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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (July 13, 1913)
TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, JULY 13, 1913- GERMAN FARMERS HOLDING THEIR OVJN Organization for Political Pur poses Is Strongest of Its Kind in World. TWO PURPOSES MANIFEST Self-Protection and Self-Enlightenment Are Dominating XotesEx pert Instruction Given by League Lecturers. BY HECTOR MACPHEBSON. KELLINGHAUSEN, Germany, June 2S- (Special Correspondence.) To at tempt In a letter or two to rive any adequate account of the organization of German agriculture would be sure to end In failure. Germany Is, above all other countries, the home of rural associations. In their complexity, in their general unity of purpose and In their sure-footed manner of going after and getting results, the German farm ers" societies stand unrivalled any where in the world. One is almost overwhelmed by the masses of machln- "J uy wnicn tnese organizations look after the minutest details underlying rural welfare, economically, politically and socially. Considering, then, the breadth and complexity of the subject, I shall at tempt to -simplify matters by gather ing what I have to say about two or three outstanding features in German agricultural organization. "Finnen1 League" Well Organized. For my subject today I take the "Bund der Landwirte," which I have translated "The Farmers' League." I choose this organization for two rea sons. In the first place, it Is the thing uppermost in my mind, as we have Just been through the splendid build ings owned by the league, in which It has Its headquarters for the German empire. In the second place, the Ger man Farmers' League is primarily a political organization, and without doubt it Is the strongest political as sociation of farmers in the world. To understand how it arose, we must look briefly at recent German economic history. Previous to the Franco-Prus-elan war, the German provinces were almost entirely agricultural. The farm er had things pretty much to himself in determining the policies of the va rious kingdoms. With the union of the Germanic states in the empire, there began a new era In German economic history.. Industry began to compete with agriculture for the lion's share of political recognition and governmental support. Moreover, the rapidly developing commercial and industrial interests were strongly or ganized. Class Struggle Developed. Under the stimulus of the Raiffeleen co-operative movement, the farmers were learning the first principles of as sociated action. The Ralffeisen socle ties were purely non-political, and, con sequently, their influence counted for little In the class struggle which arose on the basis of conflicting economic in terests. The farmers early grasped the situa tion and proceeded to organize with the avowed) purpose of maintaining a political and economic status worthy of the fundamental industry of the em pire. The first farmers' organization for political ends- was the "Association for Tax Reform and Economic Betterment." It was formed in the Winter of 1875 . 76, and set as its principal task the se curing of an import duty on foreign breads tuffs. This object was attained by successive tariff acts passed by the Reichstag:, which brought the import duty on corn up to J1.60 a ton in the year 1887. This made grain-growing profitable in spite of rising wages and increasing land 'values, and gave considerable stimulus to agriculture. In the meanwhile other interests were steadily gaining ground. For a time it seemed as if free trade In corn would expose the German grain-grower ,to competition with the products of the virgin soils of the new world. In the conflict the inadequacy of the old "Association for Tax Reform" to cope with the situation became evident. Political Model Adopted. The farmers proceeded to reorganize as the "Farmers' League." For their model they took the Social Democratic Party, the most scientifically organized political body in Germany, and at the same time the most vigorous foe of the league. - The organization 1 - voluntary body of farmers, whose aim, like that of its predecessor, is to maintain and improve the status of the farming class. It is supported by contributions levied on the members in proportion to the size of their land holdings at the rate of . about 1V4 cents an acre annually. Per sons not farmers are admitted to mem bership on acceptance of the principles of the league and the payment of a voluntary subscription, which must not . be less than 75 cents a year. The league is a highly centralized organization with headquarters in Ber lin. It covers the north and east of the empire by means of 14 provincial offices. Each of the provinces, again, is subdivided according to the electoral constituencies for the Imperial Parlia ment. The electoral districts are fur- ' ther subdivided into what are called principal groups, which are composed of the local groups of Individual farm ers. Now how does this elaborate machine operate? let us ask. The center or power is the Berlin office, which Is managed by a presidential hna. it members