davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

Madison.-The Wisconsin supreme
court handed down decision ordering
new trial in the case of Eliza j.
French against the Fidelity and Cas-
ualty company of New York, which in
wolves the validity of $4,000 accident
insurance policy. The company won
in the lower court, and Miss French
appealed. The case is unusual in sew
eral respects. George G. French, a
well-known passenger conductor on
the Wisconsin Central railway, who
made his home at Marshfield, was the
insured, and Miss French, his sister,
the beneficiary. While going through
the baggage car of his train on Janu-
airy Is, 1905, Conductor French acct
dentally struck his shin against a
small iron safe, causing a slight
abrasion of the skin. Septic poisoning
set in and he died two weeks later.
He took out the insurance policy 33
months before the accident The COM
pany refused to pay the policy on the
ground that some of the statements OF
the deceased as to his physical sound
ness and condition were false. One OF
these statements was in regard to
whether the deceased had suffered
from bronchitis. The answer or state
ment in reply to this was simply a
check mark in the blank left for the
word mo" or Eyes" to be written in.
The lower court granted a motion for
a nonsuit. In it's opinion, written by
Justice Bashford, the supreme court
says that the proof did not show that
the insured ever suffered from Chronic
bronchitis" which was the meaning of
the word bronchitis" in the insurance
contract.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

Francisco six months ago, and In the
course of his trial a prison record in
Italy had been discovered. He landed
originally at this port. Many a man
who by hook or by crook has entered
the country and has taken I'D his
abode in the Italian quarter, there to
prey on the respectable members Of
his own race by threats of violence. is
returned by Ellis island to his native
land. The finding of so many Grim
inals of this class indicates there are
many who get through the meshes Of
the immigration service net.
Always Source of Danger.
Criminals such as these are like
the foxes with the brands tied to their
tails which caused the burning of the
corn. No matter where they are at
large they are the cause of damage
and trouble, and I never found any
foundation for the stories that other
governments turned them loose upon
the United States.
cit is unfair that the $4,000, 900 Of
immigrants who have come to this
country should suffer on account of
the ill-doing of a few hundred thou
sands. The crimes which have recent
ly been laid at the doors of the
Italians are committed by only hand
full of that race, perhaps not more
than 500 in ALL
Mr.. Watchorn declared in favor of
the utmost vigilance in watching for
alien felons, no matter whether they
were supposed to be in the steerage
or the first cabins of the liners. He
declared gifted swindlers and embez-
zlers and persons of immoral char
acter were as likely to be found in the
saloon as in the steerage
During the administration of Com
missioner Watchorn the number of
foreign felons returned in a year has
increased from "a year to nearly ten
times that number and extraordinary
vigilance has been exercised, yet
there are many who are able to run
the blockade with success for all that.
Suggests Change in Law.
The commissioner of immigration
has suggested that the law be so modi-
fed as to make it possible to deport
aliens who commit crimes within
three years after their landing in this
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

as they should when attention was
called to them.
Mr. Watchorn makes an equally
emphatic denial that the charge OF
Gen. Bingham had any substantial
basis so far as the administration OF
affairs at Ellis Island is concerned.
1t is a fact, aside from the contro-
versy- that the depredations of desper-
ate criminals from abroad, the major
ity of whom are Italians, has become
a menace to the state. Even admitting
that the present immigration laws
were enforced at every port with the
utmost efficiency the whole system of
dealing with the foreign criminal
seems weak and ineffective.
1t is a habit of first-class passengers
to inveigh against the offensive
idiocy" of the questions propounded TO
them by the immigration inspectors,
such as "Have you ever been in
prison?" Have you ever been an in
mate of an almshouse?" and the like.
The objection on their part is based
on personal grounds because they
consider the questions unnecessary.
Such questions propounded to the
steerage passenger bent on evading
the law border on the futile. The only
punishment that can be melted out to
the person who periures himself is ex-
cIusion from the country. He rarely
returns to his own land to make an
other attempt to gain the coveted do
main. He knows that the inspector is
charged with finding out the very
thing which he wishes to conceal and
exerts all the ingenuity within his
power to checkmate the attempt to
delve into the past.
On Their Own Testimony.
Yet the main dependence of the au-
thorities is the hope that the inspec-
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Contract for New School.


The state board of control awarded
the contract for the erection of the
girls dormitory at the school for the
deaf at Delavan to the firm of Stewart
& Hager of GAINESVILLE for $4,000. This
was the lowest of ten bids. The con-
tract for installing the heating appa-
ratus in the building was awarded to
the w. S. Patterson company of Apple
ton for $2,04S and that for the electric
wiring to the Electric Supply company
of Madison for 1869. There were a
dozen bids for each job. The plumb
ing work was not let. The Robert
Rom company of Milwaukee was
awarded a contract for furnishing
some plumbing and heating supplies
for the state industrial school for
boys at Waukesha for 1926. The John
Hoffman, company of Milwaukee was
given the contract for supplying the
ten state charitable and penal institu-
lions with groceries for the next three
months. The contract carries $3.50.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Trust Companies Safe.

