davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
ship.subsidv INSTRUMENTATION

The New York Journal Of Commerce
calls attention to what it considers a mis-
use Of government publications in order to
promote the ship-subsidy bill. The Daily
Consular Reports for February p con-
tanned a number OF extracts from consul
lar reports setting forth alleged facts re-
iating to American trade with Argentina,
Brazil, and Chile. One of these reports
lis preceded by an editorial statement indi-
eating that there is practically no trade
communication between the United States
and Buenos Ayres. all American goods i'm
ported being sent by the way OF Eng
land The report Itself, however, does
not bear out this statement. which ep-
pears as a gratuitous offering on the part
Of the government editor. Moreover, the
statement is directly contrary to the fact.
which is that there is regular and fire.
quent communication with the River Plata
ports" The Journal OF Commerce quotes
member of large New York shipping
firm as saying; mo goods whatsoever IN
the ordinary course OF trade are dis
patched 10 the Argentine Republic via
England or any other European port.
There is almost a daily service Of steamers
di- ect from the United States ports to the
Argentine Republic, ranging from 5000 TO
10000 tons capacity each" These may not
be American steamers. but they do the
business.
The consul at Valparaiso is represented
as reporting that "the shipping facilities
between the United States and Chile are
not what they should be in order to de-
velop business between the two republics"
The consul, however. says that the pres
ent lines from New York under the British
flag render a satisfactory service, al
though he thinks something should be
done to encourage American shipping il
the United States is to get the trade it
should have. The two lines now running
TO Chile, according TO the Journal of Com
merce, are owned and managed by Amer
leans, who would be only too glad 10 ly
the American flag If our navigation laws
permitted them to obtain American regis
try. The amendment OF these laws so as
to permit Americans TO register the ships
they actually own would change a number
of nominaTly foreign lines into American
lines without the cost of a cent TO the
government.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
The deceased wife's Sister.

Does anybody know why the English
House Of Lords throws out the proposal
to legalize the marriage Of a man TO his
deceased wife's sister every time the
House of Commons adopts the sameg
Eighteen times have the Commons passed
the bill; seventeen times have their Lord
ships killed il. 1t is said that the Lords
may agree to it this time. but We doubt il.
Every time the bill comes 20 the upper
House of Parliament, the good bishops
and other lords spiritual who sit in the
same get very busy rallying the clans to
do it to its death. 1t seems to have be-
come a matter Of course; but why? No
body seems TO know. The Lords have
been killing it. at the request of the
church dignities. for years and years and
years, and so, with true English obstnacy.
they just keep it up.
Why shouldn't a man marry his de-
ceased wife's sister? $50 right slow. and
you viii get that in your mind straight.)
If both are willing worthy. and we'll
qualified, what's the objection? What
are deceased wives sisters doing now.
what have they ever done, and what are
they likely to do that disqualifes them
or in any wise renders them ineligible in
such emergencies? Did some deceased
wife's sister, way back yonder when no
body knows why or for what reason. Of
fend the powers that be2 And. if so. are
all deceased wives sisters to be held re-
sponsible for il for the balance OF time?
Deceased wives sisters are not so from
choice. but wholly by accident OF other
circumstances over which they have no
control, as rule There is nothing
wrong in them per sc. Why should they
be prescribed?
We are not particularly interested in the
deceased wives sisters OF merry but
ultra-conservative old England. They
may marry or rot. so far as we are con-
cerned, and nothing by way of happiness
or content will be lost to us But we
confess a growing curiosity TO know why
the Lords think they should not We
have watched the progress OF this con-
troversy through a good many years. and
we are yet cropping in darkness as to their
Lordships' motives and underlying prin-
ciples in the matter. Does anybody
knOw2
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
TIRED OF THE PHILIPPINES.
of Our Eastern Peril Only
Now Appreciated.

