davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
TAFT AND M'KINLEY.

Al Murray Bay, Quebec. where Judge Taft has
been in the hal OF spending his summers, new
nickname was bestowed upon him. Somehow ne
seems to be just the sort of a man to whom soorl-
ouets are applied. In every new group OF aSso-
ciates he has received new appeIaton. elnpIla-
sizine the characteristic which has appealed to
them most They have always grown out or
feeling Of affection Among the French OF Quepec
,t was a piquant phrase. lie Petit Juse tthe
Tittle Judge'O Perhaps this contradiction OF terms
grew out of incident which occurred ulere. oiio
day the boardwalk caught fire. Judge Iaft VINO
was likely TO be busy with his judicial duties al
though nominally on a vacation hearing COM
motion left his work and went OUT 10 see "hal
tbo trouble was Realizing that the flames would
soop snread TO the cottages unless stopped. ne
toob charge of the operations. Under his direction
q frightened native was set at work ripping up
tho boards with a crowbar. The worker was so
.a.oo+,,e that Taft the fire would reach
a. NAN before he could tear up the first board
-,o,,nor 1.-The Little Judge bent his broad
-, aroened the end of a board in both hands
-, irI,.d q off Several other boards followed the
- ana the fire was stayed and the cottages
oa dav in 1900 President Mckinley and Judge
~ ,,ers travelling the same train
~ m, ,n need of who is strong, tactfui and
- for an executive in the Philippines said
,i president turning to the former associate or
Taft. ,re. ., ..,;o. ,,,so
~. I,iihu Root, then Secretary OF War was or
the came opinion
1g,.s renIv when he WAS approached and asked
-, ,1,, aside from his ambition 10 become mem
,,sr Of the Supreme Court, in en1c'' was "hs'
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14

eyes are on the ground. and he ruttsrs incoher-
entity. They tell you that Barney is the official
l1Inatc quite harmless. who used to be telegraph
operator. lost all his money in speculation and
does nothing but haunt the place OF his disaster
Figures more pleasant the two stout old women
who have peddled sandwiches to messengers on
tho south side Of the nclosurs from time I'M
memorial and have monopoly by request OF
their friends among the brokers'
An annual business Of s10o.0doo ooo is credited 20
the New York open market
Boston has a curb governed BY committee OF
three. Unlike the American markets. the curbs
Of London Paris and Berlin meet after the regu-
lar exchanges have closed for the day.
The limit Of cheapness. informaity and chance
is by no means reached on the outdoor market
There are sorts OF privately conducted curbs that
do a large mail order business and excite the
ayarce OF backwOOds capitalists with offerings Of
stock positively guaranteed TO yield "a per cent
a year and upward. One of these institutions late
Iy sent out a circular boosting alleged security
with such statements as. The thing you believe
in will benefit you. Faith is hygienic. "
Plenty OF attractive stocks quoted at
cent each and among The list were such names
OF appeal Baby Florence. BoswyOcolo Co. Gold
Bug Johnnie. Lucky EJys. Grandma. Happy Jack
Alaska, Yellow Tiger and Yulture OF Wonder.
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
SOME COMEDIAN STOCKS.

American Squab preferred came on the scene
not long ago. and there were hungry traders who
wished the birds quite so spiritualized
It announced that the shares represented a
sixty-acre squab farm in Pennsylvania, with 4
capacity of thirty thousand breeders capitalized
at S250O00. The promoter of the bird securities
told investors they could have put for one
year at II. meaning that he would buy the stock
back at II, 10 rer cent above par, in case there
was any dissatisfaction. General Electric Display
is another recent stock of a birdlke quality. the
object being TO spread the benefits of the white
and dazzling Rialto illumination to cocoa break
fast food and cocktails throughout the cities of
darker America. Ceuloid natural food and smoke
less powder are regularly listed on the curb.
There comedian stocks and farccal slapsttck
issues that perform antics after of periodic
obscurity. Some of these long ago played engage
III houses of high finance, fell into evil as
sociations, were taken in charge by receivers and
one day made their bow the curb vaudeville to
do a song-and-dance speciality give imta-
ton of themselves in better days. A con-
vulsve sernbance of vivacty often marks such
worn out issues Bay State Gas is the classic
ample OF greatness brought low. Once this Ad
dicks creation highly esteemed and repe
sented a capitalization of $160C00.000 Now in the
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
ALWAYS HUMOROUS.

