davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
TAFT AND NEWSPAPER MEN.
Public Man Who Has Won Admira-
ton of the Press Guild.

Washington Letter in Springfield Republican.
There is no man in public life to-day in
Washington who has so won the personal
respect and admiration Of the special
newspaper correspondents as Secretary
Taft. This statement IS made without
qualification Most Of these men have
seen administrations and public officials
come and go They have no reverence
for the mere ofTiceholder. and however
accurate their judgments may be on other
matters. there is probably no body Of
men quicker to detect the sham and
pOseur OF more meTCiIess in the ridicule.
which. though it may not always find its
way into print is passed about in COM
mon talk. Secretary Taft has won the re-
spect Of these men, not by any cheap bid
for favor. but by his frankness and man
uness. Those who have had an opportu-
nifty 70 see him behind the scenes have
had no Establishments They have found
a conscientious, frank. and OutspolIen
public servant trying to do his duty, and
Loyalty and uncomplainingly accepting
criticism really due 10 the acts OF others
in the administration. II is doubtful il
any man for years past has won such a
warm personal regard. The question OF
the abuse of Federal patronage for Mr.
Taft has on this account been a Bit
terly unpleasant one for many men TO
handle For example. one correspondent
recently remarked in talking Of the mat
ter Il am sick at heart about the whole
thing There Is no doubt in my mind but
that patronage is being used But there's
Old Taft. the biggest-hearted citizen that
ever drew breath / don't know what 20
do" The only thing to do has seemed TO
be TO tell what, in the light of as fair
Judgment as one could exercise, has APP
peared to be the truth.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

positors. bat it involves no serious change
in the structure Of our banking system.
Moreover, il has considerable support on
the Republican side, so that it is not
likely 10 become a party measure. Mr..
Williams tariff proposals are almost mild
enough TO meet with support from those
OF the majority who are already tariff re-
visionists. and. in fact the proposal for
free trade among American nations was
original with James G. Blaine, as Mr..
Williams frankly confessed The idea Of
neutralizing the Philippines was first pre-
scented to Congress by a Republican, and
it can hardly be said TO involve COM
plete reversal of our colonial policy. SO
with others of Mr.. Williams suggestions,
which will be found on examination TO
contemplate notifications of existing
Observation-Disclosures of more or less
Importance, but not radical enough to be
credited 10 creative craftsmanship.
Mr.. Williams programme illustrates
also the difficulty Of marking out dis
tinct line of cleavage between the par
ties. The real line of divergence in politi-
cal opinion must be drawn to-day between
conservative and radical, and Mr. Will
Jams programme is neither wholly the
one nor the other, Both President Roose-
Welt and Mr.. Bryan have carved ont ma
tional policies Of much more radical and
constructive character than those laid
down by the minority leader, who seems
to have been seeking common ground be-
tween Democrats of variant opinions.
VIII his programme prove radical enough
for the rank and file of the Democracy.
after both Roosevelt and Bryan have sen
faster pace?
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Way Now Open for Cheaper Gas.

The local gas situation has been greatly
siE:plified by the opportune decision of
the District Court of Appeals prohibiting
further proceedings in the Washington
Geslight Companys application for
judicial determination Of the value of its
plant as d basis for an increase in its
capital stock As Chief Justice Shepard
said in his opinion. had those proceedings
gone on to a final determination, the
possible injury TO the public interests
aDprehended by the representatives. there
OF could not be averted." An increase of
capital stock to the fun value of the
plant. together with the value OF the fran
chse. would have made impossible the
reduction IN the price of gas, which every
body conversant with the financial condi-
ton Of the company believes can be
equitaby made-and ought TO be made,
in common justice to consumers. The
project for thus blocking gas reduction
has been given body blow by the Court
of Appeals. and the whole subject of the
relations of the gas company to the pub
lic can now De considered on its merits.
To is the duty Of Congress 10 enact legis-
lation long demanded by public sentiment
fer the regulation of the gas company
and we assume that body viii not delay
action on account of the appeal taken
from the decision of the District court
1t would require two years or more to
obtain a judgment from the Supreme
Court whereas the obvious thing to do
is TO repeal the provision of law which
the Tower court has declared uuCOnsti-
tuti0nal That provision is one that as
the opinion of Justice Shepard clearly
shows jeopaTdiZes the rights of the peO-
pie OF the District aud threatens their in
terests, and on that ground alone it ought
10 be rescinded without respect 10 its
constitutionality. Injurious to the public,
its repeal has been requested by the Com
miSsiouerS. and their request is now re-
enforced by the decision of the court as
sorting its invalidity At all events, the
law is dead SO far as immediate action
in pursuance of it's terms is concerned.
The gas company can do nothiug-but
Congress can. Il can repeal the irer.
section and put something I'm its place
that viii conserve the public interests.
Whatever is done by Congress should
take into account the widespread demand
of consumers for relief from the present
price Of gas, as well as the financial
showing OF the company, which proves
that a reduction in price is compatible
with the maintenance Of the existing
dividend rates, and probably also with
an increase Of the capital stock The
Court of Appeals decision gives oppor-
tunity for consideration of all the factors
in the case. and for q final settlement of
the relations of the gas company with
the public upon a far, Just, and reason
able basis. 1t is an opportunity which
Congress should not overlook. and which
10 lei pass
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

