davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

The writer of a communication published
in the Journal yesterday favoring the repeal
of the civil-service law used these express
sions: Standing, as we do, upon the high
and broad plane of equal rights and an
equal chance in the race for life," etc., and,
again: 1.-THE right to aspire to and hold
Office is just as inherent as any other right
in our government" The main argument
of the communication was that the civil
service law closes the door against the
equal inherent right" of all persons to hold
Office and against a free and fair race to OBJ
tain office. The Journal may be greatly in
error, but from it's point of view the merit
or mpetitive-examination system seems to
be based on the principle of equality and
fairness, while the so-caHed spoils system,
under which only such persons are appoint
ed to Office as have a personal or political
pull, seems to create a favored class. 1t
opens the door to all applicants for govern
ment employment on basis of merit ascer-
tanned by competitive examination is more
democratic, more republican, much nearer
approach to 1.-THE broad plane of equal
rights than a system which would allow
senators and members of Congress to ap-
point their personal and political friends to
places, to the ignoring of applicants who
are not their personal and political friends
Secretary of the Navy Long puts this point
clearly. He says:
The applicant for Office is put on true
democratic and American footing. The old
system was absolutely undemocratic and
un-American. If there is a democratic
or American principle it is that every man
shall have a chance and win according to
his merit. What would be said if a school
ma am were TO put at the head of her class
not the best scholar, but the scholar whom
the school committeeman who secured her
her place directs? There would be a storm
in every American household. And yet, I'M
der the old system, the congressman, even
against his Will, was compelled to be a
car in the matter of appointments. The
young American citizen DESTROYS to enter
the national service could only do so, not
by going into competition with other can
didates, but by securing the consent of a
political party authority. 1t was not enough
that he was one of the people, but he must
be within the circle of the influence of those
to whom that authority was under obliga-
fiOn.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
THE UNITED STATES AND THE PARIS
EXPOSITION.

The Journal has already commended the
appointment and work of Major Moses p.
Handy as special commissioner of the
1900. He is well qualified by nature for the
work of promoting and exploiting a large
enterprise, and his connection with the Chi
cago exposition of 1898 gave him peculiar
experience in this line. His unexpected
success in securing a large amount of space
for the United States after all other gov
ernments had applied and been provided for
showed his aptitude for the work. His re-
port. which has been submitted to Congress
by the President furnishes further proof of
his fitness for the position. In calling at
tention to the report the President in his
annual message said
Besides securing a much larger amount
of space than had been reserved Major
Handy obtained the gratifying assurance
that the United, States will be placed on
a footing with the most favored nations and
that in the installation. of every department
the United States will have location COM
mensurate with the dignity and Importance
of the country and adjoining in every case
countries of the first rank. In view OF the
magnitude and Importance of the approach
ing exposition and of our standing among
and in view also OF our increased population
and acknowledged progress in arts, sciences
and manufactures, l earnestly commend the
report of Major Handy to your considera-
ton and trust that a liberal appropriation
may be made.
The amount of space secured for the
United States by Major Handy was 5000
square feet. of which already, two years
before the opening of the exposition, it is
said that $4,000 feet have been applied for
by exhibitors. This shows that there will
be no lack of interest on the part of individ-
ual exhibitors and that the government will
be expected to do its part handsomely. The
President recommended a liberal appropria-
ton, but did not suggest any amount. Major
Handy in his report asks for an appropria-
ton of 1915, 600 as necessary to make cred
table government display. At first glance
the amount seems large, but upon reflection
it does not appear so. There are some
things in which government cannot afford
to appear small or use cheese-paring econ
omy. There are circumstances in which the
proverb 'noblesse oblige" applies to gov
ernments, and this is one. The Paris expo
sition, occurring In the first year of the
twentieth century, viii doubtless eclipse all
predecessors in extent and magnificence.
All the European governments win make
handsome and costly exhibits. On such an
occasion the United States cannot afford to
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

