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THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, ; 1916.
' f i
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. WOODKOW WILSON.
Mintoaa
tribute.
defense, hot not a rant for
CUARLES C. PINCKNBT.
' It ta good to rob and pollah oar brain 1
agtunal inai et omsr. -avun'im.
A GIFT TO AMERICA
DtJBLIG men come, and public
men go.
I Borne appear, strut their
brief hour upon the stage.
and dron Into oblivion. One Is
unfaithful, another Is found inca
pable and others lack vlBlon, lack
courage or lack the stuff that holds
pabllo confidence.
. Accident or political manipula
tion often brings incompetents and
unfits to the surface. But the dross
U soon visible. The weeding pro
cess, goes inexorably on.
.Recently, we were told by a
Portland newspaper that La Fol
; lette is dead and that Wisconsin
la weary of La Folletteism. But
the true La Follettes do not sink.
,They survive. The people want
them in the places of power.
The great Wisconsin progressive
Is reelected for another six years
by a vote of nearly two to one. His
plurality is 118,162. His vote waa
253,307, and his opponent's 135,
145. -In the proportions of its figures,
It is a significant vote. It is even
more significant because of the
character of La Follette's cam
paign. He upheld President Wilson's
"policy in Mexico. He stood man
fully by the seaman's law which
la under the fire of shipping in
terests. . He advocated a plan of univer
sal peace. He defended his vote
on the Underwood tariff. He made
the principle of the eight-hour law
one of the paramount 'issues of his
campaign.
The people's response was an--
'other term of six years in the sen
ate. It is a great gift by Wiscon
sin to the nation. It Is the consis
tent adherence by Wisconsin to the
unflinching progressiveism and a
renewal of the faith of Wisconsin
In one of the premier progressives
"of America.
- La Follette ought to be a warn
ing and an example to every public
- man and to every student of Amer-
- lean politics. He found Wisconsin
a reactionary state. It was a
", satrapy of the interests. It was
- governed by privilege and plutoc
racy.
Unknown, alone and humble. La
Toilette began the fight to reclaim
Wisconsin to progress.
- It has been half a life of strug
gle. The power of the American
presidency with all the patronage
was often used to embarrass and
" undermine him. Every selfish in
terest and every exponent of spe
- elal privilege combined to destroy
him. But with- the vision, the
courage and the faith of an honest
..man In the honest and ultimate
Justice of the plain people, La Fol
lette, with his banner nailed to the
masthead, stood by his principles,
preached progress and he now
goes back to the senate with a big
ger plurality than ever.
v It Is a career for American
young men to study and emulate.
It Is augury of the ultimate tri
umph of progressive government in
America.
- When referees in bankruptcy re"
celve greater compensation than Is
paid the chief Justice of the su
preme court or vice president of
the United States, It Is time to in
quire Into the extraordinary fact
of how it all comes about.
PREPAREDNESS
ERMAN efficiency In the war
Ci continues to astonish and
T terrify tn world. France
TtH also - exhibits ' incredible en
rgy and capability. Compared
with, RusslaEnglahd and' Italy
thbse two countries are unap
reachable models. What hf the
reason for It?; Of course our mili
tary madmen will shout at once
t ' tt thy kanr trained their, men
on the drill ground and this "Makes
their armies efficient
Both France and Germany have
done, a good deal of drilling but
that is only part of the secret and
very email part. Germany In
particular is an organized nation.
All her resources hare been taken
Into account and directed to the
great end of national happiness and
strength. The Germans boldly rec
ognize that happiness is one of the
most fertile sources of strength.
Germany and France are effi
cient in war because they are or
ganized nations. Their life has
passed out of the barbarous cha
otic era where every man seeks to
live by robbing his neighbor and
into the era of united effort for
the common good.
It is publicly charged that the
cry of "pork" In rivers and harbors
appropriations is for the benefit of
the railroads. It is probably true.
The railroads, in a short sighted
policy, have always opposed water
way improvement. Tbey opposed
the building of the Panama canal.
A cry of "pork" in river and har
bor Improvements In servile news
papers serves the railroad purpose
admirably.
YOUR GROCER
THE housewife phones the gro
cer to send a yeast cake. The
delivery may cover a distance
of a mile and return. How
much profit is it likely that the
grocer made out of the yeast cake?
An hour later, the same house
wife may take up the phone and
order the same grocer to send a
loaf of bread and a bottle of milk.
Again the delivery wagon or mes
senger must journey a mile and
return at the grocer's expense.
What profit Is the dealer likely to
make on the bottle of milk and
loaf of bread?
Other orders from the same
housewife to the same dealer not
infrequently follow each other
throughout the day, and they must
be filled regardless of lack of
profit and without delay, for the
customer's trade must be. retained.
Sometimes a delivered package
is unsatisfactory. The outside ap
pearance of the bottle of milk may
not please the taste of -the cus
tomer. The handy telephone is
again requisitioned. Another time,
the deliveryman makes the trip.
Another bottle of milk is carried
a mile and the unsatisfactory bot
tle is returned another mile to the
store.
The telephone has made us a
race of exacting people. It has
made us a race of luxurious people.
Our buying has come to be by ca
price, by chance and by piecemeal.
We go about it the costliest way.
the way that gives the grocer the
greatest amount of trouble and
puts him to the utmost limit of
expense. Not all housewives are
thus unbusinesslike and exacting,
but many are.
