THE SUXTAY OREGOXIAX, , PORTLAND, - DECX2MTJ1TR 20. 1914.
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PORTLAND. SCXDAY. DEC 20. 1914.
IN THE EASTERN BATTLE ZONE.
Action and reaction continue to fol
low the forces in the eastern theater
of war. While Berlin is busy celebrating-
what some Germans please
to call the crushing of the Russians,
the more conservative German mili
tary observers join with the world at
large In the contention that a decision
is not yet It has been a German week,
most distinctly, in Russian Poland.
But then the week before that was
Russian week, the week before that
German week and the period before
that Russian gains were noted..
So the mere fact the field marshal.
Von Hindenburg, has forced the-Russian
center back along a front of ap
proximately 200 miles may not be at
ell conclusive, even though It does af
ford the Germans ground for optimism.
As an eminent Berlin critic puts It, a
great army of 1,000,000 men does not
permit itself to be crushed in any
such fashion. At the present hour the
most that can be said is that the tide
of battle is flowing with the Teuton
standards in the east, while a prac
tical standstill continues to be noted
In the western zone.
From observations of past fighting
for the control of Russian Poland, the
conclusion may be drawn that the side
pressing the enemy back on Its own
bases and lines of communication In
variably withdraws before a severe
counter stroke. Pushed onto Warsaw,
the Russians reinforce their center,
throw their fresh and rested forces
against the somewhat over-extended
advance, and compel a withdrawal.
The other force Is then compelled to
take up rearguard actions and retire.
Reaching proximity of its own bases.
It turns the tide by again assuming
the offensive with fresh troops, and
the opposing army is forced into rear
guard actions and a general retreat.
This process has occurred time and
again during the past three months.
First, ' Petrograd gets out its bunting
to celebrate a victory, then Berlin
goes Into an ecstasy of Joy. But the
Ibunting in neither city has much of
an opportunity to get weatherbeaten.
Time and again the world has been
misled by the claims from those cen
ters of the gTeat warring racial units.
Just now the two huge armies ap
pear to be Intent on readjusting their
dispositions and rearranging their
strategy. The Germans have thrown
the bulk of their reinforcements Into
the battle area south and east of
Thorn, Von Hlndenburgs main base
for his operations in Poland. The
Russians, if reports do not mislead,
are concentrating farther south with
fresh troops that are being poured
into Poland through Warsaw and
Lublin. At the same time they are
maintaining heavy forces against the
German center In front of Warsaw.
Petrograd Insists that while this
force has been retreating, the limits
of defeat have . been reached and a
new Russian offensive movement is
now in progress. The Russians claim
that their new strategy and disposi
tions are such that the Germans will
be outflanked in Poland and over
whelmed in Galicia and that the road3
to the interior of Germany will short
ly be laid open. The German claim
Is that the Russians have been check
mated all along the line, their offen
sive fully broken and that Eastern
Prussia, as well as Austria, are safe
from further Slav encroachment" for
some months to come. The messages
from neither capital are very en
thusiastic nor very conclusive, how
ever, and the only safe conclusion is
that the Germans have the momen
tary advantage.
T"AJ ....... .. 1 ...l. J V. Ht.nlfl
struggle between Teuton and Slav Is
being waged are Immense. From Cra
cow to Memel, following the boundary
line, is a distance of 750 miles. The
difpositlons are not continuous along
this front, although concentrations
and heavy fighting prevail at frequent
Intervals, and It is quite probable that
lines of communication are mam'
tained throughout the whole distance.
From the German base of Thorn to
the Russian base of Warsaw Is a dis
tance of 125 miles nearly as great a
distance as from Thorn to Berlin, 180
miles. From Warsaw to Cracow Is
200 milesi and from Cracow to Vienna
225 miles. The heaviest fighting of
the past two months, since the - Rus
sians completed their mobilization
. .1 cut., ,vl-t I- fnvaflA u . i aol a V. o a
been within the area bounded by the
Prussian boundary east of Thorn, the
west bank of the Vistula in front of
Warsaw and the outer defenses of
Cracow. North of Thorn desultory
fighting has continued on Prussian
soil, while to the south the battle line
has swept back and forth through
Galicia, the Russians holding advan
tages gained early In the campaign.
It has been the universal opinion
among military observers that Winter
Is a. large determining factor In the
first great decision and that advan
tages held by one side or the other
when heavy snows set in will be very
difficult, if not impossible, to offset.
This doubtless explains the desperate
fury and continuous nature of the
fighting in Poland. With the Rus
sians thrust back into the interior of
Poland for the Winter the Germans
would ,be able to press their western
campaigns aggressively during the
Winter months and prepare again to
take up the tactical offensive against
the Russians in the Spring.
