davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

Must the noe Hereafter Prove Thci'
Guiltlessnessr


To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN--Sr: Your
article on The Amazing New Law Is right
to the point. The whole fabric OF our
criminal law and Of the army regulations
governing courts-martial Is woven around
the doctrine that every man Is presumed
TO be innocent OF q crime until he is proved
guilty. And his guilt must be established
by legal evidence before the presumption
OF innocence Is overcome and he is put 10 his
defence.
Yet these safeguards to the individual are
ruthlessly disregarded by the President and
In their place he sets his will. From General
Garllngton's report it looks very much as
though the men In the Twenty-ffth Infantry
are being punished for -lAss-majeste." Tho
President holds in his order OF dismissal that
because the men appeared to stand together
IN a determination TO resist the detection OF
the guilty they should stand together when
the penalty falls"
But for what does thu penalty fsll3
General Darlington himself says there were
only "a few guilty OF the crime" therefore
the penalty Is falling upon one hundred and
nifty or more innocent men. And for what
reasonp Because. forsooth, they did not tell
something the President thinks they know
and are hiding from him. That is certainly
q new crime in America.
There is no fact In the report to support
II, either. On the contrary there IL the direct
statement OF General Darlington to the effect
that the uniform denial on the part OF the
enlisted men concerning the 'barrack talk
In regard to these acts Of hostility upon the
part OF the citizens of Brownsville Indicated
a possible understanding among the enlisted
men OF this battalion as to the position they
would take In the premises. but I could find
no evidence OF such understanding"
The best General Darlington could do was to
say there was "A possible understanding
Yet. after an exhaustive examination. after
Sweating" the mel in the battalion. after
threatening them with the displeasure OF the
President, he is compelled to say: Il could
find no evidence OF such understanding
In the face Of that report that there il mo
evidence of such understanding" the Presi-
dent has dismissed from the army more than
one hundred and fifty soldiers without honor.
on the charge that they did so enter into such
an understanding.
Can there anywhere be found in American
history another such monstrous act by a
PRESIDENT? BY this act President Roosevelt
has turned law and justice topsy turvy. Every
sense OF right and justice Ia outraged. The
President cannot Justify his act. He must
recede.
Americans will not stand for the new law"
LAKEWOOD. November 20. r. p.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
THE BEGINNING OF CHARITY.
A Reminder From One Who Believes II
May Well Also Stay at Home.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: The
letter OF An Anglican Clergyman" voicing
the appeal OF Bishop wilkinson OF northern
Europe for the purchase OF Glastonbury
Abbey contains some interesting Church his
tory. But why this appeal to Americans7 The
abbey is no doubt IN interesting place and
worthy OF preservation. So also are num-
bers Of decaying Mohammedan mosques and
Buddhist temples. but we are not called upon
TO contribute to their preservation. Then
why to q British abbey1
There has been for some months a con-
slant fear that this picturesque and historic
place may be purchased by some wealthy
Americans for a private residence writes
the Anglomaniac clergyman. Well. why notP
II American money is to help pay for il and
the English own it. why not buy II outrig ht
and own IL ourselvesy
The habit seems to be growing with our
poor relations on the other side whenever
they get into financial difficulties OF sending
over an appeal for aid. Not long ago we
were asked to contribute to a theatrical per-
Torrance to aid the unemployed in London,
churches in England are too numerous to
mention.
England would no doubt resent the impu-
tation that 10 Is a poverty stricken nation,
and as a people EnRlishmen are alleged to
be Independent. Then why not preserve
their own relics and landmarks?
The Cathedral OF st. John the Divine IL not
yet complete. AMRRICAN.
NEW YORK, November 20.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
our ExPoRr COTTON TRADE.

