davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17

environment? What proportion OF tne
human race really do think? A very
small part, as we find by reading ms
tory. which is the record of great men,
who played their parts in obeoience ~
their surroundings though, just tne
same as those of smaller mental ,- cai-
iber- 1T amuses me to hear men TAIN
about rising above their environillen1.1
for they never do aught tnat cohui-
tions do not permit. AT one tiIne "a .ia u
career Napoleon Bonaparte, tnat "a
pantic figure always to remain IN nu-
man history, spoke contemporary OF
the word impossible, declaring IL 10 DC
the adjectives of fools. When ms en-
yironment was changed to ST. Heieha
he recognized the force of the Woro'
His active career was ended.
Now. let us take mems thoughts,
which really make the man.: we are
all involuntary thinkers, ana can no
more stop thinking when awake tnan
we can stop breathing by an enort ol
the will, AS we have to think IN spite
of ourselves, our thoughts naturally
must be, and are, shaped by our sur
roundings. AS we are involuntary
thinkers, and the conditions we are In
shape our thoghts, what else are we
but puppets In Natures hands? Ben
Franklin once said we can no more
think alike than we can look alike; so
the same argument has different effect
on different people, and If all the facts
in the world were piled up to show
conclusively that men are never any
thing hut the product of heredity and
environment, there would be some un-
convinced. But the exercise of thought
is a good thing, and the Public Letter
Box is a good mental gymnasium.
CLAIMING SEVERANCE.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
MEXICO

NOR ninety-eight years Mexico has
II been independent. it is definitely
\ committed to a republican form or
government. The last man who tried
to be an emperor was unhappy, and
died suddenly. From time to time po-
litical parties in Mexico have used
methods more strenuous than those
generally adopted in political cam
paigns by the Celtic-Saxon race.
AS a rule, people who use the Amerl-
can language manage to restrain their
emotions when their political OPP
ponents defeat them at the polls.
But we should not be too proud of
this. Let us remember 1t took the
world-ruling race a great many centu-
ment, and to persuade minority that
it could not alter the result of an elec-
tion by blowing up the parliament
house, or assassinating the prime min
lister, or indulging in some eccentricity
OF that kind.
Students of history ARE always
amused when they hear the Celto-
Saxon get UP on his noble hind legs on
q platform and talk of the humanity
and progress of his mixed race, which
In two centuries and a half has had
SEVEN CIVIL WARS. several of
which altered the history not only of
the fraternal combatants but of the
world. Instead of talking of the turbu-
lence and unrest of southern republics
we should be meek and humble, and
speak with admiration OF the reserve
and moderation of the Latin race. The
United States should be the best friend
of Mexico, and Mexico should never
have occasion to cherish dark suspi-
cions with regard to American designs
or intentions.
Mexican independence is as precious
to Mexico as American independence is
to America If Mexicans occasionally
display little bit of suspicious as
perity toward their American friends,
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
BOND SALE

W HE recommendation of the advis-
ory committee that the action
taken by the bidders and the
board of supervisors in the good roads
bond sale should be rescinded was the
only proper recommendation to make
in the premises. In such a grave
matter as this. of such intense public
Importance, all actions taken officially
that are contrary to public policy
should be essentially vitiated; they
should be their own condemnation, and
1t is the part of honest officials and
honorable men not to insist on a bad
bargain which would be contrary to
public policy. 1t is to be hoped in the
interest of decency, propriety and pub
lie morality, that the board of super
visors and the bidders will adopt the
recommendation and request made by
the advisory committee, annuI the
whole proceeding and begin anew.
In view of the criticism that has been
provoked by their acts in connection
with the attempted sale Of the bonds.
and also in view of the fact that a
recommendation has been made by citi-
zens of unimpeachable integrity who
compose the advisory committee, it is
incredible that the board of supervis-
ors will adopt any other course than
that which Is indicated.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
Chambers of Commerce Help
Progressive Communities

