0
THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, - TUESDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 29, 1914.:
THE JOURNAL
'a.i nnrrKii'KT vKW,tpita,
.lhl!her.
I sullurrt rVrry eaenthff lescept oixtar "
- ery Sarnlay morning at 'the Joarnal FtM
. IB. Rmariwar twl Vtimhl!! urn.. Hnlort. Of
.i. r-l at tue i-j.uiif.Ke at furuaatf, or., tvt
tranasalaaloa iBruuKS' the walM secies'
' laea matter. -
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apartment reached by (Lea aooiber. Tail
tue "mrrnlnr won, 'ta-.artmonr nut waat.
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BnJmli. Keotnor Co.. Branawtrfc Bis.;
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aubaviti iwa tktuia l' DiaU tfr 1" n, aO
' DAILY. -Ooe
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DAILY AWD HONIJAT.
Ona er. . f Ml tin- month I .(IS
, Our character is but the
tump on our souls of the free
choices of good and evil we
have made through life.
Geikle.
ta
, TI1K A.MKJUCAV PROTKST
J
HIE ' fact hat 56 per cent of
the people and 58 ;er cent
of the land, surface,' of the
globe are represented by the
governments engaged in the Eu
ropean conflict is full reason for
the peoples of the--remainder of
the world to be permitted to pur
sue their endeavors in pease and
security.
. The 18,000,000 men -sow under
5 late , by the havoc of war have to
be fed and clothed, and the re
ponsibillty. of doing this, as -well
'as the responsibility for feeding
linn cinminir inn romniiinnr nr man
kind, falls almost entirely Upon
those countries which are at peace.
y ' The warring nations should do
nothing to enlarge this burden.
'Their warships should not commit
neo'llesB depredations upon 'the
: shipping of . neutrals. Neutral car
riers should bo left free to trans
port over the high seas, from tho
'granaries and factories those prod
ucts ana mercnanaise or which the
stricken peoples stand so much in
need.
In the vigorous protest to the
t)a.itaU . J. 1 A. I t .
testations American shipping has
HUffertVl from th art a of ItHtl-h
vessels of war. President Wilson
:and his associates are fully justi
fied.. Chiefly on the United States
now depends the duty of maintain
ing civilization, of preserving the
forces of world progress, and of
.preventing a breakdown of inter
national usage and world obliga
tions. To meet our responsibilities and
in Justice to the rights and re
quirements of American .life and
industry, our rights as neutrals
muct be respected and in his firm
demand upon Great Britain for
"such respect. President Wilson is
.entitled to the good opinion of
mankind.
mLITAltlSM IN DRESS
THE spirit of militarism is re
flected in the latest bulletin
, of the Fashion Art League of
America. According to the
.bulletin "the Blinker slouch has
siinked Its last slouch and the
low nock and peekaboo waist will
sooo be among the things that
once were." n
The twentieth .century girl Is to
come Into her rightful heritage of
an erect figure which will be acr
centuated by a gown on strictly
military lines. An' upstanding car
riage, Btraight shoulders, flat braid
and brass buttons will mark the
bearings and dress of tho woman
Of 1915.
'.There is to be no more of the
slouching droop. The nock where
age first heralds her approach is
to bo covered by a military collar
bordered With a tiny frill sor ruche
yi iacej ur uci. i
. It la nntlrefthf that tna Poiv,inn
Art League Is careful to avoid any
recommendation looking to the dj
eard of the shirt waist. To do so
would result in its discomfiture
and loss of prestige at once. The
hlrt, waist is here to etay. Skirts
may be narrow or wide, necks may
be high or low but the shirt waist
will continue to waist though there
be forty wars on which to set mil
tary fashions and soldier-like at-tlre.--
-ED1SOX SCORES AGAIN
T
IHOMAS A. EDISON'S latest
invention, the "telescribe."
will be among the remarkable
exhibits at th Pannmn-Pa.
iflc exposition. It is a combina
tion of telephone and dictaphone
nd,ha nover been exhibited at
an international ' exposition.
- This remarkable product of a
remarkable man's brain is said to
tulflli Mr. Edison's prediction of
1870 that perfection In telephonic
communication would be reached
Only when means were discovered
for combinlne the tel
phonograph In order that 'messages
mignt do propeny recorded. This
the telescribe Is said to do.
; When the -desk telephone's re-
. celver is removed from the i hook
and Placed in the telescrihn's
et, connection with the dictating
machine is made. The user takes
up a small receiver attached to the
teiescriDe ana oegms conversation
In this way both sides of the con
versation are recorded, and i
monlcatlon with the central ; oper
ator Is cut off, thus preventing
"breaking In oh the line.
. The value of a device that will
record telephonic conversations is
easily understood by business men.
written records refresh the mem
ory and prevent disputes, i The
telephone ' transmits sixty, per cent
of all forms l ot-communication, in
the United States, totalling fifteen j
billion conversations a year, an j
aggregate in excess of the number
of telegrams, letters and railroad
passengers in the same period,
MISS DIMICK
HIRTY-EIGHT years in a
school room is a. long teach
ing record. - Misa " Dimick"
could not have served so long
without leaving L an , impress upon,.
manyaves. aae. most have vDeen;
lnlove with her profession or she
would not have remained, in it until :
death, and loving a work is to do t
it well. '
m no field is there more oppor- f
tunny to Denenciauy toucn numan
life. No profession means more
to the welfare of the race.
