davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
THE YEAR WAS TEMPEsTUoUs.
HunnewelI Mayoress Rounds Out Her
First TWelVemonth.

Hunnewell, Kan.-Great banks or
roses and carnations, a reception
by her enthusiastic townspeople and
hundreds of congratulatory kilograms
from suffragists throughout the United
States greeted Mrs. Ella Wilson, the
only woman mayor in America, when
she entered her official headquarters
upon the first anniversary of her cleo
tion to the chief executiveship of Hun
newell.
Mrs. Wilson's tenure of office has
proved a success and it is confidently
stated that if she cared to again place
her name on the ballot at the coming
municipal election, she would receive a
large majority over any rival who may
be put up by the opposition.
Although Mrs. Wilson is the only wo-
man mayor now in office, she is not
the first elected in Kansas. Twenty
five women have been mayors of small
municipalities in the Sunflower state.
Mrs. Wilson, who is the daughter of
a pioneer Presbyterian minister, and
the wife of a successful business man
of Hunnewell, has two sons, one
grown and the other just reaching
manhood.
81 take more pride in my sons than
do in my office" she said, when
asked to give a review Of her accom-
plishments as mayor.
Her administration of the office Of
mayor, after an opposing city council,
composed of men, had been removed,
has instituted a number Of reforms,
which include the elimination of dis
elimination in local taxation, and the
Punishment of gamblers, liquor sellers,
poolroom keepers and all forms OF
money producing vice from the city.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
KANSAS TOPICS
FIEND BURNS KANsAN's HOUSE.
Stock Is Also Killed Following "Black
Hand" Letter.

Scranton, KAMA fire which COM
pletely destroyed the home and con-
tents of James Cam in the west part
of this city the other morning IS be-
lieved to have been the sequel OF
"Blackhand" letter Cam received sew
eral weeks ago. The letter demand
ed that Cam furnish the author of II
the names OF sixteen wealthy men
living in or near Scranton. 1t was un'
signed contained no address to which
the names were to have been sent, and
was postmarked here. The threat stat
ed he would meet with bad luck If he
failed to comply.
At the time he received the letter
Cam paid no attention to it, believing
it had been written by some mentally
unsound person. A short time after
however Cam lost horse which had
evidently been poisoned. A few days
later a valuable COW died mysteriously
and later four fine pigs. He then be-
came alarmed and has since lived IN
fear of other damage to his property
or family.
When his house, only partly covered
by insurance, was burned, his wife
and family were out of town on visit
and he had gone to work. If any clew
that will lead to an arrest has been
found it has not been made public.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Vets Angry over Insult.

Fort Dodge, Kan.-The civil war
veterans of the Fort Dodge National
Soldiers Home are very indignant at
the treatment accorded the American
flag recently in many Of the larger
cities of the country, and have voiced
their sentiments in strong resolutions
drawn I'D by committee composed OF
6 NJ. Lawler and Austin Hays. Tine
resolutions say in part: We the
soldiers of the civil war do most as
suredly object to the red flag as used
at Seattle. Wash, and Kansas Guy
Mo where the stars and stripes, the
flag of our great nation, was not al
lowed TO be in the hall and was moot
ed at and declared to be The Rag oi
starvation" Three resolutions then
follow against the use of the flag oil
onarchv in the absence of old glory
AGAINST the use of the red flag OF an
archv in this country at all or use oil
anv flag in absence of the stars and
stripes; and promising the support Of
the civil war veterans to any civil OF
national officer or civilian who shall
null down the red flag wherever dis
nIaved or arrest anyone having such
nag in his possession.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
CONDENSED NEWS FROM
THE SUNFLOWER STATE
THE IMPORTANT HAPPENINGS OF
A WEEK.
Prepared for Our Busy Readers Who
Want the Whole News In
Little Space.
BENNINGTON HAS BAD FIRE.
Fourteen of Towns Twenty-One Bus
mess Buildings Destroyed.

