davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
est. Louis Republic. }

The decision of the supreme court
of the United States in the initiative
and referendum case, appealed from
Oregon, sustains the laws of that
state under which the people rule.
That is to say, it upholds the
theory of the representatives of the
commonwealth, ably assisted by our
own Attorney General Major and 9TH
ers, that the question involved is polit-
ical and not judicial. 1t is matter for
the people to decide and the courts
have nothing to do with 1t.
The congress of the United States
may declare, if it will, that direct leg
islation in Oregon deprives that state
of a republican form of government,
but the court refuses to do so. How
could it, when in both houses of con.
gress members from Oregon, elected
under these laws, have been accepted
! for years?
One of the safeguards Of the su.
preme court of the United States from
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
- THE PEOPLE RULE >.

the first has been its refusal on most
occasions to decide purely political
questions. If it had made a practice
of that sort of thing the mischief that
would have resulted would have been
incalculable.
Alarmists and hairsplitters may in.
dulge in ghost dances to their hearts
content on the perils of direct legis-
lation, the initiative, the referendum
and the recall, and they may, if they
please, argue that representative gov
eminent is the only true form of re.
publican government, but they will
have their labor for their plans.
The problem in this republic, as in
every other, is to make sure of the
rule of the people. If that end cannot
be gained effectively under one sys.
tenn it can by another, and no free con-
gress will ever check the movement.
In democracies as in monarchies
sovereigns may attend to their own af-
fairs in person whenever, for any rea
son, they lose faith in their ambassa
doris.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
AND YET 1T WAS TOO GREAT
FOR THE GREATEST.

Washington, the father of his coun-
try, thought too much of it TO estab-
lish the precedent OF more than two
terms as the president. The Ameri-
can people thought too much of their
country to tolerate the idea Of "a
third term in the presidency to
Grant. their greatest military hero aft
er Washington. And yet We see today
a mania for comforting the honor, mob
ly put aside by Washington and re-
fused by the people TO Grant, on a man
whose chief claim TO distinction is
a capacity TO make noise about ev.
erything that comes along.
Let us hope with Lincoln that We
can rely upon the ultimate Judgment
of the people-and in this case the
sane judgment of the people.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
A FLYING METEOR.

Governor Deneen has announced
the meteoric itinerary which he will
fellow in his campaign for governor.
In looking over the list of towns to
which he is going and the time table
which he or his friends have arrang-
ed, 1t would seem that the governor
will be going so fast that it will be
pretty hard for anybody to help or
oppose him as he goes along.
The scientists tell us that when
meteors flying through space strike
the air surrounding this globe they
are going so fast that the friction
heats them to such an intensity that
they burn themselves to nothing be-
fore they ever reach the earth.
Judging from the governors itin.
erary and lightning schedule he will
probably be making such speed that
he will melt away before he reaches
his ultimate destination.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
tS.s.H =.


SAW LIFEBoAT BETWEEN HIM AND THE
SHIP
tied to the rail, whipped out his knife,
cut the thongs and, throwing the
buoy over his head, jumped overheard.
striking the water but few hundred
yards distant from Eileen.
Now, the Monahans had lived on the
banks of the Shannon, and Dennis had
been from the time he was seven or
eight years old used to the water.
There was q cove near the house
where it was comparatively safe for
the children to battle, but Mrs. Mona
han would not permit her son to go
into the water there No mother can
restrain the adventuresome spirit of a
manly boy, and while the lad was not
supposed to go into the water at all he
was jumping off a dock into a depth
of twenty feet, and, though his mother
did not know when they left Ireland
that he could swim a stroke, he was a
leader among his companions in aquat-
ic exercises.
When he saw Eileen plunge into
the ocean he knew that an attempt TO
save her would be very different af-
fair from his experience in the Shan
non; that there was a strong likelihood
that any one leaving the ship would be
left far behind before it could be stop.
ped and backed, and even when reach
ed it might be difficult to find the lost
one
Springing, as he did, far above the
waters surface, he sank some dis
lance beneath 1t; then rising, with the
buoy under his arms, struck out in the
direction as near as he could tell to
where Eileen would be. Rising and
falling with the waves, whenever on
crest ne cast his eyes about him in
every direction for the girl 1t hap
pened that she came up on a crest
buoyed by air uader her skirts at the
wave. He straightway swan for her
and reached her to find her uncon-
scious.
For soEle fifteen minutes he held her
! head above water. When tossed up
on waves crest he could see the
steamer at distance, lying to. and
could hear :he steam escaping Then.
/ settling to the trough. he heard min
| gled sound of oars and hurried orders
and when he was again on crest 81 "
| q Iifeboat between him and the ship
/ He shouted to guide the rescue party
They heard il and in a few minutes
/ were alongside of him.
Dennis and Eileen were taken aboard
| the steamer. but the girl did not re
| cover consciousness until she had beer
worked over for an hour by the ship!
| surgeon. There was not the slightes
doubt entertained by any one tina
without Dennis effort she would hav,
/ oeen lost.
/ When eileen returned TO conscious
ness and found herself aboard tn
ship she remembered that che ha,
been out alone on a bSundless oceaI
/ and wondered how she had been saved
Dennis was brought to her. and whel
sbs gas told what he had done sn
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
INAIKS tuftl--
WOMEN PEADERS
b0
Edna. KD.WOO1Q1I

