davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1908-12-19
the Perverted secret Service.

The secret service was organized to
detect crime and bring criminals to
punishment. 1t was never authorized
by the laws creating it TO conceal wrong
doing or protect evidoers. Yet it to-
siay exists as private and personal
vehicle OF blackmail and oppression.
For the revelations in Washington
since the Congress met on December
are capable Of only one Interpretation.
The secret service has been used for
the surveillance of Congressman and
others, and the results of its inquiries
have not been the basis of criminal
prosecutions. If the victims of this
espionage have violated the laws they
have not been brought to justice. In
stead the discoveries OF its agents have
formed the foundation of an effort by
the Executive to destroy the prestige
Of the legislative department, to black
mail Its members into support of the
Executive or into acquiescence in its
proposals. That which should be an
engine for the enforcement of the laws
has been converted into a machine for
the suppression Of free speech and the
intimidation of the lawmakers.
BY what process Of illegality this has
been accomplished is at present un-
known. What statutes have been vio-
lated, what indecent expedients have
been resorted to, is not how disclosed.
Only one thing is patent and notorious
spies and informers have searched the
private lives of members of Congress,
have tunnelled through filth and decep-
ton, lot to bring before the courts
thieves and corruptionists, but to furnish
he means with which by threat of
EXPOSURE and ruin the victims might be
brought to heel like dogs that fear a
lssliing.
Not for the ends Of justice, but to
strengthen and intrench usurpation;
not 10 rid the public OF unfaithful SER
wants, but to make of them plant tools
for the subversion OF the legislative
department Of the Government; not to
condemn to the execration of the public
It's betrayers, but to enroll them under
the banner Of Rooseveltism-this is the
confessed use to which the secret SER
vice has been put. The reports lie in
the vaults, to be brought out not when
the Judge is on the bench but when the
Executive wants votes or feels that in
timidation must again be resorted to.
So much is known. The details are
lacking. Only general outlines Of the
plot are visible. But il the Congress
possesses one last shred Of manhood
and patriotism the whole structure of
spy government will be exposed to the
just anger Of the nation and will be
destroyed in the indignation it will
= s<s,sSa
The sun., 1908-12-19
The Career OF q Log Roller.

We have a whole series OF pictures of
the artistic life in Mr.. Filson YounS's
story Of 'The Turning OF the Tide Dana
Estes and Company. Boston,. Rupert
Savage, the young Irish artist. produced
works Of fervid and disturbing imagina-
ton. He offered his young heart to
Lady Fastnet, who though unhappily
married was perfectly self-contained
and who gently sent him about his bust
ness. In Dublin in the height OF his
anguish he met over whiskey and tobacco
Heath thhe Tsss..s:ss...c ncyeliet, O'DonneIl
the poet. Greer the art critic and Others
whose ooncefn II was to charm the world
and express the serious view. o'Donnell
recited poem called 4The Seal Of Inish-
vhan." The poet as he read was, the
story says, like a wizard weaving
charm, The dreamy tones. the muse
Of the richly assonant words. the fresh
ness and remoteness OF the ideas that
coniured up q faery world seen dinnE
through q veil Of sea spray. ssnk into
The sun., 1908-12-19

The four men convicted of conspiracy
to defraud the State of Pennsylvania in
the furnishing Of the new Capitol at
Harrisburg have been sentenced to i'm
prisonment and fine. They are former
Auditor-General OF the State, former
State Treasurer. former Superintendent
of Public Grounds and Buildings and the
contractor for the furnishings.
The list is an impressive one. SO cyni-
cal had the public become that it was
regarded as improbable that any one
would be punished for the gross corrup-
ton that was known to have marked the
completion Of the building. Even when
the men just sentenced were found guilty
1t was popularly believed that they would
escape with fines more or less absurdly
inadequate. Yet they have been con-
demned to two years in jail and to pay a
fine Of $500.
The terms Of punishment do not seem
too severe. However, they are not ridicu-
lous, and that is something.
The sun., 1908-12-19

