davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
Getting Together.

One clause in Chairman Taggart's call
for the Democratic convention has at
tracted some attention as holding out the
olive branch TO Democrats of various
shades Of faith who have for the past
dozen years felt rather uncomfortable in
the councils Of their party. where they
have not in fact been totally excluded
thercfrom. The call reads.
All Democratic citizens Of the United States
irrespective Of past political associations or differ
enoes. who can unite with in the effort fo- a
pure. economic. constitutional government are cor
daily invited 10 join in sending delegates to the
convention"
Notwithstanding the apparent certainty
that Mr.. Bryan will have a large majority
Of the delegates TO the convention. the
New York Times sees in the Taggart
invitation an opportunity for repre-
sentative Democrats" to make themselves
heard. II would have the convention
made up of representatives of all shades
of opinion within the party. and it con-
ccives the possibility of making the con-
ventiOn hall a council chamber where
men and measures might be discussed
with open mind. OF course, by repre-
sentative Democrats the Times means
Democrats opposed to Bryan. BY open
minded discussion it means criticism of
the Bryan Democracy. In other words.
the representative Democrats" are ex-
pccted to perform the function of the
minority in Congress-to expose the al
legged weaknesses of the majority and to
secure. possibly. some mobilization Of its
course
BY al means, let representative
Democrats come forward-if there is any
public sentiment behind them-and seek
places as delegates to the national con-
vention. No harm would be done the
party if the convention were not unani-
mously for one man. On the contrary it
would accomplish a great deal of good
If representative Democrats would
meet their fellow-partisans from other
portions of the country. particularly from
the West and South, and thereby gain
some comprehension Of the reasons for
Bryans strength with the rank and file.
And if. after Bryans nomination. they
would go home and give the nominee
their support for the good there is in him.
for the principles which they and he
hold in common. there would once more
be some hope of a reunited Democracy
and victorious party
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
The pnenncions Crow

That the common black crow is one of
the most ferocious Of birds we have long
known; indeed, We are quite prepared to
assert that the crow among birds is just
what the rabbit is among beasts and the
oyster among fish. All are aggressive. IA
pacious, and exceedingly dangerous when
irritated and aroused 10 action.
We believe. however. while the prowess
of the rabbit and the oyster has been
fixed indelibly upon the minds Of our
readers, that of the crow has not been es-
tablished heretofore by concrete evidence.
1t is with no small degree of pride, there
fore. that we call attention TO this dis
patch, CLEANED from out the telegraphic
news Of the day. herewith exhibited:
Freeport. Ill. Dec I9-John Simpson. being an
noyed by the depredatons of a flock OF croWs to-day
took his shotgun and endeavored 70 exterminate a
few Before he could fire time. number Of the
birds attacked him vicioUsly that he was soon
rendered unconscious. and would have been killed
had assistance not arrived. As it is he is in very
serious condition.
We feel it our duty TO keep our readers
informed about matters of this kind, be-
cause rabbits and crows are quite nuner-
Jus III lile NDuAAAg StNAlbuS SuiIDuuulIB
Washington, not to mention the large
number Of oysters displayed hereabouts in
captivity. Crows, especially, are frequent
ly seen in the very city itself. fitting about
Lafayette Park the White House. and
otEer places Of interest. We should regret
very much to hear of one Of our citizens
getting into an argument with a crow. es-
pccfallv one uuWarned of that birds mr.
gilistic proclivities. 1t is we'll known. of
course, that no crow ever permits a gun
pointed In his direction without immedi-
ately protecting himself against it, either
by fight or by hiding behind a tree: but
the average layman does not understand
that the crow will, if necessary. actually
do bloody murder rather than submit to
being shot.
We hope our little warning may be CT
benefit, and that no misguided ones will
ever thoughtlessly or needlessly affront a
crow
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26

From the Kansas City Star.
There is no hope of tariff revision at
the present session OF Congress, Of course.
but it is good party policy and good
national policy for the minority 20 force
a discussion Of the question. The coun-
try wants 10 know just where the Repub-
llcans In Congress stand with reference
TO revision. This information is especial
ly sought by progressive Republicans in
all the States. The next election will
depend largely on the attitude Of the
Republican convention and its nominee
for President on the tariff question. And
the attitude of Congress. if it can be
forced by the Democrats. VIII also have
an important bearing.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
Private PensIon BIII..

