davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

master General, Is the youngest member of President Taft's Cabinet, and, oddly enough, gets credit, commonly, for being, personally. the most unpopular member of the distinguished body. Possibly this is to be attributed to rather unfortu nate manner for Hitchcock's cold, haugh- ty reserve is in marked contrast to the frankness and genial cordiality of such men as MacNeagh and Ballinger. In tenn perament and other characteristics the new Postmaster General is rather sugges- tive of a fish out of water in his pres ent environment, but to become Postmas- ter General was cherished ambition of his and manfestly it is difficult for q newly elected president to refuse the per sonal request of man who, as Chairman of the National Committee, has been, in effect, the general manager of his cam paign.
 Postmaster General Hitchcock is a na- tive of Taft's own state, Ohio. but when he was very young his father, a Congre- gational minister, removed to Boston and the lad was educated in the Boston pub lie schools Save for such groundings as he received during course in Harvard. Hitchcock may be said to be a product of the government service at Washing ton. He has been drawing pay from Un- cle Sam almost continuously for good many years now. Justice Harlan gave him helping hand when he started IS q clerk in the Department of Agriculture and then he became a protege of George B. Cortelyou. The latter took him with him when he organized the Department of Commerce and Labor and in turn when he took charge of the Postcfflce De- partment. Incidently he helped Cortel- you manage the Roosevelt Presidential Campaign and learned of the possibilities of the Postoffice Department as a center for the political nerves of the nation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

doubt his authority. The would-be d. plomat was simply overcome with de- light and his grin was a sight to be- hold. With alacrity he stepped into the carriage for his triumphal Journey.
 But, alas. the carriage never reached the Capitol. Instead 1t drew up In front of the nearest police station. It was not until. the poor negro was stapding In front of the sergeant's desk that he understood the hoax that had been worked upon him. But his rebellion was feeble and pitiable in the extreme. An examination showed that he had been an inmate of the Government Hospital for the Insane for some while, and at tbat time was out on parole
 Another crank visited the White House to press claim more practical and lucrative than the old negros, though less modest. He said that he hailed from Ohio and that he had been elected by the state legislature to take the place of the late Senator Hanna. In some un- accountable manner, he insisted, his name had been changed to that of Charles Dick, but he was unable to prove this change. Hence, he was unable to present his credentials as United States senator to the legislature. If certain state off cial. he pleaded, had been true to his oath of office he would never have been placed in such an embarrassing predica- ment. Of course, the President had re- ceived his credentials-for this same state official had told him to hurry on to Washington and receive them from no less a person than the President himself. While conducting him from the White House grounds the Secret Service man agreed with him that the inexplicable loss of these credentials was absolutely objectionable and most unfortunate oc- currence.
 crank with a strange hobby was the one who came to the White House with the commendable, but most alarming de- sire, to pay off his creditors at any price. He was from Pittsburg, he said, and asked that his identity be kept secret, as he feared the dissemination of the news of his visit to the Capital would cs,lse q panic among his creditors. He owed them the stupendous sum of S7O0. His one desire was to pay every creditor to the very last cent, He had evolved most consoling little scheme to earn money by offering himself to Dr. Harvey Wiley, the government pure food man, as a member of his celebrated poison sQuad' upon whom food experiments were
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

men all over the country, including Presi- dent Roosevelt. When Judge Ballinger declined reelection as mayor, Roosevelt drafted him for service as commissioner of the General Land Office, branch of the government service which just then af- forded peculiar opportunities for Judge Ballinger's thorough, conscientious rat tling of dry bones. This was his intro duction to official life at the national capital, and after a brilliantly successful career he returned to his law practice in Seattle. During the last presidential campaign Judge Ballinger was field mar shal for the Republican national organi- zation in the Northwest, and President Taft early selected him as the man to represent the West Coast in the new Cabinet.
 Secretary of Agriculture.
 James Wilson. veteran of three admin istrations, is probably the most picturesque figure In the present Cabinet. as he was in its predecessor. When William H. Taft nurtured an ambition to start fresh in the presidency with a brand-new Cabinet he did not exactly expect to retain the pres ent Secretary of Agriculture. However. he was speedily deluged with such flosd of communications from farmers and farm CTS organlzauons i'll dil parts of the coun- try in support of the policy pursued by Secretary Wilson during the 12 years he
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

