davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

The fact that Great Britain was nearly
paralyzed recently by sailors strike,
recalls some interesting experiences OF
other nations.
In August, 1909. business in Sweden was
was ordered, and 10000 men were idle.
Crossing 10 Sweden from Denmark, 1t
was amazing to come into Stockholm.
The chimneys were smokeless, there was
no movement in the docks. and no noise
anywhere. All laborers, practically. were
out on strike and when the fear Of such
a strike became reality many families
in Stockholm and other cities laid in
supplies of food for a month ahead. No
tramcars were running, no cabs, no mo-
tors, no ships were sailing. Sweden was
paralyzed, literally and truly.
The postal strike in France, Just over
a couple Of years ago. upset the whole
system of communication between France
and other countries. For days kilograms
from London to Paris were sent via New
York because 1t was quicker! Thousands
Of kilograms to Paris were sent by post
and delivered days late. Urgent COM
munications went by train per special
messenger. For some days no kilograms
or telephone messages were possible to
French towns from outside. Business
was terribly disorganized. and France
was tied down in the meshes Of strike
which would have soon broken her but
for the strong action OF her ministers
Russia will never forget the great rail-
way strike which brone out on October
N, 1906. Before 1t was finished over 1000
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
Ma TIONS PARALYZED BY STRIKES
England, Sweden, France, Russia, and Germany
Have Felt the Force of Labor Troubles.

people had been killed and wounded. ana
s2o. 100000 worth Of property had been de-
stroyed. During this strike cities were
cut of from one another, food supplies
ran short there being no railways to
carry them, and, in fact. Russia was help
less. Starvation stared the people in the
strike was finally ended at Moscow amid
scenes Of bloodshed and grim horror OF
which only Russia Is capable.
In Great Britain the engineers dis
pute, which started in August, 1896. did
not finish till January, 1898. Every trade
was affected. Millions OF pounds worth
of trade was lost to England. The untold
misery that the strike brought in It's
train, both to those chiefly responsible
for the strike and others, will never be
known or realized.
Germany was faced with her biggest
strike in 1883. It gave her her severest
shaking. and so bitter was the feeling
Of the strikers that even the personal
Intervention Of the Emperor failed to
bring about a reconciliation. In a week
the number OF strikers had risen from
5000 TO 10000. The military was called
out and fierce fighting took place between
them and the strikers, involving loss of
life and limb. Eventually. after trade
all over Germany had been at a stand
still for several months, the strike was
ended by the arrest of the whole Of the
principal leaders Of the workmen, some
forty in all. Without leaders, the men
submitted to terms and resumed work,
after having made the fatherland feel
pretty helpless
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

prepare the way for a really active
army; and the fact is offered as proof
that some of the most distinguished Off
GERS of our army have gained fame in
q new branch after serving in another.
In foreign armies, where large masses
of troops habitually maneuver together.
all officers learn something about each
of the three arms from observation and
practical experience. Here, where
troops are scattered in small bodies, in
telligent visiting between the three
branches, according to the Army and
Navy Register, would serve very use
ful purpose
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
Good Roads Again.

Next Thursday at Bristol, the city
built on both sides of the line dividing
the States of Tennessee and Virginia,
an important convention will be held to
organize the Bristol to Washington
Highway Association. The association
plans highway between that city and
the Capital as part of great military
and post road from Memphis to Wash
ington. Representatives of the govern
ment, the States, and the communities
along the proposed road are expected
to be present and bring the movement
to success.
There should be at least one repre-
sentative of the local interests of
Washington at that convention. This
city would benefit probably more than
any other community from the con-
struction of such a highway, and we
should have enough interest in the
project to send delegate. This is an
opportunity for the Chamber of Com
merce.
The subject of good roads has taken
a strong hold upon the people of Wash
illgton recently They have become in
terested seriously in the building of the
roads to Leesburg and Fairfax Court
House. They have started the move
ment for road. which would be .
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
Spoil His "Martyrdom. "

