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About Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 5, 1915)
THE FOLK COUNTY OBSERVER, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1915. Published Each Tuesday anil Friday. Offloe El 7-51 Court Street Telephone Main It BY LEW A. GATES. Subscription Bates. One Tear 11.50 Six Months 75 Three Months , .40 No subscription taken unless paid for in advance. This Is Imperative. Entered as second-class matter In the Fostofflce at Dallas, Oregon. ment alike to pupils and teachers. The plan is an excellent one, and should have the hearty approval of every community in the county. Last year nearly eighteen hundred adults paid their respects to the schools on "Go to School Day," and this year the superintendent and teachers hope to increase the number to twenty-five hundred. And it can be done. Ev ery community should commence to make their preparations to take an afternoon off, and visit the school of their respective districts. There will be no ceremonies of an unusual char acter, but the ordinary work will have a place, thus making it possible for the parent to get a good idea of ev- ery-day school work. ELECTRICITY SCATTER CITIES Congestion of population in cities is one of the recognized problems of modern times, and one that constantly is receiving an increased amount of attention. For congestion of popu ' lation means attendant ills and evils that are prejudicial to public health and morals, besides nurturing other factors that are detrimental to pub-. lie prosperity and welfare. For in stance, congestion of population con tributes to crime and the upbuilding ' of distinctly criminal classes; it tends to draw more distinctly the line be tween poverty and wealth and to in tensify the great basic problem of un equal distribution of wealth; it reduc es the population of rural communi ties and thereby tends to correspond ingly restrict the products of the soil, and 'it adds to the difficulties of dis tributing these products in a way to keep the cost of living within reason able bounds; and it breeds discontent and unrest on the part of large mass es of people, who seek through politi cal means, or movements more or less revolutionary, to find a remedy for the ills and hardships which are thrust upon them. Of course there are some compen sating factors for the evils thus enum erated, but it is the strong conviction of students of this question that the real and only solution of this great problem is to be found through the scattering of population and the re lief of pressure at congested centers, And this remedy is to come about, naturally and orderly, according to Dr. E. P. Steinmetz, chief electrical engineer of the United States Steel corporation, and one of the world's foremost experts in the field of elec tricity and allied mechanics. Elec tricity, declares this authority, is go ing to perform the miracle of scatter ing population and relieving the con gestion of cities, and he further de clares that this process already is working out the Boluilion of this ques tion. The application of steam to industrial mechanics, he holds, has been responsible for the increasing congestion of population, but electric ity is exerting an influence in the other direction. Here is his argument "Steam built up our great cities with their congestion and slums. Elec tricity will break them down and scatter the population evenly over the continent, because electricity can be transmitted anywhere by simple trans mission wires. Steam must be used where generated, and where there is a large labor supply. "With full electrical development the labor supply need not be right at the factory door. It can be moved cheaply and quickly morning and evening. There will be no necessity for locating near where the power can be produced the cheapest, as in the steam factory, .because the power can be carried over the wires. The factories will then go where the land is cheapest. Electricity will run er rands in the home. "The cost is all that is standing in the way. But the high cost is due to the limited use of the electrical mo tor rather than any natural disability. It is as simple as an alarm clock and should and would be as cheap if it were used as generally. All we need is better distribution and that is com- DRUG HABIT VICTIMS, Some interesting facts concerning the use of habit-forming drugs m this country are revealed in a report re cently issued by the federal public health service. It has been a common belief, and especially since the agita tion which resulted in the adoption of the so-called Harrison anti-drug act that addiction to habit-forming drugs was becoming very prevalent among Americans. The report refer red to tends to refute this belief. In stead of the number of "dope fiends increasing at the rate of 200,000 a year which is a figure that has been extensively used by those who dis cussed this problem the official in- estigation indicates that the actual victims of this pernicious habit do not number over 337,000, all told, and that their number today is no greater than it was four or five years back. Of course this is