davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
BRibE TAKERS CONFESS.
Corrupt San Francisco Supervisors
Give Facts To Grand Jury.

SAN FRANCISCO, March 29.-Rud-
olph Spreckels, who by backing the
prosecution in the graft investigatio
with his fortune, made the present in.
vestigation possible, gave the follow.
ing statement today to representa-
tive of the Associ ated Press:
"Contri buttons from citizens to the
fund of $lOO, 900 guaranteed by me be-
fore the commencement of the bribery
graft investigation are coming In
steadily, though slowly
''Iu the event tn at the ultimate total
of Subscriptions falls short of the
$1,000 guaranteed, will you make
up the defcit?" Mr.. Spreckels was
asked.
He replied: ~ certainly will.
have no hesitation in saying that We
fully expect to land behind the bars
of the penitentiary every giver oi
bribes, and that the higher up the
offender, the more vigorous will be
his pursuit.
All the Is supervisors, with one ex.
ception, have already confessed to re-
ceivinR bribes. These confessions
were made in exchange for promises
Of immunity, and for the purpose o1
securing evidence against the bribe
givers. Indictments charging Vice
President Louis Glass of the Pacific
States Telephone company with brib
cry of nine of the supervisors, in the
sum of $4,000 each, already have
been returned.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
Too Fat To Live.

APPLETON, Wis, March 28.-El-
mere Sheppard, known throughout the
land as "Big Emo, the Coon," the
heaviest man in the United States and
only II years OF age, died of fatty de-
generation Of the heart.
Eco weighed $40 pounds and was
gaining in weight at the rate of a
pound week. The body had to be
removed from the house before being
placed in rough box and taken to an
undertaking establishment, no door
or window being large enough to ad.
nit the box. Two years ago Emo
could no longer ride in a passenger
coach, as he was unable to enter the
doors.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03

hurled in every direction. Four OF
them were smashed in splinters. Most
of the dead were Italians, from New
York and New Orleans, going to San
Francisco. They occupied the smoker
and day coach.
The dead were terribly manned and
mangled. Eighteen Of them were taken
to an undertaking establishment at
Cotton by o'clock and eight addi.
tional bodies could be seen underneath
one of the overturned and demolished
cars. This car could not be raised
until derrick was brought from Los
Angeles, 60 miles away.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03

BUTTE, March 2s.-From dispatches
received from Washington, D. c.,
friends of Malcolm Giliis believe that
he is certain to receive the appoint.
meut of postmaster to succeed the late
George w. Irwin. Mr.. Gillis himself
has no direct information on the SUBJ
ject. He is a candidate for the Office
and because of personal friendship
that President Roosevelt bears him it
is believed tha. he will be appointed.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
WEALTH FROM FARMS.
Flurries In Stock Market Have No
Effect Upon Farmers.

WASHINGTON, March 30.-The pros
perity OF the United States cannot be
destroyed by the w all street flurries,
in the judgment of Secretary of Agri.
culture Wilson. 1t has been asserted
by financiers who have come to Wash.
ington and consulted with the presi-
dent, that only good crops during the
coming season would save the country
from serious business aud financial
depression. There will be such crops,
according to Mr.. Wilson.
mo longer can there be anything
like universal crop failure" said the
secretary yesterday.
"There ls no reason to anticipate
anything unusual one way or the
other, this year. Our people now un.
derstand more about the growing of
crops, how to prepare the soil, how to
SOW seeds and how to cultivate plants
and harvest grain.
''The hurries that are occurring in
Wall street are not affecting the farm
population at all. Many OF the far
mers do notl know anything about
them, and if they do, they think there
is simply manipulation of stocks
with which they are not concerned.
You cannot get the farmer to touch
anything of that kind now, because he
does not know what the consequences
may be.
"a sad reflection on our railroad
stocks at this time is the fact th at
northwestern farmers who have made
and who are making money know so
little about railroad securities and
have so little confidence in them that
they will not touch them but are send
ing hundreds of millions of dollars
across the border into Canada to buy
land which they know won't run
away
The secretary deplored the failure
Of railroads to furnish transportation
for crops, pointing out that many
bins were full of grain as a result OF
lack OF transportation. In conse.
quence, money that would have been
paid for the crops is not in circula-
ton.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
A TRUST IN BIBLES.
European and American Publishers
Said To Be In a Combine.

