davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
FINDING A WAY OUT.
Oregon plan a Valid Substitute for
Constitutional Amendment.
Prom the baltimore Sun

Prom the Baltimore sun
The oregon plan comes very near being
a perfect substitute for a Constitutional
amendment. provided it can be relied on
10 be carried out in good faith. The
fact that it WAS carried out in good faith
in the election OF Chamberlain, a Demo
erat. BY Republican legislature. is there
fore a matter OF real national moment;
not many such experiences win be re-
CURED to establish as complete con
fdence in the performance or the candi-
dates pledges as now obtains in the case
OF the Presidential electors. Under the
Oregon plan, each legislative candidate
had the chance Of plsdging himself 20
vote for the Senatorial nominee who re-
ceived the greatest number Of votes Of
the people. or pledging himself 10 vote for
the Senatorial nominee Of his own
party, or not piedging himself at all;
and sufficiently large number OF the
candidates adopted the first form Of
pledge 70 bring about the interesting re-
suit that has just been Witnessed
legislature with a Republican majority
eiecting a Democratic Senator. not as the
outcome Of deadlock or struggle Of any
kind. but solely in pursuance Of a pledge
TO act in this matter simply as recorders
Of the win Of the people II is easy 10
imagine that. in the course OF tine, not
only IN Oregon. but elsewhere, the first
form OF pledge win be so distinctly
dictated by public sentiment as 70 become
either practically OF absolutely universal:
and then United States Senators VIII be
as truly chosen by direct vote OF the
people as The President now Is
And II Il should be objected that IN
this way the intent OF the Constitution
would be defeated. il viii 81 least BE-
! possible 10 reply that this VII not he the
case IN anything ike the same degree as
in the matter Of the Presidential electors.
These officers were clothed by the Con-
stitution with one and only one function
or power OF any kind, and OF this they
have beer practically stripped BY what
may well be called the unanimous consent
/ Of the people Of the United States. ex-
pressed IN indefeasible custom II the
IT smbeTs OF our legislature should. by The
same process. be deprived OF the power
I OF choosing United States Senator's FOR
US, at least It VIII not be possible to as
sert that the exercise Of this power vas
the only thing for which their Office was
created OF that the abolition Ct II re-
duces them 20 nonentity-
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Business of Government.

From an address By Secretary Root,
The most important business that les
before the American people to-day is the
business Of government. It Is only By
dealing with government as a science
that the work can be continued under
our modern conditions The great body
o. our citizens desire good government.
But how to deal with new evils that our
complicated life brings sbout-it is FOR
such as you to answer. I venture TO sug-
gest that there are two things to be done
of vital Importance. both Of which re-
duire the highest degree Of intelligence,
one Is that for the solution OF the CON-
plicated questions that are now before
US government should be simpliied in
the highest degree And TO simplify is
the function of learning. The other Is
that responsibility shall be fixed so that
the people may know whom 10 hold re-
sponsible for failure to 9roiUce good gov
eminent
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
COST OF STATE ELECTIONS.
arkansas Spends Half n Million
Annually IN Politics.

NANA-oSa-H SRfAus EaAl MAA11On
Annually IN Politics.
From the Arkansas Gazette.
As nearly as can be estimated. more
than million dollars Is spent in Ar
kansas every two years IL the holding
OF elections and the campaigns incident
thereto.
TWO elections. school and municipal
are held IN Arkansas every year, and
every other year this number IS IN
creased 70 four by the addition Of the
state and national elections. With the
municipal elections IN April. the school
elections in May, the State elections
In September. and the national cleo
tons in November. there is almost a
continual round Of duty at the polls
Moreover. al nominating by the Demo
cratic party IS done through primaries
and these are practically elections
The expense OF holding state and ma
tional elections in Arkansas IS estimated
az $4,000. an average OF s72o per
county, and a total OF Sl0S,009 for
state and national elections. IN the
whole State the campaign expenses
paid BY the committees-incident 70
elections are estimated 70 be $4,000.
bringing the total cost OF the State and
national elections and the political or
CARNATIONS expenses I'D 10 S25S GO
The cost Of holding a primary is S.
GO for Pulaski County and IS estimated
70 be 5000 for the State. The amount
OF money spent BIZ the candidates for
various Offices IN the campaigns preced-
ing a primary is estimated al SEQ on
an average in each cOunty-surely a con-
servative figure. But II only SEQ II
spent IN each county the total would be
$4,000 for the State Thus the cost OF
holding Ire State and national elections
and the primary. added 10 the amounts
spent by candidates IN the ante-prinary
campaign and by the committees. would
be $4,000 We must add to this figure
The smaller cost OF the school and NUM-
opal elections. primaries and campaigns
Moreover. much money has been spent in
campaigns for the adoption Of amend
ments 10 the constitution The estimate
OF a million dollars every Two years
spent on elections. primaries, and cam
paigns is doubtless too low.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
what Mr. Eoo-eveI, Ia. none

