davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 8, 1891.
Mr. Bolton Hail. Secretary of N. Y. Tax Reform
Association. III Broadway, New York:
DEAR SIR:-In answer to your Inqur
les / offer the following views, with the
distinct understanding, however, that L
present them simply as the expression OF
my own individual opinions.
The question of taxation Is 80 complex
and so difficult, as well as so important,
that any association established with the
view of studying it in a dlslnterested
way cannot fail to be exceedingly use
full. The end towards which all efforts
should tend is to make the taxes at the
same time as light upon the citizens, as
profitable to the state, as equitably dis
tributed, and as inexpensively and hon.
estly collected as possible.
l freely admit that. in general, the dI-
rect tax is preferable to the Indirect.
The latter IS more likely to cripple in
dustry, to impede commerce, to decrease
the prosperity of the workman, and to
open up avenues for dishonesty. 1t is,
however, to be remarked that when any
tax, whatever it may be, has been for
long time established, things are sure to
so adjust themselves that every one, di-
rectly or indirectly, will bear a portion
of it.
Should direct tax fall on land, or on
CAPITAL? Without pronouncing definitely
upon this question, l recognize that the
tax should not strike the agents OF pro-
duction, e. g., live stock, trees, steam
engines-in a word, the capital engaged
in Industry, but rather the proceeds OBJ
tanned from it; not the gross but the net
proceeds.
Whatever be the nature of the tax, it
should be proportioned to the resources
of the citizens; it is even desirable that
it should be progressive; it should never
be collected on necessaries, and it should
not be levied on profits in such manner
as to discourage commerce and industry.
Thus. in the case of direct tax, small
nroperties should be exempt from 1t, be-
cause most frequently they no not suffice
for the essential needs of their pos
SCISSORS. =,
In the case of an indirect tax, it should
not be placed upon objects of prime neces-
sity. such as bread and salt; but it can
we'll be established on what may be
termed luxuries, such as tobacco or alco-
hol.
A tax should never be levied in such
manner as to invite fraud; and, especial
". in such way as to invite perjury.
As an example of the latter may be
mentioned the oath demanded of all
passengers entering the port of New
York.
Finally. no tax should be imposed
upon occupations of such character
that their being taxed would seem like
an approval or encouragement OF I'M
morality.
Hoping that this will sufficiently
answer your inquiries, am
Very truly yours,
JOHN j. KEANE,
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
THE LABOR CONFERENCE.

The American Federation of Labor
opened its eleventh annual convention
at Birmingham, Alabama, Monday, with
delegates representing membership of
more than 100000.
Rapid as has been the growth of or
ganized labor in the United States, the
American Federation of Labor has had
the most phenomenal growth of all.
Modelled to certain extent on the Eng
lish trade-union idea, it has steadily re-
sisted the Capitalization of authority. Its
affiliated trades retain their autonomy IN
all matters of government affecting their
own interests There is no central body
that can order a trade out on strike or
that can order it to stop striking. Yet
when one of its affiliated trades has re-
solved to make an organized demand
upon employers the moral support and
financial assistance of the entire Fedora
ton of Labor are at its call.
The extraordinary growth of the fed
Grafton within few years IS a practical
demonstration that these Republican
principles of government appeal to the
intelligence of American labor. The
federation has been less spectacular IN
it's dealings with organized capital than
some other labor organizations. But Its
gradual increase of power has been con-
servatively used and it is still growing.
Of course the politicians have looked
with envious eyes upon this compact and
virile organization of labor. Attempts
have been made to commit the fedora
ton to certain third party movements
and to affiliate it with one of the greatest
conglomerations of "isms' that Ameri-
can politics has ever known. The results
of the Birmingham convention will be
awaited with interest and every true
friend of organized labor will hape that
this splendid body will have the wisdom
to avoid the shoals and quicksands of
political intrigues.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

