davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
FOR A SANE FOURTH.

Independence day in 1912 should
have a new meaning. 1t should
stand for liberation from the old
idea that the only way to celebrate
the birthday of the country was by
a saturnalia Of noise, destruction
and death. So many better, more
enjoyable and more fitting observ-
ances of the day have been de-
vised and proved out, that there is
now no excuse for allowing the an
matter of noise.
The sane Fourth idea is no longer
fad. 1t is an established fact in
such centers as New York and Chi
cago, and if these large cities can
control and prohibit the nuisances
Of dangerous explosives there is
little wonder that thousands of
smaller cities and towns have also
barred the old-time riot of death and
destruction. Sanity has taken the
place of the crazy notion that noise
stands for patriotism.
AS the result of this movement
the Fourth of July deaths last year,
as recorded by The Journal of the
American Medical association, were
only tifty-seven, as compared with
131 in 1910 and 215 in 1909, while
the roll of injuries was reduced in
equal proportion. The fire losses
due to the celebration were almost
in the cities in which the
sane Fourth was observed, as against
the former expectations that the day
should break all records for the
of alarms
These benefits should be made gen
eral, and they will be if the NUM-
cipallties will enact and enforce
the necessary ordinances and the
public sentiment of the community
will stand behind them. Independs
ence day should mean too much to
the nation and the individual in
these times of change and progress
to permit its lessons to be obscured
by an orgie of fire and noise.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
WHAI MANkATO NEEDS.

To the Mankato Fire department
a large measure of credit is due fOr
the most excellent work that was
done by that splendid organization
last night in the prevention of a
spread of the flames to the many
manufacturing and industrial plants
which surround the malt factory.
Compelled to labor with Anticipated
apparatus and a water pressure that
is a disgrace to the city, the fire.
men are certainly to be commended
for the way they can stay the flames
and stop the destruction of much
valuable property, as was demon
strated last night.
Last nights most regrettable fire
is another stern reminder of the
naked fact that this city is very
stability equipped with the means
with which to fight flames. The de-
partment is handicapped with the
possession of equipment that is out
of date and lacking in many of the
devices which are absolutely neces-
sary to battle against flames that
threaten to eat up property of great
value. There is a lack of water
pressure, also. A laymen's eye can
discover the defects and the want of
necessary equipment. How much
longer shall this condition of things
keep Mankato in jeopardy?
Luckily for Mankato, the wind was
not doing it's worst last night. Luckily
for Mankato, Jupiter Pluvius had
been active for several days and the
buildings and air were damp-other-
wise this city's manufacturing dis
trict might have been wiped out. en-
failing a stupendous loss to the own
ers of plants, the throwing out of
employment of several hundred of
people, and besides, this community
could hardly expect to gain for
years to come what it would have
lost in a few hours. Luck and an eff
ficient fire department has come to
the rescue of Mankato on number
of occasions when lives and prop
erty have been endangered by fire.
But these cannot always win--the
city needs a more adequate equip
ment with which to protect property
against fire. =
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
WHY WE FIGHT TUBERCULOSIS.


People used to think tuberculo
sis was inherited. If your parents
had it, you were sure to have it,
was the idea. When it was studied
more this was proved false and it
was also found that tuberculosis
killed more people than any other
disease, and that it can be pre-
vented.
There is no need of getting tuber-
culosis. Cleanliness, light and air
in the house do much to prevent
development of germs which may
lodge there from those who already
have the disease.
There were 1855 people killed
on the Titanic and yet in Minnesota
each year over 1000 people die of
tuberculosis. Most of these lives
can be saved. Isn't it worth fight
ing for?
tuberculosis very often takes the
man of the house when he is in his
prime and children are dependent
on him. And yet tuberculosis is
easily controlled.
The state spends three cents per
capita to keep the public healthy
and $3.50 per capita to educate the
children. 1t spends more to protect
and develop the game and fish of
the state than it does to guard
public health.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21

