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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 1915)
THE POLK COUNTY OBSERVER, TUESDAY, MAY 25, IMS, Published Each Tuesday and Friday. Office" 517-B19 Court Street Telephone Main 19 BY LEW A. CATES. Subscription Rates. One Year $1.50 Six Months 75 Three Months 40 No subscription taken unless paid for in advance. This is imperative. Entered as second-class matter in the Postofflce at Dallas, Oregon. KNOWING HOW TO SWIM. Jt is now suggested that many of the unfortunate victims of the Lusltania disaster might have been saved had they known how to swim. The sink ing of the ship occurred so soon after the torpedo explosion that little time was given for preparation of any kind, and the final plunge apparently caught many who were not even equipped with life preservers. But the affair occurred in broad daylight, in a sea that was moderately smooth and there was a lare quantity of wreckage to support those who man aged to get away from the ship and beyond the vortex of suction as she went down. The vessel's small boats picked up many such, and it was only a few hours before rescuing boats were on the scene searching for sur vivors.' . It would appear, therefore, that the unduly large loss of life was In a measure due to the fact that only a small proportion of those aboard were able to swim and to make use of this art to help themselves. Even when buoyed up by a life preserver the person who cannot swim Is under a serious disadvantage at such times, for he does not understand how to get away from the point of danger or to avoid being drawn under by struggling companions. And young Mr. Vander- bilt is probably one who sacrificed his life In this manner, as the dispatches explained he could not swim, and only a few moments before the vessel sank he gallantly surrendered his life pre server to a woman and started to find another for himself. To those who do swim and who have in a measure mastered that nat ural horror of water which is charac teristically a human weakness, It is al ways a mystery why others do not learn this most necessary art. This Is the beginning of the summer vacation period, and doubtless before long the same old stories of overturned boats and bathing accidents will come from the resorts. Scores of men and wo men and children will be drowned this Bummer because of their inability to pwlm. , iYet anybody can learn to swim, and no child's education should be considered satisfactory without In struction In this delightful and valu able art. Parents who are afraid to have their children learn to swim be cause of their own fenr of the water should remember that there may come a time when the issue of life and death will hinge upon this very accomplishment. YOFNG HUHKHll. The case of young Husser, who Is forcibly detained by the Canadian gov ernment at Kingston because he is of German parentage, is Indeed, a sad one; During incarceration his moth er passed away, yet he was not per mitted to be present at the performing of the last rites to gaze upon her bo loved face before It was hidden for ever from mortal sight. Regardless of the fact that his father before him Is a naturalized citizen of the United Htntes, and the further fact that he himself was American born, this young man Is held upon the mere sus picion that he may sympathize with the Germans In the present struggle for supremncy, and might eventually become a participant In the war ngainat the Ilritiah If given freedom. Htrong appeals made to the Canadian! authorities have been without avntl, I anil (ho probabilities are that this Polk county boy will remnin in cus tody at Kingston for months to come. To Husser's unwarranted retention Is attributed the cause of his mother's untimely passing. After months of endeavor on the part of his friends to gain his liberty came the news that these efforts had been crowned with success, and that the son would hast en back to the old homestead where fond and loving parents anxiously awaited him. Vpon receipt of this gladsome intelligence the mother, a sufferer from heart trouble, was over come with joy and almost immediately expired, her last thought being of the boy in whom her soul was wrapped. Imagine, if you please, the happiness that reunion would have brought to the mother who had spent long, sleep-! less nights In worrying over the safe-! (y of her offspring. Imagine, If you please, the grief of that Imprisoned young man when Informed that moth er, the best friend he ever had. had suddenly departed this life without his being present to implant a loving kin upon the pallid Hps. Such Instances as this, to a busy and thoughtless world, mean but little In the every-day events of life, but when our own beloved ones are af fected then It Is different. run a full year the aggregate of or ders placed in this country will reach a billion dollars. The distribution of these purchases among various American Industries is interesting. Contrary to a quite prev alent belief, not more than one-fourth of the sales made thus far represent arms, ammunition and explosives. On the other hand