davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.

1t is an interesting historic fact that
book publishing venture. which was begun
only little over a century ago on bor-
royved capital of 5000 for the sole purpose
Of repubishing in this country the books
and tracts of John Wesley. has grown to
be ore of the largest publishing houses in
America known now as the Methodist
Book Concern. For many years its only
home was in the city OF New York, but
and the only means of transportation was
the slow-going wagon. a branch of the
concern was established in Cincinnati, and
later one in Chicago each more or less in
dependent of the others, if not at times
rival in business, though all under the su-
ence. Whatever business necessity there
may have been three-quarters of a CEN
tury ago for this triple arrangement. il has
long been obvious to business men that
from business viewpoint it has been un-
wise ever since railroads superseded was-
ons, and the telegraph the numbering coach,
but the supposed difficulty of unifying the
concern and putting the whole under one
management in one place was great that
no serious attempt has been made until
now TO remedy it. For four years the
book committee has been wrestling with
the problem, and it has just given TO the
public the report it has prepared for the
General Conference next May. Concisely
stating the difficulties and enumerating the
business advantages, it will recommend
that some small city, centrally located,
with good railroad facilities, be selected and
that modern plant sufficient to do all
the printing, be constructed, and that
publishing establishments all the others
be abandoned.
Among the eligible cities of the middle
West. as possessing most if not all required
conditions, Indianapolis is named. That In
dianapolis has more of the required facili-
ties is beyond a doubt with all who know
the facts, but to impress this upon the
book committee, which will have the de-
Gliding of the matter, early next summer
is the work of the hour. With it's charac-
teristic energy and promptness the Com
IneECldl CluD mas undertaken lnlS TASK. i he
concern asks no bonus in the way of finan-
cial aid, it asks only the cordial well
come that would be extended to any busi-
ness enterprise that will give work to a
thousand men in its several departments,
and protection from horde of land specu-
lators that will not sell the necessary
ground at a fair price. When consolidated
it will be the largest denomina tional pub
fishing house in the world, and, with only
one or two exceptions, if any, the largest
publishing house in the United States. With
fair presentation of the facts, and with
the protection much needed, the Journal
has no doubt that within a year the plant
for the Methodist Book Concern will be well
under way. The report recommending the
unifcation passed the committee by a vote
of IA to 5, and there is little doubt that it
will pass the General Conference by about
the same ratio.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

So much criticism has be- made of late re-
garding public school system, the course of
study, the methods employed. the immense
amount of work imposed upon both teachers
and pupils that 1 feel constrained to add my
voice to the general protest.
Having been teacher for many years, and
having also had in my home a young girl
whose studies have Carefully watched from the
primary to the high school, 1 look at the
subject frcm both the teachers and pupils point
of view. When / see a girl of fifteen. of good
ability. faithful painstaking student spending
her whole time out of school over her lessons,
without much as a single half-hour for
recreation, save on Saturday and Sunday and
this week after week and month after month.
1 know that something is wrong Is not the
bodily health of rising generation to be con-
sidered? We talk Of physical culturei Would
not half-hour hour spent in the gymnasium
be more proftably employed in taking a brisk
walk in the open air on a fine day?
Now. to the of study Much of the
biology taught is not only useless, but far
worse Some of the textbooks on physiology
might be profitable reading for class Of medi-
cal students or trained nurses but for class Of
boys and girls of fifteen TO eighteen years they
are absolutely improper and dangerous. 1 wish
to enter an earnest protest against them.
English is an important study. and is very
thoroughly taught in high schools. but should
a pupil of average intellect be required to spend
two hours a day at home and forty minutes in
school that one subject. or be marked low in
that branch?
School life should be happy and wholesome.
and to a young person who is not mentally de-
fcient ought TO be the brightest spot of the
whole life.-Mary Miller. in New York Times.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

