davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
Old World Rulers
Had a Nerve Rackins Year.

GREAT BRIT AIN.-The government
of King Edward began the year with
program of radical legislation. in
Guiding old age pensions, frankly in
tended as a sop to socialism, which
showed signs of rapid growth along
with the increase of the vast army of
the unemployed. Asquith took the
reins April 8, when Premier Banner
man retired on account of continued
illness. Asquith carried through the
age pension bill July 90 the plan of
which is $1.25 Il week to all over sew
enty years of age whose income is un-
der $50 Il year, to take effect Jan. I,
1869. The Asquith government encoun-
tered boisterous campaign for wo-
man suffrage, the suffragetteS organic
ing huge parades and ruShes on the
parliament to attract attention, many
women choosing prison terms rather
than give bonds TO keep the peace.
Alarm over the signs of coming revolt
throughout India has increased, with
numerous acts of violence against the
ruling Britons CANADA felt the eff
fects of the American depression in
decreased exports and in halt in her
Industrial development. The general
| elections Oct. 90 sustained the Laurier
! government A great historical pag-
cant marked the tercentenary of Que
bee, the Prince of Wales attending.
| GERMANY. = The German people
will remember the year 1903 as mark
ing the end of their kaisers absolute,
personal rule and the beginning OF
ministerial responsibility TO the reichs-
/ tag. This revolution through the
power of public opinion voiced in the
radical press and in parliamentary ac-
tion Of nearly all parties came to q
| head in October, the occasion of the
| view In the London Telegraph in
which the kaiser told of his refusal to
Join secret coalition against England
during the Boer war and of sending
! war plans to the queen. 1t was like
the last straw. The reichstag called
/ Won Bulow to account, and William
| made concessions.
/ TURKEY.-The leaven of democ-
racy showed signs of working even in
! the European stronghold of autocratic
Islam. The sultan of TIrke- saw his
| army turning from him under the in
fluence Of the Young Turk party and
thus powerless, he put into effect the
/ hitherto dead letter constitution OF
| 1876 and called into being national
parliament at Constantinople. Thi:
body met amid rejoicing Dec. II.
! THE BALKANS. - On Oct. the
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31

upon the term year" That another
year has come is relatively unimpor-
tant. The stress is to be laid not on
the quantity but on the quality of
ones life. All that an earnest soul
can do is to live each day of the new
year by itself, as it comes in it's turn,
trying, If so it may be, to put a
months effort in one day. and a days
victory into single hour The time
is short. and it remaineth that all
who know Christ and partake of his
gift of new life should be diligent al
ways, watch unto prayer and boast
not themselves of the morrow. Suffi-
cient unto each day is the burden and
blessing thereof.
The newness of the new year is es-
sentially newness of spirit A new
man will always enjoy the new year.
When another January arrives it is
distinctively the time to slough of the
old and to put on the new. There is
an old nature to be discarded, and a
new spiritual manhood to be assumed.
The trouble with many people, how
ever. is that they try to remake and
W iSiOiL tHSuiSSlsSS, lOTSetlIuS Indt
a few good resolutions, more or less
loosely kept, can at best only touch
the outside and possess no interior
efficacy in the recesses of the spirit
The new man who is really worthy OF
the name is the new man in Christ
Jesus. Where Jesus is there is always
newness Of experience, renovation OF
the moral nature, freshness of hope
and resiliency of elastic joy. 1t is
not necessary to wait until the frs
Of January in any approaching yeal
to win the wisdom of such a heavenly
faith or to experience the benefits o.
such a spiritual QUickening The
promise of God is now, to every one
that believeth. Each morning may b,
a resurrection day, each evening /;
time of golden promise fair, yet no
as fading, as the sunset. The New
Year joy is for all of life, all tn,
time.
It is stimulating and encouraging t,
feel that a brand new year is Offered
for happy employme,at, and that thu
Old records with their motley pages
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
Uncle Sam Insists
Upon Carrying a Big Stick.

