davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
RECENT COMMENT.
Age and the, Presidency.

Boston Globe. f.
When is a man old? Such thoughts naturally arise
when we contemplate the presidency.
Richard Olney is not an old man. He was born Sep
TENDER Is. 1885. and is. therefore, not quite 81 years old.
But should he be put forward for the presidential office in
1904 he will be g., and should he be elected to serve to the
end OF his term in 1903 he would be moro than "A years
old.
William Henry Harrison was Ct years old when he was
elected. Jackson was 60 when elected the second time.
Buchanan was G5 in 1856 and Taylor was Ga in 1S4s. Several
others who were not elected had reached the neighborhood
Of IS, but their age does not appear to have told against
them.
But this does not answer the question of what IS the
proper age Of a President. Mr.. Blaine. VINO was G. ar
gued privately, while Secretary of State, that a man CT
his age was too old for the presidency, but that argu-
ment quickly subsidized when he got the nomination.
1t IS becoming more and more certain that It needs a
live man who has some sleep to spare for the office of
President. The duties and cares of office are becoming
more and moro strenuous. He must keep awake or the
country will run away with him.
But one man Is younger at 50 than IS another at 49,
Years fail to measure a fne-blooded man, though on gen
eral principles we need younger and younger men.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
Continuous Naval Increase.

I uDIC OpTnIO
From the number and earnestness Of the demands now
being made that we should largely increase our naval pro-
gramme 1t might be supposed that the United States was
standing still in this particular. On the contrary, we are
already at work upon twenty-four large ships, Of which
thirteen are battleships, while France has under construc-
ton only nine battleships, Germany ten and Russia ten.
The extent to which We are exceeding these countries in
naval constructions Is better exhibited in q comparison
of tonnage of ships under construction: We have 34 351
tons. against France's 277.95, Germany's 1884, $40 and Rus
sia's 1858. But 1t is to be remembered that the construc-
ton abroad Is merely a part Of a programme extending
over a number of years, while ours may or may not be
continued. 1t is toward q continuous future programme
that our advocates of naval expansion should work; for
the present We are doing very well.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
NOT TOO LATE.

In all fairness the Globe should have full credit
for its editorial defense of st. Louis against the SUI
perficial and sensational article in McClure's Maya
zine. The writer of the Mcclure article committed
all the plumbers of care,essness with which the
Globe charges him. When the Globe says that "Of
all cities in the United States st. Louis is the only
one that has advanced to the stage Of fighting, in
deadly earnest. a battle with franchise boodlers., it
tells a simple truth which is supported by all the
facts.
Giving the Globe credit, however. for its present
good Offices, ii is also only fair to the Mcclure man to
add that he could quote former utterances of that
paper in excuse of every statement derogatory to
st. Louis. That the Circuit Attorney was working to
injure Republicans and protect Democrats; that the
town was Butlerized: that the Mayor and his asso-
ciates on a special committee to frame an election
law were plotting to debauch the suffrage-these and
other loose ideas of the cocksure bungler' have been
staple in the Globes editorial columns; while to this
day there has been no .denunciation of the Doodle
gangsters, no support of the movement for reform, no
recognition of the spirit Of the city which has spoken
fer civic integrity in two elections.
If the Mcclure bungler should reply that he OBJ
tanned his impression from the Globes columns, It
is impossible to see how the reply could be chal-
lenged.
The Republic does not praise yesterdays Globe
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
DANGER AT JEFFERSON CITY.

