davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
PECK IN POLITICS.

The election of George W. Peck, who has
won fame in this country as the author of
"Peck's Bad Boy" and of drama in perfect
harmony with the adjective, to the Mil
waukee MayoraltY, has elements in it that
attract some attention in the West. The
fact that a man whose humorous efforts in
dicate the belief that vulgarity and stupid
ity are the only elements of wit, should be
the chosen head of considerable CITY.
would be of itself of remarkable nature.
But the lily is painted In this case. Mr..
Peck is elected on the platform of opposition
to the Wisconsin law, which requires the
common school branches to be taught in the
English language. The attitude of Peck
therefore is very clearly to the effect that
teaching the elements of education in the
language OF this country is an interference
with the private right of ignorance and the
personal liberty of knowing nothing outside
of foreign languages, that must be sternly
voted down.
1t is observed that some of our Western
papers think that Mr.. Peck has got himself
into false and inconsistent position BY po-
litical victory on such platform; but that is
an entire misconception of Peck. The entire
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
PTTTsBURG,s POLYTECHNIC.

The Western University, as established in
its new and commodious buildings on OBJ
servatory Hill. is naturally a subject of pride
and interest to Pittsburgers. The interest
and pleasure will be greatly enhanced by
the important additions to its educational
features, which form the subject of a article
elsewhere. The need of Pittsburg for high
scientific and technical training has often
been pointed out, as arguing the necessity
of establishing polytechnical school here
1t is gratifying to observe that the oppor-
tunity afforded by the changes in the Uni
versity buildings has been utilized so that,
in addition to the former classical course,
the University now comprises a polytech-
nical school, fully equipped for instruction
and original research in practical science
Pittsburg will be prompt to recognize the
unlimited scope of usefulness which the
new features of the University comprise.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
THE ROSS HYPEoTTZE.

When Messrs. Claassen, Pell & Co. went
in for wholesale bank wrecking in n =:
York month = two ago, the general public
did not hesitate to assign motives and pur-
poses of crimin character to those au-
dacious financi -. 1t has been left to a
theosophic.l society of that city to discover
that the men whom the world has dubbed
common, or rather uncommon, swindIers
were the involuntary agents Of a hypnotizer.
The President of the theosophical society
in question asserts that a man possessing
hypnotizing powers of an extraordinary sort
had control of the whole gang, and
that the buying and looting of
banks was carried out by them
under his influence. We are not
able to see exactly why the master mind
of the hynotizer chose this way of glorifying
theosophy-for that wac his intention. But
the discovery of hypnotism in this new role
may prove a key to many mysteries.
If a man with a master mind can seize
hold of half dozen men and set them to
plundering banks, what cannot he do? We
may have here an explanation of the reck-
less rascalisy of New York City officials.
Perhaps they are all under the influence of
some theosophist with tremendous hypnot-
izing powers. Nothing short of high
pressure hypnotism run at top speed
could subdue Tammany politician. But
it is true that "infooence" has always
counted for good deal in Tammany
Hall, and other centers of political
activity in New York. Hypnotism is
species of 'infooence Perhaps ex-Sheriff
Flack and Mayor Grant and the rest of the
gentry who have been trying to emulate the
record of the Iamented Bill Tweed are
really not responsible for their acts. There
has been always a frmly-rooted belief in
many quarters that His Satanic Majesty
himself takes great interest in New York
politics. The hypnotizer in this case NAV
be the Evil One. This seems very probable
when we come to consider the matter. 1t
sounds prettier and more polite to attribute
mems crimes to a master hypnotizer in the
background. but the truth is the devil is at
the bottom of most mischief in this world.
So tie discovery of the transcendental the
osophists is only an old fact in new coat.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
BARNUMs MORAL BALLET.

