THE SUNT) AT OREGOXIAJi, PORTLAND. MAY 7. 1916.
II
IRISH HERE FIRST OF ALL AMERICAN TO LAST DROP OF BLOOD
PORTLAND, May 6 (To the Edi
tor.) In relation to the late out
break in Ireland against the Brit
ish government, I feel that I have
earned the right to express an opinion,
being Kenian in 1866, and prepared to
take Canada, a strict follower of the
Gladstone and Parnell movements, Jhe
Land League, and almost ervery society
of American citizens of Irish blood who
fcavo endeavored in an honorable way
to procure fair treatment from the
Uritish government.
Many years' ago. in a public statement
mt the time of Parnell's overthrow, I
predicted then that any benefit that
might subsequently come to the Irish
people must come on the lines as laid
down by Parnell. This, as it now ap
pears, has proved true. Later, when a
bitter fight was made on the Land
League by men whose friendship and
loyalty could not be doubted, we fol
. lowed it out and secured for Ireland
the best measure that ever came from
the Knglish government up to that
time. Since then Mr. Redmond, fol
lowing along the same lines, secured.
In a limited way, home rule for Ireland;
this in spite of fierce opposition from
the north by Irishmen in Parliament.
1 would digress Just a little here"to
rhow "where the present trouble might
be justified, if there is any justifica
tion for it.
These men from the north of Ireland
proclaimed vehemently that if home
rule became a law they would declare
war against it. They went so far as to
drill men for that purpose. The pres-
I ent head of the British army. General j
1 J-'rench, and others threatened to resign !
rather than to enforce the law of their
own country. They allowed the men
above mentioned to arm themselves
( with guns (thought since to be fur
jiished by the Germans) to drill and
menace every home-rule man who dared
proclaim his belief. They went farther:
arresLed and .even killed some men in
Imblin, known as the Irish Volunteers,
who were but following out the v ex
ample shown by the Tories of the
north.
When we recall these things it is easy
to forgive the man who has not and
will not forget them. Nevertheless, I.
at least, feel that it was a premature
and wild movement at this time. There
are thousands of Irish soldiers in the
British army who will remain loyal to
their oaths and cause. There are other
thousands in Australia and Canada who
Will stand by their government and who
have heretofore, and will hereafter, be
as loyal to every movement to better
the Irish people as any of the men who
are engaged in advocating the present
trouble. They were against this move
ment, knowing that the blow would
fall only on those who, half prepared,
attacked an armed Knglish army; thst
there would be a fow heroes, a lot jf
murderers, a flash in the pan and noth
ing gained permanently for home rule
or Irish independence. Besides this,
there is not now, never will be. nor can
be any doubt of where the Americans
f Irish blood stand if by any chance
we should be forced into war with Ger
many. Could we expect the Germans
to stand by the Irish of Ireland if the
Irish of America were at war with that
nation? We are neutral now, with per
haps a little leaning against Kngland,
which might be wholly so if it were
not for France and Belgium, both of
which have been friendly to the Irish
cause for years; but we cannot be neu
tral in case of serious trouble with Ger
.many. We are, first of all, Americans,
with America and for America to the
last drop of our blood.
'When Freedom, from her mountain
heights.
Unfurled her standard to the air
Bhe tore the azure robes of night
And set the stars of glory there.
And every man of Celtic blood in the
TTnited States will defend thaj stand
ard and those stars against all. comers
and for whatever cause. Under all
those circumstances, real and apparent.
is it not better and wiser to trust Red
mond and other Irish leaders who are
. on the ground and know what can be
done, who have already secured for Ire
land more than ever has been secured
before and who, no doubt, would per
sist hereafter until full Irish liberty.
, consistent with her isolated position in
Europe, was gained?
C P. MAGINNIS.
COLn RUSH TO THE SOUTH IN 1848
Old Timer Tell of Oregon Argonauts
to California Round.
PORTLAND. May 6. (To the Edi
tor ) Probably nine out of ten people
you meet will speak of the discovery
of the California gold mines as of
3 849, but not so with those who were
in Oregon at th;it time.
We received the news of John Mar
shall's "bier find' in Sutter's Califor
nia mill race by sailing vessel from an
Krancisco, and discovery was made
January-1, 1S48.
News filtered through .slowly then
tinrl we heard about it the following
spring. As to their extent and rich
jiess we knew nothing.
The ship's steward, however, exhib
Jted a bag of gold dust, which seemed
to settle doubts as to the genuineness
of the mines. Other vessels f ol lowed
from time to time, bringing further
news, and each returning southbound
vessel carried many passengers baund
lor the mines.
By midsummer nearly everyone who
had not already gone was pettina; ready
to go, and the stampede was on
Povs went who should have stayed
with their parents: old men went who
would have been better off had they
remained with their children.
AH the single men. nearly all the
married men. some taking their fam
ilies, and others went without them.
They went on horseback, on foot, with
cix teams, with horse tams or pack
trains; some took a saddle horse with
another to pack their "grub" and
blankets: again, two men would take
one horse and "ride and tie"; others
it gain carried their blankets on their
backs: this they called "hoofing it."
In the jingle of a rhymester from
old Yamhill." who had been left be
hind, who sang:
The boatman, too, forsook tus crew,
I,ot fall hi oht and paddle.
And stole hin neiphbor's Iron tray.
And rode without a saddle.
The rest of this "pome." which was
H long one, can be found in the files of
the Oregon Spectator, ilf you cannot
find it let George do it.) You will find
the date to be somewhere in midsum
mer, 1S48.
It was this band of pilgrims who
first sounded the depths of the mud
of "The Long Tom" and tested the ad
hesive qualities of the Vmpqua
'gumbo." Most of them reached the
Tnines. A few of them "made their
f
piles.' Many returned poorer than
they went, ana some were ouriea on
"The Trail. But there was another
phae of this "gold ruh," the one
Which went by water.