The administrations foreign policy
has eXemplified well this year IA IA
vorite saying of the president, Speak
softly, but carry big stick" This
nation has preserved good feeling to-
ward other nations. but at the same
time has sent its battleship fleet to the
antirodes and devoted much thought
and money to navy and army better
mentS.
March II at Magdalena bay the
feet ended its voyage around the
Horn, in command of Evans, and WAS
wildly welcomed all along the coast to
San Francisco. Evans then gave up
the command to Sperry. and on July
: the feet sailed from San Francisco
on its record breaking naval practice
cruise. visiting Hawaii, New Zealand,
Australia, Japan, China and the Phil
ippines before the years end.
The war department changed heads
July l, Luke e. Wright succeeding
Taft
On May s the state department con-
cluded five year arbitration treaty
with Japan. On Nov. 80 notes Were
signed containing an agreement with
Japan for concert of action in main
tanning the status quo in the orient, Il
virtual alliance
The treasury in January had a def
cit of S1000O,OOO. which grew to $780,
100000 by the end of the fiscal year.
The postoffice department, by order
of the president, ruled that papers in
| foreign languages must submit trans
lations and authorized postmasters to
/ exclude papers containing Indictment
to murder. arson and treason. In May
the parcel limit to England was raised
to eleven pounds, and Oct. l the postal
rate to that country was lowered to
cents, later the same to Germany.
| On Aug. IA the president appointed a
| commission, headed by Professor l.. II
Bailey OF Cornell, TO gather data look
, ing to betterment of farm life.
| May Is to 10 at the White House the
+ first conference of state governors and
noted men met the president to dis
cuss the conservation of national re-
I sources, the conference making n new
| element of national unity. This body
reassembled Dec. and approved q
great scheme of waterways by bond
issue
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
2a2a2a2&2a2a2a2g29assEs
The NeWnesS Of the Year

some still vacant and other marred.
and, perhaps, here and there blotted
with tears, may be put away, and
fresh unstained pages substituted In
their place. 1t is helpful to remind one
self that those broken resolutions of
1908 may be renewed in 1909, and,
what is better, reinforced by more of
that prayer and divine grace for want
of which the idealizing resolves of the
past year were soon forgotten or went
SO sadly unfulflled. The new year
means, accordingly, new hope, a new
song, new endeavor, a new outlook,
new inspiration, a new determine
ton and a new grace-every new
thing that is good appears to be posi-
BILE in its gift. A hope like this makes
any doubter optimistic, and gives to
existence the character of life worth
living.
A wide chasm seems to intervene
between the old and the new. Into its
depths should be cast every regretj
every hating doubt, and every lam.
pering fear which belongs to the Fast
period of our experience and witch
would burden and hinder our wdthy
efforts and spiritual progress In, the
| new year. Let US take UP or lew
| duties and meet our fresh ypl,oEsni.
ties in free, gladstone and hoiTul
spirit, knowing that God, WHO had,ur-
| posed them for our uplift. will Live
us grace to carry us safely throuH-
Happy New Year! The messas 10
sent far and near. Let the glad reet-
| ing be heard on all Sides Then is
| prophecy and promise In tha New
Year. Even to those who are ben with
| grief, or lonely by reason of bitter
bereavement 1t is possible and timely
to say, though with lowered tof and
softened accent: Happy New teari"
Every year will be happy, pr, at
least, peaceful, one in which the
| presence of the Lord 10 reaked--
which is spent under the protocols Of
his wings, while its duties al as.
charged In his fear and its respesihAl |.
tiles are borne with the assistalce OF
his grace. For the Christian every
year should be an improvement "a sthe
past, and offer its additional tppoa.
tunities for growing in gracs and
Christlikeness. The Christian Is .
i convinced and convincing ontimist
for, having a heavenly hope which the
world can never give or take Away,
he can in every condition Of life find
a basis for an assured happiness ex
pressing itself in the oft-Quoted die
tum: 1.-The best of all is, God &
with us!'"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31

