davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
PACIFIC COMMERCE

1T is certain that a great share of
the oriental commerce will come to
n the Pacific coast. The maritime
interests of California will be greatly
increased in the years to come. We do
not look for the GENERALIZATION of the
Pacific. We think the proposed visit
of the American feet to Australia puts
in plainest evidence the united senti-
ment of all the English-speaking peo-
pies of the western hemisphere with
regard to this important question.
Therefore there will be a great increase
of shipping activity along the western
shores of the United States, shipbuild-
ing yards, dockyards and harbors will
be needed, and the harbors must be
free. We believe many Californians
have already reached that highly rea-
sonable frame of mind which assures
them ii would be no less preposterous
that any Pacific railroad corporation
should attempt to hog a. harbor than
that the Pennsylvania railroad, for ex-
ample, should suddenly try 10 dominate
or annex the port of New York because
Railroad domination in business or rol-
itics or maritime interests is absurd.
NO one objects to fair railroad compe-
tition. When a corporation gives good
service to the public and receives pat
ronage in return, no. one will complain.
But when a corporation compels the
public to serve it, and by adrot manip-
ulation Of auxiliary governmental de-
vices manages to usurp and control
government itself, it misuses its oppor-
tunities and forfeits both the confidence
and the respect of the people, Cali
fornias advice to any corporation
which plots or plans what may be
described without ceremony as har-
Dor graft is, "Hands off, if you would
avoid trouble"
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
CLEAR, CRISP AND CLEAN
THE PATRIOT

r CRITICAL conjunctures in his
~ career a politician becomes pa
A. triot. In fact, so acute Is the at
tack of fervor that it might be called
patriotitis. When convention days
draw nigh. then doth he resolve to
make his good deeds shine before a
naughty world. If he can afford it,
he hires a press agent. gentleman
whom he dubs confidential secretary"
The c. S. not only promotes the states
mans correspondence, answering let
ters and writing epistles which provoke
replies, until a large mailing list is
secured, but also keeps his man posted
on current events, dabbles in amateur
prophecy, forecasts the course of the
future and prepares the data for the
orations with which the campaign OF
the great one is to be signalized. The
addresses are put into type and copies
sent to newspapers, in the hope they
may be beguiled into printing "ver-
Vbatim" reports and making editorial
comments. On particularly important
occasions the great one is coached
carefully by his assistant brains, and
rehearsed until every word is memo
rized and every gesture mastered. This
kind of preparation puts the orator
in the position of an actor with a long
soliloquy and appropriate business"
and when the eminent one goes to the
meeting hall he is logged by his faith
full secretary. who sits at little table
beside a tall pitcher, and from time
to time pours out glass of water and
gives the statesman the cue. When
a statesman is exceptionally thirsty,
and turns frequently to the little table
at which sits the smiling young man
In spectacles, the inference may be
drawn that stage fright or a treacher-
Gus memory is making him forget his
lines. 1t is lots of fun to be great
man and get the bouquets. But think
of the risks! For our part, if Fate
drove us from life of silence and Sc
ciusion to one of publicity, we would
prefer to be the prompting secretary.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
HEARST'S PIPE DREAM

4 MONG Americans of Irish birth or
IA descent much Indignation has
"A been aroused by the publication
of woefully ignorant or willfully in
sulting article in the Sunday Exam
liner supplement. 1t was entitled Ma
belle Gilman's Fond Dream and
raked together all the stupid and RI
dicu1ous stories that have been told
about the Irish small farmers, or
peasants" as Hearst calls them. Ac-
cording to the Hearst writer, Mabelle
Gilman is to be the Lady Bountiful of
a district of Galway in which the peo-
pie, or peasants" to use the Hearst
pig which Mr.. Hearst tells us usually
occupies the center of the floor" In a
Galway cabin! The peasantry, says
Hearst, live, or rather "eke out mis-
cradle existence on a few potatoes.
It's wonder the yellow man didn't
say the peasants" ate the Feelings
and gave the mealy portion of the
'praties' to the pigs. After all, Hearst
is not half as imaginative as he might
be. He will never rival Munchausen,
because he has not sufficiently act
i've electric sparker in his think box.
However, all who are familiar with the
conditions of life of the rosy checked
country folk of the green isle will
agree that as an amateur liar the
proprietor OF the orange-colored jour
nails does fairly we'll. "Mabelle Gill
mans Fond Dream is one of William
r. Hearst's pipe dreams.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
LIQUOR AND CRIME

