THE SUNDAY OREGONIAN, POItTLA'NT), TVPHIIi 23, 1916.
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PORTLAND, MNDAV, APRIL 23, 1918.
THE 8H.lKE.sPE.lKK TERCENTENARY.
Shakespeare's tercentenary falls
tpon the world at a fortunate hour-.
Not in the sense that the world Is
enjoying a fortunate hour, for civili
zation has known nothing of the sort
for two years; but fortunate In that
the occasion brings to a dismal worl-
a brief antidote against the insidious
toxins bred by Mars and adds a small
measure of leavening to the heavy
portion which is the steady food of
mortal mind and soul
The tercentenary of no other mor
tal could arouse such active interest
The achievements and attainments of
no other mortal could arouse such dis
cussion and reflection. ."After God,"
Alexandre Dumas once observed,
"Shakespeare has created most." Next
to the Bible his works have been the
most widely read and quoted. They
have been made the subject of li
braries of books written in apprecia
tion, occasionally in criticism.
liis tercentenary, faiMng today, has
stimulated popular interest in the
greatest of poets for weeks past, and
the influences of the revival are cer
tain to produce lasting impressions
upon the world's culture. Millions of
the thick Shakespearean volumes are
being haled from their reposing places
in musty home libraries and read or
reread. Widespread publication of ap
preciations and critiques are directing
attention to new delights which are
to be discovered in each new reading
of the Immortal works even by those
ho know Shakespeare best.
The delights of Shakespeare are in
exhaustible. His writings Wo not weary
or grow old. ' They meet every taste,
no matter how profound or delicate.
The innermost secrets of human' na
ture are laid bare to the accompani
ment of the magic word music. He
may- condense volumes In a single line
or he may consume a page in saying
nothing, yet saying it so exquisitely
that the centuries quote these same
"sweet nothings."
An Englishman by birth, Shake
speare was the world's poet by con
quest. His works are universal and
Eerlin has paid as fond tribute in
years gone by as London. It would
tie interesting to note the reflections
today of the German scholars, for in
Germany Shakespeare has been ac
corded the serious consideration in
translation and erudite textual criti
cism that only the Bible has received.
Perhaps Germany is as little able to
Ignore Shakespeare today as London
is to put Wagner aside. Slavs. Scan
dinavians. Latins will observe the ter
centenary of the great Englishman
uninfluenced by the hot racial preju
dices which gnaw at the vitals of civi
lization in this hour.
Shakespeare's mind has been
likened to a highly sensitive film
which, through the lens of his eye,
acquired an accurate picture for fu
ture reproduction. But that was the
least of his virtues. He saw not
merely the external form, bnt the In
nermost recesses. Human nature was
an open book. To see a man was to
know him, whether that man came
within the sphere of his own race and
his own experiences or not. How else
might he have produced Othello. Iago,
Shylock. Cleopatra, Orsino, Caliban,
fince his days were spent within the
limits of his own country?
London was his book for first-hand
tudy of life. There he was able to
come in contact with diplomats and
types from other lands. Voluminous
reading must have added to his store.
That he leaned heavily upon these
books is not disputed by the most
ardent admirer of Shapespeare. The
fact that he borrowed liberally from
the works of others has not served to
convict him, however, of the literary
crime of plagiarism. Where he took
a plot and he appropriated most of
his plots he made it the mere vehi
cle for carrying new poetic riches. If
lie borrowed a character, his rich cre
ative imagination, which was his
greatest asset, gave it a new potency
and force. If "Romeo and Juliet"
was taken "shamelessly" from Italian
tales of that day, it is the Shakespear
ean use of character and narrative
which alone survives. If he borrowed
from the Bible, which he often did,
some of the phrases he appropriated
are more often quoted than the orig
inals, frequently to the confusion of
those who would credit the quota
tions. .Possibly Shakespeare borrowed plots
fcecause he did not wish to bother
with their invention in producing his
dramas. He was not dependent in the
slightest measure upon them for dra
matic interest. It' is the character
clear-cut, faultlessly true to life re
vealed in all its aspects, that holds the
audience. A scene deleted does not
destroy. Remove the first scene from
"King Lear" or the first two scenes
from the "Merchant of Venice" and
does the interest wane?.
The personages met with in Shake
fpeare are never puppets or carica
tures except as men are these things.
He never wanders from the highway
of life. Kings and beggars alike are
the toys of his fancy, and in their
development he does not dwell upon
their frailties or bring out a carica
ture for the purpose of exhibiting some
dominating characteristic. Shylock's
love of gold is not permitted to rob
him of other attributes, which, after
all, the real Shylock would cling to.