Bennington, Kan.-Fire that started
in the kitchen of the Mack hotel at
$3.50 in the morning destroyed the
hotel and thirteen others of the TWEEN
ty-one business buildings, entailing a
loss of $4,000 that was covered by
about $4,000 insurance. The guests
had thrilling experience in making
their escape in their night clothing
from the hotel and few of them were
scratched and cut in getting through
the broken glass in the windows. None
were seriously injured, however.
The fire fighting facilities of the
town are limited and the bucket brl'
gade which formed was of little effect
against the strong southwest wind that
famed the flames and for an hour
threatened the entire town. A dance
had been held here that night in the
Woodmen hall and many of the towns
people attended. They failed to hear
the fire alarm and as a consequence
the fire fighting crowd was small
None of the contents of stores were
saved, but the mail matter in the post
office was gotten out. Among the
business institutions destroyed was
the ottawa County Democrat office.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Support Bank Guarantee Law.

Wichita, Kan.-Continued support
of the state bank guarantee law and
"unutterable OPPOSITION" to the resent
inheitance tax law we're expressed in
resolutions adopted by the Kansas
State Bankers association here. It
was recommended that the Inheritance
tax be revised to exclude all for
tunes of less than $4,000. other
resolutions recommended the protec-
tive committee the BLUE sky law" the
issuing Of quarterly bulletins to the
banks from the association
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
5o-Year Service as Engineer.

Pittsburg, Kan.-Suppose someone
would tell you that from today your
lot would be to ride a railroad loco
motive for a period of fifty years and
that there would be no day to escape
it. You would think it an awful long
time, would you not? 1t means hait
century, but after it is all over IL
does not seem so long after all. 10
look forward to the task of riding a
locomotive through the cold winter
storms and in the hot summer suns
means a whole lot however. This Is,
however, the record that will be
rounded out on May IL, 1872, by JACK
Prentice, one Of the best known pass
enger engineers employed on the
Santa Fe system and who Is now
pulling passengers between Chanute
and Joplin, Missouri. When May IL
of this year rolls around, he will have
been riding a locomotive for fifty long
wears as a fireman and an engineer
and during all that time he has passed
through without an accident OF any
serious nature and has gained the
reputation of being the steadlest
muller on the line He has not, now
ever. been all that time on the santa
Fe.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
CORPORATIONS TURN IN
LOWER VALUATIONS
And Then The Tax Commission Pro-
ceeds to Raise Them-Reports
Mostly All In.

In spite of the fact that the state
ton property at something like the
same figures each year, the corpora
lions never fail to turn in valuations
considerably lower than the previous
year. The returns this year are no
exception. The managers of the big
corporations know just about the fig
ure the commission will put on their
properties. Experience has taught
them that. But they cut it down, know
ing that the commission will raise it.
The commission has received re-
turns from all of the big corporations,
such as railroad companies, pipe line
companies, telephone and telegraph
companies. All of them have made
returns millions below the valuations
fixed by the commission last year. The
Western Union Telegraph company,
for instance, cuts off million from
the valuation of last year. The Bell
Telephone company does the same.
The Prairie Oil &c Gas comapny cuts
the valuation of last year $12,0OOOO0,
in two returning valuation of $6,OOO,-
900.
The corporations are required to FUR
nish these valuations simply as basis
upon which the commission may work.
But as amatter of fact the commission
pays very little attention to them. 1t
visits most of the properties and
makes up its own estimates.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
To Stop Renting Fines.

John S. Dawson, attorney general,
has taken a new tack in the enforce
Izent of law He bought an applica-
ton for a writ of mandamus in the
Kansas Supreme court against the
members of the board of county con-
missioners of Crawford county charg-
ing them with a conspiracy to defeat
the Kansas prohibitory law. The ap-
plication also asks that the commits
sioners be compelled to pay $4,000 in
fees due the attorney general and his
assistant that the law enforcement
work may be carried on and to reim-
burse them for money already spent
in the county and that the commits
sioners be fined one thousand dollars
each for their part in the conspiracy
and for oppression in office.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
COURT TO ADJUST CLAIMS.
II Has Been Proposed by Insurance
Superintendent Lewis.

