davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
AN ovERWoRKED CAPTAIN.
Plea for the Relief of an Ubiquitous
officer.

OlllCPF-
From letter in re Nrr York ETeninz Pos.
Capt Archibald wiIHngham de GTafen-
reid Butt is President Tafts military aid.
He IS quartermasters with the rank OF
captain in the United States army. he Is
Il am Informed one OF the most person
able. agreeable. and genial Of men. He
has the soft. pleasant manners which for
so long have been characteristics OF veil
born Southerners. He IS gifted with al
the social gracss. Wherever and when
ever he comes in contact with MS fellow
man his strongly developed social in
ssiHct makes for the pleasantness and
ease OF intercourse; everybody likes
Archie Butt.
ny purpose IN thus enumerating these
attractive qualities Of Capt Butt is 70
preface the general Washington verdict
that he Is being overworked- The in
cessant demands Of an exscting profes-
sion require me 70 make frequent and
sometimes prolonged visits 10 the National
Capital While there it is my pleasure
and relaxation curiously to observe the
Washington scene As a visitor / have a
perspective and a disinterestedness denied
a permanent resident The exact and
proper duties Of a military aid 10 the
President have afforded ne no little food
for speculation and inquiry. While 8ir.
Roosevelt was President he employed the
army officers assigned 10 MS personal
service as riding companions in the af-
ternoon- II President Roosevelt went
abroad n the evening he was usually
I never saw military aid 20 the Pres
ident in uniform during the daylight
hours while Mr. Roosevelt was President,
except on some ceremonial occasion.
] am credibly Informed. and my own
chances Of observation have led me TO
believe. that Capt Butt has hardly had
an opportunity 70 take OF his Uniform
since inauguration day Visitors 10 the
Capital who have been naturally alert
70 observe the scenes and social practices
peculiar 10 Washington have had the
opportunity Of seeing Capt. Butt in al
manner Of uniforms In khaki. In olive
drsb, in Undress blue. with fatigue blouse.
and IN a special full dress, he has been
visible IN attendance upon President or
Mrs. Taft practically every time either
or both Of them have made a public ap-
pearance- Naturally. Capt Butts days
have been crowded.
AS a reader Of the New York City and
Washington newspapers, I have noted ref
erences OF seen pictorial records OF Capt.
Butt in attendance upon either Mrs
Taft or Mr Taft at such diverse fuRc-
lions as EcI games. sessions Of the
House and Senate. rheater parties. after
noon concerts, visits TO New York, rides
IN the park, nusicales at the White
House, &C, &C. In the contemporary pic
torial records Of these events Capt. Butt
IS sometimes shown wearing a sword and
sometimes without that piece Of his mil
itary harness
The question is Whist measure can be /
taken with propriety and wisdom for the
relief OF Capt Butt I can only set forth !
the facts and leave 20 others more deeply |
versed IN military ethics and military
duties the problem Of suggesting a rem
edv
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23

diabolicaI by-play On occasions. It is
doubtful that any other potentats on
earth has been threatened, bullied. dunnea.
and badgered so much as he and with
50 little result More hostile naval demon
STATIONS have been made within sight Of
his imperial headquarters than you could
count in quite a while, and his collection
OF ponderous ultimatums must be truly
marvellous to behold. He has accepted
these tributes with a pious slgh-promised
a great deal and. generally. done nothing.
Yes he has been suffered to go his re-
actionary way-a sort OF buffer between
nations hating him, but SO jealous OF one
another none dare crush him.
And there he Is. awaiting benevolentIy''
the rebels who seek his undoing-"sub-
timely" waiting at the mosquel Doubt
less, he thinks he VII wiggle out OF this
somehow. as he has wiggled out of every
thing else in the past-snd he may.
Whatever else he may or may not be.
he Is rare old birdi
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23

FTczn ths Florida TirnesUnion.
They are making roads Of saW5ust
mixed with earth on new plan IN Leon
County. Two ridges Of earth are thrown
Up with a road machine at the required
width from each other. and the space be-
tween IS filed with a six-inch bed OF
sawdust- This is followed with smaller
machine, which plows up and mixes the
earth with the sawdust. This makes &
rosdbed on which the tires Of the heaviest
loaded vehicles make no impression The
contractor. G. II. Averitt, has kept an
accurate account Of expenses in connec-
ton with this section OF sawdust and
earth road. and says the cost aggregates
S2s7 a mile, showing il 70 be about the
cheapest road material in use Il may be
suggested that sawdust is not a durable
material. but the True Democrat meets
this objection with the statement that
one or two such roads were constructed
in a South Georgia county twenty years
ago and are still IN good condition, show
ing its durability. AS is we'll known,
Leon County soil is clayey.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
Maj. HemphiII to Lecture.

