davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
Red Tape and Wild Oats.
Peculiar Controversy Between the Brit
ish War Office and a Young Officer.

/ Peculiar Controversy Between the Brit
ish War Office and a Young Officer.
A characteristic tale of red tape and
wild oats comes from England. and
is part of the history of the war in
South Africa. It suggests one Of the
reasons why the British army had
such a hard time with the Beers. and
also one Of the differences between
England and America in which. it
must be confessed. the advantage is
not all on our side
= young officer who happened to be
interested in farming. and knew some
thing about it, was ordered to South
Africa, and it CHANGED that he was
stationed in one place for a consider
able length of time. He noted that
in the progress Of the transport
wagons quantities of oats were vast
ed by one sort of leakage and an
other. and took it into his head to
save those oats, have some ground
plOwed. and plant them. This he
did, and in course of time had a nice
little crop which assisted materially
in the financial transactions of the
regiment
But the war Office, it seems, could
not understand about those oats.
They wanted to know where he got
them. Correspondence ensued. The
officer explained, and explained, and
explained, all to no purpose. The au-
thOrities seemed convinced that he
had stolen the oats and was trying to
bury his crime by agricultural means;
else how could oats appear from no
where, as if they had sprung out of
the earth? In fact, they had so
sprung, bat the war Office could not
comprehend the situation. The mat
ter ended by the young officer being
let off with an admonition which
amounted 10 pardon with a warming
never to do so again; and the chances
are that he never will.
Such an occurrence would hardly
have been possible in this country.
Our own War Department is disposed
or has been disposed in the past
to look leniently on any performance
which does not cost the Government
anything, and even on some which do.
That is one of the dangers of our
country-tOO little scruple in matters
Of that kind. The British danger
arises from the opposite quality-too
much scruple, too little encourage
ment Of enterprise and individuality.
Whether this little tale be true OF
not, the moral is the same. The
younger generals Of the army are be-
ginning TO see, and there is even rea-
son to suppose that the war Office au-
thorities are beginning to see. that
the chief end of maintaining an army
is the carrying on Of successful cam
paigns; and that this end is not to be
attained by mere discipline and
"smartness, nor by social connec-
tions. and personal prestige, and even
invariable bravery, without thorough
knowledge of the art Of war. When
the English once get il into their
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
FTuitlesS Discussion.

The Futility of Dragging the Race
Question Into Partisan Squabbles.
The modifying spectacle -of the
last week, furnished by earnest Con
gressmen discussing aspects of the
race question quite unrelated TO anv
present legislative need, suggests the
wisdom Of a new precedent in these
discussions. For more than half a
century now this question has been
argued in the halls of Congress in a
spirit Of political antagonism. and for
the purpose of making political CAPT
tai for one side or the other It is
about time that this was stopped.
II may be that Democracy is more
responsible for the present condition
Of the negro than Is Republicanism,
and the reverse may be the case; no
body will ever be able to settle that
IN a way that will satisfy both par
ties. II may be that Northern men
would behave as Southern men 90 in
the same circumstances, and IL may
also be that the Southerner, If trans
planted to the North and brought up
under Northern conditions, would act
as the Northerner does. But what
earthly use is there in threshing out
all these possibilities? As 1t has been
done Of late, it sounds more like
small boys calling names than ike
anything else.
Nobody viii ever have to marry
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
Scrnb11on1an on "Strut. -

Two scrubwomen at the Navy Depart
ment were discussing the minois-AT1--
souri, collision. the opinion of the board
oil inquiry named to look into the af
I'lr' and the injuries which the I'LL
nois suffered.
Her propeller's broke. so she had
TO go TO New York for repairs" one of
the women remarked, knowingly. as
she pointed at the model Of a battle
SIM IN the Navy Department corridor
Yes. and her struts broken" said
INC other woman. Il don't know as
that much loss. though BattIesbfDs
was made for war and not for dress
parade, anyway I wish something
would happen TO cure q lot of these
navy officers of their strut Just cause
man s been through Annapolis ne
needn't parade around like a pea fowl -
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
MR., TOWNE .ABANDONS
SILVER PRINCIPLES
Candidate for Tammany Nomination for Congress Dey-
erS Himself of Suggestions as to Making
of Democrat Platform.
of Democrat c Platform

