davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
GUARDSMEN TO PARADE
ON INDEPENDENCE DAY

The District of Columbia National
Guard brigade will take part in the
Independence Day celebration, though
ii is expected that the line of march
will be shorter than last year. The
guards annual outing will begin on July
%. The camp will be in the neigh
borhood OF Fort Hunt, Va, but the exact
location has not yet been determined.
The ordinary routine of camp-life
will be gone through for the first week,
followed by extensive maneuvers. in
which the regulars from the fort will
take part
General Harries has received the re-
appointed to investigate the shooting
of Corporal George Deitz, Company D.
Sixth Battalion, at the Ordway rife
range Tuesday last. Private Roche is
exonerated of responsibility for the
shooting OF his comrade, bur the board
declared him guilty of gross careless
ness"
The attendance at the Ordway range
this year was much larger than last.
Major ]. E. Bell, inspector general OF
rifle practice. considers the records
made very good.
First Lieut.. George G. Dennison, in
spector Of rifle practice for the Fifth
Battalion. will be on duty Monday. when
men of the sharpshooter class are to
compete. First Lieut.. w w. Cookson.
inspector of rife practice for the Sixth
Battalion, Will be on duty Tuesday.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
MACHEN'S DEFENSE TO BE
CLAIM OF PARTNERSHIP
Story That He Will Plead Coal Con-
tracts as Sufficient Precedent.

Under date of Washington. May 20"
the New York Tribune" published the
following:
THAT Fourth Assistant Postmaster
General Bristow has undertaken Diff
ficuIt task in his attempt to convict a.
W. Machen, the former general superin-
tendent of free delivery. of having ac-
cepted a bribe, is stoutly maintained by
the latter's friends. who appear to have
found ray of hope in line of defense
which is being outlined. in whispers at
the Postofice Department today The
defense. it is said, will be to establish
that Machen was a silent partner in the
firm of Croft Bros, from which the
letter-box fasteners purchased at S1.z5
each were secured. That If Machen was
d partner in the concern he could not be
convicted under the charge preferred IS
admitted by Postmaster General Payne
s'When asked about this point Post
master General Payne promptly replied:
If Maehen was a partner of Croft Bros,
then we will have somebody for per
jury referring TO the clause in the Re
vised Statutes which prohibits the grane-
ing of a contract 70 ones self by any
official Of the Government.
This argument is met in turn by the
friends of Machen with the statement
that the Postmaster General himself au-
thorized II. H. Rand to enter into con-
tract with Maehen Bros. last fall for
the coal supply OF the department The
question as TO the legality OF this con-
tract was raised at the time, and legal
opinion. which II was announced was
made by the Attorney General, was Of
fered in support Of the correctness OF
the proceeding This opinion, 1t Is no"
learned, was drawn by George A. {.
Christiancy, Assistant Attorney General
for the Postoflce Department. now I'M
der suspension, and was merely ap-
proved by Attorney General Knox 1t Is
further maintained that an understand
ing existed between Machen and certain
officials of the Postoffice Department
whereby the coal decision was secured
with q view TO having an anchor to wind
| ward in case OF an emergency.
although a vigorous effort has been
made by officials of the department to
locate tangible assets of Machen. with
view to attaching them under the clVil
| suit brought TO recover the sum of whicf
the Government is supposed to have
been muIcted. the only asset thus fal
| discovered is the small amount OF salary
due from the department ar the time Of
Machen's arrest. Nevertheless, 1t Is be-
lieved that he is we'll off. and that. witt
| his many influential friends. he viii be
able to make a strenuous. if not enec'
tive. Defense
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
Halls From Vermont.

