THE OREGON. DAILY JOURNAL. A PORTLAND, FRII5AY. MARCH ' 10. 191b.
3.r
IrT-ticr intiDMAt-
AN IMDEPERDCNT lW8PAPBE
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tiiBimiMioa . mrouxh tb utUt eeon4
claw Batter. -
; aa-lftrUMt sr till; Uout. a-evftL. All
- dapartoMSU reached by these numbers. TU
-. tha operator wbt i.prtmeBt yo want.
' .... I- I . .1 - . i.u l-., . ! u ttUU Vxf A'TlTlVI
Benjamin aeutuor Co., Brunswick BUJ,
CiS Hfth A., Naw iork; UU Ptoyle'a
tiaa Bide. Chicago : -
aubscrlptton utn by mU or to any av
Imi la the United States or Mexico:
DAlLT.tMORNINO 0 AFTBKKOOil)
;Om nw 43.00 Ob swats. M
. BUN DA I
. On year........ (2.60 I Ob month $ .25
DAILY M0BM OR AfTKBKOOM) AND
6DNDAX
' On yaer.... ....17.50 I On monro. .S3
ft - r America asks notnins lor ner
2 toll, fcut what she has a right to
vak .'for humanity itself.
WOODROW WILSON.
-s
What gunpowder did for
war, the printing press has
don for the mind. The states
man Is no longer clad in the
ateel of special education but
every reading man is bis Judge.
Wendell Phillips.
E8-
FINANCIERS AND OREGON
EW YORK financiers have
plenty of money, but they
are not letting Oregon have
any of it for investment in
public utilities, declares Mr. Tal
bot on his return to Portland from
an eastern trip. He said:
They told me that Oregon is no:
riving- the care it should to the utili
ties in which they already have ln
vestod, and they do not care to ri3k
any more. i
Boston and various other cities
haye 80 cent gas. Portland pays
Mr. Talbot's company 95 cents for
Its gas if the bill be paid by the
tenth of -the month and more if
paid later. Is that not good treat
ment of one Oregon utility?
Cleveland has three cent street
car fares. Portland pays five
cents a ride on its street cars, and
Is making no protest about it. Is
that not good treatment of another
Oregon utility?
t In spite of a bad. year in which
many another business scarcely
paid expenses, the Portland Gas &
Cokecompany last year, after
starting with a surplus of $120,
434 and paying Interest, taxes,
operating expenses and making full
allowance for depreciation of plant,
paid the very agreeable dividend
.of seven per cent on its $2,000,000
of preferred and seven per cent on
Us $3,000,000 Qf common stock
and had left over a handsome sur
plus of $68,865.70.
Its operating revenues were $1,
276,821.27 and Its operating ex
penses $54,980.59, leaving an
operating income of $732,840.68,
which is not bad treatment of the
gas utility at all. Nor rices this
take account of the inflation
pumped ino Portland Gas securi
tfes when the industry was taken
over .by the Portland Gas & Coke
company a few years ago.
If eastern financiers do rot want
to let Oregon have any of their
money for Investment In public
'utilities, Oregon can use her own
money for investment in public
I utilities. Portland has the money
I and would be a great deal better
. off if she kept at home the divi
Tvflends and interest she annually
! sends by millions to eastern inves
ts tors. New York, Massachusetts
I ; ? and .Pennsylvania thrive largely on
I , ' the- goldon stream of money that
j "flows from Oregon and other states
4 iu umucuus, luiereai, insurance
- a.i j j ...I
gain. !
The tolls pn telephones, light
ning, power and car fares re tha
if people's tribute ' to eastern bond-
noiaers cna siocKnoiaers ana most
ly these tolls aro over-large be
? cause of over capitalization.
-j The mistake of eastern finan-
jr'.eiers la that they take themselves
and their money too seriously.
They are not benefactors or phil-
. anthropists. It is not their money
Jthat makes Oregon. It Is the
farms and fields and orchards and
! forests and mines and the work-
ers that make. Oregon.
'; The gentlemen who clip coupons
r from Oregon bonds and draw
dividends from Oregon investments
5 owe Oregon more than Oregon owes
them.
V. If they do not like Oregon
-L - A. . ft . . .
L fc municipalities can and some day
may set up . utilities or their own.
?Agreat many people sincerely be -
lieve and ? great, many municipall-
rtles have demonstrated .that It is.
f. not "an. altogether vbad .-plan.r Thei
truly -wise course for. public utility,
t gentlemen Is" to realize wh.e& they
have a goodjthmg.and be decently
-appreciative; of AtS. - :ft .
"-,. t H 'fct ' eJaaBBBBBftBaBBaBBBBBBBBaBBIBBBBBBB
Congressman - McLemore.'s : repay
- ment of a 40-year-old personal Joan
to . a. ' Eugede , man will-,. probably
lead to -r closer scrutiny of the
,- "n eressional directory;- hereafter.
enougn 10 invest in uuuues, tneixork papers Have found to groan
- AFTER "FOURTEEN YEARS ' i
!, r-- 's"
HE FIRST ISSUE of Tha Jpnrnai appeared 14 years ago today.
