davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
COON FOR NP. PARSONS!

Mr. Herbert Psrsonses common sense re-
marks on next falls Mayoralty campaign were
exactly what The situation called for coming
from the president of the Republican County
Committee. they will conciliate the best sentI-
mant in the community and inspire confidence
among independents in the leadership and the
purposes of the Republican organization. The
straight ticket talk of which TOO much had
been heard Of late. was unpleasanty remin1s-
cent of Mr.. Ouigg's 1897 campaign. and those
who naturally look 10 the Republican party as
the main reliance for the redemption OF the
city next fall could only be ailenated ny Tue
suggestion that the Republicans were going 10
treat the present public exigency simply as
nartisan opportunity. To all such Mr.. Parsons
speech is a notice that the Republican organl-
zation recognizes that it must have the support
Of all the independentS-have as he Sald, "DacK
.of whatever ticket we present the united sentl-
.nent of those who desire q change"
And 10 Republicans generally the speech
Is forcible reminder that the Republican
partv locally is a minority party and that 1t
must strengthen itself in every possible way IN
order TO succeed. DO not" said Mr. Parsons,
LET us deceive ourselves into believing that
the CITY is anxious that We the minority
party. should as q party hold the offices, and
that that will be any predomlnaunS argument
"in the coming campaign. It will not be- That
which the majority of the citizens desire is not
necessarily a change from Democratic or Tam
many government to Republican government,
but q change from bad government TO good
government from wasteful government TO
economical government from inefficient to eff
ficient government.
Some interpret Mr.. Parsonss words as a
declaration Tor fusion, but they are hardly that
being nothing more In fact, than promise to
he openminded toward fusion. If IL is possible
10 have fusion of q character that VIII recon-
mend the ticket to be nominated to all those
who seek change to better government it Is
fair to suppose that Mr.. Parsons will favor II
Rut II has been illustrated more than once
that there are fusiOns which are real sources
of weakness 4 combination whose ticket does
not hold out to independent voters hopes OF
improved administration is to be avoided.
In the coming campaign Mr.. Parsons and his
organization will be strongest If they play In
some part the role that in past municipal cam
paigns has been played by independent citi-
zens committees: mat IS to say, the party
should dominate the movement for good govern
ment Too often it has been put, by unwise and
shortsighted leadership with an eye on the
heShpOts into the position Of being a reluctant
instrument for Righteousness The Republican
party should not let itself be classed with
OBrenites Stecklerites, Hearstites and their
like as hanging back from movement for civic
betterment. 1t should lead the way and itself
drag IN, II practicable and necessary, the re-
luctant-those who bargain to he spared too
| much decency at Cnce ike a child shrinking
from the application of soap and water.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
-, -. r-,bun. Bureau.l

Tribune
vosbinu.o, Dec g0,-The President VIII 80 -,
to-p,orrow with Rear Admiral Rixey al tne %
farm in Virginia This will be his mr. ou'-oA
outing since mis- return from Oyster Bay ,
The President slipped away from pressing 49, -
TODAY long enough to inspect the mooeis VI '
proposed battleshIps at the Navy department ~,
The French Ambassador introduced ms no" ~ -,
tsry aid Count ChamDray, TO the Presileh' @' '
executive offices. NJ, ss,-o,
The President received Mayor DimicK Oh 0c' az
ton PENN to-day. Mayor Dimick brought 80 80
Of Introduction from Senator Knox whose 'u0
cessor he hopes to be. - .ba
Among the White House callers TO-DAY -.
Secretary OF the Navy and Rear Aomiral a. . .
Assistant Secretary Bacon. Assistant ,
Winthrop Senators Carter Newlands fui'oN -
Rurkett Representatives Hawley, Alexahoe'' 70
ter Underwood Cook Porter and De ArIllo' ~
General Oliver and General Drain captain " ms ~
low James CreelTnan and the Rev Dr. John "e9io'
Hill. of New York -
The President received the new German Aio
sador Count Bernstorrf, in the Blue Hooin ms
afternoon the introduction being made oy the SCI
retary of State. A.
The President later received the members OF tie
Sigma Kappa society, In annual session III ttS
city, and the delegates to the convention OK 'ii'
Music Teachers Association.
The President went walking in the ram IN 'ho
lste afternoon
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
The TRL3I-NE ALnANAc -E0R 1000

