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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 2, 1904)
I'D. I T O R 1 A L " P A G IL :?: TuL. J I' i 1 ; '-, IB i - xanrnvAZ. fvblmkxm o. c. a imiioi, mo, r. OAaaoix AN INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER ' y - t .1 - . i ' , . . m os v at ur at n a n w m . e -l 1 s ' AN I if u m.r a.iv vTTrnrM . : , 4 1 nwwansMww " 1 1 V THE INDEPENDENT VOTER. tention to mills that we havt given no thought to art? Have mmtm K as tntnt An makinor mAfl that Uarvin0- charities rt SEEMS TO BE generally understood, or believed, have been neglected I Are we to busy thtt we never hava , that what is called the independent vote is increasing, a thought for those who in vain eek something to do or that there are more independent voters than ever be- suffer exhausting sorrow in silence and in secret? Have Jore in tins country.. The independent voter is one who, we forgotten that life is short, and rushing renders it not entirely satisfied with either of the two principal politi- ahorter, and that we can take nothing of our accumulations ical parties, and not in accord with any of the small parties, with us? Have we really considered what true success land with "a minimum amdunr ofrej udice - or bias, con- means ' , ,..if.Jv scientiously chooses the party and candidates that seem to No, most residents of busy , and growing cities think jhira somewhat better than the others, chooses the least of little or nothing of any of these things. They are too busy two evils. This kind of an independent voter is not a or indifferent to anything else but making money and the crank nor a one-ideaed, doctrinaire, nor an obstinate most material growth of their home cities even to uiuik 01 stickler for impracticable reforms, nor a visionary political or at least to work and strive for better municipal- govern- n Ut k nN thv uv. in rfft: "I'll dodire what (clearly the evils of tha liquor traffic, because he knows tha taxes I can, and otherwise look out for myself ; the city is t- . V . r . re- l U- TJ . ! 1 i:J - A T .-L-Jnj mraiv that 1ft ilOtai aDOHUOn OI Uiat iraiHC IS mn auinuiauic. lie ia uw. grvwuig inpicnuiuiv, amu . , .. V Socialist, because, though recognizing the theoretical enough?' No, U is not enough Better a slower growth if merits Dt thst propaganda, and the good excuses for its it can be made a proportionately better growth. - Better 'presentation, he knows that it is.not only utterly inv leas profits and a broader, purer, nobler life, either as an ? nrarrirahl hut if mwsible would be disastrous. He is not individual or a city. - 1 j . ' a Populist, because he knows that party is but a nareiquin . skeleton, a fragment of what it once was and sought to be. ' So he is limited, if he would make his vote and voice in the least , effective, , to the Democratic and the Republican ' parties. v . - 1 v- k - ' - '. '" ' As between them," their records, their plattoTms, tneir THE BIO FIGURE IN RAILROADS, . .1 w HEN considering the matter of real figures In the railroad business what is the matter witn cawara Unrv HirrtmaB? Uerm M a man who IS POW i: u.:. ni.. mnA nnrruMi - hm mutt af hA ni th hiowat avntiidte of raurosd enterprises choose. For this purpose the truly independent voter first in the country, and if he keeps up his recent rte ol progress clears himself u far as possible 6f preconceived and in will become, if he has not already become, the most colossal kented notions, and early bias. - He will not be a Republi- railroad figure the country has yet produced, t - . can, or a Democrat, because his father was so. He realizes r- Mr. Harrimari has played his cards with remarkable skill, that party organs and campaign orators, like an attorney ability and foresight' His mainstay and reliance has been in a law case, present only the best of their own side, and the German bondholder.' In his policy, the' wisdom of the worst of the other side; that they exaggerate and dis- which has not always feeen apparent, judged from purely tort and miscolor and misrepresent in both directions ; that local standpoints, he was governed bv the point of view of they have selfish objects to serve, and. cannot be depended the foreign bondholder and in the end, by deserving it, suc--upon to tell the plain, real truth about either party. So he ceeded in obtaining his complete confidence. , When studies the situation for himself. He probes into the past;, menaced by the absorption of the Burlington into the Hill carefufly examines the present, and forecasts as well as Morgan! syndicate it was this confidence