davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
"CERTAENL

lie at what are called the "croSS roads
of the North Pacific They are near
the center of the great lines of COM
merce from the East to the West.
There is little dissent from the policy
of their annexation. 1t is not ina gined
that their peaceful people will require
a great army to control them. If it
could be ascertained to-day that no
army would be necessary, or that a
small body of troops at most would be
sufficient, to safeguard the Philippines,
opposition to their annexation would
be greatly diminished. 1t is simply the
dread of large standing army that
causes the body of the people who OPP
pose annexation to withhold their ap-
prevail. 1 do not believe that large
army will be necessary in the Philip
pines; and 1 am sure that, initiating the
policy of England in East India, native
troops would serve all purposes.
We have the right as conquerors to
hold the Philippines. We have the
right to hold them as part payment of
a war indemnity. This policy may be
characterized as unjust to Spain, but
it is the result of the fortunes of war.
All nations recognize that the con-
queror may dictate the terms of peace.
The first answer I received to a tele-
gram sent by me, asking on the part
of China that peace negotiations should
be commenced, and offering to con-
cede the independence of Korea and to
pay a reasonable war indemnity, was:
Japan is willing to enter on peace ne
gotiations, but she will dictate the
terms
I am in favor of holding the Philip
pines, because I cannot conceive of any
alternative to our doing so, except the
seizure of territory in China; and I pre-
fer to hold them rather than to Cypress
further the helpless Government and
people of China. I want China to
preserve her autonomy, to become
great and prosperous; and I want these
results not for the interests of China
but for our interests. I am not the
agent or attorney of China; and, as an
American, I do not look to the promo
ton or China's interests, or Spains or
any other country s-but simply of our
own.
The whole world sees in China
splendid market for our native prod
ucts-our timber. our locomotives, our
rails, our coal oil, our sheetings. our
mining plants and numberless other ar
ticles. We are closer to her than any
other commercial country except
Japan. There Is before US a boundless
future. which will make the Pacific
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

The tiny particle of black dirt scraped
out of the crevices, when examined un-
der the microscope, proved to be hltn.
In one crevice was found the leg or a
tiny insect There was also a piece or
badly decayed hair and any amount Of
stomach bacteria, plainly indicating
that somebody had at one time placed
the coin in his mouth. There was
piece of vegetable fiber, probably to-
bacco; a small piece of meat. a Few
blood corpuscles as on the 81 silver
piece. Other filth was found, as well as
the microbes of COLI communaris, lock-
jaw, typhoid, decaying meat, etc,
deadly combination. This coin was
carefully soaked in corrosive sub
Innate before being sent out for duty
again among the people.
An examination of the smaller coins
revealed about the same mlcropes as
were found on the others. 25-cent
piece showed up with tiny colony OF
cheese mold of its own in addition to
a nest of other dangerous germs.
Cheese mold is not particularly dan
gerous, but it is not pleasant to think
Of where it might have come from.
10-cent piece was nearly all de-
cayed meat germs, the commonest mi
crobes found on any of the coins.
The scent piece examined was the
most dangerous Of all the coins, for on
it was found germ that was either
dtphther1a or IeprOSy. OnQer the cir
cumstances no microscopic could make
| positive statement as to the true
identity of the microbe, as the two are
very much alike and become visible
with the same stains. However, the
chances are that it was diphtheria, and
that 1t was lying in wait for the throat
of the little one who should nut it into
its mouth. This coin was a most filthy
object, fairly reeking with dangerous
germs.
To kill these germs and clean them Of
filth is an easy matter. Put your coins
into a wash basin and pour a kettle Of
boiling water over them. Leave them
five minutes and there will not be
microbe living to tell the tale. If
everybody would make practice of do
ing this every night with the money in
their possession there would be little
danger of deadly diseases being COM
municated by the germs on coins in
general circulation.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

