THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 13, 1914.
LETTERS FROM VOTERS GIVE VIEWS OTSf PENDING ISSUES
Proposed Amendments and Various Initiative Measures to Be Decided at Polls in November Are Discussed From Different Angles by Oregonian Readers.
10
Recent Fatal Auto Crash
Used as "Dry" Appeal.
Harry P. Coffin Says Accident Which
Cost Three Liven Should Be Incen
tive to Vote for Prohibition.
PORTLAND, Oct. 6. (To the Editor.)
Nothing in the past two years,
since the organization of the automo
bile traffic squad, has been so force
lully and tragically portrayed to our
community, than the preventable auto
mobile accident recently on the East
Side, in which three men lost their
lives and one, at this writing, is hov
ering between life and death in the
hospital.
Whisky did it that's all.
But what a sad consummation.
Three, possibly four homes are forever
saddened, and the heart of a mother
is throbbing this night, because her
boy has been Jailed, all on account of
a curse that has sent many a good
man down into the deeps of despair.
Liquor has no place in an automobile.
It is prima facie evidence of incompe
tency to operate the same. It eclipses
the "safety first" principle in the mind
of the driver, it creates a temptation,
which if indulged in, is sure to bring
on disastrous results. In the words of
our beloved Jurist, Henry McGinn:
'Any man who drinks booze and drives
an automobile, is driving a murderous
weapon and cannot expect any mercy
at my hands."
Why place this temptation before the
motorist or the man in a like position
which requires a clear and level head?
It is so necessary for a man running
an auto, an engineer guiding the train
or the pilot steering the boat, to have
his faculties unimpaired keen as na
ture endowed him, rather than dimmed
by the use of alcoholic stimulants.
From time to time, we hear a voice
raised in defense of personal liberty.
How far should personal liberty go?
Should we extend personal liberty to
this class of men who are unable to
exercise this privilege lawfully? If the
whisky-user, himself, was the only one
to suffer, that in itself would be an
army of slaves of the liquor evil, but
when you consider the numbers in
volved who are deprived of their rights
of personal liberty by drunken hus
bands and fathers who spend their
lives in hovels with less comfort than
the inmates of our penitentiaries,
whose wives and children crouch with
fear .'hen they hear the footsteps of
the one to whom they should be able
to look for protection, what about the
personal liberty of this large class?
Elimination of this evil is in the
hands of our citizens. It should be an
appeal to all to do everything within
their power to remove this blot from
the fair name of our state, by exercis
ing the right given them through the
medium of the polls, in wiping out for
all time this traffic in liquor, thus giv
ing us true personal liberty and assist
ing materially In making our path
ways and roadways safe.
HARRY P. COFFIN.
Change of Legislature Plan
Suggested.
W. L. Jackson, of Eugene, Would
Have One Home Elected at Large
and the Other by Districts as Eco
nomic Procedure.
(3 UGENE, Or., ' Oct. 16. (To the Ed
L itor.) I can see little present use
of abolishing the State Senate except
as such abolition would lead the way
to some other improvement or substi
tution in the framework of the state
government as regards legislative mat
ters.
. The main trouble with the Legisla
ture is a lack of responsibility or what
seems to be the same to the people
who name the Legislature. This was
getting so bad as to cause the partial
substitution of the referendum and
initiative for the Legislature. There
are some evidences of good results,
"but the new system shows signs of
going to seed, and may do so after a
lapse of time due to causes not neces
sary to mention here.
Many processes have to run a cer
tain course before their effects, bene
fits or uses can be seen or appreciated.
I believe the people, however, or
certain portion of them,, are seeking
enlightenment and are willing to adopt
or discard measures and methods ' as
they find them useful or otherwise.
W'hile the State Senate seems to
many a redundant institution, it has
possibly a few qualifying effects. The
trouble with it, as with the House, is
that its members while legislating for
the state as a whole are elected from
districts In the state, and so are sub
jected to the temptation to make per-
. sonal benefit the desideratum by work
ing for the interests of the districts
they represent, instead of the state as
a whole, for which they are supposed
to act. If they were elected on a gen
eral ticket or by the state as a whole
this temptation would be largely, if not
entirely, done away with. There is no
reason why it would not be as demo
crauc a system as tne present one.
The people would have the say as re
gards the men they send there, whether
on a general state or local vote, espe
daily with modern methods of com
municatlng intelligence and informa
tion. At least one House, and that ner.
haps the Senate, should be elected that
way. And the Senate being the smaller,
would be the body for it. This would
cut out or shut off a large part of the
log-roiling or trading off on bills, es
peclally where money is expended, and
a large part, if not all. the state's
business involves the expenditure of
money to conduct it or put it into ef
feet. It would be better possibly to
have both Houses elected the way In
dicated, but as a trial perhaps the one
House would do for a while (one elect
ed by general vote and the other by
districts). As time went on nerhans
it would be found as well or better to
apply it to both Houses, and possibly
It might be found to work so well
that one House could be dispensed with
to tne consequent saving of state fundi
and reducing of complications attend
. ing the present system and resultant
simplifying of state affairs and purging
oi unaesiraDie elements rrom them.