The obliging, patient
grocer 1
meets the demands with a smile
and keeps the deliveries in frantic
action in the effort to please. The
rents, the heat, the light, the hired
help, he has to pay for. The
losses of the business, he has to
pocket, lie carries a big burden
in the credits he has to extend.
Few do more to succor those un
able to pay their monthly bills
promptly than does the grocery
man. Those familiar with the
business know how small the
profits are, how there must
be
many transactions to meet over-
head expense, how keen the com-
petition is, and how many a gro-
ceryman goes to the wall In the
struggle to keep his business afloat,
It is not the corner grocer who
is pushing up the cost of living, always used their power to the in
No business is more exposed to the Jury of mankind, so they always
cuts, handicaps and storms oi busl
ness.
The speculators and gamblers in
food stuffs, the illegitimate traders
who plan corners for coining big
dividends out of the necessaries or
life, are the conscienceless pirates
against whom those seeking to
solve the high cost of living should
direct their Investigations.
Just as the egg boycott starts
to get in its deadly work the in
dustrious hen begins to cackle her
announcement or resumed opera-
tions. It looks like nobody loved
the egg merchant.
STOP THE ABUSE
1
T IS inconceivable that referees
in bankruptcy in some instances
should regularly receive a com
pensation equal to that of the
chief Justice of the supreme court
of the United States, or $15,000 a
year.
A dozem of them are receiving
from $7500 up to $10,000 and
$12,000 a year, the highest' of
which is the compensation received
by the vice president and members
of the president's cabinet.
Something is wrong when a ref
eree In bankruptcy receives as
much pay as the vice president of
the United States. The abuse is
one of those that is perpetuated
here and there in the service of the
federal government solely - because
publicity is not given the facta.
The abuse Is the subject of dis
cussion In the report of Attorney
General Gregory Just Issued. Referring-
to proceedings before ref
erees In bankruptcy, the report
Bays:
It may be noted the amount of aa
etas consumed in attorneys fee and
other costs of 'administration, a tend
ency to en lane the fee bill kr-wws.
i tices whjfh allow the referees fixed
amounta either as fees or mm Indem
nity fop expenses, irregular and un
lawful methods of administration, "un
necessary delay in closing caaes, etc
In very similar language, The
Journal 'pointed out several weeks
ago that abuses have grown up in
the administration of the law by
referees in bankruptcy. The wast
age in the assets of estates, the
enormous fees paid out, and the
inordinate emoluments that go to
the referees for their services are
a public scandal.
Congress should find a remedy,
and end the .practice.
The air Is thick with glittering
offers to enable you to get rich
quick and easy. All you have to
do is to buy shares of stock in a
newly organized corporation of
some kind. Did it ever occur to
you that if the profits are to be
so big the promoters would want
to keep them all for themselves?
PLUCKING THE PUBLIC
T
HE owner demanded 160,000
as damages to his property
Incident to a grade crossing
to the Lombard property in
Rose City Park.
The city commissioners offered
(3000. The owner refused and
went to court. A Jury awarded
$3000. Lawyers' fees and other
costs cut the amount the owner
will realize.
From $60,000 to $3000 is a long
way. It gives a glimpse often
caught in Portland of how there
is an idea that It is perfectly prop
er to gouge the public when it
must acquire private property for
public use. Inordinate prices have
been paid for such properties in so
many Instances that there is a
general idea that the publio is an
easy mark and can be plucked to
a frazzle.
This owner was paying taxes on
the property at a valuation of only
$3780. To value property at $3780
when the public is to collect taxes
on it, and to value the same prop
erty at $60,000 when the public is
to buy it or pay damages on it, is
absurd. It is farcical. It is trav
esty.
There la not one reascn why
the assessed value of property
should not bear a fairly regular
proportion to the sale value. There
is a pretty well established stand
ard of valuations in assessments
It is around 60 to 70 per cent
Since it applies to the great body
of the taxed, it should apply to all,
and be a fairly accurate guide to
the true value. It is by custom
and practice, going to be such a
guide some day.
Then, gentlemen who value their
holdings at only $3780 when the
public takes taxes, will not demand
$60,000 for damages a grade cross
ing may cause
Meanwhile, a Jury by its verdict
has shown the humbug and absurd
ity of the $60,000 demand.
Had the 42-year-old father who
caused the arrest of his 20-year-
old son for assault and battery the
other day begun to enforce pater-
nal discipline fifteen years -ago it
j8 not likely that he would now
need the assistance of the police
court in controlling his progeny
PEACE AND LIBERTY
T
HE president hit the nail on
the head when he said that
peace could come into the
world only with liberty. He
made his meaning a little clearer
when he added that wars common
ly result "from the selfish interests
of small groups." Liberty means
the extirpation of these "small
groups," or at least the extirpation
of their power. For, as they have
will.
The world has to choose between
liberty -with peace on the one hand
and privilege with ever-recurring
war on the other. Privilege in one
country clashing with privilege in
'another incites the people to fight,
; and in the fighting quietly fills its
i pockets. The plain people want
no privilege. They only wish to
live peaceably and let others live
and they make no wars of their
own accord. They learn to hate
only from the teaching of their
so-called "betters." When we learn
I how to extinguish nrirllpe-ft and
extend true liberty to all the world
we shall have little trouble in
keeping all the world at peace.
We read of four young Washing
ton lads, picked up by the Port
land police, being confined in
"filthy cells," in the county Jail.
Why is it necessary for any part of
the marble palace which houses
the county goveernment to be dirty,
dark or "filthy"?