under tho imputation that he lusts FOR
the blood Of the beasts Of the wilderness
and exults In piles Of slain. Il am not
In the least game butcher, he wrote
In his proposal to Secretary WALcoTT.
"A certain amount Of hunting" he likes
to do, but his paramount interest is In
the varieties Of the animals and birds he
encounters, their color, form, habits and
pursuits. Therefore he calls himself o
"faunal naturalist" and his status 90
defined by himself Is confirmed and Sane
toned by the Smithsonian Institution.
Hereafter 1t will not be in good taste
to refer to MIR. ROOSEVELT as a game
butcher. He ought never TO have been
regarded In that light. Like most
sportsmen. he has sometimes killed
more deer than were needed for the
larder, but not as many as he could have
killed Moreover 1t is well known
among his friends Of the chase that
owing to nearsightedness he Is not an
accurate shot. For the impression that
he killed as fast as he could pump his
magazine he is responsible himself.
Hts sporting vocabulary has always
implied intense dash and enthusiasm,
keen and furious pursuit and an indis-
criminate and deafening explosion Of
cartridges. Allow for this, and Mr..
ROOSEVELT emerges from the smoke Of
slaughter as lover Of "a certain amount
Of hunting" We are sure that his tally
of animals killed-he is an Indifferent
bird shot-would be insignificant COM
pared with the battues Of obscure
sportsmen who will never go to Africa.
As faunal naturalist, which, We take
it, is meant TO mean a patient OBJ
server Of the animals and birds OF
country, Mr.. ROOSEVELT sheds the old
superstition that he is mighty pot
hunter, shooting Unfortunately every
moving thing in sight and gloating over
his bag. Under the honorable and tenn
perate appellation he has taken to him
self he can proceed to Africa and hunt
in the open season without exciting a
fear that he will exhaust its fauna and
leave nothing for future collectors.
The sun., 1908-12-19
Iam,ers, To. brilliant CIeths.

fFONN we fDf sIONH sun
4 number OF eminent barrlsters who attended
Circuit Court yesterday were, SAD to relate. no,
properly attired. This does not moan that thes
were not nicely dressed. for really some Of them
looked perfectly stunning; but their garb was
not wholly Of that tinereti hue which is supposed
TO squeich all possibility OF levty In the dignined
Atmosphere OF juatice.
Judge Marker WAS presiding, and Mr.. Rober,
Murray. X. c., OF Chatham appee red 10 make
an application. Mr.. Murray wore a white vest,
white vests look as well on him as he does In
them. but looks do not count In the court. and
Judge Darker mildly observed that Mr.. Mur, az
knew quite well the style Of costume 10 be worn,
Mr. Murray gracefully admitted his possession
OF this knowledge. and begged to be excused
while he procured a more httlng though perhaps
not better hitting vest.
The other members of the fraternity who were
present were inclined TO smile at the Incident,
but the Sieeful expression on one Gentleman 9
face chan ged very suddenly as his eye caught the
color OF his own trousers. They were light fray.
His neighbor WAS IN an even worse prcdicament,
for he had a whole suit without a vestlge OF
black anywhere, and another man had coi
ored tie
-Four lawyers passed silently out OF court, but
when the han was reached they made rush for
friendly oihces. there 10 borrow. beg or com.
mandeer clothing nttins for the occasion.
The sun., 1908-12-19

hls eetlon IN this CASE were not reAasuret
By the spirit which eeemed 10 animate hin
when no said: Il propose 10 stand on tha'
record, law or no law"
This inetance under consideration 10 mol
isolated. During the early months Of tht
administration OF Commissioner Loupr
elk Navajos iwero arrested By military
force and received sentences at hard laboI
and were released after from one to three
years confinement. Later o number OF
Mooui Indians were similarly treated. In
each instance there was no pretence OF CIV
Ing the accused Indians the benefit oil 2
trial In any legally constituted court. ~
sssns 10 have become the fxed policy oi
the present Indian Commissioner to pun
ish summarIly Indians who may have In
CURED the III will Of the ofiicials Immediately
over them.
The question at issue seems 10 the Indian
Rights Association vital. May we not hope
that President-elect Taft. being himself
lawyer. will favor In the Indian depart
ment the spirit Of legal Justice rather than
that OF autocracy3
HRRBRRT WRLsH.
Corresponding Secretary Indian Rights
Association.
PHILADELPHIA, December II.
The sun., 1908-12-19

