The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1903-01-22

vile way these days. Something of local interest
worthy of editorial notice in the Courier Journal
Perchance it is politics or the coal shortage. Mr.
Watterson is preserving an unprecedented silence
on his favorte topic Full two weeks have elapsed
since attack has been made on the venal and
happy smart set of New York, nor has picturesque
Newport once been devastated during this period.
Two weeks fraught with unrvaled opportunities for
unnocuous but blood curding adjectives and soul
stirring vituperaton. But no matter, things will
pick up presently
It's magnificent scheme that the fire eating
Henri has adopted! It's lovely and as safe as a
hearse. No subscribers lost through it and no
advertisers object for New York is long distance
from Louisville There isn't the slightest danger of
libel suit being mentioned, and it is
stuff that everybody likes to read. What is more
it's dead easy for MI. Watterson to write When he
ntimaes that it is his mission to play the fog SIREN
warning unwary mariners on the sea of life off the
rocks of the -Four Hundred and Harry Lehr, do
you think he means it? He doesn't. He's only
foolin'. If Harry should be metamorphosed into
night, and if the so-called reporters who
"ppe the Newport stories should become conscience
stricken and ALLURE lying for time, Mr.. Waterson
would sicken with grief The batting of the -Four
Hundred" is the best advertising dodge since the
days of Brann the Iconoclast May it long continue
and may the public taste for it never be stated!
NOT the least unique expression of public
opinion called forth by the coal famine was the
action taken by the Toledo. Ohio, Workhouse Board
last week. That body has issued an order to the
superintendent of the workhouse nstructing him to
refuse admittance to any more prisoners committed
for coal thefts and also directing him to set at liberty
those who were undergoing punishment for that
ofense at the time the order issued. The board
explains it's action by citing the fact that the famine
is result not of shortage of fuel of hard times
but of the cupidity of few who desire to profit
by the suffering of the many
This ruling will probably meet with the dsap-
proval of legal pursts but it is certainly good
The laws must reflect the opinion of the majority in
order to be operative. No law is above the people
who made it. AS soon it ceases to be an express
sion of the peoples will it is bound to be dsregarded
and if it is not repealed it will perish from dry rot
And one except the dealers engaged in cornering
the market desires to see man sent to prison for
stealing coal in this weather, particularly when there
is enough to go round at fair price. Of course
there places in Toledo where coal is given away
to the poor but then people want Justice not philan-
thropy.
The movement on foot in Chicago and of
the other large cities to bring indictments against
dealers who cornering the coal market is rather
in the nature of a 'four flush. It may have the
effect of soaring few men into decency and fair
dealing, but it is questionable if anything further
can be done. In the first place it would be extremely
difficult to prove conspiracy and convict the con-
ond thon 1oalors INITIAL q