davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
A SWEAT, box INCIDENT,

Not every one who may read in the
police columns Of his paper a brief
statement of how some suspect was
taken into the "sweatbox' of the police
station, and how valuable information
relative to the crime was extracted
from him while undergoing the opera
ton, may have any idea Of what the
box is in which the suspect is sweat
ed. The police reporter mentions the
implement in a casual way, assuming
that every one knows what it is and
heard suggests the thought that many
really believe 1t Is some kind Of a
box into which a person is forced and
actually steamed until his stubbornness
mellows and he melts the desired in
formation. Usually the process is
nothing but a rigid examination and
DISCRIMINATION by police officers
with view to obtaining some infor-
nation as to who the guilty parties are
in some offense against the peace and
dignity Of the state and the safety of
society.
But an incident in New York city
shows what methods are some times
used in the sweat box toasecure evil
dence that will convict. and presents
a case that seems to call for some
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
JACKSON ON RECOGNITION.

In the report accompanying the SEN
ate resolution recognizing the independ-
ence of Cuba is a quotation from the
message sent by President Jackson in
December, 1886, to congress in response
to the resolutions adopted by the SEN
ate at previous session relating to the
recognition of the independence of
Texas, the preamble of which distinctly
asserted the right of congress to de-
termine the expediency Of such action.
The excerpts from the message in the
report represent the president as acqui-
escing in this view of the power of con-
gress. William Elroy Curtis, the Wash
ington correspondent of the Chicago
Record, one of the few writer's who
have access to authentic information
there, says that this historical review
In the report was prepared entirely by
Mr.. Henry Adams, literary gentle
man, and Mr.. William Hallett Phillips,
an attorney for the Cuban junta, and
sis said to have been adopted without
having been read by the committee.
This becomes q strong probability
when the message is fully read. 1t is
true that the president says, after re-
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27

In the few days which have elapsed
since the Bank of Minnesota closed it's
doors, public opinion has manifested it
strength IN calling for reorganization
of the banks forces. Depositors and
other creditors and stockholders seem
to be pretty thoroughly agreed upon
this point. The general confidence that
the bank will pay dollar for dollar Of
it's liabilities adds strength to the de-,
mand. From a purely bushes point Of
view the desirability Of a reorganiza-
ton does not seem to be open to cues
ton. When an institution like this
goes into liquidation there is a vast
amount Of it's assets that can be han
died to the best advantage by those
who are familiar with them, and out
Of which very much larger sum of
money can be realized if they are hand
ed over to live institution than if
they must be collected through a re-
ownership. The sacrifices OF. depositors,
If they must be made, ana the losses
of stockholders would be mfnimized by
such reorganization as would place the
Bank of Minnesota again as a living
factor in the community, charged with
the duty of working out its own saliva
ton. That the competent and honor
able gentlemen who, to the satisfaction
of the public, were appointed as re-.
ceivers, will discharge their duties
faithfully and intelligently, all know.
The forceful argument is not against
them as receivers, but against the fact
of a continued receivership. 1t is a
pure question of business, upon which
business men seem to be thoroughly in
harmony. ~'
The depostors of the bank have not
lost one little of their confidence in it's
management. or their faith in it's fu-
ture. 1t is common to hear them say
that IL its doors could be opened to-
morrow, they would be among the first
ito place a new account there. It is
understood that large number Of
them would be we'll satisfied to accept
stock in the reorganization in exchange
for portion of their accounts. What
ever stockholders liabilities may ac-
crue, the money would be better en-
ployed in facilitating a reorganization
than in making good a deficit from
forced sale of the assets The largest
and most convincing argument is that
drawn from the interests Of the COM
munity as a whole. 1t would be vastly
better for st. Paul as a city and for
many Of its business houses that had
dealings with the Bank of Minnesota,
to have this institution placed on its
feet once more, and thus be able to
adjust their accounts with it with least
pressure and hardship. In all the com
ment that has been made on this fail
ure, we find scarcely dissenting voice
as to the ACCESSIBILITY of yreorganiza-
ton, and we hope that the necessary
steps will be taken to bring 1t about as
early as possible.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
NEWSPAPERS VS.. NOVELS.

