11
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR DISCUSS EVENTS OF THE DAY'S NEWS
TIIE SUNDAY OREGONIA. rORTXAND, XOYEMRER 5, 191G.
PRESTIGE FOK FLAG DEMANDED
Wilson Policies Lack Backbone for In
fluence, Ts Declaration.
KOSEBURG, Or.. Nov. 4. (To the
Editor.) I atn lately in receipt of a
card calling- my attention to the fact
that a c srtatn gentleman is running on
the Democratic ticket for member of
Congress for this district, and-also
stating- s an inducement to support
htm that tfte candidate stands for the
"Wilson policies. Now, even If I were
a. Democrat, which I am not, I am un
able to conceive of any contingency
that would cause me to contribute to
the support of the AVilson policies in
any manner whatever.
It seems to me that his Mexican pol
icy alone, to say nothing of some of
Ms performances with other countries,
hould convince any thoughtful Amer
ican citizen that it would be prefer
able to have a man at the head of af
fairs with backbone enough to uphold
the honor of the flag-, and , to protect
the. lives and guard the interests of
our citizens, no matter where thej' may
he. Has Mr. Wilson done this? On the
contrary, by his pernicious meddling
and vacillation he has exasperated the
Mexican people, and forfeited their re
spect to such an extent that an Amer
ican In Mexico, having- a proper re
gard for his scalp, had better lose no
time in getting out of there.
I have always regarded any man with
contempt who would not. for fear of
getting a black eye. take his own part.
Besides, the surest way to invite a
fcrap is to show the white feather;
and the only reason that we have
avoided a scrap in this case is because
Mexico knows that she is too weak to
oppose us, and not because President
Wilson has "kept us out of war." The
Mlogan, "He has kept us out of war"
seems to be about the only reliance of
our Democratic friends to catch votes,
but, being a subterfuge so-full of holes
that even an intelligent Democrat can
ee through it in a dozen places, it can
deceive nobody hut perhaps a few of
the kind who "didn't raise my boy to
he a soldier." and, thank Heaven, that
kind are scarce.
There are a few other reasons why
I shall not support the Wilson policies,
one of the chiefest of which is that W.
C. Hawley is plenty good enough for
Trie, and, again, for good and suffi
cient reasons, which will appear fur
ther on, I have never yet helped to send
a Democrat to the United States Con
gress. My reasons for this are: The
Democratic party, with its "tariff for
revenue only." has been the party of
hard times from its inception to the
present, and so long as it adheres to
that principle, without which it would
not be the Democratic party, the very
name of it will be a synonym for hard
times. This alone is incentive enough
for any man having a proper regard for
his own interest to assist to discontinue
the Wilson policies. Therefore, and
because he is diligent and faithful to
the Interests of the state, I shall vote
for Hon. W. C. Hawley to succeed him
self. Also, as a further step toward the
discontinuance of the Wilson policies.
not alone because he is at the head of
the Republican ticket, but because his
record is such as to warrant the trust
that he will uphold -the honor of the
Stars and Stripes, no matter what the
cost, and that he will otherwise con
duct the affairs of the Nation with
honor to himself and his country,
count me for Charles Evans Hughes.
FRANK M. SEBR1NG..
WILSON POLICIES AltE ASSAILED
Pccksnlflrian Declared More Applicable
to President Than Daker.
KLAMATH FALLS. Or.. Nov. 2. (To
the Editor.) In your issue of October
28." in an editorial, you characterize
Secretary of War Baker's words to
wards the soldiers of the Revolutionary
War as Pecksniff ian. We do not take
issue with that view, but we think this
view applies with greater force to
wards his chief, Mr. Wilson. During
his whole term thus far he has con
tinuously spoken words of piety and
high sentiments, while scheming to
serve his own political ends.
A question arose between President
Wilson and Huerta as to how our nag
should be saluted for an unintentional
arrest and ' imprisonment, for a few
hours, of some American bp"' rs. for
which act the Mexican arresUn-; officer
and Huerta both had offered due apol
otry and regret, a controversy of no
National importance. Tet President
Wilson asked Congress for authority to
use the armed forces of the United
States to compel a salute to our flag in
the manner he dictated, although only
1o keep from recognizing Huerta ai
the de facto ruler of Mexico. And ae
tually before Congress granted such
authority he took possession of Vera
Cruz, in which war of aggression 128
Mexicans, men, women and children
were killed, 195 wounded, 19 Americans
wero killed and 70 wounded. No apol
ogy or salute further was ever given,
and the whole matter dropped and
sought to be forgotten. He spoke
with great feeling - at the funeral of
these 19 Americans, who thus died, say
ing: "A war of aggression is not a war
in which it is a proud thing to die, but
a war of service is a thing in which it
is a proud thing to die." Therein, too
he admits it was war, yet he and his
apologists say: "He has kept us out
or war." While admitting it was war,
he claims it was not a war of aggres
sion, although it had every element of
aggression and was wholly inexcus
ble and was undertaken only to sustain
his stubborn obstmaey
In our controversy with Germany
that country was given to understand , ?ver' " ,a a necessary part oi me re
the United States would hold her tr - I form of a plan or a system to point
"strict accountability" for loss of
American lives and property in her sub
marine attacks, yet Mr. Bryan had
conversation with Mr. Diimba, the Aus-tro-Hungarian
Ambassador, in which,
with the President's approval, Germany
was given to understand that the
American note of "strict accountabil
ity" was not to be taken seriously, as
it was only intended for home effect.
