C A. Speacui
Earl C Brownleb
Sheldon F. Sackett
Publishers
1 Editorial . QlITMmm ' F
'esiftiuiires
Salem. Oregon
Sunday
H
? Afrit T, 1W9 N
Lincoln and His Letters
F comes as a welcome relief to read that scholars have
rejected a3 fictitious the Minor collection of Lincolnalia
which the Atlantic Monthly
ish a few months ago. The Atlantic, after battling hard in
suDDort of the authenticity of the collection, has opened its
pages to Paul M. Angle, secretary of the Lincoln Centennial
association cf Springfield, 111., who has written a criticism oi
the material which was offered in the Minor collection.
We pretend to no skill in criticising manuscripts but the
documents as they were published sounded "fishy." We
should hate to think that Lincoln wrote quite such drivel as
was given forth as his love letters to Ann Rutledge, though
you never can tell what a man will write in a love letter to a
girl. Worse still was the group of letters to or about Lin
coln, written by Ann, by the unknown "Matilda Cameron"
or "Sally Calhoun". The spelling was fierce and the gram
mar terrible. Such ignorance seems artificial ; as though the
author was trying to write down to a low scale of intelligence.
He did so complete a job that it confounds hi3 whole work.
We can't believe that Ann Rutledge was quite so ignorant
as these letters would reveal her to be.
It is very interesting how Mr. Angle analyzes the docu
ments and finds internal evidence of fraud. Here is one : In
a purported letter to Jphn Calhoun, Lincoln is made to write :
There seems some controversy between him and Green con
cerning that North East quarter of Section 40 you remem
ber?" Calhoun couldn't remember nor could any one else.
Since" 1785 townships had been surveyed in 36 sections, nev
er more.
Another from the same letter: "The Bixbys are leav-
ing this week for some place in Kansas. The letter is dated
May 9, 1834; but Kansas was not open for settlement till
twenty years after that date. The maps referred to, the
country as "Missouri Territory" or "Indian Territory". An
gle reports that it is doubtful if "'Kansas" was in common
use at all at that time; at any rate only traders and trap
pers were journeying there.
Then in the collection was Newman's Practical System
of Rhetoric, said to have been Lincoln's. On the flyleaf ap
pears: "Miss Susan Y. Baker, March 15 Eastport Academy."
On the title page is the signature A. -Lincoln, Gentryville,
with a few lines thanking Miss Baker for the gift. But the
book was published in 1829, so the March 15 of the original
owner could not be earlier than 1830. But Lincoln had left
Indiana for Illinois two weeks before that date.
Ann is made to write Lincoln: "I am greatfull for the
Spencer's copybook. I copy frum that every time I can
spair." Ann died August 25, 1835, while the first Spencer
publication on penmanship did not appear until 1848. So
it goes; so it goes. Matilda Cameron and Sally Calhoun
whose existence is not known of; or rather quite completely
disproved according to documentary testimony and family
tradition. Yet they were the original collectors of the Lin-
i i
coinaiia now very mucn in iiucsuuu.
It is hard to put things over on scholars nowadays. It
was easy enough in the middle ages and later on. The Sybil
line books, the False Decretals are classic examples of for
geries perpetrated with a purpose. There are false manu
scripts just as there are false paintings and false antiques.
This Minor collection seems to have been contrived by un
known persons principally just to perpetrate a hoax. But
the fraud was quickly exposed by numerous able scholars;
so the authentic "Lincoln of Herndon and Barton and Bev
eridge remains with his lineaments unaltered.
Larger School Units
THE last legislature passed a law which passed on to non
high school districts the cost of transporting children
to high schools located in other districts. It came about be
cause high schools in their eagerness for students were ex
tending bus lines into non-high school territory and hauling
.t " 1 i'l A.
mem in. rormeriy ine iranspurutuuu wot Bimyij in
cluded in the grand total used to determine the per capita
rate to charge as non-high school-district tuition. Now the
entire ter capita cost of transportation of the outside pupils
is added to the regular per capita, which of course will in-
crease uie ioaa against me ouisiae districts, mai uui, bu
bad because until recent years the country districts didn't
bear their fair share of the cost of maintaining high schools
which were as much for their benefit as they could be.
