davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
GENERAL .wooDFoRD's REPLY

Following is the reply of General Stewart F.
Woodford, formerly our minister TO spain, to
the criticisms in the letter. of former senator
Chandler printed in yesterdays Tribune:
~ have no idea that the public will be inter-
ested in this matter of ancient history. If so, the
simple answer is: 1t is true ] never demanded
independence 1t was absolutely impossible TO
do so. 1t would have resulted in my being or
dercd away within twenty.four hours, and have
precipitated the war sooner than it came. l
never had any instruction to demand independ.
encc. The only thing looking to it was sug.
gcston of the president for my own guidance. ]
answered that the independence Of Cuba was
under the Spanish constitution impossible without
prior sanction of the cortes, which was not then
in session and would not meet for a month.
Thereafter my instructions looked to an armis'
tice.
GAS to the purchase, the thing never was in
the remotest way suggested to me by the admin
istration. On my own hook sounded one or two
persons at Madrid, and found that as impraotic.
able as the suggestion of independence. And SO
| never suggested it to the Spanish government.
Meantime l did suggest, having clearly in my
mind the question of independence or OF cession
by sale, armistice during the rainy season, be.
leving that If | could induce Spain to that step,
then influences at work during the following six
months would make the next step possible, to
wit: Either independence or cession to the
United States by sale.
It is much easier three years afterward, and
cooly, looking over the records in comfortable
study to say what might have been done or what
ought to have been done. 1t is mighty easy TO
forget the strain under which the minister of the
United States was devoting himself heart and
soul to what was, as everybody knows, the very
first wish Of the president, and that Was the
avoidance of war and the preservation OF peace"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

IN HERE is no excuse Tor the
eouivocation which has char
Il acterized the course of the
board of fire underwriters
for this district in reference to the
overcharge on premiums. If any men,
Der of that board should, in his indi-
vidual capacity indulge in the false
representation which the board as
whole has practiced upon the city and
citizens of Scranton he would be lucky
to keep out of Jail.
Yet Il fairly announced increase in
fire premiums, based OH the facts and
figures of the situation. could be
strongly defended. 1t is a notorious
fact that fire Insurance has ceased to
be Il profitable business in the United
States. For some reason or reasons,
and nobody seems TO be able to explain
just why, the losses by fire are increas-
ing in faster proportion than popula-
tion and than valuation. In the past
quarter of century the aggregate fire
losses have been nearly equal TO the
national war debt at its highest point.
They amount to more than $500, OO0,-
0O0 The yearly average disbursement
of the fire underwriting companies is
more than II third Of the expense of
the Federal government prior TO the
late war,
AS the former Insurance commits
sioner of Pennsylvania, Colonel James
II. Lambert, points out in AN article in
the PHILADELPHIA Press, fire insurance
in this state is especially Improbable.
For the years 1898, 1899 and 1900 the
gross premiums received in Pennsyl-
vania by the fire insurance companies
doing business in the state We're S34-
371722. OF this amount about $lS,1S1-
254 would be required for expenses of
administration including taxes and all
similar payments demanded by state
laws. There would thus be left SCI ,19O,-
46S fori the payment of losses, But, as
Colonel Lambert shows, during the
three years in question the losses paid
in Pennsylvania by these companies
amounted to s23,626,2S2, showing a net
loss to them of S2,335,S15. During the
same period the premiums collected in
Philadelphia We're s11,i26925 and the
losses paid We're $l2,44S,576- In thirty
years more than ninety fire insurance
companies organized in this state have
retired from business, something hard
ly to be accounted for by any theory
presupposing that fire insurance in
Pennsylvania is profitable under
taking.
These figures abundantly explain
why, among insurance men, there is
an ardent desire to have rates in
creased. This desire is natural and the
public. when thoroughly informed as
to the facts, will not seriously object.
1t wants fire insurance. 1t has to have
it. 1t therefore will pay a fair price
for 1t. But the manly way Is to come
right out and say that rates must be
increased or risks surrendered. The
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
Vaccination Vindicated.

