davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
DIPLOMATIC ADVICE.

Saw wood, ye men who led the way,
In Cuba and Manila Bay;
Who fixed the Starry Banner where
1t will forever clear the air;
Who added newer. brighter fame
TO all the Elories OF our name;
Who make the Yankee nation great,
Take heed by Captain Coghlans fate;
OF what you've seen and done and heard
You hadn't better say a word:
Saw wood,
Saw wood, ye men behind the guns,
Who slammed tho shot and shells by tons
At forts and ships until their souls
Escaped through numerous large-sized
holes;
Who banged away and kept their stand
TIL everything on sea ana land
That even thought to make a fight
Was utterly knocked out OF sight;
OF what you've seen and done and heard
You hadn't better say a word:
Saw wood.
Saw wood, sc men who fought like h,
And want to come back home and tell
How Yankee spirit Yankee nerve
Got on TO every crook and curve
OF open and of secret foes.
And Dy their skin and by their blows
Put Uncle Sam where he could be
The steel-clad master of the sea:
or what you've seen and done and heard
You hadn't better say a word
Saw wood.
Saw wood, ye great saw wood, ye small; I;
Saw wood, ye fighters, one and all;
Don't say n word, although you could
Say many that would stir the blood;
The man who's safe in all he says
Keeps still in forty languages.
You've done your duty as you should,
Ana now saw wood, saw wood, saw
wood.
Say. don't you know where you are at?
IA lighter is no diplomat.
w. J. H., in New York Sun.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
Taxing Franchises.

Although Governor Roosevelt was
unsuccessful in getting through the
New York legislature all the legisla-
ton he wanted, he did succeed
at the last moment in securing the
passage Of an act under which the
franchises Of corporations possessing
valuable public privileges are to be
considered as real property and taxed
accordingly. Among the franchises
so taxed are those of street railway
companies. steam heat and power con-
Germs, and electric lighting, telegraph
and telephone corporations. 1t is es-
timated that this act will produce more
than $=U,000000 of public revenue, to
be distributed among the various
municipalities. in which event 1t will
reduce local taxation very materially
We may expect as the next feature
of this effort at reformation of the
taxing function a cry of unconstitu-
tionality and prolonged obstructive
battle in the courts. With this pros
pect in view it is encouraging to learn
according to eminent authority that
the act is undoubtedly constitutional
this point having been fully consideiel l
before the measure was introduced.
Franchises figure on the corporation
books as property. They pass in
transfer from one incorporated COM
pany to another and make large part
of the estimated value of street rail-
way, steam heat and power, electric
lighting, telegraph and telephone COM
panies when these are appraised with
a view either to their sale or to their
absorption by a stock -jobbing trust
or combine. Why should they not be
taxed?
Governor Roosevelt is not a socialist
or crank, He has no grudge against
wealth. He is a wealthy man HIM
self and his associations are largely
among men of that class. But Roosa-
welt is honest. He believes in every
body, whether rich or poor, dealing
honestly with the general public not
only in the capacity of individuals,
but also in the associated relations of
chartered corporations. This is the
doctrine which is bound to spread in
this country,
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
The Right Kind of Preaching.

The Rev. DR.. Endicott Peabody,
headmaster of Groton school, near New
London, Conn, in a New York pulpit
on Sunday morning delivered some
wholesome opinions and advice on a
subject of vital interest anu conse-
quence when he said:
THE citizens of this country are
committing moral suicide, with divorce
as the weapon of destruction. The
frequency of divorce in this country
is a danger to the national life. Those
who fly to the divorce courts praying
for a dissolution of the marriage re-
lation strike a death blow to the fam
lily, and he who would destroy the fam
lily would destroy the nation. Rome
fell and chaos reigned where the en-
pire had stood, because Roman morals
were at ebb tide. The sacredness of
marriage was forgotten, divorce dis
integrated families and made wives
cOurtesans, and the empire whose con-
fines were the world disappeared for
ever The condition of the Roman
empire at its fall was hardly worse
United States today. 1t is easier to get
a divorce in this country than in any
other country in the civilized world,
and the fashion appears to be, even
among those whose lives and examples
should we worthy of all emulation, to
make full use of the license which the
laws grant.
Back of this condition lies the cause
Of 1t. 1t has been my lot to have inti-
mate association with the young, to
watch the development of their moral
and mental lives and to direct that de-
velopment as best l might. 1t has
seemed to me that parents are more
and more entertaining false notions as
to what is best for their children. The
father watches the requirement Of
popularity by his son in college with
such keen pleasure that the boy notices
it and strives to secure that which il
is pleasant to secure and gratifying 10
the father. The modern mother is too
apt to care nothing for anything else
so long as her daughter is a success
when she is launched into society. In
later life the son viii sacrifice his very
| soul to get into d fashionable club, and
the daughter will be ready for the sac
! rihce OF much that women should never
sacrifice for the sake OF brilliant mar
riage. There is need, my friends, for
| a ruggeder courage and a sturdier
notion Of what is best for the young
than parents and guardians now pos
sess. 1t is not enough that our sons
| should acquire wealth or brilliant sue
cess in professional life. 1t is not
enough that our daughters should be
! great enough social successes to be able
to contract brilliant marriages. The
one is too unsatisfactory; the other Is
too likely TO be of short duration.
1T has become the fashion 10 scout
the idea of a personal future punish
ment for acts for which we are re-
sponsible in this life, and therefore to
act solely upon our notions of what
is hest from a practical and advan-
tageous point of view. We need more
sons in the ministry as teachers of the
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
The Sloane Divorce.