When you hear n roar of laughter coming from
the direction of the Presidents office in Washing
ton il is a certainty that the Secretary of War is
there. Sometimes 1t is single laugh-the Pres-
dent's-that hears; again it is duet; still
again It is a chorus But, whatever the source, it
is certain that William II. Taft is responsible. No
matter how sombre the day or how sober the crowd
surrounding the President the Secretory of War
is the ray of sunshine that drives the clouds
away and makes the routine of official business
take on a roseate hue. Some dubbed him the
merry candidate and If the habit of looking on
the pleasant side OF every problem. of never nurs-
ing Crouch OF tacklng every knotty question
with a smile and of greeting the world at large
with a handshake and a laugh makes a that
sort of a seeker for office, Mr.. Taft fits the title.
Whole souIed frankness. wide open honesty, broad
gauged Judgment. ''bigness.' but withal thorough
ness are the characteristics that governed his
steady sure ascendency in the public service. Dig
nity with bengnity. joviality with sob!iety justice
with mercy, have endeared him 10 American, Fill
niro Cuban and all the numerous people whose
affairs he has been called to administer. No won
der his unfailine good humor has proved infectious
wherever he has gone and that his popularity to-
day far exceeds that Of all other candidates.
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
IT'S JUST THE CURB.

,zs,t is tie curb tLen. ard how did it happen"
.qs, ne refer You 10 phrase lately become
,ors--he Almighty knows The Curb is itself.
H. hss hesn defined IS the tail end Of the Stock
rssrre. vet the tail sometimes comes near wag-
,r the dog II has been called an infant class
: sner,llators but some Of the infants are SO
tr.v thst they can give points TO the members of
!. -erular exchange. You might call this sur
-,l through the ages OF the primeval market
.s Uhere mems minds met TO settle the prices
commodities according 10 the law of value: but
!. sw Of value has been largely broken down
-, through monopoly. and the system that pre-
as s far from primitive. The Curb has plenty OF
,vs and rules Yet Il has no organization what
s- Everybody has q right to enter the market.
yvsrtheless 2 stranger who butts in is like
-,nnsed animal IN herd of ten thousand buffa-
zoe Il is free association Of individuals, and
rn II is backed by the most powerful financial in
,s-s-s Il has no money, although il could raise
-rBous at moments notice. K is a curiosity, an
s,,1cric freak and financial mystery that would
aka college professor ten years 10 classify. No
h5r knows what Il is. We just call IL the Curb.
Enljrtiened. or perhaps 6arkened, by these re-
,-s ths visitor spent the rest Of his time watch
~ the extraordinary antics Of the men within the
-7e5 inclosure extending from No. 30 10 n Broad
sreet and q the people at lofty windows on both
f3es r. TIE street II seemed like a lunatic asy-
i'm although no we'll conducted asylum would
have such carryinEs-on. man below hawled.
uzEe5 three fingers, made his left arm pump
handle GROSS his stomach. Above. a maniac in
shir sesYss lifted 2 window slide like the door Of
E rabbit a-tch, poked his head through. cried
"Tah yah and pointed his thumb al the sky
TEp yong men stood on q balcony and combined
he Fszes Of Shylock and Bowery boy A
hTs mate glass window swung on its hinge side
EsE snd a youth in a polo cap started TO walk
no Ezce. He stopped on the sill with an arm OF
,s,sslant support and began TO make signs TO
Ezs sne fifty feet below.
Tssphone and telegraph instruments were visible
several windows. Men used them frantically,
hksi down at the surging crowd and again
rurhed I'D receivers and pounded Morse keys. Il
rEf seenl that these persons were merely de
E-hng the superficial aspects OF a riot 10 satisfy
curiosity of distant correspondents. The visitor
srrsd, however that they were transmitting
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
CALL OF THE WILD HEARD ON THE CURB

aIlotments Of stock IN reorganizations II .
speciality Of some curb brokers' These traders %
about with miscellaneous assortment Of one-hffh
Of oil share. seven-thrty- seconds OF railroad
security and eight-ninths of gold mine stock. Try
ing to obtain the missing fractions to complete
q sell their fractions who has
q larger percentage of the whole 1t is Ike match
ing up puzzle. and sometimes odd pteeas OF
shares lie around for years before nndIag theis
mates.
The Stock Exchange does not recognize the curb
and the curb does recognize the Stock Ex-
change yet 50 per cent OF the two hundred mem
bers of the open market represent houses OF the
regular exchange. It is rule Of the exchange not
to permit its members TO do business with any
other stock exchange. and this rule is said TO be
mainly responsible for the disOrganized state of
the curb and open air stand "A mere roof over
head, it is held. would transform the nature OF the
curb from a spontaneous market TO an institution
and compel the regular exchange to enforce its
rule against rivals Years the brokers wearied
of exposure TO winter blasts and summer suns and
tried to become housed. but the organization soon
broke up and the open street was again the rem
devious. Whether making a virtue OF necessity
not. the curb trader to-day processes rnat ne IS
enamored OF his wholesome. natural life IN the
open air. and nothing could induce him 70 spend
the same five hours in Office confinement
He is proof against changes OF weather and sea-
son In rainy weather he dOns hip boots and yell
low oiIskins like a mariner. He is lightly clad
in August. and keeps moving so that his feet do
not sink far into the gluey asphalt In winter he
dehes bllzzards in fur garments. The curb space
is always cleared by the official sweeper in ad-
vance OF the opening hour. matter how much
snow there may be in the street. and II the snow
continues TO fly the broom keeps pace with II dur
ing the market session.
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
SOME OF HIS DECISIONS.

