davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

paign circulars If they reached the
house on Saturday so as to be on hnnd
for Sunday, but they "side-stepped"
the meetings, unless some bright par
ticular star OF verbiage had been an
nounced to speak. Nationality cut
always figure, sometimes more,
sometimes less. in their predictions.
but personal interest was the key
stone of the arch of their political
gateway. Occasionally a proposal to
do something which might interfere
with their ideas of right or wrong,
or entail considerable pecuniary sac
fee upon them, would result in mass
meetings. which were largely attend
ed, and at which much pyrotechnical
oratory was INDUCED In. At these
mass meetings they generally had the
aldermen in the ward attend; and
when the alderman got up to speak,
he knew what was expected of him,
and usually went with the current"
If he didn't, he would "go up the
spout" the next time he ran.
The business men in the different
wards had great deal more power
than they OWNED, but as business"
was their first thought, they left pol
itics to the politicians; and thereby
hung their scalps. But once aroused,
and maddened by the sound of human
oratory, and they would sometimes de-
velop into solid voting force that
would sweep the politicians OF their
feet. But as a rule they were apo
thetic about everything but the fetish
Of business"
Those who were business men and
politicians combined, who had a pay.
ing business and paying combination
with Official life. were not an unusual
sight; and these were surely the
subtlest in the game. II their candt
date lost out" and they were gently
separated from the trough" they
simply smiled and went on doing bust.
ness at the old stand" II their can
didate won, and they were retained in
Office, they won out at "the store"
and also at the city hail." thus both
eating their cake and having It,"
and outdoing In completeness the
southern process Of catching the
'possum "a-comin' or a-gwine."
ERNEST MGAFFEY.
Copyright, 1905, by Joseph B. Bowles.)
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

of representation in the official rosters
of the ward clubs, and displayed a
commendable activity in public af-
fairs from the simple reason that
they could not afford to be dead
ones" Business men who we're active
democrats, or active Republicans, as
the case might De, boldly hung the pic
lures of their party candidates on the
outer misunderstanding the plate
glass windows of their establishments
But Of course If man was an ALI
round" politician, like the proprietor
of thirst boudoir," he hung them
all up, Democrat, Republican, Inde-
pendent, Labor, Socialist, Socialist
Labor, and even. when waggishly in
clined. the portrait of the Prohibition
candidate.
Now, your business man. who was
on good terms with his employees, was
political power to some extent. He
did not control, by virtue OF the Aus
tralian ballot, the votes of the men
who worked in his establishment; but
II he was a snrewd man, and treated
his men right. he could swing good
many votes the way he wanted them.
What SO easy as to have q quiet ''talk
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15
The Figures Settled Il.

Two men got into an argument dur
ing lunchtime in the Astor house TO
tunda at New York the other day.
One was from the east, one from the
west Each had many things to say
OF the infinite inferiority Of the rest
Of the country. Finally the man from
the east challenged: Come out here
an get licked, you big STIFF" he
begged.
You can't lick me-" said the Other,
decidedly.
"Cer'nly 1 en- Hex you!" shouted
the man rom the east. 'Lookee
here"
He went to weighing machine
near at hand and solemnIy climbed
up on it. He peered at the dial for q
moment "There!" he said in tri-
umph. Two hummer and forty-eigh4
pounds. Cer'nly l en- lick you"
The westerner walked over TO the
scales and focused one eye on the
needle. Guess that's RI" he com
mented. "Gissa drink, bartender"
Who can say, after that, there is
need for an International Peace 80
ciety.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