John Sharp Williams, minority leader in
the House, addressed himself the other
day to a constructive programme Of legis-
lation in harmony with Democratic opin-
ion within Congress and without. Feeling
that his party should tell the country
what il proposes TO do, he elaborated a
number of propositions that so far as they
go he had reason TO believe represented
the views of Mr.. Bryan, the prospective
Democratic Presidential nominee, and OF
Nj. CulbeTsOn, leader OF the Senate mi
stance, as follows:
CuueEey-Require national banks to guarantee
their deposits and Ia keep all their reserves in their
own vaults. Authorize the issue Of emergency
government notes secured by interconvertible bonds
composed Of government and State issues such inter
convertible bonds 20 constitute 50 per cent Of the
bark reserve.
LaboT-Reqmre five days notice and hearing in
all injunction cases. save those involving jeopardy Of
life limb, and property. In constructive contempt
cases permit hearing before impartial judge and
trial by jury.
ranG-Pas5 a minimum tariff law with duties D
Ter cent lower than at present for purposes Of bar
ter with all nations Enact into law the French
reciprocity treaty pigeon-holed by the Senate. Re
move the duty On coal permanently, Provide that
wherever the existing duty Is over 100 per cent il
may be reduced 10 100 per cent. Ask for a recon
Tention Of the joint high commission on reciprocal
relations with Canada. Reduction Of duty on hides
and leather and on watches. Pit antitoxin on the
free list. Free trade in such products as are ad-
mitted free into the ports q other nations on the
American hemisphere. Free trade with the Philip
pines General ianf revision later
T7lsts-Provide against the oyercapitazaton Of
combinations Forbid interstate corporations 20 make
sales Of products conditioned GA exclusive trading
with the seller. Investigate the PAPER trust.
shipping Admit FIRE Of duty materials used in
the construction Of ships Free ships for trade be
tween the United States and its iusuar possessions
RaiToads-Requue railroads 20 submit proposed
increases IN rates to the Interstate Commerce Com.
mission before putting them into effect. 50 that
shippers msy be heard in opposition.
Colonial policy-IndeIe and naturalization Of
the Philippines.
Income tsx-Try Il over again OF amend the Con
stimtiou 80 as 10 make an income tax possible
Election Of United States Senators by vote Of the
people and publicity of the names Of contributors to
csmpa.gn funds
Mr.. Williams calls this a constructive
programme. II is. really, for the most
part, an amendatory programme. IL pro-
poses certain alterations in existing law
and policy none Of which is a radical de-
parture from the law and policy now In
force For example, the minority hnan-
cial measure cOntemplates no reconstruct
i've alteration Of our currency system; il
seeks merely 10 ingraft upon the present
system an emergency currency and a
plan for the guarantee of bank deposits.
The last proposition may be justly termed
constructive in the sense that it erects
novel machinery for the protection Of de-
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
nefcct of thc Thaw Verdiet.

From the St Louis Republic
The same verdict which makes the
SLAYER of Stanford White exempt from
punishment on the ground of insane ire
sponsibility ought to insure his permanent
confinement as a criminal lunatic. The
bottom question Of the evidence will not
be decided until il is shown that there is
not money enough involved in the case TO
turn a criminal luuatic loose on the COM
ulln{tV
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Rrother Diekey,s PhiIosophy.

