davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1908-02-22
Nail His Ear.

Mr.. ROOSEVELT having heard unex-
pectedly of an intention TO reduce wages
on the part of several railroads, in his
surprise and agitation instantly ordered
an investigation by the Interstate Com
merce Commission; and this after having
been at the pains to inform himself tnat
no investigation was necessary, the COM
mission being already in possession Of
all the facts in the matter. Whereupon
Mr.. ROOSEVELT makes public his de-
mand for the investigation, which pub
hcity was the main intention.
There was once a mob designing to
maltreat an unhappy victim, but in a
sore quandary how to proceed. Whereat
a gentle feminine voice was heard to
cry: "Oh, please do not nail his ear to
the pumpl" Hesitancy thus dispelled,
delay was no longer excusable.
There might have been some doubt
or indecision on the part Of the employ
ees as to the manner IN which they
should treat the proposition to lower
their wages. It was even suppoeable
that they might acquiesce blindly and
fatuously, if not even submit cheerfully.
Mr.. ROOSEVELT seizes the prOpitious
moment to observe, in his demand for
the investigation;
AN Industrial conflict between . railroad corpora
ton and Its employees offers peculiar opportunities
tn any small number OF evil disposed persons TO
destroy life and property and fomens public
disorder"
The sympathetic and womanly appeal
in the matter of the pump was coarse
and disingenuous as compared with the
delicacy and subtlety Of Mr.. ROOsEvELT's g
inspiration. In fact, his whole letter to
the commission, in respect of its suavity
and Of the extreme elegance of its indi-
rection, will live in history as a model
.sof intellectual acuity. 1t is as if some
one had solved that most refractory of
problems, how to set fire to a. haystack
with pint of buttermilk.
Conscious as we are Of the risk we run
Of appearing to lack Difference, we have,
nevertheless, the temerity to observe
that Mr.. RoosEvELT's intense desire for
information, as set forth in his letter to
the commission, was a tTifle overdone.
1t failed in the matter of intellectual
symmetry. In fact, the vulgar would
allow that it smacked Of affeCtation.
We must. however, confess to a Friev-
GUS misdoubt Of our own judgment in
those matters, since We are informed
that the employees of the railroads are
everywhere, SO far, accepting the pro-
posed reductions. 1t is far from COM
plimentary to their intelligence, which is
clearly impervious to the higher forms
Of rhetoric.
The sun., 1908-02-22

To EMn EpIEon on TEE SUN-SI: The
Prpaident's letter 10 tho Interstate COM
meros Commission IL on the surface well
enough. Beneath the Rlrfacs Il 10 gus-
ceptible Of many constructions. But above
and beyond all other considerations. Why
should the Presidents letter have been
written and published &C all3
Presumably this commission knows all
about the Erdmann law OF 1893. Its mem
bers are aware that in case either party
20 q conflict between capital ard labor
calls upon them for intervention the ma
chinery In provided by statute. To remind
them Of this 10 20 obviously unnecessary
that one is moved TO instant inquisition.
Certain railway companies. notably at
present the Louisville and Nashville and
the Southern. have declared that they
must soon reduce wages. Others may or
may not follow. That is neither here
nor there. When they do accept the in
Ovttable. and when a conflict with their
employees arises. and when either side
appeals to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission as provided by law, IL will be time
for the body In question to move. Mean
while, a. IL seems, the commission must
certainly realize its obligations and duties
In the premises. Why should President
Roosevelt have assumed the contrary;
and why, especially. should he have made
public his message Of warning and admo-
nition2
People have noted. OF course, his reference
to the attempt Of small number OF evil dis
posed persons TO destroy life and property
and foment public disorder In the event OF
an industrial conflict. and follow closely his
suggestion that these should be suppressed.
Is It not plain, however, whether Mr.. Roose-
welt intended IL or not, that the idea thus
conveyed is that organized" labor only
shall be considered and the solicitudes Of
the Interstate Commerce Commission ad-
dressed exclusively to it, paoification and
eventual reinstatement? There is nothing
in his letter even limiting at the vast num-
ber Of non-union laborers who, without
seeking to destroy life or property, wish
only protection in the pursuit Of life and
happiness as guaranteed by the COnsti-
tuition.
But why, upon the eve Of a national elec-
ton, does the President Of the United States
conceive and publish this extraordinary
letter. In IL that he wants to remind or
ganized labor Of his undiminished friend
ship, or, still darker thought, that he would
warn the unorganized and therefore neg
| hgible millions to stay their hands?
And in all this where does the Hon. WILL
lam H. Taft standG He is the Secretary
Of War. absent on electioneering duty,
His record speaks for itself. His portfolio
is in the hands Of underhngs. He presents
to-day the most abiect spectacle the Amer
ican people have been asked to contem
plate since the foundation Of the republic.
WASHINGTON, February 2l. r.
The sun., 1908-02-22

