davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times., 1898-02-21
The Position of Mr. sherman

With all candor and respect for the
proprieties, The Times feels impelled
to say that the anomalous position oc-
cupied by the Hon. John Sherman,
nominalIy, but not really, Mr. McKin-
1ey's Secretary of State, is a national
scandal. We do not believe that a
parallel case can be found in all the
pages OF modern political history.
Mr. Sherman was forced out of the
Senate, as everybody knows. to make
place for Mr.. McKinleys friend, Mr..
Hanna. The aged Ohio statesman did
not want 10 relinquish a seat which
he had filed for a fun generation, and
in which he had earned fame, Of a GER
tain sort. and fortune. He would have
refused to surrender it for any consid-
GRAFTON less tempting than the premier
ship OF the Administration; so that
WAS offered and very reluctantly ac-
cepted.
We dislike to say so, but the action
of the Administration in this matter
was an outrage upon the American
people. The aged politician, who had
been a great man in his State in other
days might have been tolerated and
harmless in the Senate. Considering
his past services to his party, it would
have been delicate and decent for it
TO leave him there at peace. To forci-
bly, remove him, and to place him in a
position which he was notoriously un-
fitted to hold. was neither.
The act was alike unjust to the
Kinley. 1t was one which we are
sure he never would have been
guilty of if he had been a free
moral agent. 1t was not one which
can he excused on the theory that he
WAS not fully aware of the physical
and mental decrepitude of the subject
Fer at least year or two previous
ly, the political community of the
Capital had been conscious OF all facts
in the case, and in this knowledge the
President is known to have shared
Yet. 10 make a coveted berth for Mr.
Hanna. the Hon. John Sherman was
shelved as Secretary of State, with the
fun determination never to allow him
to exercise the influence. power or any
important function Of the Office. 1t may
be surmised that Mr.. Mckinley and his
advisers made one mistake in the ar
rangement. They very likely may have
thought that the old gentleman would
soon give up place for which he found
himself incompetent. and the preroga-
tives of which We're withheld from
him. to be welded by a subordinate;
but. if this were SO, il was taking an
unjustifiable risk, as events have prov
ed. Mir. Sherman has not yet given
any public indication of a desire for
retirement, and there is no known rea-
son to believe that he would think Of
il, short OF a direct request fer his
resignation.
Such a request, doubtless. would
have been made long ago, but for fear
of antagonizing the Secretary's old fol-
lowers in Ohio, many of whom have not
ceased to beindignant on account of
the manner in which he was expelled
from his Senatorship. But that fear is
not a sufficient excuse for longer delay
The times., 1898-02-21
The Boothlacks, Grievance.

The trust has appeared in Louis
vile, and it has the boots of the citi-
zens in its claws, almost literally. There
is bootblacBs' union in that
town, and it is petitioning the
shoe houses to do away with free
Shines" 1t seems that the shoe houses
OF Louisville, like those of some other
cities, have established the custom OF
offering these shines to their patrons,
and the bootblack doing businezs on the
sidewalk is thus robbed of his daily
nickel, for that is all a shine costs in
Louisville. The consequence is that
after enduring this sort of thing as long
as they think they ought. the boot
blacks have formed union, and are
using their best efforts to have the
free shine" banished from the thirty
ing town of Louisville.
There is some sense in this. Human
nature is so small and mean y thing, in
The times., 1898-02-21
NO sEELEY DINNER TRIAL
The Indictments win Be Dismissed
Today

New York. Feb 20-An echo Of the
Seeiey dinner viii be heard in Part Of
the court of general sessions tomorrow
when the Indictment fled against Her
bert g. Seeley. James n. PhipDs and
Theodore D. Rich viii he dismissed by
Judge Fitzgerald. The three men were
Jointly indicted on January q of last
year. They We're charged with employ
ing the women known as Little Egypt
and Minnie Renwood to dance in the al
together for the amusement OF Seeley-s
friends. who were invited 90 a dinner az
Sherry's. Thirty-ninth street and Fifth
avenue. on the night of December p
1896 The Indictment was found on testi-
mony given by Police Captain Chapman
Little Egypt and the Rsnwood woman.
None of the indicted men was arrested.
but they came forward voluntarily and
furnished bail.
District Attorney OIcott- then in office
believed that he was not warranted in
putting the case on trial, and that no
good could come from parading before
the public again evidence OF the char
acter addueed ut the trial of Police Cap
tain Chapman 1t police headquarters.
District Attorney Gardiner was of the
same opinion as Mr.. OlcOft. and a few
days ago he directed Assistant District
Attorney ID. Frank Lloyd to make thor
ough investigation into the merits Of the
case for the purpose of disDOsing OF the
Indictment either by trial OF dismissal
Mr.. Gardiner authorized Mr.. Lloyd. after
the latter had completed his investiga-
ton, to put the case on Judge Fitzger-
aids calendar for Monday morning, and
TO recommend its dismissal.
The case against Oscar Hammerstein
will De disposed Of at The same time
Hammerstein produced at the Olympia
Music Hall the buriesaUe known as the
SILLY Dinner He was Indicted on a
charge Of maintaining a public nuisance.
as the dance performed by Little Egypt
in the music haIl burlesque was cousid-
cred as bad as that given in Sherry's az
the original dinner.
The times., 1898-02-21