He creates no Frankensteins. no erotic,
ill-balanced women. Imagination and
understanding are never divorced. In
this integrity he has imparted to
drama and to literature its finest
standards standards which the world
of letters has not been able to live up
to in its consequent creative efforts.
Which Is not to be wondered at, since
such genius has been given to no other
man, not even Goethe. Where Shake
speare's mind encompassed a universe
within its limits, a universe embodying
the experiences of past ages and pres
ent generations, other geniuses have
had mere-worlds as the limits of their
abilities.
NOISY DIVERSION'.
Representatives Sinn'ott and McAr
thur secured committee adoption of
a provision in the land-grant bill
which promises the Oregon school
fund and the land-grant counties a to
tal of 50 per cent of the proceeds ob
tained in excess of the sum that must
be paid the railroad company.
This was accomplished over the pro.
test of the Secretary of Agriculture
and the Secretary of the Interior. The
original Chamberlain bill provided for
a 40-40 division; that is, 40 per cent
for the school fund and 40 per cent
for the counties, or a total of 80 per
cent.
In the report on the Chamberlain
bill submitted by the Secretary of
Agriculture, it is recommended that
all that portion providing for a liS'
tribution of funds be stricken out.
In his report the Secretary of the
Interior says: "In this connection your
attention is invited to the report of
the Secretary of Agriculture with re
spect thereto. I am inclined to con
cur therewith." However, in a half
hearted way he recommends a 20-20
division in case Congress desires to
settle the question.
The striking feature of the situa
tion is that from the Democratic press
of Oregon has not come one word of
criticism of the policy of Democratic
department heads which the Repub
lican Representatives, from Oregon
were forced to combat. On the other
hand, there have been reams of criti
cism of Governor Withycombe for not
whipping up the Representatives who
were already working night and day.
Everybody in Oregon is for a fair
division of the land-grant proceeds.
The members of Congress knew that.
They required no telegrams, or reso
lutions, or advice. They went to work
with a will and gained a surprising
concession in view of the influence of
two departments which were against
them. Doubtless they appreciated
Governor Withycombe's telegram of
confidence in them more than they
would have appreciated urgings to
perform a plain duty.
Is there a single Democratic news
paper in Oregon which will now give
credit where credit is due to the Ore
gon Representatives for the consider
ation so far shown Oregon? Is there
one that will place the respon
sibility for Oregon's not obtaining a
full 40-40 share where it belongs
upon the Democratic Administration?
Of course not. The assault upon Gov
ernor Withycombe was to divert at
tention from the sources of injustice
toward Oregon that exist in Demo
cratic Washington.
SWATTING THE OIL MAGNATE.
Oil magnates must be ill with dark
foreboding as they hear reports from
Long Island of the' - daily Joyrides
taken by one Louis Enricht, chemist.
Enricht spins about the country with
out ever contributing a penny to the
local oil depots. His runabout is pro
pelled by a greenish fluid which, he
says, costs him a cent and a quarter
a gallon. When he needs power he
visits the town drugstore, secures a
few simple chemicals and mixes them
with water. The product serves the
same purpose as gasoline, giving the
same power and the same mileage per
gallon.
-The formula Is held secret by En
richt pending negotiations with the
Government. He wants Uncle Sam to
give him a substantial award for the
discovery, whereupon he will let the
formula out of his. possession. The
only other alternative is to sell the
secret to the' oil interests, and this
he is unwilling to do because of a
long-standing grievance growing out
of dealings with oil magnates as to
another invention. It is said he can
not secure patents covering the mix
ing of a few simple chemicals. Nor
can be expect to manufacture the new
fluid exclusively. Analytical chemis
try would betray his secret imme
diately. If Enricht's discovery is all he
claims for it. all that tests with his
own runabout appear to indicate, im
mense changes in the transportation
world may be brought about. While
it would be a knockout blow to the
oil interests, it would be a boon of
the first magnitude to the industrial
world at large. Of course. It may be
that the chemicals, while inexpensive
at the present time, would soar under
the new demand until a fluid now
costing a cent and a quarter a gallon
would cost as much as gasoline, or
more. But if the supply of necessary
Ingredients is unlimited, then Enricht
should be able to even all scores, real
and fancied, with the oil interests and
at the same time perform a major
service to mankind.
THE FACTS AS TO BLOCKADES.
In defense of the German subma
rine war on commerce and of the
murder of passengers and seamen,
pro-Germans continue to repeat the
oft-disproved statement that these op
erations are in retaliation or the
British blockade designed to starve
Germany. Each nation seized cargoes
of food destined for the other during
the early months of the war, on the
plea that the food was destined for
the armed forces, and Britain made
frequent additions to the contraband
list.