Each ship, bark, brig or schooner
(that "left down" had its full list of
(passengers. About September. 1848.
)t'aptain Kilburn, with his old "Big
I'jlcnry. finished loading in Portland
I with chickens, lumber, also potatoes
and onions, belonging to James B.
Stephens, our ferryman, and some boxes
of miners picks that James Terwilli-
ger. our only omcKsmitn. had spent
weeks of time and barrels of "sweat"
in hammering out bars of iron into
nicks. As the hold was already full.
all of the stuff mentioned had to go as
deckload." Tn. balance of the room
-was taken up by passengers.
Captain Kilburn remained m charge
of his store at Oregon City and placed
hix vessel in charge of his first mate.
Mr. Bray.
This man. Mr. Bray, proved to be
some" sailor, however, for when the
rjVHpp was-nearly ended a squall laid
iXhe Henry on her beumenda and all
her deckload went overboard except
Terwilliger's picks they were too
heavy to float off and had to be "jetti
soned" and with the onions, shingles
and other garden truck went to furnish
food for the fishes.
Captain Bray cut away the mast, got
the ship on an even keel and finally
anchored in San Francisco Bay without
loss of life.
Neither our 'blacksmith" nor 'ferry
man" had ever "cut much ice" at camp
meeting, but some of their fellow-pa-sengers
used to tell afterwards that
as "deep-water exhortera," about the
time of this near wreck, the competition
between the two was close.
All the same, both made money while
in California, and more after their re
turn home.
This, however, was not destined to be
the last voyage of The Henry, for in
June, 1850, I saw her lying at anchor
in the swift waters -of the Clackamas
rapids, with head upstream aa if to
make another trip to her home port,
Oregon City, and call on her old skip
per. Captain Kilburn. ED. C. ROSS.
IRISHMAN'
ATTACKS
DISLOYAL
Ienis Grace Points to 8 Inn Felnera aa
Constant Menace
PORTLAND, May 6. (To the Editor.)
I have been requested by the local
United Irish League to send in the fol
lowing: Tou give prominence to in
terviews on Irish affairs ery mislead
ing. For example, you quote Thomas
Sexton, a high authority on taxation, as
agayist the policy of John Redmond.
Thomas Sexton is ex-High Sheriff and
Lord Mayor of Dublin and chairman of
the Freeman's Journal Publishing Com
pany. He has come out of retirement
at this time to assist the Irish party
a settlement of the taxation issue
brought on by war. and -not to oppose
Mr. Redmond, for everybody know that
the Dublin Freeman s Journal is the
most powerful supporter that the Irish
party has in Ireland today.
The following is from tne reuaDie
Belfast Irish Weekly April 8:
Mr. McKenna had to daal with a deficit of
1.-20.000.000 when Introducing his budget
on Tuesday. Half-yearly budget are now
the rule. We had one last September; and
then the Chancellor estimated th expendi
ture for the financial year ending March 31,
lOlti, as l,S00,OO,0OO. The actual expend!
ture has been 31,000,000 lei
trlfl of
1.489, 000,000.
Of this sum 313,000.000 has
Kono to Great Britain's allies in -the war,
and 52,000,000 to the dominion. Great
Britain and Ireland have therefore advanced
f S5,0O0.O00 to European countries and the
dominions within the year ..(. ouo lor
every day. excluding the 'J&th of February.
On March 31 the total indebtedness or tne
three klnzdoms was 2.144.000.000; but tne
other allied countries and the dominions
wilt, of course, be responsible for the repay
ment of a portion of this overwhelming total.
we have heard a rreat oeal about the ques
tion of overtaxation in Ireland' recently from
ot.-oDle who. for the most part, do not trou
ble themselves to examine the history of
the financial relations between the two coun
tries and who are wholly incapable or sug
gesting any feasible plan for the final and
permanent settlement of the problem.
March 27 last John Redmond ad
dressed the people of Carlow thus:
The function of the Irish party is to ee
that the really necessary war taxation Is
not of such a kind as to differentiate un
fairly against Ireland. This we have suc
ceeded in doing, and this we are continu
ing to do. That is the position of the Irish
party, and so long as i am cn airman or ine
party that position will not be departed
from.
For nhe last year the Irish party have
spared no exertion to protect Ireland against
unjust burdens. As a matter or fact, many
millions have baen saved to Ireland through
these exertions.
We will continue to fight for Ireland's
interest, and the pretense that an agitation
started and controlled by pro-Germans and
Sinn Kelners ts needed to whip" the Irish
party into doing their duty Is a. piece of
colossal Impudence-
I may add that the question-of the future
permanent financial settlement between
Great Britain and Ireland, which must ariso
Immertlfttciy the war is enned and tne nome
rule act has come Into operation, la one of
supreme importance. To raise it now. dur
ing the war. is the worst possible service
that can be rendered to Ireland. To raise it
in connection with a pro-German anti-re-cruittng
campaign is nothing short of a
crime acainst the Trish cause.
The only conceivable s;Turity for a satis
factory settlement of this great question
rests on Ireland doing her duty cheerfully
and honorably during the war, and on the
maintenance or a thoroughly united ia
tioral party In Ireland to deal with this and
other great questions when the war has
teen brought to a victorious issue.
There is no more beloved man In Ire
land or America than the veteran Irish
leader, John Dillon, and here is what
he says to the people of Callan on
March 26 last:
The members of the Irish party have
from the date of the outbreak of the war
taken every possible step to safeguard the
Interests of Ireland, and their action in this
regard has been rewarded with an almost
complete measure of success, in spite of the
malignant and treacherous campaigns car
ried on by certain cliques in Ireland, by
which the Irish party has been constantly
hampered and oostructed.