The paper became a part of th Oregon country March 10, 1902.
. MJntn July.ilJ, the publication waa under another management.
On the 2 1st. the paper was leaned for the first time tinder the
present publisher and on the 23rd the following announcement was
made: ...... . ; "" '
The Journal property has "been purchased and has passed
tinder the control of the undersigned, and the paper will be con
ducted oir-lines of greatest benefit to Portland, to Oregon and to
the great northwest, and in many ways conducted differently, as
, to men,, measures and methods, to those of its contemporaries .
which follow narrow grooves of newspaper habit. :
-The Journal in head and heart will stand for the people, be
truly democratic and free from political entanglements and ma
chinations, believing in the principles that promise the greatest' ;
good to the greatest number to ALL MEN, regardless of race,
creed, or previous condition of servitude.
Exuberant assurances are cheap and empty. I wish to make ;
none. Performance is better than promise; action more fruitful
than words. The columns of The Journal from dav to day will
better reflect the spirit behind the paper. It shall be a AIR
newspaper, and not a dull and selfish sheet. In short, an honest,
sincere attempt will be made to build up and maintain a newspaper
property in Portland that wilk be a credit to "Where Rolls the
Oregon country and the multitude of people who are interested in
its development and advancement
Portland capital largely is behind The Journal, and the fund is
ample for all purposes. Coupled with jenergy and enthusiasm, the
work of making a paper devoted to Portland's varied interests is
begun. The support of the freedom-loving, the intelligent, gener
ous people of Oregon is invited and will be duly appreciated by
still greater endeavor and achievement on the part of The Journal,
which hopes ever to become stronger in equipment, stronger in
purpose, stronger in news resources, and stronger in good deeds.
C. S. JACKSON.
These pledges have been redeemed. A great newspaper has been
built-up'. The lines it has followed have been different from those
of publications then here."
"' ' -lt has never ceased and will never cease, to be loyal to the people.
It has striven assiduously for the greatest good to the greatest number.
The Intervening years have been years of performance. The paper has
been and always will be, a fair newspaper, fair to the proud and power
ful, fair to the weak and lowly, fair to all comers of whatever race,
creed or color. y
From day to day, the spirit of the paper has been reflected in Its
columns and it has been a spirit of devotion to the advancement and
upbuild of the country where rolls the Oregon.. From day to day that
spirit has won friends for the paper and in the utmost modesty, we can
say that The Journal has ever become "stronger in equipment, stronger
in purpose, stronger in news resources and Etronger in good deeds."
In next Sunday's paper, there will be an illustrated page of interest
ing facts that will show that The Journal has fought a good fight,
that it has kept the faith.
There is always the possibility that
your old boyhood friend who for
got the $10 touch may go to Wash
ington some day.
AS NEVER BEFORE
N
AVIGATION of the Columbia
between Portland and Lewis
ton was inaugurated by the
departure of the Twin Cities
Wednesday, and the J. N. Teal is
to go on the run next Tuesday.
The schedule is to be two boats
per week.
As never before, the operation of
these boats has a meaning. That
meaning was made most Impres
sive by the decision of the Inter
state Commission in which there is
implied announcement that Port
land is to be denied the benefit of
her location and that the Colum
bia cities in general are not to
have the advantages of a water
level haul in rate making.
This meaning Is, that, 'as never
before, the Columbia river stands
out as the sure means by which
Portland arid the interior cities
can compel rates to which geog
raphy and natural laws entitle
them. The way to get those. rates
is to navigate the river.
Every ton of freight routed via
the river is a blow struck for com
mercial freedom for the Columbia
from its mouth to Its source.
Every sack of wool shipped from
Lewistqn or every bushel of wheat
shipped from Walla Walla via boat
is a declaration of commercial in
dependence. Every loaded boat that passes
up or down the river is one step
nearer removal of costly over
mountain rates on a water level
route.
Every cargo discharged from any
steamboat at any point along' the
Columbia Is one more unanswer
able argument for water level
freight rates for water level cities.
It is self defense for every city
along the way to use these boats.
There should be such an outpour
ing of traffic that soon not two,
but two dozen boats may be re
quired to handle it.
So many "letters from the peo
ple" come to The Journal and so
many of them use unnecessary
space that the editors are com
pelled to cut them. Be brief and
incisive in your articles and they
will be printed as you write them.
CHARITY A BUSINESS
T
HE principal occupation of the
New York newspapers is to
expose the iniquities of tho
state government under which
they live. Peep into any depart
ment you like, either In the .me
tropolis or at Albany, and the in
terior presents an aspect of putrid
ity. And yet those same New
York papers are never tifed of
laughing at the Oregon system.
They speak of us out here as if we
were hardly more than half-witted,
but the fact remains that the Ore
gon system has produced honest
government, something to which
New Yorkers, with all their con
ceit, are strangers
The latest horror which the New
i b, . ' "
, over is in some of their "chari-
table" institutions. These homes.
