Woodruff County news., 1908-09-17
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THE TOPICS OF A WEEK

and unreasonable and an invasion o1 the rights of the states, and, there. fore. repugnant to the constitution tbp United States Circuit Court fol the Eastern district of Pennsylva. nia Thursday dismissed the suits o1 the federal government to enforce the commodities clause of the Hep- burn railroad act against the anthra. cite coal carrying railroads of that state. Judges George Gray and George NJ. Dallas filed opinions dis missing the suits and Judge Joseph Burlington dissented, but did not file an opinion. The commodities clause prohibits railroad companies to transport in interstate commerce any article or commodity manufac- tured, mined or produced by them Tor under their authority. The case was argued in June, United States Attorney General Bonaparte deliy- ering the principal argument for the government. The effect of the commodities clause, if constitutional, would confne the mining of anthra- cite coal by the railroad for use in Pennsylvania only, or compel the railroad to sell all the mining prop erty they are interested in, either directly or indirectly. The decision of the court did not come as a great surprise. It is almost certain that the case will be appealed directly to the United States Supreme Court.
 Deploring the utter uselessness and awfulness of the epidemic of sui cides which has occurred in Mem phis in the past few days, Dr. Will liam E. Thompson, pastor of St. Johns Methodist church, Is advocat- ing the establishment of suicide clin- .its in Memphis, such as have been established in Chicago through what is known as the Emanuel Move ment." This movement was started in the Windy City by a bishop of the Protestant Episcopal church. Men and women to whom life Is all dark and no glimmer of hope for the fu- ture are treated just as a physician treats patient. His or her case is diagnosed, and instead of medicine, book, new job, little heart to heart talk is the prescription admin lstered. Hundreds have been saved from self-destruction through these clinics, and started on with new grip on life and new outlook at things in general.
 After a lapse of thirty years ac- ton has been taken at New York to have dismissed suit brought against the late Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, of Massachusetts, by John Il. Lester, who sought to recover Sl00,O00 damages for alleged false Imprisonment in 1864. When Gen. Butler was in command of the de- partment of Virginia and North Carolina in 1864 he was called up- on by Lester, who wished to have ms family passed through the lines on a flag of truce. While he was 'alHng with the general he was rec :ognlzed by one of the latter's subor- Uhales as a spy. He was taken in- 10 custody and discriminating docu- llnents were found upon him as a result of which he was tried by com mlSsion and sent to military prison.
 Feeling in the General Assembly at Atlanta, Ga, over pending convict leslaatlon resulted in fist fight be- tween two members of the House of representatives Wednesday night in winch Representatives Jackson of Jones and Cullom of Schley were the participants.
 The postoffice at Breckenridge, MO, was broken into early Monday morning and about $1, 100 worth of stamps and small amount of cash was secured by the robbers. Dyna- nl'Fe was used to blow open the safe.
 A report from Wayne county, Ky, says that night riders have put in qleir appearance in that section. 0ohn Holt, well-to-do citizen, re- 'eiSed notice night or so ago to 'aeate or else suffer the consequences.