davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
WARNING TO COTTON GROWERS.
Mr.. Lane Thinks They Are i'm Danger
OF Ruin by OverproductiOn.

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 29.-Hon. Hector
D. Lane. of Alabama, president of the Cot
ton Growers Protective Association, has
furnished the following significant memoir
andum for publication to the people of the
State:
1T goes without saying that if anything
IKE scent cotton on the plantation Is wit
Real estate and securities of all kinds will
reach such a level in the South as few can
imagine European SPECTATORS are to- day
selling cotton in Liverpool fog delivery in
October, November, December, 1895 with a
price equivalent to about cents on farms
in the South, for middling or cents at the
ports, believing that another $500, 600 ba le
or larger, crop will be grown in America
which would insure them a profit of at
least 1 cent per pound, which would mean
to the farmer about cents at the railroad
stations, next autums, when cotton is NOV
ing IN large volumes 1t is not to be sup
posed that these shrewd European cotton
people are agsressively selling the next
crop at equal to cents un.ess they have
excellent reasons for believing that the
South will plant for another monster crop.
They are confident information furnished
them that Texas will not decrease it's acre
age therefore, believing this to be true to
such an extent that they Will be able to
buy back during next fall the cotton they
are now selling, at much lower prices, real
izing thereby h; dsome profits 1t remains
with the farmers and merchants of the
uators will be permitted to reap a golden
harvest at the pense of the farms, p1anta-
tons, real estate and securities of the
South"
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

something the Legislature ought to be
exceedingly careful not to do. These
associations are a very important part
of our social structure. In the absence
of savings banks they serve to accumu-
late the savings of a large number of
people, and their benefits in the way of
encouraging thrift and the acquisition OF
homes are beyond all computation. The
Journal fails to discover any popular
demand for restrictive legislation re-
garding them. and before doing any
thing in that line the Legislature should
be very sure that interested parties are
not trying to use it to cripple a great
and growing business.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

and, as they acknowledge, effective.-Louis-
vile Courier-Journal peHl)
The President makes strong appeal to
the patriotism of Congress. He strips off
the pretense of party obligations and leaves
the partisan without cover 1t remains to
be seen If in all of Congress there ID
patriotism enough to frame and pass some
measure. which will cut the endless chain
and diSconnect Ii from the treaSury-St.
Paul Globe Dem.)
There Is no panic in the country. If one
should now ensue, the responsibility would
rest in no small degree upon the Presi-
dents own broad but already overburdened
shoulders. Public confidence in the ability
and purpose of the Nation to redeem all
its obligations in letter and in spirit has
not been shaken, as he, in his terror, inn
plies.-Boston Advertiser Rep)
The message is the production of an ac-
complished hypocrite. In the name of
averting calamity he would intensity ten
fold the financial distresses of the country
snake-like in the Roman Forum stabbing
Caesar he would do bimetallism to death
and bury it beyond all hope of resurrec-
tion-Denver News Dem Pop)
No man of sense believes for a moment
that the message sent to Congress by the
President on yesterday was expected or in
tended by him as appeal to that body.
He knows that Congress would no more act
ldtOidDly upon SUCH recommendations rs
ne makes In the message IMAM they would
undertake to substitute a monarchy for
republic.-Cincinnati Enquirer Dem.)
1t is a plan for converting a noninterest-
bearing debt into one bearing interest, for
clothing the Secretary of the Treasury
with almost unlimited power to issue
bonds, for still further discrediting silver
and setting the golden calf on a still higher
pedestal. We do not think that such plan
can possibly find favor in Congress or
among producers.-Chicago Times Dem.)
The President in the opening paragraph
of his message goes directly to the core of
his subject when he says the emergency
appears so threatening to require that
Congress shall take such prompt and eff
factive action ''as will restore confidence
in our financial soundness and avert bust
ness disaster and universal distress among
our people. - Philadelphia Ledger Qnd.
Rep
1t merits the most hearty Endorsement
by every honest man in ana out of Con-
the force of law at the earliest possible
moment Every Republican Senator and
Representative should vote for these recon-
mendatfons and show that they glad to
be able to support Democratic President
in doing his duty by the people.-ChicagO
Tribune (Repo
In the presence of a serious situation
there is no useful end to be secured by
finding fault with details. The amount APP
pears large, but whatever the amount, one
thing is certain, the creuit of the United
States is good enough to float any issue or
issues OF bonds that may be needed to tide
the present administration the
emergency now confronting it-Cincinnati
Tribune Rep.)
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
PARTY PLEDGES MUST BE RE-
DEEMED.

