THE OREGON DAILYT JOURNAL. PORTLAND SATURDAY. MAY 12, 1917.
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Al Ia'DEPENDKXT NEWSPAPER
..nt-m, 1 . .
I i Q. B. JACKSON Pabllahet
J J iubliabwi eary day. afternoon nd morning
i s,- (eieept Sunday afternoon) t Tbe Journal
. Building, Broadway and ' YamhUl atreeta,
J 1'ortland. Or.
Catered at tbe poatofflea at Portland, Or., for
' J 2 tranamluton tnrougu tlia malla as aeoond
ijw elaaa natter.
. TUUCfUONKS Uala Tin; Boot, A-4U6L
4 All departauaota reached by ibeaa number.
I Tall tb uperatur wliat department you
' 4 want.
. aORKlON ADVKBTIS1NU BEFBESBNTATI VE
' ; Benjamin A Kenuvor Co.. Brunairick Bide.
J J 820 fifth A.. New Vork. 11118 People'a
I ' ' u ". Chicago.
( ' Subscription terms by mall or to an adore
:-. In tiie.fnitwj Slate or Mexico:
1 DAII.X (MUUN1NO OR AKTEBNOON)
Ti ' Oua yaar $3joOOu montb $ .90
- 8DNDAT
s I ' On year $2.50 I One montb f .25
Daily (mobnino or afternoon) and
I ' 8DNDAY ,
j v On year $7.50 I One montb f .96
The lnatlnrtlre feeling of a great peo
ple la often wiser tban Its wlwitt men.
Komutb.
PORTLAXIVS way
FTSW things could be more in
teresting in Portland just now
, than the action taken by the
Stockholders of the New Or-
leans Board of Trade to "establish
,a permanent river transport line
I with a specific pledge of financial
aid." ; It is of particular interest
in Portland because this city is
contemplating public financial sup
port to aid the revival of shipping.
A ir n f arannA n t m r roc a r to rlvaa
l from all the Mississippi river cities
was held at St. Louis on Tuesday
and Wednesday of the present
week, where the project was 3is-
cussed. The New Orleans Board of
': Trade as its part in the project,
voted an appropriation of $25,000.
j In making its appropriation, the
; j New Orleans body adopted resolu-
r tions in whih its reasons for sup-
: port of the fiver line were set forth,
i In nart the resolutions am an
follows:
5 Whereas. Water navigation under
favorable conditions such as are now
possible on the great river, furnishes
the most economical form of trans-
i - portatlon ; and
1 Wbereas, It Is apparent that the
L railroads are unable to keep pace with
j- the commercial growth of the country,
causing constant and serious conges-
tlon of traffic, resulting In untold
, 'loes; and
. Whereas. It is of the highest lm-,-Tortance
to the merchants of New
Orleans that river transportation
should be resumed, not only because
railroad rates must inevitably be ad
p vanced, but also as the most effective
. means of minimizing any discrimlna
, tlon against New Orleans In railroad
rates, .
Because of the great work it
has done in advancing the ship
; ping interests of New Orleans, now
; one of the leading ports of Amer
ica, the New Orleans Board of
rad'e has become one of the best
known authorities on transporta
tion. r
; ' In; its resolutions this body as
' Berts three facts:
1 Water navigation "furnishes
the moBt economical form of trans
v portatlon."
, 2---The railroads are unable to
; ; keep pace with the commercial
i " growth of the country, causing con
! . "Btant and serious congestion of
'j; traffic resulting in untold loss; and
3 River transportation must be
resumed because railroad rates
, .iU8t inevitably be advanced but
,also aa the MOST EFFECTIVE
i: ffirMEANS OF MINIMIZING ANY
K g DISCRIMINATION AGAINST NEW
ORLEANS IN RAILROAD RATES.
I fit Here is assertion of the exact
1. maxims that should find lodgment
, g In every mind in Portland. Water
: transportation is the most economi-I'S-cal.
The railroads cannot keeD
I S pace with the commercial growth.
I'' and water transportation must be
f X Invoked to prevent congestion of
?i traffic and attendant loss. "Water
!' . transportation rs the most effective
means of preventing discrimination
against Portland in railroad rates.
In Portland, we know that we
J most find ' some means of dellver-
alauice. With grain going on the
X K'aame rate to Seattle 330 mile3
-;t; from Pendleton instead of coming
to Portland only 218 miles from
Pendleton for shipment to Europe.
I we know that we are discriminated
I- against in railroad rates. We can
Bhelp ourselves by paying heed to
i'"the New Orleans way.
A DISTINCTION
HAT Is the real difference
between autocracy and de
mocracy? We think it cau
be summed up in a few
words. The difference does not
pertain to the quantity of power
la the hands of rulers. A rule
with little actual power may be
an autocrat. One with immense
power may be a. democrat in form
"and substance
The late Czar Nicholas never
had much actual power. He waa
"too much a slave to all breeds of
charlatans, and fakers. Lincoln
had i Immense power and so has
WIlsoi;y Wilson seems likely to
have more rather thin less. before
long. Still Nicholas was an auto
crat, and Lincoln, like Wilson, waa
a democrat.
, An autocrat is his own source
of power. Be it much or little its
origin is the : autocrat himself.
Sometimes he sweetens the dose
by saying it comes from heaven,
but that, is a mere matter of
words. In a democracy power
comes from the people. They be
stow it and they can take it away.
