The Sunday Oregonian., December 09, 1917, SECTION THREE, Page 6, Image 44

THE SUNDAY OltEGOXIAX, PORTLAND, DECE3IBER 9, 1917.
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PORTLAND. SUNDAY, DEC. 9, 1917.
WHO IS TO BLAME?
The Oregon Voter has In its current
Issue an Informative and authentic
article on county and city finances,
by Mr. James J. Sayre, a student of
public administration and a judicious
and fair-minded critic of present-day
governmental methods. In view of all
the clamor against public waste and
extravagance and the demands from
various sources indeed, from all in
terested sources that expenses be cut
down, it is curious to observe that Mr.
Eayre says that "in the main, the ne
cessity for keeping down expenses
, . . has been recognized. In some
Instances, cuts have gone too deep. In
other instances, many improvements
have been eliminated, and repairs have
been postponed in an effort to accom
plish economy."
What, then, is the matter? Is the
tax-paying public deceived in its no
tion that taxes are steadily mounting
higher and higher? Or is it certain
of that obvious fact, but merely un
certain where to locate the respon
sibility? It would appear, however,
that as a rule it is not at all in doubt
as to where to place the blame it is
upon our political system of govern
ment, operating through politicians in
(Office.
Just how far this criticism appears
to be valid it is not our purpose just
now to say, although the suggestion
may justifiably be offered that these
is, and there will be, no way to get
rid of it, unless popular government
Itself is revolutionized. The favorite
remedy of the well-meaning, but help
less and hopeless, bodies of volunteer
citizen investigators who undertake
sporadically to survey the in
scrutable mysteries of administration,
is that the party system is all wrong,
and that there should be n'on-partisan-ship
in every branch of local govern
ment. Ah, yes. But, as one observer,
The Oregonian has never been able to
detect the slightest difference in the
kind and competency of men selected
by the public for office under a par
tisan system and a so-called non-partisan
system. There is variation of
competency in individuals, of course;
but, generally speaking, under our
popular scheme of running our affairs,
the same people select the same offi
cials from the same groups.
If it be said that under the party
system the politicians are elected to
office and under the non-party system
the candidates come from the non
professionals, and, therefore, from the
mass of the people, it is sufficient to
refer to the record of the past decade
in Portland and Oregon. If non-professionals
are ever called to official
place by the voice of the people, it is
not long before they become profes
sionals. The indifference of the public to its
own affairs is the politician's oppor
tunity. There are a thousand voices
calling for renovation and reform, but
none, or almost none, offering a con
structive and scientific plan, intelli
gently presented and diligently pur
sued until there shall be a decision by
any law-making body authorized to
effect a change. Who does not re
member the agitation, three or more
years ago, for; consolidation of state
departments at "Salem, and the long
and hard fight in the Legislature, and
the pitifully meager outcome? What
service to the public, in getting a well
considered and efficient measure
through the Legislature, did any of
the luncheon clubs which are earnestly
hunting for something to talk about,
and, perhaps, to do, perform in going
to Salem and staying with the job
until something was done? What did
they, or anybody, say or do afterwards
to the politicians, in office and out,
who had defeated the proposal? The
action of the opponents of revision
and consolidation was probably for
gotten, with a mere sequel of some
new vocal protestation that some
thing or other should be done to stop
- duplication, waste, inefficiency," etc.,
etc. -
Mr. Sayre reports that, at the pub
lic hearing of the various tax-levying
bodies city, county. School Board,
Port of Portland there was in no
instance an adequate response from
the public for attendance, participa
tion and instruction. At the School
Board, a single large taxpayer ap
peared, and it was not better at the
Port of Portland. At the City Com
mission, the retention or dismissal of
the city chemist attracted more at
tention than ,any other item; and a
demand for economy by the represen
tative of a taxpayer was accompanied
by no concrete plan or constructive
advice'.
The Oregonian does not subscribe to
the doctrine 'of "letting George do- it"
and it is not cheerless about the situa
tion, nor unmindful of the un
doubted benefits of agitation, nor in
appreciative of the efforts of sundry
public-spirited citizens to investigate
and to help by counsel and service.
An excellent budget committee was
appointed by the County Commission
ers, though in the end the results were
disappointing because of an irrecon
cilable "difference as to the road ap
propriation. But if such men ' will
make the public's business their own,
and will persist in the effort to pro
cure competent administration, prog
ress will surely be made, and in the
end the goal will be reached, approxi
mately if not actually. Yet there never
can be and never will be competent
administration from incompetent ad
minlstrators, and it is clear that the
reform should begin at the source,
which is the selection of public offi
cials. Let the luncheon clubs continue to
meet and tell is what is the matter,
and let successive committees of citi
zens serve their brief day in analysis
of budgets and recommendations as
to appropriation and experroiture. It
is vital that public opinion be kept in
formed and public sentiment alive;
but above everything let a plan be de
vised by which citizens, such as Mr.
