THE OREGON DAILY JOURNAL, , PO KTLAND. THURSDAY. MAY 17, 1917.
!
Alt fcDEREXDKKT'KEWSPAPER
C. 8. JACKSON PublUber
fubiUtwd every afternoon and moralnc
V '(ekcept Sunday afternoon) at The Journal
- Bui Id In-. Broadway nod Vamblll atreeta,
Portland. Or.
ttntcrrd at the poatoffk- at Portland. Or., for
irmaamiaaioa tcrougu ui maua aa kcvou
matter.
'JELEPHOXE8 Mala 7173: Borne. A-1.
All departmenta reached by tbeae onmbera.
Xell Lb operator wbat depaxtmeiU roa
Want.
OBKION ADVEBT1SINU KEl'UESENTATl VK
Benjamin Kentnor Co.. Brnnawlck llMg ,
v 120 riftn Ave1.. New Vork. Ull PeopJe'a
Gaa Bldf ., Chicaco.
Itubacrlptlon terma by mall or to any nuuron
in the United Statea or Mexico:
, DAILY (MOltMNCl OR AFTERNOON)
DM fr $5.00 I One inontb S .00
t ' SUNDAY
One year 2. so I One month f .25
' DAILY (MORNING OR AtTEBNOON) AND
SUNDAY
"V One year $7 50 I One month f .K
It to no more a question whether the
people of thl country nhatl be allowed ro
plooih the own than It la a irueatlnn
whether they abaU b jxvrolttpd to plough
the land. Jamea A. Bayard.
HOW WOULD YOU COLLECT
SUPPOSE the Bean bill should
be approved by popular vote.
It directs that the grant lands
x be assessed. It declares them
to be railroad lands.
I Under the decision of the su
preme court and the art of con
gress, the title to the lands has
been revested in the United States.
The lands are government lands.
Future title to any part of the
, Jands can only be acquired by pat
, ent from the United States gov
ernment. t .
I As a matter of being In equity
jvltn -clean hands, the government
fjias preserved to the railroad com
pany the $2.50 per acre. Beyond
this the railroad has no Interest.
-SAnd this is not an interest in the
Und itself but only a former obli
gation of the government recog
' hlzed and preserved in the Cham
berlain-Ferris act.
F
This interest amounts to the
payment to the railroad when the
land is sold of $2.50 per acre. It
Is to be borne in mind that the
$2.50 is not payable to the rail
toad until the land is sold. The
sale may be this year or ten years
hence.
r Not only has the railroad no In
terest In the land itself, but it has
not even an Interest that It can
enforce by any legal process until
the land is sold. This Interest
might bo referred to as an
"equity," though there is question
whether it is even an "equity." Be
cause the land is government land,
it cannot be taxed. This is fun
damental. The only thing that
can possibly be assessed is this
right which the railroad ' has at
some future day to receive $2.50
for each acre hereafter sold.
V Suppose ths railroad be assessed
with this so-called "equity." And
suppose the railroad refuses to
pay the taxes thereon. How would
the state get tlw tax money?
. If your property is assessed and
the taxes not paid, the state, by
virtue of the law, has a lien on it,
, which in due lime may be fore-
closed and the property be soli
for taxes. The taxes are thus ob
' tained from the purchaser wh-
" pays the money to the state and
. takes the property.
' " But In tho case of this Bean
bill assessment against the rall
road, what would you sell? And
suppose you do sell the thing the
Tallroad possesses, viz., the future
rlgh,t at an uncertain .date to re
ceive $2.50 per acre from sale of
-; government lands, how would you
enforce the right when once you
; have purchased It?
- And since you could not collect
5 the money, how would the county
, courts make up the deficiency in
! tax revenues caused by levying on
an intangible something on which
'.-.the tax money cannot be collected?
-.' How could the tangle In the tax
..rolls ever be straightened out?
1 The Bean bill thus proposes an
1 J absurdity, and serious support of
IV Is Inconceivable.
. . Two. city elections are to be held
!fca Portland next month if eithe
.Of the two aldermanlc charter.
. wins. But what's a few elections
at $25,000 per among politicians?
PREPARE lUR BALLOT
A
VERY important election is
pending in Portland. Many
measures of weighty conse
quence are on the ballot.
Citizens will require considerable
-time to scrutinize these measures
and form an intelligent opinion as
; to how they want to vote.
. Among other proposals is the
plan to go back to the aldermanlc
form i of government In Portland.
It is. extraordinary that the pro-
' posal should be so quickly sprung
and attempt be made to railroad
it Into adoption. It seems un
thinkable that an efficient and
simple system ehould be aban-
doned fojr a complicated and whol-
ly Inefficient system, but nobody
knows what nsay happen. Thero
is an active campaign In N behalf
of the old system, and the fear
that it may be successful should
put every citizen on guard.
Above all, there Is a mayor and
two commissioners to elect. No
form of government, even com
mission government, can be suc
cessful without competent and
honest officials. The commission
ers exercise large powers and on
that account there should be great
discrimination in their selection.
The records of the candidates
should be searchingly scrutinized
and every vote for or against them
be cast intelligently and consci
entiously. Portland has good government
now, and It la a precious thing.
It would be a great blunder to give
Rood government a setback by
electing unfit and unqualified of
ficials. So far as Portland is concerned,
the coming election is, in many
respects, as Important as a presi
dential election.
