davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The Internal Revenue reports show
that there has been remarkabls
decrease in the production of whisky.
This is due to the rapid spread Of pro-
hibition and the high price of grain.
The Internal Revenue receipts show
a decrease Of $17.ssS, for the last
fiscal year. with q still greater de-
crease on the first three months of this
fiscal year. There was a. decrease Of
100000 gallons as compared with
last year. Denatured alcohol has fallen
off to the extent Of 100000 gallons,
which is accounted for by the high
price OF grain. Illicit distilling still
goes on, with 1,130 Illicit distilleries
discovered, seized, and destroyed last
year. and 1851 gallons of spirits were
seized.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

1t is not little astonishing that the
most powerful fighting ship afloat to-
day belongs to the Republic Of BRAZIL
which has as little use for such an
overwhelming monster as can be imag-
ined. The name Of the Brazilian bat
tIeship is the Minas Geraes. and she
has draft Of 1880 tons. with engines
that can propel her at speed of q
knots. just what Brazil will do with
this costly toy remains to be seen
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The Republican machine politicians
OF New York are industriously figuring
oat that they exerted immense influence
In reducing Gov. Hughes's majority.
He ran 135.153 behind Taft and 4s,8e2
behind Horace White the candidate for
Iieutenant-Gover If it had not been
for the large Den cratic vote he re-
ceived in every County he would have
been defeated.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

them, and promoting sorQc movements
which looked to the general good He.
became President of the National Tn
dertakers' Association, and this was an
opportunity for public benefit which he
improved. He was always an active
c. A. r. man, and after being hoRered
by his comrades with many positions
was at last elected by the Department
Encampment at Lima, O., to the posi-
ton of Department Commander. He
began his work with the same energy
and ability he had displayed in other
walks of life, and his comrades had
great hopes of what he would accom-
pIish in the way of building up the Or
der, when he was taken of most un-
timely by death. His funeral at Alii-
anee, O., was a great public demonstra-
tien, in which all the citizens Joined
with prominent Grand Army men from
all over the State to do honor to man
who had been SO conspicuously useful
to Alliance. The Posts at Akron, To-
ronto, New Philadelphia, Marietta, Ia
Tedo, Dayton, Lima, Columbus and Gin
einnati were all represented. The Sth
Ohio n. G. Band furnished the music.
and the pallbearers, were taken from
the City Police and Fire Departments.
The knight Templars and the Eiks
turned out In body. The funeral ser
vices were conducted by DR. George
Hall, of Lima, formerly Senior Vice
Commander. and now Commander of
the Department of Ohio. The commit
tee from Headquarters of the Depart
ment prepared the following resolu-
tfens, which were adopted:
Headquarters Department of Ohio,
Grand Army of the Republic, Lima,
o., Dec. II. 1898
Whereas our eomrade, John Fl.
Sharer, Department Commander of
Grand Army of the Republic, died at
his home in Alliance, o., Dec. z, 1908;
and
whereas in recognition of the great
loss our ORGANIZATION has sustained and
the high esteem in which he was held
by the comradeship of tlfc Department,
we adopt the following resolutions:
Resolved. That in the death of COM
rade John Fl. Sharer this Department
Iannents the loss of one of the most effi-
eient and progressive Commanders that
ever filed that exalted position in the
Department of Ohio. Loyal to his coun-
try in the hour of its need, so was he
loyal and faithful to every trust i'm
posed upon him by his comrades in the
great Organization of which he was
Commander, when the inexorab1e sum-
mons came that promoted him from the
ranks below to the celestial ranks
above The true spirit of comradeship
was exemplified in his daily life by his
readiness to proffer the hand of aid and
the voice of sympathy to the needy and
destitute comrade. He was a citizen
whose upright. noble. Christian life was
a standard OF emulation to his fellows,
and so we will ever love and cherish the
memory of our departed Commander.
Resolved. That the heartfelt SYM
pathy of the comrades of this Depart
ment be extended>fo his bereaved fam
lily, and that they be furnished with an
engrossed copy of these resolutions.
"W.i s. Matthews, Charles Fl. Newton,
T.. T. Smith, Committee"
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The assailants of our system of naval
construction may be assumed to be
thoroly answered by the conclusions
of the Newport conference. The con-
ference consisted of so seagoing off
GERS and only four officers Of the Con-
struction Corps, but it approved thoroly
of the designs of the North Dakota. and
Utah, which is a virtual approval of the
lines upon which all of our vessels have
been built.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

It is claimed for the old warship
Michigan. which is the only armed ves-
eel that the United States keeps upon
the Great Lakes, that she IS the oldest
iron vessel in the world. The material
To build her was dragged across the
mountains from Pittsburg to Erie, Pa,
where the Michigan was built e6 years
ago
The National tribune., 1908-12-17
DEATH or cormsxpEn sHsRER.

