East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1914-12-26

were the business under private con-
troll
The falsity OF such a statement is
apparent at a glance. Insurance un-
der the compensation au, is optional
both to worker and employe. SO is
private liability insurance OF all sorts.
il is obvious that were the charges
by the state higher than those by
private companies the state commits
sion would secure no business. The
new department has been confronted
with no such predioament, on the
contrary it has enjoyed very heavy
patronage and the fact it is the best
possible answer to whether it pro-
vides a desirable service.
Doubtless changes in the compen-
sation law may be needed. No
doubt the cost at the start is greater
than they will be after the system is
firmly established. But these facts
relate to details Of administration and
not to the principle involved. The
general policy is sound and legisla-
tors should not let liability companies
or damage suit lawyers flimflam
them into believing anything to the
contrary.
Don't take any stock in man who
goes about predicting that the end
of time is at hand. for
The Prophets he is pessimist his
OF Evil. liver is out of order
and he needs strong
medicine. Put your faith in the man
who breaches the doctrine of the rain
bow and sunshine, harvest and seed
time. Pin your faith to him who
reads the Bible as a promise instead
Of threat and your life will be
brighter. and when you come to die,
you viii be glad that you harvested
the honey from the flowers Of life
which God put here for your reaping
From the Sterling City News-Rec-
ord.
Present reports indicate a proba-
t!Ity that Italy will be drawn into the
war through her in
IL Italy terest in Albania. Thus
Goes to War. far the Italian gov
striving to keep out of the turmoil
but in anticipation of being forced
to take part has kept her army mo-
bolized.
Prior to the war Italy was mem
Der Of the triple alliance with Ger
many and Austria-Hungary. 1t was
defensive alliance and each power
was pledged to aid the other should
one be attacked by two or more ma
tons. Italy refused to come to the
aid Of Germany and Austria on the
ground that Germany was the aggres-
sor and was not attacked. The real
reason is said to have consisted in
an anti-war sentiment in Italy and to
the fact Italy has an old quarrel with
Austria over territory taken from
Italy by Austria.
1t is now generally understood that
should Italy enter the war her forces
will be thrown to the support Of the
allies and against the Germans and
Austrians. Italy has a naval strength
about on a par with what Austria had
at the opening Of the war. She has
1s battleships four of them being
dreadnaughts. 22 cruisers. Sc torpedo
boats, 35 destroyers and 25 subma-
rines The Italian aerial services
maintains something like 40 aero
planes. The field army on a peace
footing consists of 100000 men which
was smaller than the peace army of
Austria. On a war basis Italy would
have from one to two million soldiers.
Military service in that country is
compulsory and universal.
II Italy should enter the war her
operations would logically be direct
ed against Austria and Turkey with
which latter country she was only re-
Gently at war. The Italian activities
might be confined entirely to obtaining
things that Italy wants and If SO
would have no decisive bearing on the
main struggle now waging in Belgium
and northern France. The most reas-
enable view to take is that Italy will
keep out of the war thus profiting
through being one big nation Of south
ern Europe escaping the calamity.
~SS~O$OO-S
III CHANCES AT HISTORY