W. L. JACKSON.
Woman Fights Prohibition as
Drunk Breeder.
May Griffiths Declares Reveal of
Law by Other States Should Suf
fice to Warn Oregon Against Its
Adoption.
luttiiA.-ND, uct. is. (To the Editor.)
A writer in The Oregonian last
Sunday speaking of his son, says:
"If prohibition prevails In Oregon,
the chances for him to become a drunk'
ard is decreased a thousand times.'
If the gentleman who made the as
sertion knew anything about the re
sults of prohibition he would hardly
have ventured on such dangerous
around.
"Decreased the chances of a boy's be
coming a drunkard a thousand times!
Think of it! Then that is why Ver
mont repealed prohibition after S3
years' trial.
They wanted their boys to get drunk.
New Hampshire, and other nigniy mora
state, also repealed prohibition after
48 years' trial because they wanted a
thousand boys to get drunk where one
had gotten drunk before.
That is why in Massachusetts after
that state had tried prohibition for 22
years that the successful fight to re
peal the law was led by such men as
Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes. President
Eliot, of Harvard, and ex-Governor
Andrews, Massachusetts' great war
Governor.
Such men as these would, of course,
be against a law that kept boys from
becoming drunkards. These men had
seen the workings of prohibition; with
them it was not a theory that they
wanted to get rid of or adopt, but a
condition that was breeding drunkards,
hypocrites and lawbreakers.
It certainly does seem strange that
in spite of prohibition's ugly history,
men can still be found who will make
such wild assertions about the good
that it would accomplish. If it had
ever accomplished any good, it - never
would have been repealed in a single
state: yet we have before us the spec
tacle of a law being advocated for
Oregon that has been repealed in other
states because the test of experience
has proved it a fraud and a farce.
How many men can expect good re
sults from a law of this kind is in
comprehensible; many reasons must
lead to this conclusion if considered
without prejudice; but Abraham Lin
coln gave the real reason in his speech
before the Springfield Washingtonian
Temperance Society when he said:
"It is not much in the nature of man
to be driven to anyting; still less to
be driven about that which is ex
clusively his own business."
Prohibition Is an attempt to drive;
and to be driven is contrary to human
nature.
Is it any wonder that this law has
proved a failure?
Does Oregon want to experiment
with a law that has been repudiated
as often as this one? .
Men and women of Oregon, you, each
and everyone of you, know that you
cannot be driven about that which you
consider "exclusively your own busi-
ess," therefore it would seem that
common sense would lead everyone to
conclude that 'the other fellow felt the
same. In which case there would be
mighty few Prohibition votes.
MAY GRIFFITHS.
Mrs. Duniway Makes Plea
for Common Schools.
Necessity for Carefully - Trained
Teachers and Xeed of Southern
Oregon Normal Cited to Help Chil
dren. rvORTLAND, Oct. 16 (To the Edi
mr tor.) There is no line of endeavor
to which one has or can lend his in
fluence, however small, with a greater
ense of satisfaction than that of aid
ing in the educational Uplift of our
people. As Horace Mann has said.
In this country and in our times, no
man is worthy of the honored name
of statesman who does not include the
highest practical education - for the
people in all his plans of admlnlstra
tion."
Each of our educational institutions
has its circle of devoted friends, but
we can all Join on the mutual ground
f devotion to our common school sys
tem. It Is the foundation upon which
all schools of higher education must
rest. Look over the states of our
Union, yes, the nations of the world.
nd where you find a devotion to higher
Ideals and a general ambition for the
pportunities of higher education, you
find a well-developed common school
system.
And especially should our common
schools interest all of us, because of
the unfortunate fact that many of our
hildren find It Impossible to take ad
antage of educational opportunities
beyond this school. All of the train
ing they receive for citizenship and
sefulness to their fellow beings must
be obtained there.
How important it is, then, that these
schools should have the best to give
the children attending them. This
tate spends over Jo, 000, 000 annually
on its common schools. Do our tax
payers get a fair return for this money?
Assuredly not.
The secret of the efficient school
lies in the teacher. As is the teacher,
so is the school. Putting the children
under teachers untrained. Incompetent
and inefficient is to deprive them of
an unquestionable right during the time
when their entire futures will be de
termined. These thoughts result from a con
sideration of the effort to reopen the
Southern Oregon State Normal School
at Ashland. The people of Southern
Oregon need this school that their
children may be under trainers who
know how to train. From a single
standpoint of economy, then, our com
mon schools should be in the hands
of trained teachers.
I hope that the good people of Ore
gon, and especially of our section of
the state, where educational advant
ages are bountifully offered, will help
to give our fellow citizens of Southern
Oregon this school so richly deserved.
ABIGAIL SCOTT DUNIWAY.
Aid Western Teachers to
Normal School Asked.
