davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1912-07-15

do In one respect entertain the children
from about ten years up, for which the
committee are deserving of a great deal
OF credit, more than is given them, but
the children under ten years derive no
benefit or pleasure from the safe and
sane celebration. because they are too
young to take part in the sports which
are furnished, and by the time the fire.
works are started II is their bed time
and the display is only enjoyed by the
older folks. II we can stand the noise
of the day, / would think II advisable
that the Honorable Commissioners mod
ify their orders and allow the younger
children the use OF small set lights. cap
canes. and such pieces. in which there
are no harm or danger. and which could
be enjoyed by them without attracting
the attention OF the older ones. II such
a privilege existed for the small chill
dren there is no doubt that the commit
tee would get a larger subscription than
In the past. We as residents are en-
titled to a privilege which Is taken
away without our consent. The greater
number who would contribute leave
town TO enjoy the Old Fourth with its
glory, and leave the committee to en-
tertain those who do not care whether
there is any celebration or not. / would
willingly subscribe for the privilege
mentioned. H. W. STEWART
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
Here's Man With Convictions And
Desire to Back Them.

To the Editor of THE TIMES:
CLOSE Observer" In his TRADE against
Roosevelt must have his lens reversed.
He has been viewing T. r. from the
big end of his scope"
I, too. have been an unprejudiceo
and close observer Of Theodore Roose-
welt for a number of years. have been
able, l believe, with a clear vision, to
see him and his work, and from my
study OF the man, of the things he has
done, and of what he Is now doing, IN
comparison with other great characters
of the world. I am forced to the con-
clusion that there Is only one other
man in the world who Is abe even to
approach him in the greatness of his
character. and that man Is the great
commoHer." w. j. Bryan.
Ones vision must be narrow or warp
ped when in the same breath. in speak
ing OF two of the worlds greatest
statesmen. who, though leader of DIFF
ferent parties, have the same aims, he
Theodore Roosevelt is the man ioI
the hour" The work he is 10 perform
could not be done by another. In my
opinion, the American people believe
him to be sincere and hopest, and they
will put in his hands the power to 90
the work they want done.
I feel certain that he will be elected
to become the next President of the
United States. and I will wager nov
Moose" ultlers fully mounted, with the
moose behind, against mis- litrle narrow
''scope," that II he does, he will ask
the Great Commoner to become his chief
Cabinet officer
Z. B. WEBSTER.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
Here's a Plan to Stop the Liquor
Evils By Way Of the Drinker.

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
have been reading with a great deal
OF interest recent articles in the papers
on the saloon evil. The writer's, It
seems to me, like all good people oppos-
ing this evil, are on the wrong track.
According to my way of thinking. the
remedy does not lie in condemning the
manufacturer or the wholesaler or the
retailer of intoxicating liquors and sub
NIT the following for discussion by
your readers:
loon keeper, condemn his patrons.
Second. Instead Of licensing the sa-
Icon keeper. as now, license his patrons.
The total revenue can be made about
the same and we will at once put the
saloon on a higher plane by compelling
all drinkers to have a drinkers license.
The treating evil will disappear as will
also the back door, the painted door
and screens now used for the protection
OF the hypocrite. No one will be de-
drunkenness. drunken disturbances,
neglect OF homes, etc, will all disap-
pear when they know they will
cause a revocation of the drink
er's license. Proper safeguards can
be ,r thrOWp arc around or.Gns the oTistna. Ttan.a
to drink and its renewal dependent up
on the action and conduct OF the hold
or. Thousands upon thousands of men
and women who now patronize the sa-
to apply for a drinkers license. The
evil of minors drinking would also dis
appear.
Don't deprive men and women of their
liberties to drink but compel them to
get a drinkers license and we will have
made long stride in the right direc-
tion. EUGENE ELLSWORTH,
1924 Columbia Road n. w.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
ST. SW|TH|N'S DAY.
AS AN INDEX OF
FLOODORDROUGHT
of English Bishop
Gives This Date Undue
Importance.