writer in the New York Observer
takes occasion to sound the doom of the
novel, his principle being, apparently,
in dry time look out for rain" 1t
would seem to most observers that the
novel never had been either a more
the intellectual life Of the world at
large than at the present moment, but
the writer in question finds that the
habit Of reading novels is diminishing
among the cultivated. 1.-THE cultivated
now read" he says. '.only those novels
which from some condition-the fame
Of the author. the purpose of the story,
or it's special attractiveness as litera-
ture-may be classed as extraordinary.
Without doubt this statement is cor
rect, but taken in connection with the
context it denotes the extraordinary be-
lief that the cultivated at some time
or other in the past read all the nov
els that were published, and asked for
more. 1t would be interesting, for the
purposes Of literary history, to know
exactly when this period was; but we
suspect that 1t would BE difficult to To-
cate, outside the privileged magma
ton Of writer for the press. AS a
matter of fact the cultivated have
never read novels so largely as they do
at the present day, for the reason that
there have never been so many nota-
BILE novels to read.
The writer goes on to say that the
newspaper will not only take the place
Of the novel and usurp it's functions.
but will be the instrument through
which 1t is forced from the field This
is an. old contention. We have heard
1t frequently, and as frequently have
heard it refuted. until both assertion
and denial have grown shop-Worn and
shabby; but as long as the former con-
tinues. the latter perforce must not
cease. 1t is true, Of course, that the
ordinary newspaper prints unintention-
ally q vast amount of fiction in addi-
ton to the matter purchased from syn
dicates, but 1t is little difficult to see
just how the one or the other will dis
place the novel. The Intentional fiction
which comes out in the newspaper is
almost never read by the cultivated
hetion-lover, for the reason that it is
so anonymously clad or surrounded.
A poem by Kipling, story by Mrs
Deland or John Oliver Hobbs, a spark
ling dialogue by Anthony Hope simply
cannot be read by a person of taste
when it appears in the Sunday edition
To make the attempt is like trying to
have a visit with your best friend
when you casually encounter each
other at bargain counter The atmo-
sphere and traditions of the environ
ment all make against any enjoyment
under the circumstances. One cannot
make friends with books with less Of
leisure, dignity and consideration than
one shows to human beings. Literature
must be respected before it can be en-
joyed. It's laws are not the laws Of
journalism The attempt to combine
the two has always resulted in dimin-
ished circulation, as witness the un-
popularity of the three or fouG news
papers in the United States which have
really made the effort to combine lit
erature and journalism and the at
tempt to put the two side by side will
eventually prove quite as unacceptable.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27

states. by which they are paid, IL at
ALL decide. They vote by states, all
the votes OF each state being counted
whether the members are present or
not. 1t often happens that a single
member casts all Prussia's seventeen
votes. A delegate is usually an Of
f1cer Of his state, a minister or member
of the cabinet, though he need not be
resident of the state he represents.
They are supposed to vote ac-
cording to the instructions Of
their landtag, or state 1egisla-
ture, but this is usually ignored.
Different from any other legislative
body Of today, it is very much like our
congress under the Confederation. The
presiding officer is the chancellor, ap-
pointed by the emperor, and is one Of
the delegates from Prussia.
It's powers are very extensive. Laws
must have It's assent; practically it in
itiates them. 1t also has executive
powers, making regulations for the con-
duct of the administration and enact
ing rules to supplement legislation 1t
has many of the functions of a cham
Der of accounts; has share in ap-
pointments, and consuls and tax col
lectors must be confirmed by it. 1t
also has the privilege Of sending mem
bers into the reichstag to explain or
defend the bills it has sent there; and
when differences arise between the
states or the empire and the states, it
acts. judicially as a sort of court Of
appeals. 1t is a continuous body and
while it can make any sitting for any
purpose an executive session, like those
of our senate. The whole fabric is a, Gu
rious compromise between a growing
democracy. demanding a voice in the
government, the old spirit Of kingcraft
and nobility striving to retain as much
of real power as possible, to which is
added the recognition accorded to the
pride of the several states The rapid
growth Of the party calling itself the
Social Democracy, however, threat
ems the stability of this compromise
out Of which it gets so much of the
shadow and so little of the substance
of power
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
DULUTH,s SPECIAL ELECTION.
It's Validity Is to He Tried in SUI
preme Court.