OR A NUMBER of years
X Massachusetts has had a
4 compulsory vaccination law,
Recently the anti-vaccina-
tionsts. dligent in vocal effort If not
formidable in numbers, secured the in
PRODUCTION of u repeal bill and public
hearings have been in progress for
some days, the Boston papers giving
columns of the testimony.
From these reports it is evident that
the "antis' are UP against it. The bur-
den of expert testimony is all one way.
For example, Professor Counselman of
Harvard who has studied Il number
of smallpox epidemics, said he had
never known one death from that dis
cinaton. Representative of each of
the schools of medicine told of their
successful experience with and faith in
vaccination. DR.. AZel Ames of Porto
Rico told how before the American
occupation of that island the annual
death rate from smallpox had been 651
and how since vaccination had been APP
pIeu 10 every lillldDlldHl tue ulSetSe
had disappeared absolutely, not a case
being now known. And finally President
Eliot of Harvard went on record as
follows: 81 object with great earnest
ness to the proposed repeal of the COM
pulsory vaccination law of Massachu-
sets. 1t would be hard to imagine
a more barbarous and merciless pro-
posal." He went on to say that it
had been abundantly proved that no.
body need have smallpox who would
take the trouble to be vaccinated.
Testimony of this character is irres-
istible. 1t leaves no excuse for the eX-
istence in any threatened community
Of an unwillingness to undergo vac
cination in the interest of the public
health. The citizen who will not show
this much consideration for others, if
not for himself, should be taken by
main force and vaccinated or else put
in quarantine.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
NOTES OF GENERAL INTEREST
by WALTER ]. BALLARD.

The American Soldiers Shelter roll of Lonor
consists OF the entire Republican strength OF the
house OF Representatives and the following siy.
teen Democrats: Representatives Cummings ard
Lindsay, OF New York; McRae and MeCullocl,,
Of Arkansas; Taylor, OF Alabama; snook, Nor.
ton ana Gordon, OF ohioi Williams, Kern, Mn.
honN Foster and Crowley, of Illinois; Fox, of
Mississippi, and Zenor and Aliors, Of Indiana
New South Wales was the first settled of the
six states Of Australia now constituting the
commonwealth OF Australia. Its area is $40 zoo
square miles, or lOs 600 acres, of which it Is
estimated 2,96j,Sj0 acres are water and %, ,7OO,-
WO public reserves, mountains and sterile lands
1t would make five states as large as Iowa In
1900, it was estimated that the adult population
numbered 6I0,70O and that only ls0s00 of these
were property holders; also that about one.Lalf
OF the total wealth OF New South Wales was in
the hands OF $3.50 persons.
Mr.. Neil, secretary OF legation at Lima, re-
ports, under date of November ~, 1901, that
protocol has been signed at La Paz, Bolivia for
the purpose OF submitting TO arbitration the
pending questions between Peru and that coun.
try.
The state department is advised through Minis
ter Buck, OF Tokyo, under date Of December IL,
1901, that ON July 20, 1890, the central sanitary
council resolved, not to permit the practice OF
homeopathy in Japan.
Consul Aloulton, of Demelara, reports, Decem.
Der Is, 1901, that he has been advised by tine
consular agent at Cayenne that the rich placer
gold dggings in the Inini river district OF French
Guiana are attracting many prospectOrs to that
locality. During October and November last,
over 1000 pounds OF gold were brought down to
Cayenne, and, according 10 the agent, other
large lots will soon follow, The consul adds
that, in view OF the great number OF foreigners
who may be attracted TO the colony, the govern
ment has passed an ordinance requiring pass.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
sneaky way adopted toward Scranton
would be spurned by a yellow dog.