Prom the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
II half the ingenuity that has been
wasted in attempting to justify our course
in holding the Philippines should be de-
voted 10 devising ways ard means 10 get
rid Of them. the task would be accom-
plished in short order. Even now the adj
vOcates Of indefinite retention are few and
far between. The only practical question
is when we shall cut the leading strings
and allow the natives 70 work out their
own salvation. A protectorate would be
as bad as proprietorship. The plan said
10 he most in favor in Republican circles
in Washington IS TO grant the natives in
dependence and require the payment by
them Of our expenditure in the islands.
Could the question OF dspOsing of the
islands be submitted 10 the people with
out being complicated by issues now con-
sidered Of more immediate importance the
verdict would not be IN doubt Could the
United States be freed from this incubus
and peril. the magnitude of which is just
coming 10 be generally appreciated, the
nation would be free to turn its undivided
attention TO the great domestic questions
which confront il, untrammeled by actual
or prospective conflicts involving its honor
and safety on the other side Of the world
II would be by no means surprising to see
incorporated I'm the next national platform
Of each party a plank providing for the
disposal of our white elephant on terms
not widely different.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
LESSON FOR CORPORATIONS.
Futility Of Attempts To Override Law
and Public Opinion.

From the New York Sun
Il has been Mr.. ROOsevelts lot, and it
has been in some degree the country's
misfortune, that his idiosyncrasies have
been profoundly excited and stimulated
by the unhappy disclosures Of our COM
mercial life. Absorbed in the pursuit Of
individual ambition, averse TO the con-
temptation Of things troublous or fruit
ful Of distraction. the people has studi-
0usly ignored much thar should have
aroused its active concern. It has re-
manned for Mr.. Roosevelt to seize the
occasion thus presented and by the force
Of his peculiar ezaltation and his tenn
peramental quality to convert # TO his
purposes. Every disclosure Of corporate
dishonesty and corruption has added fuel
TO the flame which Mr.. Roosevelt kindled.
so that a sober public Judgment is be-
come obscured. and an evil that at the
worst was only sporadic Is thought 10 be
Of universal prevalence. 1t IS unfortu-
nately only too true that the methods Of
some Of the railroads have been so ia
gravity corrupt and dishonest as TO cast
a faint upon the whole body corporate
This condition mas been aggravated by
Mt Roosevelt until the contagion OF his
feeling has spread to the whole country.
and We see legislatures everywhere wing
with each other to devise measures Of
punishment and revenge OF the destruc-
tive consequences of this sort OF thing
there Is nowhere much question The
railroads. alive TO the danger, call on
Mr.. Roosevelt for aid. They want him
10 eXhOTt the several States and bid them
desist. Their alarm is mighty genuine.
but we doubt If Mr. Roosevelt can help
them He has started a IRE which even
he is powerless 90 eXtinguish Il will
have 20 burn itself out, and the damage
to be incurred ia that process no man
may compute.
In the face Of the fundamental facts
all charges and accusations OF usurpa-
ton and iawiessness are worse than fu-
tile. The railroads have a bitter and "A
hurtful lesson to learn. and IT IS Of their
own setting. not Mr.. Rocsevelt's For
corporations as for individuals the law
is the law. The persistent Illustration or
evasion of IL can lead nowhere else than
to disaster, disaster 10 the individual 20
the corporation. and TO the social struc-
ture. No aggregation of powerful men.
no matter what their wealth or what
their resources, no combination known to
our time, can maintain a corporation that
is embodied in the personality Of a man
Of bad character. They cannot set him
up. that man Of bad character. and sus-
tain him ia his defiance Of the law in his
usurpation of privilege. and in his inso-
lent disdain of public right and public
opinion. There is only one Theodore
Roosevelt possible in this country at a
time. and the corporation that he is at
the head Of happens TO be the United
SfatnsI
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
CURBIEG POWER OF WEALTH.
Possibilities in state Action and
TariH Revision Not Exhausted.

From the New York Journal Of Commerce.
Nor is it entirely true that the States
have shown that they have not the
ability 70 curb the power Of syndicated
wealth. The fact is that some State
governments more frugaIly minded than
scrupulous, have shown disposition 20
make all they can out of the privilege Of
permitting the organization under their
laws Of corporations equipped for preda-
tory activity in other States. Before as
suming that it is in the interest OF the
people to attempt to curb by national
action the power of syndicated wealth.
the inquiry seems pertinent, Why has
Congress not seized the opportunity to
put some restraint on it by depriving il
Of the protection Of the tariff or why.
FOR that matter has the President himself
opposed all efforts i'm this direction? Prof
Clark, Of Columbia, long ago formulated
the axiom that "a duty which has lost
its power to sustain an Industry as such.
and has retained "a power to sustain a
combination in that industry. has no
claim on the support the public"
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
MORE RAILROAD LEGISLATION.
Mr.. Bryan's Paper Urges Ascertain
ment of Actual capitalization.