votes go to Lee. The vote then
stands:
Gordon, 90; Eberhart, 95; Lee, 55
Still no candidate has majority
Mr.. Lee who is now the lowest is
dropped and his. strength prorated
in accordance with the desire of the
voters indicated on the tally sheet
The tally sheet shows that thirty
five of the forty-five votes who pick
ed Lee as first choice wanted Cor
don as the second choice. Adding
those thirty-five votes to the total
first choice votes of Gordon, the
votes stands.
Gordon, 1875; Eberhart, los. In this
instance Gordon would be declared
the selection.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21

to know that the paid political ad
/ vertisements have mighty little in1u
ence with the editorial policy of the
majority of newspapers. Despite the
impression to the contrary, the edi-
| torial policy of most newspapers is
not placed upon the political bargain
counter to be sold to the highest bid
der. Newspapers as a rule are not
venal. Once in a while candidates
for office will be held up by impe-
cunious editors who look forward to
each succeeding campaign with a
lustful eyea They hope to reap a
rich harvest by preying upon the
luckless candidates who fall readily
forl their greedy touch"
The Free Press does not believe
the members of the state legislature
will be so foolish as to pass an act
that would result in forcing the
newspapers to print legitimate po-
litical advertising free. The standing
announcement of any, mans candi-
dacy for a public position is legiti
mate advertising-as much so as a
card inserted by merchant inform
ing the people that he has GER
tain article for sale, and it should
be paid for. Be it said to their
credit, candidates for office pay for
this, kind of advertising willingly.
They do not expect the space free
OF COST. They realize that to ask
free newspaper space would be
rank imposition upon the publisher.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
SITTING UP-TAklNG NOTICE.

Now that this city has suffered
the loss of one of it's large indus
tries by fire, the property owners
are beginning to sit up and take
notice of a condition of things
that was brought to light through
the columns of The Free Press a
number of months ago, when at
tention was called to the inadequate
supply of fire apparatus and the de,
plorable lack of water pressure.
Several columns of this newspaper
were given up to a discussion OF the
needs of a better and more up-tO-
date equipment At the time that
article appeared there had been no
fire of any consequence to arouse
the public mind to the real situa-
tion, and this newspaper was charg-
ed, by some people with indulgence
inE a piece of sensationalism, and
an~T attempt to throw the scare
into the public. Others raised the
old y hackneyed and worn out cry
that's we were knocking" the town.
However, the attitude which was
courageously taken by The Free
Press then is now being Endorsed
by "a the Heaviest property owners
who have been brought to a full
realization of the situation by the
burning of plant which this COM
munity' can ill-afford to lose Months
ago The Free Press pointed out
the needs of the fire department and
suggested plan whereby the water
PRESSURE could be increased. Also,
attention was called to the crying
need of, proper equipment with
which to rescue people from three
and four'' story enthusiastically
hotels, in case one of them should
be in flames. The entire situation
was gomez over and property own
ers were urged to do something in
the premises. Now they are going
to act.
In view Of the publicity that was
given the matter and the frequent
references, Ito the needs of the fire
department since the original story
was published, The Free Press is
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
June 21-2S July 5.
ORDER FOR HEARING ON PET

