davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
HELP THE WEAK CONCERNS.
Solid New York Banks Frequently CO
to the Assistance of Shaky
Financial Institutions.

Developments of late have given I'M
usual interest to the methods followed
by important New York banks in as
sisting crippled business concerns.
Every now and then a hurried confer
ence is called to prevent the suspension
of some house whose operations are
extensive enough to affect business in
terests disastrously were its failure
announced. In such an instance half
dozen bankers are usually assembled
and the situation thoroughly dis
cussed. If the concern hasassets suffi-
cient to meet its liabilities it is gener-
ally allowed to continue in business;
if not, it goes to the wall, says the
New York Post.
In outlining the usual procedure a
Wall street banker whose advice is
sought by powerful interests every
where when failure is imminent, said:
"The aim always is to- save a firm if
failure can be prevented without as
Stunning undue risks. In this respect
the community of interests idea has
been developed remarkably. for the
'cut throat policy of asserting ones
rights irrespective of what happens to
the other creditors is nowadays sell
dom followed.
''The work is difficult, however, and
calls for clean-headed management to
overcome in few months the compli-
cations and mistakes of years. 1t
usually takes from one to three years
to put crippled concern on it's feet
again. The process involves a COM
plete overhauling of the accounts and
necessitates shaking out the dry rot
which has crept into the establish
ment. / think that fully 60 per cent.
of such cases result from outside spec
ulation, about 3 per cent. from incom-
petent management. My experience
has always been that where man at
tends strictly to his own business with
out engaging in outside ventures of
any kind he is seldom in need of bank
ing assistance. His business booms
itself
'Of course there are times when the
banks find it impossible to extend the
assistance they would very much like
to afford. Such cases are usually en-
countered when a firms assets are tied
up and no sufficient margin exists to
furnish free and clear basis on which
to work out its salvation. Then, too,
a corporations affairs present some
times such a tangled mass as to make
it very difficult or scarce y'worth while
to reSuScitate it."
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
WISCONSIN STATE NEWS.
The Blue Book.

The Wisconsin blue book for 1909
has been completed and copies of the
book will be ready for distribution
soon. The books shows that in 1900
there were IT, 167 factories in Wiscon-
sin, representing total of $330,55S,-
77S of invested capital, and 142,076
wage earners. There were 169. 795
farms in the state, with total acre
age of 1852, 727 acres, valued at $S11,-
1888. There were 1852 public school
buildings, 226 free high schools and
10 independent high schools, a score
or more of colleges, Summaries and
academies; state university and an
agricultural college. The total ex-
penditures for educational purposes
was 81, 487 ,42490. In September, 1902,
there were 5,219 insane under public
care. There were in 1902 800 boys in
the industrial school at Waukesha;
at Waupun the average number of pris-
oners during 1902 was 562, as against
SCI the preceding year.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

draft to Thomas Page Bryan, of Chi
cago. in order that it might be used
for the purposes of fair of the La
dies Aid society. A fac-simile was
made containing the copy of the origi-
nal draft together with Lincoln's let
ter presenting it. Some of these fac
SMILES are still in existence. Two of
them have recently been placed on eX-
hibition in the state department. In
his letter Lincoln said that he had eX-
pected to keep the draft in his own
possession, but in view of the worthy
object for which it was to be used he
gladly parted with it, If Lincoln had
retained it the document with all its
sacred memories might still be in eX-
istence. Manuscripts of Lincoln are
held in great esteem, as is shown by
the frequency with which Secretary
Hay, who was LincOln's private secre-
tary, is called upon to pass on the
authenticity of letters and other doc
uments. Mr.. Hay says the country is
flooded with bogus Lincoln auto
graphs and photographs. The ingenui-
ty exhibited in some of the forgeries
is extraordinary. There is one in par
ticular, Autograph copies of which are
to be found framed on walls in every
state of the union. 1t purports to be
letter from Lincoln to one Mrs. Blk
by, of Boston, the mother of five sons
killed in the war. The letter is very
much in Lincoln's style and he may
have written such a one, but the fac
simile has been executed by a clever
piece of photography detached words
and sentences Of genuine writings be-
ing photographed and ingeniou~ly
joined. During McKinley's admins
tration Secretary Hay discovered one
of these forgeries hanging on the wall
of the cabinet room.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