II the yellow almanac had as potent
an effect on the daily life of Americans
as II once had In rural communities
the skies today would be watched with
apprehension; for this is st. Swithin's
day, and II II rains today there will be
forty moist days to follow, and II IL re-
mains clear and dry there will be forty
days of drought.
There was a st. Swithin and there 10
legend. That seems to be about as
far as the tale is true, for a ruthless in
vestigator, dead to the romance Of
ancient legends and merciless to
slaughter simple beliefs, looked up the
table of rainfall at Greenwich for twen-
ty years and had this to say:
st Swithin's day falls in a month In
which more rains occur than in any
Others Of the, year; nevertheless, the
records at Greenwich observatory show
that, taking the average of the last
twenty years, of the forty days which
followed July Is, the greater part were
rainy when ST. Swithin's day was fine.
During the period spoken of there have
never been forty consecutive wet or dry
days after the anniversary, whatever
the condition of the weather may hav
been on that day"
Tradition Falls Flat.
Thus does the sledge hammer Of fact
fiatten out the tradition.
But there was a st. Swithin, called
Bishop Of winchester and chancellor Of
England. in the days Of the great AL
fred. When he came to die the monks
were called about him and. according
TO legend. admonished to bury him
l,,k ~,,Na do N a
walls, the bishop asserting that he was
in the sacred precincts Of the minister.
He died July 2, S62. Something more
than a century later the body was ex-
humed and was buried within the
transfer was begun a torrent fell to ex-
press the displeasure OF heaven at the
disobedlence to the wishes OF the bish,
op, and that the rain continued to ran
by its persistence that they had best
leave the bishop where he had reposed
for more than a century. That is story
and gossamer web, however.
Buried In Church.
The bishop was actually buried In the
church, and a few years later the
cathedral at winchester, first dedicated
to the Apostles Paul and Peter, was Ie-
dedicated to st. Swithin. For 600 years
the name held. Then Henry VIII. be-
tween marriages. arbitrarily banished
the name and called the cathedral Holy
Trinity. Several references are made to
the st Swithin legend in Elizabethan
plays, and how much older the legend
Is cannot be told.
At the Weather Bureau cool ana
showery weather is promised for all The
Eastern States early this week. St
Swithin's day may be forced to hold to
a record of moisture. 80
| Moderately warm weather is prom
| ised FOR the middle week. with q re-
! turn to showers at Its close.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
EXPRESS CoMPANIEsANDPARcELs POST

A notable service has been rendered by the In
terstate Commerce Commission, in investigating ex-
press charges and methods. The express companies
monopoly of parcel transport monopoly conceded
to them by the postofhce one side and the rail-
roads on the other-has long amounted to scandal.
The express companies have grown into tremen-
dous financial powers A railroad and financial king,
recently very active in forming alliances to finance
his huge projects, startled the country by manipulate
ing himself into domination of one Of the great ex-
press companies, and using its vast surplus as he
might have employed the reserves Of an insurance
company or bank. The express companies are
much more concerned with financial than with trans
portation operations. They give the country the
poorest and most expensive parcel transport that
is provided in any country Of comparable conditions.
Overcharges and double charges have been COM
mon. The tariffs are so numerous and complex that
only an expert can know what they mean. Profits
have been vast beyond reason or belief.
Commissioner Lane, who has managed the in
vestgation proposes simplfcaton Of tariffs and re-
duction of rates, especially on smaller parcels The
highest rates have been small parcels, because at
this point the express companies were best en-
trenched in their monopoly they could take all the
traffic would bear.
But after ALL the utmost authority Of the Inter-
state Commission will not meet the exigency. This
country should have parcels post or more proper
ly postal express. The rural delivery and collec-
ton facilities of the postof6ce the city delivery and
collection SERVICE and the railway express facilities,
should be articulated together in one complete SYM
metrical, economical system.
This plan alone will provide the real scope that
is needed if cheaper transport of small parcels is to
reduce living costs. The farmer in Germany sends
few pounds of butter, few dozen eggs hamper
of fresh vegetables, by post, direct from his farm
to his regular customer in the city; frequently $50
miles. That would yet be practical impossbility,
as to most American farmers or most American city
residents, despite the reforms Commissioner Lane
proposes. There are three links in the chain from
farm to city consumer; the express companies sup
ply only one.
The parcels express plan of Congressman Lewis
of Maryland stands out, more clearly than ever as
the only project that will make the service most use
full to the whole public.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
IF THE VOTERS COULD SAY!

