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THE SUNDAY. OREGOXIAy. PORTLAND, .PRIL 8. 1917.
19
"WHAT DO WE FOREIGNERS OWE UNCLE SAM?" ASKS WRITER
"Let Us Learn to Make Ourselves Useful and Not Forget to Thank," Pleads Woman Who Found Freedom From Tyranny of Old Russia.
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BUTTE, Mont.. April 3. (To the Ed
itor.) What do we foreigners
owe to Uncle Sam? This question
came to me while witnessing? the ex
traordinary film called "The Cossack
"Whip," a romance and tragedy of life
in the Russian empire.
I have witnessed the real tragedy of
eruch life, and I found myself back
again in memory in the Russian revo
lution Of 1908. where the Cossack whiD
that took thousands of lives was looked
Upon and considered Just as common as
Hian-made law would be considered.
I at that time was living in my coun
try then under the rule of the imperial
Russian government. I was too young
to understand the cause of all the
tragedy. I had always imagined that
there was liberty to live somewhere on
the God's earth yet under man's law.
But the question, how to fight and
find my way out of tragedy into the
liberty would time and again hurt me,
for there was no answer to be found.
.As woman was only a woman there she
had no rights nor was she considered.
She had no chance even to awaken am
bitions within herself, for they would
he destroyed and killed by a man-made
law.
As a little child I found ambitions
within me ambitions which I had to
chain like prisoners until they would
wither and die, leaving me only a crea
ture starving for liberty.
Liberty was unknown to me and was
born into my starving ambition only
through the joy of liberty which my
parents had given me for my -play
time. As a child I enjoyed it. The only
fortune my parents had was their chil
dren and love. Home? At times the
tragedy of a man-made law would come
and take everything that we would call
ours.
Then again the desire to fight arose
within me and with the death of my
ambitions there were always new-born
ones which were very hard to chain
in prison to die. As a nine-year-old
child I took my first step onto the bat
tlefield of life. My first battle was
fought just to make my own living. It
was very hard indeed. The second was
for the education which was so dearly
lriced that very seldom a poor child
could even learn of its value.
I began my third and the strongest
of all battles for lioerty. One day, with
out any idea, I sent my ambitions to
Uncle Sam. I did not even know Uncle
Sam had to offer what I had been
earning for. I did not even know
America was called the land of liberty.
3 only knew it was across the sea and
that the sea would divide the old from
the new. It was from the United States
that the kind, helping hand of a
stranger opened the prison door for my
ambitions.
Empty handed, knowing almost noth
ing about the outer world I took my
first step into light and liberty alone
as a girl under age. I had never even
lieard the language of Uncle Sam, and
only with ambition and a sigh of re
lief I landed in the land of liberty.1
Although I have been here only a
few years each one of these years has
been useful to me, and with each one
of these years I have tried to answer
the question, "What do we foreigners
owe to Uncle Sam?"
Let us recall the day when we landed
and where we came from, and then put
this question to the test of our ex
perience. I wonder how many could
deny that we do not at least owe him
our appreciation.
I also know thatN there is no country
nor nation known where capitalism and
socialism have yet agreed in peace. We
find they cannot live in peace in the
land of liberty. Do not blame Uncle
am, for human nature is never sat
isfied, and fault-finders will find fault
in paradise. When Christ was a per
sonal ruler on earth, did his people live
satisfied in peace and appreciate what
he had given them? We all know the
etory of his death.
I also find it true that what we are
Is God's gift to us, but what we make
of ourselves is our gift to him. God
gives us brains, such as they are, and
Uncle Sam gives us opportunity. So
let us learn to know ourselves first and
he willing to make ourselves useful in
life and to Uncle Sam. We only want,
when we are in need, but what most of
us forget is to thank.
I owe to Uncle Sam more than I could
express. I shall be happy not only to
fay so but to prove it.
MISS C. SUMATAWET.
FIREMAN URGES TWO-PLATOONS
DIovement Declared In Consonance With
Spirit of Times.
PORTLAND. April 7. (To the Ed
itor.) The voters of the city of Port
land will he called upon at the June
election to pass on the question whether
firemen shall be required to work 24
hours a day or whether they shall be
allowed to work on something the same
plan as men worked in the good old
days when the" day's work was "from
pun to sun." There has been consid
erable opposition to the reform meas
ure, practically all from one source.
The other side of the question has been
overlooked by many well-meaning peo
ple, simply because the facts were not
forced upon them.
Men and women have become con
fused as to the meaning of the "two
platoon system." These strange words
mean two shifts, in common language,
for it is not generally known and un-
derstood that firemen remain on duty
24 hours of the day, and until recent
years were not allowed much time off and there will be no off seasons. They
during the entire year. It was thought! will take nothing from the "; they
that firemen had little to do, and that I will pay us liberally for our good will,
all their time should be given to the , and they will come in an ever-increas-city.
At the same time ordinary work- ing number, because Summer touring
ers who never risked their lives or 1 1 Oreiron will make a stronger anneal
even their health were given the short
workday, now eight hours, with Satur
day afternoons off. It is not quite clear
to me how the voters of the city will
allow firemen to work 24 hours a day
and at th5 same time support the eight
hour day and even less than eight
hours in the ordinary service of the
city, the county, the state and the Fed
eral Government.