The country will be thankful
that the president shows a dispo
sition to take the food situation In
hand. Congress has dilly-dallied
too long with, this serious business.
The members of that body are too
much inclined to talk when they
should be acting.
PROHIBITION I WAR TIME
F'
ROM every source, we' are told
tljat foo 1 supply for the al
lies may become the turning
point ia the war.
The country is called upon to
plant the last acre of land and the
last vacant lot. The people in
some instances, in a universal re
sponse, are even digging up their
lawns and planting them to vege
tables. It seems unthinkable, in a
time of food crisis, that congress
should hesitate to forbid use of
cereals and edibles in the manufac
ture of intoxicants. Millions of
bushels of grain are consumed In
the manufacture of intoxicating
beverages. There are statistics tc
tho effect that the grains so con
sumed are equivalent to 11,000,
000 loayes of bread per day.
It is not an issue over which
congress would seem to have room
for doubt or discussion. Bread
will sustain life. Liquors will not.
Grains will help hasten the com
ing of peace. Intoxicants will not.
The armies of liberty can be made
strong for their great task by the
products of the fields. They cannot
be sustained on the battle front by
the products of distilleries and
breweries.
It seems a very simple proposi
tion, a wholly undebatable proposi
tion, a thoroughly one-sided propo
sition. As between the satisfying
of a non-combatant's thirst for
whiskey or beer and the feeding
of the combatants who are making
the supreme sacrifice, there is but
one choice.
If food for the soldiers Is in tho
slightest Imperilled, save every
pound of it that can be saved, in
cluding all that which i-s consumed
by the distilleries and breweries in
the manufacture of liquors.
It is stated that the grain con
sumed In the manufacture of
liquors is the equivalent of that
used In 11,000,000 loaves of bread
per day. It ought not to take
congress long to decide in a food
crisis that sucb a waste of food
stuffs should cease.
FATAL GIFT OF BEAUTY
I
T DOES not seem qulfie candid
to say that the roads to be
built and improved under the
bonding act are "scenic routes"
and therefore of minor conse
quence. Nobody who will take the
trouble to glance over the road
map accompanying the bill in the
state pamphlet can admit for a
moment that the scenery i3 the
main consideration in selecting the
lines. j
The road from Portland to Sa
lem and on up the Willamette val
ley can hardly be called a "mere
scenic route." Nor can that con
temptuous term be fairly applied
to the great central road fjm
Lakeview to Bend, or to the road
through the heart of eastern Ore
gon from Bend to Ontario by way
of Canyon City and Burns.
These roads and all the others
chosen for improvement are
natural arteries of travel and
trade. Most of them were broken
by the pioneers and laid out where
they are because, everything con
sidered, their location was the best
possible.
It is difficult to find a road
anywhere in Oregon which does
not pass within sight of some
pleasant scenery with here and
there natural features of surpass
ing beauty. If we are to forbid
Improvements upon all roads whlc
possess the fatal gift of beauty
we fear few of them will see sal
vation, to borrow Portia's phrase.
It will come as. a surprise to most
people to learn that scenery is a
demerit which should exclude a
road from public favor.
Ve$ feel little sympathy with
those who decry the economic value
of Oregon's scenery. There are
good grounds for the belief that
it would often pay in dollars and
cents to open new roads Into re
gions of exceptional beauty and
keep them in first class repair.
For example, the Jiiehwav from
Tacoma to Rainier Ftrk. is a
sound investment from the point
of view of money returns alone. It
will not be long before we can
say the same of the road from
Medford to "Crater Lake.
But the roads which are to bo
Improved under the bonding act
re the old established highways
Oregon, running where they do
because the immediate necessities
of the people require them. Shall
we decline to spend money on
them because they happen to pass
in sight of splendid mountains and
lovely cataracts? Must we con
demn the road past Silver Lake
because that body ofc water de
lights the traveler's eye for miles
together?
The farmers in eastern Oregon
are entitled to every cut in grain
rates they can secure. Any effort
by the Port of Astoria to prevent
farmers of the Pendleton zono
from getting a cut in the rate to
Portland is likely to be resisted in
the inland empire.
FARMERS SHOULD HAVE IT
A'
SALEM news dispatch says
"the port of Astoria is evi
dently preparing to resist
the movement on the part of
the
Port of Portland, the Port
land. Transportation & Traffic asso
ciation and others to obtain on
grain and other produce shipped
from Eastern Oregon freight rates
based on the distance and cost of
haul."
If done, It will be a mistake for"
Astoria. It will be a mistake for
more than one reason.
Astoria needs Portland's friend
ship and cooperayon. It was
through Portland's cooperation
that Astoria got parity rates with
Puget Sound. The action by
which Astoria finally gained those
rates originated in Portland, and
Astoria knows it originated in
Portland. Astoria knows that The
Journal - led that campaign, . and
knows that it was encouragement
from Portlaml that caused Astoria
to renew the petition that finally
gained the coveted rates.
Astoria failed when sbe made
the fight without Portland assist
ance. Astoria never would have
gained parity rates without the
acquiescence of Portland. Port
land's friendship and assistance in
this Instance were of great value
to Astoria. That is one reason
why Astoria should not now op
pose Portland. The thing Port
land did for Astoria should now
be done by Astoria for Portland.