Kansas Republicans will have a primary next
month"; and nominate ten Presidential electors. Scv-
eral aspirants have announced that if named they will
consider themselves instructed to support Roosevelt
for President.
The Taft and Roosevelt people will present
tickets pledged to their respective Sides BY all ac
counts, the Roosevelt ticket will be nominated over
whemingly.
This is the sane way to settle the controversy.
Let the voters do it, If there were laws like that
of Kansas, in all the States, there would be trou-
BILE. The people would nominate Roosevelt electors,
and the Republicans would win in November.
Through primaries, the people could yet pass
judgment the Chicago convention. If it was bad,
they could reject it.
But, of course, the ancient machines of reaction
will permit no such test where they control. They
fear the primary much now as before the conven-
tion. They will reject it instrument or over
turn the results of its work, wherever they have
power. Unable to rule, they are out for ruin. They
are having their last fling.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
THE DISTRICT SCHOOL.

note of complaint that repeatedly sounded
at the National Education Associations annual meet
ing at Chicago last week was the decline of the
country school and the failure of modern school
system TO meet the needs of the rural communities
Even the educators themselves admitted that our
modern system of education, upon which we pride
ourselves, is largely responsible for the drift toward
the city and the economic and social evils that fol-
low the congestion of population, the increase in
consumers, the decrease in producers, the gut Of
the labor market in the cities.
The attitude of the rural youth toward country
life is a social one, rather than educational one
He has been taught to believe that there is some
thing of social stigma connected with country life
The modern system of education has helped give
him this idea by the abolition of the rural district
school, The consolidation of several district schools
into one, usually in a town centrally located; the
establishment of free hacks to transport children
to and from this central school, the introduction into
this central school of the educational fads and So
cial diversions that obtain in cities are what have
played havoc with the rural communities
II has perverted the ideals of the country boy
and girl. 1t has removed from the rural community
its one social center and distinctive unit With its
disappearance, under the guise of educational econ
omy, the rural community lost its last point of neigh
borhood contact the last institution that gave to the
neighborhood an individuality.
The destruction of the "deestrik" school with its
spelling bees and lyceums and taffy-pulln; where
neighborhood news was exchanged and crops dis
cussed merged the country with the city, but made
it subordinate Simple healthful inexpensive pleas
ures gave way to the "class hops" and "frats" and
other amusements that abound in the city, Girls
could no longer dress in sun bonnets and calico
boys no longer wear overalls and 90 barefoot
They must dress up" in order to attend the con-
soldated school in the town. They absorb t,wn airs
take the towns viewpoints acquire the towns habits
After the school is over they gad the streets or fire.
quent the pool rooms visit the nickel shows until
the free hack comes to take them home. When
they arrive it is usually too late to help with the
chores but if not it goes against the grain to take
off the good" clothes and help feed" and milk
and put up the chickens.
The way to keep boy on farm is to educate
him to believe in his neighborhood not only by
teaching him scientific farming but by keeping alive
the district school with its democracy simplicity and
purity 1t is a satire to teach him the beauties oi
country life, the dignity of the soil and at the same
time raze his school houses and haul him to the city
to be educated in city environments. The deed i'm
presses him more than the precept
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
Thinks Legislating a Sabbath Is
Outside the Right of Congress.

To the Editor of THE TINES:
Congressman William Schley Howard,
OF Georgia, would introduce a peculiar
situation in the District of Columbia
In your issue OF July 10 I see the hon
orable gentleman has introduced into
the House a bill which provides that no
secular work shall be done in the Dis
trict of Columbia on the Sabbath day.
/ have before me a statement by Car
dinal Gibbons to the effect that Sunday
Is not the Sabbath day. Priests and
prelates and catechisms b. the score
agree with the cardinal Should Con-
gresham Howard's bill become law,
then all secular work on Saturday, the
only Sabbath OF the Bible, would cease,
and in order to work six days Sunday
work would be in order.
What has Congress to do with the
enactinR OF Sabbath law? The Sab
bath is purely a religious institution
and religion or the observance of any
religious institution can not be enforced
bv civil Government Religion is an af-
fair of the heart, and Jehovah alone has
the right to control the religion of any
human being.
Should the Howard bill find a pla ce
on the statute books, Congress would
undoubtedly decide the Sabbath day to
be Sunday. thus taking positive issue
with the Almighty. who on Sinai de-
clared the seventh day to be the week.
ly rest day.
The Howard bill is un-American and
contrary to the spirit of Him who as
Lord of Sabbath never used compulsion
in religion.
Nav the Howard bill, with all similar
legislation, find it's way to the waste
basket and may each person In the
District be permitted to exercise un-
molested his God-given right to wor-
ship or not to worship. to observe a
day or not to observe a day. God gives
to us all this right. Shall Congress cur
tail it, / sincerely hope 1t will not.
JOHN n. QUINN.
Takoma Park. D. c.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
WASHINGTON AND THE PENNANr RACE