South Carolina Democrats are congrat-
ulating themselves on haying DISTINGUISHED
the bulk Of the negro vote of that State
by a constitutional provision that ANY
person who shall apply for registration
after Jan. /, 1898, if otherwise quail
fed, shall be registered; provided. that
he can both read and write any section of
this Constitution submitted to him by the
registration officer, or can show that he
owns and has paid all taxes collectible dur
ing the previous year on property in this
State assessed at $500 or more" The prop
erty qualification is more unrepublican than
the educational one, but as both apply to
whites as we'll as blacks there is no great
ground for complaint. The thing for the
negroes to do now is to acquire education
and property enough to enable them to vote,
thereby outstripping the rspoor whites" No
person, black or white, has much ground
to complain of an educational qualification
for the suffrage in any State of the Union.
If it deprives any person of the right of
suffrage he can at least see that his chill
dren escape the disability.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

In pursuance of its policy to give the OPP
ponents of the civil-service law a chance to
present their side Of the case, the Journal
reprints the following from statement by
Representative Lands:
The system. as we now find 1t. fairly reeks
with abuses. We do not have to go out of
our way to hunt for them. They confront us
wherever we are l will mention one little
instance to illustrate: l was up in the sixth
auditors office the other day. and at the
desk of that official applied to see a list,
which the auditor handed me and said con-
flee charged to Indiana The first thing that
caught my eye was the name of Miss Hat
tie Craft, charged to Delphi, my own town.
| know every man, woman and child IL
Delphi, and l knew there was no person
OF that name living there. On inquiry l
learned that ats sixteen years ago man by the
for a short time. and that he had young
daughter by the name Of Hattie. After
absence a; OF fourteen years, during which
time the Crafts were never in Delphi,
Hattie Craft was appointed in 1885, to
departmental clerkship in Washington as
being from Delphi. This is fraud on it's
face and rank injustice to bona fide resi-
dents of Delphi who have taken the civil
service examination in good faith, and
whose appointment may have been blocked
by the fact that there was somebody on
the rolls purporting to be from that town.
Such a discovery was calculated to exas-
perate the congressman and the case de-
served his protest but the abuse referred to
existed long before the civil-service law was
enacted There has been no time in the
last forty years that the District of Column
bra has not had largely more than it's quota
of persons in government employment, many
of whom were Charged" to States where
they had not lived for a dozen, fifteen or
twenty years. The practice is not an out
growth of the civi-service law, nor in any
way due to it. It is due to the fact that
clearinghouse keepers and other longtime
residents of Washington get acquainted
with congressman, senators and persons of
political influence and thus get pull"
which gives them an advantage in securing
appointments and promotions. 1t has been
a cause of complaint III all departments
ever since the Republican party first came
into power and for more than twenty years
before the civil-service law was passed.
ter, we think he will find the facts as here
stated, and that the nonresidence abuse is
in no way attributable to the civil-service
law If Miss Hattie Craft or any other
crafty person appointed under the civil
service law has given a false residence the
law makes it cause for removals remedy
which did not exist before the law was
passed
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

To the Editor Of the INDIANAPOLIS Journal:
Mr.. George w Spahr's letter in the Jour-
nal of this morning contains an excellent
suggestion. BY all means let US, in the
civil-service examinations, inquire into the
applicants idea of his duty to support and
uphold" the government. If that qualifca-
ton were added, would greater or smaller
number pass with high raCing? Mr.. Spahr
states this proposition. which apparently
seems automatic to him: "A man without
politics is generally without patriotism or
love of country He is for himself. alone"
etc. Conversely is man with politics
generally" actuated by a noble and dis
interested patriotism? Mr.. Spahr should
tell us what he means by "a man without
politics."
Can it be that the patriots who want Office
and can't get it are against the civil-service
law and that those who uphold the law are
the patriots who have office and the selfish,
unpatriotc ones who do not offer their serv-
ices to the government? Judging from the
noise, we of the last class might be in an
insignificant minority. But If the matter
ever could be put to vote it is probable that
Mr.. Spahr would have quite surprise.
CIVIL-SERVICE REFORMER.
Indianapolis, Dec IA.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