McNaughton, Mr. Farrell, Mr. Talbot,
Mr. Benson, Mr. Strong, Mr.. Gold
smith, and others, may be persuaded
to organize and make a complete sur
vey of county and city, with their
findings. Then let them, or some or
ganization for. them, go to the Legis
lature, and stay there, day and night,
until there is a willing response and
a satisfactory result.
THE WORST CHILDREN.'
The old Idea of establishing a school
for parents, which would be a good
thing, perhaps, if there were a com
pulsory attendance clause attached to
it, has been revived by Professor
Jenks, of the department of psychol
ogy of the University of Minnesota.
He said recently in a lecture that
"American children are notorious as
the worst-behaved children on earth,"
and blamed home influence.
It would be interesting to know
whether Professor Jenks has children
of his own, or is a crusty old bachelor,
as his savage denunciation would in
dicate him to be. It is true that
young America sometimes bubbles
over with spirits, and that he Is not
so amenable as he might be to author
ity, but we do not yet believe that he
is the "worst on earth."
The young men now responding to
the country's call, who were some
body's children only a few years ago,
are making a fine showing upon the
whole, and it would seem in fairness
that the American parent ought to
have some of the credit for it.
SOLDIERS' IXSCRASfCE.
Further evidence of the desire of
the Government to protect its soldiers
in every possible way is furnished by
the liberal construction placed by the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance on the
section of the act which provides that
the bureau shall furnish information
and act for persons in the service with
respect to any contract for insurance.
It is proposed to cut all red tape that
might prevent the bureau from giving
real assistance to the soldier, and to
look after not only his life insurance
contracts, but his fire insurance as
well. He is permitted to assign a suf
ficient portion of his pay to create a
trust fund, out of which all such pay
ments shall be made, but tliere is to
be no charge for the work performed
by the bureau.
This is a practical step in the
right direction. The Army and Navy
Journal points out that it was the un
happy experience of officers and men
in the Spanish war. that it was often
difficult, when not impossible, for
them to give attention to the payment
of premiums when they became due.
Sometimes there were indorsements
to be obtained and other details to be
complied with, involving correspond
ence not easy for a man in active serv
ice in the field. This is to be taken
over by the bureau, which constitutes
itself the agent of the soldier, and pro
tects him against loss from neglect.
Insurance of the man's life, his casu
alties, his home and his household
goods will all be embraced in the new
order, details of the administration of
which are now being worked out.
While the benefit to any soldier is
obvious, there will be a peculiar ad
vantage to the man who happens to
be wounded or taken prisoner. He
will be relieved of all anxiety on the
one score, and will rest secure In the
knowledge that his business is being
looked after by experts. A branch of
the bureau will be established in
France for the convenience of men of
the expeditionary force.
The popularity of Government life
insurance is attested by the fact that
already more than a billion and a
quarter dollars in policies have been
taken out by nearly 150,000 men.
This represents nearly the maximum
amount allowed by law. One battalion
of Marines, consisting of twenty-six
officers and 1011 men, took $10,276.
000 of insurance, a remarkable record
as showing the virtually unanimous
determination of a large body of men
to make the fullest possible provision
for their dependents.
CJilTE FOR PORTLAND COMMERCE.
The cold, hard facts of the Port
land shipping question were told by
President Corbett, of the Chamber of
Commerce, in his recent speech to
the Realty Board. It is necessary
that the people have those facts
clearly in mind when they make plans
and efforts to establish shipping lines.
Portland removed the first and worst
obstacles to regular shipping lines
when it secured a forty-foot channel
on the bar and a thirty-foot channel
in the river and when it built the
first two municipal docks. A year
hence it will have removed another
by building the grain elevator and
general freight terminal. Provision
has been made for a harbor tug. The
only harbor facility then lacking will
be bunkers supplying coal at equal
price with other ports. As the Dock
Commission is willing to provide a
free site at St. Johns, the Port Com
mission should not hesitate to call for
a vote next November on a bond issue
for the purpose. The people have
expressed their.-opinion so often and
so 'emphatically in favor of providing
all the facilities for commerce that no
doubt of their favorable verdict should
be entertained.
But all these things combined do
not make commerce. Not even ships
can do that, for commerce consists
in the goods which fill the ships.
These must be provided by the people
themselves. It is senseless to call
upon the railroads alone to provide
traffic for ships. They can do a part
a large part but. a shipping line
which depended solely on the traffic
which railroads haul to and from the
port would soon fade away. If ships
come here regularly, the railroads will
deliver traffic to them; otherwise they
will haul it to other ports which have
ships.