alone which pro possible the future, with this party or that in power.; He vided a ready market for his offering of $80,000,000 worth sincerely and intelligently then, having decided, uses his of Short Line bonds' through which he entered upon that influence'and casts his vote for that party and those candi- spectacular and costly campaign that gave him control of dates which he determines to be the better. He may vote the Northern Pacific In the final settlement of the for a Republican for president at one time, and for a Demo- Northern Securities case he emerges with the control of the crat the next, with perfect consistency He may vote for Burlington, a vastly important line within what is strictly a Republican for president and a Democrat for-congress. Union Pacific territory, the Northern Pacific passes into or vice versa. He may vote for a Republican for congress powerful and friendly hands which slready control railroad and for Democratic candidates for the legislature in order interests outside of his sphere, and therefore non-competi-to get rid of an offensive senatorial boss and servant of tive, while Morgan and Hill, his most threatening rivals are "the -system." . And in local, that is, county and city elec- thrust into and limited to their own peculiar territory .wheat tions, he votes for the better men, according to the best they cannot interfere with him. " - ' ' ; j of his judgment, with little or no regard for their politics. With powerful rivals practically-eliminated or relegated This independent voter has been and is the subject of to territories, which they can justly claim, with a free swing scornful scoffs by the party organa; he is ridiculed, de- in the territory which is naturally tributary to his lines, he nounced, despised; and yet.the truth is that he is the politi- may now enter on a period of expansion and development, cal salt of a Republic like ours.. He is a man who cannot rapidly extending the sphere of his influence until he is left be bought, bullied, cajoled, or deceived. "Neither 4a he unrivaled in his. chosen field of effort. , ' under any illusion ihe does not expect to accomplish much, There may be others, but at this stage of the proceedings or anything appreciable very sooxC by acting thus inde- Edward Henry" Harriman appears to be" distinctly and pendently; but he is setting an example that will be fol- emphatically "it" ' j 7 ' ' lOWeO Dy B COnsUUmj UlVicwsmg numirci uuui v-i CAUSE3 0F PHYSICAL DETERIORATION, ,HE SUBJECT of the physical deterioration of the working classes ot England attracting maen atten tion in that countrv. and even in the United States.. Books have been written about it ; a parliament committee T these independent voter will hold the balance of power in most of our states, counties and cities, and indeed in the i nation; and of them both parties will beware, - And who dares say that' when that' comes to- pass- politics will- not be cleaner, and parties more careful to serve the interests editorializing sycophants will not so readily and audaciously has investigated it ; church councils and health conventions attenipX lO deceive ncaicis uiu imucn mu Aikuicih mum uavc oikuwcu it , cuiiig j(Mjoi.iio m' . tt . . cations and preposterous pretensions. . . . : magazines about it; so it would seem to be not altogether ' 1 - ' " ': :-- " an imaginary scare, or the phantom discovery of a vision- C SIZE AND WEALTH NOT ALL. ' i V ' ary pessimist .v v : y C .; r Li" , w ' , . j. - ! t'. Assuming then that Such deterioration has taken and is THE CHIEF' ASPIRATION of most American cities taking place, what are the causes? The answer generally is for mere bigness. The chief if not practically agreed upon ia: Neglect of proper housing. Insufficient the sole aspiration of most of their business men has food, bad habits, lack of opportunities to better conditions, been to mske a good deal of money. These are not cen and of stimulous to ambition; and, generally of "right sursble, are even laudable, aspirations and endeavors, but training." " v V: v I ' they have -too much crowded out,,; or overgrown and This physical deterioration of the "lower class of dwarfed other very important aspirations and endeavors. Britons was brought sharply into view; when armies were The earnest and zealous d,esire, in comparatively few if not being raised to ffb h Boers, the London Spectator say isolated cases appearing for pleasant and refined surround- ing: "An alarmingly large proportion of the men ,who ings, for the best and broadest kinds of educational ad- wished to go on active service were found to be physically vantages, for good, clean, honest, economical yet progres- unequal to the task.". Sir Frederick Maurice atated in the sive government, for the really, ultimately and eternally Contemporary Review that only two men out of-every five best things of life and best results of living, haa been sub- who offered themselves for enlistment remained in the ordinated. to theae narrower and baser ambitions, if not army as effective soldiers after two years, eVen in times of totally exterminated in municipal life.' ' - peace. - i ' . 