davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
ACTION NECESSARY

TT IS high time California CONNER
cial bodies were taking lively in
- terest in the proposed amepdation
Of the Hepburn rate law. Under a rul-
ing of the interstate commerce commits
sion, which will shortly go into effect
American ocean lines plying on the Pa
cific ocean will be unable to compete
with the Suez canal route, for the rea-
son that railroad rates can be changed
only on thirty days notice. 1t is de-
clared by Congressman Humphrey. who
last session championed the cause of
subsidies for American merchantmen
on the Pacific. that
1.-THE proposed action of the
railroads is the beginning of the
end of the American merchant marine
on the Pacific. There is no doubt that
American vessels are going to disap-
pear from the Pacific very soon.
made the statement on the floor of the
house last winter that we would not
have a ship left on the Pacific in year
and half. This prediction is evident
ly coming true. If it is no longer
profitable to operate ships in connection
with the railroads, certainly it means
the end of American ships on the Pa
cific, for anly few are left now. The
two vessels of the Boston Steamship
company have been seeking a pur-
chaser for two years. If the railroads
cannot run ships, then they are doomed,
for no American ships not connected
with railroads can possibly compete
with foreign vessels on account of the
subsidies paid foreign bottoms. The
japanese line operating out of Puget
sound has been awarded $4,000 in gold
this year. The line from San Fran
cisco received approximately 100000.
When we consider the subsidies paid,
and the difference in operating the
ships, and the capital invested. the
whole story is told.
"This action of the railroads will mean
tremendous loss to the whole Pacific
coast. 1t will mean that the trade we
hold will be carried in foreign bottoms.
and it also means that most of that
trade will be done via the Suez canal.
direct to the Atlantic coast.
"There is but one remedy, In my judg-
ment; that is for our country to pay
subsidies, just as every other shipping
country in the world does, and just as
we are now doing on the Atlantic
Chambers of commerce and other
commercial bodies should take up this
subject without delay, make a thor
ough inquiry and adopt measures to
promote the maritime interests of the
Pacific.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
old Age Pension Laws
Are Not Uncommon Abroad

IN OLD AGE pension measure is
n in force in Germany, Denmark
- and perhaps other European
countries, and one has been in opera
ton for some years in New Zealand.
They are likely to become general.
These laws differ greatly among them
selves, the German law being the most
reasonable and the most effective. We
have not met with any abstract of the
bill which has passed the house of
commons, but it appears to be merely
a dole of shillings a week contrib
uted from the treasury to needy per-
sons after reaching the age of 20 years.
The demand of the British trade union
congress is for a pension" of not less
than shillings a week as a matter
of right" to all persons who have
reached the age of so years, whether
they deserve it or not, and whether
they need or desire 1t or not, says the
San Francisco Chronicle.
The German system is a very differ
ent thing. 1t involves the virtual pur-
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
CANNOT RISE ABOVE ENVIRONMENT;
ONLY RESPOND TO CHANGED ENVIRONMENT
sY FRANK r. STONE