Firemen are not inferior beings. Fire
men have responded to the call of their
country during times of peace, where
there was no enthusiasm to carry men
away. They have guarded property and
lives, day and night, with poor compen
sation so far as dollars go. And they
nave oeen denied the rights of every
American citizens, the right of a few
hours' leisure each day, and the rights '
to have homes and become citizens
active in all th rintiea 'tr r;n.,in .
How could a fireman do anything worth
while when he was kept like a prisoner
at tne nrenouse. dav in and dav out '
month in and month out?
" The irony of the case is apparent
when we see railroad men getting the
eight-hour day. with hirh wae-psi whiln
we work 24 hours a day for about the sion of The Oregonlan, to reply to a
limit of decent living. When carpenters few statements of the reverend gentle
and painters have the advantage of the j man.
eight-hour day, with Saturday after- First He accuses the President of
noons off, working for private con-! nt being neutral. A large majority of
tractors. I would like to be able to the American people will not agree with
discern the -justice of the city demand- I him in this accusation. I am not a Wil
ing 24 hours' work a day of firemen son man. I would have welcomed a
who risk their lives that property may change last November. Prior to the
be saved and lives protected from fire. ' war I was pro-Wilson, but his foreign
Complaint is made of the additional policy did not coincide with my judg
coet of the fire deparment under the ment, hence I could no longer be his
two-shift system. Complaint was also I disciple. But I believe, with all my
made by contractors and other private heart, that the President has been fair
tanpioyers when mechanics demanded to all sides in this terrible struggle in
ttie eight-hour day. But once the day Europe. Upon the outbreak of the war
was shortened no one would return to Mr. Wilson called upon this Nation to
the old conditions. Now mechanics ! be neutral and this was flashed upon
have gained the Saturday afternoon in I the screen in every moving-picture
many trades, and even contractors are ! house in this country, and in harmony
not throwing fits on account of the with it there was no applause or dem
added cost of the service. If it pays I onstration when war pictures were
contractors to give decent considera- j shown, whatever country they might
tion to their help It certainly would pay have represented. If Mr. Cramer, and
i,, u; i 6" inotHcii a.
cfcauce to be, or. at least to become,
worthy citizens with all the privileges
of citizens.
While men are clamoring for justice
to Americans on the seas, while men are
declaring for war against Germany as
the only way In which American rights
can be preserved, men are declaring
tnat riremen should work 24 hours a
day. The social conscience seems to be
awakened to the mass cry, but it seems
to De aeaf to the cry of men and fire
men are the only workers who are
expected to work long hours who are
required to give so much time to their
days work that they cannot become
even active citizens that they can only
work. The social conscience might be
active with internal affairs, even as it
is active with external affairs.
- The people of the city of Portland
pay the price for paved streets, for elec
tric lights, for modern conveniences,
The people of the state pay for good
roads when they get them. Yet the cry
is made that the fire service costs too
much and that the burden of paying
for work actually done is too great.
Why, yes, why should the burden be
passed to the men in the case of fire
service, when it is passed to the people
in every other line of activity and pub
lic service? The cry for economy is
strong during the campaign, but when
the Legislature meets the buck is
passed to the people and they pay every
time they pay.
In the case of the two-platoon system
campaign I think it is but fair that
the people be given the facts. Let there
be light. The voters will give the fire
men a chance to live and be workers
in the most useful way. Bludgeoning
the plan at this time will not satisfy the
voters of the city. The facts alone will
suffice. Nothing less should be offered.
JAMES IRVING,
Secretary Two-Platoon Campaign Com
mittee. '
GOOD OP ROAD BONDS CITED
Writer Presents Argnmuia Why Peo
ple Should Favor Them. -
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Edi
tor.) It is hard to comprehend the
viewpoint of opponents of the proposed
road bonds. When men refuse to ac
cept permanently improved roads un
der a bond flotation which will not in
crease taxation, but which motorists
alone will pay in annual licenses, to
what can we ascribe their opposition?
One argues that the proposed high
ways are for automobiles only; that we
should build laterals first and trunk
roads later. Another's objection is
based on his assertion that our roads
are better than those of Middle Western
states; a third says 90 per cent of our
road taxes have been wasted; and a
fourth wants paved roads built out of
the present tax and license fund; that
Is, he prefers to build piecemeal, and
meantime wallow in the mud, and cut
Oregon off from its share of the huge
tourist income that will follow Cali
fornia and Washington's extensive
systems of paved, roads.
He who argues for the branches in
advance of the trunk highways is blind
to nature's method, which never goes
about its work backward. When it
grows a tree the trunk comes first,
and the branches follow as fast as there
is need and nourishment for them. Lat
erals or market roads, the same as tree
brandies, must depend for their growth
and vitality upon the trunk. This log
ical development of a highway system
finds apt illustration in the Willamette
Valley. It is the natural counterpart
of the Willamette River and tribu
taries. The root system (at Portland) will
draw its support from the Columbia
River Highway from Astoria to Cen
tral Oregon and the East, augmented
by the great taproot entering from
Washington via the interstate bridge,
with its system of paved roads radiat
ing north and east. This situation
alone lays a moral obligation upon Ore
gon to pave its link in the great Pa
cific Highway.
Perhaps a "moral obligation" does
not appeal to our opponents. Very
well, let us put it on the basis of self
interest. Standing bttween two progressive
states, which are spending 10 to our
1 for paved highways, Oregon is in a
position to profit more than either in
propori.on to expenditure, because
tourists who desire to visit both of
those states must pass through Oregon;
it will iret them both ways.
