davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1902-08-15
The following is a stenographic report of
Hamlin's address:

I want to say something about the need for the
present day of what might be called a Christian
Agnosticism, and you VIII the words upon
which the thought is based the first letter to
the Corinthians. the thirteenth chapter and in the
ninth verse and again in the twelfth This
Is in the midst of St Pauls rhapsody of love the
greatest love poem that the world has ever 4.nOwn.
In the ninth verse he says, We know in part
and in the twelfth verse ne says again. Il know
in part should read :he entire paragraph, il
the time allowed in order TO get the thought into
the mind, but you will so easily recall all the
words that IL will not be necessary TO read it.
You see there are TWO distinct affrmations: We
know and we know in part Against both Of
these affrma tions objection is raised. The agnos
tic says. We don't know; can't know;
only guess: surmisa: hope; believe; and belief
seems to me an irrational thing This is no
fancy picture. this is what all who deal with
thoughtful and women constantly meet
ing 1t is of the prime difficulties OF the CHRIS
tan minister O-day. far my experience
might be regarded typical of the experience of
others that men stand in that attitude and
proudly. not gladly. but with sorrow. We do
not know: cannot know
New-York tribune., 1902-08-15
CHRISTIAN AGNOSTICISM.
DIR. HAMLIN, OF WASHINGTON. SPEAKS
AT THE NORTHFIELD CONFERENCE
MR.. MORGAN ON AMOS.
IRY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. ]

East Mortified Mass, Aug. H.-When President
Roosevelt comes to Mortified on Labor Day he
will find that his example of telling trees is being
followed by clergymen and business men alike who
have purchased land upon which build houses
the seminary grounds. This afternoon any
merchant was seen with off. trimming trees
and pling underbrush his kenjockety lot Of
the forty lots in this tract mentioned in The Trib-
une two or three days ago. only two remain uusold
and those among the most desirable from point
of location the tract.
Among the new purchasers is Zophar Mills, Of
NewYork. Houses are being built rapidly the
carpenter work be done. Already there is talk
of clubhouse dining hall, the co-opera-
tive plan to relieve the forty housewives from the
toilsome part of housekeeping. travelling library
and penny provident fund will be added later.
New-York tribune., 1902-08-15

This has been a perfect day. and of the best.
from spiritual point of view. since the confer
ence began. Between the meetings many people
have been riding could find livery teams avail
able. 1t would be difficult to a with
more charming drives than centre about Northield
While it is true that there not many hours in
the day when there is meeting of some kind
in progress il is also true that few people try to
attend even half of them. At Mr.. Moody's sugges-
ton, they select those whose leaders appeal most
strongly to them. Mr. Morgan and Mr.. Meyer and
Professor Towner and Mr. Baer each has dis
tinctive audience 1t is true that the majority OF
the people attend two more of the meetings but
the audiences shift and another speaker
comes to the platform.
Quite apart from the ordinary Mortified address
was one given this morning by the Rev. DR..
Teunis S. Hamlin. OF Washington. who presented
The Need of a Christian Agnostcism." 1t a
model address. occupying exactly eighteen minutes
in its delivery and touching responsive chord as
the speaker deprecated dogmatism in Christianity
and pleaded for the absence of extravag gance on
the part OF Christians in referring to their ex-
perience
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15

The largest and richest deposit of an
timony ever found in California was
struck recently 112 miles north of Rands-
burg in the Mojave desert. The ledge is
twelve feet wide and assays 40 per cent
pure aptimony.
Another oil district has been discov-
cred in Teton county in the northern part
of Montana. Fifty-seven claims have
been located ON the American side and
are in direct line with the well recent
ly sunk by the Canadian Oil Company,
vp. which a strike of several barrels
8 q was recently made.
After the dissipation OF many for
tunes and many years or vain attempts
a gold dredge has been constructed by a
New Zealand dredge master named
Satchell Clark that is saving the gold
in paying quantities from the bed of the
Fraser river, British Columbia, at the
rate of an ounce an hour.
One of the remarkable gravel mines
in California is the Dondoro. near Yam
kee Hill in Tuolomne county. For sew
eral years it paid big dividends, but il
seemed nearly worked out early last
year. Then suddenly a body of very
rich gravel was struck considerably low
er than the old ledge. This gravel has
been worked for several months and the
yield is very large, as gold can be seen
scattered all through the gravel.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
THE FINAL LETTERS.