NEW YORK, March 2S.-An interna-
tional trust, covering the price and
distribution of Bibles, and marked
by many of the methods already ia.
miliar to the public through the
Stand ard Oil and sugar trust expos
ures, has its American headquarters
in the Bible house, opposite Cooper
Union.
"The American Bible society,""
founded 81 years ago, is the Ameri.
can branch Of the combin alton.
Though it disclaims, with the other
members of the pooling agreement
the British and Foreign Bible society
and the National Bible society of
Scotland-any intent Of commercial
ism, the combination since its forma q.
ton has resulted in the extinction of
hundreds of local Bible societies, the
absorption of hundreds OF others as
auxiliaries of the American Bible SO.
ciety, and an increase in the price OF
Bibles to American purchasers,
whether booksellers or those wishing
to give a wider circulation to the
scriptures through religious motives.
But the Union Bible society, with
headquarters at Worcester, Mass,
has gone further. It's officers, who
include some of the richest and most
prominent business men OF New Eng.
land, have decided to use every means
to bring about an investigation of the
affairs of the American Bible society
They propose to appeal to congress to
remove the 25 per cent. on imported
Bibles, and they have been in COM
munication with officials of this state
with a view to compelling an examin'
alton of the American Bible society e
affairs and management. They have
accumulated mass of data which
they say will be made public from
time to time until the American Bible
society is reformed
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
ENFORCING STOCK LAW.
Western Railroads May Be Fined For
Not Resting Shipments.

WAsHINGToN, March 29.-The pol.
icy recently entered into by Secretary
Wilson of enforcing what is known as
the 2S-hour law has made all the west.
ern railroads sit up and take notice.
The law requires all railroads trans
porting cattle to unload to water and
feed stock once at least in every %
hours. Hitherto the railroads, not.
withstanding the existence OF less
drastic statute to the same general
effect, have been doing pretty much
as they pleased. Armed with q good,
strong law, Secretary Wilson has
now called halt and is making the
railroads revise their methods of
transporting stock.
Over 700 cases have been worked up
since the law went into effect. In each
case the request has been made to the
department of justice to instruct the
district attorney where the offense was
committed to bring suit, and in case
of desire to settle to dem and the full
penalty of $500. This policy, if carried
out, will bring to the treasury during
the year q large revenue. The cases
pending involve fines to the amount of
$3.50, 900.
A prominent attorney for one of the
largest western roads came to Wash.
ington this week to make an appear.
ance in a case against his road. The
car in question had run eight hours
over the time limit. He urged that as
! it was first offense and the over.run
was not excessive the department
mi ght we'll afford to be lenient. He
was asked to take seat for a few
minutes and the clerk was sent to
bring in the cases against the road
which the attorney represented. The
clerk came back with big armful OF
documents. There were 96 cases
against his road. The amount in.
volved was $4,000. The attorney
arose at once, saying that he would
not waste time on the single case th at
had called him to Washington, bu,
would take the next train for Chicago
and see that directions were issued to
stop further violations of the law by
the employees of his road.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03
Was F ather Of Homestead Law.

B1NGHAMToN, N. Y, March 81
Former Congressman G.. A. Grow
died at his home in Glenwood, Pa,
this afternoon, as result of q gen.
eral breakdown, attributed to old
age.
Mr.. Grow was elected to congress
from the Wilmot district of Pennsyl-
vansa as the younge st member of the.
body in 1851, and after retirement
from public life for nearly 40 years,
he re-entered the house of representa-.
tives as congressman at large from
Pennsylvania II years ago. When he
retired, four years ago, his public
service in the house extended over the
longest period, although not continue
Gus, Of any man who ever sat in that
body
Daring the anti.bellum days he was
one Of the best known men in the
United States and in 1864 he came
within one vote of being nomin ated
for vice. president, in place of Andrew
} Johnson.
Mr.. Grows first speech in congress
was in advocacy of the homestead
bill, which he urged at every congress
for 10 years, finally having the satis-
faction OF signing the law as speaker.
He had been elected speaker March 4,
1861, holding the Office for two years,
and when he retired, he was given an
unanimous vote of thanks-being the
first speaker in many years to be thus
| honOred.
He was originally democrat, but
severed his connection with that party
when the Missouri compromise was
pending. He was 81 years of age.
OF the l93, 200 Indians outside of In.
dian territory, 10000 wear civilized
dress, 10000 speak the language, and
38. 900 are mem bers of regularly estab-
lished churches. They have s35, ,0OO,-
600 in the United States treasury, on
which they get 81, 725 900 interest every
year, and under treaties the govern
ment pays them annually S750, 900
more.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-04-03