AV'hen President Wilson found that
this country demanded that steps for
preparedness be taken, after he had
opposed it for two years, he made a
trip to Chicago, St. Louis and other
cities, on a speaking tour, to arouse
public sentiment, and thus force a re
luctant Democratic Congress to take
such steps. He sounded a wild note
of alarm, saying: "No one could . tell
what a day would bring forth; he had
heen told he was expected to preserve
the honor as well as the peace of the
country," and asked. "Have you re
flected that a time may come when I
cannot do both, and should it be neces
sary to exert the force of the United
States, in order to do it, have you
made a force ready?" His idea as thus
revealed was to make the country be
lieve imminent steps of aggression by
some foregn power was likely against
us, and thus he was trying to appro
priate to himself the whole responsi
bility and honor of arousing the coun
try, which was already aroused, to take
necessary steps for preparedness, when
in fact he had been a follower, and has
only been converted to a policy of pre
paredness for political effect. Wild
alarm and hurry has never been neces
sary. Just sane and businesslike prep
aration. He lays great stress on the enact
ment of the so-called child labor bill,
But he only urged the passage of that
makeshift law after he was informed
by Senator Kerns and other Democratic
leaders from Indiana that he would
lose the state if such legislation was
not passed. But all his writings and
w speeches of the past on that subject
have been opposed to such legislation.
Vet he and the country knows that
that act does not place any restrictions
on the employment of children in man
ufacturing establishments, but only
compels such manufacturers to hold
goods "produced by child labor for 30
days before being consigned to inter
state commerce.
In his statement before Congress in
reference to labor legislation the
Adamson law he said: "Personally I
would yield to no man in firm adher
ence alike of purpose and of conviction
to the principle of arbitration in Indus
trial disputes." yet in the same state
ment he demanded that a frightened
Democratic Congress abandon such ar
bitration for these disputes, which it
did.
Speaking at Indianapolis, he said:
"The Republican party has not had a
new idea in 30 years; that he spoke
historically and not as a partisan." It
is evident that he said "historically"
and not as a partisan in order to give
his words greater weight. Yet last Jan
uary he told the Democratic National
Committee that "I have appropriated
every idea of the Republican party,
save the tariff." He has since sarcasti
cally boasted that "I put one over on
the Republicans."
We could go or at great lene-th and
cite many other examples inp oint, but
this is enough.
JUST A FARMER.
HIRAM F. MURDOCH.
Rl'RAL CREDITS IS SUPPORTED
Weed of Agricultural Development In
Oregon la Explained.
CORVAJLLIS. Or., Nov. 3. (To the
Editor.) Does Oregon need a rural
credits system? This is a question
which is engaging the attention of
many of your readers at this time, and
wish to occupy sufficient of your
valuable space to make clear some of
the reasons why I am supporting the
rural credits amendment, No. 318 on
the official ballot.
There are few states in the Union
which have larger areas of undeveloped
icultural resources than has Ore
gon. Approximately 80 per cent of
16,420,422 acres of the tillable farm
land of this state has never been put
to any productive use. Surely such a
condition makes thoughtful men pause
and grope about for a remedy.
A certain group of men whom I be
lieve to be thoroughly conscientious
is convinced that this shameful waste
of natural resources could be stopped
in short order . by the . passage of the
single tax. A great majority of Ore
gon citizens are tremendously opposed
to the single tax; and from my point
of view, no greater disaster could be
fall the state than the enactment of
measure 306. entitled "the full rental
value land tax and home makers' loan
fund amendment."
But the fact that I do not indorse
this single-tax measure, 'does not blind
me to the existence or the evils which
it aims to correct. In fact I feel sure
of this: That if other means are not
found to correct these evils that each
election will find a larger and larger
proportion - of Oregon citizens voting
for single tax, until some day it will
be made part of the Constitution of
Oregon.
Instead of blindly abusing single
taxers, let us initiate a programme
which will cure the evils at which
single tax is aimed. The first step in
such a programme is to provide a sys
tem, of credits which will enable any
honest and capable citizen of the state.
who so. -desires, to become the owner
of a piece of farm land upon conditions
which - will enable him to pay for it
and make a living while building up
his home. Let us do this and create a
state of 'prosperous small land holders
and we have-killed the singl-tax move
ment in its extreme form forever.
To be sure, we have not a complete
remedy for our agricultural waste in
the present rural credits amendment,
but it is a perfectly safe and conserva
tive step in such a programme. When
we have tried it out for a year or two,
we will be able to liberalize the con
ditions of land settlement, Ho as to
make it easier for the worthy to ob-j
tain, a farm home.
It may be that some confusion will
arise between the rural credits amend
ment and'the full rental tax and home
makers' loan fund amendment. It
would be well for those who fear the
latter to emphasize the distinction be
tween these two bills rather than waste
their energy in fighting the rural cred
its amendment. Extreme single taxers.
those who are fighting for a theory re
gardless of results, are thoroughly op
posed to our rural credits bill. They
recognize in its passage the sounding
of the death knell for all that is vital
in their propaganda. They recognize
in it the first step toward the elimi
nation of the conditions which lend an
air of plausibility to the single tax
argument.
Therefore, let us vote No. 318 yes. and
No. 307 no.
HECTOR MACPHERSON.
CRITICISES OUR PENAL SYSTEM
Plan for Reform of Prisoners Instead
of Corruption Is 'Advocated.
SALEM, Or., Nov. 3. (To the Edi
tor.) 1 have noticed a good many let
ters and some editorial comment bear
ing on the subject of our penal system.