The Journal has not observed any decline
in United States bonds on account of Cen
eral Weyler's recent statement that "If war
it as my greatest military glory to take
command of an expedition against the
United States" Imagine this Bombastes
Furioso of modern warfare, this issuer of
proclamations, this punisher of women and
children and originator of the corralling and
starvation policy in Cuba, leading an ex-
petition against the United States One can
fancy him pacing the deck of a Spanish
war ship chatting under it's slow progress
and counting the hours till he should land
his army on our defenseless coasts. Per-
haps he would bring q horse with him from
Spain or perhaps seize one after landing,
His saddle and equipments would be Span
ish. glttering with silver ornaments as
would befit the greatest of Spanish soldiers.
Wherever he might land he would probably
lead his victorious host first to Washing
ton, and, after capturing and garrisoning
the capital, he would ride at the head of
his army against New York, Philadelphia,
Boston and other seaboard cities, after de-
stroying which he would march into the
interior and westward, never stopping until
he reached San Francisco. Before him
there would be a terror-stricken population
fleeing from Spanish vengeance and behind
him devastation and ruin. After wiping out
San Francisco he would march back by an
other route to Washington and there die
tate humiliating terms OF peace! When the
hero of the trocha and the originator OF
the reconcentrados Policy contempIates such
easy victories, what wonder that he longs
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

Many prominent American citizens, some
much more distinguished at home than Mr..
Bryan, have visited Mexico, but none has
ever been received there with such honor
as was sho wn him, He was received by
member of the President staff in full uni
form and escorted to his hotel in the Presi-
dents private carriage. president Diaz
has given orders" says the dispatch, that
Mr. Bryan shall be considered a specially
honored guest" Why? The highest office
he has ever held is representative in Con-
gress, and there he made no mark. AS
defeated candidate for President he is not
entitled to any particular recognition by
foreign government. He is not eminent as
a professional man nor distinguished as
private citizen. OF course, there is only one
reason why he is honored in Mexico above
other Americans, and that is because he
represents the Mexican policy on the silver
question. He is honored because he is the
head of conspiracy to establish the single
silver standard in the United States, and,
by placing a fictitious and artificial value
on silver, aid in lettering the debauched
currency of Mexico. The honors paid him
there should inure to his disgrace in the
United States.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
only $3.50 per horse power.


In recent statement regarding the new
government bills soon to be issued the d.
rector of the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing says: at is the desire of the treas
ury officials and the bankers of the country
to have an expanse of exposed paper. a
piainly-engraved text and large counter
number This applies to all denomina-
lions of greenbacks and other government
paper issues. The new style will be an en-
tire departure from the deliberately pic
tured and engraved notes heretofore in use,
and, therefore, perhaps disappointment to
the general public, but they will be much
more simple. more easily distinguishable
and more difficult to counterfeit. The
broad expanse of white paper will be a pro-
lection against counterfeiting by exposing
the silk threads in the paper, which coun-
terfeiters find 1t impossible to initiate. On
the Bank of England notes there are no
pictures. no scroll work, no coloring and
very little enAaving-a simple promise in
plain scrip to pay. But they are good and
never counterfeited
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

preparation. The project has much TO COM
mend it. The yicksburg campaign was
among the most notable of the civil war,
and was of particular interest to Western
men, so many Western troops participating
in it. Nowhere else could Grant be more sp-
propriately commemorated than at vicks-
burg. New York has the great Grant nonu-
ment of stone and marble; let the West
have as a memorial, a park in the place
where he SO greatly distinguished himself.
Yet, as the monument belongs to the Ma
ton. so, also. will the park. and like the
other will be place toward which. the feet
of pilgrims will set themselves while the
memory of the great captain and his SOL
dlers shall continue.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
MUCH WRONGED WOMAN.
Mrs. Florence Deacon Was Not Guilty
of InfideIity, as Charged.

