davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1905-01-04
Wednesday, January 3. 'oos

reason why the miners should fight
the insurance men.
j. Win Wilson could. He lam
basted the insurance companies oper-
ating in Oregon, whose sole invest
ment consists of roll top desk. and
whose incomes are fabulous. "Do
they create any wealth." thnndered
the speaker. ''Do they dig holes in
the ground and make producing
mines out of prospectsS Do they de:
velop the latent natural resources OF
this state? Then why should they be
exempt from taxation, and heavy
burdens be imposed upon the miners
who do these things?"
Bell suggested that the strongest
point to be made against the Eddy
tax law as applied to mining cor
pcrations is the high capitalization
of this class of companies. "We
cannot disguise the fact that the high
capitalization of mining companies
Is for the benefit Of the promoter.
And nobody has any kick. coming.
The promoter is a very necessary per-
sou. He occupies a legitimate posi-
alton. He I, an integral part of the
mining ndustry. He built this
western country. without him there
would be no new mining enterprises
In the nation.
Industrial corporations usually
have a low capital stock, aud un der
the Eddy law are therefore taxed but
a small sum. Miuing companies, on
the other hand. get 1t In the neck"
Markham said that the big produH'
ing mines can stand taxation. but It
worked a hardship on the little
fellows. Chance asked the assem- mbled
representatives Of big mines In this
camp IL they we're willing to pay a
tax for the privilege of producing
wealth. Melzer said no. Wyatt
ditto. Nicholson also responded In
the negative.
Then followed a discussion as to
the advisabiiity of sending n delega-
tion to Salem to help Representative
Smith fight the battles of the miners.
Seymour Bell called upon Mr..
Wyatt, whom he said operates mine
owned by man who Yields more In
fluencs at Salem than any IS men In
Oregon-Jonathan Bourne. OF Port
land. Bell humorously told his own
experience as a lobbyist, IN which
capacity he was usually white chip.
"If we can enlist the services Of Hon.
Jonathan Bourne In our behalf, we
can knock the Eddy law galley west
and crooked"
Wyatt said that while he had no
authority to speak for Mt. Bourne,
still he believed that his principal
was heartily In accord with any move
ment tor a betterment OF mining con
ditions In Oregon. However, Mr..
Bourne will be absent from the state
during the next legislative session. I"
MoDevitt also threw a few boQuets
at Bourne. whom he said Ia perhaps
the most powerful political figure In
Oregon.
Mr.. Smith said that he would Ger.
tsiuly enjoy being mixed up with
Mr.. Bourne In common cause, and
suggested that u lobby be sent to
Salem tn lay seige to the Honorable
Jonathan.
Mohr said that MIR. Bourne would
be good man to call on for aid. hut
that the real hard work would be
done by the men most vitality inter
ssted.
Levens recalled the good work OF
The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1905-01-04

sidering the advisability OF introduc-
ing a substitute revenue law. ,~ taxing
franchises and companies making
profit from public utilities. l be-
lieve that such IL ca sure would ap-
peal to the mem bers of the legis-
Iatnre. "
Mr.. Smith advocated the sending
Of delegation of mining men to
Salem during the coMiug session to
show the revenue men how important
Ii is that the mining industry OF Ore.
gon should not be imposed upon.
1.-THE Eddy law is driving capital
from this into other mining states"
said Mr.. Smith. at must either be
repealed or 80 amended as to remedy
such an evil condition of AFFAIRS"
Mr.. Calder wanted to know what
specific arguments we're to be sub
mitted to the legislature. Good
reasons. he said, must be shown why
mining corporations should be ex-
einpted from taxation.
Mr.. Chance thought Ss Mr.. Calder
did, and therefore moved that COM
mittee OF five be appointed to pre-.
pare set of resolutions for submis.
sion to the legislature. setting forth
the reasons why mining companies.
should he absclved from taxation.
The chair named the following
committee: &. II. Chance, Emil
Melzer. II. II. Nicholson, l.. q.
Lilly aud Seymour II. Bell, with
Hon. A. p. Smith as ex x-ofiicio men,
bsr.
After considerable discussion as to
the powers OF this committee, led on
one side by Commodore Tom 9. Gray,
who wanted the committee to have
full power, and by G. II. Chance on
the other. who believed that the
committees report should be dis.
oussed and adopted at future meet
Ing, It was decided that when the
meeting adjourn, 1t adjourn to
meet Saturday evening, Dec. 81, TO
hear the committees report.
A general discussion Ut ways
aud means of fighting the Eddy law
then followed. Seymour Bell said
that IL would bs hard job to repeal
the law. lie pointed out that
comparatively tew OF the inhabitants
of Oregon were interested in miuing
aud that the majority are anti-cor-
porationists by birth aud training.
lie recited the history Of similar
legislative mixup In Washington
seven years ago, drawing the conclu.
sion that an attempt to exempt cor
porations from state taxation 10
doomed to failure, aud that the
proposition to utterly absolve min
ing companies 10 impossible. tie
suggested q mere modi fcation of the
Eddy lava reduction OF TAX. 1.-The
Eddy tax rs 1t Ia. il not particularly
burdensome. continued the speaker.
"The worst feature of the law IL that
the word has gone out to eastern in
vestment oenters that Oregon laws are
unfriendly to the mining industry.
That Ia the most Objectionable part
Of the bill.
"A bill to repeal the Eddy law. or
an amendment exsmptinR mining
companies, would not pass. II 1t did.
Governor Cham 5srlain would veto II.
because he 10 corporation tax advo.
cate"
Chance suggested that there could
be no objection to mining companies
being placed on the same basis as In
sursnce companies, which are exempt
The Sumpter miner. [volume] (Sumpter, Or.) 1899-1905, 1905-01-04