OtlDEh fOh G1EAhlINH YIN r. L
TON TO CONVEY LANDS ON
CONTRACT.
STATE OF MINNESOTA, County of
Blue Earth.-ss. In Probate Court.
In the Matter of the Estate of Ber-
tina Larvick, Deceased.
On reading and filing the petition
of Louis Larvick of the town of
Rapidan, county of Blue Earth,
claiming to be entitled to a convey
ance of certain real estate from the
administrator of said estate, setting
forth that Bertha Larvick. deceased,
was bound by a contract in writing
to convey said real estate to the
said Louis Larvick upon the terms
and conditions therein stated, with
a description of the land to be con-
veyed, and the facts upon which
such claim to conveyance is predict
ed. and praying that the probate
court make a decree authorizing and
directing the said Nels Larvick, ad-
ministrator of said estate, to convey
such real estate to said petitioner
as the person entitled thereto.
1t is therefore ordered, that all
persons interested in said estate
may appear before this court at a
special term thereof to be held on
Saturday, the 18th day of July. A.
ID. 1912, at ten o'clock in the fore
noon, at the probate office in the
court house in the city of Mankato,
in said county, and oppose said petit
ton.
And it is further ordered. that
this order shall be published once In
each week for three successive
weeks prior to said day of hearing
in The Mankato Free Press, a week
ly newspaper printed and published
at Mankato, Minnesota, in said
county.
Dated at Mankato, the 18th day OF
June, A. d. 1912.
By the Court,
EVAN HUGHES.
Judge of Probate.
probate Seal)
S. B. Wilson, Attorney.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
DRUNK AND INTOXICATED

Difference in degrees of intoxica-
ton are recognized by the Texas
court of criminal appeals. The court
adopts this dictum in a brief of Attor-
ney General Lightfoot: at is eX-
tremely difficult to draw the line on
a drunk There are various stages,
such as quarter drunk half drunk,
and dead drunk There are the
stages of being vivacious, foxy tip
sy,' and on a high lonesome and it
is about as difficult to determine
when a young lady is an old maid
as to tell when a man has taken
enough alcoholic stimulant to pass
the line between a Jolly sober and
'gentlemanly drunk" These
statements are in line with testi-
mony, reported in another Texas
case, that there is a generally rec
ognized difference between a person
being drunk and being intoxicated,
A person may be intoxicated, and
not be drunk as it is ordinarily under
stood. A person is intoxicated to
a certain extent when he takes one
drink, yet he is not drunk. One
drink will not ordinarily make a
man drunk. 1t will to a certain ex-
tent intoxicate him. Defendant had
the appearance of a man who was
drinking some, though to what eX-
tent | cannot say. He was not down,
but was able to attend to his bust
ness" The trial court, not able to
discover the recognized difference,
found him guilty; but the court on
appeal held that he was not drunk -
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
CONSUMERS AND PRODUCERS.

The WinOna Independent has been
drawing some interesting deductions
from recently issued census figures.
These reports show that in ten years
the urban population of the United
States increased about eleven mil.
lions, or nearly thirty-five per cent,
while the gain in rural population
was less than five million, or slightly
more than eleven per cent. In the
last census year fifty-four per cent
of the total population was classed
as rural, compared with fifty-nine
per cent in 1900, and sixty-four in
1890.
Notwithstanding the relatively
small increase in rural population,
the value of farm land more than
doubled in the ten years ending in
1910, though there was an addition
of only As per cent to the total farm
area. These comparisons give con-
elusive evidence that high prices of
food products may be expected to
continue. Extraordinarily large
crops may depress the cost of living
temporarily, but the disproportion-
ate growth of consumers and pro-
uuCSlo, duu IHS ObNlOuo DOoltlOl
of owners of land to hold tightly to
it, in the absence of any remaining
areas of cheap lands to develop,
leave no escape from continuing
high prices.
Even if there should be an impor-
tant movement of people back to the
farms, it would simply mean an in
creased demand for lands and con-
sequently an advance in their values,
or an extensive cultivation which
means increased capital and labor
expended to obtain larger crops.
Scientific investigation has demon
strated that increased yields from
the soil necessitate increased expen-
ditures for maintaining it's fertility
by replacing the elements taken out
by the plant growth thereon. In
view of these facts there is no prob
lem before the country which is of
greater Importance to the future
than that of putting scientific meth
DDS and efficiency into the farming
industry
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
THE "JAY" WALKER,

