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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 26, 1915)
6 THE STINT) AY OREGONIAN, PORTLAND, SEPTE3IBER 26, . 1913. ,2T (S)w?xrommt PORTLAND, OREGON. Entered at Portland, Oregon, PoBtoffice as second class nialttr. JSubFcriptlon Kates Invariably in advance. (By Mall.) Ttatly, Sunday included, one year $S.UO laily, Sunday included, six months 4.25 lally, Sunday included, three months . . 2.25 Jjaily, Sunday included, one month ..... .75 Daily, without Sunday, one year ........ ti.UO lally, without Sunday, six months ...... ii.-3 X'aily, without Sunday, three months ... l.5 Jiaily, without Sunday, one month .tK "Weekly, one year t ,. 1.00 Sunday, one year ........ 2.io Sunday and Weekly, one year .......... 3.50 (By Carrier) Tally, Sunday included, one year t00 X)aily, Sunday included, one month ...' How tf Krmit Send postoffice money or der, express order or personal check on your local bank. Stamps, coin or currency are at render's risk. Olve " postoffice address In lull, including county and state. Postage Kate 12 to 10 pages, 1 cent: 38 to u2 paes. z cents; 34 to 48 pages, 3 cents; On to GO pages, 4 cenu; 02 to To" pages, a cents; 78 to U2 pages, 6 cents. Foreign postage, double rates. Kaxtrrn Huhuich Off ices Verree & Conk Jin, Jirunswick tuilding. New York; Verree & Conklin, Ste?er building, Chicago; San Krancisco representative. It. J. Bidwell, . 742 Market street. PORTLANI, SUNDAY. SEPT. 26, 1915. "ECONOMIC READJUSTMENT." President Wilson is reported to be willing- now to have the tariff in some of its schedules revised upward; but it is not to be known as a "revision." Not at all. For the President has dis covered a beautiful new phrase "economic readjustment." There is to be an economic readjust ment of the tariff because of the changed conditions growing out of the war. The present tariff would have been all right if everything else had been all right. That is to say, it would have been a success if it had been permitted to succeed. Of course. The tariff was in fact a demon strated failure before the war broke out. It had done incalculable harm to American industries, and did not produce adequate revenues. Now the war is a substitute for a protective tariff, but still there is not enough income from the customs. So wool is to be taken from the free list, and sugar is not to be free next May, as was proposed. The case of wool is worth our re newed attention. Since It went on the free list, under the present tariff, millions of dollars have been lost in revenue, and yet the price of wool has not gone down.' There has been no benefit to the consumer, and no gain, but actual loss, to the Government. We have often heard from our Democratic friends that the price of wool has actually been advanced and the grower has been the gainer. It would be interesting to hear from them if the great Democratic policy of making wool duty free was to take revenue out of the pockets of Uncle Sam and put it in the pockets of the wool-grower. EFFORT TO REPAIR A BLCNDEB. Congress will no sooner have met than Senator Weeks will introduce a bill to amend the LaFollette Seamen's law by eliminating those provisions which have driven American ships from trans-Pacific trade. He does not propose to interfere with those sec tions of the law which actually improve the condition of the seaman, but he proposes to amend the sec tions which turn over the jobs of Americans to Chinese and Japanese. These sections have that, effect by rendering impossible the operation of ships under the LaFollette law with American seamen in competition with Japanese and Chinese ships. The law was passed at a time when circumstances were peculiarly unfav orable to continuance of ships flying the American flag on the Pacific under its provisions. The great demand for neutral ships on the Atlantic Ocean has enabled the Pacific Mail Company to sell its ships on good terms for operation on that ocean, still under the American flag. The increased cost of operation on the Pacific under the new law and the impossibility of com peting with Oriental lines contributed to induce the sale. So, also, did the Panama Canal law by forbidding railroad-owned ships to use the canal, the Pacific Mail being owned by the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Pacific Mail seized a favorable opportunity to retire from business after having vainly tried to teach its Chinese crews to understand nautical terms expressed in English. The Dol lar steamships were transferred to the British flag, doing a lucrative business In carrying lumber from both Ameri can and Canadian ports on the Pacific to Atlantic ports. Sale of the Great Northern steamship Minnesota to for eign owners will complete the removal of the American flag from trans-Pacific trade. Some of the Pacific Mail liners will remain in the Latin-American trade under the American flag, and the American-Hawaiian ships will etill run to Hawaii under the coast wise law. Americans who wish to engage in the steamship business to the Orient will do so under the Chin ese flag in co-operation with Chinese capitalists. Any old flag even the Chinese is better than the American under the LaFollette law. The new Congress will have more light on this subject than had the old Congress. Steamship men warned the old Congress of the consequence of adopting the injurious provisions, but Andrew Furuseth said they were bluff ing, and Congress believed Kim. The bluff has now been made good, and the new -Congress