ers. The benefits to Los Angeles and
other towns have scarcely begun to be
realized, and yet the harvest has been
benefcent, says the San Francisco
Globe.
A few months ago the chamber OF
commerce OF San Francisco planned
and carried to a successful termination
one of the most wonderful tours of in
spection ever conducted In the west.
These business men visited Stockton,
Sacramento, Chino and other important
towns In the Sacramento valley, and
the result has been the investment of
millions of dollars. with plans to invest
many times more in legitimate enter
prises in the sections visited.
Today, as never before In the history
of the west. these intelligent CONNER
cial bodies are dominated by thinkers.
Business opportunities are sifted and
systematized SO that the man from afar
who seeks information concerning this
commonwealth will be courteously and
promptly answered and surriied with
data which heretofore were almost un-
available and would have cost a sum
precluding acquisition. Movements
and organizations of this character
will make the state what it should be.
and what 1t has been portrayed as des-
tined to become by the writer's and
singers of ages past
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
Cooperation Is Needed
in Interest Of California

with great satisfaction ever since the
publications of the Calkins newspaper
syndicate have been preaching the ros-
pei that seeks the betterment of every
industry in this great commonwealth.
Here and there the Silurian spirit nlkni-
tests itself to the detriment of industry.
At the state fair recently Mr.. Pitcher
found that Sacramento merchant had
warned some of his country correspon-
dents to keep away from Sacramento
on account of the hot weather, conclud-
ing with the statement that the fair
would be bum" This spirit would be
impossible in Los Angeles and the other
cities mentioned in the foregoing-and
the fact is that the fair is wonderfully
successful despite this prophecy of evil.
A survey of facts like those emu
merated herein makes 1t plain that tho
time is ripe for the Organization OF
clubs throughout the state, the pur-
pose OF which win be to follow the cam
paign that seeks to disseminate every
thing that is good and minimize the
obstacles In other words, there should
be intelligently organized and carefully
managed boosting clubs In every inn
portant city and town of California.
The Hundred Thousand club of Sac
ramento is a splendid example of the
spirit we have in mind. The time Is
ripe for the cultivation of the spirit of
good will that courts the progressive
development Of the cities and towns Of
California.
The Union and every other publica-
ton of the Calkins newspaper syndi-
cate has done pioneer work In this
direction, and our efforts will always
be in keeping with the spirit that has
made our newspapers popular and
proved advantageous to every commun-
ity which our publications reach.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
BRINGS LOGICAL ARGUMENT TO
BEAR ON OLD DISCUSSION

SIERRA MADRE, Sept. 11.-[Editor
Heraldl: In reply to the structures OF
&c. f." will say: Holding the Bible to
be a human production, l do not wor-
ship it as a fetch; and being full OF
errors and contradictions, 1 reject, by
using my highest faculty-reason[
that which is absurd, false and foolish.
Anything in the book that stands the
test of truth and reason will receive
proper consideration from me and all
freethinkers. Let us admit that Car
lyle got the first half of his quotation
from weeping Jeremiah, but when he
said, what e'er we perpetrate, we're
steered by fate.'' look in vain for the
word God. If he meant we are guided
by God, it was an easy matter to have
said so, and then we could locate the
responsibility back of mems actions.
Are you, &C. F." prepared to arrest
and defend the statement that the God
in whom you believe directs the indi-
viduaPs footsteps and causes him to
do and to be what he is? Does your
God make men murderers; and is he
really responsible for every act of a
heinous nature that mortal man COM
mits? In my previous letter-I defined
what mean by "fate," and I have
reason to think Carlyle had similar
views. Zeno held, There is no God
but Nature; no destiny but fate" and
line up with Zeno.
Now the question to which we must
stick as closely as possible is. Does
mans environment make him what he
is? When we are born into this world
we have a brain to receive Impressions,
and all we receive come from our sur
roundings, for, as Locke proclaimed,
there are no innate ideas. If grow up
with good moral nature and a head
full of clean and useful ideas, to what
can / attribute them except the en-
vironment that made them possible?
There are sections of our great cities
where, II one Is born and raised, the
chances are he will be depraved and
criminal by nature; for the influences
in which we live, move and have our
being unconsciously control us; and
the man who tries to get away from
this fact could just as easily lift him
self by his bootstraps. Yes, the man
who thinks is the man who does things,
but who can think beyond his capacity
or have a thought not insured by his
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
DECLARES WORLD, INCLUDING
CHURCH AND COURTS, DO MOVE

