:4
THE CORVALLIS GAZETTL
Published Tuesdays and Fridays by
, . GAZKTiaPL-Ei.iSHiNj Company.
The Subscription price of the Gazette
for several years has been, and remains
$2 per annum, or 25 per cent, discount if
paid in advance. This paper will be
continued until all arrearages ore pai i.
RIG HtS OF THE MINORITY.
Certain constitutional amend
ments have been prepared and
circulated throughout the state
by gentlemen who are seeking
to form some sort of a specious
ly named organization. One of
these proposed measures is to
provide proportional represen ra
tion of all the voters or more
clearly of all the parties in the
state. For instance our state
representatives now number 60.
If the republican party embraces
one half the voters it would be
entitled to elect one half of the
60or30 members. The democrats
and the prohibitionists might
each number one fourth of the
voters and would each be entitl
ed to elect 15 members- The(
house would then be composed
of 3') republicans, 15 democrats
and 15 prohibitionists.
Should such an amendment be
adopted it would reqire a long,
intricate and cumbersome elec-l
tion law to carry it into effect, j
It would work a revolution in our
manner of electing public officers
also in our methods of legisla-;
tion. All this would be merely
tentative experimental. Those
who plan these changes assure
us that in Denmark, Japan and
Tasmania this system has secur
ed fairly equal representation of
all political parties, while in
Belgium and Switzerland the
principal parties have just repre
sentation but the smaller and
independent parties are not sat
isfied. They neglect to tell us
that none of these governments
are representative democracies
as )Vf. judersiand.' that form 1 of
government; and that in none of
them is rhe elective franchise so
unrestricted as with us.
. The rights of the minority are
not denied it and are not ignored
by the majority party with us
save in merely party policies and
not always so as to these. The
minority is accorded a full hear
ing on every question and not
infrequently proposes legislation
which is favorably received and
acted upon by the majority.
Even when a minority of voters
is without representation in the
legislature it may resort to the
right of petition, and no
such petition when well
grounded is refused considerate
hearing. Most surely there is
no government existing where
the rights of the minority are
more fully and freely accorded
than by us.
The majority governs and by
right should. It is justly held
responsible for legislation. A
majority party enacting vicious
legislation, or trampling on the
rights of the minority would soon
discover itself to be the party of
the minority. The native love
for justice and fair play is too
markedly a characteristic of the
American people to permit of
any kind of wrong to the minor
ity. It is altogether probable" our
method of selcting public officers
and conducting legislation are
not perfect and all that is to be
desired, but it is not apparent
how we shall perfect them by
borrowing the methods of gov
ernments wholly unlike ours in
form and purpose.
Some devices similar to these
have long been used bymonarchs
to befool their subjects. Intelli
gent freeman have no need to
resort to subterfuge to deceive
their fellows.
Constitutional governments
such as ours are the most benefi
cent ever devised by men; right
eous and just laws are necessary
to desirables government. J The
simpler and fewer these can be
made the more salutary and easy
ot application they will he.
Oregon's constitution is most
excellent, and commends its
self to our people in the forms
originally given to it. If any
thing our laws need simplifica
tion, and it is improbable our
people will be persuaded to make
foob'sh changes.
LANG.
The prevalent use of slang
by Americans has been made
the butt of jest and ridicule by
Europeans, and has caused the
cheeks of many of our own people
to b 3 mantled with the blush of
shame.
Slang is low and exceedingly
vulgar and is justly regarded by
thoughtful, observant people as
a sure indication of the low vul
gar thought and mind of the per
son using it. This may seem to
be an unwarranted conclusion
for it is observed that many
people who pass as persons of
education, culture and some re
finement frequently fall into the
habitual use of slang. It is strong
ly suspected, however, that the
education " of. such a person is
very defective and his culture
and refinement mere veneers
which cover an essentially coarse,
vulgar mind.
It may be admitted that many
slang phrases appear to be more
concise and expressive than pure
speech. It is a false, deceptive
appearance. For the most apt
and expressive slang use the
simplest, purest English you can
command and note thedifference.
It will then be seen that slang is
not so finely and surely expres
sive as pure speech.
Slang is objectionable because
it is utterly incompatible with
the acquisition and practice of
good, gentle manners. Since
such manners are a valuable at
tainment everything in the way
of acquiring them should be
avoided. Slang using compan
ions, slangy books and every
thing using such speech or sug
gesting such thought. : .
The use of slang is largely im
moral and cowardly. Obscene
filthy and lewd things are sug
gested by its use studiously sug
gested by? evil designing persons
who would not dare to use plain
simple speech..' The girl or
waman who tolerates the use of
slang in her presence has her
self most to blame if she is em
barrassed, humiliated and insult
ed by some cowardly use of sucti
speech. When she goes along
the street with the. stride of a
grenadier and the swagger of a
Texas cowboy, herself using
slang she is' inviting humiliation
and insult and should not com
plain if she receive both.
