davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
Private Ownership of Railroads.

The war had one Of its interesting
developments last week, when an act
of fragrant treason was committed by
the Standard Oil magnate who controls
the Plant railway system in Florida.
says the Twentieth Century. For four
days he deliberately threw back the
troops ordered to the front. 1t seems
that sort of legal battle Is In prog
ress between the Plant system and the
Florida Central & Peninsular rail-
road. The latter claims the right to
use the formers terminal facilities.
The Plant system refused to recognize
this right. The troops were loaded
ON the Florida Central cars, and we're
going to the front on hurry" orders,
but the Plant people refused to allow
the trains to proceed. They claimed
that the Florida Central had no right
TO the use Of Plant tracks. The COM
manders of the troops fretted and
fumed, but all to no purpose, and nj
teen thousand men we're delayed for
twenty hours. Nor has the delay been
abated at this writing, and the move
ments of our troops are still retarded.
It is conceivable that the fate OF VI
tally important battle may hinge up
on the arrival OF troops at the front
at particular hour. If the government
owned the railways, there would be no
such peril as these corporation COM
plications entail, and, perhaps, the
army of invasion would be in Cuba
now. Every soldier in the South, who
has given the subject any attention,
knows that the railroads are wholly
to blame for all the delays that have
occurred. The incident for which the
Plant system is responsible is only
one of a hundred. But nobody dares
to say a word about it. The admins
tration was put lip power by the cor
porations. and their directors have
seats in the cabinet. Therefore, when
glaring examples OF the perils Of cor
porationism in war time are thrust
under our noses, no notice. Is taken
of them. The situation somewhat re-
sembles that in a highly fashionable
dining-room when one of the company
has the misfortune to sit down on .
pumpkin pie. The incident is unmis-
taxable, but nobody takes any notice
Of it. To take notice Of the perils OF
corporationism in this crisis would be
calling general attention to the source
of most of our present troubles. The
people might insist upon government
ownership and operation of the rail-
roads as a means of ending the war.
We shall be driven into adopting this
policy If the corporations continue
their displays of greed and ineom-
petence. They are encouraging the
enemy.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Here is a true tale from the Philip
pines and Spain: A nobly born Castil-
ian, gifted as poet, living on his es-
tate near Manila, was led by what he
saw Of the Spanish misgovernment to
sympathize with the natives in their
aspirations for freedom. He wrote
some poems, expressing his sympathy.
The Spanish government arrested him,
and took him to Spain for trial for
treason. There he was condemned 20
death. At Manila he had been engaged
to marry the daughter Of the German
consul-general. The day before he
was to be shot she arrived at BARGE
Iona, where he was confined. Yield
ing to his and her entreaties, the com
manding general permitted them to be
married the next morning. standing on
the very place Of execution. Five
minutes later the command to fire was
given and the bridegroom was corpse.
Xet some men say there are no more
romanceS.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Georgia's change in the method OF
caring for her convicts promises to- be
both profitable and to result in bet
ter treatment Of them. AS was shown
by the report of the Legislative COM
mission that investigated the subject
last year, under the old system the
convicts were starved and brutally
treated by the lessees, who had entire
charge Of them, and could punish them
just as they chose. The control OF
the convicts by the new law is placed
in the hands of commission which
is to regulate their hours Of labor, the
manner and extent Of their punish
ment, the variety, quality and guam
tity of their food, and the character of
their clothing. While convicts will still
be leased, TIE leases will be on bust
ness basis, with the result that the
1900 convicts are to be hired out for
about $4,000 year, instead of the
s25, 900 received under the old arrange
ment. ~ ''
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
Notes.

II is the intention of the government
of South Australia to take up thhe con
struction of locomotives at the gov
eminent workshops on the grounds of
greater economy and quality of work
manship. r
IF the mine owners introduce cheap
labor into the northern district they
will cause trouble" remarked Sheriff
Thompson of Boulder county, Colorado.
Colorado is opposed to cheap labor and
we don't want that class Of labor in
Boulder county. What will do? Well,
1 will see that the men who create
trouble are promptly arrested and
thrown into jail. The sentiment of the
county is unanimous. Outside labor
had better stay away" Would you
deputize the miners to assist in max
ing the arrests?" asked representative
of newspaper. II might do that very
thing" ti@t -
Most strikes wherein wages figure
are caused by cuts, but employers Of
the Kansas City nut and bolts works
are on a strike on account OF change
that raised their wages. A foreman of
the spike department was let out on
the ground that he was making too
much money and paying his men too
little; his piece contract annulled and
the mems wages raised from 9 to II
cents per keg. The works were closed
for a week, at the end Of which time
the spikers refused to return to work,
being dissatisfied at the change, and
with the treatment the foreman re-
ceived. The nut and bolt makers
have gone out on a sympathy strike
and the finishers threaten to strike.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