The new legislation will not solve the problem of our
schools. It is just piece-meal legislation. We have fiddled
along and fiddled along. Oregon schools rate distinctlyjow
er than others on the Pacific littoral. There is no construc
tive leadership. Offices are just johs to hang onto. If a
school executive prepared as comprehensive and progressive
- a measure as Dr. Showalter submitted to the Washington
legislature there would be an epidemic of apoplexy in this
state.
One of the first things that ought to be encouraged in
this Willamette valley is school consolidation. Our schools
are still in the "on foot" stage. But our roads and other
dsvelopment are in the automobile age. The one room rural
school in a country like this, with good roads everywhere,
with towns and cities conveniently placed to serve as cen
ters, is an anachronism. School efficiency and ultimately
economy demand larger areas for school districts, each with
its high school center, and with as many junior high schools
and grade schools as the needs of the district require. Trans
portation then can be provided at a minimum expense.
The legislature did enact some laws which will be help
ful to the consolidation program A number of communi
ties are undertake to create enlarged school districts. This
is far better than setting up a new union high school dis
' trict with its separate organization, additional basis of tax
ation, and its sharp break in scltool hdrninistration at the
eighth grade. This is better than the county unit system
which' has been tried in some counties.
We need to think in terms of modern business in the
field of education. The automobile and good roads are the
factors to determine district boundaries; not the walking
distance of pioneer days. The Statesman is strongly com
mitted to educational development. We shall not hesitate
to scrap old sentiment and moss-back ideas about one-room
schools. The Willamette valley ought to become prominent
as a region of fine community school systems. Now its sole
distinction on the educational map is that of a low salary
depression. - m
. , . ,
Not a New Problem
"nriHERE is even now something of an ill-omen amongst us.
JL I mean the increasing disregard for law which pervades
the country. Although bad laws if they exist, should be re
pealed as soon as possible, still, while they continue in force,
for the &ake of example, they should be religiously observed."
This is not an abstract from Mr. Hoover's last address.
Nor did William Borah tell it to the senate. Rather it is an
excerpt from a Lincoln lecture delivered before an Illinois
lyceum in the late 30's. The plea has a familiar ring and is
heartening for it forcefully emphasizes the point that rum
running and hi-jacking were not the instigators of law's dis
regard. The problem is age old and always will continue; its
modern manifestations are only more sensational.
A recent world summary shows an exceptional total of
damage by wind storms in 1928. Bring that to the attention
of Senator Brookhart and he will introduce a bill in congress
providing for slower tornadoes. La Grande Observer.
Editor Appleby-who comes from Brookhart's o. h.
Washington; Iowa, should know his Brookhart better than
that. : Smith is the middle west's continuous tornado. His
rtfll wniilri nmvtrl vnr tnnrp and hf fltrer .windstorms.
Inee.
printed with considerable flour
L i. I L ... A !mt1r !m
oo - .
Old Oregon's
Yesterdays
Town TaJke from The Bteeee.
nan Onr Fathers Read
April 7, 1904
New officers for the Liberty
Good Roads League include: H. B.
(Seveland, president; T. C. David
son, secretary; Bruce Cunningham
treasurer.
H. S. Glle. secretary of the Wil
lamette Valley Prune association,
is having good success soliciting
orders among eastern and Canadi
an dealers.
Louis Lachmund has left for an
extended business trip to New
York.
The waiting room at the termi
nus ot the Citizens' Light and
Traction company in South Salem,
near the I. O. O. F. cemetery, has
just been finished
Conrad Krebs returned last eve
ning from his ranch near Buena
Vista, where Krebs Brothers are
setting out a large hop yard.
Editors Say:
THE HANDSHAKERS
If he did not realise before It
is certain that President Hoover
now knows the dangers that lurk
in the grip of the White House
visitor. One thousand seven hun
dred and fifty of them grasped
the presidential hand yesterday.
Some ot them may have used the
"dead fish" clutch, but most of
them must have used the firm,
decisive .compressive clasp of the
kind insisted upon by correspond
ence schools as a sure way . tb
success.
