Best of all a man loves a woman who can see some good In the worst of her sex. Never be envious or Jealous. Do not be "catty" about an other woman. If he should happen to admire another woman compliment his good taste. Don't for heaven's sake bore him with your good points. Never talk about yourself, but lead him on to talk of his prowess in theefeld of sport or whatever interests him 'most- Join him in bis amusements. In fact, be a good comrade and don't expect him to make love all the-time. Be a dainty housekeeper. Keep yourself clean and dainty. Let home be the one spot where he can enjoy life. Keep a fresh face, bright -eyes, and a sweet smile. Never nag or worry,- and you both will be happy. RUTH BELLES, v m REGULATION OP OLEOMARGARINE. Subject of Manufacture and Sale Gob Into Exhaustively. PORTLAND, Oct. 20. (To the Ed itor.) Articles have appeared In The Oregonian from time to time with ref erence to oleomargarine, especially one which appeared some time since under the caption "Oleomargarine and the Butter Market." signed by Harry Hew itt. Mr. Hewitt starts out by question ing the honesty of packers, oleomar garine manufacturers, etc., in much the old. familiar "stop thief" style. He calls attention to the present one fourth of a cent tax on uncolored oleo margarine, which by inference he ap proves, regardless of the fact that the United States Commissioner of Inter nal Revenue has reported to Congress that this tax had been productive of more frauds in the sale of oleomarga rine than was the former 2-cent tax, permitting the sale of colored oleo margarine, and further stating that . under the present act. it is almost im possible to prevent fraud, clearly dem onstrating Mr. Hewitt's Ignorance of the subject on which he writes, or the fact that he has some other reason than the prevention of fraud for advo cating the uncolored measure. He also states that the Internal Reve enue Department's reports show "the packers annually violate the law by selling millions of pounds without pay ing the tax." This Is a misstatement, as undoubtedly was known by Mr. Hewitt, as the Internal revenue reports plainly show that any frauds there may have been In connection with the oleo margarine business have not been car ried out by the packers or other Oleo margarine manufacturers. Mr. Hewitt recites that It is possible to "inject as high as 40 or 50 per cent of water into butter, and still have a good marketable product." Common sense will teach anyone that In manu-j "Rapped" by Numerous facturlng butter with 40 per cent of water, whereas butter should contain around about 15 per cent, tha't the manufacturer Is simply selling 25 per cent of water at butter prices, or load ing up his butter with water, which has no food value whatever. If protection for the consumer and honest dairy wanufacturer Is what is wanted, why does not Mr. Hewitt advo cate the passage of a law similar to the Lever bill, which would prevent fraud ti selling oleomargarine, even of a yel low color, inasmuch as It provides that oleomargarine should be "old In orig inal packages, each package to be plainly -marked "Oleomargarine." and each bearing the Internal revenue stamp. Indicating a moderate rate of tax without regard to color, which under heavy penalty was to remain unbroken until in the hands of the final user. This Insures the sale of oleomargarine on its own merit, which is all that the con gumer requires, and the dairyman should expect. To this, the oleomar garine manufacturers raise no objec tion. A. R. GRAY. SCATTERING OP SCARLET WOMEN SuffsTestion Made That Evil Should Be Kept Under Surveillance. PORTLAND, Oct. 21. (To the Edi tor.) A few days ago I received a let ter from one of the leading ministers of Seattle saying that Seattle was the cleanest citv on the Pacific Coast. Vice and immoral conduct were so thor oughly expunged that they could rec ommend it to the most fastidious. The restricted district was abolished, the people that Inhabited that part of the city were scattered into every quarter of the citv. Men of years of experi ence Inform me that vice and immoral ity abounds there the same as ever, ah the difference there is. when the lower elements were kept In a restricted dis trict the police knew where to una them. Now, quartered as they are m first-class hotels, they seek to clothe j their work with the garb of respecta bility. No officer will attempt to maice an arrest, unless armed with a warrant. Before the crusade, the work of the red light district was done openly and without fear. The public knew where to find them. Now, even the old -residents of the city hesitate to send their friends to any first-class rooming-1 house, for fear of their being brought In contaot with those that they would avoid. Mr. Baker has the right Idea about the handling of the social evil. It has existed since ' the advent of Mother Eve, and will exist as long as this world revolves on Its axis, lhat which cannot be exterminated, should be governed. Every man and woman in this city that Is Infected with syphilis or other loathsome diseases should be quarantined In some seciua ed part of the city and compelled to stay there under the care of the med ical board. It should be a part of the duty of the city physician to maintain the quarantine. Every physician know Ing of such infectious cases should re port them the same as cases of small pox. Wishing to become better Informed on this question, I consulted one of the leading physicians upon that subject He gave me a very wise look and In formed me that I had better not touch upon that subject; that I would be sur