8V "
THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND, JANUARY 29, 1923
MANY PROBLEMS OF THE DAY BRING OUT ASSORTMENT OF VIEWS
Questions Before City, State and National Governments Discussed by Various Writers Who Seek to Shed 'New Light on Situations.
IR. COREY STICKS TO CHARGE)
He
Still Maintain Farmers
Don't
Get Enough for Wheat.'
SALEM, Jan. 26. (To the Editor.)
In -answer to The Oregonian's dl-
orial, "Where Ii the Lot Seventeen
:ents," may I state that the state
nents contained therein do not differ
materially from those contained In
r.y letter to the Baker Herald, jiot
vlthstandlng you accuse me of pur
osely misquoting facts. I do not find
vherein your editorial show one
nstance in which I have done so.
Based upon the rates and quotations
ontalned In your editorial, do we not
Inl the following result?
I believe -we agree that the price
he ; farmer should receive for his
I rain is the Liverpool price Jess the
might. Based upon grades of grain
iBUiilly commanding the same market
'uotatlons, we find Liverpool price
1.3 1 per bushel loss boat rate, IT cents.
i-nd Including Insurance and commis-
lon, 1.3 cents, total 13.2 cents, Pqrt
and to Liverpool, as stated In your
tutorial, should fix the price of the
vheatat Portland at $1.13 14 as against
no quotations of January 18, of f 1.08
t Portland, or 51.12 at Chicago and
J; 1-10 at Seattle.
Portland price, II.ISU, less freight
-ate. per tiushel, Pendleton to Port-
ana. 11.1 cents, should fix the price
or the farmer at Pendleton, $1.02. I
lnd, however, Portland's offer on No.
wMt club wheat on January 18 at
'emUeton to be 3 cents. Why this
lscrepancy?
On. the other hand, for the sake of
rgiiroent, I accept the Quotation of
F 1.08 as being the correct price at
ortland, and deduct the freight rate
pep bushel, Pendleton to Portland, 11.1
eats. Do we not get a price of 97
ents that the farmer at Pendleton
hould receive Instead of the 93 cents
ffered? And a price of 92 cents at
laker Instead of 8 cents offered?
Does not the Portland quotation of
rLOs on No. 1 white club wheat and
Liverpool $1.31 allow for the stated
f. cents a bushel deducted on club and
ortTfold wheat at Portland, due to
uleged Inferiority of Oregon grain,
is stated In. yonr editorial?
Another matter that the grain
-rower would like to have explained
3 a reason for Seattle quotations on
ike grades of grain being Invariably
igher than Portland prices, notwlth
..landing the fact that we have the
ower oown river nam rates to iort
and.
In your editorial of December 2
919. you stated:
The people of the Interior have as much
nterest In the matter as those or Port
end. The excessive rates which they now
'ay through having the water grade rates
aised to a parity with those of the moun
tin roads reduced their profits by the
mount tf the excess. The price of the
armors' whit Is fixed at Liverpool, or
t will he again when the government no
cngcr guarantees the price, and he re
cives that price less freight
In tho right of current quotations,
hcrcfore. will you kindly explain to
he interior farmer. the Portland-Se-ittle
quotations in their relation to
ho Liverpool market as fixing the
irice of his product at Pendleton and
4ker, for example.
Are not the principal differences In
ur calculations apparently caused by
he fact that you have used the pro
ortional Chicago to Baltimore Instead
if the local rate used by me, and
iwhlch 1 insist is the correct rate to
zno wnen computing i'ortiana ana
Jhtcago prices on wiheat?
In the example quoted by you In
vhlch the Portland dealer broke Just
'ven on his ale at Liverpool and re
elved net $1.09, the quotation price
n soft, white wheat on that date, did
he farmer receive for that wheat the
Portland rate, $1.09, less the rail haul
:harge, or did the farmer receive sev
iral cents less than that amount as
was being offered at Pendleton and
ifher interior points on January 18?
True, your figures only amount to
koni 4 to 8 cents per bushel, but on
he annual 100.000.000-bushel crop
moving through Portland It would
total $4,000,000 to $8,00 0,000. which
would help some toward paying the
farmer's annual taxes.
I still maintain that Portland cn
oys an advantage over Chicago in
at-s on train to Liverpool as follows:
Chicago to Liverpool,, SHc Per
bushel (Including Insurance and com
mission).
Portland to Liverpool (your figures).
18o (Including Insurance and commis
sion). .
Difference, 13o (per bushel, the dis
position of which has not been ac
counted for. IL II. CORBY.
rFOOR DANCER" HAS PROTEST
Mr. Whealdoa Doesn't Want to See
'."Dance Bootleggers."
PORTLAND. Jan. 27
(To the Edi-jand
tor.) Personally, I am unalterably
opposed to dancing in all its devious!
forms and ramifications. I am op-
. . ., . , , . 1
posed to all dancing public and pri-
vato, chaperoned and unchaperoneel,
so-called proper and Improper. In
short, I am against the whole Insti
tution.'' I have good and valid rea
sons. for this undying opposition. 1
am a miserably poor dancer. I have
tried for many years to become a
good dancer and without any modi
cum of success. It is possible that
there are others like me. We have
right to be heard In opposition to
dancing along with our esteemed con
temporaries the Methodist brethren
lthough on slightly different
grounds.
At most social functions which 1
am privileged to attend my friends,!
nsist upon dancing and not only in
sist upon dancing themselves but in
sist that I "attempt" to dance with
them to my great embarrassment
and to their great amusement. Un
questionably an institution that tends
to make a stable, law-abiding citlren
and taxpayer the laughing stock of
his friends has no place in demo
cratic society. Dancing should be
abolished not because it is unmoral
but because it is undemocratic. It
places a premium upon physical agll-
ty rather than mental equipoise and
soundness. Dancing should be abol
ished not because of its immorality
but because of its intricacy and dif
ficulty in performance.
