davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

Intlo by kWtts
j. Taylor Elyson ws born In Richmond May 90 1s47. the 80 o Henry
x and Elizabeth r. Elyson He las educated in he private schools Of
Richmond. at Columbia College Richmond College and the University of
Virginia The outbreak O the va found him a student. but lie enlisted in
Hzers n served throughout Ia struggle. surrendering with his company
at ppomattox and Immediately resumed his studies graduating With honors
from III university After graduation he came back home An entered bust
ness, and Tor more than fortyy years as been actively identified with Rich
monds mmerc life
Mr.. Enyson has sheen frequently honored by his natve city. havingse served
both as President II the Cy Council and the Board of Public Interests, and
Tor three terms vas Eachmonds Mayor. Always actively interested in educa-
tional matters for sixteen ear he IA chairman OF the City School Board.
III is President IF HI Board Of Trustees of Richmond College IN hs been
for many years h executive officer of the Education Board II the Baptist
Genera Assocaton of Nirgina
Largely interested in the affairs Of the confederacy, Mr. Eiyson is Presi-
dent Of h. JenesorD Davis Monument Association President of the Richmond
Towizer association n IN active member of r. f. Lee and George e
Pickett Camps of confederaI Veterans, having represented these camps
OF many notable occasions He was also N al he prime owe in the
famous Confederate Rattle Abbey. now nearing completion. its success
is largely N to hhsen efforts
All his life identified with the Baptist denomination. Nj. EHyson has been
prominent nis affairs n active In its interests Fer three terms he
vas President of TIL state Baptist Association and Vice President of the
Southern Baptist Convention. besides being a representative on tn State
Mission Board the orphauage Board and the Education Board Of the Baptist
General Association a. Virginia
He has been prominently identified with the social life oil Richmond. being
a member of both the Westnoreland and Commonwealth Clubs the society
or the Preservation Of Virginia Antiquities tins Confederate Memorial lite
ray Society IA other we'll nuWn EXAMINATIONS
As the heat of his party in the state; as its representative In nauonal eoun-
ellis; as Mayor Of Richmond: "a senator and. lastly. ~ Lieutenant Governor
In which Office IL has served two terms political houors have showered upon
him unsought n n office within the gift of the people could nav been
his Tor the asking. But he never asked. Modest, retiring, 1t mas ben his
pleasure 10 remain in te ackgrouRd n steer he fortunes of his party year
after year and no mar IN the State has sa thorough IA grasp Of political
conditions gained by long experience For twenty three year he las been
Chairman Of The State Democratic Committee nj nearly as img ViHnias
representative o. the National Democratic Committee.
In the affairs Of his Church: in te perpetuation Of the history Of the
Confederacy for which he fought and in educational progress he has given
unselhshly OF his m and talents n he record Of NJ more useful life will
ever b filed in BichmondS archives
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

