davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

This years class and the three preced-
ing it, however, were graduated in Febru-
airy. and whereas summer camp Is now on
and the Point is just as attractive as
summer resort as ever, yet commence
ment week will not be known at the
Point again until our standing Army is
Offered in its entirety. Already hundreds
of vacancies exist, and the service is as
badly handicapped In this respect as Is
the Navy, which is VIGOROUSLY short of
officers. Perhaps the most interesting and
amusing sight to be seen al West Point
is the reporting in June of each year OF
the young men who are to form the
fourth, or "plebe" class. New cadets they
are officially designated as soon as they
have made their Initial report to the Ad-
1utant, and while their newness is appar-
ent to the most casual observer, It is al
most year before they begin to look
anything like the natty, well-starched,
ramrodlfke body of cadets who form the
third, second and first classes. Their
wearing apparel exhibits a wide variety
of cut, style and texture; their bearing
and, address reveal a culture which may
be that of the plowboy or that of the
finest product of a modern rawing room;
their physlques, at one extreme, disclose
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

Of grace and daring. Along this line 10
the instruction received in field artillery
drill. Here they are instructed to per-
form not only the duties of the officers,
but those of the noncommissioned officers
and enlisted men as well. and. as drivers,
to be able to handle a pair of the six
horses assigned to a field gun, to guide
the gun through the various evolutions OF
the battery and to bring it into any posi-
ton at any gait from a walk to the fere-
est gallop. During the summer encamp-
ment all academic work is suspended, and
the cadets go into encampment and their
entire attention is given over to military
duties and exercises. Infantry, cavalry
and artillery drills, target practice and
hours, while hops and concerts, golf, ten
mis-, riding, boating, walks and numerous
hirtations furnish recreation and add
spice Of gayety to O season that passes
all too quickly
AS September approaches plans for
breaking camp and the return to winter
quarters are made. By this time the
pIebe has had an opportunity to accus-
tom himself to the radical change Of
environment. His shyness has dlsap-
peared. He has been mildly hazed and
formed friendships which will ripen as
the years GO by, lasting until, shoulder
to shoulder, they climb the ladder of pro-
motion, to be halted at that rung where
the age limit prescribes that soldiers
80 years old must step aside to make
room for those below. The average ca
det no matter what his actual learning
might have been before entering West
Point, leaves that camp inspired by the
ambition to rise, take a leading part In
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19
The People and Their Grievances Ed
ucating the Rising Generation I'M
proved Agricultural and Com
mercial Conditions.
mercial Conditions.

Cortes had no more influence with that
body than have their delegates to Con-
gress, II as much, and the form of gov
was scarcely superior TO the colonial sys-
tenn by which Cuba was ruled, and de-
cidedly less liberal in essentials than
that at present in force The small mi
nority Of .better-cass natives have no
solid ground of complaint In this respect,
and the bulk of the people. who have
never seriously concerned themselves
about political affairs. are well-satisfed
with existing conditions.
Another source of grievance-and one
which is less theoretical--lies in the
ticularly that of coffee export, trade has
deteriorated since the American occupa-
tion. The loss in these cases has been
felt almost entirely by the merchants and
capitalists. They have not, however, been
without compensation, and there is no
doubt that in few years time their con-
dition will be much better than ever be-
fore. We have done a great deal toward
the betterment of the Porto Ricans, but
up to the present our benehces have
fallen mainly upon the poorer class-a
consummation much to be desired.
The Porto Ricans have long had the
unenviable reputation of being the most
illiterate Of all West Indian people and
the LATEST. The former disqualification
was accounted FOR by lack OF opportu-
nifty for education. The Spanish govern
ment maintained but few schools, and
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

N NE frequently hears the statement
nowadays that the Porto Ricans
" have grown inimical to America and
its people, The only foundation for this
assertion lies in the fact that the edu-
Gated and well-to-do class are disgruntled
and disappointed by reason Of our failure
to extend citizenship to the islanders.
without discussing this question, which
admits Of strong arguments pro and con,
we may examine the extent of the disat-
fection that has grown out Of 1t.
The last census gave the literates OF
the island-those able to read and write
as no more than per cent. of the total
population. Whilst the proportion has
grown considerably larger under our COM
mon school system. the small class rep
resented by the enumeration made In
1900 is still that which controls the do
nestle capital and business. 1t is also
the class which, under Spain, supplied
the majority of the oftieeholders. The
remainder of the people are poor peas
ants. who have never had any interest
ia politics. Naturally, the well-to-do
Porto Ricans see-or fancy that they
see--poltical advantages to themselves
in the inclusion OF the island in the
union OF states which comprises our re-
public. They claim that Porto Rico was
q province of Spain, and that the trans
fer Of the country to the United States
worked political retrogression upon its
inhabitants. This is literally true, but
the islanders have suffered no substan-
tial loss. for their representatives. in the
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