Aside from my personal prejudices
this burning question of the day is
deserving of comment.
In so far as the moral features of
the issue are concerned I am fully
In accord with the sane and sensible
position "Vtken by you In your edito
rial in The Oregonlan January 20.
Your position on this Important so
cial issue Is highly commendable. It
is to be hoped that the school board
nd the warring factions will take
saner view of the situation and
volve a constructive solution of the
problem that will tend to elevate
dancing in Portland, both In and out
side the public schools.
It is not only possible but prob
able that evils have attached them
selves to modern dancing, which evils
should be rigidly suppressed. Other
wise this 'holocaust of smoke, criti
cism and invective against dancing
generally would not have burst forth.
The remedy lies, however. In regula
tion and not in abolition.
In all sincerity. It appeals to the
writer that our good Methodist brsth-
en have lost all sense of proportion
in their forays against dancing, Ac-1
cording to press reports the sensa
tional charges of immorality attend
ant upon dancing in the schools have
fallen flat and have in effect been
withdrawn. This being the case,
there should be an end to the con
troversy. It is proposed, however,
to continue the "attack not against
evils which may or may not exist
Dut against dancing Itself. The
Methodist clergy will not succeed in
their attempted innovation. They
should not succeed. As Ions as the
attack was confined to evils that may
or may not exist the effort was
commendable. It now deserves cen
sure aol suppression.
Dancing is a fact and not a theory.
it is a legitimate form of social in
tercourse and has a proper place in
the social life of the schools. It can
not and should hot be abolished. So
long as -the individual is possessed
or tne poetry of music and the sym
metry of motion, people will dance.
it a proper opportunity is not at
loraea the boys and girls in our
schools to satisfy this normal, whole
some craving under proper safe
guards. It will certainly be, satisfied
under less savory conditions. Ban
dancing from the schools and you
will certainly substitute the public
nance or questionable character.
desire to enter a solemn protest and
warning against an innovation that
will make "dance bootleggers" of
clean, wholesome young men and
young women In this city.
C. L. WHBALDON.
REDUCTION OF JUDGES URGED
At Least One-Third Could Be Dis-
, pensed With, View.
ROSEBURG. Or.. Jan. 26. (To the
Kdltor.) The attention of the writer
has been called to a letter published
In The Oregonlan January 6. rela
tive to the necessity of the reduction
in state expenses.
The writer would suggest another
way in which there can be and should
be a very material reduction in the
amount of money which the taxpay
ers are required to dig up in order
to defray an unnecessary burden
upon them.
There are now 25 circuit judges in
Oregon. These Judges are paid $4000
per annum, and in the aggregate
$100,000 each year. One-third of them
could be dispensed with and tho court
business could be transacted almost
as expeditiously, and probably as
efficiently as with the greater num
ber.
Lake county pow comprises one Ju
dicial district and Klamath county
anotner. mese two counties adjoin
and the population of the two com
bined does not exceed that of Jackson
county. One Judge could attend to
all of the court business in the two
counties and still have at least six
months In each year to rest.
Clackamas county is In a district
by itself. Until a few years ago. the
district comprised Clackamas, Clat
sop and Columbia counties. One judge
am tne work required of him for all
of these counties and be was not ser
iously overworked, at least, no Judge
resigned because he could not attend
to the business.
Marion and Linn comprise one ju
dicial district but have two judges.
The traveling expenses between the
two counties is not great and there
will be no trouble in finding a judge
who will agree to transact all the
business in the two counties for the
salary which Is now paid one.
Baker county is a district by It
self. Business has evidently In
creased in that county to occupy the
attention of a judge all the time for
a whole year. There was a time when
Baker was associated with several
other counties as a Judicial district
and one Judge attended to the busi
ness. Everyone who is at all familiar
with legal business In Oregon knows,
mat business has fallen off Instead
of having Increased, and the reason
is very plain. A considerable amount
of ths work that until a short time
ago was in the court, is now handled
by the industrial accident commis
sion. These commissioners also draw
substantial salaries from the state.
The courts until the commission
was established by law, were filled
with actions against the railroad
companies, sawmills and other con
cerns, on account of the accide'ntal
deaths or injuries to employes and
others. . This business is now handled
by the commission.
Multnomah county, with six circuit
judges, can easily dispense with at
least two of them, and there need not
be any delay In the business of the
court. There is not three times the
business in that county when only
two judges at $3000 did the work re
quired.
A saving of more than $30,000 each
year can b made without in any way
injuriously affecting the right of a
litigant to have his cause determined
by the court and a jury of his peers.
Th 'llllirA Will Tint h A1f..n.l,.J
taxes can to some extent be re-
duced.
It Is apparent to every one who has
""""". r"r'a in puonc ex-
penui&ures tnat a halt is absolutely
or th- wh "?
recesaary or the people who bear the
burden, in a short time will be un
able to meet the increased demana.
TAXPAYER.
NAGGING AX.NOYS SERVANTS
Woman Says Mistresses Interfere
Too Much in Work.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) I have been reading The Ore
gonlan moat of the time since I came
to Oregon about 17 years ago. Lately
I have been greatly interested in the
social and wuge question carried on
in the correspondence page. I have
had to jwork out a good part of my
life for my own support, and I must
say working in other people's homes
is very tsylng to say the least. -I
worked when a young girl, a good
many years ago, and lately, the ex
perlence was just about the' same.
They will fly at you at everything
you do and say: "I do not do it that
way, and it must bo differently done."
Just last spring, being unable to
get other work. I took a job at house
work. The woman needed help badly
and should have sat down and taken
her rest, but she was so sure I would
stop if she took her eyes off me that
she worked harder than if I had not
been there for her to boss. She would
start up at everything I did and say:
"No, that isn't the way I do it,"
What are the odds if it comes out
the same? Dssker me from any such
life, and give life a Job washing win
dows in some man's office.