about for suitable \ !
candidates, tcgeth-
or with the more active of the
ward politicians, often met with
the business" men of the ward.
Men In all sorts of lines, hardware
and soft ware" real estate men, gro
GERS, butchers, bakers, plumbers, and
other pursuits; coal dealers, printers.
jewellers, restaurant men, tailors-it
was wonderful what a variety there
was in the way Of business enter
prises.
Now, no man can carry on any bust
ness whatsoever in a ward without
finding that politics is going to cut
some kind of figure in his chosen
line. 1t may be directly, or it may be
Indirectly, but it is sure to affect him
In some way. A good many business
men simply shrug their shoulders and
charge politics to profit and loss"
The condition of a street or district
vas a matter of politics; the paving
and sidewalk surroundings, whether
good or bad, meant politics; the health
of the ward depended on It; the light
ing Of the streets at night and the
sprinkling of them in summer and the
removal of the snow in winter was
politics." the schools, parks, alleys,
boulevards-why, the very air one
breathed and the water he drank was
a matter OF politics.
And yet the majority of the bust
hess men dabbled only in politics as
1t might happen to affect their particu-
lar line of work. A paving contract
or or a sidewalk builder was sure
to be active; q grocer or a butcher,
passive. Every saloon keeper was an
active partisan Of both sides, as could
be readily inferred from the pictures
Of all candidates hung conspicuousiy
In his windows, together with rep
resentation of the flag Of our country
bringing up the rear.
Some business men who have large
interests, manufacturers doing
wholesale business, for instance, usu-
ally had some one in their company or
corporation. who kept unassuming,
but close, ''tab" on political doings.
These concerns sometimes wanted to
Grab off" some out-of-the-way little
chunk of ground for a stub switch
end, to run in cars to their factories;
or maybe they wanted to scare away
some costly understanding device;
or choke OF paving scheme; or save
money in some other way. They very
shrewdly, therefore, kept in close
communication with the ward lead
ers of both parties, and while they
were of course patriotic, they did not
allow patriotism to warp their CON-
mercial judgment.
They contributed to the legitimate
expenses of the ward and municipal
campaigns. generally had some sort
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15
WOULD GET RID OF CAMEL.
Pleasant Prospect for Purchaser Of
Man-kilIIns Beast.

There had come with us from Heb
ron Turkish soldier riding a young
camel, whose virtues he boasted-and,
indeed, exhibited; the clean limbs,
the stride, and the docility of the
beast. 1t seemed a worthy camel; q
camel of excellent humor and of dis
tinguished promise; and it was much
coveted by the way. At night, az the
custom is, the man was used to sleep
ing close to his beast, the winds being
chill; but now. at Rafieh, while the
mules were unloading and the cook
was coaxing his fire, he tethered the
camel, flung his saddle on the sand
and went on to the mud barracks to
hobnob with the Egyptian frontier
guard. Twas presently alarmed by the
cooks cutlery and rising excitement
IN campi the docile camel was vicious
~ trampling his masters saddle, stu
pidly believing that he was engaged
IN his masters murder-a savage and
dreadful attack, rearing and heavy
plunge.
WAdt. CJoCuidlSQ TIC uIk, WHEN
he was informed of this. Have
cherished a man Killer"
The camel was heartily beaten and
reduced to his knees, whereupon his
doubled fore leg was tied so that he
could rise but with difficulty, and we
withdrew to observe his behavior, for
his master was not yet convinced. Rise
he did. a persistent, silent effort, and
cautiously approached the saddle,
which he attacked as savagely as be-
fore, but now with one hoof.
Il have had a narrow escape" said
the Turk; my camel would have
killed me tonight. BY God and Mo
manned the Prophet of God!" he
swore, Il win put the beast in the
bazaar at Beersheba."
l inquired concerning the future own.
er's prospect Of long life.
He is in Gods hands," was the an
swer.-Norman Duncan, in Harper's.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Six years ago the sword was aboi
ished in the British army as the weap-
on of the unmounted officer. 1t was
considered a useless weapon and a
dangerous mark of distinction to re.
veal to the enemy's sharpshooters
This year 1t has been restored, be-
cause experience showed that the en-
envy could distinguish the officer by
his position, and that in close con-
hict the sword is a useful weapon. The
restoration affects much larger army
than any that fights in the field, the
army Of minor poets. for whom the
sword is the traditional symbol of
warfare.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