They can lend their rulers much
power or they can lend little. That
is of no essential, consequence. The
all-lmpcrtant consideration is that
the people hold the ultimate reins.
In an autocracy the autocrat him
self holds the reins. The people
do not drive.' They are driven.
The notion that a government
must be weak and diffusive in or
der to be democratic has no Jus
tification in fact.
THE TOURIST BUSINESS
T
HERE Is a good deal of mis
apprehension abroad as to
what the "tourist business"
might mean to Oregon One
man says it "would benefit no
body but the hotel keepers and
garages." A little reflection would
correct this error. The more guests
a hotel has the more supplies it
must buy for their food and en
tertainment. The purchase of sup
plies diffuses tourist money through
all tbe channels of trade and in
dustry.
The garage must pay wages to
its employes and the employes
have families who patronize gro
cers and dry goods stores. But
the tourist business is aot limited
to transient travelers who pass
through and are seen no more. It
includes people who come to reside
for. weeks and months. The tour
ist business in New Hampshire, for
example, means many thousand
summer residents who own or rent
houses, cultivate gardens and form
real home ties In the villages.
This is still more the case In
Florida, a state which half depends
on tourists and temporary dwell
ers for its support. The economic
development of Florida began with
travelers who wero so attracted by
Its scenery, soil and climate that
they invested their money, built
houses, planted orange groves and
developed estates. Oregon has
scenic resources which make any
thing in the east look small in
deed. It has an attractive climate
for many months of the year. Its
soil is far more productive than
most of our farmers imagine. The
possibilities of the state have
hardly been touched.
It is pessimism of the worst sort
to decry the tourist business and
say. that it can do little or nothing
for Oregon. It can do immense
good for Oregon, for everybody In
Oregon. From the point of view
of the tourist business alone good
roads woud be aj richly, profita
ble investment for the state.
, The fact that William and Henry
who have lived all their lives by
a scenic wonder would not pay a
nickel to gaze upon it proves noth
ing whatever about tourists from
the east. They might be eager
to pay a hundred dollars for a trip
to the same point which William
and Henry scorn. Oregon is dis
couraged and almost hopeless in
some directions. We have a bad
fit of the blues. Our liver Is in
such a condition that everything
looks yellow. We should try to
see the brighter Bide of things.
The commission system has been
the most representative govern
ment Portland ever had. There is
none so humble as not to be able
fo get a hearing before the council.
But in aldermanlc days, the citi
zen had to communicate his desires
to the councilman from his ward
and not infrequently that council
man was in somebody's secret pay
and the errand of the citizen was
never acted upon.
AN UMPIRE
1
T IS a happy thought of the
allies to turn Constantinople
and its surroundings over to
Belgium for safe keeping. The
trust would in some degree testify
to the world's appreciation of Bel
gium's heroic sufferings for lib
eny. it wouia aiso solve a per
plexing International problem. As
long as Russia intrigues for Con
stantinople the Balkan states and
Germany will plot to resist her. Ai
long as Germany saps and mines to
build an empire from the Baltic
to the Euphrates Russia will coun- I
termine. r
With the coveted prize in Bel
gium's keeping all this infernal
work would stop. Constantinople
and its waters would be open to
everybody on equal terms and no
body need feel wronged by the ar
rangement. Naturally Belgium's
guardianship of the Dardanelles
must be under international pro
tection, but that is to be desired.
The more international activities
and trusts we establish the better
for the world, since it is only thus
that the dream of internationalism
can be made real. Like Oliver
Twist at Dotheboya Hall, we shall
master the art of internationalism
by "going and doing it" a great
deal sooner than by talking
about it
It is argued by some thinkers
that the League to Enforce Peace
would get nearer to reality Jf it
were centered in some small nation
like Belgium. Readers of history
can not forget tbe glaring truth
that the only genuine .international
(agencyhe-world has. had for the
last thousand years was centered
in a little Italian principality. The
principality is now merged in the
kingdom' of Italy, but the church
still has Its local habitation there.
If to some little state like Bel
gium could be given a political
authority resembling the spiritual
authority of the Roman curia
the world might be the better for
it. Of course any such political
authority must be based on the
intelligent "consent of the gov
erned" and not on brute force, but
we have high warrant for believ
ing that "all government derives
its Just powers from the consent
of the governed." The American
Union is not held together by force
but byIntelligenee.
This would amount to appoint
ing Belgium, or Norway or Monte
Negro, the political umpire of the
world. Surely the world needs
an umpire, almost as badly as a
baseball game needs one. What
a .baseball game would be without
somebody to decide upon bata and
strikes is Just about what the
world actually is without a head
and judge. No baseball hero,
however magnificent, feels dis
graced by submitting to the um
pire's edict. No soldier Is dishon
ored by obeying his officer.
Why should not the nations
choose an umpire and agree to
abide by his decisions? Why not
make one of them umpire for all
the rest?
The umpire should be ' power
less to enforce his own decrees.
Otherwise jealousies would arise.
The enforcement should be a mat
ter of conscience and honor in the"
community of the nations. And
that is a matter of education. Just
as we have been perniciously edu
cated to believe in international
chaos and war so we could in a
single generation be educated to
believe in submission to an um
pire. Is it not worth thinking
about?
A SUBVERSIVE SCHEME
s
OME of these current sugges
tions as to "labor prepared
ness" are subversive if not
traitorous. A horrible one
which we have Just Been in the
New York Evening Post scandalizes
us all the more from Its appear
ing in such a quarter. Usually one
can trust the Evening Post to sup
port established institutions. If
the war has made it revolutionary
what Is likely to happen to less
solidly settled organs?