A woman with children can hardly
do housework. It is an all time job.
There are very few places she can
keep them with her, and there is no
time for her to leave her job and go
home to see about them, and there is
not enough pay in It to hire someone
else to see to them. Office hours are
shorter and better paid. She can af
ford to hire someone to care for them
while she works. Then she is home
with them nights.
As to the men who advertise for
housekeepers. I have answered some
of them. They either want to get
married to save the expense of pay
ing the housekeeper or something a
great deal worse. I don't say all men
who advertise for help are like that.
I am just giving my own experience.
I have known a good many others
who cams out about the same.
ONE WHO KNOWS.
FINANCIAL AID HELD VITAL
Policies of Government Reserve
Bank Declared Too Narrow.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To tho Edi
tor.) I was reading In The Oregon
ian an article relating to the disposi
tion of the American gold surplus by
investing it in European parts, and
I m lust wondering what tne people a
sentiments are on the question of
credit, and just what they think, ana
how they feel about financing uu
rope ln the. face of America's obvious
need.
We aTi know that the greatest
curse of the times takes form in
men's limitations of grasp on large
things. As a matter of fact the na
tion's capital resources were, on July
1, 1919, $203,932,000,000, and it paid
$35,000,000,000 of income. The av
erage yield was 6.75 per cent. The
per capita wealth, or income, was
approxlmatey $250 per ann-urn.
The gold surplus is going abroad
because America cannot give it the
support it should have, and America
cannot give this gold proper support
because her discount facilities are too
limited. They are woefully lacking
In two respects: First, in their vol
ume of ready cash, and second. In the
time limit for maturity.
If we trace our money to its source
we will find that the Issuing me
dium the treasury department and
the reserve banks limits the na
tion's capital to a discount privilege
amounting to but 10 per cent of capi
tal Invested In negotiable and salable
goods. ' This being the case, such a
narrow margin as is provided by the
people of America anent and through
their government organization, they
are compelled to go where the great
est consideration is afforded for in
vestments. Surely no man can rea
sonably chide American capital for
not taking chances such as our gov
ernment forces upon them. 'It simply
throws American business upon 'its
own resources and compels it to serve
and support the nation the best way
it can. And such being- the case.
believe that' any man may clearly
understand the reasons for the pres
ent situation throughout the nation,
While tho federal reserve board con
trols the situation, and faces the
greatest opportunity of the age, it
does not recognize its power and
ability to take the entire load of non
discountable paper non-discountable
because of the shortage of private
capital off tho American business
man's shoulders and carry it for him
at a minimum rate of 3 per cent. The
board could do this and give business
a chance to get together 100 per cent
and It would Injure no man nor pri
vate financial Institution, because the
dates of maturity would be so far
away that private capital could ob
tain many turnovers in the Interim
and meet the federal reserve board's
demands easily.
In the meantime business could
hum. Also, where private capital
isould serve as an intermediate re
source the government could provide
the basis for unheard of develop
ment throughout the nation. Thus
accord and harmony and, support of
each Vther might obtaih.
Eventually this will come about.
but why wait? Everything depends
upon a credit basis for future opera
tions, and the government stands idle.
It could finance the reconstruction
of tho entire world at a very low In
terest rate. To do so would give us
everything we could possibly want.
But still the "board" does nothing
doesn't know its real strength.
THINKER.
JIDGG BENNETT WANTS TRUTH
He Asks Why Wheat Price Higher in
Chicago Than Portland.
THE DALLES, Or., Jan. 26. (To
the .Editor.) I notice in The Orego
nlan an editorial entitled "Where Is
he Lost 17 Cents?" in which you
criticise rather severely a letter from
Mr. Corey to an eastern Oregon paper
n which he seems to have argued
that the farmers of Oregon were not
getting from the exporters in Port
land a fair price for their wheat, as
compared with prices paid in Chi
cago for the same grades of wheat.
At the outset I wish to disclaim any
thought that you intend to be unfair
In the matter or that you Intend to
defend any injustice to the farmer, if
here is such injustice. Your valued
paper is patronized by the farmers
and represents them as well as other
classes. xou no doubt welsh to see
the hard-pressed tillers of the soil get
a fair chance to accumulate some of
the wealth which their Industry pro
duces.
I also disclaim any attempt to pose
as an expert in these matters or to
assume any peculiar knowledge
thereon, which would give me a right
o speak authoritatively. . On the con
trary. I am writing this with a view
of. obtaining information and clearing
up the true facts.
I have not read Mr. Corey a letter.
but 1 infer" from your editorial that
he was contending therein that, al
though the combined rail and ship
ping freight rates from Chicago to
Liverpool and other European points
are about 17 cents per 100 pounds
higher than the rates from .Portland
o the same points, yet the buyers In
Chicago, buying for export to these
Fame places, are paying about 7 cents
per bushel more for wheat than our
buyers. If this Is true, I cannot
help but think with Mr. Corey that.
by a combination of the buyers on the
Pacific coast, a great wrong is being
done to the farmers here.
You suggest in your editorial that
the comparison should be made with
the prices in Liverpool rather than
with the prices th Chicago, but Liver
pool is so far away, and the opportu
nity of the average farmer to get the
prices there for comparison, or to ob
tain the true conditions which sur
round these prices, or to measure the
difference in exchange and in wheat
measures and in the denominations of
money, and there is so much opportu
nity for manipulation Of figures, that
such a comparison could hardly be
made to or by such farmers and are
naturally received with a good deal
of doubt.
And if these Liverpool figures
make It appear that at a given date a
buyer in Portland can only afford to
pay a cash price of $1.10 per bushel,
and yet we find that Chicago buyers
on the same day are buying for that
same market and paying $1.19 cents
for similar wheat and paying a much
higher freight rate, and that this dis
crepancy in price has been maintained
with approximate constancy for many
months, it seems-to become almost a
certainty that the Liverpool figures
are either manipulated or misunder
stood. Chicago Is the great wheat market
of the United States. A great propor
tion of the wheat bought there is
bought for export and we may safely
assume that the export price governs
I can see no reason why there is
not a comparison between the prices
paid there for export and here, which
is both convenient and fair.