Warren, the Kansas Socialist editor,
refuses to accept the pardon granted
him by President Taft, and curious
legal quibble is the result Warren had
been sentenced to six months in
Leavenworth prison for misuse of the
mails. The President does not condone
the mans offense. He admits that the
pardon was granted to avoid aiding the
prisoner to pose as a martyr to the
cause" This is sound sense. But
Warren proposes to stay at the Federal
penitentiary for the full term of his SEN
tence as a heroic sufferer for the cause
of free speech.
Why the people of the United States
should board this man six months, just
to make martyr of him, is not ap-
parent II is not often that a prisoner
refuses a pardon. But if the Chief
Executive deems it proper that a par
don should be given for the best inter
ests of society, it seems absurd that such
official action should be nullifed so
easily. The Leavenworth prison author
titles should take chance, put the man
into a suit of civilian clothes, lead him
gently Cor otherwise) out through the
prison gates, and let him shift for HIM
self. Then, if he is ready to bring suit
or do one of the thousand desperate
things he threatens to do to the gov
ernment of the United States, why, let
him go ahead and try. Suppose the
matter was reversed and the man, upon
being sentenced after due process of
law, should take it into his head to de-
cline to go to prison? What would he
profit? The arm of the law would reach
out and quickly land him behind the
bars. 1t would be disgrace upon the
legal fraternity should he find some one
to serve injunctions upon Federal au-
thorities to hinder them giving him his
freedom.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
A Momentous Decision.

Not since the decision of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission in the
freight rate cases has that body taken
action so significant and far-reaching as
that announced in the Spokane and
Reno-Pacifc Coast matter. The COM
mission adheres to its strict interpreta-
ton of the short and long haul clause,
and again lays down the principle that
commercial and physical conditions,
rather than the discretion of railroad
managers, must control transportation
rates and determine market limitations
This is but another expression for its
judgment that commercial conditions
must supersede the opinions and will of
railroad heads. This is exactly what
the commerce law was intended to
evolve and to accomplish, and it re-
mains to be seen what the newly created
Commerce Court will have to say upon
appeal. We believe that the tribunal
will uphold the Interstate Commerce
Commission, for what holds good for
the East applies just as forcibly to the
West or far West.
In the Pacific case the commission
has reafirmed certain trade principles
and has divided the country between
the Atlantic and Pacific into five
freight zones. 1t has indicated to
what extent rates may be reduced to
meet water competition, and has fixed
maximum percentages to intermediate
points over rates to distant points A
decision that covers so much ground
will eventually be reviewed by the Court
of Commerce.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

The end of the world has now oeen
definitely fixed for 1916!
It is really extraordinary the number
Of people who believe in an early END OF
the world. Thousands have been ois-
appointed at various dates. and no DOUBT
thousands more will be disappointed In
this oft-looked-for event.
London has suffered from several end
of-the-world panics. 1t was predlcteo
that on a certain October Is the city
would be destroyed, destruction to De
followed shortly by the end of the earth.
For some reason or other people became
panic-stricken. Thousands rushed out to
Hampstead and other outlying suburbs
on the 18th, watching and fearing. All
through the night they waited, and all
through the weary hours of the 18th
they kept watch. with blanched faces,
for the expected catastrophe. AT mid
night thousands Of tired-out specimens
of humanity found the world still solid
and intact, and walked home In disgust.
In 1912 a prophet predicted the end OF
all things, beginning with the destruction
of London on March 1e Like the
preyious prediction, II failed to come on,
though thousands of people fled into the
country before the fatal" day.
Just over two years ago there was
great excitement In this country. No
fewer than three different prophets had
hxed on December "a, 1908. as the last
day of ali, and had advised their fol-
lowers TO wind up their earthly affairs.
spaneier was the chief OF these prophets,
ana many Of his followers. anxious TO
hear ths nrst blast Of the trumpet 81 the
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
A Spooky Story from Roanoke.
An Editorial Dictated Upon Cylinder Interrupted by
Unknown Woman's Voice