Former Resident of "Cow Country"
Tells Oregon Need Likely to Be
Overlooked Among Many Meas
ures. M
ARSHFIELD. Or, Oct. 16. (To the
Editor.) I am glad to be able td
testify that the effort to reopen i th
Southern Oregon Normal School is not
local to Ashland nor Jackson County
it appeals to every section of the state
where schools are suffering for the lack
of trained teachers.
The art of teaching correctly Is, by
nature, only conferred on a few; th
great majority must learn from the ex
perience of others. In teaching, as i:
other trades and professions, the best
work is performed by those especially
trained for the performance of that
duty. The shameful fact is that Oregon
parents pay less attention to the quali
ficatlons of those persons Into whose
hands they place the moulding of their
futures than do thetr gardeners, dress
makers or barbers. a
The taxpayers watch tne expenditure
of their public funds in road buildin
and salary accounts with keen interest.
but do they insist that the $5,000,000,
and more, that is spent annually in
Oregon on our common schools shall
be economically handled though teach
ers who know their business? If no
is not a large part of that money
wasted?
I appeal for the Southern Oregon
Normal School to put trained, compe
tent teachers into our common schools
on the stand of economy. Anything less
is rank extravagance.
Today it is necessary to send to other
states for a sufficient number of trained
teachers. Why do this and allow th
children 'of other states take the place
which rightfully belongs to our own
The raw material in Oregon, for this
business, is as good as any in th
world. What we need Is more training
schools to keep pace with the wonder
ful development that is taking place in
this rapidly growing State of Oregon.
x. Jtt. UU.K, 0, J-.
Criticism Made of Consolida
tion Amendment.
Arranarement for Forming "fw
County Out of Remnant or Ceding
Area to Others Thought Imprac
ticable. PORTLAND, Oct 17. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian last Sun
day was a list of the measures appear
ing on the ballot to be voted on at the
forthcoming election, in which you
made, recommendations to the voters.
I observe you advised that No. 304 be
approved. Surely your conclusion must
have been reached hastily, occasioned,
no doubt, by the pressing demands on
your time.
The amendment is intended to pro
mote efficiency and reduce expense of
government by permitting consolida
tion of city and county government un
der certain conditions, the real pur
pose being to consolidate the govern
ments of Multnomah County ana the
City of Portland. This Is deemed by
many to he a very wise move, as it
thought it would reduce our expense
of management probably one-fourth to
one-third.
In the proposed amendment the pres
ent constitutional provision is quoted,
to which is added the following proviso:
Provided, however, that In any county
containing an Incorporated city having more
than 100.000 inhabitants, the legislative as
sembly, or the people by the Initiative, may
provide for the establishment of a new
county with Its boundaries cotermlnua and
coextensive with the boundaries of such city
nd lor a consolidation of the county ana
city governments In such county and city,
and also for the creation of a new county
out of that portion of the old county lying
outside of the boundaries of such incorpor
ated city or for the annexation of such out-
de territory to adjoining counties.
The limitation placed In the act au
thorizing the creation of the new coun
ty, that its boundaries shall be "co-
terminus and coextensive with tne
boundaries of such city," surely re-
sericts the new county's limits forever
to the present limits of the City of
Portland, except by further special
legislative enactment they be enlarged.
This is certainly contrary to common
sense. Then. too. the provision for tne
creation of a new county out of that
portion of the old county lying outside
of the boundaries of such city" (the
present City of Portland), would result
in the new county and -uny ot jt-ori-land
being wholly surrounded by and
contained in the other new county (the
present Multnomah County, less the
territory of the present City of Port
land), unless the other provisions of
the law were availed of and the re
maining portion of what is now Mult
nomah County, Instead of being made
into a new county, should be attached
to either Hood River, Clackamas,
Washington or Columbia County, or
that it be divided up among them. What
preposterous condition. When the
city increased in size (as it surely
must) it would present the spectacle
of one county's residents actually liv-
ng in another county; one county over
lapping the territory of another coun
ty; the county seat of one county Deing
partially located in another county.
This measure won t do as it is pre
sented. I believe, upon further reflec
tion, you will change your recommen
dation and urge that it be defeated, so
that the next Legislature may offer an
amendment which will really permit
the desired change being made and yet
allow the city to grow without having
to go to the Legislature or resort to
the initiative every time It is thought
desirable to attach a new addition to
the city. C. W. HODSON.
This communication seems to call for
a reply. The Oregonian directs atten
tion to the amendment No. 314-315. on
which it also advised an affirmative
vote. This amendment authorizes en
actment of a method, now lacking, for
merging adjoining cities. Existing law
provides a plan for extending city lim
its into unincorporated territory. If
the amendment Mr. Hodson criticises
s passed. No. 314-315 should also pass.
Consolidation of county and city gov
ernments must be approached carefully
and, of course, a preliminary extension
of the city boundaries would be essen
tial. That preliminary seemes to us en
tirely feasible if merging of other
towns is possible. If the two amend
ments carry the consolidation of city
and county governments will be prac
ticable. Bill Aimed at Desert Land
Board Called Sly.