prised if I knew the names of men and women that come to them for medical advice upon that same subject- Therefore, I am more fully persuaded that the strongest step that could be taken against the social evil would be to quarantine every man and woman in this city that Is Infected with the dis eases that follow in the footsteps of social evil. CICERO NEWELL. WHERE FEW FAVOR SINGLE TAX System Said To Be Unpopular In East ern Orcgoa. FRE E WATER, Or., Oct. 23. (To the Editor.) I hajve noticed considerable controversy concerning "single tax," but up here in Eastern Oregon so few are In favor of such a measure, there would seem to be no danger of the thing getting support enough to make It dangerous. But I suppose in a city like Portland the dirty work will be done, as I see there they have two single-tax measures to vote on, one for the county and the other for the state. This, it seems, should be looked after very closely. We have been flooded with their literature and statements, which I think are misleading and dan gerous, for while the single-tax liter ature fairly teems with assertions against "the rich land owner," In my opinion they have the shoe on the wrong foot, for I am satisfied when the clouds roll away that people will be able to see the joker and find out it Is the single taxers who are sup ported by the big Interests.. - I liked the tone of Eugene Palmer's article In The Oregonian of October 11. Though perhaps poor In worldly goods, he has no ax to grind, his vision Is clear, and we want Just such men, and not the "paid attorneys," so I must call for him to clear up those formidable arrays of figures which are sent out by the thousands to the unwary, who stand aghast at their- production. There is no doubt but what the bal lots will continue to be overloaded by such undesirable measures as to kill off our Oregon system. D. J. KIRK. KEEP CHLDREN OFF CAR SEATS. Muddy Feet Often Lead to Soiling; of Pasaena-era' Apparel. PORTLAND, Oct. 25. (To the Edi tor.) I want to add a word to what has been said regarding allowing chil dren of walking age to stand or kneel on the seats of the streetcars. Mary M. Whitney has stated facts that have been frequently discussed on the cars, namely: Why do mothers permit their children to stand or kneel on the seats when they certainly must know that their feet soil the seats or that their feet come In contact with passengers seated next to them. Two years ago I had a white serge suit ruined and took the matter up with Mr. Josselyn and suggested that signs be placed In each car so that the conductor would have some author ity to go by when requesting parents not to allow the children to stand on the seats. One Sunday morning a gen tleman removed a child of about three years old from the seat and offered the seat to me. Naturally I preferred standing, as I knew my dress would be soiled if I accepted the seat. The car company officials have it in their power to abate this annoyance. Now that the rainy season Is coming on. It should be done at once. PHOEBE FELCHER-JONES. DO A WAT WITH PORK BARREL. Main Argument For Bourse Riddled By i Albany Man. ALBANY, Or., Oct. 25. (To the Ed itor.) We see that some prominent members of the Citizens' Alliance are boosting the candidacy of Jonathan Bourne because, and only because, they think he can secure appropriations. Granting all they say, would Bourne as a statesman ask more for Oregon than her Just share on the merits involved? Would Bourne deprive other states of their just share of the appropriations In order to give Oregon more than her share? Does Bourne's candidacy rest on his ability to play the "hog" on ap propriations? Is it not time the- "pork barrel" was replaced by merit, states manship and true patriotism? J. T. JOHNSON. Correspondents - Bourne Condemned for Making Campaign ROSS ISLAND PURCHASE OPPOSED. Taxpayer Waxes Sarcastic Over Pro posed Expenditure of Huge Sam. PORTLAND, Oct. 25. (To the Edi tor.) As the time set for the election to be held November 2 draws nigh and there are many initiative meas ures placed upon the ballot to be ac cepted or rejected by trie- voters, i feel that careful Investigation should be made as to the merits of each that It mav assist ma In voting intelligent ly. As to myself, I am not much of a taxpayer, but being possessed of the sovereign risrht of a voter, I do not feel it incumbent upon me to vote -unnecessary taxes upon those who have to bear that burden. Upon investigation I find upon the ballot a measure for the Issuing of $300,000 bonds for tbe purchase of a tract of swamp land known as koss Island. If is set forth that this tract is be used for a crematory, a pest- house, park and playground for the children. To my way of thinking tnis combination is herd to beat, it takes the cake. It is the most marvelous idea that I have ever heard emanat ing from the brain of a statesman of modern or ancient times. It is slicker than molasses and can't be beat no how. Just think of these advantages! One could go to the park, enjoy the aroma of the crematory with a good prospect of catching the smallpox, measles and scarlet fever from the pesthouse, and again, the people vis iting the Oaks, which Is near by, would enjoy the same advantages, without additional cost, as the people of North Portland and Willamette Heights are now doing.' Another ad vantage, when the wind Is from the south,'. all Portland could enjoy the rich odors from the crematory and when from the north enjoy the same from the one we have now in use. All it would lack then would be crem atory on the East Side and one on -the West Side to make our