The hum of the school room, the
noises that float in from the out-
aide, the shouts on the playground,'
the troubles of the wee pupils, the
disappointments in the lass work, ,
,the memory of It all is written in-'
',,, , , . ,,
dellbly on every mind, and it all
- ;
kISf"inLArJin:
er, with patience in her manner.;
love of mankind in her voice and j
a kindly expression in her eyes.
. In every life there are these pic
tures. There are impulses in every
life that were stirred Into expres
sion by these teachers and there
is higher purpose in many a life
that was touched into activity by
the gentla encouragement of a
patient teacher. Many a word
floats out of the past and many a
well remembered look of approval
gazes' out of the school days words
and looks from the presiding gen
ius of a school room that impel
us "to-higher thought and loftier
endeavor.
Mankind largely commits its
youth and its youth's future to the
keeping of the teachers, and many
teachers rise to their responsibili
ties and meet the sacred trust with
heroic' devotion and courage. Be
ginning at 20 and closing at 58,
when her mortal sun went down
in a final setting, Miss Dimick
Berved her generation signally, and
on many a career has left the im
press of her own beautiful life.
.MAKING IT RESPECTABLE
LOBBYING has taken a new
form in Ohio. A number of
persons interested in legisla
tion for the public health
have organized a federation which
will keep itself informed about pro
posed laws by having a senior of
tho state university review in a
systematic manner all legislative
proposals. Those pertaining to
public health he will refer to an
executive council which In turn
will write letters to members of
the general assembly stating the
attitude of ths council towards the
proposed bills and reasons for their
edoption or rejection.
The new method which elimi
nates personal visits of individuals
and delegations to the legislature
and the buttonholing of members
ought to win favor.
' While it seems Icbbying cannot
be disassociated from democratic
government here ia manifestation
of a faint hope that it can be
made respectable.
PADDED PAYROLLS
I
NDIANA officials Indicted for
presenting and approving illegal
claims against the state have
been acquitted. They were
charged with violating a law of
1895 by padding the payrolls with
employes whose employment was
prohibited by that enactment.
This statute was an effort made
to stop graft upon state funds by j
excessive hiring of clerks and others
to wnom employment is given cmetly
for political purposes. The Indiana j
legislature made en effort to stop 1
this graft by limiting the number
of persons who could be employed
in the state departments and the
legislature, and making it a crime
to certify vouchers for more than
the authorized number. r
The accused officials did not
deny that the law had been ig
nored, nor that appointments to
jobs had been made for political
purposes. They were acquitted be
cause the legislature of 1895 had
no power to control the acts of
subsequent legislatures. The law
had not been repealed, but it was
unconstitutional for the reason
stated by the indicted officials.
The accused officials have been
acquitted, but not vindicated.
Their case is Interesting at a time
when legislatures in most of the
states are meeting. It is evidence
that each body of lawmakers is
charged with the duty of abolish
ing the political pie counter. It is
also evidence that the people are
demanding reasonable economy,
They will continue to so insist, r.nd'the only civilized power engaged
will devise other forms of punish
ment if jails are not available,
WHAT- BUSINESS NEEDS
E
UROPEAN nations tave placed
contracts in the United I States
for more than $300,000,000
worm 01 supplies since the
war began. This is the statement
of Charles M. Schwab, president of
the Bethlehem Steel Corporation,
who has returned from a second
business trip to England.
Mr. Schwab - say s the United
States Is at the threshold of the
"greatest period of prosperity it
has seen In many years." He had
just given up contracts for sub
marines worth $15,000,000, and
yet. he was even ; more optimiEtlc
than when he had those contracts
In his pocket. When advised by
Secretary of State Bryan that for
an. American concern, to npply j
submarines to any of the belllger -
ent ' nations would be u violation '
both in letter and in spirit of tnenopoly of that virtue. Yet in the
neutrality of the j United States,
Mr." Schwab threw the orders over
board and went back to Europe
for other orders. ! He got them
and his concern will be kept busy.
; The Inext big problem that the
J United States will have to face, he
said; will be the idevelopment of
."...
tremendou8 lnCrca8e in. mana- i
- ., . i,ti -,t..i
lauiuiiug auu vuijuuioiuih cuvci
prises. "The pericfd of prosperity : practically every other, and often
that I predicted on my last return! the accusations were true,
from Europe Is about upon us. j, The world is learning something
Contracts placed with American j about war. It is learning that
manufacturing concerns by Europe
.call for deiivery within the year, I
and I look to see a 'big revival of
:Mr ronivpi nt ,
business in every line."
Mr. Schwab is ai big man in the j
. R. A innA nnt Rn
o .. Anno i nm . n.
o ' . . aa an
. ., r , . c nArt nnn
tiative. The loss of a 115,000,000
. . ... , ,,, . ,
contract did not discourage him.
There were profits to be made In
Vi tvi oTin ta -f rA ir aVi n i n era
. American neutraiitv
no ,e"!l
It is a ttime for aggressive cour
age and business vision. The timid 1
and the backward looking cannot
succeed they never have, and they
never will. j
UXPAVED BROADWAY
I
T IS one year, eight months and
seven days since Broadway
bridge was opened to traffic.
Ten blocks of street on its
east approach are still unpaved.
