davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
THEBELDINC BANNER
MICHIGAN
Our Deceiving Senses.

Many readers no doubt are familiar
with Saxe's version of the Hindoo
legend relating the impressions of the
six blind men who went to see the
elephant; but few probably read II
with so much as passing thought to
the great realm of mental phenomena
at which IL hints. The first, it will be
remembered, happening 10 fall
against the elephants side, pronounced
him like a wall the second, feeling of
his tusk, thought him like spear; the
third, taking his squirming trunk in
his hands, found him TO be very like
a snake; and so the fourth, fifth and
sixth, judging from his leg, ear and
TAIL each in turn insisted that he was
like tree, fan and rope. A little
reflection will show, of course, that the
difficulty with the six blind men was
not inaccurate perception, IL there
really be such thing; but insufficient
observation for correct generaliza-
ton, says Technical World Magazine.
Most, If not all of our knowledge OF
the external world is gained through
the sense organs; and since few sub
jects in that external world are of ele-
mentary simplicity, it follows that the
ideas of most things are more or less
logical aggregations of all the percep-
tons to which it has given rise. Thus
the pencil hold in my hand manifests
itself to me in manifold ways. | see
its form. its size. its colors, its individ.
ual peculiarities of surface. l feel its
smoothness in places, its roughness In
others, its form also, and even distin-
guish between the wood and the graph.
lite; / heft 1t in my hand or on my
finger; l smell the odor of the cedar,
and edo I?) taste it also, in the same
way perhaps getting also a sensation
differing from the others, from the
graphite; and then l tap it with an
other pencil and hear the sound pro-
duced. Now all these, and many more,
percepts, each more or less distinct
from the others, go to make up the
idea of pencil.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Will Review the Case.

President Roosevelt met the appeal
OF the labor organizations to prevent
the Imprisonment of Samuel Gompers,
John Mitchell and Frank Morrison, by
notifying Acknowledgement Bonaparte
that he desires to go over with him
the proceedings in the contempt case.
Pending this conference, there will
be no public announcement made by
the president. Although the White
House does not convey the impression
that the courts action was unjust, the
president feels that the appeals made
TO him are OF sufficient Importance to
call for his earnest consideration.
William j. Bryan was chief among
nearly two score of men, the majority
OF whom are leaders in the labor
movement of the country, who sent
messages expressive of their cor
dial sympathy to the convicted trio.
The messages, which came from
every section of the country, and
voiced the sentiments OF persons in
almost every avenue of labor, convey
feelings of regret over the courts de-
cision, extend moral and financial sup.
port, and in some instances express in
dignation.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
After the Meat Trust.

Despite a multiplicity OF rumors 1t
was definitely established Saturday
that the present attempts OF United
States District Attorney Sims, in the
investigation now under way before
the special federal grand jury in Chi
cago is TO obtain proof of illegal acts
on the part of the packers, Morris e.
Co.. and infict summary punishment,
possibly a prison sentence, upon Ed
ward Morris, president of the firm.
A significant thing in the taking OF
papers from the files Of the Chicago
Burlington & Quincy railway by the
special agent of the government was
disclosed The damage claim files in
Guiding transactions with all the pack
ing houses, were shown to the govern
ment's investigator, but ii is said, al
though the federal official conned all
the documents, he only took those
which related directly to Norris & Co.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Thirty People Injured.

AS the result of a switch on the
Lake Shore a mile south of Pleasant
Lake, Ind, being thrown, probably by
pals" of the postoffice robbers, part
of which gang is supposed to have
been captured at Hillsdale a day or
so ago, 80 persons were injured, one
probably fatally, when southbound
passenger train No. Ala, which left
Hillsdale at 6:35 thursday evening,
carrying six passenger coaches and a
baggage car, plunged into a huge
gravel pit, blowing up the ground for
30 feet.
Mr.. and Mrs. Summerlot, of Angola,
Ind. had just been married and were
on their way TO Fort Wayne, Ind, to
give their relatives Christmas sur
prise by the announcement. They
were painfully but not seriously hurt.
1t was first reported that broken
fange caused the train TO take the old
siding that led into the gravel pit. but
an examination by road officials is
said to have showed that this was not
the case. but that the switch evidently
had been Intentionally thrown. No
blame has thus far attached TO any of
the railroad employees. Most OF those
injured were riding in the forward
cars.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
The Gompers Case.