While the Democrats are looking over
the list of Democratic mayors in their
search for a Presidential candidate,
there is the Hon James E. Burke. who
should not be ignored. Probably nobody
outside the limits of the little city
over which he rules ever heard of the
Hon. James E. Burke, but that should
not initiate against him, for evidently
the sort OF a candidate the Democracy
wants most is man who has no public
record 10 defend
The Hon. James E. Burke, let il be
known henceforth, is the mayor of Bur
lington, VT. When the Democrats are
able TO elect a mayor in any city in
the rock-ribbed Republican State of Yer
mont, the man surely is entitled 10 con-
sideration. and should be brought into
national prominence. Furthermore, the
Hon. James Z. Burke is by occupation
a blacksmith, and this fact and
his ability TO WELD the hammer and
do any amount of knocking should en-
title him to the Democratic nomina-
ton. When not engaged at his official
duties, the mayor is employed In the
equally honorable but doubtless more
arduous labor of shoeing horses.
An obscure country physician was
elected governor of Rhode Island last
fail on the Democratic ticket, and has
since made himself so prominent By his
efforts TO reform the State that his
name has been heralded from one end
of the country to the other, and he is
now high on the list of Democratic pos
sibilities, so there is no good reason why
Mayor Burke should not within short
time receive like recognition and dis
tinction. He is strong union labor
man. and It Is now in order for some
optimistic Democrat to express the be-
lief that if Mayer James f. Burke were
nominated for the Presidency the
Democrats could carry the Green Noun
tain State.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
To STUDY RIVER AND
4ARBOR WORKS ABROAD
Representative Burton Thinks Expense
May Be Distributed.

Representative Burton, chairman of
the House Committee on Rivers ana
Harbors. is at present studying the sys
TEN of paying for the great river and
harbor works in European countries. He
IS accompanied by Major F. A. Mahan,
a secretary. and a stenographer.
1t is his intention TO go into the sub
iect thoroughly, as he declares that the
time is approaching when he General
Government must ask the States for
financial help to carry out the great
projects that have been brought for
ward. or give up all idea of carrying
them to completion
It is seldom that a river and harbor
bill carries less than SCI, 100000 of d.
rect and contingent appropriations. 1t
is estimated that the projects the engi-
neers feel ought TO be completed, called
for the expenditure of at least billion
dollars This is the reason, Mr.. Burton
argues that the National Government
cannot bear this burden alone much
longer
France, Germany and the Netherlands
have spent a great deal more for river
ana naTDUr WOEh iudu lllG = hiNS- $4,000
But they have a system of assessing
the cost on the political divisions OF the
national domain that are directly bene-
fitted by the improvement. Mr.. Burton
| purposes to learn how this is accom- :
plished.
The project which is the immediate
cause of his trip to Europe is that which
calls for the canalization of the Ohio
from Pittsburg to Cairo. so as TO fur
nsh a nine-foot stage OF water at all
| seasons of the year. The call for that
work is backed up by nearly all the
iron and steel manufacturers of the re-
gion traversed by that river When the
project was first preached an estimate
of $50 goo was given.
Mr. Burton antagonized this En-
gineers later placed the probable cost
at $100 .OG0. eco and declared that the
work was not to be thought of unless
! Congress desired to deplete it's Treasury
for river improvements.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
Alfonso's Speech to the cortes.

Young King Alfonso of Spain has just
opened the newly elected cortes.. or ma
tional legislature, at Madrid, and it was
the first time that he has been called
upon TO officiate in this manner since be
assumed the reins of power year ago
on the termination of his minority The
speech which he delivered was quite q
long one. OF course, 1t had been drawn
up and composed by his ministers. But
nevertheless, it was very pleasant to
hear hts well-keyed, fresh young voice
delivering to parliament the program
of it's duties, while he wound up with
some words which did not form part of
the ministerial statement prepared for
him, but which evidently proceeded
from his own heart and in which he laid
stress on his earnest desire to devote
his whole life and strength to working
for the good of his people, whose hap
piness and welfare were his one aim
While delivering the speech the King
kept his captain generals chapeau on his
head, and all the members of the
Grandezza present followed suit, one of
their traditional privileges and most
highly priced prerogatives being that OF
remaining covered in the presence of the
sovereign. Madrid is the only capital
in the world where such a scene could
be witnessed as this On the occasion of
the opening ceremony of the legisla-
ture-that is to say, the spectacle OF
the King and his grandees or peers.
with their hats on their heads, while ne
was delivering the inaugural speech. all
the other men not grandees who were
present being tareheaded AS soon as
the King had finished his speech he
dotted the hat which he had worn while
speaking to emphasize his sovereignty,
and, of course, all the grandees DOTTED
their hats likewise.
The King is now seventeen years of
age, very tall, well set up and athletic,
taking after his. Austrian mother
brothers. who are very tall and stalwart,
rather than after his father. the late
Don Alfonso, who was a little bit of a
man. obliged TO resort to all sorts OF
articles in the way Of padding and high
heeled shoes in order to give himself
| some kind of a ''prestance-"
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
The Sixth Duke of Buccleuch.

