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THE FLESHERTON ADVANCE. CURRENT COMMENT Another Hydro Commission. I'rrmicr L»rury, nftcr lifttcn years of JlydroKleetric education in On- tario, 1)88 ai>]iroacliC'(l tho quration ua a nuw atudent. lie wants ioformatioi, which in a iredituble iltuirc, and he hopi'S to get it sjitodily by the appoint- uirnt of a Hoyul C'oinniissiou. i'ivc men on a ituyal Commission may take a year or more to arrive at a conclusiou. If Premier Drury called in ilvo emi- nent capitalists and said to them: " Gontlcmcn, I have three radial railways which 1 uin offered at a bargain by tho Federal government; I have a fran- chise for radial railways covering the banner proviuee of Canada; with that goes the additional franchise of the distribution of power and light to the people of the province; moreover, we have ^.'18 munacipalitics who have guar- anteed your bonds by a vote; and 138 of these are townships representing the interests of tho farmers. We have spent seven years of getting infor- mation and threshing out the subject und this infurmutioii has been laid before the people and they have voted accordingly. Will you, gentlemen, look into this matter, and accept our franchises anil prncced witli these plaii8"f If Premier Drury made this proposal to live eminent capitalists, how long would they bo before accepting bis offer/ They would hasten to have him put the offer into writing before he changed his mind, and the prospectus they would publish and the $100,000,000 corporation they would lloat, and the .jubilntiou they would indulge in, would be worthy of the "pudding" they had discovered. Premier Drury has been led to regard tho llydro-Klectric franchises of Ontario as liabilities. They are well known to corporationists as the greatest assets the province possesses. For (ifteeu years Ilydro-Klectrie power hns been before the people. It was difficult to convince Premier Drury 's predecessors that Hydro was an asset and not a liability. But Hydro has saved the people of Ontario $17,000,000 in rates, and they know that similar achievements are certain for Hydro radials. The advantage of <livid- ing the overhead charges of the radials with power distribution appears to have been entirtdy overlooked in the calculations of the skeptics opposing the radials. Nor have they admitted on the other hand the advantage to the farmer of getting electric power and light cheapened by the same division <if overhead charges with the radials. There is no other way in which the farmer can be served with this civilizing factor. It is to be hoped that the Hoyal Commission will be able to make up its mind us quickly as the emi- nent capitalists would in tho case suggested and that there will be as little delay as possible in recognizing the value ef this provinciol asset. JOKE!! [ The New Prime Minister. Hon. Arthur Meighcn assumee the premiership with the good wishes of his party. It is felt by many students of the political situation that his choice for the office indicates a belief on the part of other possible candidates for the offico that a prolongation of tho coalition of 1917 could not be expected loi:g to continue. The withdrawal of Hou. Mr. Itowell lends weight to this view. He has been one of the ablest supporters of the coalition, and no man has gained more weight and respect in the country iu spite of the hos- tility he has undoubtedly incurred at the same time from those opposed to the policies with which he has been identified. The refusal of Sir Thomas White to accept tho leadership is quite accurately based on the state of his health and his private affairs, but it is possible that had a less strenuous prospect been presented in the duties lying before the new premier he might have been induced to take it. There does not seem to be any real confidence in the continuation of a coalition government among those who know most about practical politics. Coalition is simply a pis aller iu view of the break up or break down of tho old party systems. In this respect one party is no better ofl' than the other. Ho they support coalition in the hope of possible benefit therefrom. The political signs throughout tho country indicate the neccsfiity for the creation of new programs, the recognition of new issues, the choice of new representatives. What is most urgently needed is reform in electoral methods, tind tho success everywhere attained by the method of proportional representation where it has been applied, points to its