A. "W. Trow Declares Measure Is
Spiteful and Abolition of Body
Now Would Create Chaos.
iNTARIO, Or Oct 15. (To the Ed
" itor.) When great numbers of men
are out of employment and without the
necessary money or credit to estab
llsh themselves upon a farm, it appears
astounding that anyone should advo
cate the penny-wise and pound-foolish
policy announced in the bill to abol
ish the Desert Land Board.
This bill wrecks the entire system
of water laws, which are now doing
great service for the development of
the arid lands of Eastern Oregon, and
which system, if continued, will afford
employment to thousands of men in
Western Oregon through industries to
utilize the wasting water powers of
that section. This bill should be over
whelmingly defeated. Vote 347 X No.
This bill Is clearly directed against
the State Engineer, who has been do
ing valiant service for the development
of Oregon. He is to be legislated out
of office and another engineer in, at
an increased salary. It looked to me
like a partisan measure, as I am in
formed the man to be legislated Into
office is a Democrat having switched
a-ecently from the Republican party. If
this is not a partisan measure in dis
guise, then why was not the new en
gineer left as at present, to the selec
tion of the people? It designates the
project engineer of the Tumalo project
Who is he? What are his qualifica
tions for leadership in framing com
prehensive laws for the development of
our streams? Until such laws are
placed upon our statute book, this Tu
malo project is the last that will ever
be undertaken by the people of Oregon
The plan is wrong. We need construc
tive statesmanship of the highest order
at the present time. We cannot under
take vast internal improvements to
make happy homes for others through
burdensome taxation of our presen
population.
Our present State Engineer, who I
also a lawyer, has led Oregon to an
enviable reputation among the states
of the Union, and this insidious attempt
to legislate him out of office should
not he tolerated. He was overwhelm
ingly nominated at the Republican
primaries. He also was indorsed by the
Democratic party. Are not the peopl
to- be trusted? Is it necessary that
some guardian angel protect us by
initiating a sly measure where the will
of the people Is to be defeated by
false cry of economy?
Many of us believe that this is purely
a spite measure, back of which we see
the skilful Hand of the great corpora
tions, and enemies of the public wel-"
fare.
That the present State Engineer has
made enemies is admitted. We read in
the public press where he persistently
refuses to accept canal systems until
tne delects are cured and settlers pro
tected. I know of cases where he has
turned down promoters who were try
ing to deceive settlers with their wild
cat schemes. The water code has been
attacked in the courts by enemies of
the system of water titles for which he
stands. I have Indirect information in
which I have confidence, that one of
the great speculative land corporations
of Eastern Oregon is backing this bill
In the hope that through the change In
administration It may obtain an ad
ministrative officer opposed to the
present system, which is giving entire
satisfaction.
In Malheur Valley we are in the midst
of an adjudication of water rights
which will revive development In the
entire district. Through topographic
maps and river surveys of the State
Engineer, a new and most ingenious
plan for irrigating the valley has been
devised. To disrupt this work at this
time will result in unending delay and
chaos. This work is in the interest. of
the small man. The proposed measure
is In- the interest of great corporations,
who oppose the present system and de
sire a return to the old order where
the small man Is left to face single
handed an unequal fight In the courts
against such corporations.
If this measure carries, the most se
vere blow to water power and irriga
tion development in the Interest of the
people will have been struck. If West
ern Oregon fastens this curse upon us
by the vote of those who, because of
its complexity, do not understand the
situation, it will afford good grounds
for the diversion of the state. We do
not oppose water power development
In Western Oregon, but we must have
irrigation over the mountains. Vote
347 X No. A. W. TROW.
Proposed Tax Levy for
Projects Is Fought.
J. H. Moores Warns Voters to Scan
Carefully Before Measure Is Ap
proved. Recalling Past failures of
Enterprises.
N1
EWBERG, Or, Oct 16. To the Edi
tor.) I am glad an opportunity has
been given the voters of Oregon to dis
cuss certain proposed measures and
amendments through the columns of
The Oregonian which they will be
called upon to decide on November 3.
Taking advantage of your invitation.
I desire to call the attention of the
voters to amendment No. 306 and 307
on the official ballot
It appears to me by a study of this
proposed amendment funds are sought
to enable the state to build roads; to
carry forward irrigation projects and
the development of unfilled lands. It
is proposed to raise this money by i
direct levy upon all assessable proper
ty in the state to the tune of 4 per cent
In view of past efforts by private
concerns, the state and Federal govern
ments (whose methods I will not take
the time to discuss) for the reclamation
by irrigation of vast tracts of arid and
semi-arid lands within the state, I fall
to discover wherein any large amount
of success has attended their efforts.
but, in the main, an unfavorable state
of affairs obtains by following out
system of guesswork which has caused
the people of Oregon to look upon any
proposed measures for the carrying
forward of these projects with a large
amount of distrust It is yet to be
demonstrated satisfactorily to the peo
ple of Oregon that any of the methods
adopted and put into operation by prl
vate concerns or other sources will
work out successfully.
