davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21

failure of self-government in Ameri.
ca.
Second, for what government there
Is, the people are in no way respon-
sible. They have practically nothing
to do with it. They do not choose the
mayor nor the treasurer, nor the as
SCISSOR, nor the clerk, nor the alder
men, nor any other officer under the
heavens that is supposed to serve
them. All these functionaries are Sc
iected by a political boss or q political
machine, and the boss or the machine
10 the real ruler of the city, drawing
support from the public service cor
porations, and giving them in return
the privileges that enable them to
make dividends on their watered stock
and maintain the machine that is SO
profitable 10 them. Incidentally. these
are privileges that really belong to the
people thus exploited, but this fact Is
always conveniently obscured to the
people and overlooked by the city leg
islators.
Stripped OF the pretense with which
we habitually clothe our public per
formances, this is fair summary of
the situation in most OF the American
cities. The conspicuous exceptions are
some sixty-odd few Of which l am
presently to enumerate.
For now, by one OF those singular
chances, as Robert Louis Stevenson re
marks, have given TO Fate the like
ness of a malicious schoolboy, while
the wise, the learned, the expert, the
profound of thought, and the student
OF sociology have been laboriously and
fatuously trying to determine what
Ia true wisdom in regard TO these mat
ters, handful OF men not learned nor
profund. men that probably never have
studied the principles of sociology,
have, without trying, hit upon the YER
liable solution of the problem. What
Is still stranger. they have advanced
democracy while trying to suppress
1T. and in point OF fact Ihe improve
ment they have wrought Is one they
never really intended.
In 1900 Galveston, Texas, was al
most destroyed by flood. Chaotic
conditions followed. With characters
tic courage the people undertook to
rebuild their city. In situation SC
abnormal. aud particularly In the 40
tivittss that rebuilding brought about
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
'ouid be heard was introduced and

would be heard was introduced and
adopted.
The following resolution was read
and adopted: :
Be It Resolved by the City OF Durango,
That the city engineer be and he is
hereby instructed to Investigate. pre-.
pare and submit his report showing
which and how many OF the lots and
parcels OF land fronting on the por.
tions of streets and avenues to be i'm.
proved. AS provided In the petition.
plans and specifications for the con-
struction of concrete cement side.
walks and curbs In Improvement dis.
trict 1 in the city of Durango have
such improvements. to-wit: sidewalks
and curbs or sidewalks or curbs con.
forming to the general plan heretofore
or April 8, 1910, adopted and approved
by this council for the construction
of said Improvement and the amount
of the frontage of the respective lots
Or parcels of land having such i'm.
scription and character of such i'm.
proYements and The names of streets
and avenues upon which such improve,
ments exist. In front of such lots and
parcels of land aforesaid And that
the city engineer make his report to
the council as soon as practicable,
The following resolution which was
introduced by Alderman Turner of the
watch charm committee was adopted. /.
BE 1t Resolved by the City Council
of the City of Durango, That the
thanks of this council are hereby ex.
tended TO Mr. William b. Douglass for
his assistance and advice in the mat
ter of the water shed area to be In.
cluded In grant by congress to the city
Of Durango and In token OF our esteem
and appreciation that the city clerk
be directed to transmit to Mr.. Doug
lass copy OF this resolution under
he seal of city, together with the
watch charm now produced in coun-
ell and delivered to the clerk fn1 trans
mission and Mr.. Douglass be requested
to accept the same as an expression
Of good will from the ely III Dnranso.
The following bills were read and
allowed:
d. Il. Place, salary, pine line
tender ...........,,...t ~, ,o5
p, T. Mccartney, marshal, sal. 1886
f. Martin, patrolman, sal. -. 47.50
E. E. Schalles, water and sewer
superintendent .............. 101 90
T E. Sterer, reservoir keeper. 1896
The bonds of Hugh Gillispie for mar.
shal, Henry Redman for water and
sewer superintendent and Roy Good
man for city engineer were read and
approved.
Upon recommendation of Street Su
pervisor DuPraw, Thomas McCoach
was appointed driver of the street
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21