II may not be exactly an illustration Of
that familiarity which breeds contempt,
but certainly the more intimate association
recently of the -Four Hundred with Eng
lish royalty has TO a marked extent d.
minished that idol worship which made
the American man OF fashion ridiculous As
an obsequious follower Of whatever edict
of masculine apparel the nobility chose TO
issue. The anglomaniac is already mem
CRY. 1t has come TO pass that We have
thrown of the yoke Of sbject imitation.
England's fashion potentates are now re-
gartied as infallible Their ideas may he
contemplated with as much interest ~
heretofore. but they are no longer eagerly
adopted as q matter OF course. Thst which
is becoming and feasible and In harmony
with the spirit OF the times IL accepted,
but our fashionable men reserve to them
selves the right OF discrimination and ex-
ercise it fearlessly. From patriotic stand
point it is rather refreshing-after several
decades of unmitigated thFaldom-to be
able to say to the British lion:
'Much obliged to you'll But really we
don't care for it. "-Clothier and Furnishes.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
4 Ghost Story.

The most distinguished ghost Of all APP
pears to be the Black Lady of the Castle OF
Darmstadt. In deep mourning she comes
to announce the death Of some members
of the families of the grand dukes of
Hesse or of the Bavarian royal family.
The apparition of this lady has from time
immemorial produced a sort of panic
among the troops of the garrison. The
boIdest sentinels are afraid Of her. One
day a young officer of the Grenadiers so
licited from the Grand Duke Louis l the
favor of acting as sentinel at the door of
the chapel through which the mysterious
visitor was expected to pass. 'If it Is not
a genuine ghost" he said, 81 will cure the
practical joker of his nonsense"
1t was agreed that the officer should
order the phantom to halt, and. IL it did
not obey, fire upon it. The grand duke
and a few courtiers posted themselves in
the vestry of the chapel, from which they
could see the path that, according to the
legend, the Black Lady always followed
As midnight approached. the gayety Of the
royal group decreased. The clock struck
12. Before the sound of the last stroke
had died away they heard in the distance
"Halti Who goes therer' Then there
was a shot.
The grand duke and the people OF his
suite came out from their hiding place and
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
TIE PRESIDENT MEANS BUSINESS.

A dispatch from the national capital
announcing that President Harrison is
about to take most important step in
the commercial dealings of this country
with others, and the first public an
nouncement Of the step will be made in
this dispatch. 1t is nothing short of a
proclamation, now being prepared. prac-
tically placing an. embargo against all
countries which have not made reciproc-
ity treaties with the United States under
the provisions of the Mckinley act The
proclamation viii be issued on the 1st
day of January next. which is less than
three weeks off.
1t viii attach retaliatory duties uron
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
TIE CITES OF KANSAS.

The Capital says that at a special meet
ing of the finance committee of the city
council of Topeka the fact was developed
that there would be deficit often thous-
and $50, COO dollars in the city expenses
which cannot be paid by present taxes
that already have been levied to the legal
limit. and that unless something is done
the deficit in 1892 will ie $4,000.
This brings up the EAGLES old hobby,
which it has periodically harped on for
twenty years, i. e., the wrong of state
constitution and the laws under it which
permit such excessive extravagances IN
state, county and city governments,
principally because of too many officers,
etc. Wichita is the only city in the state
in which the city taxes are not beyond
all reason, and they are too high In this
city, or at least have been for couple of
years.
But there are cities in Kansas in which
the taxes for all purposes crowds q and
T per cent. on assessed valuations. 1ndl-
vidual and municipal prosperity are out
of the question under such burthen.
If Topeka and three or four other cities
of Kansas. which we could name, don't
take steps to cut down their metropol-
itan standard and style of expenses, or
otherwise provide for additional reve-
nues, other than direct tax on prop
erty, they will utterly discourage their
business capital and bankrupt their
municipal governments. Fine police
corps, trained fire departments, blazing
electric lights, new-fangled additions to
the public school system, innumerable,
costly pavements, magnificent public
buildings and all that, with added ex-
tensive sewering, constitute metropolitan
necessities; but, country towns can only
enjoy them, as a rule, by discounting the
future in funding bonds, which become
'the old man of the sea" to any corpora
ton which fails to rapidly expand in
values and grow all the while. 1t is
sure death for municipality cat a
standstill' to hypothecate its credit or
attempt to keep up appearances at the
expense of promises to pay" which bear
interest.
While Wichita is better off than any
city in the state in the way of taxation,
and while our present city administra-
ton is doing well, there is still room for
improvement, especially upon these hard
times. and in directions in which S25, 900
to $4,000 per year could be further
saved without practically Gripping any
interest or materially discommoding the
average citizen.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
Manly Independence.

