davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
THE TORPEDO BOAT soMERs.
A Trial of the Vessel shows Her ia
BE Unsatisfactory.

A Trial of the Vessel shows Her to
BE Unsatisfactory.
The report of the board which witnessed
the trial of the torpedo boat Somers, in
New York Harbor, shows that the vessel
is unsatisfactory in many respects. She
made an average speed Of only seventeen
and one-half knots an hour. a very low
showing for torpedo boat. The board rec
ommends that no extensive changes be
made, as she is not worth the expense, but
suggests certain improvements that will
fiji her for use in harbor defence. In the
judgment of the board the Somers is not
fitted for sea service.
The S9mers was bought from the Schic-
hon Iron Works. of Elburg. Germany, at
the beginning OF the Spauish-American
war. and was started across the Atlantic
to New York with an English crew. She
sprung a leak soon after starting and
put back to port. Most of the crew de-
serted, and a new crew could not be Sc
cured After the war she was brought
over on the deck OF a steamer.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
GOING TO CUBA
Secretary Root TO Look Into Con-
ditions There.

Unions Ihere.
Secretary Root is to make brief per-
sonal investigation of the conditions in
Cuba. He will feave Washington for Tam
pa tomorrow morning, and will there take
the transport Sedgwick Sunday morning for
Havana. The Secretary's party will consist
of Mrs. Root, Miss Root, his son Edward
Root, Private Secretary w. S. Coursey. and
Lieutenant Colonel Carter. General Wood
has been notified Of Secretary Roots pro-
posed trip, and has been asked to prepare
an itinerary for brief inspection Of the
principal Cuban cities Referring tos his
trip the Secretary Of War said yesterday:
Il want to make as complete an inspec-
ton as possible in the shortest time.
want TO see for myself what the situation
Is. / have left to General Wood the. PLAN
ming Of my movements after reaching Cuba.
shall, of course, go to Santiago and the
other principal sea coast points,.
Secretary Root expects to be gone about
ten days. or possibly two weeks. The
Sedgwick will be kept in the island for the
purpose of transporting the visitors to the
different sea coast ports The trip viii be
confined entirely to an inspection of Cuba,
and the Secretary of War will not go to
Porto Rico
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
RAILROADS IN ASIA MINOR.
A Controversy Regarding Construc
ton AmicahIy Settled.

| ton Amfcably Settled.
| Milo A Jewett, United States Consul to
Sivas. has written the State Department
respecting Railroad Construction in Asia
Minor" as follows:
The newspapers report that the con-
| troyersy in regard to railroad construc-
| tion in Asia Minor has been settled for
the present by a concession granted to
the Anatolia Railway Company. This Ger
| man company, 1t is understood, will ex-
tend its present line, which terminates
at konieh, via Marash and Bagdad to
Bassorah. The opposition of the French
company owning the Smyrna Kassaba road.
which extends east as far as Alton Kara
hssar, was removed by granting this
company 40 per cent of the shares in the
extension. and the local objection was
obviated by provision in the concession
giving the Turkish Government the right
to purchase the line at any time.
Few railroad lines can be Of greater
prospective Importance than this 1000
miles Of railroad uniting the Persian Gulf
with Europe, forming rapid transit to
and from the East. opening up large tracts
OF agricultural country, and paving the
way for German commercial supremacy in
Asia Minor and Mesopotamia.
1T is not difficult to see how Germany,
with preferential rates for goods ON Ger
man lines, will be able to control the chief
markets of Asia Minor and invade the
East. Germans purchased the ConS:snti-
nople-Ismid Railroad from an English
company. and extended 1t to Angora. They
also checkmated the French and English
by extending their line from Eski-Sher to
Konieh, thus preventing extension of
both the Smyrna Alton Karahssar and the
SMYRNA Aidin-DiuaI roads
THE tive great distributing points
Constantinople and Smyrna-are thus con-
trolled by Germans. and German goods may
enter the interior of Asia Minor and the
great, valley Of the Tigris and Euphrates on
German controlled roads at a decided ad-
vantage. Germans have obtained the right
to build docks and warehouses at Haida
Pasha, the terminus Of the Anatolian rail-
roads, and with through rates for German
goods on German lines, German freight
cars may be sent across the Bosphorus
and travel to Mesopotamia and the con-
fines of India and Persia without change.
Goods from the United States and other
Constantinople or Smyrna, and win oe
consequently at a disadvantage.
But water transport is always, mile for
mile. cheaper than rail transport, and
see but one scheme of competition left for
the United States in Mesopotamia and
southern Anatolia. Let the proposed line
from Samsoun Tor Sinopel to Sivas. Diar-
bekir. and Bagdad be built and country
vastly superior in agricultural products
will be opened up, giving more local traf-
ic than the German line from Konieh to
Bagdad, which must traverse a barren and
sparsely inhabited land"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
The Kniser,s play.