posted were then stained with differ
ent dyes and examined under a micro
scope.
Three slides were made from the Gull
lures of 500 gold piece. The coin was
a new one of 1898 and was as bright and
polished as any coin in circulation.
The most noticeable feature of these
slides was the enormous amount or the
germs of decaytng meat and fish. They
fairly reeked with them. These mi
crobes are not exactly a deadly poison,
but should they get into cut the chances
are that the victims blood would be
sadly disarranged, if not dangerously
contaminated.
How these microbes came on the coin
is not an easy matter to answer, but
most likely they came from the hands
of some butcher or possibly the hands
of a restaurant waiter. They may have
been harmless at one time. but GER
tainly developed strongly toxic quail
ties by the time they were examined
under the microscope.
The germs of Coli communaris were
also very thick on this coin. These are
the tiny filthy microbes that spring in
to being in horse refuse. Should they
get into the human blood they will
cause fevers and blood poisoning and
other Heterogeneous likely to lead to
some deadly disease. They are very
dangerous to health, to say nothing of
their disgusting qualities.
A few germs of lockjaw were also
found, as we'll as different microbes not
possible to identify under the circum-
stances. Although the coin was a new
one, it is readily apparent that it was
loaded with elements dangerous to the
public health.
Five dollar and $40 gold pieces re-
vealed about the same microbes as the
$40 gold piece. 1t was found upon an
examination that the gold coins were
not nearly so badly infected with germs
as the silver coins. But they were bad
enough. It would be the work of
months to find all of the germs on
coin.
In these Investigations it was only
possible to examine those germs that
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
SHHLL WE KEEP THE PHILIPPINES9


Dewey's victory has changed our at
titude before the world. We took no
part in international questions. We
had no standing in the councils of the
nations We were a quantite neglige-
able. So far did the idea that we ought
to take no part in foreign questions ex-
tend that some of my colleagues at
Picking, when 1 undertook to make
peace for China and Japan, deprecated
any Intervention whatever of the
United States IL the affairs of the Far
East
The position of absolute Indifference
to what is happening in the world is
difficult of maintenance: and when 1T is
maintained it is humiliating.
I recognize the existence of a ma
tional sentiment, in>accordance with
the supposed teachings of Washing
tons farewell address, which is
against the acquisition of foreign ter
ritory; but the world has moved, and
circumstances are changed. We have
become a great people. We have a
great commerce to take care Of We
have to compete with the commercial
nations of the world in far distant
markets. Commerce, not politics, is
king The manufacturer and the
merchant dictate to diplomacy, and
control elections. The ait OF arts IS
the extension of commercial relations
in plain language, the selling or native
products and manufactured goods.
I learned what l know of diplomacy
in a severe school / found among my
colleagues not the least hesitation In
proposing to their respective govern
ments to do anything which was sup
posed to be conducive to their inter-
ests. There can be no other rule for
the government of all persons who are
charged with the conduct of affairs
than the promotion of the welfare of
their respective countries If it be as
certained or believed that the acquisi-
ton of the Philippines would be of adj
vantage to this country, then mere
sentiment must give way to actual
benefit.
It is we'll known that prophecies Of
evil have preceded every acquisition
we ever made, from the Louisiana pur-
chase to that of Alaska, and, judging
by the results of the various annexa-
lions. these prophecies have been mis-
leading.
There is no reason whatever why We
cannot administer the Philippines in q
manner satisfactory to their people as
well as to ourselves. We have recent
ly annexed the Hawaiian Islands They
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

existed plentifully and to incidentally
isolate those not so numerous.
The Petri plate Of the silver 81 piece
of 1874, after fOrty-eight hours in the
incubator, was almost concealed from
view, SO plentiful were the colonies of
microbes.
AS on the 500 gold piece, the silver
dollar was covered with the germs of
decaying meat. They were found on
nearly every part of the coin and in
the greatest abundance. One side was
so thick with them that they looked
like piece of flesh tissue. Yeast
plants showed up in abundance.
The most startling microbes found on
| this coin were the germ of typhoid
fever. There was only one little group
| of them, but they would be enough to
start an epidemic if they were given
was obtained direct from the coin, but
in proper contact 1t would have multi
piled itself into a dozen inside of forty
eight hours.
On this coin was also found a group
of blood cells. Whether they were hui
| man or not it was impossible to ascer-
tain, as the cell structures were badly
broken through the coin being handled.
The size, however, seemed to indicate
that they were from a human being
Perhaps the coin may at one time have
been handled by some one with a cut
finger 1t is not a pleasant thing to
contemplate, though. when you con-
slider that you may be carrying around
even so small portion of your neigh
boris blood. This blood on the coin
would also serve as an admira BILE
breeding ground for any microbe that
came in contact with 1t.
Coli communaris showed up in seve-
raj portions of the silver dollar. A few
germs of lockjaw were found, as we'll
as other microbes not possible to iden-
tify. Such coin could not fail to
prove extremely dangerous to any
thoughtless person who might put it in
his mouth
A 5O-cent piece. as well as being ex-
amined by cultures on a Petri plate.
was also examined by being scraped.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

