T1TE SUNDAY OREGONTAN. PORTLAND, ' APRIL 13, 19T5;
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(My commission expires May 25, 1915.)
PORTXAJfD, SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 1915.
IT'S THE MAN BEHIND THE GUN.
After a year of government under
the managerial system the City of
Dayton, Ohio, has Issued through the
medium of its bureau of municipal re
search several more or less congratu
latory pamphlets. Dayton is a city
of 130,000 Inhabitants and adopted the
new form of city government under
Btresa of tho consequences following
tL disastrous flood. The records dis
close some notable economies, among
them a saving of $33,000 on an ex
penditure of $200,000 for supplies.
The operating revenues increased,
however, during the year in the sum
of $77,709, but this growth is ac
counted for largely in increased serv
ice. Comparative costs, too, are not
accurate, for, us a result of the flood,
emergency bonds were issued and the
old administration operated certain
departments for several months al
most entirely from bond money. It
Is argued, also, In the report that
"cheapness is no more a. criterion of
good government than it Is of good
clothes, good tobacco or of good house
bold necessities."
The managerial system of municipal
government is in a sense a reversion.
The commission form combines in one
governing body both legislative and
administrative functions. In this it
departs from time-honored principles.
It ought to be significant Information
to those who are advocating commis
sion state government, that the mana
gerial system by its supporters is con
sidered a progressive form, but that
on of the arguments advanced In Its
favor Is that It establishes the sepa
ration of two governmental functions
in cities a separation which now ex
ists in state government.
There is in fact less reason, for this
separation in city government than
in state government. The legislative
duties of a City Council are Insignifi
cant; those of a Legislature are im
portant. And there is one obstacle in
the way of a general adoption of the
managerial system for cities that has
heretofore been pointed out. It is the
lack of trained managers. In indus
trial organizations the successful man
ager is usually one who has risen from
some minor position. Under the mu
nicipal government systems that have
been in use for many years ability is
rarely recognized by promotion. The
clerk who gains a Job stays in the same
place regardless of his demonstrated
ability to perform more important
service. The man with a general
working knowledge of city adminis
tration and with executive ability is
therefore rare.
There is another phase of the man
agerial system that may putxit in a
doubtful category. It combines the
short ballot with nominally paid city
legislative positions. Obviously if
legislative duties are Insignificant it la
not proper to pay the members of the
council or commission high salaries.
The large, remunerations must go to
the manager and his subordinates who
perform the more important work.
Following some disaster or in times of
occasional public revolt against mal
administration patriotic Impulse may
impel qualified men to seek poorly
paid positions on the City Council. Or
dinarily they shun such places.
Whatever may be said about divi
sion of the voters' attention incident to
the long ballot, it remains true that
tiie number of candidates or measures
on the ballot is a powerful influence
Jn bringing out the vote. An issue be
tween two or three candidates or one
raised by a single measure is usually
decided by a small portion of the elec-l
torate. The straight commission form
such as we have in Portland, .presents
the short ballot principle, but it also
presents an inducement in adequate
salaries to honest and competent men
to seek office for other than purely
patriotic motives. The ballot may be
short so far as number of offices is
concerned, but it is likely to continue
to be long in respect to number of
candidates, and thereby engage
larger attention at the polls.
There is no ground for disputing
the assertion that the efficiency of
any government rests on the integrity
and ability of those who govern. There
is as much room for corruption in
commission government or managerial
government as in councilmanic gov
ernment. The Dayton municipal bu
reau sounds this note of warning
But once this type or government la se
cured can the citizens retire, satisfied that
reform is a hardy perrenial which will make
Its appearance at each election time whether
the voter cares or not?
Or will the partisan politician, who works
S6o days In the year, come back, bringing
with him the patriots wno have no proles
ion than serving their city for pay; the old
administrative code of Job and profits'
comatose appreciation of community Ideals
mud community needs c
We have long maintained that one
reason for success of commisison gov
ernment is that it comes in usually on
a wave of public awakening to city
shortcomings. The same wave takes
into office men above the caliber of
councilmen ordinarily elected. But it
is not a machine of reform that will
run Itself without constant attention
by the voters. The same is true of
the managerial system. The second
election under the commission charter
of Portland is soon to be held.' What
ever measure of Improvement has
been attained under the new charter
will not be maintained if there is In
difference at the polls, due to a "com
atose appreciation of community Ideals
and community needs."
why a court
The fact that the bulk of the labor
vote cannot be swayed for against an
issue regardless of its merits) merely
by pronunciamento of union officials
was pretty clearly demonstrated in
the road bond election. The work
man Is able to judge for himself what
is for his own interests. In the light
of recent events there is no need for
alarm over a possible political coup at
the strangely conceived political con
vention soon to be held by the labor
party to indorse a candidate In the
forthcoming non-partisan election.