Richmond an point to few more notable examples o the sef-mad nan
who has mad good than its Building lnspector-Jehn e suffer-.
In office just six months. NJ Butler as demonstrated very orons
that he knows the science of building construction from ne GROUND
As confirmation II his judgment 1t is in violence nat N ma pnei peIoa
|fory-one hav been RACED. while in the case of quhe a number O. unim.
portant buildings which do endanger human life grace a been extend
by Inspector Butter, and still others equally uhfmportant are penuihs an eou1t
through protests entered by h property owners
Some of the "old-time" property mel wonder, perhaps why is a
building Inspector" The public generally has learned to know appre-
cMte his services. A striking example of tn value of hiss service to thu con
munity is fresh in the public mind 4 few weeks age nspsstor Butler
lsructures-that they must vacate, as h building "a unsafe The occu-
owner protested. naturally, al h Q a receiving good rent for the building.
But the inspector inshMed, and finally had to force h occupants out Three
days later b east wall Of tn building fell That n ives were lost VA
due to he foresight of thu Buldin nspector Had he been Tess Careful
there might have been a different story to tell
II there is a mor modest official in the City Hall IT nor conscientious
than John f.. Butler. Diogenes could lot him wei II ne used a modern
electric light in place of his oil candle lantern.
The only education Mr. Butte la as receved in the Madison School,
but that was a mighty good foundation. He got all h Madison school
forte was bricklaying. He apprenuced himself to II the best-k known
contractors in Richmond to carry out his purpose He bought books and
at night when other youths o. his ge were asleep he studied architecture.
His rise vas rapid. HI mastered thu theory n thu practice OF his profess
sion from he ground up" When still in his teens he Was employed
by a big contracting oncern rose to be its superintendent in that
capacity travelled all w the country as a n expert constructor. handling
many important government contracts
Recognition OF the mans ability o him the ppotntment " chief building
inspector nde nspector Beck, m when the latter q elected to the
Administrative soar Mr. Butler was chosen ITO succeed him..
MI. Butler was born August 20, 1871, in Richmond. He is married n
has six ne chndren-three soy N three girls His only fraternal hobby
Is h knights ~ Pythias. In which h takes great interest
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

To have been connected with one important department Of a municipality
from the humtlest position in that department to become thu head of 1T
mean a great deal more.
That's why Superintendent Eugene e Davis of n Richmond City Water
Works. is proud o the record he as made and that Is why Richmond is
proud OF Mr.. Davis, for he is a Richmond product
Through its p downs its thfcks ans thns-man and boy-Mr
ays cast his fortunes with tho ciys water department hen it was n sort
of unknown quantity ~ or a ieg time dt had more downs tnanru . - far
the faith 4 its rogenhors vas justified, and today Richmond boastso II N
of the most complete municipality owned plants in h country. and Eugene
E. Davis shares largely In thu success Of thu undertaking.
Borni in Richmond March 20. 1851, Mr.. Davis IA spent his entire life
Academy, and finishing there in hist teenth year. as apprentced to Dan
lei ODonneI. one # h best known plumbers of hsd day. n finished his
trade. working severai years IS a practical plumber. He yer to work in
he city waterd department on September rs, 1872, and, ambitious youth that
he vas took up the study of practical hydraulics
Step b step Mr. Davis rose in h department. WORKING as a practical
plumber frequently lent out Is a n p to investigate h water pressure.
he rose to b foreman, was time after time JAILED upon to ak the
place of the superintendent Oh h pumping nous to MI he job Of assistant
superintendent when these officer fr n reason were away In 1886 Mr.
Davis ws appointed assistant superintendent and Allied this position ac-
cepabH until 1908. when h superintendent of thu waterw works epartment
was appointed city engineer. and then Assistant Superintendent Davis was
required TO vi the department without a nominal head. AM 70 well did he
demonstrate lis ability hat a few months later thu council n July I'd Of
that year placed him in entire charge Of the municipal water works system.
water works system, are matters of history. There Is probably not a plant
in n South which "A compare with it, Richmond is getting better water
and cheaper water and the plant is more than making xpensesIt Is pay
ig a profit and It's perfection Is due veryla largely % n aithfulness and
efficiency or Eugene T. Davis 4
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21
Photo BY Foster.

John L. Satterield, present City Sergeant, is a man who car
not help but be beloved by all who know him. ~
He is one of those congerial fellows who, under any clrcuAas
stances, makes himself felt as a man. who is in sympathy W.T.
everything which may be of benefit or profit to tn, city. 1
For a number of years he eked out An existence as a met
chant who handed his customers what was coming to them
Then he got into the City Council as an Alderman.
His work as a city father made him strong with his constit8
.ents and with the people OF the city at large. lie treated hAM
people right and the people treated him right. N
When he ran for public Office, that of City Sergeant, he ha&
the most complete organization against him. He proceeded E.
the even tenor of his way, and with his genial and generous dlM
position won out. The vote was close, but that showed thl
John Satterfeld had the confidence of the people, and could WS
under almost any circumstances. s
He maintained his position, and when the election caM
around again, he won out with even a greater organizaklg
against him. 1900
Mr.. Satterfeld has displayed much charitable ~dispcsltis
He, like several other public men, has done much to help
|dividuals as we'll as the city. lie could never turn dow
man who deserved help The people Of Richmond will alM
help John Satter6eld. because John SatterIeld helps thaI
pie.
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