From the Hartford Courant
The selection Of Mai J. c. Hemphin
OF the Charleston Is. c. News and Cour-
Ter, TO be the next lecturer in the Brom-
ley course at Yale Is an exceedingly
happy one The major is native OF
South Carolina. born there in Is5a Of
Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was educated
at Erskine College, Due West. S. c, and
began newspaper work in ISL He has
been connected with the News and Cour-
Ter since 1850. and its chief editor since
1855 He is one Of the best known and
most popular newspaper men in the South,
where for many years Yale was so strong
IN followers. and win undoubtedly contrib
ute most entertainingly and instructiveIy
TO this unique course. He is Gistinctively
Southern-with the courteous manners.
the smooth speech, and the independent
which characterize that region,
and il viii be a privilege and a pleasure
10 hear him The South is strong in its
newspapers. all the way from Richmond
and Louisville to Dallas. via Charleston,
Atlanta, Birmingham. Savannah. Mobile,
Memphis, and New Orleans. and this rec
ognition by Yale Of that part OF the coun-
try IS both timely and graceful
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
Abdul Hamid.

Abdul Hamid. by the grace OF the Al
mighty Creator. Lord Of Lords. Dominant
Sovereign in Arabia, Persia, and Greece.
Invincible and always Victorious. Dis
tributer Of Crowns to the Great Princes
Of the Earth, Sovereign Master Of the
two seas and Of adjacent countries. Pro
tector Of the Sacred and August Cities Of
Mecca and Medina. and Of endless other
countries. kingdoms, empires. isles. and
peoples. Shadow Of God. Refuge Of the
World. Slayer Of Inhdels, &c, is a mighty
sick man nowadays. nevertheless and
notwithstanding.
Probably you would not think Il at
first blush. in view Of all those various
grand. gloomy, and peculiar varieties OF
a great and important parsonage he is
alleged TO be, but ii is true Things are
at skies and sevens IN his department Of
the sultan business, and they show scant
inclination 10 improve as the hours pass
BY. Nemesis is on his trail, and while
Nemesis has been on his trail for many.
many weary years, it seems altogether
likely that he has caught up with the old
sinner of ConstantinOple at last.
But. for all the quaking and the quail
ing that Abdul Hamid is doing these most
unpiping times of near-peace. he is not
forgetting any Of the outward and visible
forms Of majesty as 1t is conceived in
his philosophy. What could be more
truly Abdul Hami6esque than this proc
iamation, sent forth only a day or 50
ago:
His sublime majesty IS awaiting beneT0leu1ly The
arrival Of the constitutional army. His subity Is
II favor Of the constitution, Of which be Is TIE
supreme guardian"
# it had not actually happened. you
would think that trade an excerpt from
one of George AIDES comic operas or Nj.
Cohaa's dramatic extravaganzas. His
sublime majesty is beneTolentIy awaiting
the arrival Of a delegation OF his faithful
while he trembles In
his august boots for fear he wiz be IN
kicked down the back
stairs and into the Bosphorus or its ar
riraI-iaWardly.
What q picturesque relic the Sultan IS.
From some points Of view it seems almost
a pity 10 spoil his game. He has added |
to the gayety Of the nations for a long
time. with all his faults. franties. and
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
The ANN IInifnrm

The commissioned personnel Of the
army must have learned with emotions
akin to real alarm Of the intention Of a
revision by the War Department Of the
regulations prescribing the Uniform Of
the service. This means much 70 officers
who are obliged to purchase their official
apparel and who are required 10 abide
by the regulations Of number and style
Of uniforms and the ornamentation. There
has been the realization among army Of
1icers that the prescribed uniform might
be reduced IN extent and that fewer uni
forms might be required Of those who
must wear a military gsrb Il is appre-
ciated that the uniform serves its Dur
pose as an emblem Of authority. but
there are those who DC not appreciate
why there should be so much ornamental
ton in such an outfit as the fuu-dress
uniform. which is largely for show. and
is worn On occasions OF ceremony as dis
tiuguished from periods OF duty with
troops when the uniforms are models Of
inconspicuous and useful habiliment
It may be TOO much 10 expect that the
army Uniform win lose any Of the glory
OF its ornamentation. but army ON
GERS may well entertain the desire that no
radical changes be made simply for the
sake Of change. Il Is cut OF the question
10 please every officer IN the details Of
his Official dress. and it is not understood
that the present purpose Of amending the I
aaiform regulations aspires to any such
unaninity of approval Unless the uni /
form IS radically wrong. it ought 10 be
left alone IN difference 10 the expense /
which even the slightest change imposes
upon individual officers. who feel it in
cumbent upon them to keep their uni |
ferns uD 20 date. Notwithstanding the
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
CoNvICTS AS ROAD BUILDERS.
Western States Use Them in Making
Great Highways.
From Popular 8fcchauics.

