davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
Which End OF A
Post Should Be In

1t is very common belief among
farmers that post will last longer il
set in the ground the reverse of the
way it grew in the tree, in other
words, with the butt end up. Accord
ingly, one sees many posts, especially
end and gate posts, with the small
end down. The supposition is that.
the sap in tree is always ascending,
or at least that it is easier for the
sap to go up than down. Consequent
ly 1t is argued, turning a post upside :.
down tends to keep the wood dry>
and therefore renders it less liableS,
to decay. AS a matter of fact, sap
or water can flow in either direc-
ton with equal facility and the popu-.
lar notion to the contrary is incor-.
rect, !,
Careful experiments on the rela:
tive durability Of post tihbers have
been made by the Ohio agricultural.
experiment station and the above
question was considered. One fence
IN particular contained $50 black To-
Gust posts Of which Sc were set with
the top end up, 80 with the top end
down, and 81 did not show in what
position they were set: At the end
of 20 years 30 posts or 10 per cent
were decayed OF this number IL
were top up. IS top down. and 4 un.
determined. In other words, one
third Of those set top down rotted
off. as compared with only little
over one sixth Of those set top UP.
From this and numerous other OBJ
servations the conclusion was reached
that there Is no difference which
end is put in tho ground, except that
the. sounder or larger end sheuld
have the preference"
The decay of post Is mostly at
the ground line, since it ID there khat p
the conditions rs to air and moisture
are most favorable to the develop
ment Of rot-causing fungi. Other
things being equal, the larger the
post the longer it will last. Invert-
Ing post often means putting the
small end in the ground, and where
this is done the time required to rot
it off is less than where the big end
Is down. II both ends are equally
sound the larger should 60 in the
ground. II one end Is defective it
should be up, since the conditions
favorable to durability than just at
or below the ground line.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
More Than $1,000 Bills Now Before
Congress

The almost impossible task thai
would confront Congress should /,
attempt to act upon all the bills thai
come before it is shown by the re
cords of the clerks offices of the
two houses since last April.
In the House the number of bills
introduced has already reached H..
268, while in the Senate, less than
one-fourth as large in membership
bills number 1874. With the ex.
ception of few measures that have
been passed, all these bills are
technically now before Congress.
Their number will be augmented by
thousands, it is expected, before the
current session ends next summer,
and another session of the sixty third
Congress, beginning next December,
will add many more to the total.
The thousands of measures that
pour in at each session have greatly
increased the work of committees dur
ing the last two years. A great
proportion of the bills do not get
farther than the committee room.
The number Of bills passed at ses.
sion seldom exceeds 500, including
special bills of local character.
The large number introduced thus
far is considered the more noteworthy
because but little legislation of q
general character was taken up be.
tween the first assembling of Con.
gress April Z and the beginning OF
the regular session December l.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
NEWS FROM THE
NATIONAL CAPITOL

VIII De more effective than fines which
are paid out OF the earnings. The
proposed measures to curb the trusts
cannot be regarded as partisan legis-
latlon, as all political parties realize
the Importance of the enactment OF
laws which will insure the strict en-
1orcement OF the antitrust laws, which
were placed upon the Statute Books
over 20 years ago by a Republican
administrations"
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
ldahoans at National CAPITAL

FORMER Lleut-Governor Ezra A. Bur.
rell, of Montpelier, is one Of Idaho q
VISITORS at the national capital. hav'
Ing extended his trip east from In
d'ana' where he has been spending
a few weeks with relatives DR.. w.
F. Smith, of Boise, and Mrs. DR..
POOLE, OF Pocatello, are also visiting
washington. Attorney General Pet
erson, State Land Commissioner Day
and Gov. Burrell had conference
with the President last week re-
Idaho affairs, having been
introduced by Congressman Smith.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
Teaching Positions---
Philippine Islands

A distinguished educator from Col.
umbia University who recently visit.
ed the Philippines, says, in speaking
OF the schools, II have visited many
countries and studied the education.
al systems in all OF them, but in no
part of the world is there a system
80 perfectly adapted to social condi.
tons of the people as in this coun-
try. The system here might well
serve as a model to the rest of the
world from the standpoint of adapta.
ton to the needs of a country"
An examination is announced for
March HIP, 1914, in all of the prin.
cipal cities of the United States, for
securing a list Of eligibles from which
to make selections to fill positions in
the Philippine teaching service. 8
The places to which those appointed
will be assigned are: For men, Su-
pervisors Of School Districts, teach
ers of English, Mathematics, His
tory, Science, Manual Training, Agri-
culture; for women, teachers of
Domestic Science and Home Economy.
This is field which requires the
services Of young people of superior
qualifications. excellent character and
good preparation: who are able to
maintain position Of influence
among rapidly developing people. =
For the right kind of men there
are excellent opportunities to take q
large part in the solution Of 4, some Of
the problems now confronting this
country and at the same time gain
an experience and training Of great
value
Graduates of Colleges and Nor
NAL Schools and Of Polytechnic and
Agricultural schools are desired.
Teachers with successful experience
are eligible.
The entrance salary of the major
ity Of male appointees is $1,000 per
annum and expenses to the Islands
paid by the Government, with eligi-
bility for promotion up to $4,000 as
teacher and up to $4,000 as superin-
tendent.
This Is the last examination Of
the present school year and those
appointed will be expected to sail
for Manila within the next few
months, ready for the opening of the
new school year.
For information relative to the
nature of the service and the ex-
animation, address, Bureau of Insu.
lar Affairs, Washington, D. c.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29
FOR SALE