and a permanent committee of 51 representatives from the various These meet as a sort of Federal farmers' council once a year. They Liiieoii uut me wnoie agricultural situa tion for the Intervening vt- ki up the attitude of all imperial office holders on questions affecting agri culture, and outline the policy of the league for the year to come. The mem. bers of the permanent committee, and most of the presidential board, return to their farms to take up. the work of rural leadership throughout the year. Lecture Courses Provided. The permanent work of the central office is under the supervision of a director and two vice-directors. Under them is an office force composed of experts in politics and economics, with the necessary staff for stenographic and other routine work. The propaganda Is directed from the Berlin offlcu. It is carried on by means of lecture courses, newspapers and magazines, special reports and pamphlets, and picture postcards. The lecture courses are carried on mostly during Winter months, and during election campaigns whenever they may take place; each lecturer must be especially fitted for his work, and must have taken a course of in struction under the experts in the Berlin office. The number of lecturers employed varies from 90 upwards ac cording to the special need. ' Besides these personally-conducted lecture tours, the league is constantly pouring its principles into the rural consciousness through the medium of the press. There are at least 335 papers in the Empire Inspired by the purposes of the Farmers' League. Sev eral of these are under the direct con trol of the association. Unity Always Urared. A small weekly, the Farmers' League, Is sent free of charge to every one of the 350,000 members of the organiza tion. The key note of this paper is ex pressed in the slogan which stands under the title of every issue: "Unity alone makes strong. German farmers, unite!" Just beneath this, again, ap pears constantly a famous- quotation from the great Prince Bismarck: "Un less our farm population unites and hangs together, German agriculture will never be represented in our legis lative bodies in proportion to its im portance." A question worthy of serious con sideration by every American farmer is suggested by this quotation. It Is this: "Is American agriculture any better DEATH OF LEWIS COUNTY MIN ISTER WAS TRAGIC. Rev. J. M. Haskell. CHEHALIS, Wash., July 12. (Special.) J. M. Haskell, who died here 'July 3, was born in Dickenson Center, N. Y., March 18, 1836. At 21 years of age he became a minister of the gospel and gave his whole time up to t tne date of his death to church work. For a number of years Rev. Mr. Haskell preached in the vicinity of his boyhood, and in 1870 moved to Minneapolis, Minn. In 1S85 he moved to Portland, Or., where he engaged in ministerial work, and in 1890 moved to this , county, locating at Wlnlock. In 1895 he became pastor of the Bap tist Church of Chehalls. In 1904 he moved to Centralis, where he resided for four years. Recently he accepted a call as pastor of the Baptist congregations at Gate and Rochester, Wash. The death of Mr. Haskell was tragic, the direct cause being that he was struck by a train at Gate while driving across the railroad in his buggy. He was thrown out and suffered injuries from which he never recovered. By h i s first marriage were born six children, as follows: Horten H. Haskell, of Winona, Wash.; Mrs. Martin Mac Donough, of Medford, Or.;Minard A. Haskell, of McCleary, Wash.; Mrs. T. K. Metz, of Chehalls; Robert B. Haskell, of Chenalis; also the late Mrs. E. H. Thomp son, of Chehalls. His second wife was Mrs. Edith E. Curtis, to whom he was married In 1904, and who survives him. represented in our state and National legislative bodies today than German agriculture was in the days of Bis marck? The condition deplored by Bismarck has been overcome through the efforts of the Farmers' League. When Ger man agriculture requires legislative at tention, it frames its measure, goes to work, and gets what it wants. The same is true when its Interests - are threatened by legislation emanating from conflicting Interests. All this does not mean that the league Is a farmers' political party. It is not a political party, nor does it pursue any partisan policy in the nar rower sense It supports certain principles which must be upheld if agriculture is not to be exploited by the thoroughly-organized forces of capitalism. The man who can be depended upon to work for the welfare of agriculture under all circumstances, is indorsed by the league and supported by the farmer at the poles. Facta Laid Before Members. The league as such does not take any partisan stand. It does something which in Germany is far more effective. It checks up the record of every man In public life In Germany. His birth, his training and sympathies, his public acts and utterances, are all carefully registered. These essential facts the league lays before the farmer, and leaves the rest to him. A simple method, you may say. Yes It Is, but 20 years' experience has dem onstrated Us efficiency. No grand, old party slogan can save a