discussion of routine affairs of adj
ministratiOn or else to an exchange OF
new stories and entertaining chat
upon the latest topic of the hour. In
recent years there have been only one
or two meetings of the cabinet in
which business of great moment was
determined, and if the truth were
known it would be found that even
there the decision was reached in eff
feet before the meeting was held.
There is in existence somewhere let
ter written by Salmon P. Chase, when
he was secretary of the treasury under
Lincoln, complaining that he could
not remember from the beginning of
the administration a single formal
meeting of the cabinet at which bust
ness of any consequence was transact
ed or questions of any consequence
discussed. He said the time was al
ways taken up with stories and idle
chat. A similar complaint might be
made by any serious minded member
Of every cabinet since Lincoln's day.
Mckinley is the only recent president
who has treated the cabinet meetings
with much respect.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
Notes of General Interest
Concerning New Yorkcrs

provementS. In no sense was Mr..
Croker an expert. Mr.. Meyer is; but
he is supposed not to have received the
lions share of the firms profits.
The only fat office Croker ever held
was that of city chamberlain. 1t is
significant of changed conditions that
this place is now filled by reformer.
philanthropist, Elgin II. l.. Gould, the
president Of model tenements com
pany.
1t was Mayor Grant who made Gro.
ker chamberlain. Grant inherited
wealth that has grown in his hands. AL
though a Tammany man, he is
swell" He participated few weeks
ago in the horse dinner. where noted
equestrians dined in the saddle at
Sherry's.
Croker was poor in those days.
Scandal came upon Grants admins
tration because he gave a trifling
present of $4,000 to Cookers little
daughter, Flossie. Such clumsy meth
DDS of benevolence are old-fashioned
now. The better plan is not to let
the right hand know what the left
hand doeth. The left hand is mainly
concerned in these matters.
This man, who worked hard, as
youth, fought hard in the 'gas house
gang" who has no education, no cul-
tured tastes. spends money like a
nabob. He is helpless without his
servitors. Should he lose his wealth
he would be a pitiable object. 1t is
said that he has little business abil-
ity to keep what he has acquired.
Ability to impress men he had in his
best days. He was marvel. Moth
ing more thrilling was ever told OF
any man than the way in which he
came back from England once before
and faced down Sheehan. a strong
man as men go, who had in his alb
sence gathered all the reins of
power.
Croker hasn't now the strength for
that. l fancy that he will never see
New York again.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

". < Vanderbilt IN 1885. in charities and in
the church of his brother, Cornelius,
the head of the railroad family is pop
ular, successful, a power in finance.
These qualities have developed
through misfortune Twenty years
ago people were inclined to laugh at
"Willie X" They knew that he had
made disastrous turns in Wall street
and had been warned by his father not
to speculate They knew that he was a
"golden youth" not caring for bust
ness. But when trouble came in his
family life, his dignity in permitting
his wife to procure divorce from him
under circumstances peculiarly pro-
vocative convinced men that he was a
dead game sport" which is in some
quarters higher commentator than
all the Christian virtues catalogued.
Mr.. Vanderbilt has waited eight
years to let the breath of that scandal
blow over; has grown from middle
aged man of pleasure into an elderly
man of business; has done just what he
liked and cared nothing for criticism.
When his daughter was married to the
Duke of Marlborough, the father was
cheered in the street. 1t was a curious
popular tribute, not to the father-in-
law of a noble, but to a plucky man.
The death of Cornelius Vanderbilt at
fifty-fve left William the head of the
house. He has attended to his duties,
but without showing the spark of
genius. He is a coHservator, not a
builder. He has in charge the railroad
interests of eight male Vanderbilts of
voting age; of an equal number of
grown up women members of the fam
lily, of the widow of the late Cornelius;
of the allied Webb, Twombly, Cross,
Allen, Shepard, Fabbri, Morris, Sloane,
Burden, King, Thorn, Hadden, Tor
rance. La Bau, Barker, Aymar, LATTE
and Rechid Bey branches of the fam
ily-so rapidly has it multiplied since
the commodore's day. Just fifty per-
sons compose this elan, some with lit
tie and some like the Webbs and
Twomblys, with much stock in the
Vanderbilt lines"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