the bulk of the so-called war trade consists of goods which, though intended for the use of the armies, are not directly associated with slaughter. They consist chiefly of clothing, shoes, harness, automobiles. isteel wire and great quantities of provisions, things that might be need ed and used by a nation at peace. It Is not altogether pleasant, however, to reflect that most of this material is intended to facilitate the grim business i of human slaughter, and still less pleasant to remember that America Is also furnishing large quantities of arms and ammunition for the same deadly business. Of course there is an Immense profit in arms and ammunition at present prices, and it Is legally justifiable, and even inevitable, that we should fill or ders for such merchandise, in protec tion of our own neutrality and our own future right to buy arms i'rom neutral nations, should such a neces sity arise. But Just the Bame we do not view this particular item with the same satisfaction gained from other transactions. This business is bound to go on and to Increase, however, so long as the war lasts. As the bellig erents use up their own resources they become more and more dependent on us, and to refuse this trade or attempt to alter the rules would give serious offense. And if the war is prolonged and the seas remain reasonably open, It would seem that nothing can pre vent this nation becoming the creditor nation of the world. The conditions which have brought this situation about, are such, how ever, that few serious minded Ameri cans are inclined to gloat over It. On the other hand, there are many Ameri- j cans who secretly feel it is a shame to tfthft the money and thereby win com mercial and financial advantage over the nations closed In a death-grapple. But we can hardly help ourselves. The belligerents are even more eager to buy our goods than we are to sell them. The situation is not of our making. We had nothing to do with starting the war, and have taken no mean or calculating advantage of It.. And so we can tolerate with more or less equanimity the sneer of "blood money" from nations which have trampled, and are 'still trampling, on international law and human rights as old as civilization. RiD RUDOLPH J shock ym eSwxZ. rAN exe uv TW YAHKS UANT TO (jrt out ct- -mf?- SFcOO DNI510M THFY SHOUO St?rJ HOUDINI AS MANA?efc in this country, with correspondingly small influence on general public sen timent. In the case, moreover, Wall street Is entirely out of harmony with the wishes and sentiment of the peo ple generally, for the latter have no desire for even a "make-believe" war, much less for one that might give this nation a taste of the bitter experiences now being shared by the belligerent nations of Europe. Nor Is it likely that Wall street itself wants anything of this kind all it Is thinking about is something that will jar things loose, set the wheels to humming and the dollars to jingling. The motive of Wall street,' in other words, is purely a selfish one as usual. And a senti ment based on such a motive will not get very far or cut much of a figure. WHOSE BELL IS IT? The Philadelphia newspapers are wrangling over the shipping of Liber ty bell to the Panama exposition, and one publication characterizes it as a junketing trip for a bunch of politic tans. Of course, this grumbling Is in tended wholly for local consumption, but It gives a bad impression to out siders. As a matter of fact, it is only In keeping with the importance of the occasion that an official and dis tinguished guard should accompany the venerated relic across the contin ent, and the people of Philadelphia should bp the last of all to criticise or make complaint concerning this de tail. A certain degree of reluctance at parting temporarily with the sa cred relic Is appreciated, and some anxiety on account of the physical dangers incident to such a trip is quite reasonable; for some disastrous acci dent might occur, despite all precau tions that could be taken to prevent It. Such an accident, however, would be only the possible risk taken on any railroad journey, tor every safe guard which patriotic diligence can adopt will no doubt be thrown around the precious freght. At the same time It is quite fitting and appropriate that the bell should have Its guard of honor, and It Is manifestly out of tune with the spirit of the occasion for the journey to be represented to the American people as mere "joyride" undertaken mainly for the purpose of enabling a lot of POLK IS WAKING VP. Polk county is wisely turning its at tention to better highways. And this undertaking will do more toward developing the country than any other single movement. Contemplating set tlers who come here from states where they have good roads hesitate to buy land, even though they know how productive the soil Is, because many of the roads are In deplorable condition during winter months. This good road question is so Important that it should appeul to every citizen of the county. Our automobile people are interested because good roads will add to the ef ficiency of their machines, and inci dentally to