BY letter from Wellsboro, Pa, under
date of June IL, H. G. Kress forwards
to Mr.. Payne a letter received by him
from La Toilette, in which was inclosed
copy of the interview printed in the
Sentinel. This action of La Toilette
has tendency to show that the inter-
view i'll question was not printed solely
for the benefit of the reading public, but
directly from the nature of the corre
spondence now printed for the first time.
Mr.. Payne's refusal to desert Senator
Spooner was doubtless the moving cause
that produced the interview. Both the
Kress and La Toilette letters follow,
the interview mentioned having been
quoted above in its regular order:
'Wellsboro, Pa, June IL, 1900.
Dear Mr.. Payne: i have received the
Enclosed from La Toilette in reply to my
inquiry about his intentions respecting
the future of Senator Spooner. My let
ter went to him sometime before the in
closed interview was printed. He writes
me tina. the inclosed was an answer to
the question in my letter.
Il go home tomorrow. From what
can learn, La Toilette is going to get
close to that nomination, if he don't get
IT. II he does get it, our work along
the line chosen will prepare the way for
closer relations than would otherwise have
been possible. l will try and see you
when you return to Wisconsin. / think
we have closed matters so that, if you
are chosen chairman of the national COM
mittee there will be no objections at
home, nor will any of the old matters
be opened.
With kind regards, l am, yours sin
cerely, H. G. KRESS."
The letter transmitted with the inter
view follows:
Law Offices of Robert NJ. La Toilette,
''Fairchild Block, Madison, Wis.
"H. G. Kress, Esq, Wellsboro, Pa
Dear Mr.. Kress: L received your
very kind favor, and am writing to
Pennsylvania, as suggested. Was very
sorry indeed not TO have met you before
leaving Manitowoc, as stated in my note,
but it was absolutely necessary for me
to take an earlier train. | hope when
you return that we will be more fortu-
nate. With references to the latter part
of your letter | inclose herewith an in
terview which / think will answer ques-
tons fully. You will be gratified to
know that the situation throughout the
state is improving daily. This time we
are going to win, and win easily. | sim
cerely hope / can count upon Manito-
voc county. Very truly yours,
''R. NJ. LA TOILETTE.
"June 6, 1900"
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
A WORD TO REPUBLICANS.

After reading this correspondence, if
that Gov. La Toilette was prepared and
anxious to make terms with the so-called
machine in 1900 it is because they are
wilfully blinded by prejudice or natural
tendency to "hero worship" He was
then, as he always has been and still is,
ready to make any sort of bargain that
would advance his own interests and po-
litical fortunes. He did not hesitate to
ask Mr.. Payne to ignore the ties of a
friendship that had existed for years and
to take course which he knew Mr.
Payne regarded as opposed to the inter
ests OF the Republican party and the
welfare of the state. Had he been in
the place Of Payne he would not have
thought twice before leaving Senator
Spooner to take care of himself and he
did not see why Mr.. Payne should not
be equally willing to ignore the interests
of the party and the ties of friendship.
In adding this chapter to the printed
political history of Wisconsin the Senti-
mel feels that it is doing a public service.
The letters speak for themselves, and
the connecting links supplied are as
plainly and briefly stated as is possible.
The story is so simple that it tells itself
and the points are so clear that they
cannot be misunderstood.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
THE SENTINEL INTERVIEW.

