davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-05-13

he wrote and finally called upon me
personally but / remained OF the
same mind. / say to you tonight,
that II I An elected governor of South
Dakota and ! will be, II an old soldier
getS drunk, l will see to 1t that a
brought back to the only home on this
earth that he may have. After
spending . part of his lifeein following
the nag, defending and preserving the
Union, he ID entitled to consideration.
Friends, In the face of these facts and
on my record - your former governor.
I ask your support at the primaries"
In the first place Elrod, when COVER
nor, never discharged orladmitted a
soldier into the home, nor has Cover
nor Wesley, because Gov. Wesley APP
pointed five veteran soldiers, just as
good men g cant be found in the
state, whose duty II is to manage the
Affairs Of the home aided by q COM
patent c0mmandant.
Elr0d tells Of trouble with just
three old soldiers he would not allow
Goddard TO discharge. In this state
nent Elr0d lies OF the records in the
home lie. Instead of three not fred
Elrod could have made 1t fifty who
were discharged BY Goddard, and then
some, but numbers cut no figure with
= cheap liar seeking votes.
Elrod knows nothing about the home
or fts business, he is too Internally
otupid to understand what Is neces-
aAry to successful government of .
home filled with old soldiers. His
stupid and foolish remarks indicate
that he don't know much about what
= necessary In = well governed home
private or state. He just knew
enough whom governor to obey orders
from the corporation bosses and even
under orders, he did his work so
stupidly that the people fired him at
the 0Est opportunity.
NO soldier was ever discharged for
complaining about food because such
complaints. II made, are made by
totally irresponsible cranks. No man
In tho state lives better or has more
~comfortabis surroundings than the
Dembers of the South Dakota home.
n Elr0d's bid for votes he says he
would compel over $50 men and
women. who live Ia the home, to sub
NIT 20 the drunken orgies OF men who
have no regard for order, decency or
rules, By sending . state team, after
thsm and thus force the we'll disposed
poace loving old veterans and their
wives 70 submit to the drunken revel-
49, NJ man ~hn NaumpaNn The ,,r1Rcrun
Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-05-13
Elrod Would Destroy Soldiers
Home.

The LEADER copies the following
false and stupid statement made by
Ex-Governor Elrod In a speech de-
livered at Rapid City recently, from
the Stalwart Rapid City Journal:
"Of all the things Vessey has done,
q stands out prominently and l am
ashamed Of 1t and OF him. He has
discharged old soldiers from the sol
diers' home because they made COM
plant about the food. 1t Is alleged
thatt they went down town and per-
haps did misconduct themselves,
but their offenses should be condoned.
During my previous administration
Nj. Goddard, superintendent OF the
home, complained to me about three
old soldiers, who got intoxicated and
asked that he allowed to dismiss
them. I wrote him to send the state
team for them when they got drunk
and bring them to the home. Again
he wrote and finally called upon me
personally, but / remained Of the
name mind. / say to you tonight,
that II I an elected governor of South
Dakota and / will be, II an old soldier
gets drunk, l will see to 1t that a
state team Is sent for him and he is
brought back to the only home on this
earth that he may have. After
spending . part of his life In following
the flag, defending and preserving the
Union, he ID entitled to consideration.
Friends, In the face of these facts and
on my record - your former governor.
I ak your support at the primaries
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Government Census Figures Show
That There Are 1914 $50 Clergy
men in Country.

New York.-All churchmen have
been interested in the census bulletin
recently issued giving church statis-
tics.
There were 1884, $50 Christian minis
tiers in the United States, besides 1,0S4
Jewish rabbis, and they increase at
the rate of nearly 1000 year. Their
average salaries are not so small as
many suppose, for the sum is 1858.
Baptists and Methodists have more
than half the whole number Of minis
tiers in the country, due to their large
number of small churches, especially
in rural districts.
There are in Manhattan and Brook
lyn several scores of ministers whose
salaries exceed $4,000 a year The
highest salary ever offered minister
to preach in New York, and given out
in a public call, was $4,000 a year
and a house, offered last year by the
Fifth Avenue Presbyterian church,
and declined. Several ministers re-
ceive $4,000 a year. and there are q
dozen or more who get $4,000 These
salaries are the highest in the world
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Insect Is Deadly Foe of Singing
Pest.
Experiments Made to Determine
Whether 1t Would Not Be Good
Investment to Breed Dragon
Flies.