We would suggest that parents
banish from their homes all use
of slang, and everything sug
gestive of it. They will cease
speaking of their children as
"kids," and the children will re
spectfully describe their parents
as father and mother rather than
as "the governor and his pal."
When this is done and the
habit of simple, pure speech is
formed the work of imparting!
good manners will be made easier
and should be prosecuted most
earnestly for it is a reform long
over due.
Additional Local.
The following item will interest the old
friends and schoolmates of Miss Zetta
Underwood, formerly of this city : Miss
es Gertrude Beeves, Zetta Underwood,
Lavelle Epperly and Kathrine Kirkpat
rick gave a progressive Hallowe'en social
to about 20 of their young friends, Friday
evening. The crowd Brat met at the
hou:eofMiss Zetta, where they Biaved
about an hour, then went to the home of
Miss Kathrine, and from there went with
Miss Geitrude, and from there Miss La
velle took thera to her home. They
spent an hour or more at each home and
at each place refreshments were served.
Each home was nicely decorated with
jack-o'-lanterns, tall leaves, etc., suitable
for the occasion." Lebanon Criterion.
- LOST English ;Sttr doii, nacu
"d "Princ," whi'.e with larg red
spots. ' Wears wide collar with li
cense tag. 'Has been Been out with
parties last week. Please. retu'T
Walter EL Klin. . 87t(
We Invite
Your inspection of our
Stock of
f Ladies and Misses'
Coats
Wool Dress Goods, Cotton
Wash Dress Fabrics
Our Stock is Cem
plete in Every Detail
at Right Prices.
Henkle & Davis
House Decorating.
FOR PAINTING AND PAPERING BEE
. W. E. Panl, Ind. 48S . 4ltf
UNDERTAKERS
WILKIN 8 & BOVKE, FUNERAL Di
rectors and Licensed Erabvlmere.
Successors o S. Is'. Wilkine, Corvallis,
Oregon. Phone 45. 8otf
HENKLE &BLACKLEDGE, UNDER
takera. South Main St , Corvallis, Or.
ATTORNEYS
J. F. YATES, ATTORNEY-AT-LAW.
Otiice np stafrs in Zierolf Building,
Only set of abstracts in Benton County
E. R. BRYSON ATTORNEY AT LAW.
'JtfH'e in Post Omce Building, Cotval
as, Oregon.
WANTED
WANTE O hOO SUBSCRIBERS TO THE
Gazette and W eekly Oregonian at
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HOMES FOR SALE
CLASSIFIED ADV'tRTiSEMENIS
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS 1
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For all advertisements over 25 wordB,
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other than strictly news matter, will be
charged tor.
PHYSICIANS
B. A. CATHEY, M. D., PHYSICIAN
uio k urgeun. Rooms 14, Bank Build
tag. Office Hours: 10 to 12 a. m., 2 to
4 p. m . Residence : cor. 5th and Ad
ams Sts. Telephone at office and res
idence. Corvallis, Oregon.
WILL SELL LOTS IN CORVALLIS.
Oregon, on instalment plan and as
eist purchasers to build homes on them
i. uesired. Address First National
Bank, Corvallis, Or.
WILL SELL MY LOTS IN NEWPORT,
Jr., for spot cash, balance inatai
.nente, and help parties to build homes
thereou, ii desired. Address M. S.
Wocd oi.k, Ccvailie, U.-.
TIMBER LAND AND TOWN LOTS:
4u0 acres timber, good land, near Mill
City ; $20,1)00. Two blocks, center Mill
City; $2000 . 440 acrts timber land in
Josephine county. J. E. Farmer, Cor
vallis, Oreaon. 88tf
SANKING.
THE FIK -1 NATIONAL BANK' OF
Corvallis, Oregon, transacts a general
conservative banking business. Loans
money on approved security. Drafts
bought and fold and money transferred
to the principal cities of the United
States, Europe and foreign countries.
tor chiitlrtint care, ur v
lit at the
S
t art
EVERYBODY knows that the finish is largely
governed by the start. If you start right
you stand a good chance to finish right.
This applies to buying clothes as well as to
riding to hounds; if you start your clothes-buying
by a determination to get the best possible for your
money, you'll get it. That means that you will
startat our" store, and you'll finish in one of our
Hart Schaffner & Marx suits or overcoats.
That will be the right finish for your clothes
buying because these clothes are right in every way,
from start to finish; all-wool, tailored right, correct
in style, perfect fitting.
EXCLUSIVE AGENT
?T,eJi:
S. L. KLINE
Clopy right 190 by Hart Schaffner 5? Marx
Established 1864
The People's Store
Corvallis, Or.