1 refuges, asylums and the like are
all "state inspected" at great., ex
pense v,but something seems to be
lacking withV" the s inspectors eye-
siguu a i papers round the or
uuuus veung ou or the same
trough V Iththe pigs Jn ). one of
tnesey ipveiy c-cnariUes' - Andfjt
is.saio.tnat .poth pigs, and babies
were ctawHag with vermin," wiilel
the -.Tsamtary arrangements; were
infhx,v'. - , - ; -rsv
: Organised charity now ranks as
the, .feixlhr biggest businesa In -the
United States. It has an enor
mous investment in money and
working force, pays out great sums
in salaries and devotes more or less
of its resources . to the help
of the needy. But the ten
dency in New York and else
where Is to conduct charity
"on business principles." This
means as much profit as possible
to those who manage the concern
and as little outlay for running
expenses as possible. Such a prin
clple pushed to its natural conse
quences lumps pigs and babies to
gether at the same feeding trough
When charity becomes a busi
ness if ceases to be charity In the
Christian meaning of the word
The world never can spare that
love which "hopeth all things, be
lieveth all .things, endureth all
tHngs," but we may well look for
wrd to the day when the charity
which is conducted on strictly busi
jness principles shall no longer be
peeded.
In your communications to The
Journal, write on subjects of gen
eral Interest. Don't slander others.
Go directly to the heart of your
subject and quit quickly.
TAINTED MONEY
"C
OMMERCE AND FINANCE,"
a Wall street organ of inv
mense respectability, occa
sionally falls into a poetic
mood in which It says things
strangely at variance with the Wall
street code of ethics. In a recent
number it countenances tbe opin
ion that "not all the money in the
world can compensate for an ac
cusing conscience."
The paper made the remark in
speaking of Miss Edith Kitchin.
who has been living, for a long time
on $300 a year in a hall tedroom
somewhere in New York. And all
the while a big fortune has been
at her disposal If she would have
taken it. But she would not. The
money came from an uncle whose
habits of life were objectionable.
Miss Kitchin "knew how theJ
money was earned" and that was
enough for her. She would have
nothing to do with it. She pre
ferred poverty and. peace of mind
to riches with an "accusing con
science." Some of our missionary
societies might adoptVMiss Kitch-
ln's yieirfs .of tainted money to
their spiritual advantage.
Will the time ever come when
the "man upon the street" will set
the joys of a clear conscience above
those of a big bank account? And
if he ever does will his wife let
him live up to his principles?
Who is G. J. Gallagher, Port
land? And who is Randolph Wool
worth, Portland? The Journal
wants to know.
TURNING THE TABLES
T
HE tables of justice have been
turned in an astonishing way
at Youngstown, Ohio. The
reader will remember the
strike which happened there not
long ago with accompaniments of
murder and arson. Usually after
such a performance- there is held
a "bloody assize" in which the
strikers are brought to "justice."
Some afe banged, others impris
oned or fined, but none of the em
ployers are molested by the courtsJ
Following, the famous West Vir
ginia coal strike there was a reck
oning of this sort. The strikers
were severely dealt with but the
armed deputies, on. the other" side
who had shot them down with ma
chine guns j were not, prosecuted.
The samettfing - happened ; a little
later - la Michigan " at .the copper
mines. 'r To'- -5 , (:-;;. oi v. - -
Following the Rockefeller strike
In t Colorado and the Ludlow mas-
, t , " v - -
sacre" there was a singularly viru
lent effort to hold a -bloody
assize." - A Jeffreys was found in
a former employe of the coal cocKjm
pany and the compliant, governor
appointed him a special judge to
try and convict the strikers. He
began his agreeable task by. the
notorious trial of John Lawson but
he did not get much further be
cause the supreme' court Interfered.
At Youngstown, the course of
justice has taken a new turn. It
is not the strikers "who hav,been
indicted but the owners.
Judge Elbert H. Gary, who gave
a dinner for Colonel Roosevelt re
cently, has been caught In the .net.
Other magnates almost as glori
ous are in the same predicament.
As we might . have expected,
Judge Gary says his arrest is "an
outrage." "Plate crime with gold
and the strong lance of justice
hurtless breaks," as a usual thing.
The sober fact is that justice does
not even dare to aim her lance at
such men as Gary, much less to
hurt them in t the ordinary course
of events. One of the charges
against him is that he has violated
the Ohio anti-trust law. Such laws
are not often very serious hind
rances to the trust magnates but
this one may prove to be more ef
fective than common. Time will
tell.
NOTHING THE MATTER
WITH PORTLAND
An Infmlon of that rarlety which apices
life Id general baa beep sot the leaat of tbe
elementa that hare particularly commended
tha "Kothing tbe Matter With Portland" ae
rle to The Journal', readera. Today, in No.
72. 1 again presented "something different."
A novelty in ladders Is one thing. A spe
cializing in "anything made of wood, -to or
der," la another. Besides this, there are de
scribed ladder staples of all styles and for all
paipuaes. Above all, tLe story Is about a
worker who works, with his own hands, doing
things himself, (or himself and for others.