Much time and space are being
devoted these days to educating the
people on the prevention of dis
ease and the reduction of the death
rate from contagious diseases. On
many of these subjects the public
certainly needs to be instructed for
it's own protection. Yet there is
today a large loss of life that re-
suits not from ignorance, but from
carelessness- not from the careless
ness of some other person, but from
the carelessness of the one who
suffers. And in many instances it
is rank carelessness.
Kansas City has recently adopted
new ordinance for the control
of travel, not only on wheels, but
also on foot. The needless or fool
hardy person who will not protect
himself, but who strays all over the
street, who crosses in the middle
of the block, or who attempts to
save time by diagonal route in
stead of by adhering to the beaten
path, is to be regulated. Kansas
City has even invented an appro-
pirate name for these individuals.
They are called "jay walkers"
They are a danger not only to
themselves, but to others, and this
effort on the part of Kansas City
to regulate the pedestrian as well
as the driver and the chauffeur is
a step in the right direction, says
The Journal of the American Medi.
cal association. The needless loss
of life through personal carelessness
is hardly realized. Living condi-
tons and surroundings, especially
in large cities, are becoming more
complex each year. The path of
safety lies in the obedience to wise
restrictions
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
OH PIEElE-

The Milwaukee Physicians asso-
citation will prepare a bill for the
next legislature intended to stop the
practice of kissing and stamping
the habit as a blot on civilization
and a menace to health and de-
cency. The action was decided on
at recent meeting at which a
dozen or more papers were read on
the subject. A substitute for the
practice offered was that of rubbing
noses or foreheads, thus being held
more decent by the physicians. Oh
piffle.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21

in causing the arrest of the men
who are charged with having com
mitted the dastardly crime. More
often are officers assisted than
handicapped by the newspapers in
their efforts to run down criminals,
as it proved in this instance, and
the action of the Goodhue county
grand jury in censuring The Re-
publican is huge piece of non
sense, and no doubt was done at
the behest of some person who
had an axe to grind, but did not
have the courage to turn the handle
himself in the open.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
GRAND JURY AND NEWSPAPER.


The Goodhue county grand jury
criticised The Redwing Daily Re-
publican for being "overzealous in
with the murder of Mr. and Mrs.
Anton Schill," and proceeds to kick
The Republican around, charging
that newspaper with having hindered
the officers in ferretting out the per-
petrators of the dastardly crime.
The Republican replies to these
structures in this language: when,
in due time, the Republican decides
to tell the inside history of the
Schill case, the impudence, absurity
and utter falsity of these charges
against this paper will be known,
also be the members of the grand
jury, who have had the wool pulled
over their eyes and who have, no
doubt, unwittingly, been made cats
paws to pull somebody's political
chestnuts out of the fire. The jury
received only official information on
this subject.
Gas far as this paper knows, not
any sworn testimony on this subject
was taken by the grand jury-at
least The Republican was not call
ed to state it's side of the case. Elk
cept for The Republican there would
have been no one for the grand
jury to indict the Schill murders,
and the Republican has the evidence
to prove it. Any one who thinks
he can cover up official incompetent.
cy in set of grand jury resolutions
adopted without competent evidence
has another think coming"
The Free Press believes The Re.
publican was a very effective agency
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21

What business has anyone to ask
us for whom we are going to vote.
No one but belcher brags about
how he casts his vote and nine
times out of ten he votes the other
way" says The Lake Crystal Union
Any man who considers it an af-
front if his politics is inquired into
and is ashamed to acknowledge his
allegiance to a political party, should
not "belch" if that party does not
extend to him official favors.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
SEATS 'EM ALIVE"

The st. Paul Dispatch republican
convention artist caught a glimpse
of Judge William F. Hughes and
proceeded to cartoon" the Mankato
man. We are of the opinion that
the Judge has good grounds for a
libel suit against The Dispatch for
the reason that he is made to look
like one who leafs 'em alive" and
all of us know that Mr.. Hughes is
as mild hammered and as gentle
looking a man as ever participated
in politics. The Dispatch says
Judge Hughes is busy man around
the Minnesota Headquarters.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
THE PACKING INDUSTRY

The census bureau has just made
public report showing that 1OS,-
716 persons were engaged, in the
meat packing industry at the time
of the last census of whom 1859
were proprietors and that the aver
age number of wage workers was
S9,72S. The capital invested was
1888, 249,170. The expenses were
$1,316,366,S7S, of which the owners
received $4,917,326 and the workers
$51 ,644.72O The difference between
cost of materials and value of prod
ucts was $16S,740,317 There were
,641 slaughtering or meat packing
houses.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
PRESIDENT is A FAN.