American tourists complain that
public sentiment in France, Germany,
Austria and Italy is SO overwhelm-
ingy in favor of Spain that at water
ing places, on the trains, and at all
places of public resort they are treated
with great incivility and annoyed in
all ways that ELUSIVE ill-nature and
rank impertinence can suggest. We
are heartily glad Of It. If their resent
ment can be aroused to such a pitch
that they will stay at home 1t will not
be very long until the country will be-
gin to feel the beneficial effects. For
years Americans travelling in Europe
have expended $1O0,OOO,0oo annually
in gold. This all represents money
drawn from American resources and
profits, and 1t is a dead loss so far as
the United States is concerned, for 1t
never comes back again in any form
whatever.-Yolo Democrat.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
POINTS FROM THE PRESS.


Hunger is the parent Of revolution.
Spain suffers from revolution because
she makes people hungry wherever she
goes. Let us profit by that warning,
and give our soldiers something to eat.
twentieth Century.
In your idle moments just estimate
how much more millionaire will be
called upon to pay to carry on the pres
emit war with Spain than will man
who works for daily wages. The rev.
enue bill adopted by congress taxes the
necessaries of life and leaves property
practically free. This is Republican
doctrine, but We have never yet been
able to see the Justice Of such q propo-
sition.-Tulare lines.
The Washington Post wants the SOL
diers paid $1,000 per year and the con-
eressmen reduced to $13 per month.
There are some congressman who
would be willing to work overtime
even at that price.-American Crafts
man.
This is land of paradoxes. With an
overproduction Of food the people
starve. With TN abundance of land
they are homeless. With an abundance
of labor to perform there Is no one to
hire. With an abundance of people
wanting money the banks hold mil
lions Of idle capital. With powerful
nation, capable Of creating its own
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
Problem That Must Be Solved.

Mr.. Henry Matthews Williams has
deductions concerning the use Of ma
chinery in many and diversified
branches of industrial activity, and an
swers most of the argument against
such use, in the following paragraphs:
have a message to the world. 1t Is
this: Use machinery.
Years ago John Ruskin founded the
St. George society in England. He set
men to work with spades to get their
sustenance from the soil. He detested
machinery. He put men to work that
has wasted their time.
Every hour spent in doing work by
hand that can better be done by a
machine is an hour wasted.
| II I can produce $50 bushels in a
single day by using machine and only
10 bushels in the same time by hand
labor, 1t is evident that waste IA days
in producing the $50 bushels with a
spade instead Of steam pillow.
In agriculture-raising wheat, for in
stance-the machine that will do the
most work and hence waste least time
and give the greatest product 10
giant steam cultivator, in use in Cali
fornia. This machine, worked by three
ment, can plow or SOW, or reap, 100
acres of land per day.
The three men, to produce wheat
crop, will have to run their machine
four times over the land-to pillow,
to harrow, SOW and finally reap.
II the land were we'll fertilized, the
crop ought to be 80 bushels per acre.
This is an average crop in Europe. But
let US put the crop at half that-15
bushels an acre.
Then our 100 acres produces 1900
bushels with three mems work for four
days.
One man, therefore, in one day, has
produced 1875 bushels.
II the same man had worked with
a spade he would probably have cul-
tiyated, working very hard, quarter
of an acre, in the same time. His total
product would have been but three and
one-fourth bushels His single days
product would be one-fourth Of that, or
less than a bushel.
Working with horse and pillow he
could cultivate one and one-half acres.
His total crop would be 22h bushels.
His days product quarter of that,
or $50 bushels.
The same showing can be made in
other grain-barley, oats, rye, etc. The
machine product is rs to 30 times the
product without 1t.
In the production of other food ma
terials such as potatoes and root crops.
the enormous advantage Of machinery
is equally apparent.
With the giant cultivator and the
soil and weather necessary to make the
crop, the following figures represent
one-fourth bushels. His single days
work: Potatoes, 210 bushels; white
! beans. $50 bushels; sugar beets, b6
tons; turnips. 200 bushels. 3,
FIfty-six tons Of sugar beets will pro-
duce about 10000 pounds Of refined
sugar. Set the giant cultivator to rails
ing all the sugar beets necessary for
the country's sugar consumption, and
sugar must become dirt cheap"
A similar enormous difference is
found between machine production and
hand production in the making of cloth.
clothing and shoes.
It is the production of the ordinary
necessaries of life-food and clothing,
| that the artist and Ruskinite can have
no quarrel with machinery. 1t is not
advocated for producing art work or
the beautiful objects of life. But the
more time It saves us in the production
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

