davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02

The civilized nations of the world
strike 100000 matches every minute
of the stwenty-four hours. Nearly one
half of these are ignited in the United
States. Americans use up the enor-
nous total of 100,0000O0.OOO year
and have larger match bill than any
other nation in the world
Hundreds of factories over the coun-
try are engaged in this industry about
which the general public knows SO lit
tie, Some of the plants dire very large,
one on the Pacific coast covering $40
acres. with thirty-two miles of rail
road. which supply the match ma
chimes with 100000 feet of sugar pine
and yellow pine logs Il day.
y statement of the number of cubic
feet of wood which actually is con-
verted into matches ench year would
convey only an inadequate idea of the
number of trees required for the in
dustry. For the manufacture of the
match the best grade of wood is neces-
sary. Sapwood. knotty or cross grain
ed timber will not do. This makes it
necessary. to search the best forests and
pick out the choice trees only. and moth
ing but the choice portions of the choice
trees goes to the match machines.
Seldom is the little splinter tipped
with sulphur or some other substance.
| to be ignited by friction. given even
Scant mention in the consideration of
| the depletion of the worlds finest for
| ests. yet the manufacturers of these
| little fire sticks are as much concerned
over the timber supply question as any
| other class of men engaged in an in
| dustry whose welfare depends on the
use of forest products.
1t might be supposed that because
| matches are small the makers of them
| would utilize scraps and leftovers.
| This is never the case. Matches are
not byproducts. The match machine
takes the finest timber, and what ii
rejects goes to the byproduct yard. and
the byproduct end of the match bust
ness becomes the largest end, so far as
bulk is concerned. Among the by
| products turned out by the large Pa
cific coast factory just mentioned are
| 1000 doors and 500 sashes daily.
| AS matter of fact, it would be i'm
possible to carry on the match bust
ness at all at present prices if the re-
| jected lumber were not worked into
something else. The room where
matches are made is frequently the
smallest department of match fac.
tory. The larger portions contain the
sawmills and planning mills. where
doors. sash. shingles. laths. siding
posts. cord wood and many other sala
BILE commodities are made ready for
market
The United States does not manu-
facture enough matches to supply the
home market. Thousands of dollars
worth are annually imported from
Germany. Austria. France. Sweden
and other countries. The imports are
largely safety matches. which can be
struck only on the box or other special
Iy prepared surface.
Wood for matches is q. much more
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
RosToN's BARBER REGULATIONS.
Board of Health Orders Sterilization OF
All That BARRIERS Use on Customers.

A special dispatch from Boston, May
5, 1900 to the New York Sun gives new
regulations of the Boston board of
health as TO barber shops: Mugs.
shaving brushes and raZors shall be
sterilized after each separate use there
of. A separate. clean towel shall be
used for each person. Material to stop
the flow of blood shall be used only in
powdered form. and applied on a tow
ell. Powder puffs are prohibited
Wherever Newbro's Herpicide is used
for face or scalp after shaving or hair
cutting, there is no danger of infec-
ton, as it is antiseptic and kills the
dandruff germ. Sold by leading drug
gists. Send 10 cents in stamps for
sample to the Herpicide company, De-
troit, Mich Two sizes. so cents and
81. T. H. Thomas, special agent.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02

for few years. He married Caroline
Haden, a Swedish girl, also an immi
grant. She was utterly alone in Amer
lea. The blacksmith installed her in q
two room house near st. Peter. For u
few years the brawny arms of Gustaf
Johnson earned a living for the wife
and the little ones who came, John
being the first baby, born in 1861.
Then required an attack Of the old
malady, the old disease, which in the
system of the village blacksmith de-
handed alcohol. The blacksmith be-
came a drunkard. Like many others
of his unfortunate class, he went
"from bad to worse" Finally the local
authorities placed him in the poor
house, where after some years he died.
Mrs. Johnson was left with six chill
dren to support. John was only twelve
years old, but he arose to the occa-
so that he might help. He got a job in
a grocery store. A grocer's boy has no
snap as a job, but some of them have
snap as individuals. John Johnson
| they probably called him Johnny then
got SO month, which he turned
over to his mother. He found time to
deliver laundry" washed and ironed
by his mother, his splendid heroic
mother, and also to deliver papers on
The carriers route-the town paper.
After two years of this grocer's boy
life he got job in the drug store at a
slightly higher rate of pay. From this
| time OH his mother quit taking in
washing. John supported the family.
In the years following three of the
little sisters died. and John Johnson
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
Story Went the Rounds.