From the Eanszs City Star
President Roosevelt has not been infsI-
lihle in his judgment. nor has he always
been-much less sought to be-dipIomatic
in his methods. But his administration
has been fraught with tremendous good
for the people He has accomplished
things that waited and waited and waited
for the right man 20 secure their accom-
plishment He has raised the standards
OF political. official. and business morality
and has given the nation high social and
patriotic aspirat tons. Although not claim
ing TO be a constructive economist. he
has opened the eyes Of the people as no
other man before him did to the great
ness Of the country and 10 It's obligation
70 the present and TO future generations
Correspondingly, he has aroused the ami
mostly OF the beneiciaTies of special
privilege everywhere. and this class can
not conceal its satisfaction over the near
ing end Of his administration. and some
OF them have not even taken the pains
10 hide their malice
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

TO fly the American tag. Was there ever
more beautiful example CT a govern
nent tying It's own arms and legs? Oc-
casionaIly some patriotic individual des-
eants upon the humiliatiEg spectacle
thus presented, yet few Of them have the
courage to say. as our Wisconsin friend
did, that our humiliation IS wholly Of our
own manufacture Only a stupid AMI
aniiquated navigation Law. OF a type that
has been abandoned for half a century OF
more by the two most progressive mari
time nations, stands in the way OF our
sailing American ships under the Ameri-
can Tag. Our golfers are under the reg
istry ana protection Of foreign flags
simply because We viii have it so, and
Tor no other reason whatever And
American citizens continue to run steam
ers under foreign flags simply because
Congress wills IT. That there IS to be no
change in this policy is evident from the
action of the House Committee on Mer-
chant Marine. which only day OF two
after Mr. Kustermann's lucid exhibit OF
the trouble with our merchant marine,
tabled all bills and resolutions looking
70 the grant Of American registry TO for
eign-built ships. even when repaired in
the United States This amounts to a
verdict from that committee that the
United States shall have no merchant
marine unless it is built up by means OF
subsidies from the Treasury. Can We
afford to carry the protective policy 10
that extreme?
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31

We believe Congress would strike
very popular chord II it revived the grade
OF vice admiral in the navy and made it
permanent thing.
Everybody seems pretty well agreed
nowadays that the commanding officers
of our fleets abroad should be protected
again humiliation, big and little. because
OF the fact that our rear admirals must
take something Of a back seat in the
presence Of the officers OF other fleets
with which they come in contact abroad
frequently the fleets OF much smaller and
relatively unimportant nations Since We
have done expanded" into world
power. We certainly should take on the
friIIs and things that go with it. We do
not want TO shine any less resplendently
than the most scintHlating OF the lot.
We believe this IS a serious proposition.
despite its more or less peculiar appeal
from certain angles. Ceremony counts
for very much in matters OF his kind,
and. perhaps. very much more in Europe
than in our own land. Rank. precedent.
and things Of that sort have. W ar.
sure. weighed heavily in making I'm
pOrtant epochs in history. We doubt not
that our splendid cruise around the world,
now reaching a conclusion. would have
been even more successful than it was
had It been commanded by vice admiral.
It seems 10 be the idea, too, that Rear
Admiral Evans IS 70 be the first Officer
honored with the title. If It is revived by
Congress. The suggestion has met with
great popular favor AdmiraI Evans
services have been long and highly dis
tinguished. Il is generally accepted that
he Is entitled TO recognition in this way.
just little ahead Of any one else To
be sure. his isolated case might not be
al sufficient in itself as a compelling
reason FOR the creation Of a vice admiral
Of the navy. but il would be, AZ least,
a pleasant incident Of the revival
On the whole. therefore, we believe
Congress could give us a vice admiral
and simultaneously perform an &C: cf
which the entire people would heartily
approve
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
NeEro,s Fate In the Ralanee-