HEN Thomas W. Owens, construc
tion engineer, was in Honolulu
he was superintending the build
ing of the Pearl Harbor naval sta
tion for the government, and, on th
side, he declares it one of the most
formidable fortifications owned by
the United States.
But Mr. Owens is not building for
tifications for Uncle Sam any more.
- He came to Portland, liked the
town, bought th business of th Pa
cific Ladder company at East Eighth
and Stark streets, and is vigorously
prosecuting the old industry and add
ing to lit so many side lines that, if
he keeps up his gait, the original will
not be recognizable within a short
time.
He has IS different makes of lad
ders on his list, to which is added a
kitchen ladder-stool, one of the most
convenient pieces of furniture one
could get hold of. The seat of the
stool Is about the height of a baby
chair, and two of its legs are on
hingf --. Vrhere are two strong rounds
on these legs, making It' easy to ,
ascend to the top. When not in use,
if desired, the stool may be folded
up and set aside or be tucked away In
some out of the way place. Its cost
is $1, a figure not greater than that
of the ordinary chair.
Mr. Owens makes straight ladders
with fir rounds at 21 cents a foot;
oak rounds at 26 cents; painter's
swinging stage, either kind of rounds,
at the same price; extension ladders
with fir rounds, 35 cents a foot; oak,
40 cents; three-rail fruit pickers' lad
ders, 25 cents a foot; window clean
ers' ladders, 23 cents; standard step
ladders, 25 cents a foot; if longer
tl.an 13 feet, 29 cents; common step
ladders, 23 cents a foot; Iron clad
step ladders, reinforced with ircn
braces and rods under each step, 33
cents a foot; if longer than 13 feet.
37 cents; painters' scaffold Jacks,
price per foot per pair of jacks, $1.30.
The very best material free from
knots or other defects of timber, is
used in all ladders.
JUMPING INTO OTHER LINES.
Mr. Owens is not content, however,
to confine his talents to ladders alone,
so has launched out into several lines
of tables, stands, bric-a-brac, and the
building of anything wanted by any
one, no matter what It is if made of
wood. For example, a gentleman saw
in a magazine the picture of a desk
which struck his fancy. He brought
the cut to Mr. Owens and the latter
mad a desk exactly like the illustra
tion and at very small expense. An
other mad a rough sketch of a
table. Mr. Owens perfected it, made
th table and pleased the patron to a
dot. Pieces of favorite furniture
which have been In any way despoiled
or disfigured can be replaced in Mr.
Owens' shop at Insignificant cost, or
new pieces made to match the balance
of a set. Anything for the kitchen
or library, bedroom or pantry, dining
room or parlor, will be put up to Or;
der, and, the gentleman will guarantee
absolute satisfaction.
Thafs th kind of a fellow Mr.
Owens is all the time evry day.
Ha works right at the bench or the
lath himself, too. He stands up and
takes hold of his work with a will
that means bigger things later on.
Some day that fellow will have a
furniture or other kind of a factory
or Industry her which will be heard
from in' all directions.
He has a hide surcharged with gin-
He has hands which know how to
toil.
He has a will to do, and he's on
the square!
"Portland suits me." came heartily
from Mr. Owens' lips. "and. I'm go
ing to spend the balance of my days
here, even If I am comparatively
young. The green otthese hills, the
beauty of this big river, the opportu
nities for development. f ;Prtlao4
Industries because of that great water
power at the Cascades, reminding jne
of the energy of .Niagara, th ex
tremely fertile soil of the agricultural
sections, the immense wealth in the
fishing interests -of th Columbia the
forests of timber - unequaled In the
world, the multitude of pleasure nooks
adjacent to the city these have bound
hand and foot, heart and soul, to
Portland. :
, "I expect to establish a large busi--(
ness her. It, is comparatively small
at this moment, but I'll b so . good
to the people they will be unable to
resist me. My slogan is 'A square
deal to everybody every minute of .
very day and by living up to this
motto there never will be an atom of
trepidation In my heart."
And Mr. Owena is right about it.
too. Ther need not be.
If everybody who reads these lines
will embalm them in their hearts,
and remember here is a worthy en
terprise conducted by a new but
worthy citizen, when they want any
thing in his line they will doubtless
have loyalty enough to Portland to
give Mr. Owens their orders. If they
do, there'll soon be a shop full of
mechanics in his employ, he win re
move to larger quarters, will add toA
his already very fair complement of
machinery and lathes, and another
star will 1 added to Portland's
crown.
Every orchard In Oregon and Wash
ington should have one or mors Pa
cific ladders.
Every home ought to tiave a ladder
for us in cas of fire.
And M-. Owens should get the or
der to make it, tooT We all should
favor and encourage Portland workers
especially, and all - workers in gen
eral. Letters From the People
Oommnnleatlona sent to Tbe Journal for
fbblicatlon In tbts department sbould be writ -eu
on voir one aids of tbe paper, sbould not
oceed 300 words In length and most be se
ct n panted by the name and addreta of tha
stEder. If the writer does not desire to bar
the name published, be should so state.