The conclusion is Inevitable that, in
order to get shipping lines, Portland
commerce must occupy the bulk of
their cargo space. The crux of the
whole question was thus stated by Mr.
Corbett:
And when lines are established we've got
to support them. One of the reasons why
we are now floundering around for this
line and that line is that. we have. not given
loyal support in the past to our ship lines
and to our exporting: and Importing com
panies. Until those who do not give this loyal sup
port are visited with the displeasure of the
whole community, we are not going to get
very far in establishing a commercial cen
ter here.
Ships will not come unless they get
traffic, and it is up to Portland to pro-
jvide. the traffic, That can be done if
the merchants and manufacturers
unite in a pledge of a certain mini
mum tonnage for a line with regular
sailings. It requires a united people,
loyal to their city, willing to help
themselves and- not seeking for a
scapegoat in the railroads or any other
interest. It also requires that "dis
tinct maritime flavor in the minds of
our people," and men "capable of
handling great overseas transporta
tion," again to quote Mr. Corbett.
Before the United States entered the
war it had gone through a campaign
of preparedness for war. Now is the
time for Portland to enter upon a
united campaign of preparedness for
commerce, which will begin to come
while the war 'is on but which will,
come in a flood after the war. But it
will not come to Portland unless Port
land goods are loaded on, and un
loaded from, ships at Portland docks.
To secure that does not require much
just plain loyalty to your own home
toTn.
FRITZ KREISLER.
Fritz Krelsler has, happily, disposed
in advance of any question that might
be raised as to the propriety of his
adding to his store of American money
during the period of the war by with
drawing from concerts. He will make
no more appearances, unless for char
ity under the direction of undoubted
Americans, while the conflict con
tinues. In this resolution, reached
before President Wilson made his for
mal request for a declaration of war
on Austria, Krelsler exhibits the deli
cacy of feeling and refinement of sen
sibility that might have been expected
in a true artist.
Having thus removed himself from
the heat of discussion of motives,
Krelsler has opened the way to a fa
vorable reception of a straightforward
statement in his own behalf. He now
denies that he is an Austrian officer
in the country on a furlough, or that
at any time he has sent funds abroad
to give aid and comfort to enemy
arms. He served about six weeks in
the Austrian army on the Russian
front, was wounded and discharged
from further service. No attempt has
been made by the Austrian govern
ment to recall him.
As to money he has sent abroad,
he says that he has sent a small
monthly allowance to his father, a
professor of zoology, who is 74 years
old, who lost everything in the Rus
sian invasion and who is now in
capacitated by paralysis. He has sent
funds to the orphan children of somo
artists, friends of his, who fell at the
front, and eleven individual monthly
allowances to the destitute orphans
of some Russian and Serbian pris
oners who were nursed by Mrs. Kreis
ler. For three years, he says, his
earnings were the sole support of
seventeen British, Russian, French
and Italian artists who found them
selves stranded in Austria at the be
ginning of the war.
An ironical aspect of the situation
is that Kreisler is now prevented from
sending aid even to artists and or
phans of the nationalities of our allies.
But this is one of the results of war,
In which we cannot ignore the fact
that emotion plays a more important
part than in peace. He has shown
the sincerity of his desire to place art
above nationality, but he has been
caught in the swirl of world events.
It is quite likely," to6, that ""by . his
dignified stand he has done more for
the ultimate internationalism of art
than he could possibly accomplish by
ill-advised obstinacy or argumenta
tiveness at the wrong time. He has
set an example that might be followed
with profit by others.
AtCESTE RODIX.
One event stands out in the life of
Auguste Rodin, the French sculptor,
who died the other day, that will im
press the layman. This wa3the . re
jection by the academicians of one
of his early works on the ground that
it was so faithful to nature that it was
under suspicion of having been", cast
from a living model. Of course,.if the
suspicion had been well founded, the
action of the art authorities would
have been justified. It was not true,
however, and Rodin lived to be dis
cussed and written about, and praised
as fulsomely and condemned as.'se-,
verely as has been no other artist in
a century, unless Whistler be excepted.
In restoring "naturalism" to his own
art, he at least did something to set
art free from aloofness. He shat
tered the tradition that the painter or
the sculptor works for an "exclusive"
clientele. It is probable that the patter
of the atalier, which speaks in a lan
guage intelligible only to the inner
circle of the elect, did not much in
terest him. He appealed strongly to
those observers, for example, who
know what a man looks like, but are
not much concerned with the ancient
tricks of symbolism with which he
is treated by the modelers and which
are supposed t6 be understood only
by those who have taken the mystic
degrees. '
It is interesting to read what some
of the critics say about Rodin now.
