davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

patient fails to recover, the doctor is
no good in the estimation of family
and community.
"In too many cases the teachers
experience is similar to that of the
doctor. The best efforts of the ablest
teachers are frequently nullifed by in
difference or active hostility on the
school. If an improved plan for teach
ing reading or number is introduced
by new teacher, some misguided
parent, hearing from the children of
the innovation, vigorously protests
against frittering away time in such
nonsense and complains to the school
board with such effect that the teacher
is warned to desist.
"a child's character is many times
seriously injured-even ruined by the
interference of parents in cases of dis
cipline undertaken solely in the in
terest of the subject. The blindness
of fathers and mothers whose actions
in such cases, tend directly to wreck
4 the moral character of their children
is incomprehensible.
Teachers are not always perfect in
wisdom and character, but large
proportion of them are conscientious
and exercise their best judgment. This
being true, it is for the interest of
pupils, parents, community and state
/ that the teachers methods and heI
authority be sustained by the school
board and in the homes of the chill
dren. The state is concerned in this
matter to the extent of its interest
/ in building up wise and virtuous
! citizenship, If this be true the state
owes it to itself 10 take active and
direct measures to instruct the people
upon their relations and their duties
! to the schools where their children are
being trained
"Ths theme should be made promi
nent not incidentally but as prin.
eipaI topic, in popular lectures, in
school aiffcers meetings. and whereve,
the people meet to consider the in
terest of the schools Parents have
Ia large FTheasure of responsibility fol
the success or failure of school and
If they could realize the tremendous
power of their influence for good OF
evil, the efficiency of teachers would
! be more thar doubled"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
REFORMING THE GRIDIRON GAME

opinion seems to be general that
modlhcatlons should be made in the
game OF football as now played in the
colleges. There are two ways of an.
preaching the subject, suggests The
Chicago Tribune One is the hysterica]
method of wholesale denunciation, suf
nclent reason for such an attitude be.
lng found in the distressing fatalities
attending the game during the season
now drawing to close. The other
and more, rational one is to study
the various formations that are used
with the view of eliminating those
that have proved particularly danger,
Gus, at the same time saving a branch
OF college sport that interests many
thousands during the autumn months
Long experience has shown that ac.
ton following a stampede is rarely So
sane as that which accompanies care.
ful study, suggested, perhaps, by unto.
ward occurrences.
The newspaper comment upon this
theme shows surprising differences OF
view. One writer wonders why football
accidents have such a peculiar capacity
for exciting public which fails to
note the long roll of, the dead at.
tending motoring, hunting, swimming
and other outdoor sports, with which
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

this age of the state, to be remedied.
Country roads as well as city streets
should be worked on lines laid out and
not across private property, both as
a matter of justice between undividu-
ais and as matter of public i'm
Iprovement. The Free Press has learned,
since publishing the article referred
to, of a case in point in an adjoining
township in which practically ali legal
voters within the legal limits of such
la piece of crooked road petitioned for
a change and the petition was refused
because one man was likely to insti-
tute suit for damages if he were
compelled to furnish one-half of the
roadway along his land. Such man
is long way in the rear in this
progressive age and there is certainly
no township next to this city too poor
to make such an improvement.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
THE TOWN SIGNBOARD

Travelling south in Rhode Island,
from Providence to New London re-
Gently, the only stop we made in
eighty two miles was at the rather
good looking little city of Westerly.
AS our train pulled out we espied
that familiar Sign, seen in so many
towns east and west, "Factory Loca-
tons; Exceptional Inducements to
Manufacturers" 1J
That is good sign.
Let us put it differently; the fact
that a town has enterprise enough to
do that is a, good sign. But think
what a brave heart or collection to
brave hearts it took to put up such a
board. Every man who contributed a
dollar in money or an hour of time
deserves tablet in the towns future
Hall of Fame.
Why? Because every one of those
men knew that, his sign was to silicit
business under difficulties. Passengers
coming in from New London have an
opportunity for only a glance, and
those from the north even less time
That is enough; glance will do, if
! the traveller will remember or can re.
member long enough to write it down.
But to whom shall he write? The
mayor, the secretary of the Board OF
Trade, or the postmaster? What ad
dress shall he attach?
But more important than the adj
dress is that this sign be so attractive
as to catch the eye of business man
whether he writes or not, he is going
to be impressed with the fact that
Westerly is an enterprising city. He
may tell some friend that Westerly
wants more factors, and the good seed
is sown in fertile SOIL
First, put up the sign board.
Somebody is going to see it and be
impressed that the town which main
talns 1t is an enterprising town and
wants more enterprising citizens. Sucl
board at the gates of the city. as
IL were. IS q standing, "Welcome to OH
fair city, and it's invitation will fire
quently appeal to eagerly listening
ears.
i As traveller out. of your own i'm
mediate vicinity, how often have yo,
pulled into the stations of good looking
Ilttle towns and out again without
having the opportunity to know wha,
point 1T is. The board on either enc
or the station-when it is there at al
Is not always visible to the passen
gers IN every car of the train. Most
passengers naturally desire to know
the name of every town they pass ant
TO learn how big it is, what are it.
principal industries and how far it il
from the nearest large city.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
WAS ONE OF THE PRESIDENTS