in placing the State Department upon
a safe and effective footing, and under
a competent and experienced head.
If that had been done. month ago
even the nation would have been saw
ed from the modification il has suf-
fered, in consequence of the amazing
diplomatic blunders of the Administra-
ton in the Dupuy de LONE affair.
Neither MIR. Mckinley, Mr.. Hanna, nor
Judge Day is man versed in foreign
affairs. international law or diplomatic
precedents and usages- If, among the
subordinate officials of the State De-
partment, the President has such
man, it is painfully evident that his
ability has not been utilized. All
through the complications of the past
months. il has been but too apparent
that the foreign policy Of the Adminis-
tIation has been permeated by a spirit
Of back district provincialism, when
graver errors have not been uncon-
sciously committed in the eccentric ut
terances of the nominal Secretary of
State, on certain unfortunate oceasi) )ns.
MIR. Mckinley owes it to himself, as
well as to the country, to correct this
Among the members of his party there
are competent international lawyers,
familiar With large affairs of state, and
educated in the customs of society and
diplomacy. He might call Col. John
Hay home. and hand him the port
folio, or he might bestow it upon man
like Senator Lodge. From the point of
view of proper accomplishments for
the place. good material is not lacking.
But certainly the present condition
of affairs is intolerable, and ought to
be reformed at once.
The times., 1898-02-21
A wRETCHED MOTHERS DEED
Hid Her Baby and Then Tried to
Drown Herself

Drown Herself.
New York. Feb. 20.-Like Moses of old,
the baby in this story was hidden by his
mother at the bank OF river. Only, in
stead of nesting romantically among
the bullrushes with a tropic sky over
head. this baby was thrust under a lum-
Der pile. while the rain from bleak sky
formed a mud puddle under his dripping
robe
That was the last Johanna Miller hoped
TO see of her child. or of any earthly
thing. for she went Immediately and
threw herself into. the river at the foot
of East Twenty-si1th street
The problem confronting the woman
was more than she had the wit or the
means to solve. She had just been turned
loose from Bellevue Hospital, with her
babe-an unwelconne stranger at the
best-in her arms
Johanna Miller's plans were foiled by a
boy, who saw her jump into the wafer
The boy yelled for the watchman. and
the watchman yelled for policeman. The
policeman, whose name was Spencer
pulled off his tunic and threw himself
into the river after the drowning woman.
And so Johanna Miller was dragged
back to face reality. after seeing the bor-
der of shadow land. It was a very IN
pleasant reaiity-very cold and damp and
cherries. Half an hour after leaving
Bellevue HOSPITAL she was back there
again, only in the prison ward this time.
The baby was back. too. in the children's
ward
The East River seems destined TO play
an important part in the fortunes of Mo-
ses and his mother. Johanna Miller has
committed an offense against the law
by trying TO kill herself Therefore she
will be sent TO BlackweIl's Island. Moses
has no one to care for hir1 a,I1 must be-
come a steDson of the municipality of
New York. Therefore. he will be sent TO
RandaIFs Island. A few miles of rirer
will divide them.
The times., 1898-02-21
She Must.