BOSTON, Mass. Dec 14.-No doubt is en-
tertained in this city row that Mrs.
Florence Deacon, the divorced wife of Ed
ward Parker Deacon, has been treated with
cruel injustice Nearly five years ago the
social world was startled when, in hotel
at Cannes, France, Mr.. Deacon entered her
apartments and shot dead NJ. Abeille, whom
he found there. The relations of Mrs. Dea-
con and NJ. Abeille were in reality of the
most friendly and legitimate character But,
under the influence of liquor and drugs,
Deacon was beside himself and, furiously
accusing the pair of infldelity killed the
man. Under the French law Deacon would
have been convicted of murder and sent 10
the guillotine unless it could be shown to
the satisfaction of the justices that he was
avengng his wife's honor. Deacon swore
TO that on the stand; so did the hotel clerk.
who perjured himself. Mrs. Deacon, TO save
her husbands life, kept silence. at the ex-
pense of her own reputation. Had she told
all she knew Deacon would have met his
lgnOminiouS fate on the ScamOld. She con-
tented herself with making the simple state
ment that she was not guilty of the oftense
charged. Her loyalty was rewarded.
Deacon received nominal sentence OF
one year In prison, and was pardoned few
months later by President Carnot On his
return 10 this country he secured q divorce.
His wife again kept silence and was ostra-
cised by society in consequence. But some
how the facts became known, and her
friends, overjoyed, saw to it that the well
come intelligence was promulgated In the
right quarter. This explains why leading
members of fashionable society in New
York and Boston are not only taking un
Mrs. Deacon again, but are striving TO maka
her re-enter society Her husband. who Is
in private insane asylum near here. has
asked for forgiveness. and II has been
granted and the two are completely recon-
ciled.
Mrs. Deacon, despite all wel-meant en-
deavors win not emerge again from private
1ife but will divide her time between super
vising the education OF her children and at
tending her unfortunate husband.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

The secretary OF state in Pennsylvania is
contributing his share to the evidences of
returning prosperity A statement pre-
pared by him, based on the records of his
Office shows that during the five months
from March to July, inclusive, in 1896, there
was not single paper filed in his office for
an increase of the capital stock of any rail-
road company, while during the same
months in 1897 the office authorized in
creases of railroad stock to the amount of
$5O.O0000O. Whether this represented bona
fide capital or not. it represented activity.
During the months of 1896 above named
there were but FIVE street-railway COM
panies chartered in Pennsylvania, with an
aggregate capital of $4,000. while during
the same period of 1897 there were nineteen
companies chartered with an aggregate
capital of 81, 553 600. During the months of
October ana November, 1896, there were fif-
ty-three miscellaneous manufacturing COM
panies chartered, with an aggregate capital
of $1.51O000. while during the same months
Of 1897 there were chartered eighty-three
companies. with an aggregate capital of
s7022, 900. There is no installing the signifi-
canoe of these figures. They represent the
difference between stagnation and activity,
between distrust and confidence, between
Democratic and Republican times.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
strangIed and Robbed.