Criticism is heard of the legal as we'll
as the moral features OF the recent
Sloane divorce. The case was tried
in secret and all its records were kept
secret. But for the announcement Of
the subsequent marriage of one of the
parties, the fact that a divorce had
been granted might not have reached
the public ear at all.
The moral questions involved in this
divorce are serious enough without hav-
ing to consider also whether the possess
sion by both parties of high social posi-
tion and wealth may not have been in
strumental in gaining for them a de-
gree of consideration from the courts
which poorer and less conspicuous suit
tors would have sought in vain.
A law requiring all divorce cases to
be tried in public might have objection
able features, but 1t would at least
have the merit of avoiding any suspi-
cion of favortsm on the part of the
judges who administer the laws upon
this subject.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
Tonight's Meeting of Councils.

Tonights joint meeting Of councils
has been called for the special purpose
of considering asphalt repairs and the
public will await with intense interest
the result of its deliberations.
There are several opinions as to what
should be done, but only one opinion
as TO the necessity Of prompt and thor
ough action of some kind. The streets
must he repaired. and so repaired that
they will stay repaired. The time for
makeshifts has passed. Public opinion
will not longer consent to the penny
wise and pound foolish plan of plas-
tering the gaping holes with mud, sand
ashes or cement. The people who paid
for asphalt demand asphalt and they
want it put down in the best possible
manner under the strongest possible
assurance and guarantee Of durability.
This can be accepted by every council
man as beyond debate.
When we come to the method of re-
asphaltng the streets there is need
simply of honest and straightforward
investigation. The methods in vogue
in other cities and the costs of those
methods are open for study. They
point unerrlngly to the wisdom Of a
long-term contract with private enter
prise, SO framed as to foretell each
years expense and thus enable the
councils to provide the money. This
plan enables the city at all times TO
know what it will have to spend on
street repairs and what it is going to
get in return. The whole transaction
is gauGed for a period of years and
once ratified, needs only 20 be watched.
The proposition to incur new bonded
Indebtedness or to petition court Tor
authority to make a special levy with
a view to resurfacing directly or to
install a city repair plant would in
volve costly delay even If 1t were not
otherwise Objectionable. The tax rate
is high enough as it is. 1t is ample to
meet all the costs of good city govern
ment including clean street clearing
and genuine asphalt repairs.
Let councils respond for once to pub
lie expectation and act decisively.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

old-fashioned gospel We need more
sons in politics to be patriots instead
Of politicians. We need more sons TO
be honest men, rather than popular
men. And, as for our daughters, We
need fewer social successes and more
women-women with the simple faith
In God in their hearts, women who rec
ognize a joy and responsibility In
maternity, and who are thankful to
God for the one and who are not afraid
10 render an account to Him Of the
other; women who will train their
daughters to appreciate the full mean
ing of the love, honor and obedience
pledged at the marriage altar; women
who will teach their children, boys and
girls. to be whatsoever is just, what
soever is honest, whatsoever is lovely,
whatsoever is of good report; women
who will say, with Tennyson's Prin-
cess, who, when home they brought
her warrior dead and her maidens
said, She must weep or she Will die
then
Rose q nurse of ninety years,
Set his child upon her knee
Like summer tempest came her tears
Sweet, my child, live for thee
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
The American Way,

