davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17

While Secretary Roots warning to the
States that the Federal government
would shear them Of their rights il they
die not attend TO their duties is still
ringing in the ears of the American
people, here comes an appeal to the Fed
eral government to be up and doing
because the railroads have not delivered
coal enough in the Northwest to main
tain a normal supply. The emergency is
no doubt pressing, and the Interstate
Commerce Commission, within the limits
Of its powers, has acted promptly. It's
action. however. is suggestive, not manda-
tory. Its telegram 10 the railway presi-
dents of the Northwest merely states that
complaints have been received by the
commission that the railroads are failing
to transport the necessaries of life. the
implication being that if the railway
managers do not find remedy for the COM
plants the commission will do whatever
lies in its power to enforce a remedy.
The incident is a typical one. with all
the elements described by Secretary Root
as tending to that extension of Federal
power which has been so conspicuous a
feature OF recent political evolution. First
may be noted the failure Of the State
authorities to grapple with the emergency;
second. the appeal Of the people to the
Federal government direct. without the
intervention of the State, and lastly, the
attempt OF the Federal authorities to
find way to comply with the popular
appeal. even though it be necessary to
stretch the constitutional limits Of the
Federal authority The fact that the
people turned their faces toward the gov
eminent, instead Of applying to the rail-
way presidents. shows the marked popular
tendency toward invoking government In
reference IN the large industrial concerns
OF the nation
We should think the problem of sup
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
The Friends of simpIified Spelling.


The movement toward a simplifed sys-
TEN of spelling, which received such a
hard jolt from Congress the other day,
might have a much better chance Of sue
cess If it We're not for the fact that among
the most ardent advocates OF the change
are the publishers Of schooIbooks and
dictionaries. OF course, the English
language may be in a parlous state, and
may need some brave souls to rescue ii
from the degradation into which it has
fallen. but the work should be for love
rather than for profit
For instance, one Of the men foremost
in the agitation for the new form Of
spelling is DR.. 1. X Funk. of the Funk
& Wagnalls Company, and it does not
need a very wise man to see what a nice
thing it would be for the Funk & Wag-
nails Company If the sheep bound die
tionaries they have been selling for years
should need TO be replaced by lexicons
brought up to date. Another leader in this
reform is Henry Holt, head of a publish
ing firm In New York which issues a few
novels, but an infinite number Of school
books. and it is patent that if only the
600 words with which they propose
to start the reform could really De
officially adopted. IT would be idle to
perpetuate the present schooIbooks and
50 keep the youth Of the land in the
error from which the rest Of the world
Is to be rescued.
But even among authorities" on the
new spelling who have so much at stake
In the proposed change there seems to
be lack Of unity and accord. They do
not seem quite sure about the reforms
they would inflict on the world. and
already some of the words in the original
800 they are Withdrawing, as likely to
lead to confusion. Among these words
is mist" which they once decided on as
the new spelling OF missed" Some Of
the reformers make an ingenious attempt
to relate the present effort at reform
with the board which was appointed by
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17

Richmond, Va, is strangely convulsed
over the question Of whether a statue Of
Edgar Allan Poe shall be erected in that
city. The council set aside one-half
CT the money necessary. TO become avail
able when certain patriotic societies raised
a Ike amount. Violent opposition has
sprung up, however, especially among
friends Of the family OF Poe's adopted
father. toward whom his conduct Is
alleged to have been ungrateful and IN
manly. Certain old inhabitants have not
forgotten discreditable things about Poe.
the man, and find It impossible to look
with favor upon a tribute 10 his genius.
This seems. an extremely narrow and
untenable position to take. Poe was IN
questionably one Of the greatest literary
lights this country ever produced.
II Richmond declines thus to honor Poe,
some other city will do so. and in the
end Richmond will regret her act. One
may have the highest respect for those
who think that Poe should, for personal
reasons, be denied the statue but such an
idea, if allowed 10 prevail would like
wise relegate to oblivion Nelson, Byron.
and scores Of other great men. literary,
military. professional OF course, Poe's
works viii stand an everlasting mOnu-
ment TO his memory. II the Great Power
above can forgive the personal frailties
of the weak and erring below. surely
mere man may overlook the bad and per-
petuate the good.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
4 constitutional Convention.

