davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

All that leaks out from Russia Or
real news indicates strongly the hope
lessness of any real revolution. A
delegation of peasants has been waiting
on the Car and Count White. They
desire the distribution of lands and the
giving Of a little farm to each man.
Count White insisted that they should
organize to buy the lands from theiI
present owners on easy terms, with the
Government assisting, but the peasants
utterly declined this and insisted upon
getting the lands for nothing, though
the Count pointed out to them that the
public lands, great as were their extent
were ridiculously insufficient to NEE
this demand. The Count tried to con.
vince them how much better off the,
We're than other countries. which ara
ruled by Jewish bankers or other un-
desirable forces. while they have ar
Emperor designated by Heaven anc
who ruled independent of any de
influence. All the greatness
and happiness of Russia, he said, were
due to this unique position of theii
JOY no prosperity were it not for him
The revolutionists were trying to es.
tablish a Government Of Poles, Ar.
menians and Jews, which would be ar
intolerable tyranny. 1t will take cen.
turtles before there is sufficient develop.
ment of intelligence i'm the Russians t.
make popular Government possible
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Col. w. L. Curry. the active and eff
cient Commissioner Of Soldiers Claims
OF Ohio. is always on the lookout for
some way to benefit the veterans and
their widows. He has started the circu-
lation of petition among the veteran ms
or the Union army. Spanish War. the
Ladies Auxiliary ORGANIZATIONS and the
citizens Of Franklin County to sup
port the efforts of Representative
e. L. Taylor in securing the pas
tive E. l.. Taylor in securing the pas
sage of bills favori-- veterans. and
especially one amending the act of June
~. 1890. to increase the rate of widows
pensions from IS to s12 a month to
grant pensions to widows who have
married since the enactment of said
law. and to raise the income to which
the widows are entitled from $3.50 Il
$500 a year. The petitions are being
numerously siened all over Franklin
County. which comprises Mr. Taylor's
district
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
THURSDAY
GRAFT IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The most astounding case Of graft in
the Philippines appears to be the work
Of the friars. The Roman Catholics all
over the world are aroused to indigna-
ton by the manner in which the friars
have looted the Church in the Archi-
pelago. When the Government paid
them some 100000 in compensation
for their property in the Islands. 1t was
expected that the greater part Of this
money would remain in the Archipelago
for the support of religion. Pope Leo
XIII. explicitly and positively promised
Mr.. Taft that this should be SO, and
instructions were cabled to the Delegate
Apostolic to unfrock the Superiors of
the Orders if they did not turn over to
him the money received. to be held in
trust until the Holy See should make a
final disposition of the money. The
present Pope renewed these instruc-
tons, but the then Apostolic Delegate
died, and before his successor could be
appointed the friars put the money "out
OF reach of Pope or Delegate" The
result is that the Church in the Islands
is in a pitiable condition of poverty,
with hundreds of parishes vacant. The
Western Waterman, Of st. Louis. the
leading Roman Catholic paper in the
West, says:
There is not Catholic in the United
States to-day who would touch a dollar
of the money stolen from the poor
Catholic Filipinos; but the sack of holy
poverty does not refuse 1t; the long
sleeve of the friar will conceal it."
Father Phelan, who has been inyes-
tigatins the matter. says:
"If ever there was tainted money it
was that realized by the monks from
the spoliation Of the Philippines As
the history OF that spoliation is written
the more sacrilegious does it appear.
The conduct of the monks has brought
disgrace on their Orders and on the
Holy See.
"As for the faithful, they will insist
on knowing why monks who came into
the ministry on the plea that they did
not want, and would not have money,
now forget their vow and place $1,000
900 Of tainted money above the H.
100000 of souls they left behind, and in
danger of being eternally lost, in the
Philippines
The American Bishops in the Islands
are making urgent cries for priests, but
there is not even money enough to pay
the passage of the young priests i'm this
country who are eager to go to that
lies have recently sent money enough
to England to pay the passage of six Or
eight priests to the Archipelago.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