The" present bogus agitation against over
taxation had Its origin In a meeting In the
uun'in .Mansion Mouse whicn was organ
ized and controlled by Sinn Feiners, pro-Ger-mands
and miyellaneous cranks, who have
for years been working to break up the Irish
party. There la only one objef t for which the
men on that platform could have been
brought together, i. e., to declare war on
John Redmond and the Irish party. The
question of over-taxation was simply adopt
ed as a. cloak for the real purposes of the
movement; and in my judgment, no honest
iris n Nationalist ought to cue any counte
nance to the agitation, A movement of this
character at the present juncture Is. I an
convinced, calculated to have a very bad ef-
Tf-t on tne post I ion of t he- national cause.
and to defeat the ostensible objects which
Its promoters professed to have in view.
From the npee-hes of the promoters of the
Mansion House meeting, and the writings
of those who are in control of their agita
tion. the principle they advocate is that Ire
land should make no contribution towards
the expenses of the present war. I wholly
oirier irom mat view, and believe that any
attempt to enforce such a principle, besides
peing dishonorable, would lead to financial
disaster, and the ruin of the national
cause.
If these American Sinn Feiners ex
pect to grain anything in the way of
sympathy from intelligent Americana
they must first learn to state the facts.
Nothing is to be gained by misrepre
sentation or weeping and snarling- over
a miserable past that cannot be re
called, and it were better to be for
gotten, particularly now when the true
sons of Ireland are fighting and dying
by the thousand that Ireland may live
an Irish nation and not a German
province. DENIS GRACE.
COLOXEt C. K. S. WOOD GETS REPLY
Minnie I. Hyde Suspect There's Reason
for His "Fallacies" In Dry Law.
PORTLAND. May 6. (To the Edi
tor.) In The Oregonian May 1 Colonel
C. E. S. 'Wood, speaking of the "dry
law and its fallacies." says: "If the
demon rum. disguised as a- mug
beer, is a menace to society, no con
sideration of dirty dollars or farmers
should weigh in the balance." This
has always been, the contention of the
prohibitionists in their fight agains
John Barleycorn. Colonel Wood assail
the Oregon law because it includes bee
and light wines in its prohibitive meas
ure. making the contention that whil-
beer might be attacked as "bilious'
or on any "digestive ground" to ciassi
fy it as a dangerous intoxicant was
simply fanaticism.
Statistics regarding the delusion of
the harmlessness (?) of beer can b
had in plenty, furnished by the mos
reputable physicians of this and othe
countries. including Germany. Th
Toledo Blade instituted an investiga
tion a few years ago and publishe
the results. None of the physician
appealed to were selected because
their known temperance principles.
What they say is not colored by an
feeling for or against temperance, bu
is the cold, bare experience of men
science who know whereof they "Speak.
Dr. a. H. Burgen. for 28 years a prac
titioner in that city, gave the followin
facts In connection with that inve-1
titration :
M think beer kills quicker than any
other liquor. My attention was first
called to Its insidious effects when I
began examining- for life insurance. I
passed as unusually ciood risks five
Germans yquny business men who
seemed in the best of health and to
have superb constitutions. In a few
years I was amazed to see the whole
five drop off, one after another, with
what ought to have been mild and
easily curable diseases. On comparing
my experience with that of other
physicians I found they were all having-
similar luck with confirmed beer
drinkers, and my practice since has
heaped confirmation on confirmation.
The beer-drinker is much worse off
than the whisky-drinker, who seems to
have more elasticity and reserve'power.
When a beer-drinker gets into trouble
it seems almost as if you have to recre
ate the man before you can do anything-
for him."
Insurance companies claim that a
man, otherwise healthy, who is ad
dicted to the use of beer will thereby
shorten his life 40 per cent. Beer drink
ers are considered the worst class of
subject surgeons can operate on. Vol
umes can be produced in attestation of
these facts, which are not the words of
any fanatical "prohibitionist, but the
cold, proven records of science.
There is a strong1 suspicion in the
minds of many people that the "falla
cies" which Colonel Wood points out in
the Oregon law were incorporated
therein, not by the Oregon voter, but
by the Legislature which the voter In
trusted with the passage of the meas
ure, for the very purpose of making
such contentions as Colonel Wood's pos
sible, thus providing an avenue through
which to operate with the object in
view of swinging the utate once more
Into the wet column. The people made
the mistake of failing to "vote dry
twice.' If they had elected prohibition
legislators to enact the dry measure,
"fallacies" would not have been there
to give them their present vantage
point. MINNIES I. HYDE,
Office Secretary, Prohibition Party.
WHE.XCE COMES INSTINCT f
C. & Cllne Is PuKiled Over Wonderful
Senile and Skill of Animals.
PORTLAND, May 6. (To the Kdi
tor.) It is well known that there
exists in animals and birds a certain
faculty distinct from all other forms
of intelligence which we term instinct.
It makes these creatures do acts which
each Individual does without having
seen them done, and these are repeated
from generation to generation invari
ably the same. It is a secret which
each animal or bird brings with it into
the world-
Young ducks hatched under a hen
go straight to the nearest puddle of
water and plunge in, regardless of
their foster mother's cries of alarm.
The young squirrel lays up its Win
ter's stock of nuts, before it knows
what Winter is. A young bird builds
its nest like its parents built, of the
tame sort, in a tree, or on the ground.
The untnstructed young bee builds its
comb with the same mathematical ac
curacy as if it had been taught by
the professor of geometry in the State
University at Eugene. The new-born
calf or colt within an hour staggers
and fumbles unerringly to its mother's
teats; while the human babe must be
held to the mother's breast .and the
organ from which it received nourish
ment placed in its mouth.