their pleasure, which is just as important as any object that may be attained. The farmers want good roads, because they will facilitate the moving of their crops and in crease their earning power. Good roads are like money put out on In terest. Every time they pull a load over a good road, there Is a net sav ing to time, of wear and tear of ener gy, and the investments made In good roads are to a great extent permanent. It has been estimated that of all the freight that finally reaches the market, 95 per cent must be first hauled by wagon over the public roads. Good roads mean that, throughout the year the markets are regularly supplied with farm products, sufficient to meet the uniform demand. Bad roads mean that there are weeks at a time, when the markets are poorly supplied and prices are high, consequently the rich lose, and the poor often suffer, The value of farm land does not depend entirety upon its fertility, fo land, however fertile, has email value if its products cannot be taken to market. And ngaln, roads often con trol the kind of crops that the farmers may raise. If they are unimproved and his farm is several miles from h home dollar are oftimes too much dis posed to preach and not practice. And this is not only true as regards the case referred to, but throughout all communities as well. While we are "watchfully waiting" to see what happens in Europe, for mer President Huerta, of Mexico, has apparently settled down in the United States, and for some reason there has been a sort of spontaneous enthusiasm fior the old Indian who caused us so much trouble in Mexico. Chauncey M. Depew has made known the fact that he is still among the living by declaring that Huerta is the "ablest Mexican alive." The Indorsement of Chauncey seems to have been second ed by many other enthusiasts whose presence heretofore had not been dis covered. politicians to get a free trip at public market. it will be necessary for him expense. Of course, the millions ol people who will pay homage to the historic souvenir on Its triumphal pro gress between the two oceans will not know of or care for the local or sec tional narrowness which Inspired the crtlcisms referred to. They will right ly regard the bell in its national sig nificance as theirs quite as much as Philadelphia's, and they will appreci ate the opportunity of looking upon the visible symbol of Americanism which has been revered for nearly a century and a half. RALE OF WAR SVPPLIES. Late reports covering the sale of war supplies Indicate that this line of trade has reached proportions far greater than the general public liu suspected. For the first six months of the war, for Instance, more than $400... .00 worth of such supplies were purchased from American firms, and as the demand har actually Increased during the past two months it now I estimated that by the time the war ha1 WALL STREET AND WAR. Wall street, we are told. Is exhibit ing a pronounced warlike spirit these days a sentiment so unusual for Wall street that one at first Is nonplussed for a suitable explanation. It Is found, however. In the suggestion that the speculators and bankers of Wall street feel they would have more to gain than to lose In the event of this na tion going to war, and especially i war which they believe would not vis ibly disturb home Industries and bus iness. In fact, the so-called Wall street crowd seems to anticipate that a kid glove war would prove a real stimulus to activities In this nation, thus h el pin,, business to ret out of the monotonous rut which It long has fol lowed and giving employment to much of the Idle capital which Is becom ing a source of worry to Wall street Also. there Is probably a secret hope (the ftime Influences would mean a fine rmrvert for Wall street Itself, and fohftMr none mil! dispute the ug- weetlon that Wall street "needs the money. t Put Wall street Is only ft small spot to raise a crop that produces a small tonnage per acre. Investigation shows that the average cost of hauling per ton for one mile is, on stone roads, 8 to 12c; on earth in ordinary con dition, 29c, on sandy roads, 33 to 64c. Therefore, if a farmer lives five miles from his market and his roads are or dinary earth roads, it is costing him about $1 per ton more to deliver his products to his market than It would If he had hard roads. If he has sandy roads then it is costing him $2 to $3 more per ton. You can convey a bushel of wheat from New York to Liverpool, three thousand, one-hundred miles for one and stx-tenths cents less per bushel than It will cost a farmer to haul nine and four-tenths miles to a sta tion. By making permanent roads. we can reduce the present cost from 29c. per mile to 8 and 10c. per ton per mile. Good roads blaze the way to progress and are a boom to civiliza tion. They mean much to every citi zen of Polk. They mean more to every land owner and farmer. Hark Sullivan of Collier's says; Don't accept 'statistics that seem to show that prosperity follows the booze wagon. Prosperity can't be tapped at any bar at all, and never could. Sta tistics that prove the contrary are, to put it