OREGON'S KNEES
A'
N INTERESTING sight down
at the shipyards is a big pile
of fir "knees." Shipbuild
ers must have these huge
pieces of timber and they must be
rorghly of the right shape as they
come from the woods. It would
not do to saw them out of logs,
since the product would be too
weak for the hard service they
have to stand.
The fir knees are cut from tree
butts and include a large slice of
the root. In this way a natural
bend is obtained. When one re
members the immense acreage, of
stumps that Oregon and Washing
ton possess there appears to be no
end to our supply of ship knees.
Heretofore it haa bees a trouble-
these i
some thing to - get rid of
stumps. Perhaps they may turn
out to be valuable property. With
all the world crying out for new
ships almost anything that might
contribute to the rising industry is
likely to be worth money.
Oregon has more than knees to
offer to shipbuilders. It has some
of the finest timber in the world
for building the entire vessel. Per
haps our fortune lies on the seas.
Letters From the People
f Owni muni ration aent to Tba Jonrnal far
publication ia tula department shoald bo writ,
tea on only ona aide of tba paper. tboulA not
txceed, 800 word tn length, and matt be ac
companied or in name ana aaaress oi ia
Doer. It the writer doea not dealra to ha
Use name pubiiabed be ahoald aa state.
"Discussion b tta greatest of all reform era.
It rationalises rary'.t.lng It tone he. It rob
Kinrlple of all fW t-uettty and I brow them
ck on their reaaonab Dees. If tbey bare no
rtaronablenes, tt rutblessly emsbea them oat
of existence and sets up Its own conclusions In
tbelr stead." Woodrow Wilson.
One Way to Reduce the Egg Bill.
Portland. Dec. 7. To the Editor of
The Journal There are always two
sides to every question, and between
the two wisdom, tempered by pru
dence and softened by charity, often
hesitates to draw the line.
Sixty cents per dozen Is an exces
sive price for the consumer to pay
for table eggs, but J2.50 per 100 Is
also an excessive price for the poultry
keeper to pay for feed, much less the
present price, $3 to $4 per 100. It 1s
extortion on both sides, with the con
sumer paying the bill in the end.
why are fresh eggs so scarce ana
bo high during the winter? In the
first place, it Is not the natural sea
son for hens to produce. In the sec
ond place, too many poultry keepers
either do not understand ncw to reea
hens to make them lay, or will not
take the trouble to give them proper
care. In the third place, too many
chicks are hatched In the summer, too
late for the pullets to mature ready
for laying during the coming fall and
winter. In the fourth place, too many
consumers neglect their own Interest
by not storing eggs for the winter
when the supply is plentiful and the
price Is lo
If I can pay $3.60 per hundred for
peultry rations and xeed hens at
cost of half a cent a day per head,
and in a manner to Induce them to
yield one to three cents per day In
eggs, why cannot other suburban poul
trymen do the same? If I can keep
eggs perfectly sweet for six months j
in an ordinary dry. clean basement.
why cannot other consumers do the
same' unhealthy eggs carelessly
handled will not keep under any
method of storing, but healthy, sterile
eggs carefully handled, can be very
easily kept for months if stored in a
dry, cool place that is free from trash
or anything that will cause bad odors.
There are several good methods for
storing eggs, if the housewife will
only put on her thinking cap and go
to a little trouble. Take this pre
caution, however. Eggs intended for
storage, to keep perfectly, must be
sterile, freshly laid, carefully handled
to avoid damaging the shell or shak
ing up the contents, and be produced
by hens never infected with diseases
and not forced to consume Tilth or
putrid matter with their rations.
The prices being demanded for al
most 'every kind of food commodity
are rank extortion which should be
and can be remedied. In too. many
families their expensive mode of liv
ing is rank extravagance, and this
can and should be remedied.
Making a goat out of honest mer
chants or Innocent producers is not
the successful way for the consumer
to reduce the high cost of living.
O. G. SMALL.
Chides the Boycotters.
Dayton. Or., Dec. 7. To the Editor
of- The Journal We can't expect city
women to know really what it costs
to produce eggs, but for the last three
months, production has cost more than
double what we get even If eggs were
50 to 60 cents a dozen, and that in
normal times, when grain usually costs
one-third less, let alone now, when ev
erything is climbing to the skies. Now
would be a good time for those women
to get the Chinese eggs. They should
be cheap enough. The hens in China
don't need to be fed high-priced feed
if there are dead fish near. Not so In
Oregon. We have to pay to the very
limit for every bite the chickens eat.
Of course the farmers, most of them,
were in a hurry to sell their grain
after harvest. After the grain is in
the warehouses ths dealers can charge
any old price, as they are doing now-
Most of these women don't squeal
when they pay a big pric for their
bread Instead of baking their own. Pix
weeks ago I was in Portland. My
friend, a workingman's wife, bought
bakers bread. It cost her 35 to 40
cents a day alone for bread, at 5 cents
pound for flour. Now I can make
of ix pounds of flour close to 1
pounds of good, fine bread, and that
Is where the city woman is losing
ground In buying bread. Probably
most of those iOO kicking women don't
use more than one dozen eggs a week
anyhow.
Kverybody likes something good to
eat or the stores would not be full of
all kinds of canned meats, fish and
other expensive stuff. They are more
expensive than eggs and butter any
time. MARIE FULHAlt
Sir. Derby to Sir. Wagnon.