In good repute and i'll, this has been irst-class
baseball town. Year after year it has clung to its
confidence that time might come when the home
team would get above seventh place, and has gone
out to the ball park to testify its loyalty.
Now it sees its team entrenched in second place,
and going at pennantwinning gait and it deserves
all the fun it is getting out of the unwonted expert
ence If ever town could put up strong argument
in favor of its natural right to pennant that burg
is little old Washington, D. c.
Boston acts distinctly hostile to our aspirations
to enter world series contention but all the same,
Boston has no mortgage on the bunting. A few days
OF hard luck for the bean-eaers would put them on
level with Griffths men. If the slump should be
on our side, while Boston held up its present win
ming average, we would be pretty definitely out OF
the argument The misfortune that has retired Henry
from the catchers box for an uncomfortaby long
period is the most annoying feature of the present
situation, but the team seems determined not to
yield even to so serious discouragement as this
Right now is the time to root, if you want to
attend worlds championship game without paying
railroad fare.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
ARMY AND NAVY ORDERS

Lamson, Preston, Smith. Missouri;
Ohio, Mississippi, at New London;
Vulcan. at Lambert Point; Rocket,
at Norfolk; Uncas, Prairie. Lebanon,
Paducah, at Guantanamo; Wheel
ing, at Santiago; Ajax, at Hamp-
ton Roads; Chicago, at Portland,
Me-; Maryland. at Bremerton; Penn
sylvania, St. Louis, Oregon, Raleigh,
Fox, Davis, at Seattle.
from Newport for
Boston; Patuxent, from Norfolk for
Newport; Iowa, from New York for
Tangier Sound; Hannibal. from
Guantanamo for New York: Glacier,
Abarenda, from Shanghai for Yoko-
hama; California, South Dakota.
from Tsingtan for Yokohama; Gin
cinnati, from Olongapo for Hong
kong; Scorpion, from Marina. Bull
garia, for Constanta. Roumania, en-
route Odessa, Russia; Chester, from
Portland, Me-. for Newport; Annapo-
lis, from La Union for San Jose de
Guatemala; Whipple, Hull. Perry,
Preble, Stewart, from Santa Barbara
or San Pedro; Iris, from Tiburon
Island, from Newport for New York;
Island. rom Newport for New York;
Albany, from Yokohama for Chefoo;
Tallahassee, from Washington for
TangieT Sound; Sylph. from Wash
inRton for cruise.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15

cases said to comprise one-eighth Of the cases
taken up since the law became operative, January
L. 1907 and during these three months the first jail
sentences have been secured by the public prose-
cutors Altogether the Department Of Agriculture Is
at present taking a much livelier and more public
spirited interest in this most exemplary statute than
it took before DR.. Wiley provoked the controversy
that resulted in the exposure of the difficulties which
blocked his effort.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
He Is So Well Satisfied With Liquor
Conditions in Washington That
He Wants the Excise Bill Put in
the Waste Basket