,-,,.o are innurnerable stories of his considera-
,.an and thoughtfulness. Lawyers who had Jusuce
-, ,belr side but were likely TO lose because OF
heir inability to cope with their acyersaries were
not infrequently helped by the 3uose 70 .'le ~
justice. 49,, .o,. hs,ore him in Ken
-, ,-as a suit for damages, brought by an IN
,~,nerienced lawyer for a girl whose ioo' Ia nniu
- ,or,iv cut off in railroad sccldent Inc
Deen IS drawn I'D poorly, and could have been
peu p on, ON a demurrer from the opposition
sras attorney for the railroad was friend OF
ID raft, while the girls attorney was unknown
- hin, Judge Taft fixed the peiuoh up hlhseii
|" ~ od :, from the onslaught OF the defehce
ana 80" -" Imam recovered the damages and the
Inc saf,od., attorney afterward boasted that
nan r-aheI pas not the only lawyer III Ken
c NAV who could get damages out OF the r railroads
A. another time LAWYER appes' ss $50 hin, =
,,dee to argue case WHICH NAe $500
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
WORK IN PHILIPPINES.

When Taft finally accepted, he illustrated
his character afresh in expressing his reason for
doing so.
Il want to do those people good
That desire may be measured by his dispatch to
President Roosevelt when his chief desired to
fulfil his ambition by appointing him to the Su-
prene bench: Look forward to time when [ can
accept such offer, but If 1t is certain that
it never be repeated I Decline"
Every knows how Taft to be known to
the Fiipinos "Santo' Taft.
story which illustrates his method of getting
into contact with the F1lpnos told of his visit
the province of Bulacan to inaugurate local civil
government. He inquired for the most prominent
person in tie place This parsonage proved 10 be
an ex-captain of Spanish volunteers. According
to Continental custom he appeared dressed as for
great ceremonial. He stiff with dignity, and
his uniform was resplendent with a row OF decora-
lions. Instead of appearing in blaze of military
toggery. as was expected. Taft only suit
of light linen He grasped the little Spanish Of
fCers hand and exclaimed heartily: How dye do?
Glad to see you'
Two weeks later the ex-captain received his COM
mission. When he appeared to take office he too
linen suit, to the astonishment of the
natives who inquired. How is ths?"
1T is no longer customary replied he. he
grasped hand in imitation of the Governor. Taft
introduced the glad hand and democracy in the
Philippines.
So many successful great labors have been per-
formed in the sight of the world by the probable
candidate of the Republican party in the few years
that have elapsed since he accepted the appoint
ment on the Philippine Commission that one can
hardly realize he was so little known the time
OF his appointment that newspaper of Bos-
ton that city of light and leading in printing
sketch of appointee printed that of his brother.
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
ORDER IN ITS DISORDER.

