The Washington herald., 1907-09-07
AT THE HOTELS.

,ome 10 mean hoodoo or ili-luck," said
,arl Magee, Of the Indian Territory. last
hight at the Raleigh Il have made
many inquiries as 10 how the term origi-
lated, but as yet have been unable 10
ind out. / was under the impression until
recently that the Indian signboard had
passed out Of existence, but not long ago
came across genuine Indian sign. It
was simple in appearance. but was full
of meaning to those who understood IL.
A long stick with one end in the ground
with the other leaning somewhat and
pointing up the road. The stick was ele-
vated at an angle Of only about ten de-
grees from the ground. and was sup
ported on a stone It told some Indian
friend that his friend had been along
that way, and had gone in the direction
Of the sign. I marveled at it for a while,
but found that Indians in that section
have clung to the old custom Of talking
to each other by means OF sticks.
Many times while travelling through a
dry stretch of territory I have seen a
little collection of stones in a peculiar
grouping, so that all other Indians might
know that water could be found The
stones were lying in complete circle and
in the center was long triangular stone,
with a sharp point indicating the direc-
tiOn Of the water The sign was plain TO
one versed in Indian lore, and ] followed
it for a short distance and found a little
spring. a white man. however, might
have died of thirst before he understood
the sign. Men pass within fifty yards OF
water in those dry stretches without
knowing it, and I had many times before
passed by those stones without under
standing them when l was very thirsty.
But circles do not always mean water.
l once came across a circle of buffalo
skulls, with their noses all pointed In one
direction. l have never been able TO ind
out what that meant, but I am sure il did
not mean water. for I looked in all direc-
tons.
Some signs, however, near trat the
spring which once gave water has been
dried up, and these signs are generally
placed at a great distance from the for
mer well, so that travellers may not have
TO go out OF their way. This may be the
origin Of the phrase Indian siga.'"
strong following in Wisconsin when the
Republican convention IS called" said j.
B. Pease. of Milwaukee, at the Raleigh
last night He is the sort Of a man
that appeals TO Westerners. and is also
radical enough to suit the present eondi-
tons and feelings of the people. do not
by any means claim that Senator La
Toilette viii secure the nomination, nor do
say that he will be the candidate OF
the Wisconsin delegation. but l am GER
tain that he is by far the strongest man
in the State and viii not reflect any dis
credit on himself in his campaign. His
strength of character and fearless honesty
are gradually becoming known. and if ne
/ loses votes il viii be because Of his Opin-
ions, and not because Of his character and
/ career. He has enemies both within and
without the State. which his outspoken
manner have gained him, but there is no
/ blot on his career. and many who not
/ long ago ridiculed him are now coming
10 admit that he is a man Of much
power.
Frankly. I do not believe that he has
a chance this time. His policies are well
known, and he has not yet had a chance
/ 20 show his real worth IL the Senate; but
( if he makes race in the campaign fol-
/ lowing the next one he Will be certain
/ 20 give a good account of himself
Just now the country has too many
/ other candidates and considerations be
/ fore it Il turn to a serious examination
/ Of La FoIettes qualifications. He is
not yet known by his opinions. but IS
thought to be ultra-TadiCaL Some OF the
mud that has been thrown al him by
/ others seems 10 have stuck, and il viii
probably take four or more years before
/ II is entirely cleaned off. But he is a
I wonderful man, and, in my opinion, il viii
be La Toilette against John L. Johnson,
Of Minnesota, in 1872
II La Toilette cannot get the n0mina-
ton this time and Roosevelt won't
run, I believe the Wisconsin delegation
viii waver between Cannon and Taft
II will probably follow the majority or
the second ballot, unless something which
entirely changes the complexion Of tht
political map comes up in the meantime
There are many out there who do not
believe in ROosevelt's tariff policies, and
consequently do not agree with Taft, bu
they would vote for the former on al
most any platform, while with Taf
merely as Roosevelts candidate they
might shift 10 Cannon"
Nut growing is a comparatively new
industry in the South Atlantic and Gull
States but it promises 10 develop into
one of the most important in that sec
tion,' said ]. Z. Reid. a prosperous planter
OF Florida, last night. at the RIGGS House
THE most popular nut IS the pecan. and
its popularity is probably due TO the de
velOpment Of systematic methods Of grad
ing it and cracking it with machinery
operated by steam or electric power
This makes possible the marketing Of tn,
meats of the nut ready for use.
'The demand is always mHch create
than the supply. and many planters ar
now turning their attention 20 the nu
raising industry. 1t is not uncommon 10
a tree to bear as high as 800 pounds o
nuts in one season, and most OF these sci
at from 60 10 70 cents a pound. Ii doe
not require much figuring 10 show tina
the pecan orchards which abound in SOM
sections are paying investments.
There is a constantly increasing con
sumption of nuts throughout the Unite
States, and the time seems to be passin
when they were considered a luxury an
only to be eaten during the holiday sea
son. In my boyhood days I took no ac
count of the commercial value OF nuts
for If 1 had I would have been man.
times a millionaire now. Now our princi
pal native nuts are staple commodities
At the same time tFs price of importe
nuts has dropped anG the total quantit,
of home grown nuts consumed greatl
outnumbers the imported ones. The pos
sibilities Of nut raising here are just be
ginning 20 be realized, but within the mex
few years that business will be a