From the st. Louis Repub1ic.)
If Spanish treachery is responsible for
the frightful catastrophe. war is iuev-
table If the fanaticism of an individual
is responsible, Spain should be forced to
make full reparation for her careless
ness in not guarding against such an ex-
pected outbreak. If Havana harbor is
underlaid with mines which can be ex-
ploded by the touch of an electric button
in Moro Castle. and the disaster was due
to an accidental explosion, Spain must
answer to the American people for not
fully warning the commander of the
Maine of the danger that lurked beneath
the water.
The times., 1898-02-21

If the President thinks that, at such
a time as this, he ought to leave the
Capital for two days, even TO make such
a short journey as that TO Philadelphia,
he is presumably actuated by motives
which 1t would be unlsind either to criti-
else or condemn. It will occur to many
people, however, that George Washing
ton would prefer that any Presidential
tribute to his memory on Tuesday should
emanate from the Capital City which
bears his name.
The times., 1898-02-21
INCIDENTS OF fHE WRECK
Many Survivors Do-Not Yet Realize
It's Appalling Significance.

Havana, Feb 2d-Tffe American flag
was hoisted at half mast on the Maine
yesterday. "a -
There are some interesting incidents of
the Maine disaster. Many of the surviv-
ing sailors. especially those who were
badly wounded. do not reco,iect anything
of the explosion except that they found
themselves in the water, and some OF
them do not even remember that. as they
were picked up unconscious and came to
their senses in their cots at the hospital.
One man with whom your correspond
ent spoke could not realize what day Of
the week ii was.
William Maguiness, who was hurled
from his hammock, awoke, believing the
ship had been struck by shots fired from
the Spanish forts This idea occupied
his mind that during the two days he was
at the hospital he was constantly talk
ing fight He has been put on board the
Mangrove.
William Gartrel, fireman was three
decks down, and was blown through them
without a scratch. He was the only one
from the lower part of ship who was
saved.
First-Class Gunner Bullock. seeking a
cool place to sleep, was lying in the after
turret. When the explosion occurred he
found himself astride the big cannon,
which had shifted to one side. Not know
ing how to escape, he finally squeezed
himself through the gun port. which was
quite a difficult undertaking, the hole
was hardly big enough to admit the pass
age of his body.
Joseph LutZ, a marine. was blown from
his hammock and went with the flying
debris into the air. He landed on deck.
began hunting for his shoes and trousers,
and then jumped overheard.
Capt. Sissbee says that the GOODNESS and
bravery displayed by William Anthony
is very commendable. Anthony IS a pri-
vate in the marines. He was stationed
as orderly al the door of the captains
quarters. At the moment of the explosion
the captain was writing a letter to his
wife All the lights were Immediately ex
tinguished The captain arose and at
tempted to make his way through the
long passage to the deck. and as the ship
was toppling to one side and sinking
fast, Capt. Sigsbee groped his way with
difficulty. He finally bumped against
man who proved to be Orderly Anthony.
The orderly first begged the captains
pardon and then very coolly said:
"Sr. have come TO report TO you that
the ship has been blown up and she is
fast sinking
Capt. Sigsbee said that any ordinary
man would at that time have thought
how to save himself rather than go inside
dark passage OF sinking vessel, not
knowing If he would ever come out again
All the survivors of the Maine lost eV-
erything they had. Many landed with
hardly any clothing, and all are today Ia
menting the loss of some valuable per-
sonal effects which money cannot re-
place.
Capt sigsbee says that the personal
loss he feels most keenly is the collection
of papers. orders, appointments and let
ters of congratulation which he received
from the Government from the first day
he joined the navy.
Father Chadwick, the chaplain. grieves
over the loss of a gold chalice which the
crew of the Maine gave him and which
he says was the worldly belonging which
he most priced.
The times., 1898-02-21

Unless he should see fit to change his
plans, Senator Mason today Will bring
on a Cuban discussion in the Senate and
viii give his colleagues the benefit OF
new Information impaired to him by a
gentleman just home from Cuba, who has
been over the island extensively and has
personally witnessed the suffering of the
reconcentrados and some of the atroci-
ties committed on little children. The
Spanish circle may be expected to deny
everything as usual.
The times., 1898-02-21
TO BE coURr-MARTIALED.
Eccentric Veteran Cited to Appear
Before Lyons Post