In early Spring the bird way down
South knows exactly when to start on
the northward journey, when fooa is
plentiful and fresh, reptiles and other
enemies less numerous, and where with
greater safety she may- build a nest
and rear her young. Then, with the
same unerring certainty, while . the
weather yet is fine, she knows when
t is time to be off for the South again,
before the Winter's storm overspreads
the -North. If the parent birds should
die while in the North the young brood
who do not know what Winter is. get
up and go the same as the old ones
wotild have done.
Now, how did these animals and birds
come by this knowledge, which evi
dervtly they bring with them into this
workl? Did the Creator give it to
them direct, or have they obtained
by the accumulated experience of many
generations, till at length it has be
come fixed in brain structure and pet
rifled into what we see and call in
stinct? Has habit crystallized into in
stinct, now inherited ready formed
The doings of the calf. lamb, bees,
ants, "wasps, spiders, migrations and
nesting of birds, with the dam-build-
ing of beavers, beyond doubt, must be
accredited to Instinct, pure and simple.
Whence is it? Whence the wisdom
of the dumb creatures to perform these
complex and difficult tasks? Is
something that has been "evolved"?
Or is it something directly bestowed
by the Creator to the first and every
individual of every species?
C. E. CXJN'E.
IRISH
CALLED
MALCONTENTS
Writer Says MacAuley Conclusions
Were Exaggerated.
PORTLAND, May 6. (To the Editor.
There was published in The Orego
man an interview headed "Irish Revolt
Laid to Cruel Taxation." in which J.
P. MacAuley. who intimates that he i
conversant with the cause of -the recent
revolt of the Irish malcontents, gives
us some exaggerated conclusions as
reasons for the uprising, stating tha
it is because of the unjust taxation o
Ireland by England. He falls to poin
out any particular instance, nor does
he give us the reason or the necessity
for the taxation, except, the referenc
that England Is involved in a war
which is costing her $25,000,000 a day
and with which Ireland has had no h
ing to do. That hardly sounds like
true Irishman when there is a fight "i
progress. Be that as it may. this in
formant proceeds to inform us tha
England has been imposing unjust taje
on Ireland since 1800.
I would like your informant to tel
us how much money England carrie
away from Ireland through taxes an
revenue, and the amount she pays t
and for the government of the Iri
people. In other words, how much
she receives from Ireland through taxes
and revenue over and above the cos
and expense of running the Irish gov
ernment?
Now your informant endeavors t
convey the impression that the Iris
are not represented and have no say i
the question of taxation, which I thin
is not a fact. As I understand the mat
ter, Ireland is represented in the Kng
lish House of Parliament by 103 mem
bers. elected by the Irish people. Sue
representatives represent a populatio
of less than 4,500.000, while England i
represented in Parliament by some 49
representatives, representing & popu
lation of about 36.000.000.
From the foregoing it does not ap
pear that Ireland is not fairly repre
sented in proportion to her population,
when we consider that they have th
same right of representation when i
comes to vote for the- expenses a
taxation of England and Scotland, an
I believe, will have to look for anothe
motive for the uprising of recent mal
contents.
I believe it may be conceded that all
fair-minded people agree that England
in past ages did not treat Ireland fair
ly, or as she ought to have done, bu
we should consider the time it was
done, and the conditions, social, religi
ous. political and economical of the
world in general, in order to get a just
and fair conception of the reasons for
any governmental acts, not only of
England, but of the other nations of
the earth as ell. England has for
the last SO years or so been trying to
repair her mistakes of past ages to
ward Ireland, and many of the Irish
leaders and statesmen recognize that
fact, and through their joint effort Ire
land has at last practically received
what she most desired, "home rule,"
But the malcontents are going about
with a grouch of the past ages on their
shoulders, seeking vfe&nce on the
man or party that dire to advise them
against violence.
If Mr. MacAuley and his kind would
open thIr minds to present-day condi
tions and throw away the myths, super-
titions, and hatred of the past and
start anew, he and they. Ireland and
the Irish would be much better for It.
EDWARD T. TAGGERT.
COUXTV OFFICIALS ARB PRAISED
Writer Sara Sheriff and Coontr Clerk
Are Highly Efficient.
PORTLAND. May 6. (To the Ed
itor.) With two or more political par
ties in the field with their respective
candidates seeking nomination for pub
lic office at the coming primaries, it is
ossible that some of the candidates.
lacking in inherent strength and manly
courtesy, may resort to unfair means or
misleading statements in order to in
fluence the voters of their district
against their opponents. Such methods
are not at all uncommon in certain sec-
ions of the United States, and. we be-
ieve, have even been heard of in Mult
nomah County, Oregon.
The danger of unscrupulous tactics
applied in such cases lies In the fact
lliat the greater proportion of the vol-
r are wholly unfamiliar with the pub
lic offices, visiting them only on rare
occasions, and knowing nothing tml all
f their inner workings or daily routine
which has long been established by law
or precedent, and therefore necessary
for the public welfare. It is conse
quently a comparatively easy matter
or an over-aiubitious candidate to
ecatter hints of incompetency or ex
travagance, relying upon the Ignorance
of his audience for the desired effect.
In public office, as well as in the or
dinary business world, the word effi
ciency stands out in bold type. Having
once secured a servant who is entirely
'efficient," It would be folly to dis-
harge him except upon his own re
quest, or because he is cio longer eligi
ble under the statute.
The writer is not now and never has
at any time been a politician. His vo
cation or pursuit in life has for many
years been a searcher of records for ab
stract of title companies, and this has
led him into many states and. different
counties of the same state, where he
could observe from day to day, and
from month to month, the methods or
Systems employed by the various
county and state officials, together
with their resultant accuracy, or in
accuracy, as the case might be.
lie has been employed for a consid
erable time in Portland. Multnomah
County. Oregon, and has therefore been
required to personally -examine many
of the public records of the county
Irom day to day. the principal ones be
ing those of the Sheriff's office, con
ducted by T. M. Hurlburt, and those of
the County Clerk's office, conducted by
John B. Coffey.
