davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
Views of Il Prominent Vance County
Farmer Strongly Expressed.

L have long believed that cotton
was the curse of the South. The now
existing semi-panic caused by the re-
cent drop in the price of cotton tends
to confirm this belief. The belief
that first and last, past and present.
cotton has not only done us more
harm than anything else. but more
harm than anything has ever done any
people since history began to record
the woes Of mankind.
Cotton has been a very Pandora's
box from which has flown and from
which continues to flow diverse evils
evils social, evils political, evils moral,
evils economic. But for cotton slavery
would have come to an end long be-
fore 1T did. But for cotton it would
have ended in peace instead of blood
and ruin. But for cotton the negro
problem would have been solved and
the SphynX which has so effectually
blocked our way to progress would
have long aoo crumbled to dust.
L am not blind to the fact that there
were two concurrent influences which
made against emancipation when the
Wisest and best men of the South SO
earnestly desired it. One of these in
fuences was the violent and imfiani-
matory abolition movement at the
North, which not only begot resent
ment at the South, as was natural,
of the bonds of the slave as q mat
ter of self-preservation to the white
race. But the other and | believe the
most potent influence was the sudden
impetus given to cotton growing by
the introduction of the cotton gin.
The Abolition movement ill-timed
and intemperate as it was, could not.
am convinced, have prevented eman-
cipation followed by segregation in
some form, had it not been for the
malign influence of cotton. On the
other hand it seems certain that cot
ton would have kept the negro a
slave had Garrison, Smith, Brooks ana
Charming never been born. For cotton
growing promised-a promise Whlch
has never been fulfilled-great gain
And Mammon, resist him, despise him
as our better selves may, is a great
God, great conquerer. A survey of
the past and the present sees but a
procession of the nations following at
his chariot wheels. glorying in his
triumphs even though they are led
in chains.
So much for the historic and moral
side of the subject which is so vast
that | can only treat it IN the baresr
outline. When we come to view it III
the economic sense cotton seems TO
me no less a curse. 1t has in spite or
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
What Little Saul Got Christmas.

Us parents mostly thinks our owns
The smartest children out!-
But Widder Shelton's little Saul
Beats all I know about!
He's Weary-like-in pint o health,
But strong in word and deed
And heart and head. and snap and
Spunk,
And allus in the lead!
Come honest by it, fer his Pa
Afore ne passed away
He was a leader-Gord, I'd like
To hear him preach todayD
He led his flock; he led in praye"
Fer spread o. peace-and when
Nothin' but War could spread II. ne
Was first to lead US then!
SO little Saul has grit to take
Things jes as they occur;
And Sister Sheltons proud o him
AS he is proud o her!
And when she "got up".--les fer. him
And little playmates all
A Chris mus tree-they ever'one
Was there but little saul.
Pore little chap was sick in bed
Next room; and Doc was there.
And said the children might file past,
But go right back TO where
Thesstree was, in the settln' room,
And Saul jes laid anu smiled
Nerscouidn't nod. ner wave his hand,
Its hurt so-Bless the child!
AndI So they left him there with Doc
And warm tears or his Mas.
en-suddentl llike- high over ali
Their laughter and applause
They heard-"I don't care what you
git -
On yer old Chris mus tree
Cause FIN got somepin you all hsint;
I'm got the pleurisy.
James Whitcomb Riley.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
SELECTION OF DEBAIT8Rs.
Trinity Will Meet Randolph Macon
at Ashland, Feb. 22nd.
Especial to Nws and Observer

(Speclal 10 4NNS anu obSCi NCl'l
Trinity College, n. c., Dec. 10
Trinitys representatives for the Irln-
ity-- Macon debate will be
selected tonight. There will be- e'about
ten contestants. This debate will be
held at Ashland, Va, February p.
The third debate between, Emory
College, of Georgia, and Trinity will
come off there Easter Monday, April
23. Emory has already chosen her
speakers. They are Messrs. r. S.
Parker and H. S. Stroller. The same
debaters that won the decision for
Emory last year. Trinity will choose
her speakers in February
Rev. T. A. Smoot, who has recently
been sent as pastor to Main Street
Methodist church, is a graduate Of
Trinity class of '95. Mr.. Smoot is
an able minister and the college COM
munity are pleased that he has been
sent where they may hear him often.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
DANGEROUS TRACK.