A commission of two experienced
fire insurance men and contractor
and builder, to act as a court for the
adjudication of complaints between in
surance companies and property own
ers in the same way the Public Utill'
ties commission acts regarding the
railroad, telephone and other utility
complaints will be asked of the next
legislature by l. S. Lewis, state insur
ance superintendent.
"The requirement that the fire insur
ance companies must file their rate
cards in this office and that they must
not give rebates or divide commissions
or make other determinations has
been of great benefit to the people OF
Kansas" said Mr.. Lewis. ut has re
suited in a marked reduction of insur'
ance rates and even with this has
brought more money to the insurance
companies and to the agents who get
the business.
But there are hundreds of cases
of unreasonable rates that need correc'
ton and we have no way to make
these corrections at this time. The in
spectors of the insurance companies
go out and inspect a town and fix GER
tain rates for all the buildings. These
rates are filed here and the companies
live up to them. No complaints come
to us of rebating or not adhering
strictly to the published tariffs.
MANY of the rates thus established
are too high and many are too low. We
have no way to find out. What we
want is a commission of experienced
insurance men and a contractor and
builder who will follow up the inspect
ors of the insurance companies and
see that the measurements they use
are correct and not too high or too
low. This commission will also have
the power of fixing rates itself after
investigations and hearings from the
property owners and the insurance
companies and when it hears of com
plant it can go out and use the same
yard stick the insurance companies
used in fixing the rate and then deter
mine what the rate should be. The
law is not doing its full duty until we
are able to get this commission"
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Too Hot For Him in July.

Wichita, Kan.-Cardinal Gibbons.
who notified Bishop j. j. Hennessy
of Wichita, that he would come here
for the dedication of the Catholic ca
thedral in July, wrote again that he
was afraid the weather in July would
be too oppressive for travelling and
that he could not come until later in
the year, possibly in September. In
view of the fact that it means much
to the Catholic cause to have the car
dinal here, Bishop Hennessy has post
poned the dedication of the cathedral
until September or until the cardinal
can come.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Kansas Schools Increase.

Figures compiled by the office OF
the state superintendent Of public in
struction, for publication in the bien-
NAL report, show that in 1901, ST.
100000 was spent in Kansas for pub
lie school buildings, an increase of
$S9S,000 over the previous year. AT
the close of the schol year in 1911
there were in the state 1912 public
school houses, with a total of 14,4O7
rooms. There are S,O72 school houses
in Kansas with one teacher each, 1874
with two or more teachers, 236 school
houses in cities of the second class,
14S school houses in cities Of the first
class and % county high schools. The
trend in Kansas~is toward better and
more up-to-date school houses.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
BUYING KANSAS SEED CORN.
Iowa and Nebraska Product viii Not
terminate

Topeka, Kans.-Iowa and Nebraska
are sending to Kansas for nearly all
the seed corn that will be planted in
those two states this spring, accord
ing to local seedsmen. The dry
weather last summer weakened the
terminating power of the corn grown
in those states fifty per cent and even
more in some sections. Local dealers
declare that most of the Iowa grown
corn will not terminate so per cent,
while the Nebrarta laws regulating
the sale of seed IN will not permit
the sale of las.tyear's crop in that
state for seed purposes, owing to its
lack of terminating power. Much OF
the corn grown in the Kansas river
bottom and on bottom land in other
parts of Kansas shows good germln-
ating qualities and finds a ready sale
at 50 a bushel an unprecedented
price. Much of the Kaw valley corn
will terminate SO and SO per cent.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Take Needle From chiId's Breast.

Newton, Kan.-The 1S-months'-old
baby of Mr.. and Mrs. John Balleu was
brought from Elmdale to Axtells hos
pital in this city, and an operation was
performed for a growth on the child's
breast. An X-ray photograph revealed
the presence of fine sewing needle
imbedded in the flesh, which was re-
moved. 1t is thought the needle had
been swallowed by the child. and had
worked itself out through the flesh
The baby is recopering rapidly.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Row Goes to Supreme Court.