10 get higher price than now prevails
for their potatoes or caullfowoFs or
cabbages the trade in those commodi-
ties Is restricted to the extent TO which
they withhold their produce from sale
until the desired price is obtainable:
So, il a number OF manufacturers
conclude that overproduction has rem
dered their business Improbable and
hence they agree to limit their output,
the agreement constitutes a combina-
ton in restraint Of trade which the law
condemns. 1t is plain enough, however,
that there are many contracts of such n
character us those we have supposed
which are unobjectlonable In reality,
although they do operate reAtrictively
upon trade. Where this restrictive effect
Is only incidental or is inconsiderable az
compared to the advantage Of permit
ting the combination Of capital which
gives rise to it, the combination should
be permitted instead of being forbid
den by law.
We take it that some such idea as
this was the underlying thought which
prompted Mr.. TAFT's brief reference
to the Sherman act at the Civic Fedora
ton banquet. The combinations Of
capital which he admits to be "neoes-
sary to the progress of business" are
not possible If the prohibition against
all combinations in restraint Of trade
ia IN ha continued Soma rpctrQint
Of trade must be tolerated; the problem
is TO determine under what circum-
stances and to what extent. That
this is a difficult problem none will
deny. 1t is one of the most perplexing
as well as one of the most important
questions that have ever confronted
our lawmakers.
In expressing the opinion that the
Sherman act probably needs to be
amended Mr.. TAFT observed also that
"the amendments need not be extern
sive." This has been taken to mean
that if any change is to be made it should
be only in regard to unimportant matters
of detail. We do not so understand
it. Mr. TAFT's speech, considering as
a whole all that he said in reference
TO the Sherman act, implies a convic-
ton on his part of the necessity OF
attaching the badge Of legality to some
at least of the combinations which are
now forbidden by the Sherman act as
the provisions of that statute have been
hy the ro,lrts
The sun., 1908-12-19
Mr.. TAFT on the sherman Act.

What Mr.. TAFT aid on Tuesday eve
ming in reference to the Sherman act
at the dinner Of the National Civic Fed
GRAFTON has been largely misappre-
hended, even by the newspapers. The
comments in many quarters upon this
portion of his address indicate that
those who make them suppose that Mr..
TAFT expressed satisfaction with the
Law substantially as it is. That was
far from the fact, as will readily appear
upon g critical scrutiny of the speakers
words, considered with reference to the
subject matter.
Mr.. TAFT unqucstionably did declare
that he was not ready to part with the
Antitrust law commonly known as the
Sherman act. He conceded, however,
that IL probably needs amendment
though he thought it more important
to enforce it than TO repeal it. He at
tributed the difficulties which have
arisen In dealing with the problem OF
amendment to loose statements and
eketchy, impressionist pictures by per-
sons who have not carefully studied the
law and do not fully understand the
question. This is a work for lawyers
acquainted with business conditions
and with the evils which have arisen
from combinations Of capital. These
combinations, said Mr.. TAFT, ARE nec-
essary to the progress of business, but
they may be used or abused to the det-
rinlent of the public, and we must have
something TO use to punish these
abuses"
The Sherman act condemns combi-
nations in restraint OF trade, irrespec-
tive Of the question whether they are
reasonable or not. No matter how
much an agreement between business
concerns may tend to promote the
general welfare Of the community or
it's social or commercial we'll being, il
the resulting combination operates as
a restraint upon trade it is denounced
by the law. Its effect upon trade is the
test OF legality, This rule practically
soybids even those combinations of
capital which Mr.. TAFT expressly recog-
nizes as necessary to the progress Of
business; for very large proportion
OF such combinations necessarily exer-
else a restrictive effect upon tradeito
some extent. II two farmers combine
The sun., 1908-12-19
A Fair Exchange.

The Hon. PHILANDER CHASE KNoX
needs no compliments. There is but
one opinion of his fitness for the post
to which Mr., TAFT has called him. 1t il
often hard to lure man from the Sen
ate to the Cabinet, but the State Depart
ment may well satisfy any ambition, SO
many famous names are on its bead
roll. II Mr.. KNOX is to be congratu-
lated, the Senate would have to be con-
doled with were it not that Mr.. RoOT
will make Mr., KNox's place good as Mr..
KNOX will make Mr.. RooT's good.
The sun., 1908-12-19
WOODS AND WATER.
No Fear fer the Adequacy OF the Citys
supply.