adoption by the Federal government as the very best means of composing the present disturbed, or at least disorganized, conditions, and recovering the political poise of the country f The first virtue of i'. K. is in its tUscovery of the strongest men of the nation. When the strongest men get elected, which they admittedly do under tho present electoral system, they will spejdily evolve working relations, reorganize party methods, and raise the tou'.' of the whole political life of tho country. I'ew men object to party govern- ment with such ends and aims; it is partisan government that arouses the enmity of the honest and induces the despair of the wise. Proportional rep- resentation presents the most practical path to tho purification of party politics. The Chippawa Development. Somewhat unexpectedly work on the Chippewa ilevelopincut was resumed after an agreement between the Ilydro-Klectrie commission and representatives of the labor men, which was brought about by Mayor MeUride of llrautford, and Ueorge llalerow, another member of the Legislature. The conferiMice, which ini^luded Tom Moore, Joe Ijibbons und John Flett, as well as Sir Adam Heck and the Hydro engineers, sat all day and well into the night, and ar- rived at a settlement which was said to be perfectly satisfactory to all par- ties. In regard to the ten-hour day, which was accepted for part of the men, a straight ten-hour wage was agreed uixin, avoiding the dilTicultios of the overtime charge. As nmny men as could possibly \»- placed on eight- hour shifts wore arranged for, and this three shiti plan it is hoped will work out according to estimates. The necessity tor getting the work linished so as to assure the delivery uf power to the amount required at the stipulated time, is the real reason for iising the two ten-hour shifts, loss of time by weather anil other causes rendering the extra work necessary. Four hours oil are required for pumping and other necessary adjustments. The (Jomniission, iu order to facilitate tho work of construction and to make up for the time already lost, has purchased live more locomotives, tiO cars and two more of the huge Mogul shovels. It is reported privately that eminent iudepen>lent engineering ojiiniou states that the ('hippewn station is in the best possible place, that the work will he finished at the time agreed upon, and that the cost will be within the estimates. The skiqytica as usual will refuse to be- lieve until they see (;hi])pcwa power operating the Hydro radials ami sup- plying I'remier Drury 's farm with light and jiower. The Presidential Nominations. in the nomination of James .M. Cox, (iovernor of Ohio, as Democratic candidate for the presidency of the United .States, Ohio, has had a unique experience in the recognition of its "favorite sons", the Hipublicaii caiuliilate, Kenator Harding, being also a resident of tho Buckeye atAt*. Uonom, bvtk men are newspapi^r editors and proprietors, anil Imth were mwsboy.s when their ago justified such occupation. The selection of these men indicates not a weakness in the principles of ileniocracy but a weakness in tho meth- ods of democratic nmchinery. It is quite certain that could a poll of the people of the Fnited States have been taken without these nominations that neither of them would have llieen anywhere near at the head of the jioll. It is ijuite possible for a minority \ole to elect one of these gentlemen liresident of the republic, which is supposed to be governed by mnji>rities. Ho it is not quite fair to speak of the failure of denioerncy when it is the failure of democratic niethoils that is in i|uestioii. It is clear that liolh MU'n were noniinateil in default of agreement ii|ion stronger men. They were choicn without regard to piiramuunt foreign considerations in order to gratify domestic sentiment on duuiestie issues. To (!annitiaiis it is a matter of in- difference which worthy edit<ir tills the presidential chair. Perhaps the l-eague uf Nations and the world's ]ieace might fare a little better at the hands of Mr. Cox, hut Amerieon politics aru never what they seem. I German Competition Ahead "Tho German nation, " says The oliserMr, "is uiiinistak.