For they were successful In
laming the presidential right to
such an extent that it is down to
5 per cent efficiency today. They
wrung that right, they pumped it,
they clung to it tenaciously, they
swung it back and forth, they
clamped down on it fervently.
It wlU doubtless be a precious
memory to these visitors. If so,
that will be the only good that
may come of it. The nation has
lost the time that its chief execu
tive dedicated to a mauling at the
hands ot one thousand seven hun
dred and fifty shakers and in
addition the time which will be
necessary tor his recovery.
Perhaps this practice of whole
sale handshaking would be diffi
cult to do away with entirely, but
the. advisability of reducing, the
number' of shakers to a minimum
may be readily seen. The Society
for Prevention of Cruelty to Presi
dents can do no finer work than
to create public sentiment la favor
ot such a change.
ivArrrrjo pictures
- RENO. Ner., April 6 (AP)-
Newspaper photographers ran in.
to a concert of objections ihls af
ternoon when they attempted to
take pictures of the principals in
the Inman divorce trial here, rap
idly n earing its close after three
weeks ot sensational testimony.
Counsel for Mrs.' Helen Garnet.
Pat ton Clarke Inman and Walker
P. Inman, heir to he Duke tobac
co -millions, strenously objected
to the camera men's presence and
thelr objectlons were sustained by
Judge George A. Bartlett. At re
cess, however, the photographers
were successful in getting several
negatives.
Following the close of Mrs. In
man's testimony, during which ths
attractive young woman collapsed
DIVORCE
Hands Across the Sea!
n i
Bits for Breakfast
By R. J.
Working under difficulties
Is 1
The farmers of this district, la
boring between sunshine and
showers to get in their late
crops
But they have been doing well
Three fourths of the flax seed for
the 4500 acres contracted to be
grown for the state flax industry
has been taken out, and almost all
of it is in the ground. This is en
couraging. But all ot it should be
planted at the earliest possible
date. Growers of flax put in much
later than the first ot April will
be fust "out ot luck," In case we
do not get the "usual June rains,"
which we usually do, but occasion
ally do not for flax Is a 60 to
90 day crop after seeding, and It
needs all the moisture it is likely
to get after the first of April, not
withstanding the idea that ours is
the webfoot state.
The Portland Telegram is mak
ing or allowing a series of attacks
on the Oregon penitentiary man
agement directed largely at dis
ciplinary methods. But there is
nothing to worry about in this.
Compared with former days in the
Oregon prison, or any prison in
the United States, the present
methods make the institution here
a Sunday school.
And compared with the best of
them, at the present time, the Ore
gon prison will, upon proper in
vestigation, make a good showing.
And growing better all the time,
under the operations of the re
volving fund law making it an in
dustrial concern, and under its
present very competent manage
ment, too. The man, newspaper
manager or other, who thinks dif
ferently, is just badly Informed, or
Is playing to the galleries.
-W
Salem T free employment of
fice had last week 33 women and
13 men applying for work, and
secured jobs for 81 of the men and
six ot the women. Not good, but
growing better.
on several occasions while relat
ing marital difficulties, Inman
was called to the stand and ad
mitted that'theTeason for many
conflicting statements in his testi
mony was because he had a "very
poor memory.
The much altered deposition
Inman is alleged to have made
at the beginning ot the divorce
proceeding was subject to fire by
George B. Thatcher, Mrs. Inman's
chief counsel. . .
Mrs. Inman wle called to the
stand again at the close of In
man's testimony- and she told of
the discovery of a dictograph la
the Inman apartment. She 'said
that when she called her hus
band's attention to it. he admitted
having It placed and said that he
was "thoroughly ashamed of what
he had done,."
Mrs. Inman said that Inman
had paid 147,000 In federal In
come tax returns but that he, his
mother and his sister had filed
theirr eturns collectively but that
he paid his pro rata of the tax.
FJiitcal Saymgs and 1 Association
, A Salem Institution Organized in 1910
Place your savings with us
Let us finance your home on weekly
or monthly payments
142 South Liberty Street
HENDRICKS
In its leading editorial of yes
terday, the Oregonian spoke, in
commenting on the social war in
Washington over the question of
where the vice president s daugh
ter Is to sit at the table, as one in
which there is a "great deal of
cry over very little wool to bor
row the metaphor of a preceding
generation.
