Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-12
SHORT STORIES OF THE DAY
Chaplain Of First California Talks About
Aguinaldo and His Insurrection,
BILL" STONE UNAccUSToMtD TO WATER
A1tstadt's Famous Decisions Given
While Justice of the Pcncc-Dick-
inson Family Reunion-Crook
His own Laundryman.

Rev. w. y, McKinnon, chaplain OF the
Firs: California regiment who was in
Omaha last week, was superintendent OF
! schools in Manila during the period that
they wero reorganized on an American basis,
and through numerous missions OF trust, In
addition to his official position. he enjoyed
exceptional opportunities of learning the
precise statua OF tho insurrection. From
personal contact with Aguinaldo and from
other sources OF information he learned that
the willy Filipino leader is possessed of only
mediocre ability and ordinary education.
"Ai superintendent OF schools the
documents and records came into my hands,
said Chaplain McKinnon, land l was quite
interested in one OF them-Aguinaldos ex-
animation papers. He had been teacher
OF primary room, and seeking increased
position and salary, took an examination
for better grade. He was unable to pass
the examination, however. and the papers
showed that he was extremely deficient in
tho common attributes OF a successful
teacher. And the worst Of 1t is that the
grades there were much lower than the
standard prevailing in this country-in
fact, the best demanded there was about
equal to tho worst here.
Tho insurrection should now be quickly
VI uShet. III ldCl, WIN al ouSIuo'S EhiiSiA
can army do not expect to sec Aguinaldo
hold out much more than a month
THE traitorous pamphlet sent out by
Atkinson had more to do with prolonging
the war than almost any other causes.
1t was actually in the hands of Aguinaldo
| before our own officers knew it was in the
island, and he believed all he had to do was
| to hang out while.
II was sent to negotiate the release OF
prisoners several times and met Aguinaldo
on those occasions He had considerable
faith in the secret order OF which all the
| insurrectiouists are members, which had for
its object originally the overthrow of
Catholicism and other creeds, and he told
me on one occasion that the Spanish friars
had the same effect on the natives there that
tht pope had on tho people OF the United
States. He had read some Of the anti
Catholic pamphlets printed in this country,
81 you may easily imagine what his idea
was
"Only ons tribe is really opposing our
forces. When it is pacifed the remainder
will be glad to come under our govern
ment.
"Aguinaldo's speeches, proclamations, ETC.,
are written by a little hunchback lawyer
who had European education and is
bright fellow, though he only stands four
feet three. His chief reads off the speeches
like a schoolboy.
THE next five months the islands will
have as fine climate as one would care to
find, and the country will be beautiful. Our
arms should make an end of it speedily"
OF the many interesting stories told of ex
Governor William ]. Stone of Missouri, none
is more pat" than an incident at Washing
ton hall on the night of his speech there
just prior to the election.
AS everybody who has ever met "Bill''
Stone knows, he is hale fellow we'll met,
and despite the error of his politics there
10 not a bigger-hearted more genial man
in all America. When he works he works,
and when he talks he talks, consequently he
is a forcible speaker He expounded popo-
cratic doctrine at Washington hall until his
throat became dry. The committee on ar
rangements had placed pitcher of water
and glass on the table near the speaker.
Mechanically he reached FOR a drink. The
glass had been left upsIe down, or in an in
verted position, the man from Maine
would say and when the former governor
OF Missouri poured water out of the pitcher
it flowed on the bottom of the glass and out
the statesman that something was wrong.
He glanced at the table. He saw He con-
quered-not by suppressing the flow, but by
his wit.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said Governor
Stone, this little incident will show you
that am dyed the wool Missouri demo-
crat and am not accustomed to drinking
water"
William Altstadt, who has been elected a
justice OF the peace, is one of the characters
of Omaha. He carries around with him a
face that bears a striking resemblance to
that of the late Chancellor Bismarck. and
for that reason The Bee many years ago
called him Little Bismarck" This sobri-
quet has stuck to him ever since. From that
day to this he has been called Little Bis
marck" much more frequently than Will
liam Altstadt. Little Bismarck has a
record as a justice of the peace at North
Platte. When the Slocumb high license
liquor law went into effect In 1881 he rem
dered two decisons-probably the most re-
markable in the history Of the Jurisprudence
of this country-which brought him into
great notoriety. A saloonkeeper was brought
before "hls honor for a violation Of the
Slocumb law. he having sold liquor on Sun
udy. Inc evidence was poSltlNe against Ine
saloonkeeper. Bismarck" listened pa
tienty to the arguments OF counsel and at
the close promptly rendered quite an elab-
crate opinion to the effect that the Slocumb
law was unconstitutional, and he would
therefore throw the case out Of court.
"The supreme court has declared the law
constitutional" said the prosecuting attor-
ney who was John Delaney. at one time a
well known lawyer of Omaha. 81 am much
surprised, your honor. that you justice
Of tho peace. should undertake to over
rule the supreme court Of the state of Ne
braska. 1t is something entirely beyond my
comprehension sir"
II would like to know. Mr.. Delaney,
whether / or the supreme court is running
this court" replied Judge Bismarck" my
decision has been rendered and that settles
this case. The defendant is discharged and
the court at once adjourns to the defendants
place OF business"
A few days later two saloon men were ar
rested on a similar charge, They ran a
combination business-a saloon, a gambling
house and a dance house. John Delaney
was on hand to prosecute them When ar
raigned. much TO the surprise OF everybody.
they pleaded guilty