From Mr. Buans Conmoner
The Democrats in Congress and in every
State should urge legislation authorizing
the various railway commissions TO ascer-
tain the present value Of the railroads.
measured by the cost Of reproducing them.
Senator I.a Toilette offered an amendment
to the rate bin when It was before the
Senate authorizing the Interstate Com
merce Commission 70 ascertain the value
Of all the railroads In the United States.
The Democrats supported the amend
ment. but every Republican Senator ex-
cept La Toilette voted against it.
The vote on this amendment demon
strated very clearly that the Republic
can leaders do not desire effective regula-
ton. for how can the commission deter
mine what rate Is reasonable without
knowing upon what valuation the roads
should be permitted to collect dividends2
The Democrats in Congress should re-
new the fight and urge the passage Of a
law giving this power 90 the Interstate
Commerce Commission Put the Repub-
licans on record so that the voters can
see how empty are the promises Of re-
form made BY the Republican leaders
In each State the Democrats should at
tempt to confer this power on State com
missions. When government ownership is
suggested. regulation is offered as sub
stitute but when real and effective regu-
lation is attempted II Is strenuously op-
posed by the very same persons who op-
pose government ownership. Now is a
good time for the Democrats to unmask
the pFetendeTs-
IT is not enough to stop rebates; while
this puts all shippers on an equal footing
il really helps the railroads more than
it does the general public The larger
problem is the protection of the public
from extOrtionate rates and this problem
cannot be undertaken until we know how
much Of the present capitalization is real
value and how much is water. The first
thing TO be done is 20 separate the real
from the fictitious. Now is the time 10
act
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
MIR. Bryan's Oratory.

From the Ohio State Journal
The whole address was as plain as a
piece of wood. yet there was a charm
about it that was almost fascinating. His
manner was quiet He had hardly a ges-
ure above the level Of his elbow. His
voice was conversational. and scarcely
rose or fell during the address. There was
a softness. q gentility in the voice that
was winning And the language was
plain ana the words aptly chosen. so that
they conveyed the picture without q par
ticle Of glamour about it, Why may not
that agreeable and intellectual style of
oratory be taught and practiced every
where2
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
CAPITOL GOSSIP.



Speaker Cannon permitted Mr.. Jones. OF
Virginia. TO be elected Speaker pro tenn
pore yesterday morning while eulogies
we're being delivered on the late Mr..
Rixey. Of the Old Dominion. In order to
expedite the business Of the day, the
House met at 10 O'Clock. and the speeches
in praise of the dead Virginian consumed
the time until nearly the noon hour. Re
cess was taken at u:45 10 L o'clock.
Pending the recess the House became
crowded. When, promptly at 70 o'clock, the
Speaker raped for order every member
sprang to his feet. thinking the signal for
the Chaplains prayer had been given.
1.-THE Chair recognizes the gentleman
from Wisconsin,. sang out Uncle Joe.
waving his gavel Of authority toward Mr..
BabcOck
That obese statesman, who Is going out
right, struggled up from his seat, the nat
ural ruddiness Of his face intensified by the
embarrassment Of his situation The gaze
of hundreds was riveted upon him Did
the Speaker expect him to pray? That
was the question the House was asking
itself. To the rescue CALAMITY came Uncle
Joe
ne gentleman from Wisconsin Is rec
ognized fer the purpose Of going on with
the special business Of the day" said the
Speaker, somewhat reprOyinEly.
Il thought it was time for prayer" ex-
claimed half dozen members. soto voce.
1T is. declared others
The regular prayer had been delivered
at the opening at 10 o'clock. but this had
been overlooked by nearly everybody, in
Guiding Mr.. BabcOck.
The special order Of the day was the
Union Station traction bill. and it was put
10 untimely death without prayer.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
PLAIN DEALS.
To the Winter