Your own comment in a recent issue
to the effect that you were in harmony
with most of the reforms with which
Mr. Osborn of Sing Sing has been deal
ing, indicates that the tendency of the
thought and sentiment of the time Is
cowards humanitarian means to pre
serve the authority of the law. It is
said that any fool can tind fault, and
that there is no virtue in kicking at
things until we can put a better thing
in place of that which we kick. How-
out the faults, and then to show what
can be done to better it.
All fair minds will admit that there
are great difficulties in the way of re
laxing the severity of penalty. A law
has force just in proportion to the
force of its penalties.
Of course there are many who serve
a term and never get in again. But
no one who is informed will deny that
there are a good many people serving
time who have no more tendency or
desire for crime than many who walk
the streets and highways about us ev
ery day. Of course these will not get
in again. They would not have been
involved again if they had never been
detected and punished.
The man who enters the prison of
even this day and comes out as good
a man, in his inner moral nature, as
he went in, will do so in spite of the
system, and not because of any help
that it has rendered him for his re
establishment in good citizenship. ...
Uien it Is well-known that most men
who serve a. term in prison come out
with a profound hatred of the author
ity of the state and a determination to
get" even for something that they feel
has been inflicted upon them. You may
say that such a feeling is natural with
the criminal after he has had to pay
the penalty which he wished to avoid
But I submit that the fact of his hatred
for the state is the only evidence
needed to show sane people that the
system is worse than foolish.
We instruct the prisoner in the meth
od of crime of all the long catalogue
of crimes. He knows them all. and the
way to do them, and the reason why
men got 'caught. We thrust him into
a moral cesspool, with filthy talk, foul
stories, hatred as a daily diversion
and if there is no one else to thrust
his training upon him, he will hear foul
jokes and see foul or more treacherous
conduct from the roughneck type of
prison officer, which is all too numer
ous. After we have . finished him off in
this post-graduate school of crime and
fitted him out with all that is evil that
he did not know or feel, then we calm
ly turn him out. He is free. He was
not fit to be at large, but now that he
is far less fit he is out. No wonder
that society hates and. fears the "ex-
con." It has the best of reasons for
knowing that he is dangerous if so
ciety were not too dense and foolish
to know anything accurately.
Do you ask what can be done about
it? I can tell you, for I have a sys
tem of practical penology all ready lor
publication when the time is ripe. It
is not-the product of any upstart, nor
of any freak or bitter ex-convict. " It
is the product of bitter experience. It
has the genius of a man in it which
gave him recognition for his most com
prehensive work along another line of
the same subject. His professional
training and fitness are patent. He is
a prisoner, and has been many times a
prisoner before. His work was done
in a cell and was passed by the "under
ground." and reached my hands for
publication. It is- not an attempt to
alleviate the severity of the law. This
old offender faces all the Tightness and
need of the law and its penalties, and
fully realizes that if it were put into
practice it would shut him up forever.
The cost of the penal system Is tre
mendous. Well weighed figures, pub
lished in "Out West" for September,
1914. at Los Angeles, tell us that the
total possible cost of crime is not far
from $5,000,000,000 a year. Some of
that will continue as long as any crime
continues, but the cost of the prison
can be borne by the people who make
it necessary. No; not a you run
things now. "No warden can do it. It
must be a sane system. It must be
free from the disposition to retaliate.
It must consider, not how can society
be best able to thrash the offender, but
what will be necessary and cannot be
avoided, that we can make that erring
member of our race a productive and
valuable citizen.
There is the trouble with the system.
Back, away back in the primitive ares
of the race, the animal impulse gov
erned. A man was hit by the club in
the hands of another hairy caveman
or forest savage, and his store of roots
or the carcass of his game was taken
away. The offended savage arose from
the earth and sought a club so bifr
and sought an advantage so sure that
he could strike that other savage and
teach him not to do so any more. In
that case the strongest ruled only so
long as no combination or device made
another savage stronger. So the race
started its penal system, and it has
never reached such a degree of civiliza
tion as to arise and adopt any other
plan. I know we have masked it a bit,
but it is there, and the prisoner knows
that it'Is there. At least he feels so,
and that is evidence enough that it is
a failure. For it makes him worse and
not better. It trains him to be a more
successful violator of the law, artd then
turns him loose to do his best to vio
late it.
The man who gave Warden Osborn
his most advanced ideas, and which
Mr. Osborn said he was not able to
apply because It needed a whole revo
lution rather than a few surface re
forms, has given a plan to the world
that is wholly unique. All the tests of
the spirit of it have proven It to be
good.
That man knows. He has spent half
his life studying the whole scheme of
the underworld, with the standards
and ideals of Christianity before hinrf.
He does not excuse his own lapses.
He was a product of the system from
almost Infancy. He now seeks to offer
the world the results of much experi
ence, thought and analysis. I can give
you somewhat of the plan if It is de
sired. ROBIN HOOD.
WILSON'S MEDDLING RESENTED
Occupation of Vera Croi Declared Un
avenged Act -of AVar. .
SPRINGFIELD, Or.. Nov. 3. (To the
Editor.) Wilson kept us out of war.
But he attempted to make Huerta fire
a salute in honor of the American flag
of 21 guns. This Huerta refused to do
unless the salute were returned by the
American Government.
President Wilson refused to do this.
.tuif sein our iieei. uo w ii 10 ine prin
cipal seaport of Mexico Vera Cruz-
and opened fire on the town and its
forts- killed and wounded nearly 280
Mexican soldiers and citizens before
the forts surrendered. Our loss was 19
killed and about 100 wounded, but we
held Vera Cruz, the Mexicans' chief
seaport by force of arms for several
months.