them and send them home to recuper-
ate.
"a lot of the girls really were sick,
know. They really suffered. But it
was because they didn't know how to
treat themselves. They didn't know
how to be healthy. Having been
brought up with the idea that women
have the right to be more or less all
ing all the time, they acted according
to their light
Again, the first business girl cher
ished that feminine vile Of weakness,
thinking it would work in the Office as
we'll as at home. She played upon the
pity of her employer, and, for time,
he fell for it
But man wants his work done.
That's why he pays out good money
to an employe. And in time the en-
| ployers let 1t be known that women
who couldn't be healthy, who wouldn't
apply themselves and who found them
selves unable to be punctual, would not
be acceptable as employees.
$50 the business girl has changed
She has found out how to take care of
herself, so there are no more sick days
except where they are absolutely I'M
avoidable-and it's astonishing how
much sickness is avoidable when you
use common sense about it.
why, in our Office, where a number
of men and women work together, it's
fact that more men are on the sick
list now, than women.
THE girls are proud Of their health
record. l, for one, haven't been away
because of sickness in three years
One day / stayed home to think
was plain tired out and thought II
would be the best way to conserve my
usefulness just to spend a day loaf1ng
around the house, and resting my mind
by thinking of something besides Office
, duties. 1t created a great sensation in
our office. When l explained to the
: manager, he said did just right an6
that the next time felt a need to think
r was welcome to a day off, Said he
t thought he'd adopt that plan. himself
"Yes-the business girl today is hon
estly and openly working for her liv
= ing. She doesn't hedge or ask TO
= especial favors on account of her sex
J, She's stopped Sinking and bluffing
: and settled down to conscientious, am
j bilious labor. She's stopped trying t,
: play the society lady, and she's learn
! ed she can't burn her candle at bot
ends.
/ 'She doesn't work just for pocket
S money any more-the struggles grow
n too grim for that And she isn't a
il anxious to quit good-paying job t
e marry anything that wears trousers
n like the old-fashioned business girl VIII
d still deemed that a man was bette
l. than job. Oh, of course, a real ma
e is better than job; but I've never We
e felt called upon to give up my perfec
2, ly good salary for nothing certain
s year, the privilege of wearing a wee
= ding ring and trying to please a Dos
n that l couldn't fire if he didn't do a,
n cordin' to Hoy1e"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
THE CRUELTY TO OYSTERS