The reason he couldn't was that
what the circular said about his par
euts was true. A st. Paul newspaper
which supported him sent staff cor
respondent poSthaste to the little town
of st. Peter. The staff man inveStigat-
ed the immediate antecedents of John
Johnson. The reportorial assignment
would have delighted any good news
paper man. 1t is not often that re-
porter strikes such human interest
color. The story of John Johnson of
st. Peter, as published in the St Paul
paper, quickly went the rounds of the
Minnesota press; also it went the
rounds of the corner groceries and the
drug stores and the country hotel of
fees, where governors are made and
presidents are prepared from the raw
material.
The st. Paul reporter discovered that
GuStaf Johnson, blacksmith, had
emigrated from Sweden about fifty
years ago, settling in St Peter. He
had been heavy drinker in his native
land and came to America in the hope
that he might reform. He did reform
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02

A FTER all, the American people de-
~ spise snobbery. There is but
N very small class among us that
apes aristOcracy and puts an.
cestry upon pedestal to kiss the dirt
at its feet. For proof of this we have
only to look to Minnesota. wherein
dwells a man who in these antecam-
paign days is being exploited for u
presidential nomination by thousands
of men who never saw him and never
heard of him until three years ago.
Why this MANS presidential boom?
Just because he has "made good de-
spite the fact that his father died in
the poorhouse and his mother took IL
washing. Nobody disputes the popu'
lar assumption that Governor John
A. Johnson is an able man and of pres
idential dimensions. But, for all that.
he never would have been mentioned
for the presidency save for this poor
house and washerwoman story. Upon
this foundation we base the proof that
America. heart, head and hand, is still
essentially antisnob.
In 1904 the Democrats of Minnesota
nominated for governor a country edi-
tor. the st. Peter Herald man. John
Johnson was pretty good country ed
itor, too, but there were some 100 9th
ers in Minnesota. st. Peter is a
small town. and the Herald is small
paper. But it is not necessarily true
that small paper in a small town has
small man at the head of it. Plenty
of Instances to the contrary might he
cited. but Johnson'S is enough. For
fifteen years Editor Johnson had run
the editorial end of the Herald. while
his partner. Henry Essler, had run
the mechanical end. Both took hand
at the business end. Johnson became
secretary and then president of the
state editorial association. So the other
sditors knew him, and they liked him.
Johnson had served one term as q
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
Strike Settled Without Riots.

The way Governor johnson settled
strike last summer shows his power
as conservative official. The miners
In the Mesaba range went out and
there was imminent peril of violence.
Instead of sending his state militia to
the scene Governor Johnson himself
went. alone. He talked with the strike
leaders and with the employers. He
visited the strikers and heard their
grievances. He gave them good adj
vice. If they remained orderly, he
said. no troops would be sent, but if
they became violent he would be
forced to quell their violence with SOL
diers. The strike was settled without
riots
Some persons take pleasure in COM
pairing John Johnson with Abraham
Lincoln. This is due to the fact that
both men had immediate ancestors of
the kind that, as rule, do not pro-
duce society swells. Johnson seems
to have much of the homely honesty
of Lincoln and more dignity than
Honest Abe" Whatever he may turn
out to be in the future, we must 90
back to the original thesis and assert
that If Johnson had been candidate
for head sheik of Fifth avenues -Four
Hundred or for chief chimpanzee of
the Newport set that lunatic's circular
would have defeated him. But lie was
running merely for the governorship
of the plain, common. sensible, intelIi-
gent people OF ar American common
wealth.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
A Cure for Misery,

L have found a cure for the misery
malaria poison produces says R. NJ
James of Louellen. S. c. Its called
Electric Bitters, and comes in so cent
bottles. 1t breaks up a case of chills
or bilious attack in almost no time
and it puts yellow jaundice clean out
of commission This great tonic
medicine and blood purifier gives
quick relief in all stomach, liver and
kidney complaints and the misery Of
lame back. Sold under guarantee al
all druggists.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
He Made Good.

