davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10

for twenty-four hours. The nonofficia
inspired papers in Germany usually print
cOmmuniques without any indication of
their source II is only by their style
and the writer's apparent familiarity
with secrets of state that the reader
knows he has come upon an inspired
passage.
Capitals, Connected.
Capitals of Europe are connected by a
network of official or partly official news
agencies which are used to bring the
official announcements of one country
into the press of the others. When Herr
Won Kiderlen- Wachter wants something
printed in Paris, he gives it to an es-
tabHshed news bureau known to every
body, which telegrapbs it to an equally
well-known news agency in Paris, which
communicates it to the French press.
Nnen the French government wants
something to appear in Berlin the pro-
cess is reversed. These communicates
are generally plain brief statements of
fact or denials When something of a
more delicate kind is to be said, the
medium chosen is usually an inspired
newspaper
In Germany the business of inspiring
and influencing the press has been sys-
tematized and developed to an extent
unknown in Western Europe. In Eng
land the only paper which can be said
to be inspired is the Times, which is the
recognized mouthpiece of the foreign
office. Otherwise the place OF the OFF,
cial communique is taken pretty well By
the daily questions to MINISTERS in Par
Lament. In France the recognized organ
of the government in this respect is the
Havas Agency The Paris newspapers
are, of course, often inspired BY ministers
or officials with whom they may be in
touch, but 1t is rather an affair Of per-
sonalitfss than OF system. In Germany a
much moIe comprehensive view OF the
duties OF the state TO the newspaper
reader is taken.
To leave so important field OF public
activity uninspected and uncontrolled
save for an occasional hint In specially
favored-quarters would be,a crime against
German reason OF state. The press IS
carefully studied IN the administrative
departments IN Berlin. Through the o1n-
cial and "officious" channels an inces-
SAINT stream OF denials. announcements
and explanations flows into the news
paper Offices. The most trivial misstate-
ments concerning matters of government
are noted and denied. Practically every
criticism of administrative acts or poncy
that appears in any responsible journal
is thought worthy Of an answer very
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
Nv JAMES b. MORROW.

Boston, Sept. 9.-Monopoly need not
make a man or a corporation mean,
greedy, and insolent. James l. Richards,
president of a company having the un-
divided privilege of selling gas in Boston,
has proved that there is money, also tran
.quiIIity, in treating the public fairly
and like human beings.
The pig-eyed and paunchy monstrosity
who represents monopoly in caricature
and popular fancy would say, even
against the visible facts, that Mr.. Rich
ards is an enemy of sound business.
Nevertheless, Mr.. Richards has Increased
his dividends > per cent, has reduced the
price of gas 20 cents, and has made MS
employes-office boys, day laPorers, and
all-partners in the profits of the corpo-
ration.
Moreover, Boston is satisfied. 1t ought
to be, inasmuch as Richards policies are
saving it $4,000 annually. The news
papers, ready vehicles of the complaints
Of their readers, watchful for the people
interests. are dumb except when they
praise, concerning the gas company.
Speech has been taken out of the mouths
of demagogues. Raiders, hoping to sell
ont once they obtain a franchise, would
be given a drumhead trial and marched
to the city limits, were they 10
appear in the municipality. There is
peace, perfect peace, in the tradiuonally
contentious field of gas illumination Even
the meters go unchallenged.
And there had been tangles and abuses
and savage denunciations in and of the
gas business in Boston. Spectators.
financiers, promoters, and lawyers had
tried their practiced hands at the mis-
MANAGEMENT of the various companies.
Likewise sodden old mOnOpohsts, wanting
50 for 81, and that in advance at usurlous
interest. were fixtures Within a notori-
GUS and chaotic situation. Only a genius,
it seemed, could bring order out of such
confusion. Still further, miracle would
be required to establish the gas business
in the confidence of a weary, antagonlSuc
and plundered populace. Somebody was
inspired to think of Richards.
Ignorant of the Gas Business.
Now, James L. Richards knew abso-
lutely nothing about gas, but he was
believed to be a remarkable person.
He is remarkable. in that he under
stands human nature, and has more
than a money grubber's share of COM
mon sense. Simple things are best; so
are simple methods. The Richards plan
was to get the different companies to-
gether and then sell gas and keep out
of politics. Monopoly nearly always
says: Buy of me, pay my price. or go
without. The favor is yours. not
mine" The attitude of the merchant
having competitors is entirely different.
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
How One Man Restored Gas Company
to Public Favor in Boston, After
/ Years of Mismanaeement.