I y
The Tribune Almanac and Political Register
for 1909 makes its appearance to-day. 1t is
printed superior paper and geographically
produces an even clearer and more agreeable i'm
preston than usual. 1t Will appeal to the
reader also with greater variety of important
material for purposes OF reference. The year
1908 was pre-emlnently political year. and in
recording political events The Tribune Almanac
has long enjoyed a special reputation for COM
peteness and accuracy. The official vote of
each state for the Presidential candidate Of each
political party is given (for Taft and Bryan the
vote is tabulated by countless, the vote in each
Congress district for the candidates Of the vari-
parties is recorded and the results of cleo
tions for state officers shown in detail The
tables giving the popular vote by states for all
candidates for President and the vote by states
for members of the House OF Representatives
of exceptional value. They summarize in
brief the results of a memorable and exciting
Presidential contest.
1t can be fairly said that no other publication
in the United States offers complete a range
Of useful political information. The aImanac's
summaries Of federal legislation and treaties
and OF legislation at Albany, are invaluable
They furnish a record otherwise inaccessible;
for II would cost an investigator many DAYS of
labor to dig out the details of these measures
from state federal publications Both state
and national legislation is becoming of more i'm
portance to the citizen, for legislation is com
ing closer home TO the daily life and needs Of
the community. The admirable banking laws
passed by the New York Legislature in 1905
the law ending costly receiverships and the law
changing our registration system accessible
to all in the pages of the almanac. 1t is the
same with federal legislation, the emergency
currency law, the law reorganizing the militia
system the laws increasing army and navy pay
reclassifying the consular service reorganizing
the revenue marine service, enlarging the ma
rine CORPS increasing the navy, extending La
bility for accidents to employees on railroads en-
gagged in interstate commerce and many other
new statutes being given in full or accurately
summarized.
The almanac for 1909 also carries the many
important treaties signed at The Hague and
ratified by the United States. advancing the
cause Of international arbitration, defining the
rights and duties of neutrals and mitigating
tha severities OF war at sea and on land. AS a
political compendium and informing ab-
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
4 Sultan ON GTFFFPANCE.

The miracle Of a Turkish constitution is not
permitted 10 remain unique II is supplemented,
or perhaps cOmpemented, again and again in the
progress of parliamentary government at STAN
boul. The Sultan might have sUlked in silence
and solitude in the Yildiz Palace while the par
Lament assembled, organized and began It's de-
liberations, or might have hidden the Deputies
TO come TO him for his greeting, did the Gar.
Instead he went 10 the opening of parliament in
precisely the same manner as does the sovereign
of anv Western realm. He might have assumed
a patronizing, admonitory or even minatory
tone toward parliament, also did the Car,
and If he had done so it would not have been
reckoned strange. Instead, he spoke in such
tone as might have been heard at Westminster
itself, pledging himself anew 10 subOrdination of
his autocracy to an irrevocabe and supreme con-
stitution and recognizing the elected Deputies as
henceforth the real lawmaking power.
Nor did the miracles end there. The Deputies
IN their oaths of Office swore allegiance first OF
all TO the constitution and after that TO the
Sultan, bU. only las long he shall maintain
the constitution" We can scarcely suppose that
Deputies would venture TO take such oath at
St Petersburg, II even at Berlin, that after
taking ii the Douma would be permitted TO exist
longer than it would take the Gar to dictate a
decree of dissolution Yet IL was taken at Con-
stantinople and acce pied without rebuke or
protest. Nor was even that all The Chamber
OF Deputies proceeded to discuss, TO frame and
to adopt address in reply TO the Sultans
speech, and in that address it specifically re
minded the Sultan that he had violated the lib
critics of the nation In dissolving Mldhat's par
lament q generation ago, rebuked him for the
evils which had IN consequence afflicted the en-
pre and practically warned him that no more
such work would be endured.
The fact is that the Sultan has become prac-
tically a sovereign on sufferance. He is made to
understand that his tenure of the throne depends
upon his own good behavior. His people VIII
not show themselves too exacting. They have
no disposition TO demand ali things In an hour
But they Will brook no betrayal of their well
won rights nor any attempt at ,counter-revoIu-
ton. In that the strength Of the people and the
weakness Of the sovereign are emphasized by
the Vesy nature Of the SuItanate. The occupant
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
FEATURES OF THE EARTHQUAKE.