For centuries mans inhumanity has
made countless oysters suffer. At last
the down-trodden bivalve has found a
defender. The humanitarian sympa-
thies OF the people viii be called upon
to assert themselves. John Craft OF
the Alabama state oyster commission
has come out against eating oysters
alive and will appeal 70 the humane
society TO secure some action 10 pre-
vent this cruelty. He declares that
just because an oyster can't yell or
squirm when some one punches a half
dozen holes IN its stomach and then
squirts lemon Juice and tobacso sauce
in them. II Is no sign that Il does not
suffer
The poo: chump OF an oyster seems
TO be in bad" said Mr.. Craft 1T has
as much life and feeling as any animal
II deserves the same sympathy as
should be shown n human being. Just
imagine the excruciating pain the oys-
ter experiences when il has the shell
torn from It. is put on the table, and the
diner. after pouring sauces and salt
and pepper upon #. pierces il with a
double-pronged lance"
President Craft threatens to launch
a statewide campaign against the pres
ent oyster on the half shell.
When Mr.. Craft first preached the
project he was laughed at, but he an.
nounces he is not to be deferred. and
will make an organized fight. Explain
ing his theory he claims DeODle ou0ht
10 let oysters die before eating them.
"A fresh oyster that has Just died Is
better than one still alive" be said
This is explained by simple and well
understood natural laws. Humane per.
sons, as well as those acquainted with
fed hygiene, readily will see the rea.
soa Of this
While this is doubtless a merciful
prcy- sitinn 20 the oyster, u Is ~ no
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

band, Bert, deserted her. She was
left with Charles and his little sister
The shock due to the desertion caused
lingering illness. Last year the
daughter. Velma, IA years old, died of
diphtheria. The death of Charles in
Lake Michigan last Monday left her
alone in the world. Her only other
relative, sister, Miss Dora Hendrick-
son. disappeared about the time Mrs.
Irish's husband vanished.
Mrs. Irish cried all day Tuesday for
her boy until she was taken to the
hospital.
Il told him he would drown" she
cried repeatedly. Il told him he would
drown if he went skating"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

means a satisfactory one to the oyster
swallower. The epicure does not need
a dead oyster. He eats them alive.
And an oyster that has been killed is
generally a pretty suspicious proto-
plasm. One never knows what he is
getting, but he generally has fear that
he will get ptomaine poisoning. For
an oyster dead only a short time is very
dead.
There are a considerable number Of
otherwise reputable people who de-
clare that an oyster is never At to eat.
They maintain that the oyster is the
scavenger of the ocean and the more
decayed the refuse it feeds on, the
fatter it gets. And no matter how live
It is, the majority Of the consumers
would no more think of eating it when
there is no "R" IN the month than Of
devouring a toadstool.
But the effort 10 treat the oyster with
ordinary kindness, while il cannot but
be commended by all from humani
tartan standpoint, will not be likely to
be successful campaign. Those who
know the oyster best and love it most
are the ones who declare that the only
way an oyster should be eaten is when
1t Is alive. The cruelty which rends Il
from its shell and swallows 1t while II
is still weeping out its life juices Is
necessary to make the sufferer a gas
tronomic luxury.
And spite of all efforts to appeal tt
the tenderer feelings when our palate
palpitates for oysters, we will still ca
'em alive.
We are Just as cruel as we are IL
demanding broiled live lobster.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
MOURNING MOTHER DIES
DAY AFTER SON BROWNS

Chicago, Feb. 23.-Mrs. Louise Irish,
mother of one of the boys who was
drowned Monday in Lake Michigan
while skating, found in death Tuesday
afternoon release from a life Of mis-
cry of which her little boys fate was
the climax.
Suicide, accident in partaking of an
overdose of medicine and death from
a broken heart were theories ad-
vanced for her demise when friends
learned that she was dead. That she
died of a broken heart was the one
accepted by those cognizant Of what
she had endured.
Mrs. Irish died in the Rhodes ave
nue. hospital ct p. m. Three hours
before she had been taken unconscious
from her home, 1906 Cottage Grove
avenue, where she had been mourn
ing the death of her son, Charles, IL
years old. Her son had persisted with
George Swan, 13 years old, after he
roic but futile attempts at rescue.
She had taken the fate of her son
apparently with stoical calm Monday
night, but Tuesday morning was in
such condition that a physician was
summoned. He prescribed a medicine
for her nerves. Her friends say she
may have taken an overdose, or, in
deed, may have taken too much de
liberately. but her history and the
shock she received Monday night, in
cline them 10 the belief that her
death was the natural surrender to toe
great a strain.
Three years ago Mrs. Irishs hus
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
PLENTY OF LAND LEFT.