Bond opponents may howl till they
are hoarse tnat these trunk highways
will be used by automobiles and won't
do t e farmer, any good; they cannot
see opportunity when it knocks at their
doors. Every foreign dollar that is
spent In Oregon is a dol?ar added to
our capital, and benefits everyone in
the state.
The very significant fact was cited
by Mr. Bowerman at the Chamber of
Commerce luncheon recently, that last
Fall 2000 automobiles touring from Cal
ifornia to Portland stopped in Jackson
County and turned back because Ore
gon roads were too costly to drive over.
If they could have driven into Portland
over a paved highway they would prob
ably, at that late season, have re
turned home by the same route, travers
ing the state twice, an- spending four
or more days within our borders.
Why is not the tourist crop, for which
the only cultivation needed is all
weather roads, just as valuable to the
state as money obtained from wheat,
flax or mines? Give them the roads,
in Oregon will make a stronger appeal
to the Eastern tourist than any other
state In the Union. Our genial climate,
diversified scenery, and freedom from
tornadoes and fierce storms, render it
an ideal playground.
It is immeasurably shortsighted, fool
ish and silly to ignore so great an ad
vantage to be had at so little cost.
C. H. SHOLES.
ISSUE TAKEN WITH MR. CRAMER
Charge That President Baa Been Un
neutral Warmly Denied.
PORTLAND. April 7. (To the Edi
tor.) I was not present at the Meth
odist ministerial meeting of March 26,
so do not know' whether the words of
Dr- Cramer were rightly interpreted or
not. But it seems to me that his ex-
planat,on Puta nlm ln a. worse light
than the meaning attached to his words
" jm-btchi au me meeting. in
my judgment, it was a defense of the
Teutonic attitude in this country, rath
er than an explanation. However, walv-
ing this point, I wish, by the permis
it nose tor wnom ne speatcs, think that I
I President Wilson has not given Ger-1
many a square deal they may thank
heaven that the war did not occur un
der Cleveland or McKinley or Roose
velt, for if it had the fireworks would
have begun before now.
This accusation that -e President
has not been neutral is b- ed principal
ly upon two things. First That he has
not put an embargo on munitions to the
allies. It will be well for Mr. Cramer
to remember that an article in The
Hague convention stipulates that : a
neutral nation should be allowed to
supply a belligerent nation with muni
tions, and Germany, more than any oth
er nation represented, pleaded for this
stipulation, presumably for the pur
pose of advancing the financial inter
ests of the Krupp gun works. And do
not forget, Mr. Cramer, that the Ger
mans, and German nation are kicking
this country for doing a thing
which they did themselves, for
German supplied Great Britain
with munitions in her war with
the Boers. Second Because Mr. Wil
son, in their opinion, has been more
severe with Germany than with Eng
land. In a previous article to The
Oregonlan I poin.ed out that while Mr.
Bryan was Secretary of State he nego
tiated several treaties to the effect
tuat if two nations got into a dispute
the dispute should be referred to a
commission and there should be no war
action within one year. Great Britain
signed this treaty, so did France, but
Germany did not sign it. Hence, this
left Mr. Wilson a clear way to handle
Germany Immediately, but blocked his
way against handling Great Britain.
for the dispute between this country
and Great Britain would have to be re
ferred to a commission, and there could
be no war action within one year. Now,
if Germany had signed this treaty and
respected it she would not be in war
today. Put that in your pipe and
smoke it.
It is absolutely true that England
is trying to starve Germany as one
means of winning the war, but she is
not killing American citizens to do it.
It is also absolutely true that Germany
Is trying to starve England, but is
killing our citizens to do it. This coun
try would not object for one moment
to Germany trying to starve England
if she would keep her guns off our
people.
During the British blockade not one
American ship has been sunk nor one
American life been lost. Though under
the German blockade, what might
practically be called a blockade, 240
citizens have been killed and many of
our ships sunk. Do you see any dif
ference in the two blockades. Mr.
Cramer? Can you see any reason why
Mr. Wilson should not be more severe
with Germany than with England?
Again, Mr. Cramer objects to the dis
play of the flag ln his church to arouse
patriotism in the people. We do not
display the flag to arouse patriotism.
but rather to show it. In The Orego
nlan there is a picture showing some
flags and a cannon in one of our re
cruiting stations in Portland, and it is
stated that this is done to arouse patri
otism so as to get new recruits. Is there
anything wrong in this? Should this
not be done? Is it wrong for us to try
to breathe into the youth of the coun
try the spirit that was in the fathers
who made this country what it is, the
best country in tne world, and the Ger
mans must know this or they would not
stay.
"America," says Emerson, "is only
another name for opportunity." And
looking over the list of rich men in
this country many German people are
found therein. Germany, on the first
day of February, drew a line around
a piece of the ocean and announced to
the world that any ship flying any flag,
"irrespective as to who or what might
be on it, was to be sent, without warn
ing, to the bottom of the sea." Do you
think that it is wrong to arouse patriotism-to
put a stop to this Satanic and
diabolic operation? j
Again. Mr. Cramer states that the
Germans are loyal to this country. I
am a little skeptical. I have been in the
company of Germans in the "War Col
lege, in hotels, and places of business,
and declare that I have never heard one
of them express a regret at the loss of
American lives on the high seas at the
hands of the German government.
As stated above, 240 Americans have
lost their lives on the sea. If you are
an American they were your brothers
and your sisters. Have you expressed
any sorrow or regret at the loss of
these relations?
