davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
WOULD GAG PRESS
PRESIDENTS ANlmus AGAINST
NEW YORK WORLD.
Entire Case 10 an AbsurdIty, Yet
Frsuaht with Danger to the Lib
critics Dear 70 the People
OF America.

The presidents proceeding against
the New York World has reached a
stage where II is time to stop laugh
ing. Longforgotten statutes are be
Ing sought for and unearthed-to what
endY To prove the World guilty OF
libeling the United States govern
ment? Ostensibly. But Is that the Of
Tense Of the World-if offense there
has been7
As n matter Of fact in the popular
mind enlightened by the published
facts In the case, the offense which
the World has committed Is not the
libellng OF the United States govern
ment. but venturing TO criticise an in
divldual who chances 10 be serving
the people Of the United States In the
Office Of president For that Theodore
Roosevelt has abundant protection and
means Of redress. The libel laws. Of
fer protection 20 every citizen. He
against the world. but II he has. II 3
as citizen. II Is absurd 20 say that
;he United States government has
been libeled. or H. any way injured. by
the publications OF the World or any
other newspaper. or all other newfpa-
pers A mere statement Of the case
shows It's absurdity. and yet the i'm
perial might OF the United States gov
eminent il Invoked 10 wreak ven
geance on a private individual because
be has offended a public official What
interest have the taxpayers OF the
United States in a brawl between
Theodore Roosevelt, who chances to
be president. and Joseph Pulitzer who
owns n newspaper?
Frankly. the Journal was not In
clined to take the threatened proceed
lngs seriously: but those proceedings
have developed into a dangerous at
tack on the freedom OF the press. n
our government. II men intrusted
with the government are not TO be
criticised. how are unfitness. dishon-
esty and corruption TO be detected and
suppressed?
A dangerous expedient is this dig
ging up Of archaic statutes TO punish
newspaper for criticising an official.
II has an exceedingly sinister look
now when personal vanity and per
sonal power menace the freedom OF
the American press. the situation
ceases abruptly 20 be amusing De
'rolt Journal
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
Ian to Pension Cleveland's Widow

drawn a pension OF 5000 a year from
the government, and no money that
comes from the treasury is more
cheerfully paid. The first time a pen.
sion was ever suggested for the widow
OF an ex-president was In the case OF
William Henry Harrison. who died one
month after his Inauguration.
The death OF Harrison appealed
peculiarly 20 the nation. and the sum
OF $4,000 outright was voted her. She
lived 10 enjoy It's proceeds for a period
Of 20 years. The second. Mrs. Tylor
drew a pension of $1,000 per annum
for "a years. Mrs. Abraham Lincoln
was given $4,000 and AN additional
pension OF 5000 per annum. Grants
widow also received $1,000 a year. as
did the widow OF President Mckinley
Most OF the ex-presidents of the
United states died In advance OF their
wives, although there are notable ex.
ceptions. Thomas Jefferson outliyed
his wife Al years. Martin Van Buren
AZ years.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
Peg on Which TO Hang Blame.

The whole tariff commission plan
is a Republican confession of inability
to make a fair. frank and just revision
of the schedules. They are so ham
pered. bound and hedged about by en-
barrassing promises, understandings
and connections that they are seeking
to shift the responsibility for doing
things they would like TO do but dare
not in the face of plain public senti
ment. The Republicans know that
they must revise the tariff or come
into absolute disrepute. They dare
not revise Il as It should be revised
and they want a commission to which
the blame for broken promises may be
shifted. That seems TO be the whole
secret of the tariff commission plan
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
Loeb's Next Berth a Cause of Worry

a few years ago there was a scheme
afoot 10 elect Mr.. Loeb 40 president Of
a Washington street railroad company.
He became greatly interested IN the
matter. enlisted some financial friends
IN New York and bought into the stock
81 the road quite heavily Ambitious
arguments we're advanced regarding
what Mr.. Loeb could do for the road.
II has 10 go before congress. session
after session. for tid-bits Of legislation.
which are very essential none the less.
But senators. who have little liking
FOR the president. intimated that the
man who had served a. the presidents
secretary would have a fine old time
persuading them 10 vote for his bills
Therefore the owners OF the street
railroad began quietly 10 lay plans for
side-tracking the Loeb presidential
idea. and about a year ago another
was chosen TO head the street rail
way.
Since then Secretary Joeb's name
has been mentioned In connection
with a number OF good posts by pur.
yeyors of capitol gossip. but each
story has been In turn denied
The latest report Is that he will be
come collector OF the por, OF New
York after March 4.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
How Hines Have CHANGED.

