davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
SILVER THE LATIN UNION.
Recent Decision to Increase the Number OF
Small Coins Means Nothing.


Small Coins Means Nothing.
Chicago, Nov "a special TO the
Times Herald from Washington, ID. T..
says:
Secretary of the Treasury Gage when
seen in regard TO The decision OF the
countries comprising the Latin UNION
to increase the number of their small
silver coins to The amount OF one franc
for each one of the population, shid
there was no Significance whatever IN
this action us affecting the broad ques-
tion of bimetallism. The additional
small coins are to be coined from five
franc pieces and the secretary pointed
out that as the tive-franc piece Is Il
full legal tender coin in the Latin uh-
ion countries. while the minor coins are
legal tender only to the amount of Tor
~ francs. or about S7.T5 the effect was
really to reduce the volume of legal
tender silver in the Latin union coun-
tries to the amount of the 1ive-franc
piece coined into minor coins. He said
he supposed the countries interested
were led to take this action by the de-
mand for small change.
"rhe population of the five countries
comprising the Latin union-France,
Belgium. Italy, Switzerland and
Greece, is about 81 1.0O00oO, and as the
new small coins are to amount to one
franc for each inhabitant. there will
be withdrawn from circulation in these
countries about SS.OO0.O0O. While this
amount is not large it is II small step
in the direction of the retirement of le-
gal tender silver coins in the Latin un-
ion countries, and as the Initiative was
taken by Switzerland 1t is believed to
be possible thar it is one of the first
steps of that country in getting rid of
full legal tender silver and adopting
an exclusively gold standard.
"'rhe large volume of full legal ten
der tive-franc pieces which are held
by the Latin union countries have been
it is said, responsible to n great extent
for keeping alive the agitation for in
tcrnational bimetallism in France and
other countries. comprising this union
and if Switzerland should solve the diff
iiculty by getting rid of her legal ten
der silver it would. it is thought. de
crease the strength cf ihe bimetallic agi'
tation in Europe"
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
THE KANSAS PACIFIC.
A Rumor That 1t VIII he Bought In by the
Chicago a. Alton Road.

Chicago, Nov. 5.-Between now and
December 10th, the date of the sale of
the Kansas Pacific Railroad, which
has seemingly been abandoned by the
Union Pacific reorganization commit
tee, II syndicate, it is reported. is to be
formed with j. Pierpont Morgan at its
head. which. it is understood will buy
the road for the use of the Chicago x
Alton. This road has a traffic contract
with the Kansas Pacific similar to the
one the Chicago Il Northwestern has
with the Union Pacific, and it has
found the Kansas Pacific almost indiS-
pensablc as an outlet from Kansas
City to Denver. The Alton has offered
to lease IT from the syndicate, which
is to secure it. agreeing to pay the
actual net earnings to the owners of
the property.
The Alton's offer. it is understood,
is being favorably considered. The
Vanderbilts are said to be anxious that
the road should come under the control
of the Alton, as the latter is practi-
cally the connection of the Vanderbilt
lines from Chicago and st. Louis to
Kansas City.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12

The ex-governor of one of our
wealthiest states said to the writer
the other day: when / read an or
dinary little country newspaper
(something he does several times ev-
cry day) and then turn to one of our
great metropolitan papers l at once
observe the chasm that is dividing the
newspapers of the country into two
classes, on one side of which is the
country paper, with its homely, honest
ways, and on the other the hired mud
machine of an anonymous assassin. A
conflict between these two elements is
now at hand. The metropolitan is in
vading the territory of the country
editor. and it is the latter's duty to
drive 1t back, not only as a means of
self-protection, but to protect the NOR
ais of his community. The average
metropolitan paper is immoral in more
ways than one. 1t plants seeds of
poison wherever 1t goes" To all of
which we say amen. Country people
ought to support the home paper,
Whether it is Democratic. Republican
Populistic, Prohibitionist. it should be
taken in preference to the "metropoli-
tan mud machines"
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
WoLCoTT IN NEW YORK.
Asks to he Excused From Saying Anything
About His Mission.