There is an attorney in town who Is tell
ing Of little experience he lately had with
an odd character from the rural districts.
IL seems that the granger went % the law
yer's office for the purpose OF getting =
deed made out for some swamp land be
was selling The listener OF woes heard
the old mans request, and then picking
up pen and paper he proceeded 20 jOt down
the particulars in the deal
"Your namep' from the attorney.
"Philip Ward" from the farmer.
"W hat is your wIfe's naneP
eliza A. Ward"
'Eliza A.; what does A stand fort"
81 don't know; never asked her," replied
Mr.. Ward unconcernedly.
Don't know your wife's middle name.
and you an old man and married 20 her for
q good many years, as yor say. Why. this
is rich. What's the reason you never asked
her what her middle nama vast"
'well, see here, young fellow" returned
the uninquisitive Ward, ''Pm . pretty ia
dependent euss, sIlus have been and allus
intend TO be, and the fact h Pm too indie
pendent TO ask her. memphis JoHSnsL
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
Two Xerktons.

Frances had gone berrTing with her lit
tie cousin, and as the bars between the
berry pasture and the adjoining field hap
pened 10 be down, gentle, harmless COW
had wandered through the opening till she
came quite close 20 the children. Frances,
in describing the scene to her aunt, said:
"Of course, Aunt Sally, didn't want
Mary to know / was afraid of COW, but
really thought / should scream when
looked up and saw that dreadful, glaring
eyed creature close at our heels. Still
was perfectly calm, and I just walked
quickly but firmly to the stone wall. tax
ing Mary by the hand, and / said, Let's
climb over this wall, Mary; i see some
splendid bushes over on the other sideP
and she followed me right over.
she asked me q little while afterward
if l was afraid of cows, but was very busy
picking berries just then, and the child
didn't repeat her question. l wouldn't
have had her suspect was so frightened
for anything"
That night, when the small Mary was
getting ready for bed, she said, Mother,
do you know truly think Cousin Frances
is afraid of cowsp
"Why?" said Mrs. Woods.
"Well," said the supposed to be unsus-
pecting child, ''you know we were picking
berries in grandpa's hill pasture, and Mr..
Fox's 'brindle' got in there, and she came
close up to us. Cousin Frances had been
busy picking, and she didn't hear brindle
till she gave little moo And then
Cousin Frances turned just as pale; and
she grabbed my hand and dragged me
along to the yall as fast as ever she could,
and she said, Let's climb over this COW,
Mary; see some splendid cows over on
the other sideP
''It was the very worst place in the
whole wall to get over, and the berries
weren't big at ALL And" concluded the
small sage, 81 asked her if she was afraid
of cows and she didn't answer me; so l
presume she didn't want TO tell a wrong
storyp'-Youth's Companion.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
The Gods of American indians.

Whenever one reads of the religion OF
Indians reference is made to their belief In
great spirit" and in the happy hunt
ing grounds" Of future reward. As mat
ter of fact, neither of these things enters
at all into tho faith of the North American
aborigines, save in SO far as they have &C
uuired a notion of them from the white
man. They represent merely the God and
heaven of the Christian missionaries. The
deities worshiped by these untutored saw
ages are primarily the phenomena OF ma
ture Among them thunder is consptcu-
Gus, while the lightning, the winds, the
rain, ETC., are likewise regarded with ado
ration.
To this day the Iroquois can often be
seen making to the approaching storm bis
little propitiatory of burned tobacco. By
his nation the thunder god is regarded
with especial veneration as the benefcent
divinity which destroyed the giant mon
sters that once upon a time poisoned the
waters and infested the land. That such
gigantic creatures did anciently exist is
evident from the fossil bones often discov'
cred of beasts so huge that nothing but
bolt from the sky could have annihilated
them
very QlueTSH6 ITOI0 ILLS liIcuOiJ EOo VI
the Iroquois is the hostile north wind,
which brings calamity in its train, killing
the unripe corn, freezing the rivers, de-
priving the prople of their sustenance, and
with the touch of its icy fingers rendering
the hunter stiff in death. Echo. In the be,
lief of this people, is likewise deity, exer'
cising his power in times Of war by repeat
ing among the hills their cries Of "GovehP'
This renders their victory certain Good
and evil spirits also play an impor'
tant part in their mythology. Among
the good spirits are three sisters, who
preside over the favorite vegetables
corn, beans and squashes. They Love
each other very dearly, and their vines
grow in the same soil and cling about each
other. The corn spirit is drsped with Long
leaves and single tassels; the sister who
guards the bean is clad in its delicate ten
drills, while the spirit Of squashes Is clothed
With the brilliant blossoms Of the plant.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
Rector, Catholic University.
NEW DEPARTURE IN THE SPEAKER
SHIP.