4. How many look at anything but figures those disclos- A recent report of a parliamentary investigating cora inr a city's population, commerce, manufactures and im- mittee, while insisting that there has been much exaggera i provetnents, as spelt in dollars? Few." But other inquiries tion of the evil, admits that the alarm is not entirely urw are or should be important, such as these: Have the homes founded, and goea carefully into causes and remedies, been rendered more attractive, inside and out? Have the Chief among the former are overcrowding of population, 1 schools broadened and risen to an adequate, comprehension resulting in uncleanliness and foul air, and bad sanitation. of education? Wave we paid so mucn at- ignorance ana neglect on me parx oi parema rc given another principal cause." It was determined that careless ness, callousness and lack of a sense of responsibility on the part of parents, especially mothers, is increasing, and is re sulting in a physically low grade of children and. young adults.. A great many London children are fed daily by the public, but of course 4 his food is insufficient, -snd a great many more that do not take the citya free food are underfed, and this is true of other cities. ' r ' ' Prink another prominent cause of degeneration. The craving for drink Is largely" a resutt'oTflie othc causer mentioned ; is both a result and a cause. - It was discovered that drinking habits among the women were also increas ing. Juvenile cigarette smoking is another cause. It re tards injuriously both physical and mental development. Bad teeth arc also mentioned as conducive to general physical deterioration, and the Conclusion was that . the people's teeth were much worse now thsa formerly. ' - We have not space here to go into proposed remedies m detail, but the mention, of these causes will Suggest them--plenty of air, as pure as possible; plenty of plain nutritious food ; regular work, but not 'overwork, and pood habits, abstention from or only moderate indulgence in liquors or tobacco, particularly, in the case of juveniles, cigarettes. - ; ' But for multitudes in such a great city as London some of these things are impossibilities. How are the poorer classes of laboring men and women to obtain plenty of 'room, fresh, pute air and a requisite a,moiint of good food? These things being impossible, how can they be kept from carelessness and callousness in the matter of raising chil dren, and bad habits that become their only solace? These are hard questions, and the British "lords and gentlemen, and right reverends and wrong reverends . of til . descrip tions," will find an answer very difficult. - i ' 1 In a less degree the same conditions exist in our greater cities, particularly New York and Chicago. I But this deterioration, if it Is taking place in the United States, is not and will not, be for a long time, if ever, , so noticeable, perhaps taking our whole population into view will no be even appreciable to expert investigators,' because the "poorer classes' In our large cities are but a very small fraction tof us, because we are increasing in population so rapidly, and new, fresh blood is constantly being added, and because, finally, we have such a vast, magnificent domain, both in area and in variety of soil, climate, resources and opportunities. We should frequently pause a mordent to. bt literally and consciously thankful that we are Americans. . Yet even in this country the poor, the 111-housed and ill fed, the careless, callous and Irresponsible, the idle and the vicious,, in our large citiesconstitute a great anci growing problem, one to which far too little attention is paid . FIREPROOF' BUILDINGS Itf CONFLAGRATIONS. BALTIMORE; Toronto and Rochester have been" . Waterloos for many "fireproof" creations the ast .year. Builders had begun to arrogate confidence in -the presence of earth's mighty destroyer, fire. Three con flagrations nearly depleted the temple of idolsv Loss meas ured by the million unit, and then requiring six figures, un folded a tissue of faults, wherein man must labor again to revise, invent and rebuild. In the meek, pathetic confes sion made by fire protection engineers when they cast away the word "fireproof." and substitute therefor "fire-resistant r is found the depth of significance three conflagrations have for the world's builders. 