The controversy which has arisen between
the only and unrivaled P. 7. Barnum and
local preacher of Bridgeport, Conn, is an
interesting example of the logic which can
be used by people who argue each from his
own preconceived opinions The Bridge
port preacher having arraigned Mr.. Bar
NUNS colossal ballet as immoral and de-
moralizing, of course Barnum hastens to re-
ply. If Barnum does not run moral show,
he would be Barnum no longer. Besides
which controversy over the unique attrac-
tions of the gigantic aggreg alton with which
the New World has entranced the nobility
and aristocracy of the effete monarchies, is
not at all unpleasant to that veteran and
acute advertiser.
Mr.. Barnum crushes the Bridgeport cler-
gyman with the authorities of the Estab-
lished Church of England. The Bishop of
Rochester went to see his show in England,
and certified over his own signature to the
beauty and imposing nature of the ballet.
Archdeacon Sinclair said it was a great
show, and another London clergyman spoke
Of the ballet as exhibiting ''the most chaste
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
IT'S WORK THAT COUNTS.

speechmaking In Congress il Relegnted to
the Useless Fellows of Congress-Peeps
Into the Committee Rooms-Quay and
Cameron Legislators.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPATcB.1
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The real work of
both Houses of Congress does not appear
in the newspapers We now have Congress of
business men rather than body of sophomore
statesmen. and the fowery days of Henry Clay
and Tom Corwin are gone forever. Year by
year stump speaking is dying out. Private
conversation and quiet talks have taken the
place of long-winded harangues, and some of
the hardest workers of both Houses never
make a speech. Four.f of the speeches
which are made are never listened to, and so
per cent of the men whose names appear so
often in the Congressional Record are unin-
fuential blowhards.
The committee rooms are the workshops Of
the Capitol. In them is brewed the solid beer
of legislation. The froth alone appears on the
floor, and, as rule the members who stir the
glass and rouse the foam have little to do with
making the valuable liquid over which they
spout for buncombe. At the beginning of our
history it was possible to consider all bills
which came before Congress in open session.
Now such a thing would be preposterous, and
the immensity of the work which is unloaded
upon Congress increases every year.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
The Increase of Bills.

Each session has fully 20 per cent more bills
than the one that just preceded 1t, and the
present Congress is up to the average. During
the Forty-E1ghth Congress about Il, 900 bills
were presented in both Houses. In the Forty
ninth this number had crawled up to 5000 and
during the last Congress more than H.000 bills
and joint resolutions were introduced into the
House and the Senate. All of these bills have
to be considered in committee, read in the
House and passed or rejected. Most of them
are accompanied by voluminous reports and
some have volumes of arguments and testi-
mony which must be gone through with before
their merits can be decided. Less than one
sixth of them become laws and during the last
Congress out of the l7.0O0 bills only l. 500 were
passed and signed by the President. The divi-
sion of them among the committees is the only
means by which they could be considered at all,
and some curious instances of the ignorance of
Congressman as to their work occurs in regard
to them.
When Senator Manderson first attended the
committee of which he was a member at his
opening session, he was given bill to report
upon, and told the clerks to send the papers in
this bill to his rooms at the Portland Flats, as
he intended to do his work at home. The next
day he received a full barrel of manuscript,
consisting of musty papers and enough closely
written Sheets if pasted together. to have car
peted the whole District of Columbia. 1t took
TWO mail bags to carry them and they took up
as much room as dining table,
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
What n Woman Cnn Do,

us there anything a man can do that
woman can't do?'' asked the woman's rights ad-
vocate. as she adjusted her spectAcles and looked
around upon the audience.
'Ihat's 1t. %" said bald-headed man in the
back Of the hall, put 1t to 'em straight. Bring
these opponents of woman suffrage right to their
mutton.''
you see,' pursued the lady, 1--WE are not
without friends among the stronger SEX
Again ask the question, is there anything man
can do that a woman can't do?''
''Good, good, - cried the bald-headed man, en-
Enthusiastically; ''she can do more. A woman can
do things that man can't do. know it."
''You hear, p" said the lady triumphantly, as she
waved her hand, 'tyou hear what the champion of
our down-trodden sex says. A woman can do
things that ran can't do. Tell us, my friend,
what woman can DO that man can't DO"
''She can talk man to death, by jfnQo, ~ said
the bald-headed man, 'and if you could hear my
old woman when she gets her tongue on to me,
you'd believe it, and don't you furgit it.''
This speech broke up the meeting.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06

