The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-10-03
PLAIN TALK.
ON Plain sabIee,.
by A PLAIN OMAR.

| The slraws which the farmer burns
are OF much more consequence than
many Of the political straws seen float
ing with the current, and bounced about
by the newspapers OF the country
What counts Is the vote on election day.
| Where you will fiud the straw moving
in one direction in one locality or under
one circumstance You will find ~ NOV
Ing IN another direction In another 10
callty or under different circumstances.
IL Is true that a straw tells which way
the stream goes, but where there are
thousands ofstraws floating Ia different
waters, you certainly can not judge Of
the direction OF one stream by straw
sailing In another five nundIed miles
away. Straws are fraiI things and il
IL poor policy 20 place much depen-
dence on them unleEs they are all TO.
gether In wheat field or barn.
-
When you can hear the crack Of the
gun from early morn I'LL late at night,
eight shots for quarter, yeu may make
up your mind that times are not as
dull as some would make them. Shoot
ing galleries are geed things OF this ac-
count +; they teach the people that they
really are flush whether their store and
newspaper bills are paid or not To be
= good shot is fine thing but bet
ter thing is 10 be square with the world,
The man who II has right 10 buy bub.
bles on which 20 try 20 ride 20 the moon
II lie pleases the man who is not
should &c "leetle bit SLOW"
The postmaster in an Eastern city
ike New York has men who can pick
up letter or paper covered with few
lilies tracks" and send lt into the box
where IL should go after only q single
glance no can read writing, and lie
has sense enough 10 appreciate the
fact that there are few SpOncerian
writer's but, Ab, me. what q contrast
ls presented ia the small country post
Offices In Oregon. OF which there are
two or three notable cases In Linn
county. not In Albany am glad 20 say.
Tho postmaster Is such an ignorAmus
In some Of those cases that II the hand
writing IL run along in q business style,
and the letters kept together, he can
not deciper IL to save him, The only
things he can read rapidly are printed
names. The postmaster who under
accepts the position that it H. q part OF
the trade TO read writing right side up,
bottom up, sideways and topsy. tervy,
and II he is not q good hand at IL he
should Immediately resign.
-
A trip TO Portland and back for 81 is
big thing In Oregon, being about one
fourth Of the regular rate yet In the
East have often rode on the New
York Central three or four miles farther
for s.. "a. the regular fare. being two
cents q mile. Here about 81 Sd is charg-
ed for the same distance. IL iE entirely
too much both for the road aud the
people. More money would be made At
q less rate on account OF greatly In
creased travel. The rate should be ~
low as three cents q mile, or 81 40 from
Albany 20 Portland, and probably will
be within year or two.
s.$
The early closing of stores is one
which has been advocated In Portland
and as well In Albany. Last year an
attempt 20 have them closed st seven
o'clock was made 7; nearly all the mer
chants signing an agreement 20 do 80
bat theTefusal ef one or two to have
anything to do with it knocked the
whole thing In the head. Another a.
tempt 10 being made. but these san'
parties IL is presumed will again refus'
aud put quietus TO the affair. One
perssn could attend 10 all thu busines
done In any store In Alany on Dearl.
ali evenings. The merchant II he take'
an interest In the matter. and We know
aeveFal hare do can easily arrange u
give hIs clerks at least two IL not thre
nights in the week beginning at SUP
per time. The best way though Is Il
close up entirely. with perhaps the ex
ception Of Saturday night.