Nor' are there signs! that the stretch
is to be paved, j
The street is so unfit that the
bridge is little used by vehicle
triffic. The great j sum of $1,5 86,
921.90 of the people's money was
paid out for building the great
viaduct, and the pon-improvement
of the street makes it of little
use except to the streetcar com
pany. It Is a monstrous waste
of public money, j
It is the property owners along
the way that obstruct the paving
of the thoroughfare. As early as
August, 1905, the paving of the
street was proposed, but the prop
erty owners remonstrated. Paving
was again proposed in January,
1912, and again it was put aside
on account of the protests of Broad
way property owners. In June,
1913, the plan was renewed and
at various times since, efforts have
been made, but In all Instances
Broadway residents have blocked
the plan. j.
The case presents a monumental
instance of the inefficiency of gov
ernment. The bridge never should
have been built (until there was
assurance that the! street could be
made something better than a bad
macadam, scarcely better than a
bad road in a remote country dis
trict ' j
Meanwhile the bridge Is deter
iorating. " It has its length of life.
We are traveling toward the time
when it will have to be pulled
down as old junk.i And for nearly
two years, we have had little use
of it because Broadway property
owners refuse to allow the east
approach to be paved. How long
is the status to continue?
THE ST. JOILXS CASE
T
HE St. Johns city council is
proposing to pay forty-eight
times the assessed value . for
five acres of land for ceme
tery purposes. The tract is valued
, at $33.33 for assessment purposes
land at $1600 for cemetery nur-
poses. The law requires property
assessed at its true cash value,
and a great deal of property is as-
Bessed at 50 to 75 per cent of its
real value. But here Is a tract
of land assessed at little more than
two , per cent of
It is demanded
the value which
the City of St.
Johns shall pay for it.
The Journal doesn't pretend to
say who, but soniebody is being
cheated in this
transaction. If
the property is worth only $33.3-3
per acre for tax purposes, it isn't
worth $1600 an
purposes. If it
acre for public
is worth $1600
an, acre for graveyard purposes it
is worth more than $33.33 for tax
purposes.
- The transaction
is a fit topic for
contemplation by the people of St.
Johns. 1
CIVILIZED WARFARE
I
S JAPAN to stand out in this
great war as the most civilized
of the belligerent nations? This
question, asked by the St. Baul
Dispatch, is answered by saying
that perhaps the Unprejudiced stu
dent of war events might go fur-
ther and pronounce the Nipponese j
in warfare. t
Tanan trav fWmanv two wppVs'
japan gave uei-many two weeks
notice of intention to declare war.
When the Japanese bombarded the
fortifications at I Kiao Chan. 24
bours' notice had beei given In or -
der that npneombatanb might seek !
safety. What other
great nation ;
has maintained this
strict Observ- '
ance of the rules of
international
warfare?
Great Britain
dropped bombs
Freiberg and
upon Dusseldorf,
other unfortified towns. Germany
made aerial attacks upon Antwerp
before that Belgian city was in
vested. , AH this was! done without
notice. Women and children have
been made the. victims of a war
fare that was supposed to have
been prohibited by both Interna
tional law and modern civilization.
Throughout the 'ages the profes
sional j , soldier " has l talked more
about ."honor" . than anybody else,
He has tome near to claiming, as
agairst civilians, a practical mo-
present , war the professional sol-
aier takes no pride in fighting
fairly.
The fact Is that warfare has no
relation to the, virtues. There is
no such thing as civilized warfare
or honor in such conflicts. Even
misuse of the white flag and other
signs of surrender, though con-
demned in theory, has been charged
br nractiwilT .rV
w w
men who insist that migh,t makes
right, even when a nation is con-
cernea. when nut to the tat. Hhnw
a lamentable lack of most of the
attributes of civilization.
While distributing presents at a
mining camp ner Coeur dene.
:Mrs. Jack Robinson, bride of five
months, of Spokane, was accident
ally shot and Instantly killed. Hr
husband was showing a revolver to
a friend, when It dropped and was
!diBcharged. The bullet penetrated
ithe victim's heart and she fell into
her husband's arms. It is to kill
people that revolvers are made,
and this one got its victim. It was
In the fullness of youth and life
and happiness that Mrs. Robinson
was garnered for the blood roll.
( Commnnlratlona aent to Tbe Journal for
publication In tbta department aboold ba writ
ten on only one aid of tha paper, abonld not
exceed Suo words In length and moat be ac
companied by the name and addreae of tbe
sender. It tbe writer does not desire to
bate tbe name published, be sbould ao elate.)
"DfaCTHWlnii ! tbe ftreatent ef H reform
era. It rationalises ererjrtbloe; It touches. It
robe principles of all falae sanctity acrt
tbrows them back on Their reasonableness. If
tbey cave no reasonableness. It ruthlessly
ernsben them oot of existence and art up Its
evrn concluuious la their stead." Woodruw
Permanent Relief.
Portland, Dec. 28. To the Editor of
The Journal There has been a great
work done during the last few weeks
in Portland, in the way of helping; the
poor and unfortunate. It has demon
strated the public spirit and big
heartedness of the Portland people,
who have given temporary relief to
thousands of poor people. I would
therefore like to suggest that a propo
sition be put before the people of
Portland, and the different charitable
organizations, whereby a plan may be
formulated to give those families per
manent homes, where they can be in
dependent instead of dependent.