President Cassatt of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad company spoils one
fruitful topic of newspaper speculation
by denying that that company's ac-
qusition of the Long Island road had in
view the establishing of steamship
line to run from Montauk Point
to Milford Haven. Mr.. Cassatt
first denies that such proposition
was ever considered and then shows
that the alleged saving of time by
such route would be only two
hours as compared with sailing from
the Battery. certainly not enough
to warrant the establishing of new
steamship line. 1T is possible that a
time may come when two hours will
count in such a journey, but that will
hardly be before the age of flying
machines
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

4 NEW mares nest has been dis
~ covered at Washington. Ar
4 u. ticle V of the constitution
says that congress must call
constitutional convention when asked
by two-thirds of the states, the amend
ments adopted to require the ratifica-
ton of three-fourths of the states. Con-
gress can impose no limit on this con-
vention. 1t can rip into shreds the en-
tire fabric of our fundamental law if so
minded and there is nothing but the
common sense of the people to prevent.
Six states--Oregon, Michigan, Mon
tana, Idaho, Nevada and Colorado
have this session filed formal resolutios
asking for u constitutional convention
to provide for the election of United
States senator's by direct vote of the
people. These resolutions are identical
in their wording, thus showing a COM
mon origin, and other resolutions simi-
lar in purport are pending in a num-
Der of state legislatures. From time to
time within the past two decades thirty
states have passed various declara-
tlOllS Oll luc SuDJtCl VI lllt pOpuldI clec-
tion of senator's: and it is now feared
by some of the more conservative pub
lie men at the national capital that the
present concerted movement for a con-
stitutional convention ostensibly for
the purpose of effecting u change in
the method of electing senators really
masks Il covert scheme to work radical
changes in the national charter.
This scare is genuine and deep seat
ed, but it seems to us that it under
estimates the basic good judgment of
the American people. They are not dis
satisfied with their constitution or form
of government. II has stood the test
of time and was never held higher in
the worlds esteem than now TO im-
agine that any slick scheme of dema-
gogues could effect an overturnlng of
any of the fundamental principles OF
this system is to imagine vain things.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07


D not suffered any in the pub
Il lies estimation by his an
pointment Of Ben Daniels as
United States marshal for Arizona.
The outcry against it is largely Phari-
saical. 1t is charged that Ben once
shot Il man. This is true. 1t was a
fair shot in self-defense. and the abil-
ity to shoot does not disqualify u man
from being a Federal marshal in Ari-
zona. 1t is charged that Ben once ran
a gambling joint and vet shuffies the
pasteboards upon occasions. That,
too, seems to be proved upon the face
of the returns. 1t is naughty of Ben
but characteristic of the locality. Let
the senator who has never sat in a lit
tie game himself cast the first stone.
The worst charge against Ben is that
he lied to the president. This is what
is being Investigated. If it proves
true, then Ben will have to go, in
spite of the fact that in the late war
he was one of the bravest and best
members of Roosevelts regiment and
owes his appointment to that fact.
Shooting and gaming are peccadllos
in the western country, especially
among the type of men who amount
to much in the hurly burly. But the
man who would deliberately lie to his
superior officer. when that officer. as
president of the United States. was
trying in the face of conventionality
and small scruples to put gallant
comrade on his feet is not fit for any
office and should be thrown down with
a dull thud.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

OF course there is no truth in the
report that the president talked threat
ways and means committee. 1t is no
part of his duty to give orders to con-
gress. But it is probable that he gave
them some coed advice. That is with
in his province as the head of the
party.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

Queens, princes, dukes and all the
rest of the foreign nobility are welcome
to come TO this country and assured in
advance OF cordial welcome. They
will find much to learn here and the
learning of it will do them good.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

The enthusiastic antis, both in this
country and England, can never be
persuaded to remember that the first
shots were fired by the Filipinos and
by the Rners
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
SCRANTON, FEBRUARY Z, 1902.
REPUBLICAN CITY TICKET.
Controllcr--EVAN r. MORRIS.
Election February 49,