bad enough, but it is gratifying to learn that the situ ation is not so bad as it has been made to appear. It also is gratifying learn that the Harrison law is having a good effect, and that the number of deaths due to the inability of drug users to get their usual sup ply because of the law has been great ly exaggerated. Another statement of no Utti3 im portance is that the drug habit usual ly is formed. It has been the popu lar opinion that drug users commonly became victims of the habit through the carelessness of physicians in pre scribing narcotics, and the willingness of unscrupulous druggists to renew prescriptions. It is true that these causes have been responsible for many cases, but a greater cause has been the prolonged use of some medi cines and other patent concoctions which contain a small quantity of soothing drugs. It is announced that the daily use of such a cough mixture for thirty days is quite likely to develop the habit to an extent that makes it some what difficult to leave off, while nine ty days' use will mean the necessity of medical advice and aid before the taste for the drug may be removed. This is not only news that will sur prise a great many people, but it con stitutes a warning that may well be heeded by all. batting the generally accepted the ory that in this country one man is as good as another, and sometimes better, it is appropriate to observe that the forms now tabooed in some of the schools are terms only of def erential courtesy, indicating, not sub ordination and servility, but decent politeness which all children in all lands should show their elders. No one cares to see a child a cringing thing of fear and obsequiousness who says "Yes, sir' through an instinc tive sense of inferiority. But person al liberty that does not recognize the element of respect due one' person from another is a liberty of rudeness and impertinence. Anyone who ob serves the children of our public schools today will say that our nation al progeny will not be afflicted with undue humility or self-abasement. The average American boy or girl is more forward than is becoming, and it is a common criticism of the Amer ican youth that they are "pert," ir reverent and impudent. Under such circumstances it seems unnecessary to impart any additional spirit of arro gance in the rising generation. Per haps "Yes, sir" and "No, ma'am,' should not be insisted upon, but the fact remains that these polite forms grace the language of all children when addressing their elders and en gender mutual respect. ing." It is true that electricity in its modern applications and uses is fast changing and modifying conditions of life and business, and it requires no vivid imagination to realize the pos sibility of the picture of the future drawn by Dr. Steinmetz. There has been a strong, impelling force that has, driven people to forsake the rural districts and build up congested cen ters, but electricity promise to re verse this order and give impetus to the back to the land improvement. Nor can it be doubted that as this process gains headway it will be bet ter for the people individually and better for the nation as a whole. Many of the minor problems will van ish with the promised scattering of population, and peace, prosperity and progress will all be advanced by such a change. OO 70 SCHOOL SAT. County Superintendent of Schools Seymour has issued an invitation to all persons interested in the promo tion of education to visit the schools of Uie county on Friday, November 12, and by their presence show their appreciation of the work that is being- accomplished and lend eneourage- ETERNAL VIGILANCE. It is gratifying to note, in the face of the calamity when 20 pupils of an eastern parochial school last week perished in a conflagration, that fire drills have a place in the Dallas pub lic schools. Adequate exits do not prevent accidents of the character which brought sorrow to many homes in the Massachusetts town. In addi tion to proper equipment, precautions and safeguards must be thrown around young America, and the best of these is the so-called fire drill. Eternal vigilance is the price of safety in such disastrous matters, and consequently every time human lives are lost in fires like that at Peabody it is proper to again remind the pu lie and the proper authorities of this indisputable fact. With each recur ring serious accident in which human lives are destroyed, there is a spasm of increased carefulness to guard against a repetition of the incident. but with the lapse of time this vigi lance wears thin until another simi lar catastrophe furnishes a reminder. Unquestionably it is true that pro visions for safeguarding life in pub lic places are much better than they were a few years back, thus affording greater opportunity for the preserva tion of life in eases of fire, yet not withstanding hore should be no slack ening of vigilance and carefulness, and in the case of the public school the penodical fire drill seems to fill the bill. The lesson in vigilance as taught by the Dallas schools is worthy of emulation by other schools of the county and of the valley. GRACES THE