The record-union., 1899-04-21

the fierce heat in which human beings
must work While directing the processes
by which iron is transmitted into steel
and steel into great guns at Essen; OF
the trial by fire necessary in manufact-
uring armor-plate, or the ten-times
heated furnace which a battle-ship in
hostile action becomes through the in
cendiary power of explosives, one Is
constrained to the opinion that develop
ment of the fighting arm of nations
along lines of intense heat must cease,
owing to the manifest impossiblllty OF
producing fire-proof men to carry ii for
ward. Evidently flesh and blood cannot
stand-even if encroached upon by slow,
seasoning degreesAa heat test more Sc
we're than that to which they have al
ready been subjected in carrying for
ward the work of war.
TRUST DISTRIBUTION.
San Jose Herald: An idea of the help
lessness of the retailer, under a system
of trust distribution of products, was
presented in these columns only few
days ago. Department stores have al
ways been in the habit of selling pro-
prietary medicines and preparations at
what they call cut rates" The West
ern wholesale druggists trust conclud-
ed to stop the practice at short notice.
ST. Louis stores were notified, as
starter, that no goods would be sold
to ''cut rate" dealers, and the plan will
doubtless be extended elsewhere if it
meets no serious obstacle AS a conse-
quence dealers will be deprived of an
important feature of their trade and
tIosr \ n
higher prices for many articles. And
there is no apparent means of saving
either retail dealers or the people from
this newest and most dangerous phase
of trust domination.
A WONDERFUL SPECTACLE.
Stockton Mail: While delegates are
being solemnly appointed to the Gar S
disarmament conference at The Hague
the Russians are pouring troops into
Manchuria and seizing the lands of the
Chinese. without remorse or hindrance.
But it is quite likely that the Germans,
the British and the French are quietly
extending the respective spheres of in
f1uence" in China as industriously as
the Russians. The news this morning
is that Japan is about to claim it's right
to a grab, too In other words ''in
view of the San Nun affair, the Jap
anese are saying their Government
must abandon the hold-aloof policy
hitherto adopted and demand some sub
stantial grant of land from China, prob
ably in Fokien.'' Also: IF the situa-
ton should compel Japan to take a
final step it will be absolutely neces-
sary for her to hold Annoy and the rail-
way between that place and Hakow."
Italy, too, is sending out squadron
and reaching forth predatory hand.
Altogether it is the most amusing inter-
national episode ever heard of = this
peace conference-and all the time most
of the participants hurriedly arming
and raiding weak neighbors in all d.
rections Even the United States is in
the game. While prating about human
liberty, and consenfing almost with
tears in his ideas to the admirable suy-
gestion of general disarmament Uncle
Sam is slaughtering Filipinos by the
thousand and plotting to annex Cuba
and Nicaragua.
NEWSPAPER TYRANNY.
Benicia New Era: We sotice that the
editors of the large daily papers are
very much exercised regarding the
probable effect of the Act passed by
the last Legislature, wherein parties are
compelled to attach their names to arti-
cles printed in papers. One of the
greatest causes of the discomfort and
agitation between the classes and the
masses in this country is the utter in
difference that wealth has for the judi