"Discussion is the areateat of an reformers.
It raUonallxea everything it touches. It robe
priricipea of ail false sanctity and throws them
back on their reasonableness. If they hare no
reasODablenesa, 1t ruthlessly crash e them out
of existence and acts up Its own conclusions
In Uilr stead." Wood row Wilson.
To Procure a Patent.
Portland, Or., March 8. To the Edi
tor of The Journal I wish to have a
small article patented and would like
soma advice as to the proper way to
proceed. CONSTANT READER,
Th inquirer should address "Com
missioner of Patents, Washington, D.
C," and ask him to mail a copy of
"Rules of Practice," which, will be
sent free of charge and will answer
all questions. It contains forms to be
used by applicants, and full advice and
instructions.
Commenting on a Letter.
Portland. March 8. To the Editor
of The Journal Kindly publish this
brief comment on letter of even date
in The Journal, signed "Facts." I
quote from said letter, to' wit: "There
was a timo when we rose superior to
the beast by suppressing our pas
sions. Now we rise superior to them
by suppressing our offspring." Th3
time "Facts" refers ta Is, no doubt,
known to th student of history as
the dark. ages. What a good old time
it was. But, whether for weal or woe,
the face of humanity is turned toward
th future, and will not turn back to
those good old times, even to oblige
Buch worthy persons as "Facts," who,
by the way, neglected to affix his
Signature. A. J. MARTIN.
Who Will Answer?
Berkeley, Cal., 'March t. To the Ed
itor of The Journal I am writing to
ask you if you can tell me the .name
of the photographer who took the pic
ture of the little donkey drinking from
the stream at a public fountain in
Portland. I hav tried at different
sources to get this Information, with
out result The picture Is used in the
"Fountain Book" issued by the Na
tional Humane alliance, but I have
been unable to learn who took the
photograph. I want to use it in con
nection with my work and want a
good copy.
MRS. LAURENCE GHONIX'ND.
Superintendent Oakland S. P. C. A.,
1633 Walnut street,
Berkeley. Cal.
Harding Grange Opposes.
Oregon City, Or.. March 7. -To the
Editor of The Journal Will you kind
ly publish the following resolution,
which speaks for itself:
Whereas. A so called "state credits
conference" has been called by certain
"commercial organizations and capital
ists" to convene at Salem in the near
future, for the purpose of preparing a
bill for th "state guarantee of irriga
tion and drainage bonds" and the es
tablishing of a system of "rural
credits": therefore be it
Resolved, by Harding grange of
Clackamas county, Oregon, in regular
session assembled, this the 4th day of
March, 1916, that we are firmly op
posed to any measure or law, whereby
the state of Oregon shall &e held re
sponsible for any liabilities on any
"irrigation" or "drainage" project fur
ther than what already has been done.
GEO. A. KOHL, Master.
Economic Preparedness.
Corvallis, Or., Marqjri. To the Edi
tor of The Journal We hear much
about the necessity of the United
States undertaking to make herself as
efficient in military strength as Ger
many or ny other power. it took
Germany over 40 years to make ready
for this war. Her efficiency is not
alone one qc great armaments but in
cludes, all her resources of mineSfor
est ad field. She made provision that
the children should be properly edu
cated, fed and clothed, so as to make
them fit for life's duties. If she had
neglected, this ' part of her prepared
ness program, as England and Amer
ica are doing, she wduld not be able
to make the stand she is making.
We may build armaments 40 times
as great as Germany has, but if we
fill our factories with half starved
boys arid girls and pay our working
peopl such poor wages that they must
live a starved and cramped existence,
we shall never be really efficient. If
we would make the foundations of our
government impregnable we should
chang our system so that every child
could b hi best mo-ally, physically
and mentally. If we did this we
should not need . such costly arma-
1 ments.. And we would not waste tha
lives of our people to maintain our
supremacy. The program of prepared
ness which is being hoisted upon our
nation does not include these consider
ations and will be an extravagant, use
less expense. : v
We cannot Imitate German efficiency
in nv yearavand we are foolish to
undertake it. One-half the amount
spent on making, brawn and brain in
the lives of our .people and fortifying
them in righteousness and peace would
make us invlncibl.
PERTINENT COMMENT
SMALL CHANGE
Th pacificists are forgetting th
Boy Scout menace. ;,
.. . ...-a . .'.,
Another "1811 of spring: s- Two tnn
arrested as principals in ' a baseball
argument tha grew into a fight.
; .... . . .
H. H. Bryn, minister from Norway
to th United State, come across with
the effeering information that the war
cannot last forever. " , .
T. R. ''disavows'' th candidacy of
any Illinois primaryv candidate who
wants him 'nominated. But perhaps
it's another , diplomatic disavowal.
., . .
Wondr whthr those Oregon wom
en who want legal permission to act
as jurors would be like most of th
men should Jury service become a
duty? ,r ,
Congress . deserves th country's
thanks for pulling off those heated
debates at a time -Then they were of
assistance to 'Unclff Sam in economiz
ing on capitol fuel bills.
