davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

communities and the several utility
corporations with which they do
business.
A few years ago there was law
presented to the legislature and
passed by one branch, providing that
city councils could regulate the
price Of gas and change It when
they pleased. This would be almost
as unfair to the gas companies as it
would to allow the gas companies to
regulate the price of gas for the
cities and change 1t when they
pleased. 1t would make investment
in gas manufacture so uncertain
that it might, In the course Of time,
amount to practical conflscation OF
great investments.
There should, however, be some
court Of arbitration, or some com
mission to pass upon the vexed
questions that arise between public
utilities and municipal corporations
and that would tend to lessen the
friction and give the corporation
better profit and the people better
and more economic service.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Mr.. ROOsevelt's Alibi

other, never saw At to come to the
rescue with a corroborative statement
Of the ex-president's disinterestedness,
which, II it could have been made.
would have been convincing.
Mr.. Hartman and Mr.. Bliss are
dead. Mr.. Harriman's evidence is in
writing The deliberate silence Of Mr..
Bliss during his life was accepted as
tacit confederation. The new evil
dence" does not change the apparent
status of the case. The use of the
quarter OF a million in a state cam
paign which was coincident with the
presidential contest, whether or not
its contribution and expenditure was
recorded on the books of the national
committee, is a distinction without a
difference in the minds of most peo-
pie.
The appearance of the correspond
ence, reviving the story, at this time,
is more suggestive than its subject
matter.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Aviauon's Fall During the Year

Aviation's Fall During the Year
The year 1910 closed with the death
OF two of the most famous birdmen
then known to aviation, Moissant and
Hoxsey. They both met death on the
last day of the year, the former at
New Orleans, the latter at Los An
geles.
The present year may not be
marked with so tragic an end, but 1t
has already exceeded the record of
1910 in the number Of lives that have
paid the price for progress in flying.
In 1910, 80 lives were lost; in 1911,
76-an increase of more than 100 per
cent.
Lieutenant Thomas z. Selfrldge OF
the United States army, who fell TO
death al Fort Myer, Va, on Sept. II,
1908, was the first person killed in
an aeroplane flight. Since that time
the number OF fatalities has been
mounting a sharply increasing ascent.
In 1908, according to a recent com
pilation, the list was one, in 1909 it
was four, and then came the great
increases OF 1910 and 1911.
AS France is the country that has
made the greatest progress in avia
ton, It is also the country that has
paid the greatest price. OF the 7e
aviators sacrificed in 1911, it furnished
25. the United States came next with
Is. Germany with II, England with
seven and Russia with four. Italy
Austria and Japan contributed two
each. and Servia. Spain, Belgium
Peru and Cuba one each.
We are at once disposed to exclainl
what a waste and what a pity. And
it is a waste and a pity, for large
number OF the lives were lost out Of
pure dare-deviltry and in show flights
for purely money making purposes
A modicum OF them, however, was
a part OF the toll in lives that every
marked advance exacts of humanity
whether that advance be in science
medicine OF in religious, political and
Industrial freedom.
;, Humanity can do nothing more
than mourn these as its benefactors
) And while We mourn them let III
consider how. in a score Of ways. WI
sacrifice life not as here, TO some ad
vantage. but usslessly, wantonly-il
violence: in the celebration OF July I
with fireworks: in preventable rail
road, mine and other industrial acct
dents; in crowded tenements, and ii
the lack of sane health precautions
and in q general lax enforcement o
the criminal laws.
, II we have resolved 10 do whatevel
We can during the new year 10 lessei
, this useless waste OF life, We have
! indeed. learned the lesson that tn
} toll Of aviation has to tell
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Convention Cities.