tor of the department of anthropol
ogy at the National museum. Prof
Mason to-day is undoubtedly the lead
ing American ethnologist. Curiouslt
enough he took up the study which
has become his life work quite by &C
cident. He was born in Virginia 6s
years ago and graduated from Colum
bian university with the notion thai
he was going to be either doctor OF
surveyor. But one day a travelling
lumber dealer who stopped at his ia.
theirs house left behind him by ac.
cident copy of a physical geography
which discussed the relation between
the history of the earth and the his
tory of mankind. Young Mason
picked up the book to kill time. He
became thoroughly absorbed in the
subject and from that day TO this he
has been engaged in tracing the his.
tory of mankind. His first aim was 10
become an orientalist. He mastered the
oriental languages and delivered lee.
lures on the comparative philolog,
and history of Palestine. He supposed
he had found his life work. and he wa,
sadly taken back when descanting elo,
quently to Prof. Joseph Henry aboul
it to have that eminent scientist plac,
his hand on his shoulder and say:
Drop it. You cannot conduct yout
Investigations in the east at first hand
You will have to depend on copies OF
pictures instead of original specimens
Give up the east and devote yourself to
tracing the history of mankind in your
own country. Here you have an op-
portunity for persona! observation"
1t was a hard blow, but Mason
caught the point. He abandoned the
oriental field and to-day is the high,
est authority on the subject of prehis-
toric America to be found anywhere
LOUIS A. COOLIDGE.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

Over $1,000 was paid to clam fishers
in the vicinity of Prairie du CHEN
during one week by local pearl deal
ers.
Louis Zwershitz, living on a farm
near Eland, was instantly killed while
blowing out stumps with dynamite by
the premature explosion of a charge.
Mrs. FL. i. Goodwin, of Winona,
whose husband is at Amigo, publicly
horsewhipped Miss Lillian Deguire be-
cause she said Miss Deguire had writ
ten letters to Goodwin.
The three-year-old daughter of DR..
A. L. Ridgman, Of Grand Rapids, fell
into the Wisconsin river while playing
on the shore and drowned.
o. w. Arnquist, judge of st. Croix
county, has left Hudson for Sweden
and other European countries in
search of rest and health, and Judge
A. Fl. Void, of Price county, will take
his place during his absence.
At Twin Lakes a fierce windstorm
similar to a whirlwind swept through
the center of the village, leaving path
of desolation and wreckage.
Archbishop Katzer has transferred
all the real estate held in trust in his
name in 81 counties in Wisconsin, val
ued at millions of dollars, to the arch
diocese of Milwaukee.
Montgomery Smith, a well-known
lawyer of Mineral Point, is dead, aged
SO years.
BY the capsizing of their boat on the
Wisconsin river Frank Shell and Mabel
Bickford were drowned at Prairie du
Sac.
Martin w. Odland. of Madison, has
received the appointment of vice con-
sui to Denmark under Consul Ray
Frazier and will leave for that point
in August.
Grocers in Milwaukee have opened
war against manufacturing grocers
who allow their goods to be sold in
department stores.
The Stevens Point grand army post
has appropriated money to purchase
headstones for the unmarked graves
of soldiers and sailors buried in the
cemeteries III duu nSoi thdN SA15"
Minnesota defeated Wisconsin in the
intercollegiate debate held at Mime
apois
Edward Gray and Frank Williams, of
Chicago were arrested at Oshkosh
charged with being two of the men
who held up and robbed. the Seymour
resort. The police say some of the
plumber was found on Gray.
Bion J. Arnold is to build the new
electric road which will connect Ken
osha and Waukegan,- III.
Arthur J. Ward. secretary of the
lodge of Elks a Oshkosh, is said to be
$4,000 short in his accounts. His
whereabouts is unknown.
Edward Sanborski, aged 10. fell
from a boat at Oshkosh and was
drowned.
Nels Lerum, aged 80 years and IN
married, committed; suicide by hang
ing himself in shed at Altoona. His
parents live near Madison. but he was
working on a tobacco plantation near
Altoona.
William Killoran, Wisconsin Cent
raj conductor who fell under his train
near Medina, died of his injuries.
Fred Sack, of Gillett, while taking
off his shoes. cried, II am shot" and
fell dead. Doctors found that burst
ing blood vessel caused his death.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