He is accused of being ruled by ob
servation, rather than by imagination,
as if that were a shortcoming; and of
being shallow because he was faith
ful to nature rather than to a con
ventional conception of a manner of
representing nature; and of placing
too much stress on craftsmanship.
"There is a certain speclousness in the
very beauty of his modeling" (which
are the words of one commentator),
expresses in a few words the attitude
of those who will not be torn from the
old notion that if a thing is compre
hensible to the ordinary individual it
cannot possibly be artistic in the high
sense of the word. Only those hav
ing the grips and passwords can be
artists or appreciators of art, they
would have us believe. They are not
confined to sculpture. There are mu
sicians of the same school; and paint
ers who call themselves impression
ists and neo-this and that, and shroud
their business with mystery and clap
trap. Rodin; for all his early ups and
downs, had the masses with him, and
was no less an artist because of that.
He is quoted by one of his biogra
phers as saying about his critics:
They -will "hot understand my realism.
For them sculpture should not endeavor to
represent flesh and blood and bone, since
marble and bronze do not possess the colors
which in painting create the illusion of life.
I. on the contrary, claim that the sculptor
can reach the same result if he will repro
duce with fidelity and intensity the model
he has before him. It is with his eyes fixed
on life that he must work: and his art will
be able to represent it entire when he has
observed sufficiently and has sufficiently
trained his fingers.
The artist, said Rodin, who tells of
his "ideal" commits an error. "His
Ideal," the great French sculptor
added, "is false. In the name of this
ideal, he pretends to rectify his model,
retouching a certain profound organ
ism which certain admirably com
bined laws regulate. Through his
corrections he destroys the ensemble;
he composes a mosaic instead of
creating a work of art. The 'faults'
o the model do not exist. If we cor
rect what we call a fault, we simply
present something in the place of that
which nature has presented. W e de
stroy the equilibrium; the rectified
part is always that which is necessary
to the harmony of the whole." This
was his philosophy in a few words,
his rebuke to the class of artists who
are always "seeing things" and to the
blind worshipers of the impressionists
who go into ecstacies over hidden
meanings which they imagine they
and a few of their kind alone are able
to discover. It was his doctrine that
nature is the only guide that it is
necessary to follow. "She gives us
the truth of an impression because she
gives us the truth of its forms, and if
we copy this with sincerity she points
out the means of uniting these forms
and expressing them," he said.
;It Is refreshing to review the work
of an artist who did not believe him
self above making the most minute
study of nature, open-mindedly, and
with a view, not of "improving" upon
her, but of recording only the truth.
Notwithstanding the professions of
some artists that they pursue nothing
but the truth, too many of them, it Is
to be feared, are only egotists run to
seed. It is not the truth they really
seek, but some outre interpretation
of it.
Rodin was not what would be pre
cisely termed the founder of a "new
school." but he did a good deal to
popularize painstaking study and mas
tery of craftsmanship and attention
to detail. If he later proceeded to
forget some of this, it was only after
he had made sure of himself. He
did not rob the lesson of its value for
those who would follow him.
As he was the most lauded sculp
tor, of his generation, so also Rodin
was one of the most severely criti
cised. One extreme invariably begets
the other. But "a popularity such as
he achieved needs no defense. It re
minds one of the old adage about
tombstones that those who need
them do not deserve them. His In
fluence was wholesome, he proved
what can be done with a moderate
endowment of genius and a vast ca
pacity for hard work. While he lived
he gave to the government of France
all of his clay casts, on certain condi
tions which were easily fulfilled, and
despite the great war, France is tak
ing pains to insure their preservation.
LEADERSHIP.
The .high importance of positive and
accurate knowledge . in establishing
leadership has more than once been
called to attention in the Army train
ing camps of the country, and it is
one of the benefits the Nation will
receive from the mobilization even if
the services of its men never are
required in the field. Education for
the Army will have a distinct effect
upon the body of citizens after peace
is established, if it does nothing more
than make this one fact clear that
there is no substitute for accurate
knowledge. The man who knows, and
knows he knows, is going to Le the
man upon whom the country will lean
in the years to come.
This was put forcibly the other day
in the farewell instructions given to
the student-officers in the second
training camp at Fort Sheridan by
Major C. A. Bach, one of the instruc
tors. "To lead," he said, "you must
know." The statement would be trite
if experience had not shown it to be
necessary that it should be relte rated
frequently. It is, as a matter of fact,
as true in civil as in military life, but
It has taken a great war to bring it
out. "You may bluff all the men some
of the time," said the Major, para
phrasing the words of a famous Presi
dent, "but you can't do it all the time.