New Experiments are being
made at Bronx park to determine
whether it would not be a good in
vestment for the government to breed
dragon flies to destroy mosquitoes,
said William Conroy, an employee of
the geological department OF Harvard,
after spending his vacation in and
about New York and Jersey City la
king notes on the mosquito.
Not everyone knows" he said,
that the dragon fly is the worst nat
ural enemy that the mosquito has.
Both of them are born in the water
and both wiggle around in the mud
and ooze till the time comes for them
to emerge. Then they come out on
the stock of lilypad, dry off in the
hot sun and split their skin down the
back and emerge from it with wings.
The dragon fly has a wonderful
lower jaw that shoots out like an arm
and can grab almost anything that
comes it's way, but what it likes bet
ter than anything else is mosquito
A few years ago was out on the
pldtlS VI w yOuIuS dl d foCAS1 Ing II
altitude and near some wet land
where mosquitoes simply seemed to
eat us alive. Late in the afternoon
they came swarming around us as the
sun sank and made life torment.
was with troop of United States sol
diers, and we had camped for the
night and had built fire to smoke
the mosquitoes away, but 1t did little
good While we sat there slapping
at the pests. there came a sudden dis
persing of them. In a seconds time
almost there wasn't one of them In
sight. We all noticed it. Then. dart
ing from side to side and flying around
the camp came the dragon flies, six
or eight of them, with their big shin
ing bodies and tremulous gauze wings
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
TO KILL MOSQUITOES

making a pretty picture in the after
noon haze
All old Indian guide who was in the
party was the first to point out the
dragon flies and tell us that the mos
quitoes had been afraid of them. lit
tie after the dragon flies had gone and
back came the mosquitoes. Then aft
er a little the flies came back, dozen
of them this time, stretched out across
the plain in line of battle Is feet apart
and each one advancing and darting
from side TO side in quick dashes. Ev-
cry dash meant "a mosquito killed and
eaten, and 1t was no wonder that the
mosquitoes fed.
A few years ago the question was
seriously taken up at the Museum of
Natural History and at the Smith
son5an Institution in Washington of
whether it would not pay to breed
dragon flies, or DEVILS darning nee
dies, as the grandmothers used to call
them, To rid the country of mos
qaitoes The investigations were called
off for some reason and never pur-
s&ed.
Il know a lady out in Cambridge
who breeds lot of dragon flies in an
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Nruf ARllta s
1t DRstrrnS1y
< hv Y. y. EAutearnz
,hy Z. y. FIftttdt'nz

political resentments. 1t is a very
dangerous thing to harbor a resent
ment of this sort 1t will warp
mans judgment 1t will cause him to
say and do things that viii almost
certainly be flung in his face later on,
to his certain discomfort and probable
defeat 1t will make needless politi-
cal sores that will run for years.
"'My second rule is this: Never
write a letter discussing important
matters, political or business, if it
can possibly be avoided. 1t is better
to take long journey, and submit
to all the discomforts thereof and
the loss of time incident thereto, so
that you may talk face to face with
your man, rather than write letter
to him. No one can ever tell to what
use a letter may be put, or how it
may be construed. This rule | have
followed as religiously as I have the
first, and / am certain that such po-
litieal security as / have gained may
be attributed in great part to the fact
that l neither harbor political resent
ments, no matter how unjustly | may
be attacked, nor commit to paper mat
tiers of vital personal or political i'm
Copyright 1910, by r. j. Edwards. All
Rights ReserVed.l
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Story of a Conkling Speech

in 1t Conkling ventured to allude to
Mr.. Curtis as a man milliner."
The last sentence OF The speech de-
livered without so much as the slip of
a single word, Conkling turned to one
of his confidants
Il have little favor which | should
like you to do for me tomorrow" he
said Il should be pleased if you would
procure for me bottle of champagne.
Have it put in a cooler in convenient
place in the wings of the platform.
Procure, also, a cut glass pitcher and
tumbler, similar to those with which
public speakers are provided and from
which they are accustomed to drink
occasional sips of water.
Having done this await the moment
of my introduction to the convention
by the chairman. Then decant the con-
tents of the bottle into the pitcher and
wait until the foam has subsidized. Then
walk on to the stage and place the
pitcher and tumbler upon the table in
front of me. AS l deliver my address
| will quaff the contents occasionally,
to moisten my lips. To the onlookers
the champagne will appear to be wa
ter, but, : think, with it's help will be
able to say what have to say in the
manner in which | purpose saying it, ;"
Scarcely had the pitcher and the ac-
companying tumbler been placed upon
the table next day. as per program,
when Senator Conkling, who was no
torious for his abstemiousness, walked
impressively up to the table, slowly
poured out half tumbler full Of the
champagne, so that there would be no
bubbling, and took a few sips. Then,
turning TO the great audience before
him, he began in these words:
1T was wise woman, very wise
woman, who was accustomed to say
she had observed that. if she lived
through the month of February. she
lived through the remainder of the
year"
For about an hour and a half follow
ing the delivery of this extraordinary
exordium of speech which has become
historic. Senator Conkling held his
audience as only master orator can.
Occasionally he stopped and took
brief sip from the tumbler, refilling it
carefully whenever he had emptied it.
And when the last sentence of his sen
sational speech had been spoken there
remained not drop of that quart of
champagne in pitcher or tumbler. With
its help. as he had planned. he had
dashed his political enemies as they
had never teen flashed before.
copyright. 1910 by E. j Edwards. All
Rights Reserved1
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
He Never Harbored Personal Resent
nents and Avoided Writing Let
tiers Discussing Important Mat
ters; Political or Business.