IF | am forced to go to prison il
will demonstrate to the laboring peo
Pile of America that there is need OF
an antiinjunction law" said Samuel
Gompers.
There is real danger in our courts
as they are at present cnnstitu' q ~
a workingman being robbed of his
rights through the operation of the in
junction. If il be necessary for me to
serve this sentence TO demonstrate
this more fully, ! am willing to suffer
Il am deeply sensible OF the express
sions Of sympathy | have received
from all parts of the United States
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Cupid Cuts Ionia County.

Cupid is not holding his own In
Ionia county this year, there having
been a steady falling off in the mar
riage license record since 1906 when
the high mark OF 3S3 was reached In
1907 there was drop to 343, and
190S's record to date showed but 2S5
Unless there is an unprecedented
rush for matrimonial honors the rec
ord will fall below that OF 1905, which
was 324. December, 1906, was the
banner matrimonial month OF the
three years, when As licenses were
granted, the next highest being June
of the same year, with A. Forty
three were issued in December last
year, but there have been but a
dozen the present month. The di-
vorce record is also falling off, but IA
cases having been started this year,
against 1872 a year ago and ia in
1906. Forty-five divorces have been
granted this year, the other 20 pend.
ing.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
STATE MAY Be
HARD Up AGAIN
STATE TREASURY is GETTING
Low AGAIN BEFORE TAKES
COME IN.
THE LOCAL OPTION LAW.
Money Advanced by Railroads Will Be
Used Up This Week-Cannot
Change Local Option Law.

The last outstanding primary school
warrant has been paid by the state
treasurer The warrant should have
been paid more than month ago, but
the state had used part of the primary
money for general expense and was
unable 10 borrow. There remained in
the state treasury Saturday cash bal
ance of about $4,000, but a large
part of this sum is money belonging
TO the creditors of defunct banks and
other trust funds, so that there is only
about 100000 of the $750,000 recently
advanced by the railroads that may be
used for general expenses. The sum
will be nearly consumed by the pay
rolls this week again leaving the
treasury bare.
Quarterly allowances TO the state
institutions will be due January |, but
the money will not be forthcoming
until some weeks later Taxes have
not yet commenced TO be received by
the state treasurer. although an effort
has been made to induce county treas
urers TO make prompt settlement with
the state in order to relieve the sit
uation.
1t will be January 10 at the earliest
before the receipt Of December taxes
will begin to have an appreciable eff
feet upon the treasury.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
A. o. V. w. Affairs Aired.

The affairs of the grand lodge of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen
were discussed by the supreme court
in an opinion filed in the matter of
the petition of Fred c. Wetmore anG
others for the dissolution of the grand
lodge of the order This petition was
filed in Wayne county in August, 1907.
Jessie NJ. Faurot and Eva M. Faurot
interviewed, being beneficiaries of John
NJ. Faurot. They alleged that mem
bers of the order were bound to pay
assessments levied against them and
thus satisfy their claim. The Faurot
petition was dismissed by the Wayne
circuit court This decision was re-
versed by the supreme court, which
held that assessments levied before
members forfeited their rights must
be paid. Ii is held that "the associa-
ton, and therefore its receivers, had
the right to collect such assessments
by suit and had not the right to col
lect assessments made after member
ship had expired"
While reversing the decision of the
lower court on this point, the SUI
preme court reserves for determine
ton the question of whether the
prayer should be granted.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
The Pittsburg Graft Cases.

