6
TITE SUNDAY OKEG OXTAX, PORTLAND, MAY 7, 1916.
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PORTLAND, SUNDAY, 31 AY 7, 1916.
THE FIRST LCSITANIA ANNIVERSARY.
A year ago today the Lusitania was
Bunk by a German submarine off the
Irish coast, and more than 100 Amer
icans were among: the 1200 peaceful
people of all nations who were
drowned or torn to fragments by the
explosion. The ship was not armed
and the passengers were bound on
various missions of love, of mercy, of
duty and of business. The ocean route
which it followed was a well-traveled
road between countries having close
social and business relations, as well
traveled as the highway between Port
land and San Francisco, for example.
The passengers and crew naturally as
sumed that, if the ship should be cap
tured by the enemies of Great Britain,
their lives would be safe according to
the dictates of international law and
humanity.
Before the ship sailed a warning
not to travel on it had been advertised,
but the idea that they ran any more
than the ordinary risks of ocean travel
teemed so absurd to the travelers that
they treated the warning as an empty
threat. Although the warning came
from the German embassy and might
properly have been regarded as a
threat from an ostensibly friendly na.
tion to do a hostile act, no attention
was paid to it by the State Depart
men. The marine tragedy sent a' thrill of
horror through the Nation that is, ail
except that un-American part of it
which looks at every German act
through friendly and sympathetic
spectacles. The almost unanimous sen
timent was that only prompt apology,
disavowal and reparation by the Ger
man government could prevent the
United States from retaliating by war
or severance of diplomatic relations.
This opinion was justified by a warn
ing given by the United States nearly
three months previous that Germany
would be held "strictly accountable"
for any such acts as were then threat
ened. After several days of solitary
deliberation. President Wilson fortified
that opinion by dictating to his Secre
tary of State a note to Germany stat
ing that he would not "omit any word
or any act" necessary to maintain the
American rights which had been set
at naught. This note was generally
regarded as meaning that, unless the
German reply promptly gave the full
satisfaction which the President had
demanded, friendly relations would be
severed, perhaps as the first step to
ward war.
But Germany both refused satisfac
tion and defended the act. Far from
arousing reprobation, the crime was
hailed in Germany as a great victory.
Germany relied upon the known deter
mination of Secretary Bryan not to be
a party to war a sentiment held in
less measure by the President as a
guaranty that the United States would
omit any act of the only kind by which
it was possible to enforce American de
mands. Therefore, Germany drew the
United States Government into what
threatened to be an interminable, in
conclusive argument and meanwhile
continued to sink merchant ships with
the same disregard of international law
and human rights as before.
In its reply to the American note of
May 13, 1915, Germany did not yield
to Mr. Wilson's demands on any point,
but on the contrary defended the deed
and based its defense on statements of
act which were without foundation
end on reasons of law which cannot
be sustained by any authority. It ap
peared that the time for action had
come, but Mr. Bryan refused to be a
party to further demands on Germany,
and the President, for the apparent
purpose of disarming pacifist criti
cism, wrote a reply which swept away
the entire structure of justifying facts
and reiterated his former arguments
and demands, but gave no hint as to
the consequences of refusal.
That was the beginning of a. large
'expenditure of verbal ammunition on
both sides. The President certainly
lived up to his promise not to omit
any word, but he did, while Germany
did not, omit any act necessary to
maintain the position they had re
spectively taken. Germany was .em
boldened by Mr. Wilson's inaction to
assume, in the note of July 8. the
right to dictate the conditions under
which Americans might travel the sea
in safety. These conditions were flat
ly rejected by Mr. Wilson on July 21
in a note which announced his purpose
to contend for the freedom of the
seas "'from whatever quarter violated,
without compromise and at whatever
cost," and warned Germany that any
further acts in contravention of Amer
ican rights would be regarded as "de
liberately unfriendly."
That did not prevent Germany from
sinking the Arabic with the loss of
fourteen passengers, including two
Americans, and many of her crew on
August 19, and again it seemed as if
a break between thenations was in
evitable. But Germany averted a crisis
by agreeing on September 1 that un
resisting liners which did not attempt
to escape would not be sunk without
warning nor without' provision for
safety of life, also by announcing that
orders' to this effect had been given
before the Arabic was sunk and that
that vessel had been sunk "by mis
take." The promise of immunity as to lin
ers did not cover freighters, the crews
of which travel the sea and earn their
livelihood and are entitled to at least
as much security as passengers. Then
followed long negotiations as to the
extension of immunity to all merchant
ships, as to the right of such ships to
arm for defense and as to disavowal
by Germany of her submarine's act
in sinking the Lusitania. Discussion
of these points spread from the diplo
mats to the American people and the
German contention was taken up by
those politicians who were angling for
German votes and by those pacifists
matter at what sacrifice of American
rights and National honor.