Men will have confidence in an officer
only if he knows his business from the
ground up." He went on:
They are perfectly ready and eager to fol
low you so long as you can convince them
that you have the right Qualities. When the
time comes that they are satisfied you do not
possess them, you might as well kiss your
self " good-by. . Your usefulness in that or
ganization is at an end.
-r The world is made up of two classes
of men in this respect-of those who
can lead and those who are wholly
willing to be led, but the latter class
contains an element within itself that
is Inclined to Insist that its leaders
shall demonstrate their competency.
There has been in the past too much
assumption of leadership by thosp
who are unwilling to fit themselves
for the responsibility. They have
failed to hold their ground and have
blamed the people instead of them
selves. They have not comprehended
the meaning of noblesse oblige. But
there Is so much more at stake in war.
In which men give their lives, than in
any merely commercial or social en
terprise, that there is going to be
general Insistence that those who as
sume to lead shall qualify themselves.
Army service will be not only a great
leveler, but an effective machine for
sorting the sheep from the goats. The
effect of this process will be felt in
the remotest recess of the social or
ganization. "There is no substitute for accurate
knowledge" makes as good a slogan
for business as for war, and should be
impressed as firmly upon the student
in college as upon the soldier in camp.
It is necessary to know something
thoroughly, nowadays, and to develop
self-confidence, decision, dignity and
courage without which moral ascend
ency or any kind of leadership Is im
possible. What a country we shall
have when a million or two million
men return to civil life with this great
lesson firmly fixed in their minds!
OVERCOMING FOOD PREJVDICES.
As certain ingrained prejudices os
to the edibility of various food sub
stances have been overcome, people
are finding their sources "of supply
largely increased. The United States
Bureau oi Fisheries not long ago
added dogfish to the National menu
by the simple expedient of changing
its name to grayflsh. Now another
harmless bit of camouflage has put
muskrats on - the . bill of fare. As
"marsh rabbits" these little animals
are found not only nourishing but
palatable. Dr. David Lantz, of the
United States Biological Survey, has
been trying for years to popularize
them for food. They are not really
rats, and the name has militated
against them. People are now learn
ing to like them under " their new
name.
Meanwhile there is a prospect that
the carp, without a change of name,
will be restored to popularity. High
food prices attune our ears more deli
cately to the argument of utility. We
are now reminded again that carp is
easy of digestion, that it contains as
much protein as sirloin steak, and that
it can be cooked in such a way as to
remove the "muddy" taste. It is good
smoked, and the roe are also good to
eat. In a recent year 43,000,000
pounds were marketed and eaten in
the United States. This was only a
small part of the supply, but the fact
that someone ate so large a quantity
tells its own story.
Trade - in- whale meat is already
assuming large proportions, without
deception as'to name. Porpoises and
dolphins, which also are mammals
like the whale, are being eaten ex
tensively, although the business has
been built up practically within a
year. On the great plains of the
Middle West it is being recalled that
the "prairie dog" was relished by the
pioneers. It is not a dog and its diet
of roots and grains recommends it.
The ground squirrel, once despised by
those who did not know it, is being
eaten in California, to the advantage
both of the eater and the domestic
crops that it destroyed.
But the attitude of the public toward
the shark probably has undergone the
most remarkable change of all. This
is due to knowledge that only a few
of the many varieties of sharks are
scavengers or eat human beings. Some
varieties are highly fastidious in their
choice of food. The hammerhead, for
example, subsists almost entirely on
Spanish mackerel. Klghteen kinds of
sharks are now being caught on the
Atlantic Coast and sold for food under
their true names.
Every pound of the newly discov
ered or newly developed food thus
consumed at home conserves a pound
of staple beef or pork for shipment
to our armies in the field. The im
portance of overcoming Illogical preju
dices is thus made apparent.
"BILL" CHANDLER A"D OREGOX IX 1876
The death of William Eaton Chan
dler, of New Hampshire, on November
30, was an event that, in the hurly
burly of the world's affairs, attracted
little notice: yet in special ways he
had as much to do with making his
tory in the United States as almost
any man of his time. He had lived to
the ripe age of eighty-two and In the
last decade or more had been only oc
casionally in the public eye. But he
was entitled more than any other, per
haps, to be known as the creator of
the modern American Navy, for it was
as Secretary of the Navy, under Presi
dent Arthur, that on June 11, 1883, he
approved the plan of reorganization
which, resulted In development of the
present great fighting fleet. It has
been the practice of partisan orators
and papers to give credit to William
C. Whitney, Secretary of the Navy
under President Cleveland, for that
notable service, and It is undoubtedly
true that the organizing talent and
strong patriotism of Secretary Whitney
contributed largely to yiat result; yet
it remains true that the real begin
nings were with Chandler and the Ar
thur Administration.