The decision of Mr. Payne that he
would refuse to consider the proposition
made by Murphy in the interests of La
Toilette, so far as the senatorial success
sion was concerned. resulted in action
by La Toilette himself, his manifest
object being to remove Mr.. Payne's OBJ
lection to coalition of the contend
ing forces. On May 81 there appeared
in The Sentinel an interview prepared
by the governor and printed with his
full authority, in which he makes the
following statement:
II. l became a candidate for the
nomination because L believed i TO be
the wish of majority of the Republi'
cans of the state that l should do 50.
The canvass has progressed far enough
to greatly strengthen that belief.
~. AS such candidate. il nominated
and elected, shall not be candidate
for United States senator at the close
of the term, but instead will endeayor
TO make such Il record for the party
and myself as to insure denomination
and a reelection. Any other purpose
or design would not be keeping faith
with those who support me at this time
for the Office for which | have publicly
announced myself candidate.
80. l have made and will make no
promise to support any man for United
States senator or to use the influence
of the executive office to promote the
ambitions OF any individual in that be-
half in order to secure support or to
avoid opposition to my candidacy now.
Four years ago | was assured that
could be nominated and elected governor
of this state if | would make such a
bargain. At that time, also. l declined"
The balance of the interview is de-
voted to an attempt to justify his course
during previous years, to deprecating ma
chine politics in a somewhat mild for
hIm-manner, in disclaiming responsible
ity for the assaults made in 1898 upon
Governor Scoheld and in promising to
be good governor If nominated and
elected.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
SCORE DUPLlCiTY OF
LA Toilette.
Republicans of the State De.
nOunce Treachery in the
Attempted Deal.
HIS SUPPORTERS DAZED.
(Milwaukee Sentinel. May sth.)

The letters of H. G. Kress, Robert M.
La Toilette and Henry c. Payne pub
lished in Wednesdays issue of the Sem
tinel, showing the attempt made to Sc
cure the machine" support for La Fol-
lette i'll his candidacy for governor, fur
nished a subject for general discussion
in political circles in Milwaukee and
throughout the state yesterday. To many
who take more than passing interest
in politics the publication of the letters
was no surprise, for the existence of the
letters was known. Their publication
furnished unmistakable evidence, how
ever, that the rumors for so long current
were based upon facts.
The exposure Of La Follette's double
record was received with varying emo
lions by those who style themselves Re-
publicans. To those who did not know
of the correspondence carried on by La
Toilette to secure combination with the
forces he had bitterly fought, the dis
closure came as sudden surprise. To
the sincere La Toilette followers it was
a decided shock. That their idol had
been irreparably shattered many of them
admitted with sorrow. Others in charity
withheld judgment until the governor
had had chance to explain, but an ex-
PLANTATION was demanded before the gov
ernor could be restored to their conf
dence. There was little attempt in any
quarter to conceal the chagrin felt by
the men who had been deceived, though
few of the most faithful henchmen of
the administration affected to be uncon-
WINGED.
But whatever the feelings with which
the disclosures were Observation-Disclosures
those of humiliation, or surprise, or re-
sentiment, or, as in the case of a large
number of old-time Republicans, the fact
of the governors treachery came upon
them like the fulfllment of a prophecy
there was one point on which nearly all
agreed yesterday. That was that case
of absolute duplicity and treachery had
been proved This morning the Senti-
mel publishes the views of scores of rep
resentatiye Republicans from every sec
ton of Wisconsin, gathered by its CORE
spondents without reference to fractional
distinctions, and from every quarter come
words of denunciation of the political
hypocrisy which has been practiced by
one who makes such great pretensions of
reform"
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
THE APPOINTMENT IS MADE.

On May 10 Mr.. Kress announces by
letter that he has again succeeded in get
ting into communication with Mr.. La
Toilette, and that an appointment has
been made for a meeting between him
self and representative of the latter
His letter follows:
"Manitowoc, Wis. May 10, 1900.
Hon. II. g. Payne, Milwaukee, Wis.
My Dear Mr.. Payne: | received
telephone message this afternoon from
the gentleman about whom we have been
writing, and an appointment has been
made FOR me to meet representative of
his tomorrow just before noon. | wish
you would arrange il so as to be in your
office after o'clock p IN. | do not know
who is to meet me, as conversations over
telephones are such as need be carried
on with some care. Everything promises
good results, and am very glad that the
end of the trouble which started years
ago is in sight. Your friend,
III. G. KRESS."
In order that the next letter in the
series may be fully understood it is nee
essary to explain that on the day APP
pointed, May IL, Mr.. Kress appeared at
the Office of Mr.. Payne in company with
j. {. Murphy, the gentleman who is now
the private secretary of the governor
who proved to be the representative APP
pointed TO look after the interests of La
Toilette in the negotiations for harmony
then supposed to be in progress. At that
meeting Mr. Payne at first refused to en-
ter into any negotiations with Mr.. Muir
ply personally for reasons that appeared
to him to be sufficient, but he finally de-
termined that he would consider with
out prejudice propositions submitted,
provided they be put in writing. The
following letter is the result of that con-
ference:
"Manitowoc, Wis, May II, 1900.
Hon. ii. e. Payne, Milwaukee, Wis.
Dear Mr.. Payne: After leaving you
last night l agreed with Murphy to pro-
pose to you the following:
"First-That there is no opposition so
far as La Toilette is concerned to you
as chairman of or as a member of the
national committee.
"Second-That neither you nor Pfster
would work against La Toilette for gov
ernor IL he decided TO be candidate.
Third-Both sides to keep hands off
the next senatorial tight-that is, in this
campaign.
"Fourth-That interests be mutuaized
as time advances.
win you kindly let me know if these
suit your approval? Yours very respect
fully, III. G. KRESS."
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
PAYNE STANDS BY SPOONER