To TIE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: In
THE Sun OF December 10, under the head line
No Woods No Water" are statements that
require revision and correction. Commis-
sioner Whipple Is usually q very careful
and conservative speaker. but for once
he seems to have slipped q trlae. He says
that unless prompt attention Is given TO
the preservation OF forest growth the
sI62 600, 600 Ashokan dam will be thrown
away" The Forestry Commissioner Of
the State OF New York should be an en-
thuslast in his profession. but this does no,
imply that he is expected 10 talk to the
galleries" as q part of his duties 10 the
state. II may be stated that forests, more
or less Of them. have very little to do with
New York city water supply or ever will
have. The rainfall in the Ashokan water
shed In sc to 30 inches nnualiy, and bayinh
been that since the days of Hendrix Hud-
con II may be assumed to continue for q
limited time into the future. II is this
rainfall that has furnished the Croton
watershed supply to tho great city. and
It is this that will all the great Ashokan
reservoir and give II out as needed,
Forests have their duties In natures
domestic economy. but the creation Of at er
ID not one OF them. The equalization OF
It's flow OF Is one OF them. but this duty
has nothing whatever to do with furnishing
two million people with water. The Ashokap
watershed will not cease to perform ito
duty TO its builders until rain ceases to fan.
and this is contingency too remote and i'm
probable to cause the least anxiety to the
citizens OF Manhattan Island.
The earth has so far in its short life
adapted itself to the necessities OF animal
life. and it is very likely to continue It's
occupation in this direction. The human
family cannot we'll live and develop in the
woods In thickly settled regions forests
must disappear excepting TO very moderate
extent. and no amount OF sentiment or law
can prevent IL. There are reasons that
arc far more potent than the assumption
of shortages in the Ashokan supply why
New York city should economic in the use
Of water. 1t may be assumed that the
Ashokan reservoir will fill and refill periodi-
celly. continuing to do 90 in the far future.
although there may not be tree standins
In the entire Adirondack region. y
hsHoKAN.
CooPHRsTowN. n. Y, December H.
The sun., 1908-12-19
Mohamm sdau Girl Of tn. New Era.

Prom Wt BU'tH0Ff ruH
Miss Mary Mills Patrick president OF the Amer.
lean College for Girls at ConstAn tinople says that
by Mohammedans, and she says they ere apt and
willing pupils.
One Mohammedtn girl. daughter OF al ofbcial
In the palace, writes e1tenaively In the papers
since the recent freedom OF the press and has
been asked to reorganlke the schools for girls
In Turkey. she 10 also member Of three Mo
hamnedan clubs for women. and the president
OF one.
Miss Patrick said this girl had recently trans
lated Julius Cesar" Into Turkish and that the
PLAY would probably be the hrst English play 10
be given at the new theatte To be opened shortly
In Constan unople.
The sun., 1908-12-19
MIR. RooseveIt's Hunting status.

In accepting Mr.. RoosEvEIT's offer to
obtain "a fine collection not only Of the
big game beasts but Of the smaller man.
mails and birds of Africa for the Smith
sonian Institution If it will provide him
with field naturalists and taxidermists
and incur other incidental expenses, the
Board of Regents necessarily approves
Of Mr.. RoosEvELT's itinerary and plans,
but 1t does more; IL recognizes him as q
faunal naturalist. He has chafed
The sun., 1908-12-19
An AMUSING Nlyra Kelly stor,.

Myra Kelly's story of "Rosnah" d.
Appleton and Company has its scene In
the Irish country in the days Of Parnell
and OF boycotting There is an amusing
though improbable plot whereby the
beautiful young Lady Rosnah Gre ighton
pretends that she is Miss Sheila Fitz-
gerald and establishes herself in that
character in the Fitzgerald family. The
Fitzgeralds. father, mother and sons,
might be supposed to know whether or
not any given young woman was their
own daughter and sister. but the circum-
stances were peculiar. Gen. Fitzgerald
long dweller in India, sent his children
home one after another while they we're
still babies, and the consequence was
that when the General and his wife at
last themselves returned to Ireland they
were entirely unacquainted with their
own offspring. Moreover. the Fitzgerald
children did not know much Of one an
other. and no Fitzgerald kne~ Sheila, who
had long been affectionately esteemed by
the Creightons and was indeed engaged
to be married TO Lord Kevin Creighton,
Lady Rosnah's brother
A particularly amusing part Of the
story relates how Gen. Fitzgerald assem-
bled hh offspring in separate chamb bers
upstairs, whence they were summoned
with something Of martial precision and
form 10 a general introduction in the
drawing room below. Rosnah was a1ittle
embarrassed when she was called upon
to kiss the entire series Of Fitzgerald
young men. but she managed the busi-
ness after al as though she had been
born sister TO them. DO kiss them. dear.
est said Lady Mary, the gentle and
adorable mother OF the brood. "They are
all your brothers. You must learn to love
them And the sufficient Rosnah. brightly
consenting, offered roseleaf cheek n
Owen, to Gerald and TO Lawrence and
gave both her hands TO Desmond. who was
s5. a little bald at the temples. a Queens
counsellor and very handsome.
The tale evolves and rambles. 1t Is
frankly and delightfully."- 20 as you please.
Inc General, peppery and amusing
character. Ia boycotted. There are stir
ring and serious timee. but the fun per-
sists in running through them. Owen.
the youngest son, does not drink when
the Queen Is toasted. II may be thought
what awkwardness lies In having a revo-
and @. C. In the same family.
II there is a more truculent and amusing
ooachman than Peter Carey anywhere
we should like to know where to find him.
We are sure the book will give the reader
joy.
The sun., 1908-12-19