may attach more weight to the opinion of ship-owners and less to that of the Seamen's Union. The interpretation of the law by the law officers of the Government exempts from Its operation all but a few foreign vessels, and thus brings its full force to bear on American ships. Another year must elapse before denunciation of conflicting' commercial treaties, which the' law directs, could make it apply to foreign ships. Unless an amended law should authorize Secretary Lansing to recall his denunciation of these treaties, we are likely to find our commercial rela tions with every important nation embarrassed to please Mr. Furuseth and his allies. Each of these treaties covers a number of points and Is a bargain, each nation granting certain privileges to the other in exchange for certain other privileges. Necessarily, if the United States withdraws any one of these privileges, the other nation is deprived of the equivalent for the privileges which it has granteC, and the whole bargain falls to the ground. Our commercial relations with, the whole world are to be seriously dis turbed because Congress blindly fol lowed the lead of one interested party and turned a deaf ear to the other. The story is a sad commentary on the consequence of cringing before any influence which is supposed to control votes. It affords small hope that we shall obtain from the new Congress a wise, well-considered ship ping law. The reluctance of the Administration to inform the public of the1 law's injurious effect on Ameri can shipping is a poor augury of its readiness to urge Congress to repair the blunders of 1914. Instead of a shipping code revised in such a man ner as will put the American flag on the sea, we are given the LaFollette law and are offered the ship-purchase bill. SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH. The Oregonian prints elsewhere to day (pages 4 and 5, section 5) an informed and elaborate discussion of the water-power question. It is in form of papers read at the recent Western states conference and at the Chamber of Commerce banquet by several speakers, who presented the subject from the respective standpoints of the Government and of the state. The streams belong to the state and the public lands to the Government; so that the issue between them is plainly defined. The .Government de sires through a leasing system of sites to the power companies, with a tax based on horsepower developed, to control; the state insists that its in terest is paramount, and that the utilization of the water is purely a domestic matter for state regulation. The enormous importance of water power development to all citizens, and especially to the West, is shown in the instructive paper of Mr. Henry J. Pierde, of Seattle. The reader who wants to know why he has a direct interest in the subject is particularly commended to the Pierce address. The attitude of the Government is well shown by Mr. O. C. Merrill, chief engineer, Forestry Service; while the position of the states is explained fully by Reed Smoot, United States Senator. It is a most valuable symposium. It is printed by The Oregonian in the hope that the public, given an oppor tunity to hear both sides, will learn the truth. WERE BUNCOMBE. The Portland Central Labor Council, in a grand rhetorical outburst at a meeting the other night, by a rising vote denounced "militarism," and also went enthusiastically on record against the "movement to introduce militarism in the public schools." The local "militarism" monster which has frightened the Labor Council . into formal babble of protest consists of a plan to organize several companies of cadets in the high schools. The service is to be in no way compulsory, and the training will be wholly for young men who, through a loyal desire to equip themselves to help their coun try in time of need, wish to make a start toward preparedness. In the eyes of the Labor Council, any plan to train or equip militiamen or cadets is a "movement toward mili tarism." It is nothing of the kind. It is a wise and necessary plan for the perpetuity of the Union and the pro tection of Its people. It is a prudent way to keep the peace, so that men may work in safety and be free to meet at night and "resolve" against the safeguards that other men seek to throw around them for their good and the good of all. The resolution of the council is en titled to the same small measure of respect that the other resolution against the late water-power confer ence should have. Of course the coun cil knows nothing about the subject; but through inclination and habit, it is willing to join the purely artificial clamor against the "Interests" which are opposing Federal control of state water powers. Here on the one- hand the council approves the' extension of the auto cratic authority of the Federal Gov ernment over purely domestic con cerns; but on the other hand it is in an awful panic over any policy by which the same Federal power should seek to maintain itself against any foreign foe. It commits itself to the indefensible principle that the Nation has no right to prepare for possible attack by a possible foe, and to the equally unsound principle that the states have no rights the National Government is bound to respect. AIRCRAFT FOR ARMY AND NAVY. One of the most impressive lessons of the war is the great value of air craft for scouting, reconnaissance, di rection of artillery fire and raiding. They are doing much of the work which was formerly done by cavalry, and are doing it far more