davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

In view of the manner in which il
is working, probably nothing more
will be heard from our democratic
friends concerning the famous pension
order No. 70, which was SO much dis.
cussed during the late campaign. In
stead of proving tht extravagant mea-
sure it was denounced as being when
it was held up in criticism of the adj
m~inistration, it is actually resultant
of a great saving to the government.
The order gives pensions to veterans
OF a certain age on the strength Of a
birth certificate and an honorable dis
charge. Because of the simplicity OF
the proof required so many medical
examiners and clerks can be dis
pensed with that the saving of ex.
pense in this regard promises to more
than balance the increased expendi-
lures for pensions in consequence of
the order.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
SOUNDS WARNING
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE DE-
cLAREs FOR RIGID ECONOMY.
River and Harbor Bill Likely to Be
Cut to a Third the Proposed
Figure.

Washington, Dec. 4.-Speaker Can
non, who is backed up by the presi-
dent in what he says, is sounding a
note of warning as to appropriations
during the session of congress which
convenes Monday. A deficit stares the
country in the face and it can only be
averted, if at all, by the exercise OF
rigid economy.
Mr.. Cannon tells his congressional
callers there are three ways of get
ting around a deficit. Congress can
practice rigid economy in making an
nual appropriations; the secretary of
the treasury can meet the deficit by a
bond issue; or the deficit can be over
come by IN increase in revenue.
The speaker favors the first plan,
and holds that proper economy can
prevent a deficit at the end of this
fiscal year next June. A bond issue
is r%epugnant to public sentiment,
while revenue legislation cannot be
enacted at a short session of congress-,
o a the tariff be revised.
This attitude of the speaker is
alarming many congressman who are
interested in river and harbor work
and in public buildings. A number
OF these congressman are from the
northwest. Minnesota has a large in
terest in the proposed river and har-
Dor bill, and there are several public
building projects in northwestern
cities and towns.
It is now said that it may be neces-
sary to abandon the idea of passing g
public building bill this winter, and
that if there is a river and harbor bill
it must be held down to at least $780,
100000 for the entire country, which
figure is about a third of the sum or
iginally proposed.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
RUssIA's FAVORABLE RESPONSE.

Omaha Bee: The acceptance by
the Russian government of the invita-
ton of the United States to enter into
an arbitration treaty appears to be re-
garded at st. Petersburg as likely to
have a good effect upon the relations
between the two countries, this being
the first time that Russia has shown
a willingness to negotiate such a
treaty. 1t is to be remarked, how
ever, that the relations between the
United States and Russia are now en-
tirely friendly, so far Is the govern
ments r concerned, nor is there
among the American people any gen.
eral sentiment of unfriendliness to-
ward the Russian people. The popu-
lar sympathy that has been manifest
ed in this country for Japan is largely
due to the belief that American inter-
ests in the far east would be more Sc
cure if Japan should win the war than
il Russia should be successful. The
latter power has itself to blame for
the distrust of it which has been Gre
ated here and in other countries. Had
it pursued a straightforward course
and kept its promises there would
have been NJ war and Russia would
be strong today in the good will and
confidence of all nations.
There is no issue or misunderstand-
ing between that power and the
United States and it is sincerely to
be hoped that none will arise. Com
mercial relations are perhaps not
quite what could be wished, but this
does not threaten any trouble and
possibly in the not remote future the
trade relations between the two u
tries will be improved. At all events,
the American people will cordially
welcome the friendly spirit shown in
Russia's acceptance Of the invitation
to conclude an arbitration treaty.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
POLITICAL PALM ITCHING.