The literary ambitions of Emperor Will
lam, which were stimulated by the popu-
lar approval accorded his vigorous folk
song a few years ago, have been dampened
by the storm of Kisses which greeted the
first presentation of his long anticipated
drama. h'The Iron Tooth" In the absence
of more SPECIFIC information, 1t is pre-
sumed that the play is founded on events
in the life of the reigning Kaiser's distin-
guished ancestor the first Elector of Bran
denburg, who had considerable difficulty
in keeping down the rebellions which were
constantly arising in his electorate.
1t is notable fact that the unfriendly
manifestations at the Berlin performance
came from the parquette, where the critics
and literati sat as well as from the gal
leries, whence the proletariat looked down.
Whatever appreciation was manifested
proceeded from the court favorites. who had
come somewhat in the capacity of imperial
claquers. In such circumstances it may
well be imagined that If it were practical
bic to visit condign punishment for lese
majestic upon what must have been large
part Of the entire audience, His Majesty
would have resorted to the divine right in
preference to Withdrawing from the thea
tire and nursing his impotent wrath.
There is something whimsical about the
variety of forms which the Emperor's am
bition assumes, but the thoroughness with
which he does everything he undertakes,
within the limits of his capacity, whether
it be the inspection of new yacht or the
composition of play, never fails to chal-
lenge attention.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

made tight enough not only to put the
correspondents at the front out of action,
but to place the military writer's in Lon
don in like condition. The latter are
making some show of effort TO keep up
with the procession. but it is unfruitful.
The actual details of the military situa-
tion are held up at headquarters in the
Free State and Natal, and nobody is like
ly TO be in any position to predict Rob-
erts' or Buffers movements a day in ad-
vance. 1t is. unsatisfactory, but ii cannot
be helped
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
The workers at the Democratic Con.
yentfon


tfIom tne haisas tltf Stsr-t
In beginning the work of preparation for the
Democratic National Convention it should he
thoroughly understood that the busy people of the
convention want simply accommodations and IA
cili;ies to do their work. Take the newspaper
men for instance What they desire are ample
telegraph service. convenience, and sufficient
space at Convention Hail. plenty OF cabs messen-
gers. and telephones, and good hotel aeeommo-
dations, with prompt means OF obtaining food and
drink at all hours. Aside from desk space at the
convention they will pay for all they get, and
they will want TO be left alone to devote them
selves to their work. The committee which sees
that the newspaper thus provided forswill
discharge the full measure Of its duty. Any at
tempt to provide pleasurabe entertainment for
persons who will be busy every moment during
the convention will simply annoy them
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
GENERAL WOOD WILL ATTEND.
The Annual Reunion of Rough Riders
Mt Oklahoma City.

NEW YORK, Feb. 2s.-Color Sergeant
Wright, of the Rough Riders. now In BUSH
ness in Santiago de Cuba, has been in this
country this week visiting his friends. He
spent Monday with Governor Roosevelt,
for whom he stumped in 1898. The Rough
Riders are to hold their second annual re-
union June at Oklahoma City Governor
Roosevelt is going there, and so is Major
General Wood, Governor-General of Cuba,
who was the first colonel of the regiment.
OF General Woods Administered on OF affair S
in Cuba, Sergeant Wright said today that
great good had already been done.
General Wood is the greatest man in
the service" said Sergeant Wright. He
is a splendid soldier. wise administrator
and a statesman of foresight and eS-,acity.'
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

q rom INC PHIIautIpHIA HtVVIu-I
Very few toilers who earn their daily bread
bv the sweat of their faces will Grape on
their hats or indulge in any show OF grief be-
cause the Flour Trust is unable to meet its obiga
tons and has gone into the hands of receivers
The spectators who organized this trust bought
more mills than they could borrow the money
from puddingheaded dupes to pay for. Hence
the receiversbip.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
FOR THE BENEFIT OF TRADE.
The American Government ChartioE
the Bay of OrfnOcO.