Ordinarily a political convention
might be expected to produce the sly
and reprehensible methods which it
had been supposed were eliminated
forever from Oregon election. But it
appears that the labor vote cannot be
controlled without reason. We fancy
that if there is a candidate on the bal
lot who is known to the rank and
file to be a true friend of labor and
also square and intelligent, he will
get the labor vote, whether the labor
convention or campaign committee,
or whatever it be -called, Indorses him
or not.
Possibly, too, indorsement by the la
bor leaders who endeavored to make
road necessities an object of barter
would drive away more votes from a
candidate than he would gain. So
why should anybody attempt to pack
the meeting?
POIJJDKXTER'S GOOD J CDGMEXT.
Evidence of Senator Poindexter's
"excellent judgment in measuring the
sentiments of his neighbors" is found
by the New York Sun in his several
changes of party. His virtual an
nouncement that he will seek re-election
to the Senate as a Republican
shows that he has once more felt the
course of the political wind. He is
still a progressive, but with a small
p. and he admits that the only way
in which Progressives can "save the
Progressive legislation of the last
year" is by uniting to control the Re
publican primaries.
Mr. Poindexter's renewal of alle
giance to the Republican party is the
more significant because he is the only
Senator who proclaimed himself a
Progressive with a capital "P." Sena
tors Bristow, Clapp and Norris sup
ported Colonel Roosevelt in 1912, but
after.his defeat they discreetly jumped
back 'into the Republican fold, leaving
Mr. Polndexter as the only Progressive
standpatter. When he is back in the
fold, only the Pinchbts and-a few oth
ers will remain outside. Oh! how
lonesome' they must be!
BURROWING ARMIES.
Man on the battlefields of Europe
has become a burrowing animal. In
short the war may be described as
having been moved under the sur
face. While we are coming to un
derstand more. clearly of late that the
veil of secrecy over the theaters of
operation is all but impenetrable, at
the same time there stands out clearly
the fact that the intrenchment has
been seized upon everywhere as the
one means of escaping extermination.
Trench warfare, it is very clear, has
come to be a dominant tactical and
strategical factor in modern battle.
When the present war is ended there
will be a sufficient supply of obso
lete military textbooks on hand to
keep the fleets of the world in fuel
for a year, while the presses will be
kept running day and night printing
revised Instructions on the latest
scientific way of killing uniformed
human beings. It is easy . to foresee
whole libraries on the fine art of dig
ging in battle and preventing the ene
my from digging you out.
Intrenchments have become a neces
sity in Europe. With the high-power
machines of destruction no army
could stand up very long in the face
of veritable hails of lead. In short,
when the devices of slaughter are
brought into full play the - fighting
man must crawl Into a hole temporari
ly until the storm subsides. This was
a condition little expected at the out
set, but all the forces have adapted
themselves to the necessity and now
the theaters of war are networks of
tunnels and underground rendezvous.
Recognition of the fact that trench
warfare has come to stay is implied
by Kitchener's instructions that Eng
lish recruits be instructed at target
practice in short ranges only. Three
hundred yards is given as the max!
mum for instruction, of British infan
try of the new army. Most of the
firing, as a matter of fact. Is done at
much shorter range and there are
authentic accounts of hostile trenches
so close together that hand grenades
can be thrown from one to the other,
Necessarily the whole technic of
combat has been modified by the
trench. The long, thin skirmish line
has been abandoned completely. Even
the tenacious Britisher has come to
mass the infantry for an assault. On
account of the deadly hail of lead that
can be hurled from a trench a thin
line would be shot down quickly and
certainly would never gain any such
fire superiority as would enable it to
storm successfully an intrenched posl
tion. During the Winter months, if
we may believe all reports in the mat
ter, the fighting has been exclusively
or nearly so of the trench variety.
The actions have been of a local char
acter. It may be said, almost, that
tactics has had ascendency over strat
egy. Not only are the firing lines dug
in, but the supports and reserves are
likewise underground.
On the western front these Intrench
ments are particularly elaborate, the
firing point extending for hundreds of
miles underground and being protect
ed ingeniously from every vantage
point which hostile artillery or Infan
try might secure. The approaches
from the rear, where supports are
stationed, lead by zigzag routes, the
angles being sharp enough to prevent
an enfilading fire from hostile guns
mounted on an eminence. ' Elaborate
recesses for supplies and ammunition
are built in at the underground ren
dezvous, where the reserves are lo
cated, and there are veritable under
ground barracks. Troops on the fir
ing line are relieved usually at night
So close are the opposing trenches at
nearly all points that observation Is
maintained by use of periscopes, the
reflectors showing possible movements
of the enemy without . necessitatin
exposure of a head which would be
certain to draw a shower of bullets.