Now, Mr. Cramer, I would like to ask
you two or three questions. First Do
you think that Germany's exigency
should limit the rights of American cit
izens? Second Do you believe in the
new German war slogan, "Damn - the
neutrals, and win the war"? Third
Do you believe that the actions of the
German people in this country, during
the war, has been such that this Gov
ernment and the people could com
mend? Fourth Are you urging the
people of your congregation to stand
by the president and the flag?
ISAAC PEART.
ISSUE PUT UP TO BACHELORS
Writer Thinks Those Who Have Done
Duty Should Be Protected.
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Ed
itor.) Our country is making a call
on the young men between the ages
of 18 and 23. making a call on them to
go to the front and protect the rights
and homes of our beloved land. The
best we have Is about to be sacrificed
on the altar of justice. We cannot
give these young boys enough of honor
and glory, for they are men, real men.
Young men of this character, who have
the courage, the love of home and coun
try and sense of duty enough to respond
to the call to defend our land and our
loved ones and to stand for what is
right and just, are the men . who, if
spared, would make the future homes
of America or who. if the call had not
been made, .would be the ones who
would assume the responsibilities every
man. if he is a true man, should as
sume the responsibilities of a home
and wife and children.
This has brought to the mind of the
writer the question of the bachelors,
the men past 25 who have shirked these
duties, who through selfishness would
not assume these responsibilities, but
have enjoyed every freedom and privi
lege a man could have. Will he now
come to the front and give what aid he
can to his country and his fellow man?
Or will he, as he has always done, leave
the responsibilities to someone else,
excusing himself on some pretext or.
other?
The time is coming and is now here
when he can, if he will, help to preserve
what he has heretofore held lightly
our. homes. Let him now come for
ward and volunteer his services, let
him in some way make up to humanity
what he has failed to give.
This is an appeal to the man who has
always taken and never given. This
is an appeal to the man who has not
given to his country and the .world
the sons he should, but would expect
protection from some other man's son.
This is an appeal to the man who has
not done his duty to society, who has
not helped to protect the chastity of
our women and our homes.
Those who have failed in the one
great duty to mankind can come for
ward now that they are needed and
spare some of those who have not
slighted these duties, who have) homes
to care for and who may be called on
to go to the front. Leave us some of
the young men of character who would
be homebuilders. homebuilders in the
truest sense of the word, men who are
1 men and respond to all calls of duty,
even to the- call of their flag.
It seems a pity that those who are
the real men of our land, those who
are volunteering to give their lives,
if need be, for right, should go forward
to protect the men who have never pro
tected anything, living only for self,
always taking, never giving. This would
apply to the widower as well as to the
bachelor who could, but would not do
his duty to society. It is to these men.
the men who have enjoyed their so
called personal freedom, that I. would
make an appeal to come forward now
and do their part to protect the rights
and freedom of all mankind.
' C. C. T.
LOAN TO MR. GILL EXPLAINED
Mayor Turned Over Salary to Meet
Payments at Bank.
SEATTLE. Wash., April 6. (To the
Editor.) In The Sunday Oregonlan
March 24 there appeared an editorial
under the caption, "Acquittal of Mayor
Gill," from which I quote the follow
ing paragraph:
The other revelation was that G1U. while
Councilman., had placed himself under ob
ligations to the president of the Seattle
Electric Company by borrowing: r0O0 from
him. This was outside of the vital Issues
of the case and on its face was not legal
evidence of corrupt practices on Gill's part,
but elsewhere such loans are not an unusual
form of insidious graft Just within the limit
of the law. Groes Indiscretion Is the mildest
term that can be applied to the act of a ,
municipal official who accepts a large loan
rrom a company having continuous im
portant dealings with the city.
I cannot refrain from placing before
you the facts concerning the loan of
$5000 to Mayor GilL The paragraph
above quoted carries a wrong impres
sion as regards the relations which
existed between Mr. Furth and Mayor
Gill at the time this note was given,
and I am sure that there was no in
tention on the part of The Oregonlan
to convey a false impression or in any
way reflect upon the integrity and
honesty of the late Jacob Furth.
Unfortunately the press of Seattle
misquoted and garbled the testimony
given on the witness stand in the Fed
eral Court in connection with this note.
A few days ago I went to the Seattle
Natlbnal Bank and saw the note and
discussed with bank officials the cir
cumstances under which this note was
executed. Ther facts are these:
On May 21, 1909. Hiram C. Gill and
Heber Hoyt, his law partner, signed
jointly a note for $5000 given to the
Puget Sound National Bank. On Jan
uary 5, 1910, there was indorsed on the
back of this note a payment of $160,
presumably for interest. From that
date until April 10, 1915, no payments
were made, but upon the latter date
there is an indorsement of $10 paid.
The president of the bank informs me
that Hiram C. Gill was urged to satisfy
the note at that time but could not do
so and subsequently the bank agreed
to accept in settlement $2500 and that
Hiram C. GUI had assigned his salary
to the bank and the bank has since
been applying each month a portion of
his salary on the note.
The point I want to make is this,
that Mr. Furth as president of the
Seattle Electric Company did not loan
$5000 to Hiram C. Gill, but that the
Puget Sound National Bank did loan
$5000 on a note signed Jointly by
Hiram C. GUI and Heber Hoyt, and it is
regretable that the press of this city
should have been responsible for con
veying a different Impression to the
public. W. J. GRAMBS.
