THE SUNDAY OREGONIAHV PORTLAND, DECEMBER 21. 1913.
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PORTLAND. SUNDAY. DEC. . tl. ISO.
Cl-KRtXCT KErOES.A FACT. .-
Passage of the currency bill by-the,
Benate is assurancethat in a few days
It will be law and that our financial
system will" soon be ,on a reasonably
sound foundation. The bill brings our
banks' and our currency up to date,
and finally extinguishes those features
which were only intended to meet -the
.m;rran-iM r'.f civil war and.:' which
should have been obliterated soon af-r
ter the Union was restored. It rentiers
panics a remote contingency, thougfr
it could have rendered them .still more
remote had some of its economically
weak provisions been strengthened.
The substantial agreement of both
parties on the main structure of the
new system renders that part secure
against disturbance, but those detail
which caused a division of opinion in
the Senate committee may in time be
. changed. ' Though' finally 'forced
through by the weight of the Demo
cratic caucus, it won the support of
so many Republicans in the' end that
it cannot be described as a strictly
party measure. Democratic party,
action having procured its passage,
the Democracy is entitled to the credit,
but that party must also be responsi
ble for the defects.
The bill mobilizes the bank reserves
by establishing regional reserve banks
which are to carry a large proportion
of them. - The number of regional
banks has been a subject of contention
between those who hold that' greater
strength Is gained by placing the re
serves in the single reservoir of a cen
tral bank and those who, through
fear of the great power which would
be wielded by a central bank, would
divide reserves among eight or twelve
smaller reservoirs, as the bill provides.
The regional bank scheme, however,
has the merit of being more respon
sive than a central bank to sectional
needs and conditions in a country ot
such great area and .diverse character
as the United States. The provision
for transfer of funds between regional
banks also serves the purpose of a
pipe line by which a depleted reser
voir can be replenished by a full one.
Regional banks are to- rediscount
commercial paper having three
months to run, and agricultural paper
having six months to run. for the
member banks. In certain' ratios
to their capital they may dis-.
count bank acceptances and accept
drafts and bills of exchange cov
ering imports and exports and do
mestic shipments of goods having six
months to run. 1 nese are accommo
dations to be given member banks.
Regional banks may also conduct open
market operations in the same kinds
of paper. They must clear checks for
their members at a reasonable charge.
Government funds are to be deposited
In these banks.
National banks must, and State
banks and trust companies may, be?
come members of the regional banks
of their district by subscribing six per
cent of their own capital and surplus.
No regional bank is to start with less
than $3,000,000 capital and, if. the
stock is not all taken by the banks,
the balance is to be offered to the
public. If not then subscribed. It Is
to be taken and sold by the Govern
ment. Regional banks are to receive
S per cent cumulative dividends. Of
the remaining profits, one-half is to
be paid to the Government as a fran
chise tax and the other half Is to be
accumulated In the United States
Treasury as a depositors' insurance
fund.
The new banks are to be organized
and controlled by a Federal Reserve
Board, composed of the Secretary of
the Treasury and six others, appointed
by the President, at salaries of $12,
000 a year. The six appointed mem
bers are to hold office for six years,
one retiring each year, and at least
two must have had experience In
banking or finance. The board is to
fix discount rates weekly; to examine
and report on regional banks, and
suspend or remove their officers for
misconduct; to suspend and adminis
ter any such bank which violates the
law; to permit or require one regional
bank to discount paper of another at
rates to be fixed weekly; to regulate
and supervise the issue of Federal re
nerve notes and their use as reserves.
This board is to be assisted by a Fed
eral Advisory Council, composed of
one representative elected by each
regional bank board. Each regional
bank is to be governed by a board of
nine directors, of whom six are to be
elected by the members and three ap
pointed by the Federal Reserve Board.
A section of the bill which is most
essential and which has caused much
controversy Is that providing for Fed
eral reserve notes, or asset currency,
and for the retirement of National
bank notes, which are one of the most
objectionable features of the present
system. Federal reserve notes are to
be issued by the Federal Reserve Board
at its discretion, upon application of
regional banks, and are to be secured
by deposit of discounted bills to their
par value, also by a reserve of 40 per
cent in "gold or lawful money." A
graduated scale- of tax is imposed on
notes when the reserve falls below, 40
per cent. These notes are to bo re
deemed in gold at the Treasury or In
gold or lawful money" at any re
gional bank. . National banks may re
tire their . notes by soiling, through
the Federal Reserve Board, to the
regional banks the bonds which secure
them. The regional banks may then
be required to take out new notes to
an equal amount on the same security.
The criticism made on these provis
ions is that they furnish an opening
for Inflation and for draining gold
from the Treasury. Being redeemable
at regional banke with gold, or lawful
motley, the new notes may be paid In
greenbacks, gold certificates or silver,
which is worth only 50 cents on the
dollar. These are not money, as Mr.
