davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
MUNICIPAL GRAFT IN ST. LOUIS.

-
81. Louis Republic: For many years the
boodlers in the house Of delegates have
laughed at all suggestions Of the likelihood
Of their being made to answer for their
crimes. 1t now seems that the peoples
turn to laugh has come-and he laughs best
who laughs last.
st. Louis Globe Democrat: All the hood
lers took an oath never to divulge any facts
connected with their bribery operations and
called upon Almighty God" to witness their
fidelity. After the scoundrels serve their
terms In the penitentiary they should be
taken to an asylum for moral idiots.
Chicago Chronicle: There is reason to
believe that the st. Louis boodlers we're
doing a more lucrative business than some
others Of their kind in other cities. The
statement that the average price OF an al
derman who is disposing Of a franchise
worth a million is 81 $500 may not be far
from the mark, but the small fry probably
get no more than $500 each, while the gen.
tlemen of Influence" get $4,000 or more.
Aldermen come pretty cheap on the whole.
Chicago Inter Ocean: st. Louis is en-
titled to the hearty congratulations Of every
community in this country that is cursed by
a b~oodling combine. The prospect ahead OF
NHN va AoAl ClAg 10 certainly DTlkuIs
1t has seldom fallen to the lot Of an Ameri-
can municipality to be burdened as St.
Louis has been with such a powerful rams
Of constituencies thieves, but, on the other
hand, It has seldom fallen to the lot Of an
American municipality to be presented with
such a splendid opportunity of sending SO
many OF them in a batch to states prison.
Detroit Free Press: There are two things
In connection with the expose that are sur
prising even in these days Of ofHcial
corruption. One is that nineteen delegates,
a large proportion OF whom were rated as
responsible and honorable citizens, should
combine for a purpose that is criminally
fraudulent and should boldly meet In the
city hall to perfect their schemes OF black
mail and robbery. The other is that the
people generally of the afflicted city have
known the character Of the men who were
serving them In public office and the meth
DDS by which they we're enriching them
selves. Tolerance had gone 30 far that
the boodlers felt comparatively safe and
made little effort to conceal their doings.
Another effect OF popular Indifference was
to produce moral stupefaction on the part
Of the offenders. The fact that they were
doing wrong ceased to impress them. They
sold what they had pledged to the people
and did not regard 1t as a crime. This is
positively startling. and yet 1t is the danger
threatening every large city in the coun-
try. The people have been hammered and
looted so long that they promise to grow
complacent under the treatment.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
Personal NOTES.

II Boris, the Russian, doesn't watch out,
the w. C. T. u. will catch him.
Now that Colonel Watterson has de-
moltshed Newport society he ought to turn
his rapid-hre vocabulary on the strikes.
Secretary Wilson says he has not been
rendered the presidency Of the Iowa Agri-
cultural college and would not accept 1t II
he was 80 honored.
Samuel Hawkins Napier, who has Just
been buried in Upper Ottawa, was the dis
coverer Of the largest nugget of pure gold
which the world has ever known.
william H. Moody, secretary Of the navy.
acted as umpire in a base ball game played
at Haverhill, Mass, several days ago be-
tween the lawyers and city ofhcials Of that
city.
sixkiller. the aged ex-chief Of the Chero-
KEGS, has Just died at his home In the
! spavinaw Hills, Indian Territory. His
death witnesses the passing OF one Of the
most picturesque figures Of the southwest.
Robert l. Athens design has been ac-
cepted by the Mckinley Memorial Monu-
ment committee OF San Francisco. On the
monument is a colossal figure of the re-
public, with a bust OF Mckinley in bas
relief OF stone.
Mrs. Carrie NaIlOn 10 peIhmpuldbluB
about the east, and receives so little at
tention that she might as we'll have been
a defeated vice presidential candidate Of
some distant campaign. She 10 seeking
money for her home for the wives OF
druukards in Kansas City. Her Ratchet
has been replaced altogether by her elocu-
ton; she smashes nc more and merely
talks.
The FIRE department at Larchmont, New
York's swell suburb, had its annual turn
out a few days ago. most Of It's million
aire members being present in uniform.
And they are not an lot,
either. Everyone Of them almost is an en-
thusiastio and well drilled fireman and z
brave show they made on parade, with
their white duck trousers. red shirts and
red helmets topped with small lanterns.
Agent Craig, who was killed in the Pitts
held accident, once gave fencing lessons
in Chicopee, according to the Springfield
! Republican, and exhibited a sword OF
scimeter shape that he took from a dervish
in the soudan. II was an excellent weapon
and he had supposed 1t Of true Oriental
make. The name "Chicopee" on the blade
was Oriental for anything he knew. He
learned the facts. OF course, when he came
to Chicepee. The sword was one Of the lot
the Ames people had made for the Turkish
government sixty years ago.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
Recalling an old Aneodote.
Boston Herald.