he was not thoroughly competent
commander and might have prolonged
the defence Of Port Arthur and held
General NooI's veteran army in front
Of Il. NoGI it was who turned KURo-
PATKrs's right at Sinmintun and dc.
cided the battle OF Mukden. Yet we
find that KUBoPATKIN Is SToEssEL's 8
most lenient critic, another proof Of the
Russian commanders greatness Of soul.
He it was who said recently:
II SroBsSRL had not surrendered Port Arthur,
but had held out till the Japanese carried It By
assault then one would have FAised me question
OF sTOuSsEL's Illegally retaining tho command Of
the fortress. bus every one would have found thAt
he aCted energetlcaIly and In q manner calculated
70 promote the interests Of Russia, But sroEsSEL'
did not hold cut 70 the last gasp. and therefore he
must now be judged BY all the riEOr Of the law
It is a fact that General KURoPATKN
esteemed SToEssEL highly a. q last
ditch fighter, and for that reason con-
doned his offence Of disobeying orders
and withholding the command from
SMIRNOEF, his rival, whom the findings
Of the court acquitted. SToEssEL's 8
record seemed to show that there was
no better man to hold a fortified or
intrenched position, and while he was
a martinez his courage had not been
impugned. At Port Arthur he failed
a little earlier than q man Of sterner
stuff would have failed, and by his tyr
amy and meaner qualities earned the
hatred Of many Of his subordinates.
A man of truly heroic mould like GEORGE
STUART WHITE was the man the ordeal
called for. When the war ended the
rage Of a humiliated people, as well as
the resentment and malice Of the Rus
sian army, fell upon SToEssEL, the scape-
goat, like a storm. Failure found him
out Success would never have bla-
zoned to the world the infamy that he
was a coward.
The sun., 1908-02-22
TO PLEAD FOR COMBINATIONS
civic Federation to Name Committee to
Go 60 Washington.


A special meeting Of the national execu-
tive committee Of the Civic Federation was
held yesterday, at which arrangements
were made to send a delegation Of 100 TO
Washington to go before the Interstate
Commerce Committee Of the Senate on
March Q and before the Interstate Com
merce Judiciary Committee of the House
ON March 7. The mission will be to submit
resolutions embodying proposed amend
ments to the Sherman antitrust act
adopted at the national conference OF the
federation In Chicago last October.
Among other things the resolutions urge
on Congress 70 pass legislation providing
for a nom partisan commission in which
the interests OF capital, labor and the public
will be represented, which among other
things will recommend plans for the modi-
fications Of the prohibition now existing
upon combinations on the following sub
jects: National and local organizations Of
labor and their trade agreements with en-
ployers relating to wages, hours OF LABOR
and conditions OF employment; associations
made up of farmers intended 10 secure 4
stable and equitable market for the prod
uCts Of the soil, free from fluctuations due
to speculation; business or industrial agree
ments or combinations whose objects are
In the public interest as distinguished from
objects determined TO be contrary to tho
public interest. -.
This commission, It is recommended, is
to make an inquiry into the advisability of
inaugurating a system OF Federal licenses
or incorporation as a condition for the en-
trance OF certain classes OF corporations
upon interstate commerce, and also into the
relation, to the public interest, by the pur-
chase by one corporation of the franchise
or corporate stock OF another.
The sun., 1908-02-22