LANGUAGE. In several of the great cities of the country successful pressure has been brought to bear upon the public school authorities to eliminate forms of po lite nsage among pupils. Among the forms are the expressions "Yes, sir" and "No, sir" as being a survival of the days when society was founded upon easte distinctions. Our young Americans are to be taught that they are a race of freemen not subservi- BUSINESS BOOSTER BODY. The organization of those citizens who comprise the business interests of Dallas into an association for the extension of the present trade terri tory of the county town, and for their own mutual advancement along busi ness and social lines, is a movement that should have the endorsement of all who traffic in commodities that are retailed in this center, provided there is no discriminatory elements embodied and the "combination" feature which so frequently presents itself to bodies of this character is entirely eliminated. Labor organizes unions for the protection of its mem bers, professional men organize for the uplift of their respective call ings, those engaged in industrial pur suits organize for the purpose of maintaining and bettering conditions, fraternities are organized that mem bership may be privileged to enjoy the bonds of brotherhood, and even society itself unconsciously organizes to carry on its gayeties, thus mak ing organization the order of the day. But these varied associations are not permitted to encroach upon the territory of another, and neither must the businessmen's newly creat ed organization become dictatorial in its aspect and attempt to bottle up, as it were, other businesses that fail to coincide with its views or refuse to enter its fold. The effort to extend and stimulate trade is commendable, the protection of the mutual inter ests of the trafficker in merchandise and the consumer is to be applauded. but further than this and the social side, wherein men of business mingl with their like, little is within its sphere. There is abundant opportunity for Dallas to reach qut into the surround ing country for trade that is now go ing elsewhere for a variety of reasons. While the Polk county seat is the nat ural distributing point for a consider able amount of territory, no little'of its rightful patronage is getting away because it is not properly fostered, The smaller towns, with their limited stocks, are daily eating into the verj vitals of Dallas trade, while the larg er towns in adjacent counties arc profiting through our absolute neg lect. Hundreds of Polk county's most substantial rural citizens are con stantly contributing to the upbuilding and material advancement of our more wide-awake neighbors while we are apparently content with our lot, Money that should justly course through local business channels finds its way to the metropolis of the com monwealth and to catalogue concerns in other states, thus taking from the community needful sustenance to com mercial activities within our own cherished bailiwick. These unfortu nate conditions must necessarily con tinue to exist without something is done toward turning the tide of trade into the home marts. It should be the foremost aim of the businessmen's organization to counteract these det rimental influences upon local traffic, the accomplishment of which may be brought about by the concerted action by those most vitally interested and the co-peration of the whole commu nity. Membership in the organization but recently completed should not be re stricted to any particular classes of business, but should include everv line of endeavor in Dallas, excepting the professions, and the identification of these with the association might be permissible as honorary members. their support and influence being helpful in all matters of publie con cern, lhen, when an "overwhelming majority" of the business interests sufficiently appreciate the merits of the cause to become active in its de liberations and enthusiastic for its of these interests, no matter how worthy may be its cause or how ener getically and persistently it may la bor for the accomplishment of its purposes, must necessarily be ham pered for lack of support and en couragement by those who elect to re main without, membership. While there is strength in unity, that unity must be complete. A comparatively few obstructionists may , upset the work of many. With practically ev ery business institution in Dallas, large and small, in full and complete accord with the principles and ob jects as set forth by the organizers. possible failure would be eliminated; our trade could be widely extended; a better feeling would exist between "seller and consumer, " and Polk county in its entirety would reap a handsome benefit. ent to anv masters. When addressed bv their elders these youngsters will i success, Dallas will possess a business hereafter answer with a mere 1 'yes" booster body that cannot fail to gin or "no." Mtnoui in me least com-la good account ot itself. A fragment GREAT OPPORTUNITIES, Never before in the history of the world were opportunities more numer ous and more promising of rich re ward for those