Bryan and others of his way of thinking-
imagine, but are only promises- to
pay money. Thus the bank-would be
paying one promise with another, but
when Federal reserve notes are pre
sented at the Treasury, they are to be
paid In nothing; but. gold. ' An oppor
tunity Is thereby created to renew the
endless chain by which the Treasury
was drained of gold during the second
Cleveland administration. An attempt
has been made to remove the bad ef-
i feet of these provisions by a section
re-affirming the gold standard and
empowering the Government to issue
bonds in order to secure gold.
Powers of National, banks are large
ly extended. Country' banks are per
mitted to make farm loans for five
years, limited to 25 per cent of their
capital and surplus. National banks
of 11.000,000 capital or more are per
mitted to establish -foreign branches.
The bill - removes - the worst evils
growing ott" of our present banking
(system and furnishes the chief essen
tials of a-new system, tsy creating a
discount market for commercial paper
and by forbidding loans on 'collateral
security, it stops the flow of reserves
to New York, where they, are used in
stock speculation, and spreads them
oyer the country. By creating asset
currency, it ensures that the supply
of the circulating medium. Shall ebb
and flow with" the ebb .and flow of
bnsiness. By concentrating and, at
the same time mobilizing -reserves and
by requiring regional banks to go to
each other's aid, it bulwarks business
against trouble. It opens the way for
our banks to follow our expanding
"commerce into foreign countries.
. The new system contains loopholes
for abuses, for the closing of which
we must depend on the Federal Re
serve Board. Thus the composition
of that board becomes of supremo im
portance. It should be composed en
tirely of men. of experience in finance,
and we must trust to President Wil
son's wisdom - to appoint such men.
The overlapping of Presidential terms
by the terms of the members will be
a safeguard against that political con
trol which bankers fear, and we must
hope that it will become an unwritten
law to shut out all political consider
ations in filling these offices. If we
can thus divorce finance from politics,
our. financial system may attain that
stability which has enabled the great
banks of Europe to stand unshaken
through -wars and revolutions.
MAKING OFFICE A GOOD THING.
Thomas R. Marshall, as lawyer and
plain citizen of Indiana, would not
be a' 'drawing card worth J 300 per
night to any. lecture bureau.
Thomas R. Marshall, as ex-Governor
of Indiana, would not prove remu
nerative to a lecture bureau at $300
per lecture.
Thomas R. Marshall, if an ex-Vlce-
Presldent of the United States, might
be worth something, but not $300 to a
lyceum management.
Mr. Marshall is not an orator of
National reputation. He is not a sage
under the spell of whose wisdom the
multitude sits enthralled. The public
will pay to hear Mr. Marshall lecture
because he is now Vice-President of
the United States. The people will
pay to hear the official, not the man.
Mr. Marshall, .in accepting a lyceum
offer, is capitalizing his job.
But there, are distinctions between
the case of Mr. Marshall and that of
Mr, Bryan. Candidacy for President
attracted the. attention of the public
to Mr. Bryan-'s eloquence. Demand
for his appearance on the Chautauqua
circuit does not depend on his holding
an office, though it Is perhaps en
hanced thereby. Mr. Bryan, however,
left the capital for the lecture plat
form when a great many felt that duty
required his constant presence in
Washington. Mr. Marshall, whose
sole, duty is to preside . over the Ben
ate, waits until Congress is not in
session. - ' . .
A published statement, excuse or
apology precedes Mr. Marshall's tour.
Its adequacy may be doubted. Lecturing-
for pay . by men high in the
Nation's service is just a little more
dignified and honorable way than that
pursued by some minor public ser
vants of making public office a pri
vate snap.
' -WHERE? "
The currency bill has passed the
United States Senate with the united
support' of all the Democratic Sena
tors. It was a party measure, and,
therefore, the Democratic Senatorial
votes were favorable, for reasons of
party duty and party policy. Six Re
publican Senators and one Progres
sive Senator voted for the bill.
- Senator Cham-berlaln and Senator
La no, ' both, of Oregon, are recorded
among the solid forty-seven Demo
crats. Their reasons for being there
are that they are Democrats, and they
Joined with. all the others in putting
through ah administration bill. It
may not be the only reason, but it is
reason enough.
Senator Poindexter, Progresslveand
Senator Jones',' Republican, both of
Washington, are among the. several
who joined the Democrats to put the
bill through.
The action: of. the Washington? Sen
ators will naturally excite a great deal
of Interest In Oregon.
The measure calls for eight to twelve
regional banks, to be established by
the reserve board. Now let us see
whether the regional bank for the
Northwest If there is one -Is to be
located at Seattle or at Portland.
WILL THEY WEARY OF WAITING ?
Levying of contributions by the
Mexican rebels on foreign, bankers
and other foreign residents and con
fiscation of foreigners' property may
cause other powers to weary of Presi
dent Wilson's policy of watchful wait
ing. They may demand that some
more active steps than watchful wait
ing be taken to protect the interests
of their subjects. What will be Mr.