happiness com plete. I am informed by one of the real estate men of Portland, who has been in the business for many years, that this property- is not worth more than ,40,000, and is assessed at $35,000. I am also informed that $300,000 will not be paid for this land; that It will be condemned and only, its real value paid. Now if its value is only $40, 000 why vote more than that amount of bonds? Why vote $260,000 unneces sarily? Then again, why should we want another crematory when we have one Idle that has a capacity of 40 tons dally? Why not use that one until such time as we need another? Cost of island is $300,000; cost of placing embanking around and filling, $1,000, 000; cost of crematory, $100,000: and we have the sum total of $1,400,000. What do you think of it, Mr. Tax payer? C. L. DAGGETT. BOURNE TOOL OF THE, INTERESTS New England Big Business Needs Sen ator, Says Mr. C'olvlgr. MEDFORD, Or., Oct. 25. (To the Editor.) A great politician once said that "purity in American politics is an iridescent dream," and many are be ginning to think that he was not very far astray. The present position of the Democratic party in this state, es pecially in Southern Oregon, is rather unique. Its opposition to a protective tariff Is largely a howling pretense, and not an honest conviction. The Med ford Mail-Tribune of this place, whose editor is a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, bases its most vitriolic at tacks on Taft, because lie signed the Payne-Aldrlch bill, yet In the same column the editor lauds Bourne to the skies for his self-advertised services to the people. These Bourne Demo crats should not forget that the loud est call for Bourne's return to the United States Senate comes from the protected big business Interests of New England. They need him so does Standard Oil. 'His action and his votes in the Senate during the past two years prove this. . He says that on tariff matters he followed Aldrich. Of course he did! These protected tariff barons owned him, and he could not do otherwise. Besides, he Is himself one of the manufacturers of New Eng land and a recipient of the favors of a protective tariff. . Some of us have never had a very exalted opinion of the "Oregon sys tem," especially the direct primary, but as time rolled on we were Just about reconciled to the beauties of the "system," when Jonathan Bourne, its father, comes along and repudiates the whole scheme. It seems that it did not work in his case. He squeals at Its personal effect like a pig fastened under a gate. His present attitude be fore the people of Oregon leads one to believe that the primary law is. but the plaything of demagogues and the tool of political scoundreis. If he suc ceeds in his present attempt to over ride the loyalty of the people to the direct primary, even U'Ren should be ready to admit that the whole plan Is dismal failure. Lincoln once said. "You can fool some of the people all the time, and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time." Let us hope that Bourne will find It so.. No man of intellectual honesty would assume the position he now occupies before the people of the state of Ore gon. WM. M. COLVIG. WHAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE t Luxuries More Easily Bought Now Than Necessities In 18D. BROWNSVILLE. Or., Oct. 25. (To the Editor.) I note in The Sundsry Oregonian a letter from Charles B. Moores, quoting Woodrow Wilson in the matter of high cost of living. Com paratively speaking, the cost of living Is much lower now than it was in 1896. I was 4n the mercantile business then. A farmer living near by offered me $7 for a sack of flour-if I would book it. promising to pay for it as soon as he could raise the money. I was retailing this flour then at- 45 cents cash or 50 cents per sack payable in produce, and I sold wagon loads of it at that price. This was in the early Winter and this farmer did not have the money or pro duce nor any flour. He was already owing me for groceries that he could never pay for, and to let him have the flour on time was simply making him a present of it. I Informed him that he could not have the flour for $7 per sack or for any other price more than 60 cents per sack, but if he could dig up 40 cents in cash he could have a sack. He said he could not do It and must have some flour. I offered to divide a sack with him if be could raise any part of the 40 cents and use the balance of the flour myself, but he said he could not even do that. I assert, without fear Of contradic tion, that 40 cents was bigger in the eyes of that man than $40 would be in the eyes of the poorest farmer in the Willamette Valley' today. He was an able-bodied man, though perhaps about 60 years of age, but he could not find a job of any kind whereby he could earn the necessary ' 40 cents, nor could he borrow It, for he already had a mort gage on his farm and chattel mortgages were no good. He had as good a little farm as there is In the Willamette Val ley; good Santiam River bottom "land that will probably sell today for not less than $200 per acre. There was a fine fruit orchard in bearing thereon then, and the same orchard is. in good, thrifty condition today and Is there to testify for itself. True," this farmer did not starve; he had plenty of potatoes to eat. A neigh bor adjoining him who owned a good chunk of that fine Santiam River land kept his family on potatoes until the poor wife and mother could not stand them longer". Some one had to come to her assistance or she would starve. We paid from 8 cents to 10 cents per dozen for eggs at the store then, mos of the time