From the Globe-Democrat.
Mr.. Crisp is probably aware that the
ewes of the country are fixed upon him
at this moment with peculiar interest.
The eminent Georgian Is the only dis
tinctivelv southern man who has been
chosen to the speakership at any time
within the past third of century. Since
the close of the war several Democratic
speakers have been elected, and one OF
them-Mr. Carlisle-was from an ex-slave
state. The rest of the Democratic speak
ers within this period-Kerr and Ran
dall-have been from the north. But
Carlisle was not a southern man in the
sense in which that term is applicable to
Mr. Crisp. Kentucky did not secepe, and
Carlisle was a Union man throughout
the war. Crisp's state. however, entered
the Confederacy and Crisp served in the
Confederate army. Since the election of
James L. Orr of South Carolina, In 1857,
in the first half of the presidential term
of James Buchanan, along to the second
half of that of Benjamin Harrison,
no strictly southern man had
ever been elevated to the speakership.
Men from Crisp's section had more than
once. in the recent days of Democratic
dominance in the house of representa-
tiyes. been mentioned in connection with
the post, but they never met the favor OF
the leaders of the organization. The
same dread of i'll consequences to the
party which has excluded men from the
Confederate section of the country from
the prizes of Democratic presidential
conventions has hitherto barred their
way in their efforts to reach the speaker
ship.
Now that the Democracy in the house
has ventured to remove the ban from
the ex-Confederates the northern section
of the party is anxious to know what
thew viii do with their new privileges.
This faction is not wholly without
misgivings. Early in the canvass for
the speakership sectional lines were
rigidly drawn, but they disappeared. in
some degree before the actual
contest began. II was seen that all con-
siderations of political propriety de-
manded that the post be conferred on
either the Texan or the Georgian aspir-
ants, and hence the geographical argu-
ment lost its potency. Nevertheless the
northern Democrats are not altogetheE
free from trepidation as TO the result Of
the experiment. They see that unless
the new speaker uses his power dis
creetly in the distribution OF bis favors
between the sections much OF the cid
prejudice against his region will De re-
vived and the party viii suffer. His po-
sition is peculiarly trying. He Is en-
compassed with difficulties such as have
confronted none of his predecessors.
Under the most favorable circumstance
the speakership taxes the sagaciiy
dexterity and tact Of is incumbe 1T, but
AT the present time it Is subject 90 ex2c-
tons aud perplexities which hitherto bad
mol presented themselves 4 speaker :
power for good TO his party Is second
only TO presidents. and his power for
harm Is equsly rigorous and extensive.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

He was standing before the mirror
with an sgonized expression on his face,
trying to accomplish the proper knot in
his new four-in-hand. There were only
five minutes for him 10 do 10 In. and tbs
more he tried 10 hErTy the farther away
he seemed 10 get from his desired goal
Just then McCoIlom lounged in and
stood watching the process with an sx.
asperating grin. kind OF race agains.
time, isn't it," said he. 'FYes," replied
Hackett, despairingly, land II doesn't
look as If it would result In tic either
Boston Post.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

A Pennsylvania gentleman who has
imported a pack of wolf dogs, brings
wolves from the west for them to tear in
pieces for the sport of select audiences.
This Is to be deplored, but it is very
much more refined and moral and nice
than the barbarous bull fights and de-
grading combats of cocks which hurt
our feelings to read about in neighboring
counties, and is real innocent entertain
ment as compared to the deadly sport @
of football.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

A paper published in a western city
that was bidder for the Republican
National convention, makes note Of the
circumstance that two ST. Louis hotels
have been sold under the hammer in a
very short space of time, and observes
that 1.-The poor old place certainly needs
a convention or something" Whatever
NAV be said of St. Louis, it cannot be
denied that its hotel accommodations
are equal to any demands that could be
made upon the city, both in extent and
oraT;s-
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
he Had a GUIDE Yob.