When Senator IIoar has succeeded in
legalizing labor riots he should move
for bounty on other crimes. Let there
be no discrimination.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

ports from such persons before they are per
mtted to land
The University OF Paris has this year among
its 1900 students, foreigners in Protestant
theology, 100 Rumanians, ~ Egyptians, and Iii
other foreigners in law; 81 Turks, 81 Russians
52 Rumanans ~ Central Americans, 20 Greeks
10 Germans, ~ Swiss, 13 South Americans (a
males, in mcdicne ca Russian women. q
Russians, 30 Rumanans 10 Germans, and G
other foreigners, in scicncc o. Germans, 81
Russians, 40 Americans, and 11D other foreigners
in bellies lottres; and 8 Turks and II other for
eigners in pharmacy.
Japan's foreign trade for 1901 shows 2jl,Tj0,00t
yen of exports and 255,5O0OOO yen OF imports
against los, 100000 ven and 2s2jOO,O0o yen re-
speetiyely for the preceding year. The outflow
OF gold was only 100000 yen
"They think too mcanly Of the Fatherland whr
picture its emperor as sending his brother fortl
a.touting for the friendship of any land on
EARTH we Germans said Bismarck, fear God
and no one elsc.' That IL the true German
spirit."--Ncw York Tribune.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

When a Western helfer sells for
$4,000, it begins to look as though the
oleomargarine interests should be given
chance to fight the lacteal monopoly.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

The Ohio supreme court has decreed
that the suicide clause in a life insur-
ance policy does not count. A person
may commit suicide as soon as he sees
fit after securing II policy and his rela-
tiyes may collect. Agents in Ohio here
after will be obliged to exercise great
discretion and avoid loading up ON
oVer-Valued risks.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

A naval parade is good thing oc-
casionally to give the officers who dis
ply modesty during battles chance.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

The Biddles have been buried, but
things will probably continue feverish
in the vicinity of Plttsburg until the
reward money has been distributed.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

The failure of Democrats and antis
to make any efforts in his behalf must
give Aguinaldo that has been" feeling.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

Lord Salisbury believes that in the
matter of the love of Ireland, there's
fly in the ointment"
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

From the difference of opinions ex-
pressed regarding our Malay subjects
in the Philippines II is evident that
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

The testimony of the expert medical
witness appears to have been outdone
by the evidence of those who gather
the blackberry crop in September.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

This is not the first time that con-
gress has baked on a question of plain
duty" But duty always wins on the
final show down.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07

there are several distinct brands Of
patriots residing on the islands.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
Blankets

Our Blankets at regular
prices are the best values on
the market. All are marked
down, and are here at these
figures, Csc. Sl.5O, $3.50,
S3.75, $4.S8, $3.50.
We call special attention to
the $4.SS aud $3.50 Blank
cts being extra size, all wool
and shrunk.
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
The Case of Ben Daniels.

:: = ':::: ::::: ); 9 4: +: ':: G:
poirtD,ent pf Rem Daniels as
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
An Unnecessary Scare.

4 NEW mares nest has been dis
~ covered at Washington. Ar
4 ~ ticle V of the constitution
The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-02-07
The Fire Insurance Problem.

=" HERE is no excuse for the
eouivocation which has char
Il acterized the course of the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
A Forgotten Statesman.

Why is it that Oliver Ellsworth has
received so little attention from biog-
raphers and historians? asks Frank
Gaylord Cook in The Atlantic. He was
not born in Massachusetts or Virginia.
In Connecticut. like Pennsylvania. the
historic field has been meagerly titled.
Moreover. the dramatic and opportune
quality of his work has been perceived
only through the perspective of subse-
quent years. To negotiate an unpop-
ular convention for n party just retir-
ing from Office in defeat and iguominy
is not conducive to immediate fame.
Nevertheless he has not been wholly
overlooked by subsequent statesmen.
Webster said of him: For strength Of
reason, for SaGacity. wisdom and sound
good sense in the conduct of affairs, for
moderation OF temper and general abil-
ity, it may be doubted if New England
has yet produced his superior"
What he said as chief justice of the
United States TO the grand jury at Sa-
vaunah in 1796 was the aim of his life,
$50 let us rear an empire sacred to the
rights of men and commend n govern
ment of reason to the nations of the
earth"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
A Witty RenIx of Pone.