effectively. They are useful for offense, as the al lied attacks on the German submarine base at Zeebrugge prove. They are also useful for defens'e, as the French proved by repelling with aeroplane the Zeppelins which aimed to attack Paris. German dirigibles have done much damage in Kngland and France, and German aeroplanes spied out Rus sian positions, while Russian re verses have been due largely to lack of .aircraft. The fire of the British fleet and land artillery on the Dardan elles is directed by aircraft. The Aero Club of America, there fore, does well to stir up the people to make good our miserable deficiencies in this respect. It has started a Na tional aeroplane fund, by which aero planes have already been donated to the National Guard and naval militia of several states. It has canvassed Sentors, Representatives and Army of ficers on the need of aircraft for Army and Navy and has obtained many pledges of aid in obtaining action. In this particular the departments are even behind Congress. Senator Lodge states that the money appropri ated for naval aircraft has not been spent, owing to failure of American manufacturers to furnish aeroplanes and to the differences of opinion among experts. While experts wran gle, we remain miserably weak. We have about a dozen aeroplanes of different types, which Representative Cary, of Wisconsin, describes as "only a bunch of rattletrap machines with no two alike." Captain Bristol truly observed to the House naval commit tee: The aeroplanes of Europe have been good enough to do very effective service, and surely it is better to have machines that can do something than to have no machines at all. Representative M. C. Smith, of Michigan, reminds us that the war "shows that an army is more readily recruited than equipped." Both the War' and Navy Departments should lose no time about providing the best machines now obtainable and enlist ing qualified men to run them at wages proportionate to the skill required and the risks taken. We do not wish to becaught in this respect in the predic ament in which Britain finds itself with regard to infantry, with men un der instruction for nine months but having no rifles. Great Britain wants some American doctors. We have a surplus and would be glad to ship them our entire output of the fee-splitting variety provided the authorities would promise to put them on the firing line where there were no fees to be split. Otherwise we would not play such a shabby trick on a friendly neighbor. OUR BEST NOVELS. After decades of heated discussion and controversy one great moot point in literature has been determined with a finality that appears to be complete. The six greatest English novels have been determined. Not the six best sellers: that can be computed on an adding machine; but the very best in all the elements that go to make up the novel that is woTth while. The result was fixed not. by popular elec tion, but through the medium of some twenty-eight of the leading authors of this country and England. The returns were polled and can vassed by the New York Times, and five novels bear unanimous selection. "Vanity Fair," "Tom Jones," "David Copperfield," "The Scarlet Letter," "Robinson Crusoe." Sixth place is al lotted with less certainty, choice being divided among "Ivanhoe," "Lorna Doone" and "Tess of the D'Urber villes." No further choice is left us. There are no other "ifs" and "ands." The matter is done and settled. The only field for speculation is the manner in which the election was conducted, upon which no enlightenment ' is given. We may assume, however, that the authors must have been given first and second choice votes. . Otherwise how could a decision have been reached; for what leading novelist is so dead to his claims to immortality that he would omit his own best vol ume from such a list? Fancy George Bernard Shaw or Rudyard Kipling practicing any such modesty. The idea of a first and second choice vote is heightened by the fact that the authors of the elected novels have passed, long since, -from these delightful environs of warfare and high taxes. The unanimously selected live ones are all dead ones, so to speak. The leading author, if we know the tribe, would pass immediately Into the immortals of the distant past after transcribing his own precious name at the head of the list. How else could he find fit company for his own matchless masterpiece? But regardless of the manner of its selection, the list is a good one and we shall find no fault with it. Perhaps a name might be substituted here and there, but that is a mere matter of taste, and we shall let the decree of the high tribunal of leading authors pass unchallenged. We would encour age rather than discourage such re search. Then, in due time, perhaps, we shall be advised that a new election has been held to determine the six worst English novels. That should be an easy case for the high court of authorship to decide. Each leading author could be depended iipon to vote first, last and all the time for the work of his leading contemporary. LITERARY PAY STREAKS. From the shabby portals of some hack writer's apartment we occasion ally hear excoriated the commercial ization of American literature. Oc casionally some dreaming tyro who refuses to abandon his ideals and fol low the methods of the successful writing crowds bitterly arraigns the American lack of taste in choosing its reading matter. Not infrequently some scholarly litterateur comments in nice ly selected phrases upon the seeming lack of a nice