those Of the poorest kind with mlserably
Incompetent teachers. Since we have
established an adequate system of public
schools throughout the island the younger
people have displayed eagerness and an
unexpected aptitude The returns of the
census Of 1910 will most assuredly wipe
out the disgraceful distinction for Ignor-
ance which has attached to the natives
Of Porto Rico.
In the course of their ministrations to
the sufferers from the hurricane Of 1899
our physicians made the discovery that
the supposedly characteristic incidence
of the Islanders was symptom OF dis
ease. Investigation showed that three
fourths of the rural population. which is
90 per cent Of the whole. were afflicted
with tropical anemia, due to the presence
in the blood of a parasite commonly
called the shook worm" A vigorous cru
SADIE was entered upon several years ago,
with remarkably good results. Already
upward OF 100000 victims have been per-
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19
Has the Air World
Been Conquered?

The marvellous results obtained by half
a dozen sets Of aeronnuts In widely scat
tered sections Of the globe ana almost
simultaneously must mean something. IL
is becoming impressed on national gov
ernments, on deep thinking scientists' On
financial powers and, indeed, on Tue W.
telligent section of the WORLDS popuia-
ton generally that we are Apparently
on the verge Of discovering some prac-
ticaI and fairly safe method of travel
ing through the air for long distances
and with regularity.
The aeropIane seems to be the right
solution. The achievements OF the wright
Rrotbara and a number of other aero
nauts in experimenting with aeroplanes
show that the case has almost come
down to a conflict over patent rights
rather than a serious discussion over
the scientific possibility OF mans nying
through the air.
when 1t gets down to patent rights
the question becomes a legal and COM
mercial problem for which machinery
has always been provided that will do
fine necessary solving. Just how long 1t
viii take for the inventors to make the
machines letter perfect and then to make
them big enough to accommodate pleas
ure parties is, Of course, a matter Of
detail and not. of principle.
The real final test will come in Au-
eustS~ when the Wright Brothers must
take up their arrangement to stand a
government contract for a practical hy-
ing machine. They claim to be ready
now and to have such a machine as the
United States government will accept
as a true acceptable flying machine. II
the machine passes the navigation OF
the air must be considered as ot1ciallE
and finally solved.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

ton on account of Its proximity to the
new roads. American capital has been
largely invested in the sugar and tobacco
Industries, and both have been thoroughly
recognized on the most up-to-date mod
ern methods. Here are two directions In
which the demand for labor at good
wages is large, and constantly increasing.
In fact, there Is plenty of work for all
the able-bodied men in the Island.
As by far the greater part Of the pop
ulation is rural, almost all the people are
affected by the improved agricultural con-
ditions. But the lives Of the poor in the
cities have also been materially bettered.
Scientists have been puzzled to account
for the fact that the mortality In San
Juan during the Spanish regime was
not excessively high. Some mysterious
natural agencies must have exerted
a strong counteracting influence against
the extremely unhealthy conditions I'M
der which all the classes lived. Persons
of some means occupied the upper
stories, the rooms of which were Ill
ventilated and poorly lighted. The ground
floors of most of the houses were
divided int small dungeon-like apart
ments. into which the sun never pene-
trated, and which received but little air.
Whole families crowded into single rooms
of this description, that opened on TO
the patio or inner court, where cooking
was done and clothing hung to dry. For
water they depended upon the rain
drained from the roofs. The most ordin-
airy sanitary arrangements were lacking
ana ali the conditions were favorable 10
endemic diseases of the worst kind. We
have greatly improved the state OF ar
fairs in San Juan. but without entlrey
rebuilding the city, or inducing the patio
jewellers to live out in the nearby sub
urbs, it is Impossible to reduce the place
to anything like the American stanuaru
Of sanitation.
On the whole. we have the right to feel
satisfied with our treatment OF Porto
Rico ana its people. A continuance OF the
same liberal and farsighted policy will
work a complete reformation. The next
generation Of the islanders VIII be en-.
tirely free from the terrible disease that
has acfed like a ball and chain on the
feet OF progress for century or more.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

the hard-handed laborer or the stoop-
shouldered student, and at the other the
trained college athlete. but in every case
their walk and carriage bear no resem-
blance to those they are destined to ac-
quire few months hence. Before cadet
can march properly he must be taught to
walk; before he can stand easily and
gracefully erect he must be taught to
overcome the stiffness and rigidity OF
certain muscles and to use others correct,
ly, and before he can appear to advan-
tage in the squad he must acquire perfect
bodily control and aertness OF eye and
ear and a power to concentrate his en-
tire attention on the work of the mo-
ment. OF course, this perfection Is brought
about by a constant course Of training
beginning with the ''settlng-up" exer-
cises, then on through the various evo-
lutions of the march, manual of arms and
cavalry and artillery practice. -Four years
of such work readily transforms the plow-
boy candidate into the easy. graceful, pol
ished and finished soldier, thoroughly
equipped to grace any drawing-room or
the courts of any of the worlds crowned
heads.
During the cadets preliminary period
he is receiving instruction of another
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