If there are two questions upon which,
more than all others, the Republican
party in Indiana is fully and uneauivo-
cally committed to a certain line of ac-
ton, they are the question of apportion-
ment and that of taking the manage
ment and conduct of the State institu-
tions out of partisan politics. By plat
form after platform, by repeated cam
paigns, by reiterated expressions of Re-
publican papers and speakers, in short
by every species of committal known in
politics, the party has pledged itself to
enact a fair aDportionment and to reor-
ganize the State institutions on nom
partisan basis. This has been the posi-
ton of the party for years past, when
it had no possible chance of making it's
promises good. Now that it has a
chance it's honesty and sincerity are to
be put to the test. The people are wait
ing to see if it means what it said. After
being appealed to year after year to
give the Republican party chance to
institute these needed reforms, to re-
place the infamous gerrymander with a
fair apportionment and to lift the insti-
buttons out of the mire of party .poli-
ties and place them on solid nonpartisan
ground, the people at last took the party
at it's word. Now they are waiting to
see il it will make it's words good They
are waiting to see if it says one thing
and means another: if it makes prom
ises only to break them; if it is a re-
form party in defeat and spoils party
in success-in short, they are waiting to
&c farr,, "a
or party of reputation.
1t is to be hoped that the Republican
majority in the Legislature, on whom
has devolved the duty of redeeming the
party pledges, fully appreciate the re-
sponsibilty which it involves. They
should understand that failure to come
fully up to the measure of public ex-
pectation in these regards will involve
not merely qualification, but humilia-
ton and disgrace for the party. If the
Legislature fails to enact apportson-
ments, legislative and congressional, so
fair that even Democrats will be COM
PEELED to admit their fairness, and if it
fails to provide for placing the State
institutions under nonpartisan control,
the Republican party will have dis
appointed public expectation. The duty
is one that cannot be shirked or juggled
with. No half easy compliance with
the party pledges, no Legislative trick
cry, no attempt to accomplish Interior
results by indirect means. no paltering
in a double sense, no attempt to fool
the people will do. There must be a
full, complete and honest compliance
| with the party pledges.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
THE SCHOOL hoard INQUIRY.

The Indianapolis School Board will be
investigated by legislative committee,
with view, presumably, to finding out
whether it has been conducting it's af-
fairs in legitimate way and for the
best interests of the city This board
is, in certain sense. law unto itself
1t has the entire and exclusive control
of the school funds, it controls the spe-
cial tax levy, it has the power to borrow
money for school purposes, and is, in
short, an Independent organization. I'm
til within very recent period it's bust
ness had been so managed as to meet
with general approval. 1t has been al
smost uniformly composed of men who
had public confidence, and who gave
every evidence of an anxiety to work
If occasional mistakes were made they
were regarded as mere errors in judg-
ment, and criticism commonly resulted
in preventing repetitions of the blum
ders. But of late this disposition has
altered. The board has taken advan-
tage Of it's autocratic powers to make
purchases and create debts ia defiance
of public sentiment and in disregard of
the opinions of taxpayers and business
men as to the financial wisdom of their
acts. It's highhanded manner of pro-
cedure has created a distrust of it's abil-
ity to manage the important matters in
it's charge. There is also suspicion that
it has exceeded itslegal authority. These
doubts may be well founded or not. but
the board has only itself to blame for
q
should welcome an opportunity to set
itself right before the community. The
Legislature, being the only body with
the power to investigate, has decided to
exercise it's right, and has appointed a
committee for the purpose. 1t can, at
least, do no harm by looking into the
business management of our schools
. and may do some good by checking the
reckless impetuosity of the board, if in
no other way.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
A SCANDAL THAT MUST STOP.
There Must BE Reform i'm the Meth DDS
of the Attorney's-GeneraPs Office.