President Alderman, q University Of Virginia, IN
Lssliss Weekly
Nearly a million negroes now live out
side Southern limits In thirty years
that number VIII De increased % per cent
Already it Is the ultimate fate Of the
negro that is in the balance in America.
and not the fate - the Southern States.
The remarkable acquisition Of land by
the negro is creditable 70 his sagacity
and testimony to the amazing freedom
Of opportunity accorded him II should
be held in mind. however. that strength
alone can guarantee permanence in his
land holdings Weak men cannot per
manently hold land or continue to ac-
quire land. The hsrshest experiences OF
the black people are yet 10 be. for the
South must come Il treat them as the
world now treats - demanding that
they develop not lual and indus
trial power. but 49, moral qualities
necessary TO win @-c- 1 through fierce
competition. COnsIGsi l..ons OF national
welfare, therefore a. well as solemn
human justice, demand that such train
ing be given 10 this African element in
American life as will enable II to face its
supreme struggle with hope. viii de-
velop its Unmeasured capacity for pro-
ductivenesS in the field Of labor. and viii
safeguard the quality OF American citi-
zenship.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Mr.. Roosevelt as odysseus.

Mrs Hursphry Ward IN M-Clurs.
Moreover. Washington. at this time
OF the worlds history. was the scene Of
one Of those episodes-those bTisker mo
ments in the human comedy-which ev-
cry now and then revive among Us an
almost forgotten belief in personality.
an almost forgotten respect Tor the
mysteries behind II. The guests stream
ing through the White House defiled
past a man who. in a level and docketed
world. appeared 70 his generation as
the TeincarnatiOn OF forces primitive,
overmastering and heroic An hon.
est Odysseus,-tOil-wOTn. storm-beaten.
yet still with the spirit and strength,
the many devices, OF a boy; capable,
Ike his prototype, in one short day Of
crushing his enemies. unfolding bis
friends. purifying his house. and then.
with the heat OF righteous battle still
upon him, with its gore, so 10 speak,
still upon his hands, Of turning his mind.
without a pause and without hypocrisy,
10 things intimate and scft and pure
the domestic sweetness Of Penelope, the
young promise OF Telemachus.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
REVIVAL OF THE STATES.
Public Utility Liquidation the order
of the Day.

From TIE NeE York Evening Pest
The horizon Is thick with signs that
the several States are in for an era Of
vigorous administration. Able men.
vibrant personalities. are more and more
being sought as governors. and the bend
ing themselves 10 their executive tasks
in a new spirit. with greater effect Sec
rotary Roots summons 10 the States. IN
his famous and much misunderstood
speech. TO assert their power over the
corporations which they had created. and
thus save the general government from
wandering out OF SIS due sphere, has been
responded 10 in a way which must have
been not a little surprising 10 the Secre-
tary himself Public utility legislation is
the order OF the day. Connecticut and
New Jersey answer hack 20 New York.
and Minnesota ana other western states
signal 20 them all Regulation Of public
service corporations BY statute and by
commission is certain 10 continue and 70
be extended Capitalists and their coun-
sci who do not perceive this are high
gravel blind
Powerfully 10 REINFORCE this new ac-
tivity Of the States comes a series OF
judicial decisions 70 settle the law OF
the matter. After the determination OF
the Knoxville Water Company case and
the New York Consolidated Gas case. 10
one can be left in doubt what metes and
bounds the State may lawfully set 10 cor
poratIons dealing with public utilities.
Their service may be inspected and con
trolied. their franchises limited and tax
ed. their charges made reasonable. their
profits prevented from being excessive.
And as little doubt exists that al these
rights of regulation viii be more and
more vigilaatly exercised by the States.
The wayfsring capitalist. though a fool
can read that among the signs OF the
times. and make ready TO govern him
self accordingly
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
vItaIi.ing State Governments.