Germany proclaimed the submarine
blockade on February 4, 1915, and put
it in effect on February 18 as a re
prisal for British extension of the con
traband list, for the planting of
anchored mines in a defined area of
the North Sea and for declaration that
the North Sea was a war zone. The
German proclamation declared that
these steps by Britain were taken for
the purpose of starving Germany, but
to that time no action had been taken
by Britain to prevent importation of
food fdr the German civil population.
On February 15, 1915, Winston
Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty,
said in the British Parliament:
So far we have not attempted to stop the
importation of food. "We have not prevented
neutral ships from trading; directly with
Oerrr.an ports. "We have allowed German ex
ports In neutral ships to pass unchallenged.
The first official intimation of an
intention to prevent food from reach
ing Germany was given by Great Brit
ain on February 17, 1915, in a note
to the United States. On March 1,
1915, Premier Asquith announced the
blockade of Germany and on March
13 the blockade was put in effect.
The orders in council proclaiming
the British blockade stated expressly
that it was in retaliation for the Ger
man submarine campaign.
How can the submarine campaign,
proclaimed on February 4 and put in
effect on February 18, be in reprisal
for a blockade which was not an
nounced until the following March 1
and was not put in effect untfl March
15?
The facts as to definite adoption of
the starvation policy are all against
Germany. Admiral von Tirpitz an
nounced the purpose to- starve Great
Britain by stopping food imports in
an interview with the correspondent
of the New York World in December,
1914. The German cruiser Eitel
Friedrich sank the American ship Frye
with her cargo of wheat in January,
1915. Britain seized the Wilhelmina's
cargo of food for Germany on Feb
ruary 11. The blockade of Germany
did not begin until March 15, 1915.
Each nation endeavored to stop Im
ports of food to the other, but Ger
many began first. Britain has prac
tically succeeded; Germany has not.
But Germany is not starving, for the
Chancellor proclaims that the empire
produces enough food to sustain its
population. There is no starvation in
the case, though each nation inflicts
suffering and Inconvenience on the
other.
This recital of facts is made in or
der that we may keep the record
straight and that we may not be in
fluenced by appeals to sympathy
which are based on misstatements of
these facts. ,
the rrvrisT's serenade.
Not a few credulous scientific agri
culturists have accepted the theory
that cows give more milk and better
milk, that chickens lay more eggs and
better eggs, if production Is accelerated
by music. Music boxes and phono
graphs ornament numerous barns and
coops. Biddy chews her cud in cadence
with a leisurely waltz or the hen
Jubilates over production of an egg
by cackling to the soulful notes of a
Beethoven sonata. The notion has
Just hit the educational world and
hereafter stenographers will rattle
their keys and chew their gum to the
dulcet notes of some alluring air.
At a conference of academies and
high schools at the University of Chi
cago it was contended that music is
a great benefit in teaching stenog
raphy. The underlying psychological
principles were not explained at the
conference, but the suggestion was ac
cepted, and it now remains for the
board of education to provide the nec
essary pianolas, phonographs or or
chestras. The stimulating effect of
music is too well known to require
elucidation. It spurs the wearied sol
dier to fresh effort, cheers the strug
gling athlete to superhuman exertion
and thrills the populace from heel to
head on appropriate occasions. Now
It is to quicken the nimble fingers of
the stenographer.
Once this new principle in teaching
has been established, employers will
be compelled to conduct themselves
accordingly. A stenographer who has
been trained by. music cannot be ex
pected to operate without it, any more
than a doped horse can do itself Jus
tice in the race without its accelerator.
But the employer need not be dis
mayed. It takes no lengthy reflection
to convince one that a music-driven
stenographer is an innovation of eco
nomic as well as esthetic value. . The
number of notes and beats in a given
air can be made to correspond with
the volume of copying or extending as
signed. In keeping time to the music
the stenographer cannot lag. And
should she pause in her work to write
a note to Clarence the whole office
would miss the serenade and start in
quiry as to the reason.
On one point alone the employer of
musically trained stenographers must
exercise caution. That is in the selec
tion of the music. Good, fast marches
should be chosen and the employer
should attend to .this detail himself.
Otherwise the musical tastes of his
stenographic force might turn to
dirges for reasons that are obvious.
SENATOR JONES OFF ON A TANGENT.
Senator Jones, of Washington, has
hitherto been esteemed a fairly level
headed, loyal American, but he has
gone far to destroy that reputation.