-il.ly recovering that iiheer power of work which waa the chief secret of its former strength, both in peace unil war. This is the big fact that our own more easy going democracy will soon have to reckon with." And this fact has behind it for all easy going worker! that competition is still the animating principle of business, and in tho Htrugglo of competition the easy going worker is bound to lose out. He inaiitB on higher wagea, and thla would bo a simple matter if ho produoed accordingly, but if ho fails to produce in profitable measure his nuirkets go to his competitors who arc not afraiil to lay their backs to their work because th«y know that not only their own living but their national existence depends upon it. Nor will co-operation ever wholly abolinh this need of honest labor. For nations can only live by exchange on an equitable basis, and those who fail to produce cannot expert to fare equitably in the world's markets. There is the altnrnative of living self-contained in nnr own national boundaries, but no onoi irrloualy propose! that plan. Foolish Francesca By Olive Wadsley (Continued from last week.) So all day, and every day, Fran- cesca rose gaily and put on one of her cheap outre little frocks and danced up the stairs to the sunshine and Wyu- ton. He found her an extremely welcome relief to the tedium of his days. Cow- an and Dasent, who were both going back on sick leave, were laid low. The excitement, the sense of coming gaiety and freedom induced by the knowledge that he was going home, his own fitness, and the emptiness of the days, made him a dangerous compan- ion. Francesca amused him immensely. Her opinions on things, views freely aired and primarily culled from Phry- nette or Paul, her casual bonhomie, which seemed so grown-up and was, in reality, merely an effect of self-con- scious youth, all made him entirely fail to realize her as she was. If he definitely pondered the matter, he usually ended up by defining her as a "precocious, sporting little kid." i ,„„. ,, „ ,. t,' ' -;â-  Frankie possessed only one of her at- ^yj' . Frankie said unsteadily, tributed qualities; she was really small Her supposed precocity described aa "the indiscreet assigna- tion. ' ' "Silly ass you are, Christopher," Cowan returned rather shortly. He did not consider Wynton was quite playing the game. Francesca looked too young, too much a flapper, with her short curls and her skimpy little frocks. It was nearly nine before Wynton reached the little shelter at the back of the stairs where so often in the evening Frankie and he had sat. In the music-room, just below, Mrs. Will- son was singing. "Hello, FranJcie!" Wynton said as he turned the corner of the door. "Oh, Kit," Frankie 'a voice said, al- most despairingly. They had been "Kit" and Frankie" almost at onee. Wynton had said it was absurd to be strictly formal. ' ' Oh, Kit, are you cross 1" She came toward him, her short curls blown up from her brow, her eyes wide and distressed. "You funny little kid, but of course not. Why should I bet" You never came, once, all these THE BRAIN BOX By E. Cunn-Ram»ay Lesson IV. July 26. DAVID SUCCEEDS SAXTL AS KINO. Printed Text â€" 2 Sam. 2: 1-7; 5: 1-5. Oolden Text. â€" "Trust in Jehovah with all thy heart, .\nd lean not upon thine own under- standing." â€" Prov. 3: 5. Historical Setting. Time.- 10*53 and 1055 B.C. Place- Hebron. Daily Readings. Monday, July 19.- â€" Death of Saul (1 Sam. 31: 1-0). Tuesday, July 20.â€" David's Lamentation (2 Sam. 1: 17-27). Wednesday, July 21. â€" David Made King of Judah (2 Sam. 2: 1-7). Thurs- day, July 22. â€" David Crowned King of nil Israel (2 Sam. 5: 1-10). Friday, July 2;i. True Success (Matt. 25: 14- 29). Saturday, July 24. â€" Winning a t^'rowa (,1 Cor. it: lG-27). Sunday, July 25.- -A Crowu of Highteousness (,2 Tim. 4: 1-8). Ooiuments. 2: 1 Between the last lesson anU this occurred David's year and four months umoiig llie Philistines and c.vile, be cause of .Saul's wrath (I Sam. 27-30). The Philistines were enemies, but Da- vid managed it by becoming a vassal of the Pbilistiae king .\cish. In a comparatively short time Saul died (,2 Sam. I: 110). Hebron was twenty miles south of Jerusalem. Verse 2. .