houses quicker by the medium of coins
than any other way.
IF a sick person as much as touches
a coin," says DR.. Pillsbury, the
chances are that the germs Of the dis
ease with which the person is afflicted
will infect it. Perhaps the germs may
rub off or come in contact with some
sterilizing medium, in which event no
harm will be done. But the chances are
in favor of the germs lying dormant on
the coin for long time until they come
in contact with some person that fur
nishes the proper conditions for. the
propagation of the disease. Then they
will soon multiply, and the 0erson will
be laid up with a deadly disease. The
greatest danger comes from the loath-
some habit some people have of putting
coins in their mouths. This is almost
as dangerous as taking a dose of poi
son, only it is not likely to, Kill so
quickly"
DR.. Gustav Eisen thinks there should
be law to compel banks and large
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
the Silver
Could Cause Serious
Sickness.

mercantile houses to disinfect their
oins at least twice a week. In this
way the danger of their spreading dis
4ase would be reduced to a minimum
There is no doubt whatever says
Or. Eisen, about the possibility OF
gold and silver coins being covered with
germs more or less deadly. The TACT
that germs taken from coins in general
circulation can be propagated in a
gelatine media shows conclusively that
they are alive, and they would breed
just as quickly if they came In conlacI
with the blood of a human being. If
one kind of germ will adhere to coin
so will another The harmless yeast
plant might lie beside a germ or pt,
bonic plague and nobody be aware OF
the presence of either, even after dead
ly work had been done 1 believe the
germs on coins are responsible for
great deal of sickness and NUMBER Oh
deaths" -:
Some months ago well-known busl-
ness man made business call on d
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

more important to us than the Allan
tic. San Francisco, Seattle and Ia
coma are in their infancy. They are
destined to rival New York, Chicago
and Philadelphia.
If we give up the Philippines we
throw away the splendid opportunity
to assert our influence in the Far East.
We do this deliberately, and the world
will laugh at us. Why did we takesIa-
Mia? Why did we send &c, 900 troops to
Luzon? Did we do so to emulate the
French King who marched his men up
the hill and down again? There was
no purpose in the conquest of Manila
unless we intended to hold it.
The Philippines are a foothold for
us in the Far East. Their possession
gives us standing and influence 1t
gives us also valuable trade both in
exports and imports.
Should we surrender the Philippines
what will become of them? Will Spain
ever conquer the insurgents, and,
should she do so, will she retain the
islands? To her they will be value
less, and if she sells them TO any con-
tinental power she will, by that act,
light the torches of war.
1t is perfectly certain, l think, that
England will not stand by and see any
other European power take the Philip
pines. They are on the line to Aus
tralia and India. \ England has stood
by and seen Germany, Russia and
France seize portions of China. There
is not an Englishman nor an American
in the Far East who approves her
policy The taking of the Philippines by
any European power other than Eng
land would create an explosion in the
latter country, and, if unresisted,
would lead to the destruction of the
Ministry, and, perhaps, the throne. BY
holding the Philippines we avert the
partition of China, and we postpone at
least a general European war.
There is, perhaps, no such thing as
manifest destiny; but there is an evil
dent fitness in the happening of events,
and a logical result of human action.
Dewey's victory is an epoch in the
affairs of the Far East We hold our
heads higher. We are coming to our
own We are stretching out our hands
for what nature meant should be ours.
We are taking our proper rank among
the nations of the world. We are after
markets, the greatest markets now ex-
listing in the world. Along with these
markets viii go, our beneficent institu-
tions; and humanity VIII bless us.
CHARLES DENNY, in The Forum.
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

competition among the members of So
ciety for the possession not of mere
land or space but of these in conjunc-
ton with artificial and social opportu-
mites arising from the nearnesS of So
ciety which gives rise to rent and land
values, and these must be paid for like
all other values at prices regulated ul-
timately by protection and Immediately
by competition.
What the land reformers of this
school want is not natural opportuni
ties at all. They want artificial oppor-
tunities-i. e., locations and relations OF
nearness to exchange production and
the general movement of society with
out paying for them the price which
competitors are willing to pay. This is
not a reform of crime, but is giving to
the essence of crime, which is getting
values gratis, a new name-viz., land
reform. The old name is crime. Land
reform is the scientific theory of hav-
ing without paying, of which all crime
is the business end.
There is much American testimony
but I confine myself in this paper to
the testimony of those who have not
the interest of lobbyists or partisans
and who are familiar with the working
of both systems.
Finally. criminals will exert a better
influence among the native populations
of the Philippines than many other
classes of our population, because they
are more nearly on level with the
Filipinos themselves. They would be
more democratic with them and more
popular than our clergymen, capitalists
or merchants, and would be immediate
ly understood by them.
The vices of our criminals are mainly
the habits, customs and even the -yir-
tues of savage life. A part of the diff
ference between civilization and savage
life lies in the absence of capital In the
latter, but another and larger part lies
in the hostility to capital. In both re-
spects our criminals think, feel and act
with the barbarians.
The prime need of two populations,
If both are to be saved, is that they
shall intermarry or at least hold fam
ily relations with each other. In the
higher class of Americans there is great
pride. We have wholly failed because
of this to save the savage races whom
we have driven westward before us in
orr march over the continent; we
would not intermarry with them, make
them citizens or divide with them, ex-
cent TO take the turkey and leave them
the crow. When the whites began to
mate. 1900, 900 of natives. They are
now reduced to 100000, and in the cen
turtles that have interviewed the Indians
have neither voted nor held the small
est office The French in Canada, the
Spanish in Central and South America
and the Portuguese in Brazil have all
done better than the Anglo-Saxon In
saving the Indian races
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13
HCERTATNL T."