The President weakened his position
by Conceding that arming of merchant
ships for defense was of doubtful le
gality and by asking the allies to aban
don the practice. This course gave rise
to a strong movement in favor of a
resolution by Congress warning Amer
icans not to travel on such ships. The
allies rejected the President's proposal
and he then found it necessary to re
sume a position which he had admitted
to be doubtful. He was under the
necessity of using his official influence
to prevent Congress from adopting the
resolution which would in effect have
abandoned the right for which he con
tended. The confused and divided
state of American public opinion
which was then revealed encouraged
Germany to announce that in prose
cuting the submarine campaign with
renewed vigor it would treat armed
merchant vessels as naval auxiliaries.
Matters were at this stage when on
March 24 the Sussex, a mere ferry
boat crossing the English Channel, was
attacked by a submarine and several
Americans were injured. This attack
was a plain violation of the pledge not
to attack liners. The sinking of sev
eral other vessels carrying Americans
about that time, with loss of American
life, was also a clear infringement on
American rights.
Then and not till then nearly a
year after the Lusitania went down
the President reached the conclusion
that the time had come to say the last
word. After fully satisfying himself
of Germany's responsibility, he on
April 19 informed that country that
lawless attacks on merchant ships
owned by or carrying Americans must
stop or he would cut off intercourse
between the United States and Ger
many, t Then he obtained the assur
ance which should have been extorted
a year ago, that German attacks on
merchant ships would be governed by
international law.
that shipbuilding on a large scale has
not been attempted before. One needs
only to contemplate the shipping
exigencies when the war will have
taken its toll in bottoms and opened
ocean commerce again on an unin
terrupted scale. The trade oppor
tunities which await America in coun
tries not involved in war are other evi
dence that ships, both woden and steel.
are and will be in demand.
If there are any who are short
sighted in looking in prospect, let them
cast a glance in, retrospect and rea
lize that here perhaps, in the pro
posed ship plants for Portland, is an
other of the good results traceable to
the Panama Canal.
Mr. Knapp, the McCormick Com
pany, the Northwest Steel Company
and the Willamette Iron & Steel Com
pany all established and proved
business forces no doubt have esti
mated Portland advantages for these
undertakings and have found them not
wanting; but, also, Portland as a com
munity should, if it has not already
done so, be quick to estimate these
interests and find them likewise not
wanting.
PRESERVE A COOD NAME.
Retirement of Clyde B. Aitchison
from the Oregon Public Service Com
mission (formerly Railroad Commis
sion) emphasizes the need of careful
consideration of the candidates in the
field for positions on that Board. The
Public Service Commission of Oregon
has been a progressive and efficient
body, one that has enjoyed the con
fidence of the public. The strength of
its personnel is demonstrated by this
call to a position of National impor
tance of one of its members.
On the Public Service Commission
more than on any other state commis
sion, do firmness of character and
mental capacity count for the public
good. A majority of the Commission
are to be" elected this year. It is with
in the range of possibilities that that
On this first anniversary of a treat majority may be men without sub.
international crime, the lawfulness of stantiai experience in tne duties oi tne
which Germany still upholds, the Pres
ident and the entire American Nation
should take to heart certain lessons
which this year of tragedy teaches.
Mere words are impotent against a
nation which has already appealed to
force. By such a nation promises are
fulfilled only when force is ready to
compel fulfillment and when the pos
sessor of that force is known to be
willing to use it. Threats not backed
by force are but toy swords.
Germany's reply to the President's
demands is a compliance only on its
face. We shall not know whether it
is an actual compliance until we see
how submarines construe their new
orders. We do not yet know whether
Germany has abandoned the dis
tinction between liners and freighters,
between armed and unarmed merchant
ships, nor whether the empire con
strues the principles of visit and search
and destruction of merchant ships as
the President construes them. Herr
von Jagow's reply to Mr. Wilson's ulti
matum is in the nature of a counter-
ultimatum, for it conveys a threat that,
unless the United States induces Great
Britain forthwith to conform its block
ade to German views, restraint on sub-
minds. It is the men of riches who
are lionized and applauded. It is they
who get the big rewards. Business is
robbing the professions as well as arts.
It is robbing public life. The caliber
of man who turned to public life fifty
years ago turns to the commercial
world today. The average youth, asked
where his fancy leads, will tell you
that he seeks some field wherein he
can make money. It does not, of
course, require a brilliant man to win
business success. Men too hopelessly
stupid to Bucceed in any profession win
fortune in business. But the brilliant
man wins both unlimited wealth and
limitless power by applying his ca
pacities to economic problems. Why
dream a novel when dreaming a rail
road or a great industrial organization
will bring him the same reward multi
plied by ten thousand? This is the
blighting materialism which deten
mines the lives of American geniuses.