Not receiving a reply to the PROPOSE
tons submitted on May II, Mr.. Kress
again wrote to Mr.. Payne ON May 10,
asking what he purposed doing in the
matter under discussion aud stating that,
in his opinion, La Toilette would be
much more conciliatory" than Murphy
had proved to be. To this Mr.. Payne
replied, under date of May 20, to the eff
feet that, while he was willing to do "al-
most anything consistent with my duty
to my friends and to the party to ac-
complish harmony" his associations with
aud friendship for Senator Spooner were
such that he could not accept the propo-
sitions contained in the letter of May ~.
The two letters follow:
"Manitowoc, Wis. May 10, 1900.
Hon. III. Z. Payne, Milwaukee, Wis:
Dear Mr.. Payne: | have tried to get
you by telephone once or twice, but each
wish to 80 any further in the matter
about which we discussed last Friday,
or do you desire 10 let il drop? l am of
the opinion that La Toilette would be
much more concihatory than his repre-
sentative. 1t was certainly very kind in
you to receive MIR. Murphy. Ii you viii
state anything, covering Whist you are
willing TO do, or willing to have done.
will see that Ii reaches headquarters, and
that it is sacredly held from further
knowledge; or 4 you say stop, | will GER
tainly be guided by your wishes. | am
under more obligations TO you than to the
Others, and don't forget kindness. |
would like TO see settlement reached,
because | believe il would stop the fight
against you. end that when once together
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15

your future would be what we would
like to see it develop. [ wish you would
tell me frankly what you wish and |
will endeavor to fulfill your wishes. l
mean, of course, SO far as / am able to
act and do. Yours very respectfully,
III. G. KRESS."
Mr.. Payne's reply follows:
''MilwauKee, Wis, May 20, 1900.
III. G. Kress, Esq, Manitowoc. Wis.
my Dear Mr.. Kress: | find yours of
the 18th on my return, and also this
morning have received yours of the 10Th.
Your last letter makes II unnecessary for
me to answer yours of the 1Zth further
than to say that my going back on the
national committee is not of my own Volt
ton or seeking, but il do so it will be
as result OF pressure brought to bear
upon me by parties high in official life
whose wishes | have not felt at liberty
to disregard, and that to devote the
time and labor incident to the coming
campaign which l am sure l will be
called upon to do is a serious thing for
me to undertake.
Further, / am a lifelong friend of
Senator Spooner; in fact, L think he is
my most intimate friend from any point
of view, and | could not, under any cir
cumstances, put myself in the position.
SO far as it relates to him, that is sug-
gested in yours of the 18th.
Replying to your letter Of the 18th:
No one is more anxious than l am 20
have the present canvass for the NOM
nation of our candidate for governor
conducted in such way as to leave no
scars and to relieve the party from fac
tional fights which have prevailed for
the last few years. | am not candi-
date for any office, either in the gift of
the people or the President, and never
- %. h xrr,lt inc 20 n
almost anything consistent with my duty
to my friends and to the party to ac-
complish harmony. If meeting Mr.. La
Toilette and discussing the situation with
him would conserve that end, L should
be happy to do so.
II expect to go East and attend
meeting of the subcommittee on arrange
ments of the Philadelphia convention On
Thursday of this week, and shall be alb
sent about ten days. Then ! shall retW N
to Milwaukee, remaining probably about
one week, and after that return to Phi!a-
delphia to remain until after the national
convention has been held If am elect
ed on the national committee and take up
the work in connection with the national
campaign, | am not likely to be in Mil
waukee very much until after the cleo
ton in November. Very truly yours:
III. G. PAYNE"
fully avoided committing himself. What
ever part he had taken in the matter had
been by telephone or by a representative.
On May %, however, while passing
through Manitowoc, he wrote letter to
Mr.. Kress in which he gives to ]. G.
Murphy credentials that establish be-
yond question his own relations to the
negotiations and his responsibility for
the propositions submitted to Mr.. Payne
by Murphy. The plot thickens. The let
ter referred to is as follows:
THE Williams,
Sc. A. Alexander, Manager.
''Manitowoc, Wis, May %, 1900.
Dear Mr.. Kress: l find that in order
to reach Wausau as planned, must
take a 6:20 train. Expected to see you,
but only to say that should you go fur
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
'The Williams,
Sc. A. Alexander, Manager.