Germany set the pace in this dig-
ging-In warfare by intrenchingTierself
on French soil atter the force of the
German advance had been spent. Re
ports from reliable sources indicate
that Germany is now doing the same
thing in Russian-Poland, although the
same spectacle of two great armies
watching each other from deep holes
is not yet presented on the eastern
front. The fighting that will occur
when either army assumes the offen
sive on a large scale is certain to be
the bloodiest and most bitter of the
war. Only the most reckless disre
gard of the cost in human life can
serve to drive one force or the other
out of its holes. When the allies set
their face in earnest toward digging
out the Germans it is assured that
history will gain some of its goTiest
pages.
PROSPERITY IN SOUTHERN OREGON.
But few Oregon citizens have any
conception of what the construction of
the new railway lines in Southern
Oregon means to that section, as well
as to the state at large. This is not
to be wondered at, for Oregon is a
large state and the distances from
Portland to the new fields of railroad
activity are quite remote, the nearest
being Sutherlin, 185 miles to the south.
The roads contemplated and practi
cally assured are two. The first leads
from Sutherlin up to the timber belt,
a distance of some 30 miles; the sec
ond from Grants Pass to Crescent
City, California, a distance of a trifle
ess than 100 miles. The third, to be
built from Rose burg, is not yet defi
nitely located, but the people of that
section are sure to have a road to
Coos Bay in. the near future.
Considering the road from Sutherlin
as of great but local importance, as
it will assuredly build up a prosperous
town in the Sutherlin "Valley, we may
advert to the Roseburg contemplated
road as of general importance owing
to the vast timber belt and the great
coal fields it will touch. Such a road
would be of inestimable value to the
Umpqua Valley section. But the
Grants Pass road, ten miles of which
has been constructed and is now in
operation, will bring about an almost
unprecedented era of prosperity to all
of the Rogrue River section. As it is
now the entire area of Douglas, Jose
phine and Jackson counties is experi
encing an uplift which promises to
make that promising section one of
the most prosperous in all Oregon.
WTLI, TVIKN OBEY WOMEN?
In the Eastern States woman suf
frage is a live question. Here it has
been settled in favor of the women and
we know by happy experience that the
dangers so often predicted from it are
purely imaginary, while the benefits
are real. But several states east of
the Mississippi are to vote upon suf
frage before a great while and their
wise men are discussing the subject as
a matter of pure theory, without the
slightest regard to what has been done
elsewhere. This might confirm us in
the belief that the male sex is unprac
tical, given over to vain argumentation
instead of studying facts and prefer
ring the idle visions of fancy to the
concrete realities of life. Such a chi
merical philosopher is Duffleld Os
borne, who enlarges upon woman suf
frage in the current number of the
Tale Review. Mr. Osborne presents
his thoughts in the alluring guise of a
dialogue in which Socrates plays the
part of the dominating male who
comes out ahead in every part of the
argument, while his poor wife Xan
thippe is invariably defeated.
Aspasia, who is also present, as
sumes at first the attitude of a rather
lukewarm anti, but before the scene
ends she is violently converted by Soc
rates and becomes, as we see the last
of her, a virulent opponent of votes for
women. Mr. Osborne's point of view
is distinctly medieval. He thinks "it
is only the injustice and rapacity of
mankind that makes government
necessary, and these can be held in
check -only by physical force or the
fear of it." We Infer, therefore, that
Mr. Osborne has lost all faith in re
ligion, which claims to hold injustice
and rapacity in check by spiritual
sanctions, and is usually conceded to
have achieved at least partial success.
No thoughtful person can grant for an
instant that the only purpose of gov
ernment is to restrain evil. Its far
more important purpose is to promote
positive good. The postofflce, the Pan
ama Canal, the school system of the
United States have opened our eyes to
the potentialities of government as a
constructive agency in evolution. Co
operation among individuals for small
undertakings is as yet in its feeble be
ginnings. The concept of co-operation
among the entire population of a coun
try, or the world, to attain objects of
universal benefit has only begun to
dawn upon us. But it really has begun
to dawn, and some time It will shine
with the full light of day. Even now
the concept of government as a mere
thief-catching agency has become a lit
tle absurd. It will gain no new dignity
as the years pass.
Mr. Osborne cherishes all the anti
quated fears that voting may bring
women into perilous competition with
men and thus destroy the "chivalry'
which has been found so precious at
the washtub and in the sweatshop, to
say nothing of the stews. He also
trembles to think that "a majority of
men could not be made to submit to a
majority of women and that thence
might be born the seeds of revolution
and instability, than which nothing is
more abhorrent. This awful vision is
brought upon Mr. Osborne by his belief
that "the state relies ultimately upon
physical force to accomplish its of
fices." And of course women, being
the weaker vessels, never could carry
out their will if the men opposed it.