A committee OF the Washington
Medico-Legal Society has been investi-
eating the conditions at st. Elizabeth S
Insane Hospital near Washington. and
has presented a most startling report.
which will be brought to the Presi-
dents attention. There are about $500
patients in the asylum. of whom nearly
one-half are old soldiers and sailors
The committee finds. in the first place
that 1T is the practice to put these vet
Grams in the hospital upon a mere re-
quest from the Governor of Home
which may be 1000 miles away. and
that when there they are denied all
opportunity to prove their sanity They
NAV be- in fact immured for life. The
larger part of the veterans pension Is
taken away from him. and il he ever
succeeds in getting discharged he is
penniless. He is put in poor quarter
and fed with very inferior food while
the best rooms and the best food are
reserved for the paw patients. who arc
frequently relatives Of Government Off
GERS and clerks who pay no taxes to
support the institution. One of the
worst features is what the inmates cal
the bull-pen. but is officially known as
Atkins Hall. which is a triangular in
closure Of about three acres. of whici
one-half is occupied by buildings 1t is
surrounded by brick wall and a high
paling fence. Some of the men con-
fined there have been there for a decade.
No occupation is given them. nothine
to divert or stimulate their minds. and
they are rigidly disciplined. There are
no special diets furnished for cases
needing them. but ALI have the same
monotonous fare OF corned beef. sweet
potatoes. etc. One veteran was found
who has been in the bull-pen for seven
or eight years. during which time his
pension has been taken for the hospf-
tai. but he has been allowed 81 a week
for cutting all the wood and carving
all the coal required by the bakery.
He works all day long. Winter and
Summer. and does about as much as
two labOrers should do. 1t is not said
that he is insane. but the Superintend-
ent is afraid that IF released evil
minded persons might impose upon
him."
The Committee severely criticises the
general management of the Asylum. it's
frequent cruel treatment Of the pa
tients. and its utter lack Of progress In
methods to keep abreast Of the times
There Is no segregation Of the patient
into suitable groups. and criminals a.
put in among the honorably- DISCHARGED
soldiers and sailors. The manager of
the Insane Hospital. DR.. w. A. White.
processes indifference to the report. de-
MES all brutality. and SAYS that he will
welcome an Investigation even by Con-
gress. One IL pretty sure to be made.
and that very soon.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The letter of Justice Rufus w. Peck
ham. of the New York Supreme Court,
to the Mutual Insurance COMPANY In.
vestigating Committee, will tend strong
ly to improve the situation. by its clear
cut. definite pronouncement upon the
actualities. Justice Peckham thinks
that Richard A. McCurdy, the express
ident. Is clearly liable to the law for
his malversation Of the policy holders
money, and that immediate suit should
be begun against him, SO that he should
not be allowed to leave for Europe. and
place himself beyond the reach of the
courts. The President of the companv
replies that Justice Peckham shall have
no reason to find fault with his action
The value Of this letter Of Justice
Peckham Is that it clearly stamps the
unlawfulness Of what McCurdy and
others of that ilk have claimed were al
the most but Irregularities, and within
the proper scope of their privileges. II
gives much-needed admonition to in
surance officers everywhere to moderate
their greed IL they would keep on the
safe side of the legal dead-line.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Sneator Elkins's bill provides that
whenever any rate. fare or charge by
i common carrier shall be alleged to
De unreasonable. the Interstate Com
nerce Commission shall have power.
tfter hearing. to make an order modi-
fying such rates. which order shall take
effect not less than 80 DAYS otter SER
vice upon the carrier. The courts may
'eview the order of the Commissior
md suspend it's operation If any Sec
ton of the bill is declared unconstitu-
-ionaI by the Supreme Court. it shall
not affect other clauses in the bill The
objections to this bill are that 1t intro
1uces a complicated system of Htiga-
ton. which will practically defeat all
efforts to modify rates.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
GERMANS DESCENT FROM THE
nc PERCH.t