This on the part of President Wilson
was a positive act of war. But did
the Mexicans by force of arms try to
recapture their lost seaport and prop
erty or avenge the deed? They did not.
They realized that with the dissensions
and war among their own people
would be useless shedding of blood to
attempt to carry on a war with the
United States with its hundred millions
of people and Its boundless resources.
So they stood the insult to their flag
and the injury to their citizens and
property and remained at peace.
Now, why should anybody thank
President Wilson for "keeping us out'
of war?" He had committed every act
to plunge this country into war. but
the Mexicans in this case absolutely re
fused to fight, and thereby war was
averted not by any act of Mr. Wilson,
but by the Mexicans themselves.
Now, honor should be given to whom
honor Is due. Thanks for peace in this
case should be given to the Mexicans
who refused to fight and not to Mr.
Wilson who was waging war on them
with all its horrors, death and destruc
tion of both life and property. And
tne salute to the flag has not yet been
fired and never will be.
Now, my statements made here are
n accord with the facts as printed in
all the Democratic and Republican
newspapers in the country. No one can
truthfully contradict those statements,
still the Democrats are howling that
Wilson kept us out of war. This is only
for the purpose of gulling voters, and
has no foundation on facts. Oh, bosh!
What do the Democratic "Kept-us-out-of-war"
howlers take the voters for,
anyway?
Had President Wilson not Interfered
In the affairs of Mexico, but had at
tended strictly to his own business,
and that business was to protect the
lives and property of our own people,
there would not have been any trouble:
and all the expense of sending 100.000
troops to tne border would not have
been necessary.
What more right have we to sav who
shall rule Mexico than the Mexicans
have to say who shall rule the United
States? We fought among ourselves
four years in the Civil War, and the
other nations kept their hands off.
And had Mr. Wilson followed this rule
both the Mexicans and ourselves would
have been winners all around.
MELVIN FENWICK.
HUGHES' STATEMENT IS LAUDED
Democrat Praise Straightforward
Statement ot Policy.
SALEM. Or., Nov. 3. (To the Editor.)
Although a Democrat and an ex-Confederate.
I was very much struck by
Mr. Hughes' statement of policy re
cently. It was the most manly,
straightforward and appropriate pre
sentation of position by any public
man for a generation or longer. It
shows the quality of the man no
flinching, sidestepping or quibbling,
but a man ready to give and take and
to meet the consequences of his acts,
honesty, courage, sincerity. These show
forth strongly in every word of his
writings and utterances. This is, above
all, the kind of man we want.
It is refreshing to see such a man
brought before the people and given a
chance to make his influence felt, such
high mental qualities and breadth and
wealth of capacity made obvious and
patent to all classes. We believe they
want such a man for a leader, for a
guide and for a friend, for such he will
be If he is elected, but whatever hap
pens, be Is a true American up and
down, acrosa and between, or any nay
they approach him, and. if America is
to be a great country or attain tier
true place among the nations, she must
patronize such men and appropriate
them for high positions and mane it
worth while for them to serve her In
that and other ways.
Let's have a new deal and put in the
President's chair this most splenuld
gentleman, citizen and patriot.
JOHN WHAT ELY,
(Late of Texas).
PROTECTION BV FLAG IS ASKED
Even Democrat With Red Blood Can't
Support Wilson, Is Declaration.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4 (To the Editor.)
"We (the Democratic party") do not
believe in the protection of either lives
or property of American citizens be
yond the borders of trie United States."
Suppose the Democratic party had
adopted the above plank In its plat
form of 1912, so as to conform with
the real policy which has been carried
out by it since it came into power
and which you hear much boasting
about on its part, how many votes do
you think would have been cast for its
present nominee?
Again suppose you, Mr. Democrat (or
Republican, if you make the mistake of
voting for Wilson) had a father,
mother, son, daughter, sister, brother
or other relative, living in Mexico, en
gaged in peaceful- pursuits, trying to
earn a competence for family or old
age, glorying in and proud of their
American citizenship, and the assumed
protection it afforded, but when trou
ble was thrust upon them, were delib
erately abandoned by the country of
their birth and left to their fate like
drowning rats, to be brutally murdered.
outchered, robbed and ravished by cut
throats and bandits, would you. Mr.
Democrat, be inspired to extol the vir
tues of such a policy, condoning such
outrages. If you were awakaned to the
awful realization, by having it strike
at your own threshold?
Can it be posssible for a Democrat
with red blood cuursing through his
veins, with a conscience so seared by
pamsansnip as to put his stamp of ap
proval on the meddling, bungling Wil
son Mexican policy, in which human
lives have been at stake, by casting a
ballot on November 7 -to sustain such
infamy and shame?
W. E. DAVIDSON.
RAILROADER DEPLORES PEACE
Democratic Appeals All to Selflabneas,
He Says.
CULVER. Or Nov. 2. (To the Edi
tor.) You may publish this open letter
to the Journal if you wish:
Referring to your editorial November
1, "American wheat prices dropped S
to C cents for fear of trouble between
this country and Germany." You ro on
and make a strong appeal to the farm
ers to stand by the man who Is "too
proud to fight." Your appeal, like all
the strongest appeals of the Democratic
campaign, has been made to that weak
est and most vulnerable spot in man,
his pocketbook.