If it is true that the side enabled to
throw In the heaviest reinforcements
will hold the upper hand in Poland,
then the Germans have one very great
advantage, that of superior railway
facilities. Two main lines converge
at Thorn from interior Germany. An
other main artery runs to Konigsberg,
another to Breslau and still another to
Graudenz. The Germans are enabled
to rush In Landwehr and Landsturm by
the tens of thousands. Russia, while
having the superiority In numbers,
has but a single direct line from Pe
trograd to Warsaw and the distance
ia .675 miles. Another line runs di
rect to Lublin and thence to Warsaw,
a distance of 850 miles. Thus the
Russians must reinforce more slowly,
despite their superior resources of
men, for these two arteries must carry
not only the men, but the supplies
for the hundreds of thousands now on
the firing line.
PREMATURE TALK . ABOUT 1016. '.
No doubt Mr. Myron T. Herrick, late
Ambassador to France, is a wholly ad
mirable gentleman. He spent J400,
000 of his private fortune In discharg
ing the difficult and delicate duties of
his office at Paris, before he was re
moved to make room for a political
protege of Secretary Bryan. Mr. Sharp,
once an Ohio Congressman and an
ardent supporter of the Democratic
Administration, but otherwise un
known to the world at large.
The sacrifices made by Mr. Herrick
and the real courage and strength
shown during a great crisis are now
being used as the foundation for a lit
tle Presidential boom. A Chicago pa
per, sponsoring the Herrick boomlet,
gives us the comforting assurance that
he is a conservative, but not a
reactionary.
Mr. Herrick was Governor of Ohio
from 1903 to 1906 and was defeated
for re-election by a Democrat. Re
publicans elsewhere were generally
successful. Even Oregon contrived to
elect a Republican United States Sen
ator in 1906.
It i3 not probable that what Mr.
Herrick did in Paris will be sufficient
to elect him President of the "United
States. But, if he Is a candidate, there
will be close scrutiny of his political
and public record In Ohio. Can he sur
vive the charge, certain to be made,
that he Is a reactionary? It has been
sufficient to defeat many a good man.
Meanwhile, the country is looking
hopefully upon the rising star of
Charles Whitman, Governor-elect of
New York; and it has not forgotten
the magnificent service of Charles E.
(now Justice) Hughes as Governor" of
New York. Nor are the high abilities
and fine record of William E. Borah
to be ignored, even if he comes from a
remote Western state.
ROBERT BROWNING.
The twenty-fifth anniversary of
Browning's death, which occurred De
cember 12, 1889, will remind Ameri
cans of the pleasant relations which
existed between the poet and this
country. His wife, Elizabeth Barrett
Browning, also had many friends in
the United States and found apprecia
tion here before she was widely read
in England. As for Browning, his for
tunes in this respect were like those
of Carlyle and Herbert Spencer. It is
well known that Carlyle's books
brought him an income from the
United States while they were still a
drug on the . London market, while
Herbert Spencer's great works were an
expense to him and his friends until
the American edition was published.
It Is an interesting fact in the history
of literature that the. first complete
edition of Browning's works was pub
lished by an American railroad com
pany, the Chicago & Alton, which in
cluded the poems in its "Official
Guide," no doubt looking upon them
as an excellent advertisement. The
Guide appeared monthly and the pub
lication .of the poems continued be
tween the years 1872 and 1874.
Browning secured a copy of this edi
tion and presented it to the British
museum as a literary curiosity, which
it certainly was. ' .
Emerson's friend, Margaret Fuller,
reviewed Browning's Paracelsus in the
Boston Dial of April, 1843. This was
before the English periodicals had
vouchsafed any notice of the poeml
There was also a long account of his
plays and poems in the North Amer
ican Review as early as 1848 which, in
his wife's opinion, really Introduced
Browning to American readers. The
sale of his books steadily increased in
the United States from that time, but
it was "infinitesimal for years after
ward" in England. Mrs. Browning
wrote to his 6ister at about that time
that the poet was "a power in Amer
ica. He lives," she said, "in the hearts
of the people." Not quite of all the
people, perhaps. Browning's fame
was then and will always be the pre
cious possession of a chosen few, but
it is none the less real for that. It was
near the middle of the last century
when a British "lady of rank" asked
the American Minister in London
whether Browning was not born in
an American village, presumably a
New England village. The Minister
replied with some justifiable superior,
ifry that there was not an American
village where he was not known and
loved. This came as near the truth as
one expects from diplomatic utter
ances. .
Edgar A. Poe was a "great admirer
of Mrs. Browning's poetry and re
viewed it repeatedly in the periodicals
for which he wrote. In 1844 he said
in the Evening Mirror that "she was
worth a dozen Tennysons." Poe never
relished Tennyson's popularity, nor
Longfellow's either, for that matter.