The funniest event In diplomacy OF
recent years is the way that Germanys
bluff Of tariff war was called. Ger
trumpeting through the press as to her
dire intents with regard to American
products, and after March /, we were
going to suffer terrible injuries to our
trade with that country. owing to the
fact that she had determined to put US
out of the favored Nation class. She
had concluded treaties with Italy, Aus
ciGed advantages, and we would be left
skivering in the cold. For once the
exporters in our own country refused
to be terrified and laughed at Germany's
threats. The only people who seemed
to be scared were Secretary Root and
some other members of the Cabinet.
The Senate stood very pat, and refused
Mr.. Roots overtures for a modification
OF our tariff laws. 1t even threatened
retaliation, and had several bills in stew
to impose punitive duties upon goods
coming from country which discrim
mated against American products. Mr..
Root was reluctantly compelled to con-
vey to the German Chancellory his in
ability to help them, and they must
prepare for the worst. Now the Ger
man Chancellory is trying to find some
way to save it's face and climb down off
the perch. AS The National Tribune
has said, the products which we sell to
Germany are sold at a very low margin
from any other Nation as good in quail
ity and as cheap. Germany has been
trying to buy elsewhere for years, and
has done our products all the damage
that she possibly could. with the result
oe failure IN her efforts. She can no
where get as good cotton. lard. pork.
wheat, flour, etc, as from America. On
the other hand. she sells us an immense
amount Of hfgh-priced goods upon
which she makes an enormous profit.
A little disturbance Of this trade will
cause our merchants to seek to obtain
them from England and France to the
great detriment of the German manu-
facturers Of wines, aniline colors, cot
ton goods. etc. etc. Therefore, she
stands to lose much and we nothing In
any fight that she may precipitate. Her
threatened tariff war was therefore
very transparent bluff, and does not in
crease her prestige in diplomacy.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The President thinks that Alaska Is
entitled to Territorial rights, and in
earnest Of these has appointed Daniel
ID. Pullen. of Skagway, Alaska. to
cadetship at West Point. The law au-
thorizes the appointment OF one cadet
TO West Point and one to Annapolis
from each Congressional District and
Territory, the same to be nominated by
the Representative from the District or
the Delegate from the Territory. There
is no Delegate from Alaska, and SO the
President has asserted the rights Of
Alaska by personal appointment.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The reports from Atlanta say that
the Confederate veterans ATTEMPTED ia
have a Confederate flag wrapped
around Joe Wheelers coffin as it was
placed in the grave, but the War De-
partment would not permit this, and
the Stars and Stripes lay on the coffin.
1t looks singular that there should be
such request made by reasonable men.
Ii Gen. Wheeler was buried az an
officer of the United States Army 1t
was unreasonable to the last degree to
expect that the flag around the remains
should be that which had been in bitter
reDeiiitfon against the Government.
There was room for but one Flag and
that was the Flag under which he was
serving when he died.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The special session of the pennsv,-
vania Legislature, called to consider
much-needed reforms, has passed rour
bills, which have received the Gover-
nor's signature The first comne,s mar
Bonai registration, and abolishes the
system by which from $4,000 to so. 600
bogus names were kept on the registra-
ZION iist or Philadelphia. The second is
a primary election law, which provides
mat all the parties shall nominate their
Candidates the same day at the same
polling places. The third provides q
system by which the State surplus of
$lo'oo0.OOO shall be deposited at inter
est In certain banks. and prevents the
state officials from showing favoritism.
Ihe fourth reapportions the Senatorial
representation according to population
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Admiral Rojestvensky makes a novel
defense for his defeat in which he says
virtually that the universal corruption
in Russia was responsible. Thieves
built and equipped his vessels with in
ferior guns. plates and ammunition. The
plates were cracked even when the jap
anese shells exploded near them and
opened great leaks. II the AdmiraPs
explanation Is only partially true, 1t
gives revelation Of q deeper corrup-
ton In Russian official circles than has
ever been alleged.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

With all their monarchy the Ger
mans are at heart republican and their
Judiciary maintains high plane.
ruled the Kaiser by confirming Col.
Eaedke in his title Of Colonel upon the
retired list against the Kaiser's order
that he be stricken from the rolls. Col.
Gaedke Is military writer, and his
sharp structures have grievously Offend
ed the Kaiser and Court.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
DEATH OF MCCALL.

