davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
The Mississippi Bubble.

1t would be interesting to know just
who concocted this latest roorback about
the danger of hostile invasion by way
OF the Mississippi River. With that
knowledge in our possession we could
speculate in still more interesting fields
those of motives and expectation, for
instance. To our amazement, however,
we find that the absurd cock and bull
story is actually finding Judgment in
many quarters along the valley, eve
from st. Paul and Omaha down, to say
nothing Of Pittsburg, Cairo and st.
Louis.
OF course the obvious guess is that the
canard was set in motion by those who
want to see New Orleans made a great
naval station, contrary to the ideas and
conviction of an overwhelming major
ity Of the naval officers. In that view
Of the matter it is easy to see that the
authors counted on alarming riparian
communities in the thirteen States and
securing their active influence in favor
Of the establishment at New Orleans.
By causing great eruptions OF goosefesh
in Paducah, Keokuk, &c,, they would
enlist many and powerful allies; but
the whole proposition is SC absurd that
one can hardly believe it was seriously
intended to serve any practical pur-
pose. Hostile fleets could not ascend
the Mississippi River in time Of war
for the simple reason that the army
would prevent them. The batteries at
Forts jackson and st. Philip do not rep
resent a 1.-THE Of the political importance
that would attach to a vast naval sta
ton across the river from New Orleans
with its thousands of workmen and its
consequent contributions to the festive
and somewhat hungry city, but they are.
worth a dozen navy yards at Algiers
and Gretna when it comes to repelling
foreign fleets. What with the guns
and the mines it would be possible to
maintain under their protection, the
Mississippi could be Theoretically sealed
against invaders and held at that 80
long as there was need.
We suppose this alarm will be short
lived, though it may travel far mean
while; but no more preposterous rub
bish has ever been offered to this much
exploited public.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
Sapes and a Sucking.

Wise old heads are in charge of the
Senate tariff bill. They have the votes
to pass it in the course of time. They
see, as everybody sees, that the Demo-
Gratis are mostly helpless and neces-
sarily insincere; that union between
them and the so-called progressive"
Republicans is impossible. Business
wants the tariff out Of the way as soon
as possible. Give the Dingley tariff
over again, or something very like it,
and adjourn.
These gentlemen in the Senate are
wise and honorable and will no doubt
with reason answer us, but will the tariff
be put out of the way by such proceed
ing? Will it not be in the way still, a
terror and a clog to business? The
Republicans knew in 1908 that there
was a strong Republican feeling for
tariff revision, especially in New England
and the West. Reluctantly and ungra-
ciously they promised tariff revision.
This session of Congress was called to
consider tariff revision. What is the
effect Of that calling so far? Is the
Dingley law being revised, or is it being
~reenacted? Does there seem to be IN
desire or intention to revise" honestly,
thoroughly, really?
Seeing the pitiable %surrenders Of the
Democrats and believing themselves
firmly in the beneficence and perfection
Of the Dingley law, the masters Of the
Republican party may deem themselves
justified in conceding little to the friends
Of revision. Any attempt to tinker
schedules liberates such n mephitic
gang of competing cutthroat considera-
tons of private benefit wearing the
domino of public that revision may
well seem but a cynical name for a
redistribution of the swag. We know
with what cogged dice this great game
of protection has been and will be
played. We have no illusions as to the
sanctimony OF those who are in it or
those who want to get in it; least Of all,
Of the canting brood of politicians,
Republican and Democratic. high or
moderate protection, or tariff for rev.
enue only. But there are a good many
millions OF people who don't cant,
who have kneeled when the protection
hymn was chanted, but are not inclined
TO wear further in that service the knees
Of their highly protected trousers. The
great a Of salaried and wage earn
ing men and women, professional and
business men Of modest incomes, small
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
Contributing to Mr.. Bryau's Pros.
perity.