r. G. in today's Herald takes excep-
ton to Mrs. A. H. DIS statement that
neither men nor women grow in any
| line where they do not receive re-
Spouse or encourag cement" He is an
other Of those who evidently think
men can "rise above their environ
ment"-a thing utterly impossible. A
man may rise above (old) BAD en-
vironment to (new) GOOD environment
just as he may sink from (old) GOOD
environment to (new) BAD environ
ment, but he owes the change to en-
vironment in every case; he rises TO
environment not ABOVE 1t.
When r. N. cites Bunyan and CO.
lumbus in support of his case he finds
the argument for the other side:
Bunyan was born sensitive, imagi-
native and with great powers of as
similation. In youth he got among
lewd and wicked companions and led
their sort of life. How then came he
to reform and to write his wonderful
book? Did he rise above his en-
vironment" and without help for good
(encoura gement) from that environ
ment? Let US see.
He served for some years In Crom-
wells army. Would the fine religious
atmosphere of the Puritan camps leave
his sensitive and imaginative nature
unaffected?
Then we find that he and his wife
read together two religious books,
1.-THE Plain Mans Pathway to Heaven"
and Bayley's practice of Piety."
Would these leave no mark on an i'm
questionable mind?
We find also: HE was drawn to the
church;1 that 'he was overrun by the
spirit Of superstition" And we learn
hi vaofu1s6aro HIM m ga
very cody man." and did much
marvel to see a great and famous
change in my life and manners"
So 1t becomes clear that Bunyan had
very considerable help and encourage
ment-in other words GOOD environ
ment, sufficient to raise him above his
BAD environment. Which is a very
environment" In so far as Bunyan
lacked encouragement, he WAS him
dered. So was Jesus; so was Mozart,
Beethoven, Lincoln, Edison, and all
the others whom r. N. names. Co
lumbus, for example. SO hindered was
the latter that at last he succumbed to
his announcements for we read that
worn out in body and broken in spirit,
he fingered out the remainder of his
life in neglect, poverty and pain"
But prior to this, in his years OF
great achievement, did he lack en-
couragement (helpful environmenD p?
Was It not his good fortune to have a
brother who was a chart maker? Did
he not marry the daughter of sea
captain who had made voyages Of ex-
ploration? Was he not thus led to be-
come trader over seas? And was ii
not out of all these circumstances, so
encouragingly helpful to lis bent
of mind, that he was Encouraged" to
his belief in an undiscovered continent7
And was not the very strength of that
belief an encouragement to persevere
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
SIGNIFICANT

WE SHOULD be alive to the sig
w nificance of the visit of the
American fleet to New Zealand
and Australia. The colonials could not
entertain the British fleet more lavish
ly and enthusiastically than they are
entertaining the American. They are do
ing all they can to proclaim to the
world that blood is thicker than water,
nay more, by arranging a parade and
review of $4,000 American enlisted men
on what is called British" soil, they
show that in their opinion the political
boundary lines which divide the same
race, speaking the same language, are
not as distinct as they were in days
gone by. 1t is evident Australia and
New Zealand are both disposed to re-
gard the United States, as we'll as
Great Britain, OF shall we say rather
than Great Britain, as their natural
protector in the Pacific.
Ever since America occupied Hawaii
and the Philippines, this is a situation
which our government might have been
preparing to face. 1t was bound to
become manifest, at some time, and in
the event of hostilities between the
United States and any Oriental power
New Zealand and Australia would have
a common interest with the United
States in preventing the inimical power
from Selling, occupying or attempting
to occupy or seize the American pos
in the Pacific.
The visit of the American feet to
Australia and New Zealand will prob
ably help to keep the peace of the Pa
cific undisturbed for many years to
come. And it will have many other
good results.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

against the rebuffs of the powerful
land the treachery of false friends?
| And on the other hand, was not he
vastly encouraged by the great reward
promised him by Ferdinand and Isa-
| bella in case of success; a vice royalty
and tithes of all revenues accruing?
Like Bunyan, he had enough encour-
'agement (good environment to enable
him to overcome his discouragements
| Chad environments). At the last, how
ever, his bad environment (or want of
encouragemenD again got the upper
hand, and he finishes his career ne
elected and poor
But you may say: have known or
heard of men who were down in the
"mire of life," who seemed mentally
and morally no better than their en-
vironment, who suddenly without the
help of money or friends so FAR AS
is KNOWN), began to struggle up,
ana eventually attained positions of
honor among men.
Yes. 80 far as is known" their en-
vlronment had not changed. But, re-
member, environment" that can raise
a man may be no more than a hook
OF single page, or paragraph in a
newspaper, or whispered word
But-you may retort-this man at the
time he began the upward struggle.
had not learned to read.
What of that? In tie very midst of
his debaucheries, in some vile drinking
den, he may have listened to the
drunken ranting of some brolxen-down
actor, and may have caught a noble
thought from some great soul, however
polluted the channel.
Oh, but how should it strike him
alone? you may ask. Why didn't 1t
impress the booty fellow who was
muttering It?
Well, Robert Blatchford in his book
Not Guilty" has laid 1t down that en-
vironment must always be considered
together with heredity: and here Is
where, in this case, heredity comes IN.
The actor may have lacked something
in his heredity that was requisite to
make THOUGHT OF the quoted lines
grip" The love of fine phrase and
fine feathers" that had made him an
actor (of sort) is not necessarily any
criterion of a nature to which the
thought itself would strongly appeal.
His auditor, on the contrary, might
have something in his hereditary
makeup upon which the quoted lines
would strike as the flint upon the
steel, throwing upon the finder of his
life a spark that should burn and
spread while life should last
Every one of the persons cited by
X. N. can be shown to have had much
encouragement, to place against their
known disbursements. Even of Jesus
with all he had to encounter, we learn
that "the people heard him sladIv."
Was not that a sufficing encourage
ment for any propaganda?
That man or woman will not grow
along any line without announcement
Is a simple truth as that a leaf Of
heritage or a blade of grass will not
grow strong and green with a log
lying upon 1t to shut off the sun and
air; or as the elemental scientific
truth that every effect has it's cause.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