Cleveland Plain Dealer: The mag
nitude OF the irrigation project con-
templated by the government is we'll
understood. The money to execute it
is to come from the sale of public
lands. More than $23, 0OO, 900, all OF
which must be devoted to irrigation
purposes, has been received from this
source. This is to be expended under
the direction of the secretary of the
interior and the amount to be spent
in each state has no relation to the
sum received from the sale of lands
within that state. For example, the
proceeds of land sales in Montana
can be spent in New Mexico if the
secretary so directs.
Naturally the nowledge that such a
vast sum is to be expended has caused
an epidemic of itching palms among
those patriots who cannot understand
how or why it should be disbursed d.
rectly by the government without the
Intervention of middlemen who have
SO often profited by such transactions.
1t is intimated that a determined eff
fort will be made to induce congress
to provide salaried agents to have
charge of the distribution Of this
money. AS the irrigated districts
must pay back within ten years the
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
Some

disposal has begun. Some o.
these are admittedly necessary
and without them the legis
lature could not do it's work prop
erly, but there should be a reasonable
limit to their number. Every person
given a position should be made tc
understand that an honest return fol
the wage paid will be expected and
that capacity, willingness and indus.
try will be considered, rather than
the services rendered during the
| campaign or at the polls. 1t is a prac-
tice common to many legislators to
regard legislative patronage as a con
venient way of paying political debts.
Pursuit of this policy is responsible
for the many plumbers made in the
enactment of important measures and
the annullment of laws passed in COM
pliance with earnest public demand.
Nothing of this kind should be per-
mitted or tolerated at the forthcoming
session. A legislature is a business
body and into it the members should
carry the same rules and principles
that they employ in governing their
private affairs. None of them would
give employment to a drone or incom-
petent in his own establishment, S %
should none consent to the appoint
ment of such a person for the per-
Torrance of service to the public. The
people have no disposition to be mig
gardly with the legislature, but they
do insist upon a proper regard for
their interests and demand that no
more clerks or other employees be
hired than are needed to do the work
that is to be done. Let the payrolls
of both houses be free of barnacles
this session at least, no matter what
the custom may have been in the past
or what future legislatures may do.
The republicans are in control; let
them set an example for future legis-
in this respect as we'll as in
Ill others.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

money expended for their improve
ment, and as there will thus always
be a large sum for irrigation purposes,
to be handled over and over again in
definitely, it is plain that if the plan
to have these agents or commissioners
appointed shall succeed there will not
be only a substantial and probably
needless swelling of the government
payroll, but a possible opportunity for
pickings and stealings while the cash
is changing hands.
The men now in charge of the work
are specially trained and carefully Sc
lected experts and there will be NO
difficulty in finding plenty more such
If need shall arise. The law contem-
plated e%ntrusting the work to just such
men, and there can be no reason or
excuse for violating it's spirit by Gre
ating intermediate agencies in the
shape of commissioners who would in
all probability be politicians and not
much else. The trail of the political
hack and CRATER is over so many de-
partments of the public service that
his intrusion in this new field will be
bitterly resented. Probably the publ
cation of the scheme will be sufficient
to defeat it. In any event the presi-
dent takes such peculiar interest in
the irrigation project, which is in a
certain sense his own creation, that
he will not be disposed to tolerate
meddling by political lame ducks.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
coLoRDo BALLOT FRAUDS.
Republicans JubiIant, Democrats GIum
Over Proofs in First Box Opened.

over Proofs In First Box Opened.
Denver, Colo, Dec. 4.-Democratic
campaign managers who have been
kept on the anxious seat ever since
election day by the energetic cam
paign OF the republicans against bal
lot box frauds, were given their great
est shock Friday when the first ballot
box to be opened in the contest
showed the most glaring fraud. The
face of the returns give 70 republic
can votes out of a total of 1926. The
count OF the ballots developed 116 re-
publican votes and a total of 372 in
the box.
The ballot box was opened in the
supreme court as an incident to the
trial of seven election officials in pre.
cinct seven of ward two, on a charge
of contempt OF court for ignoring the
election watchers appointed by the
supreme court on a petition of the re-
publicans, who alleged a plot for
fraud.
The court and spectators were as
founded. Attorney Hersey for the re-
publicans moed for the appointment
of handwriting experts to, go over the
entire batch of ballots to scrutenize
the handwriting for fixed" ballots.
The motion was granted and the ex-
perts will work night and day until
their report is ready.
This method of fixing ballots was
used in the election two years ago
and the exposure led to the unseating
OF John F. Shafroth, who arose in the
national house of representatives and
announced that he surrendered his
seat rather than reap any benefits sc.
cured through thousands Of fraudu-
lent votes.
Republicans are feeling jubilant at
developments and the democrats are
correspondingly glum.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
A Flower Book Of Real Flowers.

