davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
\ PERFORMING STATESMAN
AND CAPTAIN

John P Irish has attained the distinction of be-
coming great news center. No month in all the
round year is complete without story for the front
page that Irish has been fired at last with the appar
emily inevitable contradiction following in regular
course. Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is bet
ter and Irish untes the useful qualities of both He
is the only colonel known to fame who was ever
raised to the rank of captain in the navy. Like the
ancient lady of easy virtue, age not wither nor
custom stale his infinite variety and his politics is
quite as accommodating as hers if the salary is
rght-Greek, Roman, Egyptian, republican, or
democrat, whichever is on top.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

emily acquiesced in the plea and in the lapse OF time
and easy justice Jones forgotten until finally
he died in his bed in the Alameda county Jail in the
late ninetes full of years. For his tenacty in hold
ing on to his job in the service OF the commonwealth
under trying circumstances Jones had but one seri-
Gus competitor
A FAMOUS SMITH
Representative Smith of Bakersfield appears to
be rising star in the political world One observes
that newspaper editors who hope to be postmasters
in the eighth district are copying with. laudatory
comment Washington dispatch which says
Congressman S. Clarke Smith of Bakersfield,
Cal, IS, next to Senator Adrich, about the busiest
Being journalist, which most of his IL house
and senate colleagues not he has been pressed
into extra service get the numerous and voum
nous reports OF the committee IN such attractive
shape that they will stand better chance of being
appreciated by the general public than the usual
OF departmental documents
When man begins to split his name in the mid
die, especially when he belongs to that dis
tnguished tribe which Ambrose Bierce described
as the Smithocracy it means that he feels he is
somebody in particular
HIS REFORMED SPELLING
While Smith was merely everyday editor
body suspected him of nedtatng reformed spell
ing for Clark and introducing himself strange
compound of nomenclature. But he will have earned
his fame honestly by the time he has read copy on
the sixty volumes of currency stuff which the com
mission<is preparing to spring unoffending
and defenseess people. The dispatch goes on to
record this innocent remark by Mr. Smith: 81
think | am not discreditng the members OF the
commission when | say that the first thing done
upon meeting and organizing was to each and every
one of us confess his unpreparedness for the work
in hand We are still in school, SO to speak.
BOASTS OF HIS IGNORANCE
So we get a glimpse of the mysteries of legisla-
ton The reform of the currency and banking sys-
tenn is perhaps the most difficult subject with which
congress has to deal It's treatment is oonfided to
men who proudly confess that they know nothing at
all about it They pretend to no compromising
acquaintance with the Money Devil.
THE MONEY DEVIL
Apropos | read III the Fresno Republican:
According to La Toilette the business
of the United States is rapidly concentrating into
the control of less than hundred men, all but
Ia of whom dummies, and even these IL are
dominated by two, who now acting as one
In other words the control of American industries
is rapidly concentrating into what amounts to a
single hand.
I.suspect brother Rowe of malign intent to poke
fun at La Toilette who is sometimes troubled with
superhuous alarums and excursions. After all, we
must rely on Smth-Clarke Smith--to tame the
Money Devil after he learns how: bySreading those
sixty volumes of stuff
POET AND AUCTIONEER
Man is a celebrating animal San Francisco. .cele-
brates Don Gaspar, Ventura celebrates beans. Any
old thing and the older the better, will do provided
you can deliver the celebration Now. comes San
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