OUR esteemed correspondent, the
associate pastor of Temple Baptist
" church, in his letter on the sub
ject of crime arrests and the police
force strikes a large nail on the head
with a large hammer and drives 1t
home. He gives several instances OF
decrease of crime in cities which have
adopted prohibition principles and ban
ished the saloon; but instances could be
multiplied, because we believe that in
variably, when saloons have been abol-
ished, the work of the police force has
been lessened; that invariably offenses
of all grades, trivial and serious. have
become fewer in number. showing that
crime follows the saloon and that in
great measure the abolition Of the
liquor trafic will abolish crime. We
say In great measure, for we recognize
the fact that criminal instincts or I'M
usual temptations may cause human
being to commit a crime even though
he be a teetotaler. But the exceptions
jority of instances liquor is the cause of
crime directly or else, on Investigation,
it will be found that liquor has had
something to do with it. To work for
the abolition of the liquor traffic in
stead of an increase of the police-army
would be more in accordance with the
high standards which modern civiliza-
ton processes, but unfortunately does
not always practice. The persistence of
the saloon in civilized communities the
Individual members of which, one and
all, acknowledge that the influence of
the saloon is bad, that it leads to Moth
ing but evil, will be one of the mys-
teries of the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries of progress" which will
puzzle the investigator of later and
better era. He will look back at our
pretenses with considerable scorn, mar
yelling much that human beings who
call themselves logical should encour-
age the cause of an evil effect and at
tempt to check the effect by the arbi-
trary method of garrisoning the city
with a force of men uniformed and
armed to fpreserve peace and order,
detect and repress crime and enforce
the laws
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
FINE DOCTRINE

MANY Republicans have expressed
IVE approval of the doctrine con-
AL tanned in the resolutions adopted
by the Democratic state convention.
One Republican authority says: 1.-THE
Democratic state convention has de-
olared a doctrine which receives the
sincere adhesion of a good majority of
the Republicans of California, which Is
approved by a great majority of all the
enlightened, God-fearing men and
women of the state, without regard to
political affiliations" The free and UNI
muzzled Republicans believe the Demo-
cratic platform was good enough for
them, and we can assure them that II
they will vote the Democratic ticket
they are certainly good enough for the
Democratic platform We extend to
them the right hand of fellowship. The
Republican convention, stuffed and
smothered," represented nothing Amer
lean, for Americas chief concern is
human freedom, and even if there was
a good deal which was human about
the Republican convention there GER
tainly was not much that was free.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
QUESTIONS METHODS OF
THE PROSECUTORS OFFICE

LOS ANGELES. May 23.-lEditor
Herald. There is, I think, another
matter besides judicial severity winch
works against men accused of crime.
something which begins before he gets
into court, namely, in the public prose-
cutor's office. FIR example, suppose
man is charged with assault with a
deadly weapon. Il know case In
point) The accused declares the wea-
pom was not his, but the victims, VINO
tried it on him first. There was
struggle in which the shooting occur
red. The weapon has not been found,
nor it's origin or ownership proved. Yet
the prosecuting attorneys office, with
out one bit of evidence to prove any
such intention on part of the accused,
adds the words with intent to kill to
the charge of assault with a deadly
weapon. Why? 1 will demonstrate
why. The lesser charge means pos
sibie two years sentence; the graver
charge fourteen years. This latter
risk is thus held in terrorem over the
prisoner, so that when the prosecuting
attorney ''merc.fully" hints that by
pleading guilty to the lower charge the
accused may escape the greater one.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
JAPANESE ARE CONSIDERED
UNSATISFACTORY SERVANTS,
BUT HOLD THEIR JOBS