B. o. James vas born in Goochiand
county. After attending local schools,
received his academic education at
Hampden- Sidney College. He stud
led law al Washington and Lee Uni
versity under the late John Randolph
Tucker and Professor Charles A.
Graves. Opened a law office at Gooch-
land Courthouse. and entered a CO.
partnership with the late Frederick
N. Fleming, under the Arm name OF
Fleming e. James. In the eighties
he was elected Commemorative At
torn@y for the county. and was re-
elected the next term without oppo-
s,tion. In 1891 he was elected a mem
Der OF the House of Delegates. from
his county and WAS prominent in urg-
ing the passage Of the Railroad Com
missioner Bill. known a the Kent
Bin. which could never become a law
until the Constitutional Convention
unclaimed IL.
Colonel James. while a member of
Governor Fitzhugh Lees staff. moved
his law office to Richmond city and
practiced his profession here until he
was appointed by Governor Swanson
to the unexpired term of the late d.
Q. Eggleston, Secretary of the Com
monwealth. and was placeds on the
Democratic State ticket by the State
Central Committee for the fall cleo
ton OF 1909 for the position a short
time before the election. but was
elected, and is now running for the
same position, after serving a four
wear term without Democratic oppo-
sition. and has been declared the
nominee Of the party for the position
by the chairman of the State Demo
cratic Committee
The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-08-21

To create a new department in the
government of a State and bring IL to
such a state of practical usefulness
within a few years that the people OF
the State wonder how they have been
able to get along without such a de-
partment before Is an achievement
Of which few men can boast, and an
undertaking which few would care to
tackle. The General Assembly OF 1906
thought IL saw the need or an insur-
ance department and established ii.
naming the clerk of the Senate. Colo
mel Joseph Button. as Insurance Com
missioner. How well the wisdom of
the legislature was justified both In the
creation of the Insurance Department
and In the selection OF the man to
head it are matters OF history. In pre-
venting the operations OF wildcat in
suranee schemes and in the reGula-
ton of legitimate concerns the Insur-
ance Department has saved to the citi-
zens OF the State untold thousands.
Colonel Joseph Button, the only
bachelor member Of the Governors
cabinet, was born in Lynchburg. Va,
October 81. 1866 He liz a son OF the
late Charles w. Button. for many
years editor of the Lynchburg Virgin
Ian, and for a.t4Me .theescn cantentad
himself with the hen rather prosaic
IguTnaliSAlC Sdilc in tbe City VI Hts
birth. Then he struck out for himself.
moving to Alabama. where he en-
gagged in the real estate and insur-
ance business. where he continued
several years. But the call OF his
native soil was too strong to resist,
and with the profits Of his ventures
he purchased a farm In Appomattox
county and determined to devote him
self to agricultural pursuits. For sew
eral years Mr.. Button contented him.
self with the development Of his farm,
but, unsought, the call came for him
to enter public life.
He was elected clerk OF the State
Senate, a position he held for many
years with credit to himself and hon
or to the State, until the General Ass
sembly, recognising both the merit
and faithfulness Of the man. appoint
ed him Commissioner Of Insurance
when It created the ONCE. His cleo
ton to the ONCE was unanimous, as
was his subsequent reelection.
In 1901 Mr.. Button was elected Sec
rotary OF the Constitutional Conven-
ton. in which position he performed
q conspicuous service to the State.
He has been q member uf the State
Democratic Comynittee since 1904 and
10 now the oldest member OF the COM
mittee in point Of continuous service.
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-01
worst until he can come"