Which shows how little Mr. Osborne
knows about human nature. There is
no state in the world and. never was
one which "relied ultimately upon
physical force to accomplish Its of
fices." Far deeper than the physical
force which any state wields is the
psychology of its people. Change this
psychology and the physical force
which flows from it vanishes like the
dews of morn. The Russian armies
are held together, not by any physical
force whatever, but by the love of the
moujiks for. their ideal Czar and their
faith in the creed of the Greek Church.
The actual living Czar is whole unl
verses away from their Ideal and the
orthodox Greek Church offers a sorry
apology for a saving faith, but such
facts only reinforce the strength of our
argument. Control the mind of a peo
ple by any means whatsoever, no mat
ter how impostrous, and their physi
cal strength becomes as wax in your
hands. All statesmen know this to be
true, and all of them act upon it. Lin
coln, for example, never dared apply
the physical force of the North to any
project, such as emancipation, until he
had first, made sure of a suitable psy
chology to support It.
Now a people's psychology. In this
sense of the word, is a product of their
education. This Nation will do tomo
row what its children are taught to de
sire today. Its physical strength will
be used to accomplish the purposes
which are now taught to be right and
noble. Its conduct twenty years from
now will be a direct consequence of the
lessons of today in day school. Sunday
school and, the family. If among these
lessons they are taught unresisting
submission to the majority, to the ma
jority they will submit totally, without
regard to physical force on either side.
By the lessons of youth whole peoples
are made to submit, not to a majority
of women, but to a solitary woman, sit
ting alone In Imperial splendor like
Queen "Victoria. By the lessons of
youth millions of human beings are
made to submit their temporal and
eternal welfare absolutely to the de
crees of a solitary individual sitting on
the papal throne. The Church of Rome
commands no physical force whatever,
and yet we dare say that even Mr. Os
borne in all his blindness would scarce
ly deny that it is the greatest actual
power in the world. It rules through
faith alone. That Is to say, it rules
through psychology. The sooner we
understand what It really is that con
trols the world the sooner we shall ap
preciate the potency of education. No
matter how strong men may be as far
as their muscles are concerned', if they
are taught in childhood to obey the de
cision of the majority they will obey. It
and Mr. Osborne's "revolution and in
stability" will be the vainest of airy
visions.
A LAW IGNORED.
The Bend Bulletin calls attention to
a law (Section 6317, Lord a Oregon
Laws) making mandatory the erection
of plainly-lettered. guide posts at every
crossing of public roads in the state.
The law further provides that until
such signs are properly placed the
supervisor can draw no pay from the
county Treasurer for any services ren
dered. Such signs must have upon
them the distance to the next town or
public place on such public highway,
with such other information as Is
necessary. The Bulletin says:
Under those provisions we believe there
probably Is not a single road supervisor in
Crook County who is entitled to his pay from
the County Court. And with our road situ
ation as it Is we believe that the court would
be doing- a real service to the public If it
hereafter enforces to the letter this section.
Crook County officials are not alone
in dereliction as to this law. Every
road traveler can point to places in
other counties where such signs are
badly needed, but are not in evidence.
In fact some road supervisors ignore
the law entirely, much to the incon
venience and annoyance of travelers.
Yet these supervisors have their bills
audited and paid regularly by the
County Court. Hence these officials
are as guilty as the supervisors.
GRAND OPERA AT POPULAR PRICES.
The excuse commonly given for of
fering bad music and silly plays at the
theaters is that the public demands
trash. Audiences are so tired, we are
told, or so stupid or so childish that
they will have nothing to do with the
great artistic productions. Their fee
ble minds must be fed on folly, with
an occasional spice of wickedness.
There is some truth in this plea for
vulgarity and idiocy on the stage, but
it is not the whole truth by any means.
There is a part of the public which
really prefers silly sentiment and
trashy melodrama to sterling sense in
the plays it sees and which is pleased
by no music except idiotic Jigs and
maudlin squalls, but there is another
part which has better taste and morals.
To bring this interesting section of
the community into the light it is only
necessary to provide something excel
lent at a moderate price. The people
of whom we are speaking are not
wealthy. They can seldom afford to
pay $5 for a theater seat to' hear even
the grandest ef grand opera sung by
tenors and sopranos of world-wide
fame.. The tickets must usually sell
for a dollar or less to be within their
means.