Johnson also had the moral and men,
tai backbone to make him Johnny-on-
the-spot with his new job. He had
had no experience as an editor when
he took hold of the st. Peter Herald.
But he made good. He made good
also as governor of Minnesota. Do
you want proof? Then read the cleo
ton returns of 1906 Normally the
Republican candidate should have won
by about 10000 majority. AS a mat
ter of fact, Johnson won by 10000 ma
jority. Somebody asked him how he
did it.
81 only tried to make good" replied
Johnson.
No boomerang was thrown in the
second campaign. If Johnson had not
made good in his two years term as
governor he would have been sent
back to the St Peter Herald Office
AS it is. he now stands in the glare of
the presidential limelight. The wash
erwoman circular promulgated by the
unidentified asylum inmate made him
governor, but as governor he made
good himself Those years of struggle
of self effacement, of mother love and
brotherly devotion in ST. Peter gave
him the stamina to make good. When
some one asked him what he consid-
cred the most important result of his
| administration as governor he replied:
Law enforcement. We have brought
about conditions by which the state
officers obey the law themselves and
| enforce it,
But Governor Johnson did not stop
at enforcement of the laws on the
statute books. By his influence he
brought about the enactment of new
| laws to meet conditions. One thing he
did was to have the legislature give
him board of tax equalizers. John
son appointed three of the best men
| in the state. Under the law this board
| had only advisory powers. The gov
| ernor used his discretion. The steel
| trust has immense mines in northern
| Minnesota. These mines were taxed
on a valuation of $3S,O00,OOO when
Johnson took office. Now they are tax
| ed on valuation of $194,OOOO00. and
the poor taxpayer feels better The
| electric railways uniting st. Paul and
Minneapolis are paying twice as much
| taxes as they paid before the advent
of Johnson. Tax dodgers have been
| wincing since Johnson became gov
| prnOr
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
Rheumatism Cured in Three Days.

N H. Langley, Madison, Wis, says:
81 was almost helpless with rheuma
tism for about five months. Had 1t
in my neck SO l could not turn my
head, and all through my body.
tried three doctors and many remedies
without any relief whatever until
procured DIR. Detchon's Relief for
Rheumatism. In few hours the pain
was relieved and in three days the
rheumatism was completely cured and
I was at work" Sold by Otto Grotjan.
1901 Second avenue, Rock Island:
Gust Schlegel & Son, 20 West Second
street, Davenport.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
x-RAY
EXAM NATION
FREE.


the
our machine
land
re
removed
q m
p. m IL a m
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02


Ten days before election some boom
erang thrower in Minnesota printed
and distributed circular setting
forth that Candidate Johnson's father
had been drunkard and had died in
the poorhouse and that his mother
had taken in washing. You cannot
find in Minnesota today the thrower
of this political boomerang. Most like
~ he is and was then an inmate of the
asylum for the insane.
Some supporters of Johnson, too
much excited to know a golden oppor-
tunity when they met it face to face.
were perturbed by this circular aud
urged the candidate to make a strong
denial of the statements.
II can't" was TOhnSon'S uuiet raDIv
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
Real Journalist With a Real Job.


