davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
VARIOUS CONTINGENCIES.

Those who have combined to defeat the Nor
gan bill, giving New-York power to acquire an
adequate water supply OF its own as occasion
may arise, say in defence of their action that
the FallowS bill protects the city against profit
gate contracts and that all other requirements
Of the situation will be attended to by the Char
ter Revision Commission. This argument Of
course is based on two assumptions-first that
the work of the Commission so far at least as
the water supply is concerned, will be entirely
satisfactory, and, second, that the revised char
ter will be adopted by the Legislature to which
it is submitted. But neither of these assump-
tons is perfectly safe. For on the one hand
the Commissioners may be unable to agree on
the best course proposed and find themselves
constrained to recommend an inferior one, and
on the other hand their work may not suit the
Legislature which will have ratify it, reject it
or hang it up.
Is there not, In point of fact, considerable rea-
1901, if it should be subject to the same influ-
ences which have largely controlled the Legis-
lature Of 1900, would find means to serve the in
terests Of the Ramapo company by protecting
its charter and its monopoly? Is it. indeed in
conceivable that precisely such calculation is
the motive for referring the business to the
Charter Revision Commission? Or If that sus-
plc1on is Indignantly repelled, what about the
possibility of a Democratic Legislature subser-
Went to Tammany Hall being sent to Albany
next winter? That may be remote contin-
gency, but it would be quite worth while for
certain Republican Senators and Assemblymen
10 ask themselves whether they are not doing
just about all they can to convince the people
that Democratic Legislature, by way of a
change, would not be an intolerable misfortune.
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
WHY 1T CANNOT BE PASSED.

Governor Roosevelt declares that he is not
opposed to the Morgan bill. He merely thinks
that it cannot be passed. Apparently he is
right The signs are that with the present dis
position of the leaders of the Legislature it
not be passed But why cannot it be passed?
1t is pity that the Governor does not go on to
enighten the public on that point. He might
by SO doing cause the leaders to retreat from
their position, and find the enactment of this
bill so essential to the protection of New-York
not impossible after all.
There has been some talk about opposition of
rural communities to this measure. That is
one of the screens under which the Ramapo
jObbers hiding. Governor Roosevelt knows
that is all nonsense. He knows that If he and
Mr.. Odell quietly agreed that the bill should
pass those obstreperous rural Assemblymen
would coo as gently as any sucking doves. He
knows why the bill cannot pass. 1t is because
Mr.. Platt's Kelsey, Aids and Nixon have been
instructed to kill It, and he is under no delusion
about the reason for those instructions. He Is
aware that the RamapO company to-day pos
sesses privileges not given to the city of New
York, which place the city of New-York at it's
mercy If water should be needed in the near
future, no matter who control the city govern
ment or how much they might be opposed to q
contract with the Ramapo company. The
Governor also knows that this private monopoly
exists because Mr. Platt. acting through his Mr.
Nixon and others, used the Legislature first
TO give enormous charter privileges to this cor
poration of his friends which employed his
family law firm and his former chairman of the
County Committee as its counsel and sec
ond, TO reduce the powers Of the city Of New
York to acquire water rights from what they
were under the old charter, so as to make the
city subordinate TO the private company. 1t
is matter of public knowledge not inaccessible
to the Governor that at every stage in the
building GNb of the Ramapo structure, in the
negotiation with the Tammany government
which Mr.. Platt placed in power, and now in
the attempt to preserve the Ramapo company's
monopoly a future menace to the city, the
whole power of Mr.. Platt's organization has
been exerted for the promotion of this private
speculation and against the interests of the
people of New-York.
The Governor probably is, as we say rightly
informed about the disposition Of the legis-
lators on this bill, but he knows perfectly we'll
who owns those Legislators, and he never has
any difficulty makes any pretence of con-
ceameDt about finding his way straight TO
headquarters to get them to do anything he
wants He goes frankly TO Mr.. Platt or his
deputy. Mr. Odell. and arranges what the Legis-
| lature is to do, and II does It. He knows and.
| as practical worker for results, acts upon the
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
PERSONAL.