How many people now living re
member the application of that
metaphor to Incidents that were
happening in this state in eon
nection with the Indian wars of
southern Oregon in which many
lives were lost? These wars broke
out -in 1855 and lasted through
'58 and '57 and longer, and they
were the cause of great disturb
ances and much bloodshe d
hundreds or white men, women
and children being killed in skir
mishes or massacred at or near
their homes; and hundreds ot In
dians losing their lives at the
hands of regulars or state volun
teers or through the wreaking of
vengeance by outraged settlers.
General Wool was in supreme
command ot the federal troops, tor
Oregon was then a territory soon
after to become a state. There
were clashes between the territor
ial and federal forces. There was
general indignation on the part of
the people towards General Wool
and they were not slow in apply
ing the metaphor, "much cry end
little Wool."
When It was proposed to move
part of the southern Oregon In
dians to the Grand Ronde Indian
reservation in Polk county, beyond
Sheridan, the Willamette valley
settlers were ready for a riot. Fred
Way mire of Polk county, in the
territorial legislature, made a
blazing hot speech ot protest,
against the Idea of bringing "4,
090 aavages, red from the war
and planting them In one ot the
counties ot this valley, with a savage-
and barbarous foe already up
on its borders." It looked like
there would be armed resistance
on the part of the enraged set
tlers. V
But better counsel prevailed
and the Indians were brought and
settled on the St) 00 Mres tf the
Grand Ronde reservaMn that had
been purchased for $35,000. This
was In April. 1850. Phil Sheridan,
as a young lieutenant in the reg
ular army, had charge of the Unit
ed States force there soon after,
to keep the Indians within bounds.
The United States government
finally paid the costs of the south
ern Oregon Indian wars, amount
ing to about half a million dollars.
The provisional government for
ces who went to avenge the Whit
man massacres about ten years
before did not fare as well. Many
of their claims were never paid.
$050 Packard Piano, S250
This in a fine instrument. Like
stew condition. $10 monthly
GEO. C. WILL, 4S2 State. Sc.
Opinions of
Marion County
Editors
MORE SETTLERS NEEDED
We of Oregon are selling much
scenerly and little land. That Is be
cause the state legislature hai con
tributed many thousands of dol
lars which, added to the dona
tions, enable us to send represen
tatives who fire the tourists' blood
and the tourists come, admire the
attractiveness of our mountains,
seashore streams, caves and lakes,
then return home.
Since before the war we have
not had a great land boom not
withstanding our exceptional cli
mate, rich sous, fine crops, no
total crop failure in history, no
destructive elements, and in win
ter time little if any cold weather
cr snow. It is a state in which
life is worth living.
The sale of scenerly leaves
thousands in the state, but those
who come and locate spend more
In the long run. Some day there
will be another boom, but there
must be more agitation to speed
It. The people further east seem
to prefer cyclones, tornadoes, bliz
zards and the usual floods, and
desire to- remain where they are.
We are not looking upon this
scenery-selling with contempt, for
Oregon, like California, gains by
baring' tourists; but we are yearn
ing for the old days when so many
thousands came here to perman
ently locate. It was in the early
part of the century that the rush
was on, and then came an auto
mobile era and an airplane age is
in plain view.
This is a great state, making
advancement, but it should have
more. than a million inhabitants.
With twice that number ot peo
ple, Oregon would prosper more
than ever, taxes, including those
of railroads herein, could be low
er, and all would be well with the
old and new settlers. Wood burn
Independent.
THS JONES ACT
One of the real tests ot ths pro
hibition law has come in the form
ot the Jones Act, a federal statute
increasing the penalties of the Vol
stead law to a higher degree of fel
ony, or with a maximum punish
meat of -$ 10,000 fine or five years'
imprisonment, or both. It will be a
real test because the final test of
any is Its enforcement. If the cit
izens of the United States, thru
their federal trial juries, want to
put a stop to the Illicit liquor. bus
iness they can ceme nearer doing
it with the Jones Act than with
any other enforcement measure
since the advent of Prohibition as
a national regulation. If they do
not desire prohibition as it relates
to intoxicants as beverages the se
verity ot the Jones penal clauses
will be their t&cit excuse for whole
sale acquittals. Mt. Angel News.