<A CARCELY a month of the four ~ years in office of a President of the
 va United States passes that at least ~ one crank, more or less mentally
 deranged, does not call at the White House to tell him exactly how the af- fairs of government should be managed or to beg an utterly foolish favor at his hands.
 And there is scarcely one crank out of all that may call within that allotted time who ever sees the President face to face. Chief Wilkie and his Secret Serv- ice operatives and the employees at the White House are ever on the alert for such individuals. They handle them promptly the minute they are recognized for what they are. Once in 8 very great while-generally years-a crank may get by the guards and speak personally with the President. But such an occurrence Is as rare as a snowstorm in Florida in August.
 They come-these cranks with "mis- sions" of the utmost importance-from all walks in life and in all gulses Many of them are well educated and give but slight indication of their mental derange- ment. Though the majority of them are men, large percentage of whom are foreign born, women are not infrequently found among them. Fortunately, most of them are harmless and are to be pitied rather than censured for the queer con cepts of their unbalanced minds But the guards cannot afford to take chances with any of them. They are either ca joled into leaving upon some attractive pretext or elected firmly and decisively Many of them are serious; q few are tragic and violent. but the majority are merely pitiably humorous and grotesque Whatever their nature, they must first convince the policemen of the White House squad and the Secret Service men of their sanity and harmlessness before they can so much as remain in the White House grounds. During President Roose velt's administration many of these cranks were apprehended and sent to the Government Hospital for the Insane, across the Potomac River, or returned to their homes and friends Whether Mr. Taft will be equally honored remains to be seen.
 The police department blotter in the District of Columbia shows the names of S7 arrests. since 1900. of men and women who visited the White House on a s'special mission' to the President.
 It may seem strange that but few of these cranks are from the District of Co.,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

in trusts, had a marvellous scheme to transport ice from the North Pole, in order to force the ice kings into poverty and starvation. All that need be done. he argued, was to obtain a congressional appropriation for the cutting of the ice up in the Arctic regions and then have the United States war vessels carry the ice to the different cities oe the country and distribute 1t. In this manner the Ice Trust would melt away as rapidly as does its own product on sweltering August day. The police, needless to say, manifested a most abnormal and enthusi- astic interest in his plan. and conducted him to one of the station-houses to talk 1t over at further length.
 There was nothing small, in conception at least, of the plan of woman crank to drain the ocean off old Point Com fort, a seaside resort on the Virginia coast. By doing so she was positive that she could find A large amount of money hidden there by conspirators who were seeking to deprive her of her rightful share of an estate of over half million dollars. She did not feel at liberty, she stated, to drain the sea off Old Point Comfort until she had obtained the Presidents permission as the ocean be-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

lumbia, but such is the case Most of them come from New York and the New England States. St. Louis and Chicago, however. may be depended upon for their quota. Comparatively few of them come from the Far South or the Far West. Letters from cranks, however, many of them almost books in length, are ire quently found in the White House mail The queer characteristics and the still queerer missions of these unwelcome visitors who call on the President are in- teresting, indeed
 The most up-to-date crank to visit the White House was native of Switzer- land, who sought most earnestly the aid of the President in protecting him against his enemies. There is nothing un- usual about that request. But this un- welcome visitor insisted that his blood thirsty enemies were pursuing him in air ships. He stated, with an expression of the utmost horror, that they had planned to soar over him in their airships and hurl down bombs upon him. In case that failed, he informed the officer on guard at the White House, these same merciless enemies had contrived and fitted devices at either end of their airships which held large tanks of compressed air With this air turned upon him his death would be but question of time. he pleaded.
 Then there is the crank who comes to warn the President of a plot against his life. Not very long ago an Irishman with a surprising regard for the appropriate mystery of his appearance called and asked for the President. He had black ened his face and hands and disguised himself in other ways to escape detec- tion, as he supposed, on the part of those whom he came to warn against Of course, he was stopped by Secret Serv- ice man, to whom he was finally induced to unfold his tale of overhearing a band of bloodthirsty anarchists plot to assas- sinate the President. He begged to be allowed to guard the President person. ally and even to sleep outside his door.
 An embryonic muckraker once called upon the President and insisted that everyone in the United States should be renamed; that the hymnal of the Episco- pal Church should be changed completely and that new ritual should be made compulsory in the Masonic order.
 It is not always that these cranks are harmless, however In 1904 Swede from the Middle West Journeyed to Washing ton in a freight car for the purpose of obtaining aid from the President against
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