An audience composed of these
active-minded, intelligent people forms
an Interesting study. Few clawham
mer coats and dinner gowns will be
seen in the seats. Almost everybody
wears ordinary clothes because ho
others can be afforded. But what is
lost in gorgeous raiment is gained in
intelligence and understanding. No
fashionable audience listens with half
the eager attention of these plain
people or catches the fine beauties of
the piece half so quickly. It is not
necessary for the singers to court their
favor, for they come to the theater
as eager as children to be pleased, and
are ready to applaud everything that
has merit. They Know the fine pas
sages in "Trovatore," 'Rigoletto" and
"Faust," even if they have never beard
the operas sung before, for these
modest audiences are great readers
and remember well the comments of
writers whose opinions they respect.
Some - of the great arias they have
learned at home on the piano. The
stories of the operas they know by
heart, so that it makes little difference
if the beautiful Italian words are but
musical sounds to them without
definite meaning.
This audience is composed of many
classes of people, most of whom live
on moderate . salaries. There are
teachers and ministers with their
wives among them, here and there a
lawyer who has not yet gained re
nown and a heavy bank account, and
plenty of men and women of the
clerical type. There are others, too.
One sitting in the balcony while the
lovely strains of "Trovatore" fill the
theater may have on his right hand
an Italian, clean but dressed in work
ing clothes, while on his left is a
Russian laborer. They love good
music as well as . if they possessed
millions and have saved up for the
great feast at the v Baker Theater.
They listen to the voices with rapt
attention. They never applaud in the
middle of a scene, but at the end they
award the tenor his full meed of glory
and when he graciously condescends
to repeat the divine melody of the
Miserere they bend forward to gather
every note and miss none of the
heavenly harmony.
Grand opera at popular prices is a
boon to those who live the intellectual
life on slender means. Their imagina
tions are filled with the splendor of
the famous scenes, but it is only rarely
that they can see them on the stage,
for in America great music is for
biddingly expensive as a rule, unfold
ing Its beauties only for the rich and
the extravagant. If by pinching and
saving they lay by the money to buy
a ticket to , the gorgeous shows they
never can 'sit with the best. They
must climb wearisomely to the top
gallery, where the loveliness of the
music is poisoned with foul air and
the keen edge of the notes is dulled
by distance. But when the best seats
can be had for a dollar they crowd
the parquet, and, for once in their
lives, hear Verdi's music and
Gounod's as comfortably and happily
as the multitude can hear it almost
every night in European cities. They
demonstrate, too, by their eagerness
that the plain people love the best
when it comes within their means.
They must have amusement of some
kind, but when the good is priced
miles above their ability to pay they
must perforce content themselves
with mediocrity.
' But to the crowding audiences
which have listened to the great
operas at the Baker Theater music is
not merely an amusement. It is more.
far more. . It is a part of the Intel
lectual life which they live in the rare
and lofty moments when they can lay
aside pretenses and false values and
dwell with the great Ideal. Music, like
science and literature. Is one of the
mighty structures which human genius
has reared in the progress of the ages.
It is a voice which expresses the woe,
the aspiration and the triumphs of
universal man. Its chords unite us
to the souls that have striven and
suffered nobly, its melodies tell the
mystic tales . of human experience
whose meaning is too deep and sor
rowful for words. To the mind which
has been nurtured on high thoughts
and dwelt with great ideals art is
something strange and holy. To enter
the theater where "Faust" or "Alda"
is to be sung is like entering the por
tals of some cathedral where the lofty
arches seem to reach heaven In the
dim light from the pictured windows
and the perfumed air trembles mys
teriously with the whispers of smiling
angels. To hear Verdi's music is a
religious privilege and he who makes
it possible for the multitude con
tributes to the spiritual uplift of man
kind. FOR THE LAND HUNGRY.
There is opportunity for" sensation
in the intervention by the Attorney
General In the Oregon & California
Railroad grant case, but not of the
order the Pinchotites and other reser
vatlonlsts are seeking. Adoption and
Import of the resolution instructing
the Attorney-General to intervene
were published fully in The Oregonlan
following the close of the Legislature.
There was nothing secretive about It.
The real sensation is the situation in
which an unconditional forfeiture of
the grant lands will place Western
Oregon.
There are 2,074,161 acres of land lo
cated in eighteen counties. The land
is in tracts of individual sections, lo
cated alternately or laid down like a
great checkerboard. If it reverts to
the Government without some reserva
tion in behalf of the state it -will re
main waste, or unused land, until
Congress consents to devote time to
a measure providing for Us disposition.
At that time, if Eastern reservationists
who have an echo in the West prevail.
this great area will be covered into
the Federal reserves where red tape
and regulations will prevent utilization
of even that which is best adapted to
agriculture, if past history is a cri
terion.