a Flower Book OF Real Flowers.
The Yellowstone Park Flower Book,
published by. the Northern Pacific, is
a beautiful creation. It contains IL
specimens Of real, pressed flowers, in
natural colors, from Yellowstone
Park, with botanical names and the
places where found.
The book also has six full page,
fine half-tone illustrations showing
the Park bears, the Grand canyon,
geysers, hotels, etc., found in the
Park, which is the most wonderful
spot on earth, 81 by g. miles in size,
in the very depths of the Rockies.
The Flower Book makes a beautiful
souvenir. Send A. M. Clelend, general
passenger agent, Northern Pacific
railway, st. Paul, Mimi, so cents for
a copy. tt
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

while awaiting it's coming, pluck the
flowers that grow by life's pathway
and sing the song of love and cheer.
For that reason they will meet tomor-
row in loving remembrance, not of the
dead, but of the absent brothers.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
For Sale or ease

Finest stock ranch on Musselshell
river, 200 acres alfalfa, 5000 acres
under fence, 700 acres can be irrigat.
ed; plenty OF water; good outside
range. A great bargain. For terms
address or call on E. B. Camp, Bill
Montana. d&swkd29
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
BE NO slNEcuREs.

/ AS the time is short when the legis-
1ature convenes, already the biennial
scramble and pulling for appointment
IS clerks. stenographers and the vari-
,us other places that body has at its
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06
TO BROTHERS ABSENT.

Tomorrow the members of one OF
the great fraternal organizations Will
meet all over the land in solemn ses-
sion to pay a tribute of love to the mem
ory of those of their brothers, who,
having wearied on the journey that
all must travel, halted, and taking a
last, lingering look over the road
which they travelled, entered upon the
rest to be found in the green fields
of the glorious land that lies just be-
yond. The custom is a touching,
beautiful one. While it cannot bring
back the absent, it shows the wonder
full depth of the love the human
heart can hold. Their virtues will be
extolled, their absence deplored and
sweet flowers will exhale their odors
as loving and gentle reminders OF the
good deeds of the quiet sleepers in
commemoration of whom the living
are assembled. While in solemnity,
yet not in sorrow, do the quick meet to
perform their office of love and re-
spect. They know that only short
is the span that separates them from
those who have preceded them and
that in a little while they, too, will
have passed into realms brighter,
sweeter and grander than those OF
earth, and that the hands they SO Of
ten clasped in brotherly greeting here
below are extenaed to them in well
come above.
The world KNOWS the Elks only as
a social brotherhood; good fellowship,
mirth and ~joyousness are synonyms
of Elkdom. OF the deeper mission it
performs on earth those outside of its
mystic circles know nothing. Of the
distress relieved, of the wounds
healed and of the sorrow lighted moth
ing is ever permitted to go beyond
the lodge room. Those are things to
be kept sacred and guarded, and con
stitute the only real secret of the or
der. Yet were it given to no other
purpose than to brighten life and by
music, song, joke and equip ease
the path that leads to eternity it would
be accomplishing good in the world.
1t is only on occasions like that of the
morrow when those who have not
taken the vow that bind the members
in brotherhood's bonds realize that
there is a serious side to the frater-
nifty of Elks. An Elk never dies.
Though his form may have passed
into dust, his name lives, his memory
is kept green and his virtues endure.
Only his faults are forgotten and are
buried with his lifeless clay. Realiz-
ing that death is inevitable and the
common lot of all, Elks regard it as
only a step to a better sphere and
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

the people that in the event his prose-
cution failed he could show that it
was through no fault of his, and that
did all in his power to secure evil
dence against the defendants of a
material character.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

