Published Bach Tueay :
Office 617-51 Court Btreet
TalcDh !-. al "
BY H. W. BRSHE
5
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A TEST OF SINCERITY
the entente allies the com
nienl on the president's peace note
Micro to be rather harsh and critical.
Thia nr.nnrpntlv is based on the feel
ing that the president practically en
dorses the Uerman proposal iui
peace parley, which in a sense is true
n, offont nf the mesident's suffges-
tion, in fact, might have been better
had bis not preceded the offer made by
(Jcrmany. But although he had this
Tvlnn in mind for at least several
ao1ra oOl-nvdillf tO Mb OWI1 StStC'
forestalled him and
.f ; W nffpr first, which, as he ex
tiiDf mharflssftd him. a.1-
IIUUS) i u. !.'.. v.
though it failed to change his ongi
nnf Yt.iriv.flf
Tr.vpn fin. however, calm reflection
will Ainritif the pntente nations that
the president's suggestions accord no
t less with their own position than with
t tne position oi ueimauj.
1 has offered not exactly peace, but a
peace parley a proposal that the bel
f Jigerents get together in a discussion
ff'ot terms, to see whether there is any
twssibilitv of agreement. To this the
ollips have virtually replied that Ger
many must first state the terms she is
. n,;iliniT tn nffpr. and that these terms
v o ' ... i
must meet certain npeinol require
ments to entitle them to consideration.
They do not plan to buy a pig in n
poke, nor do they intend to slip their
neck into a noose, the latter being an
expression used by IJoyd iieorge
Thaw An nut pntirelv reiect the pro
posal of Germany, but they demand
i.ot Rcrmmv "come across with a
specific declaration ot terms, as tue
. first essential to ascertaining if there
is any common ground for peace talk.
T' suggestion made by the presi
dent is really an endorsement of this
idea, no less than of the German pro
posal itself. It declares that both
sides should make a frank and open
i.i P ttneitinn and aims, thus
n,mit. a i-nmnnrisoii which not on
ly will help the belligerents to know
whether there is a possibility of agree
munt. but will allow neutral nations
,.,l,tnrl flip nhincts sought to
IrU UIIH-'""'"M - II-
be accomplished and form conclusions
as to responsibility for the war's con
tinuance; also to properly shape their
own course if the war does go on. But
to afford this comparison and en
lighten neutrals, it is obvious the
statement of peace terms must be op
en and specific, which is the very
thing the allies themselves are con-
tanArtf t'nr.
It therefore would Beem the allies
should welcome, rather than repel, the
suggestions ot the presiitent. Tor nis
proposal accords no less with their
own plans than with the offer of Ger
mor,ir Wn wants an open avowal
of peace terms, which they themselves
demand from Germany, and as Ger
many has taken the initiative and
must, therefore, speak first, it cannot
logically be argued that the presi
dent's plan is inimical to the interests
of the allies. Tn fact, it practically
will put Germany's sincerity to the
test, although of course providing the
same test for the sincerity of the al
lies. Hut at least the American pro
posal cannot be turned down on the
ground it is partial, or favors either
Bide at the expense of the other.
UNIVERSAL SERVICE.
It is a significant fact that practi
cally all the real military experts of
this country strongly sirpiwrt the
plan for providing universal train
ing, as a measure of national safe
ty and a needed precaution against
iinnlpnsnnt suriirise. General Scott,
the present chief of staff of the Uni
ted States army, and General Wood,
i. : i . .- : 1 ..tli,,.. lu.t it
have testified that they regard univer
sal military service as a iiigniy lm
nitrimt pvpn MKPtitial fr the welfare
i-" -.,,.. - - - -
of the nation, and this opinion ap
pears to have the support of all the
other army experts. And when the
trained military experts are thus
unanimous in endorsing this plan it
is not well to hastily ignore their ad
vi.A fnr it is their husineas tn atlldv
and understand the questions involv-
ul ..J it.li f nr vmnff. it M only
. ... W-U 'p. - B .
reasonable to believe they are actuat
ed by a sincere motive of patriotism.
Of course it is true that a different
opinion is held by some prominent
citizen, a notable example being Mr.
Walter A. Fisher, lormer secretary
of the war department Testifying
.Win the same eonmuttee nr. r isn-
n ,i,i npfnallv increase this
service ii " - .
burden and unjustly interfere with
private duties and responsibilities.
This, in turn, was denied by both Gen
eral Scott and uenerai vyuuu,
n,of H,n creation of an ade-
uiau uciix mu -
quate and efficient military force is a
vital necessity to renuei u uu..,
C(.,tc immune from loreign aggres
sion and that the volunteer system as
exemplified by the national guard nas
proved, as Uenerai vvooa puraseu
"a terrific failure," Both cite the
attempted mobilization of the nation
al guard on the border to meet the
Mexican crisis, as proof of this fail-
are' .... i.