who are willing to strive with honest effort and earnest zeal to advance the interests of civi lized progress and public welfare. Such opportunities always have exist ed, of course, but they are more nu merous today than ever before, and also more easily distinguishable. In a measure this is due to the titanic world struggle now going on in Eur ope, which has been viewed by some as a check to world progress, al though at most not more than a tem porary check. But already the war is having a stimulating effect in many ways, to compensate for the losses, destruction and confusion it has caus ed. The arts and sciences even trade and finance, along certain lines and especially in countries not ac tually engaged in the war are com mencing to feel this influence, and no nation is getting the benefit and reap ing the advantage of this new condi tion, more than our own. The American nation, in fact, ap pears to be entering an era of great opportunities opportunities that of fer much to the people individually and to the nation as a whole. Busi ness and industry are calling for im proved mechanical processes, new chemical combinations, new devices and better methods in every field ot human undertaking. The old world nations also need these improvements, but the pressing need just now is on this nation, which is not enmeshed in the great war tangle and, therefore, can better turn its attention in this direction. We are expected to be the leaders in this movement, in other words, and to have the new methods, devices and processes ready for the rest of the world when the latter emerges from its military nightmare and takes up the work of restoration and upbuilding. And it plainly is the duty of this nation to face and as sume this responsibility, both tor its own sake and for the good and wel fare of the rest of the world. Moreover, it is the young men of America who must shoulder most of this burden and do most of the work. Edison, Maxim and other aged inven tors still are active in trying to solve the problems presented, but . the .younger generations must be ready to take up this work where tne otners leave off. Young Americans should think of this and prepare themselves for the task that is before them.- For those who study and equip themselves for successfully handling their work there are golden opportunities and rich rewards. High honors also await those who achieve pre-eminent sue- AABID J2UDZPIf cuTnMff -rve- C2i JS0""" "TRANSATLANTIC CABLES WOULD DRAc? THE HARVARD CHESS TEAM INTO THE WAR fCETT!NC A BACHELORAH'T D(Er IN TErSEV CITY WITHOUT HAVING TH(?ee Of? FOUR wives AT HIS BEDS10E- 1912: "We favor a single presiden tial constitution making the presi dent of the United States ineligible for re-election, and we pledge the can didate of this convention to this prin ciple." .... "Our pledges are made to be kept when in office." The people of this country desire to see no reckless plunge into extreme (preparedness for national defense; neither do they wish to have their money wasted or frittered away in log-rolling schemes and pork-barrel projects. But they do believe in get ting ready to forestall any unpleas ant surprises, and they are heartily in accord with the plan of making the condition of preparedness "very adequate." of such a task, with Rex Lampman, Dean Collins and Tom Stockwellf That is a trio that knows more of the cozy little retreats, where "it runs in golden streams of eool refresh ment," than any other in Portland. There w.as a man who thought that he could win a little bet By quenching in some gasoline a lighted cigarette. He thought the fluid, being wet, would douse the flames somehow. There was a man who reasoned thus. He is not with us now. It probably is a good thing, after all, that there are so many persons in this world who have "more money than brains." It helps to make easy picking for the fellows who have more brains than money. EARLY SHOPPING. As the holiday season approaches a number of good reasons are advanced why buying Christmas presents early is a good pjan. But people will buy when it suits their convenience or when they have means to spend for this purpose. A better selection can doubtless be obtained if buying is gone about leisurely. Then there will be avoided some of the inevitable crush which comes a day or two be fore Christmas and which makes the season so painful a one for those who have to wait on the crowds. No one anticipates that "buying early" will do away altogether with the excite ment of Christmas shopping, and no one would like to see that done; but in recent years it has been stroncly borne unon humane persons that thoughtlessness and lack of consider tion on the part of the publie were imposing hardships upon the store keepers and their employes which they ought not to be compelled to en dure. It is possible in the short time which now intervenes between this time and when the season of active buying by most persons begins, fol those who can do so to relieve thl pressure greatly. The president has finally declared in favor of adequate preparation "not for war but for defense." as be puts But, in looking forward to pot