Sdy plan would be along these lines:
Appoint a. committee of, say, three
from the different charitable organi
zations already formed, this commit
tee to investigate and approve or dis
approve all propositions, and to co
operate with different land dealers
throughout, the state to improve and
uell land in small tracts on long time
payments.
For illustration, , we take 40 acres
along the Columbia river in the east
ern part of the state, as I am more
familiar with that district. We put
down, a well, put in a pumping plant
sufficient to irrigate the tract, cut
it IntCaKIve acre tracts, build on each
a small, substantial four room house
and a barn and chicken house, fence
in hog tight. Pipe the water from the
well to the land. A place of this
kind, located right, should be worth
about J1000 to $1500. Sell It on 10
years' time at 6 per cent interest. It
would necessarily have to be done on
a cooperative and wholesale basis in
order to enable one 'to buy right. We
would take eight' families who were
recommended, by the trustees or other
reliable concerns, take them to the
land, let them do the work, their
work to apply on the first payment
of the land. giving them Just cash
enough for themselves and family to
live on until they could get the first
crop, or give them a due bill for gro
ceries at the store. In this way the
labor, which is generally the biggest
expense, would be taken care of with
a very small outlay of money.
Now we will place a firsi mortgage
of about $600 on each five acre tract,
payable in five yearly payments of
$120 and Interest, the balance of the
payments to run at the same rate
until the full purchase price has been
paid. In addition to the first mort
gage to secure this J600 the purchaser
will carry a fire insurance on the
buildings, also life and accident in
surance, which will be payable to the
mortgagee as his Interest may appear,
and' the sellers of the land will have
to see that the first mortgage is paid
before they get their money.
The only thing that the Portland
people would be asked to do would be
to loan their surplus money through
this association at the regular inter
est rates, and they could feel that
with every $600 they loaned they were
giving some needy family a home, and
enabling them to give their children a
schooling.- Every needy- family In
Portland can be given a home In this
way which, they would never get in
ariy other, and would put Portland on
record as the biggest home building
city in the union.
I would like to meet and talk over
details with anyone who might be
interested in a proposition of this
kind. . HARRY E. WATSON.
Congratulations Appreciated.
Portland, Dec. 27. To the Editor of
The Journal Please accept my hearti
est congratulations on your securing
the services f Governor West as your
special correspondent in connection
with the work of the pending legisla
tive session at Salem.
I am sure the announcement In
your paper that you had secured the
services: or Governor West , will be
reaa WIln "llerest sausracuon Dy
. hls uganda of fronds, regardless of
party, throughout the state and the
(entire country who have watched and
approved his fight for reforms and the
f"6" f f01"' Jawif"
win.' believe that he would Tgain h
been elected governor of this state had
ne once more been willing td become
a candidate xor mat oince. i
With the compliments of the holi
day season, and best wishes for the
prosperity of The Journal throughout
the coming years, I remain. Very sin
cerely yours, 7v N. CAMPBELL.
"The Filthy Chicken .Yard. .
Portland, Dec. 28. To the Editor of
The Journal I offer here a few words
of thanks for publicity given In the
Sunday Journal to the wholesome agi
tation oui xooi ivr a: ent:nui vicauup
in fortland. It will prove abortive un
less it strikes directly at the source
of filth on the back lots of our city,
towit, the chicken -yard, 'whose very
nature seems to .be, in spite of all
theory, endless - filth and disorder.
Letters From the People
A FEW 'SMILES
"What do .you know about the con-4
, ... XI M t'1 V- .
Biiiunon f in uci i
you can't repeat the
opening clause.'. "
"I can, too: We, I
the people of the;
United States, being .
of sound mind and j
disposing will " - i
"That will do," in-
trrnntwl IIia nthe man "1 didn't
think you knew it, old top." Puck.
It was in a suburban barber shop
and a farmer with a week's growth of
stubby beard had seated himself in a
chair to have his whiskers cropped.
"Guess you'll have
a time gittin' them
off," he remarked as
the barber began
rubbing on the lather.
"Oh, I don't know,"
said the barber, care
lessly. "All beards
look alike to me."
"Wuost I went into a barber shop
to- git shaved," resumed the farmer,
"and after the barber was done and 1
was pay in" him he remarked: 'Say,
old man. If all beards was like yourn
I'd quit the barber business. I sez to
him, I sez: 'Well, you haven't got
anything on me, old man. If all bar
bers was like you I'd let my beard
grow. "
"Mv Afar" sirl thai nrouri father. "1
cannot understand your objection to
young iruaeiy as a
ultor for your hand.
I am sure that he Is
a model young man."
"There Is no ques-
fcaV-1 f 1 U' uon aDout nis Deing
irW fifcvl a model" replied the
rteT ioKri T bewltchinr beauty
Itfy fnt-J I j "but, faher, dear.
the trouble is that he is a 1912 model."
combined with nerve-racking and ear-
splitting barnyard noise.
Our municipal Judges have repeat
edly declared that in densely settled
districts the chicken yard is a nui
sance, and that, while an excellent
thing in its place, out of place it is
a nuisance and a curse, as not one
person in 100 bestows the necessary
attention and time to insure success,
and consequently chicken keepers are
losers financially, and their afflicted
neighbors must suffer thereby. 1 will
donate J100 -toward any practical
movement toward eliminating the
filthy backyard chicken ranch and
driving it out to sparsely settled dis
tricts. ,
Other things that simply must be
dealt with are -the rotten old fences
and dilapidated outbuildings and
shacks, duo in almost every case to
the backyard chicken ranch.