This question is indeed one oi mucu
:ni,,ipp tn this nation, and it
t .1,1 v. lopiilprl anlelv with a view
3IIUU1" ... .
nfpcynnrd national interests and
mitra If n time of dire nenl should
i.l this nniintrv and find the lat
ter unpreparedj there would be no end
of criticism and denunciation of lead
ers for neglecting to have the nation
ready for such a time or menace, ine
m:i;t'o,.ir pvnprts. however, repeatedly
have pointed out this danger and they
are offering suggestions now to met
;t Anl it anareelv seems wise for the
people and law makers to ignore this
advice, simply because the perils sug
gested do not seem close at nanu
T
OTHERS OPINIONS
T
ivnifiK T.AND STILL LEFT
Thnh tlm envernment still has a
large amount of land subject to entry
:.. ,.,.(,.,..,. fnnn is shown by a
statement made by the secretaiy of
the interior. The latter declares mere
are about 250,000,000 acres of avail
able government land wiucn suit is
,.np,,nid -hv settlers, although it is
being taken up at the rate of about
10,000,000 acres a year.
nf this unoccupied land
is classed as rough land and a good
deal of it is and, these Handicaps oo
maan ;t ia worthless or incapable
ofi , being converted into prolitaoie
in tracts. On the contrary, ex
perience has shown that so long as
land is not so badly DroKen up umi
ui l 111 nrviK ihlp nf levelinff except at
prohibitive cost, it always is possible
of cultivation. Fanners also are find
;n..nvi nf crowimr crops with less
water than was believed possible a
few years ago, and the extension of
irrisratimr ditches, and the location of
u.piia 'pnnalnnt v are, bringing new
tracts within the range of cultivation.
,Tt. therefore is likelv that a large
portion of this unoccupied government
vnt hp settled on anil devel
oped, and, as already noted, this pro
cess steadily is going on.' nome oi
this onvnriiment land may never be
brought under cultivation, of course,
but all that can be utilized proiiaoi)
will be gone in another generation or
Monmouth Has Prospered.
WI.IIp, Monmouth will besrin the
new year with Main street torn up,
the paving project is the one dis
tinct o-ain for 1916. The growth ot
the Normal has been steady, the past
year being th'e best in point o1 al'
the state Rchnnl had vet had
Harooj in t.lip npin-hhorlinoil has been
trnnA nnrl prnna liavo unld at C'OOU
prices. There has been plenty on
work, psneciallv thronirli tne latter
nrt nf the vpnr. nnrl no one is Silt-
fering in our midst from want. The
year passed witnesses the turning oi
the creamery trom a limited stock
pnmnanv flrrane-ement to a co-opera
tivo onneern anii the eomoanV is pros
pering and promises well for the fu
ture. Jt is one of the tew co-opera-
in this section and
draws patronage from a wide range of
territory. The prune crop was gooa
on1 snlfl at o-nnil nrines. Fruit of all
kinds was abundant during the year
and helped in many ways to cut nowu
the cost of living. A feature of the
year past has been the high cost of
fntA nrndiiets nine tn the demand to
supply the immense number of sold
iers of Europe with tood wiucu lias
stnrfjinpn1 nnr nwn supply. This m-
pepsap has hppn in many cases extra
ordinary. But for all this, Monmouth
has pninved mod business, a steady
growth and the opening week sees it
facing good prospects for 1017. Mon
mouth Herald. ,
have enioved the benefits of through,
roads; they will enjoy the principal
benefit of using furtlier improve
ments; they save expense money for
tires, repairs and gasoline when horse
vehicles are replaced ny auto nign-
ways, and they should carry part oi
the expense burden. If, in a spirit of
narrow opposition, they defeat the
move to charge a Heavy increase in
the license fee, they are defeating
mail imnrnvement and will be com
pelled to pay the cost over and 'over
again in tire wear, repairs and gaso
line. A liberal attitude by auto own
ers is true economy for themselves, as
many of them realize. Oregon Voter.
One half the study course of the
collesre at McMinnville has been
abolished. The president announces
that alter New Year s crzarettes will
ho hanichpn! "Mow if thpv wnnlrl Cllt
out basketball there would be nothing
left. Corvallis Gazette-Times.
4
We have some beautiful cal
endars which will be given to
our customers. Dallas Ware
house and Manufacturing Com
pany. 88-89
so.