\t this time David was in au entangling alliance with the Philis- tines, who had overwhelmed the uortli- em tribes of Israel, and was somewhat distrusted by his owu couutrymen. Verse 3. Being practically an out- law, David gathered about him his owu people and a nondescript group of oth- ers â€" ' ' debtors, fugitives from justice and discontented persons generally. "' .Some of these made his bravest sol il ers. They all nuw came to Hebron. Verse 4. Samuel had already anoint - I'd David privately i^l.essou XI., see- j end quarter), but this was his public formal iu:iuguiatiou by the people of ] Juilah. Verse 5. David here expressed per- sonal giatituile to the [>eople of Jabesli- gilead for their burial of Saul ^1 Sam. 31: 7-13) and also held their loyalty. Verse (>. Daxid was not an enemy to Saul, though Saul was Daxid's eu eniy. David was really grieved because of Saul's unfortunate, disastrous ca- reer. .Saul was Jehovah's anointed and David '.s king. Verso 7. Saul's kingdoiu was totter ing to ruins, and David's announce nient of his own kingship was welcome. fi: 1. David was about thirty years old when atioiated king of Judah. •Seven and one half years elapsed be- fore he was anointed king of Israel. Head intervening chapters. Verse 2. It was really David who was their hero iqi to the time of bis exile. They rememberod tJolinth and David's signal victory over him. Verses 3-5. Doubtless the covenant .stated "the duties and rijjhts of the king of a limited monarchy and of his subjects. ' ' Illustrated Truth. The wise person is not merely tho one who seeks direction, but also the one v.ho seeks it in the right |>lace. ^v. 1.1 Illustration. David eouUl doubtless have found many people who were will ing to advise him, but he did not risk human counsel. A phy.sicinu was called to see a woman who seemed to 1)1 dnu geroiisly ill. There were some puzzling â- iMnptoniM, theri'fore ho (pu>8tioued the patient closely. She had been sick for some time, she told bini, but lindn 't been able to fell what the trouble real ly was. "You should have consulted some one," the doctor said severely, "Oh, 1 dill," was the reply. "I asked everybody in the neighborhood what 1 had better takp, and n number of them gave me medicine, but it didu 't seem to do any good." WHICH WAY ARE YOU LOOKING? In that (|uaint old story by John iBuuyau called "The Pilgrim's Prog- jrcss". which jjictured often so true to j life, the various tribulations and re- I joicings which may befall a man in his journey through this old world of ours, there were two characters who took the opposite side upon every question. One was au optimistic fellow who il- ways looked upon the brightest side of I 'lingo, and had the faith to expect some good even where evil migu*. abound. The other one was always in t;ie depth of despiiir and appeared to de- li^jht in preJictiug ;«ll kind of t rage lie.; and difficulties .Mr. Hopeful and Mr. Despair are still trotting around this world. In tho -ijise of teachers and preachers, writ- it* auu UKfcliants, statesmen and workers of all kinds, they still live on. They are scattered throughout society, the two opposite*, of pessimism and op- timism, and when you meet an opti- mist you think, '•My, that fellow is i|Hite 11 tonic: his point of view has certainly cheered me up," and when you meet the other fellow, who is j;roaniug with predictions of future disasters, you think, "Thank goodness tnc whole world isnt made up of just kind of nature." Hut, ••bide a wee," as the Scots- man would say. there is such a thing as a liiippy medium, â€" to have the wis- duui to know the signs of the times, and yet â€" to refrain from being too dire, or to be wise enough to guard i.};!'.iiist au over foolish contidence in uhat is practically nonexistant. Which Way Are You Looking? Vou may tell me that for your part >ou are sitting actually on the divid- ing fence between these two positions, cud so you are able to give a glance ill both directions, and sum up your own eouclusions. S^o far. you are wise, but there are sure and certain indica tiims to-day that we are upon the eve III' a change. What the change will ncau to Canada, iluring the next year, wlui cull prophecy .' It is interestini; just now to read various statements by men who should know conditions. For nmny mouths pa^ we have been ca- leering along at a nuid pace with high wages, high prices, everything on tho rise. Many business men now say that there is ^oiaK to l>e a halt. Others say that when the halt comes, it will bring with it a slackness which will mean tliat many will be looking for work. Which Way WiU You Look Then? .\rt' you indispensable.' or do viiu only think you arc? .\re you one of the people who is earning a good salary today? What lire you doing with it that your future may be safef Without urging you to pessimism, or looking for trouble, it would be a wise move upon the part of every worker who is making good money to day to save all that he possibly can. l.et the high price of all kinds of arti cles lie your excuse for saving as much of your surplus money as you possibly can. In times of slackness of work, it Ir the misfits, those who just take their job from numth to month, in the same routine without seeking to improve their methods or their output, who are the first to go. What About Your Work? .