If Giotto were an American shepherd
boy today, doubtless his tastes would
run to wool combines or trackless
stock ranches.
create a dangerous situation. Political genius. Plainly it was not the tactics
influence might be used to procure of Champagne nor the tactics of Ypres
excessive loans through too high ap- or Galicla, where fearful artillery bom-
praisals and in time of crop failure bardment was followed by infantry
a cry would go up for remission of charges to complete the work. Artil-
interest payments and against fore- lery prepared the way in the Verdun
closure of mortgages. The Landschaften I front. But artillery' could not ferret
of Germany were established without out and destroy each vein in the net
government financial aid by the work of trenches. Human shrapnel, so
farmers themselves, who were far to speak, was made to do this work,
poorer and no more intelligent than Infantry drove at a position which had
the average American farmer. Surely not been shaken and in gaining the
the latter can establish a like system ultimate fire superiority line after line
with initial financial aid from the of German infantry struck. The cost
Government and with machinery and made the world shudder. But if the
supervision provided by Federal power. Germans lost tens of thousands in driv
The American farmer of the 20th cen- ing against stubborn foemen the
tury should be better equipped " to French lost nearly as many in stub
mobilize his credit under these condl- born resistance.
tions than was the German farmer of Hundreds of thousands of wounded
the ISth century under less favorable men, tens of thousands of slain, count
conditions.
A HEAVEN FOB BIRDS.
There are so many ways of doing
good that one who has the means and
the Inclinations should experience no
difficulty In finding a work that ap
peals to his special tastes. Philan
thropy offers a field of limitless variety
and, it is coming to claim an increasing
number of retired business men who
do not desire, in their peaceful " age,
to sit down or indulge selfish whims.
That the man who craves life in the
open on a great farm need not want
the cost of battle at Verdun. The re
sults are not conclusive: they are
I Hun 4 a still u-i folv in Kronen n ; n il n
n one may ctkii curreni msprentt G..nv holds a few miles more of
from London, the British wax Office French territory which at this hour
in that largest of cities, next to New I the French are seeking to retake yard
York, is giving comprehensive consld- by yard. If they are willing to pay
eration to the night-blooming Zeppelin, the price perhaps they will succeed
Up to the present time no effective 1 and France is better able to pay tne
method has been devised of prevent- I price in human lives than is uermai)
ing the nightly murder of women and now that the British millions and the
children by the cloud-riders, but the I Russian thousands are beginning to
office has determined an important I reinforce the western allied battle line
literary classification under which the If the French persist, decided on pay
pestiferous Zeppelin must be placed. ! ing the price, the battle line ultimately
Hereafter, by edict of the London War I may be found exactly where it was in
Office, these cigar-shaped monsters of I February. In such event the net re-
the night will take the masculine gen- suit will be an illustration that by ex-
der whenever it is necessary to em- I pending a few thousand lives one side
ploy the pronoun.
The strategic value of this literary'
for a field of useful service is shown ! coup is not explained. Nor is its
office and without practical or even
intelligently theoretical knowledge of
rate making and service requirements.
A word of caution to the voters is
therefore justified. Personal . liking
for or the amiability of a can
didate should be remote considerations
on the part of the electorate. Ability
and trustworthiness of the candidate
ought to govern the choice above poli
tics or anything else.
The succeeding Commission will
have a good reputation to preserve, and
that is Beyond the capacity of the
mere job hunter or professional poli
tician. Unless men of character and
sound capabilities are elected the use
fulness of the Commission will expire.
There is more at issue than the polit
ical fortunes of one or two men. Regu
lation of public utilities itself is at
stake.
by the example of one Commodore
Benedict, of Greenwich, Conn., who
has an estate of 100 acres on Long
Island sound. While the Commodore's
wealth is said to be of modest propor
tions, he has decided to give it to the
birds. He will establish a great sanc
tury for insectivorous birds, where
they may propagate in peace and
plenty. He will maintain the estate
as a veritable birds' paradise, hoping
to staunch the swift ebbing of bird
life toward extinction.
Such an undertaking is not senti
mentalism, but a useful service to the
state. According to Audubon Society
figures, insect-destroying birds are de
creasing 10 per cent annually in the
country-, and at this rate they will
Join the dodo in the course of a few
years. Sparrows, of course, are to
be barred from the paradise, and it is
well that this bird bandit be denied
the boons of heaven pn earth. The
sparrow, by its destructive habits and
its fierce banditage against other birds.
has incurred the ill will of mankind.
The protections of law given other
birds are not granted the detestable
sparrow.
Extermination of the sparrow and
protection of insectivorous birds mean
millions of dollars in agricultural and
GENIUS AND BUSINESS.
Frank H. Spearman, eminent writer
of short fiction, blames our humble
artistic plane upon the business world.
