davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
TO SPITE HIS WIFE
Chicago Man Kills One Child
and Fatally Wounds Other
Two.
SAYS MOTHER IS BAD WOMAN
Would Place Her in Position of Beinq
Wife of Man Who Was to
Be Hanged.

Chicago, Jan. 31.-One of the most
shocking crimes in the history of Chi
cago WAS committed by William
Meutsch, carriage and wagon dealer
living at 419 Armitage avenue, yes
terday afternoon. His shop, under
meath his home, was the scene of the
crime
With strange coolness and delibera-
tion he called into the shop one of his
little --daughters who had been playing
in the street in front, and shot her
dead Then he called in her little
sister and fired two bullets into her
chest. She probably will die Then
he walked upstairs and shot his baby
son as he lay in bed. He also is ex-
pected TO die
Wanted to Spite His Wife.
When taken by the police the father
seemed more calm and collected than
were the men whose hair had grown
gray in a lifelong fight with crime.
He spoke in a connected. rational
manner, and startled the policemen
with his frankness on the way to the
station
81 loved the children he said, "but
l thought it would be better to kill
them rather than have them grow up
the children OF such a woman as their
mother"
''What is the matter with their
mother?" asked Captain Harding
20, she calls them bad names and
is not a good woman said the mur
derer.
To Spite Their Mother.
! "If you hate the mother so why did
you not kill her instead of the chill
dren?' queried the captain.
81 decided to put her in the position
of woman whose husband will be
hanged was the startling response
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
CONSIDERS ATTACKS
BY BIG CORPORATIONS
ON ADMINISTRATION

The attacks by great corporations
on the administration actions have
been given a wide circulation through.
out the country, in the newspapers
and otherwise, by those writer's and
speakers who, consciously or uncon-
sciously, act as the representatives of
predatory wealth-of the wealth ac-
cumulated on giant scale by all forms
of iniquity, ranging from the oppres-
sion of wageworkers to unfair and un,
wholesome methods of crushing out
competition. and to defrauding the
public by stock jobbing and the ma.
nipulation of securities.
Certain wealthy men of this stamp
whose conduct should be abhorrent tC
every man of ordinarily decent con
science, and who commit the hideous
wrong of teaching our young men thai
phenomenal business success must or
dinarily be based on dishonesty. have
during the last few months made i
apparent that they have banded 10
gether to work for reaction. Thei
endeavor is to overthrow and discredi
| all who honestly administer the law
to prevent any additional Legislation
which would check and restrain them
and to secure if possible freedom
from all restraint which will permi
every unscrupulods wrongdoer to d
what he wishes unchecked provides
he has enough money.
| Publicity Best Means.
"The only way to counteract tn
movement in which these men are eI
gagged is to make clear to the publ
just what they have done in the pas
and Just what they are seeking to a,
complish in the present.
"The administration and those VIII
support its views are not only not el
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
ENTERING STRAIT
American Battleship Squadron
at Passages Early In
the Morning.

Cape Virgins, Argentina Q2:15 a.
m.)-The fleet of American battleships
is at this moment passing Cape Virgins
and advancing slowly toward the
Strait of Magellan.
Punta Arenas, Jan. 31.-Two Japan
ese have come ashore here from the
British steamer Orita. They are sup
posed to be present in Punta Arenas
to observe the passage of the Ameri-
can fleet of battleships. The British
steamer Orita, Captain Hayes, left
Liverpool Dec. 10 for Valparaiso via
Ria Janeiro and the Strait of Magellan.
1t sailed from Rio Janeiro Jan. for
Punta Arenas.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
ORIENTAL BANK
CLOSED By STATE
New York Institution Fails to Open
After a Run-Affected by
Other Failures.