had hoped to be able to say to MIR. Ran
dolph that ordinance as agreed upor
had passed, so he would know right
of-way was assured. II amendments
insisted upon they will have to bs
taken up for consideration after VIZ
have the full text Of the ordinance a.
amended involving great delay.
JAMES w. REAGAN.
1t was suggested by the mayor Us
the railroad desired to have the ordi
nance introduced at regular meeting
the ordinance might be read and in
troduced with the amendments agreed
NAL meeting Monday evening. pu, the
ordinance not ordered published until
an agreement with A. & c. interests
was reached, In this way unnecessary
delay would be avoided Mr.. Buchan.
an, attorney for the railroad, said he
thought this useless as he had Just
received message from Mr.. Reagan
and Mr., Ritter and they would on,
consent to agree to the ordinance as
it was prepared before they left Ou
range. He stated that they. while in
Denver had come TO an agreemen,
with the light company, the telephone
company and the smelter people, and
these agreements had been made on
the suppositlon that the ordinan &c
would be passed without further
amendments. Alderman Turner stated
that as there seemed to be only two
points on which the city and the rail
road interests substantially differed he
thought a compromise could be reach
ed Upon request of the mayor the
city attorney read the proprosed draft
of the ordinance, without the amend
ments, which had been Jointly pre-
pared by the attorneys for the railroad
and city council Attorneys Buchanan
contended that the city's interests were
amply protected without the amend
ments. Alderman Smith said in order
to avoid delay, he would move thai
the ordinance be introduced and or
dered published without the proposed
amendment If the property owners
found they were without sufficient pro
lection they could present their OBJ
iections before il comes up for fina
adoption.
Alderman Dudley In short speect
agreed with Alderman Smith and he
seconded the motion All members
voted in favor of the motion In {
previous motion that the amendments
sections 20 to 90, inclusive, be stricken
out of the draft submitted by the city
attorney, Alderman Morelock opposed
the motion All other members yotet
in favor Of 1t. A resolution instruct
ing the clerk to publish n notice II
property owners that the ordinanc.
would come up for final consideration
May 3 and at this time objection!
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
THE COMMISSION FORM
OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT

T some latitude of government Was GER
tain. The city council fell to carrying
things with a high hand. Charges of
graft kept an even pace with the physi-
cal evidences OF inefiiciency. AT last
the citizens understood that If the new
Galveston was to be anything like
tLeir desire, they must have a form
oil government strong enough to cope
with the situation. Most OF them felt
vaguely that what was needed waa
some form of dictat orship, a concen.
trated, and, IL necessary, an arbitrary
power. but power strong and prompt.
Therefore they got from the Legislature
a charter for form OF government
quite new to American soil, and as
near to dictatorship as is coneeiya-
Bile under our general polity.
The city council and all other city
officers were abolished. All power
and authority relating TO the city were
vested in Ave commissioners, almost
irresponsible and almost autocratic
The business of management was
made solely theirs; they were at once
the legislative, executive, and all other
branches OF the municipal government.
With this great change representa-
tive government collapsed in Calves
ton. The ancient ward lines vanish
ed; men were no longer chosen to rep
resent wards or districts, nor indeed
to represent anything else Five men
were hired to manage the city as they
| might be hired to manage a great
factory. and the people twho hired
and paid these managers) had nothing
| to say about the manner OF work the
managers did, except that when q com
missioners term expired lie could be
defeated Of reelection.
| The sole origin OF this device was
the hopeless situation that the ward
system and representative government
created In respect TO the political ma
chimes. the saloon and the votes that
The saloon controlled. SO long as the
city was divided into wards, the graft
ers and political machinists could car
ry enough wards with the aid of the
saloon) TO give them practical contro
OF the city council, although a majorit,
OF the citizens at large might be
against them. This is familiar stu
alton. and one reason for the persist
Continued on Page ~
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
sprinkler.