DEATH OF COMMANDER SHAHLN.
The Department Of Ohio. g. A. r., is
plunged in mourning over the uutimely
death OF Commander J., H Sharer. who
had just entered upon an administers
tfen which promised great usefulness to
the Order.
Comrade Sharer was born in Ohio,
and before he was out OF his teens Ell
listed in the 18th Ohio, and served in
that and other regiments during the
war. being a good, faithful soldier, well
esteemed by his comrades and officers
AT the conclusion of the war he wene
into business and succeeded admirably.
He was particularly interested in UNDER
taking and embalming, and then studied
these subjects with relation to the pub
lie health, writing many articles upon
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Testimony in favor of clean living
comes from an unexpected source. Lu-
cius II. Bigiow, former captain and now
head. coach of the TaIe football squad
says that three -fourths of the college
athletes whose work amounts to any
thing, say their prayers at night before
going to bed. Clean living is more than
ever the rule in the colleges, and for
d man who expects TO succeed in ath-
letics il is even more imperative than
Tor other walks of life. Men who drink
sre neither so energetic or SO reliable
or such stayers as those who are rigidly
Abstemious.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Gov. Hughes seems to be coming out
of his cold professional shell and getting
more companionable. Jan 16 he will
be initiated into the mysteries of the
Krewe of Ko-Noon-No, of Syracuse, a
State Fair adjunct. Let the initiators
be very careful to use only gentle.
well-broken goat
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

One would think that this is a pretty
late date for the wife of John l.. SuIIi-
v;Tn te be suing for divorce. So far as
the world can see the tough old ex-
of late years, as men do, who tire OF
devilury as they grow older. 1t would
Seem impossible for any decent woman
40 have lived with him 20 years ago,
but Mrs. Sullivan did the stunt. Now
st appears that her patience is worn
out. and all of John LIS efforts to get
her back have proved unaNailing.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17
THE SECRET SERVICE ROW.

There is an almost inextricable mix
up in this spat between the President
and Congress over the use Of the Secret
Service of the Treasury Department.
In the first place it must be understood
that the Treasury Department has the
best-equipped Secret Service at the dis
posal of the Government. The Treasury
has so many great interests to guard
in relation to counterfeiting, Illicit dis
tilling. frauds upon the customs reve-
nue.. etc, that It has had to provide it
self with detective force as fine as
there is in the world. When the In
terror and Attorney Generals Depart
ments began investigating the frauds
upon the Government in timber, coal.
mining. and other lands, it was most
natural that they should seek the as
sistance of the Treasury Departments
competent Secret Service No special
agents which these Departments could
put into the field could be of anything
like the service that the trained sieuths
of the Treasury could render. A spe-
cia1 agent of either of the other Depart
ments. while not having special de-
Ftective training, was still further ham,
pered in his work by the knowledge at
the outset of where he belonged and
what his mission was.
The Treasury's Secret Service men
developed a most astonishing series
of frauds in which several members Of
Congress were implicated. with the re-
suit that at least one Senator was sem
ttenced to penitentiary and several Rep
resentatives stood in grave danger of
B'Se fate. How many others were more or
less involved we shall never know. but
there is popular belief that they were
sufficiently numerous to have the pro-
vision put In the appropriation that the
Treasury's Secret Service men should
be confined to their specific duties and
not be permitted to act for the other
Departments. This restriction was look
ed upon with great suspicion by hon
est men thruout the country. and It
seemed to have under It some motive
not creditable to Congress.
1t Is not to be believed, as some of
the hot-heads assert. that the Presi-
dent has used the Secret Service men
to gather damaging evidence as to the
characters and habits of members of
Congress in general He would be en-
tirely justified in using them, however,
to gain Information as to any completely
in schening detrimental to the public
welfare, such as the Illegal seizure of
valuable lands. We believe that the
services of the Treasury sleuths have
bean confined to this.
While unquestionably very much the
greater number Of the Senators and
Representatives have absolutely moth
ing to fear from any revelations that
the Treasury sfeuths may make. yet 1t
is not unlikely that there is number
to whom revelations would be decidedly
and they will be sufficient to
Keep Congress from anything but very
moderate action in regard to the mes
sage.
The good taste and wisdom Of the
Presidents making such a general re-
Election upon Congress remains, how
ever, quite subject to criticism.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17
WASHINGTON, D. C.. DEC II, 1908.
NaTICE.