Agaih, grass must not be permitted
to grow over our walks and parkings.
and wood should not be piled in streets
or on parkings for months at a time.
Portland, so blessed by nature. Is,
through man's filthy and disorderly
conduct, disfigured by ramshackle
chicken (.pens and unsightly and of
fensive back yards incident thereto.
The Journal has advocated and won
many reforms for our city and state.
ana the writer believes it will, in the
cause of order, cleanliness and civic
beauty, stand by this "Clean the City"
movement, thereby creating an orJerly
and cleanly environment that will con
fer blessings on both rich and poor.
The "pig in the parlor" policy, I trust,
will not be perpetuated in Portland.
A. J. MARTIN.
Charity.
Hood River, Or., Dec. 27. To the
Editor of The Journal The recent
charitable disposition shown every
where as depicted by the press leads to
a bit or commendation and comment.
It Is at once beautiful and distressing,
the sight of all this human kindness
and human woe. That people should
be so generous and kindly Is truly a
delight; that such need for charity
should exist is woeful, indeed, and, be
sides all this charity is but a surface
showing, for poverty lies deeply in
grained in the social state. The world's
noblest and best ever stand back and
wait until all others first are served,
and these we never see nor know.
These kindly souls distributing chari
ties are much like the nurses who fol
low up the brave of war to bind up the
wounds and put the broken men to
gether; for they go out after the fall
en victims of greed, the dissolute and
cast off, and heal their hurts. All this
misery seems quite useless, and the i
only good in it is apparently the good
that may come of it.. For many peo
ple are positive that Christians are
dealing with effects; that lopping off
branches does not kill, but rather may
foster an evil tree; that the ax must
be laid at the root of the evil. The
system of profit making, they claim, is
the sifurce whence flows, generally,
all human conflict and crime. Do we
know the real cause, and are we brave
enough to learn the real truth and
proclaim it? JUSTICE.
To Obtain a Patent.
Long Creek, Or., Dec 24. To the Ed
itor of The Journal Please inform me
through your question column how a
patent may be securely obtained.
SUBSCRIBER.
An answer to this question, to
have any considerable value to the in
quirer, must be of length beyond the
bounds of reasonable space. There
fore, the best practical answer is to
advise the Inquirer to- address "The
Commissioner of Patents, Washington,
D. C," and request him to send a copy
of the "Rules of Practice,'" which is
sent free to applicants. It contains
forms and Instructions that will fully
answer all requirements. ,
The Ragtime Muse
The Maid of My Dreams.
The maid of my dreams is a creature
so rare
That I vainly have sought her for
years:' .
Tet 1 really don't care what's the shade
of her hair
Nor what is the shape of her ears.
That paragon girl may have teeth that
aren't pearl
And her ejres may he vacant of
gleams;?
Tet, her majrrfiDld charms set my mind
in a whirl
As I muse. on the maid of my dreams!
I never have thought If her form should
be round,
.Athletic, lopsided or lean;
I only have wished It would be neatly
gowned
In a garb hygienically. clean.
It isn't important that she should re
call Greek, Latin or wise college themes;
If she knows bow to cook by the book.
- that is all
: That I'll ask of the maid of my
f dreams. .
If she knows how to look to the wash
ing and sweep, -How
to turn household sorrow to
joys. . !
How 'to dear with the dust without
failing asleep.' i
How to sleefr wthout making a noise;
If she'll work for a fair weekly wage
for my wife. -If
she'll never indulge in extremes
Of 111 temper, believe me I'll take her
for life. . - - - - .
i That adorable maid of toy dreams!
PERTINENT COMMENT
SMALL. CHANGE
A wise man says what he has toM
'u men bhuis up.
e
Knowledge isn't always power. There
is the football contest, for instance,
a a
Experience comes high. Still, the
automobile factories are busy.
a a
emm People give the impression
that they believe word tbey say.
You can always tell when a girl is
jealous by the way she says she isn't.
As a matter of fact, one half the
world doesn't care how the other half
lives.
a a
It's difficult to convince old bache
lors that lovs And rfimmrhn mamcia 1 . -
anything in common.
a a
We have reached the conclusion that
Europe's theatre of war has developed
a good many bum actors.
The chances are that if Mexico could
get a taste of real peace she would
like it almost as well as pulque.
Every girl vows when she marries
thut mho. mill . l J l - .
from her husband the way her poor
urn uiuiiier aoes.
It doesn't take the average man
long to develop into a nonentity in the
eyes of the female of the species who
a
The people of this country are
guaranteed the pursuit of happiness,
but the trouble is many of them do
not stop pursuing it until they get into
m.w nanus me induce.
If David were alive to read the war
'cpurw ij-om liemn, feixograa ana
Vlannii Ha in. U ...... . l. : .. .....! 1 1 ..... ...
. ........ 'i.i wiruiu i c'cn inn ncimuun II
declaration - about the mendacitv of
: melt.
FACTORY GIRL VS.
Mary Chamberlain, in The Survey.