sprinkler.
The applications of David Ramsey.
d. z. Place, f. @. Martin, and ii. G..
Thorpe for headgate keeper and pipe
line tender were read The council
asked Water superintendent Redman
to make recommendation Mr.. Red.
man stated that Mr.. Place had not ap
piled to him for the position but the
other applicants had. He considered
them equally qualified so he recon-.
mended the name of II. c. Thorpe as
he was the first to make application
Upon motion the recommendation was
accepted
The application of T. J. sterer for
reservoir tender was read and upon
motion was not accepted. Alderman
Turner moved the appointment be left
with the fire and water committee with
power to act. Carried City Marshal
| Gillispie recommended that Joseph
Theno be appointed night captain of
the police department and George
Smack assistant. The recommenda.
tion was accepted. The recommended
tion of Fire Chief Croke that John
Conway be appointed captain OF the
| fire department, Lee Hamor driver.
Arthur Howell. herder and minute man
and Arthur Schalles minute man was
accepted. The fire chief explained that
WIN McEwen had resigned the po-
sltion of driver of the fire wagon about
week ago as also had Harry Mates,
the stock herder
' City Clerk Wilson stated that he
had asked for lumber and coal bids
and had not received any lumber bids
!, and only two coal bids Upon request
+ of the council he read the bids of w.
NV Bay and the Royal Coke & Coal
company for furnishing the city with
coal. The matter was referred to the
city hall and Jail committee.
| The bids for printing Of the Durango
Democrat and the Herald Printing com.
printing committee.
The city attorney was instructed to
draft an automobile license ordinance
and present 1t to the council for con
lsideration at its next meeting.
The abuse of the privilege granted
the city 10 use a gully to The south
of town as dumping ground
was discussed al length Mr..
Pingrey, one of the owners OF the
property, stated that instead of using
the place that they had given their
permission to be used the garbage war
strewn over an area of at least two
iacres. Alderman Graden stated that
the approach to the gully was in such
a condition it was impossible TO use
| IT, II was moved and carried that a
committee from the council look over
| Continued on Page A.
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
CONTINUED from Page 81
Maoayina

tCOulnueO from rage ~
Everybody's Magazine
First we put all the power In the
hands of the mayor, because we shall
then have all the responsibility in one
place. which viii be very good thing.
to be sure; and the first mayor under
the new charter is a man like SchmitZ
OF San Francisco. maybe
So then We see that this will not
work, and we take the power away
from the mayor and give 1t to the city
council; and the public service cor
porations go in and buy aldermen like
beef cattle. So then we devise two
municipal legislative bodies, one to be
a check on the other, and the only re.
suit is to demonstrate that the cor
porations can buy Two bodies as easily
as they can buy one. Then we vest
the power in the state legislature or
in the governor, and the people kick
that over because they demand home
rule. Then, in New York. we increase
the power of the borough presidents I;
then we take their power away. Next
We appeal to the courts; then we get
along without the courts. We have a
single-headed police commission and
find that that will not work. We sub
siitute a commission of four. then
one OF three, then none at all, and dis
cover that under any one OF these con.
ditions the status OF the police depart
| ment Is as bad as under any other.
Then we get charter commission
appointed and begin all over again.
Meanwhile two or three things are
apparent, certain, and universal:
First, there is no true government
Of the city. but only government by
wards Or assembly districts. The al
dermen are elected by their respective
words or districts. They are bent
upon doing things for their wards OF
districts; to their wards or districts
they look for reelection. Nobody IL
bent upon doing anything for the city
The council blunders on, neglected
| forlorn. unkempt, untidy, and plunder
ed on all sides. The taxpayers grow
at the tax rate and the little they
have 10 show for the taxes they pay;
the honest citizens go chasing the
phantasmagoria Of the wise and the
good; the thieves grow rich; the police
levy blackmail; Mr.. Croker gets him Z
stable; and the world saesrs q tn
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21

her honor, lost her life.
The first real intimation of The line
Iof defense came when Attorney Scott
for the defense began oss,examining
the states witnesses. He sought to
prove that the fire escape upon which
Ruth Wheeler's body was found could
be reached from the roof of the build.
Ing and by other persons than wolter
The defense will ssak to show that
Miss Wheeler was killed by SOME
man other than Wolter who cunningiy
sought to fasten the crime upon the
youth.
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
TIGHT SHOE MAY
CAUSE DEATH OF MAN

MARINErTE, Wis, April 20.--Be-
cause he wore tight shoe to dance.
Ambrose King may lose his foot and
possibly his life. The shoes were 50
tight that before the dance was over
the skin on his feet was abrased and
blood poisoning set in in one foot.
PHYSICIANS are not certain that am.
putatlon OF the foot viii save the
mans life.
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
FiFTY-FoUR PEARLS FOUND
IN ONE OYSTER

ATLANTIC CITY. N. J.. April 2o.--
The most valuable oyster ever opened
In Atlantic City was found yesterday
by a local restaurant owner. Ii con.
tanned fifty-four pearls, all OF small
size. but OF good quality. Experts say
eight Is the highest number ever found
before in one oyster.
Semi-weekly herald., 1910-04-21
SOUTHERN fACIFIC
FRANCHISE GRANTED
Durango Has Met Every Requirement Asked
by Railroad Company and Now Its Up
to Company to Get Busy

The franchise granting the Southern Pacific Railroad
scented by of franchise
franchise that satisfactory
Of
al
giving
posed
to
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
FOUND.