(From the New York Press)
AS Venezuela wouldn't survey, sound
and chart the mouth of her great river. the
Orinoco, the United States, for the protec-
ton of American marine interests, had to
do it for her. Captain Switzerland COM
manding the Dolphin, has reported at the
Navy Department the results of his work
in this direction, and experts pronounce his
survey perfect piece of marine hydro
graphy.
II is shown that for six months of the
year the bar at the mouth of the river is
impossible for vessels drawing more than
fourteen or fifteen feet of water. and even
II the draught is slightly less, great care
must be exercised From the LIST of June
to the end of December vessels with six
teen feet draught can pass easily. From
the fathom mark to the land is twenty
miles, and the land is not visible from
twG-thirds of the bar. complete set of
buoys is necessary to make the passage of
the bar safe. The Dolphin made 500
soundings, covering 455 miles.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

tFrem the MATHIS CITY Staf-J
Ia battle at Guaymas between the Mexican
forces and the Ysqui rebels last Thursday appears
10 merit the name OF a big battle, as battles are
rated nowadays, that is, il the Mexican loss was
OF killed and wounded and the Yaquis left seven
ty-three dead on the FIELD. as reported. Were it
not for the Boer this struggle in Mexico
would excite much interest
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Dispatches from Pekin assert that never
before in forty years has. the Chinese Gov
eminent been as madly anti-foreign as it
is now, and serious trouble may be looked
for. 1t is probable that the Empress Dow
ager either has or thinks she has the sup
port of some strong military power in this
attitude. Possibly it is assumed to precipi-
tate an issue which could only result in a
crisis necessitating armed action by some
of the Western powers. Then the con-
cealed play might develop.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
Presencc of Mind.
lFrom the Chicago News. }

(FTom the Chicago News.)
''Do you realize the state you use in?'' asked
the patient wife, as her husband stumbled up
the stairs
..Betcher Chic) life know whash sthate I'm in,
m'detr" replied the other half OF the eOmbna-
ton .'Nev'r (hic) been out of sthate Of k-Ken-
(hic) lucky shince | was born"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

CFrom the Boston Glohe.)

Governor Rollins, Of New Hampshire. is still
harping on the religious decadence of thc Granite
State "'kmusements receive too much attention
in the churches OF the present day he SAYS:
there are too many candy pulls and toe little
mary ondeavorers aud too little endeavor among
the Young people, All Of which is epigrammatic
even Il Il isn't true.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

From the st. Louis Globe -Democrat)
In his lates; speech Carl Schurz remarked that
s'the teachings Of Washington and Lincoln are
derided IS antiluated nursery rhymes" No
else has made this discovery. But il is matter
OF record that when Lincoln alive no one
wounded him deeply than Sehurz did with
suarling criticism and depreciation.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
POLITICAL NOTES AND GOSSIP.