Writing in the New York Times, he ar
gues that lust of gain has made busi
ness the great objective of capable
mpn whprM R hnn th-a tu (1 St hihpr
marine operations will again be thrown trlbute of honor and wealth to the
on. inat tnreat; warrants tne rresi- Standard bearers of art, this same
dent in saying one more word to Ger- nhl9 nr rrt of it-
many that, if the latest promise is
broken, the President will, after in
vestigating the facts without asking
for evidence from Germany, imme
diately sever diplomatic relations.
THE REAL OBJECTIVE.
It isn't actual defense the war party
wants it is contracts and profits; dread
noughts and armor plate.
1 these profit patriots were consistent,
honest or sincere, the firpt cry that would
go up would be a protest against this
twunuy peiiig nirippeu oi ammunition, snips, i - . , , . . ... , ,
horses and almost even thing needed for Sa" devoted his masterly mind to the
aeiense. i painting or pictures it is not improDa
-oui never amni oi emnargo never a bIe that ne could have become an
buktouuu ui iumh on our iruntiers. i ne
would have added riches to the stores
of art. He professes to know great rail
road men who would have made great
novelists had they devoted their abil
ities to fiction.
The Spearman theory savors of
soundness. Genius has been defined
as the possession of broad general
powers directed into a single channel.
No genius of the first magnitude ever
accomplished wonders in a divided
field of activity. Had the elder Mor-
clamor is for a greater Navy, more costly
war vessels ana a greater Army.
What good In war Is an army of privates
with only cartridges enough to last an hour?
What good is a cavalry regiment with no
norses to ride?
American Leonardo. Did he not dis
play a passion for art in his declining
days? Might not this passion, diroctd
nto creative channels during his
youth, have accomplished artistic won
This annstrnnhs f n i.nnroraroHnoco I ders? Surely the same breadth of
is from a pacifist paper, printed in vision, the same keen powers of intel
Oregon. It inveiehs vehemently Meet and the same boundless energy
against the manufacture of munitions that wrought mere millions would not
because someone makes a nrofit out have railed in searcning out tne in-
grammatical value readily apparent.
If one consults the established rules
of grammar, the ship will be found
of neuter gender, whether in English
! or German, ship or schiff. Poetic
usage favors the feminine and, in fact,
prose writers have adopted this form
from the poets, who, in their turn, took
the designation from sailors. Sailors,
In their turn, doubtless adopted the
feminine because of affection for their
floating abodes.
Surely the Zeppelin's gender is not
altered because of its black deeds.
Why consider It masculine on that ac
count and continue to refer to dread
nought or-submarine as she? Do not
the submarines murder women and
children with greater abandon than
the Zeppelins? The London War Of
fice should concern itself with more
Important phases of the Zeppelin in
dustry. For instance, if that office
could succeed In assigning the Zeppelin
to the past tense the matter of gender
could '.e left for non-combatant gram.
marians to adjust.
can take a few miles of territory and
that by expending a few more thou
sand lives the other side can take it
back. It is a most expensive, if not
essentially important, bit of military
information.
IF FORD WERE PRESIDENT.
Why do people vote for Henry Ford
for President? He has declared that
he does not seek the office, and his
previous Inactivity in politics war
rants us in believing that he means
what he says. Yet the Republicans of
his own state have expressed their
preference for him and those of Ne
braska came within a narrow margin
of doing likewise.
Poem of Northwest
REPLV OP THIS WILD ROSE.
I cannot be still, so mistaken was he.
hen writing that sad lamentation
of me;
I never endeavored to hold In my net.
The love of the beauty-mad f&wninsr
coquet.
A braver, more tender true lover I've
found.
To hold him. I feel myself morally
bound;
My blushes, my fragrance, my honey
and wine.
Are kept for that lover when he comes
to dine.
The man who but looks on the surface
of things
And to beauty alone his offering
brings.
Could never be trusted with treasures
like mine.
For his admiration I never shall pine.
I would crowd my whole life with
motherhood's joys.
And have my home filled with true
girls and brave boys;
Man's flirting embrace cannot ferti
lize me.
For this I shall cling to my lover
the bee.
She is no exotic, this man-devised rose.
Though haughtily dressed in her
fashion cut clothes
Her beauty and fragrance return to
the dust.
God glveth her not the great mother
hood trust.
I do not begrudge her the love of
vain man.
To be a fond mother man's rose never
can:
Her crown, though bedecked, hath no
jewels like mine.
It cannot with heavenly brilliance
shine.
I never have sighed for her place in
man's mart.
I play in life's game a more honorable
part;
From my soul's deepest deeps my
blood runneth free.
In the banquet of lovo I spread for
the bee.
I nourish my babes as
will,
a fond mother
So great is Mr. Ford's abhorrence And drink of that wine love alone can
BACK AND FORTH AT VERDUN.