In The Oregonlan, January IS, the
preceding day's cash prices for wheat
at Chicago are quoted as follows:
"No 3 red. $1.19; No. 3 dark northern.
$1.21."
At the same time the cash price
for hard white wheat in Portland Is
quoted at $1.09 to $1.10. and all other
I varieties are quoted still lower. And
' there has been approximately the
same difference in favor of Chicago
for a long time. It seems safe to as
sume that Chicago buyers have been
making at least a fair profit on the
wheat tbey have been buying and ex
porting to Liverpool and other places.
If they can afford to export wheat
and buy It at $1.19 to $1.25 and pay 1
17 cents higher freight than Portland
has to pay, why cannot sur exporters
pay the same, or even a higher price,
and still make a fair and reasonable
profit?
Of course we could ' hardly expect J
uiBia to aarait it, DUt aoes it not seem
that the Pacific coast wheat buyers
are making enormous profits? It is
.hard to make it seem right, at least
from a farmer's standpoint, to have
the grain buyers accumulating mill
ions out of the grain business, with a
minimum of effort and industry.
while the most careful and, indus
trious of the. farmers, who produce
the wheat, are constantly drifting
towards bankruptcy.
I admit that there may be qualifi
cations which modify the conclusion
which seem so plain upon the face of
the figures; and there may be condi
tions of which I have no knowledge,
which might justify a more or less
different conclusion. If there are
such qualifications I should like to
see them presented so that myself
and other farmers might Intelligently
understand why wheat prices are
higher In Chicago than' they are in
Portland If the freight rates (as seem
to be conceded) are lower to the mar
kets of the world from Portland than
they are from Chicago. .
A. S. BENNETT.
CONSUMER PATS FOR FRILLS
Fancy Packages and Kindred Ills
H,eld to Increase Prices.
YAMHILL, Or., Jan. 27. (To the
Editor.) The article . In The Orego
nlan. January 23, "Cost of Service in
Goods Largest," Is very misleading, as
well as false in many statements
made.
Only 37 cents of the retail dollar
goes to the farmer, according to the
article: the public demands high qual
ity and first-class preparation of
commodities, continues the article.
Representative Anderson says the
middleman only gives, the consumer
what he wants and and when he
wants it: and further, the simple con
sumer Is willing to pay almost 50
cents for the service. Where h.e was
once content to buy his sugar In
sacks by the 100 pounds and other
foods in like manner, today he de
mands his sugar In crystal cubes. His
apples he wants -polished and expects
to pay B cents each. His cereals, ruch
as breakfast foods, he wants put up
in fancy painted packages and waxed
Then this wonderful article tells
us if we would not insist on fancy
packages and be content with the
cash-and-carry system. Instead of de
livery, prices probably would be less.
Now, 1 am one of these consumers,
a farmer by 00c u pat ion- I deny inlts
entirety the truth of the above noted
accusations. They are false in every
particular as far as the consumer de
manding, or even asking, for his food
products to be put up In waxed fancy
packages; furthermore the consumer
farmers, mechanics and laborers of
all classes buys his 1922 sugar not
in crystal cubes, but in 100-pound
sacks, and when In small amounts. In
simple brown paper bags the same
kind our ancestors handled.
I make this assertion: The consumer
never demanded and never asked for
free delivery, fancy tinseled packages,
nor anything of the kind, though he
does pay for it.
Then who did originate this beau
tiful package carton
1cho answers, "Who?"
Why the manufacturers the goods.
of course. Competition is the word. He
wished to put one over on his rival
by doing- up his strong butter in a
beautiful little box. something his
neighborhood merchant had not
thought of. So the free delivery of
goods was originated.
Why shouldn't he fix er up, nicely?
The fool consumer paid the bill.
We consumers pay for free delivery
(when we get it); we pay for the
fancy cartons; we pay for the adver
tising of goods.
Let me say a word on this last, to
the manufacturer: Don't you know,
my lord, that glaring headlines and
full page advertising, cut no figure
with the consumer when he buys his
food? He buys his wheat flakes on
their merit, not on the package. o
fanciful and pretty. Does anyone be
lieve we. the consumers, want to
buy polished apples at 5 cents each?
Not much, my lord. It is like the en
tire package business, forced on the
consumer and well he pays for it, too.
Now, I go to our merchant here
in Yamhill to buy butter, wheat
flakes, tea, etc Do I buy these things
to get the pretty box they are con
tained In?- Not a bit of it. Some of
these pretty packages contain some
very poor foodstuffs; some plain ones,
excellent. JOHN JOHNS.
WOMAN'S SIDE IS HEARD
Jjuite Often Wives Aren't Crazy
About Husbands, Is Assertion.
PULLMAN, Wash, Jan. 27. (To the
Editor.) I read with amusement Fhe
letter from V. L.
Certainly I agree with him in this
"man Is a polygamist," but where does
ho get the idea that women have such
single-track hearts?
If it were possible to look into the
hearts of wives you'd find as many
women who were tired of their hus
bands as it Is the other way round.
The stumbling block in the way of
women is the high cost in things
most dear to her.
Suppose she grows tired of the man
she married (I don't expect men to
consider that possible) and desires
another man?
If she follows her desire it costs her
her reputation and her children and,
strangest of all, the respect of the
new man.
A man can chase around all he
pleases and he is still fit to associate
with his babies. "
Let a woman step aside from the
"way she should go" and she is treat
ed as a leper.
The court will take her children
from her and give them to their
pure-hearted father.
That is not justice, and we all
know it.
However, it has always been the
man who ruled, so they have taken
privileges for themselves.
Men as a whole seem to think a
man is Justified In killing his wife
If he finds her with a lover.