From Popular Mechanics.
The list OF States now using convict
labor on the highways IS too long TO
mention In detail. but Colorado. New
Mexico, and Wyoming are using such
labor TO construct a great highway which
viii run through the three States. and
Washington, Oregon, North Carolina.
and Georgia. as vel as several other
States. have gangs az work
The convict road gang az work in the
southern part OF Colorado numbers
sighty-eight men. They wear no dis
tinsuishing badge In the way Of cloth
Ing. and no armed guards are to be seen
anywhere. II q man wishes 70 escape
from such a camp It Is conceded that he
can easily DO 50. bat that he may be
oveTtsken elsewhere follows as a matter
Of course. and the Penaity-dreaded by
any convict who has had a taste OF open
work-means that his activities will from
then on TO the end OF his term be con-
fined within the prison walls.
Only FIVE officers are IN charge OF the
camp. which IS composed o.. tents. The
convicts sleep IN one big tent. and during
the day they are divided into fve gangs.
each officer having charge Of a gang
Eight hours Of road work constitute a
days labor, and the men must go 10 bed
promptly al 9 o'clock every night except
Saturday. on which they are allowed an
additional hour.
Amusement Is allowed 70 all IN the
camp some Of the coavicts own and play
musical instruments. Cards are also al
lowed Some spend their time pitching
ouoits. and a ball game is usually played
every evening before darkness sets in.
The method OF guarding the convicts
working on the roads in the State Of
Washington is little more strict, but
amusements are Just as numerous. The
provision allowing the couvicts TO DO
such work IN that State was passed-in
leo7, and the point selected FOR making
the first experiment was one Of the most
remote from the peniteniary, the idea
being % give the new system the most
severe test possible
The work selected was the building Of
a wagon road along the face OF a nearly
perpendicular rock bluff, the work In
volving the handling OF a large amount
or dynamite by the convicts. The char
acter OF the work encountered was ex-
tremely hard, making drilling very slow.
Nevertheless. the average daily work ac-
complished by each man amounts 70 q
cubic yards OF solid rock moved and one
cubic yard Of earth and loose rock moved
AS the lowest bid received for moving
the rock was $50 per cubic yard. and
for loose rock and earth 20 cents, the av-
erage daily work OF q convict was valued
at s4OS- The camp established for the
care OF the prisoners consisted OF a stock
ade IS by 4s feet On he outside OF the
stockade and adjoining Il was built the
Susrdhouse. The number Of cOnvicts en-
ployed at the camp has never been more
than thirty. guarded by five officers.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
Mr. Taft as . Rooter.

From the Chizgo Reco7d-Herald-
The great national game may be ex-
pected 70 have greater vogue than ever
now that such a big league statesman as
the President OF the United States has
joined the rooters. 1t is going to make &
harder than ever for Young America 10
decide which he wants to be when ne
grows up-President Of his country OF the
star pitcher OF the worlds champions.
Perhaps both ambitions viii not loom too
large. The fan element may become a
positive element in politics. with which
nominating conventions must reckon, and
as ike as not fan delegations win begin
negotiating with Secretary Hitchcock for
Jobs. II would not be surprising to read
before long Of the personal sacrifice made
by some league hero in rellnquishing his
salary on the diamond TO devote himself
tc the government service.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
PLEA FOR 2-CENT PIECE.
Piece of Coinage that would Be
Useful In Trade.