He preferred the singers who, like
himself, dwelt apart either from choice
or necessity. In a later number of the
Mirror Poe wrote that he did not be
lieve there was "a. poetical soul in the
world that sees farther out toward the
periphery permitted to angels than
Miss Barrett." Her marriage with
Browning had not taken place at that
time. Poe sent her an early copy of
"The Raven" and that extraordinary
poem came into her hands from half
a . dozen other quarters. It made a
great deal of talk in England, but Miss
Barrett did not value it so highly as
some did. In her opinion it was not
quite "sane." Mrs. Browning thought
highly of Julia Ward Howe, deciding
from her "Passion Flowers" that "she
must be a clever woman." All the
anti-slavery people won her regard,
for she was herself an ardent foe of
slavery. One of the early poems which
she sent to the United States for pub
lication was "The Runaway Slave at
Pilgrim's Point," in which she smote
the "sacred institution" and spared
not. The poem was finally published
In the Liberty Bell, which was issued
by the Boston Anti-Slavery Bazar in
1848. Mrs. Browning was an attentive
observer of the growth of anti-slavery
sentiment in the United States and her
detestation of the wicked blot on our
National reputation became constantly
more bitter. In 185 3 she wrote to Mrs.
Jameson that she "would not be an
American for the world while she
wears that shameful scar on her
brow."
Still the Brownings were more char
itable critics of the United States than
Dickens was, though all the favors
they received here were trifling com
pared with the money and affection
heaped upon the satirical novelist.
Mrs. Browning told a friend in 1843
that if she were an American Dickens'
famous "Notes" would "make her
rabid." She "could not possibly love
qr admire Dickens' biting comments."
Most Americans now admit with a
rueful smile that the "Notes" were
substantially true and for the most
part richly deserved by our tobacco
chewing, slave-worshiping countrymen
of that primeval epoch, and yet the
novelist, might have applied the lash
a shade more indulgently without per
haps sacrificing any of his salutary ef
fect. Mrs. Browning liked everything
in Lincoln's first inaugural except his
gratuitous promise to return fugitive
slaves to their masters. - This she mild
ly spoke of as a "superfluity." Of
course Lincoln allowed himself to
make the impossible promise in the
hope of holding the Union together,
but, like many another compromise of
principle,- it proved to be a rope of
sand. Had the hands of Lincoln and
Jefferson Davis not been forced by hot
heads on both sides it is possible that
the war might have been averted, for
both of them were statesmen and both
perceived the Immense desirability of
concession. And . yet very likely the
South would have been satisfied with
no concession that, did not fix slavery
upon every part of the country.
BOYS AND DICTIONARIES.
There was quoted in The Oregonian
the other day the old saying that "a
man who will take a dare will steal
sheep," and a subscriber now writes
to know whether the word "won't"
was not unintentionally omitted from
the expression. As he has always
heard the saying, it is the man who
won't take a dare who will steal sheep.
The expression "to take a dare" is
colloquial and owing to the many
meanings the word "take" may as
sume the saying is used in different
ways. Lexicographers leave out the
negative. In boyland, where It is in
most common use, the negative is
generally put in. , '
."Take" may mean to accept pass
ively and under that definition the
man who takes a dare rejects a chal
lenge. One is said to "take an in
sult" when he does not resent it. But
"take" may also mean to perform and
in that meaning the one who takes
a dare, attempts to do that which he
is dared to do. In this sense, "to take
a walk" is a common expression.
It is recognized that custom, if so
inclined, may eventually reverse the
unanimous testimony of lexicograph
ers. Whether custom among children
will do., n in this instance is a. matter
for Interesting speculation. The dare
among boys is usually a tantalizing
challenge and when there Is resistance
the inclusion of the word "won't"
lends a peculiarly taunting turn to
the expression. How often may be
seen Jthe slinking youngster followed
by cries of "Won't take, a dare!"
"WpnisV take a dare!" But, boyhood's
use of the term has not yet overruled
the dictionaries. They all agree that
to take a dare is to resist it. - - i
MR. BURLESON'S FAD. - j
Postmaster-General Burleson per
sists in recommending that the Gov
ernment assume a monopoly of the
telephone and telegraph business . of
the United States, and contends that
the efficiency of the mail service dem
onstrates the capacity of the Govern
ment to do the business successfully.
He glories in an alleged surplus from
postal business of $3,569,687 as evi
dence of efficiency.
There are a few facts to consider
before the American people engage In
this business. Government telegraphs
and telephones In Europe do not com
pare In efficiency with the privately
owned systems of the"- United States.
The telegraph system is more general
ly used in Great Britain, but the tele
phone is little used in comparison with
the United States, and both are oper
ated at a loss. Telephone service has
been, extended in the United States to
a degree of which Europe seems not to
have dreamed, reaching almost every
farm in some sections of Oregon wh'lch
are sparsely settled Telephones are
installed promptly on application,
while in London a subscriber must
wait three or four weeks after ap
plying. The American people would require
some guaranty that the telephone and
telegraph service would be more near
ly free from politics than is the postal
service before they would favor Gov
ernment operation. ' First-class post
masters are still frankly appointed for
political reasons. The same statement
is true of those of lower rank, even
down to the fourth class, and efforts
were made at the last session of Con
gress to extend the spoils system to
assistant postmasters.