A ripple of interest was caused in finan-
cial circles in New York few days ago
by the sale of large block of securities of
the United States Shipbuilding Company.
The securities consisted of s1SS.OOO. par
value, of the companys per. cent. bonds.
500 shares of preferred stock and like
amount of the common stock. The bonds
were bid off at 26 cents on the dollar, the
500 shares of preferred stock at So for the
lot. and the common stock at $40 for the
lot. \ few months ago an underwriting
syndicate guaranteed the bonds at 30 cents
and they were sold at that.
After the sale it became known that the
securities had belonged to Governor Odell,
and that he bought them in good faith as
an investment. 1t was stated that he paid
80 cents for the bonds and that his net loss
on the entire transaction was $4,000 1t
was further stated that the Governor was
insistent that the securities be sold at auc-
ton and without reserve in order that he
might have a free hand in the event the
State authorities decided to make an inves-
tigation of the shipbuilding hotation. Fur
ther, the sale was made on the last day
but one on which the so-called reorgariza-
tion plan of the company was held open, so
that the purchaser of the bonds could get
the benefit of the reorganization plan, If
there should be any benefit.
The peremptory sale evidently meant that
the Governor did not wish to take any po-
sition i'm connection with the company
which could be construed one way or an
other. He made the investment in good
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

1t is hoped the County Council will not
allow the bridge question to lapse for want
of attention. There is no local question of
greater Importance now before the pub
lie or one which more closely concerns the
city's present convenience and future
growth.
AT last accounts it was understood that
the members of the Council who opposed
an appropriation and bond issue of $4,000
would probably agree to one of 100000.
This would not be sufficient to build all
the bridges needed of the kind proposed.
but if the Council cannot be induced to
vote more at present it would be better to
begin operations with this amount and
trust to the future for an increased appro-
priation. 1t can hardly be possible that
the Council will not eventually recognize
the necessity of the bridges and the pro-
priety of dealing with the subject in a lib
eral and progressive way.
Under the law creating the County Coun-
Gil its regular annual meeting, after
organizing, is held the first Tuesday
after the first Monday of September, but
a special meeting may be called at any
time by the auditor in the manner pre-
scribed by the law. The auditor is made
the sole judge as to the necessity of a
special meeting. though he may advise
with the County Commissioners. Section 81
of the law says:
If at any time after the adjournment of
the regular annual meeting. in September
an emergency should arise for further APP
preparations, for any purpose for which
the Council is authorized to appropriate by
this act, such further appropriations may
be made at special meeting of the Coun-
Gil. on estimates prepared and presented as
hereinbefore provided by an ordinance
passed by at least two-thirds vote of all
the members of the Council and not other
wise.
The law evidently contemplates that the
Council shall make appropriations for all
the legitimate expenses and needs of the
county, and that when an emergency
arises this should be done at a special
meeting. The present situation calls for
early action
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

the Easr There are twenty-five japanese at
Yale
According TO report there are ess periodicals
published by students in American universities
and colleges. OF this number $50 are monthiies.
@ are weeklies- II are dailies. L are quarter
les. 10 are biweek.ies. are semi-monthlies. ]
are semi-weeklies and bimonthlies.
DR.. Charles J. Chamberlain. of the department
OF botany OF the University OF Chicago has re-
ceived from the botanical Society of America
grant 10 defray the expenses of q trip to ia
lapa, Mexico, for the purpose OF studying cycads.
Switzerland is inaugaFating system OF timer
ant school teachers. who will visit and spend
some time in the isolated outlying villages.
President Caroline Hazard, of Wellesley Col
lege. announces that the trustees have recently
voted 10 erect second dOFmitory of the group
already begun. The three aiunnae trustees.
Mrs North. Mrs. Thompson and Mrs Merrill,
have been appointed a special committee to con-
suit with President Hazard. Miss Hill and the
architect plans for a gymnasium building,
which will be begun Immediately.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
THE RHODE ISLAND BOOM FOR
HEARST.