The disastrous consequences to
Western Oregon of reserving this
grant from use or sale ought to be ap
parent to every citizen. Intermingled
with it are more than 3000 sections of
other land whose best development
will be prevented by the Federal re
served sections which lie on each sWle.
It Is not solely a matter of opening
to use or sale the railroad land grant.
An area twice as great is in a way In
volved.
The taxes collected on the 2,000,000
acres In the railroad'grant would have
aggregated in the last year It was
assessed the sum of $466,872.87.. Un
conditional forfeiture means a sur
render by Oregon of approximately
half a ;mlllion dollars a year without
calculating- the increase that would
attend settlement and cultivation
Herein U not mentioned the prosper,
ous homes that might there be lo
cated, nor the industries, nor the cre
ation of wealth. Taxes alone amount
to nearly half a million a -year. --
The resolution adopted by the Leg
islature instructs the Attorney-General
to intervene in the United States Su
preme Court "for the purpose of se
curing and protecting the best inter
ests of the State of Oregon and its
citizens and to take any and all steps
and proceedings which may be neces
sary or - permissible to safeguard such
interests." It advocates elsewhere the
disposition of the grant in accordance
with the original terms sale to actual
settlers at $2.50 per acre. It nowhere
suggests that the Attorney-General
support the railroad in an effort to re
tain the lands and continue its policy
of withholding them from use. It in
structs him to protect the best Inter
ests of the state and no one except he
who is willing to sacrifice prosperity
and development In behalf of doubtful
benefits to unborn generations can
conscientiously recommend the addi
tion of this grant to the enormous res
ervations and Government wastes in
Oregon.
' PROGRESS AMONG NEGROES.
Decided progress in education and
economic independence of the negro
race in the United States is shown by a
census bulletin. Of negroes six to twen
ty years of age 4 7.3 per cent, as com
pared with 66.9 per cent among na
tive whites of white parentage attend
ed school In 1910, and in Boston the
percentage ran up to 67.2 and in Con
necticut to 67.1. The percentage of
illiteracy, while still high 30.4 Is
lower in the younger than in the older
generations, being only 22.1 among
negro children 10 to 14 years old in
Georgia. The lowest percentage of
Illiteracy among negroes over ten years
old Is 3.4 in Oregon and Minnesota.
The negro is also making progress
as a home-owner, 22.4 per cent of
negroes in the South owning their
homes in 1910 as compared with
per cent in 1900. As to occupation
87.4 per cent of males and 54.7 per
cent of females over ten were gain
fully employed. Of tho males 30.9
per cent were farm laborers and 25
per cent farmers. Negroes operated
893.370 farms worth $1,142,000,000. o
which 9 8.6 per cent were irvthe South
The number of farms operated by ne
groes increased 19.6 and the value
128.4 per cent since 1900, compared
with an increase of 9.5 per cent in
number and 99.6 per cent in value of
farms operated by whites, but only
one-fourth of the negro farmers were
owners compared with two-thirds of
the whites.
The increase in negro population
between 19 00 and 1910 was 11.2 per
cent, compared with 22.3 for whites,
but the latter was due largely to im
migration, which is negligible among
negroes. More than 50 per cent of the
total population of Mississippi and
South Carolina was negro and between
40 and 60 per cent in Georgia, Louis
iana, Alabama and Florida, while in
each of 5 3 counties scattered through
the South at least 75 per cent of the
population was negro. Of the 9,827,
763 negroes, in the United States, 20.9
per cent were mixed blood, there hav
ing been a continuous increase for
forty years. The death rate among
negroes is still much higher than that
among whites, but is decreasing more
rapidly.
In all respects, the negroes show
steady improvement . in education
health and economic independence.
With this improvement they are at
taining a higher degree of self-respect
and personal responsibility, which
raises their social position and softens
the friction arising from the race
Issue.
Chicago has completed the guaran
tee fund for a season of grand opera
this year and next. The amount re
quired was $100,000 for each year and
somewhat more has been obtained
ithout difficulty. This should in
spire Portland to new efforts for the
support' of the symphony orchestra.
We should be willing to do a little
when other cities gladly do so much
for music.
Germany's strategic railroads on the
eastern border facilitate swift concen
tration of troops at unexpected points.
The Russians, who have no such sys
tem of railroads, are therefore con
stantly taken by surprise and appar
ently outgeneraled. But it is charac
teristic of the Slav to retrieve his dis
asters and begin again. He is partic
ularly capable of learning from the
enemy.
Dean Briggs, of Harvard, bewails
the increase of "the number of intel-
ectual persons who cannot spell." His
grief is made particularly poignant by
the fact that one of his brightest stu
dents spells eggs "algues." a quaint
and original rendering. The chances
are that Dean Briggs will see worse
spelling . still before long. The- ten
dency is decidedly in that direction.