The suggestion made by Representative
De Almond. of Missouri, that a conven-
ton be held TO consider amendments to
the Federal Constitution will attract uni
versaI attention, when the public mind
is on the qui vive concerning the growth
of Federalism. His suggestion is based
upon his belief that a constitution framed
more than 100 years ago, when conditions
were vastly different when corporations
were in their infancy and when the pop
ulatiOn was sparse, is a constitution that
may lack something now. He does not
admit, 10 quote his own words. that
there was embodied in the Constitution
AL that might be, or Is now, sufficient
or desirable for present needs, or 10 equip
the people to meet the rapidly growing
needs of the future Of a great country"
The proposition thus presented involves
too many important considerations TO be
hastily settled. The main objection. we
anticipate, viii be the fear that any at
tempt to tinker with the Constitution will
result IN a larger degree Of amendment
than is prudent or wise. Mr. De Almond
answers this objection by pointing out
that the safeguards interposed in the
pathway of all amendments will prevent
the enactment of those which are not
eminently desirable.
It is remarkable that the Constitution
has proven elastic enough since It was
adopted in 17ST to meet the varying con-
ditions Of our national progress. It would
be still more remarkable if. as the years
go by il should continue to prove ade-
quate for all the contingencies to which
our developing civilization may give rise.
But it is certain that no effort TO amend
it will be seriously undertaken until it Is
evident that such amendments are i'm
peratively required
Whether that time has arrived as Mr..
De Almond suggests. IS question for
tie country 10 determine. Certainly Il
would seem safer to amend it or
strengthen it than to subject it TO doubt
ful Interpretation to 1T every given emer-
genCy that may arise.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Hands off in Morocco

Il was appropriate that the successful
fight for a clause declaratory in the
Algeciras treaty Of our purpose not Ito
depart from the traditional American for
eign policy which forbids participation by
the United States in the settlement of
political questions which are entirely
European in their scope" should have been
made 10y such a consistent champion of
that traditional policy as Senator Eugene
Hale, OF Maine.
There was a time when Mr. Hale's APP
peals against the extension Of this gov
ernments activities 10 distant lands fell
on deaf ears. He endured detraction from
every quarter for his opposition to our
Philippine policy, but his prophecies have
in the main, come true. and the trend OF
sentiment is now rapidly setting his way
It must have been a matter Of satisfac-
ton 10 him that Republican Senators
rallied IN such numbers for a clear
declaration. right at the threshold of the
Moroccan question. The treaty probably
could not have been ratified but for this
declaration.
II Is sufficient for the United States tc
busy itself with its own affairs and Il
confne itself. as far as possible, to the
mainland. We cannot retTacs our steps
in the Philippines, perhaps. The Cuban
problem will continue TO embarrass US
But by all means let us avoid entangle-
ments IN Africa.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
THE INNOCENT BYsTANDER
THE LITTLE BOY WHO PLAYED.

Upstairs and down, and through the hall
We heard the patter Of HIS feet,
Now with his top. now with his bail,
Now chanting child songs soft and
sweet:
And sometimes he was laughing low.
Or turning. Tapt and eager-eyed,
And speaking quickly. just as though
There were a playmate at his side
Among the roses he would run
At hide-and-seek-but for the fair.
Long golden rays flung by the sun
There were no touching fingers there:
Yet he would call by name and name
And shout and leap and romp and race
And gayly lose or win the game
With all joys cleaning in his face.
And when the dusk crept down the hill
He looked all quantity out and far
To where the sky was calm and still
With It's wide sweep Of dark and star.
And he would whisper little things
And seem 20 hear a faint reply
When we heard but the beating wings
OF some belated butterfly.
He had his playmate in each nook;
The shadows dancing on the wall,
The gurgiing ripples OF the brook
Were sprites that answered 10 his call
And ever since he went away
We leave his books and toys the same
And wonder viii they come and play
As once in his day dreams they came.
And so We wonder. too. II he
Is playing somewhere near the throne
Contented as he used 10 be
In a play-woTld he rules alone,
Or If we, with blinded eyes.
Saw not the playmates that he had
The children who make Paradise
A golden place. all good and glad.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Our Relations with ENGLAND


