davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
NOT A GOOD FIELD.

The interesting announcement is
made by the national officers of the
United Textile Workers Union of
America, with headquarters at Fall
River, Mass, that they have given up
the task of organizing the textile
workers in the South. I'm the future"
say these officers, IF organization is
wanted in the South the demand will
have to come from those who are or
ganized. This attempt to organize the
South has cost the union many thou
sands of dollars" The officers say
that the Southern operatives refuse to
pay dues.
1t should be noted at the outset that
the demand for organization in the
South did not come from the opera
tives of the South, but from those of
New England. The New Englanders,
seeing that the South was manufac-
turing cotton goods cheaper than they
could do it, set about to flnd some
means by which the growth of cotton
manufacturing in the South could be
checked and the business retained in
the North. AS one means to this end
they pitched upon the organization of
the Southern cotton mill labor; not
because of any real sympathy which
they felt for the labor of the South,
but because they had their own inter-
ests at heart. If the Southerners
could be induced to make it unpleas-
ant for employers and cut down their
profits, there would be a checking of
the manufacturing movement in the
South. That is doubtless why the
unions of Fall River and other Massa-
chusetts towns were willing to spend
thousands of dollars in an effort to
organize the South.
The vast majority of Southern cot
ton mill operatives are native white
people Who were born and bred on the
sob ana expect to die here. They were
raised in an atmosphere of freedom
and are stieilers for the greatest de-
gree Of personal liberty consistent
with the law. Moreover, they are Civ
en- to thinking for themselves and to
demanding good reasons why when
| a suggestion is made TO them ihVolV-
ing surrender of their free
dom of action and change
| in their mode of living. These
Southerners had never asked to be or
ganized. They felt themselves compe-
tent to take care of their own affairs
| When the New Englanders came down
| to organize them they began to ask
the reason. They reached the conclu-
sion that they did not care to be or
| ganized. and to pay dues, for the ben
eft of the New Englanders; hence the
failure of the philanthropic scheme OF
the Massachusetts organizers. When
the Southern operatives feel the need
of organization, they will attend to
| the matter themselves.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
RE-GRADING FOR ENGINEERS.

The civil engineer corps of the
United States navy is seeking re-grad-
ing at the hands of the President. The
revised statutes of the United States
give the President the power to fix
such rank for civil engineers in the
naval service as he may deem MT.
Since the engineers in the corps
numbered but ten, which was twenty
two years ago, there has been no
change in the grading. The corps now
comprises thirty-one officers, while
four months from now there will have
been three added. In the corps are
two captains, two commanders, two
lieutenant commanders. four lieuten-
ants and all the rest are junior lieuten-
ants.
other corps that are adjuncts of the
navy have Jared better in the matter
of rank. If there is justice, for in
stance, in the grading that distributes
five captaincies, five commanderships
and twelve lieutenantcies among twen-
ty-two naval constructors, it seems
to us that it should extend to the
CIVIL 0HSllSCt COIRcs vi 1NCANO be1NeNA
professors three are captains, four
are commanders and fac are lieuteu-
ants. In similar disparity the civil
engineers suffer in comparison with
the rank of chaplains. 1t is a no.
ticeable fact, too, that there is not
an officer in one of the other corps
with grade so low as that of junior
lieutenant. while that rank is held by
a majority of the civil engineers.
The civil engineers of the navy gained
their education through their pri-
vate means. They We're not instructed
at government expense. They are
placed in charge OF government work
involving hundreds Of thousands OF
dollars. and their rank is mcommen-
surate, In a number OF instances. with
the Importance OF the posts they mold.
For example, the civil engineer at the
Norfolk Navy Yard has rank as junior
Lieutenant. yet he has jurisdiction over
and Is responsible for s., 900 900 worth
Of government property.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
THE TAXATION MIDDLE.