New York has announced a cam
paign for the national democratic con-
yention. Chicago says that this is
merely blum made for the purpose of
forcing Chicago 10 raise more money.
Chicago should not be over-confident.
II must be remembered that New York
IS the best equipped hotel city in the
world, and that IS a vital item now
adays. So far as the election is con-
cerned IL makes no difference what
ever where a man is nominated.
Some say that convention held in
New York would be associated in the
public mind with Wall street, and for
that reason the ticket would be handf
capped. This, Of course. is preposter-
Gus. as Wall street. when II seeks to
influence conventions, cares not wheth-
e. they are Just around the corner or
in the Mississippi valley.
ANY man who would vote against a
candidate because of fear OF unholy
influence in the city where the nom
inadon was made would be too ignor-
ant 10 mark a ballot so that IL would
get by the judges.
The people of the middle west would,
OF course. prefer 10 see the democratic
as well as the republican national con.
venuon held IN Chicago. but the ef
feet of the city holding the convention
on the campaign, of course, cuts no
figure.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
(Philadelphia Record.l

The attempt to rewrite a chapter Of
the history of the republican campaign
fund Of 1904, through the Sheldon
Roosevelt correspondence. obviously
suggests that the e1-president may be
brushing up" in preparation for a for
NAL appearance before the public and
desires that even this faded mud-spot
be removed from his clothes.
Mr.. Sheldon appears as a witness to
testify that Mr.. Roosevelt did not par
ticipate In the Hartman conference,
directly or indirectly, but of the two
men, outside Of the ex-president him
self. who had direct personal knowl
edge as to such participation, one, Mr..
Hartman, has unequivocally asserted
the contrary. The other, Mr.. Bliss, al
though a loyal party man and never
accused Of unfriendliness toward Mr..
Roosevelt, or of lacking that sense of
fairness which would impel any man to
correct a known falsehood injuring an
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
The Shoe Machinerr Trust.

The activity of the shoe machinery
trust. which within the last year has
been trying. through advertisements
In the magazines, to convince the
country that It is an advantage to the
people to allow one corporation TO
control the manufacture Of all shoes,
has resulted in drawing attention to
the combine in a manner wholly I'M
expected by its managers.
This trust has advertised that 1t
does not seek to restrict the number
of shoe manufacturers, and the signifi-
cant thing Is that nobody ever &C
cused the combine Of having that pur-
pose in view. The thing the trust
does do, however, and which it says
nothing about IN its advertisements,
is to restrict the users of shoe ma
chinery to the machines manufac-
tured by the trust.
In the investigation Of the trust
some time ago-which investigation
was brought about by Governor Fose
after much hard work-it was discov-
cred that the shoe machinery trust
had built up an elaborate system OF
leasing its machines. This investiga
ton developed that fact that practi
cally all the shoe machinery in the
United States Is owned by the com
bine, and that the individual manu-
facturers have first to make theil
terms with the trust before they car
start business. Users of these ma
chimes have to agree, before they car
obtain contract, not to use any othel
shoe making machinery.
At the state investigation the presi
dent of the trust testified that sho<
manufacturers could use other ma
chinery II they desired, but the testi
mony Of other manufacturers wal
unanimous that as a matter OF prac
tice It was almost compulsory to U.S.
the trust machines. It was upon tn,
charge that the trust exercised {
monopoly over shoe machinery tina
the recent indictments were obtained
by the federal government
The United Shoe Machinery com
peny has an issued capital of a littl'
more than $40, o0o, 900. In four years
from 1905 to 1909, the net profits wer'
$17,z40,7sS. In 1909 the undlvide'
profits were close to $16,O0O,O00. TIL
United Shoe Machinery corporation
was organized to cover an imitation o
the stock Of the original concern, q
that the enormous profits could b
spread over a larger nominal capital
zation.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

Mexico has recently had a severe
earthquake shock which has Jared
the country from one end to the other,
and from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
There is always something doing in
Mexico. It is an earthquake country.
and II the ground remains solid and
still long enough there is sure to be
an insurrection or rebellion. The peo-
pie of Mexico do not remain quiet for
at.y great length of time. They crave
excitement II they have an earth
quake every week they may get along
with not more than one insurrection
every year. but II they don't have the
earthquake they have the instruction.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