The question Of who is to be chosen by
the British government TO succeed Sir
Mortimer Durand as Ambassador to the
United States assumes considerable i'm
portance In view OF the attitude Of sew
eral Of the prominent English papers
which affect to find change in the feel
ings of friendship OF the United States
toward Great Britain. II is believed by
a number of people in England that in
stead OF trying to cultivate a greater
friendship and a more cordial intimacy
with Great Britain, we have been turning
more and more toward Germany.
OF course, no such feeling Is reflected
on this side of the water. II Is not a
case with US as nation and Germany
and Great Britain:
How happy could I be With either were t'other
dear charmer away"
We like them both equally well. and
are glad 10 do business with them, and
shall strive, as we have always done. TO
see that we sell both OF them more than
we buy from them-all in a neighborly
way!
II is perhaps a slight feeling that they
have got themselves in a Quandary that
is responsible for Great Britain's suspi-
cion about US. When, fearing Russia on
her Indian frontiers. as she has done
for many years. England saw a row I'M
minent between her bugbear in Europe
and Asiatic Japan. she jumped at the
opportunity OF making an offensive and
defensive treaty with Japan. It was q
treaty that answered its purpose well,
for one clause Of it-that which provided
that in case Of two nations combining
against either one of the parties to the
treaty. the other one should come in and
help-did much to prevent Russia, in her
recent war. from seeking the aid of
France.
But nOw-although there is in reality
no danger Of a war between Japan and
America-there has. by reason Of the talk
of such a war. arisen the question. With
whom would Great Britain be in such a
ight2 We should like to believe OF
course, that blood is thicker than wa
ter" and that the Anglo-saxon race
would stick side by side: but in view OF
Great Britain's treaty obligations there is
at least a reasonable doubt. So It be-
hooves England to send as her next Am
bassador 70 this nation a man strong
enough. suave enough. and capable
/ enough TO cement with greater frnness
the good feeling between the nations; a
representative who, by his acts and abil-
tiles, could galvanize into quicker life
that sturdy phrase, Hands across the
sea"
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17

the United States in 1889 to confer on
the spelling OF geographical names. but
the two things are widely different; for it
Is obvious that the names Of new lands,
new islands. and new seas. named
arbitrarily, needed to be harmonizel,
whatever the spelling, to prevent geo
graphical confusion
The simplifed spoilers have had their
inning. and 1t has been a longer one
than they really deserved. Enough pub
Hcity has been given to the subject
through the length and breadth of the
land to convince any one that there is no
crying need for modern pedagogues to
disturb the English language.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
JUSTICE FOR THE NEGRO.
Four Blacks Acquitted of Murder
Charged by m Atlanta Jury.

From the Atlanta Georgian.
1t must be a matter Of qualification
10 the citizens of Atlanta and of the
Southland It should be q matter of
more than speculative interest Of those
of the North-to observe the action OF
the Superior Court jury of Fulton County
in returning a verdict Of not guilty"
against the four negroes who were
charged with numbering County Police
man J. l. Heard. In the September riot
We direct attention to this because the
assertion is so frequently made at the
North that justice for the negro IS a
rare thing at the South. It is generally
charged that where feeling runs high be
cause Of some crime committed the negro
has no chance for a square deal.
There could be no crime which could
arouse the feeling of reputable citizens
more than that which caused the death
of officer Heard. who died in the dis
charge of his duty, for the sake of our
homes.
But the evidence against the four
negroes on trial was not sufficient to
Justify the charge Of murder, and with
cut regard to the jury's own feeling Of
Fesire to bring to account the slayers of
officer Heard, these negroes were given
their freedom.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Too Winch s,reetening.