SALMON'S ENEMIES
DESCRIBED
Writer Says Real Foea Are Pike, Chub
and "Trash" Kish.
COLUMBIA CITY, Or.. April 6. (To
the Editor.) In The Sunday Oregonlan
March 25, F. L. Drlscoll, of Dahlia,
Wash., writes an article concerning
flshtraps, and bases his opinions eith
er from prejudice or inexperience.
I, having had 25 years' experience
in fishing, and being equally interested
In both gillnets and traps, am writing
from an impartial viewpoint.
Mr. Driscoll seems to try to impress
upon the public that the so-called gray
lings are small Chinook salmon. I must
take issue with him and state that they
are Just as distinct a species as either
Chinooks or steelheads. He has Just as
good right to contend that bluebacks
are Chinooks.
The assertion that traps create shoals
is erroneous and misleading, as any
trap fisherman will attest. Traps drlv
en on shifting sands are unprofitable
because either the leads will sand down
and be lost or holes will cut out from
under them and allow the fish an un
obstructed passageway through.
Mr. Driscoll says that five tons and
under is the average gillne- catch for
the season, but he was careful not to
mention about the amount of fish that
are choked, to death and strained out
of the nets and lost completely. If that
fact were taken into consideration the
average catch would be raised to many
times five tons.
A gillnet moves along with the cur
rent and drags heavily over the bot
ton. If a female salmon should be so
unfortunate as to lay her eggs in the
path of a gillnet they would be cov
ered up with sand and destroyed. On
the other hand, she could go even in the
heart of a trap, lay her eggs and in
time the young fry, undisturbed, would
hatch, go to the sea, and return a fully
matured salmon, to replace the parent
fish.
The real enemies of the salmon are
not the gillnets, with their small catch
of fish; are not the wheels and traps
stationed along the shores with pas
sageways on either end, but trash fish
such as pike, chubs and suckers that
follow the runs of salmon even to the
spawning beds and feed upon the eggs.
Gillnets allow these fish to thrive,
while traps catch them, and every trap
man, out of respect for his own inter
est as well as for his fellow glll
netters, kill and destroy these fish,
thereby saving in spawn as many fish
as they take. E. D. GRAHAM.
SCHOOLS XlD IN SHIPBUILDING
Young; Men Should tB Taught Science
of Naval Construction. '
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Ed
itor.) Portland and its people should
feel proud' for several reasons. In the
first place we have the finest, largest
and most adapatable waterfront that
is to be found ln any part of America.
Secondly, we have established an in
dustry that is of the greatest National
Importance and In passing we can say
we have just launched a steel ocean
carrier of the first magnitude.
Shipbuilding in Oregon is not -new,
but for various reasons all previous at
tempts firmly to establish the industry
have been failures and it required a
world cataclysm to place Portland,
Or., on the map as an industrial center
of naval construction and engineering.
Therefore, the men who have entered
upon the various enterprises ln ship
building and naval construction should
receive our fullest support and encour
agement as well as gratitude for put
ting such a large volume of labor in
motion at a time when the outlook for
Oregon was, to say the least, not highly
encouraging. The shipbuilding indus
try, with all Its ramifications, is one of
the greatest moral factors for the
well-being of a community so favor
ably and strategically well situated as
Portland, and not the least favorable
factor Is our almost total absence of
high winds, eo detrimental to accurate
work, which is the Alpha and Omega
of naval construction.
It may be asked, what can we do to
further the Industry? The answer to
this is loyal support to the founders.
every encouragement by the municipal
ity, the commercial bodies, our bankers
and last, but not least, our school
boards and colleges. Here let It be
understood that the art of shipbuilding
is the most highly scientific of all
trades and it requires men with spe
cial training and education to prosecute
the business successfully. Therefore we
must lay the foundation for our future
shipbuilders in our public schools.
Last year The Oregonlan gave the
number of pupils in our high schools
who graduated ln trigonometry as"15 or
17. This is a pitiable showing. How
many of these graduates could Mr.
Bowles use In his shipyard? Certainly
not many. You can't make an en
gineer or a naval constructor of one
who is ignorant of the higher mathe
matics, therefore 'the utmost must be
done by our School Board to provide a
curriculum to meet the exigencies of
our shipbuilders' and engineers' needs.
W must have our young men and
women also trained specially to meet
their future employers with a fair
equivalent of knowledge ln hand In
order that all the community may be
benefited thereby.
The time to do this is now, for when
this great war is over and the world
has counted Its losses. It will again re
new its efforts to make good, a more
beneficent civilization.
GEORGE POPE,
1170 Woodstock avenue Southeast.
REFUSAL
TO
SALUTE ANGERS
School Board's Bfnsal to Require Re
spect to Flag; Resented.
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Ed
itor.) I have Just read a dispatch to
The Oregonlan from Riddle, Douglas
County, stating , that two School Di
rectors in that town had annulled an
order issued by their fellow member
on the Board requiring the children to
salute the American flag, fearing that
"it would make trouble."
With whom and for whom would It
make trouble to salute the American
flag in an- American schoolhouse? Has
it come to that in this country?
I have been attending some noon
meetings here in Portland during the
week and was shocked, as was the
audience, to hear one of the speakers
read a telegram of congratulation from
an assistant in the National Treasury
Department to some man "out West
who had "larruped proper" a miscreant
who had spoken disparagingly of the
American flag and proceeded to con
demn the official for well, for. tran
scending good taste, Insisting that
while the offender had. possibly, in
deed, probably had, gone further than
he should, yet. ln this country every
transgressor had the right of trial by
jury, etc., etc.