TO THE EDITOR OF TER sUS--,SE: Noting the
account OF the failure OF the high service lre pro.
tection. would suggest In New Of the frequency
OF these occurrences and the fact that there is
so much work OF disturbing nature going on In
the city that the pressure In the pipes be Kept TO
the high point constantly. or at least raised to
that point at Intervals OF not more than half
an hour apart.
II ts my Impression that without such precau.
tlon II would be impossible TO feel assured OF the
reliability OF this service.
EDWIN W. MooRISo.
WLIERBuRY Conn. december II.
The sun., 1908-12-19
The Necessity for Loomis.

Secretary RooT makes an interesting
plea for the retention and regular pay
Of the Hon. FRANCIS B. LOOMS, re-
Gently appointed chairman of the Board
of Commissioners to represent the in
terests Of the United States at the great
Japanese international exposition. This
function was first fixed for the year
1912. In order to be early in the field
and incidentally to furnish Mr. LOOMS
with congenial occupation and rea-
sonable salary the commission was
promptly created and Mr.. LOOMS put
at its head, his emoluments taking
effect at once. Now the Japanese Gov
ernment has postponed the affair until
1917, a matter of eight or nine years,
but Secretary RooT sees a hundred
reasons why Mr.. LOOMS should be kept
on the pay rolls all that time and has
so explained himself to Congress.
The Hon. FRANCIS B. LOOMS is an
old acquaintance. He has been in public
life for many years and by this time must
be used TO it. He began, we believe,
in the consular service. Then he was
Minister to Venezuela, next he went
somewhere else. Afterward he was
made Assistant Secretary Of State
under the Hon. JOHN HAY, and it was
while he held that post and while Mr..
HAY lay ill at his home in Washington
that the we'll remembered uprising
OF patriotic Panamans took place, the
hated yoke of Colombia was thrown
of and by a strange coincidence our
cruisers with their marines happened
to be right on the spot to preserve order.
After Mr.. LOOMS left the State Depart
ment he was sent to Paris as a special
extraordinary commissioner to receive
from the French Government the sainted
bones Of JOHN PAUL JONES. These
relics had already been delivered to
General HORACE PORTER, our Ambassa-
dor to France, who, singularly enough,
had inaugurated the search and paid
for 1t out Of his own pocket. Mr.. LOOMS
repaired to the scene OF
the solemnities and we are told bore
himself with great suavity under the
rather embarrassing circumstances
General PoRTER's feelings may be
imagined but need not at this time be
discussed.
The retention of Mr.. LOOMS as
commissioner general to the Toxic !
exposition OF 1917 naturally includes |
the services and remuneration-o the |
secretary, Mr.. JOHN c. 0JAUGHLIN,
who also must have put the present
Administration under lively obligations.
Apparently Mr.. Roof realizes many
ways in which this arrangement will
vastly to international good
will. We have sent our feet there on a
pisit. We also have an Ambassador on
he spot, together with various hard
Consuls, to say nothing OF
school teachers, missionaries and mer-
chants, all busy and ingratiating. But
{ is evident that the compact Of amity
will not be completely sealed unless we
rive Mr.. LooMIs-and his secretary?-a
owing commission, with unfailing pay,
o nurse between the present moment
md 1917 the promising buds Of inter-
national affection into full flower The
Seenest disappointment, we are told,
will be felt unless Mr.. LOOMS is kept in
evidence, at salary, to confer with
and to stiffen So-and-So
md otherwise contribute to the general
)agatelle.
We can believe it. But We have seen
he Hon. ELIHU Roof in more important
business.
The sun., 1908-12-19

Mr.. REYNOLDS has rendered q great and dis
interested service for whlc our heartiest thanks
are due him. From Presfdenifdi message.
The reference is to the scheme Of MIR.
JAMES B. REYNOLDS to tear down and
make over the government OF the Dis
trict Of Columbia, which the President
lays before Congress. II MIR. REYNOLDS
has done this elaborate constructive work
from sheer love Of government building
he is indeed disinterested
The sun., 1908-12-19
A Hermit Peer.
- -. -.

me iats Lord Stanley OF Alderley. brot ther OF
the present peer, was Mohammedan, ana "a III er
eceeatrie. During his thirty ysars reign Alder.
ley Park. the nne family place In Cheshire, was
quite hermitage no Entertaining was done there
at all, ana on the present Lord Stanley OF Alder
ley succeeding 10 The title and estates In feoa he
had 70 spend good deal OF money on the place
10 make !, pfesentabiA