A policeman of the traffic squad walked around
the ropcd incosure. exchanging banter and playful
hand grips with bareheaded young men who blinked
I'm the sunshine. faded replica of famous diplo-
mat. in spats and smoking a bulldog pipe paused
10 instruct the small of the rotund Italian street
sweeper special cmploye OF the market. how to
give enemies the solar plexus knockout. Messen-
gers in red caps and identifying buttons scurried
about taking orders. 4 dreamy eyed, black haired
man. il soft hat, paced the asphalt oblivious of
tauntnG offers TO buy sell shouted in his face,
and he glanced upward at the graceful figures
struck by santng light in the pediment of the
Stock Exchange Building a group of men gath
cred beside the iron column of the market clock
and read on a small blackboard the latest edict of
Z. s. Mendels the self-apponted and universally
obeyed of the curb Disorder in the mob
seemed accentuated by the lack of trading posts.
in the stock exchanges; yet little study showed
that mines fourished in the southeast corner. and
there distinct places for industrals railroads
and miscellaneous stocks. This is not so wonder
ful. as the man said who learned how the calf got
through knot hole: the traders were trained by
the use Of posts. and now they have the habit.
Everything about the curb is a curiosity.
Everything is laughable You laugh at the chew
ing gum stock until YOU learn that the American
Chicle Company is capitalized at sl0oOo,ooo,
owns nearly three million acres of chicle or gum
tree land in Mexico. keeps wagging the Jaws of
SIS per cent of the chewing gum consumers of the
United States and pays such dividends thatIts
common stock is quoted around lis All the
favorite brands owned by the trust It is
impossible to laugh al such an aggregation of
wealth. Snuff has possibilities of humor until
you know that the sneezing market has been cor
nere6 and made respectable and remunerative by
the tobacco combination There is soap at the
modest price of $40 share
a candy company organized few years ago
as consolidation of twenty plants, Is capitalized
at So. 100000. has annual output Of 7o.00o,oOO
pounds of tooth destruction and yields a hand
some profit to its stockholders. No Jest could be
levelled at Borden's Condensed MIX. quoted on
the curb around 140 at Eastman Kodak at
24O nor al the stock of the knowledge -by-corre
spondence trust, which is capitalized at sl0ooo.-
co. with electro therapeutics and X-ray clinic
on the side. There is joke about the par value
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14

hands of receiver. It is quoted on the curb
around thirteen-sixteenths of a dollar ana oc-
casionaIly varies the monotony of the last funeral
rites with a sEscsmodic upward movement How
ever a corpse is not always a corpse Take the
so-called Northern Securities stubs, which repre-
sent the remains of a great railroad merger dis
solved by the Supreme Court seven years ago
The company reduced TO one-hundredth part OF its
1895 capitalization, still valuable coal
lands pays dividends aad is quoted at 106.
The yearning discount the future finds express
sion in the trading in Tights-otherwtse the priv-
lege of stockholders to subscribe for issues at
par-Iong months before the rights become due.
Active curb trading takes place new bond
issues before they be listed on the Stock EX-
change There is even buying and selling of the
unknown. based the report that certain df-
rectors will issue certain securities. and the caba
istic sign 'v. IL covers most contingencies. mean
ing when if and issued" It is somewhat like
betting that certain horse will time win the
race if the animal enters the race and if some
other animal doesn't get there first Yet the gal
liant spectators of the open market don't mind
such minor uncertainties.
When A runor spread of the future merger of
New York car lines that proved to be the Inter
horoUg metropolitan the men Of the curb buslly
dealt in an ina aginary issue of Consolidated Trac-
ton and later of them repudiated their con-
tracts on the ground that Interborough-Netrop
itan and Consolidated Traction were different prop
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
A SELF-APPOINTED RULER.

E s. MendeIs the seIf-appointed autocrat OF ths
curb is a rotund. cheerful. smiling son of Louisf-
ana who has devised the laws of the market after
thirty-fve years experience and has found them
good in his sight
II marvel at my own power. which I have given
to myself he says You see how walk UP and
down the line settling disputes and issuing edicts
that are instantly Obeyed. Here Is the book OF my
statutes prescribing the details with which all
business shall be transacted. Here is pink card
and a green card and a yellow card. conveying
nv various desires The blackboard on the street
carries my immediate messages I issue buttons
to official messengers, fix their rate Of charges,
keen a register Of legitimate stocks forbid trad
ing with strangers and assess voluntary tax or
sl2 a year upon each of my subjects TO pay street
cleaning and office expenses. How 1 manage TO
do all this without the backing OF an army and
a navy. not TO mention such things as constitu-
tions, ballots and means of moulding public opin-
ion, is rather beyond my comprehension Once IN
a while I create temporary kitchen cabinet to
assist me. But 1 am careful to avoid every ap-
pearance Of organization and constitutional gov
eminent. There is probably use specializing
how 1 rose power. why am able to govern
what doesn't exist and what will happen when 1
choose to lay down the sCcptre. Perhaps history
will not Judge me harshIy when it learns that
Iabored as czar without salary OF other material
reward
The curb has its characters. Amos sterse, ex-
Mayor OF OIL City Penn, IS pointed out as one
of the big operators. There is broad shouldered
and handsome Billy Gala CHER. with his short
trimmed blonde mustache. who makes things hum
in the mining field and might serve for the model
of the hero in FRIDAY. the Thirteenth n slight
chinned youth is indicated Osborne, leading
juvenile in the Helen Maloney eIopenent affair
Franklin Leonard jr., is a lawyer and an ofTlcer
in several mining companies. There are other law
vers Some Of the old curb lights shining In
the Stock Exchange. and others have dwindled out
in places respectable.
An unkempt gray ghost, living sermon, stands
or slowly PAGES for five hours every day the as
phaIt on the north side Of the rope barrier. His
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
AN IMPARTIAL JUDGE.

