davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
THE INITIATIVE JAPS.

The Japanese are doing everything
possible to "westernize" themselves,
even unto adding to the height of
their meu. From the New York Trib-
une We take the following:
Japanese psychologists have express
ed the opinion that national short-leg-
gedness is the result of doing with
out chairs, the habit of sitting on the
floor with extremities folded up like
patent scissors hampering the growth
of the thigh and shin bones. This once
proved, the government sought to rem
edy the affiiction with characteristic
thoroughness. Says THE Standard"
correspondent:
Consequently the medical staff of
the Japanest army has for some years
been putting the native soldiers
i! through strict gymnastic and die
tary discipline, insisting that the move
ment be carried into the homes of the
people, until all should be obsessed
with the desire to grow tall, or pro-
duce progeny with this qualification
for citizenship. Mothers and nurses
are being advised not to carry their
babies on the their backs, as the GUS
tom Is deemed sufficient to account for
the prevalence CT handy legs among
the Japanese. The nation is besought,
and the soldiers are required. to sit
on something higher than the floor It
is interesting to note that these expe-
riments are regarded as On the whole
satisfactory. The army surgeons aver
that in the few years that they have
been able to give any proper attention
TO the subject the physical condition
Of the Japanese soldier has shown
marked Improvement and that an ap-
preciable increase of stature can be
noticed"
Mr.. Hearst still keeps the politicians
of both parties guessing-in fact he
has them guessing more than ever
since his announcement that the in
dependence party is not going to sup
port Messrs. Roosevelt, Bryan or john
son. Now the question is: Who is the
independence party for? The only an
swer can be, Hearst but surely he
does not expect to secure the election;
but then, when the republican party
SIdlIeO II ndu HO DTiSHleF prospects,
in the public mind, than now has Mr..
Hearst's independence party, but still
it has with the exception of two presi-
Dental terms controlled the govern
ment for the last fifty years.
Those folks who ridicule Mr.
Hearts political schemes now may live
to see the day when they are the &C
cepted doctrines of the party in con-
troll of the government.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
WILMINGTON As PLEASURE RE-
SORT

Wilmington and other cities Of IL.
south would do well TO follow tn
example of Columbia. S. C., In tn.
matter of advertising its advantages.
That city has Just appropriated fivs
thousand dollars to I've used In adyer-
Using the city-as a place Of business
advantages and pleasant residence.
Why cannot Wilmington do some
thing of the same sort? Surely our
city has advantages over Columbia
She could offer great inducements
to both seekers OF summer and
winter homes Our seashore resorts
are in point Of natural advantages
unsurpassed by those of any part
of the south Atlantic coast and as
a winter resort for the people who
fee from the vigorous climate
in the northern states our section
cannot be surpassed At this time
of the year our state papers contain
accounts Of people from the north
arriving in this and that town 10
spent a while, but there is nothing
about parties coming to Wilmington
70 rthe winter. Why is this? Is 1t
because Wilmington does not offer
such people any inducement TO come
here? There is no effort made to Sc
cure that class OF patronage. Our
hotels, our boarding houses and our
railroads seem to be dead to the
fact that this city could be made
resort in winter for people from the
north il the effort was made to get
them here Progressive as our town
is in most things this is one matter
in which the people have been wo-
fully negligent and it is time that
they were arousing themselves to
their own interests and to the gen.
eral welfare of this city. Wilmington
could be made one Of the most popular
winter and summer resorts on the
south Atlantic coasts If her people
would only turn their attention to
the business of making her attrac-
tive to the class of people who seek
pleasant location for winter or sum-
mer sojourning.
II Columbia can afford to spend
five thousand dollars in advertising
her advantages as a business and
residence city with the expectation Of
getting fitting returns surely it would
pay Wilmington to do the same,
for her natural advantages are so
much greater.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
NO ENDORSEMENT OF BRYAN