The councilmanic graft case expos
ures which have startled Pittsburg,
took on new interest Saturday when it
became known that II additional coun-
cilmen had been notified officially bv
officers not to attempt to leave the
city, for IL they did il would mean
their immediate arrest This comes
direct from the Voters league head.
quarters, and is taken to mean that
these additional councilmen are vir.
tually prisoners within their own city
story has been printed that IL Is
the Pennsylvania railroad and the
Pittsburg street railways companies
that are after the grafters in Pittsburg
and that these two corporations are
putting up the money, not from a
standpoint OF morals, but for self-pro-
lection. They are said to believe II is
cheaper to send few dozen grating
councilmen to the pen than to paw out
each year the many thousands of dol
lars which they have been forced TO
do to prevent themselves being legis
lated against.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
THE ANSWER.
President Keeps Cool and Makes DIG
nlfied Repjv.

nirieo Heply.
President Roosevelt has completed
the draft OF his answer to the request
OF the house of representatives that
he give the basis of his assertion that
cogressmen themselves do not wish TO
be investigated by secret service
men,"
Mr.. Roosevelt worked day and night
10 get the answer ready before Christ.
mas, for he wished to have his desk
Clear Tor the holidays. Members OF
congress who are looking for an ex-
plosive document will be disappointed.
The presidents answer is calm, con.
seryatiye and even judicial. He names
no members of the present house.
The president will convict the mem.
bers out OF their own mouths. that
they really feared the secret service
would be used to investigate congress
men unless the field of its activities
was restricted.
In the answer the records of the de-
bate last May when the secret service
limitation amendment was before the
mouse Will be used to show that the
members themselves were responsible
for the belief that the fear of being
looked into" was the reason they
wanted the operations of the secret
service restricted to the detection of
counterfeiting and the protection of
the person OF the president. In the
course or that debate there was plenty
OF material upon which the president
has been able to base his assertion.
In the hearings before the commit
tee prior to the time the matter
reached the floor there were state
ments which. it will be contended,
bore out the fear theory.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Mr.. Taft's Plans.

Federal officials are greatly interest,
ed in reports that President-elect Taft
has evolved comprehensive plan for
the regulation of interstate corpora
ions that he will ask congress to put
into the form of law. Coordination of
he work of the government in regulat-
ne corporations engaged in commerce
between the states is sought by the
lresident-elect.
According TO reports Mr.. Taft would
have the bureau of corporations exer-
Else jurisdiction over all corporations.
including railroads, would make the
interstate commerce commission a
Iuasi-judicial body, and create a bu-
reau in the department of justice
which would prosecute in the courts
cases prepared by the bureau of cor
poratiOns and argue cases affecting
railroads before the interstate com
merce commission.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Duty on Lumber.

Members of congress who are anx
ious that the duty on lumber be re.
tanned are admitting that their case is
already lost. One of these gentlemen,
representing In part one of the big
timber states OF the far west, said
that there had been count OF noses
in the house on the question of the
lumber tariff. After going through the
list OF members on the Republican
side Of the chamber, only six were
found who were willing to place lum-
Der ahead OF everything else and block
tariff proceedings unless the duty were
retained. These include the three
members from Washington, the two
from Oregon and the one from Idaho.
All the others were either in favor OF
abolishing the duty. or had several
schedules in which they were more
deeply interested than i'm lumber.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Revokes $50 900 Contract.


The public lighting commission of
Detroit, let a contract recently to the
Westinghouse Machine Company for a
turbo engine worth about 100000.
That the contract does not stand is
the decision of the supreme court. The
Allis-Chalmers Company was the low
est bidder for the contract, for which
bids were received July last. Later
a proposition was submitted to the
supplies committee by the Westing-
house Machine Company, and was ac-
cepted by a divided vote and the con-
tract awarded
Attorney General Bird lent the use
the board on behalf of the Allis-Chal
mers Company, but in the court below
the bill filed was dismissed. The SUI
preme court reversing the decision be-
low held that the lighting commission
did not proceed according TO law and
pany's proposal was not lawfully be-
fore the lighting commissioners, as
the purchase was one clearly within
the provision of the charter requiring
notice and sealed proposals, it being
said: ITO hold the action of the
commission in this case as lawful
would open the doors TO all the unde-
sirable results which the authorities
hold the wise provisions of such legis.
lation were intended to prevent"
The commission is perpetually en-.
Joined from entering into the con.
tract.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