Wilson's answer?
In his demands that Huerta abdi
cate and that a successor be chosen by
methods dictated by himself, Mr. Wil
son has already Intervened in Mexi
can affairs. Ills announcement that
he will oppose the grant of conces
sions in Latin-American countries to
foreigners is n threat to intervene not
only in. Mexico but la other republics.
In bota"' he .obstructs development and
investment In those countries. He
also announces that he will not rec
ognize governments established by
means that he disapproves. He thus
incurs the enmity of the governments
to -..which . would-be concessionaries
look for support.
The nations with which he is deal
ing, both. American and European,
yield to only one form of intervention
force. As Huerta has defied'him,
so might and probably would Car
ranza or any other Mexican who sup
planted Huerta, and so . would the
rulers of, other so-called republics, if
he limited - his intervention to paper
invitations to comply with his wishes.
We have been told repeatedly that the
Monroe Doctrine can stand only when
backed by a strong navy. This state
ment applies with more emphasis to
the doctrine he has promulgated, for
it is infinitely broader and will, pro
voke far deeper antagonism. Tet he
says he will not back it by force.
We cannot intervene effectively
without using the only ' weapon to
which others will yield: yet we refuse
to use that weapon. We ought never
to have meddled in the quarrels of the
Mexican factions by calling on Huerta
to step out. In the first place, it is not
our, business to choose a ruler for
Mexico nor to decide how Mexico shall
choose one. We should not undertake
thus to dictate, unless we intend to
enforce our decree by the only ef
fective means force of arms. Mr.
Wilson should not have dictated to
Huerta. because he is not prepared, to
use these means and because the
American people are opposed to their
use. .What applies to Mexico applies
with equal force to the pacific propa
ganda against dictators and conces
sions in general. By beginning this
propaganda and then not following it
up, .he is only laying up a store of
humiliation for this country.
GIVE THEM TILE IK FILL.
The- Navy League pronounces the
naval holiday idea absolutely futile
because Germany ridicules it, because
a naval holiday would leave Great
Britain supreme on the sea as long as
it lasted; because- other nations are
striving to overtake her, and because
the holiday would hold back their
gains on her. The Navy League says:
It la practically Impossible to suggest any
uch movement toward peace tha't would not
result In advantage to some European power
with reference to som rival. The watch
ful Jealousy of these nations makes it im
possible to get them to consent to such
measures as would be possible to a nation
situated like the United states.
Disarmament may be made possible
by means which will appear paradox
ical. Great Britain, the first naval
power, and the United States, a close
third to Germany, might compel it by
acting together, both having taken up
the naval holiday idea.- England has
more accumulated wealth and has
more reserve resources in undeveloped
colonies than any other European na
tion. . The United States has more un
developed wealth -than any other na
tion. The. two together could prob
ably outlast any other nation or. com
bination of nations in a race of warship-building.
They could now over
match the triple alliance at sea. They
could race any rival to exhaustion.
If these two nations engage in such a
race and at the same time continually
hold out the offer to stop when the
others have had enough, the time
will come when the war-mad nations
will gladly quit.
Having gained this point, the two
Anglo-Saxon nations would have won
a costly . but bloodless - victory and
would be-in the position to dictate
terms of actual, gradual disarmament
By themselevs disarming at the same
rate as other nations they could prove
their good faith and make the process
continuous. Begun at sea, this process
might be extended to land and, as it
continued, might be speeded up.
Recent struggles between nations
have not all been fought out on the
battlefield. Some are fought out in
the banks and, as the growth of com
merce extends and causes the finan
cial interests of nations to interlace
without regard to political antagonism,
more will tie thus settled. The Mo
roccan controversy is an example.
Germany was disposed to fight, but
drew back when one of her great
bankers Informed the Kaiser that
Germany could not finance a war and
when French banks put on the screws
by withdrawing .loans from German
enterprises. By such means the bank
ers could aid the Anglo-Saxon nations
in their efforts to promote disarma
ment. PORTLAND'S FIELD TO EXPAND.
In estimating the traffic which
could be carried to foreign ports
through the Columbia River gateway
we have been accustomed hitherto to
consider only the products of the Co
lumbia River basin, for the long voy
age around the Horn to Liverpool
forbade us to hope that the products
of the country east ' of the Rocky
Mountains could be carried more
cheaply to the Pacific than to the
Atlantic coast for shipment to Eu
rope. By cutting in two the distance
by sea to Liverpool and other Euro
pean, points the Panama Canal will
extend. far to the eastward Portland's
tributary country. ': It will attract to
this port the products of Utah, Wyo
ming and Montana on .this side of the
boundary . and of Alberta, Saskatche
wan, and even Manitoba on the Cana
dian side.