a certain amount of rent of the power
to vote.
There are two bodies of people
clamoring for female suffrage in Great
Britain today One body insisting on
nothing less than adult suffrage: a vote
for every person who Is of age, ire
spective of sex, of property or of any
other accidental artificial qualification.
The other body, that of the "suf-
fragettes," who are forcing attention"
by somewhat loud belligerent methods.
is going for a sort of halfway meas
ure. which would only admit weIl-to-
do women, those, In fact, whose eco
nomic (and rent PAYING status equals
the voting" man.
The vote on an equality with man"
sounds fairly well for start; but there
is a snare in the phrase. You see,
women, even of the same class, aye,
even of the same business. are finan-
cially poorer (worse paid) than men,
and so they pay less rent; consequent
ly they tend to fall below the ''voting''
rent of their male class equals"
Thus, the vote on an equality with
man" is not on an equality in fact:
and the adult suffragists prefer to wait
and work for a complete readjustment
of the voting laws, with abolition of
ALL disqualifications
ENGLISH-BORN U. S. CITIZEN,
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

chase of a small annuity, payable upon
the incurrence of disability or the at
tainment of a certain age. The fund
is created by enforced contributions
from workmen earning less than SIPS
per annum and their employers. This
fund is handled like other insurance
funds, and, with the government addl-
ton, seems to have been scientifically
calculated to produce the annuities
promised. The workmen pay not to
exceed 4 cents a week, the employers
paying the same amount for each
workman. The state contributes about
$12 a year to each person when 1t be-
comes due. The benefits are graded ac-
cording to the age when payment be-
gins or the degree of disability suf-
fered. The object of the law is, while
assuring old age against absolute
want, to encourage thrift and maintain
the self-respect of the pensioners by
the consciousness that they are receiv-
ing the fruits of their own savings
the employers contribution being real
ly part of wages
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
BELIEVES PUBLIC DESIRES TO
HEAR PREACHING ON STREETS

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 12.-[Editor
Herald: E. e. r. may be as egotisti-
cal as he pleases on the question of his
being "as good Christian as anyone"
but it seems to me it would be better
for e. e. r. to leave the great ma
jority of the people, to speak for
themselves.
1t is well known there are MANY
citizens who take the opportunity
while down town in the cool of the
evening to stop and listen to the APP
peals of 1.-THE Salvation Army" the
Volunteers" and kindred movements,
and have no doubt been helped by
them. %. 3. r. might also be benefited
If he would do the same, If such a
thing as being "better" in his case is
possible.
1t is well to bear in mind that these
people do their work in the evening,
when the rush of traffic is over in the
downtown streets. If the great ma
Jority of the people" could decide the
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
DEPLoRES HEARTLESSNESS
THAT CAUSED DEATH OF STokER

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 9.-[Editor
Herald: A short time ago I read of a
stoker on one of our largest steamships
becoming crazed with the heat and
rushing to deck, jumped overheard,
and the. article stated that no effort
was made to rescue him or recover
the body. Perhaps the cold water re-
vived him, but being far from land
had to die like rat in a tank.
If 1t had been a "first-class" passen-
ger will venture to say every effort
possible would have been made to save
him or recover the body, but 1t was
"only a stoker."
CONSTANT READER
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

