davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
Nomination by Canvass.

The c~anvassing for signatures to a petit
tion to n man to run for an office he Graves
has been carried on in New York indus
triously and at great expense for several
months past. The canvassers are hired for
the purpose and paid according to the num-
Der of signatures they get. or they receive a
stated wage. In providing a gainful occu-
patton for needy men, the plan, therefore, is
not without public sympathy. 1t has given
to men, presumably deserving, the means
of making an honest living, and, as they
have been kept at the work steadily since
spring, it has enabled them to support in
comfort, If not luxury, the wives and chill.
dren dependent on them.
The initiation of this novel method of
providing employment for the INDECENT may
prove valuable in suggesting to the Charity
Organization Society and charitable socic.
ties generally n scheme of bcnevolence
which will avoid the degradation conse-
quent upon direct almsgiving. The great
problem of charity is how to give, without
breeding the spirit of pauperism; how to re-
lieve want, without creating and stimulat-
ing professional beggary. If, then, the plan
of soliciting n nomination to public Office
through the agency of "A regularly and prop
erly remunerated corps of canvassers, now
employed in the interest of Mr.. Low, shall
be introduced generally into politics, it's
originator may become renowned among
philanthropists as n practical public bene-
factor. 1t may be that the Chairman of
the Citizens Union encouraged its intro.
duction. in view of a result so desir-
able, for he is an active spirit in the chart
table organizations of the town, and under
stands thoroughly the difficulties of the
complicated problem with which they deal.
lfMr. Low finds it profitable to hire can
vassers to go about soliciting signatures to
a petition asking him to run for Office, why
should not the plan be adopted generally
by men ambitious of political distinction 2
1t il a modern improvement on the plan
of a mans announcing himself as a candi-
date for office and thereafter going on the
stump to drum up votes, a method still fol.
lowed in some parts of this country, more
particularly the South. The aspirant pays
for an advertising card In the papers of his
town or district declaring his candidacy.
The origin of complaints made against
political machines" is in the disap-
pointment of otiiceseekers whose craving
they refused to crafty. Men who have
been rejected by the machines, in spite of
their desire for nomination, are aggrieved
In consequence, and rise up in wrath
against the nominating system as essen.
TALLY vicious. This feeling of d~isappoint.
ment and evaporation is the germ of the
malady now known as Mugwumpery. Even
II the machine will not nominate a man,
there is nothing to prevent his nominat-
'n1 himself. He has that privilege under
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14

Reports of dissensions in the New York
Democratic State Committee in regard to
the platform to be adopted when the COM
mittee meets, some time in September, are
sent out with much frequency and industry.
Evidently the weakened brethren in the
committee are anxious to sound Democratic
opinion and see If it will support them in
sneaking out of national issues. II they
could only hear the Democrats in a good
number of counties praying them to make
the mex canvass on State issues, provided
any such can be found, they would be easy
in mind once more. They have not heard
any such prayers as yet, and they are not
likely to hear any. The Democrats of this
State have not shown any disposition to
run away from national issues. They are
not ashamed Of them or afraid of them.
They knew what they were voting for in
1896 n they have not changed their
minds about it since. The "local issue"
and estate issue" tricks are mere Mug
wump false pretences, such as do not ap-
peal to any considerable element of any
party and to the Democratic party are posi-
lively irritating. Whatever are it's follies
and itsdelusions, the Organized Democratic
party believes almost passionately in its
creed, and has no thought of suppressing it
to suit a%nybody's convenience.
Not much Importance need be given to
the proceedings of the Democratic State
Committee. Presumably it will represent
the wishes of the majority of New York
Democrats. There is no doubt what those
wishes are, although some of the commit.
teemen might prefer to have a two-faced
and evasive platform. Democrats, whether
on the committee or not, who expect to
retain any influence in the Democratic
party, will not be found counselling a luke.
warm or deceptive course. The Chicago
platform continues to be the Democratic
policy, and the New York Democracy has
no intention of resigning at the present
time from national politics.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14