The old-fashioned covered wooden
bridge across the Connecticut river at
Hartford has been replaced by a
beautiful granite structure described
as the largest stone bridge in the
world. Both the Carisburcke across
the Moldau at Prague and the Water
loo bridge over the Thames at London
are longer, but they do not approach
the S2-feet width of the Hartford
structure. Whatever may be said of
the advantages of iron or steel bridges
they do not produce the restful i'm
preston Of strength and permanence
which is one of the great attractions
of stone bridge.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Gomez Gets Busy.

Passengers from ports in Venezuela
report that Acting President Gomez
has. taken drastic steps TO suppress
friends and supporters of Castro. In
order to check any possibility OF re-
bellion on behalf OF the overthrow
executive, Gomez is having every
prominent sympathizer of Castro
placed under arrest. The jails are thus
being filled to overlooking with polit-
ical prisoners.
The leading followers of Castro will
De deported as further precaution
against a revolutionary outbreak. All
If the soldiers in the Venezuelan army
who sympathize with Castro have
been discharged and the ranks filled
with supporters OF Gomez.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31


There are some grounds for gratifi.
cation in the report made by the inter
state commerce commission as to the
number of railroad casualties during
the fiscal year ended with June last. 1t
appears that within the period men.
toned 1894 persons were killed and
68,9S9 injured, which is a decrease Of
1,236 killed and 1927 injured as COM
pared with the preceding year. The
showing is bad enough, but the returns
suggest better conditions. 1t is also
noted that during the hast quarter of
the late fiscal year 10 passengers were
killed in train accidents, the smallest
number on record for that length of
time. May the Improvement con-
tinue.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
"BIack Handler, Caught.

Charged with sending BLACK Hand
letters TO Edmonds Brothers, propri.
etors of an elevator, a man giving the
arrested in the Hastings postoffice
The firm received letter demanding
$25 and threatening dire consequences
IL the same was refused or any at
tempt made to catch the writer. After
notifying the officers a decoy letter
was sent through the mail. The officer
concealed near the general delivery
window, waited till "a Lamar" called
for letter and arrested him. He con.
fessed to the officer
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
THINGS AND
LEGISLATION
THAT SPECIAL TARIFF SESSION
AGITATEs CONGRESSMAN
JUST NOW.
GOMPERS' SENSIBLE VIEW.
Matters Of Note and Comment From
the National Capital and Other
Sources of information.

IL leaders in congress Of both po
Htical parties are able to bring suf-
hcient influence upon President-elect
Taft. the special session to revise the
tariff will be called almost immediate
y after Inauguration. The purpose
will be to cut the special session as
short as possible and secure an ad-
iournment before the extremely hot
weather Ordinarily a special session
is not called until after some time has
elapsed after the adjournment OF the
regular session to give members OF
congress an opportunity to go TO their
home and transact personal business
and return to Washington for a long
stay.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

II seems that the new postage
stamps which Postmaster General
Meyer is abont to issue will be some
thing in the nature Of restoration of
an old design, rather than an entirely
new one. There is occasion for popu-
lar congratulation that the fine old
Houdon profile of Washington, which
is the best and most distinguished ever
produced, is to come back after five
years of retirement to reoccupy the
position it held for half century. II
goes back not only to the two-cent
stamp, but on the nine other higher
denominations, leaving the profile of
Franklin on the one-cent stamp, where
IL has remained from the first.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Widow Loses Her Suit.

Charles Kerr was killed by burst
ing emery wheel in the factory of the
National Fulton Brass Manufacturing
Company at Detroit and his wife re-
covered judgment of $4,000 against
the company.
The supreme court reversed the
judgment for the reason that the plain
tiff's attorney, in the face of objec-
tons, insisted on showing that the
defendant company carried liability
insurance and would not have to pay
the judgment against 1t, If one was
rendered. The supreme court in its
decision reads the plaintiffs attorney
a sharp lesson for indulging in prac.
tees of the nature described.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Opposed by Zimmerman.