This dispatch from Havana shows
one phase of American occupation.
I'd. f. Dolan, the special agent OF the
post office department, has just re-
turned from a trip into the country
He has been engaged in establishing a
free mail delivery at Pnar del Rio,
Sagua. Caibarien, Matanzas and Car
denas. In the latter two cities he
merely perfected the work already be-
gun. In the other three places he
abolished the Spanish system, where
three cents was charged for each let
ter delivered. The letter carriers now
get $3.50 year in gold, which is more
than they formerly received. The peo-
pie are greatly pleased with the
change. Mr.. Dolan will go on Tuesday
to Cienfuegos and afterward to Trini.
dad. Sancti spirtus and other cities
in that section 10 improve the mail
service there, and will return to Ha-
vana in two weeks. He will then
superintend the reorganization OF the
delivery system here, which at pre-
sent Is not giving the best satisfaction.
The post Office moved today to new
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The proposition to leave the repairs
of the asphalt streets to a city plant
run by ward politicians or the rela-
tives of councilmen is simply a propo-
sitlon 10 waste the publics money and
play leap frog with its interests. The
city plant would be directly and con-
tinuously in control of councils. The
same men who hold out for ward APP
propriations in street cleaning, with the
result that about 20 per cent. of the
money appropriated for the cleaning of
the streets goes into the cleaning up
of campaign scores, would hold up the
street repairs from time to time, and
load the system down with proposter-
Gus demands. Councilmen who demand
electric lights blocks away from any
house would not be slow to insist upon
asphalt repairs miles away from any
asphalt. The city plant theory might
work in some communities, although as
a matter of fact it has not yet been
successful in any American city, but it
is adapted to Scranton conditions least
of all.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
Horrible.

The executive committee Of the Anti
Imperialistic League has adopted the
following resolution and forwarded it
to President Mckinley.
TO the President:
We urge you to offer Philippine govern.
ment withdrawal in five years, giving 1t
meanwhile moral support; Philippine
government to reimburse our payment
to Spain. United States to keep small
islands. Erving Winslow, Secretary.
Why keep the small islands? If it
is contrary to the principles of the
fathers to remain in the big ones; IL
consent of the governed" is necessary
to justify our retention of Luzon, where
the only disturbance is, why shall
Uncle Sam play the tyrant over the
little ones? We are amazed at this
exhibition of faulty logic. Would Erv-
ing Winslow & Co. compromise with
the demon of militarism or sell the
precious brthright of the republic for
bunch of land dots on the Philippine
map?
There must be some mistake about
this dispatch. Possibly the executive
committee of the ti-Imperialistlc
League has double.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

quarters, in a building which Is much
healthier and affords better facilities
for work than the old Office"
The Cuban post office system now
being Instituted by our government is
Il civil. not a military institution.
Natives who chafe under the sway OF
the army will hardly object TO getting
better postage facilities in every
way than tney had before at
much less than the former cost.
The good effect of American
Intervention in this one direction
alone will constitute a powerful infiu-
ence in behalf of permanent American
control when the time comes for that
subject to be decided by the Cuban
people.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
THE BEST MEDIUMS.

From the Susquehanna Transcript.
BY a unanimous rising vote, the York
Merchants association has decided to
discontinue advertising in programmes,
directories and similar schemes of all
kinds Following the example of Will
Transport, Chester and other state cities,
the tradesmen will use only newspapers
as mediums for giving information.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

nv
\ child born on this day will notice
that there is no foe as relentless as the
inoffensive man when thoroughly aroused.
AS regards to the golden rule, most
people are willing that the other fellow
should make the application.
Church service is a good thing in a
certain way. 1t probably makes some
people for a time forget how mean they
are
Marty Swift's men are evidently deter
mined that he shall retain his reputation
as base ball mascot.
The finding of the beef court of in
quiry suggests that the court had better
look again.
Nearly all persons are agreeable to talk
to, but few are agreeable to listen to.
In some respects the lazy man is a wise
man. He does not worry over the un-
attainable.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
MENTION OF SOME
MEN OF THE HOUR
w. w. SCRANTON DESERVES OUR
GRATITUDE.

He Has Placed at Our Door a Lake
That Is One of the Largest and
Most Picturesque in This Part of
the State-A. p. Bedford Doing
Some scheming with Reference to
Park Improvements-Police Au-
tnorities Not Pleased with Suro-
vitz Verdict.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The school authorities should take
the flag pole at the high school build
ing last evening, which was unattended
by fatalities. The pole has been a
menace to life since it's erection and 1t
is fortunate that some one was not
killed when it fell yesterday. In the
case of the high school building patri-
otism forty or fifty feet nearer the
earth would answer all purposes and
not be attended by so much danger.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02
THIS WILL BEAR REPEATING.
Lackawanna Rumor That Is Inter
esting Even if Not True.

Western rumor that Is interesting even
it 1t is not true is that President Trues-
dale has given, or is about to give, or
ders to all employees of the company
to quit politics or the company's en-
ploy.
Two local councilmen who are in the
Lackawanna' 6 employ averred that they
had heard nothing of any such order.
1t would not be surprising IL the story
proves to be true, as President Trues-
dale while on the Rock Island road in
augurated such a policy as is contem-
plated In the rumored order.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