The officers of the American navy
and army justly complain that the
smoking powder they are compelled to
use clouds the work of the gunners and
makes their aim less accurate. In
view. however, of the dashing rapidly
and deadly accuracy of the fire. d
American guns which sent Montejof
and Cervera's squadrons to the bottom
of the sea the Spaniards have reason
for supposing that the American navy
must be hard to please in the matter
of powder and accurate aim.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Political party loyalty has received
q setback from an unexpected quarter.
Ex-Gov. Altgeld has implored the Dem
ocrats of Illinois not to vote for dis
honest candidate for office even though
he wear the livery Of the party. The
advice applies to all parties. Dishonest
men get nominated on all sides. For
tunate indeed is the political party
whose adherents will not vote to put
dishonest nominees into office.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
An American in Hamburg recently

An American in Hamburg recently
made the acquaintance Of retired ar
my officer, with his wife and little son.
The boy had just entered a military
school and wore a uniform. On one
occasion, writes the American, the
mother punished the boy for some mis-
behavior, when he suddenly took of
his coat, saying, "You may strike me-
but you must not strike my emperors
coat" Does the American flag receive
as loyal respect at the hands Of Amer
lean schoolboys? o.. .t
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

of necessaries, the more time we shall
have for cultivating the arts and sci
ences.
With the warp weaver shown
at the Paris exposition, worker can
produce each day the following goods:
Forty-eight wooden undershirts or
sweaters or 400 scarfs or small shawls; y
or 100 fringed towels; or 80 yards on
cloth, "a inches wide.
With the Miller loom, which Is the
latest invention in this line, 200 yards
of cloth of any kind can be woven In
day Of 10 hours.
Here, as in agriculture, the produc-
ton per individual per day is from ~
to 80 times as great as without the
giant power machine.
In working the cloth into garments
we can to-day command machines that;
will cut the cloth into shape at the
rate of 500 garments per day; stitch
them at the rate Of $500 stitches a
minute, sew on the buttons at 5,O0O
day and make the buttonholes at the
same speed.
In the making of shoes we can COM
mand cutting machines Of tremendous
power; machines that can sole 600 pairs
of shoes day, and other equally swift
machinery.
In other industries we can produce
with machinery the following per day
| to each worker: 1850 two-pound tin
cans, or $4,000 square feet Of paper; or
10000 wooden butter dishes; or $50
loaves of bread, and many other things
at the same swift rate. We can dig
| coal at the rate of $50 tons a day to
each machine or excavate dirt at q
much greater speed.
A community of 100 persons with
such machines could command an
amount of leisure time that would be
impossible working by hand or merely
with draught animals.
Such a community with free access
to land could raise all its wheat Tor
a year (say 1900 bushels) in eight
days. 1t could raise all its potatoes,
say 1900 bushels, in about i've and
one-half days. 1t could weave enough
wooden undershirts or other woven gar
ments to clothe its entire number with
two sets of such garments in about hVe
days. 1t could produce complete set
of boots for it's members in less than
week. And it could probably do all
the hard and fatiguing work of pro
duction necessary to supply its mem
bership with food and clothing In q
couple of months, or three at the out
side. .
These giant machines ought to be in
universal use. With them mankind
could be rich in the necessaries OF life
and rich in leisure for mental improve
ment.
A community that should supply
itself with such machines and so use
them that all would share equally in
their product would show the world
for the first time, how life could be
made easy and happy, as far as ma
terfal' comfort can produce happiness
II Brook farm had possessed such
machines, its members might have been
abundantly provided for, and at the
same time have enjoyed that leisure
TO (which they naturally sighed, but
which, with mere hand labor, was theiI
inevitable ruin.
How can we bring about the uni
versal use of the giant machine and
at the same time so arrange matters
that it shall work for the benefit OF
all? That is the problem.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

The Automatic Grip Neck Yoke Co.,
of Indianapolis, Ind, whose ad. ap-
pears elsewhere in this paper, have in
vented what is without doubt the best
and safest neck yoke on the market.
1t is simple in construction, does not
rattle, and the pole cannot possibly
get away from it. =,
They offer very liberal terms to
agents and as it is a. good seller we
urge our readers to write them at once
regarding it. l...
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Burke long ago declared you cannot
indict a whole nation. SPANS conduct
toward her colonies, whether in the
East or West Indies, is wholly indie
feasible, but it is neither just nor mag
unanimous to assume that all Spanish
soldiers are of the Weyler or Polavieja
type. Blanco and Cervera and Linarea
are leaders of whom Spain may be
proud, and the stubborn defense OF
Santiago has already done much to sat
isfy SPANS honor and Castilian pride
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
Life and the Liver.