Richfield, Kan.-Of the Is cases
brought recently by the county COM
missioners of Morton county against
E. C. Wilson, formerly clerk of the
district court, for shortage of funds,
nearly all of the claims were thrown
out by the court as void under the
statute of limitations but Judgment
was given on the remainder for ST.
160 The cases have been appealed to
the supreme court The shortages
cover several years.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Wheat, 100000 Bushels.

Topeka, Kans.-E. j. Smiley, Sec
rotary of the Kansas Grain Dealers
Association, says if rains fall as
needed Kansas will raise about 10000
900 bushels of wheat this year Mr..
Smiley has returned from two weeks
trip of observation in the wheat belt.
THE hope Of a 100000 00-bushel
wheat crop" said Mr.. Smiley, has
passed. About 6,560,U00 acres of wheat
were sown in Kansas last fall. l
estimate that about 100000 acres
have been abandoned. In some places
the seed did not terminate last fall,
because the ground was too dry and
rain did not fall in time. In North
western Kansas the wheat is in par
ticularly good shape. Heavy precipita-
ton will show a marked Improvement
in the prospects"
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03

1t is possible that E. H. Hogueland,
secretary of the Kansas Public Util-
tiles commission may resign to be-
come head of the Business Mems
Traffic Bureau of Topeka. The bust
ness men recently organized this bu-
reau to handle rate matters for the
business men Of the city and a COM
mittee has been casting about for a
suitable man for the job. 1t has of
fered the place to Mr.. Hogueland. He
has not decided whether to accept the
position but he has several days yet
in which to make up his mind.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
RELIEF FOR THE FLOOD
SUFFERERS is ASKED
Governor Stubs, President of Kansas
Red Cross, Appeals for Aid for Mis-
sissipp Flood District.

In light of the Titanic disaster the
flood in the Mississippi valley has been
forgotten, likewise the sufferers left in
the trail of the flood. Governor Stubbs,
president of the Kansas branch of the
Red Cross Society, issued an appeal to
the people of Kansas calling their at
tention to the thousands of people
left homeless by the high waters along
the Mississippi river. He asks that
they be remembered and that charit-
able people give what they can afford
towards the alienation of suffering.
His appeal follows:
"In accordance with the suggestion
Of William Howard Taft, national pres
ident of the Red Cross Society,
Il, w. R. Stubs, state president of
said society, do hereby appeal to the
charitable instincts of the people OF
Kansas for contributions to aid the
distressed people and communities
along the flooded district of the South
Mississippi valley.
"Overshadowed by the Titanic ca
lamity our own flood sufferers have
been forgotten and their distress ne
elected. 1t is hoped that the response
of the people of Kansas to this char
ity will be prompt and generous.
"The state treasurer of the heu
Cross society is Mr.. John R. Mulvane
of Topeka, Kan, to whom all contrlbu
tons should be sent.
w. R. STUBBS,
estate President Red Cross Society"
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
He VIII Raise Snakes.

Great Bend, Kan.-Rube Vancil
from Coney Island, near here, reports
that he found thirteen rattlesnakes
in the bottom of a post hole while
working at his place few days ago.
Mr.. Vancil has the reptiles Gagged and
states that on account of the recent
discovery of the use of rattlesnake
poison in the cure of consumption he
intends to raise snakes as a side line.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
What Hard Work VIII Do.

Cuba. Kan-.Starting as a poor
young man and now the owner of a
e4O-acre farm valued at $32,922, is
quite a rare accomplishment in quar-
ter of a century, yet such is true OF
Frank Barton. a well known farmer
near here. Beside the above Mr. Bar
ton owns considerable personal prop
erty. making him among the heaviest
taxpayers Of the county, his taxes last
year being s2S432. He has raised a
large family and given them all a good
educaU
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
s4ss,7ss Goes to the State.

State Superintendent of Insurance l.
S. Lewis, added nearly half million
dollars to the funds in the state treas
ury the other day when he turned over
the collections of his department for
the month of March. The total was
S4SS,796.12 That represents the
amount paid into HIS office by insur-
ance companies doing business in Kan
sas during the month of March. Here
after, for almost a year. the collec-
lions will be much lighter than last
month.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
House Case Has Been Postponed.