THERE are in all 113 committees in both
:. Houses of Congress, and in addition to
these every day or two a select or special COM
mittee is appointed. Each committee has
from 8 to 16 members, and its Chairman repre-
sents it on the floor of House or Senate. The
more important committees have committee
rooms and messengers to take care of them.
These rooms are elegantly furnished. The Ag
ricultural Committee has picture of Cincin-
its door, and the Wavs and Means has ceilings
covered with paintings. These committee
rooms are furnished in mahogany furniture,
costly wood fires blaze away in their open fire.
places, and in not a few of them beautiful
clocks, bronzes and objects of virtu stand on
their mantels under the immense mirrors in
gilt frames.
Not few of these rooms are loafing places
as well as workshops, and in some of the CON-
mittee rooms of the Senate private lunches are
served. Don Cameron has one of the best
Senatorial committee rooms and he frequently
gives little spread here to those he loves.
Senator Plumbs committee room is headquar-
ters for Kansas politicians, and everyone has
heard of the fine old liquors which Edmunds
keeps in his cupboard at the Capitol. ingalls,
has perhaps the finest room in the whole Cap
itol building. He is Chairman of the District
of Columbia Committee and his room is as big
as church, 1t has an elegant Turkish rug on
its Aoor and the guides bring in visitors and
show them fhe room. Senator Quay's commit
tee room isl always filed with his friends who
are waiting 10 see him. He does not very often
appear and he has a watchdog in the shape of
Dick Murphy, his clerk, to keep them off.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
Here Again.

When the earth from winters thralldon IN
released by balmy spring
And the robin and the bluebird overioyed their
carols sing;
When the trees lately gaunt and bare the
starting buds display,
And the fields erstwhiie are decked again I'm
verdurous array;
When the primrose of the summer breatbes In
every balmy breeze
And modest early flowers begin to deck the verdant
leas;
When the sun emerges brightly in the morning
from his bath,
And diHuses golden glory as he climbs bis azure
path,
Then the iceman sees prospect Of disposing ofhis
crop,
And people generally expect that coal will take .
drOn.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
They Improve With Age.

A MANS value to the Government and to the
people rapidly increases with his term of Of
fice A Congressman during his first two years
is worth practically nothing, and we could bet
ter afford to pay such men as Holman and Pay
son $4,000 year than the new members S. 0OO
One of the most valuable members of the Sem
ate is Cockrel. He Is a sort of Senatorial hack
and his brother Senators know that he will
watch every private bill.
The Southern Senators are as rule not as
good business men as those from the North.
They have not had the business training and
their work does not amount to as much. They
lack the grasp of the Northern men, and it
takes them three times as long to get at the nub
of a case. The Western Senators are the hard
est worked. The average Senator from the
West gets from 100 to 200 letters day, while an
Eastern man can dictate answers to his mail IN
an hour. Don Cameron's business ability
comes out frequently in committees. He never
speaks on the floor, and he doesn't work very
hard on committees. but he understands how
to use other men to help him, and he does It,
AS for Payne, of Ohio, he has done nothing
since he came to the Senate, and is doing moth
ing now. Senator Stanford is worker not
withstanding his Millions and he wants to be
on the Committee on Commerce, and will prob
ably get there by and by.
FRANK G. CARPENTER.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
PENNSYLVANIA POLITICS.

SALEM 70. Republican: Colonel Tom Bayne,
who has had the dead cinch on the Allegheny,
Pa, Congressional district for the past 13
years, will have opposition this year in George
Shiras Ill, who promises a gentleman's cam
palgn. The contest will be white-hot one.
WASHINGTON ID. C.) Post: Ex-senator
Wallace has written a Pennsylvania friend
that he would like the Democratic nomination
for Governor, but that he does not intend to be
NOISY" candidate. 1t is to be hoped that the
ex-senator is not contemplating the speak-easy
dodge.
DENVER NeWs: Hon. Andrew G. Curtin.
Pennsylvania's war Governor, thinks the Re-
publicans of that State are involved in quar-
rel which will probably result in the election Of
Democratic Governor. This will depend
largely upon Democratic unity. somewhat
threatened just now by the intrusion of Presi-
dental workers.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
Arrangement of the Committees.