From ths Roanoke Times, August 4
Now, by way of variety, We will have
what will sound like a creepy ghost
story. Nobody in the Roanoke Times
establishment believes in spiritualism or
spooks. But here is what happened ex-
actly:
We have had installed In the editorial
rooms dictaphone. 1t is an instrument
into which you dictate. A typewriter
takes out the wax cylinder and starts
the machine going and writes from it
precisely the words spoken into It. 1t is.
in fact, photograph arranged for prac-
tical business purposes.
Yesterday young lady typewriter was
taking from the instrument a short edi-
torial article for the Evening News on
the Beattie murder case. Suddenly she
stopped and laughed.
What is this you did here?' she ask
ed. The editor went to the instrument,
turned It to repeat, and therel were
heard the words low pitched and slow.
recalling in connection with the Beattie
affair the horrible Jeter Phillips wife
murder of some forty-three years ago.
1t went on steadily to the sentence, speak
ing of Phillips. He had his wife not
only dead, but buried in an unknown
grave"
Right there broke in on the record a
woman's voice, high pitched, SO shrill as
to be almost a suppressed shrek. hur
ried, and with Northern accent:
Wait a minute. You don't know the
circumstances"
1t was exactly the voice of a woman
somewhat excited. desperately anxious
to prevent somebody from saying any
thing she did not want said.
The cylinder went on steadily again
after the interruption. without a pause
in the voice OF the man debating. The
article was dictated between 4 and
o'clock Monday morning. while there was
not a human being in the Times building
but the editor who was using the instru-
ment. He was not conscious OF any in
terruption. The article was the last of
a string he was giving out and he was
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
New Plan for Army Promotions.

The Army and Navy Register sug-
gests that the army is to blame for many
of the defects in military legislation, in
that the question Of the national de-
fenses quite frequently is obscured by
the never ceasing effort for promotions
The paper says that if an attempt is
made by one of the arms of the serv-
ice to secure a necessary increase, other
arms oppose it or demand such increase
for themselves, although it be not neces-
sary. This causes the Register to
make the proposition that for purposes
Of promotion all officers be placed on a
single list in the order of their original
entry into the service as commissioned
officers When a vacancy occurs in any
branch of the service in a grade above
that of second lieutenant, it could be
filled by the promotion of the senior
officer in the grade below, without
reference to the arm in which that eff
Ger might serve at the time. The ad-
vantage of this plan would be that the
order of promotion would not be af-
fected by any possible changes in Or
ganization. The senior. by virtue of
length of service, would always retain
his seniority.
But, of course, there is an objection
Officers might have to go from one
branch of the service to another. A
cavalry officer. for instance, would not
very well be able to perform the duties
of field artillery or infantry officer.
This objection, it is answered, might be
overcome by detailing such officers as
regimental quartermasters, or on. re-
eruiting service or upon other routine
work that did not especially require
an intimate knowledge of any special
arm of the service. Il Is also urged
that bringing together the three arms
infantry, cavalry, and artillery-thus re-
moving the cause Of such rivalry, would
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
VIRGINIA LITERARY CENTER.
Official List Shows Six Best Selling
Books Written in that state.
ESo~, paI,;r,o-, Ga,

Official List Shows Six Best Selling
Books Written in that State.
Ffum the Baltimore Sun.
The literary center Of the United States
has shifted from Indiana to Virginia.
The Bookman's official list Of the six
best selling books in the United States is
as follosw:
THE Long Roll" by Johnston, 81
points; THE Prodigal Judge" by Kester,
los; The Broad Highway" by Farnol.
1876; Miss Gibbie Gault," by Bosher. 142;
"Queed," by Harrison. Ia: THE Miller of
Old Church." by Glasgow. sc.
The author OF The Long Rolf is Miss
Mary Johnston, Of Richmond, and the
hero of the book is Stonewall Jackson
Mr.. Kester, who wrote THE Prodigal
Judge" lived at Gunston Hall, the IA
nous old home Of the Masons, in vir-
ginia, not far from Washington.
"Queed" is one of the surprises Of the
year, Richmond book written by Henry
Sydnor Harrison, a young Virginian, who
has scored success in his first book.
Miss Ellen Glasgow has won an assured
position, and it is no surprise that she
retains her hold on the reading public.
She is an ardent Virginian and lives in
Richmond.
Most Of the books published are sold
in the North and West and the pro-
nounced popularity of Southern authors
must be due to the merit of their works
AS a matter of fact, the four numbered
among the six best sellers" are uncom-
monty good novels. There is evidence
enough that the revival In Southern
literature" We have looked for so long
has arrived, but the literature is not
merely Southern" as no true literature
is sectional, but makes national ap-
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