The habeas corpus hearing in the
case of ]. E. House. when called for
hearing in the first division of the dis
trict court. was continued indefinitely
by agreement OF attorneys. The con-
tinuance was suggested by Attorney
General John S. Dawson when attor-
neys employed by the governor in the
case failed to arrive for the hearing.
The REQUEST was Immediately acceded
to by Charles Blood Smith, attorney
for House The case will come up
later.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Charge Rake-off From Mexicans,

Because of numerous letters re-
ceived by Governor Stubs from
Mexican railroad laborers and from
Kansas business men, the Public
Utilities Commission has started an
investigation of alleged unlawful
practices of some of the minor Off
Gals of the Santa Fe railway COM
pany. The complaints filed with the
Governor charge that some Santa Fe
officials have contracts with certain
Mexicans by there houses and that
the officials receive a profit. John I.
White, member of the Commission,
has personal charge of the investiga-
ton. He does not believe that the
Santa Fe itself makes any money out
of these transactions. However, he
is pushing the investigation.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Noted Educators at Commencement.

Emporia, Kan.-Dr. Joseph Jastrow,
professor of psychology in the Uni
versity of Wisconsin, has been secur-
ed to make the commencement day
address at the Kansas State Normal,
June 5. DR.. Jastrow is an educator
of renown. The baccalaureate SER
mon will be delivered June by Dr..
Frank Ward. professor in the Chicago
Congregational seminary and formerly
pastor of the First Congregational
church in Emporia.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Church Celebrates semi-centenniaI

Humboldt, Kan.-The German Luth-
eran church of Humboldt celebrated
its fiftieth anniversary recently This
is the parent church of this section of
Kansas and many visitors were here
from Independence, Winfield, Coffey-
vile, Lindsborg and other sections of
the state. The church was organized
in 1862 with eight members and now
has over 200.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Blew Head OFF With Shotgun.

Salina, Kan.-Carl Oasterman, Is
years old, a farmer living with his
father, John Osterman, near Assaria,
in this county, committed suicide. At
taching one end of a wire to the trig-
gers of a shot gun he placed his foot
in a loop at the other end of the wire
and discharged both barerls, blowing
the entire top of his head Off There
is absolutely no known cause for the
suicide.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Instructs Militia of Four States.

Junction City, Kan.-The field ar
tillery of the Missouri, Kansas, Colo
RADIO and Minnesota militia will be at
Fort Riley from June 10 to July 4 for
instructions. The Sixth field artil-
lery of the regulars now stationed at
Fort Riley will join the militiamen
in the field for the purpose of instruc-
ton. The regular artillery will be
used by the militiamen.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Frank Grimes Now a Texan.

Frank E. Grimes, ex-state treasurer
of Kansas, is spending couple of
weeks among his old friends in
Topeka. Mr.. Grimes moved to Texas
two years ago, but still has a large
acquaintance in this city. He was
chief booster for the new town Of
Fort Stockton, Tex, on the Orient
railway, and has succeeded in making
it one of the most prosperous business
centers in northwest Texas. Mr..
Grimes is now interested in the Fort
Stockton Land and Irrigation COM
pany.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
mlehita,s nRainmaker" Dead.

wichita. Kan.-Hubert Childe, phli
osopher, poet and rainmaker, died mere mere
At the age of rs years. MT. Childe was
Snown as one of the leading opponents
90 rainmaking by artificial means. he
Conducted many experiments to pro.
49, rainfall and it is of record that
~sip fell afterwards. Mr.. Childe was
. nsrsonal friend of Mrs. Jerry simp'
sop q assisted her greatly in com
an, 4 biography Of her husband. He
a warm friend Of David D.
kcertary to Governor Stubs.
The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1912-05-03
Three Hotel Men Arrested.

Three hotel proprietors at Abilene
we're arrested the other day on COM
plants of Deputy Inspector Keeny,
charged with having roller towels, pub
lie drinking cups or short sheets. The
Union Pacific will contest the suit,
claiming that it was not violating the
boards order.