SAWTELLE, Sept 15.-[Editor Her
add: That the world moves was strik-
ingly illustrated by the acquittal OF
Rev. Mr.. Brooks OF the charge of her.
esy by the church council. Fifty years
ago the reverend gentleman would
have been promptly and unanimously
convicted and expelled, and in the
minds of his former flock condemned
to an everlasting hell.
Judge Oster in upholding the consti-
tutionality of the city ordinance i'm
posing tax upon each room in certain
buildings reminds us that the courts do
move also. Fifty years ago no court in
any state would have upheld any such
q tax.
Fifteen years ago Mr.. Debs was serv-
ing Jail sentence for contempt of
court. Now he travels in a special
train. addresses immense throngs and
Is patiently listened to by thousands
who are not Socialists. The Judge who
sent him to jail Is the one who recently
reversed the decision imposing a fine
upon the Standard Oil. Yes. the world
does move. q. N. BOUGHTON.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17

I0l THROUGHOUT California there Is
great need for the cultivation OF
that spirit of cooperation which
has already made many sections and
cities of the United States famous for
their material development.
Chicago, Kansas City, st. Louis. Sc
attic, Spokane and Los Angeles are
notable examples of the power that
comes from united effort More than a
score OF other prominent cities might
be cited as object lessons. but these
suffice for the present purpose.
In many Of the school readers that
were used generation ago there was
the fable OF an old man. who, after
untying bundle of fagots, broke each
without effort, one by one. Binding a
dozen or more OF the same sized fagots
by the use of string he was unabl
to break them. The motto of the fable
was: my sons. in union there Is
strength"
At Los Angeles the hotel clerk or
other employe who, dares to tell a
stranger within the gates that Los An
geles contains a single speck to her
q ,triment will be visited by a dele
cation from one OF the promotion clubs.
will be warned to- desist from similar
offenses, and a repetition of the indis-
cretion will result in his discharge.
after which he will not be able to OBJ
tain any position in Los Angeles, says
the Sacramento Union.
A similar spirit is in the atmosphere
of Seattle and Spokane, where 1t is
everybody's business TO portray the
good things and remain silent regard
ing the evil.
San Francisco and Sacramento, Fres-
no and other points of California have
felt the power of this spirit of unio
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
HEREDITY AND ENviRoNME ENT
ARE ONE IN LAST ANALYSIS

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 16.-[Editor
Herald: Just a word, If there's time.
AS demonstrating how largely our dis
agreements are in WORDS only, here
is Mrs. Williams laying ALL to our
heredity or according environment "but
small place." Yet, she admits we
draw out" the good qualities by good
environments. Now, IL our mute In
glorious Millions" must remain mute
and inglorious unless environment
comes to save their heredity from
abortion; IL, in other words, 1t is to
environment we must turn for the
last word--the drawing out"-the de-
Gliding voice in mans ''make-out," is
it not plain that environment is of the
most tremendous Importance?
Lastly (and this will puzzle and dis
tress the slow-witted) heredity and en-
vironment-in the ultimate of things
ARE ONE-it is ALL environment,
heredity being to the individual at the
moment OF birth. but the sum total of
the environment of the whole of his
ancestry through all the ages. Let the
''waybacks" chew on that.
D. II. GRAY
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
cRlTIcIsEs COUNCILMAN FOR
SPEECH RESPECTING WAGES

Los ANGELES, Sept. 15.-[Editor
Herald: In this mornings paper
read that the wage ordinance was up
again yesterday before the city coun-
ell and that Councilman Wallace made
one of his heartfelt" speeches. In or
posing the reduction he is reported to
have said:
"Our actions have a great influence
on contractors and other employers of
labor If we cut wages it will be an
example to others, and / am sure it
would be one that we would regret"
Now I suppose there are those who
will at once think that Mr.. Wallace is
a friend of labor.
What Mr.. Wallace has actually done
is to state what is not so, and give
pitiful example of that total ignor-
ance of economics so almost univer-
sal among our misrepresentation. It
is not true that cutting by the city
will have the least influence on the
outside market. The outside market
will continue to be ruled by strictly
business considerations that is to say,
it will take full advantage of the work
ers' weakness and get them for just as
little as It possibly can. It will not
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
PRIZES FOR CHILDREN