What is the decision at Verdun? encouraged
of armies, navies and war that, if he
were President, neither Army nor
Navy would be increased and the Navy
might be put out of commission or
be sent to Europe on a peace mission
decorated with white flags and doves
of peace. If any nation chose to seize
the Philippines, he would say: "Let
them; good riddance." So also with
Hawaii. If the Panama Canal were
seized, he would, say it was not worth
war and would arbitrate while the
other nation held possession
distill
As I round out my task and pass 'neata
the rod.
rm crowned floral queen of the)
gardens of Ood.
F. W. PARKER.
Oregon City.
THE TINSEL WITH ITS EYES.
Oh. the Tunnel with its eyes!
What a wealth of beauty lies
'Round the grim, gray, rock-plercea
mountain.
Thus I Pointing upward to the skies!
the aggressor would In-
How the heart with rapture thrills.
See the river, mountains, hills.
ine window
During the past week dispatches and vde the United States, and then r.l-
War Office reports have indicated that "i'T.J" Vli , ... .. bU1-'
horticultural product- every year, for I T?' re '?o consider! from P"c'f.n to belligerency." as the Crown Point's beauty has It. pi
the influence of bird life on crops Is I l ?!n nrHn ha mlrtl ?kf Is Chicago Tribune says would be the Shepr-ards Dell la In the race
large. While Judicious laws and the , gain Berlin has made the sig- case anJ ..wouId navJ te war. to of Jhe Highway's chief attract!
activities of Audubon societies have
done much to prolong bird . life, con
structive help from public-spirited citi.
zens will reduce the alarming decrease.
Oregon offers many exceptional op
portunities for enterprises such as that
on Long Island and at a much
smaller outlay of land and money. .
of them. It sneers at an Army without
equipment and it is alarmed at the
very suggestion of a larger Navy.
The real objective of the excited
pacifists is, of course, no munitions,
no contracts, no pronts, no Army, no
Navy, no preparedness. That is their
way of abolishing war. They would
increase - their stature by taking
thought, and they would avoid the
great tragedy of a humiliating and dis
astrous cc-Hision with a foreign power
tricacies of pigment, complexities of
technique, subtleties of fancy and pro
fundities of understanding that go into
the making of art.
The objection might be interposed
that British and European geniuses,
medieval and ancient, wrought in pov
erty. Have not the world's greatest
masters sprung from the garret? But
this suggestion merely adds force to
the initial argument. The business
world did not offer those great minds
by moral suasion or by frantic appeals tne rewards that are found in America
to his better nature.
Pacifists of this kind complain that
the Army and Navy are neglected, in
order to send arms and war supplies
abroad; but they do not want to rem
edy the deficiencies. They would abol.
ish Army and Navy.
vv ny not, ir tnere Is not to be an
adequate Army and effective Navy?
Why not?
PORTLAND AS A SHIPBUILDING CENTER
Shipbuilding is a big industry and
today. Cervantes, despite his great
ness, all but starved. His was not a
day nor a land wherein great wealth
lay within easy grasp of a clever young
pauper. Those who were born poor
usually died in- poverty,
Imagine Shakespeare turning to son
nets and dramas were the great oppor
tunities and rewards of a growing busi
ness world held before him in his
youth. Shakespeare had all the qual
ities needed to make an American cap.
tain of industry. No mortal, before
nor since, has known human nature as
tnere is a suusianuai quality aoout intimatelv as Shakespeare. He was
it as the trunk and branches of the well-balanced, profound, mercenary,
family tree of commerce that makes energetic, of broad vision and sound
its importance impressive. Therefore judgment. The same imagination and
the announcement in The Oregonian grasp that gave the world Hamlet
Saturday that F. C. Knapp, associated might have served to connect two
with Eastern capitalists, would estab- widely separated American hamlets
lish in Portland a plant for building with rails of steel. But in his day the
wooden ships on a large scale is one business world did not beckon. A
that must attract wide attention and dramatist was a low person, to be
call for civic pride and interest. The sure, but not quite so low as a trades-
oregonlan views the undertaking with I man
assurance of manifold results. First, The widespread notion that geniuses
the Knapp plant will be significant 0f the' quill and palette are creatures
as an Individual enterprise, but sec- of destiny has many flaws. There is
ondly. it is undoubtedly to be a factor abundance of evidence that men of
In making shipbuilding a general and
permanent industry for this com
munity, for already there is a plant
at St. Helens turning out wooden
ships for the Charles R. McCormick
Company, and the Northwest Steel
Company and the Willamette Iron &
Steel Company jointly have announced
plans for constructing a plant for
building and launching steel vessels.