Union, Or.. Dec. 8. To the Editor
of The Journal 1 would ask spa
to reply to Mr. Wagnon's letter of
December i, ' and would say that i
am not aesinou or inauiging in a
loug controversy. Mr. Wagnon is
compii.nentary to the men who have
vorn the uniform of the nation, but
puts his foot in it when he cites the
battle of Bull Run to support his
argument. Bladensburg and Bull Run
art, the most conspicuous examples, of
the folly and stpldlty of placing un
trained men under fire with the ex
pectation that they will be effective.
England has learned the same lesson
on the Somme. Mr. Wagflbn's proposed
foreign policy, with the exception of
his free trade clause, haa been the
settled policy of this nation ever since
the administration or President Wash
Ington. and yet we have had four
wars, to fight. Time was when each
tu.tlon kept only a nominal military
force, sufficient for internal police
and also formidable to any would-be
enemy; but those conditions have dis
appeared from the face of the earth
nver to return until the millenlum ar
rives. We are. with our rapidly grow
ing wealth, the greatest prize to an
Impoverished nation thai the sun
shines on, and wltb out thousands or
miles of frontier ana seaboard we
are mere vulnerable than any other
nation. Would it not. then, be ex r
c Uing common sense to utilize rho
"brains and manhood of. the country
in the way of Insurance from attack?
attack?
Vhe wisdom of preparation is shown
in the ase of France and Swltexrland
It saved the life or one ana is pre
se:vlng the neutrality of the tner.
The constitution of the United States
makes every ablebodled citizen a. Po
tential soldier. Then w&jr not rit
tbcm for the duties to meet any emer
gency and thus serve notice to the
wnrld that hausds off" Is the. safe
: UVU T V4. 9 XW..
the sane policy? The time has gonelsitlonT Can you give us any light on
by.-tf It ever existed, when the prip-lthln aubjeet? ? -:--v-
aratlena tor wafoould be made after
war began. War is, and war will be.
way not, then, look the matter square
ly In the face and place ourselves hi
the best position to keep out of it If
possible?
By act of congress there Is pro
vision for the training of nearly a
quarter million of our young men to
"murder." as Mr. Wagnon Is pleased
to put It. Is it any worse to maJce
th whole body of the people a re
serve Un for their support T Do 23
Mr. Wagnon realise that we as a peo
ple In the profound walks of pece
are consigning to bloody graves from
080 to 10,000 victims each year, run
ning a close second, in fact, to the
losses during the Civil war? Death
in war or under a Tail way train Is
very much alike; the victims remain
dead. L. P. DERBY.
Says Eastern Oregon Neglected.
Downey, Idaho, Dec. 3. To the Edi
tor of The Journal Senator Borah In
his late open letter has again come to
the aid of the arid west. The status
of affairs is given exactly, when he
speaks of money dropped into the
rivers without returns, of lack of in
terest in reclaiming valuable agricul
tural lands, and of farmer emigration
to Canada because of support given
settlers by the Canadian government.
Eastern Oregon, with land that will
produce seven to eight tons of alfalfa
to the acre, lies, largely, a worthless
desert, because our representatives
have never given an effective effort
to get government support for Irri
gation. Millions can be obtained to
drop Into the rivers. Eastern Oregon
is merely a tax-paying proposition
that is assiduously worked.
After the state has exacted her toll.
the county applies the leech, and asks
as much from a "dust pile," or dry
ranch. s from an irrigated farm of
4G acres. When a settler leaves to
earn a living the petty, thieves carry
off his belongings. In my individual
case, at least $100 worth of articles
have been stolen. Ivo effort Is made
to protect one fro hi their pilfering
west of the Snake, while In Canyon
county, Idaho, they are hunted down.
After the petty thieves have fin
lshed, the county legally relieves you.
Two women have each been required
to give up an acre of ground that cost
1200, for roadway. Being teachers in
a state that does not depend on tax
ins: the natrons for school suDDort.
they neither knew nor were advised of
the conditions. The commissioners
took the land by law.
As a consequence of the above con
ditions, homesteads are being aban
doned In the most desirable sections
of the northwest.
Although the financial conditions of
the country are at high tide and
Idaho, her neighbor, is advancing by
leaps and bounds, Oregon, identical In
climate and fertility. Is fast becoming
a deserted, arid region, partly because
of the neglect of her representatives
in congress and partly because of mis
taken local administration.
A WOULD-BE CITIZEN.
The Gentle Rebuke.
Vancouver, Wash., Dec. 7. To the
Editor of The Journal In The Jour
nal ot December S appeared an inquiry
under the headline. "Who Will Supply
This?" The Inquiry was over the
signature of Mrs. James Timmens.
While I do not know where a dance
was ever started by invoking tne
blessings of Deity. I do know of
minister of the Gospel who did some
good once at a dance. It was in the
early days about 1878 or 187. A
Methodist Episcopal minister came to
one of the frontier towns in Minne
sota. There was no church there, so
he obtained the use of the school-
house and posted notices for Sunday
Everybody went toughs and all.
When' the preacher was offering pray
er they talked and laughed, but he
still prayed on. After prayer, they
tried to sing. It was a failure. Then,
as he began to preach, the boys took
out cards and .began to play games 1
on the benches. The parson finally
quit and dismissed with the benedic
tion.
That week there was a dance in the
place. The preacher got a good Chris
tian woman to go to the dance with
him. He bought a number and when
ever his turn came he went on the
floor and tried to dance. In those
days dances were held all night. A
12 o'clock supper was served. After
supper the parson stepped In front
of the fiddlers and said: "Ladies and
gentlemen, brothers and sisters: Tou
have met here this beautiful evening
for one of your entertainments, and
I have come with you and tried to do
as you did. Just as nearly as 1 could.