In view of the reluctance shown by
Government monopolies to adopt new
inventions, the people would wish to
know what provision would be made
to keep apparatus up to date and what
encouragement would be given to in
ventive genius, that constant improve
ment might be made. Although there
is much to be Bald in favor of a pri
vate monopoly under public regulation
in the telephone business,- its reluc
tance to discard obsolete in favor of
newly-invented apparatus is a strong
objection. We In Portland now wit
ness the stimulating effect of competi
tion on Improvement in plant and
in quality of service. This country is
now well started on the policy of privately-owned.
Government-controlled
public utilities. So far it has worked
well, and its failure should be proved
before we try an experiment which
has failed In several countries and has
been an unqualified success in none.
The figures given by Mr.- Burleson
to show that his department earned a
surplus in the last fiscal year will need
some analysis before they can be ac
cepted as' correct. They do not include
the sums expended under the heading,
"Postoffice Department" in the civil
establishment, for salaries in the of
fice of the Postmaster-General and his
assistants and subsidiary general of
fices, for which $1,913,350 was appro
priated in the last fiscal year; nor ex
penditures in the Treasury Depart
ment for the offices of auditor for the
postofflce and for the office of treas
urer on account of the postal savings
system, amounting to $'784,620; nor
the salary of the Assistant Attorney
General for the postoffice, $5000, or a
total of $2,702,970. Neither the origi
nal expenditure on postoffice buildings
nor the rental value of premises occu
pied by postoffices is charged to the
Department. Payments to railroads
for carrying the malls and to rural
carriers would be much greater if they
had been adequately increased since
the parcel post was established. If all
these items were taken into account,
Mr. Burleson's surplus would soon be
come a deficit.
The always welcome . and always
artistic Christmas number of the
Seattle Argus is with us again, the
peer if not the superior of all that
have preceded It. Beautifully printed
on heavy paper, it abounds in half
tone illustrations of Seattle and the
whole Puget Sound country. It ex
ploits Seattle's attractions for the in
vestor and the pleasure-seeker with
pictures which are among the best
examples -of the photographic art and"
with articles by some of Seattle's best
writers. Portland has cause to envy
Seattle such excellence and enterprise
in a weekly publication.
DOLLAR DIPLOMACY- A LA BRYAN.
Secretary of State Bryan is accused
by the New York World of having
caused the appointment as Minister to
Santo Domingo of James Mark Sul
livan, of having ignored charges
against him and of having white
washed him and sent him back to his
post. The World charges that Sulli
van's appointment was instigated by
financial Interests in this country; that
he has used his office to aid these in
terests, and for his own profit; that
he has forced the appointment of in
competent men to office in Santo
Domingo; tbst his course has been, a
fruitful cause of scandal and revolu
tion; and that American control has
been discredited and has become the
subject of severe criticism through
out the "West Indies and at cities as
remote as Hamburg and Havre. The
story is one of the most shameful ever
told of an American diplomatic repre
sentative, and it reflects directly on
Mr. Bryan, for it has been told to him
and. he stands-by Sullivan in spite of
it. The World's charges, in substance,
follow.
Sullivan was appointed at the in
stance of William C. Beer, a New York
lawyer, who . has been denounced in
the House as a Morgan-Perkins lob
byist. Beer was aided by, or his aid
was obtained by. Representative James
A, Hamlll, of New Jersey, and Joseph
P.- Tumulty, secretary to the Presi
dent. .Beer had always been an active
Republican . and in 1908 supported
George B. Cortelyou for President.
Sullivan was then his lieutenant and
made a speech to the Federation of
Labor convention in support of Cor
telyou which almost caused a riot. But
Beer figured as a Democrat in 1912,
working for 'Underwood at Baltimore
and contributing to the campaign
fund. Sullivan is described by the
World as "the friend and press agent
of 'Bald Jack' Rose, the gambler
gunman of the Herman Rosenthal
murder and later Rose's attorney."
He obtained Rose's . confession and
used that fact in an effort to obtain
the endorsement of District Attorney
Whitman. He got only an acknowl
edgment of his services in the Rosen
thal case, but his defenders make
capital of that letter.
Sullivan was introduced by Beer
and the late Samuel M. Jarvis to their
friends interested in the Banco Na
tional of Santo Domingo, of which
Jarvis was the promoter and in which
Beer was interested. By playing on
Bryan's antipathy for the National
City Bank. Beer gained his ear for the
Banco National. That institution
"laid plans for contracts and con
cessions, colonization and other pro
motion schemes which amounted to
more than $100,000,000." As Sullivan
was about to leave for Santo Domingo,
he said to a confidant:
The Bir Chief (Beer) is not only going
to be financial agent of Santo Domingo
but of Nicaragua as well.