Why, then, burden the taxpayers,
when their burden is already top-heavy,
to create a fund for the furtherance of
these plans which in the main have
failed?
It puts into the hands of a commis
sioner or board (call it by what name
you may) the right to use the money
obtained by the adoption of this amend
ment to further indulge their propen
sity for experimenting. It occurs to
me that bringing this matter before
the people of Oregon at this time Is
premature and unwise and should by
all means be defeated. Let it first be
demonstrated that there is a practical
method by which undoubted success
may be secured and I am certain the
people of Oregon would be willing and
ready to respond.
It also would put Into the hands of
some unscrupulous politicians the
means to further their schemes. Farm
ers would have dreams' of marvelous
crops and a canat would be dug about
his potato patch, and the would-be
politician, ever solicitous for the
welfare of the poor, abused farmer.
would assure him of the means to carry
out his desire if he be elected.
Neither let the voters be misled by
the nicely arranged and seemingly
plausible argument of supporters of
this measure to further the success of
this proposed amendment Others be
fore them have had their "pipe dreams"
and visions of indescribable loveliness.
But. first and last, let the voters in
sist upon a practical demonstration of
the ability of those intrusted with the
business of carrying forward these
projects before voting to give them the
money to spend on some so-called en
terprise or experiments.
J. H. MOORES.
Too Many Nominees for Ju
diciary Feared.
"'on-Partisan" Plan Would Mean
Selection by Small Per Cent of
Votes, It Is Argued.
r-ORTLAND. Oct 16. (To the Edi-
wr tor.) I feel Impelled to warn the
voters to beat the "non-partisan Judi
ciary bill" No. 324-335. By title and
theory this hill looks rather attractive,
but will not work out in practice, to
give the office to a deserving candl
date, because under such a system of
nomination, every Tom, Dick and Harry
will have petition chasers running
around to the disgust of the people,
and It is safe to say the votes would
be divided up among about 30 or 40
candidates for each place to be filled.
As only a plurality of votes is neces
sary to elect, we can see by how small
a per cent of votes a Judge would be
elected. In this day, officers should
be elected by "majority" and not mere
plurality of votes. Non-partisan eiec
tions would be highly satisfactory if
the three-choice preferential ballot be
used and in no case more than four
or five candidates run for one office.
Then there is a good chance for
majority vote for one.
Here is one great fault with the
provision of our city charter, where
the great waste of votes has been al
ready demonstrated. Then this peti
tion circulating is absolutely bewilder
ing. All petitions and also the regis
tration books should be open at each
city water pay-station for the accom
modation of voters. And the number
of self-nominated candidates limited
by some means to, say five. Not be
fore, dare we venture the pelf-nomin
ating system. C. A. REICHEit,
Old Settler Sees Plot in Des
ert Land Board Act.
A. O. Walker, of Alfalfa. Or, De
clares Enemies Would Abolish
Present Model Water-Control Sys
tem for Former Plan, Which
Failed.
ALFALFA. Or, Oct 1. (To the Ed
itor.) Failure to profit by past
experiences is apparent on the part of
the framers of the bill to abolish the
Desert Land Board. This bill should
be defeated on the ground that it pro
poses to return to the old system, which
has been tried and which failed. Fur
thermore, no economy is apparent, and
efficiency will be sacrificed.
As one of the oldest settlers under
the state Carey act project in the Des
chutes Valley, I wish most emphatical
ly to protest against the adoption of
this measure. It Is clearly reaction
ary, and embodies no new principle
to insure success. It disrupts many
branches of work essential to the de
velopment of the Irrigated sections of
the state.
The State Land Board In its 190?
report admits that mistakes were made,
it assumed that the United States was
looking after the details of reclama
tion and accordingly - executed many
contracts prepared by promoters with
out adequate safeguards as to settlers'
rights.
It says further:
Mr. John H. Lewis, of Portland, was
recommended and appointed State Engineer,
and his knowledge of Irrigation matters has
made him a valuable adviser of the board,
and It Is to be regretted that the law ac
cepting the Carey grant did not provide for
the appointment of a State Engineer, as It
would have saved a vast amount of trouble
and some mistakes.
This report further urges that the
cittie engineer ana Aiiorneyuenerui
be added to the Board, as their prob
lems are mostly engineering and legal
In nature. The Legislature acted upon
these recommendations, calling the new
Commission the Desert Land Board.
The 1913 report of this Board, signed
by Governor West as chairman, says
that "the Board has been very suc
cessful in its efforts to readjust the
early mistakes."
Now we are asked to remove the
Attorney-General and State Engineer
from this Board on the ground of econ
omy. This can only be a blind for
some other motive, as neither officer
removed receives additional salary for
serving on such Board. The State En
gineer has persistently fought for the
protection of settlers' rights. He has
Incurred bitter enmity by calling at
tention to the great seepage losses and
inadequacies in the canal systems. His
protests are on record for the guld
ance of settlers. Governor West fre
quently comes rushing into print with
the statement that "We want some
thing practical from the State Engi
neer, and not so many reports and in
vestigations.