by the preliminary Investigation of the
interstate commerce Commission. The
Southwestern association did advance
rates in July, and some southern lines
reduced wages, while nearly all lines
laid off men, In December came the
general announcement of 10 per cent
increase to take effect Jan. l, 1909.
E. II. Hartman in March took full
possession of the Georgia Central,
which with q new connecting link gave
him Il cross continent system.
On April IS Cleveland's three cent
fare municipal street railway system
went into effect, but hardly was it
started when bitter strike was called
TO enforce Il former contract for wage
increase. Riots and car dynamiting
tied up the lines for weeks, but the
city finally won. \ deficit the first
two months gave way later to a sur
Plus, but the public, dissatisfied with
the service, voted in the Oct. . refer
endum against the municipal fran
chise, and q few weeks later the COM
pany was thrown into receivership
Secretary Wilson reported the value
Of all crops to the farmer to be S7,712,-
100000. n new record. corn heading the
list with 2.G43 10000 bushels.
Jan. . New York celebrated the COM
p!etion and operation of its first East
river tunnel and of its first Hudson
river tunnel from Hoboken Feb. %.
Philadelphia's $20.00O,OOO Market
street subway WAS opened July 80.
The ocean speed record was lowered
repeatedly by the big British turbines,
the Lusitania finally doing the best
western trip in 4 days Is minutes
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31
Science, Sociology,
Religion and Other Data.

Continuous mechanical fight as a
strated to the satisfaction of the
world by the two American aviators,
Wilbur and Orville Wright, giving as
surance of new military weapons and
promise of practical commercial APP
plications. Having finished their Sc.
cret trials at Kill Devil hill, North
Carolina, last May and having receiv-
cd patent protection here and abroad,
the Wrights made public the details
of their work. Wilbur then took one
machine to lie Mans, France, and Or
Vile another to Fort Myer, Va, fol
official trials i'll September Orville
scored first, making a record fight of
l hour IA minutes 20 seconds prior to
the fatal trial Of Sept %, when the
aeroplane, carrying the inventor and
Lieutenant Selfridge, fell with a
broken propeller, killing Selfridge and
breaking several of Wright's bones
Later Wilbur sailed the air alone ]
hour and 81 minutes and on Oct &c
took along one man for l hour min.
utes 40 seconds. winning 100000 for
the invention from Il French syndi.
, cate. Farman and Delagrange also
made successful aeroplane flights in
France, the former winning the Arch.
Deacon prize for the first circular
mile. while the tetrahedron machine
of Bell and Baldwin at Hammonds.
| port, \. Y. was flown short distances
Count Zeppelin of Germany again
| led the Wo-ld in the dirigible balloon
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31

in the interest of labor ''In God We
Trust was restored to the gold coins.
The total appropriations Of the ses-
sion reached the record figure of ST.
S04, O00,S94.
Congress reassembled Dec. Z and re-
ceived the final Roosevelt message, In
which executive control of legalized
trusts was advocated and judges were
urged to heed the will of legislators ac-
cording to present day standards. A
bitter controversy arose over one pas
sage which intimated that congress
had confined the secret service to the
treasury department because members
did not want to be investigated. The
senate moved an investigation of the
secret service, and the house demanded
proof of the presidents assertions.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-12-31

Apply New Year," The glad
greeting rings out on every
hand. A new twelve month
has been ushered in with
all its mystery of "the
things which are to be-"
We need then for our
selves and for others to put
the emphasis upon the
word new" rather than
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
Stevenson Statue Model
Is Accepted by G.. A. R.

The model Of the statue Of Gen. -Benja-
min f. Stevenson, founder Of the q. a.
r., designed by j. Massey Rhindd, of
New York, has been accepted by the
Stevenson Memorial Statue Commission.
The statue. funds for which We're
raised by the Grand Army Of the Re
public, VIII be erected in the circular
park at the intersection of Louisiana
avenue, Seventh and Q streets, opposite
the pedestaled statue of General Han
cock The model calls for a shaft
thirty feet high, of triangular shape,
with a group of figures on either side
representing the cardinal principles OF
the Grand Army Of Republic-fraternity
loyalty, ana charity.
The pedestal on which the statue will
rest viii be paid for in part by the
Government, Congress having appropri-
ated $4,000 for that purpose.
The Washington times., 1908-03-01

make the race He added that as Bryan
twas certain to be nominated, there
sNouId be little to choose between them.
because they We're so much alike in
shefr. general dispositions toward public
questions.
{ !. is constantly explained, by the peO-
ale VINO are most anxious TO head on"
Inc third-term movement. that the real
Backing OF that movement is the en-
enies of the President, who under cover
of It are trying to get reaciOnaries into
ahe convention, divide it hopelessly, and
dominate somebody of their type. The
shird-termers laugh at this theory, and
demand TO know If the people who have
heen making fights all over the country,
dor years past. are to be branded reac-
nonaries now because they favor a
president who has been anything but
Feactionary.
The imputation of bad motives is re-
Senved, and indeed, there has recently
been some tendency 90 reciprOcate in
Rind by charging that the ROOse-
NelLians who want somebody else are
themselves the allies of reaction.
Meanwhile the President talks TAFT 10
1lis visitors, and the movement for
Roosevelt gains ground.
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
MOTHER IN TEARS
GREETS GILLETTE
BEHIND THE BARS
Still Hopeful of Saving
Son From Death
Chair.