One OF the disadvantages of an unembarrassed
treasury is the temptation to extravaganza. Given a
surplus. every legislator begins to push a project to
please somebody or some set of people-often his
family and himself.
At Jefferson City this form Of extravaganza has
broken loose like an epidemic. Enough appropria-
tons are now under way to exceed the entire income
Of the State Government.
Governor Dockery finds it necessary to send a
message of warning to the Legislature. This warn
ing must be needed. Democrats cannot take refuge
behind the fact that the most eager and solid rush
for spoils is on the Republican side. The democracy's
record in Missouri is one of consistent economy. The
party is in power. If the record Is changed to extrav-
agance the people will hold the party majority ac-
countable.
Careful and mastery financial management has
enabled the State to pay its bonded debt. Sources or
revenue have been increased without adding to the
burdens of the chief body Of property owners. TAX
alton, in fact, has been lowered. The State Treasury
is in fine condition. Missouri is in a position to I'M
prove and strengthen its institutions and enlarge its
capacity to make education and obedience TO law the
rule in every corner of Its territory.
But many legislators take the selfish and small
view Of Missouris opportunity. They see In the rev.
enues a chance to spend money. not a chance to raise
the States fame and usefulness. According to the
nature Of narrow men, these legislators complne WIN
each other under the old device of you tickle me and
I'll tickle you" Measures for all sorts of unneces-
sary and wasteful purposes are put forward. The
danger is that the revenues will be exhausted and the
State left crippled instead of strengthened by the
presence Of n surplus in the treasury.
Before the epidemic proceeds further the people OF
the State should let the members of the Legislature
know what will be the consequence of wastefulness;
what public opinion will think Of a Legislature which
threw away the States money in scores Of foolish
little schemes and gifts, leaving necessary public util-
tiles hampered for lack Of funds.
Let the people watch these combines for getting
money out of the Treasury. Let them tell members
of the Legislature the truth before the evil is ac-
complished and the time is too late for remedy.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
FOLLY AND DISSATISFACTION.

Representative Perkins, Republican, recently ut
tered a warning to his party in the following terms:
IF our friends on the other side succeed again. 1t
will not be the result Of Democratic wisdom, but OF
Republican folly. The people are paying more for
coal than they like to, and they find a duty on it
that we will not repeal. The duty on hides and lum-
Der Injuries important interests and we keep it in
force. That is not the way to get votes. If we do
not change some things in our tariff system, sooner
or later others will be elected who will do 1t for u.s.
From the Republican standpoint the view that
Democratic victory will result from Republican folly
is correct. In its moments Of greatest candor 1t is not
to be expected that the party would pay tribute to
the enemy's wisdom. That it condemns its own folly
Is sufficient.
Mr.. Perkins makes a plain, concise statement of
the nations grievance against his party. and a poit-
ical forecast which is more significantly and pro-
foundly true than even he, perhaps, would care to
admit should it come from another source.
1t is glaringly evident that nowhere at present
does there exist enthusiasm for the party; also that
in the rank and file nine men out OF ten share the
complaint Of Mr.. Perkins concerning tariff evils. In
deed, it is difficult to find one protectionist out of ten
who will go the whole length of indorsing the partys
extremes. Dissatisfaction varying from a mild to a
pronounced form prevails among the voters who
placed the present administration in power.
Dissatisfaction is not Of n quality to be removed
by subsequent acts of the party, were it possible TO
perform them; and the attitude Of Congress Is unal-
terably fixed upon the tariff question. Nor is the dis
satisfaction Of a trivial nature to be dispelled by the
enthusiasm of a campaign.
1t is grievous, going even more TO the deeper pol
icy Of the party than to its manifest deeds. 1t meas
ures the probable force of that policy to correct the
evils now maturing and plainly recognizable, which
menace present and to a greater degree future
America.
The Republicans have signally failed to obscure
the tariff issue. The ~treachery sophistcally termed
"subordination," by which it was intended to bury
the issue forever, served only to accentuate the con-
pection between the tariff and monopoly. The con-
nection is patent to every eye. The country sees
that the Republican party has deliberately ignored
the one obvious remedy for monopoly-severing the
connection with the tarif-and the country draws
the inevitable inference, which needs no argument,
that monopoly dictates the policy.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
IDEAS.