discernment of the read ing public in distinguishing the gold from the dross. But the latest im peachment of publishing habits and practices emanates from rather an un expected source the young author of the JIO.OOO prize novel "Diana of the Green Van." Miss Dalrymple has no perceptible cause for bitterness of soul in the mat ter, so we may assume that she speaks from sheer honest contemplation and observation of the subject when she exclaims that our writing-and-read-ing habits have reached a pass where something ought to be done about it. Braving the displeasure of her pub lishers a displeasure she need not fear so long as her stuff will sell Miss Dalrymple says that merit doesn't matter a whole lot with the publishers. What they are hunting for is pay streaks, not literature. Of course if the two happened to occur together through some unforseen coincidence we surmise no objection would be en tered by the publisher. But true liter ary values are really unnecessary. It need not be suggested that this young woman will awaken a mighty chorus of amens. Her plaint is neither new nor novel except as coming from the writer of a $10,000 prize novel, for if the charges she makes are true, which we believe they are, then she must have been devoting her tal ents to pay-streak stuff. Otherwise how could she find herrelf in the good graces of the publishing folks? Since she enjoys that good for tune she might as well develop it for there Is nothing ,that can be done to correct the professional ethics of our publishers or the literary morals of our readers. The average American reader wants what he wants when he wants it. What he wants is some swashbuckling tale with nature-faking, science-juggling propensities or some shallow farce or rollicking comedy. Now and then he will read something worth while, but not when his real ' tastes can be pampered. It is this taste that has developed a run of popular today writers of rag-time fiction who draw down more for being literary clowns and mountebanks than does Mr. Wilson for being . President. It must not be implied, of course, that there is no select following for the exceptional writer who holds his art above his bank account. For this is the exception that proves the rule, as Mr. Kipling used to say before he went stale. We don't believe any well-meaning writer starts out with any other than the best intentions. In the course of his apprenticeship if he chances to stumble upon a set of characters that strike the public fancy he is lost. When the series runs out and he gets tired of the whole thing he can't stop. The publishers want more. They bid against one another with alluring prices. They want more of the same whether it has spontaneity or merit or not. More of the same is prefer able to something different that is better. And so they hang on to that pay-streak so long as it will pan a single color. By the time this find peters out a new field must have been discovered. Or possibly the author has acquired a reputation worth buying. This, then is capitalized and worked for all it's worth. Thus the writer who gains popu lar attention must hover close to the paths of his success. The publish, er, goaded by competition and avar ice, insists upon some more of the same, and the prices paid are lure enough to control the pen of lhe aver age writing mortal. 1 Meanwhile the writer who has not struck the chord: of popular fancy must be satisfied with a pittance. A cent a word is his lot and even then he must write what the editors want, something trite of plot and stilted of style and hide-bound of technique if he would dispose of his wares. Possibly he will have a run in the five-cents-a-word periodi cals, but again he must be careful to tickle the publisher's mercenary pal ate. Now and then some daring pub lisher will put forth something strik ingly new but only as an experiment. If it takes there is a rush of writers into the field like- unto that of gold seekers to some distant strike. The new field is promptly worked dry, the originator seeking to repeat his feat In much the same way and a multi tude of imitators simulating both his plot and his style. However it i3 possible we should not complain. The country is new, the people busied with effecting their eco nomic adjustments, and we must wait for the' delights of a riper age. Nor should we blame the publishers too bitterly for they are mortal business men engaged in pandering to the pub lic wants. What the public do not want the public will not have and there is neither prudence nor profit in trying to force it upon them. Federal control nor a minimum rate system for authors can be applied. So we must wait. Meanwhile there is hope in the fact that the discriminat ing reader is slowly but surely gath ering strength of numbers and that the discriminating author is able to eke out a comfortable livelihood. FAST HORSES AND A EOST SPORT. . The spectacular performances ' of Directum I and William, pacing stal lions, at Syracuse, N. Y., in which the former broke the world's record for pacing the mile without a wind shield and he latter set a new mark for the mile paced to a wagon, stir anew the soul of the horseracing sportsman, but it is doubtful if the soul of the great populace is even jarred. More's the pity. Directum I circled the mile in the remarkable time of 1 minute 56 seconds, going without a wind shield. His was not the fastest mile ever paced. Dan Patch almost ten years ago did it in 1:55, but it was with the aid of a wind shield and against time. William