The Washington herald., 1909-10-24
AT THE HOTELS

/ he leaves port VIII not be modified
/ the fact that the wireless system kee
him in constant communication with the
officials Of the company" said Capt. r.
( W. Richards. a passenger steamer cap
tain, Of New York. at the New Willard
( yesterday.
The ships captain will ever be sole
ana absolute IN authority in the naviga-
ton or his vessel" said Capt Richards.
no matter whether he is in communion
ton by wireless with the home offices
or not Ships commanders generally are
loath 10 consider any suggestions OF
lessening OF authority because Of the
wireless, as they desire 20 preserve the
/ tradition OF the sea that q captain Is
monarch Of all he surveys when aboard.
This theory, which has been IN general
practice with passenger and merchant
vessels ever since navigation began, does
not hold good. however. with captains
or commanders Of war vessels. At least
that is the impression have on the sub
/ ject as the officers at the Navy Depart
ment map out the movements OF the
vessels in time Of war before they even
get 20 the scene Of action Some lati-
tude IS left 20 the commanders, OF course,
but as a general rule the movements OF
the ships is directed from Washington,
and not from the captains bridge
Discussing farming conditions IN the
South. Samuel y King, Of Greensboro,
Ala, who was seen at the National. said;
THE farmers Of Mississippi and Alabama
and other Southern states ought 10 know
all about agriculture because Of the ef-
forts that are being made 10 instruct
them in that science.
Secretary Wilson. OF the Department
Of Agriculture" confined Mr. King. has
a faculty Of experts conducting expert
mental stations and model farms in all
Southern States. Nearly all Of the States
have their own departments Of agri-
culture. agricultural colleges. and boards
OF commissioners. while the Southern
Railway the Mobile and Ohio. the Tli-
nois Central, and other railway com
pauies are trying to Increase their LOGS.
7 traffic and build up business for them
selves by sending out farmers specials
with instructors In the agricultural sci
ences from their own Industrial depart
ments and from the colleges. II is now
proposed 10 introduce agricultural educa-
ton in the public schools. as II IS al
ready done IN Georgia and other parts
OF the South.
The farming population Is very con-
sentative. however" added Mr.. King,
and is apt 10 oppose new tangled ideals
and insist that the old ways are the best.
The change or methods. therefore, IS
gradual but they are learning slowly.
Some OF them have already discovered
the advantage OF raising five bales OF
cotton upon five acres OF ground. rather
than ten acres and that Il IS possible n
make twice as much money from an acre
Of alfalfa or corn or cane strip or early
vegetables as from an acre Of cotton"
2. 3. Pickens, OF Philadelphia. who IS
at the Cochran, argues that the moving
picture hail IS debasing. THE mayor OF
every city and village IN the country
said Mr. Pickens. should close all the
debasing picture halls In addition 10
closing all these places. which show i'm
moral pictures and which are IN them
selves fire traps. our municipal and ma
tional authorities should az once seizs
the obscene films which are under tho
control OF the big concerns which have
for years been reapins rich harvests from
their sale and manufacture.
There would indeed be a sensation IL
the names Of the men who back these
Observation-Disclosures concerns We're made
public They are the ones who are really
10 blame for the presence OF every low
picture theater.
During the last nve years this busl-
ness has grown enormously, and has
never been hampered by any OF our a.
legged agents against vice. Doubtless
the men who have invested their money
az of 7r---~
detectives, because their plans have never
been stopped IN any Of the cities OF the
country. The men who operate the pic
ture shows IN Chicago. New York. and
other large cities are, as a rule. men who
have thrived by keeping other kinds OF
dives
They are hardly TO blame. because
they md IL easy 10 get money to open
these picture halls and the vile material
with which they attract the children and
degenerate adults is furnished them by
two or three large companies. I am glad
that your Washington moving picture
theaters cannot be classed among these
resorts. as they show really interesting
and instructive scenes. OF course. there
are films here and there which 1t would
be advisable 20 destroy, but on the whole.
they are conducted on proper principles
The chaplain OF a large private asylum
asked a brother clergyman 70 preach 20
the inmates during his absence" said
S. W. Carter. Of Darby, Pa. telling this
little story:
Before going away he said: Preach
your best. for. though insane on soma
points, they are very Intelligent" So
he talked 70 them on India, and OF
heather mothers who threw their dear
little babies into the sacred river Ganges
as offerings to their false gods.
Tears streamed down the face Of
one listener, evidently deeply affected.
When asked by the preacher afterward
what part Of the sermon had touched
HIS heart with grief. the lunatic replied:
I was thinking II was a pity your
mother didn't throw you into the Can
ges.'
Harry J. Miller a civil and railroad
engineer Of Chicago. who Is at the
Riggs. said that the country is being
girdled with trolley lines and that they
are carrying many thousands Of passen-
gers every day.
They have come into sharp cOmpeti-
ton with steam roads in n good many
places" said Mr.. Miller. "this compe-
tition bringing with it reduction OF fares
and more frequent service
Nevertheless. the contention OF many
railroad men appears 10 be well founded
that the development of the trolley lines
Will mean increased business for the steam
roads. While in some instances there
has been competition that has resulted
disastrously 20 steam railroad receipts
for short distances. in other cases there
has been stimulus 10 travel The trolley
lines have opened up new territory as
contributing region to the steam roads.
They have touched villages and towns