When Grover Cleveland enjoyed a
trip aboard the yacht OF his old friend
Commodore Benedict, every Republi
can editor in the United States de
nounced Mr.. Cleveland as a traitor and
protested in frenzy against the danger
Of Mr. Benedicts influence in affairs OF
state.
Our present chief magistrate official
~ sanctions Mr. Morgan's illegal mer
ger OF the Tennessee Coal a. Iron Com
pany with the steel trust appoints MIR
Morgans partner secretary OF state
and makes Mr.. Morgan's son-inlaW
secretary OF the navy.
What would Republican editors have
said had Mr. Cleveland. instead of Mr.
Roosevelt. committed these three acts
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25

EXCLUSIVE Of the capitol and con.
stsaonal library grounds. the
'oa depot plaza and the botanical
I'ehs. the city OF Washington
-s., more than GOOO acres In parks.
Guiding nearly 100 trlanglos aud cir.
az street intersections and miles
% miles Of shaded asphalt streets
lA To lhe boulevards OF many other
,,' The largest Of all these parks
noes Greek park This beauty spot
''lh 100 acres Immediately adjoln.
'hg Ioological park. which con.
-s 10 acres, and It's natural com.
-'uon' OF rocks and streams. hills
ua'es trees and meadows go 10
sac perhaps the finest groundwork
3punty. Wy :" '"'
~, WI, be- probably a hundred years
lOIe The possibilities OF this park are
.n uayu To the fun. including the
Dl'ns OF a boulevard down Rock
VA INTO the city OF Washington.
''''ns with the Riverside drive.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
WASTING rHs PUBLIC MONEY.
Figures Show Gross Extravaganza Of
Roosevelt Administration.

During January there was an in.
crease Of almost $4,000. 900 in the
public debt, which is due TO a heavy
decrease In the cash held by the treas
ury. The receipts from AL sources
were t474sO.42s. and Che disburse.
ments $6S.O24 $50. the defect for the
month being fi5.543.s42. and for the
year S79,sii.4l3. There was a eight
gain In customs over January, 1908,
and a loss Of a little more than
sl,eoO,OO0 in internal revenue. The
total receipts fell on by $4,000, 900,
while there was an increase In en-.
penditures OF s4,2O70O0. All the
Items show an increase except public
works, In which there was a slight
falling on. The most interesting fact
Is the growing expenditures. which
were $i7.S27 900 in January. 1907;
fbS.Sl7,OOO in January. 1908, and s63..
O24,OOO last month. Comparing the
expenditures with those OF the first
four months Of this year we find that
they are larger than for any month
NNN'p' 5uigt NHtn Tue Dlllh are 81
ways heavy. For the year ending
with last June the deficit was $751;
100000. II is already almost $4,000
coo this year. with five months yet TO
run The available cash balance is a
shade under 100000. 900.
or course this is an extraordinarily
bad showing. 1t Is the natural result
OF the gross extravaganza which has
characterized the Roosevelt admins
tratlon. There is nothing to be said
that has not been said many times
before. But we trust that the persist.
ent exposition OF the facts OF the stu.
alton may ultimately impress the
people. and through them their repre-.
sentatives. with the need for economy.
There is no reason why we should ap-
propriate a billion dollars for admin
istering the government for one year.
That amount cannot be spent wisely.
The outlook at present is for an even
larger deficit next year.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
Nations Capital Is a City of Parks