New York. Nov. 5.-Senator Edward
O. Wolcott of Colorado and General
Charles j. Payne, two or the monetary
commissioners appointed by President
Mckinley to confer with European
governments concerning the feasibility
of establishing international bimetal-
lism. arrived here tonight on the
steamship Campania. The other COM
missioner former Vice President Adlai
T. Stevenson. will return on a later
vessel.
Senator Wolcott asked to be excused
from saying anything of his mission
abroad. He was much interested in
the news of the recent elections. He
asked some questions about them, but
made no comments.
General Payne also declined to speak
about his European trip. Senator VOL
colt will remain here for couple of
days and then go to Washington.
Charles ID. Lane. chairman of the
National Silver party. was also Il pas
scnger on the Campania. He had been
to Europe pleasure ana businc@s
trip.
Referring to the mission of the mon
etary commissioners. Mr.. Lane said he
had not expected anything better from
the European governments. They
were against bmetallism, but he was
of the opinion that the people of this
country would eventually adopt it, in
dependently of the European powers.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
CHINESE WILL REPLACE WHITES
The Coal Mines of Northern Illinois Are
to He Fortified and GnrrisoncL.

Chicago, Nov. THE Times Herald
says: Chinese coal miners are to take
the places of Americans in the North
ern Illinois district. An attempt will
he made to break the strike that exists
aud 500 skilled Cclestials have been
picked for the work.
They will all bear arms. live inside Il
Gatling-gun equipped stockade and be
body-cmrded by 100 former Chicago
policemen.
An agent of the Chinese Six Compa-
nies was in Chicago last week and
made a contract with the Wilmington
Coal Company to deliver the 500 Chi
namen at the mines of the Wilmington
Braidwood district. The first consign-
ment of 200 will arrive next Tuesday.
and the others will be on hand as soon
MS provisions can be made to take care
of them. Arrangements for an addi-
tional 1000 Chinese miners have been
made conditional on the success of the
first venture.
Elaborate preparations have been
completed to take care of the first 500
Cinnamon and give them ample protec-
ton.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
FREIGHT RATES LOWER YET.
Overland Routes Are Trying to Force the
GuIf Lines Into an Agreement.

Chicago. Nov. 5.-War against the
lines running from the Gulf to Colo
RADIO points has been openly declared
by the roads reaching the same points
through Chicago. ST. Louis and Kan
sas city. The Gulf lines insisted upon
having n differential below the direct
overland roads, and the latter refused
to give it. No agreement could be
reached, and the Gulf lines withdrew
from the meeting.
This was practically n declaration
that the present low rates via the Gulf
would be maintained. and the direct
lines took steps to protect themselves
by the passing of an order upon the
chairman of the Transcontincntal
Freight body to ut once prepare n lar
iif upon basis of S1.31 first-class from
the Mississippi river to Colorado com
mon points. This is reduction of six
teen cents below the present rates and
tifty-four below charges that prevailed
before the trouble began. 1t makes
the rate from Chicago S1.51 tirst-class.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
ACHAMPION OF CROKER.
william t. Stead Holds Out Hopes of
Good Government.

WilliAm I Steau hOluh Out dOpes oi
Good Government.
London. Nov Am Englishman
who does not cherish totally gloomy
view of the result of the recent cleo
ton in Greater New York is William 7.
Stead, the well-known newspaper man,
who recently figured in the public eye
here as the sponsor of Richard Croker
in a somewhat fattering pen portrait
of that noted Tammany chieftain. Mr..
Stead gave his views to a representa-
tive of the Associated Press to-day in
original phrases such as characterize
his utterances. Mr.. Croker. 1t appears.
while conyersing with Mr. Stead, pre-
dicted that the Tammany majority
would be 100000 votes, adding: IF
We're to run for mayor, l should want
all the newspapers against me-"
Mr.. Croker added. says Mr.. Stead:
"If You intend to write about me,
please say that 1ammany must give
New York the best government 1t ever
had New York is the ideal Of the
world and that is the future watch
word of Tammany."
Mr. Stead continued: 1T is a great
vindication of Tammany and Croker,
and gives them II wonderful opportu-
nifty, though it does not wipe out the
slate of the past. Nothing could erase
the Lexow revelations. but many men
who, struggling to the front, some
times find it necessary to do shady
things to get there. would be superior
TO such temptations after having
achieved the position"
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12

The heat of competition and the
overcrowding of trades and professions
is the subject of anxious consideration
among young men and their we'll
wishers: but the fact remains that
everywhere are places calling for the
satisfactory occupant. In a large town
in one of the populous middle states
three congregations are vainly search
ing for acceptable pastors; two young
doctors. returned from careful instruc-
ton and practice in foreign hospitals,
have, in spite of dire predictions to the
contrary. built up large practices; and
a manufacturer in the same town de-
clares that he has two positions of five
thousand dollars salary each which he
is anxious to fill Nor is the situation
in this town unique. Mediocrity is not
wanted, but in every line of work ex-
ceptional ability is in increasing de-
mand
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
German Turned Down.