wAsHrNoToN, Nov. 2e.-The chairman
Of the export committee OF the American
Cotton Manufacturers Association says thai
few realize how astonishiugly Il would add
to the material prosperity OF this country
il our oversee trade in cotton cloths were
80 increased that we could manufacture at
home every pound OF cotton grown on
American soil" The figures involved IN this
proposition are certainly interesting.
Taking average figures. it appears that
out Of an II ,OoO, 900 bale crop we consume
mt home about 4,OOO,OO bales and export
about 1000 600. The census OF 1900 gives
the value of our manufactured product
for that year as $3.50 ,7O0, 800. Upon that
basis the domestic Manufacture Of our
entire raw product would increase tho
value Of manufactured output to approxi-
mately sos, 0O0, 900. The number Of hands
employed I'm 1900 a little exceeded 100000,
A similar calculation would increase this
number 10 more than 400 600. The pay
roll would be increased from sS7,OOO.OOO
to S24O 600 900 and our export sales increased
by nearly il not quite $500, 900 900. Unfor-
tunately such a delightful dream is almost
beyond the bounds of possibility.
In no other important American industry
are the opportunities for trade expansion
so broadly open rs they are in the cotton
business. In no other industry are the
op~portunities so neglected. For the limita-
ton OF our export sales the producers
themselves are responsible. 1t is doubts
less impossible for ms to secure the entire
world market of more than SOC, 900 900 worth
Of manufactured cotton goods. 1t should
not be difficult to increase DUR present
share in that trade, which Is barely more
than s Der cent. of the total. The main
trouble. is lack OF individual initiative and
activity. An industry representing an
aggregate investment Of some $500 900 900
is persistent in its walls for aid from the
Government. 1t would have the Federal
authorities find markets for its wares and
probably would like to have the Govern
ment sell its goods and guarantee credits.
The special need OF the cotton business
is men who are properly alive to opportuni-
ties and alert to take advantage of them.
Under present methods little is sought
except a market for a surplus which cannot
readily be sold at home. England buys
from US the greater part OF her raw material
and exports more cotton goods than we
manufacture. She has nearly twice our
number Of mills and more than twice our
number Of spindles. II we would rival her
we must do as she does. We must increase
the paltry number Of mills which now man.
ufacture exclusively for the foreign market.
We must have mills catering definitely TO
the wants OF South America, China, Africa
and Asia. Until this is done our cotton
export business will remain what it now is,
little better than a petty retail trade.
A SO, 100000 export trade may look very
big when taken by itself. but it dwindles
shockingly when compared with a 500 ,OOO,-
600 opportunity.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
The wicked Westerly Turkey,

Rather az a matter of sentimental in
terest than of criminal intelligence, the
New York Times printed on Sunday a
picture %purporting to be a Photographic
representation of the box in which the
great and good Mr.. HORACE VosE of
Westerly, r. l., shipped his annual Offer
ing of a Thanksgiving turkey 10 the
White House.
The box containing the turkey is adj
dressed to The President of the United
States. Hon. THEODORE ROOSEVELT,
Washington, d. c.; and, if the camera
tells the truth, this further legend APP
pears plainly. on the cover: ID. H.,
j. A. p, Ag't." A label indicates that
the company Of the agent thus dead
heading the Presidential turkey is the
Adams Express.
In calling our attention to these quite
Ineligible markings on the turkey box
a correspondent in Albany writes:
" In the pariance of railroad and express com
panles these letters mean free passage. They
stand for the words dead head. Think OF the great
Rate RIrs author getting his Thanksgiving turkey
by Adams Express deadheadl"
1t is true that on June 20 last, pre-
cisely five months before the Thanks
giving Day on which Mr.. VosE's turkey
of 1908 will be eaten in the White House,
the President Of the United States ap-
proved an act of Congress containing
this provision:
MOI shall any carrier charge or demand or col
lect OF receive a greater or less or different comDen-
satlon for su?h transportation OF passengers OF
property. or for any service In connection there
with, DetwcsSthe points named in such tsrirs than
the rates, fares and charges which are specihed In
the tarlH nled and In effect at the time; nor shall
any carrier refund or remit In any manner or BY
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