No man of feeling will fail to be moved
by the declaration in the Ohio Populist platform
that this republic cannot be pinned together
with bayonets while injustice rules the land
and that lit Is the duty of the whole peo-
pie TO sec that opportunities for employment
are open to ALL" The cry for the initiative
and referendum will bring tears to many eyes.
and the remark that no millionaire plutocrat"
is lit to sit in the United States Senate will be
applaudcd by some of the persons who do not
admire the Hon. JOHN II. MCLEAN. but why
was a convention OF philosophers and reformers
disturbed by eruptions like these:
"a delegate from the Eighteenth district moved
for a special Sergeant at. Arms, and the Chair ap-
pointed him. He started for WITT. and instantly the
Inter was surrounded by his friends. the fusionists.
The whole convention was on Its feet and packed
around the beliigerents. Everybody was shouting.
"E. NJ. KERR OF Columbus pushed a Middle-of.t the
Road PoPulist away from WITT. Instantly he was
hit. P.J. Fss1tsAcK OF Columbus. GEORGE A. GRoor Of
Cleveland. KERR and WALLACE MOORE OF Columbus.
and Others Joined In the melee and blows fell thick
and fast. No one received a face blow. however.
chairman SEITz left the chair. Policemen ran
into the auditorium and stopped the fight. but the
belligercnts followed each other about. daring ono
another outside. No arrests have been made"
What Is the use OF giving employment and
non.interest bearing bonds to everybody. II the
smite one another in publici Even tho initia-
tive and referendum cannot appease such bel
licose economists.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
STAFF.
Indignation ut Certain Accusations Against the
Nurses.

Indignation ut Certain Accusations Against the
Nurses.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SCN-Sir: In certain
reports mot in THE SUM, in the papers to-day
there arc words and insinuations which are a
damage to the reputation Of the nurses, or many
of them, who are engaged in Bellevue Hospital.
I am chaplain in charge this month for the City
Missionary Society, and know what 1 am writing
about when l say that the women who arc caring
for the sick have great intelligence. devotion to
duty, and high ideals of what a nurses duty is.
They have the very best of training, and are a
credit to their profession and an untold blessing
to the nearly II, 900 sick who come here every
year.
AS to the house staff of doctors. they are
the very brightest young men in the profession.
Every man was an NJ. D. before he could sit for
examination for a place on the staff. and had TO
compete with many gifted and cultured men
who were anxious to serve at Bellevue. and l
will say this for the thirty-four doctors who live
in this hospital: | never have seen men with a
more honest. earnest. purpose to, do their full
duty well. and that for the good Of their pa
tients. This city is happy in having such men
at Bellevue Hospital.
May ] add that Mr.. Murphy. the superintend-
emit Of the hospital, has in the year and a half he
has been here done wonders. and has for man
agemcnt. with the backing OF the Commission.
ers. made Bellevue to rank as one of the great
hospitals of the world VIM. WILKINSON.
NEW YORK, Aug. L., 8 9
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
Two Sorts.

A very clear line runs through Democratic
criticisms on the Maryland platform. Such
newspapers as were originally for free
silver because they believed in it, de-
spise the Maryland platform as a contempt
ible trick and as a cowardly evasion of the
principles to which it's authors are at
tached Sin common with the Democracy
of the Union" The Democratic newspa-
pers that praise it are those which, pri-
or to the Chicago Convention, had de-
nounced free silver as either folly or fraud,
and had then abandoned their convictions
to follow Organism on the plea of regu-
larity. These latter journals showed them
selves to be devoid of principle a year ago.
and evidently they have gained nothing
since. The difference between their aver
sion to free silver now and their aversion
to it a year ago is that formerly they spoke
with apparent resolution, but now one
hears merely a feeble whimper from the
mouth of proven subsection.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
Pleasures or American Mnnona,res.