Chairman Clayton in his notification
speech said harmony characterized
the deliberations of the Democratic
national convention, and all it's con-
illusions were reached with unanimity.
Harmony must characterize the DEM
ocratic party during the campaign.
Differences Of opinion on local sub
jects must not be allowed to interfere
with the harmony and unanimity of
the Democracy of the United States
in the great battle of the People and
Principles against Other People and
Interests.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
SAN 5ERNARDINo GIRL PRAISES
MAN WHO WAS ONCE A BOY

From Rocky mountains Hottest peaks
And Michingan's turbulent lakes.
From California's sunny skies
To the tropics of the brakes
Come the Joyful hosannas
OF the millions in their glee--
Bringing the glad tidings
OF a country again made free
What means this loud shouting7
What is the cause of their joy?
Why. the people have made president
A man who was once a hoy"
And in Bryan's deserved victory
The people have cause for joy.
For, in order to be president
You have once to be a boy.
LILLIAN LANDER. 10 years old
San Bernardino, Cal.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
EXPLAINS SOME BEARINGS
OF SUFFRAGE MOVEMENTS

Los ANGELES, Aug. 1.--[Editor
Herald1: There is no such thlhg as
complete manhood Suffrage even IN
America. Large numbers of the work
ing class, who are drawn hither and
thither chasing their Jobs, are deprived
of their votes most of the time, and In
England, though there is perhaps less
loss of votes on this score, because
the population is less migratory, the
balance is perhaps more than restored
by that Ubiquitous properly tor rent
naving) oualification which operates
to deprive everyone paying less than
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
PROGRESSIVE POLITICS

"Bryan-well, he would be as good
O candidate as any,"
anyway"
1.-THE Republicans won't have a walk
over this time"
at actually begins to look as If
Bryan"
"By George, believe Bryan"
''Well, it is a Democratic year.
don't think there's much doubt about
the election of Bryan"
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

matter it is possible that they would
''go on" with their good work. Better
stop and listen to these people than at
tend the dance hells" we read about.
Who can come forward and accuse
these people of doing harm in their
work? They modest no one, are law
abiding citizens, look after our poor
and destitute and should be encour-
aged Take away these good forces
and it might be found necessary to in
crease the police force.
I should like to hear the opinion of
some of "the great majority" on this
question. 1t might help the council
in deciding the matter. s.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
AuToREE

Beside a garage grew a rose,
Wind-tossed, with steam atilt;
One night unseen
Some gasoline
onto this rose was split
Adulterated flower juice
A bee did sip next morn;
And now he does
No longer buzz.
But honks just like a horn.
-Harper's Weekly.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13
The P ublic Letter Box

Many interesting letters have been re-
ceived which are so lengthy that two or
three would fill the allotted space. Con-
tributors are requested to observe the zoo
word rule.-[Ed. Herald.l
Letters intended for publication must be
accompanied by the name and address of
the writer The Herald gives the widest
latitude to correspondents. but assumes no
responsibility for their views. Letters
should not exceed 200 words.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

Success has attended the Christian
convention at Long Beach. Surely the
world must be growing better. More
earnest agencies for good are at work
now than ever before in the history
of mankind.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

Good wishes will go with Bishop
for the east this morning. Los An
geles loses fine preacher. ST. Paul
viii acquire an equally fine bishop.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-08-13

Emperor William kissed King Ed
ward. Kings and women kiss each
other when they meet. Men shake
hands.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
Secretary Taft's Report.

Secretary Taft puts the pressing prob
lem of army recruiting in characteris-
tically vigorous and plain terms in his
annual report. 1t Is Impossible to read
that document without appreciating how
necessary is some new legislation which
renders the military service moe at
tractive to the enlisted man. The See
rotary believes that this can BE- done
by paying more to the men and by grad
ing the pay to suit the varying degrees
of training required of the recruits for
the different branches of the service.
Thus. ro- instance, the men who are en-
listed to handle the coast artillery must
have high degree of mechanical skill
and the army cannot compete with the
private establishments that pay large
wages to such artisans. 1t is therefore
difficult to keep the ranks of this arm of
the service full. Especially upon the
completion of the first enlistment when
the soldier has learned considerable about
machinery, it is difficult to persuade him
to remain in the service when he can
command a higher wage outside. The
Secretary recommends a higher pay scale
for these men, and also that the grade
of non-commissioned officer should be
rendered more attractive to induce the
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08