states that an oGicer discharged from the
military service by . Governor was restored
to his rank over the head Of the Governor
by the civil courts. l have been told that
Governor Roosevelt assured Major Smith
In his room in the Capitol ut Albany that no
action would be taken on Smiths case until
he tRoosevelt) had heard the Majors side
OF the case. Yet without giving Smith a
chance he soon issued the order of discharge.
Perhaps in this case OF the negro companies.
too, President Roosevelt may find that
Though the mills OF God grind slowly,
Yet they grind exceeding small.
BROOKLYN, November 70. W. Z. H.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
The Georgian Bay Canal.

After two year of labor and an eXpen-
diture of about half a million Of dollars
the survey work in connection with the
projected Georgian Bay Canal has been
completed. A report is expected at ar
early day. This is a plan for the con-
struction of a canal, with a 22-foot chan
mel, from the Great Lakes to Montreal by
way Of French River. Lake Nipissing and
the Ottawa River. 1t is estimated that
its construction would economize the
cost of transportation and ave from
three to FIVE days in wheat and beef ship
ments from the West to Europe.
1t is a huge project, involving an ex-
penditure of not far from 1925 900, 1000.
If it is carried out on the proposed lines
wheat cargOes can be loaded at Duluth
or Fort William and carried without
breaking bulk to any part of the world.
Oceangoing refrigerator ships could load
packing house products in Chicago and
deliver them at any port where they
might be wanted. While shipments by
that route would be possible for only a
part of the year, the canal and the st.
Lawrence would be open while tho Lakes
were open. The plan is not new. 1t is
said that the route was first surveyed by
WALTER STANLEY in 1858, and other sur
veys have been made at various fines
since that date. There is now strong
reason for belief that the work will be
undertaken by the Dominion Govern
ment, perhaps very soon.
1t may not be doubted that the opening
Of such a route would be a heavy blow to
the shipping interests of the United
States. New York and Buffalo would be
the greatest sufferers.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
Intimate Thoughts Of a Harlem Division
m

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-SlY: I have read
on various occasions during the last few years
eloquent briefs put forward by those DESTROYS Of
seeing awarded to a railroad In their vicinity the
prize for being the meanest and worsttn the world.
II this prize has not yet been awarded. hope that
IL will at once DO given TO the Harlem division Of
the New York Central for the supreme inef1Ciency
of Its service In general and In particular for tho
unique wretchedness OF the trains to and from the
neighborhood OF Mount Kisco.
was two hours this morning coming from The
Grand Central Station TO the Mount KIsco station.
Last Sunday the same train was an hour late in
making q journey which any ordinary express train
docs In an hour. In other words. the train stood
still just half the time.
The fact is the trains which run 10 this part oi
Westchester are not trains at all. They are alleged.
Nor, In the sense of furnishing a system of rapid
transit, Is this railroad a railroad. 1t is merely a
series OF rails laid upon the ground. Its alleged
trains are merely casual collections OF cars, 10
locomotives are exhibits of decadent junk. Tho
on my train has blown out" four times
Ia the last fortnight.
The nelghborhOod of Mount Kisco is inhabited
by many persons OF wealth and Discrimination.
Their automobiles rust at the station. their horses
acquire rheumatism and pneumonia while walt
ing for tardy and lnfurtated guests. Instead ~
consulting the comfort and convenience Of such
a class Of patrons this purported railroad ncrpe-
tTates a system Of transportation which could only
be duplicated by the burro trains OF the remOtcst
dehles of the Bolivian Andes or by a line OF baby
carriages equipped with Harlem goats.
The lights In Its cars are so dim on the evening
trains that II Is impossible to read Ordinary print
packages sent by express or freight rot before the
company will notify the person 10 whom they are
sent that they are at the station. / have heard .
number of the owners OF country houses In This
vicinity seriously proposing that the cowcatCher,
should be removed from the locomotives and MT
on the rear OF the trains 10 keep the cows from COM
ing In and biting the passengers. a.. Il.
NORTH CASTLE, November IS.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