preme Court.
Papers were filed In the supreme
court yesterday in the appeal Of the
city of Duluth from the contest made
by Ed c. Baumann on the special cleo
ton held to vote upon water bonds.
Three propositions were submitted to
the people.
The first was to issue and sell bonds
for the erection of a water plant; the
second to purchase the water plant of
te Duluth Gas and Water company,
and the third provided that the city
council should have power to sell the
bonds at such times and in such guam
titles as might be necessary.
When the ballots were counted it
was found that $500 had been cast for
all three propositions, Including both
the purchase and erection Of q plant,
and the district couff threw these out.
Some others We're thrown. out on tech
meal points, and the court declared the
proposition to issue bonds for the pur-
pose of erecting a plant was the only
one that had carried; that the election
on the other propositions was void.
The case was set for hearing Jan. 6.
The quo WarrantO proceedings began
against the waterworks company by
the attorney general are also pending
in the same court, the company having
been given an extension Of time until
Jan. A, in which to file an answer
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
VICTORIA FOR RIVERA.
The Spanish Driven Back With a
Heavy Loss.

KEY WEST, Fla, Dec. 26.-Reports
from Havana tonight are that an at
tack was made on one Of Gen. Rivera'a
foothill forts yesterday by some Of
Weylers forces and that the Spaniards
were repu1sed, the big dynamite gun
belonging to Gen. Rivera's command
securing the victory for the insurgents.
1t is reported that over so men were
lost on the Spanish side and fewer in
the Cuban ranks.
Col. San Martins columns have been
burning houses and destroying planta-
lions all through the section south and
west Of Artemisa as far as they dared
venture. During the past week over
three hundred houses and many plan
tations have been destroyed, four humid
red head of cattle secured and a num-
Der Of tobacco fields and cane patches
laid waste. Weyler's orders are to
spare nothing. A number of pacificOs
1t is reported, Offered resistance to
the taking Of their cattle, saying that
their families would starve, and they
were killed. Over twenty-five such in
stances have been recorded.
Gen. Rivera's forces are increasing.
and he has had acquisitions to his stock
Of arms and ammunition this week,
an expedition having landed on the
southern side Of the island from Hon
duras or Mexico, it is presumed.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27


thing more than the mere narration
given it in the news columns. The
process there adopted is one that may
be used and probably is used every
where. and the consequences there may
follow anywhere. Briefly the facts are
that man was found murdered. Two
negroes were arrested on suspicion and
put into different cells On the trial
one Of them testified that his com
panion had done the killing, he being
an accomplish. but taking no part in
the deed. He plead guilty to the charge
or manslaughter and was let off with
long term,s while his companion
while protesting his innocence, was
convicted and sentenced to death in
the chair. The death sentence was to
nave been carried out this week, but
stay has been granted pending the in
vest1gation Of statements made by the
principal witness that throw a strong
light upon the methods of the sweat
poX ana their possible consequence
Inc witness now testifies that he lied
IN all his statements that convicted his
companion of murder. Why he fab
rlcated the story that put a fellow be-
ing under sentence of death is told in
MS affidavit He says that the head
1aller OF his prison came to him and
told him that the other prisoner had
confessed that he killed the victim.
while the narrator kept watch, and
that the other one would get off with
a light sentence because he admitted
the truth. The only way for him, he
was told, to get off easily, was to make
confession that would corroborate
that Of his fellow prisoner. He was
assured il he did not he would get a
heavy punishment He refused the Of
fer, but subsequently was taken to a
room where another Jail officer repeated
the story of the confession. He told
the prisoner that he was his friend
and wanted to get him off as lightly as
possible, and the only way to do it
was for him to tell the same story told
by his associate.
Thus Influenced, he made a statement
similar to that he was told his fellow
| prisoner had made, which was taken
down by a notary present and sworn
to by him. Later he learned that no
confession had been made by his fellow
prisoner, but, 6under the threat of the
district attorney that he would be put
on trial for his own life, he went on
the stand and told the story that sent
his fellow to the fatal chair. He now
retracts his testimony and explains
how it was obtained from him. This is
case of ''sweatbox'' and displays a
| common artifice by police officers to Sc
cure admissions and confessions. but
1T is made plain by this case how capa-
Bile it is of producing a horrible in
Justice instead of the justice that is
its ostensible, probably it's real OBJ
ject. With men of low morals or Grim
inal instincts the temptation to get off
with a light sentence by discriminating
some other one is strong, and the
sweatbox offers them their opportunity.
This instance illustrates it's danger and
its abuse
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
aUI CUsToDEs CUsroDIUNTe