The Rev. DR.. Joseph n. Blanchard mas lesisneu
the rectorship OF st. Jamess Epscopai Cn"iD-i'
Phila 1elphia. account of differences with TIC
vestry of the church.
T. C. Steele. an artist. has just finished a me
size three-quarters length oil portrait OF ex-fres-
dent Harrison. which is to be placed IN the O'i'i
mercial Club of indianapolis
Major General the Hon. Neville Gerald Lytteiton,
who commands the Fourth Brigade of the Secohu
Division of the British army in South AFRICA Is
the third of the fourth Baron Lyttelton anu i
born in 1S45 He entered the Rthe Brigaus III III
1865 and served with IL in india Canada anu az
home. He holds the medal and clasp for the JoWalii
expedition. went through the Egyptian campaign oi
1882 including the battle of Tel-el-kebir was men
toned in dispatches, brevetted heutenant-coloneL
and received the medal and clasp the bronze star
and fourth class Osmanieh. In the Nile expedltlon1
1898 General Lyttelton commanded brigade anu
present at the battle of khartoum ana oo-
taned his major -generalshp.
Professor S. w. Shattuck of the University OF
illinois, seriously injured by gasolene ex-
plosion the other day.
Henry NJ. Dunlap. of Savoy. ILL.,. a member
of the State Senate of Illinois. has been appointed
United States Commissioner of Horticulture TO the
Paris Exposition. He is said to be well qualifed
for the place having been graduated from the
University of Illinois in 1875. and since that time
having conducted large fruit farm with success
H. F. Marks, a delegate from the British Educa-
tional Department and lecturer on education at
Owens College, Manchester. England is spending
two weeks at Teachers College. Columbia UnlVer-
sity, examining its methods and equipment
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
ISLES OF REFUGE.

From the hotels, the restaurants and boarding
houses from every source of information, in
fact-comes the cheering news that New-York
has been thronged with visitors of late never
before. 1t is season Of gratifying prosperity
to our places of amusement our inns and board
ing houses. and to our shops and warehouses as
well. Such multitudeS have come to town for
purposes Of recreation trade that our streets
have been more thicky populated than in earlier
years. The result Is that the dangers at
crossings are multiplied. Many of the police
men who are stationed at these spots are quick,
courteous and efficient in helping pedestrians
from one sidewalk to another. Nevertheless so
many cars are now running at high speed,
many carriages automobiles, trucks and
hicles of all sorts in motion during the
hours of activity that much care is required to
prevent the manning and crippling of men,
women and children who pass from side of
Broadway or Fifth-ave. to another.
More policemen are needed at a number of
crossings where the press is sharpest; but even
with additions to the force the embarrassments
Of the situation will not be entirely overcome
1t Is time for the city government to consider
whether 1t is not desirable to establish islands
of refuge In the most crowded parts Of the town.
as in certain quarters of London. When all the
cable cars and the cars drawn by horses are re-
placed by the swifter electric cars, as they are
sure to be within few years at most, the
trouble, which is already grave, will become
graver! Is 1t not important to take up this
problem without delay?
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
MR.. WHITE AND THE PRESIDENT.