To THE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sr: There has
been some very unseemly criticism OF the new
COP caps. why this girding' They are martial,
impressive. Sull. they might be Improved; and 1
venture to show how.
II Is claimed for the old helmets that they shed
rain. bricks. DC. and allowed room for storage.
The new caps. modined. could do all OF this. Give
'em a brim all round like the "Eulalie" or Tudor
Beefeaters' bOnnets exhibited by the charming
Infanta OF spain who visited us at the Columbus
celebration. Tha would she'd rain better than the
helmets. Give 'em a tin top akin to the forti
ncatIon OF the ancient tiles worn by the original
Peelers,. That would make 'em reasonably club
and brick proof. For storage convenience give
'em an accordion extension. something like an
opera hat. This would AFFORD room for cold chickens,
sandwiches, frankfurters or such tribes.
The cap ornament might have an incOnsplcuous
socket in which on occasions OF ceremony plumes
might be nxed. OG.
Nuw NnnE NnNenher ~.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

ment. II would be left, doubtless, to
the education department to say whether
Ireland should have a great Catholic
teaching university; to the agriculture
department TO determine what measures
should be taken to relieve congestion
in the west OF Ireland and TO bring about
the reduction of grazing lands to tillage,
while the land transfer department
would be allowed to make such changes
in the legislation Of 1881 and3 n the land
purchase acts as experience has shown
to be desirable, provided, of course, such
changes were sanctioned by the Irish
Council. No important innovation, in
deed, could be made by any of the four
administrative departments without such
sanction.
On the whole, the devolution scheme
as here described seems TO indicate an
honest purpose to remit to lrishmen a
large measure of control over their own
affairs. or course it stops short OF the
"irreducible minimum once demanded
by certain Home Rule leaders, namely,
an Irish Executive responsible to an Irish
Legislature elected by the Irish people.
Mr.. JOHN T.. REDMOND is one of those
who are said to have insisted on this
minimum, but what Ne meant, doubtless,
was that he would never be content with
less as a finality; not that he would not
accept less bye way OF instalment. Nei-
Their he nor Mr.. JOHN DILLON ia one of
those impracticable guides who demand
the whole at once or nothing. Political
history shows that valuable concessions
are gained piecemeal, not In block. We
believe that most Irish Americans will
approve of the course pursued by Messrs.
REDMOND and DILLON: they will tell
them, Get as much as you can to-day,
and then try for more tomorrow.
Whether the House of Lords can be
persuaded to acquiesce in this devolu-
ton scheme is doubtful. Lord Dun
RAVEN and some other Irish landlords in
the upper house are expected to favor IL.
Then, again, even the most bigoted
Unionist knows that something must be
done to relieve the pressure Of business
in the House of Commons. As things
are now, affairs that are purely Scotch
are disposed Of in practice by being
referred to a committee consisting of the
Scotch members. There is therefore a
precedent for devolution; and it may be
that the House of Lords, after some hesi-
tation and after making some amend
ments, can be persuaded to accept the
bill which Mr.. BRYCE will introduce.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27