From the St Paul Pioneer-Press.
1t was generally understood. when the
'old age" pension law was passed. put
ting on the pension list practically the
whole remnant of the army which fought
for the Union, that there would be no
further occasion for private pension bills.
Indeed, one of the chief arguments urged
in favor of the bill was that the private
bill' would no longer obsruet the public
business of Congress. But in the first
week Of the session just begun, out Of a
total of 7,544 bills introduced, all but a
few dozen were private pension bills. 1t
really seems as If COngressmen might
somehow be shamed into a little less
complacency toward pension grabbers:
especially as the benefciaries Of these
private bills are usually men and women
whose claims upon the country could
not stand the Investigations Of the Pen
sion Bureau.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
PRICE OF NEWSPAPERS.
Fron .he Charlotte Dafly Observer.

From :he Charlotte Daily Observer
Beginning GJanuary /. that lusty
yOungster. The Washington Herald. viii
charge ? cents for it's weekday issues.
Increasing from the preposterous price
Of ! cent The Herald is one Of the
livest. ablest. and cIeanest newspapers
to be found anywhere. and we wish it
continued success in every step it takes.
Prom the Davenport Qowa) Times.
The cost of white paper has become 50
great that 1t is no longer possible to pub
lish cheap newspapers and do the adyer-
tisers justice. for either they will have TO
pay for the subscribers paper. which is
unfair TO the advertiser. or the price of
the paper Will have 10 be increased. It
is no longer possible. with the prices Of
everything that enters into the producA
ton of a newspaper increasing. 10 give
subscribers newspapers at the prices that
have prevailed during recent years
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
The next stop is New Year.
A Victory and q Menace

The victory Of the Navy Department
and the naval officers over the relentless
statutes is apt to be short-Iived. We
have already devoted some comment TO
the amended decision OF the Comptroller
of the Treasury allowing a draft upon the
contingent fund of the Navy Department
for the reimbursement OF naval officers
who buy wines. liquors. and cigars" in
the dispensation Of entertainment in for
eign parts and the return Of courtesies
extended by other nations to the repre-
sentatives OF this. The decision has been
received with marks Of approval as a
liberal construction of the law and oper-
ates to relieve naval officers of the neces-
sity Of defraying out Of their own in
comes the cost of such hospitality in the
promotion of international amity. The
way seemed clear to righteous applica-
ton of the law. after many years of un-
just restriction.
Now a temperance society has taken no
tice of the allowance of the claim and has
signiled its purpose to influence Iegisla-
ton which shall prevent the use of the
public funds in the reimbursement Of the
officers who include in their official en-
tertainment such items as wines. Ilquors
and cigars" At present the Secretary of
the Navy, under the law has the right
TO determine 10 what extent this enter
tainment shall be considered as some
thing for which the government should
pay. 1t is entirely a governmental func-
tion, and inasmuch as other nations meet
expenses Of functions Of this sort and
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
sidcIiqht on southern probjhition

Senator Tillman'S bill providing that
shipments of intoxicating liquors from
one State 20 another shall be subject to
State laws at the border, a measure in
tended to aid dry States in the enforce
ment OF prohibition laws, excites adverse
comment in the principal South Caro-
lima newspapers. The Columbia State OBJ
jects to it as an infringement on per-
sonal liberty. saying that when the ma
jority of voters In a county or in n State
prohibit the sale of intoxicants they do
not presume to say that none within that
territory shall drink intoxicants" Al
though the Charleston News and Courier
agrees that the Tillman measure would
facilitate the enforcement of prohibition
statutes. that paper doubts whether the
cause of prohibition would be strength
ened by IL. The reason given for this
opinion is an interesting one.
South Carolina has now a mixed sys-
TEN Of county prohibition and county dis
pensaries. The greater portion of the
State is, we believe. prohibition terri
tory. But in every county. according to
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
peIatiah wehs,er and Benz. rranklin.