When you send IN your Subscription
hfwavs state whether renewal or ne"
subscriber.
When y-ou renew from another post
Office give former address as we'll.
When change of address is desired be
sure to give former address.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The New York Sun has a very low
opinion of the political bosses of its CITY
end State. 1t says:
H'The average political boss, Repub-
fiean or Democratic. in the estimation
of many practical politicians, especially
in New York City, cannot see further
than the end of his nose, and has no
SiIere idea Of public sentiment than a
rat-taif file in barrel OF water.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Quite a number of prominent Hal
tians are strongly opposed to Gen. ST.
mon having the usufruct of the coffee
plantstions for the next few years.
Most of these directors have complex
ions varying from that of new saddle
to that Of weak boarding -house coffee,
and it girds them to be ruled by a gem
tleman with negro minstrel mug and
color.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The Pittsburg Gazette thinks that the
University Of Minnesota shows nerve III
asking President Roosevelt to become
its head. in view of its last seasons S
baseball record.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

No one can deny that the United
Brethren have the courage of their
On cold day last week
the pastor of Otterbein Church at Flag
erstown, Nd. led six converts into the
floating ice on the Antietam, and gave
them the rite of baptism according to
the total immersion tenets.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Now. you gentlemen who have ex-
plantations for everything on tap. here
IS a chance for you. The Scientific
American offers a prize OF $500 for the
best explanation suitable for popular
comprehension OF the Fourth Dimen-
sion This ought TO be easy money for
,nen who can offhand, without turning
q hair. explain the money problem and
how the tariff should be revised.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

cIt appears likely now that further
railroad litigation in the South VIII be
suspended by a general agreement for
a twe-and-a-half-centr rate, the same as
Is now in force in North Carolina.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The New Orleans molasses men have
abandoned all effort to keep within the
percentage of sulphur bleach allowed
by the Government, and il is thought
that they win not be inter1ered with.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The Dutch ships are prowiing about
fhe Venezuelan coast seeking some Ven
.zuelan vessels Ito capture and begin
syar SO far they have had little sue
cess. as the Venezuelans had ample
warnings to keep close indoors. The
only capture was that Of the guard ship.
Alix. which was taken in a way to
show that the Dutch sailors have not
forgotten the lessons Of their gallant
ancestors. The Alix was lying under
fhe guns of the forts at Puerto Cabello.
but boatloads OF sailors attacked her
end took possession, sending her crew
ashore and towing the vessel out to the
open water
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Bryan claimed with confidence that
1ie was going to receive so per cent oil
the labor vote, but the present cafcdla-
tions only allow that he received from
20 to go per cent.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17
President-elect Tai

President-elect Taft is going to Au-
gusta. Ca, for rest, particularly to his
digestion, which has been severely tried
by the incessant dining he has had to
undergo. A dietary of the good yellow
corr pene and sweet milk Of Georgia
win bring him around all right if he
viii stick closely to it.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The Princess de Sagan says that the
little Count Boni cost her $11,o0o,0O
Astonishing how much money some
people will throw away upon q mere
trifie.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

Bostonians lament that there is. no
in their city to John Adams,
John Quincy Adams, Emerson, Lowell,
Whittier or Longfellow.
The National tribune., 1908-12-17
THE. vrnGusI. RATE CASE.