rum LC ENVuTO.
The members Of the North American Millionaires'
Club, q club admission to which "a dinicult. as only
persons possessing the tribe of nifty million francs arc
admitted. have Just invented anew sport, in oompari
son with which bicyclism with oil or benEine engines
and automobilism are mere child's play. These gen.
tlemen have converted themselves into engine driv-
ers. or locomotive engineers. II you prefer.
The celebrated millionaire James Aston runs once a
week the express train Of the Illinois Grand Central.
Evil tongues say that Mr.. Aston does this because he
wishes to watch tho administration of a line the
shares of which belong almost exclusively to himself
or to his family.
Mr.. George Fould. eldest son of the celebrated rail-
road king. himself runs the locomotives OF the excur.
sion trains which he gets up every week. The Presi.
dent of the Board of Directors OF the Union Pacific
makes all his inspection tours as an engineer. His
colleague, Mr.. Thompso of the Pennsylvania Cen.
trail Railroad. has acquired the reputation OF q skIful
fireman. and Mr.. J. Z. Hill. the chief shareholder of
the Great Northern Company. together with his sons.
has several times travelled across the United States.
from the Atlantic TO the Pacific, in the capacity OF an
engine driver.
And they speak Of snobbism in France.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14

the laws and the Constitution. He can
proclaim his candidacy by advertisement
In the newspapers, by handbills, by post
ers, or In circulars sent through the post.
Blu the Low method Of ~canvassing for
signatures to a petition begging him to run
is better than all these, or, at any rate, 1t
supplements them very effectually. II
an aspirant for public Office has the
money to hire a corps Of canvassers, he can
become a candidate by petition and laugh
at bosses and machines. Thus nomination
for Office Is extricated from the complica'
lions OF primaries and conventions and put
within the reach of every man who Is able
to engage a force of energetic canvassers
whose zeal in the chase for signatures to
his petition can be stimulated by making
the amount Of their pay dependent on the
m of names they get.
Mr.. Low, accordingly, may be q bene-
factor of the kind of whom he who makes
two blades of grass to grow where one grew
before is the illustrious type. He may be
the originator of a new profession, by
which thousands of his fellow beings may
be rescued from the smart and the ache of
poverty. If every man who wants public
office adopts the Low plan OF canvassing
for nomination by petition, the profession
OF political canvassers will be one
OF the most crowded of industries.
Humane people will encourage the de.
velopment of the new industry, since 1t
will cost them nothing except signing
their names. The demand for the can
vassers will be steady, for no year passes
when there are not political offices to be
sought for, and the four or five months
work Mr.. Low has given those in his en-
ployment might be extended to include the
whole twelvemonth.
There is an idea in this which the philan-
thropists should work out.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14

that those who settle down to service on
our warships should become citizens OF the
country, and ave no allegiance but that to
the Stars and Stripes. In the army 1t
began long ago to encourage naturalization
by allowing the time passed in the service
to count toward the period required
by statute for receiving the final
papers but in the navy this privilege was
denied until recently, and even the mer.
chant marine, we believe, gave greater adj
vantages in this respect. The result was
that in some cases men were known to
have served on our warships twenty
years without becoming citizens. Why
should they leave the navy, and there
by renounce the advantages Of con.
tinuous service, in order to secure
citizenship The sailor is liable to go from
one country to another, in his calling, and
to enlist under one flag after another, so
hat he is the less tempted to change his
native allegiance unless he Is tolerably
sure of passing his life in the service Of
some other Government.
1t will readily be seen, therefore, why up
to recent years SO large a proportion of the
enlisted men of our navy have been aliens.
ohe Ielp " CndIBo thc piupoIplonS was tno
increase in the number of the apprentice
lads. OF late, also. have come ameli-
o~rations in the lot of the enlisted
men, which have made service under the
flag rather more attractive to native Ameri-
cans, although these latter are often drawn
off to other occupations. Finally, there are
the special efforts to induce aliens in our
service to become naturalized and to smooth
the way for them.
That u American ships should have
American crews has lately been greatly de-
sired by the Navy Department. In the
army the number of men applying for en-
listment has been so large of late years
that Congress has felt justified in consider.
ing acceptance as a privilege, and so con-
filming it to Americans. In the navy it is
not so easy to get a superabundance of good
men; but the high percentage of Americans
now shown is most satisfactory, and the
future tendency will be to make it higher.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
The Facts About Mr.. Low.