'r , - -Fira protection -has- become' great t science. ' Fore fathers supplantedwood with stone when permanence was' sought Our generation cannot move, with such facility. Towering sky-scrapers do not permit of the ponderous, style; inflexible economy practiced by the multitude, to day forces the use of combustible materials. Furnishings of buildings are not so far advanced in construction as the buildings themselves. When fire once gains headway in the great buildings of this age, heat is so intense that structural steel collapses unlesa protected, and many non combustible materials under ordinary conditions crumble and fall.- - -: : ... ,-44--iJ. .:. '' ' ' '-'..':'' After gathering data and carefully collaborating it, fire protection engineers are1 just reaching conclusions ori the recent great conflagrations. Baltimore has been the scene of most careful observation. ..' Facts brought out there are guiding our greatest builders. Underwriters have pub lished many valuable tracts on the faijures snd triumphs demonstrated by this $200,000,000 blase. One that re ceives most considerate attention is from the pen of Perez M. Stewart, late superintendent of buildings in the borough of Manhatten, New York city.' V : t- , ... - ; , Mr. Stewart concludes that steel columns and girders must be protected. He found many terra cotta casings fell from their columns, partly because of faulty construc tion and partly because of inherent weakness. Cement and boiler cinder compounds, when properly applied and of sufficient thickness, stood the severest teats. Terra cotta floors with space between the blocks and arches, often scaled. ' In one office building sixteen safes fell from their, respective floors to the basement, bending and twisting girders and smashing great vent holes in .floors. -. Floors that will support safes under great stress are clearly a necessity, ppen elevator shafts or stairways proved de structive by opening a draught direct from a burning floor to npper parts of the building. Mr, Stewart insists that such necessary passageways should be securely walled from the other parte of a building, with "fireproof 'V doors as 'exits.'." ..'.- ".. ' : " ,v- - .. . . " w For ihtcripr finishings, two patent compounds, uralite and alignum, have been found superior to all others, being capable of absolute inertia under intense heat or in' water, flame-proof, noncombustible and strong. Uralite ia manu factured df asbestos; Chalk, silicate of soda and carbonate of soda, -worked by chemical process under great beat into a homogenous mass and shaped into boards, and sold at 1 cents a square foot Alignum is sn asbestos fiber, ash and secret chemical compound, much like uralite. - Both materials may be worked with ordinary carpenters tools, have great tensile and crushing strength,, polish, and are -very enduring. Their cordial endorsement by , under writers after witnessing the severe tests of the past year insures targe use in the future. - - V Like all calamities, great conflagrations have their les son, for upon their wrecks we rise to belter results- . , npHE UTILIZATION of holy things for unholy pur I - poses seems to 'be a very old practice among those A whose aim of existence ia represented by an inordi nate greed for power and wealth.' Lucretius (B. C. 96-51), the great poet-philosopher of ancient Rome, in hia remark able work "On the Nature of Things," recognized as the greatest of all description poems, reminds us "that much extolled religion has too frequently given birth to criminal and impious deeds." Our own Democritus Junior, in about 1H2X also devoted considerable space in his celebrated work, 'The Anatomy of Melancholy," to the consideration of the causes of religious melancholy, wherein he treats quite freely of "the intolerable covetousness, strange forgeries, unrighteous subtleties, impostures, illusions, new doctrines, paradoxes, traditions, false meracles, "which they have still forged to enthral, circumvent and subjugate them, to main tain their own estates." Today, in the dominions of the czar of all the Russians this has has not changed in the least, and thus almost twenty centuries have rolled into history since the days of Lucretius, and a goodly portion of mankind is still victimized in the name of religion, with