In response to query from State
Banking Commissioner M. G. Bergh,
the attorney general rendered an opin-
ion to the effect that trust companies
may receive deposits and pay interest
on them. The present attorney gen.
erals predecessor in Office two years
ago ruled that trust companies did not
have this authority. During the last
session of the legislature some of the
banks of the state tried to secure the
passage of law providing that trust
companies should not have this power.
1T is my opinion" says the attorney
general, "that the receiving of money
on deposit by trust companies not sub
ject to check or draft nor payable on
demand, and the issuing of notes, GER
tificates of deposit or pass books there
for, drawing interest, is not the exer-
else of banking power or privilege
or the doing of a banking business,
but that such a transaction is loan
such as any individual may make, the
note, certificate or pass book being
merely the written evidence thereof"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

country irrespective of any prison sen.
tence they may have served in their
native land. This would rid the United
States of many who are unfit for citi-
zenship He thinks also that the CO.
operation of the foreign governments
might be obtained.
There are some nations which is
sue what are called penal passports"
said he. "Italy has two kinds of pass
ports-one which states that the per-
son bearing it is a subject of the king
and yet another which states if the
bearer has ever been in prison, and
so the offenses of which he was con-
victed and the terms are specified.
"Since certain nations, among which
are Italy, Russia, Germany and
France, issue such passports it would
be feasible to pass a law requiring
that immigrants from those countries
bring penal passports with them.
These would have to be well authenti-
Gated and they would serve as com
plete records. Any person who had
a prison record would thus be barred
from coming to the United States and
none with such passport would come
here.
ct would be just as well to make
the law far reaching and to permit no
one to land here who had ever been
in prison. There are a few cases, adj
NIT, where a man by years of correct
living may have completely reformed,
but it would be just as well fos' him
to remain in his own country. be-
leve that the various governments
would willingly cooperate in this, for
criminals are the foes of all humanity.
The foreign nations are not anxious
that criminals should fee from justice
in order to come here to ply their
calling.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

consuls on the other side or the for
eign consuls at this port send infor-
nation which is of the greatest value.
An alleged embezzler, Schouawe, was
apprehended on the complaint of the
Russian consul general, whose de-
scription and that which the man gave
of himself tailed so exactly that he
admitted his identity to the immigra-
ton authorities. Owing to the repre-
sensations of Commissioner Watchorn
year ago not only immigrants who
have been convicted of a crime and
have served terms in prison may be
deported, but those who admit having
committed a felony or other crime or
misdemeanor involving moral turpi-
tude.
This is especially effective where
immigrants are fugitives from justice.
Without friendly suggestions the in
spector must depend upon his knowl-
edge of human nature, his study of
physiognomy and other qualities of a
Sherlock Holmes, and even then he
may go sadly astray.
By dint of prolonged cross-examina-
ton, if the intuition be keen, he may
be able to establish criminal record
for the suspected alien out of his own
admissions; but frequently the candi-
date has been so well coached that he
is able to battle the inspector at every
turn. If he is triEred up he can re-
turn to the land whence he came and
try again for admission through some
port which is less closely guarded.
Dread Foes Here.
The thing which the habitual Grim
inal from outre mer breads most,
especially if he be Sicilian or of a
race which long nourishes feuds, is
that some favorite enemy has warned
the authorities about him in order to
even up old scores. 1t is nothing un-
usual for the enemy to take his re-
venge in this way
Can it possibly be-" an inspector
will ask suavely, that you have an
enemy in this country who would say
that you have been in prison six
times?"
ut is a great lie,' the response may
be. II swear, crossing my heart, that
it has been but twice"
That is enough to bar the candidate.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

tors will be able to establish by the
testimony of men suspected of being
felons the facts which would result
in their own exclusion.
Practically no effort was made ten
years ago to find out whether man
had criminal record, and it has only
been within the last two or three years
that the authorities have seriously adj
dressed themselves to the task of ex-
Guiding the criminal classes that
come TO this country.
Observations made at Ellis island
show that the immigration laws, such
as they are, with regard to criminals
from other lands seems to be enforced
with painstaking fidelity. The inspec-
tors are laboriously conscientious, as
a whole, in their duties and seem to
do all they can within the narrow
limitation of the statute to detect
criminals. For practical purposes,
however, the whole attitude of the
present law is against them, to say
nothing of the specific provisions
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Disease in Wisconsin Fields.