II the Dukes of Buccleuch today use
the royal arms of King Charles II, De
bruised" by a baton sinister, 1t is be-
cause Ann. Duchess Of Buccleuch. "es-
teemed the greatest heiress and the
finest woman of her kind, was married
by King Charles II to his illegitimate
son, James, Duke of Monmouth, born
to him by Lucy Walters, and who. 1t may
be remembered, persisted on the scanoid
during the reign of his uncle, King
James II, for having endeavored TO
possess himself of the crown,
His treason led to the forfeiture to
the crown of his own honors-that is TO
say. of the dukedom of Monmouth-but
not of those which his wife had in
herited in her own right, the duke
dom and the earldon of Buccleuch-
and accordingly his sons son Francis
succeeded on the death Of his grand
mother to her honors and dignities as
Duke of Buccleuch. The present duke
is the sixth of his line. His wife, sister
of the Duke of Abercorn, is grand
mistress of the robes and chief of the
feminine portion of the household OF
Queen Alexandra, an office which she
likewise held during the closing years
of the reign of Queen Victoria
MARoUIsE DE FoNTENoY.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
Britain S Consular Service.
The "Spoils" Evil as fragrant as 1t
Is With Us.


American readers of the Quarter
~ Review for April will find with
some surprise that almost exactly the
same criticisms which are passed upon
the consular service of the United
States as to the unftness of the men
appointed, the Insecurity Of tenure,
and the effect of Influence" in secur-
ing desirable positions, are made,
with slight differences Of expression,
upon the British system.
This is only parity true of the Brit
ISL consular service in the near and
far East. But in the general consular
service, such examinations as take
place are qualifying only, not compe-
titive, and even these are sometimes
waived altogether. Appointments to
high office are occasionally made from
among those who have previously
served as consular clerks. But the
usual practice is TO select nominees, as
vacancies occur, from a list of candi-
dates kept by the secretary of state.
He is free to appoint whom he
pleases within the prescribed age
limit, from twenty-five to fifty years.
1t is expected that the persons APP
pointed shall pass qualifying exam
nation; but out of eighty-two sal
aried consuls in the existing list only
thirty four have passed an examina-
ton. Of sixty-six salaried vice con-
suIs, exactly half have been examined.
After the examination has been
passed or dispensed with, the candi-
date is required to attend for three
months at the foreign Office in order
tc become acquainted with the forms
of business, and he is then supposed
to be fully equipped for his duties
even if his post be that of a consul
general in a great commercial and
shipping port.
Thescase is as bad as regards pro-
motion as it is with reference TO origi-
nal appointments. what chance
asks 'the Quarterly Review" ''has the
ordinary aspirant of regular promo
ton, leading ultimately, as reward
for intelligent and long-continued la
bors, TO one of the. prizes of his pro
fession ~ And IT answers its owl
question: without that magic charm
Influence he has very little"
When such things happen in oul
own consular service, we describe
them frankly as "spoils'' or a pull.
Those words may not be current il
England. but the practices amount Il
much the same thing, by whateve
term they are described. Here, a
::sssst, is a chance for noble emulation
If the friends of American consula
reform are vigilant and aggressive
perhaps We can lift our consular ser
vice out of the slough Of politics anC
favoritisln before the British have re
formed theirs.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
JAMES GORDON BENNETT
SUES GERMAN PAPERS

BERLIN. May 90.-James Gordon
Bennett, Of the New York Herald, has
brought suit for libel against "Die Post"
and the "Berliner Neueste Naehrieh-
ten" The two German papers stated IN
their columns that the dispatches pub
lished in the New York Herald" were
not sent by correspondents in Germany.
but we're manufactured IN the Office OF
the Herald"
The papers also charged that for years
Mr.. Bennett has done all in his power
to create an anti-German feeling in the
United States by grossly misrepresentinS
the truth about German affairs Mr-
Benefits only reply was 10 at once in
stitute suit for libel. The utmost in
terest is being taken in the matter.
especially since the report last night Of
the expulsion of Mr.. Lucknow. the
'Herald's" correspondent in Berlin
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
ARMY PREPARED FOR
TROUBLESOME PERSONS

The quiet energy with which the
United States Army is being prepared
Cor anything that may happen has been
brought TO light by the recent action of
the War Department in sending to Dus-
selsdorf for fifty of the new style field
guns.
This means that almost $2.oO0.oOO
which would ordinarily be spent in this
country goes to that Of Emperor VIII
liam. This brings out the fact that
every firm that can build the guns is
already heavily loaded with Government
contracts. The public and private fac
tories are working day and night for the
army, and they are much behind in their
work.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
The Acme of Folly.
Can Human Credulity Ever Be Over
strained?