COptin ued on page four.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
Enutrnttmrut. Nut
Nrrrhttu
BY DR.. R. A. WHITE.
Pastor Peoples Liberal Church. Chicago.

childs ancestors. Society washed its hands of the whole responsibility
There are signs OF a wholesome reaction against o~yeremPhasls Oh
hercduy. 1t is becoming Increasingly apparent that environment has
more to do with life, moral or physical than hcredty We are the VIC
tins Of surroundings. Where we live, how we live, the manifold intIu-
enccs and circumstances are the vital arid effective forces in htcmakng.
Science has shown tina. the struggle for existence and the consequent
survival Of the fuest is one method Of environment by which forms OF lie
arc shaped.
Place an honest man among commercial toeucS or where business
is generally conducted dishonesty and in the majority of cases the honest
man turns rogue or is beaten in business. Place a rogue where business
is honestly conducted and he turns honest by force Of circumstances
or gets beaten in the game.
We shall have Stun people SO long as we have slums. We shall
have vicious people so long as we permit vicious environments the'n
baleful influence upon life. '
If you want good folks in your large cities give them in some way
better surroundings. Clear out your tenemcns, clean up your alleys,
give them pure water, widen your streets and let in the sunlight, get po-
pie out Of the cellars, give them enough to eat and wear, that is, give Them
the opportunity to earn them; create parks and breathing spaces, give
the children better homes, then things will go better.
Most cities with the best OF intentions, are puttering with the social
problems. In disease we no longer are satisfied with sending Tor the
physicians; we seek the cause Of the contagon and, finding 1t, remove lie
Clean out the moral sewers and the matter OF personal morals wall largely
take care of itself i
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
LINE AT CREEDMOOR
skirmish Before Targets Brings
Blood-Lust to Fighting
Soldiers.

To the spectator the skirmish
run is the most, interesting Of
matches, says Lieut.. Frank f.
Evans, in Outing. Six hundred
odd yards from the targets the
thin line of skirmishers awaits the
Forward, march, of the bugIe.
Then il wayers forward and at the
G00yard line halts and drops.
With the last note of com.
mence firing" the rifles sputter
and crack. Then on to the other
ranges the line swings, now at
quick and now in the cadence of
double time, the men carving
their pieces in characteristic atti-
tude. AT the behest of the bugle
the line. drops to the ground and
pumps out its leaden fight at the
targets. The firing grows faster
and more furious, the bugle rings
out mellow and clear, and at the
short ranges the line writhes with
theSqtfick flashes of magazine fire,
the rafting shuttle of cracking
sounds and the whirr of bullets.
The crash and rattle of ragged
volleys lend a realism TO this re-
lentless advance by picked rife.
menupon the silhouetted figures Of
the paper targets that brings,
even from the man who knows not
the butt from the muzzle of rife.
the old blood-lust back from the
dim tomb of ancestors.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
WAS HONEST IN POLITICS.
Mark Twain, Stamping for Eawley,
Told Exactly What He Knew Of
the Famous General.