President Taft attended a baseball
game in Washington this afternoon
and was more interested in who
was "swatting" the ball than he
was in who was chosen temporary
secretary of the republican national
convention.
Time after time, the president
has attended the games at Washing
ton and elsewhere throughout the
nation, and his genuine love of the
sport is too we'll known to require
further comment here.
Naturally, everyone connected with
baseball is pleased to know that
President Taft likes the sport. 1t
helps baseball and is an Endorsement
that means much.
The president, however, not only
likes the game, he also understands
it thoroughly and takes a keen in
terest in every play that transpires
on the diamond.
When an undergraduate at Yale
he played baseball himself and the
love for the contest which he &C.
quired in these early days has grown
steadily with the tremendous adj
vance of the national game down
to the present time.
The president has always follow.
ed baseball as closely as his many
conflicting cares would permit
throughout his very active career.
So far as he has been in a posi-
ton to do SO. he has supported the
game officially as well as privately
He encouraged Uncle Sans sol
diers to play ball in the Philippines
and was one of the strongest factors
in advancing baseball on the road
to becoming an international game
In his own modest way he has
done more than the public realizes
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
ILLITERACY IN NATIONS.

Considered without qualifying cir
the latest official reports
indicate that only three persons out
of ten thousand in Germany are I'M
able to read or write. while the pro-
portion of illiteracy in Great Britain
is $50 per 10000 as against TO per
10000 in the United States. These
figures are based on comparison
of illiteracy among some of the lead
ing nations which has just been
made by the United States bureau
of education. The bureau has used
the preliminary figures of the 1910
census for this country, and the
the others.
Although America seems to make
bad third in the comparison, the
bureau of education's publication
calls attention. to circumstances
which tend to put a much better
face upon the matter. Thus, the
American figures include the entire
population more than ten years of
age, while the German figures cover
only the army recruits, and the
British statistics are based on data
drawn wholly from official marriage
registers. Hence the German and
British statistics deal only with
adults, and generally speaking, with
physically and mentally normal
adults, while the. United States cen
sus includes without discrimination
everyone above the ten-year age
limit ..
Again. it is pointed out, the show
ing of the United States is brought
down by reason Of the fact that the
country has a large population of
foreign born. whites as well as color
ed persons, among whom the per-
centage of illiteracy is 1928 per cent
and 30.5 per cent, respectively. The
iliteracy among the native whites
of this country is only three per
cent.
Density of population has an i'm
pOrtant bearing on the problems in
cident to bringing the children to-
gether for purposes OF education,
and therefore is an important con-
sideration when discussing illiteracy
statistics.
In this connection the document
issued by the bureau of education
shows that the number of inhabit-
ants per square mile in the Ger
man Empire is more than 80, in
Great Britain practically 463, and in
this country just a shade over 30.
France, with a population of 1895
persons to the square mile, has ia
per cent of illiterates in it's popula-
ton over ten years of age. 1t
should be noted however, according
to the bureau of educations report,
that this includes large number
Of persons who never had the benefit
of compulsory education laws, which
were enacted in 1882.
The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-06-21
NEWSPAPER ADS THE BEST.

Speaking before the members of
the Mississippi Bankers association
at Gulfport. Miss, says The Keo-
kuk Gate City, the other day, r. l..
Quincy, in charge of the savings de-
partment of the Commonwealth Trust
company at ST. Louis, characterized
the different devices and advertising
plans sold to bankers of the United
States as lemons"
Some of these lemons" are pro-
grams, dignifed announcements of
the banks name, capital and loca-
ton, special write-ups, and spas
modic instead of constant use of