eve are not for Mr.. Low" says Commits
sioner WILLIS of Brooklyn, "as the candi-
date of a hostile political organization,
declaring in the same breath with which
they nominate him that the Republican
party has no function to perform with re-
gard to municipal affairs"
The Citizens Union politicians, with
whom Mr.. Low is distinctly and insepara-
bly, identified, are hostile to the Republican
organization to the point of lunacy, and
their fundamental principle is that the Re-
publican party has no function to perform
with regard to municipal affairs. The Citi-
zens' Union insists Upon the entire
separation of municipal government
from national and State politics. 1t invites
every man to join it without regard
to his opinion as a Republican, a
gold Democrat. n silver Democrat. or as n
member of any national party whatever"
or, we must presume, as a believer in any
conceivable theory distinguishable from
that of the divorce of municipal affairs
from other affairs. And Mr.. Low Is one
of them. He is running, not as a Re-
publican or as an opponent of Tam
many, but on a platform Of personal
virtue. of superiority to partisanship, and
of absolute freedom and responsibility
to anything except his own opinions. He
has announced that he is heartily in SYM
pathy with the purposes of the Citizens
Union" as he understands them. For the
Republican party's purposes, principles.
fortunes, and prestige, or for the idea of de-
Tending the city of New York against Bry-
anism, he doesn't at present care a copper.
On the Citizens Union platform Mr.. Low
could stand for nomination at the hands of
Tammany Hall as easily as for nomination
at the hands of the Republicans.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
e

"A frog that can't get out OF a Jug Is q curiosity n
Mayneld. Ky. The Jug, uncorked. was left out on q
backyard bench on the place of R. c. James last fall.
Daniel Todd. a negro 80 years old, of White Cloud.
Kan. couldn't get a self. binding reaper. and he cut
his wheat with a scythe and bound It himself in the
old way.
John weatbrook. bachelor. farming It nve miles
north of Laporte. Ind. and 40 years old. had never
seen a railw ay carriage or street car until he visited
Michigan City last woek.
Thousands OF bushels OF cherries have rotted on
the trees in Oakland county. Mich. the owners not
being willing to pick them when the fruit commanded
only 80 or 40 cents n bushel.
Judge Giles Of Crawfordsville Fla. vouches for
the story that a ~32'pound cantaloupe was cut 40
George w. Smiths farm, and that eight people. cat
Ing their NIL, could only make away with half OF #.
1T is told OF q woman OF Lyons. Mich, that after
purchasing for a cent a box supposed to contain 200
matches she counted the lot over at home. and find.
Ing the number to DO four short returned the box and
demanded a full one, She got 1t.
Some newspaper reaier Of Missouri. with time
where Mr.. Cleveland had Congress, has compiled Q
list of odd names OF newspapers in that State. The
list includes tho Rock o. COMFORT, Unterrifed Demo.
Graf. Hustler. Rusfler. Bu=s Sd,r, Siltrr Hummer.
Eye opener, Cyclone. Bli=sdrd. Fhi=:er, aud Conner.
and then comes down to tina quiet Eye. Optic, Fly. Et,
quiz, Bee. and the businesslike Cash Book and Fact.
Felix Denewith, living two miles from Mount
Clemens, Mich, Is the reputed owner Of a young horse
which resented so strongly having most OF the work
thrown upon II. to the favor of a horse which Mr.,
Denewith had owned for thirty'eight years and was
disposed to favor, that 1t not only kicked at the old
one at every opportunity. but finally. when one day
the old one got swamped IN a pond. refused to pull 10
out after the owner had fastened & rope 10 II. Tho
young one was made TO pull only after being blind
folded and then II had 10 pull out the old horses body.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
MUGWUMPERY.
Its Attempt to Mako Use or Nir. seth Lew.
From fhe Trfsh World.