If 1t were not so serious matter,
the outcome of the attempt to fix the
valuation of railroad property in the
state for taxatio by the means of ar
bitration and umpires would, be ludi-
crous. AS a matter of fact, it is a
misnomer to call the present plan of
arriving at a valuation arbitration"
Under a recent legal decision the UNI
pire is the whole thing" When there,
is a difference between the figures of
the arbitrator for the state and those
of the arbitrator for the railroad COM
pany, and there always is such a diff
ference, the umpire steps in and SUBJ
mits his figures, and they are final.
Thus, so far as results are concerned,
the two arbitrator might be dispensed
with.
The cases of three railroad systems
have been passed upon by arbitrator
and umpires, the umpire naming the
valuation in each instance. And what
do we get? Why, that the franchise
of the Atlantic Coast Line is worth,
for taxation, about twice as much as
that of the Seaboard Air Line and a
great deal more than that of the South
ern Railway. Why this difference
There isn't any answer to the ques-
ton, further than that the legally con-
stituted boards of arbitration have said
so The Seaboard and the Atlantic
Coast Line occupy practically the same
territory in the state, their equipments
are identical in all essential respects,
the character of their business is the
same; and yet in both physical equip%
ment and franchise value there is a
big difference. Either one road is as
sessed much too high or the other much
| too low. 1t cannot be claimed that
there Is equality of taxation as between
! them. The arbitration system has
shown its weakness and inadequacy.
The matter may get into the courts
! Whether it does or not. it should get
| into the Legislature at its next session
and an effort should be made to de-
wise some plan for avoiding such
! muses. in future. Our taxation system
is VIGOROUSLY faulty. not only with
respect TO corporations, but all other
! classes Of property. A general remod-
] cling of the system is badly needed.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
CURRENT COMMENT.

The Chicago Daily News Qnd.) says:
"As Jim Tillman's skin is white the
people of South Carolina cannot be
expected to point to the laws delays
in his case as an additional excuse
for resorting to lynching."
The Chicago Journal Qnd.) says:
Perhaps Mr.. Carmack has an idea
that Tennessee will keep him in the
Senate for the rest of his life as the
John T. Morgan of the movement for
the repeal of the fifteenth amendment"
The Baltimore American CRep.) says:
Woman suffrage may be delayed in
general extension, but it is sure
conner. Feminine voters in Connecti-
cut have even been complying with
the provision of the law compelling
them to tell their ages in their eager
ness to vote"
The Philadelphia Record (Dem.) says.
with the Desert Lands act I'm force
and with other means OF despoiling
the public domain the enormous ex-
penditure OF the government for irri-
CATION Is likely 20 accrue chiefly for
the benefit Of specializing syndleatss
and monopoles."
The Philadelphia Press ORep.l says.
'''rhe friends Of Mr.. Olney In Massa-
chuselts have determined 20 push
him for the Democratic Presidential
nomination. Their purpose Is iuafih=d
by state preference. by persou,al "a.
mesa and BY political policy A. the
same time n win b. ali in vain There
b. nn prospect that ST. DlneY VIII be
mode fhn Democrats candidate"
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26

pacity yby closing the mines for two
of the six working days, and notify
consumers that they must pay what
the trust is pleased to demand, with the
alternative of Freezing If they do not
choose to. be robbed.
At the time OF the strike and famine,
prices shot up to exceptionally high
figures. Were the prices reduced when
coal mining was resumed? Have they
been yet reduced. when the stocks are
so large that there is a glut in the
market and the production must be
.curtailed? No. Prices are higher now
by practically 81 per ton than they
were two years ago, and it has been
intimated from source very near the
headquarters of the trust that another
advance may be expected before De-
cember.
President Baer of the Reading COM
pany said some time ago that the coal
mine owners. and operators were the
trustees of Providence" in the control
Of the country's supply of coal. This
squeezing of consumers and miners
shows how these divine trustees are adj
ministering their trust. The simple
truth is that the coal barons have it in
their power to make the people recoup
them for their losses during the strike
and add to their profits, and they are
going to do it. If the people do not
like it well, what are they going
IN do2
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
A coal SauEEZE.

Our dispatches yesterday contained
the information that the coal trust
would reduce the production of its
mines by % TO 3S per cent. over 49,
100000 tons OF coal have been mined
since Jan. l, which is several million
tons more than was ever produced for
a like period in the history of the min
ing industry. The present glut," IL Is
said, "and the efforts to prevent break
in prices Is the cause OF the restric-
ton"
Ordinarily when merchant finds
himself oyerstocked. he reduces prices
and thus gets rid OF the surplus OF his
commodities. But not 20 the coal trust
Being master or the situation. Il can
force consumers 20 pay any price Il
plesaer kFer Aimee the conclusion of
ihe great coal strike ~ last winter The
trust has been acouniuiutiug aud stor-
ing coal in anticipation o. tusf such
q condition n nHalrt ns exists to-day
Yhe trust niii pow lsy on a number ~
hf mel, gr reduce iheir earning 60
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
The Irrepressible Humorist.