Before the Corporation Commission
in the Selma connection case the
Southern Railway was allowed 70 re-
duce the speed of their trains from
Goldsboro to Greensboro from the
rate they had used for two years
cause it was dangerous on account of
the condition of their track.
What is the State as lessor of this
road doing about this? What has the
Corporation Commission done ?The pc
pie should demand better service as
a protection to life.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
A Dissenting View.

Washington Post.
Baltimores mayor has prohibited
man from paying an election bet by
pushing the winner through the streets
in a wheelbarrow. 1t is coming to
! pretty pass in this country when
man is deprived of the privilege of
making a fool of himself.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
Spirit of the Press
He Did Things. -
Wilmington Star.

Wilmington Star.
Under fusion management the
penitentiary was sWamped in debt.
The Aycock administration relieved
it of debt. and the penitentiary direc-
tors reported the other day that dur
in gthe past year the States prison
has been so managed that it has paid
expenses and has a surplus of 5000.
Governor Aycock can go out of Of
flee with a record that bids defiance
to criticism. He did things" too,
while he kept shop.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
An Efficient Officer.
(pecial to News and Observer.

Goldsboro, n. c., Dec. 10.-Reti1lng
County Treasurer, Mr.. B. A PARKS,
was checked up by the County Board
of Education yesterday afternoon, in
final settlements and his accounts, as
usual, were found to tally to the pen
ny with the books of the board
The county has never had a more
efficient officer than Mr.. Parks, and
he retlres from the Office with the
gratifying consciousness that he fakes
with him the we'll done OF MS fellow
citizens.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
APOLOGY AND EXPLANATION.

Yesterday morning early the per-
fecting press of The News and Obser-
yer suffered an accident that puts ii
out of use until new part, ordered by
telegraph from the factory, can be re-
ceived. The accident caused the loss
of all mails yesterday. Thanks to ouI
neighbor, the Evening Times, the pa
per appeared little late. We are also
indebted to the Times for the use OF
their press for today's paper. We
hope to have the new part of the press
ready for use on Monday or Tuesday
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

A Philadelphia white woman--sO-
called--is suing a negro for breach
of promise. The negro alleges as his
reasons for failing to fulfill the mar
riage engagement their difference in
race, religion and social position The
first reason is sufficient and every
State ought to have a law restraining
legal restraint.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
MORNING TONIC.
Epictetus.)

And faithfulness is thine. and rever-
ence is thine: who, then, can rob thee
of these things? Who can hinder thee
to use them, if not thySelf?
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Every time the price of cotton
drops a point, those farmers, who
were fooled by the gold-brick that
Roosevelt's election would put up the
price of cotton, feel like kicking
themselves.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
just What They Wanted

The farmers may have made mis-
take in holding their cotton. Our
knowledge of the future is not such
as to make certain this point. We do
not claim to be able to advise in re-
gard to holding but one thing we do
know full well. We know that the
cotton mill men wanted the farmers
to dump their cotton on the market
during October and November SO they
could buy it at their own price 1t
was only because some of them held
their cotton that the price held up
as long as it did. If all had sold free
ly the market would have broken to
pieces two months ago. If all farmers
had undertaken t. sell before the
price went down it would have gone
down in spite of them before they
could have gotten the cotton to mar
lxatN
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
HOW It HURTS
Cotton Farmers Were
Urged to Plant Big
Crop.
IfAII The Farmers Had Sold Their Cot
ton in October and November
the Price Would Have Gone
Down Earlier.