any device any portion Of the rates. fares and
charges so specified. nor extend 20 any shipper or
person any privileges or f~Aciliticsi In the transporta-
ton Of passengers or property. except such as arc
specified In such tariffs: Prorided. That wherever
the word carrier occurs In this act II shall be held
to mean common CARRIER"
The celebrated statute from which we
are quoting goes on TO provide that any
thing done by the agent Of a corporation
common carrier which would constitute
a misdemeanor under said act shall be
held to be a misdemeanor committed by
such corporation; and to prescribe as the
penalty for rebate or discrimination a
fine Of from 81 900 to $50, 200, or imprison-
ment in the penitentiary for a term not
exceeding two years, or both; and in
another section Of the act the following
definition appears:
The ssr, common carrier as used IN this scs
shall include express companies"
So much for the apparently incrim-
mating markings on the cover Of the box
conveying Mr.. HORACE VosE's gift to
the Nations Chief Magistrate. 1t may
be well, however, before sending the
turkey to Acknowledgement MOODY for
investigation to make sure whether the
photograph we have been considering
represents this years box or last years.
II the former, We fear the cas- is clear
and the duty Of the Department of JUS
tice obvious. II the latter, the criminal
may escape on a technicality, inasmuch
as that part Of the law which applies
the term common carrier to express
companies is OF date more recent than
last Thanksgiving.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
Who Pays?

Nearly one hundred millions of dollars
have been added to the wages OF railroad
employees during the month of Novem-
Der. Over two thousand applications for
a reduction of rates have been filed so
far this autumn with the Interstate Com
merce Commission.
The problem which confronts a pa
ternal Government is full of interest,
and even OF complexity. Before the
Federal authorities proceeded to take
over the administration of our railroad
properties with avoidance of confisca-
tom the management of those railroads
was largely vested in an intelligent and
unselfish press which forcibly inculcated
that all charges for transportation were
extortionate and that all wage scales
were too low. The coal barons," for
instance, were pointed to as inviting
occasions for lynching. The wages Of
the miners were described a. criminally
oppressive; the price of coal was held to
be ~felonious; but. with a discretion which
we can never sufficiently admire, nothing
was said of the ordinary rights of property
and no allowance made therefor. The
principle manifested in the particulars
mentioned was extended TO embrace all
services and all commodities attainted
with a general public interest.
1t is a very curious and interesting
situation. Whereas in the case of the
coal barons natural laws could not be
prevented from intervening, the general
public, including the very poor, who in
the columns Of the press are the only real
of coal, paid all the expenses.
The peace and welfare demanded by the
DISTINGUISHED newspapers were promptly
forthcoming and public sympathy was
wholly assuaged at public cost.
If the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion makes a Wholesale reduction of rail-
road charges at a time when the railroads
have felt compelled 10 increase the wages
of their men to such an extraordinary
degree, what is to be the result? How
is the public 10 be made to perform its
customary duty and foot the bill? 1t
isnot easy to see; and yet nothing is more
certain than that in the long run the
burden will devolve on the public. The
pill of confiscatiOn is of exceeding bitter
ness and hard, hard indeed TO gild.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-11-27
case ~ a soldier Discharged by Governor
Roosevelt and Restored by the Courts.

To THE EDITOR or The SUN-Sir: Once
before President Roosevelt dischar ged a
soldier without a hearing. and when the
courts got through with him he found out
that there are certain limitations to the powers
of a commander in chief. I refer to the dis
charge OF Major Clinton H.. Smith of the
Seventy-frst Regiment from the National
Guard during the term of Governor Roose-
welt. This discharge was made on tho re
port" of a board appointed to examine Major
Smith to determine whether he was 1T to re-
main In the Guard after the battle Of San
Juan, although Major Smith, as a Lieutenant
Colonel Of Volunteers. held a full and honor
able discharge from the United States Gov
eminent and was made divisional field
officer Of the day by the Major-General COM
handing at Santiago some days after the
battle of San Juan. The State Examining
Board did not put n single question to Major
Smith, not even asking him his age. Yet on
its report" smith was discharged by Gov
ernor Roosevelt.
These things are all a matter OF record and
do not depend upon my ipse dirt. After a
long fight in the courts the case reached the
Court Of Appeals. which decided that Smith
had had no examination and that he had beer
arbitrarily discharged from the Guard. On
this decision Major Smith was restored 10 his
old command.
IL may be noted in passing that this was
the first time. 30 l rave been told by eminent
military lawyers. in the history Of the United