winter to the cattle and sheep interests
affected aud ample notice was given
of the result il no legisla slation were en-
acted. No action other than the en-
forcement OF the law can now be taken
by the government.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12

The Rev. AUSTEN X. DE BLoIs. n BAPTIST
clergyman OF Chicago. pretermits the con-
ventiOnal exhortations to young men. and
blows needed blast against the Oldsters:
" Any one who reads the newspapers with any
degree OF carefulness nowadays cannot but see
that the bulk OF men who have met with disaster.
the libertines. the cmbezxlers. the men who meet
with moral degradation. are middle aged men. The
names Of young men In these respects are In the
minority"
Is it not true that the old fellows are the
most liberal sewers of wild oats? They
have the price" The young fellows have
to work. Too often the seniors, after a
life Of labor and self-denial. fling them
selves recklessly along the primrose path
Of Lobsteria. taking a late revenge for their
earlier privations. They make a drivel
and a show of themselves. Their antics
have no air Of grace and spo-ntaneousness.
But they have their uses as Helots for the
benefit Of the young. On whom too much
preaching is wasted.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12

three. that OF North Caroline from ten
TO six, that OF South Carolina from seven
to three, that OF Tennessee from ten to
eight, that Of Texas from sixteen TO
twelve. and that Of Virginia from ten
10 eight. All these States have large
negro populations, in each OF them the
blacks are kept from exercising any
influence on political affairs and there
is a considerable sentiment in various
parts of the North in favor OF such ac-
ton az il advocated by General KEIFER.
Yet the attitude Of the majority in Con-
gress has not been taken without regard
to public opinion, and that the Republic
can party feels that 10 is inadvisable to
stir UP the matter now il evident. II
there were an overwhelming sentiment
or wen IA strong feeling throughout the
North and West in favor Of enforcing the
right Of the blacks TO equal suffrage the
leaders of the House and Senate would
not be slow to make concessions to it.
No one expects that the South will
he punished for its Acknowledgement OF
the negroes. The folly OF reconstruction
that put the ballot into the hands Of
unframed ex-slaves is recognized more
and more generally as years pass. Even
the dishonest grandfather clauses" Of
Southern State Constitutions are regarded
as preferable to the alternative negro
domination.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12
Respectfully Submitted.

To THE EDITOR OF TEE SUN-ySir. Your con
sideration that a great deal OF music which would
have been given at last nights Concerts Cso called
where they permitted than that performed at the
Churches. demonstrates the ridiculous nature In
which you hold the demonstration Of prohibition
of that which Ia unchristianlike
To see Il In THE SUN Is said TO be 20 I have
read many many beautiful editorials In "THR SUN"
10 which I have said 'Tls So" but that 7 might
have heard last night better music at Hamuer-
stems. New York Theatre Hubers. PrOctOrs. Deweys
ALEXANDRA, than I might have heard at st Patricks
Cathedral. Sc Pauls, or Fifth Ave Churches or At
any decent mans Church is Not So" When TIE
SUN SlnEs so low rs TO attempt to suggest the amend
menC or ab~onShment OF a law that will force "A
community like this" to forget. that the makers
Of tho laws that provided for the keeping OF the
Sabbath Holy. were the founders OF our Grand New
York Then b only then can We anord TO acknowl
ed &c the assidity. More power 10 OGorman Bling
nam q Mcclellan q more sense Of tho Original New
York Amehcanlsm to the Editor OF the New York
SUN. M. ALLEN.
NEW YoRk, December TO-.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12
The Fall OF Fits.