We hesitate to repeat the sug
gestion lest readers accuse The
Journal of propagating anarchy,
but how can we condemn it prop
erly without telling what it is?
So here goes. It Is a proposal to
conscript bootblacks for farm
work. In oher words, it Is a pro
posal that a host of agile and ca
pable young men be hurried away
from work which is fundamentally
necessary to that which is compar
atively trifling.
Take the case of the rotund man
with a hemispherical torrid zone
which he cannot see over and
which forbids him to stoop. How
is he going to black his own boots?
He might easily refrain from eat
ing. His health would be better
for it and his purse heavier. But
black his own boots he cannot.
We see, therefore, how much mis
ery some people would heap on in
nocent heads by these ruthles3
proposals.
Why all this haste? Why not
those who desire aldermanio gov
ernment so arrange their program
that the decision as to their schemo
could be voted on at one regular
election and If approved, provide
for election of officers under it
to take place at another regular
election, two of which occur next
year? Instead, their scheme pro
poses two elections next month, or
within a little more than three
weeks of each other. What is
there that justifies such haste and
such additional expense? M
A VICIOUS LAW
A'
NY law which commands the
constituted agencies or a
county government to pay
the top price for service ren
dered the county and denies them
the authority to pay less than the
top price for such work is a bad
and vicious law. Multnomah
county has such a law in the stat
ute which requires the publication
of delinquent tax lists and fixes
the compensation at two cents per
column inch for each 1000 of gen
eral circulation possessed by the
newspapers making the publica
tion.
circuit Judge Tucker in con
struing this statute recently, held
in effect that the rate of compen
sation named in the statute was
mandatory upon the board of
county commissioners of Multno
mah county and that it must pay
at this rate, no more and no less
In other words, even though s
Portland newspaper were to conv
tract to print the delinquent list
for one cent per column Inch, it
would not be bound by Its contract
but 'could ask the statutory rate
and the county commissioners
would be compelled to pay.
Such a statute is contrary to
good business sense, Is a fraud
upon the taxpayers and vicious. It
should be repealed.
r The mayor of . Portland Is Justi
fiably chagrined, according to; his
letter Ao. the chief - of, police, be
cause various policemen . have said
I dunno when, asked the loca -
tlon of the Central library. There
is an undraped statue of Minerva
out there and possibly Secretary
Warren lias prudently kept the
police out of the neighborhood lest
their eyes fall upon the ungar
mented form of the marble god
dess. Commission government is clean
government. It Is daylight gov
ernment. It Is government in the
open where everybody can see
everything that Is done and fix
the responsibility for whatever Is
done. It was never so with alder
manic government. Everything was
In the dark. Nobody knew who
was responsible for anything. It
waa midnight government.
Letters From the People
rrMnfnfifl1iaMmia fi tA Th JonrBal for
publication In thla department a boo Id be writ
ten on only one aid of tba paper, sboald not
exceed SoO worda la lensth and moat be ac
companied or tbe nana and aaareaa 01 ua
ender. If tbe writer doea not dealra to
tbe name publlabed be aboold ao state.
The Lily Whites.
Portland. May 10. To the Editor of
The Journal Twelve years ago I came
to Portland from the middle west with
my family and the earnings of a life
time. I purchased & small home on a
macadam street that. In my humble
opinion, should have been good for
ten years, but along came a hard sur
face paving company, backed by a
fiienfily council, spoken of at that time
in the dally press as the "Lily Whites."
These obliging gentlemen succeeded In
putting an expensive pavement In front
of my home, over the protest of my
neighbors and myself, and now I am
struggling to keep the roof over my
head and meet assessments.
Today I see these same "Lily
Whites" Baker. Rushlight and Kubll
one more trying to get control of
the city government. If they suc
ceed, what will be the result? Another
100 miles of hard surface pavement
and the confiscation of hundreds of
smal'. homes. Will the voters stand
for the "Lily Whites?"
J. D. HERROLJX
"Omnibus Bills."
Portland, May 1. T the Editor of
The Journal I am not a lawyer for
which I suppose I ought to be thank
ful), but I have heard lawyers as well
as others declaim, against "omnibus
bills" until I had got the notion that
a body composed largely of lawyers
would not try to run an "omnibus
bill" that is, a bill covering more
than one subject into the face of the
voters of the whole Mate In this lm
pudent manner, especially as our sec
retary of state or our attorney gen'
eral must give tbem a heading.
If it were a company they were sit
ting for, not one of them would ever
enture to introduce these hundreds
of "bills," as Mark Twain used to
say, "Just to be entertaining." No.
They would finish the work within
two or three days and go home. Think
of it S3 to S. And the presiding of
ficers of the assembly "shall In vlr-
ue cf their office receive an addi
tional compensation equal to two
thirds their per diem allowance as
members."
This makes an even $10 per day for
such officers. Nothing said about
clerk hire." But they do not stop at
this. "They shall also receive the
sum of $3 for every 20 miles In going
and returning from their place of
meeting, on the most usual route."
This means $15 for every 100 miles
traveled. Yet a mere taxpayer can
ride on any railroad out of Salem for
$3 per 100 miles; on a round trip
ticket, for les.
Lastly, these guys postpone the time
for voting on these proposed laws
until the voters have forgotten these
matters. K. O. DARLING.
Two-Platoon Results Cited.