THE committees are by no means made up by
chance, and the greatest caution is used to
get the proper men for the proper places.
Speaker Carlisle nearly broke his health in
laying out the work for the various members
of the House, and big Tom Reed lost many
sleepless nights in the same way last December
The Senate elects Its committees by yea and
nay vote, the majority deciding upon their con-
stitution in caucus. The same wisdom is ex-
ercised in the composition of the committees
as in the House, and the Chairmen have their
specialties. 1t was IN reference to his actions
upon this committee that Ingalls, made that
famous remark about him. He was disposinp
of some objector in his oleaginous manner,
said to ingalls,: "Ain't he slickT'
Yes" said Ingalls,, mes the slickest man in
the Senate. You could put his 200 pounds into
hobnailed wooden clogs and drive him at a ten
mile pace over corduroy road and he wouldn't
make as much noise as Tom-cat slipping
across Turkish carpet after canary bird"
Allison's talent as statesman, his thorough
knowledge OF the Government and his diplo-
matte tendency make him here one of the most
valuable men in Congress
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
THREE GOOD DEEDS.
Frank Murphy Tells Good Story on a
Benevolent Gentleman.

Benevolent Gentleman.
Frank Murphy brought sympathetic tears
to the eyes of his hearers at the dinner Of the
Leather Manufacturers Association by relat-
ing story of benevolence, says the Newark
Journal A friend of his he said, was walking
down to business one morning when he saw a
young woman with baby in her arms sitting
on a church step and weeping. The man, whom
Mr.. Murphy called Jones, was touched by her
apparent distress and asked her what was the
cause of it.
Il walked into town." she replied, ITO have
the baby baptized, and now it Will cost me So to
have the service performed. I haven't the
money and don't know what to do"
"Well that's small matter" said Jones, 'I
haven't So in change, but here's $40 bill. Take
it and will wait here for the change"
The woman returned in short time and
handed Jones 81. He patted the child's head
and went downtown rejoicing in his own good
ness. lie felt good all day and his countenance
shone with an unusual brightness. His asso-
ciates all noticed the change and finally one of
them asked him the cause of 1t.
Il am happier than usual to-day" said Jones,
land the reason of it is that l did three good
things on nv way downtown this morning."
He related the occurrence and wound up by
saying:
$50 performed deed of charity started
little Child on its way to paradise and-got
seven good dollars for a counterfeit $40 bill"
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
A Considerate Husband.

Jinks-Do you ever do any shopping for your
wife?
Binks-No. When she asks me always refuse.
J.-Why?
B.-Because when 1 married her 1 made up
my mind that would never deprive her of any
OF the enjoyments of life.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
The Wayn and Meaus.

THE Ways and Means Committee of the
House in which the tariff agitators are be-
ing daily heard is the finest on that side Of the
Capitol 1t ought to be for it is the most i'm
portant committee of the House. 1t is walled
with tariff documents, and the long table which
fills Its center is surrounded at almost any hour
in the day with noted men.
The bill which it has just prepared affects the
pocket for better or worse Of every individual
in the country. The reconc1ling of the diverse
interests which must be done in such a
measure requires an enormous amount
of work and worry. Mckinley over
worked himself and got sick through
its business some weeks ago, and Roger
@. Mills tells me that the position of Chairman
Of the Ways and Means is cancer which
gnaws at the vitals of the man who holds it.
He says he has not recovered from the work
that he did upon it, and Mckinley, with the
Presidential bee buzzing in his bonnet, is prob
ably more annoyed at the fear of mistake
than Mills was John G. Carlisle spends great
deal of time in this committee room, and
Roswell P. Flower does considerable work
within it. The Chairman of the Ways and
Means has tor years been man of great repu-
tation on one side the other of the tariff
question, and the Chairmen of the various CON-
mittees of both House and Senate are especially
fitted for their respective positions.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
CURRENT TIMELY TOPICS.