AUBURN. y. Y. Feb. 2S.-With sturdy
iron bars intervening TO prevent them
from even shaking the hand of the son
they had travelled so far to greet, and
portable screen practically shutting
off all view OF their loved one, MIR. and
Mrs. Frank Gillette, of Monarch, Colo,
paid a pathetic visit this afternoon to
Chester +. Gillette. condemned to die
during the week of March 30 for the
murder OF his sweetheart, BILLY
Brown.
On its conclusion Mrs. Gillette, who is
leading the night for her sons freedom,
announced that an appeal for executive
clemency in Chestcrs behalf viii be
made.
Although the elder Gillette is n pre-
carIous health, he insisted on making
the long trip from Colorado TO visit his
son and to add his feeble Efforts to
those Of his wife in seeking clemency
for the condemned man. paul and Hazel
Gillette, brother and sister OF Chester,
are expected tomorrow. As Lucille, an
other sister is now here, the arrival
of the brother and sister tomorrow will
bring the entire Gillette family 10 Au-
burn. This afternoons interview with
the condemned man was held in muir
derers' row." as Gillette was not al
lowed to leave his cell.
Gillette broke down and cried when
he greeted his parents. He recovered
himself and the visit lasted most of the
afternoon. On leaving the prison Mrs.
Gillette said:
"Our interview was entirely on the
matter Of executive clemacy. Although
Chester broke down at one time he re-
covered his courage and told us 70 keep
up courage. 1 have not yet lost hope.
and Chester is stiH strong in his as
sertion that he is an innocent man. He
was as cheerful today as he has shown
himself TO be in his letters. He kept
saying Keep singing, mother, and III
keep singing, too
7 believe that God still reigns, and
that justice will prevail and an limo
cent boys life VIII not be taken"
Mrs. Gillette said she Will go TO Little
Fails on Monday 10 consult with Sela-
tor A. NJ. Mills, Gillette's attorney, and
from now on all her energies will be
bent toward securing a pardon, or com
mutation OF sentence.
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
BURGLARS TAKE MAIL;
MAKE A HEAVY HAUL

RICHMOND, Va Feb 29.-BurgIars
early today entered the station at
Grove and ransacked the pouches con-
tanning the northern mail u contained
mucE money, as well as many yaluubIes,
checks. and drafts.
The two bags containing the drafts
were opened. hut tho amount taken has
not yet been ascertalned.
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
'Sei at ledSJ-Only a lit
ysical labor OF writ
resOmc TO me.
I had visited Americ;
niger. / had many in
e my American frienD
-en me a lot Of dim
would have been com
ID have helped me 10
ave done-to have died
Others Disagree.
English celebrities do
.gree with George
. them are very old
oldest are figuring oil
Others Disagree.

other English celebrities don't gem
seraHy agree with George Meredith.
Many Of them are very old men, and
'the very Oldest are figuring or how TO
live TO be still older. A few of the
greatest were interviewed lately for W.
n. Stead concerning the best way TO
sIengthen ones days.
E Il always ate sparingly and insisted
son plain cooking" said Sir Theodore
Martin, aged ninety-two. After middle
life, / have cared less and less for
svine. Today a glass of port, largely
tempered Will. water, satisfies me. I
shave always found coffee the best re
sstorative from brain exhaustion. / dis
'Bke smoking extremely"
Dr. Alfred Russell Wallace is eighty
i've. Until I was seventy ate what
sever I liked" he said. but I feel that,
with advancing years, alcohol becomes
smore and more hurtful / have not
smoked since early youth. The effects
of tobacco sickened me of it
L have always eaten and enjoyed
the good things of the table in modera-
TON" said Sir William CrOOkes, sew
senty-six years old, "and have taken
wine and smoked as I liked. I never
noticed any dreadful consequences.
There should be little or no smol-
ing" asserted Lord Roberts. also sew
'enty-six, "and moderation in food and
drink"
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
Points of u, S. Ships
Told in Senate Comm