We are delighted to see that the
democratic executive committee OF this
state at it's meeting on Wednesday re-
fused to declare in favor OF William
piiaant fact that the committee at the
sare time refused TO declare that 1t
had mo right to officially advocate the
claims of any candidate. BY tabling
the second resolution the committee
put itself On record as holding that
it had the right, If it chose to do 50,
to declare its choice for the dem
ecratic nomination for president, as
the executive committees in many
states have done; but while construc-
lively maintaining the right to do this,
the committee by a large majority,
tabled a resolution advocating the can
didacy of Mr.. Bryan. In doing so the
committee was perfectly right, and we
believe that it voiced the sentiments
OF the majority OF tine democratic vot-
crs of the state. We know that large
proportion of the Office seekers and OF
the so-called leaders of the party in
the state are or pretend TO be for Mr.
Bryan-becuase they feel sure that
he is going TO be nominated and fool
themselves into the believ that there
is some chance Of his being elected
but among the rank and file of the
party, the solid business men of the
state, the taxpayers, the promoters Of
industry and the leaders Of progress
and development there is a very small
proportion who wish to see him our
next president, and in refusing to en-
6orse his candidacy the democratic ex-
ecutive committee declared the senti
ments of men who form the backbone
OF the democratic party OF the state.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

We regret exceedingly that this con-
sroversy should have arisen between
Rev. W. E Hocutt and the New Han
over board OF county commissioners
Had Ar. Hocutt made n more careful
of the facts he would
Tot have made such statements IN hs
did in his two Communications 10 The
News and Observer. We think In time
he will come to regret that he wrote
lis letters to the public without more
careful Investigation into the real con-
SItions and existence OF facts
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

The Chicago police now state that
the man who attempted to assassinate
the chief of police of that city had no
accomplices; that he was not Connect
ed with any anarchist club or society.
We hope this is true for we hate to
think that there is a band OF men in
this country sworn to the secret as
sassination of the officers OF the law
who try To do their duty; but at the
same time we are not willing to take
as proof positive the opinion of the
Chicago police that there Is no such
organization in this country The facts
II connection with certain recent oc-
currences are against such belief We
wish we could say that they were not
so; but we cannot Admitting the
truth of the statement of the man who
killed the priest at the altar Of the
church in Denver that he was mistak-
en- In the identity of his victim, It il
only more clearly shown that there is
certain Italian priest of the Roman
Catholic faith in this country who has
heen condemned to death by some So
ciety secretly organized and conduct
ed by Italians. That such societies ex-
ist cannot be desired and it is equally
as well established that they have an
archists in this country, and 1t strikes
us that it should be equally as plain
tc every true American citizen that
1t Is the duty of every one of them
to break up such societies If it has to
be done by running down and extermi-
hating every one of their members
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

That was one way to put down riot
ing strikers which was adopted by the
military authorities at Iquique. Chile,
but it was a horrible way-to NOW
them down with rapid-fire guns. 1t
is said that over two thousand were
killed: though the government Off
cials, in an effort to conceal the enor-
nifty of the slaughter, has issued a
statement that less than two hundred
men lost their lives The strike was
ended, however, the survivors return
ing to their work in the nitrate beds.
This was a bloodier proceeding than
the means adopted by Napoleon to
put down the insurrection in Paris.
He used cannon against the rioters,
but not with such fearful results.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
WILMINGTON. \. c.
WILMINGTON AS A SEAPORT.