not more than 8 cents per dozen, but few laboring men could af ford to buy them even at 8 cents per dozen, for it took all the spare change they could possibly scrape together to buy the absolute necessaries, and., as for clothing, they had to get along by patching the old duds over- and over, patch upon patch. This ts what made the price of eggs so low; the laboring men could not indulge In such luxuries, and consequently there was a very poor demand and price for them. It required 64 dozen eggsto buy a sack of flour then at 8 cents per dozen. Today 6 dozen of eggs will purchase nearly two sacks of flour. Mr. voter, do you discover the reason. Flour was a necessity then and eggs a luxury they had to buy the one, but could not afford the other. Today laboring men can buy their flour at a price that would buy Z sacks then. Also eggs are a necessity with him now, not a luxury as they were then, and their price Is corre spondlngly high. I bought a driving horse then for iiz. I could ill afford that $12, but had to have the horse. It would be difficult to buy as good a horse today for $125, and yet it Is easier to pay $125 today than it was to pay $12 in 1896. When it became known that Mr. Cleveland was elected for his second term, my wife came home from a visit to her relatives. They laughed at her because I voted the Republican ticket and lost. They requested her to ask me how 1 liked it, and she did. I replied that I felt very badly about it, but that my feelings at present will sink into Insignificance as compared with theirs four years hence." The prophecy be came only too terribly true. Throueh that Ions: four years we couia not forget the banner we saw carried at the head of the Cleveland marching organizations during the political strug gle before election: "Vote for Cleve land and get $1 per bushel for your wheat." That wheat actually reacnea the price of 29 cents per bushel during his administration. What makes this difference, Mr. Vot er? The difference between emciency and inefficiency; the difference between theory and practical results; the differ ence between doing and undoing; tne difference between Idleness and work: the difference between doing nothing and being paid for energy exerted; the difference betwen lingering dissatisfied bv the wayside, pining for something, we know not what, and aavancing steadily forward by tried 1 and true paths that lead to prosperity ana prog ress; in short, the difference between retrogression In 1896 and progression since Mr. Cleveland's administration. Oh. yes. cetainly many want a change and are going to vote for It. They can not stand prosperity long. The rest oi us will have to stand it too, If they win out. But when they cast their votes for that change. It will be well to con sider the certain knowledge gained from that other change In 1896. W. W. BAlLr. x. BULL MOOSERS MEET IN PEACE. Most Harmonious) Meeting; on Record Described and Explained. TOLEDO.- Or., Oct. 24. (To the Ed itor.) I notice that In The Oregonian, O. Middlekauf is quoted as follows: Lincoln politicians for "Wilson and Taft; rank and file for Roosevelt anu Progressive party; think county will record Its same verdict as at primaries and give Roosevelt a majority over both Wilson and Taft." Mr. Middlekauf issued a call for the Progressives to meet here last month and organize and elect officers and delegates to the state convention. Mr. Middlekauf called the meeting to order, with A. T. Teterson present. Mr. Middlekauf was elected chairman and Mr. Peterson secretary. We understand that their election was unanimous, as there was no opposition, and Mr. Mid dlekauf and Mr. Peterson were .both unanimously elected as delegates to the state convention. Mr. Middlekauf had intimated that they would likely nominate a full coun ty ticket, but owing to.lack of candi dates the meeting decided to omit this part of the programme and concen trate the party s efforts on working for Roosevelt for President. It was freely admitted by everyone that this was one of the most harmon ious political meetings that was ever held in the county, and everyone seems to think that if something does not happen to keep Mr. Middlekauf or Mr. Peterson away from the polls, that Roosevelt will get the full vote of the new party. We are glad to know who the rank and file of the people are. The boys have named Mr. Middlekauf Rank, and Mr. Peterson File. DEMOCRAT. MR. FLEISCHNER FOR SUFFRAGE. He Advances Belief That Women Will Advance Public Good. PORTLAND, Oct. 25. (To the Edi tor.) I believe in suffrage for women and shall support the proposed Consti tutional amendment for the reason that I have never been able to find any sat isfactory argument why suffrage should be withheld from them. I find in my experience as a school director that women, even more .than men, take their electoral responsibilities seriously and vote freely and Intelligently at the elections. I am sure th'elr active interest in the schools Is greatly stimulated by the fact that they have a right to vote at school elections, and I am also sure that the public schools are much bet ter .oft on that account. If women, through the suffrage, may be of In valuable service to the public schools, it is clear to me that the same in fluence might with advantage be ex tended to public affairs generally. So I am in favor of suffrage because I think it is fair to the women and be cause I am confident It will be bene ficial to city, state and nation. I. N. FLEISCHNER.. Judge Plpea for Oa-leaby Young;. PORTLAND, Oct. 24. (To the Ed itor.) Certainly the office of Circuit Judge Is not the least