way. now known as Potomac driveway.
The River park. which reaches from
the capitol TO the islands OF the Poto.
mac. contains In the aggregate 500
acres. but does not represent an anal
gamated whole as does the Rock Greek
park.
In the northern portion ~ the city,
about mile eastward from Rock
Creek park and connected Herewith
by the old military road over which
union armies marched In the defense
OF Washington. Is the Soldier Home
park Commanded by group OF
white marble buildings erected on the
highest point In the city. the park
slopes toward the city over an extent
OF 500 acres Still another park.
Analostan. In southeast Washington
whore the river fats viii some day
be one OF the flower gardens OF the
national capital. contains $40 acres
The last OF the larger parks. also In
north Washington. Is Tacoma park
containing 7S9 acres.
Other amusement places are the
Henry and seaton parks OF 80 acres;
GARFIELD park. "a acres judiciary
square. where is the pension Office 10
acres. and Howard University park OF
IL acres. Lafayette square. in front
OF the White House on the north. In
which no trees or bush is duplicated,
contains six acres.
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25
Waste In Naval ErpendItur..

The navy department is in for an
Investigation. this time on the hnan-
cial side. The recent charges as TO
waste in naval expenditures are too
startling not TO have some basis OF
truth and Senator Hale's resolution
OF inquiry is expected to uncover in.
teresting and valuable material. The
Washington Herald says:
Whatever may be the upshot OF
Senator Hale's investigation It is evi.
dent before It begins that congress
shares responsibility with the depart
ment for the expenditures alleged TO
be extravagant. The political infiu.
enees which sustain navy yards in i'm
possible locations are all COMPRESSION.
al; the various plans for making work
for government employees are strongly
supported at the capitol SO that any
Inquiry directed exclusively to depart.
mental methods will fall short of dis.
closing the whole truth, whatever else
II may discover. And when the mat
ter OF naval expenditure is consider
ed In its broader aspect II will be seen
that an immense waste Of public
money. not necessarily an improper
waste. is inseparable from the policy
Of naval expansion TO which all civil
lied nations are committed. The prog
ress OF naval science yearly converts
costly war machinery into useless
Junk; the life OF guns and ships is
brief; and the mad race of naval con
structors to produce bigger and bigger
battleships necessarily reduces the
fighting value of lesser vessels"
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25

tECRETNRY WILLIAM LOEB. IR-
y Who has been serving the president
i 'te country at the White House
|e,5s f0- several years. is causing his
laliaic friends more political anxi-
than any other prominent Repub-
al 90 iho hour There f. a time
r5od tradition that a retiring presi.
r 1' 'he United states must take
I'd care NJ his secretary. mad u has
r'0-o been incumbent upon Presi.
o., Roosevelt 20 see Mr. Loeb well
seed before he starts Tor the dark
|llHe8t
Bu plans Tor placing Loeb have a
bt % falling through. Just why no
seems able 10 tell For. while h.
n1' gained the fame as secretary
its president that Mr. Cortelyou.
predecessor Eained. there IL no
iying that De- has been very en-
3ut
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25

[,suNGrON THAT the fascina'
W ~. nj life AZ the American capital
IN =, ufs at the American capital
800 much upon the beauty and
-,,,.pc.s Of the court costumes OF
trs.n diplomats and the officers
.,. amy and navy. who are regu'
| !. allied into service for social
/. NOT 10 be- controverted. and
~ hsse attractions a.e combined
| Z, be imposing form and ceremony
[ ...,lspf mon the city surrounding a
[ .Ii,of of the United states and his
| r,,f and the direct representatives
II r-,.sn povers 10 this government.
| have a brilliant end interesting
,,.. az life scarcely known In the
| ,re-n hemisphere outside Of Wash
frou
/ While the president o. the United
! ,,ss appears at formal entertain
| syf.in a frock coat IN the afternoon.
| a, evening affairs in the simple,
[, rtsr formal habillments every
1 -s-ran man wears after dark. he Ia
rgrIsd by bis aids from all
,,rchs. Of the military and naval
|, vIes who never appear at the
I1ls House or In company with the
resident In other than fall dress
rfa-ns and with their swords at
sr sides The same is true of the
| I'm Amhaa.ahnra and mlnlsiera
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25