This afternoon, December 17, 1914,
the first case involving the constitu
tionality of a law to provide minimum
wages for women in industry and up
held by unanimous bench in the su
preme court of Oregon, is come to trial
before the supreme court of the United
States. On the court's decision will
probably depend the status of similar
laws in California, Colorado, Minne
sota, Utah, Washington and Wiscon
sin. The decision to be rendered, there
fore, in the cases of Frank C. tettler,
a box manufacturer of Portland, Or
and Elmira Simpson, a girl employed
in the Stettler factory, vs. the Indus
trial Welfare Commission of Oregon
Involves more than the right of a sin
gle manufacturer to bargain for labor
at $6 and $7 a week and more than
the right of a single woman to scrimp
through life on an $8 wage.
The scene in the semi-circular court
room has a touch of irony, almost of
the dramatic; the quiet, stately room;
the formality of the proceedings; the
inscrutable faces of the eight judges;
the attempt of Rome G. Brown of Min
neapolis, and ex-Senator Fulton of Ore
gon, counsel for the plaintiffs, to prove
the collapse of constitutional govern
ment by the payment of 64 cents more
a week to a factory girl In Portland;
and finally the earnest appeal of Louis
D. Brahdeis and Attorney General
Crawford of Oregon, representing the
defendants, to judge not hypothetical
bogies, but the very real terrors of
starvation, thin clothing and tempta
tion. The plaintiffs rest their case upon
the same familiar premise the pre
mise of freedom of contract guaran
teed by the fourteenth amendment to
the constitution. This arbitrary regu
lation of wages, regardless both of the
employes' efficiency or other sources
of income and of the employers' ability
to pay the rate, is claimed to be a de
privation of liberty and of property
(since labor is a commodity) without
due process of law. Furthermore, it Is
branded discriminatory, on the one
hand, against the employers of Oregon
who must compete with manufacturers
in Washington and neighboring states;
on the other hand, against employes as
women.
In judging the case the supreme
court of Oregon held that regulation of
wages by a minimum wage law was a
proper exercise of the police power of
the state whereby "freedom" is subject
to such restraint of action as the state
may impose for protection of health,
safety, morals, and general welfare.
But Mr. Brown contends that a "fair,
reasonable, necessary exercise of police
power has never been and may not be
invoked to supply an individual's needs
which are merely incidental to employ
ment and do not, like the hazards of
long hours and accidents, arise out of
an occupation. It is difficult to follow
frona the argument which he advances
howjpa individual's private life, her un
met nfeeds of food and shoes and recre
ation, has no connection with the 6 or
)8 wage paid for her industrial life.
To take from those who have, sim
ply because they have, and give to
those who have not, simply because
they have not, warns counsel, opens a
realm of police power regulation which
has no limit, one which will lead to
compulsory division of profit and
thence to a division of property. It
may be, he admits, ethically right and
even economically sound, but it is im
possible under our present form of
government. It strains all police pow
er and "jumps over a chasm into a
field repugnant to a constitution which
holds sacred the rights of property"
the similes of his conclusion are jum
bled but they express to Mr. Brown's
mind the vague,' nameless terrors
which menace a government where a
minimum wage is law.
The spectator unconsciously tries to
sense the attitude of the court from
the queries which, the Judges make. Is
STUDYING RATE PROBLEMS
By oJhn M. Oskison.
"I am a heavy shipper, and therefore
interested in getting low rates from
tbe railroads; but as a citizen of the
country interested in its general pros
perity I want to see the railroads pros
perous. We can't look forward to a
general revival of business so long as
the financial life is smothered out of
the railroads."
In substance, this is what a Chicago
manufacturer has written to me. His
reasoning seems to me sound. He
Sees on to. point out that experts re
gard the steel business as the best
barometer of general business, and he
calls attention to the fact that In nor
mal times the railroads use about 40
per cent of the steel products made in
this country.
For some time the roads have not
been buying steel they haven't been
able to raise the money, and they can't
raise money because their earnings
haven't tieen big enough to tempt In
vestors to buy their notes, bonds.rsnd
Stocks. Rates ' have been pegged low,
and meanwhile expenses have mount
ed, so that surplus has disappeared and
profits have been- cut to a ridiculously
low figure..
Ther rate question is a vital one.
Transportation of freight ami. passen
AND NEWS IN BRIEF
OREGON' SIDELIGHTS
A checker tournament for the win
ter months, which the Register says
bids lair to become very popular, is
soon to be started at the T. A. C. A.
in Eugene. i
; -
Knglish born residents of Eugene nt
a banquet to be held January 4 wlil
effect an organization, apparently
after the ma&ner of the various
"state" organizations in Oregon.
Medford Sunt The Medford Elks
are busy getting in the furniture for
their new building. Yesterday! Weeks
& McGowan placed a carload 'of oak
lurniture in the lodge room, and more
is expected during next week.
as
North Bend's council has passed an
ordinance that so increases tha tax on
ttreet fakirs not peddlers that in
the opinion of the Coos Ray Harbor,
' there is n6 chance for even the gold
brick, man to mirtte a living at the
price charged."
"Like the Better Babies contest and
other affairs tak-n up here," says the
Hermistoti Herald. "the municipal
Christmas tree at Hermiston was the
first in this part of the state. It was
also every bit the success that had
been hoped for."
.