important office to be filled at the next election. In fact, the courts deal more directly than other officers with the rights of the people, and the Judges should therefore be competent lawyers and upright men. Mr. Oglesby Young is a candidate on the Democratic ticket for the office of Circuit Judge In nils county. I have long ago myself disregarded politics in casting my vote for judicial offices and believe that Is -ne best thing to do. I have known Mr. Young for many years as a practitioner at the Multnomah bar and as a man of high standing in this community. His long residence and practice here has acquainted him with the Oregon laws and with the people among whom he has lived. His repu tation in the community Is without stain, and I think he will-make a good judge. I am guided by these consider ations in my decision to vote for him, and am therefore willing to advise oth ers to do the same upon the same con siderations. MARTIN L. PIPES. After Defeat at Primary RANK FALLACIES OF SINGLE TAX, Tininn I-nred to Keep Clear of Dangerous Shoals, VANCOUVER. Wash.. Oct. 24. (To the Editor.) In discussing single tax with workingmen one often hears tne argument that as bankers and business men generally are opposed to single tax it must necessarily be a good prop osition for the Door man. mis argu ment is as false as the theory of single tax. Certainly a man with brains enough to acquire any considerable amount of property can see that a sys tem of taxation which is unjust and Itifiirtniia s t Vi a Dtdtn (1 t laTCA Will orov-h lniurtous to his business, and for that reason Intelligent business men oddosb single tax. The single tax advocates contend that the system will prove a great boon to farmers and small home owners, and yet It will greatly reduce the price of land. Undoubtedlythe latter conten tion Is correct, as the price of land, like the price of all other commodities, is reeulated bv the law of supply and demand. As outside capital will fight shv of Oregon should single tax he adopted the demand for land will be correspondingly light A large supply of land, and no market will certainly mean low prices. This fact will no doubt prove attrac tlvn to the man who has denied him self the comforts of life in order that he misrht buv a lot for $800 expecting it to increase In value, only to find that through single tax the vajue of his property has declined to $500, and the farmer, whose land is wortn jauuu under the present system of taxation, will be overjoyed to find that single tax has reduced the value to $3500. New Zealand and Vancouver, B. C, are held up as shining examples of the workings of single tax. in New z;ea land the land was held in tracts rang ing from 5000 acres upward, and the entire island was but a sheep run. Even there single tax has not proved an un qualified success. Surely comparison between a country like New Zealand and Oregon, with her many productive valleys, fertile foothills and small farms, is very misleading to say the least. Vancouver, B. C.. does not rely solely on single tax to raise revenue, as there is a personal tax In addition to an in come tax on all Incomes over $1000 per year. The income tax cannot be levied In Oregon as this form of taxation will undoubtedly be turned over to the Fed eral "Government by the ratification of the Constitutional amendment giving Congress the Dower to levy such a tax If Mr. Fels Is so in love witn single tax, why doesn't he try It In his own state? Is it because the hard-headed Pennsylvanians will have none of It? Or Is he like the wise chemist who tries each new medicinal preparation on a monkey? If it doesn t kill the monkey he tries it himself. Is Mr. Fels seeking to use Oregon as the monkey? Stripped of its mask single tax means in the end state ownership or land ana a system of tenantcy utterly repugnant to American ideals and destructive of our form of government, for Henry George, the great exponent of single tax, has said that Individual ownership of land Is as monstrous a wrong as slavery. Are the people of Oregon prepared to plunge Into the labyrinth of state so cialism with no' other guides than the beneficiaries of the Fels war chest? - FRANK W. STONE. REPUBLICANS AND GOOD TIMES Prosperity Usually Disappears With Democratic President. Says Writer. SILETZ. Oct. 22. (To the Editor.) The writer of these lines Is a native of "Oregon, has lived In the state for more than half a century, and has taken part in a good many political campaigns. He has watched with in creasing interest the records of the political parties for 30 years or more and while frankly admitting that he is of the opinion that some things might easily be changed for the better, is yet far from the conviction that a change In the policy of the Govern ment at the present would be a wise one. Most of the years of my lire were passed on the farm and the recollection as to the results of changes In the past remains with me quite vividly to the present day. When Mr. Cleveland was elected President in 1S84. we had always thought It hard to have to take less than 60 cents per bushel for wheat, but he hardly had taken the oath of office when the price dropped to 62 cents, and there was a corresponding reduction in the price of wool, hops and other products of the farmers. Strange as it may seem, however, in 1888, when Mr. Har rison was elected, prices were speedily advanced to their former level and for four years the country enjoyed an era of prosperity greater than It had ever known before, and this era of pros perity continued without Interruption until the evening of that November day when the