State Banking Commissioner Zim-
hermann says that he is pleased to
hear that Senator Smith is opposed to
the postal depository bill as II is now
framed. Mr. Zimmerman continued:
banks and six trust companies as
against So national banks. Under
section IL of the proposed bill, all
moneys collected by the postal de-
positaries would be deposited in
the nearest national bank to the
exclusion of state banks"
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

Joy reigned Christmas among the
hundreds of state employees who have
been without salaries since November
is as result of the empty state treas
ury. Following the action of the
Michigan Central, Pere Marquette and
Chicago a. Northwestern railways in
advancing s750,000 of their taxes to
the state the treasury department
handed out to the anxious employees
their long overdue checks. The
amount was approximately $4,000
and enabled many OF them to have q
Merry Christmas.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

Thomas +. Ryan, the noted New
York inancier. has resigned from 81
directorates on the advice of his
physician, who told him he must get
out of harness.
Dividends, interest disbursements
on stocks and bonds of the banks.
trust companies, railroads. Industrial
and other corporations OF New York
city for January, 1909. will exceed
$21O,0OO,0O0, an increase of approxl-
mately s17,000,000 over the disburse.
ments of January. last year. The in
crease is generally attributable to the
extraordinary amount of securities is-
sued during the year.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Warner, Hemans, Bradley Chat.

Patrons of the Hotel Downey had
an opportunity to smile the other
morning when Gov. Warner, Lawton
7. Hemans and DR.. James b. Bradley
were seen together in a corner, earn
estly talking. II is the first time He
mans, who was the Democratic can
didate for governor, and Gov. Warner
have met since election. Both men
were cordial and so was DR.. Bradley,
who opposed Gov. Warner SO bitterly
In the primary.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

The second OF the new White Star
line 60,000-ton steamships has been
appropriately named the Titanic
Some idea Of the size OF modern ships
may be formed II one recalls that the
tonnage of the whole Spanish Armada
which was wrecked of the coast OF
Ireland, was less than that of the new
shin
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

Emperor William has raised his
daughter-in-law, the crown princess.
to the rank of colonel of the regiment
of which her husband is only the
major. Many a husband readily adj
mits that at home he is the second in
command, but what did the kaiser
mean when he gave the princess high.
er military rank than that of his son?
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
The Mother Died.

Mrs. Ellenworth Perkins, of South
Aurelius, died at the University hos
pital at Ann Arbor and was buried at
her old home in Greenville on Christ.
mas day.
Mrs. Perkins was terribly burned
few weeks ago by her dress catch
ing fire from a heating stove. She was
holding her five-weeks' old baby, and
to save the baby she laid it in the
cradle and rushed out OF doors. Be.
fore help reached her. all of her
clothes were burned of. She left a
husband and FIVE small children in
straitened circumstances.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

The shah, having tired of expert.
menting with constitutions, may as
well be prepared for tests of bombs,
daggers and like devices for bringing
home to monarch his own unpopu
larity.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

Here's a good idea. Bank teller.
are to stamp Counterfeit" on all bad
bills presented to them. That will
stop one kind Of endless chain.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31

Judge Stone in the Delta county cir
cult court has issued an order making
permanent the temporary Injunction
which he issued some time ago re-
straining the striking employees of the
Escanaba Manufacturing Co. and the
Trades and Labor council from inter-
fering with the employees of the COM
pany who are still at work.
The report of State Salt Inspector
Emery shows that there has been a
net decrease OF 50.707 barrels for the
year ending November 30. The total
product was 6,247,756 barrels. District
No. 6, Wayne county. has a gain OF
4S,943 barrels.
Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-12-31
Requests Held Valid.

The celebrated Potter will case of
Alpena was affirmed by the supreme
court and the requests of Mrs. Ella j.
Potter, deceased, to certain charities
OF the Congregational church are held
valid. Two-thirds of the estate goes
to the heirs OF the husband.