Disease which has appeared in the
fields has forced Manitowoc picking
concern to close it's plant and abandon
it's business and there is no chance
that the company can reopen for at
least five years say experts of the agri-
cultural department at Washington
who have investigated conditions. The
cucumbers are affected by fungus
growth which spots the product and
makes it unmarketable, it is claimed,
and as a result the business is prac-
tically destroyed. The trouble was ex-
perienced last year and less than 80
per cent. of the product grown could
be sold by the company. The condi-
ton is said to result from atmospheric
conditions of the lake shore district
and has forced one of the largest pick
ling companies in the country to close
several of it's growing stations.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
which are greatly in favor of the i'm
migrant.
All Supposed innocent.

All Supposed innocent.
"All immigrants in coming to this
country" said Mr.. Watchhorn, ARE
supposed to be innocent, and it is
something opposed to the genius of
American institutions to suppose that
every man is guilty and that he must
prove that he is innocent. SO the i'm
migrant is welcomed here and the op-
portunity of citizenship is offered to
good character until something devel.
ops which proves the contrary"
Altruistic as is this attitude toward
the immigrant, as interpreted by the
commissioner, the inspectors within
the little latitude which is given to
them seek to find out as much as they
can. On each sheet of the manifest
of the steamship are 80 names, and
their owners have answered every in
quiry propounded to them. Age, sex,
calling and the like are duly set forth
and the immigrant is required to state
whether or not he is polygamist, an
anarchist, a contract laborer and
whether or not he has ever been in
prison or been an inmate of an aims
house.
May Make Few Mistakes.
If within three years to come immi-
grants who have been admitted are
found to have been criminals before
they came to this country there is a
long black mark made against the
record of the inspector concerned, and
if his errors accumulate he is likely to
be dismissed from the service.
Under the present law the inspectors
who chance their positions on their
judgment proceed to large extent by
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

1t is not unusual for the noted Grim
inals to cross the ocean ferry two or
three times before their identity is
noted. The law provides that any alien
felon may be returned to the place
whence he came if complaint is made
within three years of his landing in
the United States. After three years
he is beyond the power of the law,
and no matter if his record outruns
Herod he cannot be disturbed.
Italians predominant among the
criminal occupants of the detention
pen, and most of these are from the
south of Italy or from Sicily. Swarthy,
dark browed, with faces furrowed by
the records of evil lives, they are
closely watched on the island, al
though no special prison is provided
for them. They are carefully searched
for knives and stilettos. The turning
over of many of them to the immigra-
ton authorities comes through their
arrest by the police for some deed of
violence.
Hard to Make Case.
In OrQ0r TO make case against
them it is necessary to have accurate
information as to when they came to
this country and on what ship. Ere
quently for lack of definite informa-
ton and evidence of previous guilt it
is impossible to deport criminals
against whom the police believe there
is a strong case. The differences be-
tween the local and the federal views
of the matter led recently to the criti-
cisms made by Col. Bingham against
the immigration authorities.
Among the occupants of the deten-
ton pen recently were several immi-
grants with long records of crime
There was Benedetto Tordini, for in
stance, who had stabbed man in San
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Appeals for Support.

G. ]. Augustin, who through the
eleventh hour declination of L. N.
Clausen to stand, is the only Taft
candidate for national convention dele
gate in the Eleventh district, has
caused the following announcement to
appear in the current issues of most
of the newspapers of the Eleventh dis
trict: 81 wish to say frankly that If
elected I shall vote for William H.
Taft SO long as he remains candidate
for the nomination. Charles e. Hughes
would be my second choice, should oc-
casion for making one arise"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
onnoses seureaation Plan.

The attitude of President c. r. Van
Hise of the University of Wisconsin in
advocating segregation of the sexes in
the classroom at the university is
arousing deep interest on the part of
alumni and friends of the institution
in all parts of the state and is the sub
ject of animated discussion both in
and outside of university circles. The
question promises to become one of
the most important which has arisen
in connection with the university in
years. There are about $500 men
and 800 women students.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
No Satisfaction.

Secretary Wilson of the department
of agriculture told at a dinner in
Washington some of the strange and
impossible things that were expected
of his department.
Why" he said, zone of my clerks
overheard the other day two farmers
talking.
BLAMED if I think that department
of agriculture IL any good at all, said
the first farmer.
What'g the matter now?' said the
second.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Christianizinu Indians.

Mrs. Annie K. Bidwell of Chico, CAL,
recently baptized and received into
the First Presbyterian church of that
city IL Indian men and women. Mrs.
Bidwell is the pastor of the First Pres
byterian church of Chico. She was
assisted by Rev. Mr.. White OF Chico
in the service of baptism. She is
spoken of as untiring in her efforts to
elevate and Christianize her Indian
congregation.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

district. She also has lent for copy
ing some fine examples of the
Malmesbury point lace, which were
part of the Dowager Lady Suffolk's
gifts to her on her marriage. 1t is
scheme that deserves to succeed.
American peeresses spend money
lavishly, but beyond that few of them
do anything to identify themselves
with the humber sort of folk, among
whom they reign as MY Lady" Lady
Suffolk is setting an example which
some of her titled countrywomen
would do well to follow.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
MANY Horses SUFFERING.