Cngrateful Boston, She has poured
the Lord Mayor his and put a little lemon
in it. She has bitten the hand that made
her bigger, better and buster. Sugar
FITS was walloped in the rain at the
election on Tuesday, and Postmaster
GEORGE A. HIBBARD will ride on and
after January I, 1908, in the joint owner
ship municipal automobile, provided he
can arrange to acquire FITs's share in
that celebrated vehicle without paying
more than twice what the property is
assessed for.
Was ever virtue so meanly rewarded
as Sugar FITS'Sp Boy and man, Fortune
for him has worn till now the smile that
won't come OF. And she was right. In
the dear old days at the North End who
sold the most tickets TO st. Stephens
bazaar? Whose blood is richer than his?
A Swede by marriage, he is 0O per cent.
Italian and 14O per cent. Irish. His sons
are named respectively GUSTAV, AN
TONIC and BRIAN BoRU. The baby was
to have been christened WILBELM il the
German vote did its duty last Tuesday,
but il didn't. What movement for rs-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12

Government has announced Al inter
probation OF the charter OF the South
Manchurian Railway which asserts
rights ~transcending ven the claims for
merry advanced by Russia. The en-
crOaChment on China's sovereignty is
resented by British subjects residing in
that country, but the British Minister at
Pekin has made no official protest against
il. being hrammelled by the treaty which
England concluded with Japan on Au-
gust ~, 1905. He takes the ground that
he cannot interfere except ON positive
proof Of a Japanese invasion Of Chinese
sovereignty since the completion OF the
evacuation OF Manchuria.
The Chinese feeEthat at no distant day
they must decide TO rely either upon
Japan or upon Great Britain, and for
that reason they deplOre the existence
Of the AnglO-Japanese treaty. which does
not expire by limitation until 1915. Brit
ish residents in China are also incensed
by that compact, and they have had
much to do with the creation Of the re-
action against it observable in London.
Nobody now believes that the treaty
will be extended. for since her agreement
with Russia England has nothing to gain
from Japan, which, as a matter Of fact,
is her most ~redoubtable rival in the COM
merce Of the Far East.
II the troubles in Shansi and Chekiang
over the concessions granted to British
subjects could be settled, and IL an I'M
derstanding could be reached with Japan
as regards the maintenance Of Chinese
jurisdiction over Manchurian railways,
there would be some basis for the hope
that in the course Of a few years the
Middle Kingdom may enter on the ex-
pertinent Of constitutional government.
But with the Empress Regent Oscillating
between fears of domestic instruction
and Japanese aggression and with her
two chief councillors pulling different
ways the prospect Of China's political
reorganization is far less bright than it
looked a year ago.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12
China, Great Britain and Japan.

According to the latest kilograms from
Pekin the new Government headed by
Prince CHING has failed to answer ex-
pectatiOns owing to the dissensiOns be-
tween the progressive YUAN Shin KAI,
formerly ViCeroy of Chill, and the more
conservative CHANG CHIH TUNG, who
for many years was the most powerful
official in the Yangtse Valley. Even il
the two councillors were united they
would find the task Of governing espe-
cially difficult at this time owing to the
fact that China is now engaged in grave
disputes with Great Britain on the one
hand and Japan on the other.
IL is well known that events have JUS
tilted the warning uttered in 1904 by Sir
+. NJ. SATow, who for a time was the
Minister Of Great Britain at Pekin, that
the railway and mining concessions made
to foreigners would presently be endan-
gered. The railway concessions given to
American citizens were first got rid of,
and now there is an organized campaign
for the annulment of the mining privi-
leges formerly granted by the imperial
Government to British subjects in the
provinces of Chekiang and Shansi. Great
Britain representative at Pekin has been
instructed to support the cOncessiOnists
in Chekiang ON the ground that third
parties are interested, namely, the sub
scribers to loans based on the security
of the grants and sanctioned by the i'm
perial authorities. 1t is understood that
the British Minister does not object 20
the recovery by China Of the mineral
rights in Shansi which were conferred
upon the sO-called Pekin Syndicate, a
British corporation, provided due COM
pensatiOn is made for the sums that have
been expended.
The evaporation of the inhabitants
of that province has been caused by the
syndicate's claim Of the sole right TO
work their immense mineral fields. Thus
far il has proved i~mpracticable to bring
about an agreement between the syndi-
cate and the provincial authorities as
regards the amount of remuneration, and
the result is that the local i~nsurrectiOn
il acquiring formidable proportions.
How to placate the people Of Shansi and
Chekiang without aFronting Great Brit
ain is a problem which the advisers OF
the Empress Regent appear to be un-
able to solve.
The trouble with japan arises out of
a clash between Chinese and Japanese
authorities in Manchuria. The Toxic
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12
PclatRah Webster's Foresight.