There Is another and far higher
reason. The grain raisers in the
Pendleton zone are directly and
profoundly concerned In this mat
ter. Their grain can be moved
from Portland to the ocean in deep
sea ships for five to seven cents
per ton. If moved from Portland
by rail to Astoria, or by transfer
from rail at Portland to steam
boat for Astoria the cost is 75
cents or more per ton. This extra
charge somebody has to pay. Ul
timately it must come out of the
grain growers. In some Indirect
and unseen way, they will have it
to pay.
These grain growers are entitled
to the lowest rate obtainable re
gardless of the interest of citie3
and seaports. Their grain feeds
the world and the Industry should
be escouraged. Society rests on
the farmer.
If it costs only five or seven
cents for Umatilla grain to reach
the high seas by ship from Port
land and 75 cents if transferred
to boat at Portland for Astoria,
the farmers should havo. the bene
fit. The rate on their grain should
fit the conditions and the cost of
haul. They should not be made to
pay the added cost merely as a
matter of convenience and profit
for Astoria or any other port.
There is no ground whatever on
which Astoria can base a claim
that Pendleton grain should be
hauled 318 miles to Astoria for the
same rate as 218 miles to Port
land.
As a lawyer, Mr. Bean knows
that, were his notorious bill
adopted, there is no way to enforce
collection of the taxes on the right
the railroad has when the grant
lands "are sold, and he further
knows that every grant land coun
ty's tax revenues would be thrown
into complication withi a lot of
taxes levied that could not be col
lected. But Lawyer Bean Is not
telling folks all he knows about
the Bean bill.
HELPLESS RUSSIA
T
HE kaiser's professed purpose
when he began his war of
aggrandizement was to "de
feat the menace of Pan
slavism." This won him many
sympathizers in the United States,
for most Americans looked upon
the Russian government as tyran
ay run mad and the czar's military
power was supposed to be almost
invincible. His defeat by Japan
was explained plausibly on. th?
ground that Russia could not get
hex forces Into action. The long
transit across Siberia was a fatal
obstacle.
Between Russia and her Euro
pean neighbors there was no such
protective obstacle. Her Immense
forces could be assembled swiftly
for an assault anywhere along the
border, and who could withstand
them? The kaiser pointed to tha
rapid expansion of the Russian
empire, its ' unscrupulous absorp
tion of Poland, Finland, the
Transcaucaous, northern Persia,
and he warned mankind that Pan
Slavism must be checked in its
career of conquest or the whole
world would be' subdued.
His pretended fear . of Russian
aggression was shared by many
people In the United States. We
did not feel in immediate danger
ourselves but we did not relish, the
prospect of seeing Europe domi
nated by a government so cruel, so
ignorant and so unprincipled as
the czar's autocracy, and the kai
ser's proissed purpose to resist
the monster seemed worthy of
praise. A great deal of the so
called "pro-Germanism" which per
vaded the United States at the be
ginning of the war originated in
this way.
" As it turned out there never was
any Pan-Slavic menace. German
intrigue honeycombed the whole
of Russia, alienated the govern
ment from tho people and rotted
the efficiency of the army. The
kaiser's professed desire to combat
the czar's ambition was nothing
but a cloak for his own boundless
ambition. What he really did was
to attack the civilization of west
ern Europe and the United States,
hoping to destroy it and replace
it with medieval autocracy.
Russia has as good as fallen out
of the war, for the present at least,
leaving her allies in the lurch.
The kaiser withdraws Kis troopr.
from the eastern frontier and con
centrates them against France. The
Slavic zeal for "the brotherhood
of man" works out in practice as
the bulwark of Prussian despotism
and Russia seems headed toward
that proletarian anarchy whoso
historic outcome is renewed
Czarism.
The kaiser's motive In startin;? i
the war now stands revealed be- j
fore the world.
Letters From the People
(Cotnraualcattona ent to The Journal for
publication In this department alionld be writ
ten oo only oDe aide of the paper, ahoald not
exceed 3n0 worda in length and moat be ac
companied by the name and addreas of the
aendpr. If the writer doea not dealre to hare
the same pnblUbed be abould ao atatc
"The Tourist Business."
Portland. May 16. To the Editor or j
The Journal In your editorial in Sat- j
urday s Journal, entitled The Tourist ,
Business." I think you touched the
right nail on the head when you said ,
there was a "good deal of mlsappre-
hension abroad as to what the -tourist
business" might mean to Oregon. The
man that said it would benefit no one
but the noteikeepers ana garages is.
evidently mistaken a little, for it Jie magnificent ability of that won-
would go to California yes. to San, derful m Theodore Roosevelt, in
b rancisco I believe he would find the . dicated notary genius, one could ap
number of men and women who re- , rrw,,ate tne amor that he lead an
ceive employment in one way and an-, against the kaiser. He Is un-
other through the tourist business in , doubtedi a man of WOnderful ver
its various ways would measure up Batim but ppcrtimny failed to dls-
ery tT, '
employed is the various Industries in ,
Portland.
Does he know that the tourists travel
of the world spends pretty close to ;
-v tnn nnn . . 1 1 .. AJ t ... , , 1
undertake to say that far more of this
amount goes 10 uuu emuyuit. i
people In the various walks of life j
than goes to
i.io ulv...voH - '
garages. Portland's and Oregon's great
need Is the establishment of hotels and
places of accommodation among Ore
gon's scenery,' where the tourist could
find entertainment and enjoyment, and
then we should see what the tourist
travel means.