As an indication of the Banco Na
tional's strength he mentioned in
Santo Domingo plans of Jarvis to lend
Nicaragua $15,000,000 through Bryan's
mediation.
- Immediately after arriving at his
post, he asked Walter W. Vick, Ameri
can receiver of customs, to deposit
customs receipts in . the Banco,". Na
tional. .After exacting $100,000 secur
ity Vick acceded to the request. On
January 27 or 28 a draft for $100,000
which the Banco National had sold to
Vick went to protest. Vick then
moved to have the funds removed tto
another bank, but , was opposed by
Sullivan, and did not succeed until
June 29, twenty days after he had
resigned. During this fight he was
told that officers of the Banco Na
tional were boasting of their influence
with Sullivan and with the State De
partment. Three days after . his . arrival Sul
livan inquired about available con
tracting work and two weeks later
he demanded that the funds of the
Department of Public Works be de
posited with the Banco National. The
director-general of public works is
an American appointed and paid by
Santo Domingo with the approval of
the American Secretary of State. John
L. Mann then held the. off ice. He re
fused to comply with Sullivan's de
mand without authority ' from his
superior and complained to Bryan,
revealing Sullivan's relations with the
Banco National, but his complaint was
ignored and he was removed. SuP
livan's friends- wanted the job for
"Pat" Gill, of St. Louis, a friend of
Hamill, though it required a civil engi
neer of ability, and Gill was a grocer.
Bryan, however, gave it to Austin J.
Collett, of Omaha, son-in-law of
James C. Dahlman, with whom he
had just ended a political feud. .
Collett is a mechanical engineer and
his experience was limited to the elec
trical department and shops of the
Union Pacific Railroad. Bryan ap
pointed Harry S. Dickey. . of South
Bend, Ind., technical member of a
commission to Investigate the depart
ment of public works, though he knew
no Spanish and had been only , a rail
road freight agent, superintendent of
a bottling works, then of a traction
line and a railroad grade contractor.
However, his brother was president of
the Winona, Ind., Chautauqua, where
Bryan often lectured; that may have
been his qualification.
The World then makes these dam
aging statements:
The president of an engineering com
pany makes aff idai it that 6 to 10 per cent
participation In the profits of all public
works contracts was demanded of - him
for Minister Sullivan.
Details can be furnished by the World
for effective, examination of certain con
tractors In - -the United States who have
stated that they were solicited to pay
retaining fees . of as much as $3000 and
a percentage on contracts to be obtained
in Santo Domingo during the Sullivan
regime.
Sullivan's cousin, Timothy J. Sul
livan, a coal-dealer and former rail
road roadmaster of Springfield, Mass.,
followed him to Santo Domingo "to
take part in the public works con
tracts" and, through the minister's in
fluence obtained a bridge construction
contract. The Banco National financed
the Job and lent "Cousin Tim" $1000
on his note Indorsed by .the Minister.
"Cousin Tim" told a resident of Bos
ton that the - note would never have
to be paid but would become "part of
the Minister's rake-off," and that the
Minister was to get a percentage on all
contracts and that he (Tim) was'there
"to see that Jim gets his bit."
"Cousin Tim" announced that James
K. McGuire, who is under indictment
In connection with New York graft
charges, was going to Santo Domingo
to look over contracts and would have
the pick of them because the Minister
would not approve any contracts
otherwise. McGuire went, and was
living wifh Sullivan when he was in
dicted in New York. On his return
he said he had gone to look into the
contracts by Sullivan's invitation. He
told a friend that Sullivan would re
turn to his post and would be mo
lested no further.
There has been a series of revolu
tions in Santo Domingo as the result
or Sullivan's alliance with the. exploit
ers, and the United States ' has been
put to the expense of investigations
and intervention. Sullivan aided
President Bordas, who is friendly to
the Banco National, to retain power
until revolt broke out. He has been
condemned in the . publications of
Santo Domingo, Cuba, Porto Rico and
Hayti.
Receiver Vick filed charges with
Bryan against Sullivan last December
and many others have complained to
the State Department. Sullivan's
friends have retaliated with charges
against Vick, but the latter's superiors
in the War Department said that he
"left a record for efficiency and de
votion to duty" and they vS'ere in sympathy-
with his efforts to clean up the
scandal. Bryan promised careful con
sideration of complaints and asked for
written memoranda, but has made no
investigation. On ' September 30
Tumulty gave out from the White
House a statement that the charges
against Sullivan "had been thoroughly
investigated by ex-Governor Fort, of
New 'Jersey, and had been found to
be groundless," and later added the
name of Cogswell Smith, just ap
pointed Bryan's private secretary, as
one of the investigators, but both Fort
and Smith deny that they were au
thorized by the State Department to
Investigate. Bryan says, however,
that he has investigated the charges
and fourui them groundless. He
termed Sullivan "a strong, courageous,
reliable fellow," and sent him back to
Santo Domingo on November 21, "vindicated."