Mr.. Richards, first of all. is a merchant.
Years ago he was a travelling sales
man.
An epoch, and a monopolistic epoch
at that, begins with James L. Richards.
Behold, it can also be said, a new type!
Corporations, observing his results,
will initiate his system. Managers.
noting his success, will try to be like
him. His influence, even a clumsy
prophet may predict, will humanize
lighting companies, water companies, tel
ephone companies, street railroad COM
panies, and all other concerns and COM
binations that have exclusive privileges of
selling things to the public.
All are merchants. primarily-giving
corporations, which are impersonaI, a
personal meaning. Their business is
to sell and not to bully and conjure
with the people, says Mr.. Richards. And
the sum of their sales. and nothing
else, should fix the sum of their profits,
Or dividends. Furthermore, a reluctant
or hostile buyer never makes a liberal
customer. More gas to the family is
now being burned in Boston than ever
before. Although it is cheaper, the re-
ceipts are larger. AT last" the con-
sumner exclaims, Il am getting a square
deal" Thus he lights two jets instead
Of one.
Facts About a Modern MOnopOIist.
A word or two about Mr.. Richards him
self is necessary to proper understand
ing of Mr.. Richards, the modern monop-
olist. AS a type, he is worth the analysis
that can be made if some of the facts are
published. 1t is said that he can dictate
letter to a stenographer and add col
umn of figures at the same time; that
he can write and answer questions stimuli
taneously. AS with Napoleon. his atten-
ton is divisible. Also, he is like Napoleon
in stature, and has reddish brown hair
and blue eyes and a face tanned by auto
appearance and motions, he seems to be a
young man, yet he is fifty-three years
old. If he ever talked fiuently, the habit
has disappeared through disuse. Nor will
he accept any credit for the work he has
done, giving it all to his board of direc-
tors and the subordinates who have car
ried out his plans.
The son of a Massachusetts farmer, he
has earned his own living ever since he
waS twelve years of age. He left school
about that time and found employment in
a bank. Coming to Boston when he was
eighteen, he clerked in a tobacco store
for few dollars a week. At nineteen
he was a salesman on the road. Il trav-
eled for several years." he told me, and
learned many things-human character
among the rest Three years thereafter
he was taken into the firm. When he was
twentyfour he began to manufacture to-
bacco in New York. Later he managed
$nd partly owned large factory in Ken
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10

Following the Advertisement Mr..
Richards continued, we sent forty
agents over the city to talk with men
and women who were burning gas. We
called them our missionaries. They were
instructed to examine meters and see If
they were accurate, to inspect connSc-
tions, to regulate burners, and to give
such instructions as were necessary for
the efficient and economical use of gas.
If any customer wanted a gas range,
stove, or drop light, the missionary
took his order. but that was only an in
cident Of his visit.
Then we gave notice that we should
lay service pipes from street mains to
houses. the ordinary fee for which had
been about SO, and would make the con-
nections to gas stoves, which had cost 50,
free of charge. In ALL counting in the,
reductions we conceded in the price of
gas, the people of Boston and Brookline
were saved s265, 900 the first year.
Lobbyists Dropped from Pay Rolls.
THE company really needed the rev.
enues it surrendered, but it also needed
more customers and a larger use of gas
by those It already had. In the meantime
we had planned improvements for the
property that eventually, we felt, would
justify our change of policy. The i'm
provements to October l last year cost
50, 3,376,366. Our sale of gas during the last
nine years has increased 81 per cent.
In the old days" Mr.. Richards went
on to say, I'VE had lobbyists to repre-
sent us before the legislature-to defeat,
if possible, measures hurtful to our busf-
ness and to help such as we thought
We're beneficial There was no conceal
ment of our purposes, and there was no
hribary Nof I,a
picious. They thought we were doing
more than appeared on the surface.
We deemed il advisable to stop trans
acting business in that way. We began
going before the committees of the legis-
lature ourselves, stating publicly in the
presence of newspaper reporters what
We thought we ought to have and point
ing out any proposed legislation that
was to our injury or disadvantage. The
change was good and the effects were
noticeable at once. When public serv-
lee corporations are mysterious, silent.
and SecretiVe the people become dis
trustfUl and exaggerated notions and
estimates get abroad concerning activity
and profits.
Il believe, as l have said, that the
public IS willing that capital invested
in street railroad, lighting, and other
utilities should receive a reasonable re-
turn, but the trouble is that it does not,
as a rule, understand the facts. And
the companies are to blame. 1 am an
advocate of publicity. The more the
public knows about the corporations serv-
ing them the better it will be for both
interests. 1 want to say right here that
the people are welcome to and I shall be
glad to give them any information they
may desire about the several public serv-
ice corporations with which I am con-
nected."
The price OF gas in Boston" I said,
'and the dividends of your company are
controlled by law"
Yes; by an act establishing a sliding
scale. as it is called. The idea was bOr-
rowcd from England a standard price
for gas is fixed, above which we cannot
go. Gas had been selling at 81. The law
reduced the price to 80 cents and allowed
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10