The screaming idiot buttonholed his
serious friend, says the New York
Times. Did you hear about the Big
ger family?" he began. There were
three of them, Mr. Bigger, Mrs. Bigger,
and Baby Bigger. Now which of the
three would you say was the big
gest ?"
Il don't know, I'm sure" returned
the friend. Il haven't seen a vaude-
vile show since 1 was a boy. must
be going"
Hold on! The baby was the big
gest because it was little Bigger. Ha,
ha! Amt it a peach? But Mr.. Bigger
died, leaving Baby Bigger and Mrs.
Bigger. Which of them was the big
gest after that?"
well, goodbye"
Hold on. He was still the biggest,
Mr.. Bigger was. You see he was still
Bigger. See it? Still Bigger! Ha, ha!
But after Mrs. Bigger married the de-
ceased husbands brother she was the
biggest. Ha, ha! Why?"
well. e"
Hold on. She was more Bigger, be-
ing twice married to a man named
Bigger. More Bigger! Ha, ha! Aain't it a
-corker. Don't CO. Mrs. Bigger got a
divorce-and then which was the big
gest? Hold ont'
But the victim had dexterously re-
leased his buttonhole from captivity
and was running for his life.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
INDEX 10 NEW ADVERTISEMENTS

Special Notices-When Taking a
Train. Union Station Restaurant; DR..
H l. O'Connor Has Returned; Ship
Notice. j. F. Minis & Co., Agents;
Dividend Notice, Macon Railway and
Light Company; Grandma Sausage,
Jas. J. Joyce; Country Produce, NJ. S.
Gardner; Ship Notice, Strachan & Co.
Business Notices-October, A. NJ. &
C. w West.
The Four Best Hats-B. H. Levy &
Bro.
Mems and Young Mems High Grade
CIothing-The Metropolitan Company.
Foods-GrapeNuts
Beer-Anheuser- Busch Brewing Co.
Silverware-The Gorham Co.
Our Record Is Before You-The Del
naOnico Co.
Come in To-Day-wm. & H. H. Lat
timore.
Savannah Theater-"Sweet Jas
mine" To-day. Matinee and Night.
Human Hearts" Tuesday Matinee and
Night. .rs.+
Medical-Pinkham Remedy; Syrup
OF Figs: Herpicide.
Cheap Column -Advertisements-Help
Wanted; Employment Wanted; For
Rent; For Sale; Lost; Personal; Mis-
cellaneous.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
Municipal pnrsImony.

The rich American contractor had re-
turned from his first trip abroad, and
was telling the fellows at the club
ABOUT it, says the Chicago Tribune.
Taking it altogether he said. 81
had about as interesting a time in
Italy as anywhere else
That's a great country" said one
of the club members. 1--WE been all
through it. Did you visit Pisa, where
the leaning tower is?'
You noticed that tower. too, did
your" returned the contractor. Why,
durn it, it's twelve or fifteen feet out
of plumb! l could tell that the min
ute 1 saw it. One of our stiff winds
would blow the whole blamed business
over. | wouldn't have gone to the
top of the thing for million dollars.
The first thing / did was to sit down
and do a little figuring. Then 1 hired
an interpreter and went to see the
Mayor of the town. They don't call
him the Mayor, but that's what he is.
Mr.. Mayor 1 said, through the in
terpreter, you'll have a capsized build
ing on your hands one of these days
if you don't get that jiggamaree tower
of yours Strengthened up. I'll do the
job for you, all right and ship shape,
for $396.OO0'''
w udI Qll he say 10 IHdIs
HE only laughed. 1 guess he thought
it was too much money. Then 1 went
to my hotel and did lot more figur-
ing. inquired about the price of stone
in the rough, what it would cost me
to get a few skilled Workmen and a
lot of common laborers, and / found
L could do it cheaper. Then 1 went to
see him again. Mr.. Mayor / said,
I've made another set of calculations.
I'll straighten up that tower of yours
for $685. / don't mind telling YOU
l would have made a fairly good thing
out of it, even at that. I'll do it for
$315,000, I said. Call your City Coun-
ell together said, and lay my prop
osition before Them"
well, did that fetch him?"
Fetch him? Why he got mad, and
told the interpreter to tell me l was
a crazy fool. He said he wouldn't have
it Strengthened up if 1 would do it for
nothing. People wouldn't care to see
it then, he said. That made me mad.
Why, durn your stingy hide! / said,
is that the way you try to crawl out
of spending a little money for the good
of your town? Some day that thing
will fall down and kill a hundred peo-
pie, and you know it, 1 said L don't
need the money said. I've got money
to burn. And l wouldn't fix your old
tower now if you were to pay me a
million dollars to do it. you eheap
skate dago!' And turned on my heel
and walked out. There's one Eyetalian
mayor, gentlemen, that knows what l
think of him. by iockSiH
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
PERSONAL.