The Smtihfeld Herald, which de-
votes much space to agricultural top
les, in its paper last week under the
heading ''Somc Thoughts on Cotton,
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Why is it that some dealers are so
short-sighted that they would rather
sell few ordinary $3.50 shoes at a
big profit than a good many Sorosis at
a small profit?
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Coughs and colds, down to the very
borderland of CONSUMPTION. yield to
the soothing, healing influences of DR..
Woods Norway Pine Syrup.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Is it a burn? Use DR.. Thomas
Electric Oil. A cut? Use DR.. Thomas
Electric Oil. At your druggists.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Burdock Blood Bittars cures II
promptly, permanently. Regulates
and tones the stomach.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

BURNETT'S EXTRACT OF VANILLA.
Is the best, perfectly pure, highly con-
centrated.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

The Democratic platform was made
to stand on; not to get in on.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

The "drap" in cotton and the
slump" in Wall street should teach
sensible men to quit gambling.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

Onely one remedy in the world that
will at once stop itchiness Of the skin
in any part of the body: Doan's Oint-
ment. At any drug store. 90 cents.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11
They Were Mistaken.

Last winter when cotton was scarce
and the mill men saw no way of run
ming their mills until more cotton
could be raised they argued to the
farmers that it would be impossible
to raise a crop large enough this year
to run the price down. We remember
they said the scarcity of cotton, the
increasing demand for goods and the
scarcity of labor would make it inn
possible to run the price down much
and that we would probably never see
low prices again. 1t seems they We're
mistaken. It has come from seventeen
to seven and a half and we see no
reason why we might not get it to four
and one half next year.
The Way it Seems.
If the farmers plant something else
and leave off cotton and have none to
sell the price is up and they wish they
had planted it. If they have cotton to
sell the price is down and they al
most wish they did not have it. The
kind of market they want is one that
will hold the price up to reason
able extent when they have cotton to
sell. They want the users of cotton
throughout the world to be in readi-
ness to buy the cotton when it is ready
for market.
When May We Expect Good Prices?
Last SDGlllS WnSH the COllOt crop
was arranged for, cotton was seven
teen cents per pound. Very few ex-
pected that it would remain anywhere
near that high price but most farmers
believed that the price could not go
lower than 9 1-2 to IL cents. They
felt that ten cents would do and most
of them were willing to sell at that
price. The question we are consider
ing now is when may we expect good
prices for cotton? Starting in with
cotton seventeen cents and not enough
in the world to last the mills until
more could be made-if under these
conditions cotton cannot be sold for
ten cents. under what conditions could
we expect ten cents?
n Great Southern Calamity.
The North and the West may con-
tinue prosperous, but Southern pros
perity will soon be q thing of the past
if cotton remains at the present low
prizes. We regard the drop in prices
of cotton as a great Southern calam-
ity. Cotton is our chief money crot
and unless we make money on it most
of us make money on nothing. Cot
ton is the main pillar in which rests
the building of Southern prosperity
and when it comes out the building
| falls This disaster reaches everybody
except the cotton mill men. 1t af-
fects the day laborer, the merchant
the lumber man, the doctor, the
preacher. the newspaper man anc
every trade and profession.
The news & observer., 1904-12-11

been exhibited to man.
To Charles Thompson he wrote: A
more beautiful CT precious morsel OF
ethics I have never seen; it is docu-
ment in proof that [ am real Chris
tian, that is to say disciple OF the
doctrine of Jesus
Those who believe that the publi-
cation will tend to make Unitarians
are probably in error Those who
think that jefferson wished TO de-
stroy the faith of any man in the di-
vInity of Jesus, misconceive the spri.
of his whole life. His purpose was
rather to make for himself a briei
code of the morals of Jesus omittiag
all except His own words and acts
His Spirit was reverent and Re sought
to square his own life by the teach
Jugs of Jesus, declaring: Il am 6
real Christian. that is to say, dis
ciple of Jesus" He was not ortho-
dox. as we understand orthodoxy, but
exactly what he did believe no mat
can state, for Jefferson never put MS
creed into words. In early life he Wa
50 shocked at the base conduct ano
Intolerance of ministers of the estab'
lished church, OF which he was &
member, that he lost much faith il
the church and became an unrelent
ing foe to church establishment II
France he saw the church hand il
hand with official oppression of the
people. His just spirit cried ou
| against religious persecution ant
wrong, such as he had witnessed il
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28
TO FORCE THE FIGHT
Democracy in the County Plan to Hold
an Early County Convention to
Name County Candidates.
SEE SOME HOPE OF SUCCESS