4 QUESTION that the widow and
'o' children Of former President
beiro s.hd be given a pension
bes,ms, discussed Informally by con.
|lye, h Many have declared them.
| m u. \. 'anor of granting her one.
|pt na.. Cleveland is willing 10 ac.
less v,.,,, Us mo- question but that con.
Ann \, would be ready to vote n to hor
/ preslo,n, , l,!, Is now no surviving
! doWs NJ 20, Of the United States, three
| Nn I \, lormer presidents still live
|h liars A. Garfield. Mrs. Benja.
The e ,.,,0a and Mrs. Cleveland
L. ul's'named has now snr,,.oa
|Lsu @''P n more than twenty'seyen
's all that time she has
The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1909-02-25

Il looks as II the speaker were not
inclined TO permit the admission OF
Arizona and New Mexico as states.
This. of course, would settle the ques
ton, as In the house the majority rules
and under the rules the speaker con
stitutes the majority.
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

IL o'clock the heart. strength and obe-
dience of each man are tried to the
utmost.
In the paved yard stands the drill
tower. which greatly resembles an old
fashioned country tank house. II is a
little short of 100 feet high and is
supplied on two sides with four stories
of windows, one set of windows being
fitted with fire escapes, water pipes and
hydrants- Here the men must acquire
familiarity with ladders of all sorts
and descriptions; with hoses and snoz-
zles and couplings in their variety:
with the most approved methods OF
rescuing victims. young or old. dead.
unconscious clinging, fat, terrified. or
in Any- other state of mind or body;
and, perhaps most important of all.
with the nature OF an order and the
necessity for instantaneous and un-
questioning obedience. Nor are these
things all. parts of the instruction re-
fer to the way they tie knots and climb
in windows and other details seemingly
as unimportant-
The first lesson is with the pompier
ladder, which is used at fires only on
the rarest occasions. but which is given
TO the students principally, the chief
confessed, to develop their nerve. It
is certain that a few lessons on it will
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

make OF the men heroes or nervous
wrecks for life. This ladder Is little
more than 20 feet long. weighs 2s
pounds, and is single standard with
the rungs extending less than a foot
on either side At the top is a long
curved iron arm which is hooked over
a sill or cornice and secures the ladder,
but it appeared to Ine--and to some
of the recruits. too-as a false secur-
ity. Fortunately large canvas net is
spread below so that a fall could not
result seriously. Each man wears a
pair of heavy gloves. and around his
waist is a stout leather belt about four
inches wide and having attached in
front large iron snap
The ladders are hooked in the low
est story of windows, three blasts on
the chiefs whistle calls for attention,
the men take. their places at the bot
tom, and a single whistle sends them
climbing aloft. Each ladder simply
wiggIes, there is no other term to de-
scribe It, and flops about with the
weight of the man in the most ire
sponsible way. When the window
level is reached, the man must climb
in and sit astride of the SILL Don't
think that is an easy thing to do.
either BY no chance must a man put
his hand on the SILL The chief Is a
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24
Bv Mary Ashe Miller

RN THIS age when specialists are
required in all lines. people are
apt to underestimate the technical
training that produces the expert
In no case is this more true than in
regard to the men Of the fire depart
rnent. upon whom so much depends in
every city. and their trials and tribu-
lations prove upon investigation to be
many
To be hero fighting fire. spurred'
on by the excitement Of the shout
ing crowds. the quick. hoarse orders
OF the chief, the. consciousness Of dan
ger and the necessity for action. Is
far less difficult than. for instance. TO
climb a narrow, swaying. flexible lad
der up the side Of tower, under the
critical supervision of drill master
and a dozen or more fellow firemen.
when no thrill is possible save that of
nervousness or vertigo.
Few heroes are permitted TO spring
full aedged into the limelight though.
and the making OF a fireman" means
DAYS OF tedious drill before he attains
suncient skill and trained courage TO
take his place among those in lire TO
rise to positions OF authority in the
department
Any precipitate rushing to the fore at
a FIRE on the part OF student fireman
would probably result in a more or less
vigorously phrased order TO Get that
fool out OF the, way before he gets
hurt and il would be embarrassing to
hear what was said 10 him later. Be
fore he is a valuable or responsible
factor fn the department he must be
taught, like Tommy Atkins Of musical
fame. hot only Ito uphold his manly
brow, and how to walk and where to
nut his feet but he must learn as well
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

