Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-01-06

INCREASE o. CkASKs-
One stands almost appalled, in con-
templating the inserntab.e increase in
the number of erAnks. Every day the
wires bring Us particulars OF murder
ous ATTACKS made upon laonendIng
citizens following demands made for
money. the hands Of manageable
giris and other equally lnexplicabie and
unreasonable requests. Il has como to
be positively dangerous for the citizen
To assert his Independence or to achieve
snccess In business. Ills life and his
property are hourly exposed to assaults
from irresponsible vagabonds whose
minds have been csntorted in the pur-
auit Of visionary prizes Of wealth, posi-
ton or invention. Fifty, even thirty
years ago. men lived in quiet, security
and contentmsns. Tho wild-eyed
anarchist and blosdthirsty crank were
unknown. IL was not until John
Wilkes Booth cowardiy shot President
Lincoln that tho era of crankism
dawnsd. Since that unholy as
sassination the species have multi
Piled. until today nearly every
city and village in the coun-
try harbors one or more Of these
dangerous factors. To asngn . reason
for this alarming condition il by no
means an easy undertaking. Perhaps
our political system has been instru-
mental in evolving the crank, for his
desperate acts from Booth to Guiteau
constitute . dark chapter in the ma
tons history. Our social and economic
systems have exercised . potent IN
fiucncs in developing tho crank. In
equalit,es in the distribution OF wealth,
the resistless energy exercised to crow d
the weak to the wall and to enrich tie
strong, have alike contributed to breed
unrest. dissatisfaction and revolt. What
more natural than that persons of NOR
bid and diseased minds, lnf1amed by
imaginary, yet to them real hardsh;ps,
should raise the arm of violence against
their fancied oppressors? The crank
problem bids fair to be moie engaging
and Important IN our social economies
than the struggle between capital and
labor. Of which it is the first-born Off
spring. Men Of sound minds, il cranks
shall continue TO increase, will be CON-
pelled to make of themselves walking
arsenals to insure protection to life.
How shall the crop be bIighted?
LAST EVENING" Leader contained the
following very neighborly notice of TIE
HERALD: "The GRAND RAPIDS HERALD
IL the new style and title of the Tele-
gram-Hersld and tho change 10 de-
cided improvement, in line with other
radical changes and improvements the
paper has in view. A complete new
dress will be put on at "a early date, .
special wire will be introduced to take
the full United Press dispatches and
The HERALD will take . front rank
among the newspapers of the state.
TIE democrats organized the legis-
lature of the state Of New York. Ed
wards, an independent republican SEN
ator, voted with the democrats. Gov
ernor Flower submitted his first annual
report. He suggests that an enumera-
ton Of the Inhabitants of the state be
made that the legislative districts may
be reapportionsd. He devotss conNd-
cradle space 70 taxation.
THE literary profession 10 good one
for people who do not belong to it. 1t
10 . little surprising to most people to
learn that the merit OF book has lit
tie TO do with it, value in comparison
with little notoriety on the part of
the author. Patti has just refused an
offer Of $4,000 for book OF gossip
about people she has met. 1t would
take Mr.. Howelis or Mr.. James . good
while " make that sum by writing
novels.
An important event in literary cir
cles is the withdrawal Of Mr.. How
ellis from the Editors study in Harper's
Magazine, which he has made 50 prem
inent for the past few years. II is I'M
der.tood that Charles Dudley Warner,
who has long managed the Editors
drawer, will take his place. Mr.. How
ellis will edit the Cosmopolitan.
This 10 the season" when the gem
tlemxuly young man, alwaysa stranger.
calls around and secures subscriptions
to standard newspapers and magazines
q. about half rates, gcts his money
aud then forgets 10 have the paper de-
llversd. lie always comes around and
he always finds victims.
The several state legislatures and
congress beng in session, the states
men ANXIOUS for nert years prefer
msnt will cumber the Record and
journals with undeIiyered speeches,
written TO order. and slut the mails
With copies addressed 10 their con-
stitaente.
TafRrEgS Wall street brokers, inter.
viewed on the prospects, Tor ths year.
united IA expressing the opinio.. that IL