Prom the Indt1napolis Ne-s.
A question asked Of the Boston Herald
why there were 10 more 2-cent pieces.
brought the Information that there should
be z. .sS4. 554 OF them in existence Between
1884. when their coinage was authorized,
and 1913. when Il was discontinued. more
than 45.0o0Oo0 OF the coins had been put
out Since then less than 100000 have
been retired. so the rest Of them are
somewhere. even if they are lost. TTae
coinage and its cessation reveal IN outline
some interesting history. After the nine
years Of trial no particular mission had
been discovered for the 3-cent piece. An
extra cent had to be added 10 buy a post
age stamp. and the day Of the 2-cent
newspaper had hardly come There was
the Scent piece, which answered the puT-
pose Of daily Incidental purchases. as Is
indicated by the fact that the coinage
Of the nickel 2-cent piece continued until
1870. Then Il died for q similar reason.
By that time the 2-cent newspaper had
fGlly arrived. Two-cent letter postage had
come Bargain counter stores had begun
TO introduce odd prices. and so the s.
cent piece was found. Ike the veteran,
tagging superAuous on the stage. and
was withdrawn.
But-with a lack OF enterprise that IS
surprisingly true Of our government IN
many things-no one seemed 20 see that
the way had been opened or the plac5
literally made for the 2-ceut piece and 10
urge the resumption Of its coinage. Il
has not been done and we are IN need of
ii to-day. Ours is the only great nation
that has not q coin Of that kind in its
national currency system Great Britsin's
penny answers 10 il: Frances 10-centime
piece; Germany's 10-pfennig: Austria's s
I-helIer; Italys 10-centsSimi- POFtugaI's ;
20-reis piece; MexicO's 5-centavo. and ia
pans 5-sen piece The omission seems
the more unusual on our part since we
have the 2-cent standard IN our postage.
and more than this, that there is & stand
ard Of purchases recurring daily on the
2-cent basis which we must reach with
the nickel and three 1-cent pieces in
change. Perhaps when tariff reform is
closed and we have possibly q currency
bin which may direct attention 70 none
tsry affairs. some one may suggest that
there Is a field and place for a 2-cent
pieca In Nfrr coinage
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
RepubIicnn Rerision.

From the New York Sun
The Republican party declares IN
equivocally for a revision Of the tariff. -
and 50 on Not a word OF downward"
revision; just plain revision" Such is
the engagement made. Is It sense TO hold
the Republicans 70 one they have never
made? II is true that Mr.. Taft has ex-
pressed opinions as 70 revision which, IL
they do not put him on the scorner's
bench, cannot admit him to a deacon's
pew; but Mr.. Taft has not been bred in
the straitest sect OF New England and
Pennsylvania protection. and his mind
broaGened by travel and study, Is unfor-
turately more open than those Of US who
hold that protection should be as high
as heaven, from which II sprang. can
thoroughly approve Whatever Mr.. Taft's
opinions, they don't bind his party. That
is bound TO revise" the tariff and IN
derwrite American industries 10 the ex-
tent Of a reasonable profit.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
CHIEA's BENEVOLENT DESPoT.
Empress DowaRer Arranged Sue
eessIOn 90 Throne.

eessIon 20 Throne.
Eleanor Franklin Egan. IN EseTybody's.
The law in China provides that the En-
peror shall appoint bis successor from the
most worthy Of his descendants or next
Of kin. but since the beginning Of the last
stage Of the reign OF the great Empress
Dowsger-fron 1895 until her death-the
only law in China has been the Empress
Dowager herself She could have said
with greater truth than the French Louis.
L etat c'eSt moi and. so far as VIII
ever be known, it was by the sole act
OF her excellent wilI'' that the brother Of
the late Emperor Kuang Hsu was made
prince regent. an Office which constitutes
him absolute ruler OF China during the
minority OF his son. This son, the baby
emperor, by a process OF double adoption.
was made successor to Tung Chih. the
son Of the Empress DOwa ger. who died 81
lS75. and heir" to Kuang HsU. who was
himself the adopted son OF Tung Chih's
father This eliminated KUang Hsu from
the imperial line on the ground that he
was Of the same generation as Tung Chih
and hence could not worship him as an
cestor. Il was this that the great Dow
ager tried to DO in 1893. when she de-
throned the Emperor and appointed the
son OF Prince Tuan successor 20 her son,
Tung Chih; but the world objected and
she yielded Now her wish has become a
fact
This is al very strange and compli-
Gated TO the Western mind. but II was
the excellent VIII" OF the Empress Dow
ager; and the power which her imperial
majesty welded, II one ignores the simple
force Of her own gigantic personality IS
best explained by Mr.. Ku Hung-ming
who. in a brave but mistaken defense
OF her position against attack in the
foreign press. says: BY the first funda-
mental las OF state in China. resting
upon the principle OF absolute obedience
of children 10 parents the supreme au-
thority IN the Chinese body polite OF
his imperial majesty. the Empress Dow
ager. as m0Jner Of the nation, or country.
admits OF absolutely no question or
doubt" And that a majority OF the
people in China were in harmony with
this opinion is also undeniable-
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
FOR AN INCOME TAX.
a Grand Old Plea from Grand old
Texas.
Fron the Houston Pos.