The leading editorial in the Char
Iotte News of the 18th instant is ON
the subject: Wilmington as a Sea-
port" 1t starts out by saying THAI
few people realize the importance or
Wilmington as a seaport town. The
News then goes on to quote from
recent article in The Messenger CIV
ing the figures showing the remark
able excess of cotton receipts and ex-
ports at this port for the present
crop year over those Of the same
period last year, showing, in fact,
that our city's receipts and exports
have exceeded those OF any previous
year and showing, which is still
more important, that the receipts at
nearly all the other cotton exporting
ports from the beginning of the crop
year to date are smaller than those
of last year. OF all the ports Will
mington is the only one whose re-
greater than for the same time last
year This shows most clearly that
Wilmington is making tremendous
strides as cotton exporting port
After quoting the Messengers article
The News comments as follows on
Wilmingto9's Importance to the state
as a seaport and the great advantage
it will be to the whole state for our
city to secure a thirty foot channel
TO the sea:
1T is we'll nigh impossible to over
estimate the value Of large seaport
to neighboring territory. The growth
OF Wilmington's shipping business
means the growth of North Caro-
lima.
In this connection it is good to
observe the general interest that has
been shown in the project for dig
ging a 30-foot channel from Whining
port at Wilmington capable of ac-
commodating the largest vessels that
ply the sea. The consummation of
this giant project will mean a new
era in the commercial life of the
state With water competition in
freight hauling, rates that have here
tcfore been abnormally high because
of our inferior port facilities, can be
forced down.
THE growth recorded at Whining
ton is fine illustration of the
growth throughout the state, and
the future of that city is closely al
lied with the future Of the state"
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

husband and trying TO get a separa-
ton from him. II locks like Evelyn
Thaw Is again taking heroic action 70
free him from his Imprisonment This
has been q horrible. disgusting esse
from beginning TO end. but We cann6f
help admiring the pluck OF the little
woman who has SO heroically stood by
her husband We cannot believe that
any woman who would have willingly
submitted TO the fearful ordeal abe
underwent In the trial OF her husband
would. now when the trial is over.
desert him and seek for separation
from him in the divorce courts We
cannot but think that II Is q plan 90
have the courts declare him n sane
man and thereby secure his release
from confinement
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
TOO MUCH LEGISLATION.

Senator Odell, of Cabarrus county,
thinks our legislature meets too often;
that it should hold only one session
i'll every four years and then for a
term of ninety days. We agree with
the senator. There is entirely too
much legislature-that is too fire.
quent changes of the laws. With a
session every four years and for
ninety days, instead of every two
years and for only sixty days, as is
now the law, such frequent changes
of the law as the people of the state
often suffer from would be avoided
and with the longer term more care
ful consideration could be given to
important legislation. The sessions
resulting in hasty legislation and in
the consequent rush bills are at times
sneaked through which should never
be allowed to become laws and would
not be if there was more deliberation
in the proceedings. The Concord
Tribune quotes Senator Odeu on this
subject as follows:
Tn regard to the general workings
OF the legislature, l sincerely believe
that the general assembly ought to
meet only every four years, and
hold for ninety days or as long only
as would be necessary to conduct
the business that might come up for
consideration. My experience in
legislatures has been that the more
time one has to deliberate and con-
slider the more conservative legis-
lation can be had"
Ia the same interview Mr.. Odell,
who has been urged to become a
candidate for the nomination for
state treasurer by the democratic
convention, announces that he vi:
not be candidate.
Mr.. Odell is one of the leading
business men of his section of the
state, and his views on any public
question are worthy of attention.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
LATEST MOVE IN THAW CASE.