In A4G wv lNIA
The States have still vital functions 70
discharge, and the discharge Of those
functions directly affects the liberty,
safety, and welfare Of the people OF
every State. What Is needed most is an
awakening to the fact that the functions
Of the State governments can be en-
larged for the common advantage. Just
as the functions Of the Federal govern
ment have been enlarged New dignity
and force should be given 70 State func-
tons. and the people Of each State should
be glad 70 undertake for themselves what
they now are only too willing 10 have
done under Federal authority Mr. Root
is right IN saying that the States cannot
afford to stand still while the Federal
government continues TO push ahead
There must be common progress IN the
interest Of both the States and the IA
ton Without such progress the Federal
system viii be strained 20 the breaking
point. for If the States refuse 70 do their
legitimate work, that work VIII eventu-
ally have to be assumed By the more
competent Federal authority.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
A Word with Jack Bins.

Jack Binns. we salute thee,
You are now fulI-Aedged hero-an
American hero Your picture appears in
all the newspapers; You are being eagerly
interviewed. Reporters hang on your
highest word: anecdotes Of your child
hood are greedily snapped up as material
for good copy-copy sure to get the writer
pat on the back from the managing
editor. and. mayhap. an increase in his
pay envelope.
We think you deserve all the good
things coming your wgy. Jack You ap-
pear TO have been decent chap all the
way along the line and even if your
virtues are being played Up Just now
disproportiOnately TO your faults-which
We DO not suspect. and certainly scorn
to assert-we should incline TO give you
the beneht Of every doubt. in view Of
vour one admittedly noble and brave
deed. and extend the giaddest and most
cOngratulatory OF hands
But. Jack. you are an American hero.
snd-welI, that makes a difference. II
you were English. you might get medal
from your King. and. through him. your
governments official thanks and approval
II You ware German. Emperor William
would have you at Potsdam IN a gfy.
and he would pin an order Of some sort
on your breast that would carry a mean
ing your country would respect while
you are alive. and not awaken to only
after you are dead and gone.
Being an American hero. however.
Jack. is a perllous job. We IKE 10 set
them I'D. but not one-half 50 much as
we love TO bowl them over subsequently.
After the novelty OF hurrahing for you
along heroic lines grows a little stale
begins 10 pail. perhaps-then. oh. then.
Jack. be on your guard! \ sentence. a
word. misconstrued. and down goes poor
Jack amid the outlaws and gibes Of the
populace- Fight shy OF the vaudeville
managers. the moving picture men. and
all that. Of course. They being vulgar.
you naturally will But also fight shy OF
those more attractively veneered ones
who would hatter you not wisely. but
TOO well They are the advance agents
OF the icOnOclasts. unwittingly or no.
In this American life Of ours. Jack. we
must keep our eyes glued 70 the motto.
Virtue is its own reward" or We are
apt TO land in the scrap pile prematurely.
only 70 be rescued. II at all. when the
grass grows tall over our final abiding
place. Not that it Is not all right from
many points OF view, perhaps. that It
should be that way-only that II surely
Is The consciousness Of a deed vel
done ought 10 bring a feeling OF salts
faction to our hearts not to be paraHeIed
pv medals OF honor and giittering
I decorations from royal hands. And,
whether It ought or not. Jack. it has to
in this country. for, somehow. we seem
TO love a hero as mark for our ulti-
mate ridieuIe, even as Death himself
loves a shining mark
And so. Jack. If you want to stay put
in the hero class, a Ia the United States.
forget you are a hero Just as soon as
you possibly can.
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Our Pirates

The Moro country in the Philippines
does not seem 10 be as pacific as is de-
sired by those who are interested in the
extension OF American rule in that part
OF our insular possessions. It was ap-
prec:ated by these first on the scene that
the conditions in the Moro Province con
stituted a grave and perplexng problem.
requiring an adjustment to American sen
timent and practice Of such foreign fac
tors as polygamy. slavery. and un-Chris-
tan religions. The government accom-
plished all that could be done by interior
ing as little as possible with strongly in
trenched and traditional creeds and Gus
toms. and its representatives, in The
Moro country have been content 70 main
tain peace and encourage industry among
the inhabitants. This has been done by
unhagging vigilance on the part Of the
army. and it is anything but reassuring
to learn now from Brig. Gen. Tasker H.
Bliss [. s. A. in his report as governor
Of the Moro Province. that there Is need
Of alertness in the districts Of Lznao and
sulu, which latter district. he says. is
still the danger spot in the Moro Prov
ince-~
There has been revival OF piracy, for
one thing which lawlessness has been
encouraged by the withdrawal Of The
light-draft gunbOats which had done such
good service IN that direction Gen. Bliss.
who has recently been relieved from duty
in the Moro section 10 become the CON-
manding officer OF the military force In
the Philippines in anticipation OF return
ing to Washington for duty. sounds q
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
Ner Jer.e, nna II. Tru.ts.