The success of guarantee companies
in smaller lines Of business. such as
securing the fidelity Of employees and
assuring the employer Of an indemnity
in case of falsity to their trusts. has
encouraged an extension of the prin-
ciple to fields ever larger and. larger
until ambitious minds have conceived
the project Of practically abolishing in
security and preventing all commercial
losses by guaranteeing everything.
Propositions are now made for guar
anteeing the bonds Of municipalities:
not only those of petty towns and vii
lagos, but those of cities of the second
or third rank. We have before us a
petition that is being circulated
throughout the country, stating the
misfortunes that occur annually
through bank failures, and proposing
that congress enact a law requiring
bankers to give bonds, that their de-
posftors shall be secured against loss
in the event Of failure These extend
ed ideas seem to us to be in line with
the enlargement, of corporations into
trusts. The ONE idea which the people
of the United States, and of the world
for that matter have not yet grasped
with any clearress is the limit to which
combination can be carried with profit
There always is such a limit The
individual cannot be dropped out of
sight Beyond yeertain point the
union of forces fails to accomplish
benefcent results, and becomes instead
a destructive influence.
One may see this in the history Of
+. the great industrial trusts, to which
we have so often alluded The single
working man, engaged in his trade
and performing all the work necessary
TO a finished product, finds that he
ing establishment. The division of la
bor, the use of expensive labor-saving
machinery and the employment Of
capital to such an extent as will EN-
able the managers TO buy and sell at
advantageous times and in great
quantities produce. economies that
have their fruit { in cheapness. An
equally good product can be turned
out in this manner for SO much less
money that the old-fashioned artisan
cannot compete. This is a familiar
story.
The next step is the combination Of
little factories into big ones. Here,
again, there is a measure of success.
The same forces produce the same re-
suits. There are stfll new economies
and there is still further cheapening
of the product. But, here the dangers
Inherent in the principle itself begin
to appear. The employer who has a
dozen men under him can personally
supervise every one OF them He
knows the good workman from the
poor; he judges OF the quality of the
raw material used, and he is able to
carry his own credit. The man who
has two thousand employees under him
must depend upon the foremen and
heads of departments. He cannot
scrutinize all the details. If any Of
his lfeutenants lacks in judgment or
in honesty the loss is very great More
over. concern in which heavy capital
Is invested does not find it 50 easy to
tide over period Of depression as
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
CAR ROOFS ARE SLIPPERY.
William Curtis VIII Not ..RalIroad''
Until Spring.

night on the charge Of attempted
burglary, was sent the worlxhouse from
the municipal court yesterday for
ninety days. the charge against him
having been changed to disorderly
conduct Curtis was found crawling
through a window in Gustav Luck s
saloon, 174 East Fifth street, after
having broken out a pane Of glass in
the door. A police officer heard the
window crash and reached the scene
in time to catch Curtis red handed
The accused man claims to be q rail-
road man bug the police are Of the
belief that he is something of a bold
operator in the burglary line or he
would not hape taken such means Of
entering g builG&1g
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
Joy FOR TEACHERS