Ex-senator Charles A Towne, lat
ter day convert 20 Democracy and d
prospective Tammany candidate for
Congress. has given a suggestion of
what in his opinion, the Democratic
pls tform of this year should contain.
Mr. Towne is particular TO say that
the seven cardinal principles which he
lays down, ARE not intended, Of course,
as the outline Of platform" but
merely suggestions of certain prin-
cIrles which the party declaration
ought to embrace.
Mr. Towne's Views.
In concise form he gives the follow
ing as some of the declarations which
should be included IN the platform:
81 We should reassert the verify Of
the Declare ton OF independence. and
as a corollary announce the purpose of
the Democratic party never to permit
the permanent retention of colonies or
dependencies by the United States, and
should give 10 every people now Occu-
pying that anomalous relation 10. this
Government "A guaranty either of ultl-
mate Statehood in the Union or Of ma
tionaI independence, with suitable pro-
vision for our own commercial inter-
ests. as soon as such people is ready
ana able to assume the obligations Of
separate national existence.
y We should pledge ourselves to re-
spect the limitations OF the Constitution
ard to restore the coordinate dignity
Of the Congress in our system.
Against Monopoly.
IS. We should declare against every
form of special privilege and monopoly
Existing either by virtue or by permits
sion of the laws.
- We should demand a revision OF
tariff schedules on a revenue basis.
-. W should declare IN favor Of con-
stitl1tfonaI amendments authorizing the
direct election of United States Sena-
tors and the enactment of an income
tax.
s. We should pledge ourselves to econ
omy in public expenditures ana 70 non
esty in administra ton.
ArTaigns Republicans.
:. We should arraign the Republican
party for its recreancy to the great fun
damental principles Of the republic, for
its reckless departure from safe and
esta bIished American policies. and for Its
wastefuI and corrupt conduct of the
government; and we should be before
the people Of the country in The name
of the sacred original precepts of liberty
and indicated by oar
fathers. calling on them TO restore the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
NCMahon'S Reappointment.
A Soldier, Diplomat, and Jurist as
President OF the N. H. D. V. s.

J
President Of the N. H. D. V. S.
BY joint resolution Congress has re-
appointed Gen Martin T. McNahon.
of New York, a member of the board
Of managers of the National Home
for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. Cen
eral Mcmahon has been member of
the board for many years. and at the
present time is the president of the
board. He has had a distinguished
career. With his two brothers. he
went into the great civil war early in
1851 He was captain on the staff Of
General Mcclellan, whose intimate
friend he was until the death of that
great soldier. Subsequently, he was
Sedgwick's chief of staff.
General Mcmahon came out of the
civil war a brevet major general. and
was appointed minister to Paraguay
and Uruguay. He was president of
the Society of the Army Of the Po-
tomac in 1886. succeeding General
Grant. He has been receiver of taxes
and corporation counsel in New York
city; was United States marshal dur
ing the first Cleveland Administra-
ton, a State senator. and is now
judge Of the court of general sessions.
A gallant soldier, a just judge-a gen
tieman, he is deservedIy esteemed.
honored, and respected by everyone
who knows him.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
Senator BuTton's Conviction.
Kansas People VIII Need Philosophy to
Bear Up Under Il.


Bear Up Under It.
Senator Burton of Kansas no doubt
regards the jury which convicted him
as a body OF twelve singuIarly stuDtd
men How else could il happen that
they missed the point. of that nice
distinction which he made when no
explained that he accepted money
from the Rialto Grain and Securities
Company, TO prevent the issuing of a
fraud order against it. as a lawyer.
not as q United States Senators His
discontinue is due, we must assume
TO the fact that the average man has
not had Senator Burton's peculiar
advantages, is not gifted with the
acute mind Of a trained lawyer and
the calloUsed conscience Of a gang
politician Until the public is edu-
Gated up to his standards Of conduct.
the thrifty gentry Of whom he claims
10 be g fair type must front with feel
ings OF alarm the unpleasant prospect
Of being occasionally dragged into the
criminal courts because Of their un-
conventional views.
The people Of Kansas viii need all
their philosophy to bear up under
the disgrace which has befallen their
State; yet there are compensatory
circumstances. Even if a higher
court should rescue Burton from the
necessity of DOMINIC a convicts
stripes, his speedy retirement from
the United States Senate must follow.
In that case Kansas will be free to Sc
lect a Senator who is at least decent.
II not so sharp and shifty as Burton.
The State has sometimes run 10
freaks and eccentriciues. When it
was lately delivered from the last OF
the Populists a great sound Of tri-
umph went up all over the country.
because Kansas had experienced a re-
turn 10 sanity. But in the light of
Burton's brief career in Washington.
We venture 10 remark that, on the
whole, cranks in public life are TO be
preferred 10 criminals.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
GREATEST STONE ARCH BRIDGE.

For 2 long time Cabin John Bridge,
near this city. with n span OF go feet.
held the worlds record for the longest
masonry arch. II Is now relegated to
the fourth place. the arch OF the Nor
begno Bridge. Itaiy. having a span or
2S0 feet. that OF Luxembourg. 215 feet
ana that OF Planen, SaXony, &5 feet.
The last mentioned is Of stone through
out. PerrOnet a French architect, pro
poses an arch of $50 feet span.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

, action of the Federal Government 70 the
principles OF Washington and Jefferson
What will perhaps be ffrst observed IN
the reading OF Mr.. TOWne's platform Il
the fact that he nowhere suggests re-
affirma ton Of the Chicago or Kansas
City platforms. or reiteratiOn OF MS
Oue-time favOTlJe doctrine 81 'l6 TO ].
upon which issue he left the Republican
party in 1896 and after four years OF
probat ton was received in full comma
ion with the Democratic party in 1900.
Except IN two or three instances. where
he demands a revision OF tho Iar1n, The
election OF Senators by popular vote. and
an income tax. Mr. rownes principles
are quite general in character, and sound
very mucn ike the preamble 10 every
Democratic platform
The olney Boom.
After months Of Iethargy ana inaction
the friends OF the Hon. Richard Olney.
In his home State or MASSACHUSETTS
have become aroused. and have started
a hustling campaign for the election OF
delegates from the Bay State pledged
to the support of the former Secretary
OF State. They are finding that where
they formerly expected that the mere
mention OF Mr.. Olney's name would
create enough enthusiasm to make him
the State favorite that they viii be
obliged to fight. and fight hard, for the
election Of delegates who viii support
him.
The Olney supporters have found his
declaration some months ago in favor OF
ex-President Cleveland a hard load 10
carry. and that while they were sitting
and meditating over il. the Hearst
boomers were taking advantage OF the
situation. ana doing their best TO get
pledges for the New York Representa-
tive Now that the Olney followers
have become thoroughly aroused, they
find that instead of having an easy thing
of II in booming him, they viii have
robust opposition from the Hearst
crowd.
Local Pride Aroused.
Local pride is becoming aroused, how
ever. and by hard work It is quite prob
able that the Massachusetts delegation
to the national convention viii be In
structed 10 vote for Olney. The Hon.
George Fred Williams. who has always
been opposed TO Mr.. Olney some time
ago came out hatfooted for Mr.. Hears.
but is losing his control over the Bay
State Democracy, and despite the fact
that he IS now national committeeman.
IS likely TO be left out when the State
convention meets in Boston on April
q TO select the big four 10 go TO the
national convention.
The indications now are that the four
delegates at large from Massachusetts
VIII be the Hon William a. CASTOR re-
cent candidate for governor; Mayor Pat
rick A. Collins, Of Boston: William l.
Douglass, and James B. Carroll.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
MIssIssIPPIANs 10 MEET.

TIE regular monthly meeting Of the
Mississippi Society will be held in
Schmid's Hall Saturday evening. April
8 All Mississippians and friends are
invited to attend.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02
Our UnesthetiC Sports.

1t is always entertaining and some
times instructive to get the opinions
OF a foreign expert on certain phases
of life in our own country The point
Of view is often new. and not alto
gether without a glimmer of good
sense. Occasionally, too, our feeling
Of superiority gets a shock that is
good for us. for Pecksniffianism will
now and then creep into the best of
nations All of which is more or less
exemplif1ed by the parting remarks
of one Antonio Monies. a famous
bull-fghter OF Seville. who left for
home the otter day after a tour OF
this country and Mexico. He wit
messed a variety Of our sports, and his
esthetic soul was considerably Of
Tended thereby. He thus expressed
himself on one of them;
saw your pri-enghts in this country They
are not sport. Why should two men hit each
other with their fists until the faces look like
raw r1eat2
Why, indeed? a great many Of our
own people will ask, in agreement
with the bull-hghter Does a manly
art" carry with it the necessity that
one strong fellow shall pummel an
other into a state of coma? That
would seem to be one of the tenets of
those who follow the game" for
otherwise it is not considered true
sport Thus far the Spaniard has us
on the hip.
But when he pursues the subject
into the realms OF field athletics,
Senior Monies loses his grip, and
shows that his disfayoT is based sole
ly on his love for the beautiful He
says:
Neither arc your football and baseball like
our buIIfghts No one in spain would ever 60
% see q lot Of men showing and chasing each
other and gettirN covered with dirt. In the
games / saw every one that played very
dirty, and they wore such awkward, U.lgraceful
costumes. When / go into the arena ] am at
tired in my best clothes, all fine colors, you
know and the lace on my sleeve is never even
discolored by my work.
The comparison of football and
bull-fghting is not happy. We grant
that our great game is not thing OF
grace or beauty. but it has the merit
of being fair. 1t is a stand-up, give
and-take, hearty sort of contest that
rarely begets anything but mutual re-
spect. A bullfght is a cowardly sort
of business. for one contestant has no
chance whatever. With the first prick
of the bandillera, his doom is sealed. .
And it is a bloody and miserable
doom. that cannot fail to degrade its
spectators. On the whole, and with
all due respect for Senior Monies
estheticism, we shall maintain that
football and baseball are better games !
for a nation TO see than bull-fghting
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

If they have April Fools Day along
the Yalu. IL is reasonably certain that
the japanese observed it to the best Of
their ability.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

The Secretary of the Navy has decided
that Hail. Columbia. e" is not national
song, and many people are now wonder
ing * that, too. is God Save the King"
in disguise.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

1t cannot be true, can it, that those
willy japanese have bribed the clerk OF
the weather TO keep spring out of the
calendar
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

Indiana has paused a while in the oul-
tivation of literary prodigies. and is now
raising candidates for the Vice Presi-
dency. Rotation of crops.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

Senator Depew is said TO have new
snecze. which he aid not find in Joe
AIiller's Jest Book 90
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

The president of Princeton says that
people nowadays have no time to dream
dreams Let him eat mince pie and
Welsh rabbit just before bedtime, and
see
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

The penitentiary is one place where
nobody ever has to scheme for a second
term
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

Mrs. Knox. wife Of the Attorney Gen
eral, who. with Miss Johnson went TO
New York several days ago on a brief
shopping expedition, is expected home
today.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

Mr.. and Mrs John f. Bixler. Of La
f2yette. Ind, are visiting Mrs. Bixler's
parents. the Assistant Secretary of the
Interior and Mrs. Miller.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-04-02