Had Congressman McLefnore. author
of the nous "warning" resolution, re
mained inconspicuous n mignt nave
kept on forgetting that 40-year-old
debt to a Eugene man. Notoriety is
often expensive.
A RURAL CREDITS
3VVhat the Bill Now
Havlog in a first article stated the farmer
loan problem, and bavins In a aecond shown
I be merits of the German landscbaft ayatem,
Mr. Sharp la a third and concluding inatsll
nient today analyse the rural credits blu
now pending -in congress and recommends It,
in 4fl essentialB, aa a solution of the matter.
Ha maintains tnat. In operation, thta nies.
ur would not b subsereive of existing finan
cial systema, bnt complementary, taking care
of a line of financing that la now altogether
neglected. Ha points out also new Possibilities
of cooperation In marketing aa an incident of
the proposed new credit ayatem.
Written for Tne Journal by L. L.
Sharp, Chief of the Field Di
vision, United States Land Office.
I have been, closely identified with
the agricultural settlement and devel
opment of the western part of the
United States for my entire life, and
in addition, I am at present the owner
of a small farm which I manage to
handle with a small degree of suc
cess. In my Judgment, the German
landschaft plan, with a few modi
fications to meet the difference in
conditions, will operate successfully
In the United States and eventually
become the equal of that magnificent
German system which has now seven
main banks with a capital of $,000,-
000 advanced from the earnings of the
lnnrlRohn-f t. an accumulated reserve of
31,600,000 and an annual turnover of
$1,500,000,000.
a a
In arriving at the above conclu
sion I have considered a specific agri
cultural section with which I am thor
oughly familiar, having been born and
raised upon of its farms, a portion
of which I own at the present time.
The German system could be applied
to this district, comprising an area
of perhaps 100,000 acres of agricul
tural land, and work out with an ad
mirable success. The prevailing rate
of interest in this locality, which is
situated In the central portion of the
state of Washington, paid by the farm
nr. -n farm loans is 8 per cent. 'The
application of such a system of rural
credits would, in my opinion, reduce
this rate Of interest anywhere from 4C
to 50 per cent and at the same time
nahis. the farmer to discharge his
loans bv the small amortisation pay
ments. The extending of such credit
would enable the farmer to arain,
clear, break up and cultivate lands
now Ivine in idleness and' increase
their production by the purchase of
fertilizer and additional working of
the soil to such an extent that ther
n-miiH h nch an increase in produc
tion that the farmer could afford to
j sell for a less figure and perform
his duty towards reducing the high
' cost of living by placing sucn prou
ucts in the hands of the ultimate con
sumer at a lower price.
a
It would eventually work out by a
division of the reduced interest charge
between the man who produces the
foodstuffs upon the farm and the man
who purchases same upon the markets,
and by doing this we are getting at
the root of two or tne greatest econ
omic problems now confronting this
country. While the farmer cannot af
ford, on account of the danger of los-
I ir.g his home, to borrow money at
eight per cent unaer tne prevailing
farm loan system. It will b found that
in most Instances he will be eager
in rraso an opportunity to borrow
money at four Per cent and by the
payment of a smalt additional rat b
relieved of tne necessity pi ever ijr
h TirineiDal. He will be placed in
a position to raise a calf to the beef
age, also lo purcnase reeaer stoca ana
fatten same for the market and thus
lncnease the meat supply. The same
will also be true 'with reference to
other classes of livestock, which re
quire money to handle. By the pur
chase o; fertilizer he will be able to
n hl erain and hay production.
hire additional farm help more effec
tively to carry on his farming oper
ations and improve his farm to bring
It up to its highest state or proauc
tivlty, which, as a general proposi'
tion in this country, would be Increas
Ing its efficiency perhaps in the neigh
borhood of 50 per cent.
I have in a general way, examined
the bill prepared by a, committee from
tii national senate and hokse of rep-
rjsonta.tives and introduced in th
house, pertaining to rural credits, and.
with a few exceptions, i nearuiy ap
prov this measure. My chief objec
tion Is to tne ravtc oi niiuni
t helleve It to ba too hlarb. I think
the rate should not be set at a higher
finir than 4 per cent, ine Girrer
.r,r. hetween this rate of Interest and
the real value of our money will b
taken care or in the selUng prlc'of the
bonds. The borrower, or course, win
h. ,oiiired to stand the difference be
tween par and what the bonds would
sell for.
The bill referred to also provides for
h organisation of a system or Danics
to handle the loans, which is designed
to work in -with our present bank
ing system. In devising this plan I
think the committee has achieved a
flattering success, and 1 accept tn
I provisions as stated..