That a great crime has been com
mitted against our fellow citizens who
have ventured abroad is passed over as
though it were nothing compared to the
loss of a few cents on a bushel of
wheat. Every argument, every plea and
every appeal during this campaign has
been made to the lower instincts of
gain and selfishness. Not onceaa your
standard bearer come out with a bold
statement for the protection of Ameri
can rights
The American Nation is becoming a
besotted, money-mad people and ere
long If the present Administration is
kept in power it will be a disgrace to
be an American. I, who have had
ancestors who fought for the rights of
our republic ever since it was a re
public and before, blush to admit this
truth.
You harp on peace, peace, peace.
"not peace at any price," but peace at
the cost of our self-respect, our cour
age, honor and the respect that we
could and should demand of all foreign
people. A RAILROAD MAN.
PARCEL POST RATE
ASSAILED
Long-Dlstance Charge of 12 Cents
Should Be Half, Is View.
PACIFIC GROVE, Cal., Nov. 1. (Tc
the Editor.) For three .years past I
have been holding my peace so as to
give our postal authorities ample time
to set their house in order and put
parcels post on a solid basis at reason
able rates.
It now seems time to rise and remark
on the exceedingly high rate. 12 cents
per pound, on long-distance parcels.
Public opinion needs to be directed
to the fact that the British postofflce
carries parcels three times our trans
continental distances for about half
our current rate. From London to far
thest India. Burma, etc., the charges
are as follows: Three pounds. 23 cents;
seven pounds, 46 cents, and 11 pounds,
70 cents.
Moreover, the British Postmaster
General assured me that even these
low rates were pecuniarily profitable.
Surely with its years of experience
and with the enormously increased
business that lowered rates would
bring, our postofflce should now re
ceive the people's mandate to cut in
half its present long-distance rate of
12 cents. EDWARD BERWICK.
SCHOOL AND HIGH TAX LINKED
Levy to- Be Increased by New Normal
at Pendleton, Says Writer.
PORTLAND. Nov. S. (To the Editor.)
The people are saying taxes are too
high, yet they are being called on to
locate another Normal School, at Pen
dleton.
To do so the Legislature will be
asked for idu.uuo tor ounaings, tnen
each year thereafter the Legislature
will be called on to appropriate tSO.OOO
more money to run the school.
If you want high taxes, vote to lo
cate a Normal School at Pendleton.
Schools of this class, located all over
the state, call for and result in legis
latlve combinations to loot the state
treasury by making large annual ap
propriations.
. G. A. TAYLOR.
SINGLE TAX DECLARED Kit AID
Sincerity of Efforts of Advocate of
Measure Huextioncd.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Ed
Itor.) William S. U'Ren, in his address
before the Portland Realty Board Sep
tember 8, 1916, stated that the measure
should pass because It is morally right
and citing the Bible as authority. He
stated quite clearly that the proposed
law is a "thoroughbred" single tax
measure. It should have been called
"the Henry George single tax amend
menL" It Is certainly a "thorough
bred." lifted bodily from Henry
George's book, "Progress and Poverty.
The argument for the amendment, pub
lished by the Secretary of the Slate,
says that by abolishing land specula
tion, reducing the price of land and
rate of interest, we may expect unl
versal employment.
1. Evasion and deceit are not morally
right. Why .sidestep the name on the
ballot? It Is single tax and more dras
tic than pure single tax because of the
molasses (loan fun) smeared over it
to catch the files (votes). Mr. U'Ren
should read in the Bible concerning
those who practice deceit. "Bread of
deceit is sweeH." "Deceit and lying work
of the devil."
2- Let us consider one class of prop
erty to be taxed, vix.. timber land. Mr,
U'Ren says under the proposed law
timber will be taxed on the basis of its
stumpage value. Stumpage value of
timber ib its actual or market value.
When timber sells, say for 11.60 per
thousand feet, board measure, the price
ususrUy includes the land. Such a sys
tem of taxation would be contiscation
And yet. we are told, it is morally
right, is it morally right to commit
highway robbery?
. 3. Paid agitators for experimental
laws are not always dependable. A tew
years ago Mr. U'Ren admitted that his
Arm. U'Ren & Schuebel. received $3000
a year from the Joseph Fels fund for
his services in advocating single tax
legislation. The Fels fund has expend
ed thousands of dollars to carry the
measure in Oregon.
4. The question naturally arises: Are
the advocates of this measure sincere
In their efforts? Do these gentlemen
nave the good of the entire community
at heart? Mr. U'Ren in his address
referred to Peru as an example of what
such a law would accomplish happi
ness, employment and Contentment.
Peru is several thousand miles from
Oregon and hence it is exceedingly
difficult to procure direct reliable in
formation. We wonder why he did not tell us
about our neighbors near at hand. In
Canada and British Columbia. The sit
uation In Vancouver. B. C, and Alberta,
Canada, is far from being satisfactory.
Reports from government and munic
ipal officials are to the effect that sin
gle tax has not stimulated building nor
given additional aid to the poor man
and has not been the panacea which
ardent advocates claimed for it.
In Vancouver, B. C, they expect to
go back to the old plan of assessing
buildings. Since 1910 buildings have
not been assessed. They do not con
sider it fair and just that the lot with
a small building should j5ay as much as
the lot with a large one. There is no
reason why the expenses of the fire
department and a certain percentage
of the police department should not be
met by contribuptlons from the build
ings. The tax will be put back upon
buildings.
In Alberta, where Improvements are
assessed 25 per cent, imposition of the
land tax was accompanied by unhappy
results. Some classes in the com
munity have been bentited at the ex
pense of others: the business class at
the expense of the owners of residen
tial land. In Canada and British
Columbia the much-vaunted claim that
single tax would solve the problem of
hard times has proveu a myth, a de
lusion and a snare.