They tell good story in London of
q certain peer who had never before
shown the slightest interest in horse
racing. that he surprised young man
of his acquaintance by asking him.
auropos of nothing. which horse had
won the Derby. The young man told
him. That was very clever of him.
replied the peer. WAS 1t the FIRST
time he tried it," The young man
stared. but said Yes" Then cal
II very clever ri him. replied the
noble but incomplete sportsman. ito
win the Derby the first time he tried
Tor IT.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A French gentleman is credited with
having invented a mitrailleuse worked
BY electricity that can fire. without
powder, 1900 bullets minute. This
would mean a more rapid service than
anything yet known, and the assertion
IL made that the gun is likely to revo-
lutionize modern artillery. But rad.
ical changes have been reported SO
often of late that 1t looks as though
revolutionizing systems has become n
continuous performance.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A Cleveland scientist pretends to
have discovered that the babies born
during hard times are very likely to
be boys, while girls come in greatest
numbers during eras of prosperity.
Has anybody noticed surprising In
crease in the number Of boy babies
born In the Lake Shore drive district
recently? asks the Chicago Record
Herald.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

One ofthe best sermons Of promi-
mont preacher is the story he some
times tells about scrub woman who,
In preparation for some event at his
church, had been busy for hours with
a scrub-brush, pail and mop. Aren't
you tired?" asked the clergyman,
alphabetically as he passed the busy
worker. "Tired?" was her reply. II
da'sn't be tired till my job is done!"
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Queen Alexandra was SO touched by
the constant coughing of young
woman patient in a hospital for con.
sumptives that she visited at Bays
water that she has since sent to the
hospital a special box Of lozenges for
the patients use. No doubt the young
woman will treasure them until she
dies.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Any idea that women who possess
or think they possess deformed faces
have right to make way with them
selves should be killed In the bud at
once. No such depletion of the ranks
can be tolerated.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

> By cutting the hair q tie redskin
Uncle Sam has an idea he can hasten
the civilization of the indian. BY lift
ing the hair entirely the old-time war
rior showed Just how he stood on the
question of the white mans culture.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Why should we take correspond.
ence course In learning how to pro-
nounce the name of Los Angelesf
What reason would the residents OF
that city have for feeling superior If
they couldn't explain 1t to us when We
called on them?
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

The British government has con-
ferred a pension of $3.50 annually upon
Paul Fountain in consideration OF his
contributions to literature and his
straitened circumstances. If the
United States government should feel
disposed to similar action, good
many American authors could comply
with the second condition.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A New York man who lost part OF
his brain became an expert chess
player, though he didn't understand
the game before. Possibly had he lost
1t all he would then have been htteu
out for the game of politics.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A Harvard professor is going to
study the monkey language. Harry
Lehr neglected to write book about
his observations when he took the
simian to dine with him at Newport.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A Chicago woman attorney has just
received a fee of $4,000, but that is
no reason why women should become
disguised with homework.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

New York is to have the highest
building in the world. High finance In
that town has got so that it isn't sat
isfied with present accommodations.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A skyscraper So stories high is to be
built in New York. If this thing keeps
on we shall be able presently to hand
peaches and other things of that sort
to the man in the moon.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Elephants are being employed In
Paris as "sandwichmen" to advertise
q music-hall in the Champs Elysees.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15
Automobile Industry Larue.