Portland, May I. To the Editor of
The Journal Ninety per cent of our
firemen want the two-platoon sys
tem. Seventy-fiva per cent of the
men are married. One hundred per
cent of our firemen spend their
money here in Pordand. Seattle,
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley
and about 25 cities on the east side
of the Rocky mountains have adopted
the two-tlatoon system. Omaha has
had the two-platoon 10 years and has
since then received a 25 per cent re
duction In insurance rates. Kansas
City, Kan., put in the two-platoon
after It had been tried out in Kansas
City, Mo., Just across the state line.
Tender the present system here in
Portland the fire loss in 1913. 1914 and
1915 was over Jl.000,000 each year.
and surely that was no credit to the
present 24-hour shift plan. Seven two-
platoon cities report a per capita fire
loss of less than SI. On the other
hand, 29 cities without the two-platoon
system-report a per capita fire loss of
over $5 the same year. This all is
ample proof that the two-platoon is
the proper system and that It should
bo universally adopted throughout the
United States. P. F. D. FIREMEN.
Barred From Vacant Lots.
Portland, May 7. To the Editor of
The Journal I live? in the Mount Scott
district. We havo a shortage of milk.
People are talking rni'k famine
Thero are a great nicjiy vacant lots In
this vicinity whore grass is going to
waste. The ovn-ers-of many If not a
majority are non-residetiU of the coun
ty. They. In common with resident
owners, refuse to allow their vacant
lots pastured or cultivated. Cannot
some method be devised to force these
owners to let some- use be made of this
vacant land, lying idle. growinA up
with weeds and grass? Either ptvstur-
lng or cultivating would benefit rather
than injure the land. I. T. S.
Planting Crops.
Portland. Maj- &. To the Editor of
The Journal In planting potatoes
there is much ground wasted that
might be used until the potato plants
cover up the gTound. Level cultivation
is the best. After tlve potato is plant
ed the ground should be raked i over
finely and radishes and early turnips
can be sown broadcast and harvested
before the ground is utilised by the
vine; for a potato plant need not be
hood until it is 4 to 6 inches high. One
may lose a few tnrnlp and radishes
but more will be saved for use. One ean
rake finely between the potato rows
after planting an l sow the seed in
drills and In that way lose none. Even
early lettuce can be planted, as Veil.
OSBORNE YATES.
Move Beans.
Portland. May 9. To the Editor of
The Journal We are making strenu
ous efforts to increase the food sup
ply of our nation. We are doing our
best to get all available land under
cultivation. Orops of all kinds are
being raised. Special attention has
been given to the aristocratic spuds
and onions, but we are neglecting our
most necessary crop. That crop, sir,
Is beans.
The civilisation of our country could
not endure without a plentiful supply
of .beans. Beans made Boston a cen
ter of culture. Beans have ' been
Strength and courage to ; the pioneers
who conquered the wilderness. No
camping- party Is properly equipped un
1 ieSa they have j plentiful supply of
Beans. Beans are tbe moat Important
food In our mill, lumber and mining
camps. They are the salvation of many
a boarding house and restaurant, icti
can live longer on beans than any
other food.
Everyone eats beans. They are &n
emblem of democracy. A dainty tempt
ing dish on the rich mans table: a
substantial meal for the laborer, wnat
other cry Is heard In the dining room's
of America as often as "Pork an' V
There are beans for every taste and
temperament. Beans of all sizes.
shapes and eolors
Oreen beans anJ ,
dry beans. White, red, black and brown
beans. Lima beans and chili beans and
many others, including the immortal
Boston Baked Beans. Beans are an
absolute necessity in making that
wonderful mystery called succotash.
The time has come to plant beans.
They are the most convenient of all
Vegetables. They will grow on the
poorest son. They are easy to culti
vate. They supply green vegetables
between the spring and fall crops.
They are one of the first vegetables
with which the provident housekeeper
begins to fill her cans. Finally, the
mature crop Is easily harvested and
stored for future use.
Potatoes are all right, and we
"hould have a good supply, but they
have not the food value of beans. The
German soldiers are doing wonders on
sauerkraut and welnles, but a beanfed
Yankee win outfight a cabbage-fed
German every time.
Therefore, I say to you backlot far
mers: "Plant beans. If you are a pa
triot; If you love your country, grow
beans. If you want to see democratic
institutions more firmly established
among men. raise beans! If you love
your fellow man and believe he should
have the best the world can produce,
give us mors Deans." R. L. SMITH,
America's Democracy.
Aurora, Or., May 7. To the Editor
of The Journal In yesterday's Issue
of your paper you devote much space
to what Lord Northellffe says on the
subject of democracy, but that eminent
newspaper man does not answer the
question. "Is Great Britain a democ
racy? The concrete cases of snob
ocracy cited by him are no doubt real
in sthls country and had he looked
farther he might hare found a few
more, but he should have said that the
men and women who constitute this
class are not the ruling power in the
United States and their unfortunate
existence In this country does not
make the United States a kingdom any
nearer than it makes Great Britain a
democracy.
He might have said. also, that this
particular class of so-called American
citizens developed the undemocratic
exclusiveness of which he complains
from association with foreign high
brows and sycophants and are a negll
gible quantity as to Influence In this
ccuntry.
It may be safely said that the ruling
elements in this country, both of the
rank and file and rhose who hold of
fice with the consent of that rank and
file, have no tincture of that political
heresy that any man is born to hold
public office, much less with the
hereditary right to rule over others.