As a result of this familiarity with
the several offices, he has to say that
in all his long experience as a searcher
of public records he never has at any
time discovered records more accurate
ly or better kept or more eflcient
service rendered than may be found in
the two offices above named.
Knowing the erroneous ideas that
many entertain with reference to such
offices, this is written by one who at
least believes himself comnetent to
judge, and with the sincere hope that
those who read will not unjustly criti
else any public official, whoever he
may be. and that they will deliberate
carefully when they go to vote.
J. 8. KNAUSS.
MR- LA.WGITH TAKEN TO TASK
C. W. Barxee Says Municipal Judge
Discriminates As.alnt Sex.
PORTLAND, May . (To the Edi
tor.) By what stretch of legal Imagi
nation can any one presume to Judge
according to law and differentiate be
tween citizens of this state in a. sup
posed commonwealth republic? Does
Judge Langguth pose as a legal judge
of citizens' rights or does he pose as
an executor of laws of his own imagi
nation, with regard to citizens' rights.
over whom his orflclal trust gives him
legal authority, when he says to a fe
male citizen you cannot smoke on the
public street and to her male compan
ion it is your born privilege?
This exercise of a medaeva). yes I may
say savage, custom of sex discrimina
tion burned the wife on the funeral
pyre of her dead husband. It permit
ted Judah to order his daughter-in-law
to be burned for bearing children be
gotten t.y himself. It caused the Chi
nese mother, because sex passion In
many males might be satisfied byone
female, to drown her infant girl baby,
not needed for race propagation. It
permitted Paul to order woman to
keep silence in church.
It privileged husbands to whip their
wives: provided no more than a cer
tain number of strokes be adminis
tered at one whipping, in New England
states. It forbid women to hold prop
erty In their own name. it denied
suffrage to the women of Oregon un
til recently and still denies them
this rlsht in many states, and it now
remains for a judge of this munici
pality of legalized sex equality, with
out the shadow of a law to support
his decision, to fine a woman for doing
the same thing her male rompanl-m
and perhaps the judge, himself, docs
on the street.
Justice, without usurped authority,
would leave such matters to society
and order legal Judgment according
to law. It Is not the private charac
ter of any Individual, but the prin
ciple of sex discrimination that is up
ror consideration. Respect for law de
mands that Individual barbaric Ideas
he retired In rendering legal judg
ment, -inis is my judgement (opinion;
and I don't care who knowa it" of any
such unlcgal s?x discrimination.
C. W. BARZE13.
is
PLANT
LIFE
SEXTJESTTf
E. Placket Offers Some Observations
on Subject.
WASHOUGAU Wash.. May 6. (To
the Editor.) On a former occasion I
touched upon the subject of animal
intelligence, undertaking to show by
incidents coming under my own ob
servation that such animals as the dog
or horse -must certainly think in a
dull, disjointed sort of way. As we
go down the scale, receding from crea
ture perfection, we at last come to that
stage where consciousness Is of such
a dull order the creature has scarcely
sense enough to crawl and seek sus
tenance; as examples we mtght men
tion the angleworm or the clam.
Here it might be supposed we had
reached the limits of perception, but
when we note the behavior of various
forms of plant life we are constrained
to believe there is a low order of per
ception even here. Further than this
we believe this dull perception in. plant
life warmed and wakened into actual
consciousness as It merged In the
animal creation. We must think that
nature in her laboratory has refined.
evolved and perfected her grains of
wisdom till they at least reached a
state of perfect consciousness, opening
up the way to that high Intelligence
peculiar to man. However, there is
probably not one in thousands who
will not scoff at this thought, but then
not one in thousands has cared to give
thousht on the subject- Man usually
ridicules what he has never in
vestigated.
But how can a plant have any per
ception, you ask? The plant has no
brain; no spinal corn to convey sensa
tions .back and forth. No, it has not
these, but it has at least -many plants
nT something wonderfully sugges
tive of nerves; the dandelion is an
example. But these nerves, you say
(let us call them nerves) cannot record
any hurt or sensation of pleasure.
Right here is a good chance for dif
ference of opinion; they cannot record
sensation quickly and with the same
perfection aa nerves of living crea
tures, certainly not. But who is to
say there is not sensation analogous
to that of an insect awakening from
the torpor of its long hibernation?
.Now, here is an instance or two
going to confirm my impressions:
The fir is a tall, stately tree, having
no inclination towards twining and
corkscrewing like the grapevine or the
vine maple; one would little-expect to
find it, under any circumstances, fol
lowing the example of these growths,
for to do so would be to change its
nature, and how could It do that it it
has been ordered and commanded to
grow exactly as at its creation?
A fir sapling sprang up close beside
goodly sised tree of the same kind.
After this sapling had reached the
height of several feet it found it could
not support itself because of its sllm
ness. so it leaned toward and against
its sturdy companion, but even this
would not suffice to keep it from fall
ing it must cling. But it had not been
fitted with tendrils or other aids to
clinging, nevertheless it was cling o
perish.
Now. we cannot enter into the
mystery of how the lesser tree was
ware of its proximity to its neighbor
we cannot say it entered into a course
of reasoning; we cannot say it felt
tired in its precarious position, but
the evidence was before us that it did
something toward its relief and future
safety. It would change its nature, it
would twine Itself round the sturdy
tree after the fashion of twining
plants; It did so, once and again it
encircled its companion, then It reached
a lower limb and was secure. But why
not keep right on entwining? It did
nothing so reprehensible, it resumed
Its erect position and ascended among
the branches of its neighbor with- due
dignity.