The Supreme Court of the United
States handed down to the lawyers q
worse than Is to puzzle in its decision
upon the Virginia rate law. No LAWYER
has yet ventured to affirm that he fully
understands the decision and its effects
The high tribunal itself seems to have
been unusually distracted by the case
Stree six Judges supported the reason
ing and conclusions, two dissented from
the reasoning but accepted the eonclu-
sions, and one rejected both reasoning
and conclusions. In brief, the case is
this: The State Corporation Commission
of Virginia made uniform passenger
rate OF two cents a mile. The railroads
at once went to United States Circuit
Court, and obtained an Injunction
against the enforcement of this rate.
on the plea that it was confiscatory The
State objected on the ground that the
Commission was court, and its DEGREES
could not be reviewed. by a Circuit
Court. Now the United States Supreme
Court holds that the Commission was a
legislative and not a judicial body and
therefore the case should have gone to
the State Supreme Court of Appeals to
inquire into the clause in the Virginia
Constitution which confers the rate
making function, legislative one, upon
the State Corporation Commission At
the same time by pronouncing the rate
making an act of legislation the vir-
ginia Court of Appeals would be doing
legislative rather than a judicial act
The case was sent back to the Federal
Circuit Court, with directions to retain
II until the Virginia Supreme Court of
Appeals should pass upon it. If this
action could not be brought within the
time prescribed by the statute of limita-
tions. six months. the Circuit Court was
directed to give q decree in favor of
the railroads. The six months have al
ready elapsed, and it is alleged that the
result of the proceedings is to nuIlify
the two-cent rate while condemning the
procedure by which this nullffication
was reached. In the meanwhile the yir-
ginia railroads. in accordance with an
agreement reached with the other rail-
roads and the Governors of several
Southern States. are giving the two
cent rate trial, but claiming that it is
demonstrating itself to be in effect con-
| fiscatory. The revenues from passen-
ger traffic have fallen enormously, and
| II is claimed that they cannot afford to
carry passengers at the two-cent rate.
l
The National tribune., 1908-12-17

The French are getting alarmed be-
cause SO many German balloons are
landing in their country. The trouble
is that there is no country in Europe,
outside Of Russia, big enough to admit
of satisfactory jaunt of a balloon
within its limits. 1t is the old story of
the German Prince who supplied his
army with riaed cannon, and then
had to ask permission of his neighbors
before he fired it.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
A MIGHTY FIRE HORSE FALLEN.
Hank Merry Runaway, Brooklyn Hero, Laid
Away with Broken Leg.

Hank the old fire horse, has served his allotted
term of service. and his days Numbered After
eighteen years of wild get-a aways 10 fires he is
nothing but sick old animal strung UP in rope
hammock at the Bolivar street hospital in Brook
lyn-
II is not that his friends have Vilfully deserted
Hank bur, with broken fore leg the fiery steed.
that has = record of twenty runaways is no longer
Of any to the department. His twenty three
years would not have weighed heavily upon his
mighty shoulders had It not been for the accident
Now Hank old horse all at once.
Hank born tWenty-three years ago. When
he was three years old and husky he Joined the
Fire Department In 1890 they were stiu using
the heavy engine tenders, Hank got the Job Of
pulling one. He away, and gwen
70 2 fire chief. After that he allowed to run
away as often he wanted 70. for that what
fire chiefs like when they going hra. and
it made Hank popular.
Hank never did any. harm in all his rUnaways.
and after hs had reached the fire he could BE- left
standing unhitched. 1t the wild call the fire
that ser his blood tingling and made him demon
Of speed until he the smoke or flames
Atea recent fire ne turned 4 corner TOO sharply,
and the coronet bone in his off fore leg snapped.
ending the of the greatest fire horse in
BrooklynS
New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
swEARs SUGAR SCALES WERE FIXED.
Government s Chief Witness Testifes in Suits
Against Refining Company.

Richard Parr. Special Treasury Agent. sx-
aTnned yesterday before United States Commits
Shields the governments chief witness in
the seven suits brought against the American Su-
gar Refining Company to recover customs duties
aggregating s36 12l15 for the alleged fraudulent
weighing of sugar imported during the last six
years.
He testified that on November %. 1907 he visited
the piers of the Havemeyer & Elder refinery, IN
Williamsburg, where sugar being unloaded
and weighed. He said he discovered steel springs
In holes in the beams OF ths wooden platform
scales which interfered~ with the accurate weigh
ing Of the sugar. When the springs were removed,
he testified. end the sugar reweighed the weight
of each lot was increased on an average fourteen
pounds.
Parr swore the seventeen sets of scales by the
nanipulatio Of the secret spring, all registered
false weights in favor Of the company. He tes-
tined that he found the posts of all Of them bored
so that the steel spring could he inserted 10 rest
on the lever Of the scale and by its pressure de-
ceiye the government Wegher.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
WENDEL PLEADS GUILTY.
Former Battery Captain on 69th
Birthday 4dmits Filing False Bills.