TJJiXSED RESOURCES.
One of the most Impressive chapters
In the report of the Oregon Conserva
tion Commission is that devoted to
water power. It is hardly conceivable,
but nevertheless true, that one-third
of the water power resources of the
United States is in the Columbia River
Basin. Excluding that tributary to
Puget Sound there is more available
water power in the Columbia River
Basin than in the entire country east
of the Mississippi.
Of course the Columbia River Basin
covers a large territory. Not many
realize that some of the waters of
Yellowstone National Park drain
through tributaries into the Columbia
River. But considering the potential
water, power tributary to Portland
alone, there is enough to make its
practical use possibly as great a prob
lem as Its development.
The Conservation Commission esti
mates the total brake horsepower in
the vicinity of Portland at 3,139.170.
Probably all the developed water
power, and steam power, too. in the
vicinity of Portland, now employed in
public service, does not exceed the odd
figures in this total. That is, not more
than 139,176 horsepower is utilized in
supplying electric light, and power
and in operating street and interurban
railways. To develop much greater
power at this time makes new uses es
sential to profit.
The Commission suggests that hydro
electric power could be profitably
utilized In the manufacture of fertilis
ers. Superphosphate, the base of all
artificial fertilizer, can be made by
heating, phosphate rock In electric
furnaces. Rich phosphate rock is ob
tainable in large quantities in Idaho.
Lest transportation of materials may
be considered an obstacle, the Com
mission points to a recent purchase of
extensive water power in Quebec by
private capital with intent to produce
fertilizer from phosphate rock ob
tained in Florida, utilizing Northern
shipping ports that are closed by ice
for approximately five months in the
year. Also, potash can be extracted
from kelp by electrolytic process. Gov
ernment reports reveal that the kelp
fields of the Pacific, excluding Alaska,
are capable of producing 6,000,000
tons of potassium chloride per season,
valued at $240,000,000.
These facts are significant as indi
cating the immensity of resources in
the Columbia Basin that are now not
utilized
WHAT MAY HAPPEN AFTERWARD.
Assuming that Germany brought
about the present war, Leo Pasvolsky,
a Russian, writing to the New York
Evening Sun, offers an answer to the
question that naturally arises from his
postulate: "Why did Germany pro
voke war at this particular time?"
. He explains that Russia's ambition
to reach the open sea would not be
satisfied by the acquisition of an out
let to the Mediterranean by way of
Constantinople, for Russia desires a
share of world trade and would be
shut in by Suez and Gibraltar. There
are two possibilities open to her one
through the Yellow Sea to the Pacific,
the other through the North Sea to
the Atlantic. Germany sought to di
vert Russia to the former by encour
aging the Russo-Japanese war. Rus
sia failed in that direction, and Ger
many foresaw that the Czar would
turn to the west. Mr. Pasvolsky be
lieves that German war preparations
since 1905 have been designed more to
hold back Russia than against France,
for they were not needed against the
latter country and have been greatest
during that period.
Last June, says this writer, an event
occurred which passed practically un
noticed by the world, but was vastly
more important than the crime of
Serajevo, which happened almost si
multaneously. This was the adoption,
in two secret sessions, of the Russian
Duma, of a military programme pro
viding for the Increase of the standing
army In 1915-16 from 1,271.000 to 2.
116,000 men, that is, by 855,000 men.
Germany saw that such an army
would be "an imperative and pressing
danger" and would set a pace with
which she could not keep up. Germany,
"therefore, delayed the Austrian ulti
matum and then rushed it through in
order to get a start. Germany Is held
responsible for the war by Mr. Pas
volsky. for she willed It at this time,
but Russia, he says, must bear the ul
timate responsibility, for she furnished
the cause.
If such was Russia's purpose and If
that country was "bent on war a few
years hence, when ready, and if Rus
sia was merely forced to move before
her plans were fully matured, what
would be the consequences of Russian
victory? Would she be content with
less than the acquisition of all Ger
man territory between the Vistula
and the Elbe-? Would her allies con
sent to such a prodigious advance of
the huge empire westward and to the
practical destruction of Germany as a
nation? Would British naval suprem
acy be any more secure after the de
struction of German sea-power If
Russia, with her enormous resources,
confronted Great Britain across the
North Sea?