earnings of the convicts pay the cost
Of their support.
How intrinsically wasteful of human
effort must any system Of convict Ia
Dor be which, after reducing the cost
of maintenance of the prisoner to the
small figure of 40 cents a day, cannot
get even that return! In all of our
States we must assess invariably a
part of his support on the taxpayers.
This, too, in a country in which ave-
rage free labor, unskilled and skilled,
ranges at from one to four dollars per
day!
In New York the hostility Of trade
unions to any employment Of prison
labor in competition with the local
trades workmen drives the Legislature
to forbid its employment in any trade
in which 1t can produce more than one
twentieth of the product of that article
made in the State. The new constitu-
ton reduces even this small field of
labor to zero by providing that the
prisoner shall not be hired to any priv
ate employer; he must work only for
the State. Prisoners are also by the
humOr of our legislators graded into
three classes, with the view apparent
ly Of rendering the prison a/polytechnic
institute TO one class, a gymnasium to
another and a comfortable hotel to a
third. In class A work shall be sub
ordinate to instruction, in class B in
struction shall be made dominant over
work, and in class G neither instruction
nor work shall intrusively interfere
with repose.
The ultimate thesis established by
our New York Legislature is that it
is better for the State to saddle the
support of its prisoners on the taxpay-
eps than 1t is to allow their own labor
to support them
Fortunately, however, about nine
tenths Of all criminals, probably to
avoid the expense of trial, instantly
upon committing crime seek to avail
themselves of the practical benefits OF
transportation by running away from
the scene or the country. This is alb
solutely the best and wisest thing they
could do, and the serious wonder is
that the government should expend
great pains and treasure to bring them
back when it has no better use for them
than simply to deprive them Of all pos
sible opportunity of further usefulness.
AS nine out of ten criminals escape,
the age actually practices transporta
ton in very much larger proportion
of instances than punishment with the
difference that the transportation is
The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-11-13

iran living on Mission street. As he
went up the steps OF the house he saw
the mans little daughter with a ten
cent piece which she was amusing her
self with by sliding it between her lips.
Don't do that" he said; its not
NICE
Yes, it isl the little one answered;
my mamma gave it to me-"
A few days later the child was laid
UP with diphtheria and subsequently
died. There was no other case of diph-
liberia in the neighborhood. and while
there is no positive proof that she
caught it from the ten-cent piece, the
chances are that she did. She could
easily have done so, for diphtheria
germs have been found on coins.
In order to ascertain just what germs
are likely TO Turk on gold and silver
coins set OF cultures and miscroscope
slides taken from coins in general cir
culation were made for The SUNDAY
Call These have been carefully ex-
amined by well-known microscopes
and the results are both horrifying and
disgusting.
Germs of nearly all the diseases COM
mon to our section except consumption
We're found. And also filth.
In making the slides Petri plates
with a breeding medium of bouillon
and gelatine were infected with coins
obtained indiscriminately. The infec-
lions were brought about simply by
laying the coins on the plates for few
minutes. The plates were then placed
in an incubator for forty eight hours.
At this time the smooth brown surface
of the gelatine where the coin had lain
had become covered with tiny specks
and large spots of mobilize growth.
These were colonies of different kinds
of microbes. Possibly only one of each
kind had been obtained from the coin
that lay on the gelatine, but these had
multiplied to thousands under condi-
lions similar to the tissue of the living
human body.
These colonies of microbes We're then
picked I'D on the point of a piece Of
platinum wire and spread over micro
scopic slides The thin coatings de-