New York, Jan. 31.-The Oriental
bank on which run of ,depositors was
started yesterday did not open Tor bus
mess today. The bank was closed by
order Of the state superintendent of
banks.
The Oriental is a state bank having
capital of $750,000. According TO the
last statement it owed individual de-
positors $7,575, zoo and banks S3,477, 900
and had a surplus fund of $4,000 and
undivided profits of s304,000. The
troubles of the Oriental date from the
failure of the Borough Bank of Brook
lyn and the International Trust COM
pany in October last
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
USE UNLIMITED CASH TO
RESIST EFFORTS TO EN-
FORCE FEDERATION LAWS

From the railroad-rate law: to the
pure-food law, every measure for hon
esty in business that has been passed
during the last six years has been op-
and in its administration with every
resource that bitter and unscrupulous
craft could suggest and the command
of almost unlimited money secure.
But for the last year the attack has
been made with most bitterness upon
the actual administration of the law.
especially through the department of
justice, but also through the interstate
commerce commission and the. bureau
of corporations.
'The extraordinary violence of the
assaults upon our policy contained
in these speeches, editorials, articles,
, advertisements, and pamphlets. and
the enormous sums of money spent in
these various ways. give fairly ac-
curate measure of the anger and terror
which our public actions have caused
| the corrupt men of vast wealth to feel
| III thO fSty lHdiloW VI tlcfI DtillS.
The attack is sometimes made openly
against us for enforcing the law, and
sometimes with certain cunning. for
not trying to enforce it in some other
way than that which experience shows
to be practical.
Demand the Impossible.
"One of the favorite methods of the
latter class of assailant is to attach
the administration for not procuring
the Imprisonment instead of the fine
lof offenders under these antitrust
llaws. The man making this assaul
is usually either a prominent lawyer
or an editor who takes his policy from
the financiers and his arguments from
their attorneys. If the former, he ha
defended and advised many wealth,
malefactors, and he knows well that
thanks to the advice of lawyers lik,
himself. a certain kind of modern col
poration has been turned into an ad
mirable instrument by which to rer
, der II well-nigh impossible to get a
!. the head of the corporation, at th
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
MCKINNEY CURRENCY BILL GETS
BIG BOOST BEFORE COMMITTEE

Washington, Jan. 31.-Former Pres
ident John T. Hamilton of the Ameri-
can Banking association appeared be-
fore the house committee on banking
and currency today and in the course
of a vigorous statement, frequently
Interrupted by questions by members
of the committee, took a position
squarely behind the Mckinney finan-
cial bill. representing the views of the
currency Committee of the American
Banking association, and in opposition
to the bills introduced by Senator
Aldrich and Representative Fowler
The Aldrich bill for the issuance OF
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31

emergency currency on such security
as bonds of states, counties. municipal
tiles and certain corporations was de-
nounced by HAMILTON as "impractica-
bic, unwise and financially unsound.
Fowler Bill Has Good Points.
He conceded the. Fowler bill had
some mer.torious features, but con-
demned the measure as a whole
Among his reasons was its scope is
too broad, that 1t aims also at a radi
cal reform of the currency system and
that TO put it in operation would un
settle rather than mend financial con
ditions.'
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
SENATE SEEMS BORED, BUT HOUSE
LOUDLY APPLAUDS THE MESSAGE
Senator Davis Declares Presidents Communication is Good
Democratic Doctrine and Secures Order to Print
as Public Document

public document. Its the best demo-
cratic doctrine | ever heard emanating
from republican sources" said Davis.
The motion was agreed to.
House Shows Approval.
The reading of the message in the
house was interrupted by frequent ap-
plause. At its conclusion members
regardless of party laudly applauded.
cheered, thumped the desks and gave
other evidences of their approval of
the document.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
LIQUOR CARRIES IN MICHIGAN
Constitutional Convention Defeats for
Prohibition SIS to 80.

Lansing. Mich, Jan. 31.-Prohibition
constitutional convention last evening.
when the, delegates voted down a pro-
posal providing for the, ,obiiteration of
the liquor traffic in all towns having
less than 500 population. The propo-
sit'on also embraced provision for
local option in all cities and towns of
more than 500 but it was unsatisfac.
tory alike to the ultra-temperance ad-
vocates, who demanded full prohibi
ton or nothing. and the liquor inter.
est, which was seeking to prevent
action of any kind.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
BITTER ATTACK ON UNSCRUPULOUS men
OF WEALTH IN PRESIDENTS MESSAGE