San Francisco. Feb. 2e.-AIajor William
o. Howe. an eccentric veteran Of the
civil war. who recently wrote Secretary
Sherman. Seeding with his island in
Susan Bay from United States terri
tory because Hanna was elected Senator
from Ohio will be cOurt-rnartialed by the
Grand Army of the Republic. Howe and
his family occupy a small island of Con-
ira Costa shore in Susan bay about
thirty miles from San Francisco. When
Hanna was declared elected Howe be-
came excited. and wrote 10 Secretary
Sherman declaring that after such an
election by questionable means he
could not with self-TeSpect remain a Citi-
zen of this country. and he hoped 10
withdraw his island home from under
the jurisdiction of the Administration
Lyon Post G. y r. of Oakland. to
which Howe belongs regards his act as
treason. and has cited him TO appear be
fore it on March 10 to show cause why
he should not he expelled. Howe declares
that he will fight the charge
The times., 1898-02-21

Lord Salisbury and the French foreign
minister are In hot water together. One
is afraid and the other daren't. Each has
declared that he will not recede from his
position as to the occupation of points
in West Africa. Neither wants to fight.
but the outposts of both are close to each
other and a small battle might be fought
on the dark continent almost any day.
Then there would be an explosion, and
one is greatly feared, especially in Lon
don
The times., 1898-02-21

According to the program. on Wednes-
day next, NJ. lola will be condemned by
jury of his peers for making an accusa-
ton against the military authorities of
his government which he has abundantly
substantiated. That will not change the
fact that the jury will convict and the
court probably imprison him. The French
nation will heartily approve of this out
rage upon justice.
The times., 1898-02-21
Not the Right Place.
A Necessary Provision.
fFrom the Boston Globe.N

(From the Boston GlObe)
A bill was introduced the other day
in the Kentucky legislature making IL
unlawful for any person To fire or dis
charge at random any deadly weapon.
whether said weapon be loaded or un-
loaded" Don't laugh at it. Experience
has shown that unloaded weapons are
the most dangerous.
The times., 1898-02-21
No Delay.

(From the Buffalo Times)
Hurry up that investigation by the
naval board of inquiry. The nation is not
in a mood to listen to delay or further
trucking to Spanish proprieties in con
Quoting this investigation. The people
are bound to get at the truth. and no
cowardIy nlammou servers can turn
them aside.
The times., 1898-02-21
Awaiting 1890.

(rrom the Columbus Prcss)
The fact that William j. Bryan posi-
lively refuses to allow the use of his
name for Senator from Nebraska 20 sue
ceed Mr. Allen is a srievous disappoint-
rueut to the Hanna newspapers and
orators of the country. But Mr.. Bryan
is not a candidate for every office that
becomes vacant.
The times., 1898-02-21
Congressional attention is again G

Congressional attention is again called
to the fact that we nave not enough
men to man our naval vessels. This is
not time for undue cheeseparing. The
necessary appropriation for an Increase
of force should be made without a days
delay, and made Immediately available.
1t certainly will have to be done in two
or three weeks. Why not now?
The times., 1898-02-21

Who could fail to be edited by the
Struggles of our contemporaries on Satur-
day to land themselves on the submarine
mine theory, after sticking to the "ac-
cident" hypothesis for days. The latter
was discovered to be dangerously unpop-
ular among people who read newspapers
and want straight, unconcealed truth.
The times., 1898-02-21
Two Things Cleveland Did.

(From the Boston Journal
One of the good things which the coun-
try is grateful, to Grover Cleveland for
is his splendidly American Venezuela
message. Another is his appointment of
Fitzhugh Lee DIS CONSUL general at Ha
vana Once more Gen. Lee is unmis-
takably proving that he is the right man
in the right place.
The times., 1898-02-21

Mr. Mckinley will fail seriously IN his
duty if he does not send Mr.. Sobral, the
eminent Spanish spy, out of the country
at once. His aspersions upon our navy
are not nice TO endure when there is rea-
son to believe that the catastrophe 1t sus-
tanned was not in the least unexpected as
far as he was concerned.
The times., 1898-02-21
Snailslike Progress.

(From the Omaha World Herald.)
The progress made by the Administra
ton toward the solution of the Spanish
troubles recalls Penelope's. progress.
Spanish intrigue unravels at night. and
thus the work is never accomplished.
But some of these days the American
Ulysses will return. and then the weay-
ing will be finished.
The times., 1898-02-21

Most inhubitable evidence is accumu-
lating that great many people in Hav-
knew that the American warship
was to be blown up, and when Il was to
happen. 1t is also becoming quite clear
that it was Spanish government mine,
fired by Spanish official. which did the
work In that case what?
The times., 1898-02-21
But He Has Made Them

(From the New Orleans PicayUne)
In making New Orleans appointments.
It is a question whether the President viii
try to please himself and the respectable
business men of the city. or try TO please
Mark Hanna and few local scaldwags.
The times., 1898-02-21
Courttng Annihiiation /.