Mr.. Harvey l.. Christie. secretary of the Public
Welfare Commission, considers the municipal govern
ment a business institution that should be organized
and managed, SO far as may be consistent with pub
lie policy, according to business principles. Evidently
his inference is that attainment Of results that border
on the ideal is dependent almost entirely, at least
fundamentally, upon sound, material. practical pro-
cedure. He appears to have scant regard for theory
or idealism in the execution of progressive plans.
That the dreamer is a useful, and even necessary,
force in campaigns of reform and advancement is adj
mitted. 1t is the idealist who conceives most of the
formulas which become the popular expressions of
belief; and he it is who. with eloquence and imagi-
nation, warns the collective thought of the masses.
The opinions concerning municipal government
which Mr.. Christie expressed in an address before
the Young Mems City Government Club relate to
conditions upon which success is founded. They con-
stitute the philosophy Of experience which exposes
defects in the existing system Of government and
offers remedies for the better conduct Of public af-
fairs. They exhibit the best principles of practice
for st. Louis, and they are for many excellent reasons
worthy of close study.
Mr.. Christie holds that the legislative body of the
city should correspond to the board of directors of a
private corporation and that the Mayor, intrusted
with large yet restricted authority, should occupy the
same relative position as the president or general
manager of a great business institution. He thinks that
the Mayor should have the power to appoint the chiefs
Of departments and to remove them for valid cause,
He thinks that the maximum term Of a franchise
should be. twenty-five years and that the city should
retain the right to buy the property upon expiration
Of the term. He thinks that there should be but one
legislative body, elected at large, and that the minor
fty vote should be prcportfonately represented. The
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
WORLD'S-19O4-FAlR

GENTLEMEN WILL NOT; OTHER MUST NOT.
We approach perfect civilization by successive
changes in habits and manners. We have 90 i'm
proved that the coarsest individual Of to-day would
disdain the daily practices and behavior of the most
refined persons of a comparatively late era. Con-
fronted by q stage representation of what was con-
sidered polite by our English forefathers, we should
be shocked at the %vulgarity and indecency of it We
very Justly pique ourselves on greatly improved
conduct.
As habit gathers by unseen degrees so must 1t
gradually disappear. 1t is only by persistent watch
ing and warning upon bad manners that We have
brought about imperceptibly the amenities Of to-day.
But the amenities in some particulars require more
of the watching and warning, II we are to progress in
decency and refinement. A pessimist might conclude
that we have retrograded, to observe some practices
familiar among US.
For decency's sake. and primarily for comforts
and health's sake, it is much to be desired that people
observe the ordinance, soon to become effective, con-
corning expectorating upon the sidewalks, in street
cars and in public places. By strict adherence to its
provisions st. Louis could become unique for respec-
liability and department.
Nothing could better denote the boor and loutish
person than his trick of depositing saliva or amber
juice everywhere at sweet will, in the path Of ladies,
whose skirts must be held aloof and whose steps must
he daintily picked to avoid his contamination; in the
theater, where he threatens the health Of citizens, not
to mention their clothing; in street cars, despite con-
spicuously posted requests that he spare the floors
and patrons shoes.
That he assists to spread infectious disease by his
i~ndiscriminate deposits goes without saying. Germ
laden sputum, evaporating; mingles its poison with
the atmosphere TO communicate with other threats
and nostrls. In the course Of years the many he has
unwittingly struck down with the white death"
would doubtless equal wars thousands.
Sentiment, not alone law or ordinance, will control
the odious habit. The ordinance is timely, however,
since public opinion is rapidly forming and promises
n rigid enforcement. The habit will die completely
when every man is ashamed to commit a breach Of
decency and good manners.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
English View of Flats.


bUSCU ITdNSClIpI.
Since We have canvassed, time and again, all the ad-
vantages possible in fiat life, 1t is high time, in the ma
ture Of things. that there should be arrayed some of
their fault. The British Realm in its current number
sounds a note that it seems might well be needed before
the fiat mania becomes still further epidemic than II now
is. The keystone of the Realms argument is that there
is no possibility of sanctuary for any one in fiat life"
Everything, it says. must go on one hoor-the household
duties, the household pleasures-and there Is no such
thing as going upstairs when one wearies of the level
monotony Of 1t all, to rise above It. Lastly, the Realm
says flats are not English. They are French. They are
Continental" And that from the British point of view
summarizes the indictment.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
-
, TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
; TO-DAY IN ST. LOUIS.