The versatile SibIey AGnin.-Uncle
Joe sibley appeared in an entirely new
role yesterday, and the nation today is
standing agape at his performance. Uncle
Josephus has thrilled the House into mute
amazement more than once during this
session by his marvellous feats of political
gymnastics. His giant leap from the PIN
nacle of 16 to l. sbimetallism, where for
years he stood erect on one foot defying
all the nations of the world and the myr-
midons of plutocracy, TO the narrow plank
OF gold monometallism, where he landed
in a perpendicular posture, and now stands
balancing himself upon his toes, was one
OF those rare performances whose daring
holds the spectators enthralled even be-
yond the point of giving vent in hysterical
little gasps to the emotions of admiration
that surge through their nerve-racked
frame. But for this your Uncle Josephus
long ago would have been escorted by
special committee of indignant patriots
from his seat on the Democratic side TO
the Republican side of the House. And
then. about the time his former Demo-
cratic colleagues were getting ready 10
pitch him from their household, bag and
baggage, this now-you-see- him and-ncw
you-don't statesman performs another feat
that displayed a versatility which disarms
outraged justice of her impartiality and
cruelty. For ten minutes yesterday Uncle
Joe rode Pegasus, bareback and without
bit. curb or rein, .roughshod over the
PROSTATE Democrats. The dithyrambic mu-
sic that dripped from his lips with the
soft tinkle OF globules of molten gold upon
plate of silver set the Republicans in a
frenzy of delight and transported the
crowded galleries in chariot of Joy 10
the realms of unutterapie bliss. Uncle Joe
did not mount Pegasus until he had ex-
hausted his store OF invective on the Demo-
cratic proposition of free trade for Porto
Rico. But when he did. with single
vault, land fair and plump upon the Slip
perry back of the fiery steed that had come
fresh from the Perian fount, there was
CONSERVATION on the Democratic side OF
the House, joy unconfined in the Republic
can camp, and admiration in the gallery
that could not find tongue. His perform
ance was entirely impromptu. 1t was
known that during his recent periods of
calm he has been wooing the muse, but
il was not suspected that the tickle dame
had completely surrendered to his care her
sacred honor. Uncle Joe's poem came to
him as an inspiration. He improvised
every one of its metrical couplets and its
symphonic quatrains after he had con-
sumed the all-too-brief time allowed him
under the fve-minute rule. and while he
was pleading for an extension of time,
which was granted him by unanimous con-
sent. Capable critics who have submitted
the poem to all of the tests declare that
it is absolutely perfect in all of its parts.
and that ii is a lump of amber which will
hold in its translucent grasp throughout
all the ages the brightest thought that
has ever come, faring in its red heat, from
Uncle Joe's ,seething brain. No wonder
the question uppermost in every mind in
Washington today is, What will Sibley
do next?' %.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
Once Was Enough.

From the New York Evening Post)
When George Washington had once told Con-
gress and the country where the path Of national
duty lay nobody ever went to the executive
mansion to ask il he still stood where he did when
he sent in his message
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Quay StiIl Delayed.-It is understood
that the faithful and undespairing Senator
Penrose will strenuously attempt today to
rush the Quay case through. 1t is equally
as well understood that he will fail Though
Senator Chandler has returned full of fight
it seems certain that not even he can bulge
the sturdy Senate from its f1xed determine
ton to delay to the utermost limit the final
disposition Of the Pennsylvania contest.
This is interpreted as meaning that the
Quay opposition realize that the Pennsyl-
vanian will win whenever a vote is forced,
and that their determined policy is to post
pone the vote as long as possible. AS the
case now stands 1t can be called up only
during the morning hour. and as that time
is fully taken up with other matters of
pressing Importance for many days ahead,
1t is evident that Colonel Quay will remain
on the anxious seat for some considerable
time yet
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
An Interesting Distinction

iFrom the Chicago News.)
The MAZDA man who has too many wives is a
bigamist, isn't he?'
The Bachelor Not necessarily. bigamist is a
man who has two or wives"
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Herr Bloch, the military writer whose
work. The Future of War" inspired the
Gear Nicholas to call The Hague Peace
Conference, is of the opinion that Cronje'a
defeat will not expedite the close of the
war, and urges England to make peace. 1t
would take a good deal more than indi-
vidual advice to stop British hostilities at
this time. In the present state OF mind
among the English people, the fight must
be one ito finish The real war has but
begun. Unless strong powers should inter
vene with arms. 1t is likely to last for
months, and be marked by fierce battles all
the way from Bloemfontein TO Pretoria.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Mason viii stick.-A few months
ago the praiIies OF Illinois were ablaze with
the report that the Hon. Billy Mason
having tired of the drudgery and ingrati-
tude Of craftsmanship, had determined
forthwith to resign from the Senate and go
back to the rough and tumble practice OF
the law. 1t appears row, however, that
Senator Mason, following the example of
many another great statesman, has chang
ed his mind and proposes to wear the toga
until his tenn expires. which will lot be
until March T. l903-which means a long
siege Of suffering for the blithesome Billy"
in the frigid atmosphere of the Senate Il
is said that Senator Mason would resign
at the expiration OF this Congress if he
could be assured that John Riley Tanner
would not succeed him. But if Tanner
doesn't succeed in busting Senator Cullom
he will glue his eyes on Mason's toga and
never take them off unless in the guber-
Material election this year some avowed
enemy succeeds him in the executive Office
at Springfield in which event it is not i'm
possible that Senator Mason may resign.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01