Now, next Sunday I shall have an
entertainment at the schoolhouse
again, and I ask you alt to come."
The result was they ail went, and
it would not have been very good for
tho one that had tried to start any
thing. Bo I do believe that maybe
one really ought to be looking for the
good there is in people.
This answer is from a mend or
everything that 1" good. J. W. A.
Would Have Silence Kept.
rortland, Dec. 7. To tho Kditor of
The Journal In the December ( issue
of The Journal, on the front page,
elaborately written up. is an article
concerning "a motherly woman of 63
years." The caune of it all was be
cause this woman, under the Influ
ence of liquor and for the first time
in her life, spent the night in 5ail.
How much better would It have been
for her and all concerned to have left
this out of the paper entirely, espe
cially so when from time to time The
Journal has been condemning the prac
tice of the Salem authorities, when
releasing prisoners, of publishing their
names and records. More pathetic is
this elderly woman s tearful pleading
not to notify her husband, and in face
of all this, to print' it on the first
page, notifying all her friends and the
public.
"Teach me to reel anoiner s woe.
To hide the faults I see."
CONSTANT READER.
fh Speakership Dictatorship.
Portland, Dec. 6. To the Kditor of
The Journal In The Journal of No
vember 30 I noticed an Interview with
L. E. Bean, a candidate for the speak
ership, in which it was stated that the
directing head of the Oregor.lan called
Mr. Bean on the carpet and asked him
why he had not consulted them, pre
sumably before he announced himself
as a candidate. Furthermore, H was
stated that be was told that he must
give no consideration to John M. Mann
in the event that he was elected as
speaker.
I have been attempting to digest
this statement, and up to the present
time I am unable to fathom why the
Oregonian should presume to dictate
to any man as to his desire to be
come a candidate for office, or as to
his consideration of other members of
the legislature In the event that he
should be elected.
Therefore. I am asking The Journal
to kindly give a reason, not only to
me but to hundreds of others who have
been pondering over the attitude of
the Oregonian.
It is well known that the Oregonian
Is supporting Mr. Stanfield for
speaker. It is also well known that
some large interests, which are fram
ing up legislation that will be of ben
efit to them, are also supporting Mr.
Starrfteld. The question arises: Is Mr.
gtanfield the tool of the Oregonian and
these interests, or Is he unconsciously
..-. . V W. ...... .... V - fT-
- As there are but 13 members of the
PERTINENT COMMENT AND NEWS IN BRIEF
IsUALX. CHANGS
Once more, by war of Illustrating
the difference between war and peace:
Let us now com para a bombproof with
a sleeping porch. What's yours?
Francis Parkman. the historian, once
said there is snore poetry in the Bible
than there is out of it. But, say. the
wastebaskets are not la the Bible, are
ttisy?
Tkeac altoretber sruilelass veoDle
who ara ndYialnsr us to eat rabbit meat
at S cents a pound actually seem to
think It would stay at t cents a pouna
if It Is i cents a pound, which It
probably Isn't.
Does anyone suppose Lloyd-George
looks back to his meagre boyhood and
thinks: "Bless me, what a gree-t, man I
have got to be!" Nay, nay. But Lloyd
George looks forward and thinks:
'Bless me. wnat a great man i nave
got to bet
Some archaeologist has dug up In
Babylon an "order for flour." written
on the well known cuneiform order
blank. If filled now. won't there, e
a roar wnen tnat ancient oaoT"""an
dame sees what the delivery boy haa
brought her?
When the great war broke out de-
mocracv faavrd and aristocracy re
joiced that it was all off with Lloyd-
ueorge s great program: a war wuum
check It, certainly, and might annul It
utterly. But now iook waere me war
has tossed the Welshman.
"Lake passenger rates are going up
because sailors are to get better food
and more of it," says a lake port news
paper of recent date. This sort of
thinv a wKjt f thai man who doesn't
own vessels finds so mysterious. Didn't
the owners know, all the time tner
were raging at the seamen's bill, that
this was exactly what they would do?
uverybooy else Knew 11.
COMMENT OF THE
COQTCXXAB BJSHT1M KZt The higher
snd higher soaring prices of wheat
and flour are compared with those of
1S67. which lacks one of being SO
years sgo. Then we remember riding
to market on a load that fetched J
a busnei. it 11 nil mat jigure next
year we art wondering what we shall
be using for bread. Perhaps we shall
have to borrow a leaf rrom the Ger
mans and mix our wheat flour with
potato flour.
TJaTXOir S0OVT1 It Is strange that
so many candidates for certain offices
should assume that it is necessary for
them to pledge themselves to enforce
ment of the laws, in case of their
election. There are a number of official
positions that have for their pur
pose the securing of law enforcement
and were created with that object in
view. Such positions as district at
torney, sheriff, constable, justice of
the peace, town marshal, policeman,
etc., are created for the express pur
rose of securing law enforcement. A
man or woman who does not expect
to use all bis. or her, five senses.
and a lot of energy to secure enforce
ment of the laws, ought not to be
candidate for any of these offices. For
a candidate to promise to do his duty
if elected, is futile, and serves no pur-
pose. However, stnee It has become
somewhat of habit. It may be ex
cusable for a candidate la his an
nouncement to assert that he will ob
serve his oath of office and continue
to be a law-abiding citizen. In case
of election.