The developments III the case of
Mrs. Helen Wilmans Post, practicer
of mental science and absent treat
nent," may cause amusement and
wonder to the historian of some fu-
ture generation if he happens to come
across the records in the files of old
newspapers. 1t is difficult to believe
that there are still so many gulhble
persons in this country that anybody
can make a living by such means as
Mrs. Post is alleged to have used.
Yet the evidence Is good.
We find in the reports Of the case
that Mrs. Post accepted money from
a poor woman in Florida, who took
course of treatment to cure her
brother of drunkenness. Another
woman in the same State took treat
ment for her sister in Boston, who
was suffering from consumption.
Queerer still, somebody accused of
larceny took course of treatment to
soften the heart of the judge. If that
sort of thing is efficacious before the
law, Mrs. Post may have chance of
acquittal, for she will certainly be
called upon to try it in her own case.
This is apparently the furthest linn
it of the ''absent treatment" absurdi-
~, and since the time when somp
nours attended the criminal TO the
scaffold and sold him a ticket to Par
adise. there has been no more striking
exhibition Of the imbecility Of super
stition. It may be that Mrs. Post ac-
tually believed, as some of the par
.doners of the Middle Ages probably
| believed Of themselves, that her minis
trations are effective.
But the quicker such decisions are
dispelled by the power of common
sense, the better it Will be for both
the deceiver and the deceived The
idea of poor people wasting then
hard-earhed money on such foolish
ness as this is utterly pathetic. Then
faith deserves a better reward.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
Bugenie's Visit to Rome.


ExE Empress Eugene, during her re-
cent stay at Rome, held no intercourse
whatsoever with the Quirinal. although
the Bonapartes are closely related to
the house of Savoy, the late Kings sis
ter, the aunt of the present King
Victor Emmanuel, being the widow
OF the late Prince Napoleon Je-
rome Bonaparte, while the latter's
daughter, Princess Laetitie Bonaparte.
is the widow of the late Kings younger
brother. and therefore an aunt of Victor
Emmanuel. Empress Eugene, however.
had private interview with the Pope.
in spite of the statements which have
been issued TO the contrary, and unless
am much mistaken it is the first occa-
sion OF her crossing the threshold Of
the Vatican since her marriage over
fifty years ago.
The Papacy owes her a debt of graft
tude. Fer there is no doubt that had it
not been for her interference and infiu-
ence the Holy Seat would have been de :
prived of its temporal power some eight
or nine years prior to its loss of Rome
in 1870 The Empress, like most Span
tards. has always been exceedingly de-
voted to the Church, and she brought all
the weight OF her power while Empress
OF the French to bear upon the retention
of that French army of occupation at
Rome which from 1860 until 1870 alone
prevented Italy from taking possession
of the Eternal City.
In fact. when Garibaldi at the head
of large army of followers invaded
TIE Papal States in 1867 with the object
OF capturing Rome and presenting 1t to
the late King Victor Emmanuel In the
same way that he had done with the
kingdom CT Naples a few years earlier.
the Garibaldian forces were defeated by
the French troops belonging to the army
OF occupation at Rome. at the battle of
Mentena, where the French soldiers
lad their first opportunity of subject
ing to the test of actual warfare the
Their newly invented Chassepot rifles.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
The Field Of Politics
Fish n the Ring.