We guarantee all our work and 4
not satisfactory we will make It II
or return your money.
BILLINGS STEAM LAUNDRY.
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

Nh. Mitchell's indignation may be
righteous, but the fact that he seems
to have deliberately ignored the re-
quest of the prosecuting attorney to
give him the name OF the prominent
Oregon lawyer whom he said to be in
possession of facts that would mater.
tally strengthen the case of the gov
eminent in the prosecution of the
land thieves material weakens the
Washington senator's standing with
the people. Special Prosecutor Heney
may not have had any desire or inten.
ton to cause suspicion to rest on the
senator, but in making public the cor.
respondence that passed between him
self and the senator he did only as
any other man in his position would
have done-so placed himself before
The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-12-06

Calling cards at The Gazette once.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24
MidWinter.

MidWinter.
The speckled sky is dim with snow,
The light flakes ,falter and fall slow;
Athwart the hill top, rapt and pale,
Silently drops silvery veil;
And all the valley is shut in
BY f1ickering curtains gray and thin.
But cheerily the chickadee
Singeth to me on fence and tree;
The snow sails round him as he sings,
White as the down of angels wings.
I watch the snow flakes as they fall
On bank and brier and broken wall;
Over the orchard, waste and brown,
All noiseleSsly they settle down.
Tipping the apple boughs, and each
Light quivering twig of plum and peach.
All day it SHOWS; the sheeted post
Cleans in the dimness like a ghost;
All day the blasted oak has stood
A muff1ed wizard of the wood;
Garland and airy cap adorn
The sumac and the wayside thorn
And clustering spangles lodge and shine
In the dark tresses of the pine.
Still cheerily the chickadee
Singeth to me on fence and tree;
But in my inmost ear is heard
The music of a holier bird;
And heavenly thoughts as soft and white
AS snow flakes on my soul alight.
Clothing with love my lonely part,
Healing with peace each bruised part,
Till all my being seems to be
Transigured by their purity.
j r. Trowbridge.
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24

lately in the shape OF drill that takes
up the brass from the bogus brick, Sc
cretes it somewhere in the barrel of the
tool, and then dissorges into the vic
TINS ready palm a mass of gold that
has been secreted there prior to the
inspection of the brick.
All these, however. are insignificant
tricks compared with the gigantic
scheme that the mint authorities say
the modern gold brick swindler has
concocted to make the time worn trick
successful. The gold brick men now
operate in gangs, with brick of gen
uine gold as their chief stock in trade.
The genuine brick figures prominently
in every operation, but, needless to, say,
stays always in the possession OF the
gang. 1t is wanted for use only few
hours in the course of each operation.
AS modern gold brick campaign may
extend over month before single
victim is landed the genuine gold
brick can be in actual use in one part
of the country while the operations
are in the initial stage in another.
With a cunning that is worthy of the
modern rascal, the gold brick man
nowadays takes it for granted that the
intended victim knows all about gold
bfIck SWlndleS. If he mas never READ
the papers and is ignorant of this ciev-
er trick TO pass off a brick of brass
for one of gold, he is told exactly what
it is The gold brick sWindler intends
to settle down on his victims trail, and
kncws that sooner or later some one
better informed will tell the guileless
one that he would do we'll to look out
for the ancient trick. Such warning
is powerless when the victim has been
told of the sWindle beforehand by the
man who intends to sell the gold brick.
In fact the warning only helps the
sWindier, for surely 10 swindler would
point out to his victim the very pit
fall he is digging for him.
Having thus gained the guileless
ones confidence, the swindler proceeds
with the game. He tells any plausible
tale that occurs to him to account for
his presence in the vicinity. Perhaps
he is from the Klondike, looking for
relatives who were last heard Of in
that neighborhood Anything will do
to serve as an excuse for camping in
the neighborhood The genuine gold
serve. 1t is submitted to the most
careful tests by any one who is inter
ested enough in it to take the trouble.
There can be no manner of doubt re-
garding its being the real thing, for it
actually is. When the victim is lured
to his fate and the money has changed
hands, the real brick accompanies the
swindler to parts unknown, while the
one the countryman takes to the mint,
with exaggerated precautions for its
saftey, proves to be only brass.
This is the course pursued in the case
of easy marks When the quarry
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24
kAI AMAZOO MAN
BUTTSIN WITH AIRSHIP
eaaoso:l