A partisan of the fervid type, Mr.
Chandler had a long and turbulent
career on the stage of American poli
tics. He was born in Concord, N. H.,
December 28, 1835. He was educated
in the public school of Concord and
in academies in Thetford, Vt., and
Pembroke, N. H. He studied law in
the Harvard Law School and was ad
mitted to the bar in 18 55, and became
reporter of the decisions of the Su
preme Court of New Hampshire in
1859. -He was a member of the Legis
lature and Speaker of the House of his
state from 18C2 to 1864.
In November, 1864, Mr. Chandler
was employed by the Navy Depart
ment -to prosecute the Philadelphia
Navy-yard frauds, and on March 9,
1865, he was appointed by President
Lincoln the first Solicitor and Judge
Advocate-General f the Navy Depart
ment, and later in the year he became
the First Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury under Secretary McCulloch.
Ho resigned after two years of service.
Later he was secretary of the Na
tional Republican Committee, and in
1881 was appointed Secretary of the
Navy. He was elected United States
Senator for New Hampshire in 1887,
and saw fourteen years of service
there. He was later president of the
Spanish War Claims Commission.
The relation of Mr. Chandler to- the
disputed Presidential election of 1876
will be well remembered by all who
have knowledge of the critical part
Oregon played in that memorable
contest. Through him, and through
his namesake, Zachariah Chandler, of
Michigan, chairman of the National
Republican Committee, there was con
tributed the most extraordinary politi
cal episode In the history of the coun
try, in time of peace. It seemed
apparent, on the face of returns, that
Tilden had been elected over Hayes,
for the Democratic candidate had car
ried the pivotal states of the North,
and it was taken for granted that the
Solid South had played its historic role
of uniform Democratic returns, inter
rupted only by the Civil War. But
Chandler, who had had experience in
Presidential politics, and who had
been chosen an elector in his own
state, arrived in New York on the
night of election, and, in the face of
practically conceded defeat, laid be
fore Zachariah Chandler the plan of
wiring the Republican managers of
Louisiana, Florida, South Carolina and
Oregon not to give up, and warning
them against fraud. "Rutherford B.
Hayes has received 185 electoral votes
and has been elected," said another
Chandler telegram, a historic missive.
Here was the beginning of that re
markable chain of events which cov
ered the Republican effort to count
the three Southern states for Hayes
and to hold Oregon for the Republican
nominee, in the face of a purely tech
nical claim of disqualification against
a single Republican elector.
Undoubtedly Oregon had gone Re
publican on a fair count, but the loss
of a single vote In the electoral col
lege from the claims set up by the Re
publicans meant the defeat of Hayes
and the election of Tilden. In other
words, with Louisiana, Florida, South
Carolina and Oregon counted for the
Republicans, the vote with the states
conceded to the Democrats would have
stood 185 for Hayes, 184 for Tilden in
the electoral college. It was vital,
then, that the plan devised by the bold
and ingenious Chandler be carried out
to the last detail: and it was.
The story of the electoral commis
sion and of its decision for Hayes (by
a series of 8 to 7 votes) is familiar;
but the Oregon contest, which had no
special relation to the returning boards
of the South, and the exciting and
doubtful struggles there, Is not so well
known a story.
The situation in Oregon briefly was
that the Governor of the state was a
Democrat and, in face of the returns,
he certified to the election of one
Democrat for elector (E. A. Cronln),
and two Republicans. The ground of
this action was that J. W. Watts, one
of the Republican candidates for
elector, was a postmaster and was In
eligible . under the constitutional pro
vision that "no person holding an of
fice of trust or profit under the United
States shall be an elector." Mr. Watts
resigned as postmaster and was named
by the two other electors. Republicans,
to be the third elector. Thus two sets
of returns were sent on from Oregon
to the electoral commission, which de
cided that Watts had properly quali
fied as an elector, and that the three
votes of Oregon should be cast for
Hayes, Ko .question .can fairly be
raised that, so far as Oregon was con
cerned, the state had gone for Hayes;
it could not have been counted other
wise without doing violence to the
plain interest of the electorate. As to
the equities of the general controversy,
including the merit of the Southern
contentions, on either side,, that may
be quite another matter.
Chandler was not a statesman of
the first rank; but, aside from his
partisan activities, he was long a con
spicuous figure, and he served his
state and Nation well. He was in the
forefront of the Republican politicians
who -succeeded the Civil War group
andhe inherited their prejudices and
adopted and made highly efficient
their methods. He was bitterly hated
by the opposing party leaders, who
never forgave him for the role he
played in 1876. It is perhaps a strange
thing that this man, with his record of
stopping at nothing to promote the In
terest of party, and his long Identifi
cation with a partisan machine, should
have had the courage to take ad
vanced ground as Senator on many
public measures, and to have sup
ported several meritorious remedial
acts. In the end, too, it Is Interesting
to note that he left the Republican
party and became a Progressive.