o
senator, whom Collector Pendleton met in
New York, and may be regarded as official. It
confirms what | have previously printed this
subject. Senator Flint is not rich man and can
not afford to enter upon an expensive campaign
lie has served his state well and faithfully, and is
highly esteemed at Washington, where his inlu-
ence is regarded as unusual for senator serving
his hrst term. AS member of the finance com
mittee he IS in position to do California great
deal OF good He deserves to be sent back, not
Tor his tariff views but for his general usefulness
to Pacific coast interests
At the time when this was written Mr.. Flint,s
great exemplar and model statesman Senator Aid
rich, was travelling about the middle west, "the
enemys country, in his private car. Senator Aid
rich has not found that senatorial career has put
in his way any serious obstacles in the process OF
building UP millions When Senator Aldrich is
gathered to his uncles Senator Flint might honestly
aspire to fill his place Seventy-seven times or
more he voted Aldrich bade him on tariff sched-
ules and showed any trace of insubordination
But the Riverside Press says "there will be general
disappointment in southern California if Senator
Flint decides to retire at the end of his present
term" He is striking example of the amiabe
lmediocrity that characterizes our politics. The
strange thing is that he is just about good as any
OF the others who mentioned for this great office
WHAT THE MACHINE WANTS
Look back ten years. General W. II. L. Barnes
was at that time the biggest man in California in
point of brains He was regular organization man.
but the machine fought his aspirations to be United
States senator. 1t knew that once elected he would
become too powerful for it, and he was too big to
be driven. Herrn could have elected Barnes BY
holding up his finger, but he preferred Dan Burns
The pill SO nauseous that even the California
legislature of that day could not swallow it.
A PERFORMING STATESMAN
What they want is trained senator perform
ing animal, who will vote seventy times as he
is bid and be ready to vote III times in the same
cause without whilnper.
Come when you're called,
Do you're bid
Shut the door after you,
And you'll never be child
All this serves to explain why Gillett is not in
the best standing in exalted circles He is Just
little bit too big to be dragged through Mr. Her
rims knothole Mr.. Herrin is much afraid that he
will need him.
col QMEI AND CApTAIM
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

HE coming year should see some
mighty interesting politics in
California. We are about to ex-
plore an unknown field of the
gay science because the opera
ton Of the direct primary is vir-
tually new business in this COM
monwealth.
We had a lesson in the uncer-
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

chine politics. Your political boss
prefers mediocrity. 1t is more
subservient, for one thing, and for
another the place is always easy
to fill when tools are worn out
or found out.
NEED A LEADER
1t is the weakness of the re-
formers cause that they have not
as yet developed commanding
figure. They need man to in
fame the imagination and solidify
the seventy-seven jarring sects
that owe loose allegiance to the
cause. This is partly because
men of mark will not bother with
the dirty game of politics and in
part because the money is on the
other side.
FLINT NEEDS THE MONEY
a Los Angeles paper protesting
to have inside information says:
Collector OF Customs Cor
nelius w. Pendleton, return
ing from an important CON
vention of appraisers held in
New York, brings back the in
formation that United States
Senator Flint undoubtedly
will decline to be candidate
for reelection unless an un-
mistakable public movement
urging him to serve a sec
ond term takes form This
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
TWO GENERAL ELECTIONS
MACHINE POLITICS MAKES FOR
MEDIOCRITY

There is lack OF inspiring figures in the political
life of California today. We are fallen the day
of little people and there is one man. either in
the ranks of the reformers or on the other side
whose name is like trumpet call. There is no
Newton Booth left in California
This is one result of prolonged period of ma
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
lat Figure in the Contemporary Life of California