If Investigations which show the
physical condition and seepage losses
of an irrigation system are not prac
tlcal, ' as a settler who is up against
the conditions, I would like Governor
West to suggest something that is
practical.
Were it not for the Investigations of
the State Engineer, who would know
that half of the water diverted from
the river under some of these irrlga
tion systems never reaches the land for
which it is Intended?
If the State Engineer is removed
from this Board and made an appointee
oi the remaining members, his inde
pendence of action would be complete
ly removed.
Companies could then probably suc
ceed in forcing the state to acceDt an
Inadequate canal system, greatly to the
detriment If not the financial ruin of
hundreds of settlers.
The enemies of our model system of
water control are apparently back of
tnis Dill, which should be overwhelm
ingly defeated. Vote 347 X No!
A. O. WALKER.
Eight-Hour Measure Called
Freak by Writer.
Carpenter Wondera Why Of flee re
Would Be Allowed to Stop Him In
Doing Gocd Turn if Hla Day Had
Expired.
f ORVALLIS. Or., Oct 16. (To the
V. Editor.) I have seen a good deal
of argument "pro and con" lately about
the proposed eight-hour law we are
to vote on this coming election and
have concluded to add my opinion
through your paper, which I take regu
larly. I am a working roan a carpen
ter and will say that so far as cer
tain trades and occupations are con
cerned an eight-hour schedule might
work to good advantage under certain
conditions, but the framers of this bill
evidently did not stop to think what a
complicated state of affairs their law
would bring about if enforced, even
with carpenters.
For Instance, if I were putting a new
roof on a house and it were threaten
ing rain and an extra hour's work
would make the Job complete, and so
protect the ramily and their goods from
a drenching, whose business is it if I
work nine or even ten hours and fin
ish my job and save the family a great
deal of discomfort? According to the
way the freak bill reads I would lay
myself liable to a fine and the man
hiring me would also come In for a fine
for letting me work overtime, willing
as I might be to accommodate him and
protect him from the elements.
As to the farmer's viewpoint there
has already been quite a great deal
said of the hardships he would suffer,
and I. having farmed some in the past
readily can see where he would land
with his work. Why can't we let well
enough alone and let people make such
agreements as are suitable to the work
n hand without letting the officers of
the law butt In where they are not
wanted?
If the measure should pass I think
I'll search the map for a free state and
go there (if I can get in time enough
to earn the money to move with). A
working man has a hard enough lot
now to live, without scheming some
way of fining him if he does get a job
and shows a willingness to work over
time if conditions demand It. Tours
truly, A CARPENTER.
Woman Defends Death Sen
tence for Criminal.
Negro's Atrocities Blamed to Mas.
queradlng Whites. Who Are Anx
ious to Rid Themselves of Foes.
Jl tor.) In The Oregonian last Sun
day I read an article written by A. W.
Miller. 6877 Fifty-ninth avenue South
east wherein he set forth his argument
why the proposed amendment for the
abolishment of capital punishment
should not be repealed. On this point
we agree, for I believe that in no other
way can the people be safe from the
atrocities of the criminal.
But the argument set forth by Mr.
Miller wherein he uses the negro and
his crtmes as a reason for not abolish
ing capital punishment shows that he
knows little, if anything, about what
V. a i trvino tn writ IHinttHn.
the negro was accused of many crimes.
and also that a number of them were
lynched and burned at the stake, but
in most cases after the accused had
been lynched or burned Investigation
disclosed the fact that the gutlty one
was a white man who had masked to
resemble a negro.
Still other cases where some preju
diced white man. desiring to rid the
community of a certain negro, would
have some of his women folk to accuse
the negro of an attempted assault upon
them to furnish pretext on which to
punish the negro. This in Itself is a
strong argument why capital punish
ment should not be abolished, but
should be more Impartially enforced,
for if those white men had believed
that they would have received the same
punishment that they gave the negroes
they never would have resorted to their
unlawful act
Further, during the Civil War and
the reconstruction period, when the
white women and children were at the
mercy of the "black brute," as Mr. Mil
ler wishes to term them, when the
white father and brother were at the
front fighting to retain slavery, history
fails to record a single instance where
the black man was guilty of commit
ting a criminal assault upon a white
woman or child.
If lynching and burning had been
equally meted out to the lustful and
Immoral man before and during that
period, I'd like to ask. how many white
men of the South would be left to tell
the tale? For proof I refer you to the
numerous mulattoes and mixed people
throughout the country.
By all means, I say, do not abolish
capital punishment but extend it so
that it will reach out and get the fel
low who dares to take advantage of
innocent girls 12 and 14 years old and
with promises of money and fineries
ruin their lives forever.
Just here I wish to say to Mr. Miller
that his argument is far-fetched and
places him in the class with Ben Till
v..j.m.. m
MRS. EDWARD D. CANNADT,
620 East Twenty-sixth street North.
Defense Raised on Behalf of
the Liquor Dealers.