That this republic has such unfortu
nate cases of assumed aristocracy, re
ferred to by Lord Northellffe, is not
our fault but rather our misfortune
and is no argument whatever against
the position that the government of
the United States of America is as
near an approximation to a democracy
as may be had in a country with
population of more than 100,000,000.
In his list of notables who have
come up from the common walks of life
In England to positions of eminence in
that country. Lord, Northellffe does
not mention a single case of a king
rising in life through his own inherent
greatness and .becoming the head of
the nation in any capacity. He only
states, what all readers of English his
tory may know, that the requisite
brains for leadership whether in state
craft of In the leaders of the army and
navy are usually found in the ranks
of the plebeians of the United King
dom of Great Britain and Ireland and
not in the ranks : of the aristocracy
and the royal family. Then why
king In that country?
NAPOLEON DAVIS,
Election Expenses.
Portland, May 11. To the Editor o
The Journal City Auditor Barbur has
been quoted as saying there would be
an added cost of $25,000 for each elec
tion held, provided the "short form
amendments" to the city charter car
rled.
The following figures from the of
fices of the cityand county auditors
absolutely disorove the statement
which have been published, and so far
have not been denied.
Last city election. 1915, Includ
ing printing and all other ex
penses f 19,84
Last county and state primary
election. 1916. including print
ing and all other expenses... 20.000
Last county and state general
election. 1916. Including print
ing and all other expenses... 20,000
A total ec-t for two years of $69,54
Under proposed "short form
amendments," all city elec
tions will be held at same
time as state and county pri
mary and general elections at
cost for two elections of 40,009
Savine to the taxpayers of Port
land every two years of $19,84
A. E, BARNES
It may be noted that the expense o
our election is not represented alto
gether by the amounts drawn from th
public funds incidentally thereto.
There are to be considered the inter
ruptlons to which business is subject
to mention the most important extra
financial "expense".
A Quandary Resolved.
Portland, May 8. To the Editor of
The Journal A very bitter contro
versy Is raging within my household.
and now I turn to you, as an arbiter
in matters of a literary nature, to set
tie this Internecine strife. A. aged
and B, aged 5, are the controversia.
htets. It concerns a matter of an at
omy. In the following famous lines:
Gooaey, ponaey tander.
Where do you wander?
I'petslra and downetalre.
In my lady'a chamber.
There I met a man
Wbo wouldn't aaj Ma prayers;
I took him by tbe lej
Anl threw him down the stairs.
Now, in the line where the deletion
occurs. A maintains the word "right
is the correct reading, while B avers
that It is "left. They have appealed
repeatedly to me, but for the life
me I cannot remember whether it wad
the right or left leg. Please settle the
question and restore peace.
P. F AMI LIAS.
The reading varies with the edition
In some it is "left" leg and In others
"hind legs." Search falls to reveal
"right leg." From this it appears that
B wins partially and A loses entirely.
Proposes Church Taxation.
Blachly. Or., May . To the Editor
of The Journal. I see In your paper,
which comes to our home, that con
gress and the people are trying differ
ent plans for raising taxes . to help
carry on the war. . Why not ! tax the
churches and church property? They
are very wealthy societies. The Ma
sons and ' Odd Fellows all pay a tax.
I think any person, society or corpora
tion that is honest and loyal to the
ccuntry would be willing to help sup
port t.: i v "tV"' MRS. - i SMITH-"
PERTINENT COMMENT
SMALL CHANGE
Makes no difference whether you
call-a spade a spade or not. Just so you
cn use 1U
It hurts a loan shark's feelings to
be bavwled out, but a food speculator
doesn't mind.
What'a th mattiir with tK Kean
growers organizing themselves as the
navy auxiliary?
When the selective draft la nrooerly
established, then let the selective graft
e aisestaDUsftea.
You can't escatTe Hs-htlnr hv marrv-
lng. Tou can't even escape going to
war. what s more.
"What can I do?" with th accent
on the "I." and also on the "do." Can
ou beat that for a slogan?
"Hoe your own row." with tba accent
on the "own," will probably le a fa
vorite slogan along about mid-June.
Nobody knows how they do It. but
n Oregon seeds do grow in such
weather as we've had, if you can once
get 'em under the mud.
Every potato Datch ourht to be a
mashed potato patch. .Meaning by
that, that the ground ought to be
maahed up oft and nice.
The fact that nobody seems to be
trying to make politics out of the war
food movement would seem to lndl-
ate that there isn't any politics in it.
It will b remembered that some
years ar;o Mr. Edison said he had a
tremendous war-making invention that
he was reserving for his own country's
day of need. Mr. Edison has never
afked more than he has wrought.
COMPARISONS
Oacar B. Hewitt la Chicago HeraM.
Nearly every on talks about the In
creased cost of living, and much Is
said that cannot be substantiated. Ca
bles from Europe give the impression
that the people cannot get food because
of the prices. This comes from the
tendency to send oversea ti . sensa
tional Jumps In costs. In thl.- country
startling stories are often head of the
high cost of living.
The purpose of this column today is
to give some fair and sane informa
tion from two recognised authorities
which have an international reputalon
for accuracy and reliability. One is
the Statist, the other the Annalist. The
former is English, the- latter Amer
ican. The Labour Gazette of the board of
Trade in London says the retail prices
of food on March 1 were 2 per cent
higher than a month earlier, which
makes an increase In the year of 32
per cent, and since July 1, 1914
month before the war started of 92
per cent. These figures take no ac
count of the changed dietary wnicn
has occurred since the war started.