went the mile to a wagon in the fine time of 1:59, the accredit ed world's record heretofore having been 2:01, held by Little Boy. Of course, it is to be remembered that twelve years ago Dan Patch did it in 1:57, but as in his sulky perform ance, it was an exhibition event, with the aid of a wind shield and against time. The wind shield of today is a boon to the delicately bred animal. Nothing so upsets a speeder as a fleck of dust or a blast of wind during a race against time. Therefore the wind shield is used. A wind shield is noth ing more than a sulky with a silken cloth to break the wind and gather the dust. The sulky is borne by a running horse just in . front ' of the pacer or trotter. But its alue is demonstrated beyond dispute. The two new champions therefore for the day are the pacing marvels. Strangely enough, they have been riv als in several races and last year Di rectum I downed the Billings horse in the effort to set a new world's pacing mark, which he did. When he emerged from the season after the Columbus, O., events, he was the world's champion with a mark of. 1:58. Now he has clipped more than a sec ond off that. The distinction between a race against time, with all the artificial aids, and an actual race in the open is recognized by horsemen and for that reason the performances of Directum I and Wrilliam are notable speed at tainments Directum I, who is a grandson of Direct, who held the world's record of 2:06 in 1891, has had two brilliant campaigning seasons. He has been a joy to behold in action, being, per haps, one of the most consistent per formers of years. He has seldom fal tered, his stupendous courage being an asset almost as great as his speed. Of good manners and exemplary style, he . has shown the result of breeding. If racing occupied the same popular place in the mind of the public today that it did some years ago, when, say. Dexter or Goldsmith Maid, or Nancy Hanks. Star Pointer or Lou Dillon, were clipping seconds off the speed marks. Directum I would be in the mouth of every schoolboy and his picture would be wrapped in bunting in every stable. But the sport has lost its popular cunning. The great family of American trot ting horses, and it is to be remem bered there is no basic difference in the blood of the American trotter and pacer, is interestingly associated with the horse-racing life of Oregon. There were at one time three or four tracks operating here almost simul taneously, but without proper disci pline and co-operation. Great, horses, or horses who could have been made great under proper handling, and some who have since achieved fame, were bred, foaled, raced or ruined in Portland. Old-timers re call with a feeling of keen regret the famous old barnstormer, Che halis, who was ruined rather than raced. Some thought he would have been the greatest horse of all time under proper training and care. His time was remarkable as it was, how ever, being 2:04, when 2:00 was unknown. Then there was Search light, Pathmont and Altamont. Alta mont never was bred to a mare who did better than 2:30, yet he fathered seven colts, all of whom went better than 2:10. Along with the other con spicuous racers in Portland between five and twenty years ago were Del norte, 2:04; Touchet, Argorite, Edith W., Sweet Marie, and ever so many others. Not the least conspicuous of these Is Hal Boy, who raced the other day at Syracuse when Directum I made his mark. Hal Boy was credited with a time of 2:02, although he lost the race after the first heat to Rus sel Boy at a slower time. Hal Boy, who comes from the Hal B stock, was foaled out here on the Irvington track. Paul Wesslnger was his owner as a colt and sold him for J100 to C. T. Crane. Then he was sold to Marvin Childs, of Spokane, and just the other day he was sold again to Fletcher, of Indianapolis, for $12,000. The other day there appeared in the racing news an account of a per formance of Jane L at the Paris, 111., races. It recalled the fine animal of the same name for some time driven to the Ladd carriage and later taken to California. There she won a good-sized purse from a large field after a long series of heats. Among horsemen the performances of the car riage mare are an epMc, with all its at tendant episodes. Old horsemen around Portland can tell picturesque tales in volving Jane L. Another animal that might have bid for fame was Mack- Mack, with a mark of 2:08, . who not long since was being driven in livery in Portland. Lady Jones, a 2:07 trot ter, is another, raised out here at Sprlngbrook. But who seems to have cared ? Somewhere around Portland on a ranch, Ken West, another speedy ani mal, is spending his last days. W. L. Whitemore raised him. He had a few workouts in Spokane and did 2:08 on a half-mile track: At that time' Mr. Whitemore was offered $4000 for him and refused it. A little later Ken West mysteriously went lame, and since about 1909 .he has been on the farm. At the time of the De Lashmutt and P. J. Mann breeding farms, light har ness racing was in its prime in this community, and why it should have disintegrated the horsemen can best tell. It probably was due to poor transportation facilities to the tracks and lax administration. There is some J talk of reviving the matinee racing, now that the auto craze has worn off. I It is to be hoped for. EFFECT OF SEA-POWER. In the present war the position of Britain and her allies toward Ger many bears a strong resemblance to that of Britain and her allies of that day. toward France in the Napoleonic