Being in no way disposed to withhold
aid from the Hon. WILLIAM JENNINGS
BRYAN in his laudable endeavor to
amass a competency. THE Sun refuses
to ignore that amusing gentleman's
inconsistencies and close its columns
to his absurdities. To his chief adver-
Using medium Colonel BRYAN has lately
contributed this thought:
Popular government rests upon respect for
law"
The principal object Of the present
modest writing is to remind our readers
that Candidate BRYAN may be engaged
for balls, parties, picnics, parades and
balloon a%scensions address Lincoln,
Nebraska), and it is only incidentally
that we point out that no n has made
greater efforts than himself TO bring the
laws of the nation, from its Constitution
down, together with their makers and
their interpreters, into %disrepute and i'll
favor. That he has not succeeded is a
matter of no moment to him. He has
had his free advertising, and the coun-
try has survived him. His sudden re-
spect for the law means merely that he
believes he should begin to work the
other side of the street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

or in instruments Of time proved that
an officer was a good physical specimen
and fit all the year round for field work
and therefore for the exacting duties Of
"A campaign. 1t is no secret that both
army and navy mon regarded this no
ton of the late Commander in Chief
with hilarity, for it had become the prac-
tice with officers not naturally athletic
to go into training for the annual test
and afterward forswear unnecessary
exertion until called upon again to es-
cape retirement. The effect on men
with a tendency TO take on flesh or in
dulgent in their habits was perhaps
worse than if they had not satisfied this
rough test. 1t must be understood,
of course, that there are a good many
officers who need no spur to be capable
Of feats of strength and endurance.
Temperate, fond Of exercise, and regu-
lar in their habits, they are always, like
Mr.. ROOSEVELT himself, in the pink Of
condition, or at least ready without
notice to ride far, walk all day, and 90
without rest or sleep In an emergency.
On the other hand, there are officers.
in number considerably greater, who
require the spur TO keep themselves
fit, especially rs they grow older. To
them the Roosevelt test is positively
injurious, and in their case the salts
faction Of it is a humbug. Commander
A. P. NIBLACK has recently made a
plea in a paper read before the Naval
Institute for physical training in the
navy, and he proceeds upon the theory
that what is wanted is constant light
exercise to keep the muscles supple,
the wind sound and the arteries in good
working order. He advocates the in
stalment on shipboard Of exercise and
testing machines, and submits that the
use Of them daily as a part Of the rou-
tine drills would increase the physical
development of the officers and crew
from thirty to fifty per cent. in the first
year." And then Commander N1BLACE
pronounces this opinion:
we have seen a revolution brought, about In
gunncTy ny IL NOtIio uUc ShS u
system of athletic training here described Is quito
Is revolutionary and as far reaching In gymna.
stun methods
1t isn't necessary for the army to
adopt the apparatus Of the gymnasium
outdoor exercise in some form can be
taken by the officers and men In all sea-
sons wherever they are serving; but q
system Of keeping them in active service
condition, graduated according to age,
should be established by tho War De-
partment, and 10 officer or man should
be excused from the operation of it,
unless on special duty, the nature Of
which should be strictly defined. Mr..
ROOSEVELT was right In requiring physi-
cal efficiency Of army and navy officers.
but ludicrously wrong about the means
of securing it.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
BASE THOUGHT!
Another Attack on n B%enencent Prin-
chile Of Hlkh Protection.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuS-Sir: An
American w~orkingman out OF q job strolls
down to a pier where he watches the unload
ing from a liner Of thousands OF cases. bales
and barrels containing foreign merchandise.
nearly all Of which psys customs duties
T nsstst t 1sHm 20 L IL sS sss pf Se cent I'D d l., ssa ao ss.ss
high duties are levied 90 that American
m n sssIf sssss sD nay Ss t Sst big sgn s,fSss fS sS S do,
enough to believe this, being apparently
willing to ignore the economic law that EN-
ployeIs 90 not PAY any more wages thar
By an excess Of Demand over supply.
There are three other facts which prove
though they are also ignored by him and his
That daily WAGES in, the United State.
iected By the tariff than in those that are
30 protected.
That the item Of the wages OF the labor
gallon. ' a yard, a dozen or . a gross OF any.
firing raised or made in this country lie. with
few exceptions, no greater in dollars and
cents than in other countries.
That the cost Of living is the basic cri-
terion of wages. II a mans earnings have
ali to be used up in keeping him and his
family far ~ here hs so tbao Il ne sso y I bmae easst4y NO Sb bert,
although wages are lower living Is pro-
portionately lower.
There il one factor which Is inevita-
bly, borne in upon the exploited American
workinRman out OF a job. and that is that
the same liner whose cargo he Is contem-
plating also broua ht over :. 900 or 1000 immi.
Is levied and who in a week or two will be
competing with him for the few jobs that
may offer. and who incidentally. by their
rent Of the tenement where he herds. From
this point of view even he begins to see how
he Is ground between the upper milestone
Of the tariff which increases the cost OF his
grafton which dec reas SOS his chance Of en-
ployment and keeps his wages dow and
his rent up.
How long will It be before he wakes up
su efficiently to insist on the closing OF either
the Custom House or Ellis Island, as often
and as long as there are 1000 American
workingmen willing to work but out OF a
job9 j. r. ".
NEW York, May
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
On Its a Legs.