In the- Springtime, when the pest
iferous fern makes ready to emerge, to
the discomfiture- of the tiller of the
soil, I chanced to observe the follow
ing: One of these pests blundered into
an underground hollow root, which it
continued to telescope until It ran
bump up against an obstructed pass
age. Did the fern stay tnere to
languish and die? No, it turned about.
evidntlv conscious of the situation, and
emerged at the opening where It
entered.
Now these instances cited do not
furnish proof positive that plants feel
or have clear perception, nut tney cer
tainly show there is some way in
which they become cognisant of hurt
or of beneficent Influence. We do not
ask any one to believe this, but we
mav succeed in putting the reader Into
a train of thought which may prove
Interesting if not profitable In money
point of view. E. PLACKETT.
HATS OFF TO THE WORKING GIRL.
John Hayes Thinks She Oasst to Ksjoy
Outlnars osi Sundays.
PORTLAND. May 6. (To the Edi
tor.) Hurrah for the Wood burn girl
that has the grit to answer the accusa
tlons of the Rev. George Darsie! We
consider it highly improper and n
dignified for any minister to cast in
sinuations on the working girls of
Portland from the pulpit.
Our hats off to the many working
girls who are compelled, from neces
sity, to work the six working days of
the week to keep body and. soul to
gether. They report every morning at
an early hour for work. Customer and
employer demand they be neatly
dressed. Room rent, clothes, carfare,
board, etc.. all must be paid from the
week's salary, and little Is left for a
Sunday outing.
Because a number avail themselves
of the chance to view the beauties of
the Columbia Highway they are called
down by a minister of the Gospel, who
should extend all aid witnin nis power
to help the poor working girl see and
enjoy some of the wonderful views
along the Columbia Highway, instead
of otherwise.
Many and many a working girl's only
recreation from the ceaseless, nerve
wracking grind of the weekdays is the
Sunday outing, looked forward to with
much pleasure during working hours.
Were it not for these days of rest,
mentally and physically, there would
be more despondency and suicides than
at present.
All honor and admiration to the
working girls of Portland, who are
self-reliant enough to face the world
and make their own way in life.
JOHN HAVES.
834 Alhambra ave.
NEW ATTITUDE DECLARED NEED
Fundamentals of Social Values 3ot
Fitting, Declares Writer.
BERKELEY", Cel., May 8. (To the
Editor.) Charles Ersktne Scott Wood
has a sharp reproof for Oregon's dry
law in The Oregonian Monday.
Doubtless your enactment is faulty
and fanatical, and the points made
against it by your distinguished corre
spondent seem plausible, but chiefly so
by reason of certain accepted fallacies
wliich he appears not to condemn; in
deed to indorse. How many drunkards
does Mr. Wood know who started up
on whisky or brandy or gin. or who
did not begin on the supposed temper
ance course of beer or wine?
How does Mr. Wood, a social philoso
pher, find that It good for a com
munity to possess cash, rather than
goods: and an evil for it to get rid of
cash and thereby acquire goods?
- He shows, and the argument has been
made repeatedly, that our alcohol
dominated state of California is trading
on the anarchistic disposition of Ore-
gonions to flaunt the expressed will of
the majority for the sake of an ab
normal thirst that produces an Imme
diate stage of insanity, however mild
the dose. But California loses In this
kind of transaction by all the opera
tions and material wealth Involved, arid
further by the net receipts of cash from
Oregon demanding more.
And Mr. Wood is said to be a radical.
and a delver In fundamental values. He
talks like a Jeffersonlan Democrat.
than which type of mentality there Is
none more futile, unless it be a British
Tory, miscalled "conservative.
This young and potentially great iva
tion la In desperate need of a funda
mentally new attitude on social values,
and Mr. Wood in this particular In
stance has failed us. A. GEORGE.
ROAD OPEN BEYOND HOOD RIVER
Highway Reached Eastern Oregon us
Soon as Snows Left
THE DALLES. Or.. May 6. (To the
Editor.) In the issue of the Oregon
Journal May 2 there is an item to the
effect that the Columbia River High
way is open to Hood River, according
to announcement made by Roadmaater
Yeon. and that with the exception of
two or three soft spots between Bonne
ville and Cascade Locks the road is
said to be In very fair condition.
The road from Hood River east has
been in traveling condition ever since
the snow disappeared, and it therefore
follows that the road is now open to
travel to all points in Eastern Oregon
and points beyond.
Doubtless it did not occur to the
writer of that item that the natural in
ference to be drawn from it Is that the
highway is open to Hood River only
but not beyond that point. There are
1 1 counties in Oregon east of iluud
River, all paying their proportion of
the state road levy, and In ail proba
bility there are many residents of those
counties who wish to make the trip
over the highway, and In fairness to
them they should know that the road
Is now open, not only to Hood River,
but to all Eastern Oregon.
The publication of this statement Is
due the residents of Eastern Oregon,
and I hope that you will give it space
in your valuable paper.
. W. It. WILSON.
CHRISTIAN FORTITUDE IS THIS
Sermon by Woman With Sore Trials.
Rial, mm Krone JTnlplt.
SEASIDE. Or.. May . (To the Ed
itor.) The Inclosed type-written let
ter that came to me this morning
touched my heart as few sermons ever
have. I know something of the strug
gles, of the writer, her story would
make a magazine story well worth the
reaaing: sne has not told the naat or iu
I send the letter to The Oregonian
because I consider it well worth pub
lication. We often read sermons in
the pages of The Oregonian by effi
cient, educated ministers, but how often
do we get a glimpse into the heart of
one of Christ's humble followers that
the inclosed letter reveals?
I only ask that you withhold the
name of the writer, which is on the last
page of the letter, aa I am sending it
without her knowledge. The letter will
not mar the pages of your paper, and
it may be a help and inspiration to
some other poor struggling soul.
foincerely, A. M. J ONES.