The resolution 1ust passed by a populist
convention out west that reads, "While
the republican party does something and
raises HI. the democratic party raises
hi and does nothing" recalls a veritsble
anecdote Of the earlier days Of politics
A whig and a democrat were disputing. and
the whig challenged the democrat to show
what the democrats as. a party had ever
done. "Done!" says the democrat-"Done!"
we have done everything. We have killed
the United States bank, passed the sub
treasury bill, enacted the tariff of 1876
and We have-we have here the demo-
crat stopped and suffered to think OF
something else, and finally wound up by
saying, We've raised hi generally" The
whig agreed that he was right in the latter
statement.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12

the revolutionists, but this is a danger
to be apprehended. The revolution
airy party in Colombia has been reported
to be rather adverse to the United States
in regard to the canal and as 1t is max.
ing a pretty formidable contest against
the government, with more than a pos.
sibillty of being ultimately successful, il
may prove a serious obstacle to canal
negotiations. Meanwhile our govern.
ment is taking all necessary precautions
to protect American interests at Panama
and to fulfil its treaty obligations.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
BOBBY sHAFTOE.

Esmeralda Boyle in United States Magazine.
In days Of yore, in Baby lore
CThe lore OF A, b.. CO
Across the boundless sea.
His love was true. His eyes were blua
LAX gold that's finely spun,
Beneath his brave tarpaulin shone
His bright locks In the sun.
He sailed away one summer day;
His heart was light and free.
He wore a Beaman's blouse, tbs said,
And buckles at the knee.
The waters laughed about the craft
That bore this sailor lad,
AND ran and danced, and upward spranR.
As though they might be glad.
They leaped in sport toward the mort
Whereat he stood full fair
Then, fastening 70 the sandy shore
They kissed two white feet there.
With appraised hand, feet In the sand
With krtle red and white,
Blythe Bobby Shaftoe's sWeethaarf stooA
And watched him sail from sight. ~
Yet never more. in early IRE.
Find W. that Sailor Boy;
Nor know we aught OF What he did
His sorrow or his joy.
His ship. one day. sailed far away
At striking of some bells.
A girl believed he would return
This only history tella-
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
uNIoN on rHE sncrIoNs.
Manifestation of Popuisr Sentiment
ON P~resident's southern Trip.
Kansas CITY Star dnd.)

Kansas Cit Star dnd)
The large gatherings and marked en-
thusiasm that have characterized Presi-
dent Roosevelt's tour through West Vir-
gina, Kentucky, Tennessee and North
Carolina are new and gratifying evidences
OF the patriotic union Of the United states,
It was not essential for the president 20
make this visit TO the southern states in
order to demonstrate popular feeling
toward him in that section. His former
visit, when he went to South Carolina in
connection with the opening of the Charles
ton exposition served the purpose at an
earlier date and at a time when there
was an attempt to set sectional feeling
against him because Of his attitude toward
the obstreperous and dlsorderly Senator
Tillman. That visit was replete with evil
dences Of patriotism and admiration and
the present tour has been attended with
every kind Of recognition that could be
desired.
1t is trite and often out OF place to
reiterate the oneness Of the union. but II
Is still appropriate to omment on the fact
that while the presidents for many years
have been chosen from the north, the south
has been conspicuously loyal, generous and
hospitable toward the chief magistrates who
have visited that section. Even now, when
there is a good deal Of agitation as to the
advissbility OF selecting the next democratic
nominee for the presidency from among the
southern statesmen. the idea has more en-
coursgement in the north than II has re-
ceived in the south. The desire to have
the southern states participate more largely
in national affairs is very general. The
progress Of the south In all directions. es-
~pecially along Industrial lines, is welcomed
everywhere as a sign OF the equable broad
ening and solidifying of the nation.
President Roosevelt's addresses have been
instinct with the strong regard he has al
ways evinced for the spirit Of national
ism and such references as he has made
to sections have been in good taste and
helpful to the happy current Of feeling.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
rBEsITUATIUk AT PANAMA.