This is the way in which Mark
Twain once introduced Gen. 10.
seph r. Hawley at a public meet.
ing, according to the Hartford
Times: Il see ] am advertised to
introduce the speaker Of the even.
ing, Gen. Hawley, Of Connecticut,
and ! see il is the report that |
am 10 make a political speech.
Now, ] must say this is an error.
! wasn't constructed TO make
stump speeches, and on that head
(politicaD ! have only this SO
say; First, see that you vote.
Second, see that your neighb0r
votes. Lastly, see that yourself
or neighbor don't scratch the
ticket. Gen. Hawley was presi-
dent of the Continental commits,
sion. Was a gallant soldier in
the war. He has been governor
of Connecticut, member of con.
gress, and was president Of the
convention that nominated Abra.
ham Lincoln"
Gen. Hawley-That nominated
Grant.
Twain-He says it was Grant,
but ! know better. He is a mem,
Der of my church at Hartford, and
the author of Beautiful snow
Maybe he will deny that. But ]
am only here to give him a char.
acter from his last place. AS a
pure citizen, | respect him, as a
personal friend Of years ] have
the warmest regard for him; as
a neighbor whose vegetable gar
den joins mine, why-why, ] watch
him. That's nothing; we all do
that with any neighbor. Gen.
Hawley keeps his promises, not
only in private but in public. He
is an editor who believes in
what he writes in his own paper.
the author Of Beautiful
Snow" he added a new pang to
winter. He is broad -souled, gen
erous, noble, liberal, alive to his
moral and religious responsible
tiles. Whenever the contribution
box was passed ! never knew him
TO take out a cent. He is a square,
true, honest man in politics, and
! must say he occupies a mighty
lonesome position.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
MAN UNFIT TO BE HERMIT
Charles Warren Stoddard Recalls
Prentice Mulford's Experiment
with Lonely Life.

When he abandoned his hermi
tage he did it in this fashion, says
the National Magazine. Il had
imagined / could live happily
alone with nature, and largely in
dependent of the rest of the hui
man race. / couldn't | don't be;
ileFe anybody can Nature has
Taught me better. / found that
the birds went in pairs and in
tlocks; that plants and trees grew
in families; that ants live in colo
MES, and that everything OF its
klnd had a tendency to live and
grow together But here ] was, a
single bit of the human race, try
ing 10 live alone and away from
my kind. The, birds and trees
were possibly glad of my admira-
'ion for them, but they said: You
don't belong to us. Yon should
not try TO belong to us. You be
iohg to your own race; go join
them again; cultivate them. We
I'VE our own lives: you can't get
wholly into our lives. You're not
a bird that you can live in a nest
ana on uncOoked seeds; or a SPUR
rel that can live in a hole in atree;
or a tree that can root itself in one
place and stay there, as you've
oeen trying to do. A hermit is
one who tries to be a tree, and
dfaw nourishment from one spot,
~hen he is really a great deaf
more than q tree, and must draw
HE and recreation from many
persons and places. A bear is not
no foolish as to try to live among
ioxes neither should a man try TO
I'VE entirely among trees, because
shey cannot give him all that be
must have to get the most. ont of
me- So ] left my hermitage, |
presume, forever, and carted my
bed and pots and pans to the house
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
MINIATURE JAP GARDENS.
Made in This Country and Used to
Decorate the Dinner Table for
American Society.

The little japanese gardens dis.
played in the windows of florists
are made in this country, but b.
japanese artists.
"We import the dwarf plants
and trees used for the purpose
from Japan" said one dealer TO a
New York Sun reporter. THE
gardens are constructed by Jap.
anese men here whom we employ
for the work.
"How much are they? The ones
that you see here range from So to
S.. We have more expensive
ones. These are the Sc ones in
these round terracotta pots.
"Some people use them for jar
dinieres for the center of the din
ing table. The coloringi is rich and
good and the little gardens al
ways interest people"
mi yJapanese art could achieve
these wonderful miniature gar,
dens, many of them not more than
eight inches across.
A perfect illusion of extensive
landscape is won by the clever
placing of the tiny dwarfed trees,
the artfultwists giyento wee gray
eled paths, the carefully arranged
yistas.
The smallest gardens are, as a
rule, grown in little shallow por.
celain dishes of pretty design and
coloring. The larger gardens are
grown in shallow earthenware
pots, bowl shaped.
Flooded with bright sunshine
the gardens show off to the best
advantage.
Il love mine in the sunset light"
says a woman who is so devoted to
her garden that she has had a spe.
cial high stand made for it to rest
on in a bow window, where it may
catch an admirable all round light.
"The effect of the golden light
through the little old pine trees is
stunning, and orange streaks slip
over the little lawns in just the
way they do over real lawns.
"When dusk comes the garden
is delightful, so dark and bosky
and cool. And in the moonlight?
Well, you just ought to see the
moonlight on my garden, tighten
up the dearest little white pagoda
on the side of a steep hill,
"My gardens poetry to me all
the time. Through it ] keep sense
of summer near me all through the
winter months
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
MANY ENGLISH IN MEXICO.
Increasing Use Of Language in South
ern Republic Makes CONVEX
sation Easier.