The election of a Hearst delegation by
Island will have different effects in diff
ferent quarters. Republicans will be dis
gusted by the possibility that such a man
as Hearst should even be seriously con-
sidered in connection with the presidential
office; anti-Hearst Democrats will awake
his boom, and the Bryan-Hearst crowd will
insist 1t means that Hearst is the people
choice and the coming man.
1T was fortunate for Hearst that the
Democratic state convention In Rhode
Island was the first one to be held this
year, thus giving his boomers a chance to
shout First blood ror Hearst!' But there
are other conditions in Rhode Island still
more fortunate for Hearst. That State has
the largest percentage of population en-
gagged in manufacturing of any State in
the Union, and its factory hands are large
ly foreigners, mainly French-Canadians,
and an ignorant, turbulent, socialistic
class 1t will doubtless be found on in
vestigation that this class controls the Dem
ocratic party and politicians in Rhode
Island sufficiently to make the election of
Hearst delegation possible.
1t has been notorious for years past that
the population of some of the New Eng
land States was undergoing a change for
the worse. The large influx of foreign i'm
migrants has in many localities swamped
the old New England Purien-descended
element and has affected the character of
the entire population. This is particularly
true in Rhode Island. the second greatest
cotton manufacturing State in the Union
BY the last census this little State had
eighty-seven cotton mills employing $4,000
persons. Her woolen mills and other tex
tile industries brought the number up to
21s employing 1890 persons, or more than
fifty per cent. of the entire number of wage
earners in the State. Formerly the opera
tives in these mills were nearly all of
American birth; now a majority are of for
eign birth.
Rhode Island has much larger percent
age of foreign-born citizens than Indiana
has. and several of the larger cities and
towns in Rhode Island have a much larger
percentage of foreign-born citizens than any
city in this State. BY the last census
Rhode Island had 17,46l aliens-that is, un-
naturalized foreigners-against 32s7 i'm In
diana. OF the entire white population of In
diana. 2S7i,3H were native-born and IA. .121
were foreign-born. OF the white popula-
tion of Rhode Island 29i,OS7 were native
born and basis were .foreign-born. OF the
persons of school age in Indiana 90 per cent.
were native-born and 1 per cent foreign :
in Rhode Island So per cent. were native
and IS per cent. foreign. other COMPARE
sons might be made. showing the large
excess OF foreign population in Rhode
Island.
The Democratic party i'm Rhode Island is
largely composed of and numerically dom
mated by foreigners of the least intelligent
and most un-American class. Ii is a fine
field for the Hearst propaganda, and
especially for the use of money. There is
not another State in the Union that offers
as fine field. When 'the cheek and check
book" candidate gets away from the So
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
THE MITCHELL LETTER AND THE
STRIKE PROSPECT.


President John MitchelTs circular letter
to the mine workers urging the accept
ance of the compromise offered by the
operators adds another to the evidences he
has given of his wisdom as a labor leader.
If the vice president and secretary of the
unions assisted in preparing the letter they
are entitled to share of the credit. It's
spirit is admirable. its form and expression
are above criticism and its logic is unan-
swerable. Not single point in the case is
overlooked. and on each one the argument
is driven home with telling force
Some of the points made show that Mr.
Mitchell is able to look all around a situa-
tion and beneath the surface. Thus when
he says, 1T is conceded on all sides that
the apex of industrial activity has been
reached and that we are slowly moving
toward an industrial depression" he states
fact which only far-sighted persons have
perceived. While the country is still at the
height of prosperity it requires unusual
intelligence to discern signs of subsistence
and reaction, yet some of the closest stu
pressed the same opinion. Mr.. Mitchell ar
CUES that with the indications of change
which, inside of two years, will justify
a much greater reduction of wages than
that now proposed by the operators, it
would be most unwise for the unions to
reject proposition which insures a two
years contract at really high wages.
Another point which shows insight as
well as foresight is that presidential cam
paign and election always disturbs indus
trial conditions and is pretty sure to cause
falling market in coal. "The experiences
of the past" says the circular, have shown
conclusively the folly of striking when the
markets are going down" Perhaps the
operators recognized this cause of a falling
market more clearly than the miners did.
but since their attention is called to it the
latter must admit 1t.
Again. the miners of Ohio, Indiana and
Illinois are reminded of the difficulty that
would probably arise in holding those of
West Virginia and western Pennsylvania in
line for a long strike. with large num-
bers of men in western Pennsylvania un-
familiar with the principles of trade union
ism," says Mr.. Mitchell, lit could not be
depended upon to remain solid during a
long conflict under conditions of this kind. -
Advices from the East state that the miners
i'm the Cumberland region and the Pennsyl-
vania field adjacent are willing to accept a
small reduction of wages and might not
strike even If one were ordered. If they
did not strike, if they should surrender
soon, as Eastern operators believe they
would the strike would fail and the miners
would have lost the interstate movement
and much vantage ground besides.
These and other points are made so clear
and strong in the letter that intelligent
miners cannot fail to be influence by it.
II will give a decided impetus to the anti
strike sentiment, and it is pretty safe to
predict now that the vote next week will
show a large majority in favor of accepting
. +1,ro
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Two WAYS 10 get strong.