These questions raise doubt whether
the world will be able to realize the
hope that this will be, the last great
war. After aiding Russia and France
to destroy German militarism, Great
Britain may be compelled to arm as
never before against Russian militar
ism and against a Russian navy. Brit
ain has hitherto called her sons'to
arms by the tens and hundreds of
thousands; Britain now calls them by
the million. Would it be possible.
even if Britain multiplies these mil
lions several times and arms every
male adult, to make head with a
crowded population of 45.000,000
against Russia with 160,000,000, which
are increasing by 3,000.000 every year
and which have unlimited room in
Russia's vast domain? On which side
would France be and would Germany,
forgetting the present quarrel, join
forces with two of her present enemies
against the third?
The present war in -Europe should
convince workingmen that, they have
a more vital interest in National safe
ty than have the well-to-do and
wealthy. The war has put an end to
Industry in Belgium and has deprived
the working people of the means of
earning even their daily bread, so
that millions of people in that country
are saved from starvation by Ameri
can generosity alone. The well-to-do
were generally able to scrape together
enough money to flee the country. By
comparison with their former afflu
ence, they may now be reduced to pov
erty, but they were at least able to
escape with means to procure food,
clothing and shelter.
The ground for much of the opposi
tion to the National Guard has been
the fact that it has been called into
service to keep or restore order during
strikes. It has been accused of be
coming an instrument of the employ
ers in labor conflicts. There has oc
casionally been some basis for such
charges, as in the recent Colorado
strike, but indignation at the misuse
of the militia on such occasions need
not blind workingmen to its legitimate
services to the whole community. The
remedy for these abuses is not to de
stroy a valuable instrument of the law,
but to take precautions against its fur
ther abuse. These are well within the
power of workingmen.
A lecturer has recently complained
that "standardized English tends to
become more and' more- academic."
He means that it is machine-made
and lacks ' vitality. Much of the
English we read merely looks like
language. It is not genuine because
it is not alive, and, too often, it is
stuffed with straw and clad in rags
like other scarecrows.
The proposed increase of the
United States Army by twenty-five
regiments would still leave us without
an adequate Army, but at the same
time would afford a more substantial
military skeleton upon which to build
the unwieldy machine with which we
must go to war should war ever be
forced upon us.
The Pan-American union has a
good deal of Mercutio's " spirit. "A
plague o' both your houses." Why
should American waters be 'troubled
by European war ships and naval bat
tles? There is plenty of room for all
their fighting nearer home..
Scandinavian Kings ' have met to
form an alliance for protection dur
ing the war. The most certain way
for them to secure protection is to
keep their fingers out of the fire.
Belgian editors refuse to renew pub
lication under German censorship.
There's no breaking the militant
Belgian spirit, even in abject adversity.
The old favorite, "Peace on earth,
good will toward men," is not likely
to be a very popular text for the
Christmas sermon this year.
The Commerce Commission holds
that the rate situation' has been
changed by the European war. So
has most everything else.
That Berlin military critic who
casts doubt - over ' reported German
victories is a regular devil In his own
home town.
A market report shows wheat weak
ened by peace talk. The only peace
talk we've heard lately emanated from
Bryan.
Yesterday was the coldest day of
the year. And it wasn't particularly
cold, either, in the real sense of the
word.'
Portland had a snow storm yester
day morning. As all who read the
news oarefully are fully aware.
One Mexican leader at Naco con
sents to confer with General Scott,
Gracious condescension.
Britain has named a Sultan of
Egypt, but not yet a Governor of the
Province of Germany.
The armies are now fighting over
time, perhaps in the hope of enjoying
next Friday off.
This is the season when you should
put yourself in a mellow mood toward
all mankind.
Seattle refuses food to Idlers who
will not work. - The Idler deserves no
food. .
A merry Christmas and a selfish
Christmas can hardly go together.
Seems to us the men in the trenches
ought to be given this week off.
Plan your Summer vacation early.
San Francisco Is the place.
Would anyone object to a little rain
by way of diversion?
Loosen up a few dimes or dollars.
The money's needed.
The children are now In the seventh
heaven of ecstasy.
Three days more for belated shop
ping. Fine. Everybody's winning; again.
liorjp of a Bell, Anyway.
Rochester (N. Y.) Telegram.
"I tell you." said Poots, "there is an
indescribable sense of luxury in lying
in bed and ringing one's bell for one's
valet." "You've a valet?" asked Poots'
friend. "No," replied Poots;. "but I've
got a bell."
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
The Mild Photograph.
Oft In my life I've looked about
With vision mild and pensive,
And noticed persons, without doubt
Quite meek and inoffensive.
So gentle-souled were they, alack.
No Insult made them answer back.
But. ah. their mildness was not half
The mildness of the photograph.
Does there exist in any land
Hound which the sea is oozed.
A tulnr so tossed from hand to hand.
So outraged and abused
As Is the photograph? And yet
A. peevish one 1 never met.
I asked my soul, some days ago.
That Question, and it answered: "No!"