The increasing use and knowl-
edge of the English language in
Mexico must not be considered by
foreigners who propose to do bust.
ness in Mexico as relieving them
from a necessity of knowing Span.
ish. For those who come in direct
contact with the masses in any
way the native language is still
very essential, and will always be.
The amount of English that can
be heard by the visitor in the
main street of this capital city Is
apt to be misleading. 1t is NOT
necessary to journey to the inte-
rior of the country to reach a sec
ton where English is neither
heard nor understood. By walk.
ing a few squares either to the
right or left, away from the beat.
en- track of the tourist and the
foreigner, one readily encounters
the Mexico that must be spoken
to in Spanish. As has been
said many times, it is more
important that the man who
comes to Mexico should know
thoroughly his own business
than that he should have a fluent
knowledge of Spanish. Ignorance
of his business is quickly detected
by those with whom he has to deal,
and at once discredits him, yet he
may employ the services Of an in
terpreter without otfense.
Many people who are not init.
mately acquainted with condi.
lions in the Spanish islands thar
have recently come under the con
troll of the United States imag,
inc that they will be readily
Americanized, They do not know
what a long process is required
to change the language and the
customs of a race. Ii will not be
done in a generation, nor in many
OF them. Children born of Ameri-
can parents in Mexico invariably
learn to speak Spanish before they
do English, and it must naturally
follow that local customs are to
them more familiar than those of
their parents. The new dependen.
cies. and the constantly growing
trade relation between the United
States and Spanish-speaking
countries, make it most desirable
that the education of the young
men Of the United States should
include a thorough course in Span.
ish. Many young men in coming
years will find a knowledge of
Spanish a valuable asset oftheir
stock in trade.
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
HIS SOLDIERS MUST SING.
Edict from Kaiser Commands That
Defender Must Lift Up Voice
in Tuneful Notes. ,

1t is now commanded by En-
pcror William ii. that the
German soldier, in addition TO his
many other duties, shall, while
marching, lift up his voice and
sing. With surprise and sorrow
his majesty has found in going
over the old time,honored marches
that these had, for the most part,
mot suitable texts" and in hot
haste two poets of Berlin and Mu.
mich respectively have put their
heads together and produced a lit
tie Handbook of easily remem
bered marching songs" with the
caroling of which Hans, Hermann
and Fritz will in the future be.
guile their steady tramp, tramp.
tramp.
BY the way, has not the foreign,
er sometimes been puzzled as to
why a German marching regiment
will on occasion suddenly and with
one accord start stamping? The
STAMP of all the rank and file
follows on a sharply given order
to Salute" some passing officer,
and the salute" when on the
march is given with the feet!
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
GREAT WEALTH OF ALASKA
In Climate, Minerals and Agricul~
tural Possibilities Northern
Country Excels.