Berdoon and wants to celebrate because she-is
Berdoon she?-is one hundred years OF age A
gorgeous confluence of sentiment moves ohm
Sugarplum Magroarty the sweet singer OF the
southern citrus belt, to loose the heavens and
the earth in one wild welter of adjectives, to wit:
The celebration is to take place in May next,
the very time of the year when the valley OF St
Bernard is the loveliest The great, wide, sunht
vale will then be carpeted with wild flowers, the
meadows will be green, the orchards will be heavy
with the golden apples OF Hesperus and the maJes-
tic mountain peaks will still be mantled in snow
The place will be magic with then The
mystic arrowhead will be aglow, the skies will be
the bluest in all the world
Truly, Berdoons clothes and furniture will be
very fine, albeit some OF them may look as If they
had been gathered up in pawnshop- After all, the
difference between the poet with his eye IN a fine
frenzy rolling and the auctoneer putting and wheez-
ing over his wares is negligible.
"A CURIOUS PROPHECY
Talking of celebrations, the New York Evening
Post digs up in connection with the Portola fiesta
the following strange prophecy:
In year prolific in reminders OF Americas
debt Champlain, to Hudson, to Verrazzano it IS
now the turn OF Don Gaspar de Portoa. Cali
fornians are feting this week, not merely the hrst
white man to gaze upon the Golden gate but
likewise their accomplishments:
Hail thy daring. to thy CHEEKY mood.
stormy progress brother muttude.
appears in the merry making. "The smelling pot
of the races" Stevenson called the water front
One found there black men, yellow men, beggar
men, thieves. There lascars IN turbans and
disbraided Chinese and Italian fishermen in tam
shanters and wide, gaudy SaSheS-CIreeks, Alas
kan Indians, and of the south That
the old San Francisco-Or part OF 1t. The
new city is American and has fewer sug
gestions of the San Francisco of Bret Hartes
Argonauts 1t is their future to which Califor
mans looking in celebrating Portola In
paragraph printed in the San Francisco Call of
April IS. 1e06-or Just before the earthquake-t
said: Our destiny IS upon We not
escape it Fire and earthquake have done their
worst, but San Franciscos destiny upon her still
Doubtless no man was ever so much surprised
as this prophet to find his prophecy come home to
roost quickly. He got results.
THE TREATY OF HOBOKEN
The same paper gives what might be described
college professors view of the signing of the
famous treaty of Hoboken-a treaty OF war, not
peace. First came the diplomats:
First the successful bidders, Tex
Richard and Jack Gleason. Rickard, so the adj
miring ran, the most daring gambler
in the west. He the most palatial saloon
and gambling in Goldheld, New, and has
his share of rough work
You would believe it look at him. He
has the softest brown eyes and the gentle
diffident address-silken is the word. His appear
ance would indicate that he would shine better
advantage in raising 100000 for charity than for
sugg1ng match Still the physognonl1st might
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
FEE FO FUN
Nothing was said about Mr.. Johnsng, but Of

Nothing was SAID about Mr. Johnslng, but
Teffries this
A truly ominous figure. Jeffries. Physically he
is separate from all mankind Nature lost her
sense of time and created anachronsm For.
if he was not born to be a gladiator, then
was.
Entering the room full of lesser beings he was
not man, he dark scoyVling presence His
shock of jet black hair, his heavy brows, with dark
eyes gltterng beneath his tremendous. heaving
shoulders. the immense expanse of chest; his
hairy wrists, his SIX feet odd inches of height-all
suggested the brute, nothing else.
When at home in California he spends his time
ranging the Rockies, hunting bear brooding
upon his alfalfa ranch You could picture him
there; brother to the bear habitant of waste
places, or of rocky heights; he has no business in
civilized places When he drinks he stands up
and disposes of his quart of wine: that is his
tipple. He is something apart from other men
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
BOASTS OF HIS IGNORANCE

SO we get glimpse of the mysteries of legisla
ton The reform of the currency and banking sys-
tenn is perhaps the most difficult subject with which
congress has to deal. It's treatment is oonhded to
men who proudly confess that they know nothing at
all about it. They pretend to no compromising
ACQUAINTANCE with the Money Devil.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
NOT A FABLED MONSTER

NOT A FABLED MONSTER
There is something in this OF the myth that grows
up about heroes and demgods. 1t is not all fee 70
fun with Jeffres and he does not swallow his drink
standing as if it bucket OF blood. / remen-
Der seeing Jefries one evening seated in big base
ment restaurant before the fire. He was the center
and cynosure of circle of young fools and toadies
who Opening wine to show their blood and
breeding. In the fond fable of an elder day, Jack
of the Beanstalk slew the ogre. Now he opens
wine and plays the snob at the ogre's knee
SETTING HIM RIGHT
w. R. Austin OF Three Rivers, Tulare county,
writes that he is not the author OF a letter
signed with his name that printed this page
last week and further makes general denial of the
statements concerning the forestry service therein
contained. did not vouch for their accuracy and
indeed expressed doubt on the subject, but Mr..
Austin is entitled to the benefit OF his repudiation
of-the letter
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26

tainties and perplexities of three cornered hgh
in the recent municipal election but with the direc
primary that variety OF political conundrum may BE-
multiplied many times. Take, for example, the mat
ter OF choosing the republican nominee for gov
ernor.
The San Francisco call., 1909-12-26
POET AND AUCTIONEER

Man is celebrating animal San Francisco cele-
brates Don Gaspar Ventura celebrates beans Any
old thing and the older the better, will do provided
YOU can deliver the celebration. Now comes San
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-09
HATTIE LE BLANC OF WALTHAM
 HELD WITHOUT BAIL.
On Charge of Murderins Her Em-
 pIoyer, Clarence F. Glover.