Senator Knox is an expert on the Con-
stitution as It is and as it may be inter
preted. but in the realm of constitutional
history We are afraid he must yield the
palm to DR.. Hannis Taylor. whose re-
joinder to the Pennsylvania Senator's ef-
fort to snatch laurels from the brow of
Pelatiah Webster puts Mr.. Knox de-
cidedly on the defensive, The Senator's
error seems to have been in placing too
much reliance on comment Of certain his
tOrians on the Franklin ptan-comment
which does not appear to be justified by
the details Of the plan itself How Mr..
Knox could have overlooked the fact
that Franklin. was the author Of the Ar
ticies Of Confederation, which are desti-
tute Of the great political ideas the Phila-
delpllia Philosopher is alleged to have in
vented a number of years before, remains
TO be explained. But that is the way of
Controversialists.
The controversy has brought out some
interesting facts about the formation of
the American Constitution, none OF which
appear to be really disparaging to PeIa-
tiah Webster's fame. which DR.. Taylor
is endeayoring to establish in its true per
spective. Happily for Senator Knox.
whichever way the verdict goes. Penn
sylvania and Philadelphia Will carry off
all the credit. for both Webster and
Franklin were Of that State and city.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
DESCENDED FROM NOBILITY.
American Families with High Pedi-
gree DO Not Proclaim II.

From the St. Louis Globe-Democrat
As 10 titles or nobility, there are per-
haps dozen families in this country who
are able 10 show a descent, under genoa
logical forms. from coroneted houses. II
is strange fact. or at least it must
strike snobs and fiunkeys as strange. that
these families have never asserted their
claims. never had their pedigrees printed.
never have spread the branches OF their
family trees in the newspapers. and never
will. This is due to combination Of high
qualities, each one OF which marks them
as noble, with or without the titles they
might claim. First. it shows the fine
pride of disdaining 20 mourn. in public.
what the world would call a departed
glory. Next, 1t is the expression OF the
contempt Of proud and independent
spirits Of the gaudy baubles which only
cravens and footmen worship And lastly.
since all Of these families run back to
the Revolutionary days, and all OF them
in that day were Wings. ii is the survival
Of fine and splendid American patriot
ism, higher, perhaps. because its earliest
ancestors here We're published IN court
circulars, peerages, and other inane pub
lieations in which the royalty and no.
bility OF that day, as Of this. made them
selves ridiculous
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
Congressional Inquiry needed.

From the New York Evening Post
Rear Admiral Brownson's denunciation
of Mr.. Reuterdahl was to be expected.
Every head Of bureau viii rise up ard
excoriate the critic. Is not each and
every one of them on trial? Since active
officers do not dare to talk, the only
way TO ascertain the facts is through
an inquiry. preferably by Congress. by
which means the real opinions OF the
higher officers could be obtained. II is
difficult for any one who has closely fol-
lowed naval affairs to believe that all is
for the best possible in the best possible
of naval worlds.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
MINDS RELATION TO LAW.
Scientists Reject All Mystic Ex-
plantations OF Phenomena.

Scientists Reject All Mystic Ex-
plantations OF Phenomena.
From Thinking. Feeling. Doing" By E. W..
Scripture.
rs mind governed by Iaw2" BY law
we mean an established sequence OF
events. If we let go Of box, il falls 10
the ground; this we say is an nlustra-
ton Of the law OF gravitation If the box
docs not fan we may DO one OF two
things. We may say; Here is a case
that does not conform 20 law; therefore.
we must admit the existence Of mysterious
forces concerning which we are at liberty
to believe anything we please" such rea-
soning produces the -mystics." whose
fundamental principle is that, since there
are things we cannot explain by laws.
therefore belief is at liberty 10 set up any
laws it pleases. This is the basis OF clair
voyance, spiritualism. thought transfer
ence, telepathy. palmistry, and similar
delusions.
When the box does not fall the common
sense man says: The case apparently
does not conform 10 law. but let US in
quire if some unseen or undiscovered force
IS not cOunteracting gravitation- Even II
myself cannot find II. yet / believe only
In the action Of forces according 70
laws, and I viii search for the hidden
one or leave more able men to do so" On
investigating the box he finds an un-
noticed string that holds Il up. or some
similar arrangement that had escaped
him. Men OF this knd-whether trained
or not-are men Of scientific habits Of
thought. The advance OF science IS one
continuous battle Of the scientists against
the mystics.
Applying the principles OF science 20
mental life. we establish the laws OF reac-
ton. OF habit &c. Where these laws do
not suffice, we simply say so and wait for
further information; We absolutely reject
all mystic explanations Mind. therefore.
we assume 70 be governed by law, even 70
its finest details.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
Kansas Uniuue. nn rsnnI-