Let us go into the highways and by
ways ahd contemplate the playwright in
the open season.
Though the playwright may be con-
noted with royalty (connote is a very
well-behaved word when used right
Iook it up in the dictionary, he works
while you vacate.
He pretends he vacates. but the state
n1ht is easily refuted. CRefuted isn't a
had sort of a word. eitherJ There's
Augustus Thomas, who pretends he is
having joyance at EasthamptOn, Long
island. He is not. he's working like a
wop on a new play. play full of
psychoIogy and dynamic thought.
Thomas writes plays in a stable down
there. A nice stable, of course, but a
stable for all that and that is why his
leading characters are always well
groomed, so to speak.
Not "AteIier," but Stable.
ANYBODY else would call the hand
somely fitted up studio or playwrights
shop upstairs in the Easthampton stable
an "atelier," but Augustus Thomas calls
II a stable That is he used to- He told
me about writing The Earl Of Paw
tucket" there; maybe it's a garage now
"A garage, did l say? Why, that's as
far behind the times as a stable would
be No; we can state without fear OF
successful contradiction, as the plat-
tudinous people love TO say, that Angus
tus Thomas, Americas leading play
maker, is finishing his new brainstorm
drama in his hangar a Easthampton.
CHangar dear friends, is a fussy word
from France that means coop for fy-
ing machines Get me9
Yes YES: the theatrical season opens
soon with this years vintage of. plays,
and all over the city and in the forests
hard by, the playwrights' brains can be
heard clanking as they polish up the
plays they have drudged on for many
weary months-plays which in one
dread first night the choosers of the
slain, the critics, can chop down with
their little hammers the work Of many
moons.
As to oliver Hereford.
In the society and literary notes Of an
esteemed contemporary the other day it
was stated that Cleveland Moffett was
In Twilight Park, in the Catskills, pol
ishing of a play. This isn't our dope.
We have beheld him, of very recent.
seated by the front window OF the Cafe
Lafayette, looking out over UniYersty~
Place such times as his tired eyes were
no. resting upon the typewritten manu-
pen and ink, lie was putting snappy
quips and quirks.
And who do you think was sitting
across the same marble topped table
from Mr., Moffett with his new play, in
tertecting his own quaint upon second
2 thought whimsies? Why Oliver Here
ford, who Americanized The Love
Cure" THE Red Huzzar." and other
Col. Henry Savage successes! With us
playwrights we have only the rivalry OF
emulation, and he and Cleveland Mof-
lett are the best of little playwriting
pals.
party. From San Francisco, where they
have an earthquake before breakfast and
build the town UP again in time for
dinner. is Gelett Burgess. I've got to
Eay that he's the man who wrote 'TaeI
Purple Cow He tires OF the telling Of
st. but the dear public doesn't
Gelett wrote a book called Madam
Mechanic" It's about a decadent lady
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
MAILED FIST OF KAISER SHOWN
IN CONTROL OF GERMAN PRESS