made His request had been denied so frequently, he stated, that he had been compelled to appeal to the President as a last resort. investigations later dis closed the fact that this remarkably con scientious debtor did owe small amounts of money to several individuals. In his most surprising eagerness to pay of his debts he had advertised in several New York papers for someone to purchase his blood his skin, or even one of his limbs at a figure sufficiently large to relieve him of his annoying obligations.
 Numerous other cases of cranks, large and small. American and foreign. white and black, vicious and harmless, might be cited Their hallucinations are much the same in principle though their spe- cifc forms are varied.
 The influx of pamphlets, letters and books from cranks in all parts of the country was large, indeed. during Presl- dent Roosevelt's administration. Among the great quantity of letters received every day are found, most always, at least one or two from people who are obviously mentally deranged. Most of them are addressed to the President of the United States They are written in all sorts of fantastic fashions upon paper of various colors and in penmanship vary ing from the absolutely ilegible to the most finished Spencerian style. Most or these are kept on file and form interest ing reading. One case in particular IS worthy of more than passing notice. lt was bulky manuscript, as long as the average novel, that told of consump- tive's sufferings for three solid years. Every day the unfortunate had entered in this diary facts concerning his con dition his temperature, the action of-his heart, etc, and additional information as to what he thought each day of cur rent events and their injurious or help ful effect upon his illness.
 So far President Taft has not been an- noyed materially by unweicome visitors who insist upon telling him their trou- bles. Or, If he has. the instances have been suppressed from the public prints. That he will escape them entirely dur ing his administration is not to be ex- pected. But that not single unwecome visitor will talk personally to President Taft Is an assured fact, for the Secret Service operatives and the official guards at the White House are always on their job, ever alert to shield the chief exec,- tive from the poor unfortunates who( might seek to do him harm in the pea formance of what their weakened minf consider "great mission"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-09

duties. With others Wilson. Knox and Meyer-he was well acquainted through service in the Roosevelt Cabinet.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28

When the politicians quarrel about
everything else they can agree on
parading the school children.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
Proposals for Heating Plant for Ore
gon State Insane Asylum
Notice 10 bidders.

The Board OF Trustees OF the Ore
gon State Insane Asyhm will open
sealed bids for the construction and
installation of heating plant at the
above named institution on Monday.
November 1, 1909, at 2 p. m, at the
executive chambers. State Capitol,
Salem, oregon. Plans and speeifca-
tons for same may be seen az the Of
fees OF Josiah c, Moore & Company.
Beck building. Portland. Oregon; at
the Builders Exchange. Seattle. Wash
ington; at the Builders Exchange.
San Francisco. California; at the
Builders Exchange, Chicago, Illi-
nois; at the office OF the superintend-
ent OF the oregon State Insane Asy-
lum. Salem, Oregon, and at the ex-
eeutive chambers, State Capitol, Sa-
lem. Oregon,
Each bid must be accompanied by
a certified check in a sum not less
than 10 per cent OF the total amount
OF the bid, and the same should be
sealed and addressed 10 the under
signed, and marked on the outside OF
the envelope Bids for Heating
Plant, Oregon State Insane Asylum"
The Board of Trustees OF the Oregon
Insane Asylum reserve the right TO
reject any and all bids.
Q. n. MeARTHUR,
Clerk OF the Board.
Salem, oregon, September is, 1909.
ru-Thr-s-21-11-1
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
The LurIc Glow of Doom.