man whose patience and amiability
Impressed me as little short of won
derfuI. but such a criminal proceed
ing as that of placing hand. on the
sill always brought out a shout that
nearly frightened the recruit into the
net at the bottom. He must take hold
of the side-of the window.
When he is safely 'straddling the
SILL" as they call it. he must seize the
top of the ladder just below the iron
arm, and he has to be very careful
which hand he uses-back IL out and
raise it hand over hand to hook in the
window above-then he must climb out
of the window and up TO the next
level. This he repeats until he goes
over the top of the roof and then. like
the king of France and his 10000 men.
he marches down again. 1t doesn't
sound so very thrilling. but when a
raw student gets up TO the third or
fourth story and sickens at the alti-
tude and desperate uncertainty of
the ladder. and the chief shouts In his
mi ghty voice, Use your snap, hook
yourself to the ladder. Wait until you
get more nerve. Brace up there: brace
up. man." 1t is quite an exciting mo-
ment.
An elaboration of this drill is with
two men and two ladders working to-
gether and elevating one ladder while
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

how to climb and where to put his
hands. You discover after watching
the drill that the difference of the use
of the right hand or the left hand at a
critical moment may cost human life.
It is the perfection of detail that Inn
presses one at these training schools
that and the wonder as to why any per-
son would ever want to be anything so
terrifying and strenuous as a fireman
and no one can gain any real conception
of how clever the hremen really are
until their class instruction is observed.
When you see a fireman, at mo-
ment OF danger, climb a ladder and at
dizzy elevation lock his leg through
the rungs and manipulate a hose ini
such a wav as to direct a stream of
water at the most critical spot of the
confiagration you would accord him a
vast deal more of admiration and ap
probation off you knew that he was
enabled to engage so successfully in
this spectacular performance because
hee fias spent many weary hours in
training. for il under an eagle eyed
veteran of the department. He has
had to learn that he must be sure to
put MS ieLL lex tHIouBu the lauueT
and lock 1t by skillful twist of the
foot in exactly the right way; that
his right foot must be placed in a
certain position and that his hands
must grasp the hose according to rule.
Everything must be just So" There
is no other Just as good" system in
the fire department.
San Francisco's fire fighters are
trained upon a specially constructed
tower at truck rs house In Seven
teenth street near Folsom, under the
direction of Battalion Chief James
Radford assisted by Captain William
Carew. Three mornings each week
as they are termed. are detailed from
the different fire houses throughout
the city for instruction. and from s TO
the student firemen, or probationers,
as they are termed, are detailed from
the different fire houses throughout
the city for instruction, and from to
The San Francisco call., 1909-10-24

standing on the other, hooked sareIy
by the belt snap.
A part of the Instruction consists OF
sliding down ropes. When the top OF
the tower is reached a long rope Is
dropped to the ground. and down this
the man must come, not to earth. for
tunately, but into the net when he is
learning. Those men who have had some
months or weeks OF instruction do this
With ease and grace. but a series OF
perfectly new men on this drill induce
nervous prostration in a spectator.
rhe expert twists the rope through the
Selt snap, graspS it firmly with each
hand correctly placed and spaced, lies
back. braces his feet widely apart and
commences the slide to the bottom with
no apparent difficulty. With the new
man it Is so different and so painful
that the description may be spared the
reader 1t is enough to say that when
he clings and covers and shrinks and
bumps against the wall there is the
feeling of having witnessed an execu-
ton Men are also carried down seated
in a sling of rope depending from the
twist in the BELT snap.
It must be remembered. however.
that no matter how nervous and awk-
ward a man may be at trst. there IS
every probability that after half
dozen lessons he will be marvel or
courage and agility. The system OF In
structfon is surprisingly successful
Another part of the drill which IS
very interesting Is With the rescue net.
when. first. dummies and then men are
thrown or spring from a height and
are. caught. The net" Is in reality a
circular canvas. about Il feet in diam
eter, thiekly padded. az the outer edge
of which is a stout iron frame. Springs
break the jar TO the object falling In
the net
Eight or ten men grasp the frame.
hold 1t little higher than their shoul-
ders and then shift quickly hitber and
yon to catch the falling body.
Some practice is required for this. as
man leaping from burning build
ing may land anywhere in a consid-
erable area and the net must be there
to receive him.
A large leather ball is first thrown
from the lowest fire escape. then the