John A. Mccall, until recently Pres
ident OF the New York Life Insurance
Company, died Feb. Is, in Lakewood,
n. j., whittier he had been taken some
weeks ago in hopes of Improvement
from the breakdown which followed
the revelations Of the investigating
committee. This ends a career that
had much of the highest credit in 1t,
and only failed in the latter part by
reason Of acts pronounced indefensi-
BILE. 1t may be said in mitigation that
Mr.. Mccall found himself In bad COM
pany and felt compelled to do as others
were doing. Any measuring up of the
allegations against him will show him
less culpable, probably, than the other
managers Of great insurance COM
panies. The specific act which brought
upon him the severest censure were
unaccounted payments of $4,000 to
boyhood friend. Undoubtedly a large
portion Of this money was used in brib-
ing legislators and meeting threatened
hostile legislation. Mccall promised
that Hamilton would explain what had
been done with the money, but the ex-
PLANTATION which Hamilton sent from
Paris did not explain, and Mccall was
which he did by a mortgage Of his fine
Summer home. In addition to the
specific $4,000 that was recovered
there were other payments carrying the
total amount up to $1,164,O00 Mr..
Mccall was born In Albany, N. Y, in
1S49 OF Irish parents, and his father
Kept a little grocery store and was q
political boss. Young Mccall began as
a clerk and obtained his first training
in insurance as bookkeeper in the Con-
necticut Life agency at Albany. He
went into the State Insurance Depart-
ment in 1869. showed great ability and
industry and was retained by the Re-
publican Insurance Commissioners, al
though he remained Democrat He
did good work in the Office in straight
ening out the life and fire insurance
business In New York. which was in a
bad condition. and stopped many
frauds and illegal practices by his rigid
supervision. He was instrumental! in
driving out OF business IL fire COM
panies and Is life companies inside OF
seven years. Gov. Grover Cleveland pro-
NOTED him to Superintendent of Insur-
ance and Gov. Hill tried to get him to
accept reappointment. but he had be-
come too valuable for that position. and
entered the Equitable's employ at $15,-
ooo year. Six years later he became
President OF the New York Life at q
salary OF $4,000. The Company at
that time was in bad way, owing to
the disclosure Of many corrupt prac-
tees, and Mccall did a great worx in
recognizing the Company and restor-
ing confidence in It.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The Russian authorities seem to have
Iar more success in excluding healthful
literature from their country than in
keeping out dynamite. People have
difficulty in getting letters and news
papers, but the insurgents none at all
ln bringing i'm explosives.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Representative Waldo. Of BROOKLYN
y. T.. is devoting himself mainly to
demonstrating that the Government can
Better build its warships in its own
navv yards than : let them out by con-
tract. He has been collecting data as
% the relative cost of the Connecticut
building at the BROOKLYN NAVY Yard
md the Louisiana. which is under con-
'truction at Newport News. He would
ind out how much money the private
concerns have been making off of their
government contracts. The main OBJ
iect is to increase the work given to
he BROOKLYN Navy Yard
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Senator Dillingham; would amend the
immigration laws very materially by
adding to the number Of the classes of
excluded aliens. He would bar out. be-
sizes imbeciles and feeble-minded per-
Sons, all those whom the examining
surgeon shall pronounce as being mem
tally or physically defective to such an
extent as to affect their ability to earn
a living; and aliens who have commit
tea d Felony or who admit belief I'm the
practice of polygamy are to be exclud-
CO. and also women and girls coming
mere for immoral purposes.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