Mr.. Montagu White has gone too far. He has
presumed too much upon the hospitality and for
bearance of the American people. AS citizen
and representative of the Transvaal he is well
come here. AS the semi-official spokesman of
the Transvaal Government he is entitled to
courteous and considerate treatment But as
foreigner meddling with American politics and
trying TO inject into American politics issues
that are entirely alien 10 them. and in which
American citizens have no legitimate concern,
he is transgressing the laws of hospitality and
making himself worthy of the most severe
rebuke.
And il is precisely thus that he appeared be-
fore New-York audience Oh Thursday evening
last. Nominally he was to plead for sympathy
with the Beers entirely legitimate thing.
Actually he sought TO incite American citizens
against their own Government unless it would
violate neutrality and espouse the cause of the
Beers. Let us recall his exact words. Il hope"
he said, you will give to the President Of the
United States a mandate that will force him
10 do what we want him TO do" That was
simple and direct speech, Of which there is no
mistaking the meaning. Its meaning is that at
the word OF this foreigner the American people
are TO require their President to make himself
the tool of q foreign State and 10 do what the
Beers want him 10 do. That is the sort of
propaganda M- Montagu White is engaged in
making in this country.
A few years ago the representative of a foreign
State in this country expressed in a private let
ter his opinion as TO how an individual should
vote in a coming election. The act was recog-
nized as improper and upon the prompt demand
of the United States Government the offender
was recalled. But here is foreigner batantly
proclaiming in public that Americans should
compel their President to make himself the ser
want and the lackey of a foreign State, and
urging that the affairs Of that foreign State be
made leading issue in American politics. And
he is not only listened TO but applauded by an
audience protesting to be American.
A little more than a hundred years ago an
attempt was made thus TO make American poll
Tics turn upon foreign issues and the story of 1t
is one of the most discreditable chapters in
American history. 4 foreign nation employed
emissaries TO suborn the press and in all possible
WAYS TO shake the confidence Of the people In
the President for the simple reason that he
It was Washington himself-would not commit
this country TO one side or the other Of foreign
controversy but persisted in strict neutrality.
So far did these foreign meddlers succeed that
Washington was attacked in the press and from
the nlatforyn as he himself described ii, in sucll
indecent terms as could scarcely be applied 10
..s Nero a notorious defaulter even TO a
common pickpocket.' And all because he re-
mained true TO the principles of his Farewell
Address and held aIoof from foreign entangle-
ments and maintained neutrality and friendship
toward all nations. The outcome of that abhor-
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

rent campaign by foreigners against American
neutrality was the adoption OF the alien and
sedition laws.
No American can wish the re-enactment of
those laws. But neither can any thoughtful and
patriotic man view with unconcern or without
indignation the repetition of the foreign in
trigues which provoked them. And when a
foreigner. of whatsoever race or State demands
that the President of the United States shall be
forced to do what that foreigner and his fellow
foreigners want him to do there should be only
one answer given to him, and that one that
should make impossible any repetition Of his
monstrous impertinence. 1t is high time for Mr..
Montagu White to learn that the seat of govern
ment of the United States Is at Washington, and
not at Pretoria. and that the President of the
United States is not to be forced to do what the
people of any alien State want him to do For
American citizens to talk about forcing the
President to do they want him to do would
be objectionable effrontery. For an alien to do
so is something which 1t is difficult to describe
in moderate terms
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
NerusDurk Dailp @.ibn1re
SATURDAY, MARCH II, 1900.
THE NEWS THIS MORNING.

FOREIGN.-Generai Roberts reported that
railway communication between Bloemfontein
and Cape Town practically open; Boer COM
pected TO give up their arms, many burgheys
President KRUGER had annexed the Orange Free
State to the South African Republic; message
from Mafeking showed that the garrison was
holding out March g. - Sir Frederic
William Burton, former director of the Ma
tional Gallery died in London. - Mrs
Arnold. widow of the famous headmaster Of
Rugby is dead The approach of the
quarantine season has caused an exodus Of
visitors from Havana - Nathan Musher an
alleged forger wanted in this city, arrested
on the Lucania when that vessel reached
Queenstown.
CONSRESS.-Senate: The Puerto Rican Re-
lief Appropriation bill was passed without a
division; agreement made to take up the
Quay April and discuss it until it is
disposed of. - House: A few private bills
were passed under the rule setting aside
alternate Fridays for consideration of claims.
CITY-Stocks We're dull and firm - 1t
was said that the March Grand Jury might in
dict Of the higher police officials for neglect
Of duty in allowing vice to flourish in the city.
- Hugh ]. Grant appointed permanent
receiver of the Third Avenue Railroad. -
The Rapid Transit Commission decided 10 ask
the Board OF Estimate and Apportionment for
money for the building Of pipe galleries in con-
nection with the railroad tunnel.
THE wEATBER.-Forecast for to-day: Fair
and cold.s The temperature yesterday: High
est 35 degrees; lowest, % degrees; average, 301a
degrees.
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
Amusemenrs.