gagged in an assault on property, but
are strenuous upholders of the rights
of property.
Under no circumstances would we
countenance attacks upon law-abiding
property, or do aught but condemn
those who hold up rich men as being
evil men because of their riches. On
the contsary, our whole effort is to in
sist upon conduct, and neither wealth
nor property nor any other class dis
tinction, as being the proper standard
by which to judge the actions of men.
For the honest man of great wealth
We have hearty regard, just ,as we
have a hearty regard for the honest
politician and honest newspaper
But part of the movement to up-
hold honesty must be a movement TO
frown on dishonesty. We attack only
the corrupt men of wealth, who find
IN the purchased politician the most
efficient instrument Of corruption and
in the purchased newspaper the most
efficient defender of corruption. Our
main quarrel is not with these agents
and representatives of the interests
Tney derive their chief power from
the great sinister offenders who stand
behind them. They are but puppets
who move as the strings aret pulled
II is not the puppets, but the strong
cunning men and the miShty forces
working for evil behind and through
The puppets, with whom we have to
deal.
Seek to Control the Law Defying.
I'VE seek to control law-defying
wealth; in the first place to prevent
its doing dire evil TO the republic, and
ir the next place to avoid the vindic-
tive and dreadful radcalism which,
ii left uncontrolled. il is certain in the
end to arouse. Sweeping attacks upon
all property. upon all men of means,
without regard to whether they do
well or i'll, would sound the death
knell of the republic; and such at
tacks become inevitable if decent cit
iZens permit those rich men whose
lives are corrupt and evil to domineer
in swollen pride. unchecked and un-
hindered, over the destinies of this
country
1--WE act in no vindictive spirit, and
we are no respecters of persons If
labor union does wrong, we oppose
it as firmly as we, oppose a corporation
which does wrong; and we stand
equally stOutly for the rights of the
man of wealth and feszst taszssssfghts of
the wageworker. We seek TO protect
the property of every man who acts
honestly, of every corporation that
represents wealth honestly accumnlat
ed and honestly used. We seek to
stop wrongdoing, and we desire to
punish the wrongdoers only so far as
is necessary to achieve this end.
There are ample material rewards
for those who serve with fidelity the
mammon of fAlnrighteousness; but they
are dearly paid for by the people who
permit their representatives, whether
in public life. in the press, or in the
colleges where their young men are
taught. to preach and to practice that
there is one law for the rich and an
other for the poor
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
CITY OF TABRlZ IN
tniaNDS 0FfHEM MOB
Center on Russo-Persian Frontier
Scene Of Roting, Looting
and Murder.

Odessa, Jan. 31-A dispatch from
Julia Oh the Russo-Persian frontier
says the situation at Tabriz is extreme
ly critical. Revolut;onists are in pos
session of the town, looting and ter
rorizing the people. The government
has no control of the situation. Euro
pean residents have barricaded them
selves in their houses and appealed
to the Russian consul for Cossacks.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
MURDER TEACHER
IN PHILIPPINES
Anna e. Hahn Killed at 8atangas,
Luzon-Pioneer of Profession
in the Islands.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Anna E. Hahn
one OF the first American school teach
ers to go to the Philippines, was mur-
dered at Batangas, island of Luzon.
Jan. 30, according to a dispatch re-
ceived today. No details are given.
The telegram contained a request to
Mrs. Jackson of Crete, Neb., TO COM
municate with the family and arrange
for the disposition of the body.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
NINE MINERS DIE
IN VIRGINIA SHAFT
Explosion in Coal Mine Catches Work
ers-Cause of the Crash Has
Not Been Determined.

Charleston, w. Va, Jan. 31.-Nine
miners were killed in an explosion at
the Lower Boom mine near Hawk S
Nest yesterday. The cause of the blast
has not been explained.
Sixteen other workers were in the
shaft at the time of the explosion, but
they escaped with slight injuries
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
Good De.noeratic Doctrine.