I believe it would be a good Invest
ment for Portland to raise a fund to
send this man, and some others hold
ing like opinions, on a trip through
California or some other sections reap
ing a big harvest from the tourist
travel, and then let him see fVr himself.
CHARLES COOPEY.
Military Exemption.
Saginaw; Or., May 11. To the Edl-
ZT LVl Journal Please answer ;
through the columns of THe Journal
the following, as soon as known:
Are foreign-born males between the
ages prescrihed hy the compulsory
military law aliens. In other words
required to register for the mili
tary census, and can they be -drafted?
There are many foreign born men In
our state, who are not citizens, to
whom this Information will be of Im
portance. Are veterans of other wars exempt
ed As the Spanish-American war, f ot
Instance. A SUBSCRIBER.
Aliens born, who are not natural
ized, are not liable to military service
at any age. However, the law. In re
spect of registration, excepts no male
person between 21 and 30 Inclusive.
All such must register, and others
must do the exempting.; no one can do
that for himself.
No veteran ftf the Spanish-Ameri
can war, in the nature of things, is
likely to be as young as 30; all are
therefore exempt from the draft, if
that age is retained as the rnjaxlmum
limit.
The Food Gambler.
Cherry vale. Or., May 13. To the Ed
itor of Tie Journal The middleman.
who stands in high places, gamblinR
on the products of the earth, is a man
who menaces the life of the producer,
as well as the consumer. I have been
here cn earth for 76 years. I am a
producer, and am also an observer.
at least of some of the things that nr-
going on in this country; some of themj
are outrageous, to say the least of
them. One of them is gambling and
it should 'be stopped. Our representa
tives in congress should be requested
by their constituencies to formulate
a law prohibiting gambling on the pro
ducts of the farm, especially fqod pro
ducts, such as wheat, oats and corn
materials that sustain life of human
beiings.
What can we do more than to ap
peal to our servants in congress, to
pass a restrainine law against those
.vlls existing now In our country. It
is their duty to do so. Listen to the
outcry of the poor Women and chil
dren for bread, not alone in Europe,
but in our own country of liberty and
plenty for all. I will ask what is it
that causes such high prices off foods
if it is not gambling gain without
honor? o. F. B.
A Farm Laborer's Testimony.
Klgin, Or., May 13. To the Editor of
The Journal In The Journal a few
days ago I read a letter by W. Brown.
telling the reason of the present labor
shortago on the farms. He says the
farmers do not pay over 75 cents a day
for help, and the helper must furnish
his own bed. and that one has to han
dle a ton or so of manure, milk froi.i
two to twelve cows and'do other work
before breakfast.
Now I am asking anyone who may
have read his letter. Where did th.it
man work, and when? : Can he be an
efficient man of steady habits?
l
Any kind of man in this particular
1 locality can draw from fio to $53
month and . board and roorn, with as !
pood a bed aa he has at his own horn '
or had before he left home.
-Mr. Brown is to be Ditled. of course.
for- not getting' over six bits & day.
but some men are paid according to
their worth. I am jt farm helper, but
never did get Mr. Brown's alleged
wages, nor furnished my own bed, ex
cept in threshing time, which is cus
tomary. A FARM LABORER.
Mr. McCone Offers a Correction.
Portland. May 13. To the Editor of
The Journal In the dally papers pf
May 12 there appeared the text of a
message from certain American So
cialists to the German Socialists call
ing upon them to put an end to kal
serism as the only means ' "to bring
the war to an early end." With this
message all Socialists are in accord.
In substance it is an appeal to the
German Socialists to overthrow the
German autocratic and militaristic
ruling class, and establish a greater
degree of democracy. All Socialists,
regardless of their differences upon
other matters, are agreed that all over
the world the rulership of the few
must be ended, and the rule of the
people established.
It Is unfortunate, however, that in
this instance the message is not offi
cial, and will not be so treated by the
German Socialists, as it does not come
from the national executive commit
tee of the Socialist party of the Unit
ed States, whose members are as fol
lows: Victor L. Berger, Milwaukee;
Anna A. Maley, Minneapolis; John M.
Works. Chicago John Spargt). Old
Rennington, Vt., and Morris Hillquitt,
New York city.
"According to press reports, which
were unfortunately erroneous, it was
stated that the message to German
Socialists was signed by "the national
executive committee of Socialists of
America." Among those included as
members of this committee were the
following: Charles Edward Russell,
J. G. Phelps Stokes. Rose Pastor
Stokes. William English Walling, Win
field R. Gaylord and others. These
persons have no official standing in
the Socialist party of the United
States at the present time and were
not authorized by the regular Socialist
party organization to send the mcs-
sage to Germany, admirable as it is.
Another error is to the effect that
one of the signers, Henry "U. Slobodln,
Is a former "national secretary of the
i American Socialists' committee." Mr.
Slobodln never held this office,
i It ia, indeed, unfortunate that the
i newspapers have not been correctly
informed in this matter and that as a
result their numerous readers have
gained a false impression.
It has become the established policy
of the Socialist party of the United
States to refrain, from interfering in
the affairs of the sister Socialist par
ties of other countries, assuming that
0h s-..lit o,, i , r.enk-,
countHes u dolnB. the Dest lt trl
,he flght for vlctorv over the ruimg
clag8 VICTOR J. M'CONE,
gute secretary. Socialist party of
Oregon,
"
Opposes Roosevelt's Ambition.