manently relieved, and there is every
prospect of the complete eradication of
the disease in the course OF q decade
or so.
When we took over the island the lab
oring class was wretchedly poor. The
average days wage for a field hand was
y cents. and few OF the people 10
a land of plenty could secure a suf-
hciency of nourishlng food. They lived
In the fiimslest Of shacks, whose furni-
ture seldom consisted'of more than few
grass mats to lie upon, and a kerosene
oil can to serve as a kitchen range. The
peasant who owned table aud couple
Of stools was the envy of his fellows.
Children went naked until 10 or ~ years
Of age, and their elders wore two pieces
of clothing at the most, whilst pair OF
shoes was not possessed by one In a
thousand Of them.
Wages have more than doubled In the
past decade, and work has been made
plentiful by the introduction Of American
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

capital. and the expansion of agricultural
industries, as we'll as by the extensive
public works that have been carried on
by the government. Hundreds of miles
Of good roads have been constructed In
the interior, and the railroad system has
been enlarged and improved, afrording
the small farmer better opportunities for
marketing his product and creating de-
mands that did not formerly exist. The
results of these Improvements are very
marked in the rural districts. The peas
antry are eating greater quantities of
meat and living more comfortably. The
import Of shoes and other articles that
we deem necessaries and the Porto Riean
used to consider luxuries. has increased
greatly. Better agricultural implements
are used, aud the land Is better titled
with a consequent rise In values. Hun
dreds of thousands Of acres Of fertile
soil that lay fallow, because lack Of
transportation facilities made 1t useless.
lie now brought under profitable cultiva-
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

have been robbed of the climax which
they had looked forward to with such
yearning hearts. Graduation week at
West Point is ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
epoch in the lives of every graduating
cadet. Thousands upon thousands OF VS.
itors, made up for the most part Of the
most charming bits of femininity, swarm
over the post to see their respective he
roes leap from the chrysalis form Of ca
det to that of the full-hedged officer in
Uncle Sans service. Such a week 1t Isl
Every girl has a horde of uniformed and
brass-buttoned admirers In her train, and
were those six days made of go hours
each 1t would be impossible for her TO
fulfil all the engagements that are thrust
upon her. Walks to Trophy Hill, Crow
Nest, Storm King and other romantic
spots are ever in order, and a cadet is
proverbial for the ardor and celebrity Of
his lovemaking. Every girl visitor to the
Point declares that three questions are
propounded to her by the especial cadet
who constitutes himself her escort before
she has known him an hour. us this
your first visit to West Pointr' How
do you like it?" and DO you love me7"
Is it any wonder that they return year
after year for commencement week?
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

class functions. both as to studies, de-
pertinent, sports and the drill, that he,
too, might win the much-ooveted chew
rons of the cadet officer, which only falls
by grace of merit. September / sees
the plebe we'll grounded in the evolu-
lions and the manual of arms, and for
the succeeding three years and nine
months the training Of the mind goes
steadily on.
The study period begins with the re-
turn to barracks. and from then until
the first Of the following June 1t is safe
to assert that the average time spent in
study each day Is far in excess of that
spent by the students Of any civil In
,stitution In the country. As a general
rule the course is identically the same
for all, the only exception being that
a few men at the top of the class are
sometimes required to do more extended
work along certain lines than is de-
manded Of the others. Thus 1t can be
seen that competition is keen, for the
men graduating at the top of each class
are assigned to the highest arm OF the
service--the engineer corps. Thorough
ness is the keynote at West Point, and
a system that has become known as
EVERY man every day In every sub
1ect'' has been handed down from class
to class since the days when Lee and
Grant were humble plebes at the Point.
The division Of time is carefully made.
Certain hours are allotted to study
others to recitation, others to physical
and military exercises, others to sleep
and meals, with still others to recreation
Every minute In the "a hours of day and
night are accounted for, and with un-
varying punctuality the beginning and
end Of each period is announced By the
roll of drum or the blare Of bugle-
In this elaborate process of instruction
and development there is little rest and
no turning aside. Only once-and this
at the end of the second year--does an
entire class get a furlough to return to
their homes for a few brief weeks of
change and relaxation. The four years
spent at West Point are years Of un-
RENTING toll and unrelaxing discipline.
Habits of study are formed and become
so firmly fixed that they are never out
grown; the knowledge of how to study
gained is never forgotten and capacity
for work is acquired that seldom, even
in the most trying circumstances, Is put
to the full test.
-Four years OF life under this environ
ment and course of instruction must be
productive of the highest and best re-
suits That these results are appre-
ciated by the people at large is attested
by the fact that In a spot made grand
and inspiring by nature and hallowed by
patriotic remembrances of the struggle
for unity and national existence, Con-
gress has made q more than generous
appropriation for reconstructing the home
Of the soldier on a scale commensurate
with its national and even international
Importance
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