Aavcnt INTO ne ssnass lntrodncsd an anr-trusf
bn thaa WIN extermnats ths great svlI lS q shan
be put Into force and sHsct. and on December II.
nine days AfteE had been lnducted into OiAos.
bearded the lion In his dsn the Douglas lE hlS hall,
and gave the trust interests OF this country such
drubbinE on the nOOr OF that august body aS they
shall not soon forget"
His faithfulness TO the people is pun
ished. On him, too, monopoly and its
hirelings train all their missiles:
Tho introduction of this IAntI-trustl bill. gen
tlsmsn ana fellow citizens. and the night am max
ing on it have put the whole gang Of subsidized
metropolitan papers OF this nation barking sS my
heels ike o. pack Of hungry wolves nidicule.
abuse and vilincation have been heaped upon mo.
and tor whAt' Because EoTsooth I stand ~ the
champion OF tho poor man In this nght: because
In choosing my political alignment choose the
camp Of the weak and the humble OF tho land
rather than the camp OF the rich and tho strong.
That ls my shining In Arkansas that ls my SHINING
during my brief career In the national Congress-;
but come to you to-day. my friends, TO sound this
note OF warning and TO tel you that thiB Govern
ment. both state and national. must destroy the
trusts or she trusts will destroy the Government
With respect, this conclusion is not
inevitable. Mr.. DAVIS may destroy the
trusts. Mr.. ROOSEVELT may destroy the
trusts or the Government; at any rate,
something will be destroyed and much
has been. Mr.. DAVIS and his fellow
worker should be less downcast. Capt.
tai and business are in the dumps. Their
assailants ought to be happy. Finally,
IL the prophetic soul of the Low Combed
Rooster is not mistaken, a business
buster will be the next President. The
Republicans will nominate Mr.. RoosE-
WELT, the Democrats that -matchless
leader" and 50 forth Of Nebraska. Since,
then, everything is Of good omen for
the foes Of the money king, why can't
Senator DAVIS give up the habit Of using
in his speeches a notorious forged quo
tation' from LINCOLN?
Ny countrymen. see q crisis approaching that
unnerves me and gives me more concern than the
civil war itself: see the time approaching when
all wealth shall be, concentrated in the hands Of
the few. and when that day shall come tremble
for ihe republic ITSELF"
We recognize the poetic license Of a
tribune of the people like Mr.. DAVIS, but,
really, does he have to keep emitting
forgeries?
The sun., 1908-02-22
The Master OF Politics.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-SVr: Several
years ago. when the ofiosr In command Of
the Pennsylvania State troops was vainly
striving to prevent murder and other outraRes
at the hands Of the striking coal miners of
that State and was calling for more troops,
I remember the Joy among those who knew
how an honorable. fearless gentleman should
act. when the word came that the President
would take hand.
First submission to the law. IL It takes the
entire army Of the United States to enforce
it-then consideration Of your grievances. /"
When the labor unions and their leaders were
"mOllycoddled" into a spirit of oomplacent
good humor nine men out OF ten Of Mr..
Roosevelt's education and American ancestry
had feeling Of personal shame.
To-day. in his letter to the Interstate Com
mission. which is plainly threat to the rail-
roads that IL they reduce wages he will try
to make them more unpopular with the
masses. he uses these manly words: "Of
course II life. property and public peace are
endangered prompt and drastic measures for
their protection become the first plain duty.
All other issues then become subordinate to
the preservation of the public peace. and the
real merits of the original controversy are
necessarily lost from view"
But 1t is theory, not a fact. that confrontr
the President. and fear that Mitchell, Com
pers ct al. are winiing the other eye
There is the same political cunning shown
in this letter that was shown four years ago
just before the national campaign. when the
President issued an order placing thousands
OF voting civil war veterans on the pension
list. When the legality Of his act was dues-
toned by Judge Parker on the stump the
reply Of Mr.. Roosevelt was, 1T Is only an
order. and you can now state publicly whether
you will repeal it II elected President A
shrewd political retort. but not the manly
answer of a gentleman. B.W,
NEW YORK. February 81.
The sun., 1908-02-22
StOessei.

II would be a mercy to General STORs-
Sell TO execute upon him the sentence Of
death decreed by military law for sur
rendering Port Arthur: the poor wretch,
IL he is sensitive to contempt and insult,
has died hundred deaths since his re-
turn from Japan, and life can hold
nothing for him but the durance of a
felon, and after that the persecution Of
his own set and the jeers and blows Of
the mob in public places. IL is charity
10 suppose that SToEssEL wanted to
end all when he challenged PETER DUR
Novo. the former Minister Of the Interior
and his implacable enemy, to a duel to
the death. SToEssEL was not the arrant
coward he was accused Of being or
he would have shot himself long ago.
He has been reviled and buffeted in the
streets, grossly insulted at theatres,
prescribed by his brother officers, ban
ished by the War Office, mathematical
from platform and pulpit, and bounded
by fanatical and scurTilous writers.
Wearing the brand Of social outcast. the
man who possessed the Cross of George
III. for personal gallantry on Asiatic
service long before the war with Japan
and was never suspected Of cowardice
has had no place TO lay his head in peace.
From the zenith Of hero worship he fell
TO the nadir of obloquy, and living must
have been an excruclating torture TO
him. II General SToEssEL did not be-
como a suicide it was not for sore provo
cation, and justice to the broken soldier
seems to require us at least to give him
the benefit Of the doubt and TO believe
that he was restrained from killing him
self by a consciousness Of having done
his duty as he saw it.
Il trust it win end we'll, said General
KURoPATKIN to SToEssEL when the court
martial opened on December 10. It was
like the heroic KURoPATKIN, who knows
what detraction is himself, to say q
word Of comfort TO the unhappy man
It has not ended well, it has ended all
SToEssBL can never serve with the
colors again, and to the close Of his life
assuming that the Recommendation Ia
mercy Is needed, he will wear the brand
ofignominy. Whether General SToEssEI
was q craven or not, and much Of the
evidence aspersing his courage was In
spired by hate and vindictiveness, the
minutes Of the oourt-mArtial prove thai
The sun., 1908-02-22

uanaaiNns want 90 Keep tho Rlghs L,
Dry Up NlagaFa.