IT BEG YOUR PARDON, LADIES" SAID
AUSTIN HUMBLY.
and looked at his companion. MA
roonedw he cried despairingly. "What
shall we do?"
81 saw farmhouse couple of miles
back. Let's walk there and see lie we
can't get something to eat and then get
haul into Judson," was Moore's quick
suggestion, and they followed it.
They had walked a half mile on the
back track when Billy Moore called
his friends attention to a shaded path
Just inside the woods.
Lets get out of this sum-" he sug-
gested. and they turned into the path.
whats that?" demanded Jim Aus
tin suddenly.
Looks like girl"
'Looks more like two girls" whis-
pered Jim, peering around a tree
trunk into q messy dell, where two
white clad forms were sitting on
either side of a picnic meal.
Looks like a lunch-oh, my, but
I'm hungry
"Move on" said Jim sternly. Don't
cast another glance at those peris
yonder, for His foot slipped on the
smooth. dead leaves, and he made a
sudden and ignominious descent down
the slope into the messy dell and al
most wrecked the picnic party.
There were two girlIsh screams. a
shout of evaporation from the morti-
fed Austin. and then Billy Moore,
shaking with silent laughter. joined
them.
IL beg your pardon. ladies'" said
Austin humbly. 81 hope nothing is
damaged"
tallest and prettiest girl, with charm
ing smile.
Have you hurt yourselfT asked the
other solicitously.
"Not a Scratch" declared Jim. al
though a decidedly bloody scratch
rambled down his handsome nose He
mopped it away carelessly.
1--WE were looking for something TO
eat" he said awkwardiy when the
tall girl interrupted demurely:
You came TO the right place"
"Oh. Evelyn breathed the other
girl quickly.
The two motorists lifted their caps
and turned reluctantly away. "ouI
| machine broke down, and we were on
the back track for the farmhouse
hoping TO get something to eat You
see, we lost our lunch basket from the
car" explained Billy. with keer
glance at the well appointed wicket
hamper lying on the ground.
There Is great deal more here thar
we can ever eat" said the tall CIR
calmly. $50 you are quite welcome Il
lunch with rs If you please"
"Oh, Evelyn cried the younger girl
with dancing eyes.
Evelyn shook her head in disap
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

President Taft has issued a mes
sage to congress calling for cur
rency reforms. There is nothing
strikingly original about this. Every
president We have had for 40 years
has called for currency reform. Ev.
cry republican congress We have had
during the same length of time has
spent a large amount OF it's valuable
time and the peoples precious
money in tinkering with the cur
rency and trying TO reform the sys-
tenn. AS has been remarked before,
it is about time for our republican
friends to step down and out and
give somebody else a chance to do
something which they have proved
themselves absolutely incompetent
TO do
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Hurnor and
Philosophy
THEORY AND PRACTICE.
~ DUNCAN ~. .sssTH

A DvIcE to play a modest part
"A When at the table feeding.
Although its wisdom, We admit,
Finds very little needing,
For when the holidays appear
And victuals come insisting
In such delightful forms and shapes
There's really no resisting.
Experience has often shown
That gorging Is a folly,
For, though II may bring Joy that DAY
Next day brings melancholy.
But still. in spite OF all the hints
From other days begotten,
We sit down at the groaning board,
And they are all forgotten.
The doctor lifts a warning voice
And says that eating double
The quantity our stomachs hold
Can only bring US trouble.
We know that what he has to say
Is not the merest fable,
But we forget II when we get
Our places at the table.
And so we go on loading down
Our patient, poor digestion,
unheedful OF the warning words
Or of the wise suggestion,
But while repenting 1t that night
We say. mo more repeating"
Then load up on the first good chance
We get at heavy eating.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

Fight It, It's wonderful how much
sound Joy one can get out of good
fight.
Trouble is like any other disease
most Of it can be prevented. But when
it does grip us, the thing to do is not
to let it eat through our system. but to
cauterize or amputate, or physic it out
of US.
It's astonishing how many of us
blame our troubles to bad luck or 9th
er people when a little reflection will
show clearly that they have developed
from our own lack of judgment or self
control.
I can't tell you how to be happy, If
you're bound not to be.
But if you're willing you may find
peace enough to make life more bear
able.
Submerge your personality IN an alb
scrbing occupation. Put your whole
heart and mind into what you do,
whether it is alleviating the woes of
others, or adding up columns Of fig
ures or doing your own Homework. Be
inventive. Think of new things to do
and attempt to do them-even If some
of them seem foolish.
Make up your mind to eat three good
meals a day-four II you can. Choke
them down, If you can't do any better
at first. Eat, because your body needs
it, and neither your brain nor your
heart has fair show unless the body
is nourished
Work and eat and exercise, so thai
when night comes the tired body will
insist upon it's rest.
It's the long, weary nights, when the
brain throbs and the heart aches ant
ones pillow is wet with tears, tha
wear down the bravest Of us.
| So, II you would like little peacs
and be master Of yourself; if you
would fulfill your duty to others, M
matter what has happened to you
work and eat and exercise and sleep
Before you know 1t you'll find a sat
isfaction in healthy body and-mayb,
it isn't happiness, but there'1 be some
thing akin to 1t in your heart
Be happy if you can. If not that
cultivate peace and good will, and d.
your level best to make others happy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
The Argus Daily Story
Marooned-By Clarissa Mackie.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau

"How many miles farther?" yelled
Austin above the rushing noise Of the
big machine.
Moore turned his head and shouted
back: Almost twenty. We lost forty
minutes over that puncture."
Let's stop, then" vociferated Aus
tin, and his companion obediently
brought the motor to stop.
whats the matter?' he demanded.
"Im hungry as a bear. l can't pos
sibly wait until we get to Judson, and
there's no certainty of getting decent
meal there, and it's ten miles farther
on to Lakelands, and luncheon will be
over there. Why not eat now?"
what shall we eatT' demanded Aus
tin.
Didn't your man strap on a big
hamper lust as we were leaving was
Moore's question
''Bless my soul, forget all about
that OF course Duffy would look out
for a bite by the wayside." Austin
jumped from the car and ran around
to the rear sits pipe dream, Billy
he mourned when ha came back.
Nothing doing there"
''Why. I saw it myself" cried Billy.
| darting around to convince his OWE
eyes. Its been there. See. the straps
are dangling. We must have lost it. :"
There were grief and outraged and I'M
satisfied hunger in his eyes.
81 believe we did," Austin came
back to his seat ''Well, it's the doubt.
full luncheon at Judson, then. Hurry
up, Billy"
Duffy murmured something about 9
sam an veal pie inside that basket
went on Billy Moore in grieved tone
as he flung himself into his seat.
THAT'S Duffy's long suit. He always
gets in one Of those pies. Oh, but
could eat one noww Jim Austin start
ed the machine once more on its tear
ing career. All at once there came g
deafening report, and they lurched to {
standstill as Austin shut Off the power
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
1alks viii
emw\brnnesn
IaNder5s

Well, is everybody happy?
Whose fault is it, II you are not?
Probably it's your own fault.
Maybe you expected too much. Most
OF us do. We build up notions Of what
we think we ought to be, without TAX
ing into consideration the things that
are and their logical possibilities. And
then, because the illogical doesn't hap
pen. according to the idea or the ex-
pectation we have nourished, we are
disappointed-disilI we say.
And If you're not happy, maybe
you've not been generous enough, or
thoughtful enough. or kind enough, to
somebody else. All these things have
a most painful way of rebounding upon
ourselves, singing US into an unhappi-
ness that we feel most keenly, but the
cause of which we hate to acknowl-
edge. In fact, well blame our mood
upon the weather, or a bad dinner, or
a tinge Of rheumatism-anythin but
the truth.
Maybe your unhappiness comes from
too much self-pity That's folly, in
deed. Pity others a little more, and
you'll cure that disease. Don't stop at
plying them. either. Go forth and try
to help little. You'll soon be SO busy
that you won't have any time to waste
plying yourself. And when you stop
plying yourself, you'll be able to see
how much others appreciate your true
worth You'll be getting real love
then; not the forced attention which
your moping has demanded.
Has some heartbreaking sorrow
come to you?
Oh, my dear, we all have sorrows.
The bravest Of us hide them, fol
though they may be eating out the
heart OF US, we have no right to dark
en- the lives of others with them.
Death and sickness, poverty and sin
disloyaity and disappointment - al
these must come TO all of US, in some
measure, If we live our lives fully
And Just as surely as these thing.
come to US, will come also the thing
that make happiness Indeed, they ar
teachers from whom we learn the rea
happiness.
II trouble comes to you, don't ia,
down" Don't nurse your unhappiness
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
A Good Law.