From the Irish World.
Those political parasites, the Mugwumps. have
served notice on the Republican party of New York
city that II must nominate their candidate for Mayor
OF Greater New York. Numerically too weak to form
q separate party, their programme is to frighten the
Republicans into submitting TO their d~ictatiop.
Here we have tho Mugwumps %enacting tho old role
in which they have so often appeared. In 1884 they
played II first In the interest of Grover Cleveland. On
this occasion the Democratic party was the victim OF
q Mugwump alliance. Thanks to the efncient ballot
stunning Of John Y. McKane. now q convict in Sing
Sing. the Democratic party gained q victory which IL
has had good reason to regret ever since.
And now. after twelve years, the Mugwumps are
again trying to push themselves. their principles. and
their candidates to tho front. They have selected as
their candidate q gentleman who nrst won their re.
gard by doing what he could to bring about the defeat
OF James q. Blaine in 1884. although at the time Mr..
Low held q political ONCE. to which he had bcen
elected by q party whose regularly nominated candi.
date for the Presidency he was doing his best to de-
feat. Most persons would characterize such conduct
a. political treachery.
among tho Mugwumps by showing himself overzeai'
GUS for England's interests. as shown by the part he
played as Chairman OF the Cooper Union arbitration
meeting. A candidate with q record OF this kind
could not fail to be acceptable to the M%ugwumps
How he would fare at tho hands Of the voters on cleo
tion day Is another question.
The pitiable plight to which the Democracy has
been reduced BY having Cleveland and Clovelandism
forced upon Il by the Mugwumps should servo as an
impressive warning to political leaders who may feel
tempted to court the good will of these political UT
landers. whose opposition IL not half so dangerous a.
II their friendship.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
The Tsetse Fly Found Innocent.

1t used to be believed that the tsetse-hy die
ease: that plague Of African travel. was due to
secretions OF ants or hornets are natural to those
insects. A group Of English ARCHAEOLOGICAL have
been Investigating the disease, and It is now
the disease. The fly itself Is the prey Of a mi
mute animal organism. and when 1t sucks tho
blood of an OK some of these parasites enter the
wound and multiply incredibly in the blood yes
sells. Specimens OF the blood Of affected animals
the tiny, eel.like parasites, not larger than blood
corpuscles. are seen in countless numbers.
Under another microscope a drop OF fresh blood
was shown with the parasites actually alive and
wriggling in disgusting activity. For compari-
son there were, shown, alive and dead, similar
parasites found infesting the blood of sewer rats
in this country. Unfortunately. these parasites
appear not to affect the health of the rats.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
Volcano in Georgia.
From the Nep Orlean, TYme,.Democ,

From the Fetc Orleans Times. Democrat.
TOWNSVILLE, Aug. 0.-Considerable excitement
prevails in the neighborhood OF Sandy Bottom. near
this place, over the appearance of what is reported to
be q volcano. The farmer ON whose place the erup-
ton 10 in progress has tried in vain to subdue It, and
has set . force of hands at work digging around
the spot with q view to ascertaining the cause OF
the strange appearance. The crater is about TWEEN.
ty.nve feet square,, and In 1--WE places blue
smoke can DO seen issuing from the ground. The
ground about the crater has sunk about two feet
below the level. 1t is said to be- sinking gradually.
and the crater is growing larger. Many people have
visited the spot. and It is said the openings have IRE.
quently been sounded to the depth Of ten feet. The
inside is reputed TO DO like q bed of ashes and the
smoke is blue. Frequent rains have failed to extin.
ttnguish the subterranean fires. The volume of
smoke coming up from the ground is reputed to be
increasing daily.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-14
English q. She Is Spoke in Havana.

from the Hdcunn Cdrfd del Sdbudo.
We have arrived, by effect OF circumstances that
impose themselves in q violent manner. to the near
period Of the great and transcendental solutions. that
must bring to this place; perturbed by the turbulent.
the moral peace that cases the spirits, and the ma.
terial psace that is necessary to raise the declining
forces. and the agoniking industries; but It would be
in vain that the illustrious Gen. weyler should reveal
all his vigorous energies. his indomitable activities,
his talents as q politician and soldier. II the hidden
obstructionism opposes to his efforts. revealers OF the
good faith OF his acts. grains Of sand that can obstruct
If only for 4 moment-the discharging of his timely
dispositions, in regard to what refers to the two g reat
problems. that weigh. with immense weight over this
Antiile, the problem OF the war which will soon be
resolved, and the economic problem that has charac.
tiers of supreme gravity.
1t is Indispensable to arrive to a dehnitive accord In
all that Affects the implantation of the reforms that
with liberal criterium-the Government OF II. NJ.
granted for the economic regimen OF Cuba.