Astoria BudKPt: The new method of
laying planks on the downtown: strpft
was at fy-st criticised. It Is claimed
that the lengthwise system has re
duced the cost about 25 per cent and
the lay of the boards' has made much
aurerence. lrairic comes alon? now
as if the street were paved. "Instead
of the rumbling and constant shaking
which every vehicle formerly caused
when they rr.ade the slightest move,
tf'.o wagons and automobiles now irli.lA
i down tho streets as if they were on
ice. . .
THE CONSTITUTION
Mr. Justice Pitney adverse when he
questions the granting of a fixed wago
without reference to efficiency or Mr.
Chief Justice White when he asks
if such a regulation would not drive
some employers out of business? May
trie ueiense expect agreement from Mr.
Justice McKenma who appears: to tak
issue when Mr. Brown declares there is
no "reasonableness' in the j Oregon
statute? Or from Mr. Justice j Holmes
when he cites j the degeneracy! of the
working classes In England before tli
factory acts curbed absolute "freedom
Of contract"? rOr are these questions
and comments merely the expression
of alert and open minds desirous of
examining the subject from its every
angler
"Never," declares a frequent visitor
to the court, "have I seen the judgea
more obviously interested In a case."
But whether we count them favor
able or adverse, one question remains
unanswered by the plaintiffs which
must be answered by the court.
Ex-Senator Fulton is summing up
the rse of the plaintiffs, Mr. Jus
tice Hughes, silent until now, leans
forward.
"Do you base your argument on the
theory of freedom of contract?" he
asks.
"Yes." answers tbe counsel. !
"Then." continues Justice Hughes
"1 there not a precedent in the Ohio
case in which this court held consti
tut tonal the 54 hour for women in in
dustry i
"No." objects Mr. Fulton, "there la a
difference between hours and: wages."
"What is it77 I
"Long hours." he repeats.! "break
down women so that they become pub
lic charges, it is a condition growing
out of employment The amount of
wages has no . relation to health and
morals." 1
"But," contends Justice ; Hughes,
"suppose it has, suppose this court
finds that these evils are in conse
quence of wages paid in employment."
And it is upon tills question that the
defendants, the industrial welfare com
mission, submit most telling evidence.
Their defense is not based on con
templation of a nation shattered by
the payment of minimum wage, but on
a condition of Industry which actually
exists when wages are paid women "In
adequate to supply the necessary cost
of living and to maintain them in
health."
Mr. 13 rand els does not present to the
court speculation, but facts, human
documents collected in a brief which
was prepared in cooperation with
Josephine Goldmark of the National
Consumers' league; and deductions
drawn from those facts.
First of all, the counsel pictures the
conditions found in Oregon by the in
dustrial welfare commission and con
firmed by investigation In other states
that working women do not buy
enough to eat In order that they may
dress decently, that those who do eat
plenty go without proper clothes or
shelter, that those who have tall these
things often have them at the expense
of morality. -
Freedom of contract is an empty
phraf e, avows Mr. Brandeis, : when it
implies a single woman pitted against
a corporation, and the laws of supply
and demand, ; like all natural laws,
must be regulated. j
These two arguments before the
preme court bear in upon the specta
tors as more ' than the case : for and
against the minimum wage. They re
flect two attitudes toward a document
drawn up when society and business
were organized on a scale unrecognis
able In the huge operations and tense
competition of today.
They lay before the supreme court
the clash between "that sacredness of
private property." the very bulwark of
our constitution according to the plain
tiffs and the sacredness of human
life, to the defense, the real j meaning
of constitutional government.
gers is the only thing the roads have
to sell. They have a right to charge
for that enough to keep the roads
in good shape, expand their service
when necessary, and to pay a fair re
ts rn on the money invested in the
transportation1 business. j
Now comes another shipper with an
interesting proposal. Why hot have
the government acquire for experi
mental purposes a typical j railroad,
and operate it with a view of deter
mining fronj actual experience what
are fair rats?
In some such laboratory, this man
thinks, could be worked out; rapidly
th valuation of railroad property, and
a determination of fair rates. If, as
a result of experiment, present rates
were found to be fair. Investors would
have a basis for demanding from tbe
men who manage our railroads a, new
standard of efficiency.
Given an impartial trial, the effect
of such experimenting nipon the
credit, of the railways and tbe market
value of their securities could hardly
fail to be salutary."'
It's a suggestion In which 'investors
are most interested that do you
think about It? ,
"IM SA&I.Y DATS"
By Tiri Lockley. Special EUff Writer ef
. The Journal.
William 11. Parkviw ' r. - i-
dent of Baker, Is the only surviving
......C1 , Ule uregon constitutional
convention of 1857. -George H. Wil-
uarns, K. p. Boise and William 1L
JJacKwood for years wem h thr
hU V0? 0t that historic convention.
--UH n. j-, uoise and General
George H. Williams, full of years and"
..onors, nave joined the Uilent ma- '
Jority. and William H. Pack wood Is tbe
last of the historic group of 60 men -
.ic.tnra iorm our state constitution
years ago. Mr. Packwood. in an
swer tn it , I j. ' - - . . -
lows:
"Your letter received: some time
since. I now have time to make an
swer to a portion of your j letter. " In'"'
regard to the rifle regiment I belonged
to Company "B," Captain Noah Newton.
The recruits for the rifles were first
sent to Jefferson barracks, Missouri.