And that was a fair sample of an
unaercurrent of expression that you
nnd here and there at a time when
every patriotic citizen of the United
btates loves to see the flag of his conn
try and to reel in his bones, even unto
the marrow thereof, that it stands for
the best mankind has or dares to hope
tor.
When you find a man who says. "Oh,
I am decidedly opposed to the war, yet,
if and but. of course you can count on
me," you have heard the cxnres.lon of
a man who would have said in '76
"None of that Thomas Jefferson stuff
ior me, or in bi would have heen a
follower of Vallandigham.
Such men are ln favor of letting the
Kaiser win his battle for autocracy
against democracy, sinking our ships
and murdering our people at will, if tp
do otherwise would involve us in war.
"but and if, however, should we go 'to
war. why, of course, count me in," but
even then It would be better to keep
the American flag out of sight, for to
display it "might make trouble."
How much of this sort of giving aid
and comfort to our enemies in time of
war are we going to permit say right
Here in foniana?
One would think the men who is per
mitted to say the things we hear every
day about a country that allows him to
live ln it and still say them would
appreciate the privilege sufficiently to
want to right for it at the drop of the
bat! T. T. GEER.
31 Oil 10 TRADE SCHOOLS WANTED
Portland Declared to ne Pioneering
Way In Commerce Study.
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Ed
itor.) The greatest need of the United
States today ln a commercial way is for
properly trained men to carry on our
commerce with the other nations of
the world. The Government is doing
much; it should do indefinitely more.
There should be established a great
Government shool for the training of
properly accredited men for foreign
trade work.
The realization of this fact is grad
ually becoming general, and we may
confidently look for. some such develop
ment within the next five years.
In the meantime, the burden of this
work of necessity devolves, not alone
upon the universities of the nation,
but upon the commercial organizations.
These agencies are Just beginning to
realize the responsibility which rests
upon them, and foreign trade schools
are slowly coming Into existence
throughout the United States.
It should be a matter of the greatest
interest and pride to all Oregonians to
know that the first foreign trade course
to be established in the United States
held Its opening meeting in Portland,
Or., upon the evening of November 1,
1916. This course, under the direction
of myself as instructor, is maintained
jointly by the University of Oregon and
the Portland Chamber of Commerce. It
is conducted as an extension course of
the university, and credits are given to
those desiring them for university work.
Following the inauguration of this serv
ice m Portland like courses were later
established in Seattle, San Francisco
and Cleveland Many other cities are
preparing to fall into line.
For several years various univer
sities in this country have given lec
ture courses on foreign trade and al
lied subjects. The work of the Portland
class should, however, not be confused
witn these numerous lecture courses,
which, while they are undoubtedly of
benefit as far as they go. cannot in
their very nature do other than touch
with extreme brevity upon the bare sur
face of the field covered.
In the course carried on in Portland
every one of the 50 students enrolled
is supplied with a 12-volume set of text
books, each one of said books being
tne worc or an expert in tne partic
ular subject on which it treats. With
out going into detail I may say that
the text books cover every possible
phase of foreign trade Instruction from
the economics of world trade. shiPDing.
financing, credits, salesmanship, foreign
law, down to the details of export and
Import technic, and an itemized expo
sition of all the important factors in
foreign trade.
In addition to the theoretical Btudv
applied by the text, the Portland stu
dents are making an extended investi
gation of every angle of export and
import possibilities from the viewpoint
of Oregon exporters, importers, manu
facturers. Jobbers, forwarders, manu
facturers' agents and producers. They
are classifying all the products of Ore
gon and their possible foreign fields
of consumption, and are likewise class
ifying the products of foreign coun
tries, with a vew to the possibility of
tneir import here.
The carrying on of this work, which
was made possible by the securing for
Portland of a .branch co-operative of
fice of the United States bureau of for
eign "and domestic commerce, is but a
start in the very great work which was
planned along these lines by the Uni
versity of Oregon. The course as given
Is capable of extended sub-division. A
complete foreign trade school should be
established in Portland, offering courses
in foreign trade, salesmanship. Interna
tional commercial geography, shipping,
financing, credits, accountancy and a
dozen other subjects.
The University of Oregon, or some
other educational Institution, must es
tablish this school almost immediately
if Oregon is to keep step with other
states which are now laying the foun
dations for such schools along the most
ambitious lines. ANSEL R. CLARK.
TIME TO SCOTCH COPPERHEADS
Snggestiona Made That the Disloyal
Be I'sed for Work on Ships.
DORR. Wash.. April 6. (To the Edi
tor.) Now that we have finally de
cided upon war with Germany, and the
subject is supposed to be closed to de
bate, why not see that it is actually
kept closed. Why not all unite to
8 tamp out treason and sedition by a
policy combining kindness with firm
ness as suggested by President Wilson
In his speech of yesterday? Pro-German
and pacifist discussion and agita
tion can now accomplish nothing ex
cept to divide us Into two hostile
camps and weaken us both for offense
and defense, increase the danger both
from without and from within, and
prolong the war. It can no longer be
justified on the ground that It may
perhaps keep us out of war. German
sympathizers and pacifists are either
potential enemies or cowards or both,
and at best are drones consuming
needed food and goods in a hive where
every bee should now be a busy one.
They are at least an economic burden.