Our government has an interest in the
situation on the Isthmus OF Panama,
where the revolutionists appear TO be
practically in control. that does not
grow entirely u OF relations to the
canal. 1t has a treaty obligation that
requires 1t to prevent the isthmus being
closed to traffic. AS matters now look
this may necessltate very vigorous ac-
ton regarding the revolutionists, but
only so far as their course In regard to
the traffic on the isthmus is concerned;
that is to say, there will be no inter
ference with their operations against
the Colombian government that do not
interrupt the freedom OF commerce.
The state OF affairs is regarded at
Washington as sufficiently serious TO
warrant the sending of additional war
ships to Panama and Colon and orders
to this effect have already been made
by the Navy department. II does not
appear from the dispatches hat Amer
lean interests are being threatened by
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
A STRONG FINANCIAL POSITION.

For the last few years, under repub-
lican administration Of the government,
the country has become so familiar with
large treasury balances that little at
tention is given to the regular reports
of the condition Of the financial depart
very few persons outside of banking
circles gave even passing notice to the
statement given out a few days ago
showing the amount of gold in the Ia
tional treasury. There was at the close
of last week $573, 936, 1874. exceeding
that Of any previous time In the history
of the country and, with n possible
exception, exceeding the gold holdings
of any country at any time in the history
of the world. The single reported -ex-
ception is that of Russia about eight
years ago, when that country was pre-
pairing to resume specie payments and
is said to have accumulated $59S, 600, 900
in gold.
The stock of gold in the treasury is
being added to at the rate of from $780,
OOO to 100000 a day, with no imme-
diate prospect Of a cessation In the rate
Of deposits. This condition is said to
be eminently satisfactory to the treas
ury officials, who regard 1t as the best
possible evidence of prosperity and of
confidence in the financial stability of
the country. That is the rational view
to take of 1t. In the last few years
we have been selling so largely to the
rest of the world that gold has been
coming in large volume to the United
States. 1t is necessary only to point to
the enormous trade balance during the
last i've years in order to explain why
our stock OF gold is so great and is
still growing. There was a different
state OF affairs under the last demo
cratic administration, when bonds were
sold to get gold into the treasury. The
situation is Il that should command
the attention of every citizen and sug-
gest the wisdom of avoiding policies
that would produce a change.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
THERE ARE OTHERS.
Less Than Half the steel Output Con-
trOlled by the Trust.

Buffalo Express.
So much has been said by the so-called
trust hunters about the United States
Steel corporation and it's alleged control
OF the iron and steel business In this coun-
try that some figures on this point fur
nished in the latest bulletin Of the Ameri-
can Iron and Steel association possess
unusual interest. No one who has at all
studied the industry in the United States
has taken any stock in the severe criticism
of this great organization, for It has been
strong from the time the combine was
formed and has been growing ever since.
When the trust was incorporated It
was generally believed that the constituent
companies controlled about so per cent
Of the American output. Later reports
placed the percentage much lower. The
bulletin which has just been issued gives
rates on the various products. or a total
production of %, Ss7 ,479 tons Of ore in 1901
the United States Steel corporation con-
trolled 1879 per cent. while the plants in
the trust produced $500 1888 tons Of pig iron.
or AZ per cent of the total. The trust out
put Of Bessemer and open hearth steel in
gots and castings was $500. 5S4 tons, which
was $50 per cent of the production in 1901.
OF a total Of 12,349, 1927 tons, of rolled
product, the Steel trust manufactured SOL
per cent. while 1t manufactured 65.s per
cent OF the wire nails. .t.
1t is thus apparent that the United
States Steel corporation is much less
formidable than some Of it's critics would
have the public believe. It is true that the
iron and steel business is more active than
at any former time in the history Of the
country and that the real test Of strength
between the big corporation and the indie
pendent organizations cannot be felt until
a period Of depression sets in, But is 1t
not reasonable to expect that the outside
companies, with their more modern plants,
will be thoroughly able to hold their own
in competition with the United States
Steel corporation If it is ever necessary to
start a fierce hght2 1t is worth bearing
in mind that the Steel trust is doing all it
can through holding down prices to prevent
such a struggle.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
HOW II WOULD OPERATE.