After nine years in the drug store
John johnson became journalist. In
the cities journalist is sometimes de-
scribed as a newspaper man out of
job In st. Peter John Johnson was
real Journalist with a real job. pay
ing for half interest In the Herald.
for which friends who believed in
him had put up the money. Johnson
had paid off the undertaken. He had
stead, which was about to be sold for
taxes. and he had added other rooms
and improvements.
So this was the story discovered by
the st. Paul reporter. 1t was so mag
niicently true that American Mime
sofa arose gloriously to the occasion.
President Roosevelt carried the al
ways Republican state of Minnesota
by a majority of 161. 462 "a hun
dred thousand above the, normal ma
jority. But, hold! John Albert John
son. Democrat, was elected governor
by majority of 1900. Not very
large majority that. and yet he turned
81 400 votes to get it.
The country editor closed down his
desk at st. Peter, probably saying to
Henry Essler: "Tll be back in two
years. Try to keep the subscribers in
line. and don't let the ads. get away
from you. Keep the jobwork going"
Then he went to work at his new
job in st. Paul. his office being in Min
nesota's fine new state capitol build
ing. Did Johnson as governor of u
great state pose as a sickly sentiment
tai friend of ''the common peepul"
Not bit of it-not he. Johnson made
no pretense of being ultra democratic
He wore good clothes, the prevailing
style. and cut just as dignitied figure
at gubernatorial reception as he had
| cut in the editorial sanctum at st. Pc
| ter. He had sense enough to adapt
himself to his environment
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
GOVERNOR JOHNSON OF MINNESOTA.

state senator, and some of the politi-
clans knew him and liked him too. But
he was defeated for reelection, being
q Democrat in a Republican district,
and when his party placed him at the
head of the state ticket he was plain
John Johnson, country editor.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02
CONSULT DR.. WALSH FIRST.

Is the
to a fewy
cured
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-02

was In debt to the undertaken The
boy studied hard while working In the
drug store. The little public library
was in the same block He read many
books from the library, being chiefly
interested In history. Meanwhile he
studied pharmacy, too, and eventually
he became a registered pharmacist.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
CLERIC IohnnN Ionen.r

Little Johnny Jones" abounds in
funny situations. laughable scenes and
tinkllng musical gems, such as only
Geo. NJ. Conan can devise and write. 1t
is BIT melodramadc, too. in spots,
for instance: the finish of the. sec.
ond act which shows a pier at South.
ampton, England. with a big ocean
steamship just leaving her moorings
for trip to New York Johnny Jones,
who has been ruled off the track for
alleged foul riding. is attacked by 4
mob and only rescued after some pref.
ty rough handling by "The Unknown"
This one scene has never been dupli.
Gated upon any stage.
Song hits without number punctu.
ate the three acts of Little Johnny
jones' Here are few of them that
are sure to be whistled for days after
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
Hswker Uses The Typewriter.

Hswker Uses the Typewriter.
Editor west Virglnlan:
Printers ink is a horrible punish.
ment for evil doersf 1t hath ways of
discovering man and his shortcom-
ings and proceeding to "lambast" him
beyond the point Of recognition by his
friends and relatives.
All this is apropos of the efforts of
the unknown by the name OF "voter"
In your issue OF yesterday, which said
unknown should receive early treat
ment for the simples to prevent COM
pllcations. which will surely set In un-
less drastic remedies are applied.
Persons not having the moral cour-
age to back up an article. especially an
attack on some one, is not, usually.
entitled to notice and the article In
question would receive no notice. ex-
cept for some remarks therein which
are hints broad enough to be state
ments OF facts.
wish to say distinctly and emphatl-
cally that no ring or clique is respon-
slble for my candidacy; that do not
now and never have belonged to any
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
People'sF Forum
Ietter Erom kInawood.


Editor West virginian:
Things political in this county have
begun to take shape, after long pc,
riod of inactivity. Our people have
been very busy making money, enjoy
ing the benefits of the Dawson tax
laws and growing buckwheat and 9th.
er kindred products. But as the time
for the primary and general elections
are not far distant, our voters are be-
ginning to "Sit up and take notice,
and give the matter OF who will best
represent their interests in both our
National and state governments.
Political harmony exists everywhere
in Preston, and there is no such words
as "Antl and regular Republicans" be-
ing used for all are regular here. The
few boilers of a few years ago have
seen the folly of their way and are
now in line and stronger in the faith
than ever before. This fall we will
come to the front with a larger Repub.
lican majority than ever before.
When the question is asked as to
who is the choice of our people for
President the answer is: Taft, sec.
ond money, down with the trusts and
don't monkey with the tariff. Our PEG.
pie are readers and have the record OF
every public man on the end of their
tongues and know what they want.
1t goes without saying that Con.
gresham sturgiss has so endeared
himself to our people that he is their
choice to man. His interests are
our interests and we are for sturgiss.
From every section OF the county
comes a long, loud and continuous
clamor for swisher-the self-made
man, the miners friend and the lead
er of the common people. He is our
choice for Governor first, last and for
all time. Mark well what we say:
''Thls county win send a solid Swish.
err delegation TO the State convention.
Our people have confidence in Gov
ernbr Dawson, and his endorsement of
sswishsr settles the matter with us.
1t is taken as a guarantee by them
that With swIsher as Governor 81 oul
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14