Mr. E. j. Duncan is found. This
afternoon about 2:3O the news was
phoned in from McCallum. A little
boy was passing creek about a mile
and a half from McCallum when he
saw a man lying on the bank, but
thinking it was only some one drunk,
he continued on his way to the store
at McCallum. While there, he saw the
account in Mondays Daily News of
the disappearance of Mr.. Duncan, and
suspecting it was the man he had seen
on the bank, hastened back there with
the storekeeper. Mr.. Duncan was un-
conscious and so DR.. Donald Of this
city with Mrs. Duncan and Simon J..
Duncan, fastened Immediately to the
scene in an automobile to bring the
sick man home.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
BROTHER R-IN-LAW GETS
TELEPHONE MESSAGE
Another Report Says the Wanderer
Was Seen in the Vicinity of the
County Farm Yesterday-Officers
Searching for Him.

Mr.. j. U. Thompson this morning re-
ceived long distance telephone mes
sage from McCallum, Miss. informing
him that man who answers the des-
cription of A. j. Duncan, who disap-
peared from Hattiesburg last Friday,
was seen wandering in the woods near
McCallum yesterday morning.
Mr.. Thompsons informant stated
that the man seen there had been ap-
preached by several citizens of the
community but that he refused to an
swer any questions or to tell his name.
Mr.. Thompson notified the police de-
partment and an officer will be dis
patched Immediately to McCallum to
investigate the report.
Another report sent in to police
headquarters this morning is to the
effect that Mr.. Duncan was seen Sun
day in the vicinity of the county farm.
Two police officers were sent. there
this morning, and they have reported
to the department that they are on the
trail of man whom they believe to
be Duncan, and are confident of find
ing him somewhere in that vicinity.
The police department and Mr.. Dun
cans relatives are making every effort
to locate the missing man, and, unless
some accident has befallen him, it is
thought likely that he will be found
within the next twenty-four hours.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
PASCAGOULA ANXIOUS
over MISSING CRAFT

Pascagoula, Miss, Oct. 25.-Vessels
are arriving that passed in the recent
storm or near it, at this place.
Capt. G. H. Chute was heard from
yesterday. 1t seems that his boat was
lost during the storm at some point
near Tampa, and he was picked up by
a passing vessel.
Capt. Chute seems to have a charm
ed life. He has been wrecked three
times and always showed up safe. He
was in the center of the storm of 1906,
and was all but given up, but came in
with masts cut off and his boat look
ing like derelict.
Capt. j. C. Peterson, of the three
masted schooner Otis, is among the
missing. 1t is feared he encountered
the hurricane also. He is now two
weeks overdue. Capt. Peterson leaves
a wife and small child at this place.
The schooner Josephine is also list
ed among the missing, with Capt. l. T.
Newbury in command. He is also
overdue. Captain Newbury was ac-
companied by his wife.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
PROMINENT VISITORS TO
RAWLS SPRINGS SCHOOL

Monday was quite an eventful day
at Rawls Springs Public School, for
there were three prominent visitors
DR.. Rowan, sent out by the state to
visit the schools of the Southern Dis
tricts; DR.. E. Dill of this city, county
health officer, and Rev. E. ]. Currie,
county superintendent of education.
1t is the official duty of these three
gentlemen to visit all the schools in
the county, and so DR.. Dill and DR..
Rowan drove out to the school on Mon
day, while it happened that Supt. Cur
rie took the same day. Prof. N. l..
Phillips, principal, with his assistants,
Miss Raba Phillips and Miss Weather
all, made the visitors welcome.
All three gentlemen addressed the
school, each along his special line.
DR.. Rowan is employed by the state to
assist in carrying on the educational
war against the hookworm, and dwelt
specially on that subject, impressing
on his young listeners several hygienic
and sanitary truths.
DIR. Dill spoke highly of the prosper
Gus condition of the Rawls Springs
school, which has an enrolment of
100 pupils, nearly all of whom were
present.
Last Thursday DR.. Dill and DR.. Row.
an visited Irene Chapel and Leaf River
school at Petal, addressing both
schools in the interest of health.
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
CRISIS AT PARIS
FACES premier
High Cost of Living Responsible for
Trouble Which Parliament Must
Settle.