Pendleton, Or., May 13. To the Edl-
, . . T,, t,j
clse the traits necessary to military
ieadersnp
T v . n. nMirl.
. . ... . . ctrilo.
V,. . vn. . . h. fn
-x. ' '
ident. as I did for Mr. McKinley.
Therefore, I feel that I speak from a
falrlv Imnartlal nolnt of x-lew. whl
when
T QuesUon tne wlsdom of placing hi
m
o V,o on American armv On
the battlefields of Europe. I do not
doubt his courage, nor do I believe
that, a more loyal man could be se-
lected feut ,f tnere lfJ any m,m ,n
West Point or Annapolis or value in
military experience, why experiment
when the cost of failure would be
paid in the life blood of the flower
of American manhood?
I heartily concur In the Idea that
our country can better spare men of
his age and mine, than our boys, but
If possible to add one iota to our
chances of victory I advocate the ap
pointment of an experienced soldier to
command our army In Europe.
If a hundredth rart of the tales told
by Henry K. Sienkiewlcz of blood-mad
Russla be true and anarchy shoud
sway is Russia, as the result of ill
advice to the masses of that woefully
ruled land, the fate of Armenia would
be. to what would transpire then, as
a dream of misfortune to heart-rending
reality. SILVER GRAY.
"Honor to Whom Honor."
Wauna, Or., May 15. To the Editor
of The Journal. I wish to say a few
words in regard to Red Cross societies
in the smaller towns. Every day we
hear about the Red Cross society in
the larger cities and towns. We hear
how much they are doing, how they are
advancing and the way they are work
ing to increase their membership and
their contributions; but we never hear
,from the small towns. I think they
are worthy of a iew words, ror, as lt
is, they may be out of existence as
far as the public knows.
Our little town. I think has done
wonderfully and I think lt .deserves a
great deal of credit. Notwithstanding
the fact that we have a population of
only 300, we can boast of nearly 200
members of the Red Cross, each one
contributing at least a dollar. This
was done In less thai a week and I
think that Is surely good work. Be
sides this, we have contributed seven
recruits to Uncle Sam. That is what
I consider a grand piece of work and
I feel that the people of Wauna are en
titled to a great deal of credit.
I am sure that there are thousands
of other towns that have done as well
as Wauna, bwt they are too small to
be noticed and the consequences are
that the cities get all the credit.
A. M. DICKENSON.
Question of Remarriage.
Vancouver, May 14. To the Editor
of The' Journal Kindly answer the
following question through your paper:
A man and wife separate. The man,
believing his wife divorced from him,
remarries. Later he learns no, divorce
was granted, and he is indicted for
bigamy. Can either of the last two
parties marry legally without an an
nulment of the second ceremony?
SUBSCRIBER.
In Oregon the woman in the second
marriage should institute suit to have
the marriage declared void, before re
marriage of either parly. In Washing
ton the law is the came.
On Identifying Patriot.
Portland, May 10. To the Editor
of The Journal In your issue of re
cent date I note there is a proposal
on foot to display a certain emblem
or flag at each home where one or
more persons have enlisted Jn the
service of their country. May I ask.
what will we do about the homes
where the patriot has offered bis serv
ices and been rejected? Js not he
entitled to some consideration? For
example, my boy, 18 years old, who
looks as fit as any boy in the city,
was rejected soon after war was de
clared (on account of heart flutter),
although he tried both the naval
militia and the navy, and who lost
r : 1 - : - ; J
PERTINENT COMMENT AND NEWS IN BRIEF
: : . : u
SMALL CHANGE
Wofs the Wotan line, anyhow? To
the Student Of nnrient nausea cif thlniro
ii or uermany i lines look a good deal
like the Woden line.
It is doubtless a -great comfort to
Mr. Kdison in these times to reflect
that while he could as easily as not
have invented the submarine, he didn't.
Joffre. waitlnrc hie turn in a Chi
cago barber shop, was not only demon
strating Kronen democracy but no
doubt mastered- the English language
while he waited.
In the fairy story Jack climbs the
beanstalk to 'set at the giant. The
American equivalent of Jack is going
to work the beanstalk for all it's
worth, at all events.
The first American flag to be taken
to the firing lift's by American troops
will be carried - by our railroad men.
Some flair, and in the hands of men
who are some -f laggers.
The shorter you aie the morn liable
vou are to bo rejected for military
service. But the shorter you are the
more valuable you are for ""dropping"
potatoes. And there you aTe.
That American who makes two hills
of spuds grow where a thousand blades
of grass, four thistles and about 40 or
B0 dandelions grew before is not only a
public benefactor but a patriot as well.
Nebraska, planting more than twice
as much corn as ever before, again
uives evidence of the fact that though
she announces her approach with con
siderably less hornhlowing than some
of her sisters, her name is always
on the list of arrivals Just the same.
ADVANCING DEMOCRACY H AMERICA
By Alfted D. Cridre.
Democracv is steadily gaining in the
affairs of the municipalities and the
commonwealths of the Tnited States,
and in a recent issue of Equity, a pub
lication Issued quarterly In Philadel
phia, the advancements are given at
.some length, compiled from official re
ports, election returns and correspond
ence with residents and active promot
ers of fundamental measures. There
call, for municipalities, is now recog
nized in 36 states. Ten states either
have decided to have constitutional
conventions or the question is before
the people to call them.. Such conven
tions In the present age draw up some
progressive and democratic provisions
or their work is defeated at the polls.