In reviewing the possible causes of earth
qllakes Major Dutton notes that the SeEeresI
shocks attend a dislocation of strata on either
side of a fault or crevice in the rocks. The
disbursements may be vertical or horizontal or
both ana may give rise to astonishing dlstor-
tons of the earths surface. lie attributes
these phenomena TO stresses which nave grau
uaIIy increased. and which he explains by sup
posing a transfer of material from one region
10 another. He and others who hold the same
view point TO the fact that earthquakes occur
most frequently near coasts where there is
steep slope both above and below the level or
the sea to facilitate the movement or vast
quantities of debris from the land to the ocean
Whatever defects there may be In the theory,
the violence of the disturbance which has just
brought death and destruction 10 Soulheih
Italy seems to place IT among those ear'h
uuakes whose chief characteristic Is displace-
ment Of large areas in the vicinity of a geoloG
ical fault
That volcanic activity could not give rise TO
such effects as have been witnessed in the last
few davs seems 10 be well established by ex-
perience. 1t is said that when Etna is in
state of eruption only slight tremorS extend
across to Caiabria. On the other hand, In 1888
when the principal disturbance was on the
continental side of the Strait Of Messina, all
Sicily was shaken. Again, the most tremen-
douS volcanic demonstration of modern umeS
of which there is a record was the explosion
which blew I'D Krakatoa. A tidal wave in the
sea surrounding the islet on which hrakatoa
stood was raised, but only faint jar was felt
in Java, not more than ninety miles away.
To determine the exact centre of this week $
shock may take time. To judge from what Is
known of the results. there would apparently
be mistake in placing it near the strait
which separates Calabria from Sicily. MeSSna
seems to have suffered more terribly than
Catania. but relatively no more than Reggie
and Bagnara, on the mainland. At the narrow
est point the strait is not more than two miles
and q half wide. Major DuttOn says that the
centre of earthquake might cover an area
of a few hundred miles Perhaps in the pres
ent instance 1T lay partly under the land and
partly under the water. Light might be thrown
on the question If there were satisfactory evil
derces to show whether the tidal wave first re-
ceded and then returned or flowed inward and
then withdrew. Still. even this would not be
conclusive for tidal wave flowing outward
might be due to an upheaval on shore or a sub
sidence of the ocean bottom.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31