By rail the distance frem Portland
to Dumore Junction, in the heart of
Alberta, is only 932 miles, while from
Dumore to Montreal, the Canadian
wheat port for the Atlantic, it is 2064
miles. From . Portland to Regina,
capital of Saskatchewan, is 1224
miles; from Regina to Montreal, 1772
miles. From Portland to Winnipeg
is 16S2 miles; from Winnipeg to Mont
real, 1414 miles. Thus the longer rail
haul from Regina to Montreal would
go far to offset the longer sea voyage
from Portland to Liverpool, and from
points in Canada west of Regina Port
land's position would improve with
each mile until this port would have
a decided advantage, for .each mile
added to the distance to Montreal
would be taken from the distance to
Portland.
The strongest competitor of Port
land for the traffic of the Canadian
prairies would be Vancouver, B. C.
That port would have the advantage
of 98 miles less distance, but It would
have the handicap of a climb over the
Rocky Mountains on the main line of
the Canadian Pacific 911 feet higher
than on the Crows Nest line to Port
land; also of a sea voyage longer by
several hundred miles.
The grain traffic eastward is lim
ited by the capacity of the railroads
and by the freezing up of the great
lakes and of the St. Lawrence River,
which compel storage for months to
await the opening of navigation. Can
ada is building a railroad to Hudson's
Bay to relieve the annual blockade
on the other roads, but the bay is
closed by ice for two-thirds of the
year, and storage at the bay ports for
several months will be necessary. The
'cost of storage and interest on the
value of grain must be added to the
cost of shipment by the Atlantic
route. When the Canadian Atlantic
ports are closed by Ice the natural
tendency will be to ship grain to the
Pacific ports, which are always open,
in- order to save the cost of storage
and interest.
From a purely pastoral district
Eastern Montana is rapidly being
transformed into a grain country,
which will add wheat, oats and barley
to the wool and cattle it has hitherto
produced. Wyoming and Utah will
also ship wool to the Pacific Coast
for transportation to Atlantic ports,
and Irrigation will add fruit and other
products to the commodities which
those states will export by way of
Portland.
The commerce of the Columbia
Lpiver is thus in its infancy. It is
bound to swell by accretions or trai
flo which seek this gateway in fol
lowing the lines of least resistance.
Portland needs but to make ready for
it by throwing the gates wide by cut
ting the channel deep and by provid
ing ample, modern docks to handle It.
PREACHING AND PRACTICING ETHICS.
The public or rather that diminish
ing portion of the public which
peruses the columns of The Evening.
Journal has recently received much
beneficial Instruction upon the perti
nent topic of Journalistic ethics.1 It
has taken the form of vehement
criticism of The Oregonian for ventur
ing to print the news in advance of
any contemporary and of further
caustic admonition of The Oregonian
for its attitude toward certain public
officials, particularly Governor West
Senator Chamberlain and ex-Senator
Bourne. ,
The Oregonian has viewed these
recent manifestations of Its neigh
bor's conservative and tolerant spirit
toward ail mankind without any other
feeling than languid curiosity. The
value of its virtuous remarks on the
correct way to conduct a newspaper
may be quite definitely estimated by
Its recent deplorable attempt to
coerce the Federal Court into finding
guilty two wretched defendants, then
on trial, and its subsequent Tiasty and
humiliating retreat from an indefensi
ble breach of decorum through the
pitiful plea that no member of the
Jury which was trying these unfortu
nate men had read the offending
article. In other words, there was no
contempt because the back of the
court was turned, its eyes directed
elsewhere, and its ears . closed when
the attempted assault upon its dignity
and independence occurred.
' In prder to cover up the gross im
propriety of the original offense, the
Journal during the week has con
tained a series of attacks on one of
the attorneys for the defense ex-Senator
Fulton with an exhibition of
malignity not often seen in any local
newspaper. Its ostensible purpose is
to show that the first statements to
which exceptions were properly taken
by Mr. Fulton were Justified by the
jury's action in finding the men
guilty and its further purpose is to
pursue the warfare against him that
was begun while he was a public of
ficer and that has been resumed at
intervals ever since. It Is a mean and
unworthy performance. Mr. Fulton
ought to be permitted to practice law
without -vindictive newspaper inter
ference. The Oregonian has heretofore sug
gested that the evening paper call to
the witness stand certain eminent citi
zens for testimony as to the fairness
of its attitude toward public men.
Among them, besides Mr. Fulton,
might be named Representative Haw
ley, ex-Representative Ellis, ex-Mayor
Simon, sundry members of the State
Legislature, and a great many others.
It ventures to repeat the suggestion.
CAPTAIN SANTA CLAUS.
As Christmas draws near every true
man puts on the full armor of good
fellowship and marches forth to war
upon the demons of gloom and want.