OTTAWA. Feb. 2l.-Attorney-General Foy
beaded deputatiOn Of prominent Ontario
oEioiAls who had an interview with Earl
Grey. Sir Wllfrid Laurier and British Am
baaaadOr Bryce to-day. They exprcssel
fears that tho proposed treaty with tho
United States will shut out any further
power plant at Niagara Falls. which they
Oontend would be injurious to industrial
interests throughout western Ontario.
Mr.. Foy said It would be unwise to be
hAmpered by treaty restrictions and leave
the province at the mercy Of the corpora
tions who now hold charters. Ontario has
no GOAL, while tho United States has. and
electrical energy was substitute for COAL
and water power, unlike the Pennsylvania
coal 6elds, was inexhRustible. In short.
Canada Sh0uld not agree to anything that
would involve restriction OF it's rights to
The Wait Of Mr.. Bryce is said to be de-
Aignsd 70 arrange q treaty which might 10
thua summarized: First, transit duty froe
Of merchandise across portions OF American
and Canadian territory; second, transit OF
merchandise without. payment OF duty
until it arrives at points IN the interior;
third. application Of alien labor laws to
citizens of the United States and Canada;
fourth, reciprocal mine owning rights; fifth.
conveyance OF American prisoners through
Canadian territory and vice versa; sixth,
reciprocal salvage and wrecking nghts
seventh, use Of logging booms in the s..
John River; eighth, disposition OF oertn n
pecunlary claims; ninth. exemption Of
Canadians going temporarily to the United
States from payment OF head tax; tenth.
distribution OF power from Niagara Fails,
and finally the ratification of a treaty pro
viding for arbitration Of the Newfoundland
fahar1ea question.
The sun., 1908-02-22
CHILD LABOR LAW VALID.
Appellate Division UphOIds Conviction Of
Employer.

Appellate Division UphOlds Conviction Of
Employer.
The clause OF the labor law passed in
1908 prohibiting the employment Of children
under IL In any factory and making certifi-
Gates necessary in the cases Of children
between Il and 10 years was upheld yester-
day by the Appellate Division Of the Supreme
Court. Justices Ingraham, Clarke and
Houghton voted for the law and the con-
yiction of George H. Taylor, who was
triad In Special Sessions for a violation and
fined $40, the minimum fine Tor first
offence.
Presiding Justice Patterson and Justice
LauRhlin dissent, on the ground that Taylor
was not the responsible party, but they ex-
press no views on the cOnstitutionalty OF
the law.
Taylor had charge of the Kursheedt
Manufacturing Company and Florence ue
Flora, Is years old, was employed there
without any certificate. Taylor's defence
was that he had not personally hired ne
girl, hut the Justices at Special Sessions
held that under the law he was liable
The ma iority of the Appellate Division
affirm this ruling, and state that Taylor
cannot evade responsibility by the plea
that he had directed his subordinates not
to employ children in violation OF the
statute.
The dissenting Justices hold that Taylor
can only be liable for the neglect OF ma
subordinates il he can be shown to have
had guilty knowledge of such neglect.
Justice Houghton in a separate con-
curing opinion says that the Legislature
under the police regulations OF the Stals
has an undoubted right TO hold an employer
liable In such a case.
The sun., 1908-02-22
Mr. sulzer and the BattIeshID Maine.

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-Sir. An
appeal has been made to the authorities in
Washington every year during the last lye
years at least in behalf OF the wreck OF the
battleship Maine and her dead. which lie with
the hulk In the ooze and pollution OF Havana
hArbor. This appeal has been extended TO
the President and 10 the two Senators from
Maine by those who have seen service under
the Stars and Stripes In two wars. but with
out avail. until last week when at tho earnest
request OF survivors OF the civil and SpanIsh
wars the matter OF the Maine was looked into
by Congressman William Sulzer, and u the Ron-
tleman had dropped everything else he could
not have done more In the time in response
to the request than he has accomplished.
His characteristic resolution In behalf OF the
Maine submitted on the tenth anniversary
Of the destruction Of the ship b appended.
ALFRKD KING,
The sun., 1908-02-22
Mashlnkton on the Presidency