Seaside. Or., April 30. Dear Friend:
As you know, I dislike talking about
myself, but because you have asked
for them I will give you the outlines
of our experience in this town.
As you know, opportunities to enrich
and broaden my mind with knowledge
have not been mine; I was educated in
that vast and popular school of hard
knocks get what you actually need by
hard, blood-sweating. heart-aching
rubbing. My nature was full of weak
spots, but there were divine spots here
and there and I believed in the power
of God to adjust things as they should
be in this worlu.
From the time we lost a comfortable
home, with a fairly good paying posi
tion in Eastern Oregon, in the Des
chutes canyon, by some lack of judg
ment or understanding on our part. I
prayed to God to show us the way to
keep from a complete downfall, finan
cially. But there were so many thing
I did not understand, divinely speak
ing, ana the downfall came with
crash.
1 blamed God and plead with him by
turns. I fretted and fumed grew mor
ose and bitter, refused to mingle with
people because of my ahabbiness. Then
I would see a rift in the dark clouds
and reach for the star of hope, and for
a season it would seem almost within
my reach. But steadily the bitterness
of poverty drove Its steel in my sou!
and I would be (town in the slumps
again, blaming God, circumstances.
everything.
My experiences created within me a
dogged determination to win out or
die trying. When I a stumpy, Strug
gling little shrub made up my mind
to Join the ranks of the great, strong
literary trees or know-leuge. I began
sending out my manuscripts, with faith
and hope at first. But when they kept
returning with the sturdy regularity of
a lattnrul watchdog, I grit my teeth
thumped on my old. second-hand ma
chine with greater determination and
vim than ever, and continued sending
out my work. That was faith with
works, only It didn't work. It seemei-
us if every editor In the United States
was in league with one another to
keep me an unsuccessful, struggling
shrub In the big garden of failures.
u hen nope and ambition died, but
onging. and the discouragements and
needs of my family kept me at the
type-thumping task. When I stamped
stumps got at the saerince or neces
allies and sealed a manuscript I went
on my knees and asked (tod's help in
its saie. as rauure repeated taiiure
saw my nature changing. My aggres
siveness and bitterness vanished. I
didn't lose faith and hone rather
seemed to gain those qualities and to
realize that I had not really possessed
tnem oerore.
Daily I- importuned God to heln us
rina a way out of the difficulties. En
einies sprang un because we couldn'
meet our debts, falBe reports spread,
but friends, good, noble friends found
us out also and amidst the difficulties
sweetness, purity and depth
thought broadened not only my own
mind, but my husband and daughte
seemed to be under the same influence.
as it my prayers? I don't know.
I only know that we were all brough
under some blessed influenc we wen
abroad in our shabby clothes withou
that old, oppressive feeling of ridicule
following close on our heels. We felt
no resentment toward those who had
only bitter accusations for us. W
learned to curb our own tongues when
in the presence of tho fault-finders.
We found magic eyesight to penetrat
the mask of the hard-fisted one and
were delighted to behold beaulifu
depths behind the mask.
You must admit that it is hard fo
a beauty-loving, musie-souled girl, with
a naturally nervous, nign-strung teni
perament to have to give up all picas
ures because of lack of money to ge
them with. But I watched the gradua
moulding of our daughter's charade
with loving awe. She took her plac
among God s workers, in her shabb
clothes, gave up her beloved music and
ceased her complainings and ruilings
against circumstances with wha'
seemed like a miraculous powrer back
ing her. Is it God's hand? Who shall
question?
Our material difficulties still remain.
We owe the butcher, grocer and land
lady. The latter turned us out in th
cold with malicious reports. A fri
gave us shelter for a month. Th
month will be up the end of this week.
It takes everything, and much more
than my husband can earn at the saw
mill to pay the grocer the mill doe
not run steady. My health is fallin
and I could not do hard labor, even
I could succeed in getting any to do.
I do help a little by washing for a fam
lly and sweeping and dusting for
woman on Fridays, but It is very little.
My husband will undertake the fishin
n an open rowboat when it is safe t
venture on the ocean again this Sum
mer. which proves his American blood.
I will have periods of worry over him
but he will be in God's hands, und hi
strife with the ocean and my worr
about him will not be greater to bea
than was our life of debt and want thi
Winter.
But despite the fact that w-e ma
be homeless the last of this week, an
the weight of debts hanging ovet
that divine something that has re
moulded our characters and opened
our eyes of grace compelled us to fol
Tbw out the courage of our conviction
last night faith and -works combine
by taking fellowship with the church
Our clothes, which have grown delicate
to the touch with age, were fearfull
and wonderfully shabby and it was a
ordeal to walk forward to tbe pulp
before that vst audience of wel
dressed Easter crowd. Just for a mo
ment a few of the old. rebelliou
thoughts assailed me and I felt
soul shrink aa I pictured some critics
eye resting on the back of my faded
coat. Then -a hand seemed to clulc
my heart strings, a strong, loving han
and I threw bark my head, gave m
band to the minister and listened to h
kind words of welcome with a stron
determination in my heart a dete
mination to be guided always by tha
invisible, but strong and true han
that spoke peace to my soul and drove
the world-thoughts from my mind. So
our colors are flying straight and tru
in spite of circumstances, and, by th
grace of God. we will conquer circum
stances.. But no more about our personal af
fairs. The weather continues -weepy.
but the world is fair despite, the sor
row, struggles and bloodshed around
about us. God's love shines over all.
and soon, let us hope, his power will
conquer tho "powers-tha t-be," and our
fair land will abound In abundance of
love, peace, good-will everything thst
goes to make life worth living, and
money, the god that now breaks men's
hearts and backs and minds tha lack
of it rather will have its rightful
place, the place God Intended It to have
in tbe first place.