When one thinks of the conduct of
men it is to laugh.
If we all could experience real love
for the person we married it would
last. That Is something that seldom
happens. I'm afraid.
Surely there are some good, clean
men. who expect to live as they would
want their wives to.
I don't wish to give the Impression
that I believe In Immorality. Consid
ering it from no angle but that oi
health even, it is too dangerous; but
I hate to see men hugging the foolish
conceit that women are ao, easily
satisfied.
Quite often the woman a man
t&inks is crazy about him calls hire
a bore and fool to his back.
Jl WOilAN.
EXPOSITION PIAX OFFERED
Formation pf Stock Company and
Later Use of Buildings Urged.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edl-
tor.) As there has been much con-
troversy In regard to ths-1925 world's
fair, especially about financing and
location, permit mo to offer a few
suggestions. We all realize it is
big undertaking and requires a great
deal of thought, time and an enor
mous expenditure of money. How to
raise the money and get the proper
location seems to be the all-absorb
ing questions. This fair is some
thing we all should be interested in.
especially a citizen and a resident of
Oregon. I take It for granted tnat
any thought or Idea would be appre
ciated by our fair board, which is
laboring day and night trying to
solve the problem of how best to
finance and also to locate as to the
best advantage. , '
This thought occurred to me: First,
as to financing, make It a stock com
pany, sell stock to the amount of
$4,000,000, buy the proposed site out
right; locate It on some spot where it
can be utilized for factory purposes,
near railroad and waterway, so lay
the grounds out that the large build
ings may bo retained for factory pur
poses. The most of the foreign countries
and states that will exhibit would, no
doubt, rather leave the buildings as
they stood than to try and salvage
and clear the ground. Having been a
resident of St. Louis, Mo., at the time
and after the world's fair in 1904.
I saw some of those large buildings
dynamited and burned to get rid of
the rubbish, while others were sal
vaged and sold. ' Large dimension
timbers, all you could haul, with a
team, for 50 cents a load. In order to
clear the land. This fair was held
on the site of Forest park and private
property adjoining containing about
2000 acres. The destroying of those
biflldings was an extravagance and
great waste which should be over
come. My idea would be to retain
those buildings for factory purposes.
Now you havs the site and buildings
to offer as an inducement' to fac
tories to come to our town. The im
provements, as well as the site. Is
property of the world's fair board.
At the close of the fair you have
something to salvage. On the other
hand, if you lease you simply improve
other people's property and have
nothing to salvage. Now, if you have
not enough capital with the $4,000.
000. you can very easily bond the
collateral you have for enough to
complete the site. It has been esti
mated that at least 2000 acres would
be required for the fair site, parking
grounds and aviation fields. Such a
site I have in mind, at what is known
as "Columbia Highway Butte' site.
or, more familiarly known as "Rocky
Butte."
The committee who got the data on
the above-mentioned site claim that
they have two thousand (2000) acres
or more available. This site has rail
roads running through it and atso has
a frontage on the great Columbia
river. Taking this 2000 acres, I am
sure could be purchased lor an
average of about $800 an acre. In
cluded in this site is a natural place
to display the "hydro electric powers,"
as the butte offers the finest spot in
and around Portland for such a dis
play. Bear in mind, you are improv
ing all the while your own property,
not filling In someone's frog ponds
and spending the people's money for
special interests. This is one great
opportunity for Portland, Oregon, ana
the great northwest.
THOMAS W. WIMiB.
SCHOOL DANCE DEFENDED
Churches Held Not to Bo Con
demned Because of Hypocrites.
PORTLAND, Jan. 26. (Tothe Edi
tor.) I am a viistor In Portland and
cannot speak from personal knowl
edge of the condition surrounding the
young attending school dances, but
will say that I believe "High School
Girl" is nearer right than the critics
from the knowledge I have of condi
tions in my home town as pertaining
to public dances.
Supervision of dancing is the tning
for parents and friends of the young
to interest themselves In if they wish
to benefit the rising generation.
Ministers and church people have
handed out wholesale condemnation of
the dance for hundreds of years. Has
It been of any benefit? If a parent at
tended dances with their childTen or
young people (as should be done) they
were spoken of as "under the influ
ence of his satanic majesty,' and
many, far too many parents let the
young people go alone under protest
rather than face the storm or tell
their brethren that God gave them
their children to protect and care for
and to him would they go for permis
sion to do so.
Shall we condemn all church mem
bers as hypocrites because we find
many not living up to their precepts
as Christians, perhaps not even to a
sufficient extent that any one could
tell that an effort had been made?
Shall we condemn all the religious
colleges and academies because some
of the ministers they turn out are
most anything but what a Christian
leader should be?
As to myself I will say that I am
a member of tho Presbyterian church
and am trying to live an everyday
conscientious Christian life. I have
taken part In dances when young and
enjoyed thelm. I enjoy going to
the dances and watching the young
people and, yes. the older ones who
take part, but not where booze was
on tap.
My husband and I have five daugh
ters grown and holding responsible
positions, thanks to his guidance and
care. We settled the question of cards
and dancing aa pertained to our chil
dren, according to the beat of our
knowledge and ability and I think
some ministers' families would be bet
ter off if said ministers were per
mitted to get out of church ruts.
C. E. W.
MOTHER DEFENDS DANCING
Spooning Declared Cause of Girls'
Downfall in Most Cases.
SILVERTOX, Or, Jan. 26. (To the
Editor.) May I, a woman of 60 years,
who has danced all her life, say a
word about dancing? -It Is as natural
for young people to want to keep
time to music as for lambs to frolic
or birds to sing.
I had danced for years before the
thought of sex while dancing ever
entered my heart, and then it was
suggested by reading an article
written by a Methodist minister. I
watched myself then to see if there
was anything in it but I have never
been able to discover the slightest
sensation. .