Captain louis Wendell. former commander % rhs
1st Battery y. . y Y. pleaded guilty yesterday.
on hts sfxty-nnth birthday. % charges OF having
presented false bill for horse hire and fodder -
the auditing board 0f the batter He viii Be SER
fenced On Tuesday by Judge Swami. IN Gsnersi
Sessions Two other indictments both for larceny.
were dismissed upon the recommendation of Dis
trict Attorney jerome. who said he did not think
he would bA abia convict.
Captain Wendell the proprietor Of several
beer gardens although he had been in the ns-
tionaI guard FOR tvsnty-six years before he was
dfshonorabIv discharged bv Governor Hughes n
1907 after he had refused 70 attend court mar
tiaI 70 investigate charges OF graft =xtortion and
blackn1an commanding officer % the batter
Wendell became a Lieutenant in 1s1 and captain
a year later. TIE lst Battery became = thorough
going Tammany organization. and the captains
staff at one time composed OF Tarrnany
notabIes Richard Croker vas chief OF star ard
Charles 2 Murphy and Andrew Freedman were
colonels Big Tim" Sullivan was only . heuter-
The testimony upon which Wendell vas indicted
showed that he had certified 70 the auditors THAT
there had been a dozen psrades within two Years.
for which 81 90 had been spent for horse htrs-
when in sact there had not been more than three
parades II was also shown that arruory EN-
Wendell resorts An armory employs testified thst
Wendell had cashed his paw check OF so esch
month and had kept so for himself.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
BIG SH4KE-TP IN GOLF.
Netc Officers Named for the National
ASSOCIATION.

Herbert Jaoues. Of the Country Club. Brookne,
has been nominated for president OF the United
states Golf Association. to succeed Daniel Chaun-
oey, The nominating committee, made up of G.
Herbert Windelsr, Frederick S James and Charles
b Macdonald. made practically clean sweep OF
the cid officers and executive committee. il submit
ting the following report yesterday;
President Herbert Jaques, the Country Club.
Brookline
Vice-prestdents-Siles H Strawn. Glen View Club,
Chicago; Milton pargan, Atlanta Athletic Club,
Atlanta.
secretary-Robert C Watson Garden City Golf
Club, Garden City, n. Y.
Treasurer-wilam Fellowes Morgan, Baltusrol
Golf Club. Baltusrol, n. J.
Other members OF the executive cornr11ittee-Iar-
Wis Hunt, Chicago GOLF Club. Wheaton. Ill; c. I.
Jatray, Minikahda Golf Club. Minneapolis Joseph
6 Clark, Philadelphia Cricket Club Philadelphia.
and Arden ". Robbins, ST Andrews Golf Club,
Mount Hope. n. Y,
William Fellowes Morgan, the present secretary.
has been named treasurer in place OF Samuel
7. Heebner, Of Philadelphia, who has held the office
for the last ten years, while Robert c Watson will
taken Mr.. Morgan's place as secretary.
The executive committee will be made UP OF three
men from the west five from the East and
one from the South.
New-York tribune., 1908-12-04
HOCKEY PLAYERS BUSY.
Outlook Bright for Keen Struggle IN
AmGteur League.

While Ben Rhodes. manager OF the New YORK
Athletic Club, feels reasonably sure Of having the
team that will capture the championship or the
Amateur Hockev League this year. some STURDY
resistance may be expected from several OF the
other teams in the league, which will take ao
vantage of the weakness Of the Crescent team
last wears winners, TO put forth their strongest
plavers in the opening 1atches-
Max Hornfeck captain of the Wanderers. Is en-
thusiastio over the acquisition of Gilmore, who
last wear captained the champions Of the Canadian
Commercial League In practice he has SHOWN
form enough to insure him place on the forward
line with Garon another new player, developed IN
the interschoIastic league last season.
Captain Ellison Of the Hockey Club Will GO into
the championship series with several changes tor
the better in the lineup. a dozen new men have
been in practice the st. Nicholas Rink with the
expectation of making the team Bryant and Phil
lips will be the forwards
The St. Nicholas team will 60 into the night
better equipped than before. Kenneth Gordon
has succeeded IN getting several college stars TO
ioin the club. Billy Lsrned. the national lawn ten
mis- champion. has been practising and may try FOR
the team.
Sheriff will not play with the Crescent Atnletlo
Club team this year. while Flynn and Ltffiton have
not reported for practice Mckenzie says, how
ever that he will put a strong seven on the ice.