AUATf snKOCRATi Always the
greatest element In progress Is con
fidence, and, with it, there Is no ques
tion about the result. Conditions were
never better for stability and there
can be no question of the result as
long as this country keeps out of the
unholy entanglements of Europe and
her hands off Mexico. The report in
Mexico that Colonel Roosevelt had
started a revolution in this country is
in keeping with the Mexican style of
doing things. They epeak In revolu
tions and rebellions, and are ready to
believe almost any old report; but
are they so very much different from
the people of this country, who be
lieve numerous things about Mexico
that never occur?
XSTACADA raws- .Space will not
permit of the chronicling of a list of
the many blessings that we of eastern
Clackamas county have to be thank
ful for at this Thanksgiving season.
We all know that we have pass'
through a year of many blessings. In
a land of peace and plenty; In a lo
cality of unexcelled climate; free from
disease and war; surrounded by the
best of friends and neighbors nnd with
all indications pointing towards a 1917
season of prosperity.
ASTOKXA2T: No better evidence of
the fact that "it pais to advertise'
could be had than the (-utliiisl&Hm and
surprise with which the exhibition of
local-grown cranberries was greete.l
t the land products show in Port
land, thousands of people learned for
the first time that the famous holiday
berry was grown in their home state
most of them looked upon the cran
berry as something foreign, akin to
the pineapple and the roroanut. Thai
the cranberry is grow n right, at home
and that it can compete as to flavor
and appearance with the finest in ths
world, was a happy revelation to the
thousands of rfhow visitors.
legislature in eastern Oregon snd but
13 In Multnomah county, including tne
Joint representative, making a total of
2t, as against 34 in the balance or
western or southern Oregon, why
should Multnomah county make a com
bination with eastern Oregon, thereby
allying themselves with the minority.
if they expect to secure any legisla
tion for their constituents? Can you
give us any light on this subject?
Would not the part of wisdom be
for the Multnomah delegation to either
remain neutral or ally Itself with the
members from the southern portion
of the state whose interests are more
nearly akin to those of this county,
rather than to make a combination
with eastern Oregon, which, to the un
initiated, has the appearance of being
a discrimination against those counties
that have always been friendly to us
snd have assisted us heretofore in leg
islative matters In which we were vi
tally interested? h
If you can shed any light upon the
foregoing, I will grestly appreciate it.
J. ALLEN HARRISON.
"A" Chain Broken." v
Neskowin. Or., Dec. 4. To the Editor
of The Journal In The Journal of
November 17, appeared a brief edito
rial referring to the repeal of the
Sunday closing law In which you
say: "The repeal is probably a good
thing for the public, but It cannot be
regarded wholly without misgivings.
The obvious consequence of the repeal
will be an Impetus to open all busi
ness on Sunday."
Concerning this, I beg to ask If It is
not possible that m the repeal of thU
law the electorate of Oregon have
handed the people of the state a boom
erang? May it not transpire that
there is no single enactment nay, nor
any dexen enactments on our statute
books that will contribute mora to
translating liberty rnto license, de
stroying legitimate restraints, making
each individual a law unto himself?
I would respectfully ask if the people
of Oregon-' covet for themselves the
doom that the Jewish nation procured
for Itself by a similar process? , (Lev.
2C34-3S; 3 Cbren. :!L) ? s - c
i It may be that our fathers tot Purl-
OREGON' SIDELIGHTS
At a recent social at Mount Pleas
ant school house. In Linn county, there
was a pi sale. V. i. Shores, as auc
tioneer, got 120.06 out of the crowd,
for 26 pies,
Several housewives In Astoria are
pooling their orders for household
goods, the Budget says, with the pur
pose of reducing the high coat of liv
ing. They Intend to buy thilr Gro
ceries In bulk.
W1M arnose formed the Chief couree
at the Thanksgiving meal for many
Hood River people, ine Dig nonaeia,
the Glacier says, sold in the market
for $1 each and made an appotUiug
yet comparatively cheap food,
Editor Toung of the Coqnllle Sen
tinel freely hands It to the linotype
machine. The longer I live with one.
he says, "the more wonderful It seems.
No matter how much copy editors fur
nish, it eats It right up and smacks Us
Hps for more. And In the subsequent
'make up,' never a letter falla off the
end of a line."
Tribute to an old-time character, In
Fossil Journal. "Blind Johnnie Keeney
died last week at his home in Lane
county, aged about 60 years. He was
formerly a well known figure In the
Condon and Fossil country, where he
tned to play the fiddle at the old style
country dances. He was of a genial,
cheery disposition and was well liked
by all who knewhlm."
The Heppner Gazette Times wonders
"How many of our own citizens realize
that they are living In the richest
county per capita In the northwest, if
not in the entire United Statee." - "A
4.000.000 wheat crop," the Gasette
Times says, "with the bumper season
for sheep and wool Just preceding, has
made Morrow county wealthy, pulling
many farmers out of debt and putting
many mors of them on Easy street."
PRESS OF OREGON
XOOTO aUTBS STEWS! Hood III vet
needs a postoffice building too urgent
ly and this need is known too gen
erally to permit any opposition to the
appropriation gaining ground here.
Baaed on the volume of business trans
acted through the local office. Hood
River is entitled to such an appropria
tion more than hundreds of communi
ties now boasting federal structures.
Introduction of the bill was prompted
by such need, based on actual records
of business transacted. The need of
such a building is real and not Imag
inary; it is a necessity, not a luxury
or extravagance.