In a long speech, to the Senate he de
nounced those Americans who travel
on armed belligerent ships in the war
zone as "careless, reckless, selfish, in
considerate Americans who are so
lacking In patriotism as to be unwill
ing to refrain from gratifying their
desires for pleasure or profit that
their country may have peace." .lie
referred to the writer of a letter up
holding that right as "not patriotic
enough to be willing to waive the ex
ercise of a doubtful right to travel on
armed belligerent ships that his coun
try may continue in peace."
What right has Mr. Jones to as
sume that any Americans are travel
ing for pleasure in Europe while that
continent is aflame with war? Thou
sands of Americans have gone to Eu
rope on errands of mercy to the war
ring nations, or to be near relatives
who are actively engaged in the
struggle. Are they to be stigmatized
as "careless, reckless, selfish, incon
siderate"? Some have gone on busi
ness, for profit, as Mr. Jones ex
presses it. The prosperity of the
United States largely depends upon
commerce, which frequently requires
American citizens to travel abroad.
Are American citizens to abandon
their business, to coop themselves up
in our own borders, lest some law
less nation against which our own
Government is unwilling to protect
them; should kill them at sea?
All of these people at whom Mr.
Jones sneers were lawfully exercising
a right secured to them by the United
States Constitution and by interna
tional law. The American Govern
ment exists to protect the American
people in the exercise of such rights,
abroad as well as at home. The pro
tection thus afforded is of the very
essence of nationality. Does Mr.
Jones wish the United States Govern
ment to proclaim that anybody, any
where, may kill an American citizen
with impunity? That is the impres-J
siuii v ii tc it seems io prevail in Mex
ico. Does he wish to make it world
wide? In that case, thousands will
renounce their allegiance to the
United States, will seek refuge under
the flag of nations which will pro
tect and, if necessary, fight for their
citizens. They will not care longer
to remain under a Government which
does nothing for them except to col
lect taxes and tell them to do nothing
which will get it into trouble.
Mr. Jones proceeded to condemn
those who see in the war and in the
foreign complications in which it has
involved the United States danger to
this country and a warning that we
shall equip ourselves for defense. He
could see no danger, near or remote.
His speech was delivered on April 13.
Just six days later the President in
formed Congress that he had made a
demand on the most powerful mili
tary nation in the world, with a threat
to sever diplomatic relations unless
compliance was immediate. Every
body who is conversant with public
affairs, except Mr. Jones, has known
for nearly a year that such a crisis
might come on any day.
The surest way to keep the city
clean after it Is cleaned up is to find
a use for the rubbish. There is a mar
ket for rags, tin cans, old rubber and
other things, if they are gathered in
large enough quantities and put In
marketable 'shape. Other cities make
garbage a source of revenue by erect
ing reduction plants and making fer
tilizer and other useful products.
A MILLION MEN.
Raising an army of a million men
is a task that does not appear to im
press the average American as offer
ing Insuperable difficulties. Mr. Bryan
once observed, in the days before he
became discredited, that the sun would
set on a million willing men the very
day that they were called upon to de
fend the Nation; and that proud boast
is characteristic of a typical American
point of view. The conceit is reflected
in the Army bills passed by House and
Senate which, with a few brief bold
strokes of the typewriter, supply a
martial force of a million. This by
Increasing the regular Army, the Na
tional Guard and creating certain vol
unteer and schoolboy reserves.
No doubt the more conscientious
and intelligent of the National legis
lators realize that this army is a hoax;
know that it will not materialize as a
concrete living force, armed, equipped,
trained and organized for war, or even
for peace. No better evidence of the
slowness with which men respond to
the call for service is needed than the
recruiting returns that followed the
President's recent call for 20,000 men
to fill certain border regiments to war
strength. Even the prospect of spec
tacular service in Mexico did not at
tract a sufficient number of young
adventurers to meet one-eighth of the
call in the first three weeks of recruit
ment. "Help catch Villa" placards
and banners conspicuously placed by
expert recruiting officers did not help
catch men enough to fill up the de
pleted ranks of peace-footing organi
zations. As for increasing the Na
tional Guard, that organization finds
difficulty in keeping its ranks filled
under its present strength allotments
while reports of the mustering out of
companies, battalions or even regi
ments for failure to maintain a suffi
cient number of men are not uncom
mon. The so-called volunteer army
section of the prospective force is even
more problematical, inasmuch as in
terest would be certain to wane after
the novelty had worn off.
But without regard to the proposed
peace-time "army" of a million, what
would be the result of a sudden emer
gency call to arms of a million men
for active service? Under the laws as
they exist now the call could not be
issued until war had been declared or
Invasion was imminent. Portentous
dlplomatical disturbances, even though
continuing over a protracted period,
could. not be made use of for mobiliza
tion since, in foreign practice, mobili
zation is interpreted as -a hostile act.