man VINO is really most guilty. When
we are able to put the real wrongdoer
in prison. this is what we strive to do;
this is what We have actually done
with some very wealthy criminals,
who, moreover, represented that most
baneful of all ALLIANCES, the alliance
between the corruption of organized
politics and the corruption of high
finance
Stockholders Not Innocent.
"Much is said, in these attacks upon
the policy of the present administra-
ton about the rights of innocent
stockholders That stocllhoIder is
not innocent who voluntarily purchases
stock in a corporation whose methods
and management he knows to be cor
rupt; and stockholders are bound to
TRY to secure honest arrangement, or
else are estopped from complaining
about the proceedings7the government
finds necessary in order to compel the
corporation to obey the law.
The keynote of all these attacks
upon the effort to secure honesty in
business and in politics is well ex-
pressed in brazen protests against any
effort for the moral degeneration of
the business world, onHhe ground that
lit is unnatural, unwarranted and in
furious, and that business panic is the
necessary penalty for such effort to
secure business honesty. The morality
of such a plea is precisely as great as
| of
in gambling establishment when that
gambling, establishment is raided by
the police.
| Oppose Moral Regeneration.
"If such words mean anything they
mean that those whose sentiments
they represent stand against the effort
to bring about a moral regeneration of
business which will prevent a repeti-
tion of the insurance, banking, and
tstreet railroad scandals in>New York !;
a repetition of the Chicago and Alton
deal; a repetition of the combination
between certain professional politi-
clans, certain professional labor lead
ers, and certain big financiers, from
the disgrace of which San Francisco
has just been rescued; a repetition
of the successful effort by the Standard
Oil people to crush out every compet
itor, to overawe the common carriers
and to establish monopoly which
/ treats the public with a contempt
which the public deserves as long as
Lit permits men of such principles and
fsuch sentiments to avow and act or
them with impunity.
"The outcry against stopping dishon
est practices among wrongdoers who
Happen to be wealthy is precisely sim
liar to the outcry raised against every
effort for cleanliness and decency IL
city government, because. forsooth, i
will hurt business The same outer!
lis made against the department of jus
tice for prosecuting the heads of colos
sal corporations that has been made
against the men who in San Francisco
have prosecuted with impartial sever
ity the wrongdoers among business
men, public officials. and labor lead
ers alike. The principle is the sam
in the two cases.
Gives and Takes Same Plane.
Just as the blackmailer and brib
, (Continued on Page Seven)
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
Cheap Gas in Cedar Rapids.

Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jan. 31.-In the
district court yesterday Judge Ellison
dissolved an injunction brought by the
Cedar Rapids Gas company to restrain
enforcement of an Ordinance provid-
ing for 80 cent gas. The decision
holds that the 90 cent gas rate is COM
pensatory and is big victory for the
city.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
Of Insanity is
Treated at Length
by DowIing.
OPENS A. LooPHolE
Jury Takes the Case and All
Exhibits and Prepares for
a Long Session.

New York. Jan. 31.-The Thaw jury
retired at 11:40 after Justice Dowling1
had charged them on the law and evil
dence. They took all exhibits in the
case with them.
In opening, Justice Bowling i'm
pressed upon the jury the responsible
ity which was theirs, telling them
they should bear in mind upon their
verdict depended the life or liberty of
the prisoner.
Keen Inside Record.
Your verdict must not be influenced
by any matter outside of the record
said he. Neither passion nor sympa-
thy should sway you in your delibera-
tions. You must not speculate or
guess as to matters in the evidence
here. but must decide the issue solely
upon your calm, dispassionate judg-
ment as to the weight, credibility and
meaning of the testimony. Nor are
you concerned with the punishment
which may follow a verdict of guilty
at your hands. Your sole function is
10 determine if any crime has been
committed. its grade. and leave the
question of penalty to those RESPONSE
BILE for its imposition
Explains Hummers Status.
| After explaining at length considera-
t-tiufss-Axhieh jurors might take into ne
count in weighing the testimony of
witnesses, the justice referred TO the
so-called Hummell affidavit. He told
them the witness had been convicted
of crime and they. might consider that
fact in weighing his testimony, also
| if they found any witness had deliber
erty to disregard his testimony en-
tirely
Those Excused from Responsibility.
The justice pointed out provisions
of the statute which provide that the
| only persons excused from criminal
responsibility are those who suffer
! from such defect of reason as either
not TO know the nature or quantity of
their act or not TO know the act or
wrong.
| Some may hold this is too hard a
test commented the court, ''but it is
the law and it is clear, explicit and
reasonable.
Not Matter of Opinion.
| Mark YOU the law saws defect of
reason and | must instruct you that a
defect of reason is not the opinion a
man may hold as to the justice or cor
rectness of his own acts, or the opin-
ion that the laws of the land are wrong.
Hatred and revenge are not insanity.
Most crimes are committed from just
such motive as these"
Possible Verdicts and Penalties.
The following verdicts are possible
in the case:
Murder in the first degree, penalty
death.
Murder in the second degree. penalty
life Imprisonment.
Manslaughter in the first degree
penalty not to exceed 90 years i'm
prisonment
Not guilty on theseround of insanity
at the time the crime was committed
lprobably commitment to the Mattewal
asylum.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31