On Easter Tuesday. St Katherinc's
Guild of St. Marks Church will give a
reception 20 its friends in the parish
hall from 9 10 O'Clock
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15

lately formed are taking up the work
Of having clean streets. clean
sidewalks. new sidewalks where
none now exist, repaired sidewalks,
clean vacant lots, more street trees, the
removal of unsightly board fences and
of all fences on city property, the re-
moval of all garbage and rubbish By
contract with the city and at no ex-
pense except by taxation to the house
holders and property owners.
San Jose needs more industrial enter
prises; manufacturing can be carried
on here at less cost than in almost
any other city on this coast. There are
miles on miles of splendid factory sites
near this city, there is every advantage
Of transportation by rail and water
and the citizens here need to awaken
to the value Of industrial enterprises
and TO support them with substantial
inducements in the way of free sites
and good bonuses to the proper parties
who have money of their own behind
them and something OF established
value to produce.
Another need of this city is for more
carefully laid out restricted residence
tracts, like the NaegIee Park tract. The
success with which this tract has been
placed on the market and the way 1t
has built uD within the last two years
is a lesson on what is possible along this
line. There is every chance for good
investment in this direction, and San
Jose needs the men of nerve and capi-
tai who will tackle this proposition
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS.
Along the line of needs comes the
want of proper enforcement of laws ex-
listing and the making of new laws re-
quiring all property owners TO put their
places in better condition as a preser-
vation from disastrous fires, OF which
this city as it now is stands in danger
Laws must be made and ways found
to abate the nuisances of lots covered
with weeds, sidewalks overgrown with
weeds and covered with rubbish from
year to year. All this is unsanitary.
unsightly, and no city can progress
with such existing conditions
Within herself this city is one of the
richest and most slightly in the world.
and has only the lethargy of her own
people to thank if she fails to make as
tcnishing strides forward within the
next five years, when the minds Of the
best people of the East are turned Cali
forniaward for homes and investments
and when every other city in the State
H fast increasing in population and
vastly improving in every way.
The awakening of Central and
Northern California to her own wealth
and real possibilities and to her su-
preme advantages over any other sec
tion Of this state is at last taking
place and daily it is growing in the
minds of the best citizens that the
future is a great one and that growth
unprecedented is ours if we will but
grasp the opportunities of to-day.
do II now is becoming the motto
of every progressive citizen and this
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15

method of doing business IS forcing
those who will not to act in spite OF
themselves. Do your own duty and
the fellow next door will be forced to
do his or he will be removed and one
Will take his place who will
THE TIME FOR ACTION.
Too long has the Northern CaIifor-
nian put off until tomorrow that
which he should have done to-day and
the advancement Of Southern Califor-
MIA has taken place while he waited.
Now is the time for action. for i'm
prOvement, for casting aside old meth
DDS Of business and adopting new, for
taking up the work you know you
should have accomplished last year
Clean off your desks. get the accu-
mulated correspondence and details OF
years out Of the way. get a clean deck
on the ship, get your guns all bur-
nished up and shining. load them with
smokeless powder and when you are
called upon to defend your city, your
section, your State. you viii b. able
to give an account Of yourself in the
battle for supremacy which will be
known worldwide and remembered
long after others have taken I'D the
tools Of labor which you have laid
down.
Cooperate for Greater San Jose"
was the motto at the banquet given by
our Chamber OF Commerce and Mer-
chants Association OF San Jose at
which over 400 sat down last Wednes-
day night, and the slogan is not to be
forgotten We have needs and vital
ones and we propose to secure what
we need. Be the sacrifice what II may.
let the citizens Of California remember
that San Jose is in with them for a
Greater city. Greater Santa Clara Val
ley and a Greater California
The San Francisco call., 1904-02-15
INDIANS TO BE TRIED
ON MURDER CHARGE
Three Natives Confess to the killing
of Two Japanese and Are
Placed i'm Jail.

VANCOUVER. B. c.. Feb. 1.-THE
steamer Nell arrived here this morn
ing. having on board three Indians
brought down charged with murder.
In 1902 two Japanese fishermen at
Rivers Inlet mysteriously disappeared
and it was thought they had perished
in a gale. Their bodies were never
found and the matter had been almost
forgotten until late last year. when
the Indians confessed the murder to a
Methodist missionary at Bella Bella
The Japanese were murdered during a
drunken bout, having been dubbed to
death with paddles. The missionary
communicated with the authorities
and after investigation the three men
were arrested on the capital charge.
They will be tried at the next assizes.