On another occasion. having heard that the re-
ceivers of a number of Ohio railroads were paying
rebates he summoned them TO appear BEFORE hlrn'
Among them was Myron T Herrick, who after
ward became Governor. The two were close 1rlehcs'
and Mr and Mrs. Herrick were invited TO stay at
tho Taft home while in Cincinnati. The morning
folIouAng the arrival OF Mr.. and Mrs Herrick the
former went TO the chambers Of their most Tor ule
n,Irrose of transacting the business Whlch hao
brought him to Cincinnati
The conversation something ike thls'
..Nvron have you been rebating?
NJ FJerrick laid down a statement "hlch iiui-
ca+ed that $4,000 had been paid TO shippers.
..Nvron ." said the judge, after looking AT 'le
statement .'if you have done this thing you cah-
NOT be permitted to escape o-
Mr. Herrick explained. The sum Represented an
orlfgation which he had inherited as a recei'ei-
Morally he was bound to pay it, altnough 1t was
not an obligation Of his contracting
We'll that is different said Judge Ia1t win
.i,b of relief please hereafter let me setie
judicial questions he continued, with MS Joiiy
laugh Il will enter order for the payment VI
these claims. which are unquestionanly just i"1
have taken a great load from my nina. eiouiu
not have liked TO convict you Of rebating-
When Tafts integrity was questioned IN the ieHs'
his wrath would flame forth On one occasion d
man who had heard some gossip about "hat Ial. @
,,,orId do in connection with a certain case went
10 the judge. ,. - r,, not
..reorJe are saying" said he 'that you VIII mol
- ,,1i i,,stice 10 one side in this case
won get out of here" Judge Taft shouted OF
I'll throw you outi'
r-be case It so happened. was not before MIN at
u but he would not tolerate a tattler
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14
. !. Mob of Lunatics. But Mart Where Millions
of Dollars Made and Lost

ns, What is this?" exclaimed an
sG-tsl n ,,stor at sight of a noisy, riotous mob
So .sntre q! Broad street
he oei'.s market for cats and dogs" replied
'1hs work friend and guide
s N .,ev sell such things so close I" the Stock
90 ne Say did YOU hear that fellow
rthsnse,,., hundred bullfrogs az an eighth?
,ssTs - no a hig demand for frogs legs /
,ssTe ny ~ s.snciers cat 'ern. Look. look UP
,rsss u, -. fellows wigging their fingers at the
sfTe . a,ross the street They're either deaf
fiuao"s, o- they're crazy. Jenlina. that chap in
% GU slaeyes is walking right out Of the third
: sHaU Hes standing on the sill. Hell
sued il he jumps
pMs ..Nhatever happens down here is en-
ea+,rsI 10 the district You expect to see
gNE - she circus This is the financial CIR
f'aoS.s .sarn5se known as the Curb Market"
60. =. o-e the cats and dogs You meutioned?'
N"e tho society FOR the Prevention Of Cru
animals has them in charge the present
u :, The Curb is trading just now in squads
| f'a'.sv and chewing gum. These are bona
y ~-;lss while the bUlfross You heard repre-
| y sa-es in a gold mine of thar name. Pups are
~ SUI bousht and sold. You can make bet
- section and on TIE candidates who may be
80 by The conventions You can invest
On runor. hank On the future and copper
= .,choate and uncreate-
bn.s public gambling house,
n.n II can't be house. because its outside
r4ile there are stocks offered al cents a
-. snd vou can buy securities FOR the price OF
saas shirt and pay commission that a self
...r,i,s waiter would refuse tip. there are
p bonds and stocks OF a gilt-edged character
--,assed by anything on the worlds exchanges
-. standard OIL and American Tobacco. for in
- The most costly and imperial securities
: eBoNs wiki beggars that ought To be per
t-i,e the function Of wall paper in a barn
New-York tribune., 1908-06-14

AS Judge Taft was fair as he was courageous
The trial of Youtscy, who was charged with the
looting Of the Newport (Sy) National Bank was
held before him. IF the verdict is guilty said
Yortsey's attorney. after the Jury went out, We
might as well give up. for there's not a single
exception I can file TO one of the judge S
rulings He is absolutely the fairest judge nave
ever seen the bench.
Friendship or relationship he would not permit
TO interfere with justice. On one occasion he de-
cided against his father-in-law- 1t is said that
Heron was exceedingly provoked with his soh-
in-law The former appealed the case, ana uie
decision Of the latter was sustained