We should be thankful fer what we re-
Ceive. an likewise dar some er Us is too
pO' ter sit in de hans or a receiver.
one time Wen Sh0' rise ter de occasion.
IF I grows older. an sees new people.
mus say dat dey amt no diffunt fun de
people I been KNOWN all my days. Dis
yer thing called human natur' is mighty
frequent,
wen I gifts ter glory I'll be thankful cf
dey des lets me res up a spell 70 dey
puts leadin questions ter me.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
The Rrief Nisitors.

lots we should be thankful for
Let's have f. understood.
But good things don't stay long enough
To get acquainted good.
Trouble gives no Warnin
In the songs a sigh;
One minute it's Good mornin',"
The next, Go0dnight-goOd-by
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Heer without Alcohol.

From the Springfield Republican.
The prohibition law IN Georgia had a
curious effect upon the brewery located
near Senator BacOn's home The Senator
himself tells the story Every one sup
posed the brewery would shut down. but
when the law came into effect nothing
of the sort happened. The brewery pro-
.ceeded to make beer with no alcohol in It.
and the government experts in the Agri-
cultural Department pronounce II p
strictly temperance drink. And business
is rushing.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
How the Prisoner Fixed Himself.

The jury" said the Bulviue foreman.
after the conviction of the man, was IA
yoTahIe 10 the prisouer-cver' man on Il
hayin' knowed him all his life-an' at
heart they was Ter lettin' him go. an
would "a done so cf he'd jest KEEP his
mouth shut at the right tlme but, fore
we knOwed. an when we was least ex-
pectin', the fool Teller took the stand. an
In moment OF temporary absence Of
mind told the truth. an Of course after
that, thar was nutln' % do bat guiltify
him."
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Life Is Rest.

storm wind blowing east and west
We forgive il,
Bloom or blizzard. life is best
Let us live It,
Though the storm the spirit tires,
Though the light no song inspires,
Warm the heart at all life's fires
Life is best
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Tenn. He was a stu
dent at Washington
and Lee College for
two years, and Cum
berl and University,
Lebanon. Tenn, for
two years, and was
graduated from that
university in 1870. His
degree IN law was
attained at the Tu-
lane University, New
Orleans. Mr.. Foster s
early political life was
rather stormy, begin
ring at the time poll
tics in Louisiana were
Of a dual nature. lie
was elected 20 the
McEnery legislature
but was never recOg-
nized. the Kellogg re-
pima heine In the as
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
The Modern Message.

From the Louisville COUr1cr-J0uTnaL
When the makers Of our Constitution
invested the President with the power Of
transmitting messages TO Congress on
the state Of the union they did not foresee
that the function would ever be limited.
not 10 the state Of the union but to the
state of one mans mind
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Two words Needing Reform.

From the Clereland Plain Dealer
Seventy-fve unoffending words have
been added to the list of mangled ex-
amples OF simplifed spelling treatment.
It is pointed out that of this number the
condensing board has really done the
language a service in shortening phthisic
and phthisis to tisic and tisis.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

From the New York Journal Of Commerce.
The gentlemen to whom President
Roosevelt would appeal to stop stock
market trading on margin were yester-
day extremely prominent as sellers Of
stocks Tt is commonplace that Wash
ington politicians are the most notorious
spectators in the country.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Cash An ADVANCE.

Il pay as I 60" declared the pompous
citizen
Not while I'm running these apart
ments." declared the janitor you'll pay
as you move in"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
stndrinE the Tariff

From the Chicago News.
Since Congress never cares to study the
tariff question for anything except politi-
cal purposes it ought 10 be glad to create
a commission to do the sensible part Of
the work
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

For President 10 send into the Sen
ate this winter 1852 nominations. of which
only three are open 10 the accusation OF
direct political influence. and In these
three the charge can be met and eX-
planned. is a tremendous advance which
would have seemed fnconceivabIe thirty
and even twenty years ago. When this
advance Is remembered and realized, IT
is trivial TO 90 around hunting I'D isolated
cases, making much OF them
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Dad I'm going in for surgery. All
the girls are taking up a fad"
Good enough. daughter Could you
amputate a button from the back CT my
coat and graft IL onto this vest2'
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
ConId Imagine He Hnd.