Washington Qnd.) Gazette.
If the Republican party of Indiana is
It is the pledge that the office of Attorney
general shall be thoroughly investigated.
and that there shall be reform brought
about in the future conduct of that office.
The misconduct of this office was one of
the most important issues of the State cam
pagn last year. Every Republican news
paper pledged its readers that there should
be reformation-every Republican speaker
sealed the pledge on the stump each day
of the campaign.
The present Legislature has taken steps
toward an investigation of this office, but
the work has not yet been begun 1t is
possible that the fact that the present At
torney- general is a Republican may have
a delicacy about approaching a subject that
has the effect to cut a Republican in Office
cas- case u # o IS nnfortunate. and the Clouds
should be speedily dispelled.
The conduct of the Attorney-general's Of
flee has been the scandal of the State. lit
Is said that the predecessor OF the in
cunbent of that office has boasted that
he made out of the office in four years the
enormous sum of $500, O0O Whether these
figures are correct am unable to say, but
there is no doubt that the proceeds of the
Attorney generals office under the direction
of the blacksmith from Jennings county
| were unreasonably large that they are
That the affairs of any Office in the State
can be managed SO that the fees will make
| the officer immensely rich in three or four
years is a disgrace to Indiana.
1t doesn't make any difference who the
! Attorney-general is at the present time
| the scandal must stop. For the good of
| the people of Indiana and for the good of
| the Republican party, there must be puri-
| ficaTion of the office of the Attorney-gen-
| eral And if the proposed investigation and
| the efforts to bring about reformation in
1 the methods employed i'll the Attorney
| generals office do not meet with the ap-
| prevail, or if they encounter the opposition
| of Mr.. Ketcham, that official should receive
| storms that spend their fury attacking the
| unresponsive sides of the Soldiers Monu-
| ment.
| The fact that the Attorney-general is
| enabled. by his own Interpretation of an
| unreasonable and ambiguous law, to make
| ont of his office more than ten times the
| amount of salary paid the chief executive
| officer of the State, does and very properly
should provoke an indignant protest from
| every honest man in Indiana.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

In voting to investigate the offices of
the Attorneys general and Treasurer of
State the House has done an eminently
proper thing. 1t is notorious that the
administration of the Attorney generals
office during the last four years has
been marked by a degree of extortion
that might be fifty called legalized rob-
berry. Under the color and cover of
cunningly devised laws which have been
struggled through the Legislature the
Acknowledgement has been holding up
the people and enriching himself in a
manner that challenges investigation
to the end that such practices may be
stopped. The Journal is not aware of
anything wrong in the administration
of the Treasurer's office, but if there has
been the people have a right to know it,
The attempt of the Democrats to have
the investigation cover a period of eight
years was intended to prevent any in
vestigation whatever. Even if Republi-
can State officials long out of office could
be shown to have been guilty of irregular
practices the interests of reform would
not be advanced. Two wrongs do not
make right and the question of pres
ent interest is whether any of the retir-
ing officials have been practicing meth
DDS that call for reform.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

The snub which Secretary Gresham re-
ceived from Japan did not prevent him
from subJecting the government to an
other rebuff from Mexico. Before offer
ing the services of the United States as
a mediator between Mexico and Guate-
mala he should have known that that is
just what Guatemala has been urging
and Mexico rejecting for years past.
Besides, he might have seen that Mexi-
co.'s temper was up, and that her last
demand on Guatemala was too peremp-
tory to admit of Intervention. His offer
was untimely. and evidently has not
been well received in Mexico. The adj
ministration tries to let itself down cas-
lily by informing the country that Next
co.'s refusal of it's offer was couched in
"fiattering terms
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