From the Kansas City star.
1t is related OF Gen. Sterling Price that
he once stopped at a humble cabin IN
Missouri and asked for supper. The good
wife for the house was thrown into a
fiutter of excitement over entertaining her
distinguished guest, and profuse with
apologies for the not very tempting
menu. consisting Of corn dodgers, boiled
collards, and wheat coffee sweetened with
sorghum. The hungry officer ate heart
lily Of the coarse food, but not Telishing
the very sweet coffee, passed hts cup
saying: Not quite so much mOlasses.
please THE idee.' gasped the loyal
hostess. Catch me skimpin your sweet
in'.''-as she tilted the molasses jug up
ward while amber ropes Of 'sweetenin' "
overhcwed cup and saucer and threatened
disaster to the spotless hOmespun cloth.
Why enthusiastically, that coffee
would be none too good for Gen Price if
twas all mOlaSSeSt'
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17

peculiarly adapted to solution by. railway
men themselves. The car shortage. of
which complaint is made and which Is
said 10 be the principal cause of the fuel
famine in the Northwest. is due. in all
probability, to a technical fault in railway
management, over which the Interstate
Commerce Commission has no control
The remedy is sought by careful study
Of the problem, and when found will be
applied by the railroads as a matter Of
self-interest. That the people of the
Northwest should appeal to President
Roosevelt for improved railway service,
rather than to President James J. Hill, is
of great significance to the observer Of
the trend of political development in this
country.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Two Tremendous Totals.

From the Hartford Times.
Two facts Of significance stand out in
the annual report Of Secretary Metcalf
The exports from the United States dur
ing the past fiscal year amounted to ST..
74S, s64. 500 That figure, surprising by S225,-
OOO, Geo the enormous total for the previous
year, establishes a new high record. The
other fact of Importance is that during
the year LIS. 7S5 aliens applied for admis-
sion into this country That number
greater by 152. 2S6 than the count for 1905
breaks all previous statistics of immigra-
ton. The business which the United
States Is now doing in the expectation OF
products and in the importation Of peo-
pie has assumed colossal proportions.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
THE COWBOYS HOMEGoING.

I've been sweatin' for weeks on the roundup
And I'm ALFRED glad that m done;
I'm tired Of ridia' and hrandin
cts only in books that it's FUND
I'm sick for a sight Of the cabin
IN the pines where II nestles so coyi
It's me for the trail Ger the mountains
l want to get back TO the boy.
In my dreams every night can see him.
As pink ard as sweet rose;
With his hands lined across with deep dmples
Chose hands can clutch hoartstrings. God knows!
can hear that small voice at the hearthside,
And can see that fair head, Ger IFS toy;
Small wonder / IN packin' and cinchin -
/ want 20 get back TO the bog
The others are Of fer the cowtovn.
And he'll viii be raised there tonight!
But the music ard lights that I'm seekn'
VIII give a more lasting dciighti
It's the light that shines ont Of tie cabin.
And makes bright the pathway to JOY.
And the musc's the glad cry Of Daddy
/ want to get back 70 the boy.
Denver Republican.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17

From the Chicago Tribune.
The biggest city in the world fifty years
10 come viii be Berlin. That is the calcu-
lation Of Herr Olumke, a noted stats
tician. Its population viii be near 1905,
co and its only serious rival will be New
York
In a pamphlet he has written to set
forth this prophetic theory Herr Olumke
says the population of Berlin is increas-
ing more rapidly than that Of any other
city except Budapest. Hungary. To-day
Greater Berlin contains more than 3,000,-
600 inhabitants. The rapid growth, with
Berlins political and commercial i'm
pOrtance. will place the Prussian capital
ahead Of London, Paris, and New York
He calculates that London in 1853 will
have 100000 inhabitants
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
PEOPLE OF NOTE.
ConsiderIng woodrow wilson.