Ever seen Congress in session.
No replied Farmer Coboss, hut I
know how IT looks I hev a hired man
who kin git as busy doin' nuthin as any
thing on earth"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

From the New YORK Herald.
Hot claret punch is now served at after
noon teas in Washington in place of the
other beverage. Presidential candidates
will take the necessary precautions.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Taniemon Hitachiyama. the japanese
wrestler. has attracted great attention
again by declaring. the President posi-
lively refused 10 try "a bout with him
when he was at the White House recent
ly." says a contemporary. Are we 10 un-
derstand that he would have attracted
little attention by saying the other
thing2
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

cient and Honorable Society of Infnitiye
Splitters is very exclusive The Wash
ington Herald and Senator Aldrich are
proud to be numbered among the elect,
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Like Father. Like SON.

From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
We viii never know, of course, whether
in his last moments Judge Hargis con-
graduated himself that his son was a
chip Of the old block
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

From the Troy Press.
1t is hard TO change a Big BTll-espe-
cially from the war portfolio to the Presi-
dency.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

There are not half as many kisses
stolen as some people seem to believe.
says the Dallas News, which, evidently,
has at least one writer on its staff who
isn't exactly Rallies in the gentle art Of
purloining OSCILLATIONS.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

There is many a slip 'twixt the average
international marriage and divorce. Gen
orally slips of paper about two incheJ
wide by six inches long. calling for few
million dollars.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Broke Again.

Now comes. / wis.
The time Of bliss
For which each miss
Doth pine.
And Tom or Hal
Spends half his sal"
To buy a val
Entinc.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
JUST FROM GEORGIA"
Prom the Atlanta Constitution.
4 VALENTINE SONG.

4 VALENTINE SONG.
I'd send YOU for a Valentine
This heart o. mine. my deaTie,
But it would please You not al all
a thing so sad and weary.
And yet-heed well this word so true
'Tis weary but for love ~ you.
If you hut kiss a rose for it
Although YOU may not love H.
It shall deem even dying dear
That one sweet rose above b,
And yet-hced we'll this word Sd true
'Tis dying but for love Of you.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Islfh.

Il put a portable stove on the ice and
figured I'd peddle heat TO the skaters
Good scheme, if you had a good stove"
II did But It fell through
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
CAPITOL GOSSIP.

Senator Murphy J. Foster, Of Louisiana,
was born at Franklin. that State. After
the civil war he attended preparatory
school at Whites Creek, near Nashville,
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

a Japanese-U United States war is 'un-
thinkabe" says Ambassador Takahira,
The jingOes do not dispute that; they
merely insist that il would not be ''un-
fightable."
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

We desire to call the attention of our
contentious and fussy contemporary, the
Richmond Dispatch, to the fol-
lowing expression from recent speech
of Senator Aldrich The loss should lead
Congress to seriously consider" The An
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Once there was a dramatic critic who
saw q show that pleased him in every
particular, but the alarm clock went on,
and be awoke before ne could get down
to the Office and tell his papers cOnstit-
uencY about II.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Sometimes we feel as if this should
be called Topsyturveyland. Coldwater,
Mich. has Just voted wet" while
Booty, w. Va, has voted dry"
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

His higHuess Nawab, Sultan Of II Muik
Bird. is ON his way 20 this country, ac-
companied by his treasurer and paymas-
ter. Capt. Ghous Miho-UddiH. We shall
await information concerning GhOus'
walking ability before deciding that his
highuess Is headed this way in search OF
am heiress
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
A LITTLE NONSENSE.

4 SARCASTIC SCREED,
He came 90 wreck,
Bad Captain Kidd,
Hung by the neck
For what he did
The foolish fellow secured the seas
Ere days of technicalities.
Another thief
Was Claude Duval,
Who came 10 grief
Despite his gall
He might have been the real cheese
In days Of technicaiities.
Heed the appeal
OF this ere rhyme.
II you must steal,
Select your time.
And none were better DAYS than these
Sweet times of technicalities,
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

'"The Kaiser has suspended the free list
of his royal opera house in Berlin, which
he supports out of his private purse,
says the Baltimore American. Score one
more for THE increased cost of livin6,'
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Helpless.