Was It not mobilizaton of armies be
fore diplomacy had run its course that
precipitated the present bloody fray in
Europe?
So, in view of the laws as well as
the temperament of the people, Amer
ica would not call for a million vol
unteers until their need was pressing.
Figures compiled by an expert and
presented recently in the Congression
al Record afford something of an in
sight into the problem of raising a
million men.' At the outset it would
mean the organizing, training and
equipping of ten armies the size of the
entire present military establishment.
Here is the list of first essentials for
such a force:
Seven hundred and fifty thousand rifles
and bayonets for them to fight with.
Twc hundred ana slxty-llvo tnousanu
pistols.
Elht thousand machine guns.
Two thousand cne hundred field guns to
batter down attack.
One hundred and sixty-five million car
tridges to carry them Into their first fiicht,
and as many more for each succeeding;
fight.
Two million five hundred thousand shells
and shrapnel for our field guns for every
hour they are In action.
One hundred and ninety-six thousand
horses to carry them and pull their car
riages. Ono hundred and twenty-seven thousand
mules to haul their supplies and pack
their guns.
Bright thousand wagons to transport their
supplies ana ammunition.
One million cartridge belts for their am
munition. One million first-aid packets to bind up
their wounds.
One million cinteens.
Each of them must have a uniform and
equipment:
One million shelter halves to protect them
from the weather.
One million pouches to keep them dry.
Two million blnkets to keep them warm.
Two million pairs of shoes.
Two million uniform coats, breeches, leg
gings, suits of underwear.
One million hats.
Two million shirts.
Four million pairs of socks.
One million haversacks to carry thair
equipment.
The United States has no such store
as that. It would require long months
to supply the deficit. Just how many
months cannot be said, since a great
deal would depend upon the ingenuity
and activity of hastily organized pri
vate contracting concerns. But that
is not so very important. Doubtless
the supplies and munitions would be
ready as rapidly as the men were got
into shape. Here would be the real
problem, the real crisis. Such a force
would require 25,000 trained officers.
Where would they come from? If an
enemy were actually on American soil
the little handful of trained men
would have to take their place on the
firing line and by stubborn guerrilla
warfare seek to stop the onward march
of the invaders. Scrape every soldier
together and the force available for
this service would not exceed 300,000
and not half of those would be
trained effectives.
Hence the country would be dotted
with camps of soldiers in the making
soldiers without uniforms, without
guns, without instructors. Of neces
sity a few trained officers would be
withheld from the firing line for pur
poses of instruction. They devote
their energies to the making of offi
cers to schooling men in a few weeks
for a profession which requires years
of serious study if any degree of
proficiency is to be attained. As for
the source of these embryonic officers
little search is needed for the an
swer. The few men with a smattering
of military knowledge would be ex
hausted immediately and then the
dire foe of military efficiency poli
tics would assert itself.
Unless all precedents and all tra
ditions were overthrown men would go
out in command of regiments who
were unfitted to command squads.
Staunch patriots in large numbers
would He back awaiting higher rank,
seeking their own selfish ends even
in the hours of the Nation's extremity
if the lessons of past wars mean any
thing. Not until America has devel
oped a National spirit and has learned
by bitter experience the menace of
such commanders will it be other
wise. A year is a modest estimate of the
time it would take the country to
raise an army of a million soldiers. A
million civilians could be enrolled in
a week provided some 2000 recruiting
parties worked day and night making
out enlistment papers. Possibly there
is no denial as to the number of able
bodied men that could be mustered
for war service in a- country that
boasts 17,000,000 men of military age.
But converting. . them . Into soldiers ,
would be a tedious process. Not only
because of lack of equipment, but be
cause of shortage of qualified in
structors. After the first million had
finally been trained' the problem
would become more, simple. But as
that first million, hastily mustered,
went forward to meet a first-class foe
the country would be brought to see
the sin of unpreparedness in its true
light.
The American supply system broke
down in Mexico recently. It always
breaks down. How would it operate
when a million pounds of meat and a
million pounds of bread and- other
necessities "of life in proportion were
to be distributed to a million men scat
tered over a hundred miles or more of
battle front? Between the assaults
of a trained enemy and the incom
petence of a hastily constructed army
of levies the million men would re
quire reinforcement nearly as often as
they would require food. A second
million to take their places would be
needed as speedily as they could be
raised; and not until, in the course of
a stubborn war, we had provided an
army of survivors could America hope
for effective operations against the
foe.
POTATO GROWING. f
There is much land in Oregon and
Washington suited to the growing of
potatoes and many land owners are
yearly making a good profit doing so.