worst undl he can come"
He divided the money among them.
and they looked at 1T with dull disap-
pointment They were glad to get it.
but what they needed more than mon
ey was the hope and strength of their
friends presence.
Doctor" Stuart began gently. "I've
known you for about fifteen years.
You're the only father I've had in this
big town. and you've been good one.
You've been acting strangely for the
past two weeks. You're in trouble"
1.-The greatest trouble that can come
to any human SOUL" was the bitter an
swer But" he paused. and his eyes
stared at the ceiling as he groaned,
"rve got to bear it. What's the use to
wilmer
Stuart stepped close and slipped his
arm about the stalwart figure. His
voice was tender.
Come. doctor; you're not fooling me.
I've known you too long. There's only
one man on earth for whom I'd do as
much as / would for you-my own
gray haired father down south. Come
now; tell me what's the troubleY
Stuart could feel the big form sway
and tremble under the stress Of over
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-01

evenly, that the prosecutor in the
Ease is actuated solely by desire for
personal vengeance"
Stuart paused and Bivens moved I'M
sasily in his seat
II speak today, your honor, in behalf
IF the man who crOucheS by my side
overwhelmed with shame and grief
and conscious dishonOr because he took
paltry package of jewelry from a
nan who has never added one penny
20 the wealth of the world and yet has
somehow gotten possession of one hun
1red million dollars from those who
could not defend themselves from his
trength and cunning. This man stands
before you now with no shame in his
soul, no tears on his cheeks, and with
orazen effrontery demands vengeance
IN weaker brother.
''Two men are on trial, not one. The
majesty of the law has already been
indicated in the tear stained plea
hat has been entered Between these
:wo men the court must decide.
"This millionaire who demands
'engeance against this broken man to-
day mas an income greater than the
combined crowned heads of Europe
and yields a scepter mighder than
car or emperor. Why? He levies
each year millions of taxes without
consulting this court, the legislature
or any man who walks the earth. He
does this by a machine for printing
paper tokens of value called stocks.
The essence of theft is to take the
property of another without giving
return. A green goods man sells
printed paper for money. This mighty
man also sells printed paper for
money. What is the difference?
Neither the green goods nor the bogus
capital called watered stock represents
a dollar in real value.
This modern marauder whom we
have enthroned as our ruler every
where, from every one, seizes, tears
and despOils the fruits of toll, has
never added penny to the wealth of
humanity. And what do we ind him
doing? In the midst of poverty that
means hunger and nakedness, disease
and death, we have the shameless
Haunting of insane luxury. And to
what purpose? To challenge the envy
of the vain and the foolish, to dazzle
the minds of the poor and infame
the lusts of the criminal.
do we believe that such things are
the DEGREES of a just and loving God
who created this world? These things
are not the result of his law, but the
results of the violation of law"
The speaker paused, drew close to
the judge and then in low. imprisoned
tones told as if he were talking to a
father the story of Woodlands life and
the events which drove him to madness
on the fatal night Of his crime. In
flashes of vivid aloouence he described
= ~ IN
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-01

