The San Francisco call., 1907-02-24
Comment on Topics
of the Day

"HE. protest against further per-
forTnances of "Salome" at the
Metropolitan Opera House was
without precedent in the his
/ tory OF that institution. Its en-
ergy is sign of health. Stockholders
in our opera houses have not interested
themselves hitherto in the morals OF
/ operatic plots. for too exacting scrutiny
in this direction might curtail the rep
/ ertoire beyond all practical limits But
Richard Strauss opera stands in a
class OF its own. Mr.. Conried recog-
nized this fact when he wisely decided
to produce it only at special perform
ances- 1t is not important how
ever. to consider what other countries
may think OF the action of the stock
holders OF the Metropolitan Opera
House. 1t is enough that the air every
where within twenty miles of that
| house Of music will be better to breathe
with "Salome" gone--New York Sun.
| Captain Dreyfus vindication was
welcomed by fair-mfnded people all :
over the world. but his highest claim to
| glory lies in the fact that he refuses
to take the lecture platform-st. Louis
Globe-Democrat-
Swearing as habit Is the mark OF
the imbecile. the vulgarian or the
Il OldCAS Dulk LHcTc Is BOncl1knk
wrong with the man from whose lips
there has never sprung an oath un-
studied and unexpected. but resonant
with the full strength OF resentment,
indignation or the note OF strffe.-Nsw
York Mail.
| Federal oficials at Chicago are get.
ting busy with the alien contract labor
/ law again. Foreigners must be edu-.
/ Gated up to our American ideals. In
Europe an immigrant must prove that
| he has a job before he is admitted. In
| this country IL he has a Job he fs
thrown out Only the Jobless are well
eome-Indianapolis Star.
| What have we to expect from a spe..
eial session held for the purpose Of re-
vising the tariff? Really 1t is hard to
sec how anybody but the trusts could
be benefited by il. These criminal COM
birations will own the Sixtieth Con.
gresS. they own the Fifty-nfnth
Even If the Republicans in the House
| voted with the Democrats TO make
/ some reductions. which is hardly prob
able. the Senate would stand by the
rascals that HOng ago bought and paid
for majority Of the members, so they
would annul every good feature that
might by possibility creep into the
House bill. The people, consciously or
| uncOnsciously, have voted in favor OF
.
want that, or worse, they must select
another set OF egislators.-Louisville
Courter-JournaI-
Automobile enthusiasts say that ths
horse will soon be rare in Chicago, and
| they are right about it. The horse Is be-
coming extinct in this town. not because
of automobile competition, however. but
as the result of atrocious street paving
and insufficient or unskillful shoeing.
Looked at merely from a financial
standpoint. the treatment of horses in
Chicago is the worst Of blunders; re-
garded sentimentally, 1t is a reproach
to humanity.-Chicaeo Chronicle.
Rumor and prophecy have been free
of late with the name Of Mr. Foraker as
a Presidential candidate. His distin-
guished abilities and personal charm
have written him large in the guesses
and gossip OF the coming national con-
vention. But the burning question OF
1908 for Joseph B. Foraker promises to
be. not how to control Ohio's delega-
tion. but how to retain Ohio's toga-
President ROoseveltsis far from infal-
Iible. His word is neither the law nor
the gospel. nor is It high treason that
men should eriticise his official acts.
But in test of relative strength. per-
sonal popularity and public estimation
of sincerity of purpose. Mr.. Foraker
of the President--C1eveland Leader.
That comparisons are odious Is den-
onstrated again by that Italian paper
which looks upon the Thaw proceedings
as proof that Justice is equally as great
a comedy in America as in Italy" IL
will please remember, however. that
New York Is not America--Philadel~
phla Inquirer.
Observations that the japanese COM
merciaI morality in the matter OF nay
ing debts is not as good as that Of
the Chinese are current The state
ment has. we believe. some foundation.
Yet in view of the recent showing oe
the ingredients OF our food staples.
the point where our attention might be
profitably concentrated is our own COM
mercial morality.-Pittsbur Dispatch.
Governor Hughes OF New York Is i'm.
parting an Arabian Nights flavor to
his administration OF the affairs ot
that State The Cadi. like the barons
OF the middle ages. had the power OF
death. of Imprisonment, OF torture. OF
punishments big and little. GovernoP
Hughes can do none OF these things
directly. but he has Oriental methods
just the same. Like the Cadi. hs
spreads his carpet in the open and sits
on it, He Is accessible to the people.
He has ready and just ear for thei2
mplaints.-Cleveland Leader.