However, I think tjiere is a chance
of the well-meaning clergy doing
much harm by suggesting such
possibilities to our young people.
Furthermore. I firmly believe that
the ministers who make those sug
gestions do not speak from ex
perience. '
I am a Christian woman and I love
purity and I love truth, and I want
to tell you right here It Is not
dancing that makes girls go wrong
it Is "spooning" the peonicious
habit some girls have of allowing
caresses from every Tom. Dick and
Harry, or even Just Harry.
Ask any girl who has gone wrong,
and nine out of ten will tell you their
downward path was prefaced with
spooning, not dancing.
Do not think I approve ot the
position most of our young people
take in the modern dance in fact I
think in some Instances It is most
disgusting. Anything approaching a.
caress should be tabooed, not only
by the public but bysthe girls them
selves. But do not condemn (dancing as
an amusement among sooial equals
rather teach your daughters the
proper respect for their bodies and
the slogan of "hands off" under all
circumstances and dance with them,
fathers, mothers and teachers, and
personally see to it that conditions
are right and then they can go on
dancing until the crack of doom and
their morals will be Just as clean as
yours, from whom they were In
herited. MOTHER OF SIX.
MEN AT DANCES BLAMED
Many Young Girls Said to Be
Forced to Yield.
ALBANY, Or.. Jan. 26. (To tho Ed
itor.) For seven years I have been
studying dancing studying It not
only that I might deal understanding
ly with my own family, but because
it is one of the great questions be
fore us.
To this'end I have attended dances
on all occasions In our Oregon col
lege towns, at the beaches, at great
dancehalls In ths cities up and diwn
the coast. I have had no opportunity
to visit the low and obscure little
places, only those frequented by the
better class. I have not seen essen
tially high school dances, but have
seen large numbers of our students
on the floors. I have declined to act
as patroness and have placed myself
in a balcony or other sightly place,
commanding a full view of the
dancers.
While on every floor there are
numbers of clean young couples danc
ing with their own set, enjoying tne
music and the rythm, there are al
ways many, many cases too revolting
to be described. I have seen many
of "our best young men," secure in
their' prominent family connections,
whose over-powering sexual desires
were disgustingly evident. These fel
lows are usually able to jiance with
the best girls, and I have'seen many
girls try hard, in tho beginning of a
dance to hold them steady, but , the
powerful sexuality seldom fails to
conquer before the dance is done, and
the scarlet cheeks, flaming eyes the
"give" of the body, show that sho
had to y,ield. Few girls have courage
to make a scene on the floor, espe
cially as these cases are frequent. I
have never seen one of these respect
able beasts put off the floor. They
are skilled in knowing just how far
to go. Of course, many girls are
equally- guilty. Watching these
things an entire evening, no mature,
reasoning person doubts the outcome.
And our high school dances take the
young people in adolescence, when
the untrained young passions can
scarcely be controlled Under the best
conditions.
I know many girls who have
danced' for years, absolutely clean;
but these are girls of high principles,
rather deficient in sexuality. I am
not able to make the same assertion
of the boys and the double standard
Is the curse qf humanity.
As to patronesses and chaperones,
I have studied numbers of them,
along with tho young people. ' Their
only thought seems to be that the
young people must nave a good time.
I have In mind one. a member of my
own church, who thinks "dancing is
a beautiful amusement for young
people." She enjoys being a patron
ess, sitting in evening dress In a co-"
terie of choice spirits, sipping her
punch. But if she could sit with me
and see her daughter's body mis
treated as I have seen it if Mrs.
could see it, I say; but she never sees
those little things.
I am sorry to deprive our young
people of any enjoyment of youth.
I have no wish to hold' up the eternal
"Thou shalt not." But I crave for
them all the1 beet In this life and In
eternity; and I cannot forget the
words of the book the world honors.
' Thou shalt not commit adultery"
and to that end, "Lead us' not Into
temptation."
A PRESBYTERIAN MOTHER..
DANCE ARGUMENT RAPPED
Day First Woniun Rode Bicycle
Recalled by Rider.
PORTLAND. Jan 28. (To the Edi
tor) A writer in a Portland news
paper, while discussing- the question
of dancing, said:
"Dancing, to young people, la like
the first taste of human blood to a
tame. Hon they must have more at
any cost- Would you put a wolf
among a band of lambs? Well, a
child is better than a. lamb, but the
dance evil Is far worse than a wolf."
Wall. then, people who constitute
a dancing party are divided in two
classes lambs and wolves. Most of
1111 will readily admit that "the party
of the first part" is properly classi
fied, but where does that place the
masculine portion of society? Are
the high school boys, or even those
of the grammar grades, mere wolves,
even tame wolves, who regard all
girls as so much prey to be devoured?
Where does 'such a wild accusation
as this leave the male sex, anyway?
Today there are all over this land
many thousands of (ministers, bishops,
laymen, statesmen, inventors and
many millions of high class and use
ful citizens who were accused when
in their teens of doing misdeeds that
were contributing to tho eventual
"downfall of civilization."
Tho declaration which I have
quoted is ridiculous. Its writer be
longs to the class which feels itself
outraged when a woman or girl ap
pears on the streets wearing a short
skirt.; Why? Does It give rise in
his mind to evil thoughts? And, it
so, why? Had' he no suspicion until
that awful sight met his shocked
gaze that all women are females,
whether wearing long skirts, short
skirts or no skirts? Then, why
should he be more upset -at what a
short skirt reveals than at what Is
plainly disclosed In tho first chap
ter of Genesis? There are a great
many things that both men and
women have -taken for granted with
out making a special fuss about the
matter.
So the human race is composed of
lambs and wolvest. Yet, they vegetate
in the eame enclosure and neither ap
pears alarmed. Reminds me that
about 20 years ago onaof the leading
girls of Salem made her appearance
on the streets .of Salem on a bicycle,
and the straight-laced the "iron
clads" were so shocked that the
rumbling was felt and heard all over
Marion county. That female bicyclist
was a devouring wolf on m-heels, but
within a few months half the. women
In Salem were bicycle riders and un
hurt! T. T. GEER.