From The Republic, February q, 1878. 4
. Mrs. William J. Riepe Of Seven 4
. teenth and Carr streets was serious 4
. ly burned while rescuins her hild 4
. from flames which came from the 4
. explosion of a coal-oil lamp.
. The Illinois Central Railway decld- 4
. ed to come into st. Louis via the Wa
. bash from Tolona instead Of over the 4
. vandalia from Efingham.
. Ben Pitman delivered a lecture at 4
. the School Of Design on the subject 4
. Of Cremation"
. Temperance crusaders held q mass 4
. meeting at Mercantile Library Hall 4
. The Reverend Doctor Lewis Of tho 4
= Evangelical Alliance was the princi- 4
. pal speaker. followed by H. Clay Sex 4
o ton, Chief of the Fire Department. 1
q John W. Loader. a weil-known hat 4
. ter. went to New York. &
. Major ]. B. Merwin delivered Q lee 4
. ture at the Central NJ. E. Church. 4
. Captain H. c. Wright, superintend- 4
. emit Of letter carriers. arrested three 4
. pickpockets who were operating in q 4
Q crowd at the entrance Of the Union 4
. NJ. Il. Church. 4
Q Jerry Carroll Of No. 141S North 4
. Eighth street, who met with an acci- 4
. dent. appeared at the City D~ispensary 4
. and drew from his pocket a part of 4
. his nose. which he asked to have I
. sewed On. 1t was patched up. 4
. Edwin Harrison. in a communities 4
= ton to The Republic. pointed out the 4
Q possibilities Of st. Louis becoming a 4
= great center for the manufacture of Z
& iron. 4
. William A. Lore established branch 4
. depots Of the Lewis Coal Company at Z
. various points along the Mississippi Z
Q River.
Miss Carrie Brown and E. A. Myers Z
. were married by the Reverend ]. E. Z
= Colby Of tho Eighth Street M. e. Z
. Church. South. St. Louis.
. w. g. Brownson, master Of trans Z
. portation Of the Cairo and st Louis 4
. Railroad. received a handsome silver Z
. service from his old employees on the 4
. Erie road.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
Serious Naval Problem.

Rochester POst-EXpress.
One of two things must be done for the navy; either
the warship companionways win have to be enlarged or
a limit set on the size Of surgeons. Doctor A. H.. Simon
ton Of Alabama, a surgeon Of reputation and skill. was
refused the other day because his beam is too great for
navigation purposes. and the Examining Board feared for
results in case the doctor should get wedged in a torpedo
boat. The navy Is short just now in its medical depart
ment, and 1t does seem hard to require a likely candidate
to train down to At a doorway.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Birds in our wood sang.
Ringing thro' the valleys.
Maud Is here, here, here,
In among the lilies.
I kissed her slender hand,
She took the kiss sedately:
Maud Is not seventeen.
But she is tall and stately.
1 to cry out on pride,
Who have won her favor!
o Maud were sure Of heaven
II lowliness could save her.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

editorial merely to introduce a criticism. The praise
is sincere. The Republic has always hoped that the
Globe might be induced to join the reform move
ment and help to expose the rascals and stimulate
the decent men of both parties. Machine partisan
ship can only strengthen the ~grafters.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Linen-Drawnwork Is again making . very
strong bid for the favor Of the fashionable
woman and Is achieving the coveted success
to a remarkable degree. Attractive little
drawnwork collars ara shown in a variety
Of different styles. In fact. the number Of
forms shown is practically limitess and =
woman can purchase heavily with no fear
OF duplication. Illustrated Is one particu-
larly fetching style. The turnover collar
Is on a foundation Of black taffeta, which
it relieves very artistically. This turn
over is cut in points and Ia drawn in an
attractive design.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Now that Republican protectionists are fighting
the Cuban reciprocity bill tooth and nail the party
lines are distinctly and Enthusiastically drawn on the
tariff revision question. You might as well expect
the devil to like holy water rs to expect Republicans
to favor action looking towards a reduction of the
Dingley tariff duties.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Confirmed tobacco chewers may wax indignant
when the antispitting law goes into effect next week,
but they will have to swallow their Indignation and
their salivary s%ecretions or else pay q "quid pro quo
into the City Treasury.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

If dreams of the scientists should ever be realized
death will become only a memory or a superstition,
In order to live forever it will only be necessary to
keep formalin and s~aucylic solution in the house and
have a surgeon in the neighborhood, so that opera
tons for appendicitis may be performed On demand.
1t will then be up to the railways to make this world
an Elysium.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Lord Darlington" was prevented. by circum-
stances over which he had no control, from being
present when President Francis was introduced to
the most notable men Of England at Lady Barring
toms luncheon in London. A previous engagement
kept This Lordship" at the St Louis Workhouse.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
ToNEY-THURsToN WEDDING.