The phofotrraph is crucified
In family albums dim:
Nailed to a panel, side by side
With some Rich Uncle grim:
And guests who call are forced to see
The poor thins; stuck there helplessly
And yet. through all this shame and pain.
'Tls very Beldora they complain.
The photo unprotected lies
Where visitors may sit
And poke their fingers in its eyes ,
As they paw over it;
And yet the gentle photograph
Stays In its place and stands the gaff:
Tt does not scream out "Murder!" "Haltf
Or threats to sue them for assault.
I even saw a woman show
A photo, and aver
Quite brazenly and bold, you know.
That It looked lust like her.
I thought I saw the poor thing shrink
And give one tiny, tearful blink.
But not a single word it said:
Showing, at least, it was well-bred.
"Sir," said the courteous office boy.
"that was a grave catastrophe the Brit-,
lsh Admiralty reported this morning."
"Another naval disaster?" I gasped.
VTell me, for I had not heard!"
. "The mercury has gone down and the
barometer has fallen," said the C. O. B.
hopelessly.
And after a few moments' reflection
I drew forth my Christmas list and ran
a blue pencil through the name of the
C. O. B.
Solemn Thought.
Think, think of the waste past believing;
How Fate throws our fortune away
On Christmas a meerschaum receiving.
And then swearing off. New Year's day.
Here's a pretty bit contributed by
the Postman. He says he didn't write
it himself, but somebody put it in the
mailbox and he thought he'd brins It
over. It is signed "Hygiene." but
there is Internal evidence that this is
not the writer's real name.
We tried to scan it. but, finding: the
task a bit difficult, have decided to of
fer it as an example of "vers libre":
"To read the daily 'doggerel
Dished uu every tiay.
Makes us ston to puzzle
Does the writer of this 'dosscrel'
Have to wear a civic muzzle'."'
Ah me. what a flavor of esoteric mys
ticism these potes of the modern school
manage to squirt into their lines!
As for the carpenter, who appeared
among our midst in last week's colj um:
The- carpenter has got no right
To be stuck ud or vain.
For I'll maintain, with all my might,
I know the fellow's plane.
Yet he is a good citizen for all that,
as the testimony shows, for:
The carpenter, he never barks
Nor scorn his duty's call:
He very freely gives his tacks.
And oft his little awl
; Or modulating in the key of G:
Dally the carpenter will gibe
And give a gruff guffaw
And giggle gladly to oescriWe
The point of some wise saw.
Don't imagine, however, that. In our
odes to the carpenter, we have forgot
ten the Mistress of the Seven Hills. We
remind you now that :
In days of' old, the Romans bold
Sunk many a. Punlo prow.
But ah. they had no submarines
Where arc them Komans now?
What,. Only One Foot?
December 14, 1914.
Honored Sir:
Kindly look up the correct pronunciation
of any foreign names hereafter. V-Aforo in
serting them In poetry. For Instance, every
line ia which "Pshe-mishl" occurs is one
foot short.
No charge, but remember, your readers
have SOME education.
Very respectfully,
C TROXEIX.
Considering the number of times it
has been captured and bombarded, we
are surprised that he finds it only one
foot short.
The old town holds out remarkably
well.
We presume, of course, that "Pshe
mishl" refers to Przemysl. though we
are not familiar with the latest edition
of the Troxell Gazeteer.
Our soul is greatly uplifted by the
information that our readers have some
education.
We take it that Mr. T
occasional reader.
Is only an
Oh, look what we found in the antique
shop:
If Father Koah lived today.
He would not be a fool
And let his ark at anchor stay
Around near Hartlepool.
You can dig up lots of things out of
the ragbag that are almost as good as
new. See:
The boy stood on the burning deck
Whence all but him had fled.
He did not think of "Safety First."
But hero tales he'd read.
Or you can try this on your piano:
The baker has a heartletss bunch
Of tricks that Irk our souls;
He'll beat the eggs, forsooth and punch
The doughnuts full of holes.
Or, if, you prefer the carpenter:
I asMed a carpenter one day
To testify at law.
He answered: "All that I can say
Is what the keybole-saw."
"Please," said the Janitor, "you are
disturbing the family in the flat below.
Won't you try to be more quiet?"
"We will," we replied.
And stopped our mad revelry.
Kssy After the First.
Boston Advertiser.
Pat and Mike were taking a walk in
the country one Sunday mornin when
the former suddenly paused and turned
to his companion with a . reflective
smile.
"Jlst a minute. Molke," said he, "Kin
yez tell me why the kissin' av yci
gurrul is loike a bottlo av olives?"
"Shure, an Oi kin not!" was the
quick response of Mike. "Do yez think
thot Oi am wan av thim Incoyklapay
dias?" "Begorra, an' It's an aisy wan,
Moike," was the grinful rejoinder of
Pat. "If yes kin git wan, the rlst
come alsy."