man in a Ger man rural constituency, if the league's record Is against him. The league is the German farmers' organization for self -enlightenment and self-protection. Up to the present, the powers, of organized capitalism have been utterly unable to prevail against it. WITNESS TREE REPLACED Monument , to Mark Spot Where Balm of Gllead Stood. VANCOUVER BARRACKS, Wash. July 12. (Special.) The spot where the old witness tree stood is to be marked by a concrete monument. C. A. Homan. Government Engineer, today began placing the concrete over a point above the center of the historic Balm of Gll ead tree, from which all surveys in the Pacific Northwest started. This tree was on the southeast corner of the reservation. The witness tree four years ago was washed down by the high water of the Columbia River. A brass plate, proper ly marked, will be buried under about three feet of ground on the spot. Single Term Bill Introduced. WASHINGTON. Jn7v 15 a n, constitutional amendment to provide me rreswent and Vice-President after March 4, 1921, shall serve single six-year terms and any person who has heretofore held the office by election or who has discharged the powers and duties or has acted as President shall be ineligible "to hold the office again by election" was introduced today by Representative Madden, of Illinois. Dry Weather Menaces Forests. WASHINGTON, July 12. Lightning mm tmuiiera are me causes or most of the fires in National forests, as shown by telegraphic reports during the last week to the Forest Service. Colorado, Southern California. Arizona. TCom Mexico offer tha fields of most danger on account oi continued dry, hot weather. if-' ;-v , ' ' 'V-i MORE- DETAILS "OF PEACE PLAN GIVE J Bryan Proposes Status Quo in War Preparations Pend ing Investigation. YEAR SUGGESTED AS TIME Third Phase of Secretary's Scheme Submitted to 2 0 Powers Whose Assent Has Been Given, as Well as 19 Others. WASHINGTON. July 12. A proposal to maintain the status quo as to mili tary and naval preparations among dis putants during the period of Investiga tion of international differences con stitutes the third and final proposal in Secretary Bryan's peace plan. In making that portion of the pro posal public today, Secretary Bryan said that the obligation to maintain the. status quo would not be obligatory In the event of danger to either of the two contracting parties from a third party. The proposal is submitted to the 20 nations which have accepted his plan in principle, as well as to the other 19 nations not yet heard from. Status Quo onaldered. "This Government is prepared to con- siaer, says the communication, "the question of maintaining the status quo as to military and naval preparations during the period of investigation, if the contracting nation desires to In clude this, and this Government sug gests tentatively that the parties agree that tnere shall be no change In the military and naval programme during the period of investigation unless dan5 ger to one of the contracting parties from a third party counsels a change in said programme. In which case the party feeling Itself menaced by a third power shall confidentially communicate the matter in writing to the other con tracting part- and it s.iail thereupon be released from the obligation not to change its military or naval programme and this release will at the same time operate as-a release of the ot,.or con tracting parties. . Thir protects each party from the other in the ordinary cases and yet provides freedom of ac tion in emergencies." Ver Given for Lnvestlsation. The proposals previously announced provide for an international commission, of five members, one from each of the contracting countries, .o be chosen by the government, one to be chosen by each of the contracting countries from some other country and the i.. i to be agreed on by the two contracting gov ernments. One year is suggested as a proper time for the inv stlgatlon of the subject under dispute. "All of Lese suggestions, said Sec retary Bryan, discussing bis plan to day, "are presented for consideration and not with the intention of imposing any mea conditions, ihrf principle of the investigation being accepted, the details are matters for conference anu consideration." The 20 nations which have accepted th0 principles of the peace proposal, in the order named, are: Italy,- Great Britain. France, Brazil, Sweden, Nor way, Peru, Russia, Austria-Hungary, Netherlands. Japan. Germany, Bollcia, Argentine tepuDiic, China, Dominican Republic, Hayti, Spain, Portugal and Belgium. LOnNS ARE MADE EASIER REGTTLATTOXS UNDER IRKIGA TIOX ACT AMENDED. Mortgagees to Have Opportunity to Protect Interests When Water Charges Are Unpaid. WASHINGTON-, July 12. Secretary Lane approved today an amendment to the regulations under the reclamation act designed to aid entrymen and land owners in reclamation projects in se curing loans for the Improvement of their farms as well as to add security to mortgages given in conneetion with such loans. - By the terms of the amendment, after water right applications have been filed for privately-owned lands in rec lamation projects, mortgagees of such lands may file with the "local Land Office and with the project manager of the reclamation service a notice of their interest. Thereafter they will receive notices of any default in the payment of water right charges. That will enable -them to prevent the loss of security through failure in payment. 