wars. After the battle of Trafalgar Britain was supreme at sea and from the battle of Austerlitz to the retreat from Moscow France was supreme on land. Britain now occupies the same position as she then did, while Ger many so far has the advantage, but is by no means supreme on land. Much hard fighting remains to be done before Germany can attain that supremacy, and British naval suprem acy will be. a powerful, if not the con clusive, factor in deciding whether Germany shall succeed. From the first Germany has not ventured to challenge British naval supremacy with the imperial battle fleet. For the first few months of the war a few German raiders kept the sea and preyed on British commerce, but they have been exterminated or driven to neutral refuge. An attempt was made to wear down British naval superiority by picking off warships one at a time with submarines and mines. Since February the same means have been used in the effort to destroy British commerce and to cut off the empire's food supply. The record to August 1 shows that Germany has failed in both particu lars. The losses of warships of all kinds to Britain and allies were: Great Britain, 32; France, 13; Russia, 5; Japan, 3; total, 53; aggregate tonnage, about 300,000. These figures include the battleship Audacious, of which the New York Sun says: "It is now well understood that this ship was not lost, but only damaged, and she is again in commission." During the same period losses on the Teutonic side were: Ger. many, 67; Turkey, 5; Austria, 4; total, 76; aggregate tonnage, about 200,000. The greater allied loss in tonnage is itself testimony to allied supremacy, for it is due to the fact that few ex cept the lighter Teutonic vessels kept the sea; the heavy vessels remained in shelter. Since August 1 the Teutonic and Turkish losses have been heavier than-those of the allies, for they in cluded the Turkish battleship Haired din Barbarossa, the German rnlne layer Albatross, battleship Moltke and eight destroyers lost in the battle on the Gulf of Riga, while the allies have lost only a few light cruisers, and de stroyers and two or three submarines According to the Sun s figures, Brit ish, French and Russian losses have been more than offset by new ships, construction, of which was so far ad vanced when war began that their completion within a year was assured. These new ships are: Great Britain Nine dreadnought battle ships, 13 light cruisers. 10 destroyers, sun dry submarines. France Three dreadnoughts, three de stroyers, lti submarines. Russia Five dreadnoughts, nine destroy ers, 18 submarines. The allied fleet has also been strengthened by the addition of the Italian navy, including two new dreadnoughts. Against these accessions Germany can set one battleship, one battle cruiser, two light cruisers and an unknown number of destroyers and submarines which were so fat ad vanced on August 1, 1914, that they are likely to have been completed. Austria was building three battle ships, three protected cruisers, six de stroyers and eight torpedo-boats when war broke out, but no information is available as to how many of these ves sels are likely to have been completed within a year. The Austrian battle fleet is as thoroughly bottled up as is the German, and Austria has suffered some losses of uncompleted ships through explosions and aerial bom bardments of shipyards on the Adriatic. The advantage of interior lines of communication and strategic railroads by which Germany and Austria are able to transfer troops and material quickly from' one front to another is offset by the ability of the allies to move whole armies and great convoys of material by sea from all parts of the world. Since war began Britain has moved well over a million men by sea and has kept them supplied. Only one troopship. the Royal Ed ward, is positively known to have been lost. Germany and allied reports have told of another such loss, but they have not been confirmed by the British Admiralty. An Italian army estimated at 100,000 men has recently been moved through the Mediterra nean. While the Teutons are able to move troops with great celerity In land, the allies are able to move them with perfect freedom around the ex tremities of the Teuton territory. The allies have isolated and conquered nearly all outlying German posses sions; thv have advanced far into Mesopotamia; they have invaded Tur key proper; and they have gathered forces and supplies from the ends of the earth for these purposes. All of this work has been done by sea-power. They are attacking the enemy's terri tory at its extremities, as one might cut off the tentacles of an octopus, with a view to closing in on the cen ter of Teuton power. They aim to keep Turkey Isolated and to destroy it before concentrating all their forces on Austria and Germany. While allied sea-power is thus be ing used in active hostilities, it is also used to deprive the central empires of materials of war in the hope that con sumption of their reserve supplies and of their wealth will reduce them to military impotence. They have de stroj'ed German commerce except with countries bordering on the Baltic Sea and 'With countries adjoining by land. In 1912, the latest year for which of ficial records are available, German commerce totaled $4,676,275,000 and it is probable that at least $4,000,000, 000 of this total has been cut off. Many German ships have been cap tured or sunk, all other German and Austrian ships are in home porta or interned in foreign ports, and Ger man ports are dead. At