Was seen in the red face, hanus
and body OF the little son of II. NJ,
Adams, OF Henrietta, Pa. His awful
plight from eczema had. for five
years. defled all remedies and baf-
fed the best doctors. who said the
poisoned blood had affected his lungs
and nothing could save him. But"
writes his mother, "seveu bottles OF
Electric Bltters completely cured
him" For eruptions, eczema. salt
rheum. sores and all blood disorders
and rheumatism Electric Bitters Ia
supreme. Only so. Guaranteed by
]. @. Perry.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
OMAHA COMPANY
SAYS STRIKE Is BROKEN
[uN1rEp rnRss LnAsEp VIM. ]

Omaha, Neb., Sept. 2S.-"The
Omaha car strike will pass into his
tory at noon today"
This was the statement made by
President Wattles, of the car COM
pany. In this connection he said:
we now have enough competent
men to man the cars, and we will no
longer recognize the strikers"
The striking employees maintain
that the company is not in a position
to operate enough cars to supply the
public need, and declare that they
intend TO fight the company to the
last ditch.
No violence has been reported for
several days.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28

The Hartman lines will sell round
trip tickets 20 Chicago and return
for $7l.lb, going limit ten days from
date Of sale. Return limit November
S0th; stop over privileges within the
limit; both ways through Portland,
$3.50, One way through Califor-
MIA. wM. MMURRAY.
9-25-St Gen. Pas. Agt.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
Notice TO Taxpayers.

The Board OF Equalization for Mar
ion County, Oregon. will meet at the
court house in said county on Mon
day, October is, 1909, at 10 o'colck
a. m. ..andcorrect all errors in valua-
tion, description or qualities OF land,
lots or other property, and continue
In session until such work is COM
pleted. not exceeding one month
All parties interested are noulied
to appear and examine their assess
ment for the year 1909 and II not sat
lsfied with the same file application
in writing. properly verified, for =
reduction or alteration of the same
during the first week OF such meeting
as no complaints can be received the 4
after.
+. j. RICE,
Assessor of Marion County. Oregon.
September %. 1909.
Daily and weekly to Oct. is,
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28

Thank God, Pinchot is saved. lie
Is not kicked out of office. The
country is safe as long as we can
keep a lot OF goggled college pro-
fessors running the great national
policies.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28

Peary Is evidently trying to dis
cover the location OF Mattewan. He
is surely as crazy as Harry Thaw
and much more foolish.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
4 4 X X 4 X X X X X X X X X
x } RAYS AND SMILES x
*%i X x 4 4 X X X X X X X X

Portland people say they have seen
Mt. Hood smoking. Anyway, the ven
erable old mountain doesn't drink
y 4
"The plays the thing" said old
William Shakespeare, who is the
"Bill of the play" but Billy never
saw "The Girl Question"
=
A dispatch this morning from
Portland says scientists" there, etc.
Must have alluded to the baseball
fans
The train service being somewhat
Irregular, the horse editor suggests
that the fiends who are always tryins
to work the newspapers through the
mails mark their copy News, Rush. "
That might hurry things.
4 4 4
Antos are now limited TO 12 miles
an hour on Salem streets. II the
mahouts ever find IL out 1t will cause
them considerable amusement.
Twelve miles an hour TO them is "a
standing" Joke.
Pete Webb, a young man of Baker
City, a few days ago rode the famous
bucking bull with the Stanley Bros.
rough rider show He stuck not only
the ten jumps to win $40, but until
the bull quit Now then, Mr.. Roose-
welt, get busy.
Now n wise guy in Portland has
discovered that mt. Hood is In ac-
tive sympathy with the earths
crust" and fool newsgatherer
wires the fact to the papers of the
coast. He seems under the impress
sion that everybody had an idea the
big old mountain was wasting its
sympathetic touch on Mars.
4 \
When the politicians quarrel about
everything else they can agree on
paradlng the school children.
Thank God. Pinchot is saved. He
Is not kicked out OF ofice. The
country is safe as long as we can
keep lot OF goggled college pro-
fessors running the great national
policies.
Peary Is evidently trying TO dis
cover the location OF Mattewan. He
is surely as crazy as Harry Thaw,
and much more foolish.
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
EASTERN
EXCURSION

Salem to Chicago and return. 72.50
Tickets ON sale October 4th. Call on
ticket agent for particulars. 9-25-4t
Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-09-28
Warning.