Ffon the Houston Post
There may be few dollars OF expen-
diture cut ont here and there, but the
fact remains that the great drain upon
the treasury IL made by the army. navy.
and pensions-and Mr.. Taft was thor
oughly IN accord with the Roosevelt
policy along these lines.
Consequently. the public has little rea-
son 10 expect that the expenditures are
going 70 be reduced sufficiently to bring
the cost OF the government within the
revenue afforded by the tariff law and
the internal revenue taxation
More revenue is demanded. and il viii
have to come from the pockets Of people
already ove-taxed or from the wealth OF
the country, which IS enjoying rich priv
neges through the grace OF the Republi-
can party and escaping its share Of tax
alton
The income tax is democratic In that II
seeks 70 fairly distribute the burdens OF
the government 1t is a logical revenue
measure 70 meet a situation that Is urg-
ent. Furthermore. the great majority or
people, Democrats and Republicans. favor
the income tax. and If the administration
defeats it the people are going 20 be
heard from.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
RAsTUs' BABY.

Bye-lo-hge. bze-lo-bye. byeio. msh lannie:
SnuEEie 20 ssooliy hsid Close Ter 30 nanny
Shst Up dem shiny gyeS
Law. but 20 sho' is wise
Shoo! Shooi Dem pesky fieSl
Go way fom sammy.
SO hi 'ish-s-bye, hye-lo-bye. bye.
Bye-lo-bye. hyelo-bye-want some mo dinnahg
YO's h0nzTy again. Yo' III brsck sinnah.
Open dat mouf Oh youe.
ChaW on dat col caHn-pone;
Reckon youU neber hone
Fo' wittles Wid mammTl
50 hiish-e bye. bye-lo-bye. bye.
Bye-ic-bye. hye-io-hye. hye-lo. ueh lsunie;
snuggie 20 Wooily hsid close ter 20 nanny.
Now den. be GAVIN at last
Holm dat hoe-cake fas'-
Ant he De spit o Rssg
Po' III lsmnfss
Den hi'ish-s-bye, hye-io-bye. bye.
Cora Walker Hsyes, IN HDpinc0tt'S
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
KEETUCKY'S BLACK HAND.
Our Governments Impotence &c
Protect Foreigners

Prom the Boston Herald
The italian governn ent has made
many representations to the Department
Of State at Washington concerning the
lack Of protection Sor Italian subjects
and property against the outrages OF
the Night Riders in the tobacco districts
OF Kentucky and Tennessee The latest
volume OF foreign relations issued az
Washington contains a note from the
Italian Ambassador marking the extent
Of the Italian interest and asking for
some means OF relief from the existing
dangers OF the situation The Italian
government buys every year in the Uni
ted States about 100000 pounds Of leaf
for the use Of the tobacco monopoly.
The product IS purchased by twenty OF
more agents. and much OF Il cured under
Italian ownership. some OF the ware
houses destroyed by the Night Riders
were Italian property. involving losses OF
hundreds Of thousands Of dollars The
protest from Rome Is supplemented By a
warning that unless greater protection
IS assured Italy must seek another sup
ply
scterisJic. Italy is reminded that the
American courts OF justice are open TO
her for the protection OF property rights
on the same terms which are enjoyed by
any citizen or property owner Further
than that the Federal government does
not appear 10 concern itself with Italy's
plant. Although not stated IN exact
terms. the Federal government denies re
sponsibility and declines 20 interfere in
the police duties OF any state But the
Italian government cannot make repre-
sentations 20 the State governments Of
Tennessee or Kentucky. II has 10 treaty
with either Of those sovereign states
compelling adequate protection FOR It's
subjects OflciaIly the Italian govern
ment has no knowledge Of the existence
OF these sovereignties- Il knows only
the United States as a national iaJegeT-
But when IL appeals 20 the government
az Washington for the fUlhllment Of
treaty obligations in respect 70 It's sub
jects. its demand IS evaded By state
ulent OF divided responsibility which has
no parallel in inte national relations.
The Washington herald., 1909-04-23
saving the Protective Sr.tsm.

From the New Tork Tines
Senator Aldrich sets his face ike a flint
against additional schemes Of taxation
That means the Inheritance taxes. the IL
come tax Politically this IS wise. and on
grounds Of economies and equity much is
to be said for his position. Anybody car
see that II an income tax is imposed and
death dues collected, the tariff would
have 10 come down. II Is not the present
intention Of the Republican party 20 lower
the tariff So the standpatters have at
least this merit. that they viii resolutely
resist any venture into new fields Of tax
alton