20 be fo,,nd IN large navfE vessels, with their
Ella borate eouipments of various KINGS anu
their forces of competent and disciphned men.
If il should be decided to- send all or some Ok
our ships directly from Tort Said to MeSslna
they vouid doubtless be gratefully welcomed
by both the Italian officials and by what re-
mains of the population, and would be able 70
render services of great value. Nor Is there oc-
casion 10 fear that their arrival would be too
late The distance fxom Port said 10 Messiha
is 935 miles so that at its ordinary RATE OF
progress the feet might not reach me latter
place before IarnIary S or 9. i is quite pos
sIble however that the time might unoeF
Instructions be ,Iesseued by few days win
the stupendous task of preserving order, dis
fributing relief caring for the SICK ana III
tured dsposing Cf the dead and preventing
the outbreak Of ., stileIrce there will be, even
fen davs or more hence urgent use'for all the
aid that can be off cred.
II is Il happy circumstance that the ltahah
government is now In better hnanaaai cohultl"n
than for years past, ard Is thus abie 10 u'uer-
take with considerable means the work OF
relief which of course, primarily pertains 10
II But so colossal catastrophe cails ior
pecuniary relief from, all parts OF the "oFio,
and we feel sure that America VIII be Wen
20 tho fore among the nations IN both the
Drorontness and the ma gnitude OF its contrlDu-
/ lions We need scarcely remind our readers
that the American Red Cross-of which MT
Taft is president-is officially recognized by
orr government as the jest agency for me col
lection and transmittal Of contributions GOV
arnor Hughes and Mayor Mcclellan, in the
nroclamations which We print this morning
wisely recommend TO the people OF New YORK
that their gifts be made through the New YORK
State branch OF the American Red Cross OF
which Mr. Jacob II. Schiff. ar No. 500 Fifth ave
me IS treasurer There should he no question OF
the fulflment of the hope which Governor
Hughes expresses that in this unsurpassed elner
gency the generosity Of our people which mas mas
been so notable and beTefcent in the past VIE
again be abundantly manifested.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
LANGUAGE ASSOCIATION ELECTS.
Members Also Hear Paper on Esperanto and
Volapuk
IBy Helegraph to The Tribune. ]


Princeton. y. j., Dec. S0.-The Modern Language
Association of America closed it's twenty-sxth an
nua convention here to-day with the reading OF
several papers and the adoption OF three resolu-
tions. petitioning Congress in the proposed
tariff revision to remove the duties books print
ed in foreign countries works of and scientific
Instruments intended for the private use of in
Vestigators; a second, appointing a committee to
consult with the Carnegie Institution to bring about
a closer relation between that institution and as
scCiations devoted the study of literary and phfo-
logical topics and third. declaring for the es-
tablishnlent of test in pronunciation and the
ability ia understand a foreign language among
college entrance requirements.
In an interesting paper Professor Theodore w
Hunt. of Princeton University declared that the
mechanical artificial purely conventional char
acter of universal tongues, such Esperanto and
Volapuk. prevents them from representing the most
vital and essential relation Of thought and Ian
guage.
The following officers elected for the ensu-
ing year: Professor NJ D. Learned. University OF
PENNSYLVANIA. president: Professor G. Gruene of
Yale; Professor T. w. Olmstead, Of Cornell, and
Professor w. \. Nelson, OF Harvard, vice-presi-
dents; Professor G. II. Grandgent, Harvard, secre-
tary: Professor w. c. Howard Harvard, treasurer
Executive counc-A. Fortier, Of Tulane Univer-
sity OF louisiana: Charles Harris. of Western Re
serve University; John NJ. Manly OF the Univer-
sity of Chicago; c. A. Smith, of the University OF
North Carolina; George Hemple, OF Leland Stan
ford Lewis +. Mott. of the College OF the City OF
New York, and Henry A. Todd, OF Columbia Uni
versty.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
NOTES FROM TUXEDO PARK.