THE bill introduced in the New FORK Legisla-
ture to build State prison capable of holding
. OCo prisoners should be recalled, and build one
that will hold double the number, stop the
Tammany investigations.
THE Globe Democrat says St. Louis never
wanted the fair. A person is led to believe then
that her Congressmen merely talked to hear them
selves talk as they are invariably sat down upon
when a debate is in progress. 1t sounds a good
deal like the story told why Jack didn't eat his
supper.
TODAY the Easter hat will attract more at
tention then the sermon. The day Of sackcloth
and ashes is over.
THE average bibbler will not be compelled to
walk so far from one saloon to another after May
l. He will not wear out his shoe leather quite SO
fast but it will cost more money If he wants to pay
his respects to all of the lucky ones In the long
run he will probably be loser.
A BILL is pending in the New York Legisla-
ture exempting newspaper men from jury duty
Men with brains are exempted in nearly every
State in the Union and the New York Legislature
should see that it becomes a law there.
BAD roads, says an exchange, is said to be
the cause for the scarcity Of eggs. Hens should
retire at once from the business.
THE number of head reducers in the shape
of half pints sold in Pittsburg every Saturday is
astonishing. The amount is simply limited to the
number of bottles in stock.
ABILENE, Kan, pays its Mayor s25 year.
and expects him to be judicious, progressive and
devote his time to the service of the city. The
good always die young. Hence the corn growers
will have to skirmish for a competent man to fill
the bill outside of that State.
AFTER the 1st of May man can get drink
in Pittsburg when he is dry without walking
block or two-provided he has the price.
NEW YORK CITY is endeavoring to put on
metropolitan airs. An ordinance has been passed
prohibiting Texas steers to perambulate the
streets unless they are accompanied by two
men. This law is not TO affect bunco steerers.
THE urchins are making themselves felt In
politics this year. In Iowa they have elected
Bois. and ii looks as If Rhode Island would return
her Ladd.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06

aroma of his humorous efforts is consistent
with that of opposition to education in the
English language. Indeed education is in
consistent with Peck. If the effort to make
common school education wide, thorough
and indigenous,as as proposed by the law which
Peck opposes, is successful, Peck's occupa-
tion both as humorist and journalist would
be completely gone.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
BE WILL ROT IN JAIL
Before He Pays AIimony TO His Wife as
Ordered by the Court.


ESPECIAL TEL ELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcH.1
PROVIDENCE. April 5.-George S. A. Winslow
was to-day adjudged guilty of contempt of
court. and was ordered to stand committed in
the Providence county Jail until he purges
himself Winslow's wife had applied for
divorce, and pending the hearing of the
petition, the court had ordered him to pay S. a
week to his wife. she having proved that
he was in receipt of go a week.
Winslow refused to pay this and his
sons testified that he said he would rot
In Jail before he would give up the money.
Winslow said that this was the second time his
wife had asked for legal separation. The
first divorce she got on the grounds of cruelty
and non-support, which charges he could prove
were untrue by the two store accounts she was
allowed to run at will.
Three months after this first divorce Winslow
remarked his divorced wife, but he declines TO
say who made the first advance toward recon-
ciliation. Again the wife sought for di-
vorce on the same grounds as before. and
Winslow is so incensed that he says he
will sacrifice his position in society and remain
in Jail for an indefinite period. He declares
that shame has been heaped upon him, and
that he will allow it to react upon his family
by Jail record
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
Justice Looking Cross Eyed.

From the Philadelphia Press.]
The only person at all connected with the
Flack conspiracy trial who has been safely
landed in Jail is the fool reporter who be-
trayed the secrets of the jury room. He
doubtless belongs where he is, but the greater
rascals should have been sent to keep him COM
pany Justice has taken a cross-eyed view Of
this affair.
Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-06
DEATHS OF A DAY.
james III. Riggs.

EAST LIVERPOOL, April 5.-James III. Riggs,
the well-known wholesale and retail grocer OF
WelIsville, died this noon quite Unexpectedly.
He only returned home Thursday from FloriJa,
where he had spent the winter for his health. He
was taken Ill Friday night or early this morning
He was one Of the most successful business men in
Wellsville and was connected with many of the
most important business enterprises of that town.