The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-10
WASHINGTON GOSSIP

w Ao111N U1ON NOSSlf
Washington.
BY his opposition to the Panama canal
treaty Senator German has seriously in
jured any prospects he may have had
for becoming a presidential candidate on
the democratic ticket. His disposition to
be against the government, right or wrong,
or his wish to serve the transcontinental
railroads, has resulted in putting him on
the unpopular side of the canal PROPOSE
ton.
Senator Spooner Of Wisconsin Is de
voted to baseball, but there are few men
who have turned a single ball game to
account to the tune of three-quarters of
a million dollars. That's what he did once.
AS he tells it, he was sitting on fence,
in the little New England town where
he spends his summers, watching a game,
when fortune came to him in the disguise
Of a shabby man with a hard luck story.
Ordinarily the senator would not have
had time to listen to the hard luck plea,
but as he could watch the game and listen
simultaneously, he told the man to fire
away. The stranger said he was passing
through the town and wanted to interest
the senator, in his capacity Of lawyer, in
the case Of his sister, who was living in
abject poverty in Boston with several
children dependent on her and no means
of support. He went on to explain that
his sister had married a barkeeper, and
that her husband had been very success
full and had finally become interested in
a number Of hotels and that he was a
millionaire. With his change of fortune
he had taken to dissipation, and finally
had abandoned his family and was living
with another woman who claimed to be
his wife. Senator Spooner listened, but
was not much impressed with the story.
The stranger said neither he nor his
sister had any money, to pay a lawyer,
but that they were anxious to have Sena-
tor Spooner look after the case, and
urged that he take it on a contingent
fee, which would be half Of what he could
get for the abandoned wife. The senator
remarked that he would see about it, and
took the address Of the woman in Boston
who was said to be deserted, and thought
little more about 1t.
On his way home he stopped in Chicago
and enlisted the services of a lawyer
friend there to look up the husband, who
he now heard had recently died. In a
day or two he had a telegram from the
Chicago attorney advising him to come
on at once, and saying that all the state
ments made were true. A trip was made
to Boston. The widow. as she supposed
herself to be, who had inherited the for-
tune, learned with arnazement Of the ex-
istence of a previous wife and her law
yers were equally astonished. But evil
dence was plentiful and a brief investiga-
ton led to a settlement, by which the
three-million dollar estate-for that is
what it scheduled-Was equally divided,
and Senator Spooner took his fee Of
$750,00O.
Surgeons at army posts where regi-
mental field hospitals are maintained are
instructed, In recent army orders, to
pitch these hospitals as often az once in
three months At posts where the climate
is damp they ore to air the hospital can
vas once month. Nineteen army posts
are affected by this order. Those in the
northwest are at Fort Sheridan, near Chi
cago; Fort Smelling, Minnesota, and Fort
Meade, South Dakota. Heretofore these
hospital accessories have only been aired
| as needed, which has not always been in
the interest of the health Of the soldier
The United States Is rapidly capturing
the world market for shoes. Only few
days ago the consular reports contained a
report from Australia, telling Of the efforts
that are being made by merchants to pre-
vent the importation Of American foot
wear. But notwithstanding these efforts,
| the American trade continues to increase.
In England the sale Of American shoes is
carrying Consideration into the ranks of
| local manufacturers In France similar
condition prevails. In Germany, which is
| the latest country to make an open pro-
test against the American INVASION" the
situation is the same. The expectation of
American shoes to Germany during 1901
was $188,795; in 1902 it was $197, 1897, and
in 1903 $337.093.
l. American shoe dealers have opened
stores in all Of the principal German
cities. They pay duty Of from. 10 to 20
cents pair, but even such a handicap
does not interfere with trade. Another
| handicap is the fact that American shoes
command more money than those made
at home, but even this has not interfered
with the rapid extension Of trade The
argument in favor Of the American shoe
! Is that it Is lighter, of better form and
more dressy in appearance.
! The German government Is to be asked
to increase the duty on shoes. Meanwhile
the storm Of protest on the part of the
German manufacturers continues with In
creasing vigor. The leading shoe and
leather organ Of the empire Schulz und
Leder, closes leading editorial in a re-
cent issue with these remarks:
/ The only thing to be done is to appeal
to the reason of the German people, The
(. people must understand that German
| shoes are made by machinery manufac-
tured in the United States The most
intelligent workers in American shoe fac
tories are Germans. We have as good
i leather as the Americans. An example Of
this is box calf, the most modern Of al
upper leather. It was first introduced by
! White Brothers from the United States
but now better box calf is made In Ger
many. II the fashion Of American shoes
is praised, 1t must be remembered thai
the largest factory of lasts in the worlc
is in German district, which furnishes
lasts to German factories all over the
world and also to the United States.
'This information must be kept before
the people continually in the newspapers
The German shoe dealer must think tina,
the German factory is the best in the
1 world. He must make it known, also, il
his show window. The American is mo-
slow in putting before the world the mer.
its of his wares, and the German must DE-
likewise
4 Nv. w. Jernane.