Franklin Pierce. who, as many school
children probably know. was the four
teenth president of the United States
was born in Hillsboro, \. H.. one hun
dred and five years ago today. He
was educated in the schools of his
native state and at Bowdoin college
whore his classmates included Long.
fellow, Hawthorne and Prentiss. Soon
after his graduation in 1924, he began
to interest himself in politics, and at
the age of twenty-nine had so far
established himself in the esteem of the
voters as to be sent to congress-
After four years in the lower house.
he was promoted to the United States
senate, being the youngest member of
la body that contained such men as
Webster, Clay. Calhoun. Buchanan, Ben
ton and Silas Wright. Even in this dis
tingushed assemhlage, young Pierce dis
tinguished himself.
In 1912 he resigned from the sen.
ate and retired to private life, refus.
ing several fat and juicy plums tend
cred him. In 1916 he enlisted fol
the Mexican war, was appointed brig.
adler general in the volunteer army
and led his brigade at the battles OF
Contreras and Churubusco.
His record served to again bring
him to public attention, and when the
democratic national convention met in
1852, he was selected as compro
mise candidate on the forty ninth bal
lot. His principal opponent was Gener.
al Scott. He was elected by the over
whelming majority of 254 to AZ.
His administration was not remark
able, in fact Pierce was looked upor
as a weak man. the principal Incl
dents being the repeal of the Missouri
compromise, reciprocity treatys fol
trade with the British colonies il
America, the establishment of treaty
with Japan, and the settlement of the
Mexican boundary dispute. Failing o.
denomination at the expiration o.
his term, he sought solace in trave
abroad. Returning after three years
he lived in retirement at Concord, wher,
he died. Oct. 8. 1869.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
WAS A HERO OF MANILA BAY

Captain Charles Vernon Gridley, U. s..
N, was one of the heroes of the battle
of Manila bay. He was born in Lo-
gansport, Ind, sixty-fve years ago
today. He is the officer to whom Ad-
miral Dewey made the historic re-
mark: "You may fire, Gridley, when
ready" Gridley was in command of
the flagship Olympia on that fateful
day of May l, 1898, and it was his
ship which delivered the broadside
which destroyed the Spanish flagship.
His Mother, Mrs. Anne Gridley, has
worked necessarily to secure the cree
ton of a monument to his memory in
Arlington cemetery. But republics
are uGgrateful," and she was forced
TO content herself with the tablet
recently dedicated at Annapolis.
Mrs. Gridley has seen first her son,
and then his son die in their country's
service, and she has longed to see
some permanent memorial at the Ma
tional cemetery, hearing witness among
the nations heroic dead to these two
VI HeI o"u HcSH anu DlOOu-WHlcn
should tell future generations of the
life and death of her boy who went
into the navy, graduating year ahead
of his class in his eagerness to play his
part to the great civil war-of her
boy "Charley,' and, perhaps, of his
boy, "Jack," whose young life went
out in the twinkling of an eye some
] five or six years later.
He was one of half dozen young
officers and more than a score of en-
listed men killed by the explosion on
the Missouri, April l3, 1904, the most
disastrous accident in our recent naval
history. Captain Gridley died at Koba
Japan, June l, 1908.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
SAVING OF MINE TlMBERs

Mine operators of the country can
save fully Sl2,OOO,OOO a year by treat
ing the timber used underground for
props and decreasing the annual re-
placement necessary by decay from
one third of the total amount in use to
one thirteenth of the same amount. In
speaking of the saving in mine timber
through preservative treatment, w. F.
Sherfesee, in new bulletin issued by
the United States forest service saws:
"The estimated life of an untreated
mine prop is approximately three years.
With proper preservative treatment
this life may be increased by approx
imately ten years, giving a total life
for the treated props of thirteen years
All of the mine props, both round and
square, in use in the United States,
contain approximately 500 million cubic
feet. About forty per cent of this
quantity, or 200 million cubic feet, can
be advantageously treated. If no pre-
sentative methods were used the annual
replacement of this forty per cent
would amount to e-third of 200 mil
ion, or approximately sixty-seven mil
lion cubic feet of timber.
eff they are all given proper pre-
sentative treatment the annual replace
ment would be reduced to one-thir-
teenth of 200 million, or approximately
100000 cubic feet. Hence, by prop
er preservative treatment of all mine
timbers which can be treated advan-
tageously, an annual saving would re-
suit of approximately 100000 cubic
feet, equivalent to 3lO,2OO,OOO feet,
board measure, or more than half of
the present annual cut"
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
MADE 'EM "SPIT COTTON,