hurrying to get through. He could not. tf
his life depended on 1t, produce a tone
so shril and feminine as that In which
the words quoted above were spoken
The record was left on the machine
which was covered. So far as is known
no woman had access to the instrument
until it was uncovered for TRANSCRIPTION,
and it seems to be impossible that any
body could have interjected that special
sentence at that special place.
The cylinder has been put away
marked until somebody expert in such
matters can undertake to explain It.
At least twenty people heard yesterday
the record repeat itself with the same
sharp expostulation, or ejaculation. In
fact. the cylinder was run through so.
many times that 1t became indistin-
guishable so that the wait a minute!"
was blurred; but you don't know the
circumstances" with the peculiar infiec-
tion of remonstrance on the last word.
continued to be plain.
To satisfy the curiosity OF those in
terested, 1t may be added that no
Northern woman was interested in
Jeter Phillips and that he confessed his
guilt.
Now we shall wait to see II any
body familiar with the dictaphone and
its peculiarities can or will suggest an
explanation Of how those two sentences
got on the wax record. fitting in so
pat, coming in a strange female voice in
a deserted building at 4 o'clock in the
morning. We assume there must be some
physical explanation; and suggestions re-
garding what 1t is may be entertaining
II not informing. Everybody here Is
thoroughly puzzled. All We get Is the
surmise that some woman or ventril-
oquist succeeded in slipping into the Of
fee between hours and pulling OF most
complicated and astonishing trick: but
this is not plausible to those who know
the conditions.
From the Roanoke Times August s.
Nobody has explained how that won-
ans voice got on our dictaphone CYL
inder.
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
WHEN WILL WORLD END? ?
Thousands of People Deluded Into Belief that
Destruction viii Be Soon.

archangel, refused to go to bed on the
Saturday night. At dawn a large num-
Der Of them put on white dresses special
ly made for the occasion. According
to Prophet Spangler, the skies were to
have rolled back like scroll about
IL a. m. Unfortunately for the truth
of this, 1t showed all the time, and
Spangler's followers, besides catching
cold. became the laughingstock Of the still
solid earth. A warrant was issued for
the prophet-who had conveniently dis
appeared, by the wagon the ground
that he was a public nuisance.
Many people will recollect Prof Falb,
who, ten years ago, announced that the
world would be destroyed by a comet on
November 13 Thousands Of credulous
persons made preparations for the end
In Russia, where superstition is rife,
many of the peasants stared drinking
bouts the night before In their terror.
only to wake up with splitting head
aches Russian peasants are particularly
prone to believe In this kind Of thing
Just over sixteen years ago a Mo-
hammedan religious prophet stirred up
panic among thousands of natives by his
predictions Arabs spent days and
night In prayers. and the panic spread to
the local JewH. When II was at its
height the prophet announced that he
and certain of his followers would be
spared when the end came. For con-
sideration In cash. many OF his panic
stricken followers found that they also
could be saved. Needless TO say. Africa
became too hot for the prophet, and
after a short while he was forced 10 nee
from the scene Of biz utae sWandls
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
The Situation in Congress.