ting such a program through con gress, it behooves the president to prepare for war with Mr. Bryan. A quarter of a million Serbian women are fighting for what they think is their country and their right. Where's the argument now that wo men shouldn't vote because they do not bear arms? There are two non-refillable bot tles, according to the motto of Walt. Tooze. One comes with Johnny Walk er whisky and the other is the bottle of youth. (Similar to the fountain of youth.) "I only take a little at a time from either one, says J unior. As an inducement to sinners to at tend religious services during the rainy season, Rev. George H. Ben nett announces an unusually good as sortment of umbrellas at the Metho dist church both morning and evening. Secretary McAdoo says that "Fi nancially this country is stronger than any other nation on the face of the earth." Which constitutes a hand some testimonial to the value of peace. "We shall continue to have wars so long as governments are made of men," says ex-President Taft. Is this a concession to the cause of wo man suffrage f The Irony of Fate. Jack Syron, Red Prairie's best lit tle bachelor, recently won a sewing machine in a contest. Jack now wants some kind of a contest in which he can win the very essential accompani ment to a sewing machine. Twice-a-Week Observer, $1.50 a year. Hughes and Borah would make a presidential team that would be hard to beat. And there s a possibility. OTHER THINGS A Rare and Curious Collection of Fact and Fancy. Here is the last shred of that scrap f paper, the democratic platform of My Friend. He was my friend. He understood All the vagaries of my mood. Say I was joyous, he was gay; If sad, be felt the selfsame way. He held, with trusty common-sense, All that 1 told, in confidence. He died. And now I look around, But such a friend is seldom found. I miss his kingly presence, yet A dog like that is hard to get! Judge. "Really, mother, this Sunday church going is all very fine," says A. v. R. Snyder to Mrs. Snyder, "but it does play the deuce with one's pinochle game. Joel Hoffstetter, who lives just across the slough, is learning to play on the clarionet and three of his neighbors' dogs have left town. A clarionet is awful trying on a dog's nervous system. Enterprise. Frank Barrett respectfullv requests that official attention be called to his new hat. Attention, please! "Doe." Cherrington cut his mus tache off awhile ago and said he'd never grow another. But Doc's fin gers twitched nervously while the or nament was gone so he let is grow aeain. Aow Dot has something lo play with during bis verv few idle moments and consequently he is en tirely happy. Bill White, the democratic rabbit shooter, says: "Money's the thing no matter where or bow you get it" "Boots" Kersev brings word from Portland that he did his best to avoid the temptations of the big eitv. But why. pray tell us. did "Boots" ehnoe to keep company, in the performance' GUARDIANS NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that the un dersigned has been duly appointed Guardian of the estate of Henry M. Beirry, an incompetent person, by the Hon. County Court of Polk County, Oregon. All persons holding claims against said estate should present the same to the undersigned for adjust ment, and all persons owing said es tate are hereby notified to settle same with said guardian. J. D. SMITH, Guardian of the estate of Henry M. Berry. SIBLEY & EAKIN, NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ADMINISTRATOR. Notice is hereby given that the un dersigned, S. S. Duncan, has been by an order of the County Court of Polk County, State of Oregon, duly ap pointed, as the administrator of the estate of Irvin Dunn, deceased, and he has duly qualified as such administrator. Therefore all persons having claims against said estate are hereby notified and required to present the same properly verified, to the undersigned administrator at his office in the Coun ty house at McMinnville, in Yamhill County, State of Oregon, or to said administrator at the residence of H. L. Fenton, at Dallas, in Polk County, State of Oregon, within six months from the date of the first publication of this notice. Dated this the 25th day of October, 1915. S. S. DUNCAN, Administrator of said estate. FRANK W. FENTON, Attorney for said estate. Date of first publication of this no tice is October 26, 1915. Date of last publication of this no tice is November 23, 1915. NOTICE OF FINAL SETTLEMENT. Notice is hereby given that the un dersigned as executors of the estate of John H. Ground, deceased, have filed their final account in the County Court of the State of Oregon, for Polk County, and that Saturdav, the 20th dly of November, 1915. at the hour of one o'clock in the afternoon of said day, at the court room of the said county court, in the city of Dallas, Oregon, has been appointed by said Court as the time and place for hearing of objections to the said final account, and the settlement thereof. ROBERT F. GROUND WILLIAM H. GROUND JOHNNIE M. GROUND Executors of the estate of John H. Ground, deceased. L. D. BROWN J. R. SIBLEY, si -at. Attorneys for the estate.