The press OF the day is full OF news
items about the Institution Of suit
for divorce by Mrs. Evelyn Thaw
against her imprisoned husband on the
ground that he was insane at the time
the wedding or marriage contract was
executed between them and therefore
that there was no legal marriage. Did
it ever strike our readers that this
was a plan to get Thaw out Of the
asylum for the criminal insane!
Through his attorneys he will fight the
case. His contention will be that he
was perfectly sane at the time OF the
marriage, but that, even IL insane At
that time, he has since that time re-
by his conduct in recognizing the
marriage, ratified the contract. Such
a finding by the jury would amount TO
a declaration that though he may have
been insane at the time Of his mar
riage and when he shot White he has
since that time recovered from his
mental disorder and is now sane and
in his right mind. Such finding would
entitIe him under the laws OF New
York to his discharge from Matteawan
asylum and would make him a free
man. Instead of going back on her
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Emperor William has turned artist.
He is to paint the picture Of Mrs.
Harold Mccormick, a daughter Of
John d. Rockefeller and the wife of
one of Chicago's wealthiest men. 1t
is not announced what Kaiser Will
liam's fee will be for the work. Mrs
Mccormick seems to be a favorite
at the German royal palace. On he:
last visit there the emperor asked
the privilege of painting her por-
trait, and press dispatch states it
was graciously granted.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Mr.. w. E. Hocutt's letter to The
News and Observer about conditions
in this county is likely to cause more
Of a stir than he thought it would
when he wrote the newspaper article
The News and Observer of yesterday
stated that 1t would in today's issue
publish the county commissioners let
ter and another article from Mr.. Ho-
cutt. 1t made no explanation as to
why it did not publish the letter from
the commissioners in yesterdays issue,
which must have reached that Office
in plenty of time for Wednesdays pa
per. The letter was mailed here Mon
day afternoon and should-and no
doubt did-reach Raleigh about mid
night OF the same day. Why the delay
until Thursday is not explained
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
How TO Build N Town.

The fact that Charlotte won the
democratic state convention here
this week calls attention TO the good
things in that progressive city Chief
among them has been it's successful
building and loans associations The
monthly receipts of the three assoGie-
tions exceed fifty thousand dollars.
One OF the companies last week
opened its flfty-first series with over
500 shares sold. One association
has paid out in twenty-five years To
shareholder $2,50O,0 900 and made net
profits Of over 100000. It's last year'g
business WIS over s1,1000,00. Justice
Walker, OF the supreme court. recent
ly said that he attributed much OF
Charlotte's development to the impe-
tus given to saving and home build-
ing that has come out OF the build
ing and loan movement-Newe and
Observer.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

What a pity Georgias constitution
requires that there shall be an cleo
ton for governor every two years
Just think of IL. Tho people have
got to go through with another Hoe
Smith campaign for the nomination
next summer. We thought they had
enough OF that kind of politics dur
ing the last year 10 last them for
decade. But Georgians ike some
people in this state are not saths-
fed unless they are ever in a poll
tical turmoil
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

We suppose the plea of guilty of
murder in the first degree by Harry
Orchard on the charge Of numbering
Ex-Governor Steuaenberg, of Idaho,
will put an end to that famous case
Our readers remember that Orchard
claimed that he was hired by Hay
wood, Pittibone and Meyer Of miners
federation to commit the murder; that
the first two named were tried and ac-
without trial.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
OVERMAN's REELECTION.

Not long ago the Concord Tribune
offered to pay five dollars for every
good reason offered why Senator Ov-
slman should not be reelected. That
cffer is still standing, but we have no.
heard of that paper having to pay out
single fve dollar bill on it's offer or
that any one had attempted to secure
the prize. Why this is SO is perfect
ly patent. No one can advance any
reason for the senator's retirement.
There is one man in the state who
thinks he should nave the place, but
he does not even dare to openly con-
tend for the place Or to claim that the
state would be benefited by substitut-
ing him for the present senator. We
believe that he would admit, if he gave
sencere opinion and would put am
tition and selfishness aside, that the
state would be doing a very foolish
thing were it to put Senator Overman
aside to be replaced by any other man
cannot see now any man in the state
can favor the supplanting at this time
OF Senator Overman by any other man.
Has any one got any fault to find
with Mr.. Overman since he has been
senator? Can any one point to single
act Of his which has made him un-
worthy of the high Office to which he
has been called by the people of his
state? Can any one give good reason
why he should be supplanted at this
time by some one else? Can any man
who may ask the next legislature to
choose himself in Mr.. Overman's place
give any other reason for it's doing
30 than the one than he wants the
honor and the salary of the Office? We
have heard of no man yet mentioned
the high position in his first term that
Mr.. Overman has, and most certainly
not one of them could go to the SEN
ate and at the beginning of his term
take the stand that Senator Overman
would after six years service in the
senate. We do not believe the peo-
pie of North Carolina are going to
be 50 foolish, are going to pursue so
suicidal a course politically as to re-
tire Mr.. Overman, in other words to
crafty the personal vanity or political
ambition Of any man. no matter how
popular the latter may be or how ac-
eeptably he may have filled some 9TH
or office. The people know Mr.. Ov-
erman and they recognize the promi-
nence he has given his state in ma
tional affairs and we feel sure that
they will demand his reelection. Some
papers in the state say that in order
to secure his reelection the friends OF
Senator Oyerman have work before
them We cannot believe it We do
not believe our people are SO blind to
their own interests and to the enviable
the state has established
through the high position Senator
Overman has taken in the senate and
T-e
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
The Charlotte Chronicle say. II