On the other hand, other land owners
in the same or contiguous neighbor
hoods say there is no money to be
made in potato growing. The trouble
is not with the land, the climate or
other inherent conditions, but with
these growers themselves. They do
not pay enough attention to crop ro
tation. They plant here and there, as
their fancy dictates, or perhaps plant
the same land to potatoes year after
year, perhaps without any fertiliza
tion. Or maybe they use for seed the
culls that are fitted only for hog feed
and then at harvesting time wonder
why their potatoes get smaller and
more unshapely each year.
For a 2-cent stamp these growers
could send to their agricultural col
lege -or to the Secretary of Agricul
ture at Washington and get directions
as to the preparation of the soil, crop
rotation, seed selection, cultivation,
digging, grading and storing. The 2
cent investment would return a divi
dend and a good one. But the great
est of all drawbacks is lack of co
operation. In the neighborhoods
where farmers are making money on
potatoes a buyer can get from one
to several carloads of well-graded po
tatoes of the same variety. That is
co-operation worth while. Those
growers are wise enough to talk the
matter over among themselves agree
on the best varieties for their land
and market, and thus are able to in
vite the attention of car-lot buyers.
When the buyer seeks the producer
a better price is always obtained
than when the producer has to go
a-begging to the buyer.
Perhaps the grading is as big a fac
tor as any other in potato marketing.
Take, say, three sacks of potatoes,
sacked Just as they are dug, dumped
in little and big, fork-blemished and
unshapely. Then take the same po
tatoes, throw away a bushel of them,
or feed them to the hogs, and sack
the others according to size. They
will sell, even at the country store,
f.- -,. . - - three full sacks
offered the otjher way.
WHAT CHANCE IS THERE FOR SAFETY?
Congress proposes and the Presi
dent is said to approve a bill appro
priating $11,000,000 for a Government
armor-plate plant. By erecting this
plant the Government would dupli
cate and render valueless private
plants in which over $20,000,000 has
been invested at the request of Sec
retary of the Navy Herbert, made
nineteen years ago. The reason given
for the proposed Government plant is
that the manufacturers have grossly
overcharged the Government. One of
these manufacturers, the Bethlehem
Steel Company, says that its invest
ment of $7,000,000 in an armor-plate
plant'has yielded gross receipts of $1,
418,993 a year, while the same invest
ment in a steel rolling mill would
have yielded profits of $1,400,000 a
year. Existing plants have a capacitj
of 32,000 tons a year, while the armor
estimates for the next five years are
only 24,000 tons a year.
The owners of these plants, accord
ing to the Bethlehem Company's an
nouncement, will supply armor plate
"at whatever price the Government
Itself shall name as fair." A Gov
ernment plant could probably not be
completed within the five years al
lotted for the naval increase pro
gramme, for Admiral Strauss told the
Senate naval committee that a year
ago -he estimated three years as the
time required to complete a plant and
that "undoubtedly now the time would
have to be increased and the cost
would have to be increased, if the
price and demand for materials re
main as at present." Then what need
is there for a new plant?
We need not rely on the opinion of
either an interested manufacturer or
of an American naval officer in form
ing a judgment as to the wisdom of
Government munition manufacture.
We have the opinion of Sydney
Brooks, an Englishman, who gives us
the experience of his own country. In
writing to the New York Sun, he
says that, had Britain depended on
government arsenals, it could not
have maintained 50,000 men in France.
It has encouraged government plants,
but, he says, "we found in August,
1914, that we had not encouraged
them enough" and that this w'ar has
taught Great Britain "that govern
mental arsenals are totally insuffi
cient to provide for national defense
and that the country with the largest
number of individual plants engaged
In turning out the paraphernalia of
war is the country best fitted to rise
to an emergency." He warns us that,
if we restrict private manufacture, we
shall "one day pay a frightful price
for it," while if we encourage private
manufacture, "no matter what profits
they may, make out of the industry,
the Nation will find it a cheap invest
ment." But Secretary Daniels not Only fa
vors the Government armor-plate
plants; he recommends "the estab
lishment of a projectile factory and
extension of Government ownership to
other branches of making war muni
tions." This in face of the facts that
estimates of the shells fired in the
battle of Verdun up to the capture of
Fort Douaumont range from 500,000
to 1,00,000. The Bethlehem Com
pany is the largest American shell
manufacturer and its present output
does not exceed 12,000,000 a year, or
enough in a year for perhaps twenty
days of such fighting as that around
Verdun. These figures add force to
Mr. Brooks" advice that the largest
measure of private manufacture be
encouraged. They show what a ri
diculous failure Mr. Daniels' proposed ,
Government shell factory would be in
supplying the Army and Navy.