These states are Massachusetts, Ten
nessee, Arkansas, Indiana, Texan.. New
Hampshire, North Dakota, Illinois,
Washington and North Carolina.
?
It Is In Indiana, heretofore the most
backward state in the advancing tide
of popular government, that the great
est advance is likely. The convention
is called for January, 1918, and the
election foj- delegates Is to be held on
September 18, 1917. Not only do
women vote for these delegates, but
they will vote on the constitution to
be drawn up and upon any separate
propositions submitted. The election
of delegates will be entirely non-partisan,
and no party designation or em
blem can be used on the ballot. The
most striking recognition of the right
of minorities to be heard is provided
for by the clause giving any 45 of the
115 delegates power to submit any
question to the voters separately from
the constitution, drawn up by the ma
jority. Many meetings are being held
throughout the state with a view of
discussing fundamental matters, and
the constitution of Indiana is likely to
be all the more advanced because for
nearly three-quarters of a century no
amendment of any Importance could be
passed owing to the absurd require
ment that an amendment must be sub
mitted to and passed by two success! v
legislatures and then obtain a major
ity of the vote cast at the election in
stead of a majority of the vote cast on
the measure. It was the copying
of the Indiana constitution in so large
HOW TO
ILLS OF THE INDOOR WORKER
(No. 1). Preventable disease alone
costs the nation's workingmen mo.e
than $360,000,000 yearly, causing as lt
does an average loss of nine full work
ing days! Because such sickness
wastes the efficiency expected by the
modern employer, as well as the con
tents of the employe's pay envelop,
the prevention of disease has become
a recognized industrial problem .and
the health of the worker a paramount
issue.
To best maintain health the indoor
worker must pay careful attention to
fresh air, correct posttlon, proper and
sufficient lighting, rest and recreatlo-i
and, finally, to food and drink. . IJgnt
must be sufficiently and properly
placed. Unfortunately. In many old
offices and shops It is impossible to
obtain adequate lighting without arti
ficial light, which frequently brings
the additional problem of excessive
heat.
Chief among the several serious dis
turbances of health cansed by Insuffi
cient light are eye strain and bodily
a good position besides, la. In my
estimation, entitled to something In
the way of identification card or but
ton to show "he is not a slacker."
Is not "our home" also entitled to
the "flag of -identification" to mingl
with the Stars and Stripes?
MAN WITH THE HOE.
A Comparatively Small Bill.
Portland, May 14. To the Editor o
The Journal Oregon's share of th.
$7,000,000,000 federal loan is $56,000,
000. In comparison, the proposed $6,
000.000 road bond issue is small and
is to be used for the highest .of pur
poses. Let us have good roads.
V M. L. MM INN.
The "Word "Halt."
FYom the Deaeret Xwa.
For the average American to be told,
as all recently were told on high gov
ernmental authority, "to keep your
mouth shut." Is to impose about as
unpalatable an order, and one prob
ably quite as difficult to observe, as
could be safely promulgated except
under the most stressful circum
stances. Almost equally difficult is lt
for the ordinary native to submit to
such restraint of his freedom of move
ment as comes with the sharp com
mand "Halt!" from a sentry or guard
at a bridge, reservoir, factory, ware
house, or other point or place under
armed watch care. Yet the prudent
citizen will not omit to heed both
warnings. If his Indiscretion leads
him into any intemperance violation of
the first one, the long arm of the se
cret service, or the short arm of an
outraged hearer is more than likely to
reach him and bring him to sudden
rrief. If he fails to heed the other
command, he is taking large chances
of being shot. All of us must remem
ber and realize that we are at war. and
that wkr methods are summary and
severe. The tongue is proverbially an
unruly member, and the American arti
cle 19 peculiarly liable to wag unwisely
and too much this by reason of the
extreme liberality of law, custom end
public opinion. But the good gift may
not safely be overworked; there vre
limits), and just now these have been
greatly narrowed and restricted. :
O REG obi SIDELIGHTS
With its unbroken record of never
having had a crop failure, the mus
poro inaepenaeni avers
Washington
county can be counted upon to do its
share or relieving tne rooa mortage.
"A few tourist- cars have passed
through the city within the past few
days." says the Klamath Kails Herald
of May 14, "thi first signs of ap
proaching summer and the annual in
flux." "There's no use trying to get around
the fact that old Jupiter Pluvius ii
trying to make a mid-winter show out
of our strawberry .carnival." says the
Roseburg Review. "There doesn't seem
to be any desire on his part that sum
mer should get a look In."
Advising the tanners of Umatilla
county. Colonel Clark Wood sagacious
ly observes In the Weston Leader: "The
suggestion of Jim Sturgis that country
roads be cut down to a width of 30
feet and the remainder cultivated, is
good so far as it goes, but what Uma
tilla county needs is some crop plan
the farmers are willing to adopt for
utilizing its thousands of acres of sum
mer fallow."