The Charlotte Chronicle says II
wants the democratic convention 90
be held in that city to see what the
words building improvements" mean
If that is the object Of the demo-
cratic state convention II should be
held in Wilmington for our city
can show greater building improve
ments than any city in the state.
and wo do not have TO take In .
whole township To show these i'm
provements either.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

IL the council or statesmen OF the IN
ion His friends must see 10 It that
I'm the choice OF candidates for the leg
islatare men representing the viii OF
,he people are chosen instead OF the
strikers OF some opposing candidate.
That u all that Is Necessary.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
RUMORs OF SLATE FOR 1912.

We hear 1t Is whispered in Raleigh
that the democratic slate for four years
hence has been made out already. It
is to the effect that Mr.. Craig Is 70
tecome governor; that during the lat
ter part Of his term Senator Simmons
is to resign and Mr.. Craig is to appoint
Hon. c. B. Aycock to the unexpired
term, who will be candidate for cleo
ton to succeed himself by the legisla-
ture which will convene in January
1913 Senator Simmons is to be Mr..
Craig's successor as governor, he be-
ing the democratic nominee in the cleo
ton Of 1912 The term of the next
governor will expire in January 1913
and that of Senator Simmons in March
of the same year. The legislature
which will meet in January 1913 will
elect a senator for term of six years
from the following March 4th. OF
course We do not make the assertion
that there is any such scheme on
hand only that we have it on re-
liable authority that there are whis-
perings in Raleigh of the existence of
such a plan. The dates fit in mighty
nicely; but, then:
THE best laid schemes O. mice an
men
Gang aft a-gley;
And lea'e US naught but grief and
pain
For promised joy"
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

If Mr.. M. N. Harshaw. of Caldwell
county. becomes the republican candi-
date for congress in the Eighth dis
trict he will run on a platform which
endorses the Appalachian park bill,
while Mr.. Hackett, as his democratic
opponent, will oppose the measure
This is peculiar position for the con-
gressional candidates to occupy.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

The battleship feet is lahead of
its schedule time 1t was expected
to reach Magdelena Bay today, which
is two days ahead of the time map
ped out for it. So far the cruise has
been without accident and has been
the most remarkable one in the his
tory of the navies of the world.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Old man Reece, of the Greensboro
Record, is rejoicing that ''it will soon
be time for the peek-a-boo waist. :"
Shame on you; old man. We did not
think it OF you. But then
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

The Greesboro Record consoles it
self with the thought that Charlotts
can not get the districts congression-
al and judicial conventions That pa
per says monkey and parrot time
i expected when the former is pulled
of. That being the case, we suppose
Charlotte would not care to have it
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Admiral Evans talks like he ex-
poets his warships to have something
to do in the Pacific more serious than
breaking sailing records.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17
WAS TT a CRAIG VICTORY?

The Charlotte papers are rejoicing
over their city having secured the
democratic state convention. We con-
gratulate the people of that city upon
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Governor Glenn will be kept pretty
busy If he carries out his declared in
tention OF making seventy-fiye speeches
before May Goth.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

With the prohibition campaign and
the contest for Offices the people OF this
state may expect warm time for the
next two months.
The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-03-17

Little Willie-Say, pa. what IN a
football coach.
Pat must be another name for
an ambulance-Exchange