They Should Not "Be Held Respon
sible for Acts vf Lawless Mi
nority. nORTLAN
X tor.) "The prohibition constltua
tionl amendment presents a question
which each person can decide for him
self." That statement copied from the Is
sue of The Oregonian of recent date,
is the clearest and most convincing
declaration that I have read during the
present campaign to make Oregon a
dry state.
Each person can not only decide the
prohibition constitutional amendment
for himself, but also the entire liquor
problem for himself. What a marvel
ous power each Individual possesses.
If one elects to be a total abstainer
he becomes practically immune from
any of the real or fancied evils result
ing from the liquor traffic; If one
prefers his glass of beer, his soothing
pipe and the companionship of con
genial souls, why should he be forced
to resist an amendment of the organic
law of the state in order to retain the
privilege.
Life is dynamic: the prohibitionist is
static. Life la not only one emphatic
thing after another, but it is also a
series of striking contrasts. The to
tal abstainer contrasts himself with the
sot The difference is great and the
abstainer swells with conscious pride
as he contemplates the wide gulf be
tween them. Every sot Is an object
lesson to a thousand abstainers and
the sot affords them the keenest men
tal pleasure by the oontrast Ellml
nate the sot and there will no longer
be any virtue in the abstainer's self
denial,
The proh). charges the liquor dealer
with being a persistent law breaker.
If there is a larger percentage of law
breakers among liquor dealers than
among those following other pursuits,
it is because the liquor dealers are the
victims of the law makers. The laws
regulating the Jiquor traffic are so
numerous and. most of them, so un
reasonable, that it Is not surprising
that Infractions are frequent Decent
liquor dealers do not Invite clashes
with the authorities. They should not
be held responsible for the acts of
lawless minority. There is a law-do
fying minority in every trade and in
every profession.
In conclusion permit me to say that
in my humble opinion the continued
undermining of the business structure
of this great country during recent
years by a horde of muckrakers, up
lifters, single-taxers and prohibition
ists, actively assisted by a National
Democratic misrule has brought this
great Nation to the brink of destruc
tion. The prohibitionist is the most ac
tive in his efforts to administer the
final kick that will hurl the Nation
down to Industrial and financial chaos.
W. P. ADAMS.
Chaos Predicted if Minority
Is Let Rule.
Compromises Would Result With No
One Satisfied, Saya Brownsville
Resident.
B1
Editor.) The minority representa
tion plan introduces a theory somewhat
novel or what would have been so con
sldered a few years ago in American
form of government customary here.
Under a representative government the
majority is supposed to dominate or
rule any particular question or person
voted for. This seems absolutely es
sentlal to' come to a decision of any
kind,- on any particular matter at issue.
If a majority vote were not taken It
stands to reason there would be no
decision or outcome one way or the
other, since if the minority, for in
stance, or any small number less than
the majority, were allowed to decide
the issue, the majority not represented
or ignored would not be satisfied on
account of force of numbers alone and
the ensuing influence of said numbers.
but would put In a decided kick at
said minority decision at every turn
and sometimes troublesome and even
bloody kicks at that as has sometimes
ceme to pass In history or the record
to those of long or handsome memory.
Hence "Let the majority rule" is th
only safe or practicable policy. If
Legislature, for Instance, were chosen
on the plan proposed with opinion as
expressed by the representatives cho
sen completely at sea as far as an
programme was concerned on many im
portant questions, there could be
consistent action, or said action would
be Interrupted at frequent intervals b
compromises which really represented
nobody s opinion. It looks, by the way
as .f tire scheme mentioned Is either
trick or plan of some of the opposition
or discontented parties to confuse the
dominant party by making It impossl
ble, or practically so, to take effective
action on many subjects, especially
those connected with the political mis
fits or agitators now afflicting the
country in some numbers: We are not
referring to the Socialists or any on
particular element for there are many,
but It is plain, in fact well known, wh
said agitators are, and that the
scheme would fail In time If thorough
ly understood, AViO tUQUSOSi.
Prohi Leader's Own Words
Used a "Wet" Argument.
H. Vlereck Quotes. Eugene W. Cha
ttm aa Spying- -Attempt to Destroy
Llsjuor Traffic by Law Is All
Wrong."
PORTLAND. Oct 16. (To the Ed
itor.) On all public questions and
movements some Moses or acknowl
edged leader always appears on the
scene This leader's words have been,
always quoted, and his or her advice
and example followed In the prosecu
tion of the cause. This is true of all
the great efforts at reforms. In the
religious world, as example, may be
mentioned Luther. Calvin, John Wes
ley and Mary Baker Eddy. Politically
confining ourselves to this country,
our George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln stand forth as valiant cham
pions of the two great epochs in our
history. So in the present day the pro
hibition movement has its recognized
champion and leader, twice nominated
as Presidential candidate by the Pro
hibition party. Presuming that our
Prohibition friends will be glad to be
guided by his advice, and so. In the
belief, that few of the rank and file
know what he has said and advised on
the subject I desire to draw their at
tention briefly to a few sentences ut
tered by Eugene W. Chapln (twice
nominated for President by the Pro
hibition party) at Madison, Wis., in
1912. The address was delivered at
the state convention.