ASTOSXA BTTDOETt We have built
the most modern public wharf that is
to be found on the Pacific coast. Now
let us get a dredge of our own and
undertake the Improvement of our har
bor facilities. Then we will be in a
position to bring such pressure to
bear upon the engineers that even the
opposition cannot block the deepening
of the main channel.
Twrrxmxan sjocoxd octet -
TlOll The sun goes down, that is
disappears from sight. In the lower
part of Wallowa county before 4
o'clock In more than two months of
the winter. When it goes behind the
mountain ridge a chill sets in, anJ
continues through the long twilight
and grows colder as night comes on.
Near to the mountains there are many
homes, and two towns, where the sun
sinks from sight an hour or more ear
lier than at Knterprise. The towns
of this county are so situated that the
saving daylight plan adopted In Eu
rope is higlUy desirable here the year
around. Some eastern cities adopted
the new schedule all by themselves
last year, when it wes under general
discussion owing to the course of thr
countries of Kurope. But no district
can use it with so little a sense of jar
as Wallowa county, shut in as It in
from the outer world by mountain
and canyons.
X.A GXASroa OBSEaT,TXl Eatly
Christmas mailing is urged as well a.,
early Christinas shopping. Three lo
tour days or a week lotigeY than thi
t:me ordinarily given for a letter or
package to reach Its destination ought
to be allowed. Early Christmas shop
ling relieves the strain upon clerks
snd storekeepers, while early Christ
mas mailing will relieve the conges
tion in postofflces and railway mall
cars. We have no doubt that to many
In the United States postal service
the approach of Christmas Is regarded
with dread rather than gladness.
JOBEPat HXXAXa) There are many
men and women in northeastern Ore
gon who are hewing out their dea
tinies on homestead selections and dt
pplte the conditions that are now ad
verse to so many things we common
ly call the better things of life, they
vlll ultimately profit roundly for the
efforts they nr now putting for
ward. We know a IopsI lady who
braved- the elements Saturday and
walked in from her homestead i'6
miles away. Wo know another who,
finding 1f Incumbent upon herself to
gather her cattle for the care thy
should have In view of lh recent un
usual wintry spell, rode until her
face was froien; yet the cattle wer.:
paved from the range. TUet-f womui
folks ere heroines in their way. t.
cause they are doing, their ran hi th
advancement of society's Interest . xni
are making possible an in-ieard har
vest largess. All honor to lliem.
tan days, in the enactment of their
"blu laws," erred In some renpects;
but if so, did they not err on the safe1
aide?
Did not the rigid discipline to whifh
they submitted themsel-i and re
quired of others, have much to do In
laying the foundation for our present
national grratnex? If so. is it not a
fact that the same requirements, in
some fair measure, are Indlapenaabie
to the perpetuation of this desirable
condition?
As to the 6ny tn observe as a rest
day, there haa always been, and is,
something in the divine economy to
fitly designate It. The day following
the completion of the creative work
was set apart for that purpose. 1'nder
the last dispensation the Christian
the resurrection day of its founder 's
certainly a most fitting dispensation.
Under the spoclous plea of "person.il
liberty" the saloon men and other in
terests for years have clamored for the
repeal of this law; now it remains to
be eeen whether or not In so doing they
prove to be pubjle benefactors.
O. W. PKWTHERER.
Indorsing Fannie and Kate.
Portland, Dec. . To the Editor of
The Journal I would like to say that
I think the suggestion in the letter
signed "Kannie and Kate," In today's
Journal, Is a good one, to turn our
manufacturing situation over to a com
mmee 01 .women. ji is evident we
should not be any worse off, and I
believe we should gain by it.
A WORKING GIRL.
A Notable Collegian.
from tli -jok.Bnr Kpntfatiian-Bef lew.
When a man surrenders a 8S000 to-
sltion at the age of 36 to take a com
plete course at college, this instance
of Itself Is answer enough to the loose
and frequent charge that Americans
care only for money, The roan is Ar
hold 8. Rothwell of Portland. Or- and
the college which haa the good fortune
to enroll htm as a student is Reed.
Keep your eye on this collegian. He is
likely, in case he lives, to carve his
aama broad and deep lata tlM roll of
nonor in tn raeuio north west.
Rag Tag and Bobtail
Stories From Everywne
re
IT this eorama ell raiders of Tba Joarnu
are toTltrd to contribute original mattar- -la
atey. In reran or In lluaopbleal obMTTaiioa
r7,-iJ!fA .. . from any auurc.
Q BtrltaUons ef tteaptMiual merit U1 se usM
toe. st the editor-aii 1, rial.j v J
Burgling Made liasy.
flUS ahould be appreciated by all
it b,,!rUr' A Portland cltlsen went
te call upon a friend and his family a
tew evenings ago. The house was
dark. bu on the oorrh m.. " . "
-a " --- r-niAi nan A
5 11 read "Sid door." At the
another sign. "Under the
"at. There lay the key to the houae.
-ne of the children wtts expected to
return before the old folks, and they
had thought about the youngster ijt
not about other callers.
Getting Away With It.
Cashing check In a strange com
munity is one of those deeds of dar
ing for which the nervy alone are
equipped. The wakllng, fluatered by
having to identify himself, becomes a
suspect through his hesitancy. The
man with money has to be iinpreaaed
and the only time to g,t him is ft
the outset; the vital minute is the
rirst and If no headway Is made then,
the chances dwindle astonishingly.