(From the Philadelphia Press)
The Senate Appropriations Committee
has wisely doubled the sum voted for
fortifications by the House This is not
enough. A country with $S0,000. 900, 600
of wealth. a quarter of it on the sea-
coast, and only two rounds to a gun in
it's forts, is inviting the fate of China.
The times., 1898-02-21
he MANLY
From the Augusta Hcraid.)

(From the Augusta Hcraid.)
When the honor and dignity of this
country are at stake. the love Of the al
mighty dollar and the embarrassment OF
the holders thereof should not deter our
statesmen from being patriotic and manly
Americans.
The times., 1898-02-21
A Few Facts.

On the night Of Tuesday, February
Is. the battleship Maine was blown up
in Havana harbor. either by torpedo
or a submarine mine, with the con-
nivance of the Spanish authorities.
This fact, strongly limited on Tuesday
night was almost certainly known by
Wednesday afternoon. and was formal
iy proclaimed in The Times. The
Times was, with the exception of the
New York Journal, the only newspaper
in the United States to make the posi-
tive assertion on that day. The other
American newspapers were pleased to
adopt the accident theory, and in
spite of weil-known facts the judg
ment of naval experts best qualified to
speak, the scarcely concealed state
ments of the officers and sailors of the
Maine. and the cabled reports of their
own correspondents stationed at Ha-
vana, persisted in it for three days
Yesterday all was changed. Not a
single newspaper of Importance, print
cd anywhere between the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans. dared longer to con-
ceal the truth. The accident false
hood was utterly abandoned, and the
hideous truth that the gallant ship
was dynamited, and two hundred and
fifty American sailors We're massacred
by Spanish emissaries, was publicly ad-
mitted by all of them.
The country now awaits official con-
firmation Of the facts now known The
Board of Inquiry win furnish this, and
it is to be hoped with as little loss OF
time as possible. This done, the Admin
istration must act or Congress will take
the matter into it's own hands and ex-
ercise the power which the Constitu-
tion reposes in it.
The times., 1898-02-21

'.Of the sixteen vessels now under con-
struction, the Secretary of the Navy esti-
mates that all will be completed during
the present year except the five battle
ships which will probably not be ready
for service until the latter part of the
coming year. 1t is. therefore. obvious
that the American Government is not so
p0werleSs upon the seas some would
have it understood. The present navy.
however should be rapidly re-enforeed
by the construction of other warships
so that this country may be able to vim
dicate the rights and interests of Ameri-
can citizens wherever menaeed or iInper-
lied
II may also add that during III, Iast ten
years there has been expended on sea-
coast Notifications and their armament.
for submarine mines and torpedoes, near
ly forty millions of dollars. and our prin-
cipal seaport towns have thus been put
in condition so that with the aid of the
navy the country could easily resist the
attack of any one of the great naval pow
ers of the world
The times., 1898-02-21

In his anxiety to avoid war with Spain
the Administration seems to be willing
that Spain shall have war with US as
much as she likes.
The times., 1898-02-21

1t is to be hoped that while in Phila-
delphia the President Will visit the old
city hall, where Liberty Bell is kept and
ring few changes on his foreign policy.
The times., 1898-02-21
what De LONE Escaped.

(From the Denver TjIacs.)
MIR. De LONE isn't in half the predica-
ment a fellow IS whose wife finds an old
letter.
The times., 1898-02-21

The world is glad to know that Capt.
Sigsbee's Peggy and the Evening Stars
Pepper survived the disaster.
The times., 1898-02-21
A Great Question /.

(From the Binghamton Republican)
Can it be that the human family
evolved from devil-flsh?
The times., 1898-02-21
Circulation Statement.

Roodors Of Tae Times aoho mag at any
time be UiaaGie 10 procure copies OF at at any
neirS aRd, railroad station OF on railroad
trains lrtu confer a fa0or upon the manage
neat By sending 10 A;s office Information of
the fact
The times., 1898-02-21

Communications intended for publication
in Tie Times should be tcrSely and plainly
sr''itten and must in all cases be accompanied
oy tie name and address of the toriter. he
.ecsed communications seU net be Prescrged,
ord only manuscripts Of obUjous importance
Uld be returned TO UiciT authors
MONDAY, FEBRUARY al, lSsS