There also is something for the
American people to think about, in
t hp nliiin otlicial intimation that this
nation steadily is being drawn toward
the vortex ot war.
After all, the belligerent nations
should not feel miffed at the presi
dent, simply because the latter has
called for a show-down.
Aside from having too much gold
and too much cold, this country seems
to he getting along very nicely.
Did vou write it 1017?
T
SOME THINGS
s.
ii,U r,.aap , qa reyaxuB ws '" 1 - ."- - ' "
A. V. K- Snii f awsaltrainin as lumber ennpany are
.r ' r " I 4L. T.!l.. f9 V
deputv.
v.vpr . coaching Car! Grsvea
How About It, "News?"
The Falls Citv News arrived at this
office last Satunluy night. It looked
natural. There was nothing suspic-
imJs ahnlll it A lllace of honor Wr3S
given it and it was placed on top of
a pile ot papers tor tne editor s per
usal long about Tuesday morning.
Monday morning chance brought a
member of the editorial staff into the
editorial ofiice. Something had hap-
pened to the rails t.ity imcws. it nan.
enlarged. It looked bulky. Suspic
ion was aroused and the Falls City
News was investigated. Shades ot
Hip Dark Asroa: Inside the uaires of
this same Falls City News and- next
to pure reading matter was a Hie
ip hnttle of beer. Beer- srenuine
beer not cold tea! Can you beat it t
Independence Monitor
nnnntv Parent-Teacheri Club Active
Thnuirh nnp nf the vouneest of the
state county parent-teacher associa
tions the Folk county organiriion is
ivp P. C. Ewinsr of Brush College
is president and Mrs. C. V. Johnson
of Airlie is secretary -treasurer. The
next meeting of the association win
be held Saturday. Ths slogan ot tne
nrietr ia " F.dncation is public ser
vice and social uplift." Harry Sey
mour, formerly county scnooi super
intendent of Polk, but now a mem
ber of the O. A. C. extension faculty,
has promised to assist the Polk of
ficers in the:r work.
lUnairinr Donkav Enrinea.
Two donkey en pises from the Black
Rock camp . ' the Willamette Valley
b-n; repaired
.ons. bngine
- th Dallas S. P.
Mevcr' coachine Carl Grave in the hra--- wfiished last
,,1 d"t" of the county asVee. Henry .smithTT.-.
The Only Salvation.
The only salvation of the road pro
gram for Oregon is to increase the
auto license fees. Not a trifling in
crease, such as is recommended by a
o.w.llnn Dree-on Road committee
which is being manipulated by adroit
road-fighters to scuttle the highway
nrno-rmn. but all increase that will
vield a fund sufficient to finance a fair
orl rensnnahle adeou'ate plan ot
hifvlnvav improvement direct
ly benefiting all the principal sections
of the state and indirectly benefiting
even the remote counties.
Tn merely double the auto license
feo will not. accomplish. The so-call
ed Oregon Road committee has com
mitted itself to the limitation or doub
ling the fee. To make meet the sit
uation, its recommendations must be
j;Mn.orl A n to owners can each
save "the price of one tire a year if
given better roads to travel over, miu
each auto should contribute an annual
license fee approximately equal to the
price of a tire. In addition, the auto
owner will save this trifling extra
cost many times over m repairs, win
save something in .gasoline and much
in time and profanity.
Many auto owners realize hub, uu
ei lihprallv disposed towards a heavy
increase in the fee. Others oppose
this extra expense, mainly because
they do not feel like paying for roads
if the over-burdened taxpayers win
provide them free.
Automobile dealers are opposing a
heavy increase, because like some au
to owners, they want roads for autos
if somebody else pays for them.
Auto owners and auto dealers must
...to i,n nut nf their dream of the
wnnc i- - ,
overtaxed property owner taxing him
self more and bonding nimseii turn
er for auto roads unless the autos
themselves contribute reasonably to
i. -net of thp muds thev tear up.
I,iin -.'-. - - -
The taxpayer is crowded to the wall
and will light big mgnway expenui
the automobile traffic can
be made to carry some part of the
burden.
oulprs nra-e that horse ve
hicles wear out the roads and should
be required to pay a license tee n
.,,ia m-p subjected to an increase.
This claim sounds fair on its face,
nnt hum- pTaminntion. The
horse vehicle traffic is amply provided
for by small taxation; tne great roan
hwien that has cnme in recent years
is hppansp nf the auto traffic. Would
it he f.iir to tax the horse vehicle ex
tra to build the costly roads that are
needed for autos t
Horse vehicles do not wear the
roads as do the autos. The impact
of horses' hoofs and narrow iron
tii-ps jlnpe frrin il the surface of a
macadam road, but the heavy damage
is done by the autos in sucKing tne
tiny particles out of the road to be
him hv the wind, in tearine
thp man's t aharn turns which can be
negotiated by horse vehicles with lit
tle extra wear, and in raveling we
thin edges by turnouts.