@ AUNT LAURIE has come to live
@ with The Herald. Now Aunt Laurie
g IL very wonderful person. She
@ claims to be auntie to every boy and
@ girl In Los ANGELES and ALL the
q SURROUNDING COUNTRY where The
O Herald goes. Aunt Laurie has just
g returned from her vacation and IL
@ anxious to hear how all Of her
@ nephews and nieces spent their hOli-
@ days. So sit right down and write a
@ letter to her, telling how you spent
@ the happiest day of your vacation.
@ Aunt Laurie will give two prizes for
o the letters, one for the best letter writ
9 ten by Los Angeles girl or boy and
@ one to the writer Of the best letter
O from outside of the city limits. The ,
q prizes will be one dollar each In cash.
@ The letters must be written on ono
y side OF paper only, from 100 to $50 (
o words in length, signed with name and (
@ address, and II writer attends public +,
@ school with the name of school and (
@ grade.
@ Letters for this competition must be (
@ received In this office not later than (
o September rs.
3 Later Aunt Laurie will offer many
@ other prizes and rewards for this kind (
o OF work. She will tell you all about 10 I
3 In supplement which Is to be pub (
o lished for the young people beginning (
@ October 4, and which will be called
9 the SUNDAY HERALD JUNIOR.
@ Write letter to this new depart
Q ment of The Herald and make the ac-
o quaintance of the editor
o Address AUNT LAURIE,
D Care The Herald, Los Angeles.
&%%%SGG~%x&22W %%&%@%@WH%W|<
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
THINKS ABOUT 800 PAGES
WOULD MORE NEARLY SUFFICE

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 13.-[Editor
Herald.] For this relief, much thanks,
Mr.. Editor. the more so since 1t has
been added to my task to WreStle with
the erratic humors of all and sundry
in matters of grammar and mathe-
matics as we'll as logic and basic fact.
Now, If M. e. G. or any other corr
respondent will indulge in fantastic
imaginings tits not my concern; but ]
must and do decline to take part In
or credit for their frenzied fantasies.
I am rather a serious person myself,
especially in regard to algebra and
such like diversions. Even in my
light-hearted boyhood I was apt to
find mathematics mo joke"
No NJ. e. c., your playful little
problem in algebra WILL NOT DO
any more than your previous little
juggle, to which 1t is akin. 1t is quite
alien to anything / have said or i'm
piled; and indeed, you could not even
have pretended to set it out had you
not first deftly changed my SUM OF
heredity," etc. into PRODUCT of
heredity," etc., thus to figure man"
in the objective" as a separate entity
even though you had to make zero"
of him in the process. Restore the
changed word and your problem"
vanishes for lack of one of its factors.
Oh. M. E. G., and it was you who
charged playing upon words!"
1t is time a discussion should close
when it has fallen to "class exhibit
ton" debating tactics, where con-
siderations of essential truth become
subordinated to scoring for dialectical
points, and 1 have only to regret in
closing that those correspondents who
are at this late hour of the contro-
versy confessing ignorance of the
meaning of "heredity" and environ
ment" as applicable to the discussion,
did not take my oft-repeated advice
and read the book mot Guilty" be-
fore essaying to discuss it.
I think 1 see where about 300-not
"words" but PAGES-of Ernst Hack
el for instance, might do good.
IT'D A AII( II ST0NE
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17

Japan is almost dead broke" The
new premier makes this announcement,
partly for the purpose of paving the
way for a financiering campaign, part
ly for the sake of putting an end to
lingo talk about Japan's plans in the
Pacific. There are some persons who
will say the announcement is a scheme
to allay suspicion. but most people will
believe it. Japan has crowded, poor
population, industrious and frugal, but
not producers of great wealth. With
out the backing of European banker.
whose initials it is believed are J. B.,
she could no more have equipped a
navy and whipped Russia than she
could have transported her islands
from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
DOODLE