Black anarchy impends in Austria,
The burdens of the people have be
come unbearable and the demons ol
revolt are swarming from the pit
Things are more quiet on the surface
in the other warring countries, but
human nature is alike in all of them
It will suffer patiently up to a certain
limit, then it explodes.
Luther Burbank's presence at the
Rose Festival would be ornamental
and inspiring. He may come, it is
said, to judge the roses, but If he does
he will himself be the fairest flower,
Few men have done so much for the
race as Mr. Burbank. We shall all
rejoice to do him honor.
Ah! Here is Sunday, our day of
rest, at hand again. How delight
fully refreshing. Nothing to do ex
cept shape up the lawn, trim the rose
bushes, weed the garden and perform
a few incidental chores. Then, tomor
row, back to the grind for a much
needed rest.
Peace talk should not be taken too
seriously lest the heart be made sick
by hope deferred. When there is
peace, certain people predict war
when there is war, certain others pre
dict peace. In both cases many are
proved false prophets.
The prohibition avalanche is appar
ently gathering- momentum In Great
Britain. The breweries are a substan
tial factor in English life. It is al
most impossible to think of a beerless
England, but the impossible sometimes
happens.
Foreign governments are gathering
data on chaotic conditions in Mexico
Europe may have to set apart some, of
her hard-driven energies to straighten
up the Mexican muddle. It is certain
that we will do nothing.
In, Germany It has been found tha
a substitute for butter can be. made
from sunflowers. Now if some way
of reducing powder smoke to bread
can be devised the supply problem will
be fully met.
Chinese students have been sent
over to study the American press.
China will have to speed up a few
centuries in order to appreciate Amer
ican Journalism, however.
As to the precautions being taken
to watch Iluerta we opine that he
couldn't be lured into Mexico at the
end of a rope attached to a span of
hard-pulling army mules.
Men past 4 5 are to be barred from
appointment In the police department.
These days of the young man It pays
to have a good running start before
passing the 4 5 mark.
Having been utterly routed at the
recent bond issue election we trust
that the mossback army will now disband-
and go over en masse to the
army of progress.
The war god has shifted the gear
in his European machine from low
to intermediate. He'll be getting Into
high about next month with full speed
ahead.
A Virginia factory will make two
and a half million shrapnel shells for
a European consumer. An ample
supply to fill at least 500,000 graves.
The Portland polo team won an Im
portant cup at the fair tourney. Which
is another reminder that Portland usu
ally scores In every line of activity.
Special treatment is asked of Great
Britain for ships carrying Oregon ap
ples. Such a cargo assuredly Is en
titled to special consideration.
Russians report a complete rout of
a picked German force in the Car
pathians. Picked by the Russians for
tho occasion, we take it.
British wapien are urging an early
end to the war. While Kitchener says
the war will not really begin ' until
next month.
New aerial raids are threatened now
that weather conditions are improv
ing. Pity the Innocent non-combatant.
If Germany succeeds in making
"butter" from sunflowers she will add
economic value to world industry.
Italy, with 1,200,000 men in arms,
could put the finishing touches on
poor old Austria in short order.
Bet the weather in Paradise is no
improvement over the present April
in Portland.
Bishop Sumner Is becoming accli
matized, and will be good for a hun
dred years.
In France the popular color this
Spring Is black. Very appropriate.
The April showers of this year will
come later. The moon is dry.
However, all In all.-the home team
has made a pretty fair start.
Full speed ahead for the Celllo cele
bration! Not long till Rose Festival. Get busy.
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
The April Yearn.
Oh for he swirl of the sweet waters swlsh-
Inc
Round the red roots of the wild willow
tree!
Oh for the fun, farm forth to so fishing
UOtto in the deeps where the speckted
trout bel
Woe to the wight who must stick at his
noi kins-.
When down in the shallows his quarry is
lurking:
Woe to the vanity only of wishing
Just io be out in the open and free!
Oh for the song of the swift streamlet
plashing.
Fretted with cold In tha allnt of the sun I
Oh for the spray of the waterfall dashiugl
Ana on ror the lunge of the trout as they
run!
White the brave bloom of the dogwood la
drifting.
Over the mirror of clear water shifting;
Yonder Look! Lookl 'Tls the speckled
trout flashing!
Joint up your rod and prepare for the fun.
Where Is the wight whom his office has
lure fur.
When the whole wide world Is mad with
the Spring.
Mad with a madness there's only one cure
lor
Just to be out like the birds and awlna-.
Cherry blooms blown by the west wind are
falling:
Faintly and far the full forest Is calling;
This is no time when your chains cau en
dure, for
You hear tho low chant that the trout
rivers sing.