PAYING BRIDGE DEBT
Linn county's bridge bond debt
will be liquidated in full on
April 1.
Lenore Powell, county treasurer
has called for payment on that
date the 839,300 balance of the
$280,000 issue that was floated in
1924 to pay the cost of construct
ing the Albany and Harrisburg
bridge over the Willamette river.
This balance comprises bonds
numbered 153 to 208, inclusive,
issued for the purpose of build
ing the Albany bridge
Funds for the bond retirement
come from accumulated balance of
Oregon and California refund re
ceipts from the federal govern
ment, x
The original $180,000 bend is
sue consisted ot $122,500 for the
Albany and $67,500 for the Har
risburg bridge.
On October 1, 1929, Linn county
will pay the Installment of its
county road bond issue, floated in
1919, and then will be entirely out
of debt. The issue was for. $600,
000 . Sclo-Tribone,
The Oregon Voter and several
up-state newspapers have the
spring gubernatorial fever in form
of naming several possible candi
dates for the position now held
by Mr. Patterson. We don't think
the people of Oregon take these
sallies seriously. Aa a whole they
are pretty level headed and they
know a good governor when they
have get one. Hubbard Enter
prise.
PIONEER DIES
William Henry Hurley, a pio
neer of Southern Oregon and one
ot the first to realize the fruit
growing possibilities of the Rogue
River valley, is deed at the age ot
79 years. -
Clouqh-Huflffon Cb&
History o Salem atuUfje
State o Oregon
B RESPITE the alarming ru
' mors we have recorded,
the matter of the boundary was
settled without the bloodshed
that was feared.
The resolution, amended in
w a
the Senate and given a more
concilatory tone, was passed by
Congress on April 23d, 1846,
and the United States at once
entered into intimate diplomatic
relations with England in an ef
fort to straighen out the vexing
matter.
Lay Sermons
"For before these days rose up
Theudas, giving himself out to be
somebody." Acts 5:36.
Theudaa admitted he was
"somebody." We wonder if when
he reached Jerusalem he didn't
hurry up to interview the editor
of the Jerusalem Gazette to let
him know he had come to town.
Undoubtedly he joined the Masons
and dangled for an inviation to
the Jerusalem Kiwanians. Maybe
be even went to the synagogue
that he mieht there give 'him
self out to be somebody."
Perhaps he was somebody af
ter all, and Jerusalem was Just in
different to him. Town3 are like
that, especially towns with holy
names like Jerusalem and Salem
and Bethlehem. Thsy have tra
ditions to preserve; and pretend
ing somebodies are not wanted.
But Theudas did have good
temporary success for a town like
Jerusalem. He got four hundred
people to sign his petition or join
his church or vote his ticket. By
that time the powers that were
must have interfered for Theudas
was slain; his lodge or society
was dispersed and "came to
nought."
So Gamaliel advises the Jews
to apply the acid test of time to
the new cult headed by Peter. "If
this counsel be of men, it will be
overthrown": and if of God it
could not be overthrown. But
is the test of time a real test af-
Who's Who & Timely Views
Sustained Prosperity Forecast
By OEW. W. W. ATTSSBiraT
BrMldaat, PcnaaylTanl Ballrwd
(William Wallace Atterbury wa bora
at New Albany, lad-, Ja. SI. 1888. Ha
a graduat f Yale aniTtxatt-, an
holda three honorary decree. He bef a
hia career aa am apprentice !a the AI
tooaa thopt et the Penniylrania rail
road ia 1838, aod gradually climbed t
the effice of president, te which he wa
elected ia 1925. Ia 1917 he vu ia
charge of the ereetiom ef the United
States military railroade ia Trance, dar
ing the World war, and waa commia
aioned brigadier general. He has re
ceired lereral decoration! from foreign
eountriee and ha a bees awarded the Die-
tinganhed Service Medal.)
THE business and Industrial
situation throughout the
United States is satisfactory
and indications are that it will
be sustained.