Wakham, Mass, Dec. s.-Hattie Le BsaMc, the sixteen year old French girl from Arichat, N. S., was sent back to the Middlesex county jail in East Cambridge today, after Judge Enos n Fucb had held her without ball for the Jhnuary term of the Mid dIesex grand 5ury, 0n the charge of nlurdering her employer, Clarence F. Glover. The evidence in the case was presented at the juvenile session of the WaHham district court, and, as in all juvenile cases, the hearing was secret
 The young girl was evidently in good Hleatth and seemed happy.
 The witnesses questioned by Assist ant District Attorney Charles J. Weir were Dr. FrederfcE l.. McDenald, a Physician, who heard Glover's dying Accusation against the Le Blanc girl at the coussns hospital; Thomas l.. Tu1ly. a police officer. who heard the same statement, and Thomas H. Con- nors. a lRtlner, to whom when he found Glover lying on the hospital steps. the dying man stated that Hattie Le Blanc had sffot him.
 Mira. Glover. the widow of the vin- tim, was summoned by the defense as e witness. Objection to Attorney Ma than A. Tufts line of questioning be- Ing sustained by the court, practically the only information gleaned from the witness was that she and the prisoner had been on the most friendly terms for a long time.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-09
NICARAGUAN LEGATION
 RENT BILLS UNPAID.
A For Rent" Sign Ornaments the
 Premises at Washington.

Washington, Dec. 8.-Ths Nicarag- uan legation here is no more. Big vans have carried off the furniture and the other appurtenances of the house in O street where, President Zelaya's representatives once were domiciled. A For Rent sign ornaments the front lawn. It is the gossip in Central Am erican circles that the Zelayan gov erment has not sent the monthly checks to it's legation, an oversight that is said to be sorely felt by the legation force.
 Senor Rodriguez. the special emis- sary of Zelaya, through whom Secre- tary Knox's sharp note was conveyed to the Nicaraguan government, is still in Washington It is said by a former attache of the legation that the furni- ture had been stored until the present situation cleared. It was indignantly denied that the legation had been driv- en from its quarters because of the failure of the Nicaraguan govern ment to meet the monthly rent bills.
 Word was received here tonight in Central American circles that the re- ports of a Zelayan victory over the insurgent army near Rama was with out the slightest foundation in fact. It was declared that there had been no fighting in the last few days.
 Tt is the Hull before the storm" said a Central American diplomat. Tn a few days we will hear of battle and it will be a decisive one, provided the Estrada forces are victorious. If they are not, they will fall back to fight again"
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-09
NEW YORK CITY
 NOT so BAD AS PAINTED.
Address by Mayor Elect Gayner at
 Dinner of Southern Society.

New York. Dec. s.-Secretary of War Dickinson and William J. Gaynori mayor elect of Greater New York were the principal speakers tonight al the annual dinner of the Southern so- ciety of New York at the Waldorf Astoria. The secretary of war spoke of the north, the south and the nation, but Judge Gaynor confined himself al- most solely to municipal issues. Six hundred southerners were present.
 Judge Gaynor in this, his first public address since his election, said in part:
 -The long line of officials and bosses who made themselves mfllionaires out of the government of this city, some of whom live abroad and impudently visit us occasionally now that the stat ute of limitations has outiawed their villainies, is a standing disgrace to the moral tone of the community"
 Fastening to the defense of the city's name, Judge Gaynor continued:
 This city has been most grossly slandered for several years in respect of its morality, financial credit or otherwise. Let us put a stop to that. Mere scolds and sensationalists are not to be suffered to give this city bad or vile name throughout the world. I am prepared to say from travel and other means of information that New York is the most orderly, decent and moral large city in the world"
 William G. McAdoo presided and the guests included among others, United States Senator Gore of Oklahoma, J. P. Morgan, Ebert H. Gary, Gov. R. A. Patterson of Tennessee, Lee McClung United States treasurer, Thomas Nel- son Page. Thomas F. Ryan and others.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-09
According to Dr. Velasquez Nicaraguan Exile
 who Has Reached New York
DECISIVE BATTLE EXPECTED TODAY
Zeaya Making Every Effort to ncite the People to Anti American Demonstrations resident of Nicaragua Takes the Field Against His Old Enemy Zelaya-All Mail from Nicaragua Opened by Zelaya's Spies.