DO not be persuaded into taking
anything but Foley's Honey and Tar
for chronic coughs, bronchitis. hay
fever. asthma and lung trouble, as
u stops the cough and heals the
lungs. ]. @. Perry
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
Ia temperature en- Ia I!a

III tempo dc la scmana promedI6 ca
81 propio de la cstaci6n. La tempcra-
tura media de la Semana fue lIgera
mcnte sobre la normal. en- casi todas
las cStacionos, y la precipitation sema-
nal de la secci0n, por 10 regular fne al
90 menor del promedio de In estacion.
In variaS cStacioneS. hubo aguaceroS
modcradamcnte fuertes mientraS G"
en- nuchaS otras localidades no llovl.'
NADIA.
GeneraImcnte reno un tempo claro
Il domingo. unes sabado, con item.
pc parciamente nubIado, los demas
dias de la semana.
En- cas todas las estaciones mbo II
jeros aguaceros les dias .. 10 y u.
Rcinaron brisotcs del f. I'm San
Juan. Ia temperature media de la Scma
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
El asesino del ge-
neral Paredes
LA EXTRADICION DE CIPRIANO CASTRO

Nueva York miercoles-El goberno de Caracas ha
pedido al de Berlin la extradcion del general Castro,
acusandole de haber asesnado al general Paredes
Las autordades venezolanas confian en- obtener la
extradcion del presidente para enregarlo los trbu
males de justcia
Igral petcion ha hecho ell goolerno de Caracas to-
dos los gobernos europeos los cuaes ene concerto
do Venezuela, tratados de extradicion.
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
In intervention definitixa a
LA ADvERTENCIA DE ROOSEVELT

Nueva York, microbes La prensa de esta ciudad,
rDmentando ell evantamiento anunclado Santa Clara
ce que ha Iegado la hora de que la intervention
ic2na, Cuba estabezca defntivamente de manera
one esen perecamene garantdos los intereses extran
3eros-
Esperase impacientemente la resolution que ha de
tsnzr ell gobierno de Washington 81 el movimiento
aelde continua en- Cuba
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
SE VENDE

ce En- e rotado dc lIlcares jurisdiction dc Naguabo
enoso relio de aprCpdso para soaIes que mde
mas de cino mil metros cuadrados, venajosamente uado
Ia cae de Espa1a frente del cual reciFe saludabes
brisaS
tech a de herro gavanzado adecuadas para vvien
Ida ora para esabecimiento n ecantI yla ecnae
ON IN asibe dc mamp0steria.
Ouicn interese la adquscl6n de dle has ncas puede
dlrigrsea a
<ucrs de vi. L. mba 4 Ct.
San uan. F. r.
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
0tr9 vez la revue1ta
en- Cuba
LA REBELLION EN- SANTA CLARA

Nueva York, microbes Dicen de la Habana que
Ia levantado en- Santa Clara una partida insurgente
Los despachos ofciaes de la Habana, tratan de qu-
1ar importanca al azamento, dicendo que trata de
movmiento adversario para la Intervention
Ell numero de los rebeldes armas puede pre-
csarse ain pero que considerable que han
7e verse secundados en- otras comarcas.
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
Arist0fanes.

IN fue normal; la precipitation sema-
nal, 007 pulgadas sobre la normal, Y
Ii vclocidad mayor del viento. 30 mi
Has por hora.
La temperature media de la seccion
fut al grades y 81 promedio de la
precipitation. 0.56 pulgadas.
La temperature mas alta que ban m
tornado fuf 93 Ia mas haia, So gra-
dos
BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1909-03-17
Una urandisima aEar-
ma en- londres
AUMENTOS NAVALES EN- ALEMANIA

Nueva York miercoles.-En Londres ha causado vi
va aarma la peticon hec por ef gobierno aleman de
seis grandes acorazado npo dreadnoughts han de
ser construidos anuamente para la escuadra aemana
Ell gobierno ingles esa peticon ell proposito de
ciddo alarmante de Alemania que quiere sobrepuar
en- fuerza naval Inglaterra