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer
Some DAYS you were quite fierce TO see.
Some days your Billiards did apppal,
But now you're going, Wen agree
You really We're not bad at all
Proved II.
Mrs. Gaddabout can't keep a secret"
"Oh. yes. she can"
What makes you think 500"
"She told me a half dozen Of yours she
was keeping
How lie Caught Him.
What's. become Of the spotted MANI
He learned there was a detective fol-
lowing him. so ne washed of the spots
Did he escape2'
Nope. The detective spotted him just
the same"
4 Good Deal.
That's a fine machine Of Honkley's.'
Yes bat I wouldn't want TO put so
much into one car"
mo, neither would J. Yesterday he put
in his two fat sisters. his brother-in-law.
Tom Snagley's aunt and three OF the
neighbors children.
Oliver and the Editors.
There is a pleasing little fairy tale to
the effect that once when Oliver Herford
was luncheoning four magazine editors
count 'em-the maid brought him a let
ter.
''Ah. an epistlc' said one Of the odi-
tors in choicest maEaZinesse-
No replied Oliver. with an arch
smile, not an ep.stIe-a collect"
And the editors pronounced il good-al-
though Oliver didn't.
A Washington Breakfast.
How are you going to celebrate she
OF Washingtons birth?'
BY an appropriate breakfast
And may / ask what that viii con-
sist of"
We'll. Wen have cherries
Il see the significance
And chops"
quite apr0pos"
And turHOVers"
What does a turnover suggest"
"A revolution"
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26

From the Milwaukee Sentinel.
What the country generally believes is
that some schedules are too high; that
they enable an exOrbitant profit TO be
6XaCted from the domestic consumer. and.
therefore, by the doctrine of protection
itself. are not protective only. but extor-
tiOnate in character. and should be cut
down to the legitimate protective figure.
And they should be cut down as promptly
as is compatible with a thorough investi-
cation 20 insure safety, fairness, and
public confidence in the operation.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
GOV. Guild GETS some Light.

Gov Guild. of Massachusetts, the
author of the tariff memorial which
President Roosevelt has promised TO give
serious consideration, had a CONVERSE
ton with the President on Sunday. fol-
lowing which he issued this statement:
Il cannot. Of course. repeat private conversation.
The President has already publicly recommended a
tariff commission. policy Endorsed by the Massa-
c.,usetts delegation When he has anything further
TO say ia regard TO a definite policy he viii say it
himself
In the meantime sweeping assertions to the
effect that the President believes that any con-
sideraton of the tariff should be indefinitely post
poned. or that the Republican party has no duty
70 perform in regard to it, CT lacks the power to
perform such duty. may be set down with authority
extravagantly inaccurate
We accept this as authentic. for it
bears strong internal evidence of Roose-
veIuan inspiration. the last two words
being notably characteristics But it has
the defect of negation; it tells us where
the President does not stand on the tariff
question, and omits telling us what his
attitude actually is. Gov. Guild, we are
told imparts the impression that all hope
of tariff revision is not gone. Are we,
then. permitted 10 read between the lines
of this negative statement? Shall it be
regarded as not ''extrayagantly mae
cuTate" if we infer that the President
viii not postpone consideration Of the
tariff. that he believes the Republican
party has duty to perform with regard
10 il. and that it has the power TO per-
form such a duty?
we hope the President viii before long
have something. definite to say regarding
tariff policy, and that he will say it
himself in true ROoseveltian style. The
people are unaccustomed to the linguistic
exercise Of reading his opinions back
ward.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Translation Called For

From the Baltimore American.
Downright woman-Where did you come
frOm2
Classic tramp-Madam. I castigated my
itinerary from the classic Athens OF
America.
Downright wOman-I asked We where
did you come from?
Classic tramp beat my way from
Boston.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
BarchfeId as Author.

Hon. Andrew Jackson Barchfeid Of
Pittsburg who. but fo. the towering form
Of Hon. Cy Sulloway. of New Hampshire
would be pointed out by the guides as the
tallest member of the House. is writing
a Virginia romantic novel. He refuses TO
discuss the subject with his fellow
statesmen. and it was only by accident
that he let out the secret to a friend
This was brought about by his asking
the friend to secure for him the exact
words Of several famous Virginia melo-
dies dear TO the hearts of the colored
folks of ante-bellum adys. Into his novel
he will weave these old plantation songs.
What the theme of his forthcoming work
IS is not known. This too, he is keeping
profound mystery But it viii be ro-
mantle and full of Virginia love stories.
DR.. Barchfeld owns a farm down in
Powhatan County, in the Old Dominion,
whittier he goes whenever permitted to
do so by the cares OF state. Upon his
farm is an old mansion whose history
is replete with romance and tragedy
Presumably. it was this old mansion
THAI inspired the slumbering muse within
him.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
A LITTLE NONSENSE.
ANOTHER PLEA.