As to IdahO.-One of the best informed
citizens of Idaho-'and a Populist leader at
that's authority for the statement that
Senator Shoup has an excellent show of be-
ing reelected. The reason of this is the
irreconcilable split in the fusion forces
Of the State N caused, II is alleged by the
same authority, by the inability of the
Hon. Fred Dubois 10 cement the coalition
which gave the State TO Bryan four years
ago. 1t is said that the Democrats will
again, carry The electoral vote this year,
but that unless they can induce former
Senator Dubois to withdraw from the Sen
atorial race il favor of Judge r. 2. john
son, of Boise City. Senator Shoup is sure to
carry the Legislature 1t appears that
Dubois has permitted himself to become
enmeshed in the tolls of Governor Steuen-
berg to such an extent as to have lest the
great popularity he once enjoyed in Idaho.
Under the terms of national fusion in 1896,
ii is believed the Democratic managers
tacitly are committed to Mr. Dubois, and
for that reason cannot interfere against
him, even though their inactivity may lose
a vote for bimetallism in the Senate.
There is a story out to the effect that GER
tain Democratic Senators are now being
implored TO do something that would result
in pulling Dubois off the track.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01


ported that Governor Tunnel is awaiting
favorable action on the Quay case in order
to avail himself of the opportunity that
will be afforded TO bestow a high honor
upon a personal friend by appointing to
the Senate former Attorney General John
Biggs. The vacant senatorship from Del
aware Is due TO the manipulations of the
Legislature at Dover by the affiuent Mr.
Aidicks, of gaseous fame. Governor Tun-
nell has stated all along that he would not
fill the vacancy unless Quay is seated. In
view of the probability that Quay will be
seated, Mr.. Biggs' friends have become
very active during the past week, and have
been deluging the Governor with petitions
in his behalf. The friends of the Hon.
Willard Salisbury also are active but it
seems to be settled that Governor Tunnel
will appoint Biggs, who is described as an
old-style Democrat, whatever that means
in Delaware.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

The atlantic Monthly'' for March contains an
elaborate and most comprehensive article by the
Hon Richard olney on the Growth of Our
Foreign Policy which should be read by the
nti-expansionists in Congress with all the care
and patience they can bring to the consideration
OF the subject. Among the other contributors 10
the magazine Henry LOOMS Nelson, George
Mclean Harper. Everett p. Wheeler, j. W. Root
twho writes Of British Shippers subsidies'') },
and Ora Gannett Sedgwick.
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Doubt Is thrown upon the statement that
an oyster trust has been in process Of for
mation in New York. There is nothing
strange about the story. Maine has a lob
ster trust, and We have repeatedly heard
of an octopus trust. Why not an oyster
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Senator Clay of Georgia does not speak
without due contemplation. He has a habit
of quietly going over III substance that
which he would say in tn. Senate. Yester-
day, he left the Capitol at 4:45 O'Clock, and
the moment when he emerged from the
building till he reached Sixth Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue he saw no one. He
was talking to himself, frequently nodding
his head, and now and then making slight
gesture with one hand Passersby thought
he was rehearsing a speech
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

Senator Butler of North Carolina insists
on pronouncing Hawaii Hay -way-eye,"
with the accent on the EYE" majority
of the Senators pronounce it Hay wah-e,"
with sharp accent on "wah.'
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01

The members of the Diplomatic Corps
show marked preference for attending
sessions of the House rather than those OF
the Senate. During the vote on the Porto
Rican bill In the House yesterday the
diplomatic gallery was well filed with
members of the various legations, but
discussions ON the most important matters
in the Senate seldom attract more than
two or three of these representatives of
foreign Governments
The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-01
The Canadian Contingent.
From the Montreal GazetteN

Washington, Feb. q.