talent might have succeeded in other
fields had all their abilities been so
directed. The notable and substantial
successes in the artistic world have
been well-balanced persons who
matured slowly. The- brilliant youth
who startles the world before he Is
out of his twenties seldom achieves
immortality. Perhaps this is not so
true of poets and musicians whose sue
Here are evidences of business per-1 cess depends In large measure upon
spicacity and confidence in this com-I a highly organized and hyper-sensitive
munity; concrete expressions of faith organization. Yet even our greatest
in Portland's future and her material I bards and greatest musicians have ma-
resources and geographical advan- tured slowly and sanely. Balance and
tages. Let us not overlooklhem. Hun. wisdom come only with experience
dreds of thousands of dollars will be I and these must be at the foundation of
Invested in these undertakings and the highest art.
while such industry inevitably draws I The response of genius to the needs
capital from other sections of the and -activities of a people is demon-
country, it invariably leaves much of strated in many ways. War, for in
it here for circulation. A business of I stance, invariably rroduces Its master
the magnitude of shipbuilding lends I minds- They are stimulated to their
prestige also to Portland as a city and I highest efforts by the rewards and
as a port, now even one of the lead- plaudits which await them. If they
ing maritime and commercial centers are men who give little promise, as in
of the country- It adds prestige to the case of Grant, then it remains for
the Willamette River. the stress of circumstances and the
It is well to note that Mr. Knapp I whims of opportunity to develop their
says local as well as Eastern capital I latent powers, even as the seething era
is rallying to his undertaking. The I of American economic expansion and
past few years have convinced shrewd I development produced its Morgans,
investors of the value of ship stock, I Rockefellers and Harrimans.
Today business is claiming the best
Roosevelt's one and the Nation under I their elegance and grace.
hlsa leadership would be whipped In
all of them if he picked good-siz,ed
wars." It is an even guess which
course events would take.
Mr. Ford's involuntary candidacy
would be laughable, if it were not so
serious.
But the Tunnel, we'll not trade it;
Without concrete work to aid it
It stands so much as Ood or mature
made it.
See the savage an he lies.
Grim, outlined against the) skies.
On the summit of the mountain.
Dramming on of Paradise
whose overmastering desire was to
keep the United States out of war, no and the wonder is, on second thought.
HOPE FOR RURAL, CREDIT BILL.
The Senate having passed the rural
credit bill substantially as It has been
Introduced in the House, there is good
prospect of its becoming law unless
our relations with Germany should as.
sume so grave an aspect that legisla
tion bearing on them will push every
thing else aside. The House is or
ganized for disposing of legislation far
more expeditiously than is the Senate,
and, once it takes up the rural credit
bill, can act upon it In short order.
Two most debatable points about the
bill are investment of Government
funds in farm loan banks and exemp
tion of farm mortgage bonds from tax.
atlon. As to the former point, the
Government is not to subscribe any
part of the capital stock of a farm loan
bank until the farmers In the district
have subscribed $100,0.00, nor until tho
Dalance of the $aU0,000 of stock has
been offered for public subscription
for sixty days. Then and not till then
Is the Government to make up any
deficiency in the minimum capital re
quired before the bank can begin busi
ness. Nor is the Government invest
ment to be permanent. As farm loan
associations are to subscribe capital in
the banks equal to 5 per cent of the
loans made to their members, the cap.
ital should soon rise above the $500,
000 minimum, if the farmers avail
themselves of the system.
The Government capital is then to
be withdrawn and the Government
stock cancelled as fast as this can be
done without reducing the total cap
ital below $500,000. Government funds
would be used only to set the system
going. Then they -would be withdrawn
and the banks would be owned and
controlled by farmers through their
loan associations and by those other
investors who contributed to the orig
inal capital. As the aggregate of loans
increased, the farmers stock holdings
would increase also until they would
soon hold control.
Some criticism has been leveled at
the provision that farm mortgages
shall pay 1 per cent more interest than
the bonds which are based upon them,
expenses of loans and of management
of banks to be paid and reserve fund
payments to be made out of this 1 per
cent. It is probable that, when the
system Is in full working order, this
percentage will prove excessive. As
European rural credit systems grew,
expenses and necessary reserves fell to
half, then one-third, and in Hungary
to 0.16 of 1 per cent. But any surplus
would go back to the men who paid
it, for it would be paid by the banks
to the farm loan associations and by
them to the farmers in the shape of
dividends. Should it be desired when
this expense and reserve fund proved
excessive, an amendatory law reducing
the percentage could readily be passed.
Exemption of farm land bonds and
mortgages from taxation is Justified
by the fact that the land on which
they are based is taxed to Its full value
as assessed by the states. If these sc.
curities were taxed, the result would
be double taxation, which would be
manifestly unjust. The tax would not
be paid by the lender, for he would
not submit to this discount rn the
market rate of interest for the class of
security In question: he would pass it
on to the borrower by exacting a pro
portionately, higher rate of Interest.