California has a new law creating
commission that is supposed TO
regulate the affairs Of all public
utilities in the state. 1t supersedes
the railway commission, similar TO
commissions Of the same nature
throughout the country.
This is a condition Of affairs that
all states In the union will come to
sooner or later. The present
wrangles carried on between the gas,
street car. electric, telephone and
other companies and the conmuni-
ties where they are located. tend to
the Generalization of business and
il would be a good thing TO have
some controlling board that would
act as arbiter between the various
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

st. Louis Republic: There will be
general qualification among the peo-
pie OF the Mississippi valley over the
change in tone OF President Taft's
comments upon waterway projects IN
messages to congress. The message
just transmitted specifically and IA
vorably mentions the s20.o00.00
project for six foot navigation on the
Missouri to Kansas City and declares
for active cooperation with Illinois In
the matter OF the development of a
Lakes-to-the-Gulf channel.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
GETTING Advertisinu,

Getting Advertising.
Heard you had an accident, Mrs.
Brown"
I've certainly did!'
"Any one hurtr'
"No. We just ran into man,
smashed his carriage and killed his
horse, and now we have a suit for
damages on our hands,
That's too bad"
TOO bad! Why, think it is the
greatest luck ever"
"Luck?"
Eyes. We have had that car two
months and not a dozen people knew
we had it before the account of the &C.
eident was published"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
PERT PARAGRAPHS.

The chief difference between trousers
and pants is that the former usually
has about three inches of the bottom
turned up.
Between her big brother who makes
brutal remarks and her little sister
who is always hanging around the girl
who thinks she has found her ideal
has a most unhappy time.
When it comes to being in the way
when you have something you want to
do on the quiet, the small boy has
nothing on the grown up.
When e woman tells you with soul
full look in her eyes that she has never
known what happiness is you may
know she is under twenty-five.
Many a man who would scorn to
keep a borrowed umbrella will forget
to pay toll when he uses his neighbor's
telephone.
The man who has Just reformed is
always fnexpressibly shocked by his
neighbor's wickedness.
One Of the chief delights of the win
ter is telling the man who can't es
cape about the cold spell you expert
enced twenty Eve years ago out west.
The average woman's idea of com.
fort is having things like other folks.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Charles Choice.

Charles cheice.
''Why is it you
no longer call
upon Annette,
CharlieT"
"B e cause I
like Lillian bet
ter"
'But why? I
t b o u g b t you
were so devoted
to Annette"
ooh, she's all
right for fudge,
but Lille n 6
m o t b er serves
up a mighty
good lunch"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

A divorce case has been Instituted
by q young man who Is a descendant
OF the Somewhat Industrious Daniel
Boone. His wife is a descendant Of
the immortal statesman, Thomas JEFF
ferson. This would seem 10 indicate
that the divorce court is no respecter
of persons nor OF lineage.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

He stepped upon a peeling
And shed a line of talk.
He made a good impression,
But he made II on the walk.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

Fervent Wish.
81 wish l were wise"
"Why?"
"Why do you supposeT"
"Give it up. Can't see why yon
should want to be WISE"
eff I were wise, with reputation
for wisdom firmly established, could
be as foolish as / want to be-"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

The commencement OF actual op-
erations on the Long View loop
seems too good to be true, but not
too true to be good.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Wednesday, December n, 1911.

Instead Of sending his messages to
congress as he used TO, Roosevelt Is
now sending them TO the Outlook.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Just One Way,

Just One Way.
"There is no two ways about 1t. !
must have my money" said the angry
creditor.
you're right" replied the cheerful
debtor. There are no two ways. You
are not going to get it."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
THE ARGUS.

Published Daily and Weekly at 1894
Second avenue. Rock Islana. Ill IBn-
tered At the postoface as secOnd-ciass
mattsr.l
Rock Island Member Of the Associated
Press.
BY THE J. w. POTTER CO.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
Explained.

Explained.
81 know I'm right"
'That accounts for it, then"
Accounts for what?"
"Your being wrong so much of the
time"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27
ExasperatinQ.

"He has exaggerated self respect"
''That wouldn't be so bad If he didn't
insist on imposing it on his associates"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-12-27

Cincinnati-Belief that Joseph Par
ker. whose body was found along the
railroad tracks near Oakley, may have
been murdered was expressed by the
nn1icA