In many sections of the west the op-
position to Japanese immigration is
based wholly upon economic and indus
trial arguments. The white laborer
cannot complete with the Japanese
laborer. because he cannot live as
cheaply. But here in San Francisco 1t
Is confessed that race antagonism has
much to do with the anti-Japanese feel
ing. The San Francisco troubles did
not spring from an economic clash over
wages; 1t grew out of a race question
developed In the schools. When the
San Francisco position on the school
question was made known In the last
congress the race question was a pre-
dominant feature. and the southern
Democrats Of the house and the senate.
familiar with race questions, rushed to
the support of the Californians.
San Franciscans repeat and ratify
what was said at that time by the then
governor In a message to the legisla-
ture: I'm common with the people of
the east, who have had no experience
with these unassinilable people OF
Japan and China, the president does
not understand the racial differences
between the Japanese and Chinese and
the people OF Caucasian blood" 1t Is
exactly the same argument used by
southerners in defending themselves
against attacks from other states ON
their attitude toward the negro: You
do not understand the difference be-
tween white man and negro"
1t is very fortunate that the economic
feature of the agitation against the
Japanese has been emphasized. In
Japan 1t is admitted that Americans
may object to an influx of laborers who
will destroy standards OF wages. but
every Japanese holds that he is the
equal of any man on earth, and racial
discrimination against his peoplesis an
objectionable offense. AS a matter of
fact, the race antagonism does not en-
ter into the question. and San Fran
cisco openly admits 1t.
In the meantime the $4,000 Japanese
who are living here are finding en-
ployment and making money. The ma
jority of them are held to be unsatis-
factory as servants or laborers. but
still they have the jobs. The leaders of
Japanese here are trying to do all In
their power to smooth over old quar-
rels. The leaders of the anti-Japanese
agitation are content to let bygones be
bygones, but they are no less deter
mined In their opposition to permitting
any more Japanese to come in.
Copyright. 1908, by Frederic J. Haskin.)
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
ELECTROCULTURE

nEoPLE who are worrying over
what may happen when the sun
Il burns out may sleep peacefully.
Scientists have discovered that electric
light is good as sunlight. The beams
from an electric arc-lamo will make
vegetables grow. News comes from
the east that an attempt will be made
Immediately to rival our California sum
shine with electrical rays. B, w.
Thwaite, a civil engineer of great ex-
perience, says. with electric light we
can increase enormously the pro-
ductiveness of a plant. In November
and December this is increased four
and eight and one-half times respec-
lively. The significance &C this cannot
be gainsaid, for under this system the
grower is placed practically on the
same footing as his envied competitor
in California. Huge appropriations of
foreign material would be almost I'M
wanted in a country which had an I'M
limited store of artificial sunshine at
it's command. The British grower
would be placed in such a strong posi-
ton that he could view with the ut
most composure the efforts of his ri
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
MANANA

ONE OF the old poems which should
never be forgotten says:
" TITS the voice of the sluggard. ! hear
him complain
You have wak'd me too soon. Let me slumber
again. ~
Perhaps that complaining voice does
not belong to the sluggard of the old
poem, but we think it can be traced to
some official sluggards who have pro-
crastinated the investigation of charges
made against a great railroad corpora
ton until it looks as If the time during
which. an investigation is possible
might roll on (Which Artemus Ward
says is a habit that Time has), and as
if all the talk about rebating might end
in talk. Since we have quoted one old
poem, we may be permitted to quote
another. 1t looks as if more than one
old poet had had prophetic vision con-
corning certain great investigators IN
California who won't investigate:
why do they doubling stand?
Why still delay7
Why tarry the wheels of their chari-
OTIS? why Is the word manana so con-
spicuous in their bright lexicon? Judg-
ing by the brave language of one OF the
commissioners, a dauntless son of Los
Angeles, we would have believed that
manana really meant tomorrow" but
tomorrow came, and then next day, and
now so many days have passed that we
refuse to keep count without the help
of an abacus, not being nimble at math-
ematics. And still it is "manana.
For an investigation of charges OF
rebating must we wait till the stars
grow old and the sun grows cold and
the leaves of the Judgment book unfold
Because 1t won't be of any use then. 1t
will be too late, dear Theo-beg par
Don. We were nearly personal And
OF one solemn truth we are certain.
Neither the s. p. nor any other interest
will have any dilatory influence with
the bookkeeper.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25