This battle is said to have been des- which entered the fight with 150 sol diers left all but four of them on the field.
 One of the arrivals here who is not a native of Nicaragua states that the government officials at Nicaragua pub- licly assert that Mexico will support Nicaragua in any controversy in which it may become involved with the Unit ed States.
 All Passengers Searched.
 No foreign newspapers are allowed to enter Nicaragua at points in control of the government. All passengers on landing there are searched, and not al- lowed to bring arms or anything which Zelaya's officers believe might be used to help the insurgent cause. The sit- uetion in the interior is reported as desperate for every one, including Ze- laya's soldiers.
 10000 Refugees to Support Estrada.
 New York. Dec. S.-Dr. M. E. Velas- quez, a Nicaraguan exile who arrived here today from Panama, had a string of grievances against President Ze- lava, extending over a period of nine years and including six imprfsonments. He reports that no mail from Nicarag- ua can reach the colony of exiles at Panama unopened by Zelaya's spies and censors. Ten thousand refugees in Costa Rica are organizing to sup port Estrada, he says, and the down. fall of Zelaya he believes is assured.
Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-09

Washington. Dec. S.-Senor Castrlllo, the representative of the revolutionists here, received a cable despatch under today's date from Bluefelds and signed Estrada" stating that all indications were that decisive battle between Ze- laya's forces and the revolutionists Wo.llf he fought trmorrow at Rama
 President Zelaya, recognizing the growing sentiment in Nicaragua fav- orable to the revolutionists and to the part the United States is playing in the contest, has recently been making every possible effort to fncite the peo- ple to anti-American demonstrations. This information was received at the etate department today from official sources. together with the statement that Zelaya's efforts in that direction had been utterly futile, and that noth- ing but fear of him prevents pro- American demonstration.
 No confirmation has, up to this time. been received by government officials here of the report of an important bat tie having been fought between the Ze- laya and the revolutionary forces
 ZeIaya's Old Enemy Takes the Field.
 New Orleans. Dec. S.-Ex-President Cardenas of Nicaragua, who was over thrown by Zelaya in 1891, has taken the field against his old enemy and is heading an expedition from Costa Rica into Nicaragua, according to advices received here by the sympathizers of the revolutionary movement in the lat ter country. It is said that Cardenas Is at the head of about 800 well armed men and Managua is his objective point It is asserted that he has bound himself and his followers to support the candidacy of General Estrada
 Mexico's Good Offices.
 
 Mexico City says:
 Authoritative information has been obtained here that Mexico will exert her good offices looking toward an amicable settlement of the Central American imbroglio. Charles E. Ma goon. formerly governor of Cuba, will be appointed special envoy by the United States to meet Senor Enrique Creel, now on his way to Washington from Mexico City. The United States win sec to 1t that Nicaragua carries gut the rules and regulations that may Do decided upon by the special en- woya."
 zesaya's Strict Censorship.
 Panama, Dec. e-Passengers arriv- fng here from Nicaragua state that the people in that republic are kept in ig- fnorance of what is happening through put the country. So strict is the cen- worship maintained by President ze- laya that residents of the western part of Nicaragua have not learned of the breaking on of diplomatic relations be- tween the United States and Nicar- a&ua- The president of Honduras, re- ported to be an ally of Zelaya, has tell egraphed to the Honduran minister at Salvador, inquirinr about events in Nicaragua, after having waited ten days for a reply to numerous messages sent by him to ManHgIIa-
 General Toledo is besieged at Grey Town, which is surrounded on land and sea by the insurgents. General Vas quex, commander of the government Eorces at the last battle near Rama, WIS oourtmart1aled because of the de- keat suffered by the government troops.