this only difference that in cunning, and brutality these modem efforts excel. all those of the past. Indeed, of all. times and all places the abuse of religion has never been so successfully carried on as in Russia, that portion of ignorance and ally of dispotiam, and. nowhere has. religion been turned into so many shapes to serve all kinds of ends as in that' unhappy land. y "'."v ' ' f To the foreigner, sojourning ia Russia, everything pre sents an intensely religious appearance, and, when the gov ernment official has little or nothing to say,-the priest of the Greco-Russian church certainly, has. Indeed, in no land are the ministers of the- gospel rather ministers or servants of the government as in Russia in fact, they are so cunningly worked into the imperial machine and so thor oughly mixed that neither priest nor official, noany .one else can tell exactly where the line between the two ia to be drawn. . Hence, whether it be a massacre of inoffensive people by mob; or a system of brutal oppression byrthe regularly organized government, whether it be the putting down of some discontent among students or workmen wtn bayonet and lead, or a declaration of war against a neigh boring peoplethe priest is always on hand to play- his part in the game, and to give moral sanction to the worst of immoralities and barbarities. . i v ' " n A state of affairs like this is bad enough, but by far the worst feature of religious abuse in Russia is in the fact that among the governing class religion, outside of the unholy uses they make of it, has absolutely neither, meaning, nor sanctity. The very . men who lead the processions, with crucifix or ikon who carry with them the image of some saint or the relic of some holy martyr, who are first to seek the "protecting power" of holy water or on their knees to invoke the god of battles to give them aid in their deadly work of aggression on their neighbors, who-are first to de nounce every other religious faith as false and impius and to declare a war of. extermination against dissenters-Mhese very 'men not only violate every religious precept when ever it suits their interests, but among themselves they absolutely hold everything of a religious nature m ridicule and contempt. . '- -j r-.. ? . : And yet his majesty, Nicholas II, Is a pious man, and all of the civil, military and ecclesiastical pirates wjio consti tute his government are all religious men I At least so they are tryingito make the world believe. But the old, old world, busy as it ever ia, has finally learned what it actually means when the Bear of the North stands Mwith paws like handsin prayer." '-'V " " y .; A- SORROW AND DESTINY By MAURICE MAETERLINCK 1 " .- 1 Copyii1i 1S4. WW.a Hunt) W ELL mlctat It ld thtt from OMtarr wtunr trmie I mndm4 ihrtmih UM ta7 . rlathJ t atlnr wlU Um tora of potmy ta hto hMd." for la tbta way Sm o conrdln to tht (erMa of his Sour, flmd tli aool M tMm umIi of bub, n4 K If SlTtn bistMT Omt bu thus bm eenpose. U I Mm pota that w tu follow Um emiiititOT varlMlono ot tin StoM UBchans ing oowor, ob to toUow thorn to InOeoS ln torootlns. tor t Ui root of tho Moa that tbV bar formed of taia powor ia to bo tounA, orbapa, tho puroat oaoraca of a nation's oouL It la S aowef thaa haa naror entirely eoaaoft to bo, jmt there aro Moaienta rba tt omreely aoami o atir, and at auob moaeota one feela that life la Mitbor wf active nor wry ro fmiML Onee only baa It bee the object of l eivMual worship; tboa wu erea for tho flodo, an awe-taaplrtoc an rat err. And tbero tblns that im aoaaln atranae It waa tha vary period whoa the featureleoo divinity aeeMAd Baoot terrible and ioat laoorapro henalble that waa the moat beeutlfirt period of mankind, and tha people- ta whom deattny wore tha moat fermMable aspect ware the hap niaat paepla at alL .--)?. r'; -. . It woald oeeoj that oeeret fore muat mm- darlla Otla Idea, or that tha Idea, Im la Keelf tha maalfeetatloa ot a force. - ' t Do awn develop ta tha saaaanra that no reaogniaea the sreatnaaa of tha unknown that awaya hlaa. or la K the anknowa that dovalopo In proportion to- raaa? Today tha Men of deetlay would aeeta to be acala awakening, and to go forth la search wore perhapa na un profitable queat. But where t akaU tt . be found? ' r. ' 1 To so forth hi Soareh of deatlny what IS thta bat to aook all the eorrowat There la no deetlay of Joy, no etar that aodoa of hanplneaa. Tho iter (hat le ao eelfaed la only the etar of forbearance. Tat tt la well hat we ehould aally forth at tinea ra aaaroh of our norrowa ao that we may learn to know them and ad mire them, and this even though