The question will be immediately
raised as to how any rural credit
plan is to be financed. ' First, the bill
hove referred to provides. In addition
i to the lending of credit, for aa advance
by the government to piac to sys
tem in operation, and I believe this to
b a wis provision. Alter uio instal
lation of tbe system and business
progresses, funds for loaning purposes
will be derived by a sale of tbe bonds
Via mn unOn the mortgage notes of the
borrowers. To establish a market for
such bonds the government can sim
ply raise the interest upon postal
savings or other government savings
i. i. H.nn.it. tn thrn Der cent or a
f higher rate of . Interest and remove
tbe limitation as to tne amount 01
deposits. It will aoon be Tound that
all th savings deposit of.th entire
country will b in the hasada of th
' - t, i -
AND NEWS IN BRIEF
OREGON SIDELIGHTS
With a revenue in excess of that re
quired. Postmaster Ford of Bend is
confident his office will be raised to
the second class at the April classifi
cation. .
Ul Auanrtela Record thinks rnsss
and fin lawns are. of course, a beauti- j
tying adjunct tp an- city, but where j
O tAttfn avaar am Klonlr ai. la tK all tm
h ftuCsJ nZonU ,rn
. ,.. i
Significant of -the mining revival in! at And it doesn't make any differ
southern Oregon are such .Items as ence to me what you think- about
this, from tie Medford Mail-Tribune: th. wa a-ont
W V Van Fit tin .nil J M Valntln. i lne 80 Ion W talk CbOUt
of Seattle, are busy prospecting about
tne loothius or this valley tma week.
They are not communicative about the
object of their special search, but from
the course of their quest it may be as
sumed that precious metals form a
part of it." T
In view of the Coos Bay country's
near approach to railroad communica
tion with the rest of the world, George
Moultonj who is Just rounding out his
first half century in Coos county, is
quoted in th Coquill Sentinel as say
inc that when he was a small boy his
father sold goods to a surveying crew
who were laying out a railroad Una to
Roseburg and that those goods hav
not been paid for yet
PLAN FOR OREGON
Before Congress Provides
government and available for their
purpose. These moneys can be in
vested by the government in rural
credit bonds bearing th same rate of
interest as is paid to depositors. As
soon as the land owner is able to
secure a loan from the government and
discharge a pre-existing high interest
loan, the one to whom the high Inter
est loan is repaid will immediately
have money on his handa which is not
working and will immediately be
forced to the necessity of placing It.
On account of the cutting down of
the rate of interest he will be forced.
If . another land loan Is to be made,
to accept the same rate for the money
tnat is being charged by th govern
ment. Th result will be that the
independent lender will soon be one
of the government depositors in its
postal savings or other depository des
ignated for th purpose of receiving
thes deposits.
When a proper rural credit system
is successfully installed and in opera
tion in connection with our present
reserve banking system. It will be
round that we have taken a long step
towards solving many of the vital
economic problems that are now con
fronting the peopl and at the same
time, place ourselves in condition to
meet the sharp competition of Europe,
which will certainly follow the re
building of the country after the close
of the present conflict.
While extension of the government's
credit or funds should be under one
. x k.ii . 1 . . 1
should be separate provisions for
the loaning of money to people in
their perHectlve capacity, as municipal
corporations, from that providing for
loans to individuals, and for this rea
son I believe that the financing of
irrigation districts should .be provided
for In a separate law or'V separate
provision of the general rural credit
law. In one case the land and th
'ndividual himself is the security be
hind the mortgage, and In the other
the individuals and their lands are
created in a collective or corporate
capacity, and there is a difference in
personal responsibilities" which thus
be taken Into consideration.
My views concerning the organiza
tion and financing of irrigation dts
Irlcts are the same as outlined by
Judge C. B. Graves, of Seattle, oh of
the foremost authorities on Irriga
tion in the United States, during his
address before the fifth annual ses
sion of the Oregon Irrigation congress
at Portland, Or. The plan, as out
lined by Judge Graves in his reference
to the so-called Jones bill, is as fol
lows: "The dominant and salient features
of that bill are these: The district
law, as it exists generally throughout
the western states for Irrigation pur
poses, and as it exists in many of th
states fpr drainage purposes, Is to be
employed in this plan. The district
is to be th unit upon which the leg
islation is builded, and is to be the
agency employed in carrying on the j
work or reclamation. xne nonas to
be issued by the dltrict shall run for
a period of forty years and shall bear
Interest at the rate of four per cent
per annum. Whenever any district
shall desire the cooperation and aid
of the United States, it shall file with
th secretary of th Interior, plan
and estimates of the work proposed to
be done, and apply to have such plans
and estimates examined and approved.
The secretary of the interior shall
then cause an examination to be mad
of th plans and th district project,
and if the same shall be deemed feas
ible or be modified so as to become
feasible, the secretary of the Interior
may, on behalf of the United States,
guarantee the interest on the bonds
to be issued. It Is also provided that
any irrigation project which has been
completed under the reclamation act,
or in which construction is under way
under said act, or which has been au
thorized under the provisions of said
act, may be organized under the dis
trict law and be entitled to the rights
and privileges granted in such cases."