Success of the Young Men's Chrls
tion Association in raising its new
service fund has called attention to
the important task of choosing suit
able men to act as secretaries on the
war fronts. The Y. M. C. A. neces
sarily Is exceedingly cautious in mak
ing its selections, both as to the moral
fitness of the candidates and their
equally Important tact, education and
executive ability, and the full extent
of the task is only now coming to be
realized. College graduates are re
quired, and it Is also essential that the
secretary shall have a working knowl
edge of the language of the country
to which he is to be sent. Mobiliza
tion of nearly 4000 young men, not
otherwise effectively employed, who
possessed the essential qualities has
not proved easy. It is desired that
about 1000 shall be at their posts
overseas by the close of the year, and
that at least 1500 more ba sent in the
ensuing six months, after which still
more will be sent as they can be
found.
There is no good reason why the
smelt of our Oregon rivers should not
take the place of the world-famous
sardine, and the food economists are
beginning to find this out. The num
ber of true sardines now consumed
is small In proportion to the whole
number canned under the name. Vast
quantities of sprat serve the purpose
In the English markets, and only epi
cures are able to distinguish them
from the Mediterranean sardine which
originally derived Its reputation for
superior excellence from French skill
In treating it with wine and olive
oil. The menhaden of our own At
lantic Coast also does duty as a sar
dine when canned for export. There
is no good reason, however, why the
Pacific Coast smelt should require any
camouflage to insure it a market.
There is no prejudice against it, and
it is so good to eat that it ought to
make a name for itself on its own
merits if marketed with care.
Frequent fires in harvest fields and
warehouses might be prevented by re
strictions on sale of such Inflammable
substances as phosphorus. German
agents In this country may have been
supplied with some of those tablets
which were used by the German army
in setting fire to houses in Belgium
and France. As these tablets could
easily be thrown into the fields by a
man passing along a road, the perpe
trators of the crime could not be
quickly detected.
The call is out for bigger crops than
ever in 1918. Speaking for the back
lot owners, it is safe to say that they
will profit by their experience in 1917,
and that so far as weather goes, it
can hardly be more unfavorable than
It was last year.
The Klamath Falls bootlegger who
has been released from jail In order
that he may aid in lumber production
has a chance to learn that there is
just as much profit in the long run,
and a lot less worry, in honest toll.
When Benjamin Franklin remarked
that the way to get a thing well doff
was to do it yourself, he may have
had in mind carrying your packages
home with, you from the store in the
rush season of holiday shopping.
Judging by the number of times
that Villa forces are annihilated with
out uncovering the whereabouts of
Francisco himself, one must conclude
that the bandit leader is directing his
followers by telepathy.
The Teutons want to be assured
that they are dealing with a respon
sible government in Russia. Potsdam
knows better than to take chances
with a treaty that may turn out to be
only a scrap of paper.
The Prussian junkers are quite will
ing to treat with the Russian Bol
shevik! and later on, but for quite
different reasons, they may be willing
to sit at the council table with the
Bolshevikl at home.
"Small potato" Is beginning to lose
its force as a term of reproach. It has
now come to symbolize something
which Is being employed to the ut
most of its modest and unassuming
capacity.
An optimist is one who reflects that,
under the daylight saving system, the
disadvantage of early rising is more
than offset by the chance to get off an
hour earlier In the afternoon.
Those Austrians of quite undoubted
probity who fall under the ban of war
can only reflect upon the punishment
of Old Dog Tray and the reasons
therefor.
We wish some of the poets who are
making a mess of the cut-and-dried
subjects would try their hand on a
pean or two to fried corn meal mush.
A timely snow storm in the rear of
the Austro-German lines in Italy
would do much to restore providence
in the good graces of the allies.
Soon the race will begin to deter
mine which district shall be first to
receive a complete set of answers to
its questionnaires.
The ancient practice of using freight
cars as storage warehouses is not
nearly so popular as it was before the
war began.
The rush to volunteer is a ' good
index of the growing appreciation by
the people of the seriousness of the
war.
Night in the Mountains.
A Poem From the Inspired Pern of
Mine Popale McSmt, the Sweet
Sinner of Shre Mosstalit. asid
Kla.obed 1b Prlat by Her Kcllow
Bard, James Barton Adams-
The full moon hangs in yonder quiet
-skies
As silver medal hung on Nature's
breast.
The stars in dreamy manner bat their
eyes.