votes being counted the wires flashed the news around the world that Mr. Cleveland was again elected, and also a Democratic Senate and House of Representatives. Before the sun rose the next morning the country had passed from a period of un exampled prosperity to a period of hard times such as Is seldom visited upon anv people. Oh, how we longed for times even such as we had during the first four years of Mr. Cleveland. I distinctly remember how my brothers and I cut cordwood during those years and hauled It four miles and sold It In tlfe Salem market for $1.50 per cord also, how we worked through the Sum mer's suns and the Winter's storms and sold our wheat for 31 cents per bushel, our oats for 18 cents and our other products In about the same ratio. Also I remember that there were hundreds of vigorous men in the coun- try imploring us almost upon their bended knees ror a. job or cutting cora wood at 50 cents per cord and board themselves. I remember upon a certain occasion of buying a few sacks of potatoes at 10 cents a sack and the other fellow was so glad to make the sale that he simply told me where to go to get them, and afterwards asked me how many I had taken. They were of such small importance that he didn't care whether It was hop sacks full or wheat sacks. The 10 cents for a sack of spuds was, how ever, in those good old days an item by no means to be despised. During those years we could, buy a oetter horse for $40 than we can now for $200. In this I speak advisedly. Unfor tunately few of us could buy at all because our bank accounts were so oovertv stricken. A man who had $40 In those days could easily say to his neighbor: "I am mightier than thou." also recollect most distinctly how hops sold for 3 to 4 cents per pound and I have a faint recollection as to some being sold by the bale, without reference to its size for the princely sum of $1.60 per bale. As to sheep and hogs, really the most valuable thins? about them was their gentle voices. Sheep that sold during the last year of Harrison's Administra tion for $3.50 to $4 per head were offered for sale before the close of the first year of Mr. Cleveland's last Ad ministration at from 75 cents to $1 per head. Good dressed pork brought us 24 cents to 3 cents per pound. Of course If It wasn't real good we had to Bell it cheaper. These things con tinued with little variation until the Fall elections in 1894, when the wires brought to Salem, near where I was living, the news that the new Con gress was to be overwhelmingly Re publican. The price of wheat was ad vanced early the next morning 4 cents Election - Variety of Subjects oer bushed. From that time forward times began to Improve, but It was not until the election of Mr. McKlnley In 1896 was an assured fact that the real era of prosperity began again, and while our Democratic friends In all sincerity continue to stoutly main tain that it was no fault of theirs thai hard times prevailed during those fateful years I am not at all inclined to consider it as a mere coincidence that times did grow hard when Mr. Cleveland was first elected, get bette as soon as Mr. Harrison was elected and upon Mr. Cleveland's re-election get so hard as to be almost beyond en durance, and again get good with the election of McKlnley and the beginning of a new prosperity, which has not ceased at the present moment. -With business in all departments on a sound basis, with our flag honored at home and abroad, with the products of our farms and workshops bringing to us a larger return for the energy expended in ttcir productions than at any period in our Nation's history, witn tne aver ace wages of the average man buying for himself and his family more of the necessities and luxuries of life than they ever have done In our own or In any other land. I submit In all candor that any change which might mar those conditions is a dangerous experiment. As a cold-blooded business proposition I cannot consent to it. Either Mr. Taft or Mr. Wilson will be our next President.. Both of these men are auite willing . to discuss the economic questions, but eem disposed to Ignore those "of a purely moral nature. The Issues are made up. It Is not a question as to the qualifications of the men, but one as to whether the safe policy of the Republican party shall be maintained for another fou years, or whether if shall be set aside and the visionary policies of that party which has been weighed in the balance and found wanting substituted therefor. I shall vote for Mr. Taft. W. T. PEARCE. DANGERS SEEN IN SINGLE TAX Arguments Presented Against Adop tion of Dire Experiment Here. - PORTLAND. Oct- 25. (To the Edi tor.) Thursday evening I spent a short time at the Bungalow Theater, where a debate was on between Shields and U'Ren on single tax. Having limited time I stood in the crowd In the rear. My observations deduced a few 'facts regarding the single tax matter. Those upholding each side seemed to be out In force. They went there with minds made up like adamant, to cheer on their debater and yell at some quip or repartee. The followers of the impec cable U Ren seemed to be either in the majority or to have the greatest lung power. A tall young man listen ing to Shields kept mutterlg, "where does he get his money from?" A debate of that kind Is on a par with a cock fight. Each man had his bird In the pit and the backers of each were laying on their money and doing the coaching. Such debates do not reach the people who do not know what single tax is or have made no in vestigation of it. If these debates are to be fair and continue it occurs to me that before