Toll
,-5o park y Y. Dec an-Winter sports
-. ,,.itb other social affairs. attracted large
.t. - veil known persons to Tuxedo to-day
- -a,,oin over tomorrow night for the annual
s. yasr,s Eve dance at the Tuxedo Clun S2e-
70, ;ntarast has been taken by the younger COLO
-, ,bo will attend the dance in large NUMBERS
previous 10 the dance there viii De the usual o
ners at the clubhouse
Ar,one those who will have large parties VII oe
NJ and Mrs Ernest \ Wiitsee. Mr. ana MS
James Brown. Mrs. Charles J. Coulter MI ana
Mrs Rowland PeIl. Mr.. and Mrs t Nyrnan FoT-
fer Miss Louisa Norwood, Albert + GaliaL1 anu
M and Mrs George 2. Cammann-
Many of the cottagers will also entertain az houSe
rar+fes followed by dinners. on New Years Eve
On New Years night special vaudeville enter
tainn,Ant will be given at the Tuxedo club. pre-
ce1ed bv a dinner which viii be patronlzed BY tns
colonists and their guests
Mr.. a4ss Mrs Charles 3. Alexander. who opened
their villa for the holiday season, Will give rnu-
sicaI on Sunday evening
Mrs Newbold Edgar entertained a large party AZ
her cottage Tuesday with a musical Many
cottagers were present Among those who took
part were Hans Letz Of New York. vi0liulst. Hor-
ace Britt of New York 'CeliSt; Mrs Frank
Mather. vocalist. and Frank H Mather. pianist
Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Rives arrived at the club
house to-day. other late arrivals Mr.. and Mrs
James Brown. Mr. and Mrs H p Rogers. Mr.. and
Mrs. Stewart Duncan, Mr.. and Mrs. Henry : Red
mOnd Mr.. and Mrs F. +. Carr. Mr.. and Mrs. H W
Munroe. Miss Munroe. Miss X. Candy, Gibson
FahnestoCk. Cecil d. LANDAU and NJ. and MIS-.
E. l. Burnett
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
EJEcTiNe PARTIsANsHIP.

Frou The New York Globe
II will not be charged against Governor
Hnghes as II was against Presidents Cleveland
and Harrison that his zeal for Civil Service re-
form quickened he found himself about go
o,t of office and discovered that he was leaving
behind appontees that unprotected. The
Hughes midnight order" issued on Monday safe
pnsrds the tenure not Of Republicans but OF
democrats who came into the public service in
tbe otfices under Democratic control during the
last two years, and which after the first OF the
Vaar are 10 have Republican heads. .. In
fb9s calm way does the Governor indicate that
he IS still persuaded that partisanship has
nlace in ordinary administration, and that there
should he no spoils for Vtctors. The preludiCe
Thai active politicians of the old school have
against Governor Hughes is certainly well
groundsd.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
The CABIN Ell.

From The Tribune Bureau.I
washington Dec s0-The Secretary OF war ~
Mrs Wright will arrive here tomorrow rom MeHi-
phis Tenn where they went to spend Christmas
Their daughter Mrs John Humphreys WATKINS Oh
New York will receive with them on New Year
Day. .
Edward Wales Root. who has been the guest Va
his parents the Secretary of State and Mrs. Roo1'
returned TO New York to-day.
Mrs Bonaparte. wife of the Attorney General
will come here tomorrow to be IN readiness for the
White House reception Friday morning ana heI
own reception in the afternoon.
The Secretary Of the Navy and Mrs Newoerry
will have their twin sons, Barnes and Phelps New
berry with them until after New Years Day, When
the boys will return to the Hotchkiss scnool' al
Lakevine Conn. Miss Newberry will arrive here
from Detroit tomorrow.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
IN THE BERKsHIREs.

rPv TELEGRAPH The Tribune J
Ienox Dec so-Lenox IS filled WIN NeN
snd Eaoston guests who arrived for the hoiday
u-Aek There is excellent sleighing and skauns-
Invitations were issued to-day for a dance at th9
Ienox Club on New Years night. Ihe cluohous7
will he brilliantly decorated and there VIII Dc sNp
per midnight "a AL,
large party of guests for the Weddlhe oA VIZ
Emily L. Bacon and Hamilton Fisn benjamin ."
SATURDAY. will arrive at the hotel and the ColIaseS
tomorrow. 1900.
The wedding of Miss Kathleen Whiting dausntsT
~ Mr. and Mrs. Edward NJ Whiting, OF BerAshire'
ap5 Rockwell Kent Of Tarrytown. y l. VIII IaAe
nIeoA az the home Of the brides parents. IN BerN-
stiro +oroorroOr evening. Mr.. Kent IS an artist
Mrs. Louis Lombard and son, Allen Russell Al
water. and two daughters nave a'I4'eo III '-7
field from Switzerland
Nr ard Mrs Carl \. Degersdon have arrived At
c,1h,-rta IN Stockbrdge for the holidays
Mrs Joseph ". Burden. Chester w burdel anu
1obr sloane OF New York, arrived tonight az IHe
Curtis Hotel
Mr. and Mrs Samuel rockingham nave lss-e1
cards for a dance at Overlee on New 1ear : z-se
NJ and Mrs John c. Greenleaf or Ne" foTk'
.-s Guests Of Nr and Mrs Richard T. GreenieaI d.
Windyside. ~, -
NJ and Mrs George Winthrop Folsom VII ar
IT, +c,,7orrow to attend the Baccn-BenJaTnln "ea-
dt,., !, Trinity Church Saturday az noon
NJ and Mrs Richard c. Dtxey are entertaining I
- ,ertv at Tanglewood. including MI ana MIS-
-. 60, Miss Janet Fish. Stuysesant Fish r.
,,-,,u Kernochan Kenneth Budd, William w
IIas,or Eurrau Hoffman and Albert Herman CT
York
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31
Il 4musemeTts.