in brief, the proceedings of the two
houses of congress yesterday as taken
from the official records:
SENATE - The senate had a short
session during which Senator Aldrich
reported his banking bill from the COM .
mittee on finance and announced he
would call the measure up for consid-
eratin on Monday. Feb. 10. At :OS d.
m. the senate adjourned until today
HOUSE - The urgent deficiency ap-
preparation bill was PASSED by the
house. The total amount carried by it
rs s23.664.45o, or $4,000 less than as
reported by the committee The larg-
est single reduction was that of $780,
eco in the clothing fund of the army
When the session was resumed only a
few pages of the bill remained to be
disposed of Included in these was q
provision for the appointment of "a ad-
ditionaI policemen for the new house
office building, Chairman Tawney urg-
e dthe provision because of the neces-
tsity for protecting such costly govern
ment property and <'of guarding the
reputation and honor of the members
Mr. Mann. Illinois. opposed the provis-
ion. and ii was stricken out on a point
| of order after considerable discussion.
The house adjourned at 3.05 O'clock un-
til today.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
STANDARD GETS
NEW MONOPOLY
Secures Oil Interests in South Africa
Which Give II Control of
the Field.

London, Jan. 31.-A Durham dispatch
announces the Standard Oil company
has acquired the South African trad
Trading company, thus establishing
monopoly in South Africa
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
JUDGES INSTRUCTIONS
GIVE THAW MORE HOPE

Cromwell, philanthropist and patriot,
aged 81 years, is dead at the home of
his daughter, Mrs. Gertrude c. Samp-
son. He was the oldest direct descend
ant of Oliver Cromwell
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31
BLIZZARD GENERAL
IN THE NORTHWEST
Milwaukee Reports Heavy Snow
Covers Wide Area WSh Cold
to Follow,

Milwaukee, Wis, Jan. 31.-A tliz-
zard is today raging throughout the
northwest and the forecast official re-
ports it will continue throughout the
day and into the night when colder
weather will again follow.
Descendant of Cromwell.
Denver, Col, Jan. 31.-Edward
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-01-31

Washington, Jan. 31.-The special
message of the president to congress
on the subject of the employers liabil-
ity act and injunctions in labor cases
was presented in the senate few
minutes after 70 today and the assis-
tant secretary of TIE senate immedi-
ately began its fxading. Printed
copies of the message were delivered
to the senators present and many of
them appeared to satisfy themselves
concerning the nature of the message
by scanning the printed document so
that before the reading was half fin
ished they very generally looked up
other matters and only few followed
the reading carefully until its conclu-
sion
Good Democratic Doctrine.
Upon the conclusion of the reading
of the message Senator Davis of Ar
kansas promptly moved that 10000
copies of the message be printed as a
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-12
SENTENCE RUFF
NEXT WEEK

SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 12.-At
the request OF the defense, Judge
LAWYER today postponed until next
Saturday the sentencing of Abe
Ruef. convicted for offering bride
Ruef's lawyers said they are pre-
pairing a number of motions which
they wished to offer. The prosecu-
tion agreed to the postponement.
Attorney Dozier represented
Ruef. Ach being absent. Dozier
explained that the defense desired
to interpose motions before judg-
ment was passed. He expects to
base his motions on a record in
the case which he considers well
clogged with errors"
Ruef was ordered to take the
stand to hear the formal reading
of the history OF the proceedings.
There he sat with his hands
thrust in his pockets, winking at
friends and chewing gum.
Ruef denied the report that Ach
retired from the case because of a
misunderstanding.
The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-12-12
TWO CONVICTIONS A
DAY KIZER'S GAIT

Two convictions Leicre a jury
in one afternoon, with a speech
to the jury in each case, was the
record of q hard days work in
the superior court yesterday by
Deputy Prosecutor Don F. Kizer.
In the first case J. S. Parker, who
was on trial for two days for the
larceny of $34 from the person of
w. A. Robey of Mesa, Wash, in
the Liberty bar, was found guilty
by jury in Judge Remnants court
shortly after o'clock.
The trial of Thomas O'Neill,
charged with the larceny of $40
from John d. Evans, was then be-
gun before a jury in Judge Sulli-
vans court and at 4:30 the jury
returned a verdict of guilty.