The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-07-09

Much interest attaches, from an en- gineering standpoint, to the trip of the batteship Delaware to Spithead England, where it is participated in the naval cere- monies incident to the coronation, and re- turn, for the reason that the vessel is eX- pected to make the entire round trip
 without taking on additional coal. The
 ship was directed to proceed at the rate
 of 12 knots. and it is believed that she
 will succeed in returning home without
 taking on coal on the other side, unless
 considerable cruising is done, which is not now contemplated.
 l The successful demonstrate which the Delaware is expected to make in this re- spect will show a material Improvement in the condition on board battleships, and with the use of oil as an auxiliary fuel amounts to military asset. One thing which makes the accomplishment possible | is the economy of fuel expenditure. It will help toward the relieving of tine situ- ation which finds the fleet with insufficient colliers. while it does not render it un- necessary, by any means, to regard the coliers as of any less importance.
 The Washington friends Of Elmer Dover, one time right hand man of the late Senator Hanna, were rather aston ished that he registered as from Portland, Oregon, on his recent visit to Washing ton.
 For a few years MT. Dover lived in Portland as the manager for a great cor poraton that controls public utilities in nearly 100 cities, and it is the Dover op- servation that, after all, business is more attractive than politics. This is a very frequent remark by men who have tried both.
 My new home state, Oregon, was the first to pass a law requiring the election of delegates to national conventions by primaries said Dover. 'It is called the Oregon plan, and other states are inclined to try it. t.
 Naturally there will be much interes, all over the country in the actual work ings of the Oregon plan, but there seems enthusiasm in Oregon for the plan, and comments are unnecessary until we see the results next year.
 ''As for the republicans in Oregon, I think they are very much disposed to favor the renomination of President Taft, and not only in Oregon, but all through the west there is a growing appreciation of the President, and very sincere oe- mand for his renomination l can see no disposition in oregon to use the new vot- ing system against him, or in favor or any other republican candidate.
 What the democrats will do under the Oregon plan of voting I cannot say since have not been home since the visit or Woodrow Wilson to the state. The re- ports indicate that he. made a. good inn pression among democrats in Oregon and all along the Pacific coast. So he will, no doubt figure prominently by the time the democratic primaries are held in the states"
 Vice Governor Newton W. Gilbert of the Philippine Islands, formerly a mem Der of the House from Indiana. Gilbert lis in the state for a vacation. It is the first time he has been here since he re- signed from Congress, five years ago, to go to the Philippines, where he was ap- | pointed to the bench. He made the trip
 to Manila with the now famous Taft party"
 Governor Gilbert ridicuIes the sugges-
 ton of possible trouble between the l United States and Japan.
 "The responsible government of Japan l has no intention of going to war with
 any nation, least of all with the United l States" said Governor Gilbert at the New l Willard. Japan has serious problems con- l fronting her in Corea, Formosa and Man
 churla. These problems are keeping her
 very busy, and with the further burden l of backing many of the industries of
 the nation. particularly shipping. the
 country has no time for war. But if
 there were no other reason for cultivat- | ing friendship with the United States,
 Japan realizes that this country furnishes
 her greatest source of income. The ex-
 ports from the port of Yokohama last year. for instance, were approximately | $100, ,000.0Jo. half of which came to the United States Would the Japanese gov-
 ernment entertain for a moment prop osition to cut of this market. The