Statistics compiled by the Associa-
don of Licensed Automobile Manu-
facturers show that the total value of
American-made automobiles for 1907
was $105.669.572. This represents ST.
3o2 cars manufactured during the
year. OF these. all but 5000 were gas
cline vehicles. the smaller number be-
ing divided between steam and cleo
tric machines.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Doubtless the young man at the soda
fountain thinks It is on account of his
personal charms that the girls come
fiocking.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

A Niagara Falls man proposes to
shoot the whirlpool rapids in a canoe,
but it isn't likely that anyone will care
to risk her sofa pillows with him.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

Almost every one can afford now to
be vegetarian.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

United States Has Preference.
Out of $50, 1877 persons who left the
United Kingdom in 1907, sSs.612 went
to the United States and 2o3, 357 70
British possessions,
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15
BUSINESS
VERSUS
POLITICS
Hon. "Coups'' Are Effected and
the People Wonder Why.
By ERNEST MoGAFFEY

"LtUe Ones'' Keep
Tab on Available
PoHficiAns-Un-
dereround Route
Retrueen City Hall
and Inner Circles Of
CommerciaILife.
The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1908-08-15

pretty high when one morning padkett
marched up to the postozfce and ASKED
for hh NAH. He hadn't been there
Since the oaphering pig died. There
was quite q number of letters, but
Padgett paid little attention to them,
showed them carelessly down in the
tail Of his coat and said to Perkins,
the postmaster: I would like to rent
your hall for next Saturday night, az
want to give concert there which
viii kinder shake up Reedville q bit,
reckon, the idee being new an origi-
NAL
Perkins and he fixed 1t up between
them. and Padgett billed the town that
same afternoon. The posters were
short, home made and to the point.
AS near as I can remember, they stat
ed that the concert would be the great
est novelty Of the age. and that i'm
ported musicians would render all the
familiar airs and many that were not
SO familiar. Ten cents admission
would be charged 1t is needless to
say these posters created a sensation.
This saturday night the whole
countryside turned out, and Perkins
hall was packed to the doors.
"T haven't seen no musicianer fel
lows roamin' 'roun' town. said 81 Lew
Is. as he spat refiectively out Of win
dow.
There was rustic Of expectation
through the hall as the curtain stirred
uneasily. It swung softly back. dis
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
A Drag Net for Crooks.

New Orleans Detectives from
thirteen large American cities will ar
rive here to protect the visiting Mar
di Gras carnival crowd. Inspector of
Police O'Connor announced ihe names
Of these detectives saying that they
will serve as a protections from the
large influx Of thieves, from all over
the country who have in the past in
tested New Orleans at carnival times
The inspector has secured one or two
leading detectives from each Of the
13 cities. Added to these city de-
tectives there will be six Pinkerton
men making a total Of twenty-five
visiting detectives. These men, the
inspector said knew by sight nearly
every prominent pickpocket or other
thief in the United States. The fol-
lowing cities will furnish detectives,
two each: New York, Chicago, Phil
adelphia and Pittsburg. The following
will furnish one each: Detroit, Buff
falo, Louisville, Kansas City, Wash
ington, Baltimore, Boston and Cincin-
natl, St. Louis will furnish three de-
tectives.
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
Deep Waterway.

Washington.-The committee on
rivers and harbors of the house gave
a hearing on two projects. The first
was on the bill introduced by Mr..
Davey of Louisiana to provide for the
construction and operation Of a deep
waterway between the cities Of Chica-
go and st. Louis.
The measure authorizes the secre-
tary of war to enter into contracts
with the Joliet Power Co., the Ottawa
Power Co., of Illinois, and w. D. Ba-
den Power Co., Of Missouri, for the
construction and operation Of COM
bined waterway and power develop
ment in the Desplaines, the Illinois
and the Mississippi river between Chi
cago and St. Louis.
The governments to pay the whole
cost of the work and for this purpose
$6O,00O,0OO is appropriated, for which
the secretary Of the treasury is au-
thorized to issue two per cent. bonds
to run for fifty years.
The bill directs that channel
twenty-five feet in depth at low wa.
ter be maintained.
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
Goyernment Ownership.