COLONEL WOOD -IS Ot'T OK ORDER
Subscriber Thinks His Attack on Dry
Statute: Is Vusrrurlowa.
VANCOUVER. Wash.. May . (To
the Editor.) I have read Mr. Wood's '
letter anent your dry law. I feel that
in this letter, the writer evinces
sense of ingratitude. He complains of
some slight financial losses and incon-
I veniencea to which it puts his pekple
wrtjon. in mis 1 aeem him out or
rder. Were your contributor s. mart
of deep religious thought, as is tho
riter, it is beyond doubt tht ho
would fsll on his knees and offer up
nanus to Almighty God thst the drys
1,1 hwi no more tnan tney did.
Why? They allow vour farmers n
raise barley, rye. wheat, hops and
grapes, which are shipped into other
tates and to other countries and mi-
inciurea into liquor.
tney allow your sawmill men to
run their mills manufacturing lumber
taves and heading, which are shinned
nto other states and used In m.Ltm.
beer barrels and packing cases for
whisky. They allow your paper mills
to run and shin paper to other states,
which is used In beer and whlskv
wrappers See all the blessings whlcii
ney allow you. They might have
een. Is what your correspondent
hould er nslder.
Ah. no! We should not complain mi
murmer over what prohibitionists did
o to our states, rather let us loin in
returning thanks to God thst thev did
ol do core. hl'BSCWnF.n.
ULIET POSER ASKS QUITS
Wife of Chicago Physician Decides
to Leave Real Romeo of Her 1,1 fe.
CHICAGO. Msy 2. Was it cenfi.
on-e. fate, or the shade of William
Shakespeare that caused Mrs. Cecelia,
Walls, who nosed as Juliet before tho
Chicago Woman's Club, to file suit for
divorce against Dr. Frank X. Wells.
one of Chicago s Physicians, on the verv
day when tha "greatest American
Shakespeare sensation" was sprung bv
Circuit Court Judge Richard SS. Tuthlll?
Judge Tuthlll, who said Bacon wrote
Shakespeare, will not get a chance to.
decide the Walla case, because it will
be heard In the Circuit Court.
The conciseness, simplicity and ap
parent insignificance of the bill signed
by Mrs. Walls proved almost sticccss-
-ful in one of its purposes to get
through quietly.
Last Friday Mrs. Walls filed a suit
n the Superior Court to sever her mar
riage tie with the real Romeo of her
ife.
Desertion Is the charge made by Mrs.
Walls. She says that she and Dr. Walla
were married June 1, 1896. and that her
husband left her In February, 1914.
It was in Asiril. 1S10. that Mrs. Walls
posed as Juliet on tlie-elage of tbe Chi
cago Woman's Club. At that time there
was no hint in the minds of her friend
that her Romeo and she would "agree
to disagree."
Mrs. Walls is a daughter of Michael
Cunningham. In 198 Frank X. Walla
filed suit to recover a judgment for
(50.2:9 from Mr. Cunningham. Tho files
show that the case wss stricken off
w-ithout an entry as to settlement. Dr.
Walls said that he did not remember
the suit-
Dr. and Mrs. Walls formerly lived at
4613 Ellis avenue. Dr. Walls resides
now at 74S Lincoln Parkway.
"HORSE FULL OF GRACE?"
Northwestern C's Motto Puzzling tt
President Harris.
CHICAGO. May 3. If Northwestern
University ever changes its motto. Pres
ident A. W. Harris is going to suggest
that "We settle no bets" would be a
good one.
The present motto Is inscribed in
Greek over "the entrance to the uni
versity's building at Lake and Dear
born streets. It is supposed to mean
something about "the word full of
grace and truth.
A Greek, newly arrived rrom tne oil
country. pasWed It the other day and
chuckled. He went over to the Greek
colony on the West Side and told what
he had seen. They dldn t believe him.
and a tr0 bet was made. There was a
further Inspection, and the newcomer
won the fifty.
Then the loser, supported bv an In
dignant delegation, went to Evanston
and demanded audience of President
Harris.
"Your motto says "The horse full of
grace and truth.'" they told John Burg,
secretary to the president.
"It looks like a horse on us. said
President Harris.
FREAK FIRE JUMPS FLATS
Flames Leap From Frame, House) to
Another; Set Auto Ablaze.
CHICAGO. May 3. A freak fira
which leaped across a brick apartment
building from one frame house to an
other furnished excitement for sev
eral families and passing autoists in
Rogers Park the other day.
The first fire broke out in a vacant
house at 5i06 Kenmore avenbe. which
was destroyed, largely due to the in
ability of firemen to get their engine
working after It reached the scene.
A number of autoists stopped to wit
ness the blaxe, and the machine of Al
bert Schlllo. of the Kchillo Motor Sales
Company, suddenly was deluged with
sparks. Schlllo. bis wife and Ray
Amber leaped from the car and
stamped out the flames.
brands flying across the roof of the
intervening apartment building set fire
to the roof of the residence of M- D.
Johnson, a real estate dealer, at 5514
Kenmore avenue.
Five hours later when the members
of the Johnson family had retired they
were aroused by a night watchman to
discover tbeir borne ablaze a second
time.
MAYOR'S GALLERY FIXED
Chicago Cabinet Members Landed by
City Hall Executive,
CHICAGO. May 3. Mayor Thompson
is proud of his cabinet, both because of
the achievements which he attributes
to the members and because of their
personal pulchritude.
At the Mayor's order a photographer
is enlarging pictures of the cabinet of
ficers and is placing them In a set of
frames In the Mayor's inner office and
opposite the Mayor's desk.
"They are a fine looking set of men.
and I want them where 1 cut ace them
daily." the Mayor said.
A