Hence swindler sometimes do better
than men who ar oa the level, ob
serves the Chicage Herald.
But timid men who are en the
level become lions occasionally At
times Identification is plastered all
over an applicant who has not had to
show auch resources. The bearer of an
lu r orucr reourred by a cashier,
thought first of bis hat and displayed
hts initials. No Imnru.Un w
ftduced arbunch of letters without effeot
tuen riaunted a ribbon wwtoh
chain, again advancing his Initials,
still more bad news. He dug up an
inscribed clgaret case and flashed It,
Th, hea.rt behind the bare remained
atony.
"This calls for aemathlna -
he exclaimed, and ramavMf ait .i.,h
aim waist to show
mono-
gram tattooed
on
hla chest. whloU
proved convincing.
The End of the TralL
.
juunr Bwede appeared at
the
co'
uuiy juat
Jge a
fl tff anas vsl irraa,a..,
- - - - t saa j a IUTVI J-
rody s. and asked for a license.
"What kind of a licenser asked the
Judge. "A hunting license?"
"No," was the answer. "Ave tank
Aye bane hunting long enough. Ave
want marriage license."
Oil, These Mothers!
Fople shouldn't bo foolif.li about
their children, but our Aut.t Amy
lEirt careful enough with l'ornroy,
says Claude Callan, the man who
writes of everyday life for the Kurt
Worth Htnr-Telexrani. The little ras
cal U her only child, and he 1s only
li years of age. One day last week
she told him he could go to see his
cousin, who livs nearly a quarter of
a mile away. Before he started she
bade him an af fectloiiale farewell and
aid to him: "Now, darling, when you
go to cross the ditch you must walk
right In the middle of the bridge.
Look buck every minute or two an-1
fiee If there is an auto coining, and
if there Is, you niunt get out of the
way. Now you must remember that
you promised tne you wouldn't climb
on the fence. Mamma knew a little
boy who Walked around on top of a
fence when he promlned his mamma
he wouldn't, and he fell and broke his
arm. And don't climb that tree in the
yard. Mamma knew one little boy
who fell out of a tree and broke both
his lgs, and he wan in bed for nearly
a year. There, now, run along, and
remember what I have told you.
Pomroy! Pomroy! Cdme here a min
ute before you go. I want you to
promise mamma that you will not get
upon the shed, and don't wrextle. I
knew a boy who got his collarbone
broken wrestling. lon't run, and din'i
Jump. I knew one boy who Jumped
off a box and broke two ribs." l'orn
roy hurried to his cousin's home, and
about the time he reached there. t
popped Into Aunt Amy's mind that she
hadn't cautioned him not to go near
the well. Bhe didn't xtop to di-.
There her child was In a well, and
she was not there to get liitn nut.
When alia reached Ihe place, she didn't
enter the house. Hho hurried around
to the well, leaned over nnd railed 011::
"Pomroy! Pomroy." lie heard hrr
calling and when he anawered, she
turned suid saw that he wh aafa. II
and his cousin were on .the shed
scuffling and trying to push each
other off.
Why Fuss About Mitts?
"1 want my broakftis," wailed Fred-
r!14, who had waked tip cross and was
growing croasar every minute.
Rut you cant possibly eat your
breakfast until you have had your
hands washed." said mother.
"'Km I tan, too." declared Freddie.
I don't eat wis my hands. I est wis
my teef."
Rustic Strategy.
An English cyclist waa pedaling
through mud and falling rain when he
spied a figure walking toward him
through the twilight. He sprang off
his machine, says London Answers,
end asked the native how far tt was to
the village) of Poppleton.
just ten miles the other way. air,"
was the reply.
"The other way" exclaimed the cy-
cllst. "But the last algnnoat I passed
said it was in this direction."
Ah," said the native, with a know
ing grin, "but you , we turned that
tbaer post round so as to fog those
'ere Zeppylings!"
Keep Nmiling.
The thing that roe the firthrst toward mat
in: Ufa worth while.
That'a worth the annet and eoats th lost.
M loet a Dleeaaat amil.
4 atolls that bubbles from the heart sad
krrea its fallow men.
Will drive away the clouds of rrtnf snd
enax tba sun arsln.
It's fntl at warsath and gladness, too. with
rasnly kindness blent.
It s worth a railUea dollar sad It dnsaa't
cost a cent.
There ia ne mots for aadneas when rnn see
a pleasant aanlle.
It alwsje brlnr the same go" nrJ- B,Tr
out of style;
It nerves ns 00 try seiln, a her failure
mikes n blue,
Th dimples ot aneonrscrnM-nt sr good for
ma and ;n. ...
It par s higher Interest, for It Is enty lent.
It's worth a million dol'ar and it oo t
cost a cent.
A anfle eoms very 7; n wrinkle w
with rneer, .
A hundred time before too ran tfieesa
a single tear. .
It ripples up. mrjr. to the hesrt'tnags
that will lug. .
And always tesra a erho that Is very Tik
So em"le away: folk slwsrs kaow what by
a smile mil. ,
It'a worth a million dollars, snd H 4oen t
" U -Antbor Unldaetlfiad.
Uncle Jeff Snow Say si
Farmers will stop to kill snale
right in hajeveK. Any snakes ths netft
legislature turns loose ' l7 special
'lection next summer with, the Idee
that the farmers won't go to the polls
will git pretty well beat up before they
travel far. Lots of fellers that'a to
politicians. Is poor statesmen.
1: