davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

and his neat though plain dress. the
square jaw, the cleft chin and the
steady look of the eye indicate the
fighter. There are few stories TO be
told of him, because there is nothing
erratic or sensational about his actions.
Only his results are spectacular.
WithaI there is the brighter side to
Thomas F. Ryan. He joined with Will
liam C. Whitney to drive the Doodle
aldermen out of New York some years
ago and SO thoroughly was the job ac-
complished that many of the members
went into exile, others were imprisoned
and the rest practically disappeared
from public life. He certainly loves
power, but is satisfied with the sub
stance without the show. He has two
large farms, one in Virginia, the other
in New York state, and is a lover of
fine cattle and FLOODED stock. He
works necessarily. He is always poised,
always affable on the exterior. He
seemingly does things in easy ways. He
is the sort of man that could lose a
million and never give a sign. He is
resourceful, quick, shifty on his feet.
He uses prominent men almost as one
would use pawns in a chess game, yet
does it all so blandly and so naturally
that everybody regards it as a matter
of course.
Outside of John d. Rockefeller and
]. Pierpont Morgan, Ryan is easily the
biggest man in the financial world, and
as he is younger than either he may
pass both in the race. Morgan has
! practically retired, and Rockefeller
must do SO in a few years. OF course
H. H Rogers is to be reckoned with,
but he has been so overshadowed by
the Rockefellers-and is liable to re-
main so-that he will only count as a
part of "the System as Lawson would
put 1t. Ryan is different sort. He is
an entity in himself. He is not identi-
fed with the Rockefeller group-in fact
is rather opposed to it. He is leader
not a follower, organizes machines OF
his own rather than being cog in the
machine of somebody else.
Thomas Fortune Ryan-rather sig
nificant middle name, that-was a Vir-
ginia boy and is now fifty-four years
old. His family was impoverished dur
ing the war, and he was dependent in
youth on two maiden aunts. He had
only a common school education, went
to Baltimore in early youth, with only
few dollars in his pocket, starved
and hunted work, finally securing g
place as clerk in a dry goods store. AS
soon as he had enough money he went
| to New York, got a job in brokers
office, later became a partner, ther
bought a seat on change and started
out for himself. So shrewd and far
seeing did the young broker show him.
self to be that in a few years he had as
customers and friends such men az
Samuel J. Tilden, Jay Gould and Will
| liam R. Travers. He married the
daughter of the merchant for whom he
began work in Baltimore. Early in hi:
career he risked everything on one bis
deal and won out, even though the
courts later did give him black eye
From that time his rise was steady anc
seemingly easy. 1t was only really
easy, however, because of the mans
power ability, grasp and industry. Al
to ethical standards, Ryan's perhaps have
| been as high as those of others in the
financial game. At any rate, he has
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04
DEMANDED HIS KICKS.

Daniel Sully, the sdethroned cotton
king. made a trip through the south
last winter, and when he returned to
New York he told story of an old
negro who had been working for cot
ton planter for many years. One morn
ing he came to his employer and said:
IFS gwine to quit, boss
whats the matter, Nose %
''Well, sab, yer manager. Mistah Win
ter, amt kicked me in de las free
mumfs.''
81 ordered him not to kick ven any
more. 1 don't want anything like that
around my place. I don't want any one
to hurt your feelings, Nose"
EFF 1 don't git any more kicks Is
gwine to quit. Every time Mistah VIM
ter used to kick and cuff me when he
done git mad he always git 'shamed OF
hfsse,f and gimme quarter Use done
los enun money already wild dis heah
fooIishness bout hurtin. nah feelins&'
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

career is so neglected in the United
States. Only eight secretaries of lega-
ton receive as much as $2,625 per an
mum, and most of the others work for
from 81, 200 to 81 800. These men must
possess qualifications which would
command much better pay in almost
any other field. Most of them. are col
lege bred, and many of them are good
linguists To this must be added the
fact that the opportunity of lettering
ones condition in the American serv-
ice is MISUNDERSTANDING of Iega-
ton rarely become ambassadors, as
they do in the European diplomatic
services.
Further to illustrate the remarkable
conservatism shown by Uncle Sam in
the matter of official salaries may be
compared the presidents $4,000 with
the 500, 900 paid the lord lieutenant of
Ireland, who has much less response
bility to meet than the chief executive
of the United States. The vice presi-
dent and the members of the cabinet
are paid salaries of $4,000.
The chief Justice of the United States
is given $4,000, and the lord high chan
ceIlor receives $4,000. The lord chief
Justice draws $4,000 Eight American
associate justices are paid $12.500
apiece, four British lords of appeal and
a master of the rolls receive $4,000
apiece and twenty-oeven justices $4,000
each.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

sentatives in foreign countries under
the rather awe inspiring title of am
bassadors extraordinary and plenipo-
tertiary. Five of thenl-those accredit-
ed to France, Germany, Great Britain,
Mexico and Russia-receive $17.500 per
annum. The diplomats of equal rank
who represent the government in Aus
tria and Italy are given only $4,000.
The immediate effect of this parsi-
monious adjustment has been to put the
diplomatic service into the hands of
the rich. No statesman of moderate
fortune can afford to accept one of
these positions, even though his quail
fications are beyond question. 1t is
true that one of these missions is I'M
dertaken occasionally by some notable
man who is not a capitalist, but the
secret of his ability to serve may be
found in the fact that he has friends
who are both able and willing.
Unlike most other governments, the
United States does not furnish resi-
dences for its foreign agents. Even
the ministers of third class powers, like
some of the South American republics,
are housed sumptuously at the expense
of their governments at Washington
The oriental legations are all provided
with costly and richly appointed quar-
ters. Many of the foreign powers own
their premises, and none of them bag
giles over the expense of securing the
best that can be obtained. The United
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

States ambassador to the court of St.
James, in most respects the most prom
inent foreign agent employed by the
government, must pay his own house
rent out of his salary OF $17,500. That
sum. comfortable as it sounds, would
be scarcely sufficient to pay the rent of
a residence in London worthy to house
the representative of such a power as
the United States. Rent, be it remem
bered, is only an item To maintain
the dignity and reputation for hospi-
tality demanded of an ambassador re-
quires a liberal expenditure, and it is
thus that the supply must come from
sources outside the governments eco
nomical appropriation The British
ambassador at Washington, who is by
no means the best paid of his country's
foreign agents, receives a salary of $32,-
500 and is provided with a free official
residence.
The ENJOYS extraordinary and minis
tiers plenipotentiary are even less to be
envied. There are twenty-eight of them,
and the salaries given them range from
$4,000 down to $4,000. Only one, how
ever, the minister to Persia, receives
the beggarly minimum. The secretaries
of all of the foreign legations, the men
who do the actual labor, are ridicu-
lousy underpaid. A glance at the sal
airy list of American secretaries of le-
cation gives more eloquently than
words the reason why the diplomatic
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

gram and was unquestionably the pow
er that nominated Henry Gassaway
Davis, whom he had known in the old
West Virginia days, as the Democratic
candidate for vice president
Ryan works without ostentation. He
lives and dresses in the same way. He
does not go into society He speaks
little, and that in a quiet, smooth voice.
He is tall, broad shouldered, deep chest
ed, with a large head, a notable smil-
ing blue eye, prominent nose and chin,
firm mouth, close cropped, iron gray
mustache, a big man every way. For
all his quiet, almost gentle manner,
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

many as the most I'M
portant figure in the
world of money. Yet up to that time
he was perhaps the least known of lead
ing financial men.
Thomas F. Ryan avoids publicity. is
quiet almost to the point of taciturnity.
and never lets the world know of his
intended moves until they are accom-
plished facts This is the second one
of his big deals to come like a thunder
clap out of a clear sky. The other was
the securing of the Third avenue rail-
way in New York city a few years ago.
The late William c. Whitney, once
Ryan's partner, said that he was easily
the most adroit, suave and noiseless
man he ever net. Whitney also said
that in twenty years Ryan would be
the richest man in the United States.
The twenty years have not elapsed yet,
so the new owner of the Equitable has
time to make good the prophecy. 1t
goes without saying that he is already
we'll on the road.
1t took nerve to swing the Equitable
deal; of that there is no doubt 1t re-
CURED holiness in conception and in
execution. The thing had to be work
ed in secrecy, the psychological mo-
ditjons were met. The result was
achieved noiselessly and with precision
and dispatch. It was a game that big
financial men had tried to play-George
Gould among others-and had failed
Not only that, but everybody knew
about these attempts that ended in
failure. Not so with Ryan. The whole
transaction. even to the selection of
the trustees and the chairman of the
executive committee, was sprung in the
tWinkling of an eye. To the public at
large there had not been a breath to in
dictate what was coming The names
of Ryan, Morton, Cleveland, Westing-
house and the rest had not even been
mentioned in connection with the Equi-
table tangle. Nearly everybody else
had been talked of, but not the men
who were to turn the trick. 1t was a
master stroke, and 1t left Wall street
gasping. 1t came as swiftly as Togo
victory over Rojestvensky. Oh, these
silent meni Never can one tell what
they are up to until they spring a mine
under ones feet. If the world is ever
overturned it is safe to say that Il
viii be done by a silent man.
The choosing of the trustees was ir
itself stroke of genius. They are
men with national regulations and have
the confidence of the moneyed men OF
the country: Grover Cleveland the only
ex-president; George Westinghouse
the famous inventor, and Chief Justice
Morgan J. O'Brien of New York. The
are all close friends of Ryan, men he
can trust Their names were intended
y to restore public faith in the Equitabl
The move was made just in time tc
forestall the report of Insurance Su.
perintendent Hendricks of New York
1t welded the Morton. the Equitable anc
the Mutual Trust companies, making
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

were not in such conspicuous places
and escaped the attention of the public.
The more the character of Ryan is
studied the more the strength of the
man is seen. He is credited with be-
ing the power behind Tammany Hall, or
at least a power. He is a director in
more trusts than could be recounted in
an ordinary newspaper article. The
Chicago street railway interests, he is
concerned there. The gas company of
Philadelphia, he is closely connected
with that. Yet these are the financial
concerns that have occasioned two of
the greatest municipal revolts in re-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04
THOMAS F. RYAN.

lines of the city and is now bidding for
the new subways- He organized the
Bank of Commerce. with its billion dol
lar assets, the biggest banking institu-
ton in the country outside the Rookie
Teller bank. He is the financial master
of the tobacco trust. He brought about
the Pere Marquette railway consolida-
ton, the Hooking Valley consolidation
and others. He was prominently iden-
tilted with the development of the West
Virginia situation as a member of the
Ell1ins- Whitney-Wide11er syndicate. He
is in the company building railways in
Cuba. he is in the smelter trust, he is
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

cent political history. Then he is the
most prominent figure in the gas COM
pany of New York, that has been under
the searchlight at Albany and against
which the citizens of New York have
been raising such a vigorous protest
The Brooklyn Rapid Transit is another
institution that has been roasted I'M
mercifully by the people, and Ryan is
very intimately concerned in that. The
Public Service corporation of New Jer
sey. Ryan is a big frog in that pool
The Central Railway of Georgia that
has raised such a commotion in the
south, Ryan promoted that. The State
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

Trust Company of New York, over
which there was raised such a hubbub
a few years ago for making a $4,000, 900
loan to an Office boy, other loans to it's
directors and a 100000 loan to Lou
Payn, the insurance commissioner of
New York, this State Trust company
that was investigated by Roosevelt
when governor, Ryan was in that. Sew
eraI years ago one of the most famous
cases in the New York courts was over
a company in which Ryan, then just
beginning to make his mark, was the
real power. BY the way, he lost in those
suits. and one of the judges that de-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

cided against him was Alton B. Par
ker. 1t has been asserted in the New
York press that Ryan never forgave
him.
However that may be, he recovered
from that early blow, organized the
Morton Trust company and absorbed
the State Trust company, thus getting
promoted SO many other gigantic in
stitutions that the mere reading of the
list almost staggers one. For example,
he is the man who organized the Met
ropolitan Street Railway Company of
New York. that controls all the surface
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

in some of the steel companies. All
these things, and they are only the be-
ginning of his interests. he has accom-
plished with so little fuss and feathers
that the great reading public has heard
little of Ryan. Yet all the time he has
had his hand in even more public af-
fairs. He is no mean politician. He
was very intimate with Cleveland and
Whitney during Cleveland's administra-
tons. He has been close to every head
of Tamnany Hall for years. He was
a delegate to the last Democratic ma
uonal convention, helped bring about
the acceptance of the famous gold tele-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

the strongest group of interests outside
of the Standard Oil system. The cleo
ton of cabinet member, Secretary of
the Navy Paul Morton, was intended
still farther to gain the confidence of
the policy holders, present and prospec-
tive. Then the move checkmated Au-
gust Belmont and helped Ryan and his
associates wonderfully in their con-
templated subway deals in New York.
There is no discounting the fact that
this was one of the greatest moves
made on the financial chessboard in
years. 1t is just the sort of move that
Ryan has made before, only the Others
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04
SALARIES OF THE UNITED STATES PUBLIC OFFICIALS

would be both humiliating and illogi-
cal to infer from all this that the sue
cessful management of great corpo-
ration required an intellectual equip
ment superior to that demanded of the
president of the United States. An
American would never arrive at that
conclusion, but an alien might.
WILLIAM STEARNS.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04
| Ov|


cussion. Bills We're introduced into the
last congress designed to raise the
presidents salary to 100000 and those
of several other dignitaries in proper
ton. Although none of them became
law, it is nevertheless certain that the
agitation will continue until something
adequate is accomplished.
It is admitted by politicians of almost
every shade of opinion that the present
presidential salary of $4,000 is in strik-
ing incongruity with the dignity of the
position. 1t is true that all the presi-
dents before Ulysses S. Grant managed
to maintain a more or less satisfactory
appearance with exactly half that
amount, but there is no record to show
that any one of them provided against
the proverbial rainy day, and there is
abundant evidence that more than one
of them would have met financial ship
wreck had it not been for the timely as
sistance of friends.
At the time when the presidential
salary was doubled. $4,000 was rather
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

Err since the founda-
ton OF the republic
the matter of increas-
ing the salaries of the
president and other
high officials in the
public service has been
an oft recurring sub
H. =. 1a=a.i.As
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-07-04

He man who recently
startled the financial
world by his sudden
coup in revolutionizing
the gigantic Equitable
Life Assurance asso-
citation IS hailed by
many as the most i'm
portant figure in the
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-05-19
som e DEATHS.

Mrs. Jane Louise Tyler, aged eighty
one years, widow OF DIR. w. III. Tyler
died at the home of her grandson, Mr.
Frederick Griffith, at Hague, Tuesday
afternoon.
Lower Lancaster was distressed Tues
day morning to find that Mrs. Willie C.
Chiffon, OF Palmer, who has been i'll fol
some time, had passed away during the
night. The deceased was az years of age
and an estimable character. She leaves
a husband and seven children, the eldest
just grown. Funeral was at White
Stone Methodist cemetery Wednesday
afternoon AMID a great throng of people.
Rev, j. N. Anderson, accompanied by
Rev. q. Y. bradley, jr., conducted the
services.
Rev. Robert Z. Bentley passed quietly
away Friday, May 18th, 8 a. M, at
his residence near Urbanna. Funeral
services were conducted at the Methodist
church by Rev. Richard Ferguson, of sa-
luda, and Rev. f. +. Garner, of Heaths-
vile, Saturday at 8 a. m. Burial was at
Providence, King & Queen County, Va.
The deceased was member of the Vir-
ginia Conference, butfor about two years
liihealth had incapacitated him orwork.
lie served Lancaster circuit last, and the
people 81 that as we'll as the neighbor-
ing counties, were DEVOTED to him and
his wife and little son.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-05-19
FISH AND OYSTER NOTES,

Blustery weather checked the catch
of soft crabs this week. The markets
are glutted, chiefly from Piankatank,
Poquoson and the Eastern Shore,
Prices are way down. The barefoot
boy is ia distress.
Sturgeon are making their APP
pearance in the rivers. A large
'cow" sturgeon is now worth from
800 to $75, the roe alone being valued
at 81 per pound. In olden times an
entire fish could be purchased for so
cents. The roe was then thrown
overheard or used as bait to catch
other fish.
About violations of the oyster laws
In the Potomac river, the Progress
has been ventilating this fact, which
IS fact notwithstanding we do not
possess the data to bring in indict-
ments, because that ia not our par.
ticular business, but we have pro-
ceeded to ventilate this subject be-
cause We hoped to reach some one
whose business it was to inquire into
these violations, and we have come
to the conclusion that it is q bad
law in that it is aot enforced. Vir-
glnia is either unable to enforce this
oyster law in the Potomac or thus
Tar she has not seen fit to do it. She
should do one of two things-see it
enforced or Gpt it from the statute
books. In its present state the
oystermen rather consider the oyster
law of the Potomac river q Joke. and
pay about as much attention to it az
If it were not on the statute books.
Colonial Beach Progress.
The steamer James River, of the
fleet of the Virginia oyster navy. in
command of Captain Winder, made
a raid on eight white and one colored
oystermen Friday night twelve miles
above Newport News, all of the men
being captured and charged with vi
olating the oyster laws by dredging
out OF season. Those arrested were
taken before Justice Jones, of Blood
feld, section of Newport News, and
all were fined $25 apiece and costs.
The vessels of the fleet have recently
been collecting liceuse from fisher.
men for using nets. and quite Q mum. j
Der have paid. Two fishermen above
Newport News failed to paw the
license and the nets were taken nm
The pa<col boats are cruising night
and day hot after those tongers who
persist In working the beds in the
closed season. The violations 90 on
principally after dark, and many
thrilling encounters haze taken
place between the pirates and the
oyster police.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-05-19
NEWS ITEMS.

A Stafford man cut rs ties, 6xs
inches s feet long, from a single
chestnut tree.
Judge Golf on Friday discharged
Nan Patterson at the request of the
district attorney, and the celebrated
case came to an end.
Mrs. Mary Brosddus, wife OF Rev
DR.. Julian Broaddus, the pastor OF
the Baptist church at Berryville, died
Sunday after long illness, aged SO
years. She was Miss Mary Davis, Of
King & Queen county.
On May 1st a new order of the In.
ternal Revenue Department went
into effect which provides that in the
future every dealer or individual W ho
buys box of cigars will be required
to destroy the box as soon as it is
empty.
Major Z. T. ID. Myers, president
of the Richmond, Fredericksburg
and Potomac Railroad since 1886,
died Friday at his home in Rich.
mond. He was about seventy years
old. Major Myers was regarded as
one of the best posted railroad men
in the country and was an expert
engineer. He was Confederate
soldier.
Hiram Cronk, the only survivor of
the war of 1912, died Saturday in
Ava, n. y, at the age of los years.
As the last survivor of the first for
eign war in which his country en-
gagged after winning it's independence,
ne had been honored by the national
government. Cronk became a mem.
Der of the 157th infantry when only
a little more than IA years of age.
4 Scientist brought rain in the
vicinity of Los Angeles, Cal, by the
explosion of gas in the atmosphere.
The amount Of rain TINS produced is
reported to be 26.4S inches since
December Is, and in a locality where
they had no rain at all. 1t confirms
the claim of the late General Daniel
Ruggiess that explosives set of in the
air at certain elevation will pro-
duee rain.
Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1905-05-19
LONG OCEAN RACE.
CRichmond Times-Dispatch)

Eleven yachts sailed Wednesday
from Sandy Hook lightship for the
ocean race for the cup offered by the
German Emperor. The boats entered
vary from ? small schooner to a GAS.
ton ship. Among the contestants
are q S0Y-ton bark, several three
maated sahooners, several twa-mssted
schooners, Q yswl and . yacht. No
tame allowance figures In The CON test.
however, IL being q free.for-sll.
They are the finest deep-ses ysohts
ever brought together for @ single
contest. 1t will take at least two
weeks to decide it. The finish ia to
De of the Lizard light in the English
channel, assistance from SANDY Hook
OF about 3,10O sea miles.
This will be the first cross sea race
since seventeen years ago, when the
Coronet and Dauntless had their
match between Sandy Hook and
QqeenstoYn. There are English
GermaR and American boats in the
group. 80
The fsvorits In tbs betting is the
Atlantic, which will bs sailed by
Capt. "Charlie" Barr, of cup-defense
fame.
The standing record is held BY the
yacht Endym;on, at Is days 90 hours
So minutes from Sandy Hook to the
Needles.