ERBERT GEORGE, in an article
published recently, makes the
- sweeping accusation that the
Southern Pacific owns the courts of
California. He also says when Heney
was trying to put Calhoun into prison
he found the Southern Pacific was
playing both sides of the question. He
adds that the Southern Pacific con-
trolls politics on the coast and that
''the courts from Mendocino to San
Diego are forced to sit up and take
notice when Mr.. Herrin crooks his fin
ger" He says that Calhoun was 5usti-
fled in boodling. This extraordinary
conclusion is reached as follows;
1.-TWO weeks after the great earth
quake and fire the poor distressed la
borers and business men plodded miles
through the ashes and debris that lay
between the ferry house and the un-
burned district, where an effort was
being made to get business started
again. The street car company did the
best it could to rehabilitate its wreck
and provide transportation facilities.
In the unburned district where cleo
fricity was in use the job of getting
cars moving was matter of only a
few weeks; but the lines most needed
were the lines leading down Market
and Sutter streets, which were former
Fly cable lines reaching through to the
ferry house. The big power houses for
driving these cables were completely
destroyed, and engineers who carefully
figured the matter out concluded it
would take at least eighteen months to
restore the cable service. This decis-
ion filed the hearts of the people with
dismay. and in view of this situation
a short term franchise was granted by
the city council to electrify Sutter and
Market streets, so as to enable the
people to secure the temporary trans
portation they so badly needed in get
ting back and forth between the un-
burned district and the water front.
1.-THE people on all sides urged CAL
houn to accept the short franchise and
go ahead, but when the time came to
raise money on the short franchise it
was found to be utterly impossible to
raise cent. This proposition was laid
before the chamber of commerce, mer-
chants exchange, board of trade and
all other civic bodies, and after much
deliberation these various bodies were
informed by Mr.. Calhoun that to Sc
cure longer franchise, or a franchise
on which money could be borrowed, it
would be necessary to pay Ruef and
Schmitz 100000 to distribute among
members Of the city council. Denunci-
ations loud and long were hurled at the
recreant city servants, but nothing
could move them but Calhoun's $2OO,OOO
end finally, as a matter of public con-
venience, these various commercial
bodies and the leading citizens of San
Francisco quietly advised Calhoun to
pay the 100000. get his franchise and
get his roads electrified and in opera
tion as soon as possible"
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
FELLoWsHiP'S POSITION ON
PERSONAL LIBERTY QUERIED

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15.-[Editor
Herald: Organizations unquestion-
ably are entitled to believe and pro-
mulgate whatever they choose, but, as
they are public bodies and appeal to
the public for support, their doings
should be publicly discussed.
l am worried about the Los Angeles
Fellowship. 1 was a regular attend
ant at its meetings and conceived a
great admiration for the personal lib
erty' teachings of Benjamin Fay Mills
with his frequent citations of Erner-
son, Tolstoy and other noted advocates
of freedom.
Now see that the congregation in
tends to make Mr.. Blight the successor
of Mr.. Mills. 1 do not know Mr..
Blight, but 1 do know that he is an
ardent apostle of Prohibition, and that
two Sundays ago he preached a strong
sermon in which he prophesied that
this country would be absolutely Pro-
hibition within twenty years.
1 think we are entitled to know where
the Fellowship stands on the question
of personal liberty. Tolstoy, for in
stance, is dead opposed to Prohibition.
If any one doubts this 1 shall be glad
to give the proof. T. K. G.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17

be governed by any ethical considera-
tions. and the noble example set by
the city will have not the smallest atom
of effect on 1t. No mercantile house
pays more for a bookkeeper because
some man in office has fat Job in
that line, and our railroad builders and
others will continue to buy men Just
as cheap as they can get them.
The unspeakable harm that such idle
mouthings do is that they obscure the
issue and prevent the worker from see
ing the truth, which Is that as long as
he continues weak he will be preyed
on just to the extent OF his weakness.
1t Is precisely such utterances by our
public men that make foreigners jibe
at us as shallow and have caused one
noted publicist recently to call us q
nation of villagers. ECONOMIST.
Los Angeles herald., 1908-09-17
n NE OF the most hopeful signs Of
modern times is the growth of

n NE OF the most hopeful signs Of
modern times is the growth of
~ chambers of commerce, boards of
trade, promotion committees and sim
liar organizations for - development
of the best in every community of i'm
portance,
1t has not been many years since
communities were isolated and the
rivalry between adjacent cities was like
unto warfare among the clans OF the
south before the war.
Today the spirit of solidarity or one
ness of purpose animates communities
throughout the United States 1t has
even reached the west, is beginning to
permeate California, and those expert
in forestry tell us that the California
knockers tree is about ready to fall.
Los Angeles, Fresno, Sacramento,
stockton. San Francisco and even
smaller cities are beginning to recog-
nize that their smaller cities are be-
ginning to recognize that their inter-
ests are common, and that the hope OF
the state lies in that unity and well
directed enterprise that comes from
intelligent team work.
Recent expeditions planned py tne
chamber of commerce of Los Angeles
resulted in great good throughout the
San JOAQUIN valley and cc~'ented COM
nounities that were practically strang-