As a result of a visit to the Wash
ington game farm at the Walla Walla
penitentiary. Deputy Game Warden
Tonkin of Umatilla county is advocat
ing the establishment of a game farm
near Pendleton, the East Oregonian
says. The Walla Walla farm covers
40 acres. The state started It off with
i40,000. It will be stocked with 12
varieties of pheasants, wild turkeys
and wild ducks. A total of 8000 pheas
ant eggs have been set this year, ilsh
lakes will be added.
part by the makers of the Oregon con
stitution that kept Oregon tied up for
over half a century, before a political
revolution of ten-elevenths of the peo
ple carried the Initiative and referen
dum. It Is the existence of this rul of Ma
majority at the election" in Minnesota
that has prevented the adoption of the
initiative and referendum, although
voted for by over 136,000 majority,
every voter not taking lnterest enough
to vote at all being counted as voting
"no," so far as the result and errect or
such negative action was concerned.
In Arkansas the new constitution
authorized is quite likely to contain
the most effective form Qf the initia
tive and referendum. Equal suffrage
prevails there in primary elections
now, and Is more than likely to be In
corporated fully In the new funda
mental law.
. Arizona has enacted a law to pre
vent the anonymous circulating of ar
guments on Initiative and referendum
measures. The recent legislature en
acted but few measures and adjourned
on March 18.
St. Augustine. Fla., Is one of the
many cities recently adopting the com-,
mission form of government, and pro
viding for tho Initiative and referen
dum. The supreme court of Mississippi
has directly and positively set aside
all attempts to do away with the Init
iative and referendum adopted In 1914.
The farmers of North Dakota have
started out to secure by Initiative a
new constitution considered to be the
most advanced In the way of economic
provisions and public utility authoriza
tion of anything so far proposed.
After 17 years of sleeping sickness
the initiative and referendum provi
sions of the constitution of Utah have
been given some life by the legisla
ture, but it is considered that the ap
plication of these -principles will be
almost if riot entirely 'prohibited by
the absurd provisions that signatures
to petitions can only be signed In the
presence of an officer competent to
administer oaths, and in his office.
This, with other restrictions, makes it
hard to operate. Neither principle can
be applied to the constitution.
BE HEALTHY
Copyright. 1917,
by J. Hector.
deformities. Eye strain may indicate
itself in headache, twitching of the
eyelids or pain in the back. Faulty
position frequently results in a con
tracted chest, this In turn Interfering
with proper expansion of the lungs.
Combine these things with long' hours
of work in ill ventilated quarters, and
tuberculosis Is likely to develop.
To prevent eye strain see that the
desk or work table la placed so a to
receive the greatest amount of light
with the least amount of glare. Bo
sure te shield the eyes from direct
rays of light. The worker himself
must see that his body does not be
come deformed. There are of course
some occupations which cannot well
be carried on without having the work
er assume an unhealthy position. This
is the case, for example, with garment
workers, shoemakers doing handwork,
and draftsmen.
By studying your work, however,
you can find a way to solve thl prob
lem. Tomorrow "Ills of the Indoor "Work
er No. X)."
PERSONAL MENTION
Swedish Banker Visits.
Mr. and Mrs. Alex Palmgren, tour
ists of Stockholm. Sweden, are reg
istered at the Carlton. Mr. Palmgren
is a prominent Swedish banker and
has been touring the United States
for some time.
Overland From Salt Lake.
Carl M. Lipman and his brother
Daniel of Salt Lake city, are regis
tered at the Imperial hotel, having
made the trip to Portland in an au
tomobile. The motorist encountered
five feet of snow in the Blue moun
tains but met with no other mishaps,
spending five days on the way.
H. G. Rice of McMlnnvllle Is at the
Perkins.
George L. Symons of Butte Is at the
Portland.
EL c. B!akmen of Riverside, Wash.,
is at the Multnomah.
William II. Mueller of Baker is reg
istered at the Oregon.
C. W. Grant of Toppenrsh. Wash., Is
at the Imperial.
Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Haines of Spo
kane are at the Cornelius.
R. C. HHlmar. of Culver la at the
Perkins.
E. B. Nettleton. from Wheeler, Or.,
Is at the Portland.
B. Thompson of South Bend, Wash.,
is at the Multnomah.
. Charles Boon Jr., five. years secre
tary of the Spokane Greeters, has
Joined the office staff of the Mult
nomah. Ben and M. Wise of Iltraco, Wash.,
are at the Oregon.
..Robert Service of Baker Is at the
Imperial.
W. O. Carroll of Brighton. Or., Is
registered at the Cornelius.
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Fulton of The
Dalles are at the Portland.
EL L. Murphy of Pendleton la at the
Perkins.
U. F. ETfcnberger of Nehalem Is
registered at the Oregon.
1L H. Tucker -of Globe, Art., la at
the Washington. ,
A. A. Boring of Seattle Is registered
at the Carlton.
Rag Tag and Bobtail
Stones From Everywhere
. J ? I1'" eolun,B rcaeera ot Tl Journal
art lorlted to contribute orlclnal matter la
0l.,! ,u ptHollal ob.rrr.tloo
or atrtklDg quotatluna. Iruoi any aourc. Coo
trtbntluna of exceptional tuerit 1U L nalil oo
at Utc aultur'a aitpralaaL
Blessed Are the Merciful.
IT WAS Just a little, half-grown
pigeon, only one of the hundreds
that flock about the federal building,
but one man risked his life today to
rescue it from starvation, says th
Chicago Post. occupants of offices
In tne Marquette building first saw
the pigeon fluttering wildly an-1
struggling to free Itself from
niche In the cornice on the northeast
corner of the postofflce building,
above the ninth floor windows of th
United States marshal's office. lt
was entangled In a string, and every
effort to free itself whs in vain until
the bird, exnausted. dropped from the
ledge and hung by the string.