5. Concerning Peru: "The bulk of the
populace are illiterate and property less
and their occupations are so ill paid
that they are strangers to anything
but the barest necessities of life.
South American Year Book 1915 So
ciology. page 642.
Shall we turn back the wheels of
progress and follow the example of
Canada and British Columbia or of
Peru, with its 80 per cent of illiterates;
thousands of whom are "strangers to
anything but the barest necessities of
life"?
In view of the foregoing it in self
evident that should thin single tax
measure become a law Oregon will have
upon its statute Looks the most pern!
clous and "freakish" law ever enacted
and a most serious calamity will fol
low. Oregon voters will take no chances
by voting for a measure possessing
such rainbow qualities and promises.
Vote no to 307.
ROBERT H. BLOSSOM.
REPUBLICAN' VICTORY FORECAST
Woman Saya Harmon?- Prevails Now
and Democrats Are Doomed.
MONMOUTH. Or.. Nov. 8. '(To the
Editor.) In Oregon 190,000 Repub
licans are registered. against 78.000
Democrats. It is obvious, on the face
of these ligures alone, that Mr. Hughes
will be elected. It is simple to con
clude, also, that allowing for several
thousand Democrats who are regis
tered as Republicans if Hughes does
not carry Oregon some 100.000 Repub-
ic-ans are no longer Republicans, but
Democrats.
It is fair to conclude, too. that if
Oregon preponderantly Republican
with the grievance of hard times among
the greater mass of the people goes
Democratic, other states, where the
Republican majority in registration is
as heavy, will no doubt do likewise. In
this event it remains that Mr.. Wilson
will be returned.
If this happens the Republican party
as such will have been abandoned a
party which for over a half century
has been ascendant in the country's
affairs and which has made America
the great Government it is or was un
til the late "Democratic desecration."
During the 50 years of its ascend
ency it haj battled off successfully
the now proved unsound policies of one
Bryan; likewise the menace of sec
tional control by the mistaken, prerog
ative claimed Colonels of the "solid
South.
The Republican party looks forward
to rehabilitation on November 7. Is ft
not preposterous to suppose that Re
publicans, who have repudiated Bryan
tnree times, win not Join in this re
habilitatory process? Is it not pre
posterolis to believe that everywhere
over this Nation Republicans shall
flock to the party, the standard-bearer
oi wiucn was createa ana is now sup
ported by this same Bryan an execu -
tive whose opposition to National worn
ens suffrage tells only too well of his
reverence fy the old "..tales' rights"
doctrine which has made the party-afraid-of-power
unfit at any time as a
safe governing force?
How pitiful and how significant it Is
to read lately, for Instance, of the
hard struggle going on in Georgia to
secure for women a right to practice
law in that state. Is it well tor KUCh
a constituency to control our National
Government? Can Just liberality and
equaltty In a democracy be maintained
by such an attitude on the part of the
governing majority?
Shall loyal Republicans recall the aw
ful Democratic- fiasco of Cleveland's
Administration and then deny the party
of Lincoln, McKinley and Roosevelt, if
you will, the right of rehabilitation?
Anyone would think no. It must be
that the grand old party will come hack
in to Its own for the ultimate good of
us all the party whose essential prin-
ciples have been so often proved right:
and the same party which has proved
so olten. to the disgust of Democrats,
that their policies have been and are
now, in the main, all wrong.
MRS. M. A. STINE.
Employer Liability.
FOREST GROVE. Or.. Nov. 2. (To
the Editor.) I own land in Tillamook
County, which I have platted into town I
lots. I intend to have a street cleared
of logs and stumps. A man offers to
do the work by contract for a certain
amount. Should I enter'into contract
with him, and in performing the work,
he should use giant powder or dyna
mite, and be Injured or killed, or
should he otherwise be Injured, or any
man or men he may employ be injured,
could I be held financially responsible
under the employers' liability act?
C. L. LARGE.
Yes. If you supply tho giant powder;
no. if the contractor provides it.
Why Can't All Votef
ABERDEEN. Wash.. Nov. 2. (To the
Editor.) I would like to ask If there Is
any just reason why a citizen of the
United States should not have the
right to vote on the National ticket
regardless of where he happens to be.
ir registered, say In Oregon? Why not
be given a coupon bearing name, date
and place of registration and at the
same time allowing them the privilege
to vote in Washington or any other
state they live?
Now It is one year in the state, six
months lu county and 30 days in pre-
cinct. A laboring man must go where
he can get work and by so doing may
lose the right on one of the all im
portant issues dear to the heart of
everv true-hearted American.
CIVIL WAR VETERAN S DAUGHTER.
Voting qualifications are fixed by
each state subject only to the prohibi
tion in the Federal Constitution that
there shall be no discrimination among
citizens on account of race, color or
previous condition of servitude. A
provision such as the correspondent
proposes would require separate adop
tion by each state.
"SIN'GLK TERM" IS
BOOMERANG
Violation of Platform Promises
y
Democrats Is Recalled.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Ed
itor.) We favor a single Presidential
term, and to that end urge the adop
tion of an amendment to the Constitu
tion making the President of the United
States Ineligible for re-election, and we
pledge the candidate of tjiis convention
to this principle.
The well-known manner In wmch
this plank has been ignored is all that
Is necessary .in the way of comment.
However, it is quite sufe to mention
that Wilson never meant to keep this
pledge.
We favor the exemption from toll of
American ships engaged in coastwise
trade through the Panama Canal.