The Democrats of Kenosha county
are planning to put up a great fight
this year to secure possession of the
county Offices, and to this end the
members Of the party are planning to
force the fight in the great political
struggle.
County Democratic Chairman,
George Kroncke, announced this
morning that the committee had de-
cided that it would hold but one
county convention, and at that time
delegates would be named to the state
convention to be held at Oshkosh, and
a full county ticket placed in the field.
There seems to be quite a little
rush for places on the Democratic
ticket, and some of the old war horses
of the party are getting in line in
hopes that the favor of the conven-
ton will fall on them. Joe Dalton of
Silver Lake, who has refused to ac-
cept the nomination for sheriff for the
past four years, is said to be in the
field for the nomination this year,
ana ne Will probably have as an op-
ponent Mayor German of this city.
Mayor German had strong follow
ing in the convention both four and
two years ago, and it is thought that
he will be able to land the plum this
year even with Dalton an avowed
candidate. The Democrats are count
ing on the LaFo11ette followers put
ting an extra ticket in Kenosha
county, and they are depending
largely on these men for aid,
The Republican county committee
has not as yet met to arrange for the
county convention, but the plans are
made to hold the convention some
time next September. There is al
ready large number of Republicans
IN the field for nominations.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28

EVER since the Northern Securities
case was fought and won by the Roose-
welt administration, Wall street has
been looking for a candidate to oppose
him. It found one in Judge Parker,
and through the agency of D. B. Hill,
secured his nomination by methods
which Mr.. Bryan, the deposed leader
of the Democracy, did not hesitate to
characterize as unworthy in good set
terms. Having nominated Parker,
Wall street will do its best to elect
him and a certain element of the Dem
ocratic party is rejoicing at the pros
pect of fat campaign fund. Others
of the party are not SO sure but that
the Wall street affiliations of the can
didate will do him more harm than
good and would prefer to have can
didate that is not a creature of the
trusts, even at the expense of the
campaign fund. Republicans believe
chat the enmity of Wall street will
Roosevelt with the people,
and that his determination to enforce
the law against the powerful COM
binations of capital will win him more
than all the money of Wall
street will buy for his opponent.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28
COLLECTION OF RELICS.

Mrs. Albert w. Burdick of Salem
has collection of rare relics from ali
over the world to be proud Of. 1t
consists of polished shells, petrifed
woods, worms, fruit, ore, jasper,
onyx, agate and species of coral;
also books, slab of gold and silver
ore from the richest mines in the
world; and a piece of diamond quartz
from Brazil, filled with the dust, is
marvellous. Among this collection is
piece of jasper the size of cake of
soap, which is polished all over and
valuable; pair of white horned
oyster shells, and red ones that are
considered very rare.
Mrs. Burdick's book collection con-
tains papers published by D. D. L.
Moore at Rochester, N. Y, in 1854
and up to 1862. They are bound into
books and are very interesting, Civ
ing all the important war news, ways
of working at that time, etc. Mrs.
Burdick has refused different sums
for her collection.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28
Directors OF the Ken0sha Hospital De-
eide on an Enlargement OF
the Institution.
TO INSTALL NEW HEATING PLANT
Addition to Be Built to Connect the Hos
pital With the Cottage to the North
Owned by the Association.

The Kenosha hospital is growing so
fast that it has outgrown it's present
quarters and at the meeting of the di-
rectors held on last Tuesday evening
it was decided to begin the work Of
making immediate Improvements.
The plans for the improvements are
now IN the hands of the architects
and the work will be started within a
short time.
The improvements as planned by
the directors will consist of the build
ing of an addition which will serve as
connection between the main hospi-
tai building and the cottage just north
of the building, which is owned by the
association. The addition will. be "a
feet in length and 10 fleet in width,
with commodious basement. twill
be one story in height. The addition
will be built in such manner that it
can be used as reception room for
the hospital proper.
The basement of the new portion
will be used for the insta11ationsof
complete heating plant, which will be
used to furnish heat for both the
hospital and the annex. For some
time the plans for new heating
plant have been talked sof' by sthe
directors. Last winter the hospital
was heated by the city heating plant,
but the heat furnished was of very
unsatisfactory nature and the in
sta11ation of a private plant was
deemed necessary. With a private
plant the directors will be able to in
sure uniform heat at all times.
The money needed for the insta11a-
ton ofaathe new heating plant is to be
raised by private subscriptions.
The proposed improvements will
cost in 'sthe neighborhood sof Zone
thousand dollars. With the sopening
of the cottage the hospital will be en-
1arged SOFAS to provide for the care of
many other patients and this will in
sure perfect care for the patients who
maya be sent to the hospital in the
future. The past month has shown
that the demand for hospital service
cannot be supplied without more room.
In the future all the meetings of
the directors of the association will be
held at the office of the hospital.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28
Dress and Habits of Cossacks.