1t cannot be too often pointed out that
the individual manufacturers of the
country, who compete with the com
binations, would in all probability suffer
very much more than the trusts II the
proposed policy of taking the tariff du-
ties off trust-made goods should be put
into effect. A paper that has strongly
urged trust regulation and supervision
and is not favorable to high protection,
the New York Journal of Commerce,
points out that the protective system
is not the only, or the necessary, cause
of industrial combinations and at
tempted ~monopolies. Furthermore, 1T
says, every article that is produced by a
trust is also produced by outside par
ties, some of them Of comparatively
small capital, and it is impracticable to
remove protection from the combinations
1t is desired to regulate without remov-
ing 1t from their Independent COM
petitors. Besides" adds that paper,
price is not the only element involved
in the trust question, but it is the only
point at which a reduction of duties
would touch 1t. The revision of the
tariff, whenever it comes, must be to
relieve our own customers and to open
the way for a larger export trade, but
not to punish trusts"
The Boston Transcript remarks that
the proposed easy way" of reducing or
abolishing the tariff on trust-made goods
would land us in the quagmire of
deeper business depression than that
from which we emerged five years ago.
THE trusts by no means make all the
goods made In their line. The indi-
vidual manufacturer would be the first
to feel the blow. The trust, with its
greater organization and capital, would
have more time to protect itself, but
even If 1t were ultimately 'downed' it
would pull down the business of the
country with it in its fall. To demolish
the tariff protection utterly would be to
throw our markets wide open to the
manufacturers of Europe, to pay what
prices they should see fit to dictate;
that is, assuming that the business de-
preston left us with enough money to
buy on any other scale han from hand
to mouth"
The individual manufacturers are
numerous. They are doing business in
most of the states, have in the aggregate
hundreds of millions of capital invested
and employ an army Of labor. They
constitute a most important part Of our
industrial system and contribute very
largely to the general prosperity. These
individual manufacturers are entitled to
consideration. The country cannot af-
ford to adopt a policy hat would
seriously injure and possibly ruin the
enterprises they represent. 1t cannot
afford to take a course that would re-
suit in throwing hundreds of thousands
of workingmen ou of employment, de-
moralizing the business of the country
and checking prosperity. The important
point to be kept in mind is that while
the individual manufacturers could not
survive the removal of protection, hav-
ing to contend against the competition
of the home combinations and foreign
manufacturers, that policy would not
necessarily destroy the trusts and prob
ably would increase their opportunity
for creating ~monopolies.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
STRANGE CAREER OF ROACH.
Passing of q Former United States
Senator from North Dakota.