But the folly of the Administration
does not stop there. Its friends in
Congress propose that the Government
erect a power plant and nitrate plant
at some reserved power site at a cost
of $15,000,000, though the Dupont
Powder Company offers to invest $20,
000,000 in such a plant practically at
the Government's own terms. The
company asks for a fifty-year permit
to construct the power nitric-acid
plants according to plans offered by
the Secretary of War and offers to
sell to the Government "all or any
part of the output of nitric acid at a
price which shall include such profit
as the Secretary of War shall deter
mine to be reasonable, and his de
termination of the reasonableness of
such profit shall be final." Surplus
power is to be sold under state regu
lation and the Government may take
over the plant at its fair value after
fifty years.
In the light of British experience,
wise policy dictates that the Govern
ment encourage private enterprise to
provide the means of supplying it with
munitions on the large scale required
for modern war. Such a policy is no
sooner suggested than all the Social
ists and semi-demi-Socialists who
masquerade as Democrats exclaim that
it would establish a munition trust
making huge profits out of war and
therefore having a selfish interest in
militarism. It would do no such
thing. The plants which were equipped
to make all munitions except armor
plate would be adapted also to make
implements of peace.
Armor-plate plants would only be
one department of general steel plants.
Nitric-acid plants could be kept in
full operation to supply fertilizer dur
ing peace times. The Government
could restrict profits to a normal per
centage on cost of production. The
selfish interest in war would not be
nearly as great as it would be were
all munitions made in Government
plants. In the latter case whole towns
and Congressional districts would
shout for the spending of money on
munitions in order that labor might
be employed, just as they now shout
for river and harbor appropriations to
have Government money spent in
their midst. Every tqwn having a
munition plant would have a far
stronger jingo element than would
exist if munition production were only
a department in a cognate industry.
The world lost a military genius of
the first magnitude in the passing of
Von der Goltz. But then the world
can spare military geniuses better
than any other kind at the present
time.
An eminent biologist will visit Ore
gon to study our fauna. He should
make a special study of the Oregon
sloth, an indolent animal which hi
bernates during registration periods.
A Chicago court having held that
Bacon wrote Shakespeare's plays, it
is suggested that Doc Cook present
his claims to North Pole discovery to
me same magistrate.
mc iiiiaie wno served the
cause or trermany" by seizing the
uiaLuppo on sanay Jriook, is due to
serve beans and potatoes at Atlanta
tor nis lifetime.
But as the price of gasoline goes up
the death rate ought to go down.
Fewer can afford its use for starting
trie morning lire and the afternoon
jitney.
Not being particular, the French
will not mind an influx of Chinese
labor. France needs the labor now,
but . in ten years will sit up in won-
rl r '
A new revolution has broken out in
Mexico. In State Department files it
will take some such record number as
4,vse,4', series Z.
These are dubious times. Another
ten days may find us at war; .or at
least in the throes of another epis
tolary effort.
A talcum power rate-war is on. In
which not men to face the powder
but women to powder the face form
the armies.
New England postmasters have in
dorsed the President. No doubt the
Cabinet could be prevailed upon to do
likewise.
Mother and daughter are abroad in
..ii.it jjen i.aoiri imery ana lather
is reduced to stogies in consequence
thereof.
And when the German diplomatic
smoke blows over we may find our
Mexican Army back in camp on the
border.
However, diplomacy took second
place to baseball with a considerable
portion of the populace the past week.
Next to swatting the fry. the most
delightful thing is nipping the fly
when the home team is in the field.
The citizen who failed to register
will likewise seek to evade the civic
responsibilities of Clean-up week.
From late returns on the Nebraska
primaries, it is inferred something
happened to the Ford carbureter.
But perhaps that firing on Ameri
can troopers in Mexico was meant as
a salute to the flag.
The peace propagandists find it a
hard matter to drum up a sympathetic
audience these days.
France is deeply stirred by the
United States ultimatum. So, no
doubt, is Germany.
Yet, in the course of time, Mr. Villa
may come north as the Congressman
from Durango.
Verdun is said to be in ruins. But
it is a long way from being ruined.
South America would stand by us
in event of war. Fine solace, that.
Nebraska has given the Bryans a
polite hint to "move on."
And now the Japanese note. 'Every
one is picking on us.
The 1916 Rose Festival is begin
ning to take form.
Bryan is no longer a devil in his
own home town.
For the love of Mike, Jupe, be mer
ciful today.
Life is just one protest after an
other.
Gleams Through the Mist
By Dean Collins.
THE EASTER BONNET.
