davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
ELECTRICAL OPERATOR
TELLS STRANGE STORY
Charles I'll. Messner Says He Was Held
Up by Man While Working ON
Pacific Street

Charles H Messner. an electrical
operator at the sub-station Of the San
Francisco Gas and Electric Company,
734 Pacific street, yesterday told Po-
liceman Joy of a strange experience
he had undergone on Thursday after
noon. He said he was working under
a piece of machinery at the sub-sta-
ton shortly after 1 o'clock when he
was accosted by a man who asked
him for the boss" Messner replied
that the boss" was not there.
The man used an offensive express
sion and said: Come out of there or
I'll choke daylight out of you. / want
money" Messner was scared and told
the man he had only so cents in his
pockets. Hand it over" commanded
the stranger, and Messner promptly
complied. The man walked along Pa
cific street and turned south on Du-
pont. Messner described him as about
35 years old, six feet three inches
tall, of dark complexion, smooth
shaven and having large brown eyes
He wore a light gray sack suit. Mess
ner lives at 11S Lily avenue.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
MORE TROUBLE
FOR EQUITABLE
Suit Brought to Prevent the
Carrying Out of Mutual
iZatiOn Plan of Directors
INJUSTICE is ALLEGED
Holders Accuse the Officers
of the Society and State
Insurance Superintendent

NEW YORK. April 14.-Complaint
was made to Justice Blanchard in the
New York Supreme Court to-day that
the Equitable Life Assurance Society
has failed to distribute its surplus as
provided by its charter; that the sur
plus has been improperly used, and
that the naturalization of the company
under the plan adopted by the direc-
tors viii DO an injustice to the policy
holders.
The court was asked to issue an or
DER restraining State superintendent
Of Insurance Hendricks from taking
further proceedings toward the mu-
tualizstion of the society. The action
was taken by A. z. Woodruff of this
CITY in behalf of Herbert G. TTll of
Philadelphia and other policy holders
IN the company.
In the complaint Woodruff SAYS that
g naturalization plan means insur-
snce at cost and that after deducting
the expenses Of conducting the bust
ness all the profits and assets of the
company belong to the insured. The
principle OF mutual insurance, upon
which the defendant company had
been represented to be conducted, re-
ouired that policy holders have re-
turn OF their overpayments in the sur
plus OF the company, at such short in
tervsls as will incur forfeiture or con-
1iscation to the least number. The So
ciety has failed to carry out the prin-
ciples upon which II was organized
and the plaintiffs are of the opinion
that the proposed amended charter
viii DO an injustice TO the policy hold
ers.v
It is also alleged in the complaint
that by reason of the society's fail
ure TO carry out the provisions Of its
charter IN respect TO the distribution
OF its surplus a very large surplus has
been accumulated. The complaint
further AYERS that, because of the
ability of the officers to manipulate
and use the same for their own per-
sonal interests. an idea arose in the
minds OF some of the stockholders
that they had some right or owner
ship IN the surplus, which was with
out foundation. BY reason of this un-
founded idea the company has per-
mitted its surplus to be diverted from
its true intent and purpose and has
permitted ii to he used by some of it's
officers or by others in a way entirely
foreign to its proper employment
Woodruff alleges that the nolfcy
holders endeavored TO obtain hear
ing Of their side of the case from the
State superintendent of Insurance.
but that he refused TO grant their re-
quest.
Justice Blanchard. being policy
holder in the Equitable Society. de-
clined to entertain the application of
Lawyer Woodruff and referred the
matter to Justice Scott, who issued an
order 10 superintendent Hendricks to
show cause on April Is why he should
not be enjOined from aiding in the
naturalization Of the Equitable Soci-
ETY..
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
PERSONAL.

]. NJ McClung, an Oroville mining
man, is at the Russ.
w. F. Knox, lumberman Of Sacra-
mento, is at the Grand.
Attorney ]. w. Mckinley of Los An
geles is at the Palace.
G. w. Tinney, lumberman of Odes-
sa, Wis, is at the Russ.
Robert Grant and family of Salt Lake
City are at the st. Francis.
M. P. Dalton, mining man Of New
York, is at the ST. Francis.
Fred o. Holman, a well-known attor-
ney Of Portland, is at the Palace.
Captain Russell of the steamship
Newport is registered at the Occidental.
Fulton G. Berry, Fresno's well-known
hotel man and politician, is at the Pal
ace.
]. J. Leonard, manager of the Sea
Beach Hotel of Santa Cruz, is at the
Palace.
Congressman Harry Maynard of New
York arrived here yesterday and is at
the Palace.
Thomas Howell of Goldfield and ]. T.
Overbury. Of Tonopah. well-known min
ing men. are at the Palace.
7. T. Dunaway, manager of the Ne
vada, California and Oregon Railroad,
is here from Reno and is at the Palace.
]. r. Castle, owner of large planta-
tions in Hawaii, and his wife arrived
from the East last night on their way
to the islands and are guests at the st.
Francis.
H. p. Anewalt of Prescott, who has
been appointed assistant general freight
agent of the Santa Fe road, to succeed
F. w. Holton, arrived at the st. Fran
els last night.
Among the passengers who landed
yesterday from the liner Newport was
Miss Ada Anthony, sister of DR.. An
thony, formerly surgeon in the Pa
cific Mail service, but now In business
at Mazatlan.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
SUSAN b. ANTHONY NOT
OPPOSED TO DIVORCE
Declares 1t Is Not an Evil, but a Ref
uge for Women Married TO
Cruel Men.

WASHINGTON, April 14.-Over
the bitter protest of Miss Susan B.
Anthony, the National Council of
Women to-day adopted a resolution
pledging the organization to cooper
ate with church and state to ascertain
what are the chief causes which in
dUce or lead UP TO divorce.
i do not consider divorce an evil
by any means" asserted Miss An
thony, who was on her feet before the
reading Of the resolution had been
concluded. 1T is just as much a ref
uge for women married TO brutal men
as Canada was once a refuge from
brutal masters. I will never vote for
a resolution that will cut women off
from refuge from designing and bru-
tai men,"
Afnel meeting tonight was addressed
by half a dozen Of the delegates, after
which the council adjourned TO meet
in Washington three years hence.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
CATHOLICS TO LOCATE
ON LAND IN MISSOURI

Hundred Thousand Acres Secured for
Colony From New York and
New Orleans.
CAIRO, Ill, April IA. = One hundred
thousand acres Of land near Sikeston.
Mo-, has been purchased by company
headed by Archbishop Glennon of st.
Louis and will be used to locate
colony of Catholics from New York
city and New Orleans. The people will
be colonized in villages upon the pur-
chased land. The company has a capi-
tai stock of $1,000.00O
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

SUES TO RESTRAIN UNIONS.-Henry
Kohler proprietor of the ''Koffee Kup Restau-
rant So Third street, fled suit yesterday to
restrain the Walters and Cooks unions from
interfering with his business. He alleges that
because he refuses to accede to the demands
of the unions they have placed pickets in front
of his place of business to drive customers
away.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
SUNDAY EXCURSIONS.
Very Low Rates,

Commencing Sunday. April 49, the round
trip rates for Sundays only will be greatly
reduced Monterey So So Pacific Grove So 75,
Santa Cruz (broad narrow gauge) 81 so.
Leave San Francisco, ferry station. narrow
gauge 7:45 a. m. Third and Townsend sta
tion. 7:15 a. m. Tickets at stations and at
613 Market street. -
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

REDD GETS SIX MONTHS. - Harry B.
Redd, mulatto convicted in the United
States District Court CT having stolen an
overcoat from a military surgeon at the Pre-
sidio. was sentenced yesterday by Judge de
Haven to six months Imprisonment in the
San Francisco County Jail. W. IT. Roren
convicted of subornation of perjury in con-
nection with fraudulent timber land entries
asked for stay of proceedings and moved
for new trial. The matter VIII be argued
g week from o-day.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
LAWSON GIVES JUDGMENT
AGAINST p. Il. TANNER
Rules That the Mother Did Not Alien
ate Her Daughters Affections
From Husband.

Justice of the Peace Lawson yes
terday gave judgment in favor Of Mrs.
Elizabeth Toofney in the suit
brought by P. E. Tanner her son-in-
law, for S299 damages for alleged
alienation of his wife's affections.
Tanner, who is a bartender, testified
that Mrs. Toomey had refused to al
low his wife to live with him because
he owed her, Mrs. Toomey, $50. Tan
ner admitted that he was arrested
twice for failure to provide for his
minor child and that each time he was
instructed by the Police Judges to
support the child.
Mrs Tanner said she did not want
to live with her husband because he
spent his money on other women and
allowed herself and child to go with
out the common necessaries of life.
Judge Lawson cut the case short and
gave judgment for the defendant.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
JAPAN CUTS THE LIMIT
OF EMuGRANTS TO HAWAII
Action Is Taken, 1t Is Reported, Ow-
ing TO the Present Agitation
I'm This .Countr.

HONOLULU. April 14.-The steam
ship Korea, from Japan, brings a re-
port that the japanese Government
has cut the limit Of emigrants to Ha-
waii from 500 per steamer TO less than
100 This action has been taken, it is
reported. owing to anti-Japanese agi-
tation in-California.
The Korea brought only sixty-seven
Japanese to this port, the Smallest
number 20 arrive in many months
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

DOVER, England, April 14-The Hamburg
American Line steamer Pretoria. which arrived
here to-day (from New York April u and pro-
ceeded, was delayed by heavy weather Dur
ing one day OF her voyage the Pretoria only
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
BIG FIRE IN MAINE.
Greater Portion of Business Section
of SpringvaIe Burned.

SPRINGvALE, Me-, April IA. = The
greater portion of the business section
of Springvale, together with many
dwelling houses, was destroyed by fire
to-day, entailing loss estimated at
100000. Thirty-f1ve buildings were
burned. The fire started in boot and
shoe factory owned by the w. B. Usher
& Son Company of Newport, Mass.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
ADOPT A NEW PLAN
TO GAIN STATEHOOD
Oklahoma and Indian Territory Want
Special Bill for Their
Joint Admission

Joint Admission.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla, April IA.
Acting upon the general belief that
the statehood bill was defeated in the
last Congress by reason Of the contro-
versy over the union of New Mexico
and Arizona. movement has been
launched in Oklahoma and Indian Ter
ritory to enter vigorous protest
against being included in bill where
New Mexico and Arizona are con-
cerned. Representatives of the two
Territories met here to-day and called
a convention to meet at Oklahoma
City on July IL for the purpose of
formulating a petition to Congress for
joint admission to statehood without
reference to other Territories. The
movement promises to arouse great in
terest.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
TUNNEL UNDER HUDSON
FLOODED WITH WATER
Dozen Men at Work in the Hole Have
q Narrow Escape From
Being Drowned.

NEW YORK, April IA dozen
men who were at work in tunnel
underneath the Hudson River between
Jersey City and New York had a mar
row escape from being drowned to-
day when the walls of the tunnel
caved in and the hole was flooded.
The tunnel is intended for the use of
trolley cars to connect the two cities.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
sCoTT's EMULSION.
SCOTT . EMULSION.
SCOTS EMULSION
We don't pat SCOTS End
siourin the class Of advertised

S1ouIn the ctaSS Q advertised
cure-aaAs; it doesn't belong
there. We hardly Ike to use
the word "cure" at all, bat we
are bound 10 say tAatit can be
usedfor agreat many troubaes
with great satisfaction. Hs
special function IS to repair
the waste Of the body when
the ordinary food does not
nourssh, and this means that
It is useful in many cases
winch are indicated by vast
ing.
Wen send you sample free.
SCOTT BOVINE 4os Pearl ss-sst New YsEk.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
For %. :. NAVY yard and vallejo.

strs. General Frisbie. MontlceIIo and Arrow'
9:45 a. m. 1880 p m $40 D. m.ss q p m,s
D. m. $40 3. m Leave Vallejo. a. m. 9
a. m 1880 p. m. 40 p m.. p m. week
dava sundays a. m, a. m. 3s1o .. M,
% m Pier 2 foot Mission st.; phone Main
15oe. HATCH BROS.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

NEW YORK, April IA daughter has
been born to Mrs. Herbert Leroy Satterlee.
formerly Miss Louise Morgan, daughter of ].
p Morgan, in this city.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

Try the United States Laundry. 1904
Market street Telephone South 420.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
COUNTY GOVERNMENT RuJ,
BECOMES LAW IN HAWAII
Senate and House Pass the Measure
Over the Veto of Governor
Carter

Garter.
HONOLULU, April IA. - Governor
Carter has vetoed the county govern
ment bill and both the Senate and
House have passed the bill over the
Governors veto, the Senate by a vote
of IL to and the House by a vote of
u TO 3.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

SACRAMENTO April 1.-THE first
box of cherries, ten pounds, shipped
from this city a week ago, was sold
in Philadelphia to-day for 500.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
BIG PRICE is PAID FOR
CHERRIES IN THE EAST

First Box of the Fruit Shipped From
California This Season Sells
for $780,
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
OceanIeS.S.Co. AZ -: :::.:'
coMPAaNrr aENERALE TRANsArLANTIoUs

DIRECT LINE TO HAVRE-Paris HF<h
Sailing every Thursday instead =, 9l
Saturday. 10 8 m. from fieI -
North River. foot OF Morton 81 c.
First class to Havre. $50 and upwsIu- ~
ond class to Havre. $40 and upMa.r,. r,.- \ ~,
FrTlAI, AGENCY FOR UNITED sfAtE - 49, 49,
CANADA. 81 Broadway tH9dsqn 2eli1lnsl, ssl 1.s =
New York J. F. FUGAZ1 * GU. FaS.nc , Soase s
Agents Montgomery avenue. san rIancisoo. i
Tickets sold by all Rsalroad Iicket Asenes-
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15
OCEAN TRAVEL.

Anacortes. Tacoma. Everett. South Belling-
ham. BelIngham-11 a m. April IS 20. 25.
30; May s. Change at Seattle to this company's
steamers for Alaska and G. N. Ry-; at Seattle
or Tacoma to N. P. Ry-; at Vancouver TO c. p.
Ry.
For Eureka CHumbOldt Bay)-Pomona. 1 80
p. m. April II. %. %; May 5. Carona- 80
d. m. April IA, 20, %: May 2
For Los Angeles (via Port Los Angeles and
Redondo) San Diego and Santa Barbaras-
Queen. Sundays. a. m.
State OF California. Thursdays. 8 a. N.
For Los Angeles (vfa San Pedro and East
San Pedro). Santa Barbara. Santa Cruz. Mon
terey. San Simeon. Cayucos. Port Hartford (San
Luis Obispo). Ventura and Hueneme-
Coos Bay, a. m. April 20. %; May
Bonita, 8 a m. April IS, "a: May q
For Ensenada. Magdalena Bay. San Jose del
Cabo. Mazatlan. Altata- La Paz. Santa Rosa
liza Guaymas Mex, 10 a m. 7th each month
ALASKA EXCURSIONS Season 1906)-fhs
palatial excursion steamship Spokane viii leave
Tacoma. Seattle and Victoria. June 8. -: July
g. 20. Aug 3, IL.
For further information obtain folder. Right
Is reserved to change steamers sailing dates.
TICKET OFFICE New Montgomery st.
palace HoteD. 10 Market St.. and Broadway
wharves- FREIGHT OFFICE-10 Market st.
c. d. DUNANN. General Passenger Agent.
10 Market St. San Francisco.
The San Francisco call., 1905-04-15

SCOTT a BOVINE %. Pearl s.--t New Y....
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
Kept Secret Three Years.

Laurel, Del, June 2S. State Senator
d. o. Moore of this town, one of the
most prominent Union Republican lead
ers in Delaware, surprised his friends
to-day by announcing his marriage,
which occurred three years ago, to Miss
Mary Elizabeth Dykes of Laurel.
The Senator recently remodeled and
frightened up his home here, and the
probability of a wedding was predicted.
The homecoming of Mrs. Moore to-day,
however, and the announcement of the
marriage, which has been kept secret
for so long, set the predictions at rest
and created a sensation.
The couple are now receiving the con.
CALCULATIONS of their friends.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
WILD RUMoRs DENIED
Russian staff Claims They Have Won
Victory In Manchuria.

Russian staff Claims They Have Won
Victory In Manehuria.
st. Petersburg. June 29.-The gen.
eral STAFF announces that 1t has abso-
lutely nothing to support the many
wild reports that General Kuropatkin
has been killed or has committed SUI
eide and that portion of the Russian
army is surrounded. On the contrary.
the staff reports that the Russians
have achieved a considerable victory.
According to the information in pos
session of the staff, the operations
thus far have been in the nature of
preliminaries for a general engage
ment. which has not yet begun. They
regard the movement of the Japanese
in Korea as being most serious, be-
lieving that 1t indicates their deter
mination to drive a wedge northward
and isolate and invest vladivostok be-
bore the peace negotiations begin.
There are indications that the Rus
SLAMS propose to offer resistance at the
Tumen river.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01

buried. The wounded number over TOO
persons.
The slaughter included women and
children as well as men. Wives OF the
strikers fought with desperation. and
In the first encounter a girl of Is.
armed with a revolver. blew out the
brains OF Cossack. In the same en-
counter a man hurled bomb into the
ranks of the Cossacks and killed or
wounded 20 of them.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
FOUND GIGANTIC SKELETONS
Remains of Indians Eight Feet Tall
Discovered In Maryland.

Remains of Indians Eight Feet Tall
Discovered In Maryland.
Baltimore. Md. June 29.-The Amer
lean has learned that a number of gil
gantic skeletons of prehistoric Indians.
nearly eight feet tall. have been dis
covered along the banks of the Chop
tank river. in this state. by employees
OF the Maryland Academy of Sciences
and are now at the academy's building.
where they are being articulated and
restored by the academy experts. They
will be placed on public exhibition
early in the fall.
The collection comprises eight skele-
tons, of which some are those of women
and children. They are not all COM
plete, but all the larger bones have
been found. and there is at least one
complete specimen of an adult man.
The excavations were in progress for
months. and the discovery is consid-
cred one of great importance. The re-
mains are believed to be about 1000
years old. The formation of the ground
above and the location of the graves
gives evidence of this. During the ex-
cavations the remains of the camps Of
later Indians were revealed. These
consisted of oyster shell heaps. frag-
ments of cooking utensils. etc. These
discoveries were made fully 10 feet
above the graves which contained the
giant skeletons.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
Cured Of Bright's Disease.

Mr.. Robert o. Burke, Elnora, N. Y,
writes: Before l started to use Foley's
Kidney Cure had to get up from
twelve to twenty times night, and |
was all bloated up with dropsy and my
eyesight was so impaired could scarce
ly see one of my family across the room
| had given up hope of living, when a
friend recommended Foley's Kidney
Cure. One so cent bottle worked won
ders and before had taken the third
bottle the dropsy had gone, as well as
all other symptoms of Bright's disease. "
P. ID. Cottingham & Co., Snow Hill,
Lloyd & Blaine, Pocomoke.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
INSISTS ON CONFERENCE
Germany Refuses to Accede to France
On Moroccan Question.

On Moroccan Question.
Paris. June 2S.-Germany's reply TO
the French note on the subject of Mo-
rocco was presented during a confer
ence between Prince Radolin. the Ger
man ambassador. and Premier Rouvier
at the foreign Office. While most
friendly in form and entirely lacking
in peremptory tone. Germany's response
none the less maintains the position
that the Moroccan question must be
regulated by conference of the pow
ers. without any agreement in advance
limiting the scope of such conference.
This was accompanied by the presenta-
ton of Germany's general point of
view in such an amicable spirit as to
disarm the suspicion entertained con-
corning Germany's Interior motives.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
SECRETARY HAY STRONGER
Passed a Comfortable Night and Is In
Excellent Spirits.

Newbury. N. H., June 29.-From the
bedside of Secretary of State John Hay.
at his summer home, the Fells. II was
announced that the secretary passed a
very comfortable night. He appeared
much stronger and was in excellent
spirits. Secretary Hay continues to rest
comfortably. DIR. Scudder not having
returned from Boston. DR.. Murphy. the
second physician. remains in attend
ance.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
The Original.

Foley & Co., Chicago, originated
Honey and Tar as throat and lung
remedy, and on account of the great
merit and popularity of Foley's Honey
and Tar many limitations are offered for
the genuine. Ask for Foleys Honey
and Tar and refuse any substitute offer
ed as no other preparation will give the
same satisfaction. 1t is mildly laxative
1t contains no opiates and is safest for
children and delicate persons. P. D..
Cottingham & Co., Snow Hill, Lloyd &
Blaine, Pocomoke.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
NINE KILLED BY EXPLOSION
Ton Of Dynamite Goes of. Blowing
Workmen to Pieces.


Emporium, Pa, June 29.-Nine men
were killed and from ~ to Is others
were injured by an explosion of dyna-
mite at the plant of the Emporium
Powder company, three miles west of
this place.
The dead are: Richard Cavanaugh,
Harry George, Marvin Garvin. Joseph
Frantz, Max Halderman. Anthony
Rose. William Shade. Glenn Holcomb,
Joseph Strang.
About one ton of dynamite exploded
from some unknown cause and wrecked
the mixing plant. the packing house
and several other buildings belonging
to the company. The explosion was ter
rife. and was felt for miles around.
After the buildings had burned and
1t was deemed safe to approach the
company's property, search for the
dead was instituted. The bodies of
Halderman. Frantz and Holcomb were
found under the ruins of the box fac
tory in which they were employed.
Their bodies were badly charred. The
other six men were blown to pices, as
portions of their flesh were found in
different parts of the works and on the
hillside
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01

A compromise has been reached in the
contest over the will of Alexander Jack
son, the eccentric resident of Camden,
ago divided his fortune Of $50 5000 600 among enr
members of his own family and left his
aged widow almost penniless. By an
agreement between counsel for the
widow and for members of the Jackson
family, the estate will be settled up,
and the will contest dropped.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
MORE OFFICIALS SENTENCED
Seven OfficehoIders of Shenandoah Pay
the Penalty of Dishonesty.

Pottsville. Pa. June q. Gordon
Brown. Shenandoah school director.
who was convicted of bribery last
week, was sentenced to Is months In
jail. Brown is Republican candidate
for poor director.
Justice w. II. Shoemaker. for ille-
gally settling cases, was ousted from
Office and fined $500. Chief of Police
John Frye. Patrolmen Yankowsky.
Lauriatis. Fahey and Ringhouser.
Shenandoah policemen. were sent to
jail for 80 days for illegally accepting
fees
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
Peanut chokes Child to Death.

Altoona. Pa. June 20. Charles,
the 3-year-old son of Abraham Miller.
of Conemaugh. was eating peanuts,
when one of the kernels lodged in his
throat. choking him to death.
Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-07-01
JOHN y. WALLACE.

accept 100000 Office with New York
corporation. Mr.. Wallace was asked the
cause of his resignation. He replied
that he was in delicate position in
the matter and referred his questioner
to Secretary Taft.