ring aud that the AID Of any s1cn IS
not being invoked n secure ms nun-
lnatlon- il Is intimated that caucus
WAS held On the etc but What
this means can only nnjectutes The
telnenf abqv reflites ~ charges
OF I'M erhaIde dr & and we pass II
1t that.
The wailSas to the paving OF Eighth
street "a, according to facts, IS / I'M.
Iderstand them, q matter brought about
entirely by the residents and property
owners Of that street It certainly
could not have been brought about
otherwise. But, however 1t may have
happened, have the fairness about
me to wish to see this question as well
as all Others, settled IN manner en-
tirely satisfactory to the residents OF
that street and the city council.
The author Of the article in question
has my unqualified endorsement that
we should tolerate NO slated man and
he has my solemn promise to counte-
nance no such action, and / Join him IN
demanding that we select q representa-
tive In accord with the win Of the peo-
pie. and that we not only frown upon,
but annihilate any crowd that seeks
to foist upon US candidate not or our
own choice.
voter Is not well posted. else he
would not have made the insinuations
he did. / commend his fairness, but
would, perhaps, think trifle more of
him had he signed him name, or at
least Informed himself somewhat bet
ter in regard to facts.
CHAS. e. HAWKER.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14

'4conaina Thro' lie il

1s'4 = f.
II pretty faces. graceful forms robes
I'm exceptionally brilliant costumes
plenty Of life and animation. and gorge
Gus scenery. do not appeal to the pub
lie. then an entirely new form OF en-
tertaInment viii have to be provided
by the masters of stage craft. These
are the elements which have siyer
such vogue to the musical comedy
Coming Thro' the Rye" which win b.
presented at the Grand next Monday
The book and music Of this popula,
work is the Joint EFFORT of George v
Hobart and A. Baldwin sloane. They
have surpassed their former efforts in
this line and have given to the pub
lie an entertainment which has been
the theatrical rage" for three sea
sons.
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14

Two familiar faces appear on the
front page of the Buckhannon Delta
this week and 1t makes US think of
old school days to see these "boys'
once more. The pictures are those of
Roy Roger and t. B. Drummond, who
have announced themselves as candi-
dates for Prosecuting Attorney and
Clerk of the County Cour, respective
ly, in the county of Upshur. 1t is only
natural for US to wish success to both
of these young men In their worthy
ambitions. 80
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
WANTED

WANTED Canyassers; guaranteed
salary $50 per month. Address Can.
WISER, care this oihce. lz-os
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14

The Buckhannon Delta Of this week
announces the candidacy of former
State Senator U. G. Young for the
Republican nomination for Judge of
the Supreme Court of Appeals. Mr..
Young is one of the very best men in
the state and he would wear the ju-
dicial ermlne with great credit to him
self and be an honor to the fine old
Republican county of Upshur from
where he halls. No mistake could be
made in nominating Grant Young for
a Supreme Judgshlp or anything else
he might ask at the hands Of the par
~ $50. Il $500 s4-- VS. taIss-i
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
rIE 6IRNDNT WEST VlRHIAlAA
ssTAnLlsHEp 1868.

Al the Postofne at Fairmont,
llesf Virginia laB second mail mat-
The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-14
BAKED BEANS.

Curtice Brothers, Heinz, Ar
mours, Beechnut and Vancamp's,
10c, 15c and zoe.
Can Syrup, 10c-15c.