The Statist does.
"If allowance Is made for a change
In the dietary," says the Statist, "and
if. for instance, eggs are eliminated,
margarine substituted for butter and
the consumption of sugar and fish
brought down to half the pre-war
level, the general percentage Increase
in retail prices of food since July, 1914,
would be about 55 per cent.
"With the exception of rent, prac
tically every Item beyond , foodstuffs
that figures in the family budget has
substantially Increased in price.
"Taking the same quantities and de
scrlptlons of the various items at July,
1914, and March, 1917, the Increase in
the items ordinarily entering into
working class family expenditure, in
cluding food, rent, clothing, fuel, light,
etc., may be estimated at 65 per cent."
The tabulations are on the basis of
a pound sterling. Giving it a round
value in American money of $5, the
Statist says in retail prices of food,
taking into account changed dietary,
it required on March t last $7.75 to
purchase what $5 would have gotten
in July, 1914. It says in the general
cost of living $5 purchased in July,
HOW TO
PELLAGRA (NO. 2). Experiments
conducted by the government show pel
lagra is not a contagious disease.
They tried in many ways to Infect mon
keys with pellagra from human beings,
but not a monkey contracted the dis
ease, although organically they are
much like human beings. So there is
no need to b afraid of a person suf
fering from th disease, nor Is it nec
essary to isolate th sufferer in order
to protect others.
This nation is not th only on af
flicted with th disease. It Js quit
common In northern and central Italy,
in which country in 1907 there were
said to be about 100,000 cases. Rou-
mania, Egypt. Austria and parts of
Spain also harbor victims or pella
gra, and it has ten rouna in souin-
e astern Europe, western and southern
PERSONAL MENTION
Industrial Agent In City.
C. E, Arny, western Immigration
and Industrial agent for th Northern
Pacific company, with headquarters at
6pokane. Is at the Portland with Mr.
Arney.
Michigan Lumberman at Portland.
J. W. Wells, well known lumberman
of Menominee. Mich., is at the Port
land with Mrs. Wells. Mr. Wells Is
head of several timber and railroad
companies.
Patent Attorney Visit .
Albert E. Dleterich. a Waal tngton,
D. C. patent attorney. Is a Portland
visitor.
Circiu Chief Arrives.
Al G. Barnes, proprietor of th eir
cus that bears his name, is a gueat
at th Imperial.
Reminds, Couple Here.
Rev. and Mrs. H. L. Hoscall of Ber
muda are visitors at th Nortonia.
Mj. and Mrs. J. Christie of Victoria,
B. C. are guests at the Nortonia.
Kenneth McKay. Hood River, or
chardist. is at the Portland.
C. E. Clure of Petersburg, Alaska, Is
at th Oregon.
E. V. D. Paul, rancher of Trout
Lake. Was., is at the Cornelius with
Mrs. Paul.
Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Thomas ar
Elkton visitors at th Perkins.
Roy T. Bishop, Pendleton manufac
turer, is at the Imperial.
Charles P. Coles of Vancouver, b.
is at th Multnomah.
W. L. Haskell. ' Cherry Grov lum
berman. Is t th Oregon.
S. O. Thompson is registered at the
Perkins from Halsey.
Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Sayne of Des
Moines ar at th Nortonia.
Joseph Lyons Is a Reedsport visitor
at th Imperial.
Q. R. Anlker is registered at tha
Washington from Coble.
O. C. 8ethr, Glendale timber man, is
at tb Oregon.
H. jr. Schulderman, stat corporation
commissioner. Is at the Multnomah,
Frank Mann Is a Whit Salmon ar
rival at the Nortonia." ' -;
E. O. McCoy, president of he First
AND NEWS IN BRIEF
OREGON SIDELIGHTS
Hood River county's taxpayer are
coming on pretty wll. A half of the
year's assessment is already paid, the
Glacier says.
The Balur Democrat testifies: "The ,
weather is all Baker county farmers
could desire, and from now on Just
keep your eye on me growing crvys.
T. T rhirUa and aon hara launched
at Fleetwood, the Lake County Trib- ,
une, a four-page six-column weekly, I
hair liome print, ana gooa print. v i
that.
m
The Pendleton East Oregonlan ob
serves that while six feet of snow In
the mountains at this time means a
late season, it also means abundance of
moisture for the summer ranges.
"Of all undesirable positions.- Justly
observes the Pendleton East Ore
gonlan. "the Job of the man who has to
look like the kaiser so they will kill
him by mistake seems to be about the
limit.''
"Governor Withycombe has set
aside the first week in May as cssan-
up week." said the Lake County Trib
une on Mav 3. "This arduous task can
be eliminated to a certain extent on
this side of the Cascades, as most of
the dirt blows away."
"Astoria's experience with the re
cent email pox epidemic," says the
Budget, "cost the neat sum of $1313.
Right now the city is building a con
tagion hospital on the county poor
farm property that will be permanent.
The contract price for this Improve
ment Is $3600."
OF FOOD COSTS
1914, what costs $8.25 on March 1,
1917.