Baltimore, Md. Nov. Am official
count of the ballots cast on Tuesday
last made in most of the counties to-
day, leaves no further room for doubt
that the Republicans have control OF
both branches of the Legislature and
that u Republican will succeed Arthur
p. German in the United States Sen
ate. Five members of the Assembly
and one senator We're taken from the
Democratic list of probabilities and
added to that of the Republicans. Three
of the members and the senator from
Talbot county, and one member each
from Prince George and Carroll. This
gives the Republicans forty nine men,
bers in the House and the Democrats
forty-two.
1t also gives the Republicans ten SEN
ators to eight for the Democrats and a
majority on joint ballot of seventeen.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
WORK AT THE NAVY YARD.
Ships at brooklyn Being Pushed to Com
plction.

plction.
New York, Nov. 5.-The Commercial
Advertiser says this afternoon:
The Brooklyn navy yard is active and
work on all the war vessels lying at
the wharvcs or dry docks is being
pushed forward as rapidly as possible
under orders from the Navy Depart
ment No one seems to understand
why so much haste is necessary, and in
quiries are met with the invariable re-
ply:
1T is nothing unusual. We are
cbeynig orders issued some time ago,
that is all. We always finish work at
this station as rapidly as we can.
Spain's naval activities have nothing
to do with our industry
An officer attached to the office of the
commandant of the yard repeated this
time-worn explanation to-day. but add
ed that he believed some sort of an or
der had been received to urge the COM
pletion of the two new vessels which
are at the yard making preparations
for their final trials under the Board
of Inspection.
These vessels are the torpedo boat
Foote and the big battleship Iowa.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
THEFEpERAL ARrlLLERYFoRcI
New York Chamber of Commerce Urges
Large Increase In 1t.

Large Increase IN IL.
New York. Nov. 5.-Thc New York
Chamber of Commerce has adopted the
following resolutions:
Whereas. The United States is now
constructing modern sea coast defenses
to include over 800 high-power guns.
1000 12-second mOrtars and 36O rapid
firing guns, to be grouped at 40 diff
ferent points at about twenty-five diff
fercnt harbors. and has made an ap-
preparation for over $50 high-power
guns and about the same number of
12-pound mortars, of which one-half
can be in their implacements by June,
1898, and,
"Whereas, The present United States
artillery force is wholly inadequate to
care for and properly man these guns
in their lmplacemcnts, or to be prop
erly organized into n defensive sys-
TEN or to furnish n nucleus of instruct
ed artillerymen for the proper man
ming of these defcnses in case of war;
therefore. be it
Resolved. That we. the Chamber of
Commerce of the city of New York,
being fully impressed with the urgent
need of an increase in number of the
federal artillery force to properly in
sure the vast amount of property of
our city and other sea coast cities
against destruction and levying of con-
tributions that would be visited upon
Ills in the event of war with foreign
nations, 80 earnestly request and urge
the President and Congress of the
United States to take such immediate
action as will provide Il force of
trained artillerymen for the proper
manning of our sea coast defenses, and
1t is believed by lis that ITO sea coast
batteries requiring numerical in
crease of the army of about 1000 artil-
lerymen is absolutely necessary to ac-
| complish these purposes"
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
WILL Go TO THE COURTS.
ONO Democrats Claim That rhex sho,,a
Have Majority

Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 4-Iato 10
night 1t became known that the courts
would be resorted to for the purTsns,e
oil preventing boards of election fron,
issuing certificntes to the Republican
candidates in certain counties TN,
cases will be brought in the lower
courts and thence to the Sunrena
Court rs soon as possible. The Renuh-
lican state committee already has law
yers preparing cases of contest The
Republicans get three representatives
on the face OF the returns from Della
ware, Noble and Wood counties, whose
pluralities aggregate only 142, and a
change of ~ votes would have given
the Democrats control Of the Iegisla-
ture.
The Republicans claim that the Dem
ocrats also elected members of the
Legislature on close margins, and as
there We're ten counties in the
state that gave less than 100 plurality
each for the candidates for the Legis-
lature. the Democrats elected as many
members on these small pluralities as
the Republicans.
Both sides are preparing for contests
in the courts and afterwards in the
Legislature As each branch of the
Legislature is the tribunal of last resort
own members. the Republicans have an
advantage in their control of the House
over the Democrats. who control the
Senate. There are thirty-siX senators,
with only two or three contests pOSsi-
BILE in that body.
In the House there are 100 members,
with dozen or more seats that can be
contested. and the Republicans claim n
majority of in that body. so that more
Democrats could he unseated in the
House than Republicans In the Senate.
While both committees are keeping Sc
cret any arrangements for legal pro-
ccedings. yet it is stated that the Dem
ocratic state committee will seek to en-
Join enough certificates of election from
Republican representatives to prevent
the Republicans from organizing the
| House and appointing the committee
that will consider contests. Develop
ments are expected tomorrow in the
policies of both parties. so far as ap-
pcaling to the courts is concerned.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
HA,LsroRMs SCATTERED.
Austrian Vineyards Successfully Protected
from the Downpour.

means OF powerful disturbances of the up
PER strata n Of r h sams or hut the re-
verse princlpe-that of disslpating rain ana
hall storms by means OF explosions IN tih tne
upper currents of air-has proved successful.
says the Philadelphia Record. Unlike the
rain-producing experiments carried out IN In
exposition of scientific principle, the ex-
periments which proved successful were car
pose of protecting valuable vineyards from
the devastation of hail storms, which are or
% country. fer Mr Albert 8 stirer. bursomaster ] Of
MISUNDERSTANDING dover Steirmark, Aus
irin), owns extensive vineyards, situated on
hall storms. According to Consul Germain;
money and labor on the Improvement of his
Mhas as ana In securing choice cuttings from
ment to protect his crops from their worst
e,meimy-hnil; ,,i AT first he purchased galvan.
Esa yc ar9n wire netting and 1t oyer Yer
scheme too expensive for general appliGh-
tion. He therefore concluded to try the
s,nh sh,oonhg or explosive systems TO scatter ter tne
heavy rain storms. He erected six stations
on the six most prominent SUBMITS sur
rounding the locality and commanding a
st,at,iitory ABOUT two miles In extent. Ineso
mortars each. In the neighborhood OF every
station Is cabin In which the necessary
bors, who nre also owners. of small vine
yards. have been trained to handle the NOR
tars ~ the slightest Indication of an ap-
preaching storm. The mortnrs are inme-
dintely manned and loaded with about four
and quarter ounces of powder each, and
shooting commences simultaneously, and
continues regularly out of the sixty NOR
tnrs until the clouds have scattered and the
storm has blown over These experiments
were nnXlously watched by the citizens of
Wlndlsch FrcIstritz last summer AT the ap-
proach of threatening black clouds over the
submits OF the Bncher mountrins u signal
was given and all the mortars We're fired on.
and the continuous detonntions In few
movements of the clouds. The cloud wall
opened up funnel-llie. the mouth of the
funnel began to rise In the form of consecu-
the clouds scattered and entirely disap-
peared. There was no hail or even IL sudden
downpour of rain. The same experience
was gone through six times last summer:
and has without single exception proved
Il successful preventive.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
CHANCE FOR HANNA.
Republicans VIII Have n Majority of Five
In the Ohio Legislature.

IN tne ONO
Columbus, o.. Nov. S.-rhe only i'm
portant development in the status of
the new General Assembly to-day was
the decision in the Wood county case,
which once more removes that county
from the doubtful list to the Republi-
can column. The court instructed the
election supervisors of Wood county
to canvass the returns from the dis
puted precinct. which gives the elec-
ton to Captain o. u. Morris. the Re
publican candidate for representative
by 81 plurality. This news was re
ceived by Chairman NASH of the Re
publican state committee with evident
satisfaction. though it was not differ
ent from what he had expected. The
decision had Il significance which
could not be expressed, inasmuch as
it put an end to talk of other contests
on the same ground. Chairman Nash
does not believe the case will be APP
pealed by the Democrats, since the law
in the case is plain. There was some
talk of an Injunction against the SUI
pervisors, but 1t was not confirmed.
Should no further changes be made.
the Republicans will have majority
of five ON joint ballot, as claimed by
Chairman Nash.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
Dekperndoes In In,xa.