5 SCHOLARSHIPS OFFERED Guatemala Invites Youths From United States to School. WASHINGTON, July 12. The Guate malan government, through Minister Mandez, has offered the United States five scholarships available for Ameri can boys and' girls desirous of pursuing oourses in Guatemalan institutions of learning. These scholarships Include board, lodgings, uniforms and wash ing, and are good for courses either in military, academic or technical in stitutions. , In throwing Guatemalan institutions open to American students so that they may acquire the Spanish lan guage and obtain an insight into Latin American Ideals, Senor Manuez writes: "My government Is animated by the most ardent spirit of pan-American-Ism." AEROPLANE RIGHTS ITSELF Inventor of Even Keel Submarine Evolves New Type for Air. NEW YORK, July 12. Christopher J. Lake, one of the inventors of the "even keel" submarine boat used in the Uni ted States Navy, has reported to the Aero Club of America that he and his son Simon Lake,, have evolved a type of aeroplane, which tested by being in verted at an altitude of 60 feet, easily recovered its balance and made a safe and easy descent. PROTEST PREVENTS PEACE (Continued from First Page.) Suitchar to Rodovitch, a distance of about 300 miles, the Bulgarians were compelled to retreat, hotly pursued. Bulgarian detachments were crushed and in one instance 14 field batteries were captured. According to a dispatch from Con stantinople the Turkish troops at Tchatalja and Bulalr have received or ders to march for the reoccupatlon of the Ottoman territory now held by the Bulgarians. Preparations are being hastily made for aft advance. Sen-la and Turkey Agree. The Bulgarian delegate, M. Natcho vltch, tonight expresed regret at the failure of his mission, which he had hoped would result in a Turco-Bulgar-ian alliance. The mission of the. Ser vian delegate, M. Pavlovlch, has proved successful. It is said that an agree ment between Turkey and Servla will be signed tomorrow. According to Turkish accounts, the agreement Insures to Turkey the re covery of a large part of Thrace. Ne gotiations for an understanding be tween Turkey and Greece have been proceeding at the same time, it is be lieved, with- good prospects of a satis factory conclusion. . It is announced in official circles that Roumania proposes to annex the quadrilateral formed by Sillstria, Rust chuk, Shumia and Varna. POISON PLOT IS FOILED BAKER WOMAX DISCOVERS STKYCIIXIXE IN PTJMP. Pound of Drug Is Concealed In Pipe So as to Be Forced Into Water When Drawn Clew Found. BAKER, Or., July 12. (Special.) An attempt to poison the family of Mrs. John Bumgarner by strychnine placed In the spout of a well was disclosed yesterday and Sheriff Rand and his deputies have fastened suspicion on a man who probably will be arrested to morrow. The officers have traced the purchase of the strychnine and declare their deductions are well founded. When Mrs. Bumgarner, who lives in South Baker, went to the pump yester day she discovered a piece of paper in the spout. Closer investigation re vealed the fact that the wrapper bore a "poison" label, and that a pound of strychnine had been placed in the well pipe in such a way that it would be forced into the pail when water was taken from the well. That murder of the entire family was attempted is de clared conclusive by the evidence found. Mrs. Bumgarner recently was grant ed a divorce from her husband, who is now on parole from the County Jail, having been convicted of assault with a- dangerous weapon. DALLES CHERRIES BEST MARASCHINO MANUFACTURERS BUY 540 TONS. Oregon's Ttoyal Anns Make Italian Fruit - Look Like Peas, Says Buyer for Big Firm. THE DALLES, Or., July 12. (Spe cial.) One million, eighty thousand pounds of cherries have been marketed by the fruitgrowers of The Dalles and vicinity this year, for which they have received over $40,000 in cash. Of this total of 540 tons, 476 tons were shipped to Portland and San Francisco, where they will be made Into mara schino cherries. The Oregon Packing Company, of Portland, which Is a branch of the California Fruit Packing Company, of San Francisco, shipped 100 tons. The entire crop of the big Seufert orchard, east of this city, which amounted to 84 tons, was also sent to the Oregon Packing Company to be made into maraschinos. "I have been buying cherries for the past 15 years and have traveled all over the world in the work, but I never have seen such perfect cherries as those raised here at The Dalles," said Arthur C. Rass, of the Lyon & Raas Company, who bought the fruit for his firm. "I wish I could have bought 600 tons in stead of 100," he continued. "Other cher ries I have bought look like No. 3 grade compared to these at The Dalles. The Italian cherries which ar.e import ed by New York firms for maraschinos look like French