Who of this generation ever hears
of the Albany regency? Yet for thir-
ty Of the first fifty years of the last
century it was probably the most pow
erful unofficial political group that
the United States knew.
Composed of Democrats who lived
In or made Albany, N. Y, their head
quarters. the regency was powerful
not only in state affairs, but also
made its influence felt greatly in ma
tional politics. 1t dictated presiden-
and vice-presidential nominations
wholly or in great part; it named
governors, senators, and it made one
Of its number first vice-president and
then President Martin Van Buren,.
The official mouthpiece of the Al
bany regency from the day it became
a power, in 1920, was Edwin Croswell
AS editor of the regency's newspaper,
the Albany Argus, he was one of the
big men of the group; and in the
years of his retirement, which ended
with his death in 1871. he often took
delight in recounting anecdotes of
the regency, but none other with the
relish he took in telling of Martin
Van Buren's two rules of political
conduct.
Henry Clay, you know, was de
feated by Polk for president in 1874
because of his thoughtless. not to say
iinjudicious, letter writing" was the
way in which Croswell would almost
invariably begin his favorite story,
and / never think of how his letters
on the subject of the annexation of
Texas kept him out of the presidency
without recalling the marked differ
Ience between Clay and Martin Van
GBuren in this respect.
When Mr. Van Buren, was serv-
ling as yice-president in the second
administration of Andrew Jackson, he
Ecame to me one day, stating that he
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Martin Van Buren's Rules

was preparing to undertake journey
to Rochester, N. Y, in order to talk
over a matter of considerable impor-
lance with personal friend who lived
in that city. l asked why he did not
write, since the journey thither would
be a long one. You know, in those
days, it was necessary to travel either
by canal or by stage coach, and the
trip Mr.. Van Buren, had in mind
would occupy weeks time at best.
But Mr.. Van Buren, did not take
the hint.
Mr.. Croswell,' he said. I have
found two rules of the utmost value
to me in my public and political life.
l have always endeavored to observe
them faithfully from the day that |
formulated them, and If ever you are
seized with ambition to hold public
office, 1 would recommend them to
you for adoption. as have to some
of my office holding friends.
1.-The first of the rules have
steadfastly followed is never to per-
NIT myself to harbor any personal or
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Attack on President Hayes and Joh'
Sherman Rehearsed to Friends
and Delivered With the Help
of Pitcher of Champagne.

In the summer of 1877 President
Hayes removed Chester A Arthur
AIonzo B. Cornell and George H.
Sharpe from the office, respectively, Of
collector, naval officer and surveyor of
the port of New York. The beheading
of this trio Immediately created fac
tionaI split in the Republican party
Roscoe Conkling was the senior sena-
tor from New York, and he assumed
the leadership of the faction called the
stalwarts, which took up the cudgels
of political revenge against President
Hayes and his secretary of the treas
ury, John Sherman.
The Republicans were to hold a
state convention in Rochester in mid
September of II. 1t was decided by
Senator Conkling and Senator Thomas
c. Plat that at this convention def
ance should be hurled at all those with
in the state who stood with President
Hayes and Mr. Sherman. 1t was also
the real but unacknowledged purpose
of Senator Conkling to begin at that
time organizing the state with view
10 sending the New York delegation to
the Republican national convention of
1880 pledged to support third nomi-
nation for General Grant. President
Hayes was to have many friends at
this convention and they were to be
under the leadership of the famous au-
thor and editor, George William Cur
tbs.
On the evening before the conyen-
ton was organized Senator Conkl1ng
met few personal friends in his
rooms in the Rochester hotel at which
he was stopping.
Gentlemen" he said, without any
preliminaries, 1T has become known
to me that George William Curtis is to
speak tomorrow after his manner In
defense of the man in the White
House and his secretary of the treas
ury. | am familiar with the habit of
thought and the method of utterance
of the man from Staten Island. | shall
say something in reply. l should like
now to say TO you tonight what | shall
say TO him and his followers tomorrow
The senator passed the manuscript
of the address he had prepared to one
of the little group ard began TO deliver
it with all the fire of actuality. Those
who were thus privileged to hear him
listened in amazement. The speech
was vindietive. ironical. sarcastic, and
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Average Pay of Ministers