senator from North DRkotR.
Buffalo Express.
William N. Roach, former United States
senator from North Dakota, died In New
York on Sunday. Roach had one OF the
most remarkable careers OF any man who
ever inquired in American public life. He
was born In Virginia in 1910 and began his
business life in Washington, first as an en-
ploye Of the government and later as
cashier Of the Citizens National bank. In
1879 Roach suddenly left Washington under
a cloud. II was alleged that he had been
using the funds Of the bank for his own
purposes and that the shortage amounted
to $64, 900. For some reason no attempt was
made to follow and arrest him. He disap-
peared from sight and was forgotten.
Much to the amazement Of the people of
Washington who remembered him, he re-
turned to the capital in 1898 an accredited
United States senator, having been elected
as a democrat after a prolonged deadlock.
II was learned that for the preceding twelve
years he had been one of the most emil
nently respectable and highly esteemed
citizens OF North Dakota; that he had &C
cumulated there a comfortable property and
that he had been a candidate on the demo-
cratic ticket for congress and twice for
governor without a suspicion having been
entertained by the men who trusted him
that his record was anything but clear.
There was a nine-day session over the
revelations. Senator Hoar proposed ap in
vestigation with a view to the expulsion Of
Roach from the senate. Roach saIu he
would welcome investigation and some OF
his friends alleged hat there were other
men in the senate whose early careers
would not bear the light any better than
Roach's. Perhaps because OF this the mat
ter was allowed to drop and Roach served
out his term. He headed a Bryan dele
CATION from North Dakota to the demo-
cratic national convention of 1896 and after
the expiration Of his term he engaged in
business in New York.
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
AN EBB IN PENSIONS.
Footprints of Time Visible on the
Roll of Honor.
New York tribune

New York Tribune.
Abundant evidence can b. found In the re-
port of the auditor for the Interior depart
ment, issued a few days ago, to sustain the
contention that the nations expenditures for
pensions are certain to show from now on a
more and more material shrinkage. So
much loose talk is afloat about high water
marks" in the pension list and high tides
in pension payments that the real ebb to-
ward a more moderate average OF disburse-
ments is too commonly lost sight OF. Great
stress was laid this year by critics who
chronically assail the open-handed liberality
Of our pension system on the fact that the
total number OF pensioners on the rolls had
mounted a little nearer than ever to the
million mark. On July 1, according to the
calculations Of the commissioner OF PEN
sions, there we're 999 ,446 names in all on the
| agency lists. But little or no attention was
given to the fact that for four years past, in
spite OF the adjudication Of between 200, 900
and 800, 900 new claims, there has been prac-
tically no expansion whatever OF the pen
sion roll. OF July l, 1901, the number of
persons entitled to draw pensions was 997,-
1885; on July l, 1900, It was 1893 ,525. Nine
years ago, long before the rush OF applica-
tions under the dependent pension act OF
1899 had spent itself, the total was $50, 012.
The slight increases made since 1897 have
plainly testified, in fact, to the gradual ex-
haustion Of the extraordinary pressure for
enrolment created by that most lavish and
a l-embracing statute. 1t would not be sur
prising II. with a continuance of the
bureaus present policy Of pushing the ad-
justment OF outstanding claims. the pension
list should next year pass the million mark.
But indications point decidedly to a reaction
thereafter-a drop which will carry the total
gradually back TO where II stood some ten or
even fifteen years ago.
In reality, although the pension list grew
a little in the last twelvemonth, disburse-
ments through the agencies actually de-
creased. The auditor for the Interior de-
partment reports that the sum actually
spent for pensions was 31S7, 400, TAI. This Is
: million less than the total for 19O0-'O1 and
is the smallest amount disbursed in any year
since 1892. Five years ago, when but 1893,
ia names we're on the rolls. the payments
made aggregated S144 800, 900. In 1928.
when there were but 966 ,O12 pensioners, the
sum paid out reached the record-breaking
figure Of $3.50, 500. 537. In ten years, there
fore, the annual pension charge has fallen
over sl9, OOO, 900, and II is fair to presume
that the influences which have contributed
to this decline will continue to operate dur
! ing the next decade
Omaha daily bee., 1902-09-12
Gold in the Treasury.

St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
The breaking OF a record in the gold hold
ings of the treasury does not attract the
attention today which it would have done a
few years ago, when the government was
selling Understanding bonds to get gold
enough to. protect It's greenback redemption
fund. The treasury's gold stock now is
1914, 900, 900, which is by far the largest sum
held in the depository OF any government
in the world. OF course, a large part of
this is trust gold, held by the government
for the redemption Of notes outstanding.
The existence of this vast hoard Of gold,
however, steadies the country's currency
and gives It a strength not equaled by that
of any other government in the world. In
the country at large the gold stock must
be in the n~eighborhod of 81, 100, oO0, 900 now.
1t has been above the 1000, 900, 900 mark
for a year or more. The country which
comes nearest to his total is France, with
$500. 900. 900,