Gen. w. L. Cabell of Dallas, Tex,
has written what he declares to be the
true history of the Confederate flag, as
a contribution to Confederate war
history. IA A
Peter Macarthur, who was for many
years identified with New York publi
cations and now holds a staff position
on the London Punch, was talking with
a friend, who made the trite observa
ton that circumstances alter cases.
They do, indeed" asSented Mr.. Near
thur. THE mob that wants to hang a
man is never half so particular in the
matter of Identification as is the bank
cashier who is asked TO cash check
for $a"
"A battle for political mastery is on
in Indiana between Senators Fairbanks
and Beveridge. Until about two years
ago the former was absolute boss of
the Republican party in the hoosier
state, but of late Mr.. Beveridge has
been gaining strength steadily and
now questions his colleagues right to
first place. Mr.. Fairbanks is not more
than holding his own, and his friends
make no secret of the fact that they
are apprehensive.
1t is not so many wears since Gov.
Durbin of Indiana was employed in a
wholesale dry goods house in Indian
apolis. The knowledge of fabrics which
he acquired there has just come in
handy. Complaint was made to him
that the Indiana Boys School at Plain
field was paying too much for uniforms.
The Governor sent for samples and
after careful examination decided that
the complaint was well founded. He
has taken steps to put matters right.
Capt. Charles Barclay, who be-
comes a rear admiral in the navy by
the retirement of Admiral Casey is
at present in command of the naval
station on Puget sound. He was re-
Gently in commafid of the double tur-
reted monitor Amphitrite. He was
ordnance officer at Charleston for sew
eral years, leaving there in 1896, soon
after his promotion to command the
Raleigh. He was slated to command
the Wabash a year ago, but did not
get the assignment. Il
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
Cuttin' Corn.

From the Baltimore American.
Folks may banker all they keer to
For tn country in tn fall,
They may rave about tn beauty
OF tn autumn leaves an all;
They may talk about tn glory
OF tn sunshine an tn haze,
They may gush about TIL grandeur
OF tn gold an purple days,
But they's just one recxollection
Makes me glad. as sure's your born
Gee, I'm glad at I'm not our there
Cuttin cornl
Spanish needles in yer jumper
An yer threadbare overalls;
Cockle-burrs as thick as hops that's
CROWN on tn garden walls;
Dead OF blades that Keeps a-sawin'
AT yer blistered neck an ears
| recall IL jest as easy
Though it's been a heap o. years
Sence | ust L take my cutter
An go growlin' out at morn
To put In a whole long day at
cuttin corn!
Heap o. things a man don't fancy
In this city life o. ours,
Where ye've got L keep a-spurriu'
Al yer minds an bodys powers.
Sleep don't ind yer eyes 50 easy
As II did when you was tired
With the long days tug an rustic
That M farmln work required.
But yen never catch me freffiu'
Ner a-pinin round forlorn.
While ! realite im safe from
Suuin corn
-. IS. G.llHan.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
His Ernfinrn.

After short acquaintance he had
proposed and was properly landed, says
the Chicago Daily News. Then the
fair daughter of Eve proceeded to get
confidential.
Did 7 ever tell you," she began,
that 1 once had my fortune told"
mo; tell ME about it,
"Oh, there isn't much to tell" contin-
ued the orange blossom candidate. 1.-The
seeress said 1 would be married twice
and that my second husband would be
as handsome as he was good. Also
Woman" interrupted the would-be
freight payer of the prospective merger,
you have deceived me! Why didn't
you tell me you were a Widow"
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26

A story of r. H. Stoddard, recently
published, has been told before, but is
good enough to repeat, says the Boston
Post. 1t concerns a midnight luncheon
which the poet was getting for friend,
after Mrs. Stoddard and the servants
were in bed. The luncheon was to be
graced by sardines, and Mr.. Stoddard
tried to open the tin with a jackkn1te.
Presently Mrs. Stoddard called from
her room:
What are you doing?"
Opening q can of sardines," answer
ed the eXasperated man.
with WHAT"
"A dashed old jackknife-wAat did
you think was opening it with?"
We'll dear" said Mrs. Stoddard'
dryly, It didn't exactly think you were
opening it with prayer"
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
The VICE PRESIDENCY.