In John Scudder McLain's re,
Gently published ALASKA aud the
klondike" are some interesting
facts and figures. The author
thinks that parts of Alaska have
good possibilities as winter re.
sorts. He says that at kctchikan
the thermometer rarely reaches
zero, and the mean temperature
is about that of Washington.
ID. G. The Japan current keeps all
the harbors on it's course open in
winter as well as in summer. 1t
was this circumstance that led
eX-GOy. Swineford, who is a resi-,
dent of ketChikan, to say that if
he were a resident of any state
east of the Rocky mountains hc
would come here to spend the win.
tiers in preference TO going t"
Florida. Mr.. MCLain found at Sci
kirk, not far from Dawson, the
most successful farms in the Brit.
ish Yukon. One farmer there was
reported to have cleared $1,000
during the year 1902 on his crops
CT hay and potatoes, for which he
found a ready market in Dawson.
Away up at Eagle, "the city with
a future" were found the best
demonstrations of the agricuI.
turaI possibilities of Alaska. IN
the gardens near the pole most i'm
p0rtant results are obtained.
They produce large quantities Of
potatoes, cabbage, caulihower,
lettuce, turnips and radishes, so
that the possibility Of raising such
products successfully on the G5th
degree Of north latitude has been
demonstrated.
better transportation facilities
are greatly needed, There is a
great difference in the cost Of Iiy-
ing in the klondike camps, where
the dominion government has
built roads, and on the Alaska
side, where there are none. Road
building has cut down the price OF
products in the KIOndike about
one-f0urth in five years. In the
spring of 1902, when -four was 81.
a hundred III Dawson, ii was 1872
hundred on Chicken creek in the
United States territory, and 90 il
was with bacon, potatoes, con
densed milk, beef and eggs. In
Copper Center conditions are
even worse. A Minneapolis man
who recently visited that section
reported hay at 500 ton, oats and
-four 30 cents a pound, butter 81
hound, canned beef $l.25 q pound
oil $3.50 a gallon, a washtub 81
and a joint Of stovepipe 81.
No estimate is put on the gold in
Alaska by Mr.. McLain. There is
a saying there that "the gold il
where you find IT," Which means
that it can be found anywhere.
That the gold is widely scattered
is proved by the recent find at
Fairbanks. Fairbanks is $50
from Dawson and 500 miles
Nome, while the Treadwell
mines are 700 miles from both
these places. From his ipyestiea.
however, Of the mineral
wealth OF the country Mr.. McLain
believes that "the business of TAX.
ing gold out of Alaska has scarcely
commenced; il will become a per
maBent industry--as permanent
az coal mining in Pennsylvania
The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-29
TRAMP STEAMERS VOYAGES
These Craft Carry Bulk of Ocean
Trade and Encircle the Globe
Many Times.

The bulk Of the ocean, borne
commerce of the world IN carried
not in the great liners but in the
most Of ]so-cailed tramp steamers
that are ready to take cargo to
or from any part OF the world.
They were willing TO carry coal
across the western ocean in mid.
winter during the fuel shortage
occasioned by the strike in our
anthracite mines. They would
take oil to the far east, cotton to
Europe, provisions or coal to tho
blockaded part of NIadiyost0k il
the offer was high enough. In
fact, they are ready to take any
thing anywhere when a fair re4
turn 10 cargo or money IL offered
FOR the services rendered and the
dangers run.
As an example of the wander
iIyGB Of one Of these tramp ships
ina little over aSear mention may
be made Of the log Of the steamer
Massapeqna, which was recently
in this harbDr. She il a British
ship so far as build, flag and regis.
try go, but she il practically
owned by New Workers, and rep.
resents the investment Of Amer
lean capital. This is a record Of
her recent sailing: From New
York TO the west coast Of South
America, via the straits OF Ma
geIlan, back to New York over the
same route, From New York
she cleared for the far east, going
to China and Japan by way OF
the Cape of Good Hope in order
TO avoid the Russian vessels in the
Red sea. From Toxic she went
TO Manila, from Manila 10 Ccbu,
from Cebu to Sabang, thence re.
turned to the United States via
the Snez canal, bringing 14,752
Of hemp to Boston and New
York.
This wandering occupied prac-
tically il months, for the Massa-
pequa left New York on March "a
OF last year bound 10 the west
coast Of South America, and ar
in Boston on THURSDAY,
20. Her next trip is to the
west coast Of South America, and
goodness only knows how long It
will be before she reaches her
rome port, Bristol, England, ifsbe
ever returns there. No impor-
fant repairs have been made on
her engines in three years-in
no repairs other than what
has been done by her own engine.
room force, which Of itself is IL
to the excellence Of the
work of British yards (she was
quilt IN Sunderland) in engiDing
such ships.
Some Of these ocean carriers
splendid records Of confirm.
JUS runs, We were told recent
y Of a vessel that was steamino
or A days without once stopping
engine even momentarily, a
remarkable endurance
est. At a ten-knot rate, or say
80 miles per day, she would have
'oyered II 900 miles without once
.urning the steam off from the