MOBILE, Ala, Dec. 14.-This morning the
dead body of Mrs. Margaret Hogan was
found in her store, on Congress street. Her
hands were tied behind her back and a
piece of braid wrapped tightly around her
throat. An investigation showed the place
had been robbed of money and some Of the
goods The robbers had probably forced
the woman, who was sixty-five years of age
to give up her small hoard, which she kept
in her room back of the store. They then
strangled her with the braid, but finding
her slow in dying Drained her with some
blunt instrument. Her brains had ooZed out
identify of the TnurdererS
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
IN SESSION FIFTEEN MINUTES.
Senate Adi0urns Ont of Respect for
President Mckinley.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE Senate vas
in session just fifteen minutes to-day, adj
journment being taken until to- morrow out
of respect to President Mckinley, who was
to-day in attendance upon the funeral OF
his mother. The motion to adjourn was
made by Mr.. Hoar. "All senator's" said ne,
ARE aware of the great calamity that has
overtaken the chief magistrate of the Ma
ton. He is to-day in attendance upon the
funeral of his mother. Out of respect to
him and as an expression of sympathy for
him in his affection, move that the Senate
do now adjourn"
No business beyond the introduction of
bills and resolutions were transacted. Among
the bills introduced was one by Mr. Kyle,
to change the immigration laws of the
United States He gave notice that at the
proper time he would offer the bill as
substitute for that which is now pen ling be-
fore the Senate I'm only enc feature" said
Mr. Kyle, docs my bill differ materially
from the measure now before the Senate.
NV bill provides that all immigrants shall
have their test of education made by the
to their homes. 1t is a serious hardship for
these people TO cross the ocean with the
prospect staring them in the face of failing
in the test at the port of a foreign country.
This feeling of stage fright doubtless
seriously affects many of them that they
are unable TO do themselves justice in read
ing the prescribed sections OF the ,,onstitu-
ton Of the United States The measure 1
have offered is to remedy what | regard as
a defect in the measure now under consider
alton in the Senate" At 12:15 p. m. the Sem
ate adjourned
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15
Reports Indicate that Haiti has another

Reports Indicate that Haiti has another
trouble on, her hands similar to that she
has just settled with Germany. This time
it is with Italy which nation, it is said,
has dispatched war ships to enforce pay
ment of an indemnity for the alleged muir
Ger OF an Italian subject and the illegal
seizure of an Italian vessel. That is a very
arbitrary method of enforcing justice, to
say the least, and unless the claim is clear
ly just 1t savors of bullying and oppress-
ing a weak power. Even strong power
ought to be willing that the world should
hear the other side of the question before
enforcing its own side with war ships. The
trouble with the Haitian government is that
it does not govern. and therefore is con-
stantly getting into difficulty with other
powers which have no respect for it.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

In Joining in the movement to establish
national military park at Vieksburg the In
diana commandery of the Loyal Legion has
put itself in line with other bodies of veter-
ans and with public sentiment wherever it
has had opportunity for expression. The
plan has been Endorsed by three National
9. A. r. Encampments. by eight state de-
partments of the G. A. r., by four state
communicates of the Loyal Legion and by
twelve state legislatures. Other organiza-
tons will undoubtedly take similar steps
when opportunity affords. The last National
Encampment of the G. A. r. appointed a
committee, Of which Gen. George f. MeGin-
MS and Col /. n. Walker are members. TO
push the matter. and Congress will be asked
to take action and make the necessary APP
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

Few people have any idea of the greatly
reduced cost of steam power within thirty
years. In lecture by Mr.. Dean, of Boston,
recently delivered before the American So
ciety of Mechanical Engineers, it was shown
that the Corliss engine, the most economical
in Use in 1870, consumed nineteen or twenty
pounds of steam for each horse power In
other words, nineteen pounds of water had
TO be turned into steam every hour to pro-
duce the power required. To-day the best
type of engine needs only eleven and a half
pounds. or little more than one-half. The
saving in the cost of steam power by the
use Of compound engines and other new APP
pliances is IS per cent, while the price of
coal has fallen 46 per cent. Mr.. Dean figures
that plant of one thousand horse power
which cost $SS.14 per horse power year in
1870, can now he operated at an expense of
only $3.50 per horse power.
The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-12-15

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 14.-One and pos
sibly two lives were lost and $4,000 worth of
property destroyed in q disastrous nre
almost ruined the business portion of the
town. William II. Law. mine superintend-
ent entered the store building to save some
books and papers and was burned TO death
Pleasantine township clerk is missing and
there is little doubt that he persisted in the
flames. Nine store buildings and four
dwellings, were destroyed. While the fire
was in progress a mob looted several stores,
stealing hundreds of dollars worth OF goods.