Chauncey M. De-
pew. with sixty-nine memberships, and
President Newman, of the Central, with
ffty-eight, exceed him. Rockefeller
is a member of only six boards, Morgan
of thirty-three, John Jacob Astor of
eighteen. But Vanderbilt is chairman
of no board, president of no company.
Mr.. Vanderbilt has the must beauti-
full city home, though not the most
| costly, in New York. 1t was designed
bv Mr.. Hunt in the style of a French
| chateau, and it has usually been gloom
ily vacant since the divorce.
Mr.. Vanderbilt built the marble
House" in Newport at a cost of near
" two millions, but at the time of the
divorce decided it to his wife. When
she married Belmont they could not af-
| ford it is said, to live in a place so
costly and it has been a white elephant
ever since.
The newly married man owns Idle
Hour, one of the finest country places
in the land. 1t was at this quiet
stretch of the level south shore and
Long Island that the Duke of MARI
borough took his bride for their honey
| moon; here that the couple, disap-
pointed in the non-arrival of car
rage at the station, walked along the
dusty road to the place like the pair of
children they were. Here, too, William
X. Vanderbilt, Jr., took his bride in
turn and celebrated his honeymoon by
! fighting fire when the rambling old
| F. / l.
tiful structure burned down over their
heads. 1t is a curious coincidence
that this beautiful place should have
recently been again damaged by fire
Just as Mr. Vanderbilt and his bride
were planning to spend their honey
moon in it.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21


of Yale: Wilson, Of Princeton, was SO.
Mrs. Alice Freeman Palmer, when she
went into Wellesley, was but rs.
Finley was an Illinois farm boy.
Like so many strong educators nova
DAYS. he has studied socialism with
interest, believing that it is to exert
a powerful influence upon the coun-
try. He has been an editor of maya
zines, a writer of articles and verses.
He was graduated at Galesbarg, ILL.,.
whence came Mcclure, the magazine
man. The acquaintance brought Fin
lev to McClure's. He worked also for
the Harper firm.
The college is the terminus, the
goal. of the city high school course.
It's graduates rank about even with
Harvard sophomores. 1t is the pur-
nose of the trustees to make it the
equal of any endowed college. When
every western and southern state has
its university, some of these among
the best in the land, it does seem as
if New York might treat itself To ons
public free college.
OWEN LANGDON. j
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21


real estate operators go into con-
tracing; sometimes they combine
the jobs. 1t is said that one year
when money was coming in slowly
McQuade gave $4,000 of his own
funds to the campaign. Ten per cent.
of every Tammany salary, civil serv-
ice reform or not, was the rule when
Van Wyck was mayor. Then there
were fat checks from great street
car corporations, whose managers
prefer Tammany men to deal with,
from Office-seekers, from rich men
with ambitions.
McQuade is dead; long live Pat
keenan,, new treasurer, or Wiskinskie,
as it is called in the Indian term! He
is a silent, shaver man, with a twin
kle in his eye and reputation for
keeping his word.
On the afternoon before election
next November Mr.. keenan, will
go to Tammany Hall with
neat bag of money, divided into
small bills. There will be SO
packages, approximately about equal,
though in holly contested districts
a little greater generosity may be
shown. The district leaders will all
be there, SO of them. To each
brawny fellow, grizzled by years and
contests, a package will be handed.
1t is his duty to divide it among his
captains. He is held responsible for
results.
1T is a wond erful system. If so
marvellous machine as Tammany
were to devote its energies to work
in office as fine as that done to get
office no party could GUST it from
power for years. Perhaps it is as well
that men are finite and run to spe-
cialties.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
Two Killed.