DARWIN THEORY DISCUSSED
Writer Sujs Curiosity Has Turned
Men Away From Bible.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) I have read with interest the
editorial In Tho Oregonlan January 8,
"The Origin of Life." I would like to
suggest that Darwin's theory as
stater by you, "that living matter
was but the exceptionally complicat
ed development of chemical and phy
sical properties recognized in evo
lution," leaves us also "without even
a theory to comfort us."
A theory is a "mental plan or
scheme framed to agree with the ob
served facts and designed as a rational
explanation of them." I ask, does evo
lution fit into that definition of "the
ory?" Is evolution "a rational expla
nation" of "observed facts" concerning
the origin of life? Is not this whole
attempt to explain the origin of life
just exactly what Professor Bateson
calls It "obscurantism?"
For the origin of life, evolution goes
back from man to the first germ of
life, and then what? Why, there the
wonderfully wise divide. One side
tells Us that the origin of this first
germ was spontaneous generation
(whatever that is) and the other side
serenely Informs us that the first
germ of lfie came from some other
planet. Well If the latter be true pity
help life on some other planet. If all
they could do was to throw us some
germs. And anyway. Is not that a
"rational explanation" gone to seed?
Some germ thrown off from some
other planet. Where do the "observed
facts" come in? Is that sort of thing
to be accepted because some man
talks It?
And then the other, "spontaneous
generation," what sort of thing is
that? What was It that spontane
ously generated and produced this
germ of life?
And then that germ began evolut
ing. Was tiers only one germ? And
where is tire proof that even that one
germ evoluted? Some numberless
hosts of living creatures, from the
myriads too small to be seen without
the microscope up to the camel and
the elephant, are everywhere about us,
and have beenrfor many centuries be
fore evolution was ever thought of.
and yet not an evolutwnlst, not even
Darwin, has been able to show a sin
gle creature of any kind in transition
from one species to another.
Is it not pressing matters to ask
men to believe conclusions that are
arrived at by "we may well suppose,"
whl'ih occurs in two of Darwin's prin
cipsl works more than 800 times?
Hore is a so-called science that be
gins it knows not where; that does
not produce one single proof of any of
Its assertions, that is built upon noth
ing but presumptions and probabilities
and guesses; that asks us to believe
that men were monkeys before they
were meh because the foetus of a
child and the foetus of an ape cannot
be told the one from the other, not
withstanding that there cannot be de:
tected any difference between the sin
gle cell of a child, an elephant, an
eagle, a worm or a plant.
. Truly, as you say, Darwin has given
direction "to the spirit of curiosity
(let us say, leaving out the word sci
entific) for which above all others the
19th century Is famed," but that spirit
of curiosity has led men away from
the Bible. It has turned men away
from the word of God "to Indulge in"
and set their hopes upon "mere guess
work." A. R. BELL.
DANCE GROUPING PROPOSED
Let Superiority of Dancers or Non-
Dancers Be Proved, Is Suggestion
-I!
PORTLAND. Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor..) There is a solution of the pres
ent controversy as to danolng In the
public schools that should prove ef
fective and productive of dpmplete
harmony. Let the op-ponela of dancing
organize a Young People's Recreation
association to provide within the pub
llo schools recreation conforming to
the highest standards of psychology.
Let this organization have privileges
equal with those of the -advocates of
dancing and let attendance be optional
with ths students and their parents.
Then, from time to time, questions
as to the relative superiority of the
two plans could be answered scien
tifically. Possibly neither side would
ever be entirely convinced. But a large
proportion of the patrons would be
able to make a more intelligent choice
than they could by any other method
of argument or Investigation,
Among the questions that might be
studied would be the following:
1. Which forms of amusement are
inherently the most attractive?
2. iVhlch conduce to the greatest
Interest and proficiency in the regu
lar work of the school?
3. Which class of students exhibits
the greater Interest in (a) religion
and spiritual values, (b) the supreme
classics of literature, of art, of music,
of anclnl service: (c) the higher pro
cesses of reasoning, such as generali
zation and abstract thought?
4. Which class displays the greater
resourcefulness in conversation and
In entertainment outside of dancing
and the conventional games?
5. Which class contrlDutes the
larger percentage of Its numbers to
the ranks of the delinquents?
6. Which class contributes the
larger percentage of Its numbers to
the divorce courts?
7. Is there any noticeable differ
ence between the average of the dif
ferent classes In self-mastery and In
aspiration tor the highest and best
In education, in culture, in social
service?
As an opponent of dancing I firmly
believe this deadly parallel would be
decidedly to the advantage of the
group that did not participate in the
dances as compared with the group
that participated 1n both the dances
and the games, and emphatically to the
disadvantage of the group that par
ticipated only In the dances. But I
am willing to be convinced of error
as are doubtless the advqeates of
dancing and as are all parents who
aspire for their children attainments
as far as possible above the oppres
sive level of dull mediocrity.
H. P. LEE.
ALL DANCING CONDEMNED
Writer Declares Spiritual Work
Should Be Done Instead.
MONROE, Or., Jan. 26. (To the
Editor.) I am very much interested
In the discussion of the dance, as the
Issue Is Important. Some one Is mis
taken. I am a native of Oregon and
first saw the light in 1850, Just a
little before The Oregonlan was first
Issued. We have grown up together
and I scan dally Its Interesting
pages. My early life was in the
neighborhood where I now reside.
There was a host of young people and
they were regular attendants at
church and Sunday school. Weswere
taught that the da.ee was wrong,
hence there were no dances in the
community. In the adjoining neigh
borhood there were dances but our
young people did not attend them.