The press agents of Beerbohm Tree, the
latest theatrical visitor from England who
comes in pursuit of the American dollar,
are somewhat put to it for interesting liter
airy matter. The latest bit sent out to
thrill the heart of the American public and
cause it to yearn over the Tree family is
the statement that Mrs. Tree, who has
come with her husband, found parting from
her children most difficult. Up to this time
the public is earnestly assured she has never
left her little daughter Viola, a child of
ten, and found it harder to separate than
from the little sister, Felicite, whose five
weeks of existence make her mothers alb
sence easy, at least on the baby's side.
This is very touching, and perhaps sympa-
thetic Americans will make haste to buy
tickets to Beerbohm's shows in order that
he may the sooner be able to take the
fond mamma home to her offspring.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

ing public institutions ought not to be
materially different in the two States,
but our correspondents figures show
that the highest per capita Of expendi-
ture in any one of Qhio's six insane
hospitals was much lower than the low
est per capita in any one of Indianas
four institutions, while the average cost
per capita for all Ohio patients was
$15S.6s, as against $227.5S per capita for
Indiana. Why it she uld cost $201 per
capita of inmates to maintain an insane
hospital at Indianapolis and only $179.15
at Columbus, $243 per capita at Rich
mond and only $15402 at Dayton, $780, SO
at Evansville and only $1,000 at Ath-
ems, in southern Ohio. is something the
people of Indiana would like to have
explained. Ohio, having much larger
population than Indiana. has more in
sane, but if the expense per capita for
caring for Indianas insane could be re-
duced to the Ohio standard it would re-
suit in saving of nearly $4,000 per
year.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
witness Removed by Murder.

: Ell RENO, 0. T., Jan. 29-News was re-
ceved here to-day that Fred Hoffman. ex-
treasurer of 3D. county. Oklahoma, and
present deputy county clerk and United
State commissioner of that county, was
waylaid and killed by unknown persons
about two miles from Taloga- He had
been subpoenaed from that town and.
when he did not appear. search was made.
He was found buried in sand bank with
a bullet hole through his head. while his
horse was found some distance away with
its throat cut and secreted in some bushes.
He is supposed to have been killed by out
laws whom he had been instrumental in
bringing to Justice. He was familiar with
county affairs wherein there had been
much fraud and criminality. and was
doubtless killed to prevent his going on the
eta
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

Most people who arc fond of side-show
entertainments are accustomed to regard
so-caIied sword swallowerS as tricksters
and sleight-of-hand-and mouth-performers
who create the impression among guileless
spectators that they swallow swords, when
they really do nothing of the kind The
secret OF the supposed trick is variously ex-
planned by the persons who think they
know all about it. One theory is that the
sword disappears under the mans cloth
Ing, another that it is. a telescope con-
trivance which shuts UP instead of enter
ing the aesophagus as it appears to do.
Comparatively few believe that the sharp
instrument actually passes down the gullet
and enters the stomach; nevertheless those
persons who have accepted the act as gem
uine in unquestioning admiration may have
the triumphant consolation of knowing
that they were right, at least so far as
one operator was concerned. Unfortunate
ly,' they are never to have the privilege of
seeing this particular artist again, since
he recently swallowed the sword once too
often and suffered evil consequences. He
had performed the act many times in entire
safety, but on this one occasion he careless
ly used a hiltless sword. and though it was
eighteen inches in length it slipped out
of his reach. "A surgical operation was
necessary for it's removal, from the shock
of which the young man died. His stom-
ach, by repeated entrance of swords, had
been moved from it's normal position until
it was four inches longer than it would
otherwise have been. The large number of
people who do not enjoy exhibitions of the
sort will hope that this accident may result
in discoura ging sword swallowing as an
amusement or an industry
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