Nor does he forget the little imps that
lurk in the dark corners of his own
home. He drags out the nagging
spirits and the scowling fiend of
Bitter Words' and the ghoul of Love
Grown Cold and thus makes room in
his household for Good Cheer and
Kindliness. In the great world the
true man in his shining armor of
goodfellowship puts misery to flight
wherever he finds it and never rests
until he sees everybody happy. There
are so many hungry mouths to feed,
so many tears to dry. that he finds
all the work his hands can do, but
the true man is not afraid of work
when it makes the world better.
Christmas brings us face to face with
the ideal of what the world will be in
the good time coming, when all men
shall be true and all seasons filled
with the spirit of goodfellowship. The
gray-bearded leader of the Christmas
army. Old Captain Santa Claus, en
lists his recruits for a longer campaign
every Winter. By and by he will keep
up the fight the whole year round and
give the black array of hunger, dis
ease and pain no rest from Christmas
to Christmas.
Old as Captain Santa Claus" is he is
not too old to learn from experience.
He Is a bright scholar who stores up
lessons from year to year and uses
them all in his campaigns. The gray
leader with his ruddy cheeks and
merry bells is a great deal wiser than
he was fifty years ago. He has become
more practical than he was then. His
sleigh with the reindeer team rattled
down the chimney in the old days
with Just as big' a load as it brings
this year, but the treasures were not
so well chosen. Captain Santa Claus
showered his favorites with Jolly
trifles, never dreaming of the chance
he had to be useful as well as gay.
Nowadays he is more sensible. There
is as much happiness in practical
things as in the frivolous, more per
haps, and so he heaps his sleigh with
blankets instead of tissue paper orna
ments and fills stockings with toys
that work like the machines of grown
men. Toys he still brings. They are
the biggest part of his load and al
ways will be, for Christmas without
play would lose Its spell, but the toys
are of nearer kin to life, and Santa
Claus finds to his astonished Joy that
the more playthings act like real work
the better the children love them.
Heaven forbid that Santa Claus
should ever grow so sensible as to
forget about the joys of fairyland
where his palace stands and his rein
deer graze when they are out of the
harness. His purpose now in his green
old age is to make a fairyland out of
the whole earth. He loves his home
so well that be wants everybody to
share its blessings. And since men
must work he plans to lighten their
tasks with music and merriment
Very sagely he begins with the chil
dren and teaches them that there is
poetry, romance and goodfellowship
hidden in engines and wheels. Men
have always shuddered at their own
creations. Steam has become their
hard-working slave, but they write no
songs about him as they do about
oxen and horses. They are still a
little awed by his strength, kindly as
it Is and rich in helpfulness. When
Santa Claus has led the children to
make friends with steam and elec
tricity by his alluring gifts then we
shall have a new poetry which will
sing the works of modern man as the
old minstrels sang of swords and
lances. We shall discover that the
furnace door opens into fairyland.
The flying machine will end Its trips
on the tops of the Delectable Moun
tains.
Like Caesar and Napoleon, Captain
Santa Claus Is showing himself to be
a mighty constructive genius. He has
become greater and better than a mili
tary leader. In the old days he
thought of nothing but salving woe
with gifts. -The gifts wore out and
the woe remained. Now he turns his
thoughts to creating a new world
where there shall be no more misery
than in his own fairyland. He still
salves the wounds of sorrowful men,
but he is laying plans to destroy the
causes of wounds. This Is why his
campaign continues all the year. Mis
ery does not wait for Christmas to fix
its teeth in the hearts of men. It is
ever on the watch for prey, ever
breeding new offspring. Captain Santa
Claus has . organized companies . of
troops to pursue the fiend into his lair
and slay him before he can begin his
cruel work. The Jolly old sleigh
driver finds time to think deeply on
the problems that perplex the world.
He has become a student and organ
izer.' But with all his growing experi
ence and wisdom he is as cheery as
ever. It would take more woe than
there is. on earth to. chill the fires in
his brave-old heart. He knows that
love can conquer woe if It persists,
and his "resolution Is taken never to
give up. One-of the best of his mod
ern plans of campaign is to keep some
of his gifts for other seasons instead
of heaping them all upon us at Christ
mas time. In the Summer weeks
when the sun scorches and the winds
blow drearily through the city streets
he finds a way to take little children
out among the trees and fresh flowers
of the country. He sends excursions
down the cool river. He sets the
bands playing in the' parks after
nightfall for the children of rich and
poor alike. For Old Captain Santa
Claus Is a great democrat who be
lieves that God means all his little
ones to share in the blessings of the
world.
Best of all the strategy which Santa
Claus is devising against his ancient
enemies, pain and want Is the ; new
education he has brought our chil
dren. It is an education as strange
and novel as the modern Christmas
spirit It defends the little human
being against future misery by teach
ing him how to help himself. It unites
hands, head and heart in a close-knit
alliance against want. When Santa
Claus has carried out his plans to the
end it will be Christmas the year
round, because every man "and every
woman, will be trained to face life
freely and boldly and meet its diffi
culties with knightly courage.