The past few weeks have afforded ex-
cellent opportunity to study and compare
methods of influencing the press in vogue
in the chief countries of Europe. Since
the afternoon when the German govern
ment announced through its official tele-
graph agency that the Panther had been
papers has ragged. Day after day, the
Temps and the Times, the Norddeutsche
and the Kolnische Zeitung, have met in
deadly conflict, each backed by a host of
minor champions; ever and anon amid
the brayng. there penetrates a deeper
note, oracular, far reverberating, which
is the voice of inspiration. When that
tremendous tone is heard the battle
takes a new direction. A hundred lead
ing articles are swept into limbo. The
drums and tramplings of editorial war
fare pause for a moment, and then, the
Olympian message having been noted,
break out afresh.
The Official COmmunique.
Quite the commonest form of inspired
statement is the dement,, which is often
couched in comprehensive language and
quite explicit. When the intentions of
the government are to be made known.
or its acts defended. the weighty pro-
nouncement is usually clothed in pecu-
liar jargon which has little meaning for
the uninitiated, but has the merit that
it at once calls the attention of those
concerned toSthe contents of the COM
munique, it being well understood that
the official revealer of things unseen
writes style which would not be toll
Grated in any other contributor The
obfuscate manner of the communique
writer probably has its origin in the de-
sire not to appear like common mortals
in anything, and also in the necessity
for compromising between saying the
thing that must be said and giving as
little information as possible in the say
ing OF It.
Effect of this is fairly hit on in the
description which an tirreverent person
once gave OF an authoritative article in
the Times-that It sounded like a man
with a weak voice trying to say some
thing important through several sheets
OF feltA The official style has the dis
advantage that II is easily Initiated.
Every now and then humorous editorial
writer who has access to the column
affected by the oracle viii produce some-
thing Of his own written In the man
DARN dialect and mislead public opinion
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10

possibly Of a rebuke which makes the
Offending jodrnal hide its diminished
head for a day or two.
Even Socialists Are Heard.
Even the socialists, who are beyond the
pale of political recognition, are heard
ard answered. For the business Of Guid-
ing the press the government has in the
first place the Wolff or official news
agency. Through this medium it can
reach every newspaper office in Germany,
and, indeed, in most other countries,
since the Wolff agency is in close touch
with the principal news distributing
agencies in all countries. In Berlin the
government has at its disposal from day
to day the columns of the Norddeutsche
Allgemeine Zeitung.
Within the last few days we have had
a classic example of the way in which the
government watches the press and deals
praise and punishment as seems good to
it, The Pangerman journals are causing
great trouble to the foreign office by their
recalcitrant attitude on the Morocco ques-
tion. They demand share Of the Sher-
eefian empire for Germany and viii be
put off with nothing less. Now 1t has
been intimfted in the plainest way in
England, France. and Germany that Herr
Won Kiderlen does not insist upon COM
pensation in Morocco itself. After the
Swinemunde conference between the
Kaiser, the chancellor, and NHerr Won
Kiderlen, when it became clear that Mo-
rocco was to be left to France, the Post,
an insignificant Berlin sheet which rep
resents the Free Conservative party, and
has ferocious Pangerman editor, vi
ciously attacked the Kaiser, blaming him
for the weakness OF the foreign Office and
repeating in the form OF rhetorical ques-
tions some of the gibes of the Paris pa
pers at the Emperor in this form: "Our
Emperor? Guillaume lie Timide? lie
yaleureux poltron? We cannot yet be-
lieye IT,"
Paper scorched by Rivals.
The Post was for this breach OF propri-
ETY. solemnly seourged by the Nord-
deutsche twice. at intervals Of week.
was disavowed by the leader of the Free
Conservatives. and pilloried in every
monarchical newspaper in Germany. II
was driven to publish an apology and
excuse itself on the ground that the re-
sponsible editor was away on vacation
when the offending article was written.
and that the writer had been. rebulked.
To-day II completes Its humiliation by al
lowing another Berlin paper to announce
that the guilty member OF the stan had
been dismissed. Eow perhaps II win be
regarded as having purged its offense.
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10
PLAYWRIGHTS' "OPEN SEASON" ON
WITH ALL SETTLING IN THOUGHT