After saying that the liquor trafflo
Is a great curse, which ought to be de
stroyed, he said, quoting his own
words:
That after 70 years of the most heroic
effort ever made, and at a sacrifice more
costly in time, money and effort than any
other cause in the world's history, we find
ourselves with the liquor traffic stronger,
and more thoroughly entrenched in the Na
tional Government, and more liquor con
sumed annually than in any previous year
In our entire history. That being so. it
ought to occur to good people that they
may not have been using their time, money
and effort In the right direction.
After giving a brief history of th -great
pledge movement in which mill
ions signed the pledge in this country
and Great Britain, and which proved
aoorxive, mr. unapin said that the Pro
hibitionists turned to the expedient of
roniDittng the manufacture and sale
f all alcoholic beverages, finding ex.
resslon in Prohibition laws in 24
states, of which 16 have already re
pealed them. Mr. Chapin then goes on
to say repeating his own words):
And that is where the Deonle nav S-.n
rong for the dbi! en v,ar& w n-v.-
destroy the liquor traffic by law alone. Law
never has destroyed and never will destroy
the traffic. It is not law that destroys the
liquor traffic Law Is not government; ad
ministration of the law la government, and
11 the people who for the nast 60 vears
ave stood for destrovinr the traffic hv t-
tlng a prohibition law have been all wrong.
Mr. Chapin in his admirable address
welt at great length to show that to
make prohibition effective, the general
Government in its executive, legisla
tive and judicial branches must first
oe committed to the proposition that
the liquor traffic is wrong, and not a
legitimate business. To show his utter
contempt for so - called prohibition
aws, he said:
We don't propose to go at it wmn, .-a
to, any longer. We don't propose oauins
local option or a prohibition law nr -
Constitutional amendment, and getting s
town dry, a county dry, or a state dry by
law. There never was a more absurd nl.n
arrled on. and called a method of rivaling.
with the liquor traffic. Mad it b,m t ri.,t
on any other great political issue except the
liquor question, people would have said the
men proposing It did not have sense enough
wuen tney were cola. And this Is
why I want party Prohibitionists to cut out
every such scheme.
tan it be possible that in the lia-ht
of such frank and open advice by the
ecognized leader and standard-bearer
of the Prohibition party that a major
ity ot tne electorate of this great and
glorious commonwealth, this pioneer in
tne world of real reform, will so stul
tify themselves as to vote for such a
vicious law as the "Antl - Saloon
League" proposes? It would be too bad
to place fair Oregon on the same plane
and class her with unprogresaive and
corrupt Maine. H. VIERECK.
12SS East Twelfth Street North.
BAD BLOOD.
Hatred of the Nations for One
Another.
This European war was born of the
hatred caused by earlier warfare it
will engender other wars between the
same nations in the future. The sons
yet unborn will carry this hatred In
their blood to blaze into warfare when
the spark is touched by Kings or
Statesmen who are yet in infancy.
It's bad blood that makes your liver'
sluggish and the same bad blood causes
your stomach muscles to lose their eles
tlclty and become flabby and weak and
that means Indigestion.
Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery.
purely vegetable and free from alcohol
or narcotics, is not a secret remedy, for
all its ingredients are printed on
wrapper.
Take It as directed and it will search!
out Impure and poisonous matter In the
stomach, liver, bowels and kidneys and
drive it from the system through the
natural channels.
It will penetrate into the joints and
muscles, and dissolve the poisonous ac
cumulations. It will replace all the
bad blood it drives out with rich, pure
blood full of vital force. . It will furnish,
you with the kind of blood that in
creases energy and ambition, that puts
the entire body In such perfect physical
aandltlon that brain or muscles know
no fatigue.
It will clear the skin: eczema, pirn- .
pies, rash, blotches will dry up and
disappear; boils, carbuncles and other
evidences of tainted blood will pass
away, never to appear again.
Get Dr. Pierce s Golden Medical Dis
covery at any medicine dealer today.
in either nquia or laoiet iorm. as you
prefer. It's the one great blood maker
and purifier that all weak or run-down
people ought to start to use at once.
If you want good blood, good health
and clear skin, get a supply today.
Adv,
W SKIN CF BEHUTT IS JOT FOREVER
Dr. T. FELIX GOURAUD'S
ORIENTAL CREAM
OR MAGICAL BEAUTIF1ER
: t
pies. Precklea.
Moth Patches. Rash
and Skin Diseases,
and evei y blemish
on beauty, and de
fies detection. It
has stood the test of
66 rears, and is so
harmless we taste
it to be sure it is
properly made. Ac
cept no counterfeit
of simitar name.
Dr. I A. Ssyre said to lady of the hautton
a patient): "As you ladies will use them. I re
commend 'taras'i CraM'as the least harmful
of all the skin preparations." -At drussista
and Department Store?.
fini.HijUiu4SiD,mr'S,37 SrMlJMMStJLtJjV
r