It is cheering to note that while We
are quarreling over the cost Of living,
there still remain in Al states in
which the National Drainage congress
has begun active efforts 230, 900, 900
acres of swamp land. The draining
and reclamation of this vast tract
means not only additional area for
food supplies, but the extinction of ma
laria. The federal government through
it's department of agriculture has is
sued a pamphlet on this subject.
The pamphlet emphasizes the great
improvement in health brought about
in Illinois, Indiana and Iowa by drain
age of swamp and overfowed lands.
THE census of 1870" it says, gives
the number of deaths from malaria for
the preceding year as .525 per thous
and of the total, while the census OF
1890 gives the deaths due to malaria
at Sc for one thousand. During that
time large areas of land in those
states were drained with the result
the lands which were formerly swamp
and unfit for cultivation were convert
ed into productive farms. 1t is safe
to conclude that these changes in ma
laria conditions were due to draining
Speaking of the undrained areas in
other sections the pamphlet says, al
is safe to predict that the sanitary
condition would be improved in thf
same ratio as in the drained lands Of
Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, previousl!
noted"
This pamphlet gives the number O.
acres of permanent swamp, wet graz
ing, periodically overfiowed and per-
odically swamp lands at 79,005,023.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
The Argus Daily Story
y A Meeting-By Mary Mulcahey.
Copyrighted. 1911. by Associated Literary Bureau.

Toward the end of the last century
a couple named Monahan came over
from Ireland to settle in America.
They had a son and a daughter, the
former being thirteen and the latter
ten. The sons name was Dennis and
the daughters Mary. Dennis was
fine boy, tall for his age and strong,
with sandy hair and an honest eye in
his head.
lily of enligrants for America, the KEEL
Tvs, in which there was a girl. Eileen,
the same age as Mary Monahan. The
children came to know each other, and
the two girls played together on deck
constantly. Dennis preferred to spend
his time in the engine room, where
the engineer. seeing that he took an
interest in machinery, made him well
come. Dennis asked a great many
questions as to what this and that
were for, and before the voyage was
over the engineer would let him do
little things for him in connection with
the engines.
One day Dennis was on deck talking
to one of the sailors, who was doing
some polishing Of brass. His sister,
Mary, and Eileen Kelly were playing
| hide and seek. Dennis saw Eileen in
the act of climbing up to hide in one
of the lifeboats, swung to its davits
over the deck. Just as she was about
to get into the boat the ship gave a
lurch and the child was tossed over
board.
The cry Dennis gave attracted the
attention of the sailor he was with
who shouted, Child overboard!' and
the man on the bridge ordered the ship
stopped and backed. But before this
was done Dennis. seeing a life buoy
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
Relaxation,

Leave your business at the office;
Leave your labor at the shop.
Carry troubles in the daytime;
In the evening let them drop.
Though you have not won a million
And the chance to win is bad,
When you meet the wife and kiddies
Act as though you thought you had
Days were made perhaps for labor;
Nights were made to take a rest.
If you use them for that purpose
Next day you can meet with Zest.
II you carry home your burdens,
There to shift them con and pro-
Well. the specialist will get you
In about a year or so.
Work like forty tandem engines
II you want to through the day;
With the whistle in the evening
Fold at once the work away
And forget 1t until morning.
Let it cease to buzz and hum.
Doubt not for a single minute
1t will be there when you come.
What's the object of the labor
II you cannot rest awhile
And have leisure for a moment
To receive and give smile?
And the only valid reason
For the effort you can give
Is that when the day is finished
1t enables you to live.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