the Waste Basket
To the Editor of THE TIMES:
The Times is an excellently progress
sive paper, perhaps even ahead of the
times in standing up fearlessly and
alone in this town. But when along
with political freedom II advocates per-
sonal slavery under fanatics, cranks,
and inebriates in self-righteousness, any
fair-minded man or woman must thor
oughly differ. Let that excise bill be
showed into its proper place-the basket
for waste paper. 4 bill based on such
testimony as of the person who saw
thousands of drunkards coming out Of
Seventh street saloons, and the Mail
Bag correspondent who sees Washing
ton full of drunkards do the citizens
approve of such scandalization0, is as
honest as the late Chicago convention;
this means lot. The bill is entirely
against the average family of limited
means. i do not see why the poor la
borer cannot sit on the curbstone dur
Ing his lunch time and openly enjoy his
beer, which Is nourishment and drink
combined, with his already too frugal
sandwich. Every evening l get for 10
cents all the good beer / need for three
in the family. Bottle beer would cost
me from 30 to 81 cents for the same
amount, and the good flavor as from
the wood, is lost. A sad condition of
things, indeed, to be forced by narrow
hearted fanatics to either waste ones
money or forego a healthful and bene-
fetal pleasure. TEMPERANCE.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
East Washingtonians
Hold Meeting Tonight

The regular monthly meeting of the
East Washington Citizens Association
will be held at s o'clock this evening In
East Washington Hall. 3l4 Pennsylvania
avenue southeast.
nounced that the constitution and rules
of order have been printed and will be
distributed tonight.
He requests a full attendance, as this
will probably be the last meeting until
the end OF the heated season.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
WILL 1T TAKE?

Up to date three Presidential candidates have
entered the lists. The Prohibition and the Demo-
cratic candidates nominated. The Republican
candidate was jmmied. After another nomination
two the lists will be closed and the people will
proceed to pass judgment upon burglary as proper
method of getting entry into the Presidential
race. 1t is new issue in American politics.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
PROGRESS WITH A HoBBLE.

Some progress is still being made regarding the
proper administration of the pure food and drugs
act although conditions which official Of the Wiley
stamp would never tolerate continue to exist.
During the past three months criminal proceed
ings have been started against 500 persons for mis-
branding or adulteratihg food and drugs. These
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
Wants Some Noise for the Young.
sters on the Next Fourth.

To the Editor OF THE TIMES:
After reading, your article in The
Times in reference to the deficiency
which has fallen on the safe and sane
committee, would like to express my
opinion. The committee in question
seem to entertain the older element in
stead of catering to the younger folks.
wish to say that their arrangements
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
NAVY.

Commander F. A. TRAUT, detached Of
flee of Naval Intelligence, to Cali
fornia as executive officer.
Lieutenant Commander G. L. SMITH,
Detached Navy Yard, Washington,
d. c., to Connecticut as fleet ord
nance officer.
Ensign o. o, HAGEN, detached West
Virginia, to Maryland.
Ensign A. w. RIEGER to Mississippi.
Paymaster S. E. BARBER, detached
Bureau of Supplies and Accounts, to
naval station, Guantanamo. Cuba.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
ARMY.

ARMY.
Second Lieutenant RICHARD Z. CUM
MINIS, cavalry, assigned to the
Tenth Cavalry.
First Lieutenant WALTER o. BOS-
WELL, Twenty-irst Infantry, now
at San Francisco, Cal, to his regi-
ment at Vancouver Barracks, Wash.
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
MOVEMENT OF VESSELS.

Administering. New Hampshire, at
New York yard; Georgia, al New
York; Bailey. at Annapolis; Florida,
Utah, Delaware, Louisiana, ca
Brutus, at Newport; Reid, Flusser,
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
LETTERS TO THE TIMES MAIL BAG

to lis part own write hy frankly
wit" the that
of good but wnno bmade
h OF O AddeM
The Washington times., 1912-07-15
Concerts Today
By the United States Marine Band
Barracks, at 4:3o p. m.
WILLIAM H. SANTELMASS.
Leader.

March, "Wiesbadener Promenade"
Zikon
Overture, "Pocahonta" .SantelmanA
(To an Apotheosis of the princess
OF the Forest" by Randolph Keim.)
Through many dangers past,
To a tortured doom at last =. Smith
/ do entreat thee,
Say live, else thy Matoaka dies,
Pocahontas
Czardas, Der Geist des Woiwo-
Oen ........'...''s...'''. .'SIOSsiiAail
Waltz, "Freut Euch des Lebens,
Strauss
Excerpts from Carmen" ........ .Bizet
Tone poem, "Finlandia" Sibelius
A Comic Tattoo. Godfrey
March, "Semper Fidelis" "........ Sousa
The Star-Spangled Banner"