Zachariah Clayton of the Wisconsin
Humane society is perplexed over the
number of horses that have died re-
Gently because of a poisoning of the
feet, and the blame cannot be fixed.
1.-THE claim is made that the street
railway company is responsible said
Mr.. Clayton. Some horsemen say
that saltpeter was used, on the tracks
during the winter. Whether or not
this is true l am not in position to
state. The matter will be investigated,
but I don't believe that any solution to
the question can be found readily"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Loooinu Season Is Finished.

EOSSI09 0CdSOH TIHlSUCOs
The logging seAxon of 1907-OS is
about over and large number of lum-
bermen and timber j0bbers are bring
ing their crews out OF the woods and
are making preparations for driving
the logs down streams where streams
can be used for transporting the tim
Der, and for shipping the remainder by
rail. There are nine numbering con-
Germs either operating mills in Wau-
sau or with principal offices located
there. Although snow has not been
plentiful at any time this winter in
Marathon county, the cut of the win
ter is practically the same as in for
mer years. The cutting began late in
the fall because of lack of favorable
weather, but the work was prosecuted
with extra vigor when the crews got
into the woods. Lumbermen returning
from the extreme northern part of
Wisconsin's lumber belt say the cut
there will exceed that of last year by
fully ten per cent. South of Ashland
and east of Mellen the decking land
ings are filled to overfiowing with logs,
part of the landings being on the
banks of rivers and others being on
spur railroad tracks The estimated
cut of this section is close to 100000,
900 feet. In the northeastern part of
the state and in the neighborhood of
Marinette county, say returning lum-
bermen, the cut is about completed,
and the boom companies are already
beginning preparations to move the
immense cut toward the mills. Freight
agents are also busy in the lumber
Offices seeking contracts for trans
porting the big cut of logs.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
New Archaeological Work.

The Wisconsin Archaeological society
is publishing valuable work entitled
"The Archaeological Features of the
Lake Koshkonong Region" to contain
a description of the many interesting
groups of Indian mounds, village
sites, planting grounds, caches, thrash
ing pits, trails, and stone, bone, metal
and shell implements Of it's early abb
original occupants
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

'Thinkin' to take flyer in the
Market the first farmer answered, ]
wrote and asked 'em how high wheat
was going up to, an here they write
back this mornin' an can't give me
no satisfaction at all. I"
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Ran State Officials.

The Kenosha city officials are dis
gusted with what they consider the in
competency of the attorney generals
Office at Madison, as they say they
have not been able to secure any
ruling on points in connection with the
coming election. The clerk first asked
the opinion of the Office in regard to
voting a straight ticket with the vot-
ing machine. but failed to get an opin-
ion, the assistant directing him to
take the opinion of the city attorney
or to appeal to the city attorney Of
Milwaukee.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
Shoot Fish with Arrows

Many of the natives of the islands
of the South Seas are experts at
shooting fish with bow and arrow.
The art is a difficult one, for the re-
Election of the water has to be allowed
for.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
American woman's Good Work.

Lady Suffolk, who, as Daisy Letter,
was nothing if not frivolous, is begin
ming to take life seriously. She is go
ing in for practical philanthropy.
Malmesbury, where her husbands an
cestral home, Charlton Towers, is
situated, was once the center of a
fiourishing lace industry. Lady Suf-
folk IS trying to revive it. At her own
expense she has equipped classes,
provided premises for their accom-
mediation and engaged expert teach
ers to girs lessons to the girls of the
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09
| OUGHT THERE
TO BE A HELL?
By REV. A. c. DIXON, D. D..
Pastor Of the Chicago Ave. (Moody's)
Church, Chicago.

The bad ought
to be separated
from the good.
T h g word Ge-
henna, translated
hell" in the New
Testament, W a 3
the name given in
the valley of Hin
nom, near Jeru-
salem, into which
the garbage OK
the city was cast
and burned. AZ
any time of day
or night the fires,
with their ascend
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1908-04-09

Few Jays Wnlcn point 10 the Heed oI
more drastic methods in keeping away
from these shores the horde of alien
felons, says the New York Herald.
Robert Watchorn, commissioner Of
immigration at the port of New
York, proposes a novel plan by which
wherever it is feasible-and it could
be so in the case of Italy-foreign gov
ernments would be required to vouch
for the good character Of every immi'
grant leaving their dominions.
Police Commissioner Bingham, in.
dignant over the present conditions
with regard to the admission of for
eign criminals to this country, in
Weighs against the immigration au-
thorities, who, in his opinion, did not
deport the wrongdoers as frequently