\re yon a real asset in the place where you workf It '» great to be optimistic. We need iqitimists, but true ojitimism does not mean failure to ••look ahead." Just think if a period of unemployment camo upon this country, would ittouch vou f Could it touch youf What are you doing with yourself and your work for your own protection f Have you always thought so much about the value of your work, that when a crisis comes, you would be one of the last that your employer could spare. WHICH WAY ARE YOU LOOK- mo? I.OOK AHEASI for her age! was merely the result of always having lived with people older than herself, and of having been accepted by them on their own level! She was immensely ignorant for her age on many matters. She had read, largely, novels of a certain type, "Ouida-Uke" ones, which contained a marvelous and noble hero, and an ill-used but saintly heroine. Love, as a real thing, she had never thought much about; as a nebulous, queer and, perhaps, fascinating event, occasionally. Paul had said once or twice with a smug complacency that he ••rather fancied Frankie was a deuced sight better brought up than most girls, and he 'd seen a few." In essentials it was true. She had absorbed certain cheap ideas about position, breeding, and the ••cor- rectness ' ' of things â€" unimportant de- tails after all in the scheme of lifeâ€" from Phrynette, and she was rather lax about money matters, and some- times shiftless with regard to the truth; but she was, iu the big things, straight, and she had never, in all her seventeen years, heard about, worried about, or discussed sex problems. She was a child with a girl's intui- tion and charm. Wynton was a man of the world and an accomplished flaneur, and the weather was ideal and he discovered that Francesca had a voice. She whis- pered the great ambition to him shyly â€" she wanted to be a singer. ' ' I shall earn money as a governess or something, and then when I 've got a little go to Mr. Fawcettâ€" he's our lawyer, you knowâ€" to ask him to make Phrynette let me have just enough to help me live while 1 take lessons, and then â€" afterward â€" afterward â€" ' ' Her eyes glowed, she flushed deli- cately. ••Well, afterward? What then, you excited small person}" Wynton quer- ied. Francesca caught hold of his arm with both her hands and pressed it tightly. ••Life, and all the world in front of me," she said. She was trembling with eagerness, with the tumult of hope. •'You seem to have the temperament all right," he said, smiling at her. ••D'you lueau you think I'll be able to act? Act, 1 mean in grand opera f" "What ambitions!" "What's the good of going in for anything if you're not ambitious? M\ the while I keep saying: "1 believe in it and it will come true.' Things do, you know, if one believes hard enough and goes 'all out' to get them." "Do they indeed?" he said teas- ingly. "Vou 're rotting me, laughing at me, but it's true all the same. If you want a thing liard enough and never stop wanting it, and do iinything in the world you can think of to get it, you will get it.' ' '•.â- \nd by that time you won't want it," Wynton murmured. bht flashed round upon him. "Oh, won't 1? Vou just wait! I'il bet you if I do make a success that 1 'I' adore it. I think it must be sim- l'l_\ gorgeou? to get there." Wynton taught her one or two things about singing. He had an attractive voice himself, and had trained a'luer Diiroy iu Paris for a few months. Francesca was too young, of course, he decided; but she could sing, lie was right, she could. And together every morning they practised and played. Frankie loved it all: Wyntou's clothes, his way of speaking, his infec- tious laugh. Kverythiug about him seemed to her very splendid and right. :iiui he devoted liimself entirety to her - until the end of the week when tlie NHcll abated, and people began to come up again on deck. For the flrst day she thought, per tiaps, he was ill. She saw him once ;ifter lunch sitting beside Mrs. Will son, leaning over her chair. He lookcJ :ntlier serious, she thought, aid pale, lie smiled nt her, though. But wh.'ii ihree days passed and he never came, or only for a few minutes occasiouallv, she suddenly found that she was in finitely distressed at his absence. She felt 8hy, and afraid, and for- lorn, and after waiting all one after- noon for him, she