There are two ways 70 get strong. the active
and the passive To sum Il uP with one brief
concrete illustration. the active treatment would
comprise such vigorous exercise OF all the mus
cles OF the body IN the fresh. rejuvenating air
ana under the bright and healing sun as one
might obtain in the railroad section gang. BY
tins method you able to relish and digest
anything short OF shoe Iegs.
The passive method goes az IL the other way
about. Instead OF exercising that one may eat.
one eats that one may exercise. A diet Is pre-
scrfbed which is almost pure nutriment 70 begin
with and has been 80 completely predigested
that all one has 70 do h 10 swallow q down and
the food is turned directly into power. by this
method, Il the billboards are 10 be believed,
aged gentlemen become 50 frisky that they jump
over eight-foot fences sust 10 work OF their
superfuous energy.-Eugene Wood. IN Every
boflx's
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Question of TRANSPORTATION

Alfred H. Dunham. of Nome was telling some
friends of the beauties of that summer resort
and what great wealth Is there waiting to be
carried away to civilization. He had told of
the gold with which the streets are paved and
declared that the seashore literally red
with rubies DIR. John H. Grdner. who was
one of the listeners. remarked that the gentle
mans statements reminded him Of the man who
was leading COW along the shore of Lake
Erie. Another man met the rustic with the
COW AMI asked how much he wanted for the ami
NAL.
..Fifteen dollars" the reply.
..Irifteen dollarsr' said the inquirer. why,
man. If YOU take that to New York you'll
get $50 for her"
Yes" drawled he with the COW. Then point
ing TO Lake Erie, he said: do you see that
water?'
The inquirer did.
''Wen, you take that down to hell and you'll
get a dollar a drop for it,
It's all a question of transportation with the
gold and rubes as with the water.-New York
Sun
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
SCHOOL AND COLLEGE.


The Council of Upper Classmen of Howard
University recently gave its first annual recep-
ton The council is composed of the juniors
and seniors of the college of arts and sciences.
juniors and seniors of the medical depart
ment, the middlers and seniors of the dental de-
partment. the juniors and seniors of the phar-
maceutical department the middlers and seniors
of the theological department and the juniors
and seniors of the pedagogical department
The aim of the council is to foster social re-
lations between the students of all the depart
ments of the university. In former years stu
dents of the professional departments had no di-
rect social relations with the students of the coll
lege department Times.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Merchant "Marines."

Two well-dressed women entered Conneeti-
cut-avenue car this morning in the fashionable
F-street shopping district One was carrying a
morning paper and the other had number of
bundles. The woman with the paper began
rea6ing it in Indifferent sort OF way. and
occasionally made remark to her friend about
the
secretary Shaw favors merchant Marines :"
she said in an uncertain tone. You know 1
never exactly understood what merchant marines
we're Senator Frye used to talk about them
sometimes"
why. they are just like other marines. aren't
they?" the woman with the bundles asked II
always supposed they wore different kind
of Iraid or something Of that sort"
well. do you know the difference between
horse marines and the marines down at the bar
racks. the kind the Marine band belongs top
the woman who was reading asked.
'oh, dear no. ! never saw q horse marine.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Egg-Shaped Water Tanks.