Not only would it be double taxation
of the half of the farm represented by
the loan, but it would practically be
a penalty on the farmer for borrowing
money wherewith to improve his farm.
It would, obstruct tne very purpose
for which the system is established.
An alternative rural credit plan con
templates that the Government provide
all the capital by Issuing its own bonds
based on farm mortgages. To make
the Government mortgagee of a great
proportion of American farms would
nincant claim mat tne r rencn coun
ter strokes have been checked signifi
cant in its contrast with earlier Berlin
predictions that Verdun would suc
cumb to the tightening Prussian mill
tary grip. The Germans now find sat
isfaction in the fact that they are able
to hold their lines against French as
saults.
Whether the battle of Verdun is fin
ished remains to be seen. At least the
first phase of a great struggle is ended
and there are evidences that the Crown
Prince now accepts the lmpassability
of this formidable sector of the French
defense line, at least for the time be
ing. Whether the German strategists
admit to themselves that the task of
reducing Verdun is hopeless is not re
vealed. They claim victory, of course,
and base their claim on the vast area
conquered during the course of the
costly German drives. If the French
found satisfaction in their Champagne
district gains the Germans are entitled
to boast of what they accomplished at
Verdun. They moved forward over a
wider front than that at Champagne
and they penetrated the enemy's posi
tions to a far greater depth.
1 1 , i f iav ftirt nM tnli Vnltin anil
was not that their objective? At least, nouncing mat, aner paying on tne de. ....-..: -?,"
the world has accented Verdun as the I1"""' ne wl" again oe a candidate
Mexican officers met with a flat re- Th!.0''h ih.I ? e."' rV", "now'
- , . , , , I siliu III O UUIiri r u- IU y
,u nen tney ordered an American pierced throuBh mountain Just above
auiuier to naui uown tne otars anal the river's flow.
stripes from a supply train in Mexico.
They should have taken the matter up I Oh. the Tunnel, be it known.
with Washington if thev wanted the Ha a beauty all Its own.
fUg hauled down. Soldiers are some. Other points along the Highway
I what n.u,t.v ,. , -,t. I Do not seem to stand alone
At last it is settled. A Philadelphia To tne tourixt oft repeated Just the
I medium nas consulted the shades of
both Shakespeare and Bacon, who
have assured her that Shakespeare
really did the writing. Why did not
I someone think of that solution sooner
and save the country a lot of needless
controversy?
William Lorimer has been acquitted
I of wrecking a bank, but not of buying
his way Into the Senate. In an-
Proud Multnomah well may boast.
Of the concrete and the cost.
Of the artificial beauty -
And the labor that's not lost.
Hut the place the World will prize.
In our own dear County ilea.
It's the Tunnel, oh the Tunnel with its
eyes.
S. E. BARTMESS.
Issue, and Prussian military prestige
has waned in that Verdun was not
taken. It is the state of mind of the
masses of the people toward an issue
that decides Its importance very often.
Surely the issue at Verdun was as
much moral and political as it was
military, else why the desperate as
saults by the Germans and the equally
determined resistance by the French?
for the Senate, he overlooks this fact.
The Ford peace agents at Stockholm
are preparing a peace schedule, em
bodying terms for the belligerents. And
to think that men can draw pav and
board for that sort of Quixotic tom
foolery. "
Germans are planning to regain con.
Strategically. Verdun could hardly trl f tbe American dye market after Did you ever pause to wonder
MKET.
Did you ever pause to wonder.
Traveling down lire s rocky road.
Seeing good men greet with hauteur
Those who bend beneath a load.
Tinged, perhaps, with shame or sorrow
Hleak remorse or vain regret.
The result of youthful folly.
hich the world will not forget:
Hearing others condemn wholly
One who's stumbled just a mite
From the path that they consider
Constitutes the path of right;
have been worth what France has
paid for its retention. As previously
pointed out, the town Itself has no
military value. The forts, modern in
every respect, would be mere Play
things of the Prussian howitzers but I discharged for critical remarks on the
the war. But It is likely that Demo- I What our words and act would be.
cratic tariff policies -will not be avail-I Could we pierce the future's curtain.
able to assist them hv that lima I And. behind It. clearly see
iioa s own pian ior an tne ages
Avunsnmioniu lurary employe was Would we judge the world less harshly.
Could life's night and morning meet?
for the network of infantry and light I Wilson policy. What an army of Job-
artillery trenches in advance of the less men there would be if all employ. I Could we see our night's fulfilment
fortified positions. As for standing ers followed that Tule!
as the sentinel to Paris, that is a myth.
True, perhaps, in the eighteenth cen- I The Authors' League has named a
tury, when walled forts passed at par long list of Vice-Presidents, including
Author Teddy.
liberate slight
Wood row.