Miss Elsie May Thurston, daughter OF
Doctor NJ. D.. Thurston Of Spokane, Wash.
and Mr.. Edward E. Toney Of Mount Car
mel, ILL.,, were married Sunday evening at
6 o'clock at the residence of the brides
aunt Mrs. T. A. Bagby, No. 755 Bayard
avenue. The Reverend ]. W. Lee, pastor OF
St. Johns NJ. e Church, performed the
ceremony. A reception followed. The young
couple will go to Dakota on a bridal trip.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
James Smith,
William Gean,
Ed Porell,
William Marshall,

Frank Williams of Webster and Miss
Media Case Roper were married lass
Wednesday afternoon at the home Of the
bride in Fraser Park. Owing to illness in
the family of the bride. only immediate
relatives were present. Mr.. and Mrs. Will
Iiaus will be at home to their friends after
February q In Fraser Park
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
CHOSEN FOR NOTABLE
CLOSE-OF-SEASON RECEPTIONS.

Mrs. Philemon Chew and Mrs. Edward Campbell Receive at the Home
of Mrs. Alonzo Acuf-Six Hundred Guests Are Entertained
Mrs. Otto Woerheide Gives a Pretty Euchre Party dt Reb-
mans-Mrs. Edward F. Guth's Washmgtons Birthday
Entertainment Reveals Clever Concets, With Hatch
ct, Cherry and Patriotic Color Decorations
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
SURPRISE DONKEY PARTY.

SURPRISE DONKEY PARTY,
A surprise donkey party was given to Mr..
and Mrs. John Gregg at their home, No.
1896 Lincoln avenue. last Thursday even
ing. Prizes were awarded to Misses Anna
Dahmer. Agnes Henry and Messrs. Morris
Kerwin and Victor Windle. Music and dan
cling were INDUCED in until midnight, after
which supper was served. Those present
were:
Messieurs and Mesdames-
o Gregg, Ned Daley.
Misses
Marguerite Geary. Elizabeth F1em-
Agnes Henry, ming, :
Anna Dahmer. May Geary,
Mayme Carrager. Elizabeth Carrager,
Josie Geary,
Messieur+
Morris kcrwfn, Thomas F1emming,
joe Collins, George Convey,
Richard Bourke, Victor Windle,
Henry Windle, Ed Bourke,
Harry Pullen, Louis Zimmerman,
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
Nearing the Light.


A subscriber who was in arrears to a rural paper wa,
dying, and the editor dropped in to see him.
How do you feel?' asked the pencil pusher.
All looks bright before me-" gasped the subscriber.
Il thought So" said the editor. you'll see the blaze In
about ten minuues"
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Miss Gusta Beuckmann of No. 52A Ridge
avenue gave a George Washington party at
her home last evening in honor Of her
friends. Miss Clara Schwab Of Ironton. Mo-
and Miss Ebba Seagren Of Burlington. Ia.
After supper the guests enjoyed dancing
and music. The house was decorated with
the national colors.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Mrs. N. r. White has returned home to
Mexico, Mo-, having visited Mrs. Virginia
Needles Of Aubert avenue.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Miss Marjorie Needles Of Aubert avenue
Is being entertained by Mrs. J.. Madden
Smythe Of Memphis. Tenn.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

Mrs. Eddie Leighton gave a euchre Sat-
urday afternoon to fifty ladies. Prizes Of
cut glass and china were won by Mrs.
Dwight Lake. Mrs. James Cullen. Mrs. Ep-
stein. Mrs. Grant Hunter and Mrs. h
Wichman.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24

The Worlds Fair dedication ceremonies will begin
twenty-nine days after April 1. This is proof that
they will be the real thing.
The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-02-24
Dialect 1t Home.
Lesiie's Weekly.

He sent a copy Of his dialect story down into the
country where he studied tho dialect"
And did It make the natives angryr'
"Oh. ne; they couldn't understand its