the same time. In spite of sub marines and mines, British commerce has actually begun to recover from loss of the markets of enemies and of Russia. Imports increased 27.2 per cent in July as compared with 15.9 per cent in the seven months ending July. The decrease in exports was 27.1 per cent in the seven months, but was only 21.8 per cent in July. Re exports increased 21.7 per cent in July, while the seven months showed a decrease of 9.4 per cent. The in creases and decreases are by compari son with the corresponding period oi 1914. Down to July 28 German sub marines had sunk 221 British ships of about 200,000 tons out of a total of 11,328 ships of 21,045,049 tons un der British register, and the loss was likely more than offset by the build ing of new ships, for the tonnage un der construction in June was six times the losses. Should the parallel between the present war and the Napoleonic war be continued so far that the Teutons overpower Russia, France and Italy as completely as Napoleon overpowered all the nations of continental Europe, Britain may elect to continue the war alone, as she did against Napoleon be tween 1809 and 1812. The British empire may be able to keep Germany and Austria cut off from the world by sea, as it kept Napoleon's vast empire during that period. The war may yet resolve itself into a fight to the finish between these two Titans. When the orchestra struck up in the mining camp dance hall young Rockefeller found himself unable to resist the lure of a whirl about the floor with a handsome partner. But with this latest revel in his western tour he should not flatter himself that he has had a taste of the real West. Walt until his feet are moved by the entrancing strains of the six shooter. Many a tenderfoot has tripped the light fantastic to such an accompaniment, and John D., Jr., may experience the sensation if he journeys unattended into some live western mining camp which he doesn't happen to own. Henry Ford laid before Secretary Daniels yesterday his plans for an ef fective submarine of trifling cost and as deadly In comparison with the elab orate F, M and U types as the jitney car is to the electric limousine. Who knows that Henry will not soon be making them to run as pleasure boats on lakes and ponds? The Anglo-German argument wheth er a torpedo or a mine sank the Hesperian recalls the kid argument, "Tis," "Tisn't." It can never be settled unless the two nations raise the ship, and then the jury of experts would be likely to disagree. Army airmen are breaking records at looping the loop. Better Increase the aeronautic reserve so as to replace those who are certain to break some thing besides records if the looping is kept up. Killing American troops on the bor der continues the innocent amusement of Mexicans under our present regime. Turn our soldiers loose once and the practice would cease. The real old-time forest fires that used to choke the whole country with smoke - seem to have disappeared thanks to modern preventive measures. There is a fine chance In the British army for American fledgling doctors to gain a varied experience surpassing an ordinary post-graduate course. Apple pickers are needed. There is no reason why, in due time, apple picking should not become as great a holiday event as hop picking. The elder John D. says he has re tired from business, and now has nothing to do except clip a few million dollars in coupons yearly. An Oregon man found in Seattle says he does not know how he got there, as his mind has been a blank. His apology is accepted. President Wilson has been presented with heirlooms of Zachary Taylor's. Possibly a hint to do as Zachary Tay lor did in Mexico. If we feel the public pulse aright something like nine people out of every ten are for those cadet companies in the high schools. If Miss de Graff saw the Knighis Templar drill, she must have been shocked at the horrible display of mil itarism. Mount Lassen is reported active again. For the express purpose of stimulating Fall travel to the Fair, we take it. The German attack on Serbia has been so well advertised as to suggest the possibility that it is a bluff. It Is to' be hoped that the allies' agents will be able in the end to pay for their trip over here. Who says Oregon Is not a corn state? Let him go the round of the country fairs and be convinced. We opine that the Russians will be grateful for the relatively pleasant rigors of Winter. Could the City Commissioners them selves stand the test of their own ef ficiency code? Where is the old-fashioned war ex pert who declared the trouble would end this Fall? The city might hire another effi ciency expert to make the efficiency code efficient. The melting pot of the Balkans is simmering and will soon boil over. The wise person started his Christ mas shopping dollar day. Greece and Bulgaria are mobilizing. Must be Fal! maneuvers. Raw weather has put the rah rah boys on the Job. Oh! fie! Young John D., you gay young dog! The bargain-hunters were out in force. Exit the ice man. Enter the coal man. Now for the Salem Fair. Gleams Through the Mist j Dean Collin. Peace In the Schools. Come, weary Muse, on faltering wing! Come hither, for we've got to sing Somo stanzas more On War; what for?" And all that silly sort of thing. ;, Forsake your ancient metric rules: Forget your melophonic tools; ' For we today Must sing and play Of peace, sweet peace, as taught in school. Come hither. Muse, but do not march With martial tread, as stiff as starch; But slouch toward me; "Move