This is one of the most Important
planks Wilson walked into office over,
then immediately turned right around
and broke It. A subterfuge, and sub
terfuge is all that It was, an accusa
tion of violation of treaty, brought up
through the English foreign relations.
Ah soon as Johnny Bull showed his
horns. Wilson, not being stern enough
In statesmanship to handle interna
tional affairs, showed the white flag
at once, and put all of his office en
ergies at work to repeal the Panama
tolls bill. Wilson never worked harder
In his official life at anything than he
did whipping Congress into line to ef
fect that Infamous act of surrendering
American rights to run American af
fairs. '
The repeal of the Panama Canal tolls
bill took the best winning card from
tho hand of the whole Pacific Coast in
the way of doing transcontinental busi
ness, and every voter should remem
ber to give that act a severe rebuke
on Noveintu-r 7.
The constitutional rights of Amer
ican citizens should protect them on
our borders, and go with them through
out the world, and every American citi
zen residing or having property in any
foreign country Is entitled to. and must
be given, full protection of the United
States Government both for himself
and his property.
If the President had kept his pledge
regarding the execution of this plank
he would not have exceeded his rights,
given him In all foreign treaties, and
no more than was expected of him by
foreign countries. liut through his
supineness and readiness to wave the
white flag Americans have become the
laughing-stock of the whole world.
The unadjusted affairs of the Lusl-
tania. the coffin of 1300 Americans at
the bottom of the Atlantic; tlie fruit
less expedition to Vera Cruz with Its
loss of lives: the Carrazal battle: the
Santa Ysabcl massacre: the Columbus
raid with Its loss of life and property.
and nil along the border and all over
Northern Mexico a limitless number of
American families murdered and plun
dered. This is the most pyramidical
evidence of a President of the United
States having a wishbone where he
should have a backbone, during all the
history of our country.
"Our platform Is one of principles
which we believe to be essential to our
National welfare. Our pledges are made
to be kept In office as well as be re
lied upon during the campaign."
It certainly was a platform of prin
ciples arid high ideals, but none was
ever more ruthlessly broken and dis
graced by any President in the. past
than the Democratic platform of 1912.
CHARLES BARNETT.
R.
DOC AN
IS
ANSWERED
Cold Feet" Recanting Sunday
I . T
Suspected by Writer.
PORTLAND, Nov. 4. (To the Edi
tor.) What's the matter with R. O.
Duncan? Is he getting cold foet? It
looks that way from the interview in
Sunday's Portland Journal. He seems
more like a pampered child, who, be
cause it can't have Its own way, turns
and gos Just as far in the other dlrec
tion. all because of a fit of temper.
Maybe he had better consult some of
the owners and managers of the de
partment stores before he opens every
thing wide on Sunday, and also how
wonderful to think that ono "little"
man can have so much influence in a
town the size of Portland, where there
are many men with brilliant minds and
excellent business ability.
Throughout the whole of this ques
tion Mr. Duncan has been sarcastic and
has shown he is unnbl to argue with
out getting "sore," and now, when he
sees his pet hobby about to be defeated
he becliiH to crawfish.
I Many voters are belnir misled on this
question, not realizing what a closed
town is. but just as soon as the propo
sition is explained to them thev are
more than ready to vote "312 yes
The truth of the matter is thia: The
Grocers' Association, of which Mr. Dun
can, is a member, are at the bottom of
I th clot, and they are after the little
grocery stores, but wheu the votes are
I counted they are going to find that
there are still a good many people In
Oregon who believe in a free country.
where a person can carry on his busl-
ness on Sunday as long as be does it
legitimately.
Just to think that a law made more
than 50 years ajo. before streetcars.
automobiles, etc., were dreamed of,
' should be enforced on people living In
these up-to-date times and Just for the
I satisfaction of one little handful of
' grocers.
' The law was defeated by a big ma
Uority a year ago, and it Is going to be
I defeated again.
Mr. Duncan is a pretty busy man
these days, managing the pure- rood ex
hibit, running for King Epicure at"i
trying to "run" the majority the does
run a few already) of the people of
Oregon. But, thank goodness, we have
the ballot and November 7 is going to
give Mr. D. the surprise of his young
life.
if the voters will figure that ft Is a
case of a "drowning man catching at
a straw." they can readily see that he
is beginning to worry.
D. R. HICK8.
DANCING CRITICISM REGRETTED
Writer Apolog-laca for Disapproval of
Professor's Ideal of Morals.
PENDLETON. Or.. Nov. 3. (To the
Editor.) One year ago I wrote a letter
to a Pendleton paper criticising re
marks made by Professor Pittman. of
the Monmouth Normal, to the teachers
here at the annual institute. Today I
listened to practically the same advice
to the teachers by the Reverend Mr.
Snyder, of Pendleton.
I see clearly now that I owe Pro
fessor Pittman an apology. When this
young normal professor. In the ex
uberance of his reserve energy, told
the teachers that they might dance with
propriety in a community where dancing
is the custom, I felt Justified in ob
jecting. But when a preacher says the
same thing with the proviso "if she has
no conscientious scruples against it." it
occurs to me that, of course I must be
wrong. I thought I had known of
many young people "gulng wrong'' as
the result of dancing. I had observed
these things for many years, and
thought I had detected a strong ten
dency to moral, mental and physical
degeneration as well as a result of tbia
practice.