Paris, Oct. 25.-"High cost of liv-
ing" is responsible for the crisis which
Premier BRAND faces upon the con-
vening of the French parliament TO-
day. The soaring prices of the neces-
sites of life led to the recent railroad
strike, and discomfort is prevalent
throughout the country. Friends of
Premier BRAND point out that the
same conditions prevail in all other
nations, but this assurance does not
fill empty stomachs. So Jean Jaures.
the eternal orator and peerless leader
of the Socialists in the French cham
Der of deputies is not without excuse
in beginning again today that prae-
tice which has been described by his
enemies as beating on the empty
belly of the poor man, as on a drum"
BRAND himself is an example of
Socialist tempered by intellect and
sobered by responsibility. An atheist
of atheists, he has won the respect Of
many radicals by his policy. His
handling of the latest labor conflict
has been marked by energy in sup
pressing disorder and by a foresight
that Clemenceau never equalled. Those
of his enemies who are given to can
dor admit today that BRAND has shown
himself a stafesmaD apd d;olo,,a+ -
great ability, and the weapon which
the railroad strike was expected to
place in their hands has failed them.
Yet the crisis is not past. The men
whose stomach is crying loudly for
bread, or absinthe, is not one to appre-
ciate craftsmanship or diplomacy of
however remarkable quality. Radi-
Gals and Republican moderates CON-
mend the BRAND policy in dealing with
the strike, and conservatives and roy
alists admit to some admiration.
1t is certain that the session of the
chamber commenced today will be
productive of war of words, if naught
more. When BRAND condemned the
strike an insurrection based on crime.
Jaures was ready with an epigram.
Yours the crime, ours the insurrec-
tion," he said. That epigram has be-
come a slogan which will be heard
many times before the session is over.
Continued on Page Six)
The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1910-10-25
Americans SEE
CHINA'S EMPIRE
Large Party Of Business Men Tourina
Country in interest of Ameri-
can Trade.
(Ry Union Associated Press

Hong Kong, Oct. 25,-After a tour
which embraced all the leading trade
centers Of the empire, the large party
Of American business men who visited
China as the representatives of the
chambers Of Commerce of the Pacific
coast, will sail for home today.
Wherever they went the visitors
We're treated with the utmost courtesy
and given every facility for carrying
on commercial Investigations. 1t is
expected that great increase in trade
between China and America will re-
suit from the tour.
At Pekin the Americans were admit
ted to the palaces Of the Forbidden
City, which seldom before had been
opened to foreign devils" and were
given the freedom of the entire city.
upon leaving the capital, farewell
banquet was given in their honor, a
banquet was given in their honor, hun
dred of the wealthiest business men of
China, clad in purple robes, acting as
hosts. All over the city the stars and
stripes foated side by side with the
dragon flag. United states Minister
Calhoun asserted that the visit of the
Americans marked an epoch in the re-
lations of China and the United States.
After leaving Pekin the American
party vlaled the various treaty ports,
where their reception was marked by
manifestations of good will and kind
ness. Shrewd business men here say
that the trade of America with China
could be doubled or trippled within
few years if those manufacturers and
exporters who are striving for the
Chinese business would send out capa-
Bile representatives in sufficient num-
her. The manufacturers of the United
States now look upon China as mail
order field, and strive to hold their
trade by correspondence. This is un-
satisfactory to both buyer and seller
and the result is that the European
firms are wise enough to have respon'
sible men to spot the major part OF
the business.
1t is expected that the Pacific coast
visitors, upon returning home VIII try
to awaken American manufacturers
TO a realization of this most import
ant fact. and those who are wise
enough to get in on the ground floor
will reap rich harvest. Ofhcials
and business men Of China, and the
Chinese generally, were never more
friendly to America and Americans
than at the present time.