From the Philadelphia Recosd-
Trust-mothering has been a prolific ana
prosperous Jersey industry for many
years. The tax imposed on the brood was
a heavy source OF state income. Nov
that the Supreme Court has cut tbs
wings Of the vultures by bringing them
under the jurisdiction Of the State they
have invaded and plundered, this psrticu-
lar Jersey industry is less houTisking, and
the Jersey revenues are diminished The
state treasury is wrestling with Soc.
900 deficit. and there is mourning in the
land The condolences Of sister Common
weaIths VIII go forth tinged with meas
urable sense Of relief
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
American widows.

From the New YORK Man.
Nothing is too good for an American
widow. and she reciprocates the national
esteem by living long in the land that
appreciates her The last surviving widow
Of the Revolution died November II. 1906,
There are Al widows Of the war Of lSl2.
and no veterans at all; S0lS widows and
I so survivors of the Indian wars; 6.sl4
widows and 2,e32 survivors OF the Next
can war. Up to April ls, 1905, we had
=, SIS civil war widows under the general
act On that date we pensioned ISS. rs
more, comprehendinz all who were mar
ried prior to June p. 1900. The proposed
law viii bring all subsequent widows into
line
The Washington herald., 1909-01-31
suNpAY. JANUARY 3. Is0s.
Naval Reorganization.

President Roosevelt has taken up the
difficult question Of naval reorganization
with his customary vigor. and. judging
from the stir created. without much con-
Germ for sundry and various corns that
have been trod upon. A few weeks ago
Mr.. Roosevelt invited a commission
composed Of eminentiy qualified persons
70 consider naval reorganization. This
commission commended a plan Of reOr-
ganization suggested BY Secretary New
berry, which was subsequently put IN
operation at the Secretsry's order. II
contemplated a consolidation Of certain
bureaus. and in general a concentration
OF authority. with provision for advisory
assistance 10 the Secretary on technical
and military matters. Il was q reform
without legislation. a reform from within.
IN the meantime appeared a trenehant
attack upon the conduct Of naval affairs.
particularly the Congressional end. which
led Senator Hale TO offer a resolution Of
investigation This was net by the
Presidents letter to the commission al
ready mentioned, asking It's members 10
consider more extensively the naval re-
organization problem. with reference nor
oniy TO plans Of internal organization.
but also to defects in existing legisla-
tiCn creating The much criticised bureau
system The commission has been re-
Quested also to advise as to the necessity
OF certain political rsvy yards" that are
believed TO be more expensive than use
full
The topics upon which the commits
SONS recommendation are desired lndi-
cate the Presidents conviction that The
trouble with naval administration is no,
wholly bureaucratic, but partly political
and Congressional II fe probable that
the waste Of the bureau system. with
its uncorrelated activities and divided au-
thority. Is no greater than that OF Con-
gress. which has created and now main
tains costly features Of the naval estab-
Hshment for the delectation and advantage
Of particular sections and constituencies
Senator Tillnan. though he wanted his
share Of It. plainly called it stealing. -
That is too strong a word, OF course:
waste is better. but waste ought 10
be estopped wherever possible. and our
naval expenditures are mounting so rap
idly that economy is the bounden duty
Of Congress with respect TO the naval
establishment Thus the question OF
laval reorganization raises another Of
those issues between the Executive and
Congress for which this session has be-
come famous The Navy Department
having done what il could without the
sanction Of Congress. the President pur-
poses finding out whether Congress has
any duty. or has been guilty Of any short
comings. in the premises. His design ap-
pears TO have excited the usual resent
ment at the Capitol, and the whole sub
ject viii doubtless 90 over into the Tart
administration. We shall then see how
We'll Mr.. Taft and the chairman Of the
Senate Committee on Naval Affairs get
along together. Upon that personal rela-
ton is likely 10 depend the complexion of
nasal reform.