/ Washington.-Senator Burkett OF
Nebraska was the principal speaker
at the winter convocation Of the Geo.
Washington University held at the
Belasco Theatre. Senator Burkett's
theme was "The Protest Of Ameri-
cans Against Government Ownership
Of Railways Government ownership
he declared, would be spear thrust
to the very heart Of our body polite
and would mean revelation not only
politically, but commercially, as well as
paternalism in politics and socialism
in commerce. The system was Euro
pean and un-American. The present
large amount Of money collected in
taxes on railroads would be lost he
said, and the government would not
operate the railroads as economically
as private ownership.
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29

Pittsburg, Pa.-Sixteen unemploy,
ed Pittburgers, having fami left
here for Monroe, La, where they will
be given a farm, home, tools aid seed
and an opportunity to bur the land
they cultivate. The sam induce
ments are being offered ,toI M 9TH
er families. Their TRANSFORMATION is
paid.
All the arrangements are under the
direction Of Jas. Il. Knospfer, Sec
retary Of the Louisiana state board
Of immigration, who is nov in this
city. Speaking of the plan MI. Knoe-
pfer said tonight:
II am. here to give men epportnni-
ty to better their conditions repre-
sent the. state and no lapd company.
We have in Iaouisiana, 600 600
acres land a snly &, ,ee ;0Ug IS
are being cultivated
"We want families to till the soil
and study our methods. The legisla-
tue Of Louisiana is promoting the
present plan and in order to enlarge
our scope Of usefulness, we must get
men who are willing to work. We
want men who are progressive, and
planters with large tracts of land,
stand ready and willing to aid every
man who is willing to help himself
and sell him small farms on ten years
credit.
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
Antiprohibitionists Knocked Out.

An exception of no cause for action
was sustained by Judge Murff Of the
District Court, in a decision rendered
IN the suit brought by J. I. Hagens
and other saloon proprietor Of Shreve
port against the Caddo Parish Police
Jury, to set aside the prohibition elec-
tlon of last month. This decision
which has been anxiously awaited by
both sides in the contest, including
practically every man and woman in
the parish, is generally expected to
mean settlement Of the controversy,
although the plaintiffs, it is under
stood, will carry the case to the ou-
preme Court, endeavoring to cause
the District Court ito pass on the al
legations. Judge Murff decided that
the matter was for the Police Jury
entirely, and that his Court had no
authority to pass on he alleged ir-.,
regularities Of the election. In his
decision he cited the case of Bossier
Parish, which went to the Supreme
Court. Shortly after the election the
Police Jury canvassed the returns and
voted that the victory belonged to
the prohibitionists, and that Caddo
would be "dry" in 1909. Since then
another Jury has been nominated.
The majority are ants, but they will
have no authority in the matter. The
anxiety was due to the fear of hav-
ing the election declared illegal, as
the "wet' Jury would not order an
other election, and prohibition would
be paralyzed.
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
Summer Schools to Open.

The department Of education has
issued its preliminary announcement
concerning the summer schools to be
held in this state for the year 1908.
The summer school manuals will be
ready for distribution IN April. The
Baton Rouge summer school will open
on June l, and continue six weeks
of five days each. The New Orleans
summer school will open June 22,
and continue FIVE weeks Of six days
each. The other seven summer
schools will open June | and continue
four weeks of five days each. The
location of the four summer
schools will be announced in few
lows
The Thibodaux sentinel. (Thibodaux, La.) 1905-1912, 1908-02-29
Big Drainage Canal.

Work on the big drainage canal
which the Lemann company proposes
TO construct through their Crescent
Plantation, on Bayou Lafourche,
about four miles below Donaldson
vile, will begin in few days. This
canal will drain into Bayou Lafourche
II will be thirty feet wide and will
nave depth Of twenty-five feet. The
ievee on Bayou Lafourche, where the
canal will pass, has already been cut
and mammoth dredgeboat has just
oeen completed and will be put to
Work very soon constructing the canal
beginning at the bayou end. This
canal will be larger than similar ca
mails which have been constructed at
aiiferent points on both sides Of the
bayou, and when complete will afford
proper drainage facilities for vast
area of rich and fertile land.