We did not lack for good times. We
had spelling bees that drew people
from other schools and there was
much interest, for there were some
spellers. In those days literary so
cieties were of the best, Ths issues
of the day were debated. Essays of
a high order were listened to dec
lamations as well. All In all, it re
quired about as much time as the
average young person could well do
nate. It was In such an atmosphere
that Louis Albert Banks grew to
manhood. He Is now one of the first
authors and platform speakers of the
nation. His books are widely read.
Hon. M. C. Hawlcy took his first les
sons here. He has represented his
constituency in congress for a num
ber of years. Many other men and
women have proved their worth to
the state. More young men and
women have attended Willamette
university from here than from any
other point that I know of of like
population. There was not a dance,
a law suit nor an illegitimate child
born here during the first 20 years
from the beginning of this society.
To assert that young people will
dance anyway Is a mistake. We did
not dance and had no such desire.
Some years ago I took my youngest
son to a county fair and one of the
attractions was a public dance. That
was my son's first look at such a
scene. It proved a very disgusting
one to him. He is a clean Sunday
school superintendent now doing his
bit for the betterment of the world.
In all my observations I havs never
known a man or woman who fre
quented the dance, who was helpful
In a spiritual task. They were about
at such times If some one wan on his
deathbed and needed spiritual guid
ance. It was not the dancing master
that aided them but the one who- was
capable of giving spiritual help. It
Is this viewpoint that makes the dif
ference In the discussion of this sub
ject. Some are looking at it from
the material or worldly pleasures,
others from the Christian viewpoint.
Our government was founded by
Christian men. It stands today a a
Christian nation, with a Christian
president. One may be helpful or a
menace, according as our lives shall
tell for Christian Ideals. '
M. C. BELKNAP.
STAND TAKEN AGAINST DANCI'J
Pleasures Requiring Regulation
Are Declared Vice-Breeders.
TORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
tor.) School Director Clark says
"the ministers have proved nothing
and submitted no concrete facts." Mr.
Clark knows as well as any other
falrly-organlzed man that the sub
mission of "concrete facts" would lead
to the abandonment of the danoe ob
jection and turn to a barrage of flrr
oh the preacher, a change of attack
to defense.
The chief of police, the other day In
The Oregonlan said. "Immorality was
worse in Portland this year than
last." The shakeup of the moralF
squad was the result. But why "doesn't
the chief get an order to present
"concrete facts" Ho Is allowed to
pursue his course unhampered when
he has not adduced a single cae of
Immorality in tho realm of the Bqilad.
Immorality Is one thing that every
man, woman, 'hoy and girl will ll
about, and their fathers, mothers and
uncles will lie about, also, and cloud
the fact If possible. The demand on
the preachers was manifestly unfair.
'What do we support the school for?
Is the objecLlve better citizens, men-
tali-, physically and morally? Well,
how does the modem dance contribute
to the building of either of these?
If Mr. Clark will give one "con
crete" example of better organised
brain power because of the modern
dance, I will eat his hat and I have
no appetite for hats, either.
Every city has passed a system of
aws regulating dance lialla These
aws were not passed by a board of
preacher, but caBe-hardened poli
ticians. Why? Because th dance Is
a moral disintegrator and not a high
Ideal builder. If the dance ran -upward
jhere never would be any reg
ulating laws; It's because of Its rec
ognized downward tendency that It Is
looked after, by the police. Anything
that needs regulation Is unsound in
Its make-up. There is no demand to
regulate healthy rtiings. Regulation
Is always called In to curb something
unhealthy and unsound.
Do you notice that wherever danc
ing is mentioned It Is coupled by
friend and foe with this damnatory
word "regulate?" Here Is tho admis
sion that the thing is Inherently
dangerous. Then why do wo put It In
the high school?
The dance that runs down hill In
a resort will not run up hill In a
school building. That this is ad
mitted even by tho sponsors of the
dance. Is shown by tho mad rush Vf
one officer of the school to wildly
exclaim: "The statement that the
dances have not been properly chap
eroned Is false," etc. He rushes into
the old place of "rosrulatlon" and ad
mits that the thing must be watched
and curbed.
"If the dance la right anywhere, It
Is right In the schools," Is -a plank,
that needs shavln-g down beforo it can
be used broadcast. Just because
prizefighting is Indulged In In an
arena is no reason why It should Lead
to an arena In the schoolhouae.
Neither prizefighting rior pool con
tribute to healthy brain-bulldlng. but
are regulated amusements calling for
police or chaperones..
Ten million church members are
having their consciences outraged by
these regulated thlncs.
(Signed) V. R. STOVER,
Hotel Seward.
INJUSTICE DECLARED DONE
Gas Consumer Protests Public
Service CoinmiHslon Ruling.
PORTLAND, Jan. 27. (To the Edi
t'r.) I wish to cite the injustice done
to the working people of this, city,
through the public service commis
sion, for the benefit of the Portland
Gas & Coke company. Having lived
here 11 years and used the above
company's gas for that period, I
moved recently about 12 blocks. I
called at the gas company's office to
have my meter read and hut off and
the meter in the new place read so I
could pay the bill at the old place at
once. The office sent me a. bill of $1
for connection and installing, which
is far from correct.
I bad moved before and never had
been charged to get the use of the
r-as company's commodity Further,
this is working a great hardship on
working people who are compelled to
reek moderate rents. I took the mat
ter up, to find out what value I had
received for the $1 charged, and one
of the company's clerks told me the
public service commission had made
that ruling, so It would help the gas
company and not allow It to raise the
price of gas and that the $1 revenue
would offset higher gas rates.
I firmly believe- we pay right now
too much for the quality. People are,
compelled to move and do the best
possible to keep a home together, but
to be forced to pay $1 and get no.
value is simply an outrage on honest
working families.
This public service commission Is
no aid to the working masses. The
company must be able to pay all Its
office salaries with that $1 charged
fcr reading a meter and turning on
the gas. It no doubt must run Into
thousands and I call it easy monev.
S. V. E.