Fish n the Ring.
The announcement that the Hon. Ben
jamin B. OdelI, jr.. viii not be a can
didate for a third term as governor of
New York has started little boomlet
for the nomination of the Hon. Hamil-
tor Fish. assistant United States
treasurer in New York city. Mr.. Fish
comes of a prominent New York family
and one which has been prominent in
State and national politics for many
years. He has himself had much ex-
perience at the political game in the
Empire State, and would doubtless
make strong candidate against any
one the Democrats might select.
Mr.. Fish was a candidate for the
nomination in 1896, when the Hon. Frank
s Black was named by Senator Platt.
and who. after two years in the gov
ernor's chair, so displeased his boss
that he was denied the usual honor OF
a denomination, and Plat allowed
Roosevelt to capture the prize. Mr.. Fish
then temporarily retired from politics
and did not re-enter the arena until
after several unsuccessful efforts to Sc
leot an assistant treasurer of the United
States for New York. The President
appointed him to the position. The Re
rublicans will have no easy task OF
electing their candidate next year, and
they viii need a strong man like Mr..
Fish II they are TO carry the State.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
DRYDEN net to Resign.

Senator Dryden has nailed the canard
which some OF the ambitious embryo
Jersey statesmen have been cireulat-
ing to the effect that he contemplated
resigning his seat in the United States
Senate The rumor is said to have been
started by reason of the fact that the
Senator was recently made director in
the United States Steel Corporation, and
it was reported that he was to be the
trusts representative in the State.
Senator Dryden denies the rumor abb
solutely and without qualification. an
nouncing that he intends to serve out
his term, and intimating that he may
even seek to succeed himself. His for
tune is so large that there is no reason
why he should desire to increase it at
the expense of abandoning political ca
reer. which he IS anxious to establish.
There is more likelihood that Senator
Drydens colleague in the Senate. the
Hon John Kean, may retire from public
office, although not voluntarily. There
are four or five ambitious Jerseyites who
are laying their plans preparatory to
capturing the Legislature and getting
themselves elected to succeed Senator
Kean.
Persons well informed regarding af-
fairs in the State predict that the man
most likely to be Senator Kean's success
sor IS the Hon. Edward C. Stokes. COM
paratively newcomer in the politics
of the State, but one who has shown
such political sagacity that he is reck-
oned as a strong force, and perhaps the
coming man In Jersey politics.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31

rations in turn was beaten in the Eag-
dad Railroad project. there are new CO.
operative over lures looking TO interna-
ticnalizing this railroad This might
settle the difficulties that have arisen
between Russia and England touching
the Persian Gulf, and by preserving in
ternaticral rights in the passage of
commerce ard passengers from Europe
to India further display the co-opera-
tive and peaceful method of action
which the Car suggested and which the
nations have adopted at the tribunal OF
The Hague. The fact is war is threat
ening to get out Of fashion, and even
France is singing Christmas carols
around the English Maypole.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31
Lineage of King Edwards Host.

Although tBurke's Peerage" and SIM
liar works of reference describe the
Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry,
with whom King Edward and Queen
Alexandra have been staying at Dali
keith Palace, in Scotland. as descended
from Sir Richard lie Scott, who was a
parsonage of distinction in the reign OF
King Alexander III of Scotland, and Of
King Edward / of England" yet accord
ing to old Scottish traditions the Dukes
of Buccleuch are descended from an out
law and a poacher, who lived much ear
lier, in the reign of King Kenneth Mac
Alpine.
Ii seems that the outlaw John was
following the King and the latter
huntsmen through one of the royal Tor
ests. The stag which the King was
stalking stood at bay in narrow chasm,
or ''cleuch," in border parlance, and
no man burst follow but the outlaw John,
who, Selling the buck by the horns
threw it on its back, and exhibiting
pretty enough feat of strength, ran with
his prize up the mountain till he thre"
it at the Kings feet There was moth
ing left then for the monarch to do but
to revoke the decree of outlawry against
John. and to christen him Buck Cleuch,
or "Buccleuch.
It is this John the outlaw, therefore,
who was the founder Of the great cucai
house of Buccleuch In Scotland, one OF
whose members, Sir Walter Scott OF
Buccleuch, figures in 1.-THE Lay OF the
Last Minstrel" as the laird who made
a gallant but abortive attempt to rescue
the Scotch King, James V, from the
control of the Earl OF Angus.
The Washington times., 1903-05-31

for some bcys attacked by the Indian
fever If they were allowed TO rough
it on their own resources for a time
They would then find a good home
and father with money more desir-
able than they had Supposed. Every
healthy boy should have his chance to
camp out, 10 indulge his inventive
genius, to row, or run, or Climb, or do
trapeze exercises, or work off his en-
ergy in any way suggested by his tenn
permanent. There will never be 4 sue
cessful system for reforming wild
youths which aims at making them
into little old men.