Since so many immigrants to the
United States become emigrants as
soon as they find that New York
streets are no longer paved with gold
and there is a bread line at Grace
church, why don't the thrifty steam
ship companies sell round-trip tickets?
AS soon as the Observation-Disclosures
hear shouts of prosperity from the At
lantic shores again, they will return.
There are too many Americans" of
that type.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25

states and Japan, the agitation OF the
exclusion question. and all kindred is
sues grew directly out OF the clash
between the Japanese and white peo-
pie In San Francisco. The city au-
thorities directed that the Japanese
pupils in the public schools should at
tend the separate school maintained
for people of Mongolian descent. The
Japanese pupils refused to accede to
the ruling and appealed to their gov
eminent at Toxic. The diplomatic COR
respondence between the two coun-
tries soon become threatening, IL not
angry, and the war clouds thickened,
while anti-Japanese demonstrations,
riots and boycotts excited the stricken
city of San Francisco
Just what Japan said to the gov
eminent at Washington is still a pro-
found secret. But events have justi-
fled the rumor current at the time that
the situation was strained almost to
the point of a rupture of diplomatic
relations. The president sent Secretary
Metcalf to California with instructions
to threaten and appeal. He did both.
When the Metcalf report was trans
mitted to congress the president sent
with 1t brief message which he con-
cluded with this sentence: "I author
lied and directed Secretary Metcalf to
state IL there was failure to protect
persons and property. then the entire
power of the federal government, with
in the limits of the constitution. would
be used promptly and vigorously to en-
fierce the observance OF our treaty the
supreme law of the land, which treaty
guaranteed to Japanese residents
everywhere in the Union full and per-
feet protection for their persons and
property; and to this end everything
in my power would be done, and all
the forces of the United States, both
civil and military, which I could law
fully employ. would be employed
This threat of the federal govern
ment to use the civil and military
forces Of the nation against the SOW
ereign state of California caused a
great hue and cry. But even many of
those who criticised the president Sc
verely at that time for his action now
praise him for having so conducted
the affair Jas Ito avoid war at time
when the United States was hopelessly
unprepared for the issue. The coming
to Washington of the San Francisco
delegation, headed by the notorious
Mayor Schmitz, the fury of eloquence
in congress. and the wild talk of the
jingoes in Japan. is all a part of the
history of the time.
California and San Francisco yielded
to the entreaties of the government at
Washington and did not insist on the
exclusion of all Japanese pupils from
the schools, public opinion being pla-
Gated by the exclusion of the men OF
mature age who had been in classes
with little girls. These grown pupils
were the cause of the trouble, and
when the cause was removed the situ-
alton was relieved and the anti-Japan-
csc movement dropped In intensity
from acute to sub-acute.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
THE SIMPLE LIFE
long to lead the simple life

1 long to lead the simple life
Far from the city's noise,
And free from worldly care and strife
Bring up my girls and boys.
Removed from city smoke and din
I'd live-but not so far
/ could not easily run in
In a speedy touring car.
A tiny farm fain would buy,
Cozy and snug and neat,
Whose gardens always could supply
Delicious things to eat.
A cottage meath some spreading tree
Where robins build their nests.
with room for all the family
Ahd--say dozen guests.
A few choice books OF highest rank.
(Some OF the lighter sort,
A billiard hall, a SWIMMING tank,
An indoor tennis court,
OF horses eight or ten would be
Enough for every need:
OF steady hunters two or three
And Just a few for speed.
CTwould not be wise to be without
A motor car of course.
A neat substantial runabout
Might save an extra horse).
So. daily gaining strength and health
with children dear and wife,
Content to leave the race for wealth,
I'd lead the simple life.
Some day I'll own a farm like that,
But not Just yet, fear;
Meanwhile I occupy my nat,
Six hundred plunks per year.
-Pucl
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
S. p. DOMINATION