When they commence to argue and
agitate they become active enemies.
for their whole avowed purpose is to
increase the ranks of the internal ene
mies and the. drones, thus adding to
the economic burden and the cost of
living for the rest of us. Every recruit
they win is more dangerous to you
and to me than 10 armed soldiers in
the battle lines of Germany, hemmed
In where they can't get out.
All right, that being the case, what
shall we do with them? Very simple.
Let's isolate them and put them where
they will be neither a menace to our
safety nor an economic burden, but an
actual value from both an economic
and a military standpoint. Let every
man or woman who wants to do some
thing to serve his country right now
constitute himself Into a committee of
one to report and assist in the prose
cution of every copperhead agitator,
the first moment he opens his mouth.
Then, instead of hanginsr them for
treason, or filling our Jails with them,
to be an added economic burden upon
the Nation, let us sentence them to a
term of hard labor on an American
merchant vessel carrying supplies and
munitions of war to the allies through
the war zone. Let the Germans know
that when their submarines sink a ves
sel they will be sinking a large num
ber of their own countrymen and
friends. Perhaps they will not be quite
so eager and so reckless with their
torpedoes when they find that out.
Personally I believe they will abandon
the submarine campaign immediately.
Certainly the visible supply of Cop-
perheads will magically decrease.
Would this be a "cruel and unusual
punishment" within the meaning of the
Constitution? I do not think so. if
adopted as a war measure. We would
be in a better position to do this than
any other country, as Germany could
hardly manage to take reprisals, being
without any appreciable number of
American citizens within her borders
upon whom to take vengeance.
Germany would, of course, protest
vigorously against our action, especial
ly if German citizens were Included
among the persons so punished, on the
ground that there is no precedent in
international law to justify our doing
so. Our reply would be that there is.
on the other hand, no precedent to for
bid our doing so, as the vessels are
strictly merchant vessels and not men-
of-war, and any danger to these Ger
man citizens and friends comes from
illegal acts of Germany herself. Fur
thermore, our adoption of this policy
would be justified as a measure
of reprisal for a submarine campaign
which In its very method of operation
is plain piracy and beyond the pale of
international law and utterly without
such rights as are conveyed by the
rules of war to such belligerents as
keep within these rules a measure
which would be abandoned just as soon
as the "war zone" doctrine is aban
doned by Germany. As Germany is
now admittedly placing her reliance
upon the submarine campaign to win
the war for her. to compel her aban
donment of this campaign would be
to destroy her last hope and bring the
war to a speedy end.
BRYAN R. DORR.
GENERAL LANE IS DEFENDED
Treacherons Plot Is Denied and Some
Are Accused.
PORTLAND, April 7. (To the Edi-1
tor.) I wish to thank The Oregonlan
for the tribute to the life and charac
ter of General Joseph Lane which ap
peared March 19. I desire also to make
few statements in reply to the let
ter signed Robert II. Down, which ap
peared in The Oregonlan the same day.
Let It be known, ln the first place.
that General Lane was not taken to
the home of Mr. Jesse Applegate at
the time he was accidentally wounded
while on his way to Roseburg from
Washington, D. C, ln 1861. He was
not at any time an inmate of Mr. Ap
plegate s home. No plot in which Gen
eral Lane was implicated was at any
time revealed to him by Mr. Applegate.
Bancroft's history, or any other his
tory to the contrary notwithstanding.
Mr. Applegate may have said that such
plot had been revealed to him, and.
as stated by Bancroft, ascribed to him
self the credit of having caused Gen
eral Lane to abandon it, but if so he
fabricated the story out of whole cloth
and was guilty of a base act of treach
ery. The stout wagon which General
Lane engaged to convoy himself and be
longings from Portland to Southern
Oregon contained two or more boxes
filled with the General's books, public
and private papers, documents and let
ters, and personal effects. It contained
besides three guns, one Intended for
his own use, one for his son, Lafayette,
the third for a friend at Roseburg who
nad asked him to bring it. This was
the outfit with which General Lane
with a few other disloyal men was to
wrest Oregon from the Union! This
the wagon which it required a man of
mighty meln to undertake to convoy
over the long and hard route to Rose
burg! The inexplicable thing to my mind is
why, the rumor having gone forth that
General Lane was bent on a treacherous
mission, the matter was not investigat
ed. Surely, then as now there was au
thority to unearth a suspected plot
against the Government and bring
those implicated to Justice. Why was
this not done? Why were the sus
pected boxes not examined? Why was
General Lane allowed to proceed quiet
ly on his mad career of treachery and
destruction, a career which was cut
short only because of a "fortunate ac
cident," and at the instance of a so
called friend?
Apparently it was too good a political
tory and better for political purposes
that the truth be not known. Can any
one who knew General Lane and his
strong character believe for a moment
that he could be swerved from a course
which he had fully determined upon be
cause of the remonstrance of Mr. Jesse
Applegate, or, for that matter, any
man?
Aside from General Lane's own fam
ily, there was at least one man in Ore
gon at the time, a man (now dead) who
later became a dominant figure
throughout the state, who knew pre
cisely the contents of those boxes, and
a word from whom would have silenced
once and forever the slanderous tales.
That word was not spoken. Yet this
man posed throughout as ona r.f rcn-
eral Lane's warmest friends. Such a
friendship under political duress.