O April, your spell Is too sweetly en
thralling.
And leads our poor fancies afar from onr
tasks:
The voice of the swlft-rushlng river Is
calling.
And drone the deep falls where the
speckled trout basks.
And woe to the wight who must, stick to
his working.
When down in the streamlets his quarry Is
lurking;
One day to be free, where the rapids are
brawling
And fighting trout linger Is all that one
aski.
e
Our Idea of a mechanic is the man
who can nail the old-fashioned carpet
right back where he got it. without
spraining his back or knocking oft
either of liis thumb nails.
Solemn Thought.
When Spring is panting In the air.
Then Phyllis wanders here and there
Among the scented woodland bowers.
And gathers lots and lots of flowers.
And next day nature's bitter Joke
Her nose swells up with poison oak.
By the time the hygienic crank geta
done showing you where to apply all
of his ounces of prevention, you are
in need of several pounds of cure for
nervous prostration.
- .
"Sir," said the courteous office boy,
"we have Just uncorked volume four
of our capsule classics for the five-inch
bookshelf for busy men."
"Read it," I said, for I esteemed my
self a busy man.
"It is Tennyson's 'Princess' and goes
thus:" said the C. O. B.
I'rlnce goes away,
Seking fiancee;
Her tastes vary;
Runs girl's seminary;
DisKuWed as maids.
Prince's bunch Invades;
Princess finally met
Kee-lur sufiracette.
Spots them she's no fool
Huns tlti-m out of school;
Prince and several others
Walloped by her brothers;
Barely dodge the hearse;
I'rincess acts as nurse;
Kelents as he gets well;
Consents to wedding bell:
J-'uture plans they dream.
Like I'ethlck-Lawrence team,
see
When a susceptible young chap goes
out canoeing under the Spring moon
these days with a pretty girl, tha jfjor
Idiot probably Imagines that tho t.iot-
to "Safety First" applies only to rock
ing the canoe.
see
It seems sufficiently well established
by this time that mothers of vaude
ville artists didn't raise their boys to
be soldiers, so why continue to rub It
in?
e e
"I like to hear the froggles croak."
Said simple Hufus Lialllngard.
And next day sev'ral frogs moved la
And settled down In his back yard.
And as they croalfed at eventide.
Full harshly simple Kufus spoke.
While hunting for a hefty club:
"liy jimmluy, I wlh they'd croak!"
Italy and Russia appear to be mak
ing about equal progress toward the
invasion of Austria-Hungary.
Brftanla rules the waves, 'tis true.
Where'er the ocean laves;
But look what things are coming to
A bit beneath the waves.
e
Although it Is an even bet that soma
other wheeze-whlttler bas beaten us
to It, we beg to suggest that Jess Wil
lard, in his proposed vaudeville en
gagement, might make a hit in that
popular song, "Blow the Smoke Away."
e
To travel daily miles and miles
The Jitney bus aspires.
And yet the hope seems vsln, ou know.
Because the Jitney tires.
m
Silence is golden, but who ever saw
a woman taking the gold cure?
e
, The Jitney jingle above waa summlt
ted by a chap who didn't know we had
declared a closed season on Jitney
wheezes. To prevent him from coming
back with more we hereby outflank,
him:
The Jitney knocks the streetcar trade
While running here and there;
We wonder, when this game Is played,
bay Is tho Jitney fare?
e e
All that jitneys is not Ford.
A Matter of Proportion.
Howe'er It be, it seems to ine.
Although I know not what It means.
There are more trucks than touring cars.
And Jitneys more than limousines,
see
The cost of keeping up his car
Hrought Jones unto a sorry pass;
He runs It as a Jitney now
And almost pays for tires and gas.
e e e
He motored to his ork at morn;
He walked to lunch at noon;
He motorcycled out to fish;
He street-csrrnd home eftsoon;
He taxlcabbed about at night.
As any fellow must, (
And 'gainst a lamp post, later on.
The poor guy Jitney bust.
BVKNIXG CHIMES.
Six persons arose at the break of day
To earn their "dough" in the usual way.
As judges and clerks on an election
board
A luxury that Portland doth oft afford.
And. the hours dragged and the voters
were few
And the air wa cold and the room was
"blue" :
For the chairman "cussed" and the
ladies "tatted."
And all grew weary as fast as they
chatted.
And the hours dragged and the voters
all in
And the night board came with a know
ing grin;
And in an hour, less or more.
Had checked those ballots o'er and o'er.
Had closed the box and hiked away.
" 'Twas easy money," then quoth they.
And the "people dear" they paid the
bill.
As they ever do and ever will!
GRACE E- J I ALU
1