n HE charge has frequently been made
within the past few years that this
~ is an era of militarism, and. fur
thermore. the name of President Roose-
Welt is simultaneously mentioned as the
"arch conspirator'' to bring about these
conditions, unprecedented In our history.
except in time of war. Whether this be
true or not, one fact stands boldly forth;
almost superhuman efforts have been and
are being made to recruit our standing
army Up to its full strength, as pre-
Feribed by Congress. This, of course,
means that a much larger complement of
officers of all grades Is necessary to COM
mand the various companies. troops. bat
teries, engineering corps, regiments and
battalions which go to make up the vari-
Gus arms of the service. While argu-
ments are being INDUCED in as to the
enormous cost Of maintaining so large,
well-trained, well-fed and well-clothed
body of lighting men, the work at the
"school for the American Soldier" as
the United States Military Academy at
West Point, N. Y, is In every particular,
goes steadily on and each June several
hundred young men are graduated with
the rank or second lieutenant. No insti-
tuition In the United States perhaps oe-
cupies q warmer place in the affections
of the people Of this country than the
military academy SO picturesquely perched
on the beautiful bluff overlooking the
sweep OF. majestic landscape through
which the silvery Hudson threads its
way. Here it is that thousands of young
men desiring to dedicate their lives to
the god of war-and what American boy
has not at sometime In his life been fred
by the ambition to wear the chevrons Of
an American. general-come to swear al
legiance to their country, pledging them
selves to ever uphold thu Constitution
and present themselves as candidates for
q four years course of training in the
art Of war. For four years these young
men receive a course of instruction
spiritual. mental and physical-second to
none in the world, and when at the end
of this prescribed four years his COM
mission Is handed to him on graduation
day the transformation of the awkward.
gawky candidate of four years ago into
the finished productive American Off
cer-is almost beyond recognition.
The demand for officers has been so
great within the past few years that
several graduation classes from the Point
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-19

The children now growing up will enjoy
a fair degree of education and training
in useful pursuits. The country will grow
in prosperity and population, until 1t
shall have no rival save Cuba, among the
islands of the West indies II these
conditions are secured to the Porto
Ricans, surely It cannot greatly matter
whether they are permitted to call them
selves citizens of the United States or not
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-18
MAYOR GREEN DENIES IT
Didn't Insist on SEA, 900 for the Elec-
trio Light Plant.

"I want to correct the impression tnat
threw the weight of my influence
and persuaded the ways and means
COMMITTEES of the council to bring IN a
report for the larger amount speclneo1
for the electric light bond issue: salo
Mayor Green today. Il was IN lne
exceed five minutes and was not pres
emit when they cast their vote; 1t Is
true that they met in my once anu
that I spoke to a number OF the mem
bers of the committee about tne ma.
their oninion was, left the room Wnen
they voted and did not know now the
councilmen voted. a.
The statement which appeared IN
the State Journal was mace on 'ne
o.,+royitv of one of the councilmen.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-18
DON'T FAIL TO REGISTER
Nearly Seven Thousand Whose Names
Are Not on Books.

Out of 1913 voters who registered
for the spring election last year al
most one half failed to vote and
thereby nullified their registration,
$685. of them and will have to re-
register.
The 5000 voters are pretty evenly
distributed among the six wards of
the city. The number is divided as
follows: First ward, 493 male, BAT
female; Second ward, 995 male, S57
female; Third ward, 1928 male, $40
female; Fourth ward, male, 613, fe-
male, $50: Fifth ward, sos male, fe-
male 1872; Sixth ward, male 249, fe-
male 243. The total male vote which
needs to be registered is 1921 and the
female 1924.
''Some of our best citizens are in
that number" said c. H. Titus, COM
missioner of elections, as he pointed
out the number of disqualified voters.
'"They are coming in and inquiring af-
ter their standing more actively than
they have been and the average num-
Der has been close to so per day of
late. The trouble is though that they
are most of them of the class that are
already registered.
81 don't look for the women to get
out actively. OF course the friends of
the respective candidates will come
out and vote and take an interest but
beyond those I don't expect to find
them active