The fleecy clouds bunch up to take a
rest.
The night wynd whispers to the sway
ing trees.
The tree toad chirps a song of sweet
content.
The mountain flowers tone up the
passing breeze
With soft and dreamy aromatic scent.
And in the air the whlppoorwllls and
bats
In slgzag flight pursue the fright
ened gnats.
The moonlight dances on the crystal
stream.
With soft and noiseless silver slip
pered feet.
And lights the snowy peaks until they
gleam
With dreamy beauty that is hard to
beat.
The glad, enraptured soul of him or her
Who drinks with greedy eyes the
picture grand
Seems deeply stirred by an unusual stir.
Seems filled with ecstacy to beat the
band;
Seems to have cut the guys and quit
the earth
To entex on the promised second birth.
A glad nlghtbtrd. whose name I can't
recall.
Sits on a swaying bough and softly
sings
A low. melodious plaint that would
entrall
The ears of anchorites and saints and
things.
The gray owl p.erched upon a distant
crag
Replies in hootlngs in a deeper key.
A wolf on nearby hillock chews the rag
Because its savage nature cannot see
The tender beauty of the songs that fill
The human ear with sev'ral kinds of
thrill.
To one like I. of keen poetic trend.
The scene appeals with quite resist
less force
As sit I robed in silvery moonrays, and
Some other outer coverings, of course.
A rapt sensation creeps clear from my
head
Down to the tingling feet that fill
my shoes
Until I fain would seek a leafy bed
And lie me down to rapturously
snooze.
Wrapped In a robe de nuit of fleecy
bliss.
Till daybreak broke my dreaming with
a kiss.
THE WILLAMETTE WINTER.
Winter, the final of the year.
Comes stealing in from Autumn's close.
And brings the days so short and drear.
And adds a dampness to our woes.
The weeping spindles of the field
Are list'ning to the Winter blast;
The Autumn flowers their blossoms
yield
And at our feet their colors cast.
The Winter shadows slanting throw.
Like spirits from the Autumn's haze,
Their lines along the winnowed row
And steal away the Autumn's blaze.
With Winter's rain the rivers swell
And fret along their pebbly ways
And laughing on their stories tell
Of other years and months and days.
The fire-grate glows at eventide;
The windows closed a little more.
And now we throw the ingle wide
And welcome all within our door.
It snows we'd hardly call it snow
So warm and fades so soon away:
The feathery flakes that come soon S
And brings again the Chinook day.
It mists we sometimes call it rain
And now and then a silver thaw
That bends and cracks and groans In
pain ;
A wanton child that breaks the law.
The fluttering of the soft blown snow.
The sighing grass, the list'ning sky
From cradle to the grave each go
Down life's shimmering slopes and die.
Decrepit age will come too fast
And Wlnter'll hide behind the Spring
All covered o'er with green at last
When he is dead, poor thing, poor thing.
Dr. Ernest Everest.
THE AMEIUCAX-BOIUr
They met in the center of No Man's
Land
When the night was still and dark.
And skirmished there, with a serious
care.
Where the deadly shells find mark.
They clinched In combat, man to man.
And the blinking stars looked down
On a stalwart Hun and a youthful one
In a draggled suit of brown.
Then, "Och. kamerad!" cried the losing
man.
As he lilted his hands in air.
While sputtering shell from the nearby
hell
Burst close, with its flickering glare.
And the youth broke free, and "Die,"
said he,
"Foul dog of a Hun that you are!"
Then. "Uod !." he cried, as the Hun
replied.
"My uncle, from Holgafar!"
In No Man's Land, while the night was
still
Two soldiers clasped hands and wept;
Though one was a Hun. by the other
one
Was American faith well kept:
Out In the center of No Man's Land
The blinking stars looked down
On a dying Hun and his brother's son
In a khaki suit of brown!
Grace E. Hall.
A WO M AX'S PRAVER,
Lord give strength to women, through
this war.
with courageous, bleeding hearts they
suffer on.
To work and pray in the same old
scenes.
Where something, so dear. Is gone.
The gallant soldier who goes to war
And knows his duty Is done.
Can't suffer more, in the battle strife.
Than that woman who calls him "son."
The man who takes in his brave, strong
arms The woman, who is his wife.
And says "Good-bye" for his country
sake.
Offers, as she does, his life.
A woman has suffered for every man
Who goes to do his share.
And while she has life, he cannot drift
Beyond her love and care.
She knows not what the future holds.
What sorrow, or home-coming joy.
She can only trust each day will unfold
A blessing on her brave boy.
Lord, make strong and brave, those
women
Who try to smile, through tears.
Just good-bye leaves such a heartache
When the partinir a.T be for years.
L. F. K,