Potluck to be rough-and-ready place,
with only a few landscapes by Inness
and some of Whistler's etchings on the
walls.
Another Active Pair.
The hardy souls camping out here, far
from the comforts of civilization, are re-
clining in easy chairs of plain Morocco
leather, Here, rOughing It, next to ma
lures heart, are Paul West and Paul
Potter. They are writing a play a day
for Manager Al H. Woods.
During the day they sit on the asphalt
terrace under the shade of the porta BILE
palms that are trundled out in the great
jasper jardinieres from the conservatory
hard by.
Squirrels brought from Central Park
some deer purchased from ROhe, the
animal dealer Of Grand street, add a
The Washington herald., 1911-09-10

The celebrated Noncnmiormist preacher. who, hay-
ing returned TO Loodon from his visit in this
country, praises America aud Americnrs IN elabo-
rate terms Speaking 20 his own coSrntrymen he
declares Americans are superior 10 them IN rrac
tealiy eFerythinE he takes particular pains TO
compliment Americans on the progress Of the
peace movement in this country. The movement
gpatly impressed me. be sid.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-16

of the Ottawa county sheriff, was re-
captured at Rossville and taken to the
state penitentiary at Lansing. After
his thrilling leap from the Union Pa
cific flyer, Turner in some manner
removed the shackles from his feet
and the handouts from his hands and
was wearing none of the irons when
found in Rossville by Sheriff Caper, OF
Ottawa county.
The sheriff had permitted his pris-
oner to go to the toilet room on the
way to Lansing. As the train passed
RosSville, Turner leaped from a win
dow of the car and made his escape.
That he escaped instant death is al
most miraculous, as the train was run
ming almost 40 miles an hour at the
time Turner ESCAPED. At the home II
a farmer. Turner begged a small sum
of money. He was eating a lunch in
a Rossville restaurant when caught
by the western Kansas sheriff.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-16
Ns LOUISE VER1uLO

Chicago, Ill. Nov. 15.-Charged with
the murder of one man and with nine
other deaths which circumstantial evil
dence may eventually trace to her acts,
Mrs. Louise Vermilya stands today
either the most maligned woman in
the world or the most hideous criminal
of the last century. She stoutly main
tains her innocence and even though
arsenic greatly in excess of two grains
has been found in the liver of the late
Arthur Bissonette, there is no legal
proof so far on earth which win lay
the act to the hands of Mrs. Vermilya-
As matter of fact it has now been
established that Bissonette was under
the doctors care and had been given
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-16
NOT A MAN WILL GO
Only Taft's Orders Win Soldiers Be
Moved to China.

Washington. Nov. 16.-Not a soldier
will leave the Philippines for China ex-
cept on orders from President Taft.
Such orders have not yet been given.
The president late today will confer
with Secretary Stimson and Major
General Leonard Wood, chief of staff
In anticipation of the issue of the
order, the war department has made
every preparation for a speedy move
ment of a regiment from Manila to
Chin Wing Tao on the railroad run
ming from Picking via Tfen Tsin to
Mukden.
It is presumed the choice will fall
on one of the infantry regiments of
which there are now three at Manila
or close by. Either of these could be
landed in Chin Wing Tao in six or
seven days.
Representations were made in an
unofficial manner to the state depart
ment several days ago Ey some of the
foreign ministers in China through the
American legation that it was incum-
bent on the United States to furnish
troops as part of an international
police force to keep open the railroads
from Picking to the sea and also to
protect foreigners in the event of an
archy.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-16

Specific 6O6'' which contains a large
amount of arsenic. 1t is claimed,
however, that this arsenic is SO treated
chemically before it is put into the
medicine that it has no effect on the
organs of a normal body. The bodies
of at least two of the other men who
have died mysteriously are to be ex-
humed for examination and should
arsenic be found it will be a strong link
in the circumstantial evidence which
will have to be relied upon largely to
convict Mrs. Vermilya.
One of the principal witnesses in the
trial will be Lydia Rivard now known
to have been the fiancee of Arthur Bis
Sonette.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-11-16
OLD SONG IS BARRED
Nebraska Students Forbidden to Sing
s'The Gangs All Here

Lincoln. Neb. Nov. 16.-As a result
of continued complaints from theater
managers and others Chancellor Avery
and others of the Nebraska university
have placed a ban on that old time
college favorite son Hail, hail the
gangs all here"
In an order issued he threatens with
expulsion students who sing it in pub
lie or indulge in similar acts of i'm
propriety-
This is in line with the State Jour-
nal cartoon last Saturday.