preceding, it might be well to ask all to withdraw who have exam lned the subject and made their deci sion, so as to give place to the unin formed, for the time is short before election. The man without a lot on which he can build a little home seems to want single tax. as he thinks it will force somebody to let loose of a vacant lot for 25 per cent or 50 per cent of what he paid for It. Then the landless man who has accomplished this robbery of the 'man who put In his good money, will find that the tax demands will so Increase that he may In time pay out as much as he robbed the other fellow of and feel that he also must let go at a discount, to some other robber! That Is. if the state does not get the prop erty for taxes.. In time we may all work for the state. It Is not a ques tion now of where Shields or U'Ren get their expense money. The people of this state have a vital, fundamental question, underlying the whole govern mental system, put up to them square- lv on the ballot. The working men will una unaer slnsrle tax that his boardf lodging, gro cerles, rent, etc., will cost more it tne man who owns the land must pay more taxes. It makes no difference what im provements are there, the state must get the revenue from somewhere. The attempt to saddle taxes on public cor porations is a misfit, as the people will pay every cent In the end. The trouble is, there are too many people who rely on oratorical jabs and par ries made glibly and beautifully. Tney don't know how to think for them selves, or If they- do they are too lazy to think and think rightly. ROBERT C. WRIGHT, WOMAN VOTERS AGENTS OF GOOD Suffragre Will Quicken Sympathies for ' Universal Need, la Plea. PORTLAND, Oct. 23. (To the Edi tor.) I am not ah active worker for woman's suffrage but my sympathies are with the many splendid women who do believe that the ballot for women will foster the uses of good more than It will Increase present evils; hence this work of appreciation for the work ers in the woman's suffrage movement and for the movement itself. Surely there are women who have brought up their families, kept their home, done all those things the anti suffragists require of them, who can then give the larger talents of rip ened years to the Interests of human ity. Again, even the busiest home makers can maintain homes more Ideal as the direct result of quickened sym pathies for the universal needs. She who would abolish child labor is surely a better mother for her greatness of heart toward all little children; she who concerns herself for the beast of burden will teach her household more kindness to all living things; she who has the heart to help the eight millions of wage-earning women about her is for this reason a better sister or daugh ter or friend. If the women who think about these things can through the bal lot, make their influence count for more and many of them believe they can why should not the right to vote be granted them? To be sure the outcome of equal suf frage Is largely experimental. The votes of the unscrupulous and the men tally lazy stand a good chance of be ing doubled. But at least there will be In the field to offset the Ignorant and the evil vote an army of earnest women whose Influence for" good must by Its own vitality continue to grow and to bear good fruit. The ideal condition, x without ques tion, would permit only the wise men and the wise women to frame our laws. This is not now possible; but in the meantime a distinction against all wo men and an unchallenged vote for all classes of men is about as far from the Ideal as It is possible to get. If the age-long discrimination against woman Is lifted may not the good In fluence of the good woman be trusted to work to a good end? At any rate plain Justice would permit her to reg ister her thinking where it can actually Influence law-making If a man may do the same. And surely all who look broadly at present human wrongs, whether or not they can Just now agree with all the "suffragette" methods, must honor the woman who stands for her right to, help in all these world wide questions. BLANCHE HERSEY HOGUE. Treated Interestingly. MOVEMENT HAS STuBTLE INFLUENCE, True Conception of Rlaht and Wrong; Not In Progressive Movement. PORTLAND, Oct. 26. (To the Ed itor.) Historians agree in tracing the main philosophic source of the French Revolution to a book written by Jean Jacques Rousseau, termed "The Social Contract." This book starts out, inno cently enough to the conceptions of our .day, with the proposition that the authority of government depends on the consent of the people; that the peo ple are the sources of power. From this, however, the author goes on to make a sophistical and fatal leap the same leap that has been made by tyran ny everywhere, and the connection be tween which and the French Revolution Is obvious. He assumes that might makes right; and that, therefore, the people as a whole are the source of this as well as of power; that the will of the ma jority of Itself determines Justice; that the people acting as a whole cannot go astray or be corrupted; and that they have a right to take private prop erty, and even life, in order to Increase the public possession and welfare. Is It not well In these days to point out the rather startling fact which those who hope for the stability of our pres ent form of government cannot regard without apprehension that large num bers of our "progressives'." have already accepted all but the last of these prop ositions of Rousseau; and also that this last proposition. Including all the theo retic conditions leading to the French Revolution, follow