the sst ehapeleae nana of doatlny be not encountered at tha end . - See nine our norrowa we shall be moat af fectively aeektng onraelvea. for It may truly nald that tha tsJoo of raraelvaa at but tho value of our melancholy and aur disquiet. As we pragraaa aa do tboy baeoma deeper, nobler and mora beeotifal. and Marcua AuraV las la to be admire above all men. beeauee. bettor than all men baa ha understood bow nueh there b of the ooal in the -meek, re algned amlfe It muat weary, at tha deptha of na. Thus to it too with the eorrowB of humanity. They follow road wblofa- rosemblea the road of our own Borrows, but It la longer and surer and muat lead to fatherlands that the lest oomora alone ehall know. Thla road also haa physical aorrow for tta starting point; tt haa only Just mended tho fear of the god, and t today It halts by a now abyea wnogo depth tha wry wisest of hava not yet sounded. ', Baoh aentury holds another aorrow dear for each- eentury diacarna a new doatlny. It la oertala that wa no longer Interest ouraalvat, , aa waa formerly tha ease, re tha aataatro ph ot passion and tha auallty of aorrow revealed In the most tragle anaaterpleoeo of tha past la Inferior ta tha quality of tha sor rows today. -. i (' . .- It la only Indlreatly thai theae tragedies af fect us now, only by meant of that which la brought ta bear an the single aeoldente of love and hatred they reproduce by tha reflec tion and new nobility of aen'tlment that tha pain of living haa created within us. Tbera are moments when It would aeam aa if wa were an the threshold of a aw pesslaj lam. mysterious and perhapa vary para. The moat redoubtable mawe, Schopenhauer. Cerlyte, the Ruealane. the Scandlnavlana and -the good optimist Emerson, too (for there la ' nothing mora discouraging than n wilful op timist) all theae hava passed our melancholy by unexplained, , 1 . Wa feel that underlying all the reaaona they hava- eecaped to give a there are many- other profounder reasons, whose fllaeovery haa been beyond them Tha aadneas of man. whwh aeemed beaatlful, even to them, la still aua eeptlMa of lnflnte ennobling, until at laat a areatura of genles shall have uttered tha final word of the aorrow that ahall perhapa wholly purify 1 r. :- In tha meanwhile we are in the hende of at range powera wboaa Intentions we are on tha ova af divining. ... ,,.-- . ; At tha time of the great tragic Writers of the new era, at the time of Shakespeare, Baclna and their successors the belief pre 'vailed that ail misfortunes Oarae from tha varloua passions of tha bart Oataetrophaa did not haver betwaea two worlds; they eama henea to go thither, and their points of depar ture are known. Man wad always tha master. Much lose waa thla tha case at the time of tha Greeks, for thea fatality reigned on tha heights, but tt was lnaeoeealble and Bone dared interrogate It i Today It is fatality that wa challenge, fnd thta la perhaps tba distinguishing note of the Mff theatre. It ta no longer the effeeta of a disaster that afreet our attention, tt m ls-t T aster Itself, and we are aagar to know Ita aa aenoe and Ita lawe. v Whence doea It oome? Whither doeTU got Why doea It descend upon usf Theae were problems' to which tha Oreeka barely gave a thought, la it written wlthta ua, or al tt bora , Which of aa recalling tha circumstances of tha moatweelelva mlefortunea of bio Ufa but haa felt blmaelf etmllarly pussesssl?. ' Be it well ndrstood that I apeak here only of active' nrtafortunea of thooe- that might have - been prevented, for there are passive at tha aaVne Uma aa oureerveeT ZXws It af 1U mlafortaqea, aoch aa tha death of peraon we own accord start forward to meet as. or b it adore, wnkrb aim ply domd toward us and can- ummened by oonnlvtng vote as that aye ohartsn JK be tnlluenced by any movement Of ours. at tha deptha of aaf ? Y if wa ecu Id bat follow from tha heights of another world tha ways of tha man over whom a great aorrow la Impending And what man la there that doea not laboriously, though all wnconeHoualy, himself fashion the aorrow that la to be me pivot of hla HfeT . f-, , The Scotch peasants have a word that might be applied to every existence. In their legend! they give tha name of "Fey" to the frame of mind of a man woo, notwithstanding all hla" ef forts notwithstanding all help and advice, Is forced by some Irresistible Impulse toward aa Inevitable catastrophe. - . , It Is thus that Jamea t the Jamea of Cath erine Dougtaa, waa "fey" when bo went, not" withstanding tha terrible omena af earth, heavufi and bell, to spend tha Christmas holi day in the gloomy castle of Perth, Where his assassin, tha traitor Robert Graeme, lay an wait for him. - ---- - - Bethink you of tha fatal day of your life. Hava wa not all been forewarned, and though . It may seem ta ua now that doatlny might hava bean changed by a atop wa did not take, door . wa did not open. a band we did not . ratee. Which of ua but haa atruggiad vainly i on tha topmoat walla of tho abyss, struggled - without vigor and .without hope agalnat a force that waa Invisible " and apparently without sowar. fc ',':'-' . - ..