1t is reported in Washington hat
President TAFT may modify the require
ments of the annual physical tests for
army and navy officers instituted by his
predecessor, and it is even intimated that
he may substitute for the ninety mile
ride and the fifty mile walk a system of
light physical exercises designed to keep
officers Of all ages in good condition at
all times.
With characteristic impulsiveness Mr..
ROOSEVELT assumed that the achieve
ment of walking or riding a certain dis
tance in so many hours co%nsecutively
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
srandest disstse. Of .hs history II susi.

grandest dissfscs Of che history II eusi.
neering2
II twenty surgeons advised one operation
and ten advised another and the thirty
agreed that M harm could possibly come
To the patient from further consultation
and Investigation, what should be said OF
the patient who ordered the operation OF
the ten, and what should be said Of the ten
II they accepted his order and plunged into
itr Suppose that when they got one-hun-
dredth. one-Hftieth Of the way into It, their
disagreement became more eArnest, In
tense; without question Of the honorable.
proper Q sst and concern OF their pro-
fessional brothers In opposition. what should
be said Of the patient II he should insist upon
going ahead and OF the ten who should 20
ahead with the operationr
Upon the charge that they were unScten-
tiio they would stand s~elf-convicted. The
patient himself would have to be either
! etherized. hypnotixed or insane.
What should DO said Of people who would
proceed as fast and persistently az possible
to transact business on the basis OF the
opinions Of o minority OF the Supreme
Court of the United States? Why not start
In to hang men accused Of murder upon
agreement Of a minority. say not less than
four of the twelve jurymen, or let 1t be
decided by the first sportsman or African
that comes along the road with q gunf
My father spent most OF his life In mathe-
NAUTICAL studies. Ny grandfather was an
engineer, part builder OF the Schuylkill
Canal. I love mathematical sciences. but
I love better the principle OF logic that "
the soul Of all reasoning. I am absolutely
certain that I do not know whether q sea
level or lock canal would be the better. l
an equally certain that I have not the ca
paoity to determine which 10 better. Mill
ions of other Americans know that they
do not know and that they cannot solve the
engineerins- problems involved.
Nevertheless. they all do know that the
disa greement Of the illustrious engineers,
their unanimous agreement TO declare their
division Of opinion to tho scientific world.
convicts the Government OF the United
States Of continued neglect to adopt proper
measures to reach q determination. viii
the engineers Of the whole world move ON
to save their profession from the dssrace9
Will every other group Of scientific mon
move to save all American professions from
the guilt Of silence and cowardioe In the
presence Of tho Illogical? Will the plain
people themselves. upon h faces 1t
took God at least o,OOO years to write the
name Of American citizenship. move to save
their name from the disgrace of the colossal
failure already charged against their Gov
eminent by the very fact OF the existence
Of the question Of the levelsf Will they say
that the mightiest engineering work of the
ages shall not be further accompanied by
tho qualification OF science?- Will they re-
main content to have II fairly said, whether
the lock canal plan shall be q success or q
failure. that they went ahead at any rate
on no surer basis of hope than that -Provi-
dence will be very good to fools, drunkards
and the United States"2
JAMES YEAasLIY.
p~uIIAnEIpHIA Nav
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
A Lie