May Is has been suggested as the
date for the close Of this session. With
general leave to print" this NAV he
accomplished. The real work Of Con-
gress has been we'll prepared In the
committee rooms, where all that is
worth while saying has been said by the
members or the committees and the
interested delegations. Ii Congress will
have the members speeches printed for
the benefit of their constituents, instead
OF taking time to listen to them, the
business can be rapidly closed up.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Though his personal appearance is
not striking and his manner unassum-
ing to the last degree. Senator w. Muir
ray Crane, of Massachusetts,, has made
an astonishing Roadway since he en-
tered the Senate. He has a cool judg-
ment, which the older Senators are
learning to seek. and he is very often
called to the White House to consult
upon the legislative program
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The Annual Convention of the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America gave some
support to the good roads movement
BY resolution in favor Of letting the
conVicts be employed in road building.
The tendency Of the public mind seems
to be in the direction Of such employ
ment. and the sooner ii can be made
general policy the better 1t will be
Tor the cause of improving our high
ways
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Mr.. Beavers has been added to the
Post Office colony in the penitentiary
at Moundsville, w. Va. That institu-
hon has now as remarkable a collec-
hon OF postal experts as can be found
In the world
The National tribune., 1906-02-22
KNOX FOR PRESIDENT.

A formidable boom for Senator
Philander Q. Knox for President is
formally announced from Pittsburg.
and Is said to have behind it unlimited
money, powerful corporations, a strong
political coalition. and the Leader, the
principal afternoon paper in Pittsburg.
The boom began with the coalition of
the Citizens and the Regular Republi-
can factions in Pfttsburg. which brings
In most of the leading politicians. The
Leader was bought and taken away
Reform candidate for Mayor, and the
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES syn
dictate was brought into line. It is pro-
posed to buy one of the big Philadel-
phia dailies, and as Knox was in active
sympathy with the movement which
downed Israel w. Durham, the Boss of
Philadelphia, the new organization
there will cooperate with that in Pitts
burg to make Pennsylvania solid for
Knox. 1t is also claimed that Cassatt,
Hartman and Hill will actively sup
port him with their immense influence
President Rooseyelt's selection Of Knox
to represent him in railroad legislation
has given his boom great assistance.
Pennsylvania has had many candi-
dates, but not a President since James
Buchanan was elected just so years
ago. Since that time Illinois has had
one, Indiana one, Ohio four. and New
York three. an ts..rs-..f .s.-,
Senator Knox is a very able man. and
would make good President but the
array Of forces behind his candidacy is
not such as would seem to commend it
to the people.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Representative Brooks, Of Colorado.
has introduced a bill, which has re-
rtived favorable report from the
Committee on Mines and Mining. to
create the office of Commissioner of
Mines and Mining. The bill contem-
plates the establishment Of new bu-
reau. having full equipment of clerks,
etc, and the additional expense is very
shocking to the economical ideas of the
Committee on Appropriations.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

In proposing a monument to Capt
Wirz the Daughters Of the Confederacy
have struck the most wicked and ma
hgnant blow at harmony between the
sections that devilish ingenuity could
devise. Women who would glorify the
crimes for which Wirz was punished
IRE beyond the power Of words to stig-
matiZe
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Senator Elmer J. Burkett, of Ne
braska, is doing remarkably we'll for SO
young a man and so new a Senator.
He is constantly in his seat or in COM
mittee rooms; studies carefully every
question presented. and is as unobtru-
siye as the older Senators think a
youngster should be, and, therefore, is
making many friends.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

The Chinese have a larger country
than the United States, and much of it
Is no more thickly populated than our
Far West. Why can they not stay at
home and develop their own country?
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Cads who We're not able to get in
yitations to the LongworthR Roosevelt
wedding took their revenge by invent
ing seandalous stories about the
parties
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

New York has begun active work on
the construction Of its great 500, 900, 600
canal. and this without any of the fuss
and trouble that bog accompanied the
inception of the Panama Canal nroiect
The dirt Is certainly fving between
Lake Erie and the Hudson. if not be-
tween the Atlantic and Pacific.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

As might have been expected. the
American who is at the head Of the
disturbance on the Isle of Pines is a
Kansas man.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

No silver dollars were coined last
year. for the first time since 1889.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

AS we go to press Bourke Cochran
was still q Democrat.
The National tribune., 1906-02-22

Will the inevitable rescuing party
have to follow Wellman to the north
pole In air ships?