The cars regiments of Cossacks,
which are included in his bodyguard,
have scarlet tunics. But when cam
paigning this brilliant tunic is covered
with very thick gray overcoat, which
reaches below the knees. Underneath
this again a second coat of sheepskin,
with the hair worn inside, is donned
during the cold weather.
One of the peculiarities of the Cos
sack cavalry is the high saddle of a
pattern unnsued by any other cavalry.
It is small and very high, SO that tine
rider is raised we'll above his mount,
and thus given a great advantage for
lance work. These saddles are I'M
comfortable, and would tire any other
rider out. In front of the saddle
the great coat and hood is carried
rolled, and all items of kit in the valise
attached to the saddle. Altogether,
each Cossack carries ninety-seven
pounds of clothing, kit and saddelry.
The Cossacks are greedy eaters, but
In emergencies can subsist for days
on little save black bread and water.
When at home they consume large
quantities of meat, and drink rye beer
heavily, though incompetence is not
common among them, owing to the
strictness of religion.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28

The plan for sewer system now
before the Council may be the very
best that can be devised, but the al
dermen should be very sure that it is
the best before they vote to adopt it..
1t will do no harm to go slow and
give. the matter the attention it's i'm
portance demands, before making a
decision that so vitality affects the
whole future of the city. The city
will save money and have a much
more satisfactory service by adopting
some general plan of sewers which
provides for ali sections of the city
and for the future, and sticking to it.,
but mistake made now cannot be
rectifed in the future without great
expense, and now is the time to pro-
coed with extreme caution.
The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-28
John Smith a Former KenOsha Police
Officer Meets Tragic Death in
Racine on Wednesday.
CAUGHT HOLD OF A LIVE WIRE
1000 Volts of Electricity Passed Through
bis Body and He was Instantly Killed.
Remains Returned to Kenosha,

John Smith, a former Kenosha
police officer, employed by the Mil
waukee Electric Railway & Light
company at Racine, met a terrible
death by e1ectrocution on Douglass
avenue, Racine, at 3 o'clock Wednes-
day afternoon while alternating the
private telephone system used in dis
patching the interurban cars.
A tremendous voltage passed
through his body. It is presumed
that Smith, who was working about
IN front of the new Case office build
ings under course of construction.
grabbed a live wire to prevent him
from falling, when he received the
awful shock of more than 1000 volt
age. His right hand at the palm and
the forefngers were nearly burned
off. In falling on the wire a wound
through the right side penetrating
the lung and leaving an ugly cash,
was visible. Death was instantaneous.
Smith was working with a COM
pan1on named A. Randall. Both men
were hanging on to the poles in doing
their work. The victim did not fall to
the ground, but his body, burning
with electricity, had TO be taken down
by Sonny Fagen and two other men
with the assistance of the other line
man.
He was laid on the sidewalk. The
police were notified and removed the
remains to the undertaking parlors of
the Belle City Furniture company.
Smith was married man of about
IS years of age, residing with his
wife, who survives him, at the corner
of Fifteenth and Center streets. Ra-
cine. He went from here to Racine
last fall, accepting position with the
Citizens Telephone company as line
man, where he was employed until
about a week ago, when he went to
work for the street car people.
DR.. Fazen was called to examine the
body. The fearful voltage turned his
face and body to a blush color. The
odor of the burning flesh was very
noticeable after a blanket used in
covering him up had been removed.
The remains of Smith were brought
to kenosha late Wednesday evening
and taken to the Hansen ,par1ors.