An autotruck in one trip often dam
ages one road many hundreds of dol
lars, and the property owner has to
make repairs at his own expense. Re-
nairinir thp damage doDC by horse
vehicles is a trifling cost in. propor
tion.
Anal vied, the claims that horse ve
hicles should pay a license fee re-
nlvns itself into an ininstiee towards
the traffic for which the less expensive
road of former years were built Thi
autos cannot justly shift to the hum
ble bona drawn vehicle a portion of
the extra cost incurred solely to pro
vide t VJiuto traffic. Auto owners
We Deliver
THE OREGONIAN
To Your Door
Every Morning
75c Per Month
ELLIS CONFECTIONERY
LH
SHINGLES
DIRECT FROM THE MILLS
TO YOTJ
PHONE US TOR PRICES
WillametteValley
Lumber Co.
Spedhlism vJins
,ge of complex business the "generl
roll ns the "haAQV man. is nam
VA -' 7 V '
The specialist fo trade as well asl
nr other orofesions, wins nowada
L...,'.,n --, adruo vnii (sffipiAnr.lv i
in, uusiucoo iv o"- jv- , .
ialize. We are Wumbers and tmn i
nottirfo- else. II
to
In this
ston,
cappe'
busine
Wean
Rim & Ellis
BEST
OREGON
OREGON'S SUCCESSFUL LIFE INSURANCE COM!
Fumblis Superior Service to Policyholders and
inverts all funds in Oregon securities exclusively
HOME OFFKEi-CORBETT BUILDING. Fifth d M.nia
A. L. MILLS I C. S. SAMUEL JS. .
President General Maiagw '"-""-s.
D. r. pSS. District Manager Polk and Yamhill Count.
POP
ANNOUNCEMENT
IT IS WITH PLEASURE THAT WE ARE ENABLED
NOUNCE THE NEW SCHEDULE OF MEAL RATES
HOTEL GAIL:
MEALS 25c AND 50c
WHEN FOOD PRICES WENT SOARING A FEW MONT
IT WAS NECESSARY TO RAISE OUR MEAL RATES
o x. t it a q HT.T.K SOMEWHAT RED
that i m r. a., v. wi - ,
WE ARE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE OLD RATE.
HOTEL GAIL - DALLAS, 6l
BY CHARLES BILYEU, MANAGER
...OUR PES.
Our Pies are just as good as the "kind
mother used to make," and sometimes
better. We rather like to brag .about
our Pies, and Cakes, too, for that mat
ter. And lots of folks say we are jus
tified. We want you to try them.
Saturday, January 6
Dr. Freeze, the eye
specialist, will make
his first trip for the
WW Von tn T)allni and will contin
ue to do 80 each month as usual. One
price alike to all and fair treatment
assured. Those who take advantage
of the doctor's technical knowledge
and fourteen years' practical experi
ence should get relief from headaches
anv eve troubles. Consultation iree
and all work euaranteed. One day
w 87-89
CANCERS
YOUR.
BAKER
WINTERS
3 ' CflOCOLAI U
DALLAS,' OrEG
I ' " '4 , '
-' ,i.t,,it)HHI t ft t " '""
AND
TUMORS
No knife and Ion of blood. No
plasters and pain for houra or dart,
POLYPUS, GOITRE,
PILES, FISTULA
DISEASES OF
WOMEN
DR. TOEL
ELECTRO-THERAPIST
AND
ELECTRO-SURGEON
DALLAS, ORE.
OFFICE SUITE 10
DALLAS NATIONAL
BANK BUILDING
Star Transfer q
I WE MOVE ANYTHING
V THAT IS MOVEABLE
PROMPT SERVICE
CJL&LC.MUSCOn&A.P.STK:
PhoM Staada:
-WMtar'a Canfeetioaerr 511
, Ban 1074
EUia' OafJo
JOSEPH A. FI1VLE)
CCNDUCTOB POBTLANE OBATOBI0 SOOTTl
OONDUCTOB tT.rr. VnT.TC
SfPEBVISOB OF MUiilU 1X1 iianuaa
In Portland Studio wo ito?" k
Tuesday and WednMaar .
f InP
iconday,
Teaching m DaBai
s
Thnradayi, Fridayi and Saturday,
Tl.tl.. nnmla IrMJiV XBMITa
IV rur - -
Write The Observer if interested
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