NEWSPAPER ENGLISH.
With schools of Journalism spring
ing up all around us it is natural to
see the learned making a special study
of what they call "newspaper Eng
lish." Of course there is r.o such
thing. It is a mere phantasm of their
erudite brains, but it gives them some,
thing to exercise their fancy upon and
provides a professor here and there
with agreeable occupation. So we
suppose the fiction has its uses. When
newspaper writing differs , markedly
from other writing which seeks to
state facts tersely and attractively it
Is not English. It is slang or argot or
fustian. Some of the baseball articles
which vivify the pages of the sporting
papers exemplify this truth fairly
well. They reek with expressions
which require translation to be un
derstood. Their grammar Is esoteric'
Their vocabulary is strange. To call
such writing - English and try to dis
cover special rules governing it is a
waste of time. Almost any page from
"The Vicar of Wakefield," "Gulliver's
Travels" or "Robinson Crusoe" is
good newspaper English, and it is so
because it gives the facts and reflec
tions which the author has in mind
clearly, crisply and rapidly.
Newspaper readers have no time to
spend over long sentences. Mere
rhetoric is an offense to them, as It
ought to be to everybody. The daily
press eschews ornamentation for the
best of reasons. It costs money and
it does no good. Similarly the Greeks
managed to get along without much
ornamentation on their public build
ings. Where a figure could be intro
duced as part of the general plan
they made the most of" the opportu
nity, but they never plastered a statue
upon a temple simply to look pretty.
In the same way it is wise indeed for
a newspaper writer to slip in a poetic
allusion when it glides naturally along
with the subject in hand. He may
descant upon philosophy if he knows
enough and if the philosophy happens
to be of current interest. He may
even quote Latin when Rome is the
topic of the day. The newspaper
reader's appetite Is omnivorous, but it
has to be catered to at the right time
and always with the proper spices.
AH the pertinent rules for newspa
per writing might be derived from
"Robinson Crusoe" which will forever
remain the ideal example of good re
porting. Not a word too many, not a
slipshod sentence, not an oDscure ex
pression, not a solitary lapse irom
literary agility can be found in the
whole book. ... The rising schools of
Journalism do marvelous wisely to
make their students read the great
writers, but it would be a bad mis
take to imitate them. To be sure,
most good styles have been formed by
imitation. All the great poets began
by copying some master whom they
loved, as did the great painters. Ben
jamin Franklin formed his inimitable
Journalistic style by committing the
substance of long passages to memory
and then writing them out in his own
words. Thus he modeled his own
style on that of the literary magnates.
Thomas Jefferson advises young law
yers to pursue the same course, -and
it would be a blessed relief to those
who have to read their articles and
listen to their speeches if they did so.
But there comes a time in the ca
reer of every person who is born to
be a Writer when he ceases to imitate
and forms his own style. Just as no
two human beings are exactly alike,
so no two good styles are identical in
everything. If a person can really
write he will express his own individ
uality in his English. Let the shears
and the blue pencil do their worst it
will still, be there" and in course of
time it will win room for Itself in
some newspaper. Personality makes
style In the daily papers the same as
in "Paradise Lost." The foundation
of good newspaper English Is a full
mind. One who knows nothing more
than the bare facts he wants to nar
rate is not likely to narrate them well.
To make a model paragraph one must
know a thousand things he does not
intend to put into it, just as a good
teacher enriches his lectures with the
drainings from a whole world of truth
which he does not telf. The more
there Is in the head of a born news
paper writer the more lively and in
teresting his style will be.
Lest we be misunderstood we hasten
to say that learned and , profound
styles, as they are called, have no
place ki a r?wspaper. We doubt if
they are much wanted anywhere. I
Erudite dullness obscures knowledge
but seldom helps impart it. Like
Camilla, the newspaper writer must
skim over the grain without bending
a stalk or - shaking off a dewdrop.
"Swift light and easy" should be his
motto. The moment he becomes sol
emn he is lost though he may swim
in sentiment as much as he likes.
Readers enjoy a good weep better
even than a laugh. The old-fashioned
theory that true learning can only be
imparted in polysyllables and long
sentences has not the hold it once had
on our faith. Such a doctrine did
very well as long as knowledge was
deemed the exclusive appanage of the
leisured classes. Now that everybody
feels privileged to know everything
learning is simplifying its style. The
truth ''of the-matter is that the pres
sure of democracy is simplifying all
departments of literature. , The best
recent poetry reads as if an exception
ally bright -reporter had written it
The new books on science are aimed
evidently at newspaper readers, for
they use much the same language as
the daily papers, and their learning
loses nothing by It. Journalism has
set a pace which all the rest of the
world seems likely to follow. The
newspaper man will therefore do well
to keep his responsibilities in mind
lest he defile the heritage of English
that has come down from the past.