B.- T. Rood hau s, a lawyer with of
fices at 1013 Marquette building, hur
ried over to the federal building and
told the Janitor of the bird s plight.
The Junltor gave up the task of
rescue as hopeless.
Every window 'In the Marquette
building, as well as In other building
was crowded with office employ d
and business men. Members of the
marshal's office force looked at the
pigeon, then at the ledge, and shoot
their heads, until Deputy Marshal
William Henry Streeter came In.
Streeter walked to the window,
looked at the pigeon, then at ,th
ledge, took off his coat and stepped
out of the awlndow. A crowd quickly
gathered, in the street below. Traffic
was Jammed while Streeter edged his
way along the narrow ledge, theft
climbed up the corner of the building,
reached over the ledge and broke, the
string.
The crowd cheered The pigeon dived
halfway to the street, then straight-,
ened its wings and flew away.
Streeter crept back to the window,
crawled in and put on his coat.
The Old Flag.
The old flag futters for the free;
and spotless shall its splendor be, as
through the smoke and fire of ware
lt bears Its dancing, gleaming stars
of hope and liberty until the cannon's
lips grow cold and still and plaintive
bugles sound surcease from strife for
everlasting peace.
The old flag flutters for the free
by God's benevorent decree; and fa
vored are the realms that lie be
neath the starlight of its sky. There,
every governmental phin attests tbw
brotherhood of man, and aristocracy
goes down before the commoners who
place tho welfare of the human race
above the glitter of a crown.
No power can shake the principle
that makes our flag invincible nor
dim Its brilliant luster shed along tha
lines our sentries treHd. For with 'its
streaming light Is blent the glory of
self-government and equal rights for
all who see and Bcrve the cause thHt
makes men free the cause that
warms the patriot' blood and leads
his march through, fire and flood and
saves his treasured sv.ord from rust
as thrones and scepters fall to dust.
There's crime in every step and
stroke and every sUiin and scath and
scar and flash of fire und swirl or
smoke and every t renc.i-marred field
and fen tht marks the progress of
a war against the cherished rights ot
men. But never Imve our legions
marched nor stainless banner been
unfurled except where Liberty with
torch has also moved to light the
world.
The God of nations reigns for all.
and here beneath his smile and sway
republics rise as empires fall and
despotism dies away. And where
our rippling coljrs wave their wel
come to the morning lights the erst
while potentate and slnve meet on
free soil with equal rights', and with
the old guard of the land the exil3
and the refugee salute, defend and
understand the flag that flutters for
the free.
g Jack Smith. Astoria, Or.
Mnemonics.
"The Alexander department store
last week purchased a Ford roadster
for the use of Smoky Nolf of the.
grocery side, says the Pendleton East
Oregonian's Weakly Bulldogger.
Smoky has poor eyes and had trouole
distinguishing the three pedals on
the car until Carl Cooley thoughtful
ly selected three aces from a deck ot
cards and affixed one to each pedai.
He knew that Smoky had never had
trouble seeing three aces In all hij
career.
No Argument.
"Wbere'd you gt-t the black eye?"
asked Jones.. "What was the argu
ment about?" .
"There was no argument," replied
Smith. "Brown walked up to me and
told ma he would punch me in the eye.
And he did."
How It Started.
Said a tiny drop of dew
To a raindrop (tiny, too).
"There la much we should be doing
for our country, now at war;
But we are so very tiny.
Not like oceans, big and briny.
That can cradle mighty battleships
that voyage near and far.
Said the little drop of rain
To the drop of dew, "A pain
You are giving me. Don't dars Is
say such woeful things again.
Though I'm but a drop of warter,
I, myself, can be a starter
Of a movement nationwide to grow
big bumper crops of grain.
"Now, my brother, you Just hope
Uncle Sam has got tne elope on
Everything that's up to date to meet
' the German submarine.
But to meet and fight a sub.
Soldier boys must have the grub:
So. we'll start the rain to make ths
grain, the finest ever seen."
That's how all this agitation
Came to stir this whole great nation.
Till the highest and the lowest vow
to-raise foodstuffs galore.
Just a drop of rain began lt
High in air, above this planet.
And It sent the word by wireless to
-- ten billion billions more.
And it's up to me and you
And the raindrops all to do
Our patriotic best to save each dear
old Stripe and Star.
And our boys, once they're in motion.
Can whip all the subs in ocean.
If there's food enough to feed them,
who mo bravely go to war.
So, now, let us sni get busy
Plow and sow until we're dizzy.
What we plant raindrops will water
till it grows up high and strong;
And we'll feed the soldier boys.
Fighting 'mid the battle's noise.
And Democracy will conquer, and It
won't be very long.
Nellie Beckley. Klamath Falls. Or.
"Uncle Jeff Snow Says: '
Frank Coulter, who Is a reformed
preacher, has 'quit fishin' altogether
'cause he was tellln' lt take a special
course In law. a license and tba.i
mighty good wind to ' git away from
the fish and game wardens Infest in'
the streams and meanderin' lines ot
the rivers and harbors j of the stats
of Oregon. He ketches his fish most
ly .outer a can, and eats blled wbeac
as a matter of religious duty sad '
patriotic delight. - . ' - ! ;
if
i V- i
' ut - t ' ft