Slayton Gazette: "That public
meeting at Fairmont one night last
week to discuss new city charter
proposition was opened with prayer,
hymns were sung and a collection was
taken. and now the people of the town
don't know whether it was religious
or political meeting"
Blue Earth Post: "But they do
say it was worth the price to witness
the Sang froidness of many of the
ten cents glass fellows when they
Joined in singing a. special hymn pre-.
pared for the occasion by the Rev
Wilder. the last line of each stanza
ending with the words, And Fairmont
viii go dry"
No doubt it made them "spit cot.
ton" to think of the awful conse
quences that would follow the adop.
ton of the amendment in question.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
PUT CITIES ON BUSINESS BASIS

A Peoria minister suggests a modifi-
fication of the commission form of
government, that would place municipal
management practically on the New
England town meeting basis. He seems
to imagine that it would be unsafe to
place authority in the hands of five
commissioners; that the cost of getting
them out of office by means of the re-
call would be too great to make that
recourse desirable. He would have in
stead of five commissioners a COM
mission of a hundred or several hun
bred, each representing small dis
trict, and in close touch with the
people.
This is answered by the st Paul
Pioneer Press along the lines that The
Free Press has taken in referring to
the undesirable ward system. The
Pioneer Press says:
"His plan would be worse than any
thing we now have. The great OBJ
lection to the ward system of repre-
sentation in cities is that it divides
responsibility and results in conflict
of interests. Any scheme that would
increase the number of representatives
would only aggravate the difficulties
that it is hoped to avoid"
The thing to do is to make the
management of the city's affairs as
simple and businesslike as possible
and then place few responsible agents
in charge. Give them plenty of author
ity and then hold them strictly to ac-
count for their stewardship. Undoubted.
ly there will be men occasionally who
will make a mess of the commissioner
ship. But experience shows that fail.
IRE is the rare exception and the
public will know it and will have a
remedy in it's own hands.
The Illinois pastors idea that the
public has time to attend to it's own
business, and that is what his theory
practically means, is nonsense. The
public should hire experts, not lot
of political climbers who are looking
for chance to avoid work. Give them
authority to manage the public bust
ness as it should be and then see that
they do their duty.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

"a constant element of danger is con-
Injected. Another claims that the pos
sibility of loss of life or serious in
jury gives football it's real attractive
ness and makes comparisons to its
disadvantage with bull fights in Latin
countries or the most brutal sports of
ancient Rome, such criticism reflect
ing discredit upon American civiliza-
ton in reality rather than, primarily,
upon the game itself. Much stronger
than the radical positions, however, is
that taken by the majority, who urge
evidently needed alterations rather
than abolition.
The action of the athletic board of
the University of Chicago in instruct
ing its representative on the. commit
tee of the conference colleges to work
for notifications in the rules looking
toward greater safety in the game is
wise step. Mr.. Stage is one of the
western members of the national rules
committee and will be able to use his
influence in that body also. His five
suggestions for improvements have
much to commend them. Other close
followers of the game are studying
its defects with a view of lessening
the dangers. 1t is reasonable to be-
lieve that the events of the season OF
1909 will be recognized by the rule
makers as compelling arguments for
substantial notifications beneficial to
players and the game itself In the
meantime the tremendous demand for
tickets for the Yale Harvard contest
in the big stadium at Cambridge tells
of the popularity of a virile sport
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

A correspondent writes The st. Paul
Dispatch this, which can be taken as
one of the first aid to teachers: 81
am one of the large majority who
believe that good discipline is good for
a school, for the public and better for
the child. What are our schools for if
not to teach those who attend them,
that obedience to law and order is the
primary object of such institution
Will not the child who is taught that
it is wrong to disobey his teacher or
break rule of the school, grow up to
be a man of stronger character than
one who is permitted to break those
rules and go UNPUBLISHED? We can't
give too much honor to teacher who
tries to make the children who attend
her school be young ladies and gentle
men, of whom their parents, their
friends and the public may be proud
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
THAT LACK OF SYSTEM

Henry Ward Beecher said: eff you
would retain respect for law, never look
apon the lawmakers" He might have
added, ''If you would retain respect for
municipal government, never visit the
city hail." Can there be more depress-
ing experience for the patriotic citizen
than viewing the unsystematic, slip
shod method in which the business of
the average municipality is carried on ?
asks Worlds Events. If every voter in
"a city were to make round of the
various departments in any given
month, is it not almost certain that
there would be radical change in the
form of administering that government
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
GRAY MATTER IN CHUNKS.