To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: At the
coming OF February ~ every patriotic heart
duickens its vibrations. as II touched anew
by the spirit OF Warrington.
My great-great-grandfathe Lemuel Win
chester. then SS years old. was a corporal OF
Minute Men IN the American army at Bunker
Hill In i77S and Mved 70 be almost iOI, dying
In Is4I. Whether this connecting link has
anything to do with my admiration for WASH
inRton l can only surmise.
In these days. when so much IL made OF
securing above everything else q great Presi-
deUt. Washingtons sentiments on that ques-
tion are health giving tonic:
As under the smiles OF heaven Americs 10 In
debted for freedom and Independence rather "a
the Joint excrtiOns OF the citizens OF the several
states than 10 thc conduct OF she Commander IN
Chief so Is she Indebted for their support rather
20 continuation OF those eHertlons than 20 tho pru-
dence and ability manifested In the exercise OF the
powers delegated 70 the President Of the United
States
HENRY WHITNEY WINoHBsTKR.
PROVIDENCE. February n.
The sun., 1908-02-22
The Low COmbed Rooster at Ozark.

The Low COmbed Rooster at Ozark.
Senator DAVIS Of Arkansas, the hercest
foe Of High Combed RoOsters and almost
the most partial friend and admirer Of
Mr.. ROOSEVELT, has been Growing long
and loud at Ozark in his native State.
Indeed, he is a pupil, II he be not an
instructor, Of that sunny and philo-
sophie statesman. As we glance over
the Ozark address a better trained but
not less impassioned orator comes into
the minds eye:
-The wrath of this great monster. the money
king.
The panic made 70 order BY the money kings OF
the land by the trust maEnsses and stock gamblers.
The pirates. the stock gamblers.
Rottenneas and corruption. Greed aud Avarioe.
Gentlemen, am not opposed 70 wealth II hon
es,Iy and leEitimAseiy scquired.-
As Mr.. DAVIS makes corrugated iron
Of his hneaments, and shudders at the
awful spectacle Of the wealth Of the land
concentrated in the hands Of the few, "
we cannot but think OF the deep and
almost tender sympathy which he shows
for that other and greater tribune Of -the
low combed ROSTERS Hear the Sena-
tor recount how he sounded to the cit
adel OF monopoly his terrible approach:
-ooaiIemsn. promised you q you elected ma
70 ths United States Senate that would let Iss
trust msgnAtcs and trust agents know that was
In town when got 70 Washington. and come 20.
Gay 20 give you Sn accounting OF my Stewardship
Ihas far performed. On ma second day Of M
The sun., 1908-02-22

The star OF ARES, the Governors Foot
Guard OF New Haven, Is marshalled in
Richmond to-day. and the Light Infantry
Blues Of the latter town have the difficule
y glorious job Of victualing the immortal
oohort, which goes in fatigue dress, -as II
is more comfortable and less conspicuous
than full dress" Not even darkness can
make the Foot Guard inconspicuous. Il
CLEANS. glows, shines, dazzles, flames. A
happy holiday 20 the Foot Guards and
their hosts; but let Richmond. keepinS tho
best wine 70 tho last, wait until an even
mightier and more renowned force sets
foot ON the sacred soil. When the Putnam
PhRlanx. those legs in the zodiac Of beauty
The sun., 1908-02-22
Great Interest IN tho PrShIbition Ticket
This Year.

To The EDTToR or TEE SUK-Siy: Who 4.
likely to be the Prohibition candidate for
President Of the United States at the nsxt
election1
II Roosevelt or the heir apparent Il NOM
mated by the Republicans and Bryan By the
Democrats. then IN surely be at sea, a. / am
not inclined to vote for either Of the above
named.
Maybe could cast my ballot for the Pro-
hIbltion candidate.
THEoDoRE FRELNoHuxsEN.
CINCINNATI. February 20.
The sun., 1908-02-22

Representative THOMAS W. HARDwICK
Of Georgia concluded a speech on tariff
these words:
II this Issue between the parties be clearly and
distinctly raised. so clearly and distinctly that
there can be % hair splitting about the meaning
of words and phrases. clearly and distinctly that
the two opposite Systems will stand out against
ono another in bold and startling relief. ana the
people can choose between the two, ATn AbsO-
futely confident of Democratic success next NO-
vember. On such an Issue the party can and will
win: far better, sir. Il will deserve 20 win
How could it expect 20 win, how would
it deserve to win, il IL nominated Mr.. BRYAN,
who initiates Mr.. ROOSEVELT in giving the
tariff only casual and Indifferent attention7