From the Kansas City Star.
Now that the Kansas banks are consid-
ering the question of resuming cash pay
ments on checks, it is discovered that only
few OF the banks in that State resorted
to the policy of limiting payments. In the
small towns the only knowledge the peO-
pie have had Of a panic" has been gath
cred from newspaper reports. The State
bank commissioner says, also. that the
banks which refused TO limit their cash
payments to customers all report an un-
prccedented increase in deposits. II is
always safe 10 bet that Kansas viii oc-
cupy some unique position IN every sit
nation ("
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26

the News and Courier. liquor may be had.
either from the dispensary or from the
express companies. ParadOxical as It
may seem, TO the ease with which peo-
pie of the well-to-do class may obtain
liquor in that State the News and
Courier attributes much tolerant sup
port of prohibition. The well-tO-do citi-
zen 'perceives that the saloon is a pit
fall for the poor. white and black; par
ticularly he perceives that the value of
the negro as a laborer is impaired by
1t, and so he is quite willing that the
whisky seller be banished, SO long as
the means Of securing his own spirituous
comforts are not cut off," II the sup
plies Of this citizen were cut of. as they
threaten TO be under the Tillman law,
the News and Courier thinks 1t not i'm
possible that there might be, in time. a
.-reassertion OF the antagonism TO sump-
tuary laws once so strong In the South, %
and that influential men would be arous-
ed from their "apathetic consent to the
prohibition movement"
For this reason. the News and Courier
is inclined 10 believe that the Tillman
bill would defeat its purpose. so far as
the South is concerned. because a par
tial prohibition is there allowed to exist
simply because it is partial in its opera
ton, and If it were made total. a reac-
tion would be likely to set in against 1t.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
CLIMATE OF THE ISTHMUs.
It's MOnOtOny of PIeasantrIes Trying
30 Americans.

80 Americans.
From the New York Tribune.
The American visitor on the isthmus IS
at hrst agreeably surprised at the weather
which he finds much more pleasant than
he expected and more tolerable than that
which he left behind him in the dog days,
and he inclines toward the attitude affect
ed by Pagett. N. p, who spoke Of the
heat OF India as the Asian Solar Myth. %
Fer a few days. even weeks. he finds il
delightful. But when the second month
starts in as a replica OF the first he be-
gins TO think that a change OF some kind
might he acceptable. When the third
month repeats the first and second with
meteorological accuracy he becomes really
tired OF the "damnable iteration OF warm
days and thunder showers And by the
end Of the sixth month OF unbroken mo-
nOtony-well, he doesn't Ike Pagett, ".
p. 20 OF in a swoon. but he finds his
nerves getting unstrung and his whole
system iemOralized and piteously crying
for some respite from the intolerable
sameness.
Those who are habltuated 10 that eli
mate like il, and II egrees with them:
and 70 them our changing seasons are
trying and demoralizing- But they in
time get used 10 varying seasons. SO
Americans may in time get acclinrated
10 the monotony OF the tropics, and then
IL viii agree with them. Indeed. many
/ have already done SO. There are those
who speedily become acclimated, and.
/ indeed. some who at once find them
/ selves ar home IN the land of unbroken
summer. But with the majority IL is a
] n
/ occasional intervals OF respite ard re-
| freshment IN the more capriciOus climate
Of the North But the point 10 be re-
membered is that II Americans do not
always keep well on the isthmus the
I fault is as much theirs as the climates
or. rather Il IS the fault Of neither, but
merely what they used 20 call in Chi
! cago divorce courts 'incompatibility OF
| temperament"
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26

from his State on
three separate occa-
siOns.
In 1868 he was ap-
pointed TO I'LL the va
cancy caused by the
appointment of Rev
erdy Johnson as Min
lister TO Great Britain:
in 1879 was elected for
a term Of six years.
and again in 1906 was
appointed to MI the
vacancy caused by the
death Of Hon. Arthur
Pue German. Eighty
three years old, but
stin a vigorous man,
Senator Whyte is con-
slant In his attend
ance at me sessions
OF the Senate. As an
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
a Fit Season for Forgiyiug.