Much the same basis Is used in this
country for showing the Increase In ,
costs, except that wholesale prices are
ordinarily used, which often vary ma
terially from retail prices. "Index
numbers" are used by Dun's, the An
nalist and others. An index number
is a means of showing fluctuations In
the average price of a group of com
modities. The Annalist "index num
ber shows the fluctuations In th aver
age wholesale price of 25 food com-'
modities selected and arranged to rep-
resent a theoretical family's food
budget."
aa
The Annalist's index number for
April 17, 1915, relating to the previous I
April 14. 1917. "was 258.971. That
shows an increase of 6S per cent In
the cost of foods for the period under
consideration. The Annalist's yearly
average index number for 1914 Is
146.097. To compare this with the one
week ending April 14 last would give
an erroneous Impression. It Is much
more fair to compare the yearly aver
ages with the average of this year to
the date of April 14. The yearly aver
ages are:
1917 228.430 1315 148.055
1916 175.720 1914 146
06
This shows that tho increase in the
wholesale prices this year to date aver-
ages 56 per cent above the average of
the 12 months of 1914. Except as the
difference arises between retail and
wholesale prices. th!s 66 per cent cor-
responds In general with the 92 per
cept of the report of the Board
of :
Trade In London. Neither takes
riy
account of changod dietary, though
.... . . , . . . ...
one relates to wholesale and the other
to retail food prices
On the cost of living In this country, the face of the earth, blown, hide, hair
the municipal bureau of personal serv- and whiskers, to the high wiri ls of th
Ice f New York City says. In a recent i desert, and the other one was pcrfor
report. the unskilled laborer's family i ated, pulverized and otherwise eradl
now pays $980.41 a year for what he ' cated. The one regrettable feature of
obtained in 1915 for $844.94. This is i the eliminating incident is. the de
for a family of five father, mother, j structlon was so very complete there
boy of 6 years, girl of 10 and another isn't enough of the hides or bcalp left
boy of 13. Some of the reasoning used to swear by. and the ladies tan't Col
in support of this report has been crit- ' lect any bounty.
lclzed by Bradstreet's.
Dun's Index number of recent Issue
said the price of commodities has in
creased 67 per cent since August 1,
1914.
BE HEALTHY
Copyright. 117.
by 3. Keeler.
Asia, the West Indies and South
America.
Prevention as well as cur depends
upon right feeding. There must be a
mixed diet of proper foods. Too much
carbohydrate food, such as corn, oat
meal or molasses, should be avoided.
Drink fresh milk dally. A certain
amount of lean meat and eggs should
be included In the diet.
Do not resort to patent medicines,
for there is no drug of real value in
the treatment of pellagra. If any of
the symptoms which Indicate the dis
ease are noted consult a physician at
once, so that if it la pellagra It can be
properly treated in tlm to effect a
cure.
It has been suggested by some that
pellagra is a chronlo form of adult
scurvy, which has been pretty well es
tablished as a deficiency dlseas.
Next Monday:' overstimulation.
National bank of Th Dalles, Is at th
Portland. .
Governor Withycombe Is a guest at
the Imperial.
FVancls Hicks is registered at th
Washington from Stevenson. Wash.
Louis A. Manning of Battle Ground,
Wash.. Is at the Carlton.
W. n. Henfh is a Hood River visitor
at the Multnomah.
George Ilea is registered at th Per
kins from Raker.
Captain N. X'elson is an Astoria vis
itor at the Oregon.
H. H. Mitchell. Wauna lumberman.
Is at the Portland.
C. If. Mitchell is a Spokane arrival
at the Carlton.
Charles L. Hunter of Gateway is at
the Imperial.
Hubert M. Carpenter of Centralla.
vtasn . is a gtiest at the Multnomah.
D. E, Stewart, Knappa lumberman,
is at the Portland.
W. C. Brown is a Sherman visitor
at the Perkins.
J. A. SchaVer la a Hood River visi
tor at the Carlton.
George H. Baker and J. Crocker ar
Goldendale arrivals at the Cornelius.
The Great Slav,
from tha Culomboa. Ohio, JooraaL
Some time ago a Tolstoi document
was published by a relative which an
ticipates some' of the world movements
end one of these related to th leader
ship that was to bring about some sort
of a national or social unity. This
leaJer, Tolstoi divined, would b a
Slav, in whose Judgment and aspira
tion the world would have confidence.
We haven't th statement at hand, but
we think the great social change that
would affect air nations was to occur
about the year 1920. or at any rate,
pretty, soon. When we reflect upon the
wonderful denouement of Russia, w
might easily conclude that she was
treparlng for the great Slav to lead th
way to International peace and broth
erhood. Th Slavic race was th first
of th Aryan races to com west to
grow up with th country, and though
it has had a great deal of trouble In
crowing, It is now flourishing finely.
We ar on-the lookout for the great
Slav. i
" Selfish. j
- Jack: t Can'sh keep a secret f
Maud: . Yes, ta disagreeable this?.
Rag Tag and BoDtail
Stories F:
rom
verywher
I To tbla column all readera of Tba Journal
are lnrtted to contribute ocljloel matter la
atory. In verse or la pbiloeopblcal observation .
9 etrlklng quotatWa. troan mar aowce. Ooay
"," eceptKnl uiarlt vlU be paid (or.
t tba tdltar a appralaal.l
.
mn Ancient Line of Patriot".
NO SPARTAN mother whose advice
to her son was. "Come home with
your shield or upon It," outclassed in
patriotic sentiment Mrs. George Breed.
or Uermantown.
Her husband has left his business to
go back into the navy, from which he
retired some years ago. Her wn,
Richard, a graduate of Vale, is in the
coast guard service at New Orleans.