"Success in life depends upon the liver ("
, is the way Chas. Lamb, the poet and pun
ster put it. Medical science has proven,
that nine -tenths Of the ailments OF living
have their origin in the liver, and in con-
stipation caused by its arrangements.
Keep the liver lively and it will be well.
Modern science points out Cascarets as tho
only perfect, gentle, positive liver regula-
tor fit to be used in the delicate human
organism. All druggists sell Cascarets 1Oc,
25c, 50c, and we'recommend them most
heartily. .. .-,.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Poultney Bigelow a few weeks age
was of the opinion that Gen. Wheeler
was a back number and now Richard
Harding Davis thinks Shafter ought
to be superseded. The war will never
be satisfactorily conducted until Bige-
low and Davis are made major-gen'
erals.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

A neat little brush is attached to the
tail of the glow worm, and is used to
keep clean that part of the insect from
which the light CLEANS, SO as to make
IL more distinctly visible.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
The Parental Choice.

Elsie-Is it cool where you are going
this summer?
Puscie-I am afraid not, name didn't
sound like it.
"What is it?"
sob, heard mama ask papa where
he thought we had better go, and he
said to Blazes, were you ever there?"
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
A Leading Question.

"sir, I wish to marry your daughter
the flower of the family" said the
young man. -.
"Are you sure" queried the old man
shat it is not dough you are after"
New York Journal. A
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

For ten years the one idea in respect
Of ocean travel has been speed. Here
after more attention will be paid to
safety.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

1t may be a melancholy satisfaction
to Spain to reflect that one agent in
her defensive system hasn't gone back
on her. Gen. Yellow Jack is not think
ing of surrender.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
A New National Air.

"What horrible piano duet those
two graduates are playing" -.
THAT is all right; one is playing
Dixie and the other Yankee Doodle"
Detroit Free Press.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

The politicians who rail against the
merit system are generally the ones
who possess no merit. Rightly admin
istered the merit system is one Of the
hopes of this republic.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

When the gentleman from Hawaii
rises on the floor of congress and is
recognized by Speaker Reed that is the
time to take the picture.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Are men who mutilate the dead too
good to blow up ships in time of peece?
Let us not forget to remember tho
Maine.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

First Sailor-That rope should hav.
more sense than to break.
Second Sailor How could a rope
have sense?
at was taut."
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

The several Vanderbilt families are
gradually taking up their homes in
France but it is understood that they
are sufficiently friendly to the United
States to enable them to accept divi-
bends declar> = their railroads.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

The two highest inhabited spots onk
earth are two mining camps in the An
DIES, one of the two has an elevation Of
1880 feet.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

money, Il goes to ruin for want OF II.
With mountains rich with silver and
congress elected to coin 1t, the con-
gress dsmonetizes it.-Ashburn Times.
One such appointment (for personal
favoritism, sentimental recognition,
political spoils, or hereditary consid-
erations) is enough to injure the tone
of the army. Twenty Of them togeth-
er constitute as deadly blow against
the efficiency of the army as the presi-
dent could administer II he had taken
the advice of Sagasta and Blanco in
stead of the senators and representa-
tives and political jobbers whose pres
sure he has shown himself unable to
resist. Such weakness is as baleful in
its results as deliberate wickedness.-
New York Daily Times.
Oregon was diverted by good wheat
crops, high-priced wheat, Klondike
trade, the war fever, and an abundant
corruption fund distributed by the
goldites.-Silver Knight-Watchman.
II the accounts that reach us from
Cuba and the Philippines are true, the
intelligent people Of these islands have
come to the conclusion that the trans
fer of sovereignty from Spain to the
United States would be nothing else
but a change Of masters, and that the
American parasite would be as dis
agreeable as the Spanish. They are
right, Of course, but I am inclined
to think 1t will be just as hard a task
for them to get rid Of the American
bloodsucker as of the Spanish. The
American parasite is as persistent and
pitiless as a bedbug-Free Society.
Rather than tax the corporations the
Republican congress has saddled a
bond issue Of 100000 on the pro-
ducing classes. This is to say that
for thirty years to come the workers
will have to pay a million dollars each
month to the bondholders and at the
end of that time will still owe the
whole debt of $500, 100000. The Re-
publican leaders rely on the excitement
of the war to distract public atten-
ton from this betrayal Of the people
in order to save the corporations from
taxation. But they forget the here
after Long before 1900 the war will be
over. Then the debt will begin to
press hard upon the people. And they
will not fail to remember who loaded
II upon them.-Stockton Mail.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Lazy men grow old waiting for
things to turn up the hustler goes to
an early grave still trying to turn them
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

There are a few things that money
cannot buy, but the trouble is that not
many people want them.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29
LABOR AND INDUSTRY
SOME ITEMS OF INTEREST TO
UNION WORKMEN.

Georgia Finds That 1t Pays to BE just
Strike Because Wages Were Adj
vsnced-Colorado County Whore Cheap
Labor Is Abhorred.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

Music should be pretty we'll inform
cd, considering the number of music
1eachers we have.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

A woman's worst fault is her inclin-
ation to believe everything men tell
her.
Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-07-29

One of the regrets of every old maid
probably is, that she is not making one
man miserable.