A minister IN London who gets $4,000
year is near the top. In New York
he Is near the bottom
The government shows the average
salaries of ministers in cities having
100000 population and over for the
principal religious bodies to be: Bap-
list, $1,793; congregational, 1898;
Methodist, 1852; Presbyterian, 81
80. Protestant Episcopal, $1,S73; Re
formed, $1.938 Roman Catholic, 1854,
and Jewish rabbis. $1.491
1t is estimated that in 1910 the sum
of S100000,000 is being paid to minis
ters of the United States in personal
salaries, and that congregational ex-
penses, missions and extensions in
volve an outlay this year of $780,
100000 more These outlays are high
er than ever before.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Treat PeeUish Zoo Python

python to eat So three husky keep
ers fearlessly took the creature from
its glass cage out into the open. There
the reptile wiggIed for a half hour
while the three keepers tried to
straighten it out so that it could be
stuffed. And they had to be extreme
" careful for if the python should
coil itself around the body of one of
them It could with great ease crush
him to death. After a hard struggle
the big snake was forced to swallow
two roosters which had been pur-
chased in a Bronx butcher shop for
the banquet
In captivity the regal python is
vicious and resents any familiarity on
the part of the keeper While con
fined it prefers to feed on poultry and
can engulf without difficulty, as ii did
few days ago, two eight-pound
ROSTERS in full feather. Two such
fowls usually constitute a square meal.
but very hungry snake of this spe-
cies VIII consume four chickens of
this size and be ready for more with
in ten days time.
During the first few months OF
confinement very large specimens OF
this variety of snake appear to suf
fer from the restraints of captivity,
and refuse food Whenever a large
serpent is thus languishing and APP
preaching suicidal end, it is neces-
sary to feed it by force and thus coun-
teract it's sluggish appetite General
~ yoang rabbits are killed and tied
together with twine; the snake is
then held by the keepers as nearly
straight as possible and by means of
pole the meal is forced down its
throat distance of about six feet
Food thus administered usually
changes the snakes demeanor toward
captivity. With such a meal once df
gested, there comes an appetite foI
food. which usually can be detected
by the snakes actions, although for
time the reptile may lack sufficient
courage to feed voluntarily. After
tion on the part of the keeper usually
renders a repetition of compulsory
feeding. unnecessary, although occa-
sional specimens are very stubborn, as
in the case of Czarina at the park.
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
PLANTS II KINDS OF WHEAT
Oregon Farmer Raises Many Varieties
ON His Farm-Seeds From All
Over the World.

Cottage Grove, Ore Felix Currin, a
farmer residing four miles east Of
Cottage Grove. has on exhibition here
81 varieties of wheat grown On his
farm, planted as an experiment, from
seeds secured from different parts of
the world, each variety being planted
in a single row 100 yards long.
Among the different kinds is the
original wild wheat from the old
world. One variety, the Mediter-
ranean, has been grown on his farm
continuously in one field since 1853,
and this years yield will be heavy
Among his other experiments, Mr.
Currin has $50 varieties of squashes
and pumpkins
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
czarina, Star Monster of Her Kind
Forced to Devour Two Eight
Pound Boosters.

New York-The regal or reticula-
ted python Czarina, measuring "a
feet in length, weighing 200 pounds
and possessing color pattern of a
richness that rivals oriental tapestry,
had to be fed on two eight-pound
ROSTERS, feathers and all, at the
Bronx park zoo few days ago, and
now 1T is satisfied and preoccupied
with digestion
Czarina. the star monster Of her
kind, has been very peeyish of late
The keepers in the reptile house
notified Curator Raymond L. Ditmars
that the big snake had refused food,
and it was then decided to force the
Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1910-10-19
Veteran Soldier In 1861 Mapped Out
the Very Plan of Campaign That
Afterward Prevailed Over
Confederate Armies.

CAS- assistant secretary of state I'M
der my father, came to meet General
Winfield Scott quite often from the
time of Lincoln's first Inauguration I'M
til the Mexican war veteran resigned
his commission as head of the United
States army. | remember distinctly
how earnest he was in his declarations
that the Union must be preserved at
all costs, and how greatly he regretted
that his physical infirmities made 1t
impossible for him to take active
command of the Unior armies. But
my most vivid recollection of him cen
tiers about the time when he called at