kindly, piffllcated. If you live in a prohibition township, and don't know what "pifflicated" means, well, just substitute jugged, soaked, stewed. bleary, pie-eyed, or pickled. These are all good words in the gin belt. To make this epithet of adjectives com plete we might add "souzed" and "loaded." ELECTRIC RANGES The G-E Electric Range boils," broils, roasts, toasts, fries and bakes like any modern range but it takes only the turn of a switch to get it hot. No coal. or coal dust, or coal gas just a switch to turn and the cookery i begins! Investigate our reduced heating and cooking rate OREGON POWER COMPANY Insurance men have figured out from their mortality tables and from war statistics that even in this most deadly of wars, the soldier has better chances of living through a year of actual warfare than the civilian has of living from his twenty-fifth to his thirty-sixth year, or from his fiftieth to his fifty-sixth or his sixtieth to his sixty-third. Such statistics serve the purpose of; impressing upon us the un certainties of mundane existence, if nothing more. The McMinnville News-Reporter rushes Into print with a story about an automobile that went over a bridge without injuring the occupants of the car. Nothing strange about that. Same thing happens in Polk county every day. It is absolutely Impossible for automobiles to go under our bridges, and pretty hard to go around most of them. The Newberg Graphic having regis tered a protest against the double col umn editorial fad of newspapers, that style has been abandoned by The Observer. There's Just one thing that some fellows would rather do than fish and that is, to stick around the car and watch the bait. When you think of Plumbing Think of H.H.RICH the two are synonymous His work speaks for itself V. E. Greenwood, Mgr. G. Stoltz Company, Props.. Dallas Soda Works Manufacturers of Soft Drinks Telephone 703. 422 Ellis Street - r J 00 INSPIRATIONS ( I SURE, WHEN IVE 60T S EVER COME EASY?f I THE REAL TOBACCO CHEW if CLAY WOKKKR PATKXTS IDEA. The state fair board is subject to se vere criticism for employing a band of musicians from the metropolis of Illinois, Instead of patronizing "home Industry." There are many bands In numerable within the state of Oregon, and why the people, whose fair It ts. should bring musicians from distant Chicago at a cost of $1860 for fair week is beyond the comprehension of the fair-minded. A ladles' band may be an added attraction, but the home article should suffice for home people. Those who lend up the loudest cry about building a fence around the Willainina Man Has Wbut Is Relieved to lie Good Tli I Tip. For several years Marvin A. Nlcol was a mechanic in the Pacific Face Rrick company's plant at Willamina. While working he noticed that the operation of the Muller wheel in the process of grinding the clay, had a tendency to wear out the center of the wheel much faster than the out side. Accordingly he began work on an Invention to remedy this defect. His invention consists of a twin tire for the wheel, made of heavy steel and so arranged that it can be put on and taken off. The tires are held In place by a lug device, which is also patented. In this way when the tires become worn on the inside they can be taken off and reversed, which practi cally doubles their life, as well as making the wheel run more smoothly. A patent has been issued by the U. S. government and Nicol is now try ing to place his Invention on the mar ket. The clay industry is one of large proportions and men competent to judge are of the opinion that his In vention will materially benefit clay manufacturers. a 1 1 i THE GOOD JUDGE LEARNS FROM THE ARTIST TOBACCO satisfaction a chew of "Right-Cut," the Real Tobacco Chew. The comforting taste of rich, mellow, sappy tobacco comes and it lasts. Made of ripe, mellow tobacco seasoned and sweet ened just enough. "Right-Gut" goes twice as far as any other tobacco for the same money. Get a pouch and see for yourself. lake very im.il cnew less than one-quarter the old size. It will be more satisfying than a mouthful of ordinary tobacco. Just nibble on it nntil yon find , the strength cnew that suits you. Tuck it away. Then let it rest. See bow easily and evenly the real tobacco tastecomes, how it satisfies without grinding. Low much less yon have to spit, how lew chews yon take to be tobacco satisfied. That 's why it is Tkt RaU 7 source Cktw. That's why it costs less in the end. It It intdr ebew. sat Im and abort tend m that yom mom't tov. t. triad a it with yowr tMta. GriadwS aa acdinwy dill HtaM it a 1 Sells Internet In Laundry. Mr. W. L. Hughes of the City Steam Laundry has sold a quarter Interest In that Institution to Miss Stella Mo N'utt, who is an expert shirt and col lar laundress, and this lady is In charge of this department. Miss Mc N'utt came here from The Dalles when Mr. Hughes opened the new laundry. Ta. bat of mmn. r Msafiul. fSvUo. hom tb mU brt.a owt tk. nek Kiomm umi t. "Ki4a4-C.L" One small chew takes the place of two big chews of the old kind. WEYMAN-BRUTON COMPANY SO Union Square, Mow York (BUY FROM DEALER 0R5ENP 10 ? STAMPS TO us