Her son, Edward, a graduate of An
napolis, is aboard a battleship, while
her youngest son will emerge from the
Naval academy In September to do his
"bit" in the war.
But 1 should expect Just that, great
as is thlB man-power contribution to
her country. Mrs. Breed's father was
Rear Admiral Meade, and her grand
father was Rear Admiral Pauldinw.
while her great-grandfather, John
Paulding, achieved a really notable
distinction.
He was one of the immortal three
who captured Major John Andre or th
British army, on his way back to New
York from his conspiracy with Bene
dict Arnold. Paulding and his asso
ciates resisted a bribe big enough to'
buy a farm, and their surrender of
Andre to Washington revealed Arnold's
treason and saved West Point.
A Trio of Kid Stories.
Lately a mother began teaching her
5-yoar-old daughter about God and
Christ, and told her to be very good
and careful what she eaid. as God-
could always eee and hear everything
sue aia. ine enna rinany asKcd in a
very low tone of voice If God could
hear her then.
Her mother said certainly he could.
The little girl waited a minute or so.
then exclaimed: "Gee, but he's a great
old listener:"
' A short time ago a small boy heard
the family discussing the nw moon.
The boy went to the door and looked
out and saw the bright crescent. Ha
looked at it a hort time, then said:
Say. that will be a dandy when it's
finished." .
Little Mary hnl een photographs
i L? fan,"y a!hum of lt who
were dead. One day her mother, wish
ing to get Mary's picture, took her to
tho photographer, but in spite of all
they coiilil say or do she would not
look pleasant. Some years after in
I looking at the photograph, she said:
i "1 remember why I did not want my
I picture taken. I had seen so many
people's pictures who were dead that
I I though when they had their pictures
I taken their life went out In the pir
1 ture, and 1 was not wanting to die
! thcn"
One nejrrettable Feature,
,
Bob-cats, coyotes and cougars better
not us ,h Clancy ranch for a plcnlo
' un?' "ays lnp f.9 county i ripune
,atUr?ay m.orn n tlllancy Jowl
two .bob-cats in
the chlckn hou.
Summoning Mlsi
Ixulse Qodon, they
armed themnelvr-i with HnnhU V. rr.l
! " , , ''..7 v ' " . .
: h' """""' ?',u
, fa that chicken coop. T hen tbey got
through shooting and the dust had set
tled, one bob-cat had vanished from
Cpme to Judgment.
The person who writes the Post-Irn-pressions
for this mar.azlne, aya the
New York Evening post Magazine,
went forth to luncheon in the company
of one who Is now hla Boswell fnr
I th first and last time. They entered
cue of those frugal places where the
bill of fare is set forth on blackboards
on the wall.
"I shall take a dairy lunch." he said.
Then he gazed njt the bill of fare, and
surrendered.
Menu, menu, tekel upheraln." the
great man said, "the handwriting on
iherwall!"
Whereupon be ordered an Knglixh
beef and kidney pie, and strawberiy
shortcake.
Vint Aid.
Flak O'Hara, th popular Irish star,
tells this story:
"A Washington doctor was rece:.t!y
called to his telephone by a negro
woman formerly In. the service of his
Wife. In treat aritatlon the darkey aI
vlsed the physician that her youn-et
shlldwas in a bad way.
" Wiat seems to b th trouble
asked the physician.
" To, she done swallowed a whel
bottl of Ink.'
- I'll be over thr m a short time to
M hr,' said th medico. 'In the mean
time, have you done anything r.r herT
" 1 ddTie give her three j.ieies y
blottln papuh, doc" said th negress,
doubtfully."
American Loyally.
Flas; of our Country, in thy starry
folds
Earth's hope of freedom lies secure;
Honor and truth thy fetiltv holds.
While patriot's blood ar.i hrun en
dure. Within thy star-depths h:rks th fir
That steels tb bart lor daring
deed
Th heritage of son' from wire.
our sure defense in tlir.c of need.
From sun-kissed val and mountains
grand.
In flush of youth and manhood'j
sight.
Our millions rome with battle-brand.
To pleoge their lives for truth and
rlrht.
Sons of the sires whose blond was shed
On Bunker Hill and Camden's plain:
Ris in that might which tyrants
dread!
Avenge tbe lives of thousands slain I
Proud Hohenzollarn, look, and quail!
God's sword of vengeance fronts the
now.
Before him must thy false heart fall.
Low In the dust thy bead shall bow.
By Lusitania's thousand slain:
By Belgium's murders unavenged:
By thy wrecked beauty, old Louvatn,
W swear the "mailed fist's" raign
to end.
By every hop for which w Uv;
By all for which we dare to die;
Our honor and our lives we glv.
Thy rirhteous caus our battl cry.
A mighty nation's strength upholds.
Our glorious flag with stripes en-
iwtneo:
Rafa wranoed within
its sacred folds
Tb heart of Liberty
y is shrined.
T. Barnes
1T$7 Whitley avenn. Hollywood, Cal.
Uncle Jeff Snow Says:
Llge Heptoe's half-brother .has got
his boy' outer th army by swearln' to
gracious that h needed him to sup-
pvn lua ijainii-. uia we kihu t ut,
as his half-brother owns, one of th
best farms in Oregon, and has nvny
loand out to Interest, the boy-is ad
ed 1 turlbl ' to home. I Maanwbll th
bey is klckin' at help' pulled off n th
tntiirarv natron, a ru -iewa to ran orr
and enlist agin.