one-term man to re-enl:st in the hope of
securing promotion.
OF course in the infantry and cavalry
no special skill is required, but even in
these arms of the service the recruiting
falls far below the mark of the army's
needs. and the Secretary holds that I'M
til the pay scale is raised little can be
done. especially in times of general pros
perity. to fill the ranks. Last year the
recruiting fell below the mark of the
yea- before by nearly 1900. At the close
of the fiscal year the army was approx
mately 10000 below its maximum au-
thoriZed strength. 1t is not to be thought
that the erlistments represent the total
applications. In truth, almost 10000 men
were examined by recruiting officers, and
about a per cent were rejected as lack
ing in mental. moral or physical qualif1ca-
tons. Clearly. something must be done
to increase the enlistments without lower
ing the standards.
The whole OF Secretary Tafts report is
of interest. He discusses the manifold
problems of army administration with the
grasp of a thorough administrator, keen
iy alive to all opportunities to improve
the service. His report on the Philippine
Islands, which is now in the hands of the
Official printe-. VIII be read with the
that the Secretary has just returned from
Manila. where he participated in the
opening of the first insular assembly
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08

taken, and that if We. finish it in any
sort of fashion we shall be fortunate.
Gov. Blackburn brushes all of this aside.
and gives the opinion that Congress may
fix the opening of the enterprise for bust
ness any time after four years. The
work. as he describes 1t, is going forward
not only carefully but rapidly, and the
force employed and the implements in
use are adequate for the ends of an early
completion of the business. American
push is the order of the day, and Ameri-
can results are the reward.
AS to the climate. Gov. Blackburn COM
pliments it highly. Kentucky born and
reared. he had had no previous experience
of tropical weather. But he has no quar-
rel with it at all. His health during the
whole of his eight months stay has been
excellent. and not a dose Of medicine has
passed his lips. The country, moreover.
has many attractions. and the zone. for
its full length and width. shows the great
improvement of the American touch and
control. 1t is a place where Americans
can live, not only with comfort, but with
profit and pleasure.
Gov. Blackburn has returned to Wash
ington, and before returning to Panama
will address the two committees of Con-
gress having charge of the canal enter
prise AS the subject is so interesting.
the public should be admitted and a lib
eral summary of the governors remarks
widely circulated.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
Gov. Blackburn on the Canal.

Former Senator Blackburn of Kentucky,
now governor of the Panama Canal Zone.
addressed the Commercial Club of Louis
willie New Year evening on the subject of
present conditions on the isthmus, and
what they promise in connection with the
great enterprise there. He had large
audience, which included the governor of
the state, and marked interest was shown
in his utterances.
The address. thoroughly optimistic and
even enthusiastic in tone. was full of mat
ter new to the audience and pleasant to
hear. Gov. Blackburn spoke from a close
observation of eight months on the
ground, and from data carefully and off,
cialiy collected.
The most important statement made re-
lated to the completion of the canal
Heads wag doubtfully now and then, and
the prediction follows that twenty years
will hardly see ships passing through
Compromises have been fixed at fifteen. at
twelve, and the lowest at eight. years. We
are told that We are up against" the
most difficult job we have ever under
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-08
Grosvenor and Foraker.

Gen. GSosvener of Ohio. in letter to
The Star correcting an erroneous report
as to his political purposes. says:
II am not. and never have been. a
candidate for the United States Senate.
and have never gone further than to say
that the ONCE was very great honor
and if offered to me, as a matter Of
course, would accept it, This I have
said more in the way of a joke than in
any other way, and now / will say just
this much: If were handed two COM
missions for the term of senator. begin
ming at the close of Senator Foraker's
present term, and one of them was a
commission to myself for the Office and
the other was a commission to Senator
Foraker for his reelection to the Office
would return mine and hand his to him.
That is the way / feel about the senator
ship.
1t is this spirit which should control
the Ohio republicans at this time. Why
continue a movement for putting out of
commission as eminent and as useful
Senator as Mr. Foraker? Gen. Grosvenor
would come nearer filing Mr.. Foraker's
shoes than any man who has been men
toned for them, but he would have Mr..
Foraker continue to wear them. So
should you all say. gentlemen. Lambast-
ing MIR. Foraker is a poor way to help
Judge Taft.