Des Moines, Iowa. Nov G.-Three col
ored desperadoes, armed with n shot
gun and two big revolvers. held up the
mining town of Marquisville. four
miles north of here tonight. They
walked into the pool room. and, call
ing on fifty miners to hold up their
hands, one of the party went through
their pockets. The miners had just
been paid and quite sum was taken.
After the robbery The desperadoes
strutted around town and gloated over
their work for few minutes. They
fired many shots, but no one was hurt.
They are still at large
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS EXCITED
Prominent Exponent of the Faith In Kan
sns City Concealed Case of DIphtherin.

Kansas City, Mo-. Nov. S.-Nothing
ever stirred the Christian Scientists of
Kansas City as the arrest of Mrs. A. j.
Baird Christian Science healer. for fail
ing to notify the health authorities of a
case of diphtheria which she had treat
ed. Among the 800 or 1000 Scientists
in the city there are few who do not
support Mrs. Baird in her controversy
with the health officers. She will not
lack lawyers when she appears in po-
lice court "Wednesday next, and should
she be convicted it is certain that ap-
peal to the court of final resort will be
taken.
The health officers look on Mrs.
Baird's offense rs serious; they say the
laws 10 protect the public health will
he quite useless if people are to he al
lowed to conceal contagious diseases,
as Mrs. Baird did in this case, and
they are determined on test case.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
THE PENSION ROLL.
MMISSIoNER'S ANNUAL RE-
PORT.
Mr.. Evans Shows Gain of 5.336 Pension
ers Over Last Year-There Are Almost
u Million of Them.

/ Washington, Nov. 5.-The first an
, nual report of the commissioner of pen
sions, II. Clay Evans, to the secretary
of the interior was made public to-day.
There were added TO the pension rolls
| during the year the names of 5O,1Ol
new pensioners and there We're restored
to the rolls 3,971 pensioners who had
been previously dropped, total of o.
Or
During the same period the losses to
the roll We're 81 .960 by death, 1,OI4 by
rcmarriage of widows and mothers.
l,S45 by legal Limitation (minors). 2,6S3
for failure TO claim pension for three
years and $50 for other causes. an ag-
gregate of II. .122.
The whole number of pensioners on
the rolls June 30. 1897, was 9IGO14.
The gain over the previous year was
5,336.
Seven widows OF revolutionary sol
diers are still on the rolls.
During the year 1924 claims Of var
ious classes We're disallowed. This
number. however. does not include
claims which We're made for higher
rates of pensions.
The amount disbursed for pensions
by the pension agents during the year
WAS S139,I99. .242, and the amount dis
bursed by treasury settlement was
S15O.475. n total of S139.9i9.717. This
exceeds the amount disbursed during
the fiscal year of 1896 by the sum of
81 ,504 ,4S0 If 11,6T1 certificates which
We're held in the bureau unit! July l..
1897. had been mailed to the pension
agents during the fiscal year they
would have required first payments
amounting to 81, 191 .694. besides the ad-
ditional value, which would also have
been charge upon the appropriation.
This amount, added to that actually
disburscd. makes an aggregate of
Sal ,99O,936. The appropriation for the
payment of pensions for The fiscal year
1897 was only S1IO.00o,OOO The aver
age annual value of each pension nj
the close of the year was Sl33.1I. The
average annual value of each pension
under tie general law was S162.04, each
under the act of June 81. 1880. was
S1O9.25. The aggregate annual value
of all pensions at the close of the year
was 129,T95,42S. This. of course, eX-
cludes the cases that We're held up.
There were forty-four original and
seven duplicate bounty land claims ad-
mitted and 145 original claims of this
character rejected.
In conclusion. the report recommend
ed the publication of n complete list
of pensioners and of the passage of n
law to the end that no pensions he
granted to the widow of any soldier
that shall marry hereafter.
The Springfield herald., 1897-11-12
The Brussels Exposition.

Washington, Nov. Professor
Thomas Wilson of the Smithsonian In
stitution, who represented this country
at the Brussels exposition. has re-
turned to Washington. He describes
the exposition lis entirely of CONNER
clal character, and says it was not
nearly so large or varied as the
Worlds Fair at Chicago. Twenty
seven or more countries were repre-
sented. Those having better or larger
exhibitions than the United States
We're France, Germany, Great Britain
and Austria.