During the early days of the govern
ment the vice presidential office stood
very close to the presidency; the Vice
President was the adviser of the Pres
ident and to all intents and purposes
Il member of the cabinet. Adams and
Jefferson were really parts, and very
potent parts, of the administrations in
which they were vice presidents; and
the training they received as under
studies to the President stood them in
very good stead when they themselves
were called to the chief magistracy. 1t
seems to have been in the minds of
the trainers of the constitution that
the Vice President should be an active
force in the government, and compe-
tent by ability, information and SYM
pathy with administration policies to
step at once into the place of the Pres
ident should that official be removed
by death or disability.
But from the time of Jefferson the
vice presidency has gradually drifted
away from the presidential Office I'M
til to-day the Vice President is hardly
more than a figure-head. He is pres
ident of the Senate, but is not MEM
Der of that body. He has a voice in
the government only when there is a
tie vote in the Senate, when he may
cast the deciding ballot. He is not
member of the cabinet, nor is he an
adviser of or with the President. In
the government machinery he is rath-
err an ornamental than a useful detail.
And yet he is the man who is first in
order of succession to the presidency
under the law.
Into such state of disregard and
useIessness has the vice presidency
fallen that the politicians have of late
been using the Office as landing place
for persons whom they wished to kick
UP stairs" and thus be rid of. That
this is a dangerous practice has been
illustrated on more occasions than one.
There is not the slightest doubt in any
ones mind that our present accidental
President owes his eminence solely to
the fact that the vice presidency was
very lightly regarded by the politi-
clans who made the Republican ticket
in 1900 and who hoped to permanent
ly shelve him by putting him into the
position.
The Chicago Post insists that the
time has come for a change in the
manner of treatment of the vice pres
idency; and we think the Post is
right. Since the. Vice President may
at any time be called upon to succeed
to the presidency, the man who is
nominated for second place on the
ticket ought to be big enough and
broad enough for first place. And,
after election he should have a seat at
the cabinet table, where his opinions
should weigh equally with those of the
secretaries. Since no departmental or
other. onerous duties would devolve
upon him., the Vice President would be
able to give more time and serious
thought to great questions of govern
ment policy than even the President
could give, since much of the latter's
time Is devoted to the dispensation of
patronage. In short, the vice presidency
needs to be vitalized, made of some
account. 1t needs to be rehabilitated
and given the importance that the
founders of the government intended
it should have.
The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-09-26
BRIGHT BITS.

You have broken my heart" he
said. bitterly. as-,they walked back to
the hotel. WHY didn't you tell me
that you were married.
Why" she pouted, how was 1 to
know that you were single ?"-Smart
Set.
Washington. lis very well-preserved
man, apparently
Yes the resident of the capital re-
piled, "he ought to be. He's one of the
government food tasters, and has been
living on picking liquids for week or
two. "-Cincinnati Commercial-Tribun
-Kitty-So you have been to Parts.
You must have had a nice time there,
you understand the language so per-
fectly, you know.
Bessie-Why, the fact is, though
you'd hardly believe it, they speak
such queer French there it's quite inn
possible to converse with them with
Transcript.
-Stranger-''Are the walters here at
tentive to your"
Pretty Cashier-"Sir-r-r-r!"
Stranger-"Oh, no offense, 1 assure
you. l was only carrying out the in
structions as printed on the bill of fare,
which says. Please report any inatten>
ton of walters to cashier And I
thought if they were inattentive to you
would report them-that's aIL"-Bal-
timore American.
The young woman who had been
occupying the attention of the piano
for the previous ten minutes sudden
ly stopped and turned around. II beg
your pardon, professor" she said, for
playing 'Hiawatha' so long. l didn't
notice what l was doing" There is
no apology needed. my DEAR" replied
her elderly instructor benignantly.
You were playing it so l didn't recog-
nize it."-Chicago Tribune.