naturally" As though you had a fallen arch. Bring not thy lute of tender tons: Bring not thy flute divinely blown; Bring no brass bands; The time demands The mild, innocuous gramophone. Come, let us look unto the stars. Amid the twang of trolley cars; In accents vague. As at The Hague, Tell how w hate the old god Mars. Let's warn old Mars to stay aloof. And not to show the cloven hoof. Remain alone And be unknown To children 'neath the schoolhouse roof. Let's mount upon a winged giraffe. A horn of loganberry quaff. And then release Loud songs for peace. After the wishes of De Graff. "Sir," said the Courteous Office Boy. "Speak on. my son," said I. "I have a thought that doth annoy my soul," he may reply. "For teacher tells us all that we should leave the schoolhouse naturally, and furthermore says she is hep that only convicts must keep step, or men who play the soldiers' game (which she believes is much the same"). "Aye-aye, my son, " I said, "proceed." Said he: "The thing that has me treed, is: if the teacher's talk be true, then sir, I must confess to you, us boys you'll find there every time, plumb full of tendencies to crime, provided march ing bears the shame that hangs upon the convict's name or men who play the soldier's game (which she believes Is much the same). The peace promoter doth all walks pervade. And well the olive branch Is pruned and spsayed. And myriad persons ever seok to hang New pigeon's cages underneath its shade. Whether at Alder, Stark or Washington. Whether the audience be scores or one. The friends of peace keep talking, speech on speech. Of how to put the war god on the run. Lo, William Jennings or Doc Jordan hasto To plant the olive In the wide war-waste,- Or round about our own locality The dogs of war b dog catchers are chased. Lo, Doo Galvani, in our neichhorhood. Or Chapman, or mayhap C. E. S. Wood, Or Rosenthal or other lesser lights Proclaim that war is hell and peace looks good. On ev.ery hand I hear them without cease Their fierce phlllipics 'gainst old Mars' re lease. Until I often feel, the while I list. That Sherman's words sometimes apply to peace. Oh, peaceful and denatured school where mildness is accentuated; wherw martial steps are barred by rule and history eviscerated: where young ideas no more shoot (for shooting is a warlike word) and schoolroom songs they must dilute, for fear some warlike sounds be heard. The op'ning hour; the class we see enter the schoolroom naturally, heads down, chests in, as you'd expect for soldiers hold themselves erect and It is meet in modern days to shun all mili tary ways. Now children, lift your voices strong, in some sweet patriotic song nicely re vised and modernized, with joys of peace all emphasized. Let music ring from floor to arch condenmning Sher man's naughty march: Bring the grafanola, boys, we'll sing another song; Sing in praise of mildness and accent the mildness strong; Sing of how the soldiers all did very, very wrong. While they were marching through Georgia. Chorus Oh pshaw! Oh pshaw! They were th-e naughty ones! Oh pshaw! Oh pshaw! They carried wicked guns! And they went and fought (how horrid!) so the shameful story runs. While they were marching through Georgia. Let's slng'again, dear children, with a sweet and tuneful noise about the fool ish marching or the poor untutored boys: Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching. (Which is quite against the rule.) But they knew no better then. For they were poor soldier men. And they were not educated In our school. And now, O Muse, before we go. there is another song I know, we wrote for other time and place, but which appears to fit this case. Strike. Muse, upon the grand pianner, we'll sing a new "Star-Spangled Banner": Oh, say. can you fee by the dawn's early light. What it pleased us to note at the twilight's last beaming. Whose broad stripes and bright stars ma do a beautiful sight. From the pole on the Postoffice daintily streaming. We looked up in the air. And wo said: "I declare! What a fine bit of color our flag makes up there I" O long may that star-spanglcfl banner's de vice Wave on and all people be perfectly nice. WAR TAKES TI1K WELL-KKD MEN The Nation Have Found It an Asset In Economic Efficiency. From the London World. When we come to make up the profit and los account on the war it Is to be hoped that people will not forget to include the very valuable social lessns that we have learned, lessons which, if we can profit from them in peace time, will be of incalculable benefit. There is one which may be overlooked, and which even now is only partially appreciated, so it is perhaps desirable to lay stress on it it Is the proper feeding of the wording classes. This is no recommendation of So cialism. It Is merely the otivlous truism that it pays the manufacturer to see that his workmen are well fed. since thereby even in peace times he gets regularity of attendance and effective discharge of duties. When the best men of the country went to the war there were many people who were sur prised at the inefficiency of much or the labor which was left. Tiiey de nounced its irregularity, its .liinklnc habits and its Indifferent outfit. They forgot that you cannot take :i ; under fed individual and think " i,e is going to be ready to take Li., place of a well-fed workman. U-ih his physical condition and his habits stand in the way. The fact is being alowiy brousht home to its. with the result ihat canteens ire now .springing ui. in all pans of tiio 'out:ty, mostly uni'lj Oovcrrmnnt auspice.