''Manitowoc, Wis, May %, 1900.
Dear Mr.. Kress: l find that in order
to reach Wausau as planned, | must
take a 6:20 train. Expected to see you.
but only to say that should you go fur
Their with the matters which you have
written me about, it would necessarily
be with my friend whom you have met.
He understands my position and can
speak for me insofar as there is any
thing to say in regard to the proposals
which you have made.
Sorry not to have met you in social
way after the lecture, with other Re
publicans. Sincerely yours,
(SigneO "R. NJ. La FOLLETI e.
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15

Toilette is away from Madison. / wrote
him and this morning tried to reach him
by telephone, but it was said he was
out of the city and would be gone two
days. VIII you kindly let me know if
any of his people have approached you
about this matter. / trust La Toilette,
but | always like to know fellows are
moving straight. How long will it be
before you leave Milwaukee again?
am certain that La Toilette will take
up this matter the same way you have.
Yours very sincerely,
Mr.. Payne's reply follows:
milwaukee, Wis, May o, 1900.
III: q. Kress, Esq, Manitowoc, Wis.
my Dear Mr.. Kress: | have yours
Of yesterday. / expect to be in Milwau-
kee until the last of next week. There
are some things about this matter about
which you write which l should like to
discuss with you.
Il feel quite certain that il Mr.. La
Toilette becomes a candidate for gov
ernor, standing on his own merits, with
out affiliations, alliances and combina-
tons involving other matters political
and otherwise, it will be much better
for him. What | mean / will explain to
you when | see you. Very truly yours,
"H. g. PAYNEp
Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-05-15
POSED AS OPPONENT OF MACHINE.

The expressed desire of La Toilette, in
season and out, for a good many years
has been to impress the general public
with the idea that he purposed to demol-
ish political machines and was the op-
ponent of all machine politicians.
Largely because of this agitation, con-
Quoted for the specific object of achiev-
ing political identity as the anti-machine
leader in Wisconsin, his addresses made
before the student body of the Chicago
University, as well as before that of
the Michigan University, his campaign
speeches and the literature which has
been sent out in his behalf and under his
direction, have been based upon the idea
of the destruction of the machine" in
politics.
His contention in behalf of the estab-
lishlnent of the primary election system
according to his oft-repeated assertions
during the campaign was for the purpose
of curtailing the influence of the political
machine" During Gov. La Follette's
several campaigns. the combined effort of
himself and immediate friends was direct
ed against Henry G. Payne, who, accord
ing to their version, was the recognized
machine" leader and the ''boss'' in Wis
consin politics. During his campaign
against Gov. Scofield the columns of the
State, publication edited and controlled
in the interest of La Toilette. contained
many denunciatory articles of Mr.. Payne
and he was referred to as one of ''the
four big bosses who manage the machine
in this state and as being closely iden-
tilted with the larger corporations and
moRopolies'
This was the public attitude of Gov.
La Toilette in his relations to the ina
chine" ana to Henry G. Payne as one
of the leaders of the Republican party
in this state, who for years had been
denounced as y menacing danger to ''rep-
resentative government" by La Toilette
and his supporters. La Follette's desire
troll of the politics of Wisconsin made
him not unwilling party to the negotia-
tons carried on by H. G. Kress of Man.
itowoc, acting as a friend of both Payne
anJ n EolIo}to = -