The establishment of a system of
rural credits and the. necessary com
bination of the interests of th agri
cultural producers In reference to the
financing of their business operations
Is, in my opinion, the natural fore
runner of a system of cooperation,
particularly as regards marketing of
the products and the elimination of
tha unnecessary middleman, who at
present exists on the tribute forced
from the producer and the consumer
In order 1 to secure a connection. The
mral credit banks will furnish an ex
cellent medium for the establishment
of a perfect cooperative system. Our
chief difficulty in securing cooperation
among producers and consumers in
this country is the lack of a central
organization to build from. A rural
credit system will furnish this.
While it Is assumed by some that
the adoption of any system of rural
credits in this country will b op
posed by the banking Interests, this
should not be the case, as it Is not
proposed that the rural credit banks
shall in any way engage in commercial
banking, (and this system is designed
to take car of a class of loans not
desired by the banks. For this rea
son I fall to see where there will be
any conflict between a rural credit
system and our present banking or
ganization; In fact, the former should
fit In perfectly with the latter and
become a part of our national finan
cial organization. .
- " A- ' 7 ' -
I sincerely 'hope that a . system of
rural credits such as is outlined in
the- bill introduced by th Joint com
mittee, of the houfie and senate will
be enacted Into a law by congress. I
believe that the underlying, principle
of the bill . Introduced is correct, and
object only to sora of th detail of
th measure. ..
BY FtTOg tAWPMAN -
TODAY IS THE JOURNAL'S;
ornnTtr . ' I
H And It's 14 years old and ought
to have a party.
V And there Isn't any reason that
I can see why we can't have . It
. . . ' .
r,nl nre ,n tmm comer. i
because there's room in thie
.ve Hopefulness-f or vy-
body
omethingN else
how much money you've got
or how much you need.
IT Jt's all th same so far as Vw
concerned. - -
because money doesn't both!
me very much.
IT That is I've never been both
ered by very much money. '
JBut I'm not qualified I feel
to talk oh the money question.
JAnd somehow I don't fetl thai
mat it a In my karma as Julian P
ecott would say ever to b cur-d
witn great wealth.
JAnd so our party here today
in mis corner will be strictly In
formal.
JThat is It won't cost 'anything,
IO BCt 111.
and everybody Is welcome. : If
because The Journal If I under!
stand its symptoms is a paper fox
every bod. (
JAnO now that we're all her en,
everybody has been Introduced tc
everybody else 1
and we'vl all forgotten tba
names of everybody we've br
introduced to we'll play some klnc;
of a game. s
J And of course as It's Tn Jour
nat's party there are several garnet
played all over the country tha
we can t play.
J For Instance there's the game 0
Grab-the-Water-Powers.
and we can't play that becausi
wo want to play something tha
everybody can play and enjoy,,
and that's a game that only 1
few can play.
and everybody els has to pay
f And we might play the game
out in tho tall timber of the Oregor
& Call.ornla land grant callac
Whack-Up- With-the-Ratlroad.
JAnd we can't play that becausi
it isn't fair to everybody.
J And of course Governor Withy
combe may got mad and go home-
without waiting for the Ic cream,
JBut we can't help it.
because this Is a people's party
minus the whiskers. '
and w want all the people j
and not just a few to have a toot
' time.
sj And w don't want to pay po-!
litical Drop-the-Handkerchief.
or Grafter-Wants-a-Corner.
for the same reasons.
J But we can play the grand, ole
game or tne ureaiesi-uooa-to-m
Greatest-Number.
because there's a chance fo
everybody In that game.
J And .now we'll cut the cake ant
wish The Journal a thousand yeajtf
of usefulness. 1 1
JAnd thit s the reason as I s
it that The Journal has grown s
fist in the last 14 yars.
j It's been useful to th community
and the nation.
jAnd I wish there were a papet
like it In every city in th countrf
because
J LISTEN It's a paper I belUv
that's of the people by the peopl
and for the people all the time
The
Sunday
Journal
Hav you ever considered th
many ways in which th Sunday
newspaper serves you and the
many wants for the fulfillment of
which you depend upon it?
Its news columns supply you
with information concerning th r
most recent events at home and
abroad.
Its ditorial page interprets cur
rent happenings In a manner that
Invites your serious thought.
Its new reviews of doings of
the week in many fields refresh
your memory on what has gone
before. -
Its feature articles, frequently,
illustrated in an attractive fash
ion, are a source of information
and entertainment.
It comic section, depleting the
antics of familiar characters,
hound to provoke a smile.
You Get All This and
More in The
Sunday Journal
Its business announcements and
classified std ar th preferred
medium of bringing together
buyer and seller.
Conscientious effort is mad to
understand TOUR demands In a
Sunday newspaper and to meet
them In full.
Close attention is paid to the ar-r
rangements of the several sections
tor the convenience of the reader, -.
Cultivate th. Sunday Journal
Tou will find it well worth while.
The Sunday Journal
.. Complete in four news sections,
fiction magazine and comic sec
tion. Five cents the copy every
where.
NEXT SUNDA Y
THE
BIGGKST FIVE CENTS'
WORTH IN TYPE. . .
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