Cleveland Leader: The titled hus-
band OF an American Countess turns
out 20 be q cook. We congratulate her
on her almost unprecedented luck.
Cleveland Leader: Chicago woman
wants divorce because her husband
lis Il poker player. Foolish woman
Most husbands just think they are.
Pittsburg Post: Offers as high at
$l25,00O are being made for the JET
fries-Johnson fight. This indicates that
sixty are still being born every hour.
indianapolis Sun: In New York city
automobiles killed twenty-five persons
during October New Workers need to
tame the chauffeur as well as the tiger
Cleveland Leader: Sir Thomas Lip
ton says it is a good thing to be borr
poor; Andrew Carnegie says it is &
good thing to die poor. So what's
the use?
Chicago Tribune: When submarine.
can remain for six days under water
without coming up to blow it look
like time for Dread -naughts to get il
out of the wet.
| Louisville Post: An American killed
himself in Paris restaurant afte
hearing the band play "When Low
Dies" for the seventh time. VIII,
could blame him?
Pittsburgh Dispatch: An amusement
promoter who tried to interest South
America in merry go-rounds failed mis-
erably. That country has outgrown tn,
revolutionary habit.
Cleveland Leader: The customs hous
decides that dolls are not toys an,
may be admitted free. Of course they
re not toys! Might as well tax SAINT;
Claus as work Of art.
Chicago News: Pres. Taft's nam
now appears in the latest city director
les of Washington, d. c., Beverly
&, Mass, Cincinnati, O., and Augusta, Ga
Manila and Toxic are still to be hear,
from.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
HOW THE MINDS OF MEN CHANGE

When carefully drawn charter was
submitted to the voters of Mortified
for their adoption or rejection, the sa-
loon element in that city fought the
proposed law because it contained a
provision giving the people the right
to vote on the question of issuing Ii
censes.
The charter was defeated. Last
March a municipal election was held
in Mortified and the saloon element
again ''butted into the game" But
they were in bad. The people elected
council that declined to grant Ii
censes, although the question OF license
or no license was not paramount dur
ing the campaign.
Now the saloon element is clamor-
ing for new charter that will give
the people the right to vote on the
question of issuing licenses. How the
minds of some men do change.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
HINT TO OVER INDULGENT PARENTS

Here is some most excellent advice
to parents from School Education:
1T is a common experience among
physicians to have deaths, relapses and
retarded recoveries among their pa
tients, resulting from disregard of
specific directions relating to remedial
measures. In many cases, SO fagrantly
are the doctors directions disregarded
that, to all appearance, the sick per-
son is deliberately seeking to thwart
every measure. taken by the medical
man to restore him to health. If the
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
R.:HcH OF SHARP STICKS.

All news isn't a black as it is
printed.
Neighbors usually try to do as they
expect to be done.
The grass widow usually knows
enough to make hay while the sun
shines.
A promoter is man who enumer-
ates his poultry before it is incuba-
ted
When man is discharged he thinks
his former employer made the mistake
of his life.
But little outside sympathy is was
ted on widow and widower who
get married.
If a woman is willing to listen tt,
a man it is because she has no more
talk to unload.
When the church collection plate
comes your way it's up to yous either
to hand out or get out.
There is one thing to be said in
favor of homely girls7-they are not al
ways going downtown to get them
selves photographed Chicago News.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
ELIMINATING THE DANGER

Albert T. West, football enthus-
last from New York who was interview
ed in The Duluth Herald Saturday
evening, admitted that football may
be debrutalized" by changing its rules
but added that if the rules were
changed too greatly it would rob the
game of its interest and popularity
Change the rules to eliminate all dan.
ger" he said, "and you will find that
there will not be that intense interest
shown in the game"
That's tiff men are not either
killed or injured during game the
spectators will not applaud.
1t is the same with bull fight.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

Justice did not miscarry at Elk
River MINI. Two of three reprobates
that had brutally assaulted a de-
fenseless and ignorant girl have just
been found guilty. One was sentenced
to fifteen and the other to twenty
years in states prison. The third of
the fiendish and depraved trio is still
at large. but his capture is hoped for
by the authorities. Once in the laws
tolls he will 60 the way of his crimi-
nal companions.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

Fifteen years ago the court would
have decided the Standard OH case for
the defendants. In later years the
courts have had their ears to the ground,
have listened intently to the voice of
the people clamorine for their rights in
those tribunals that stand between the
p6ople and destruction
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

Waterfowl. 6. d.. has charter
framed after The new pattern--the COM
mission form of government. The cleo
ton TO adopt or reject viii take place
soon
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26
STRAIGHTEN OUT THE ROADS

Some time last month The Free
Press published a letter concerning
improvement of country roads, touching
one point especially that ought, at
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-11-26

Look out, Mr.. Trust, the courts will
get you.