The record-union., 1898-05-07

turbance to the ordinary current of af-
fairs worth mentioning. As it is, being
chronically unprepared for the trouble,
We have had to spend lot of money in
a hurry in bad bargains for things
needed at once. Perhaps this brush
with Spain will teach US lesson, at
least in naval economy.
THE ASIATIC FLEET.
San Diego Tribune: The condition of
the Asiatic fleet under Commander
Dewey should be most significant
lesson to opponents of Hawaiian an
nexation. With no coaIing station in
the Pacific. now that war is declared,
the American fleet must, unless it cap
lures a port of the Philippines, meek
ly beg some fuel from some neutral
nation to take it home, and then like
whipped ours too far from the kennel,
make tracks for the United States. 1t
is about time that this great country
was freed from the thralldom of cross
roads statesmen.
DON'T AID THE SCHEME.
Stockton Mail: The so-called Volun-
teers of America have started out III
Stockton to beg $500 in order to en-
gars tickets which call for a meal and
bed The Mall does not fear that
any one will accuse it of lack of SYM
pathy with the deserving poor when IL
expresses its unqualified condemnation
of this scheme. We trust that no cltl-
zen, when the facts are spread before
him, will contribute penny TO the
Volunteers for this purpose. There are
two objections to the scheme. These
meal tickets are sold to citizens who
keep them to give to beggars. 1t IS
notorious fact that not one in five or
the tickets so given is ever used by
the recipient They are simply flung
away by tramps The result is that
the money remains as clear profit in
the hands of the vendors. 1t was pre-
cisely by this scheme that the 1nfa-
nous Army of Jesus Christ, whose
scoundrelly leader was this week SEN
fenced to the penitentiary for assault
on a little girl, managed to live in idle
ness. 1t was so testified by several Of
the gang in open court. The Nolun-
teers of America is not an infamous
body, at ALL But its meal-ticket plan
is costly and foolish method of throw
ing away charitable folks money. The
main objection We have to the plan,
however, is this: There is no necessity
for a single able-bodied man or boy
to be begging in Stockton to-day. The
manager of the Crockett Sugar Re-
finery's business in this county, Mr..
Raaf, told the Mall last evening that
he was at his wits end to get labor
for the beet fields He stands ready
gladly to put 500 men at work to-day.
And he declares that because he cannot
induce the lazy white men who loaf
and beg around Stockton to go to work,
he will be forced to go to San Francis
co and engage Chinese and japanese
labor.
COAL, CALIFORNIA AND, WAR.
San Jose Mercury: The Commercial
News is not so pessiinistic, and that
| journal is a good judge of the situation.
/ 1t reports that during the past week the
arrivals of coal at San Francisco have
aggregated more than $4,000 tons. The
| liberal deliveries lately from the coast,
says that journal, serve to keep stocks
| in yard intact. SO that the anticipated
shortages for May and June will not be
realized; in fact, foresighted buyers
are ordering ahead of their require
| is seldom regretted, where deficiency
| is disastrous AS to the proba ability of
Spanish cruisers or privateers obstruct-
| ing Australian and British Columbian
! coal shipments, Spain cannot afford to
scatter her ships. and we are too far
| from the base of operations; besides we
! are we'll able to care for our interests
here if we ever come to close quarters.
The main problem to be solved now is,
| Can foreign ship-owners be forced to
fulfill coal charters signed prior to April
| Dist? Opinions differ on this point, but
the News thinks they can" There is
not much danger of a scarcity of coal.
The war with Spain is not likely to af-
feet the price Of coal in this State one
! half as seriously as did the thieving
| combination of San Francisco dealers
which was recently broken up by the
! United States courts.