ACADEMY OF MUsIc-2-s:fo-way Down East
AMERICAN THFATRE-2-si5-Fra Diavolo.
FlJOU-2-S:2o-Japanese Players.
bhOADNAf-2-s-Be
CRITERION THEATBE-2-s s:1s-rhe Pride OF Jennico
DAYS THEATRE-2:15-s:3o-T Ambassador
EDEN MUSES. to IL p. m.-Waxworks Grand
EMPIRE THEATRE-2:lAs:3o-Br Brother oricers.
FIFTH EANENUE-S-Macbeth
FOURTEENTH STREET THEATRE-2-s-The Carpet
baeger
GARDEN THEATRE-1:5 :5o-s-Hearts Are Trumps.
SARRICK THEATRE-2-s-Sheriock Holmes.
GRAND OPERA HoUSE-2-S-Psimrcse and Dock
HAMMERsTETN's VICTORIA - p $40 Mann sele
'Awkins
HARIE MoPERA HoUsD-2-s:15-A Runaway Girl
HERALD SQUARE THEATRE-2-s-M Madame Butterfly
and Naughty Anthony.
IRVING PLACE THEATRE-2-S-Hero and beanoer.
KEITH S-Continuous Performance.
KNICKERBOCKER Observation-Disclosures
ROSTER & BIAES-2:l5-S;l5-The Regatta Girl
LION PALACE-Naudeyille.
I-YC,ETM THEATRE-S:30-My Daughter-in-law.
MADISON SQUARE GARDFN-1o a m. TO II p. rn-
Sportsmens Show,
Co. Dressmakers. , =, -
hie<e Di svigla.
MURRAY HIII-2--Peacefui Valley.
NEW-YORK THEATRE-2-s:io-B Broadway 20 TOXIC
PASTOR 'S-continuous Performance.
WALDORF F-ASTOEIA-3 :30-Lecture.
LLAcK's-2.15-The Second Mrs. Tanqueray-slo-
The Profieate
ST NICHOLAS SKATING RINK-s:l5-Hockey Match.
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
THE REQUEST FOR MEDIATION.

The American Governments communication
to the British Government of the Transvaal's
request for mediation has provoked many COM
ments, most of which appear to be i'll advised
and based upon imperfect understanding Of the
facts. There are those on both sides of the
ocean who seem to think the United States ten
dered its good offices to Great Britain on its
own initiative and requested Great Britain to
accept them, and that its act was. from the
British point of view, dangerously near the line
of unfriendliness, and the British declination
was, from the American point of view snub
to the United States The official correspond
cnce now published, shows that nothing of the
sort occurred. The Incident was precisely what
The Tribune at the outset assumed it to be-
The Transvaal asked the United States to offer
its mediation, and the United States informed
Great Britain of the fact. The United States
also expressed a hope that peace would be re-
stored and an assurance of its readiness to aid
in any friendly manner In the work of such
restoration, but it specifically did not ask Great
Britain to accept its mediation, nor anything of
the kind. 1t made no offer to Great Britain. but
merely transmitted the Transvaars request.
And Great Britain did not say NO to the
United States, but to the Transvaal. There was
no offer by the United States. and no refusal so
far as the United States was concerned, by
Great Britain.
We have seen more sensible comment upon
the matter than that Of THE London Daily
News" That paper deems 1t "a happy circum-
Stance that the first message Of the kind came
from quarter in which there was so little pos
"sibility Of misunderstanding" Precisely. We
understand that the Transvaal made the same
request Of all the Powers represented at Pre-
toria, that they would urge Great Britain to
accept mediation. CThe Transvaal Government
said intervention" but meant what is here de-
scribed as ''mediation.'O Not one of them would
do it, or would even notify the request to Great
Britain. 1t is perhaps we'll that they did not,
for European politics is in a state of un-
stable equilibrium that such a message coming
from any of those Powers might have been mis-
understood the British answer to 1t might
have been misunderstood. The United States.
however, free from all those entanglements and
on most amicable terms with Great Britain, was
In position to do safely what they could not
do That Is all there is in the matter
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
knowledge of the exact truth of Mr.. Choates
description Of our politics two years ago In
Carnegie Hall:

hHOWleuRe OF the eAdCl uutu VI MI SuUdtc D
description Of our politics two years ago In
Carnegie Hall:
city being handed over to Tammany Hail. the
history of which you all know too we'll, and
then at the time also contemplate the
position OF the Legislature of the State of New
York working majority of it's members being
literally owned. they have been in the last
three years. by the machine of the other party
Is there anything more destructive of repub-
lican government than that situation necessa-
ry must be? The Legislature owned by
conspirator. and the city of New-York. with
its vast affairs and resources in the hands of
another conspirator!
Mr.. Platt since then in the Ramapo matter,
with Mr.. Lauterbach as go-between, has put
this conspiracy clearly in evidence before the
people, just as Mr.. Choate described it. Gov
ernor Roosevelt should seriously consider If it is
not his duty honest man fond of hard
fighting for the right TO insist as year ago
he insisted concerning franchise taxation, that
Mr.. Platt shall not use the Legislature which he
owns for the benefit Of private corporation
intimately connected with his family and
friends. Governor Roosevelt can force Mr..
Piatt to have the Morgan bill passed 1t might
strain their friendly relations, just as Controller
Coler has had to strain his with Tammany
to save New-York from robbery. But the in
convenience and friction involved in doing right
and bravely fighting jobbery VIII not frighten
Governor who is more anxious TO do his duty
than to secure a denomination from the jobbers
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
FOR 4 STATUE OF LoSGFEEL0W.

Washington March 16.-The Longfeilow Nauo"., ;.
Memorial Association. which Is raising 'uhSs
erect a statue OF the poet IN Washington sA
COMPLIMENTARY entertainment at the IaiayeW'
Square Opera House this afternoon, which W" fres.-
tended by a number of public men, inciuI,s wilson
dent Nc ckinlev Secretary Long. secretary ss,afor
senator Depew General Greely and eN-oossiJea
Henderson, The Rev DR.. MaCkay-Sralth T.5ian
ana music was furnished by a oahd % -. "a.
youths from the Carlisle school Miss Ais rom
a Dakota Indian girl recited The sanator De-
.tIiawatha Addresses we're made oS senA fcng
pew Rear Admiral Stewart and Secretary
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
PERSIA TO SEND MINISTER HERE.

Washington March 16-The State Department
has been informed that the Persian Government
is about to send a Minister to Washington. For
years this post has been vacant the incumbent de-
parting in dudgeon. owing tc the ridicule heaped
on him by the American para grapher. on account
of his queer name-Hadj Hassan G0oL KHAN Win Win
a haif-dozen additional syllabes The DepartInehs
has not been informed in advance OF the ne"
Ster's
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

right to express his sympathy for either Briton
or Boer But the men who. however sincere,
are trying to embroil the United States in
quarrel with Great Britain over the South
African war deserve the severast condemnation
of every patriotic American.
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17
MR.. ROOT STARTS FOR HOME.

Washington March 16.-General Humphrey, the
uuartermaster at Havana reports to the War De
partment that Secretary Root will leave that port
en- the transport Sedgwck tomorrow for Charles,
ton, where he will inspect the newly constructed
fort
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

the two Presidents give some hint OF the rac'
in their letter to Lord Salisbury? The only con-
cessions mentioned by them were to be granted
by Great Britain to the Boer States
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

Major Gardiner need have no fear that his
latest exhibition of himself will make his fellow
citizens think any less Of him than before His
character and attainments already too well
understood.
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

The abolition of the common law marriage"
would be great step in the direction of hon
esty, decency and purity of life. There Is prob
ably other source prolific of blackmail
perjury and general depravement of what
should be the most sacred relations of life as
that. 1t will do no harm to make It little. or
even good deal, harder to get legally married
in this State. Marriage is the most important
contract into which a man can enter and 1t
ought to be attended with at least as much de-
liberation and formality the buying of a pair
of boots
New-York tribune., 1900-03-17

Isn't that promised resignation Of Police Com
missioner York about due? He was going to
resign or close the dives IL he could only find
out about them. Having found out instead Of
proceeding against vice in good faith he allowed
the police to try to make law enforcement
ridiculous by prosecuting respectable hotels
and restaurants.