It looks liko a ile-
to overlook Author
or even at the beginning of the war,
before the frailty of concrete and steel
was disclosed, but now Verdun is of no
greater strategic importance than the
adaptability of its environs to de-1 Bryan again protests that no nation
fensive positions. In this connection I has any though of attacking us. This
It is contended that the French I Is the chap who, two years ago. was
corps might have chosen better grounds I contending that a great war was Ira
for the battle by leaving the town of I possible.
Verdun exposed to German occupation.
Perhaps this was exactly what the
Germans hoped for. Had their ulti
mate objective been Paris, why did
they not strike at. say, Noyon. on the
Oise. which Is only fifty miles from
the trench metropolis, whereas Verdun An Iowa soda fountain blew up. in-
is tnree times mat. oisiance .- oo, wnue Muring two. Probably the dastardly
Verdun is not actually the gateway to work of John Barleycorn's secret
fans under tne present atstriDutions, I agents.
It would be difficult to impress that
tact upon me r rencn puDiic. wnicn Pershing reports that he has lo-
ouia accept tne loss otyeroun as cated Villa. What the country wants
a serious blow, even as Germany would
have accepted its capture as a great
victoo. As the issue now stands,
France rejoices that Verdun has been
held, while the Germans find encour
agement In the large area conquered in
front of Verdun.
This achievement. In fact, is a con
siderable one. The German line has
been moved sharply forward over a
twenty-five-mile front, and an irregu
lar area resembling a battered weiner
wurst on the map has been wrested
from the armies of Petain. The cap
tured area has a depth of seven miles
in front of Chatlllon and is two and a
half miles deep at its narrowest point
Of our morning's dream so fair.
See its joys and see its sorrows.
All Its pleasure and Its care;
See the tears we'd shed in secret
O'er tho sad mistakes we'd made;
See the zigzag turns and windings
Of the game that we had played;
Could we see our morning's fancies
ide by side with their defeat;
See the blossoms, sadly blighted.
Of youth s hopes so pure and sweet;
Would we not, in love and mercy.
Tenderly our neighbor greet.
Gloss his faults and hide his failures.
Help him once more to his feet?
God. In mercy, let us think then.
It were comfort wondrous sweet!
We would judge the world leas harshly.
Could life's nieht and morlng meet.
HORACE, WILLIAM MAC.NEAL
Portland, Or.
LXSITAMA.
May 7, 1013.
Moans the restless sea.
Calling, calling
Calling to the ghostly wraiths
Hoverlnjc In the shuddering mists
That hid the hellish deed.
Fathoms deep the nllmy ghouls
Feed on the prey the war-sod sent.
Far off sob the bells.
Urged by the affrighted wave:
But farther, farther, ring the merry
But with a crisis at hand, almost railing little children to the green-
It is charged that Irishmen were to
be accepted into the German army
Had the plan succeeded, Verdun might
have fallen before this.
is word that he has captured Villa.
The primary candidates are rapidly
getting into the mental state of the
small boy Just before Christmas.
anything would have been "acceptable"
to the Administration.
John J. advises people to save their
pennies. About all that he has left
them to save.
This is a new-found holiday!
Strutsiihe war-lord by:
"Play, my children 1 made
this holiday;
Leap and grow strong. I shall
you soon."
But ever moans the sea.
Calling, calling
for you
need
But Carranza appears less disposed
than the Kaiser to "make concessions."
at Le Mort Homme, Dead Man's Hill. sent htm
The feat of occupying this area is more
notable when one considers that it was
a veritable labyrinth of redoubts,
trenches and fortified Dositions stntitlv
held bv deoendable infantry and hiirh i Now we are out of this last mess,
ly developed small artillery. From the I wh not n end to amateur diplomacy?
hour the great offensive was launched
February 21. until its fury was ex-1 About time for the Kaiser to begin
hausted, ten days. ago. the Germans planning his Paris Christmas dinner.
rained blow after blow without paus
ing to reckon the cost. I The Beavers must have a stand-In
As the Kaiser's steadiest regiments with the rainmaker.
went forward mile after mile there
were rumors of a deadly new kind of I Negotiations are again at the don't-
tactlcs devised by Prussian military I do-it-again stage.
The one Socialist member of Con-
! a rni-fnh to thn district that I Answers from heaven a Voice:
0 Bl 111. W " . . 1 - O 0:ftu,i.u
dead;
Mine is the debt; I will repsy."
WILLIAM M' REYNOLDS.
His Gesiervalty.
London Nation.
A "Tommy." lying m hospital, beside
him a watch of curious and foreign de
sign. The attending doctor was inter
ested. "Where did your watch come from?
he asked.
"A German give It me." he answered.
A Utile piqued, the doctor inquired
how the foe had come to convey his
token of esteem and affection.
" 'L ad. to." was the laconic reply.