The situation in Congress is ex-
tremely interesting. Future events will
demonstrate whether the Democratic
party in the House, having assembled
with all the blaze and glory of rocket,
will come down like stick.
1t seems hardly possible that Senator
La Toilette and Chairman Underwood
will fail to come to an agreement upon
the wool bill. The opportunity that is
afforded to reach a compromise, and
thus convince the country that tariff
revision was a sincere effort, cannot be
lightly regarded. The runor that
President Taft will veto the measure
ought not to affect the situation. He
will do his duty as he sees it, exactly as
Congress ought to do its duty from its
point of view. The spectacle of the
measure left high in the air by the fail
ure of the Democrats and tariff-reform
Republicans to agree will not be edify-
ing. 1t would appear as if both sides
had INDUCED in political jockeying, and
that the accomplishment of results was
merely a secondary consideration.
The Democrats cannot expect to es
cape criticism if the session adjourns
without action on the cotton schedule
bill. 1t has been stated upon the floor
of the House that the wool bill affected
Northern and Western interests, and
that the cotton bill was a matter in
which Southern manufacturers are
largely concerned The two bills were
admittedly complementary to each
other. If, after having passed wool
bill in both Houses, the cotton revision
measure shall remain unacted upon, the
Democrats will be put unanswerably
upon the defensive by every Republican
campaign speaker throughout the land
And if nothing is done with the steel
and iron schedule, Mr.. Bryan will re-
gard himself as vindicated, and his
large following will be inclined to agree
with him.
The Democrats are by no means out
of the woods One man can save them
from their dilemma If President Taft,
in vetoing the wool bill, shall state posi-
lively that he will also veto any tariff
bill which may reach him, the Demo-
Gratis may feel justified in letting the
cotton bill sleep peacefully and ignore
the iron and steel schedule altogether.
1t would be somewhat interesting,
however. if the House organization
should joyfully seize upon the declara-
ton of President Taft as an excuse to
let them all run home
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07
CURIOUS BITS OF HISTORY
By A. w. MACY.

A GREAT ,CoRsICAN PATRIOT.
Napoleon was not the only
great man born on the island
of Corsica. Pasquale de Paoli,
one of the great patriots Of his
tory, was a Corsican. For moro
Corsica had been under the con-
troll Of the Genoese. In 1855, un-
der the leadership of Paoli, she
threw of the Genoan yoke. For
fourteen years thereafter Paoli
administered the affairs of the
island and did 1t wisely and well.
He brought about many reforms.
and encouraged commerce and
the arts. In 1859. having "pur-
chased" the island from the
Genoese, France landed an army
of $4,000 soldiers. Paoli with a
few thousand Corslcans met
them boldly, but was badly de-
feated. With his little army re-
duced to 537 men and surrounded
by 1000 French. he cut his way
out and escaped to England. The
French conquered the island, but
at cost of more than 10000 men,
nearly half of whom were killed.
Paoli remained in England
twenty years. At the outbreak
of the French revolution he re-
turned to Corsica and became
military governor. He soon
broke with the French, however,
and returned to England, where
he died in 1907. Eighty years
afterward his ashes were re-
moved to Corsica and entombed
with great honors. Lamartine,
the eminent French writer. said:
Corsica remains still in the
place of a mere province. but
Paoli assumes his place among
the ranks of great men,"
Copyright. 1911. BY Joeeph B. Bowiez)
To-morrow-"AT Terrible Battle
Ship"
The Washington herald., 1911-08-07

not allowed to marry unless they are
wealthy, or have rich fathers who guar
antee them a sufficient income to allow
them to live in the style befitting an
imperial officer. or their brides bring
them certain stipulated dowries. Never
theless the press which caters to the
upper classes continues to preach long
sermons TO the nobility on the sin of
associating with people beneath them in
rank. They scoff at the snobbishness
OF the bourgeois families who run after
titled men.
Holland paid a neat and quite unique
compliment to President Fallieres, Of the
French republic. on the occasion Of his
recent visit to Queen Wilhelmina and her
consort, Prince Heinrich of Mecklenberg.
And it was one OF the pleasantest sur
prises OF his life. NJ. Fallieres is famous
for the polka-dot ties he wears and
which in French official circles have be-
come a fad. A florist at The Hague
knew this. and had set about developing
a blue tulip. which is as great a rarity
as a blue rose. He not only succeeded,
but nature seemed to have gone into the
spirit OF the thing with a will, for gen.
erously she not only gave the tulip
blue surface, but spangled II all over
with white spots. or course, II was
named for the President, who received
so many specimens of the rare flower that
he was able TO match his ties with a
buttonhole bouquet every day. NJ. Fall
Heres was profuse in expressing his ap-
probation, and the President Fallieres
tulip" became famous in a day. Polka
dot hat trimmings for ladies have be-
come the rage in Holland. FLANEUR.
Copyright 1911. by Court Gossip Syndicate)