The Missouri could not have
on a foreign ship. lie though
wide apertures Of tuTrets
largely corrected.
Under Battle COnditi
did any accident occur
mania for extreme rapid fir
practice DEVELOPER" asked
Hale.
That's the only way you
rapid IRE in battle. sir. repl
ness. Because you cannot
at what rate Of speed ANN
be delivered 70 your guns il
tive that the handling room
made absolutely safe ne &C
If you can 90 that in I
tie" interrupted Admiral
VIII earn the thanks of the
and of the country. No
made a battleship absolutely
ton. That is beyond the
man endeavor."
To this Commander Vogt
piled.
But it is not beyond I
human endeavor TO put a
tween the turret and the
the ammunition"
Capps denied that outsi
and designers were not
couraged and declared ths
designs submitted for the
had been considered and
lected was the unanimous
board because IL showed I4.JIe spe,
and a greater broadside ire
Veteran of Manila Bay.
Capt. Bradley a. Fiske said he d.
not know enough about armor 10 Civ
an opinion on the question Of the prope
location OF the main armOr belt. bu
he did know something about turrets
and he strongly recommended IN
abandonment OF the present straigh
ammunition hoist In favor of the two
stage hoist. 1t was brought out tina
Captain Fiske was a participant in IN
battle Of Manila.
"Oh, that was no battle; that va
murder on your part" said Tillman.
That may have been the though
afterward, but It was not before" wa
the quiet response.
Captain F'iske thought IL would be
good idea TO set apart a vessel as al
experiment ship on which invention
and ideas submitted 10 the department
could be tried out
The Washington times., 1908-03-01


All three officers examined agree that
the interrupted or two-staee ammuni-
ton hoist now being Installed on the
four latest battleships represented the
highest development in the line of safe
~.
Sims Gets "In Bad"
Lieut.. Commander William c. Sims.
Inspector of ordnance practice, and ma
val aide TO the President, viii be heard
tomorrow, He was present yesterday
afternoon and got himself "in bad with
the committee. lie announced he had
very long statement to make.
Il don't want to be Interrupted until
/ get though with it," he explained.
I've been accused Of all sorts of
things, he continued Il started to stir
up this row ten or twelve years ago
'Oh. you started 10 stir up a row. did
yOu?' interrupted Chairman Hale
Il mean that as long ago as that
started to criticise our ships In COMPARE
son with those OF foreign navies. and
want to show the committee what re-
ports I have written and what has been
done with them and
Chairman Hale again interrupted.
What the committee is especially in
terested in just now" he explained,
somewhat tartly, ARE the present con
ditions I'm the naval service, about the
armOr, the turrets, the guns. etc, 80
that in getting ready for this illumlna-
ton we hope you viii be able to con-
fine yourself to a consideration Of these
things. We viii hear from you Mon
day and in the meantime the committee
VIII decide whether il wants 10 hear
your twelve-year history and whether
it will listen without interrupting YOU"
Advocates Two Stage Hoist.
Lieutenant Commander Vogelgesane
found fault with the open structure Of
turrets- He declared that il an enemy's
shell should explode over the top Of
the turret, parts OF the shell or sparks
might fan through into the handling
rooms below and cause an explosion.
In advocating the two-stage hoist he
said:
If such a hoist had been in use on
board the Missouri when the accident
occurred the sixteen lives would have
been saved in the handling room. As
il was il Is a Gods mercy that the ship
itself was saved"
As an instance IN which outside ideas
in naval construction re discouraged
by the department he said that Of three
different designers who sent plans for
the latest battlcships each received
Identical replies when their designs were
rejected.
Answering Senator GaTiuger. Vogcl-
gesang said he did not think our tur-
ret construction is as safe as that on
foreign vessels. He declared that such
an accident as that which occurred ou
The Washington times., 1908-03-01
Schools and Colleges.
new IA "

passed by Congress forbidding railroad
operators working more than nine
hours day. has created demand for
about $4,000 more telegraph operators
than can now be secured. Railroad
companies have cut railroad wires into
-Telegraphy Departments of