"The business girl is certainly chang
ing" said one of them. in whose dark
brown tresses the gray hairs are show
ing.
when l started out" she continued,
''the girl with Job sort of apologized
for it. She kept it dark if she could.
She took her feelings into the Office
with her, and it was nothing excep-
tional to see her enjoying q weep or
indulging in the sulks. If her employer
used peremptory tone In addressing
her. even though the poor man happen
ed to be in a hurry and meant no dis
courtesy, she felt insulted.
"She had no notion Of punctuaHty,
and If it was mentioned to her that
her hour of arriving in the morning
might be made more certain, or her
lunch hour less elastic, or her going
home time less according to her own
convenience, she would stare in abso-
lutte amazement and displeasure and
consider that somebody was trying to
infringe upon her inalienable privileges
as feminine person.
Seldom did a girl consider accuracy
or concentration as requisites Of Job.
Her work was sort of hit or miss, es'
pecially II she was young and pretty
She let it be known that her situation
was merely a makeshift; that she
didn't intend to work all her life
dear no. She only wanted little ex
ira pocket money and didn't like to
ask father for it. She had any number
of beaux, but she was going to take hel
time in getting married. She was hav
ing such a good time as girl that she
didn't want to settle down right away
you know. And it's so nice to havt
your own money so you can go to tht
matinee whenever you feel like it, anC
buy the pretty things in the stores.
Sometimes the beaux would come
right into the Office and visit with her
and, of course, the telephone was 70
her exclusive and particular use. Actu
ally, I've seen a good-natured employee
wait half an hour for his chance a
the telephone, while his stenographe
answered two or three calls for hersel
and did each call full justice.
Employers were different in thos
days. Maybe it was because Their
were not so many girls in business
and the men were still under the in
preston that women were ladies" an
must be handled delicately and humol
ed, lest their nerves or health -woul
suffer
And talking about health-my goot
ness, how unhealthy those bushes
girls used to be! 1t was a commo
thing for the feminine employee to ia
to appear. Sometimes she was HON
sick for day, sometimes a week. l
an Office of girls it had to be reckone
that at least one would be out of con
mission every day. Besides the on
!. who was home sick there would b
one or two others with a headach
who would go about with pale face
and dropping heads, a constant r
proach to the hardheartedness of a
employer who wouldn't take pity @
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
Sunday Drama Uu to Voters,

Springfield, Feb. 23.-The question
OF closing theatres on Sunday is one
of public policy and can properly be
voted upon by legal voters of a munic-
ipality, according to an opinion by At
torney General W. H. Stead. The
question of opening the theatres at
Bloomington on Sunday has been dis
cussed for some time and those favor
able to the proposition have asked the
city council to submit the question to
a vote of the people.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
Hurnor and
Philosophy
PERT PARAGRAPHS.
~ DUNCAN ~. .sRffTH

AS far as most of Us are concerned,
we can't conceive of justice aside
from personal interest.
There Is no law against getting fred.
but there ought to be a severe penalty
for staying so.
The best argument against It is that
being a pessimist is always a losing
game.
Only an idiot goes around proclaim
ing his own shortcomings through a
megaphone.
The worst thing about regrets is that
they are so entirely useless.
It is q good thing to put up the um-
breila while you are waiting for the
clouds to roll by.
Self respect is catching. That's why
it is worth cultivating.
You can't beat the man who profits
by his own mistakes.
Anyway, the man who is friendless
knows on whom he has to depend.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

It is understood that unless Presi-
dent Taft comes TO it's rescue, the
commerce court will be abolished.
While they are about it they might
as well put the interstate commerce
commission out Of business, too-for all
the good It is.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
Feb. % in American
History

1ST0-Anson Burlingame. who negod-
ated the Burlingame treaty with
China, died; born 1920.
1904-The canal treaty with the repnb-
lie Of Panama ratified by the Unit
cd States
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
DisIikes Beds; Kills nime.lf.

Quincy, Feb. 23.-John c. Schiller.
an inmate OF the Illinois Soldiers ana
Sailors home, committed suicide by
taking carbolic acid He left note
giving as his reason that the beds at
the home were not to his liking.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

Doubtless in the minds of some
people, the reason why Washington,
Jefferson, Adams and the rest would
not accept a third term was because
they were not progressive"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
THE ARGUS.

Published Daily and weekly at 1923
Second avenue. Rock ISLAND. Ill len
tered at the postofhce as second-class
matter.I
Press.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23
Good Idea.

"My doctor says that his treatment
will do me no good unless l have faith
in it."
''Then why not have faith in your
self and save your money!
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

The new Colombian episode has set
the people to asking. Couldn't we
have secured Panama In a decenter
way?"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-23

II was Roosevelt, who. when he
pried Panama from Colombia, said
Congress wouldn't let me, but
took It,"