Writing in Health Culture, Dr. El
mer Lee says: "Bathing is an ac
quired habit unnecessary and even
harmful. A bathtub is an enemy In
the house." Now we know why the
Bulgarians, whose girls never bathe
from their birth to the eve of' their
wedding, are leaders in manly vigor
and in civilization, as they recently
showed in their encounter with the
Greeks and Servians, and why the
English and Americans are weak,
puny mortals who can scarcely drag
themselves around on their conquer
ing career. The Ideally healthy, vig
orous Americans are the tramps, to
whom dirt serves as an extra shirt,
while the athletes, who take a shower
after exercise and who win honors at
Olympic games, are living evidence
of our physical deterioration. We
have often wondered why our cham
pion athletes were such decrepit spe
cimens of humanity. We thank Dr.
Lee for the explanation they bathe.
The best security of health is to be
come encrusted with dirt
In a speech at the New York Lotus
Club Interstate Commerce Commis
sioner Prouty intimated that the Gov
ernment could not grant an increase
of railroad rates "until it knows that
the money so raised shall be prudently
and properly expended;" and that this
would be when railroads cannot spend
money except for railroad purposes,
cannot buy securities of other roads,
cannot issue securities without Gov
ernment consent and "cannot put the
securities to any use except those
specified." To this the New York
Times says, investors will respond
"Amen," adding that Mr. Prouty's
words "should be a reassurance; they
cannot be construed as a menace."
Government control may thus be a
help to the railroads in raising money
and a. -protection to investors against
its misuse.
A bill providing tor extension of
Agricultural College work has been
introduced by Senator Hoke Smith
and a bill for vocational training, par
ticularly in farming, has been intro
duced by Senator Page. The two will
probably be consolidated and made a
Democratic party measure. The Smith
bill appropriates $480,000 the first
year and an increased amount each
subsequent year, until a maximum of
$3,500,000 is reached, for the purpose
of taking the college to the farmer.
This bill aims to educate the adult,
while the Page bill provides education
for the boy.
So Tom MarshalMs to get $300 each
for his lectures. And to. think that
the lid was put on to prevent his
speaking gratuitously not long ago.
Slang Is really a fine thing, says a
Wisconsin professor, who urges that
it be used in the schools. Better have
yer think-tank tinkered, prof.
A San Francisco woman refuses ali
mony from her divorced millionaire
husband. Verily, there are signs that
the millennium approacheth.
Portland provides actual work at
remunerative wages for idle men,
which is far better than merely talk
ing about doing something.
It appears as if the Carabaos will
escape with a slap on the wrist for
incurring the Presidential displeasure.
We hardly know whether or not It
would be appropriate to wish the
parcel post man a merry Christmas.
It takes Mt. Hood and the moon to
reproduce a truly spectacular repro
duction of a high-grade eruption.
Barbed wire fences along the Mexi
can border are urged. What we need
is a barbed wire Mexican policy.
Professor Taft fears the conse
quences of Filipino independence. He
got his views on the ground.
San Francisco will have the largest
water 'supply outside of New York.
What will they do with it?
Chinese provinces agree with Yuan
to abolish Parliament. They will next
be trying to abolish Yuan.
Teaching eugenics is a menace to
the race, according to Bird S. Coler.
Anything to be contrary.
There are those, of course, who will
do their Christmas shopping late Wed
nesday night.
Vice-President Marshall will make a
lecture tour. Will he carry his own
audience?
Shopping by the eleventh-hour bri
gade will proceed furiously from now
on.
Santa will leave the currency bill
in the White House stocking after all.
Are you going to help the poor or
merely dream about it?
Father will branch out shortly with
gaudy neckwear.
Looks like a sunny Christmas for
sunny Oregon.
Poultry prices drop slightly. Must
be a mistake!
The rphone trust has rung off.
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
A Letter to Santa.
Dear Santa Claus: On Christmas day.
Many the things that 1 require;
Many the gifts for which I pray,
As I write the list of my heart's desire;
But It you feel that the list is long.
Cut it shorter, as It should be.
But leave one item I've written It strong
Santa Claus. bring mora friend to me.
Hundreds now, do I count my friends.
Wise and simple and grave and (lad;
Lone and longer the list extends
Scribbled on Memory's writing pad;
Longer stlU would 1 have It grow.
Stretching out to Infinity;
Let my other requirements go
Santa Claus, bring more friends to me.
There be some false and there b some true.
Come to my life in friendship name.
And all are one; for I always knew
My life the richer, because they cams;
So fickle or false or true or sweet.
Broader still let the contact be:
Light and the darkness make day -complete-Santa
Claus, bring more friends to me.
Tears and laughter, and love and bat.
And living visions that upward roll;
These are. the treasures that lie in stat
Within the vaults of the human soul;
Locked In a myriad hearts thev lie.
j That open only to friendship's key;
lucw hi a iiib ucurea lor wnicn X sir"
Santa Claus, bring more friends to me.