As narrated by Edward Walford in
his Greater London" Frederick,
prince of Wales, sometimes visited Al
eXander Pope at his villa. On one occa-
sion when the prince was on visit
Pope, after expressing the most dutiful
professions of attachment, gave his
royal highness an opportunity of OBJ
serving very shrewdly that his Ghe
poets love for princes was inconsist-
ent with his dislike for kings, since
princes may IN time become kings. Said
his royal highness:
Mr. Pope, hear you don't like
princes"
''Sir, 1 beg your pardon"
'.Well, then, you don't like kings"
'Sir, 1 must own that L like the lion
best before his claws are grown"
No reply could well have been hap
pier.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
A Plant 1000 Years old.

In the town of Hildersheim, Ger
many, is probably the most unique
plant in the world. 1t is a rosebush
1000 year old and sprouts from its
branches have realized fabulous sums.
Some years ago rich Englishman of
fered S250,000 for this entire tree, but
the sum was Indignantly refused. This
wonderful plant clings amid thickly
grown moss against the side of the IA
nous old Church of st. Michael. 1t is
claimed that it has bloomed perennial
Iy since the days of King Alfred. and
this statement has never been disput-
ed, for its record has been as carefully
kept as the pedigree of the bluest
blooded family in the kingdom. 1t
is supposed to have been discovered
by some mysterious means through
the medium of King Louis of Hilder
sheim as far back as 1892.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
The burmese game of chess.

The Burmese game seems to be rath-
er heavy variety of chess, the pecul-
iarity of it being that pawn queens"
when it strikes an imaginary diagonal
line drawn from the players left hand
corner to the right hand corner in front
of him-his opponents left hand cor
ner. The pieces are masSed on the
players right hand. but the three priv
ileged paWns-there are only three
allowed to 'queen'-can only queen"
when the queen has been taken. We
should say here that no piece equiya-
lent to our queen really EXISTS in east
ern chess, the most powerful piece be-
ing equivalent to our rock or castle.
In the Burmese game the privilege CT
translation confers no higher hand on
q piece than that of ''chekoy called
queen in European equivalence by vir-
tue of its being unique-a piece pos
sessing scarcely more power than n
pawn. The usual move of the piece
called queen" in all oriental varie-
ties of chess is one square diagonally
and it is never one of the superior
pieces. Spectator.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
THE BABY GREBE.
A Beautiful Bird That Suffers TO
HOLD the Enshions.


Help the Fashions.
When you see Il woman with band
of white plumaGe almost invisibly
tinted with blue and green and more
strongly with golden brown ornament
ing her hat, know that from one to six
of these harmless. lovable, sweet
voiced little grebes were stripped from
chin TO vent to supply it. And when
you see that other woman wearing 4
cape the collar of which reaches above
her ears and the skirt to her shoulders
and it seems to be made UP of almost
indiscernible sections the size of your
hand know that each section stands
for the life of one of these charming
little chatterers. The breast of the
grebe is its curse. Its feathers are so
tiny and fine as to be almost spineless,
so thickly set they stand on end and
so delicately colored as to render AIDE
quate description impossible. Crested
grebes are killed without mercy for
this little patch of rare fcathering,
and the little marsh ones do not es-
cape There is no bird slaughter for
plumage more wanton unless it be
that of the cgrct. which takes the life
of the brooding bird for few beauti-
full feathers found on the shoulders
only at nesting time and leaves the
young TO die as they may.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-09-27
CnIfirnfe Tact.

The average man who curses his luck
because he wasn't born with money to
take advantage of his opportunities
could get all the money he wants from
people who have it If he had Il small
stock of tact The youth who hasn't
any friends who have faith in him
could have an army of them if there
was in his makeup a small stock of
tact.
Tact has built more bridges and rail-
roads, financed mere banks, created
more public regulations and capped
more achievements than all the ability,
talent and genius in the world. More
subtle than money, it acquires posses
sions at less cost. Surer than brains,
it achieves bigger things with greater
ease-New York Press.