x<-ApEMT-s-f5-Tbs HaFrens Of Virginia
ESTCR-s.IS .IS-Tbe Man from Home
SCC-s -2e-The Devil
EETOIf-S.s5-A Gentleman from MISSISSIPPI
ia,
rsFQA SI5-PegGy Machree
S-ASTNO-s.1S-Nr. Hamlet ot Broadway
sTECIxE-2:l6-e.is-T Queen OF ths Moulin FSo"ee'
C=nssDNIkI.-2-S-E-e E-eudevife
nj SsS-s:sn-The World and His Wife
r-TSTr NTTSEE-The World IN Naz
.I5-Vhat Every Woman nnoHs
CAFETY-S-I5-The Travelling Salesman
x-sTDFN-S.s6,-M James Pa
<.sFsRFCK-s-So-The Patriot
GERNAN-S-sieeping Beauty-s-Die Bisue Ah1h s.
GRAND CENTRAL. PAl-ACE-S-Auto SHOW
Ha{~hFTT-S- -2G-Saivstiol Neil
PoDRoME-2-s-SPoTting Days-Batte IN the Skies
- Firdtanc
<zF-Ts s-sG-Lady Fres5srsck-
kNTCKER RS0CKER-S:lS-T Frirla lroniA-
rTRFRTy-S E5--Sis Wireless
.s5-Isoye Watches
T.yRFr-S .IS-The Blue Ncise . -,.oo . -
ADTSON sol ARE GARDEN a- IA 70 4'-'e p 80
Poultry SHOW
~ 4 FcSTyt,-s.15-The Pied PiTer.
~ OPERA EOTSE-S-Tsles OF E1oFtIlisFn-
r-=TToTT-S THE ATRI1-S.Se The thsENfoii
-F7-TF0TA0Ts sITAN OPERA HOUSE -4o-@icA-
N-F-KT aaFSTT-FI0 AZ S-10-Eitte Memo
NSE,V- TOIth-S:1a-5fiss Innocence
: ESz0T- e-l--S 2a-The Battle
ssTT-yK-F-SA -o.l5-s So-Ths FfghrnE iope
7TA1T.sg-E,-S- .sa-The BOYS and Betty
vTF-FFSTs- S.: s:sO-The Stronger sex
~s~E.S- F-%D-SGs-NIlle. Mischief.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-31

of the Ottoman throne has no such dyneHuc
strength. no such family influence no sucn Der
sonal hold upon the affections OF the peolhe' "'
has one of the sovereigns of Western Europe
He Is removed and apart from their sympathies'
affections and traditions. SO long as be was
able 10 maintain himself through irres1stlDle
military force he was independent of ahecuon
or disaffection Deprived of that strength, ne
can make no appeal to loyal sentiment, but must
depend upon his own good conduct to secure
sufrerance. And from what the world knows OF
Abdul Hamids astuteness it seems probable that
he will continue to display, as he is now doing
a degree of good conduct sufficient 20 assure hls
tenure OF the throne.