Washington C. H., O., May 15.-The
Cincinnati and Pittsburg express on
the Midland division of the Baltimore
& Ohio Southwestern was wrecked
five miles east of Washington C. H. at
10:40 Thursday morning and two per-
sons were killed and several seriously
injured. The killed are: Engineer
John May, Newark, o.; Fireman J. A.
Leighton, Newark, o. The accident
was caused by spreading rails.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

HN'4' lures 10 the iii
mortal document could be preserved
even for time. 1t is ten years now
since the declaration was taken from
the place in the library where for
many years it had been constantly
on public view and placed in drawer
to be shown only on request of an oc-
casional visitor, but even with this
precaution it was found that the sig
natures were rapidly fading. The
signature of John Hancock, which ten
years ago was visible half across the
room, is now scarcely legible even
when ii is held close to the eye. Alto
gether there are less than a dozen
names which can still be deciphered.
The manuscript of the declaration
itself apparently is as legible as ever,
circumstance due to the superior
quality Of ink used. The obliteration
of the historic signatures is charged
by department officials to the press
copy which was made in Madison
administration in order that fac
simile of the declaration might be
given to the families of each of the
signers. A copper plate was made at
the time, which is to-day the near
est approach to the original document
in existence aside from the fast-fad-
ing manuscript. A second copper
plate has recently been made from
the first in order that the first may
not be dulled by successive imprints.
IT. is a striking fact that the original
draft of the declaration in Jefferson's
handwriting, although constantly on
exhibition in the state department
library, is as clear cut and legible as
the day it was written.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

ing soon to be
erected. and on occasion the cars Cd
which they travel to Washington can
be switched so that they can step off
in the very center of their place OF
business without change. The new
system will be so thoroughly conven~
lent and up to date that for time the
statesmen on Capitol hill will hardly
be able to recognize their surround
ings. When the new station is COM
Dleted. and when the Pennsylvania
terminal and tunnel in Manhattan are
in operation it will be possible for
member of congress to land in the
very heart of New York city within
four hours of the time he has put on his
hat and coat at the capitol. He can
attend the session of the house, wait
to the end of an ordinary debate, leave
the floor leisurely and catch train
in time to eat dinner in New York. II
is not so many years since the metrop
oils was a days journey from the cap
ital. There are men in the senate to-
day who remember what an under
taking it used to be to get OHt of
town. Manhattan Island was as for
midable journey then as Chicago is
new-decidedly more so in fact, for
travel was a torture where now it is
luxury. Under the new regime it will
be possible for a member of congre ss
to attend to the government business
in Washington, get over to New York
and effect a days business there and
be back in his seat bright and early the
next morning.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

some that he ever
was in business.
Yes; it would not
do for the rich
leader o f T a m
may Hall to have
no visible means
of support" He
was for years and
until the first day
of the p T e S e n I
month a special
partner in the real
estate fl r IN o (
Peter i. Meyer &
Co. The 81 Co"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
Fatal Quarrel.

Elmer Cleveland (colored) shot and
killed William Stevens, his stepfather,
during a family quarrel in Fond du
Lac. 1t is stated that Stevens was
quarreling with Cleveland's mother,
and that later Stevens turned on Cleve-
land, who then shot him. Four shots
were fired, Stevens dying instantly.
Cleveland surrendered to the police.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
His Sensitive Conscience.

Don't you always feel a little
mean when a street car conductor
overlooks you and you get your ride
for nothing?"
yes, and | always spend the nickel
for cigar or something just as soon
as can, so as to get rid of the feel
ing. "-Chicago Tribune.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21
The Governors Fund.

Gov. La Toilette sent to the legisla-
from the contingent fund during his
first term. The total expenditures
were $2,15325. Leaving a balance of
the appropriation to the governors
contingent fund, by the legislature of
1901, for the years 1901 and 1902, of ST.
846.75, which reverted to the general
fund of the state.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-05-21

The tireless quest of a grief-stricken
mother for her missing child was re-
warded when little three-year-old Ger
trude Robinson was restored to the
arms of Mrs. Harry T. Robinson, of
Kenosha, at Kansas City, after sepa-
ration of two years. The father of
the child is Harry I. Robinson, known
all over the west as the gambler with
the white hat" and the little one has
been in his custody ever since the time
of its disappearance. The parents sep
arated because of domestic trouble.