The flowers that bloom in the Spring,
tra-la.
Are feeble and colorless quite.
Compared to the wonderful thing,
tra-la.
That the milliner finished last nis t.
Like tropical birds upon beautiful
perches.
This morning "twill blossom In all oi
the churches.
And that's what I mean when I glee
fully sing
There's one thing outshines all tho
flowers of Spring.
Milady, with glances so downcast and
holy.
Pray what are you thinking about?
And are you intent on the sermon text
solely,
Or do your thoughts wander without?
And, while your lips move, are you
wondering whether.
You bet a bit strong on your hopes for
the weather,
When, 'spite of the clouds, you took
courage to don it
And. came forth to church In your new
Easter bonnet?
And man. merest man, sitting lookinS
so cynical.
Say, are your thoughts on the sermon?
Or are you observing the head-dresses
tinical.
The while you attempt to determine.
If you'd better get your old Panama
blocked.
Or whether your tie-pin and watch can
be hocked
To furnish a hat, at a rrice within
reason,
In which you can deck your own head,
for the season?
And jokesters, what ho, do you rev'rent
ly listen
To what the wise pastor may say;
Or do the blight lights in your keen
eyes that glisten
Leap up at the sight of your prey.
The prey that for ages the jokesmitU
has shot at
On every occasion when it could bo
got at,
In every way that his pen might ei
press
A jibe at Milady; her foibles in,
i dress?
The flowers that bloom in the Spring,
tra-la.
May set all the Spring poets mad.
But the bright Easter bonnet's the
thing, tra-la.
To stjr up the joke-making lad:
But Jest as they- may and poke fun as
they will.
Each season we find that it comes to
us still.
And like tropical birds upon beautiful
perches
It shines on this morning in all of our
churches.
"Sir," said the Courteous Office Boy.
" 'tis a solemn thing to think how manj
will dye this bright Easter day, and
how many dyed yesterday."
" 'Tis so, my son," I dittoed. "War
is a terrible thing."
"But. sire.' said the C. O. B. in sur
prise, "it is because of the war that
fewer dyed yesterday and fewer will
dye today, in this our fair land."
Whereupon I broke a Chinese Kaster
egg upon him and he became an out-,
cast among men.
SOI,EMX TIIOI GHT.
Short skirts are in the fashion:
And they will wax shorter, too;
And then what will the dashin".
But bow-legged maiden do?
Till; SIIOIITKST l'OJIK.
"E. II. C," of Salem, approximates
the shortest pome, all right, when ho
sends in the following, the tite of
which seems to be "Love's Young
Dream," so far as we can gather from
the context of the pome, which is thus:
Tee,
Hee!
Where E. II. C. falls down is in send
ing his contribution in the form of a
third stanza to a pome combining "Miss,
kiss, bliss" and "Matrimony, alimony."
Next!
MOVINU VAN.
Our verse about the "moving Van
has moved someone of that same name
to submit a symphony on names him
self. "This is a hot one," says Van.
To a Spanish grill, I went with Molly
one night.
Since when I have been melancholy;
The food, a la Spanish, delicious to me.
All seemed to be to hot to Molly.
Stewart was such a decent wight
The taste of booze he never knew.
And yet a friend the other night
Upon the street said: "Hello, Stew!"
Richard Tait upon the street.
He tried to kiss a maid, in glee,'
She frowned and stamped her little feet
And said: "You can't, Dick Tait to
me!" D. H. K.
The Bluff of the City Directory.
Wherefore talk about the vast ex
pense and effort involved in getting
out the city directory?
For we have looked it over and wo
find that the compiler has put but two
Dollars in it, although he may insist,
with reason, that he has used three
Bones in getting it up.
But is not even that an exorbitant
amount for a book that contains only
five Sheets and eleven Words?
AS TO T1IOSK- ' KAMKS.
AVhen Richard and his sweetheart go
To walk, and leave mama alone;
When they'll return they let her know;
She always urges Dick to phone.
Tom W.
Touriat' Pronouncing; Ciueicfr,
A foreign foe wouid ne'er invade
Delightful town like Eatacada.
Potatoes grow with many an eye
In gardens down by Clatskanie.
Oh fairer than all of the lakes of Kil
larney. They say, are the lakes that you find
down in Harney.
(To Be Protracted.)
THR SNOWS OF YESTERTEAR.
What has become of the Merry
Widow lid, and the hair-dress that
went under it?
Speaking of symbols for the Pacifists,
.r. II. M. writes suggesting that the
ostrich be added to the collection, say
ing "the only sand you can find abcut
an ostrich is the sand it hides its hoad
in when it. hates to see a scrap coining;."