Johan Bojer's story of -Ths Power OF
q Lie" translated from the Norwegian
by Jessie Muir Mitchell Kennerley),
tells Of Knut Norby. the prosperous
farmer; Of Henry wangen, the unfortu-
nate man Of business, and Of Others.
Norby had put his name to some Of Wan.
gems paper. and this signature. II he had
acknowledged 1t. would have cost him
. little something when Wangen went
bankrupt. He could well have afforded
the loss, and he meant at first TO meet
the obligation. but one accidental thing
and another diverted him from his honest
purpose until finally not only did he de-
termine that he would not pay but he
persuaded himself that from q truly viz
tuous viewpoint he had not signed. that
It was monstrous to pretend that he had.
and that Wangeu was a swindler.
Tho story in . clear and simple and
realistic manner goes on to tell how Wan
Gen waA tried for forgery, how witnesses
were persuaded by the power OF their
own imagination to testify this way and
that way quite contrary to fact. how
Wsngen In his need for effective testl-
mony was moved TO forge . letter TO show
that he was not a foreer, how he was
found guilty and put in prison. and how
the neighbors honored Norby with a BAN
quet and made speeches to him which
did his soul good.
The last paragraphs In the tale relate
how very much at peace the farmer teH
after the banquet. We read: 'Wher
at last Norby got into bed he folded bis
hands and said a couple Of verses OF a
hymn. He felt so ear to God; and the
respect and sympathy OF the whole dis.
triot now shone into his conscience, but
he would thank God for it all. But there
Is one thing I can't understand he
thought after 4 while, and that is how
people can stand like Wsnsen with 6
calm face and lie In court, God help those
who have 10 moro conscience b 70
DO M
Mr.. Hall CAlne has an introduction N
which he praises the story highly. but IN
which he says In efeot that he does not
oonsidsr 1t moral to reward Norby With
= banquet and with the glow which comes
Of q good conscience. and. As II this were
not enough and too much, to make
Wangsu DO an aot OF wiokednsss In sa
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
The Medicine Chest Of T.rt.rtn

To THE EpITon or THE SrS-Sir: SOM one
said to me yesterday that lions seemed TO DO a
drug on the market In Africa. The drug Il there
all right, probably mostly In the lions, as they do
sheir daily lookstep before the coming tower OF
Americas great chief. POT HUNTER.
NEW ROCHELLE. May Q.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

Paris once, 50 Rue Louis lie Grand. The daily
and Su nday editions are on sale at Kiosoue IL, near
the Grand Hotel; Kiosque II, Boulevard dcs Cap
ucines, corner Place dc l'opera. and Klosque 10,
Boulevard des Italiens. corner Rue Louis lie Grand,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
A MissnurI Traredx.

From The Columbia Herald.
As The forms for the Wednesday Herald we're
roing down the elevator at 40 the elevator chain
broke and let the entire load fall to the floor Of
the basement In a congIomerste heap.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

London once, Bingham House. / Arundel
strtet, Strand. The daily and Sunday SUN are
On sale In London OF the American and Colo.
NAL E1ch ange, Carlton street, Regent street,
and DAVIS Steamship Agency. II Green street,
leicester Square,
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

II there Is no direct primaries exhibit at Seattle
there will be a thoroughly up 70 date Midway
no doubt. Albany Argus.
But Albany cannot expect all the legis-
latiye patronage, anyway.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
The View Of Sound Mathematics and
Goo Logic.

To THE EpIToa OF The suN-Sip: No
proposition In Euclid. nothing In all the
sphere OF exact science. was ever more
10 q question. Shall that certainty, thAt
demonstration. that conclusion remain the
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

f., Published by the Sun Printing and Puhlishing
Association at 40 Nassau street, in the Borough
OF attan, New York. President and Treas
urer OF the Association. william NJ. Lsnan, lo
Nassau street. The once of Secretary Of the
Association Is temporarily vacant.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

II on, friends pho fasor Us pfh manuscripts for
.vb.ioaito5 tliss ~ h0rs reJeeied articles returned
sb,y nun IN oil eases send stamps for that purpose.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
A Diuurber Of the Peace.