In addition to the programme for the an
nual meeting - the State Teachers associa-
ton Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
which has been published already, the pre-
gramme for the reception which will be held
Wednesday evening in the parlors OF the
reading From the Chimes" Dickens, by
Miss Mary Phillips; recitation by Mrs.
Condo Hamlin, and musical selections by Miss
Mrs. q. III. Parnell. =. G. Myron and the st.
Anthony fIilI orchestra.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27


ferring to the resolutions and the claim
in the preamble, that I'm this view.
on the ground of expediency, am dis
posed to concur" and 1t is this por-
ton that is quoted in the report. But
there are other portions Of the message
that plainly show that the president
did not think it expedient to recognize
the independence of Texas and, as a
matter of fact he did not He refers
to the traditional policy of this coun-
try of acting prudently in such cases,
and to the fact that no inquiry had
ever been Instituted in congress as to
whom belonged the power of recogniz-
ing new state, "a power the exercise
of which is quivalent, under some cir
cumstances, to a declaration of war,
| and one nowhere expressly delegated,
and only granted in the constitution
as it is necessarily involved in some Of
the great powers given to congress, in
that given to the president and senate"
to form treaties, appoint ambassadors,
land in that conferred on the president
to receive ministers from foreign ma
TONS
He admits that, where the re-
suit of recognition would probably be
a war, there should be concord
between the executive and congress,
| because the latter body only has power
to declare war. He then refers to our
course with the revolted colonies of
| Spain, standing aloof mot only until
ddthe ability of the new states to pro-
7 1tect themselves was fully established,
4 but until the danger of their being
tagain subjugated had entirely passed
,kaway" In the case of Texas he says
that, although the civil authority of
Mexico has been expelled and it's army
defeated aid it's chief executive cap
tured, there was still IAN immense dis
parity Of physical force" and the Mex
lean republic, under another executive,
is rallying it's forces under a new lead
er and menacing another invasion to
recover it's lost dominion" Under these
circumstances, and aside from any Pc
culiar relations existing between this
country and Texas, it would be, in his
opinion, inconsistent with that pru-
dent reserve with which we have hith-
erto held ourselves bound to treat all
similar questions" to- acknowledge the
independence of Texas,
These peculiar relations" were the
| fact that a large portion of the inhab-
| itants Of Texas were our countrymen,
who had established the same form of
government as our own and 'have re-
acknowledgment by us Of their indie
| pendence, to seek admission into the
| Union as one of the federal states.
Prudence, therefore. seems to dictate
| tain our present attitude, if not until
Mexico itself, or one Of the great for
eign powers, shall recognize the indie
! pendence of the new government, at
| course Of events, shall have proved be-
| yond cavil or dispute the ability of the
! people of the country to maintain their
! separate sovereignty and to uphold the
| government constituted by them" In
plain English this was a denial of the
| power of congress to recognize the indie
| pendenee2 of Eevolted peoples, and a re-
tention of that power in the hands of
authority for the senatorial jingoists.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
BALL AND BANQUET.

Members Of SANITY City Council No.
so, United Commercial Travellers AS
ISOLATION of America, with their wives
and friends, will enjoy their third an
nual ball and banquet at the Windsor
hotel tomorrow night. Supper will be
served for 200 and dancing will be In
the large dining room on the main
floor. The following gentlemen, with
their wives, constitute the reception
committee: H. w. Doolittle, G. w.
Golf, L. w. Irvine, s. J. Hutchins, G.
S. Wisemen, G. w. Sample, q. w. Rod
gers, H. L. Parsons, F. Fl. Parsons.
f. E. Noble, FL. r. Kittle, G. w. Rice.
and s. G. Mccoy.
The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-27
very Much RennbIican,

To the Editor Of the Globe.
To decide bet. please inform me through
your inquiry column whether Senator Chand-
Ter. the man that introduced the resolution
to cut down the salaries OF government en-
ployes, is q Democrat or-Republican.
sts 4lcKnewiedge"
SIG st. Peter street, Dec. g. 1896
He Is Republican S6fs the tftterest and
narrowest partisan type. IL rom HAas