Among the driftwood of current hap
penings Of so-called minor import we
read of an unknown suicide recently
fished from the Harlem River. in New
York. No clew to his identity could be
discovered, but upon his body was found
this note:
Dear Tom: Yours received yesterday Try and pull
yourself together and make Of yourself Hor-
tense win be married the first Of the year to a
young man Of good prospects. Frank. Howard, or
Emily know nothing Of you what kind Of 4 man
you are. When they ask me how their papa Is /
tell them you are dead
Don't come home for Christmas, for it viii spoil
all. think it Is better to die than 10 live the way
you are. we don't want your money or Christmas
presents. To me you are as eood as dead. for
never want TO see you again. Your wife,
EMILY.
p. s.-Don't ever write to me again"
We don't know anything at all Of the
differences between Emily and Tom. We
suspect there is a side Of the story-tbe
woman's side-that justihes. in a meas
ure, at least, the note found upon the
mans body. Nevertheless, we wish EN-
fly had forgiven Tom and let him have
one more trial. If he was worth writ
ing TO at all, he was worth one more
chance, we suspect Besides, he was
making an appeal, we judge. and at
Christmas time.
Christmas is , mighty good time 70
forgive and forget-no matter what the
grievance or how bitter the feeling. Even
k"Your wife Emily" might have tried
Tom out one more time She should
hardly have signed her note that way ii
she felt altogether, and hopelessly es-
tranged from her husband. u think il
better to die than live the way you are.
wrote Emily: and Tom, it appears,
thought So too. perhaps because of En-
ily's suggestion. and he just put an end to
! it all There must have been within him
some spark of desire TO brace up and
do the square thing" If so. it was a pity
it had 10 be stifled in a suicides grave.
The Christmas season is the time TO
think generously, kindly, and with an eye
10 your own faults. upon the past acts
Of those who have wronged you either in
fact or in fancy. 1t is d splendid time 70
wipe off the slate and begin all over again.
You know. There's so much bad in the
best Of us. and so much good in the
worst Of us, that it hardly behcoves any
OF US to talk about the rest Of Us" So
if you have aught against your neighbor
forget it," Let it go; it isn't worth
while. Life is too short at best-or
worst, as the case may be-and there
isn't time to spare for Unkindness OF
hard-heartedness
We are sorry Emily didn't take Toms
last appeal TO heart. IL might have
made great deal of difference; and then
Of course. il might not. Anyhow. we be-
lieve people can afford to take the chance.
The young folks Will bear witness to the
fact that we said all along Santa Claus
knows nothing about financial flurries or
ready money stringencies.
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
"wHEN THE WAR FLEET PUTS TO
sea-

n the sailing of the feet from Hampton Roads,
December l6.)
l.
When the War Fleet puts to sea.
And the great guns thunder.
Our hearts leap up in glee
And awe and wonder
When the War Fleet puts to sea
Let it be peace. not war.
The strong SHIPS carry:
Two coasts that stretch afar
Shall meet and marry
Let it be peace. not war
III.
And let no i'll befall:
BE kind. ye fatesl
Stern skies preserve them all
In the stormy straits
OH let no III befall.
".
And il dread war shall loom
In faT-of DAYS
Let the shotted cannon boom
IN prayer and praise
II dreadful war shall loom
Y.
Behind the believing guns
That do their part.
Let stand the Nations sons,
All pure IT. heart
Behind the believing guns
VI.
Then not in pride or hate
Let one shot speed;
Be righteous souls elate
To do the deed
Oh. net in Tride OF hate.
VII.
And Thou. Eternal Power,
Bring swift the day
When Right shall rule the hour
And Peace LaEe sway
Oh high Eternal Powerl
Richard WatsoE Glider. In New York Tiu.cA
The Washington herald., 1907-12-26
BREAKFAST TABLE CHAT.
From the Detroit Free Press.
WORKING AT HOME

From the Detroit Free Press
WORKING AT HOME.
How sweet and fresh the autumn airi
The leaves are falling fast and faster
(Enter the wife, who then and there
Bids me 10 change my porous plaster).
All nature seems 10 be at rest
A hush comes over mead and hills:
lShe comes again with madd ming zest,
And forces me 20 take my pills..
Jack Frost has done his work with skill.
And fury seeming most demonic:
(Compiete this verse ! never viii.
i now must take dash Of tonic)
The leaves that once were wondrous
green
Have dropped again 10 Mother Soil;
(Again comes wife on the scene
'Tis time TO take my castor oiD.
dismal dirge the cold wind sings.
Now soft and low. then loud and louder:
tOnce more she comes 10 me and brings
Merely another fever POWDER.
I'd Ike 20 sing OF autumn fair.
So fun Of promise ana Of hope:
But it's futile job. ! swear.
When vile is bent on serving dope.