sent a note to his cabin by the steward; ' • Please eome and talk to me to- night. I'll wait at the top of the stairs at half past eight. Are you cross with met "FRANKIF." Wynton read it, and since he was merely ordinarily selfish and not whol Wj-nton laughed again easily.' "One must put in a bit of attend- ance with the wife of one's C. O., you know, kiddie, ' ' he said. ' ' Come along, sit down and be good. So you've real- ly missed mef" Frankie nodded. "Oh, if you only knew how much," »\t0 said happily. "You see, I've never had a friend like you before, and it did leave a blank when you went away and never came back." She leant toward him. She was rather over-scented with some sweet, clinging perfume which was reminis- cent of jasmine. .-V curl blew against Wynton 's face as she moved her head. The words of a song floated to them, one clear, soft note semed to linger: "I hear you calling me â€" " With a little sigh of pleasure at the loveliness of the voice, Francesca said: "I wish I'd heard you calling me lately I" ** She laughed very softly, and for an instant placed her hand on Wvnton's. He started a little. The slight ca- ress, the haunting refrain of the song, and Francesca 's obvious real unhappi- ness because he had forgotten her; all combined to induce a sense of quick- ened interest in her. He turned and looked at her in the dim light. She smiled back at him, her small, pale face alight. "Dear little girl," he said sudden- ly, "so you'll miss me, will vou, at the end of the voyage?" "Shan't I ever see you in London?" she asked blankly. ••You said you'd be in London, too, in a month o'r so^ and surely Shepherd's Bushâ€" that's the place I'm going toâ€" isu 't verv far away. You put 'London' after "it in addresses. ' ' "Would you mind if I didn't come?" "Frightfully," she said. "Oh, Kit, you will, won't youf You are the only real friend I've gotâ€" anv- where." "Poor little, lonely lady!" He put his arm round he'r protecting- ly; she seemed very small, and alone, and unprotected. With a little murmur she leant her head against his shoulder. Mrs. Willson began to sing "The Kosary." " '•I love that song," Frankie said, a little breathlessly. "It sort of wakes me all up, and makes me feel happv and yet unhappy. Have you ever felt like that?" He smiled a little. "I 'in not such a bundle of emo- tions." (To Be Continued.) ly inconsiderate, and was also only moderately attracted by Mrs. Willsoii, decided to keep what, to Cowan, he NEWSPAPER RIGHTS. There are some men who have pe- culiar Ideas about a newspaper. Thev regard it not as a business, but as "a convenience. If the paper reaches them late, or fails to give everv item of news, or its conduct toward them IS in a manner they do not like, thev then very properly make a business matter of it, because thev have bar- gained tor something they 'are not get- ting. They make these issues everv day in the year, except the first dav. when the business idea is forgottei. and he only thing uppermost is a plea get out of paying what thev honestly owe the paper. These same men will meet the news- paperman with a smile, offer him a ^•igar, and then ask him to sav in his paper they are the most enterprising and progressive citizens in the towir. that s their idea of business. -Now, the newspaper is a business. It IS not a glory machine. It can no more hve on sentiment than can its employes. It may surprise vou. but typesetters don 't work for nothing and u> amount of persuasion will induce them to do it. It's true you mav onlv owe us »2 for a year's back subscrip- tion yet If three or four hundred sub- scribers reason like you. that we col- lect the news for tho fun of it, print- ers work all week just to print it out tor you, the paper mills give us the paper just because they want to see ui do well, the machinery men give ui machinery for the same reason, then it becomes a different matter; instead of »•- worth of glory it is $200 cash each week for help and supplies. The newspaper business is made up 0. small things, and it is such items, which, If collected, enable the proprie- tors to improve the sv-.vtce and pav off all obligations promptly, but which if deprived of for trivial reasons makes the cash account short and the news- paper man has to grovel along under a weight of about sixty pounds to the square inch. Perhaps you have never given any thought to our subject on this line; if not, then, if this article serves to call your serious attention to it, its mission has been accomplished.