If w. w. Scranton never did any
thing else for Scranton ne deserves to
be held in grateful remembrance Cor
the magnificent lake he has placed
at our very door. Those who have
not visited the latest addition to the
Scranton Gas and Water company's
group of reservoirs ought to do so with
out unnecessary delay. It's worth the
time and effort. Just across the noun
tain which hens the city in on the
east an immense lake has been created,
covering the land once known as the
Dagen farm. It's exact dimensions are
not at hand, but it is in The neighbor-
hood of a mile and one-half long and
has an average width of over one-quar"
ter of a mile.
So admirably was the land suited 70
the uses to which it has been put that
the lake seems to be as much part
of the landscape as If it had existed
there since the dawn of creation. All
of the improvements about the lake
are not completed and probably will
not be until autumn. but that need de-
ter no one from visiting Lake Scran-
ton. 1t Is charming Notwithstanding
the somewhat unfinished condition Of
its surroundings. Circling the lake is
a fine macadamized road five miles in
length, which is part of the system of
roads that Mr.. Scranton has constructed
through the mountain lands Of his COM
pany. The roads are the best in this
part of the state and give an oppor-
tunity for Scrantonians to become aC-
quainted with the picturesque noun
tain land that surrounds us on all
sides.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The anti-imperialists have much
cause to rejoice at the freedom of
American institutions. Their treason
able talk, which is regarded as Joke
here, would get them into prison in any
other country.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The Quay sweep in Bradford is a
natural consequence of the popular re-
action in his favor. 1t simply goes
to prove that in their malignity his
enemies have overshot the mark.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

decide that Colonel Funston only per-
formed his duty.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

Some of our western exchanges seem
disposed to continue the trial of Mrs.
George, notwithstanding the verdict of
the jury.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The wall of the anti-eXpansionists at
Chicago came just in time. A few days
hence it would probably have been too
late.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

If Agunaldo ever becomes Ameri-
canized he will be justified in refusing
to live in Georgia.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

Spring appears to have dropped ou
of the march of seasons this year.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

District Attorney Jones, Chief of Pol
ice Robling and City Detective Moir
were far from pleased with the ver-
dict in the Surovitz case returned to
court Saturday. Jacob Surovitz, the
father, escaped, and his son, Michael
Surovitz was convicted. 1t was Jacob
the authorities were cunning for aud it
is small satisfaction TO them to see
him escape. leaving his son in their
hands. The case was the most in
teresting Of its kind ever tried in this
county since the famous Dinuer gang
was broken up by the fleeing from the
city of Mike DINNER, the lea der of the
gang, and the conviction of several Of
his associates.
The DINNER gang did business with
full grown thieves and burglars, many
OF them hardened criminals, but GUS
toners of the Surovitzs were boys II
tender years. One of the witnesses.
a boy Of twelve, testified that lie went
there at midnight with several otaeT
boys a few years his senior and after
selling stolen goods TO Mike Surovitz
in the presence of his father. Jacob,
the latter told them 10 come back
whenever they had like goods 10 sell.
Few OF those who heard this testimony
and the corroborating test .mCny Cf
Henry Weasel but felt they were tell
ing the truth. The Jury allowed it.
self TO be swayed by sympathy fer the
mans family, just as George $. Horn,
who defended the Surovtzs, knew they
would be when he arranged his cln-
ningly devised defense. A blow has
been struck at the fences who en-
courage boys TO be thief', but the police
authorities Of the city believe its force
has been more than half destroyed
by the escape of the elder Surovitz.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

The Filipinos are now troubled with
the Spanish honor epidemic.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

IT would not be bad plan IL some
one could ascertain what the ossivor-
ous element in the city hall really de-
sires in the way Of streets and street
payements
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

A close watch will be kept on that en-
terprising gentleman by the police, for
some time, at least.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

Mr.. Scranton will have on opportun-
ity on this new lake to indulge his
love for rowing. When he was at
Yale he was one of it's best oarsmen
and he has ever since taken a lively
interest in aquatic sports. He in
tends to erect a commodious boat house
on the shore of the lake, where boats
for his use will be kept. If general
boating is allowed on the lake it will
have a tendency to make that pastme
very popular hereabouts The lake Is
long enough to permit of a one mHe
straightaway course that would have
few superiors in this country for rae
ing purposes.
The lake is easy of access from the
city for vehicles and bicycles and the
pedestrian who does not dread a jog
over the mountain roads can reach the
lake in a very short time by making
use of the paths and wagon roads with
which the east mountain is covered.
Those who employ vehicles or bicycles
use the Elmhurst boulevard to the
speedway where one of the mountain
drives of the gas and water company
connects with II. The traveller turns
to the south and after passing along
this mountain drive for half a mile
Lake Scranton" bursts at once full
upon his view. Saturday and Sum
day it was visited by hundreds. Many
picnic parties went there to spend the
warm hours Of the day and there
were also many parties who went in
search of arbutus. which abounds in
that region. This latest addition to
Scranton's attractions is its greatest
acquisition.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-05-02

Spain has not quite as large a stock
of honor as she had one year ago to-
day, but Just think of that $40, 900, 1000.