peas beside your Royal Anns." The. Lyon & Raas Company will pur chase several hundred tons of peaches and apples here for manufacture into fruit Juices. . Rains of the last three weeks, al though doing a little damage to the cherries, greatly benefited other fruit crops. FILING DATE NOW PASSED H. J. PARKISON AND GEORGE CORNWALL TURNED DOWN. Friends of Measure, However, Filed Arguments In Favor Pamphlet Publication Prevented. SALEM, Or., July 12. (Special.) An oversight of persons favoring and-opposing, with the exception of friends of the university appropriation bills, will prevent the publication in pamphlet form of arguments for and against the measures to be referred to the people at the special election in November. The Day bill, providing the election, stipulates that the arguments must be filed with the secretary of state not later than 12 days after the filing of the petitions. It is evident that the oversight was due to a provision In the laws provid ing for general elections which stipu lates that the arguments, favoring measures must be filed not later than 115 days before an election and nega tive arguments not later than 105 days before an election. This gives the ad vocates of referred measures an op portunity to answer the arguments of the opposing side. . George Cornwall, of Portland, asked Secretary of State Olcott today to file an argument in support of the work men's compensation act, and was some what perturbed when Informed that the time limit had expired. H. J. Parkl son, who wished to file an argument opposing the reference of the Univer sity of Oregon bills, had the same ex perience. Friends of the measure, how ever, filed their arguments within the time provided by law. Mr. Olcott de clined to file an argument presented bv Dr. Marie Equl, who desires to initiate at the special election an eight-hour women's labor work bill for the reason he had declined to file the bill, holding- tnat Dins cannot De initiated at the special election. Reports From Vessels. (By Marconi Wireless.) Steamer J. B. Stetson, northbound, orf Ventura, at 9 P. M. July 12. Steamer Falcon, passing Point Firmin at 7 P. M. July 12. Steamer Colusa, Seattle to Portland, Round and. Round Go the Seasons-- and .Midsummer has brought a lowered price , to every man's and young man's fancy suit in the store last week's sunshine brought some wonderful' buying, as well. Come and choose from the best fabrics that the world produces, fashioned ready "for your Rearing. A REDUCED PRICE ON EVERY SUIT III JLP off Cathlamet, Columbia River, at 8 P. M. July 12. Steamer Bear, northbound, 12 miles east of Point Conception at 8 P. M. July 12. Steamer Lurline, Honolulu Francisco. 1165 miles out at to San 8 F. M. July 11. Steamer Honolulan, San Francisco to Honolulu, 1037 miles out at 8 P. M. July 11. , - Steamer Nile, San Francisco to Hon olulu, 738 miles out at 8 P. M. July 11. Steamer Herrln, Honolulu to .Mon terey, 630 miles out at 8 P. M. July 11. - Steamer Santo Rita, Honolulu to San Francisco. 858 miles out at 8 P. M. July 11. Steamer Camlno, Portland to San Francisco, 20 miles north of Point Are nas at 7 P. M. July 12. Naval Cadets Visit Spain. VIGO. Spain, July 12. The American battleship Illinois arrived here today from Antwerp with naval cadets aboard. Hammer Falls on Head. EUGENE. Or., July 12. (Special.) RUPTURE IS GUREABLE Results Not Influenced by Age or Time Standing, Says Expert. Rupture is not a tear or breach in the abdominal wall, as commonly sup posed, but is the stretching or dilat ing of a natural opening, therefore subject to closure, said F. H. Seeley, on a late visit to Portland. ' ' The Spermatic Shield Truss closes the opening in ten days on the aver age case, producing results without 6urgery or harmful injections." Mr. Seeley has documents from the Gov ernment, Washington, D- C, for in spection. Anyone interested will be shown the truss or fitted if desired. Sold and fitted only by Laue- Davis Drug Co., sole and exclusive agents for Oregon. Other firms advertising' and selling imitation "Seeley" Spermatic Shield Trusses are impostors. Look for the word patented on each spermatic cor rugated shield. Men's SI 5 Fancy Suits for Men's $20 Fancy Suits for Men's $25 Fancy Suits for Men's $30 Fancy Suits for Men's $35 Fancy Suits for Sacks, Norfolks, English sacks; for men and young men ; all sizes. Soft grays, hairline stripes, club checks, two-tones, fine mixtures. EN SELLING LEADING CLOTHIER MORRISON STREET AT David Reese, foreman of the bridge crews working on the extension of the Booth-Ke'ly Lumber Company's logging road beyond Wendllng. suf We make Screens to measure at surprisingly low prices. Our machin ery and facilities enable us to do so. Phone us for an estimate. If you think our prices are not low enough, don't buy. You are under no obligation. We also manufacture oak flooring. WARD BROS- Phone East 32, B 2633 Kidnev Is more) prevalent and more destructive than any other disease suf fered by mankind, and you should not allow its delusive character to blind you until the advanced stages have been reached. 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