To TIE EDITOR or THE SUN-Sr: Hall Noyse
10 In business on L street, Washington, d. c.
PHILADELPHIA, Nay T. DAVE GAEBETT.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08

Youth OF seventeen. out Of work, takes a wife.
Headline.
Later. We presume. he may sue for
non-support.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-08
subscriptions by Mail. Postpaid.

balLY. Per Month 8 SO
DAlIy. Per 9 90
suNpAY Per q 90
DAILY AND SUNDAY. Per Yesr........,, . 90
DAILY AND SUNDAY. Per Month";. 10
Postage 10 foreign countries added.
All checks, money orders. &C.. 10 be made pay
able 10 TIL sun.
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-19
G.. 4. II. Encampme nt.

The twenty seventh annual en-
campment Of the G.. A. r., DE-.
partment of West Virginia, was
held at Parkersburg last week
The meetings were largely attend
ed and very interesting.
Following are the new officers
elected:
Commander = D. Mayer OF
Charleston.
Senior Vice Commander-John
NJ. MILAN, Rymer.
Junior Vice COMMUNICATIVE.
V. Salisbury, Wheeling.
Assistant Adjutant - w. Nj.
Brown, Charleston.
Department Chaplain--Rev. J.
Engle, Fairmont.
Medical Director DR.. j. II.
Brown field, Fairmont.
Council of administration--A.
J. Charter, Revenswood; G. r.
Lavalley, Huntington, and G. r.
Reed, Wheeling.
Delegates to nationa! encamp-
ment at salt Lake City--G. w.
Dinsmore, st. Marys; Capt. Viii
liam Kirk, Parkersburg; and
Major +. A. Bennett, Hunting
ton.
Alternates--E. B. Morgan,
Fairmont; A. A. Rogers, King
wood, and Silas Henderson, Wick.
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-19

worth of products on farms averag.
ing A acres, while the South ten
trail States farmer raises but 1886
worth of produce on farms averap-
ing l55 acres eacn. These figures
are of the last census year.
Therefore 1T is easily seen that
the farmer must learn intensive
cultivation OF the soil aud turn
from the extravagant methods of
the past. There should be a fuller
scheme Of public education, but a
new kind of education adapted TO
the real needs Of the farming PEG.
pie.
To improve conditions that NAV
attract the large body Of Ameri-
ems who turn from farm life every
year, the rural free delivery sys.
tenn must be improved and extend.
ed; states should adopt more
liberal policy FOR road develop
ment and farmers should be edu-
Gated up to the great advantages
which accrue to all members of
the household and in fact to the
work of the farmer himself by the
installation Of a telephone.
In this latter respect it is hot
amiss to mention the fact that the
Western Electric Company, the
largest manufacturers of telephones
and telephone supplies in the coun-
try, through the wide distribution
OF its instructive literature has done
much good work in educating the
farmer up to the many advantages
of this instrument.
The question of satisfying the
farmers needs will continue to de-
mand the attention of all thought
full men in the country for some
time to come. 1t is safe to say,
however, that it will be some years
before a solution to the problem
will be found.
Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-05-19

HERE Is every indication that
the Department of Justice under
the administration Of President
Taft and Attorney General Wick
ersham will prove an even more
effective agency in the enforcement
OF the law than it did in the Roose-
Welt administration. Mr.. Wicker.
sham's administration will lack the
limelight and no doubt ne will re-
train from pertinent witticisms at
the expense Of the trusts, but there
Is quiet determination about the
new Attorney General and an evil
oence OF earnestness and capabiIity
about the department since he as
sumed charge that pre.ages no good
to violators of the federal law.
There seems to be an obvious dis.
position In certain quarters to mis-.
take the methods OF the new regime
In this particular branch of the
government service for lnaction or
1neffectiveness, and it has been fire.
quently limited that the Taft adj
mlnlstration would be more lenient
to vlolators OF the statutes than che
preceding administration. This
is superficial view, however, and
1T Will be well for corporations and
others who may be tempted to dis
regard the law, to remember the
earning of the Attorney General
that the "prlce of peace is obedi.
ence to law