From the Manchsst Union.
Mayor Mcclellan, being a married man.
says he cannot see how the New York
board of aldermen can prevent women
smoking.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
Nest Of EN- DO

From tbs Baltimore sun.
Col. John Temple Glaves says women
should get mems wages. Ch0rus-Don't
they?
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

j. Ham Lewis speaks before he thinks,
saws the Chicago Tribune. Does the Tri-
bune expect the colonel 20 perform
miracle, and think?
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

II would be interesting 10 know whether
Abdul Hamid views Russia's threat as
dangerous proposition. or merely some
thing IN the nature of a comic valentine.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
OF Doing the Proposing.

'Then you won't have me?" asked
young Julius Caesar
Not during leap year, julie answered
Coy Calpurnia. Caesars wife remember,
must be above suspicion
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

As the twig is inclined so the tree Will
grow Doubtless Mr. Beech Hargis
thought he was pleasing his father inn
mensely by shooting him full of holes.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Why is it that nobody ever shows any
'pernicious activity in the line of scram-
bling for Vice Presidential delegates?
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Young Mr., HaTgis appears to have suf-
fered an acute attack of boozestorm com
plicated with stuporous cussedness.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
a RenI Nature Faker-

From the Dallas News.
a nature faker is fair creature who
wears a rabbit fur boa with an ermine
air
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Still we suppose the Hungarian proof
readers are having as much trouble over
Vanderbilt about now as We lately had
over Szechenyi.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Women should receive mems wages, 20
SAYS Mr. John Temple Graves. Not be-
cause he believes it so much, perhaps. as
because he wanted 10 find out If there
was one Uaragrapher IN this entire land
brave enough 90 refrain from saying
utheE do
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

If the Democratic party's sense Of
humor isn't hopelessly dull. it ought 10 get
a good deal OF amusement out OF the
present Republican mess.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12

Judge f. II. Gary chairman of the
board of directors OF the steel trust. ex-
presses himself as satisfied with the
Presidents policies Why shouldn't he
be- Nothing has happened to his trust
during the past six years. nor seems likely
to for a good while to some. ON the con-
trary. il is paying the largest dividends
in its history.
The Washington herald., 1908-02-12
PRESIDENT AND PATRONAGE.
Newspaper Opinion Of Mr. Roose-
veItE Letter Ia Mr.. FOuIke.
From the New York Times

vet
From the New York Times
one may credit the President with the
best of motives on his own part in this
complicated and mischievous process of
parceIing out places, and easily acquit
him Of doing any worse than his prede-
.cessors. and still believe that the process
is evil. and wish that he had taken this
occasion to denOunce it as fl deserves.
We know that theoretically he would Ike
10 remedy it, for he has advocated the
placing of the smaller pOst-offices under
the civil service rules. That cannot be
done with places for the filing of which
the assent Of the Senate is requisite But
until something equivalent 10 this is done
either by law or by the practice Of Presi-
dents, the head OF the government will
continue 10 be exposed 20 the disagreeable
suspicious which Mr.. Roosevelt so
earnestly resents
From the Boston Herald
The President accuses The Herald of a
gross misstatement. a deliberate inven-
ton lie has spoken before he found the
facts win he pursue the facts? VIII
he then deny that two postmasters in i'm
portant Massachusetts, cities were. In a
private conversation with an official in
Washington, pressed 10 use their influence
for Mr.. TAFT? VIII ne deny that these
postmasteTs Indignantly declined to yield
TO the pressure? VIII he deny that they
sought the protection or advice of "A Sen
atOr from Massachusetts VIII he deny
that this Senator had an interview with
the pressing" Official, who, though
denying the pressure. Immediately re-
leased the screws? VIII the Senator deny
il If the President asks him? To this
question we answer emphaticaIy-NO!
From Tire New YORK EreIiuE Post.
Reformers who remember Mr.. Roose-
velts valiant efforts as president OF the
Civil Service Commission. had hoped
that he would be the man ~ free our
politics from the pernicious aetivity Of
government employees. He could still do
II by an order cOuchcd in such terms that
nobody could misunderstood; and then he
might be able to say, as he did Oh March
8, 1881 that, though his enforcement Of a
n0npartisan law had caused him 10 bat
tie with many Of the most powerful
chiefs Of my own party" il had been a
public duty. and he lad done il without
fear or favor