Another railroad smashl
Another fire.
Another street car crash!
Disaster dire!
Another ship gone down
To the last sparl
Another stormswept town.
Another war!
Another famine leaves
Death in its rear.
Ger all the world man grieves!
Oh. young New Year,
These dreadful ways forsaKe,
Show them your back.
And let US see you take
Another tack
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
"Ruining the Country"

From me Boston Transcript
Senator Clark, Of Montana. says "the
forest reserve is being made the damna-
ton Of the country This reminds us of
a client of the late George NJ Stearns
whom he was defending on a charge of
Illegal liquor selling Pointing 10 one of
the churches he said: Mr.. Stearns.
thems the BANKED things that is ruinin'
this country
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26

or not we are two-billlon-dollar country
At the present time this question appeals
more to the imagination than to the
pocketbook. As long as our Astounding
prosperity lasts, the appeal TO the magma
ton will make us content with existing
governmental conditions.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Buy.

why did you purchase these mining
stocks?"
For several reasons" answered Mrs.
Shrude. They match my desk pad; I got
them at 40 cents on the dollar, and the
broker says 1 can exchange them at any
time for others equally good"
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Eight Bath Tubs for $500 Persons.

From the New York Tribune
Pittsburg authorities have taken a cen
sus Of the bath tubs in that city and find
that there are only eight in the entire
Thirty-fOurth ward That is the mill
district, running west along Carson street,
from the Point Bridge, where $500 peo-
pie live, where 500 men vote, and where
5l2 school children are compelled to grow
up without the most ordinary bath &C
cOmmOdations
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
FREE SEEDS.

stra.Sht down the aisle he bravely bore
\ banner they bad seen before
a fiag that his constituents
Had brought him when he i0urueyed heuce;
And on the breaths hat rose and fell
Shone forth the words ne loved 20 well.
Free Seedsi"
They don't come up the knoCker said:
The farmer member shook his head;
That cuts 10 ice at all with me
The main thing is they're given free,
And ny Sedan 'tw0uld surely be
II this bill fails TO give 20 me
Free seeds"
minneapolis Tribune,
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Pine Knot for Roosevelt.


from me Springfield Republican.
The Virginia editor who has proposed
that the Democrats nominate Mr.. Roose-
welt next year lives near Pine Knot
where Mr.. Roosevelt has his Virginia
country residence. Pine Knot and vicinity
are solid, apparently, for the great Amer
lean demOcrat
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Her COMPLIMENTS.

FTlln oIliles.
What did your wife say when you ar
rived home last night?"
"She didn't say anything; simply pelted
me with flowers"
How singular"
Singular. did you say2 Oh, the pots
came with them. YOU know"
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
Cromer for Postmaster.

The muck-raker is invited 10 study the
case Of the Hon George Washington
Cromer. who is now serving his fourth
term in Congress from the Eighth district
Of Indiana, and who viii be retired al the
end of this session. When Mr.. Cromer
first became a member of the House he
was fairly well of. He had a lucrative
law practice at Muncie, was the owner Of
bank stock there. and otherwise was re-
garGad as one Of the prosperous men in
the community. Last November he was
defeated by Democrat. Now be is
seriously considering the acceptance Of
the pOstmastership Of Muncie. rendered
him by First Assistant Postmaster Cen
eral Hitchcock. The Office pays only
about $3.50 q year Like nearly every
other lawyer member Of the House. sir
Cromer was forced by his official duties
I'm Washington to permit his law practice
To slip away from him. His salary as
Congressman was not sufficient To meet
the demands made upon his purse BIZ the
necessities of his position, and his strong
desire % hold on 20 his seat in the House
50 that he had 20 draw upon his private
means. In eight years he has been re-
duced pecuniarily 90 the state he occupied
when he first began TO hoe his Own way In
the world RE has made and unmade
p0stmasters in Indiana and has eXerted
an influence upon national legislation II
he does not accept the postmastership he
viii have virtually no immediate resources
when be returns home
The story Of George Washington Cromer
is the story Of many another member Of
Congress. and the muck-raker is respect
fully invited 10 ponder il deeply.
The Washington herald., 1907-02-26
omissions of History.

Lars Porsena, Of Clusium, sat in his
ivory car. II wouldn't go. and he, you
know. was caught from home afar He
loudly cussed that touring car with all
his Tuscan heart Macaulay's muse did
then refuse, and so we lose that part.