If any other man said it, no, but
from you it wfllcut deeper than you
can realize You are the one man who
can hurt him beyond forgiveness, be-
cause you're the one man on earth for
whom be really cares
Pm sorry. Ina fighting for my old
friends life. He wouldn't live in a
prison year And I'm fighting for
the life of his little girl, who loves
and believes4in him as she believes in
the goodness of God. II her father is
branded felon it will kill her"
He turned abruptly and left her. In
moment BiEens came out and led
his wife to seat which had been re-
served near his.
One of the things which had 1ncreas-
ed Bivens nervousness was the fact
that the judge ignored his presence in
the courtroom. He had been accus-
toned to Difference from judges. This
judge was man with red blood in
his veins, man Of intense personal
likes and dislikes and a fearless dis
penser Of what he believed to be even
Landed justice under the law.
The young lawyer sat in silence be
side the bowed form, awaiting his case
which the judge, at his request had
placed last. AS the moment drew near
for the plea his nerve tension grew in
tense. Waves of passionate emotion
swept his heart He walked from his
day dream with start, to hear the
clerk read in quick tones:
THE people against Henry Wood
man."
The judge looked at the dazed pris-
oner and said:
What have you to say, Henry Wood
man, why sentence should not be i'm
posed upon you for the crime of which
you stand convicted by your own
plea?"
With a quick movement of his tall
figure Stuart was on his feet, every
nerve and muscle strung to the high
est tension. Only the deep, tremulous
notes Of his voice betrayed his emotion.
May it please your honor" he slowly
began, Il wish to establish to the court
before l say anything in behalf of my
client, the important fact that he Of
fered to make full restitution of the
property taken, that he did this volun-
tarily before he was even suspected of
the crime and that his offer was re-
fused"
The judge lifted his gray eyebrows in
surprise, and settled back into his seat
with low grunt
II make the fair inference therefore
in the beginning" Stuart went on
River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1913-05-01
The Root
OF Evil
By THOMAS DIXON
Copyright. 1911, By Thomas
Dixon
By THOMAS DIXON
SYNOPSIS

Stuart, southern lawyer In New Tork, -
Ia lore with Nan Primrose. His friend,
DR.. Woodman, who has q young daugn-
ter, ia threatened with the loss Of his
drug business By Bivens, whom he be-
friended years before. Stuart visits the
PTimroses.
Nan wants Stuart to accept place with
Bivens' chemical trust He dislikes Bly,
ems methods and refuses. Bivens calls
on him.
Bivens is in love with Nan. Stuart re-
fuses the offer, and Nan breaks her en-
gagement with the lawyer. Bivens asks
Woodman to enter the trust
Woodman will not yield and sues Bivens'
company. The promoter tells the doctor
he and Nan are engaged Harriet Wood
man is studying music. Stuart takes Nan
for day in the country.
Stuart pleads with Nan to give up Biv-
ems, but the spell of millions is on her and
she yields to Il.
Nan becomes Mrs. Bivens. Harriet
loves Stuart but he does not know it.
Nine years pass. Stuart becomes district
attorney He investigates criminal trusts.
Nan asks him to call.
Stuart wants Woodman to end his suit
against Bivens, but the doctor stands
6lf6lS AUS AAAo AANS~S~
CATION of crooked financiers.
quarts revelations aid in bringing on a
crisis Bivens promises to aid the Van
Dam Trust company, which LIS in trouble.
Woodman needs money badly.
In the stock market slump engineered
by Bivens, Wocdman and many others
lose all. The trust company fails because
Riyens, at command Of the money king,
breaks his word Stuart faces his critics
in front Of Bivens' bank.
The mob attacks Stuart and Injuries him
slightly Nan sees it and reveals her
love- Bivens piles s9O,000.0O0 on a table
and calls Stuart to see the money to re-
flute rumors Of his financial weakness.
stuart Is tempted to join Bivens as his
confidential man. He accepts an invita-
ton to visit the Bivens house and Is re-
ceived by Nan.
At q meeting of the disconnected. at
which Bivens is denounced. a bomb
thrower is killed by his own missile.
Woodman decides to continue his fight
against Bivens.
Harriet confesses to her father her love
OF Stuart. She needs money to continue
her music studies abroad, and Woodman
tries to see Bivens to give in to him. Har-
riet is to sing at ball at the Bivenses.
Harriet sings at the BlVen pail, winch
has for its special feature a costume
dance of death and the worm" Nan
and Stuart revive old memories.
Bivens refuses to compromise with
Woodman. The doctor, in desperation.
steals some jeweIed favors intended for
the financiers guests.
Stuart's plea with Bivens for Woodman
is In vain, and the lawyer refuses to join
in the millionaires plans. Woodman
pleads guilty and Stuart. who has re-
signed as district attorney. defends him