-.- Tha breath of air stirred by tha door 1 opened ona evening waa forever to extinguish my happtneas, aa It would aya extinguished a - fllekerlag lamp, and now when X think af it I cannot tall nVbsslf thst I did not know.. And pat It was nothing important that bad takeft me to tha threehold, I could have gone away shrugging my shoulders-- there was no human reaaoa that eould force ma to knock on tha a panel. deatlny. Ma human reaaoa nothing but r ' : From the landea Tt The governmaat returns of tha acreage under erop la Oreat Britain were first oolleoasd and published 'in the year lla The xwt of lend Under wheet waa then returned at I.UI.lte aeree. Ia net it roe to I lit.it: acrw which la the largest total en offlolal rooorS. The general teadeoey atnea than baa been In tha dlreotlou of deoreaaa. though wit numerous oarUlstlons fmm year to year. 'w bMore, hoerewc. haa tha area un der vaeat la aar nuand returned at aa low a leva! aa M7I.II4 aerea, whteft la the outcome of the returno officially collected throughout tba oountry In tha first week af June, ISO 4. Laat year the wheat erop Waa grown upon l,slM7 acrae, no that thla year there la a de crease Of SOt.tei seres, equivalent to It per leant. It would be Intereatlng to know. If the aseane wsre available, what proportion af , thla yaar'a rep waa automa- aown ajnd what proportloa spring anwn. In all probability, bow aver. It would be fouad that the proper. tfon of spring aown tn tha season of lMe .waa greater than a to before. Down to tha present yvar tha dtnaUeet area af wheat on record in Great Britain wss that af M1T.4U acres In llsi, tho decline ta the asteat of half a million acres In that year having bean brought about by the miserably low valuee of wheat which prevailed aver the autumn sowing season Of 1U4. In which tM weekly average price of Knglllh wheat felt to 17a d per imperial jr of 4to pounds, the lowest ton record. Ao re cently aa tha year 1 Um aoreage of wheat In Great Britain was larger than that n etthav her lev or oata. On the other band, la each year since list the acreage af wheat has oostlauoosly bean belew that of barley, and still mora be low that of oats. This year, for In stance, wa uava onry 1.S7I.IM aerea af wlvat. as oompared with 1,I4, acres nf barley and l,SBI.7l aorea of oata Barley and oata together tha occupy nearly four tlmea aa many aerea aa wheat. Moreover, the present what area ta less than the land area of each of auoh count lee aa Lincoln. Devon and Perth, It thus appears that all the wheat flolita of Great Britain could Kbe orowded Into such a eounty as, for ex ample, Oeronahtra alone, and sUU leave apace. .- .- r , .. ' PTom Pendleton Bast Oregonlan. ' Thera will be no new chief of the Nee Peroea." remarked Major Lea Mooe housa, former Indian agent, and perhapa the beat reread man on Indian affaire In tha northweet today: "At least I think It hlahly improbable. Old Chief Joeeph waa the head In name only of a mere handful of eld aborigines that at ana time formed ana of the moat pewerfoj and InflutnllBl trlbw la, the weet - "There are possibly IS members af the Nc peroe tribe alive There will be many Indians present at the big pow wow, following the death of olfl Joseph, but they on me from other tribea, the Colvlllee, Walla Wallas. Cayuees and tha rest. Tbey go to the potlatch be eaaaa of the feasts. "Aa Indian would hot mlse a feast any more than tn Irishmen would a wekev I do not know of pny local In dians arranging to attend. They go not require passes from the wiaerlntendent and may leave for the Keg Peres eamp when they feet like It . , -The position af chief nowadaya to merely an honorary title The govern ment recognises In but a email way tha power of the head tribesman. . "Other tribea of the northwest are out up aa badly aa tha Nea Pereee, At Pasco a dosen Indiana eke out a mtaer able exlstnnna They are all that la left of old Homily's people, once tbe power ful Walla Walla, whose drunsla stretched from the Columbia river to the Snake river oa the Idaho aouadar." .; i , ' ! : . J' ' x v. ; '4 -I; i' . -" ., ' 'it : -a -'I x -" $ '(,- Y' t '