TN A strilxingly eloquent speech at
the annual banquet of the Santa
\ Barbara chamber of commerce.
Henry NJ. Mcdonald of Los Angeles
discussed "Civic Patriotism" He urged
voters to end Southern Pacific machine
domination in this state. He said:
"California is under the domination OF
the Southern Pacific railway. This
corporation dominates and elects for
its own purposes city. Legislative and
state officials. To accomplish this 1t
dominates on the Republican or Demo-
cratic ticket, as the case may be, its
servant, and places upon the oppose
ton ticket weak candidate, in order
that its tools may be elected. 1t bribes
voters and delegates by the use of
passes or money. thereby corrupting
the body polite. Thus controlling all
government in California, It charges
half more for passenger and double
for freight carriage than is charged
in any state in the eastern two-thirds
of the Union. 1t has evaded during
the past twenty years the payment
of more than $4,000 taxes, which
should have been justly levied, an
amount sufficient to connect by first
class highways every city and county
in the state" To add anything by way
of comment would be gliding refined
gold, but let us remind Mr.. Mcdonald
that the Southern Pacific road. in the
II
has contributed to it's own undoing.
BY it's advertising literature it has at
tracted many new settlers to Colifor-
MIA, and in its cars it has hauled and
is hauling them to their destinations.
These new chums have no respect for
traditions, no awe for the s. P. Every
day the S. P. is bringing in voters who,
politically, will help to put 1t out.
Nemesis!
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25

walls to get the best of him on the mar
keith fact. something like a millen-
MUM in the horticultural world would
have been reached" Well. If the effete
east thinks 1t can make up for natural
deficiencies by turning on electricity,
let 1t proceed with the experiment. But
Mr.. Thwaite omits a point of consid-
cradle Importance. Sunshine gives
flavor to fruit, An electrocultured
orange would be as fiavorless as a
flannel bag. Please note the word
"electroculture." That, too. is product
of California sunshine and Is now ex-
hibited for the first time.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
SAYS MERRY WIDOW HATS
WEAR CONDUCTORS SLEEVES

LAWNDALE, CAL, May 23.-[Editor
Herald. Talk about the Merry
Widow Hat" knockers, here's the latest:
A conductor on one of the suburban
electric railways told me last night
that he had worn out four coats last
month in lodging the Merry Widow"
sailors as he passed them in the car
collecting fares. He said every wo-
man who occupied an aisle seat wore
Merry Widow. The brims hit his arm
betweel the elbow and the shoulder.
and soon wore through the sleeve. IL
such is the case do not blame the
Seattle street railways for refusing
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25

passage to a woman with a Merry
Widow unless she pays extra fare or
removes the hat.
II I were q conductor would prob
ably agitate against Merry Widows,
but what's the use? The Merry Widow
hat fad will soon die out. and some
thing else take its place. Let the wo-
men wear them 1--WE can't help 1t, any
way), for they must follow Dame
Fashion or be out of style. In the
meantime, why cannot some sufferer
invent leather sleeve protector to
prevent the street car conductors tailor
bills running UP SO high?
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25
WHEN the BRITISH OK
GORED THE JAPS 1T MADE
A VAST DIFFERENCE

Then. as luck would have it, the
loyal subjects of King Edward VII re-
siding in British Columbia took up
sticks and stones and proceeded there
with to belabor certain loyal subjects
of King Edwards imperial ally, the
mikado. This proved Sery embarrass-
ing to Japan, and Toxic began to be
much milder in the tone of it's utter
ances.
This review of the beginning of the
agitation of the Japanese question is of
momentous significance when consid-
cred in connection with subsequent
events. Since that time the United
States has transferred the greater por-
ton of its naval force from the Attain
tic to the Pacific ocean. That there is
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-25

Since Owen Wister, the novelist, says
America is deficient in scientific
achievement we might retort that If
there is a world famous and eternally
enduring writer of fiction concealed
somewhere in the United States, we
wish Mr.. Wister would produce him.
America in this age is gigantic in COM
mercialism. and in engineering, because
commercialism encourages engineering.
Let us hope some other age will be
equally gigantic in science, literature
and art