to the ground, where it will rest on
four pairs of strong steel springs, thus
preventing jar.
Judging from the speed made by his
smaller model, Mr.. Douglass believes
that his new machine will be able to
make mile a minute in a light wind,
and that it will carry 500 pounds in ad-
dition to its own weight
The invention of Mr.. Douglass is the
fruit of thirty years of faithful study
of the problems of aerial navigation.
Every detail of the new machine has
been carefully considered, and it is
quite possible that the honor of being
first to make navigation of the air
practicable may be secured by Il Mich
igan man. Mr.. Douglass idea has met
with the approval of many of the lead
ing authorities on aerial navigation.
Never Had Doubt of 1t.
81 was the least surprised person
among the number who witnessed the
trial of my machine" says Mr.. Doug
lass Il was almost positive, and have
been for the past fifteen years, that
my principles of aerial navigation were
correct. The reason 1 did not exploit
my machine sooner was that | was
waiting for the development of some
high-speed motive power. Finding
that electricity would not be suitable
for my machine, l finally decided to
invent an engine which would furnish
me with the motive power l desired,
and [ have been successruI, as you can
yourself see"
Asked if ne believed that airships
would ever be regular passenger car
riers, Mr.. Douglass said:
Aerial navigation will never become
popular. l doubt very much if an air
ship can be constructed to carry over
five persons and the transportation Of
passengers would probably prove too
costly to be commercially successful.
But before the year 1904 rolls by the
city of Kalamazoo will become famous
the world over as the birthplace of the
flying machine"
The Saint Paul globe., 1904-01-24

II ALAMAZOO, Mich, Jan. 23.-
~ Michigan also has an airship.
Work has been begun here on large
flying machine designed after the mod
ell of the airship invented by James
Douglass, a farmer of Texas township,
near Kalamazoo, and which proved en-
tirely successful on it's initial trip in
this city a few days ago. The ma
chine will be completed within three
months, and it is the intention of the
inventor to sail it from Kalamazoo to
ST. Louis to compete in the airship
contest at the exposition.
The small model tested here last
week proved so successful in its opera
tions that the inventor has the great
est confidence in the new machine he
is having built, and has interested a
number of local capitalists to finance
the project.
Mr.. Douglass airship is in reality a
flying machine, as it depends entirely
upon it's wings for raising it from the
ground and propelling it. No gas is
used.
The airship now being built here is
thirty-siX feet in length and will be
constructed entirely of thin sheet steel.
The body of the machine is shaped
something like cigar, the deck or up
per side being fiat, and is about eight
cen inches in diameter and five feet
wide in the widest part. All the me-
chanism is placed on the deck. The
machine will be operated by two small
but powerful turbine engines, using oil
for fuel The engines also are an in
vention of Mr.. Douglass.
Bird Action Reproduced.
In designing his airship the inventor
has followed the principles of a bird
sets of double wings, which operate in
the same manner as those of a bird
when flying. When a wing of one set
is taking the downward stroke, the
other wing takes what is termed Il
dead stroke" and revolves into place
to take the downward stroke again
when the first wing starts on the dead
stroke" Consequently one wing In each
set is constantly catching the air and
propelling the ship. The wings also
revolve rapidly enough to hold the
machine in the air. The wings are
connected with a central shaft, which
is revolved by the engines. All con-
nections are bevel-gear.
The steering apparatus is a large
sheet-steel ian, composed of several
sections, and acts like the tail of a
bird. When the machine is ready to
alight the tail is set at an angle which
causes the ship to circle around in the
air, and the slowing Of the action OF
the wings will allow it to gently circle