They were recruited from the western
states principally. The. men were en
listed in 1848. At Jefferson barracks
wo were assigned to companies. Sev
eral companies left Jerferson barracks
In February, 1149, overland, across th
state of Missouri, for Fort Leaven
Worth. Our Company "B started early
in February, 1849, and reached ' Fort
Leavenworth about one month later.
Other companies carae by steamboat
up the Missouri. We suffered much
hardship on the trip. At that time
Missouri was to a large extent un-.
settled. It was sometimes 15 miles t
between- houses. The coldest day's -travel
I have ever experienced was the
day we reached Dr . Sappington's. Some
of the men were so near frozen as to -require
lifting from their saddles. We
crossed the Kaw .river In open flat,
boats, with the ice breaking up and
running in large chunks, rendering the
work difficult and dangerous. - I do
not remember one house from Kaw
river to Fort Leavenworth. Independ
ence was to the north and last settle
ment on our road. ; j
"As soon as Colonel Lmjing had ail
his companies at Fort Leavenworth, he
proceeded to form, a Vamp, which he
called Tamp Summer,' 'This camp was
about five miles from the fort on the
west side of what wo calleH Salt creek.
We moved to this camp late In March,
or early in Aprjl, 184fr.T I remember
well that we were:in the fort on St.
Patrick's day. the 17th -of March. 1849.
It was the occasion of a grand military
ball, allit-manv officer and men who
attended that ball have since, become
famous.
"At Camp Summer the companies
were recruited to their full- strength.
Horses, rifles, sabres and revolvers
were issued and we were drilled
iwuiucu tuiu un iwu j ne (juaricrnmB"
ter. Lieutenant D. M. Frost, and Major
Cross of the commissary department,"
were getting supply trains. My rec
ollection is that there was 200 or more
six mule, teams, and supplies on hand."
for the trip across the plains. On the
10th rff May, 1849, a bright, sunshiny
mornii.g. Colonel W. W. Lorlng broke
camp and the panorama then 'viewed '
was one never to be forgotten. . The
at mvt nanlnn mm ei e- T i 1 -4 V . a 1 nal .
umn of twos, their arms shining"' in the
sun; horses gay and prancing; sabers
dangling by their sides; officers riding,
here and there giving coiijMiands. As
soon as the regiment 'Wail well under
way the quartermaster 'and commis
sary trains began to string out. and in
a short time between 9 and 10 o'clock
the rifle 'regiment was 'on the long;
journey for Oreson, and Camp Summer.
was no more.
"Now, aa to why I was not in that '
long train: The president bad appoint
ed General Wilson commissioner of
Indian affairs for the Pacific coast,
and directed, that he be furnished an
escort. An order was given to Captain
Newton of 'B' company to gfve Cap
tain Robert M. Mprrls of . the rifles
?5 men of his company ftir the escort
for General Wilson. Iwas one of the
was out of view. Captain Morris moved
camp across Salt creek on the east
side, and called it Camp 3eott. - By the
5th of June Captain Morris "had his
quartermaster and .commissary sup
plies and train ready for the trip.
General Wilson an family, Dr. Bird
sail and his daughter, Sophia, and Mil
ton S. Latham, afterwards senator
from California (later Miss Blrdsall-
became Mrs. Latham). v
"Mr. Tatham left us nar Fort Kear
ney and returned and came around by
water to California. Major Reynolds,
regimental paymaster, with two wa
gons and money for : the regiment.
Joined us. With Major Reynolds w
M. P. Deady, then a yflung shock head
ed roustabout, called the Red Headed
Blacksmith by our men.
"All being ready, on tbejSth of June,
1849, Captain Morris, wit a Lieutenant
Hayries of the artillery In command,
broke camp for California We. were
five months to a day reaching" Sacra
mento. We were possibly the lat (
train on the road, and our stock sur
fered fearfully. Out of; over 200 head
of horses and mules we reached the :
nurrrmlt of tha Sierras on October 25
With one little light- wagon, and I
think about 19 head of horses and
mules. This was one of the cholera
Wars, and a year In which! a large emi
gration had passed on before us, and,
i .. An 1 1 n t o f m cknM M.
trains were laid over, -and In conse
quence the grass was stripped far from'
the line of travel; Many a. time we
mart II at ft H fT uch aa seven miles
for feed. ;
had to guard and herd oOil stock every
night, as the Indians wens very trou
blesome. The Indians stampeded our
stock twice. Some of our animals were
fA.mj n nri recovered IS miles from
camp. There had been given us a 30
foot rope and an iron picket pin with a
. . .. . . . M.
ring in tne top to tie tne rope in.- xum
iron oin was 12 to 14 indies long and
. v.. r nn With a
stampede or a break loose, aa soon as'
our horses got on the -run the pin
wuuiu vrs jcincu iivm e ......
ropes become entangled together, so a ;
to tie the horses Into puticr.es. iney
could not run, but kept tlrcling, and
were soon overhauled, i : j
"We forded the souni fiatt river
eany in jaiy, x inina aigMui uie
It was at high water. .Wej had to raise
everything in the bottom of the wa
gons, and the horses ihad to swim
aotne and then null alone ln- the float-'
the move all the time, rd keep mov
ing we did, until we ,were over the
river." , A "
' "
The Sunday Uournal
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consists of
Five news sections replete' with
illustrated features.
Illustrated magazine of quality.
Woman's psges of -rare merit
Pictorial news supplement.
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