From the Atchison Patriot.
The following story. told by Gus
Heege, who plays the title role in ''Yon
Yonson," Is not new, but it serves to IL
lustrate the Gtolid, prosaic nature of the
Sweedes. 1t was during one of the Meth
odist REVEALS at Beloit last winter that a
long, lank, pale-faced Scandinavian
strolled into church where a meeting
was in progress. He took a position in
the rear. A couple of young ladies fl
nally arose and went around among the
auditors, beseeching sinners to come to
the anxious seats in front. Suddenly
spying lyon Yonson," the tall Sweede.
standing alone, with solemn, lonesome
expression on his face, one of the ladies
ventured to ask him if he did not want
to "come and work for the Lord. Nav"
said he firmly, cay got guide yob, now;
ay work for Yon Thompson"
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
To tha Editor of tina Eacla.

To the Editor Of the Eagle.
Please give the number of cities in the
United States having above 100000 inhab
itants, and the name of the smallest one
of the number. q. RIOUS.
There are twenty eight cities, accord
ing to the census report of 1890, that
have 100, 900 population and over. Ale
gheny City, Pa, is the smallest of that
number, having, on the first day of
June, 1890, 05,2S7. In 1880 there were
but twenty cities so large, and in 1870
but fourteen.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

If we shall have week or ten DAYS of
open, warm weather, as is predicted fol-
lowing the rain of Monday nlght-which,
by the way was pretty general through
out the state-the effect upon the wheat
crop will be magical. The average con-
dition of the crop for the state is placed
considerably below the general average
at this season, owing to the late seeding
and continued dry weather in the fall.
But the stand is good, generally, and
with ten days favorable weather now
the condition of the crop will be i'm
proved at least up TO the usual standard
for the beginning of the winter. The
acreage Of wheat, though not up to the
expectation of the farmers at seeding
time. is fnlly as large as last years.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

Wichita boasts of a resident who enjoys
an income OF S21 600 a year from landed es-
tates in Germany. The puZzling thing is
why man with that income should want
TO live in Wichita.-Emporia Republican.
Your conclusion is the result of preiu-
dice, or ignorance, or both. Were YOU
to come and see Wichita as she really is
and become acquainted with the city and
her environments you would at once be
puzzled to understand why everybody
who desires home where contentment
may be a constant experience does not
come here.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17
LONELY KANSAS.

A Washington correspondent of the
Topeka Capital says that DIR. S. McLal-
lin, editor of the Alliance Advocate of
Topeka, has been in Washington several
days attending the meeting of the Ma
tional Citizens Alliance. The Alliance
delegation from Kansas took him in
hand and steered him around the city.
One of the southern Alliance Democrats
said yesterday that DR.. McLallin had
rather a stormy interview with Colonel
Livingston of Georgia, whom he severely
upraided for having deserted the Kansas
Alliancemen. Colonel Livingston con-
siders it huge joke, however, that the
Kansas Alliancemen should have i'm
agined for moment that he or any of
the southern Alliancemen had any in
tention of leaving the dem ocratic party.
DR.. McLallin discovered while here that
the Alliance members from Kansas can
not possibly accomplish anything for
their party or their state, and that they
will be left out entirely so far as the dis
tribution of important places on COM
mitteeS is concerned.
The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-12-17

Since his defeat for speaker of the
house Mr.. Mills has struck senatorial
attitude, or at least he thinks he has.
He is posing as an awful example of too
much rabid newspaper support and is in
fact reconciling his former friends to
the circumstance of his defeat. In
politics it is those who take their medi-
cine like men that pull out of a slough
and get on higher ground.