The water tanks which the Burlington Railway
is building along its lines in Missouri are a con-
siderable departure from the old-style wooden
ones. They are OF steel and egg-shaped. The
at Armour. a small station between Kansas
City and ST. Joseph, will be connected with pass
ing locomotives by ten-inch mains. and will MI
a 5000 gallon engine tank in ten minutes The
object in making the tanks egg shaped is said
TO be obviate the trouble caused by the freez-
ing Of the water they contain. The tank being
always kept well filled. ice that forms in Ii will
slip down every time any water is drawn on
Kansas City Journal.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
More Useful Than Latin.

At a certain private school not mile from
City Hall the hour at which the class just be-
ginning Latin is called upon to recite is the first
hour of the morning session. One member of
this class is a somewhat backward youth who
is beginning to need the care of razor. This
lad has been absent for weeks during
the Latin recitations. arriving at the
school until after its conclusion. The other day
the Latin teacher met the boys father the
street and asked the reason for this
That's all right" said the father. while
your class is reciting I'm teaching Charlie
something that he II find more useful in life than
Latin
why what may that be?" asked the teacher
I'm teaching my son how to shave without
a looking glass philadelphia Press.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

There might have been a lynching in Illi-
nois the other day had not the town of
Murphysboro possessed a sheriff who was a
man and not a fgurehead. sheriff S
duties are dangerous but he knows that
when he takes them up. When sheriffs
learn that their oath of Office requires
something more of them than show of re-
sistance and a grandstand speech, lynch
ings will become fewer.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Didu,t Want n SpeciaI Car.

Democrats at Grand Rapids, Mich, are to
give big dinner soon with General Miles as
the guest of honor. When the Republicans
brought their guests to Grand Rapids they did
so in a special car, but the Democrats were
doubtful about the propriety of such proceed
ing One of the committee sent TO Wash
ington.
"A special car costs $500 and there is not that
much money among the Democrats of the
State" he told General Miles.
"Oh that will be all right" General Miles re-
piled. Il prefer riding with the other passen-
gers, anyway."-Ncw York World.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
STORIES THAT ARE TOLD.
ANY Excuse.

This story is told of Mr.. =. ]. Cassatt. 1t
happened at one of the Farmers Club dinners
at which the discussion as to the future of
America Everybody took most optimis-
tic view of the question. One of the guests
turning to Mr.. Cassatt. exclaimed:
by Jove how L would like to return fifty
years after my death and what a grand
country the United States has become
Il can really believe" replied Mr.. Cassatt.
that you will be glad of any pretext to return"
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Pleading Exemption.

80 you want to- marry, young man. do you?'
said the bank director.
Yes, SIR replied the bank clerk.
what salary paying your"
mine hundred dollars year.
Don't you know have adopted rule that
clerk in employ shall marry unless he
has at least S1,cO0 year?"
Yes. sir, but it's your daughter that want
to marry. Chicago Tribune.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

and If the American captain protested he
was right. American naval officers are well
versed in international law and very sell
dom make mistakes. A Washington dis
patch says this government has no official
information on the subject. but that If Cap
tain Sawyer protested against the action of
Russia he will be sustained.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Trying to Smooth Matters.

Mstress-Did any one call while was out?
New Girl-Yes, mum; Mrs. Wayup called.
did she seem disappointed when you said
not at home?'
'fWelI, she did look little queer but told
her she needn't get mad about it, cause it was
really true this time. New York Weekly.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12
Older the Better.

'Well john" said Mrs. Stubb. II reckon We
better buy some new furniture and then rent
a house in modest locality
mo. Maria" replied her husband. "well keep
the furniture and house in a swell neigh
borhood."
but the furniture is all scratched and brok-
en-"
That matters not. If We are in a swell
neighborhood we say it is colonial -
Chicago News.
The Indianapolis journal., 1904-03-12

c. w. Welman, of Muncie, formerly editor
of the Sullivan Times. claims TO have writ
ten and published an editorial in November,
1894, recognizing William J. Bryan as
coming man, and forecasting the action of
the Democratic national convention of 1896.
Mr. Welman has never been indicted for
any crime and is now classed as a good
citizen. but he must carry a dreadful bur
den around with him.