I do not hesitate to say that I
have never seen the country In as
uniformly good condition as it is
today. Now we cross the country
east of the Mississippi and north
of the Potomac and almost with,
out exception our industries
throughout that entire section are
working 90 to 95 per cent. This
is true not only of the large steel
companies,; but of the independ
ents. Cement, for Instance, Is really
a function of the general business
of the country. I mean, if busi
ness keeps good, cement is good.
The cement Industry as a whole
has plenty to do.
The question of prices Is a dif
ferent thing. The price of cement
Is entirely controlled by the price
of the Imports. Cement, in any
ease, is a by-product; so with the
steel industry.
I should think cement and the
textile Industries require a high
tariff. But this wiU have to be
left to the committees of congress.
Textiles are picking up. In New
England they are getting back on
the map.
I think Mr. Hoover's policies
have made a profound impression
on industry end the business of
the country. -
For the purpose of Increasing
the bird ponulation In the Doa-
chutes country, the Klwanls.
Lions and Elks clubs of Bend will
now a bird house contest in
which school children may enter.
Prizes to the amount of lis win
be awarded.
ITCHING ECZEMA
HEALED
.We honestly believe CRANOLENE
tne cranberry cream, will heal
any caseot eczema or other skin
trouble. Come in and let ns tell
you about it. Use one jar. and if
you are dissatisfied, your money
wm n reiunaea. race II.
PERRY'S DRUG STORE
115 8. Commercial .
ter all? Theudas may have been
a somebody, preaching a beautiLul
gospel, but lacking a Paul and a
Peter bis teaching perished with
him. Carlyle argues that Moham
medanism must contain truth be
cause ft has survived so many
centuries. But what of the false
which has survived from the dawn
of civilization? There are super
stitions which have persisted in
spite of all the revelations of sci
ence. Obnoxious religious frac
tlces continue In many lands to
this day. Time has not proven
them; It has frozen them in a
rigid perpetuity.
That an idea or a faith has sur
vived does not necessarily mean
that It Is true. While the pre
sumption may be "in its favor",
yet it must continually stand the
criticism of new discovery and
new reasoning. Mendel died ig
norant of the significance of his
discoveries in genetics. Had his
manuscripts been burned he
would have been known less than
Theudas. of old. As it Is, his
name Is given to one of the great
laws of biology.
Folk of today are called on to
pass judgment on every Theudas
who appears, whether he be a
false or true prophet. .We may
not live long enough to give him
the test of tinre or the teat of
majority vote. It is our task to
appraise him for ourselves using
just that clear thinking and fair
Judgment which we may possess.
Of course, it Is to be regretted
that there are violent fluctuations
in money rates.. That always dis
turbs industry. If the problem
of how to avoid these wide fluctu
ations could be solved, it would
stabilise business.
The Pennsylvania railroad
wants stabilization of rates?
are out with a big program this
year. We look to the country to
maintain rates.
CALLES CONFIDENT
MEXICO CITY. April 6 (AP)
Secretary of War Plutarco Ell
as Calles in reporting to the gov
ernment tonight expressed the
opinion that the military problem ,
in the state of Chihuahua has
"completely disappeared" in view
of the fact that the remaining reb
els are entirely disorganised.
He declared that the federal
army had only t march on Chi
huahua City and border towns in
order to occupy them without op
position. He reported that rebel
General Gonzalo Escobar and Gen
eral Marcelo Caraveo now were in
Chihuahua City where they have
ordered five railroad trains to be
made Bp. to carry them with the
remnants of their forces toward
Cases Grandes. From there it
was believed that they would fol
low the road through Pulplto can
yon toward Agua Prieta, Sonora.
Your health depends
on what you eat.
FISHER'S FAST COOK
ING TOASTED WHEAT
every morning will keep
you well. WHY? Because
it retains 100 of the
wheat, precooked wonder
ful flavor easy to prepare.
Cooks in three to five min
utes. Costs less than lc per
dish.
FISCHER FLOUR
ING MILLS
Silverton, Ore. S47 Union Ave.
AH Grocers - Portland, Ore.
, . Phone E.O0S3
REVOLT 5 CRUSHED
Anytime
be It day or night, one has)
only to ; call us to secure
prompt and reliable service.
We are on duty every hour
of the twenty-four.
CLOUGH-HUSTON C?
PHONE . 120 '