DIR. HANNIs TAYLOR, the well known
writer on constitutional history and in
ternational law, has revived one Of the
most important and interesting chapters
Of American history by republishing the
dissertation Of PELATIAH WEBSTER. This
remarkable document first appeared in
print in Philadelphia, 1888, and since it
set forth most OF the fundamental prin-
ciples OF our present Constitution four
years before the assembling Of the con-
ventiOn which formulated that immortal
instrument there would seem to be great
force in DIR. TAYLoR's proposition that
PELATtAH WEBSTER furnished the in
SEPARATION of the makers. Certainly there
can be no serious denial Of his recorded
claim n the inventor of the idea Of the
Congress of two houses"
Equally interesting, however, is Mr..
WEBsTER's elaboration of his argument
against the single house as an agency
of Federal legislation. his analysis OF
the weaknesses of human nature and
his exposition Of the mischievOus posi-
bilities Of misplaced power. Especially
fOrceful is his warning against the claim
ants of O~mniscience, the p~retenders TO
universal wisdom and benevOlence, the
SNOWY, ~speciOus charlatans who raise up
great follOwings by their noisy and i'm
pudent assumption Of heaven born gifts
of leadership and prophecy. He refrains
from denunciatiOn in respect of these,
contenting himself with the remark that
in mundane and therefore fallible Gov
ernments ARE frequently to be found
sanguine men, upright enough indeed,
but of strong, wild projection, whose
brains are always teeming with UtOpian
chimerical plans and political whims
very destructive to society. l hardly
know" he adds, -Of a greater evil than
to have the supreme council of a nation
played OF on such mems wires. Such
baseless visions at best end in darkness,
and the dance, though easy and merry
enough at first, rarely fails to plunge the
credulOus simple followers into sloughs
and boys at last
PELATIAH WEBSTER had not in mind
at that time a Chief Executive such as
was afterward provided for. His idea
was that "the Congress- of two houses"
should in effect appoint" the President,
just as the Continental Congress had APP
pointed JOHN HANSON. ELIAS BoUDINoT
and others. But he very clearly sought
Il minimize the evil chance OF mounte-
banks, demagogues and i~ncendiaries in
supreme authority by multiplying the
obstacles to their ascendency. His fore
sight clearly defined the outlines Of the
peril to free institutions.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-12

From the washington Posi-.
Mark Twain IL the most interesting character In
American literature today. and has made more
money out Of Il than any other author" said 4. $.
swanson. representative OF one of the great pub
fishing houses. He lives Just around the corner
from our place and so VIC see him very often. He
II never so happy an when telling a story. and Ia
often seen doing so In a group OF c~Onxenlal spirits.
He was telling me that recently he went into the
sales department Of our house. and being attracted
by n particular book asked the price.
-Four dollars said the clerk.
We'll, now said Mr.. Clemens. I am q news
paper writer. Don't I get a discount for THAR
Certainly replied the obllglng clerk.
- am also . magazine writer. DO I get some
thing on for that
Yes said the clerk. you get q discount for
that
I'm also an author. Don't I o In on tho
authors discount
Yes, sir. you get the authors discount
I'm addition said Mr.. Clemens. ! am a stock
holder In this house. Does that enutle me to
something On7'
ives. SIR the clerk returned.
Now continued Mr.. Clemens, 7 would like Tn
state that ] am samuel Clemens. Does that fact
entitlc me to another rAkeOh?'
1T docs, said the clerk after a moment. Ass,
tatiOn.
That's good. replied the author: nov how much
do I owe your
We owe you 40 cents said the clerk.