Lock of my Inner heart I break:
And wide Its doors to my friends I throw.
And the gifts I give and the gifts I take
Rlchor still in the exchange grow.
So toss the rest of my list away
- lit that one item all others be
And for my present on Christmas day,
Santa Claus, bring more friends to ma.
, ...
"Sir," said the courteous office boy,
"there Is a boob fruit vender down the
street advertising "-naval' oranges."
"No doubt my son," I replied, "He
Is having a sail."
...
Solemn Thought.
The Christmas punch bowl's flowing o'er
But still my inner spirits mumble;
"Though gay this uight. In one week more
You'll hear the water wagon's rumble."
....
Friend Charles suggests that the
term "tango" must be derived from
"tanglefoot"
...
Passing- It On.
"Her face is like a poem" Ah!
How much her lines mistreat her!
Her face is faulty as her feet.
That's why I hate to meter.
New York Evening Sun.
But if no poem is her faca.
There is no cause to ban tier;
For though you meter any place.
You do not have to scan her.
"Why do you limp 7" queried the kind
hearted reformer.
"I had a big felon on my toe," said the
" prisoner.
"Did they do anything for you?"
"Yes, they locked him up in another
cell."
. . -
In very ancient Babylon,
They had some clever tricks.
And one was writing letters on
Just ordinary bricks.
Thus ancient lovers may have killed
Two birdies with one blow.
By saving billets doux to build
Themselves a bungalow.
.
In accordance with the demand of
the Spug for only inexpensive, useful
and much-needed gifts, I hereby recom
mend for all Spugs on Christmas day,
a present of a brace of kicks, to be
delivered by the thickest-booted mail
man in the service.
...
Break, break, break
In the frying pan, oh eggs.
And would that my tongue could utter
The things that my spirit begs.
Oh would that we might go back
To the beautiful days of old.
When the morning omelette was not worth
Far more than its weight in gold.
...
Approximate History.
28,141 B. C. Sandow V. Boartusk ap
propriates basket -of fish caught by
Jethro Thinshanks. and by sending the.
heads and scales to Jethro's widow on
the following- day, becomes famed as a
philanthropist. '
950 B. C. Jason heads first big
stampede to the new gold diggings at
Colchis.
350 B. C. Demosthenes opens cor
respondence school in oratory in
Athens; special attention to correc
tion of stuttering and stammering.
70 B. C. Julius Caesar declares that
he would rather be director of the
Podunculum brass band than play seo,
ond trombone In the Imperial Homan
Symphony Orchestra.. '
1913 A. D. Woodrow Wilson threa
tens to make the Carabao Club walk
the plank of the good ship "Piffle."
. . .
Orviile Wright says he has developed
on aBrnnlane that is safer in the air
than the aviator. Which seems natural.
For unlike the structure of wheels and.
wings and things, the aviator
has little bones to break
And little arms and legs to ache-."
Or words to that effect
JOT IN PROSPECT.
Why talk of the "war of the sexes"
As though men and women were
Such chatter the spirit but vexes
And might lead to quarrels and blows.
We're all of us sisters and brothers.
With no cause for quarrels or strife.
And what blesses one blesses others
Louisa will soon De my wnei
Louisa says: "Let's make concessions;
T7A. Aa.t la anm A aarriflr.a lift.
You give me your worldly possessions
And 1 11 give my Kinigms ii juu;
Ah, love will hostility banish!
So nothing but Joy wui do Known,
And all forms of sorrow will vanish
When I make Louisa my own!
An era of bliss is now due man,
'Twill come when we follow this plan:
Let the bank book be kept by the
woman
The cook book be read by the man!
Then the lamb shall lie down with- the
lion
And all shall be happy and free.
And a great peace shall come upon
Zion
When Louisa is married to me!
New York Sun.
THEIR COMPROMISE.
"Polly, put the kettle on,
We'll all take tea!"
Bill of fare we'll settle on
If we can agree.
Father wants his ham and eggs,
' Mother wants plain toast.
For a steak my brother begs.
But I want cold roast
Coffee Is the beverage
My pursuit demands
Gives a man a leverage
For his brain and hands.
Chocolate is father's drink,
Milk will do for brother.
These put mother on the blink
Tea's the thing for mother.
Then what of the cereal?
Then what of the fruit?
What? There's no material
For food or dispute?
Mother is her mettle on
With ber all agree;
"Polly, put the kettle on.
We'll all take tea!"
Chicago News.
' HER FIGURE.
"He fell in love with her figure."
No wonder, for she was a peach.
He shook at the thought of proposing
She seemed so far out of reach.
"He fell in love with her figure."
She was constantly in his thoughts.
No wonder he loved her so madly
Her figure was one and six naughts!
Joe Cone.
, " ' " . ' - - ' 1