In the opinion Of some influential Dem
ocrats in Congress, Woodrow Wilson
will be the next candidate OF their party
for President. provided. Of course. that
William Jennings Bryan meant what be
said when he declared some time ago that
he was not seeking a third nomination.
While II is generally conceded that the
nomination viii go to Mr.. Bryan win
practical unanimity in 1908 unless ne in
the meantime quietly passes the word.
as he did two years ago, not to nominate
him, present calculations Of the Demo
cratic managers are taking serious ac-
count Of the availability OF the president
Of Princeton. They seem to think that
Woodrow Wilson meets the Democratic
'lOng-felt want" He is a Southerner OF
Northern extraction. The State OF his
birth is Virginia, his parents having
moved to the Old Dominion from Ohio
only a short time before he was born.
He graduated from the University Of Vir-
ginia. from Princeton. and from Johns
Hopkins. He practiced law In Atlanta a
year or more after graduating from
Princeton. Then he abandoned the legal
profession and took special course at
JOINS Hopkins. He is recognized 3s one
Of the foremost students, and as an
authority on American history he has
not a superior. He is not a pedagOgue
but a great administrator, and experts
who have tested HIS political convictions
declare that he is better grounded in the
real Democratic faith than Bryan is. His
( close and intimate association with
Grover Cleveland for years has impaired
to his methods Of thought a breadth and
/ patriotism that fit him excellently to deal
with the hig practical questions Of gov
eminent along Democratic lines.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Alcoholism and Consumption.

From the Philadelphia Press.
In a recent address before the Ameri-
can international congress on tuberculo-
sis, DR.. T. d. Crothers, Of Hartford.
Conn. the head OF an institution in that
city for the treatment of inebriates. took
occasion to point out the close connec-
ton that existed between alcoholism and
tuberculosis. The principal point pre-
scented by DR.. Crothers in his address Is
that alcohol weakens the blood vessels of
the respiratory system and invites con-
sumption; that the roll Of consumptives
receives annually vast additions from the
ranks Of moderate drinkers. A reduction
of our national drinking capacity, there
fore. means a reduction in the number OF
victims of the great white plague.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Causes OF Taking Cold.

From the Youths Companion.
If one who has caught a cold will take
thought ne viii often find that he has
prepared himself for the infection by
some tax on his physical condition-some
extra work which has depressed his bod
lily powers. some worry which has preyed
on his mind, some loss Of sleep. some I'M
due exposure 10 atmospheric change. or
some dietary indiscretion. For indiscreet
eating is one of the most prolific and We;
the least recognized of all the predispos-
ing causes of a cold. The tramp may
suffer from frost bite. from pneumonia, OF
from consumption. but unless the farm
ers' wives along his route have been IN
usually generous he seldom has cold
in his head
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
Must We Flounder HeIplessIys

From the Detroit Free Press
Mr.. Root therefore leaves US in con-
dition Of both hopelessness and helpless
ness, with dread evolution to do the work
that the nation will neither face nor con-
slider. It would be a bold statesman who
would declare for general revision OF
the fundamental law VeneratiOn of the
Constitution is part OF the nations pa
triotism, and we doubt If demonstrated
necessity for action would bring 1T.
The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1906-12-17
A GENTLE HINT.

You are SO popular" signs the swain.
You have so many suitors"
The idea.' smiles the fair young thing.
why, can count them all on the fingers
Of my left hand. See. The index finger
is Mr.. Smugforth, the second finger is Mr..
BalGer. and the third hnger-the third
finger of my left hand-the third finger,
is YOU
Next day he got the ring for it.