But now that the highly respected
Reverend Mr. Snyder has put the stamp
of his approval upon the teacher s
tricing ir sne nas no conscientious
iKiinsi ii. x numDiy apoio-
gizi to Professor Pittman. blaming him,
only for being so thoughtless as to for
get to mention the "conscientious
scruples." This would have cleared tho
matter up nicely and saved me th
trouble of writing these letters to the
newspapers the first to relieve my
somewhat shocked sense of propriety,
this one to relieve my conscience for
having so unjustly criticised the ambi
tious young professor.
Yes. a disciple of "the lowly Xasa
rene" has set me right. I wonder whut
Christ himself would say to the teach
ers were he to come to Tcndleton
while they are in session.
HERBERT W. COPELAND. -
AID FOR HORSES IS SUGGESTED
Humane Society Asked to l ac Sand on
Slippery Street.
PORTLAND. Nov. 4. (To the Ed
itor.) Perhaps you have noticed the
last week the hard time that horses
have had in getting around with the
slippery condition of the streets, and X
for one think that It Is time that
so-called Humane Society or someono
else on the outside take this matter up
for the protection of the horses.
Nearly ever- street after a shower
is almost impossible for the horses to
travel without fear of falling, and if
the Humane Society would take a littlo
action I think much could be accom
plished in the way of sanding '.ho
streets and then it would safeguard
both life of human beings and animals.
Perhaps there Is some other remedy
other than sanding the streets that
would help somt-, but something fchould
be done and not waTt until Spring, when
we don't need it.
A LOVER OF HORSES.
GEORGE M'RItlDK IS INDORSED
Aspirant (or County Jadgahlp Is Praised
by Correspondent.
PORTLAND. Nov. 2. (To the Ed
itor.) The Oregonian Is to be com
mended on the stand it Is taking tit
supporting George McBride for County
Judge. He is a man of character, clean, con
scientious, honest and with tho best ot
reputations.
Some years ago. when connected with
the Custom-house at Astoria. I knew
him well, as he was at that time a.
United States custom-house inspector
at that -port, where he faithfully and
honorably discharged his duties. Yes.
and had It said about him that he al
ways refused to be tempted by bribes.
His record as a Government officer
is A-l.
Anyone of -.any arty affiliations
need not hcstltate to give him their
vote for good, cienn government.
This Is an extraordinary occasion to
do a little scratching.
M. F. BEREVPES..
474 East Washington Street.
CHAMBERLAIN" VIEW
ASSAILED
Writer Who Questions Senator
Not
Satisfied With Replica.
LA GRANDE. Or.. Nov. 2. (To thl
Editor.) Senator George E. Chamber
lain, speaking here. October 31. to a
vast audience, was asked this question
by tho writer: "How about the exporta
tion of foodstuffs to Europe?"
lie said that h! expected that an em
bargo would have to be placed on It.
Ashed further, why It was not done, he
said the interest of the seller would.
have to be protected. -
When asked which was the para
mount issue, the Interest of a starviner
people or the interest of the seller thtss
wiseacre replied that their interests;
were about the ame.
This, from a man who Is supposed to
be and is lauded as one of America's
greatest legislators.
LEWIS W. SMITH.
Home Wanted for Kitten.
PORTLAND. Nov. 2. (To the Ed
itor.) I am again appealing to you to
help me And homes for some kittens.
The price money couldn't buy them
Just someone to love them as I do. lam
not in the kitten business, but whn
the notlirr presnts me with a wee.
cuddling family. I haven't the heart to
chloroform even one and now they are,
11 weeks old. beautiful, fat. healthy
tortoise shells and trslned to be een
house pets. Two of them are females.
The tortoise shell Is a rare variety of
the short-haired cat and there was
never known to
shell.
be a tnnle tortoisa
MRS. DEUSTER.
792 Mwlrose Drive.
Woodlawn :2S5.
How Unregistered Vetera Mar Vote.
PORTLAND. Nov. S. (To the Ed- .
Itor.) Will you please print in your
columns information so that tho writer,
who became of age after the registra
tion books closed, will know how to
cast his vote. A READER. ,
You were entitled to register befora
the books closed. If you did not do
so. It Is now necessary in order to cast
your vote to swear It in at the polls
and get six freeholders to make oath
before the Judge of election in your
precinct that they know you possess
the necessary voting qualifications.,..
Only One Child Labor Bill.
PORTLAND. Nov. 1. (To the Editor)
Please explain the child labor law
enacted by the Democratic Administra
tion and the child labor hill creat'J,
by the Republican party.
JOHN ORESTES.
This question is answered fully in
n editorial In another column, headed:
The work of both parties." There was
only one child labor bill, which both
parties supported. Senator Beveridge,
a Republican, worked for years for
such legislation and educated publio
opinion in its favor to the point whera
action was taken by Congress.
Abuse of Children.
ASTORIA. Or.. Nov. 2. (To tho Ed
itor.) (1) Is It against the law for
a man to knock his 17-year-old daugh
ter down and in my way abuse her?
(2) Can she sue for rersonal dam
ages? (3 Can she appeal to County Court?
A READER. -
(1) Yes.
(2) No.
(2) She may appeal to the criminal
courts.
Who Boosted I.lvlnar Cost f
PORTLAND. Nov. 2. (To the Edi
tor.) If Wilson Is to be credited with
having brought the prosperity which
Is said to exist in parts of the East,
should he not be charged with tho
present high cost of living In all parts
of the United States, including Oregon?
It Is a poor rule that will not work
both ways. SUBSCRIBER. .
Illltr About HuKhea.
There was a good Judge named Hughes.
He grave every devil his dues;
Republicans think that he Is the ginlc
Who should stand In the Preside!, fa
shoes. EKED LEMCQ.