logically upon their present views? In a few words, It is easy to show the false basis upon which these views rest. It is true that the people should be the sources of power, but only so far as by "the people" we mean that In . them which represents the re sults of thought, Judgment and ra. tlonallty. Every Individual Includ ed In the term "people" has a body and also a mind. The body Is the source of nerves, feeling, sympathy and passion. The mind is the source of thought, Judgment and rationality. In private conduct, every man recognizes, more "" less, the influence coming from both these sources. A shrewd trader never accepts a business proposition on the day that- he receives It; he wants to sleep over It, af least one night. Nor does he buy stock on a rising market, for no other reason than that others are doing it He avoids. In every possible way, be ing led astray by the Influence that they may have had upon his feelings and sympathies. He knows that only when these are, to some extent. Inope rative, can he trust his own mental judgments. Mr. Taft, who Is accused by some of not trusting the people, merely wants to have government, which represents men in general, con ducted according to the same princi ple as that according to which a single man acts when he acts wisely. He wants our people to preserve the checks upon their own precipitous action that were planned with statesmanly fore sight by the founders of our Consti tution. Notice that those who fail to recog nize that these checks are derived from a knowledge of what is necessary to the successful working of human na ture, fall to do so, because they have not recognized a very Important fact, having to do with the very essence of what constitutes right and wrong In individual action. The fact is this: That mentality, in so far as it is pure and simple. In so far as it is really di vorced from the lnfluonce of feeling and passion. Is always exercised by men acting Individually, and never by men acting In masses. In the latter case they are always influenced more or less by their bodily nerves by their feelings, sympathies and passions. All great reforms, from Christianity down ward, have started, not with the masses, but with individuals, like Buddha. St. Francis, Luther, Wesley. Wllberforce, Garrison. The voice of the people is the voice of God so far only as Individuals, inspired as an must be from within, obey tne 00 hest of conscience and conviction, ami go forth to prove to others that that which has been revealed to them, and been reasoned out in their own -minds. Is In accordance with the truth. Not only so, but institutions that have been founded by such men, and, at first, have influenced the world for good, have almost always deteriorated when they have come under the con trol of organizations of people acting as a whole. It Is therefore important In every age to hold tneories 01 ngnt. aim wrong that shall stimulate tne lnui vldual to think and act for himself. It is very easy to show that the Pro gressive movement is not doing this. The Progressive platform adopted at Chicago promises everything that any body wants, with Hardly one memoa. In anv case, suggested for attaining it. Last Summer the majority of the Pro gressive newspapers found fault with Mr. Taft because, in vetoing the bill for the admission of the- State of Ari zona, he did not subordinate to the will of the people his own Individual con science and Judgment which the Con stitution obligated him to exercise. Last Summer again, a United fatates Senator from California declared him self conscientiously against the same measure, when submitted to vote; but he said also and this was before the election that, as the people seemed to want It, he would not oppose it. Can truth and right be furthered when men are taught, as they are now by Progressive precept and example. that this is tne reiaiionsnip mat uugui to exist between conscience and civic error, private conviction and public righteousness? Several years ago Maine votea Dy 16,000 majority In favor of the green back craze. James G. Blaine s whole political future was at stake In the following election, wnat aia ne 00: Accept the will of the people, on the theory that It indicated the right? No. He went from one end of the state to the other, telling the people that they were wrong, and why tney were wrong. It Is only when statesmen act Ilka this, and have theories that cause them to act like this, that rignteousness in a nation can flourish. What is true of our statesmen, is true of all of us. Every man, who wants to be a man in the nignesi sense, must be governed more by his own conscience ana convictions man by "any influnce from the outside, which. In the last analysis, means by any desire, In one form or another, to be popular. All governments are best Judged by their effects upon the Indi vidual citizen. What will De tne ulti mate effect upon the character of our people of conceptions that necessarily undermine the principles that are un doubtedly most conducive to human development? Patriotism and religion ought to combine in an endeavor to teach something different rrom wnat both history and philosophy have proved to be the demoralizing and un civlllzlng theories of Rousseau. Income Tax la Favored. PORTLAND. Oct. 25. (To the Edi tor.) Why Isn't an Income tax right. even though it does tax labor? No man with a salary or less tnan isuuu would pay any tax. Isn't the contem plated single tax an effort to postpono or defeat the coming voto on an amendment to the United States Con stitution providing fdr an Income tax? T. C. LH.W15. r