insurance companies are as small. and
in most cases smaller. than those of
large amounts of capital invested in
other business. The profits of all the
insurance companies doing business in
Indiana last year are but a few thou
sand dollars over their losses. their ex-
penses and the taxes paid into the State
treasury. During the four years of the
late Auditor Henderson $464,249.S6 was
collected as taxes from outside fire and
life companies and turned into the
treasury, due in part to rigid enforce
ment of the laws.
Just now there is q movement to in
duce the Legislature to authorize the
organization of home companies to do
business upon the basis of a cash pay
ment of 10 per cent. of the capital sub
scribed. Such insurance is of the wild
cat variety. 1t is no insurance for the
patrons, but a profitable business for
the spectators who would organize
scores of companies. write large
as premiums, and go to pieces when
ever any considerable losses occurred.
There have been thousands of such
companies organized throughout the
country the past fifty or seventy-five
. years, but none of them survived
dozen years, and when they have died
the swind1ed have constituted a numer-
oLs body of mourners. In this city can
be found the victims of such so-called
insurance companies. The Legislature
by sanctioning such organizations
would give them such Endorsement as
would commend them to the people. In
diana is beyond the wildcat period in
State development.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

A reading of the report of the Mer-
ritt investigating committee leaves an
impression of Inconsistencies. 1t shows
that the investigation disclosed material
errors of Judgment in some cases and
Irregularities and negligence in others,
but it throws upon the Mayor the onus
of locating the responsibility If the
committee discovered who was respon-
sible for these errors or neglect of duty
1t should have stated who the deiin-
quent officials were. and If it did not
make this discovery the investigation
was incomplete. To have made the dis
covery and not have located the respon-
sibility looks like an attempt to evade
an unpleasant duty or perhaps to avoid
hurting somebody's feelings. 1t re-
mains to be seen how the Mayor will
locate the responsibility which the COM
mittee has left hanging in the air.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30

The President made a good point in
his special message when he reminded
those who oppose the issuance of inter-
est-bearing bonds to redeem the non
interest bearing, legal tender notes that
these same notes have already burdened
us with large load of interest. which
Is still accommodating. 1.-THE aggregate
interest on the original issue of bonds.''
said the President. "the proceeds of
which in gold constituted the reserve
for the payment of these notes.
amounted to $70.326.2so on jan /, 1885,
and the annual charge for interest on
these bonds and those issued for the
same purpose during the last year will
be $9,l45,00o dating from Jan. /. 1885,
Thus it appears that although green
backs do not bear interest themselves.
they have been the means of adding
materially to the interest account of the
government
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30
"Where's God z"

BOSTON, Jan. 29.-The recent massacre
of Armenians by Kurds was the subject
taken by Joseph Cook last night before a
large audience, consisting mostly of bust
ness men, with a plentiful sprinkling of
women, in the Park-street Church. 1t was
the first of series of six lectures to be
given on succeeding Mondays. MIR. Cook o
minute and circumStantiai account of the
unspeakable crimes and lortures inflicted on
women and children were so blood-curdling
as TO call forth expressions OF horror from
all parts of the house. His story of the
burning of Christians while worshiplng in
their own church worked on the Feelings
OF one woman that she cried out despair
incly. where's God?''
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-30


j All honor to the greenback for what
it has done and been. 1t has a noble
and patriotic record. 1t had a great
mission, and it performed it we'll But
the time has come when 1T should be
buried with the honors of war and amid
the respectful plaudits of grateful peo-
pie. The time has come when the
greenback should be relieved from duty,
redeemed and permanently retired. I'M
less this Is done there is danger xhat by
repeated prostitution to the unworthy
purpose of depicting the gold reserve,
and by being constantly used as a men
ace to a sound currency, it's grand rec
ord In the past may be obliterated and
its patriotic service forgotten. The
greenback deserves honorable retire
ment and it cannot come too soon.