Probably the population of Dallas in
1861 approximated 200. As I have stat
ed, two or three, or a half-dozen men.
could easily have banded together and
hanged General Lane in effigy, and lat
er blazoned it forth to the world as an
act done under authority and with gen
eral public approval. If such act in
reality were committed, it reflects
disgrace only upon the perpetrators
thereof, not upon the man who with a
magnanimity born of true greatness in
an interview with a reporter a- tew
months prior to his death, spoke as
follows:
" do not recognize or acknowledge
that I have an enemy. My best wishes
extend to every good pc.son in the
state of Oregon. Aye. in all the states
i discriminate not except against those
who are not good citizens or good peo
tT1? be proud and gratified
farewell." " " affectionate
thwn alV? 8ald and done. be fact
that General Lane was tendered a com-
roor?Vhf XJnin Army 8hould bo
?h? k nClU8ive to a11 thinking people
f h waa entirely innocent of the
iu acts with which he was
charged. For the benefit of Ed C. Ross,
XSL . letter to The Journal unde
a?.. 1 March17. "Presses himself as
somewhat skeptical as to the proffered
commission. I would explain that the
L7Vnade n0t at the beginning of
h wa,r'Thut ome months after, while
home in r"0 k3 UVI" tly at his
home in Roseburg. General Hooker
T Kt .i"Cr on th Pacific Coast, but
fi hL post of duty- Unfortunate
ly the document with many other of
General Lane's important papers was
firenwh.a nUmb6r f eara "
il f I ch consumed the home and con
tents of his son-in-law. J. c. Flood, at
Roseburg. There are those still liv
ing who saw and read the document
oathC testify to the same under
It is not my purpose further to fol
low up this discussion, which is en
1,11, lr,relevant to the questions of
mighty import which face our country
today, and which should never have
been started were it not that we still
haJ , our mid!t a few benighted in
dividuals who live in the days of -61.
Whatever Mr. Down r,w -r i "
Grubbe. or anyone. mv hnn.. '. '.
t.hefvtUre on tna subject will be
wh"oh -ny ,mu Wlth tne 8ilent didain
men snouid have been
statements from the first
my whole soul rose ln revolt at the
obloquy cast upon one who. whatever
his faults. COUld nnvor
low as to attack the dead; one who long
k. k fu rcnaered his account to a
higher than any earthly Judge, a Judge
true- 'w H""TTlfUl 1'ln iu't and
true who looks Into the heart and
weighs not acts alone but motives.
A. B. S.
ENEMIES SHOH.D BE DEPORTED
Writer Thinks Time Has Come When
All Must Be Ready for Teat.
PORTLAND. Anrll 7 1T h. -ed
itor.) Keep your steam up to standard
?; .,The test of loalty is on us.
ine Nation is doomed to sniii it. hiH
again on the battlefield and It is but
hours until this hated strife must be
gin. Your Work is no less ImnnrL.t
that of the man who must carry the
rifle. Keen ud the clmr nri .nnr.i.
editorial tire that has so magnificently
marked the recent attitude of The Ore
gonlan. You will never imnmvt nn i
but do not falter. The man or woman
who cannot understand differences and
who still prates about th H.Hfi
tltude of our Government in preparing
to kill people, if not clearly convinced
of the truth about this terrible strug
gle, after readinir the
vincing, unanswerable expositions of
your many editorials, should be sent
to a military kindergarten or be put
under the control of a governor, since
he Is either insane, hopelessly befogged
by prejudice or shamelessly disloyal to
the Government that protects him.
Papers that continue to embarrass
the Government authorities i.
ly educate the youth of our land by
raise theories and the constant dissem
ination of alreadv exnloded lion hiiM
be suppressed; and It is certain that a
little later, if this course is continued
they will be.
No man has anv lecral nr mmai .tvi
In this land whose sympathies for a
foreign government compel him to dis
loyal words or acts. Every man has a
j'sht. to h,s opinion; but when he pre
fers the government and lni.i. nr a
foreign land, whatever that govern
ment or land may be. there is where he
should go. and if he does not do so
voluntarily, he should be compelled to
go by authority or at once be put in a
place of confinement, for the country's
ea-tety. J. h. ACTON.
DISLOYAL TALK-
IS CENSURED
Wr," Declares Americans Should Re
joice to Uphold Liberties.
PORTLAND, April 3. (To the Ed
itor.) I happened to be in a grocer's
store and heard the newsboys shout
about that declaration of war. At the
same time the proprietor of the store
and one other man said: 'Down with
the war. Germany has a right to sink
any boats, as others are sinking her
boats and trying to crush her. Amer
icans have no business to send ammuni
tion to England and other nations. We
may now expect a revolution here."
I never was so surprised in my life,
because both men were Americans by
birth, but I do not know what devil
they possess to be so unpatriotic to this
mother country of all humankind na
tions who love righteousness and lib
erty. American people, and every one of us.'
no matter whence we come, should at
once be ready to protect not only lives
but future as well as the present liberty
from such a cruel monster with black
eagle banner across the ocean. Our
Stars and Stripes are the supreme sign
of all progress and prosperity to all
and forever.
It is very good to know bad as well
as good opinion of such "people now-a-days.
I do not know what others would say
about this, but I think that people
with such unpatriotic ideas do not care
much for the National honor, especially
some people who believe in money
power. They would rather have a few
dollars more than to see all nations
freed from the tyrant's yoke. They
are afraid now-a-days of spoiling their
business. But the United States la
doing his will, and let us see.
NICHOLAS Q. RADOVICH.
; t-
IS
T