On the Hi Anderson ranch, three
and one-haK miles west of the River.
side store, four good horses. One
pair weighing 5000 pounds, and the
other 5000 pounds. All in good shape
nearly new.
PIP Otis and Clyde Alcorn, Owners
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29

Is to be heard on the return of At
torney General Peterson from Wash
ingtOn Tuesday.
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29

Clean, soft cotton rags wanted at
Optimist office. Advertisement
The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1914-01-29

BANCROFT RESIGNS
AS MANAGER
w. H. Bancroft, known as the
grand old man. of the Oregon Short
Line railroad, and who occupies the
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
State Editors

1.-THE bell on St. Johns Episcopal
church will soon ring out a message
sweeter than any cathedral chimes.
The minister will wear no funeral ex-
preston, and will be all smiles. The
clgan will forget it's sacred hymns
and swell and ring with a Wedding
march. The pews will laugh with joy
unconfined. The "ministering angels"
which the good Book tells us of.
though they will be invisible to the
human eye but to the spiritual eye
observable, for only a thin veil hangs
between. will parade the aisles with
trankicense and myrrh. And Dan
Cupid, monarch Of thu world; builder
of graveyards; creator Of heavens;
architect of empires and republics;
and wrecker of thrones and impeach-
err of presidents; of wand of magic
and bludgeon of humiliation, will sit
there behind the pulpit, and above
the people, and no one will know
from whence he comes or whittier he
goeth; but every living soul tip-toes
with expectations, innocent us the
moth that futters against the flame,
and ready when Cupid beckons
Come" to rush and plunge through
failure, fire and food to reach the AL
tar Of Love.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
an UNBIASED BOARD.

The new charter will provide that
elections be held by a board of cleo
tion supervisors, no more than two Of
whom shall belong to any one politt-
cal party. These men will do what the
county court does in county elections
appoint election officers, registrars
and canvas the returns. The appoint
ments to be made upon recommended
ons of the committees as provided by
law.
It will provide that any committee
or nifty citizens may by petition have
any alleged violations OF the election
laws investigated by the judge OF the
circuit court and that If the grand
Jury fails to indlct and the citizens be
lieve that sufficient evidence has
been produced to make an indictment
that on petition of 100 citizens the
Judge OF the circuit court shall empan'
nell special grand jury in open court
to make tho investigation and 1t also
will provide that the petitioners may
employ a special prosecutor to pros
ecute such cases, clothed with all the
authority that the prosecuting attor'
new OF the county has. In other words
it will insure fair, unbought election.
Docs and good citizen, either Demo-
crat or Republican, or member Of any
other party who wants to put an end
to corrupt election practices object
to these safeguards
Why should officers sit as can
vasslng board to act on their owDelec-
ton 1t is wrong.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
Luke McLuke
(From Cincinnati Enqulrer.)

The law recognizes the husband
as the head OF the household. But
what does a woman know about law.
There are whole lot of people who
impress you with the idea that they
do not know what they are talking
about, and the blodd and bIazes evan.
.gelist heads the list.
When you see a married woman
sewing on mysterious articles in
April you can bet that she isn't MAX
ing Christmas presents.
A woman can get a. man six ash
receivers and three cuspldores and
place them around him when he Is
smoking. And all the ashes that don't
stick to his pantsswill be found on the
floor. N
one half the world wonders how
the other half digs up enough coin to
own automobiles.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
ELEcrloN sAEEeuARps.

The new charter for Fairmont will
provide complete system of election
laws, registration of voters and cor
rupt practices act framed to meet To-
cal conditions. 1t will provide against
fraud by allowing any political party
to have watchers on the inside OF cleo
ton rooms. 1t will screen the election
rooms and will prevent election OFF,
GERS from going outside or making
any sign to workers on the outside,
telling how any voter voted. IT Will
establish hundred foot limit within
which no voters or workers will be
permitted to loiter. 1t will make 1t q
penalty with a heavy fine for the cleo.
ton officers to not enforce this pro-
vision.
1t will require all voters. just as the
Ohio election laws provide, to go into
the booth alone and I'LL out his ticket
without assistance unless it is appar-
ent to the election commissioners that
the voter is physically unable from
blindness, paralysis, old age or some
other physical disability to fill out his
ticket, and no help will be permitted
for any other reason. 1t will provide
that II charge Of Illegal registration
is made an dthat the officer Is unable
to serve a summons or find the voter,
that after publication of notice It will
be taken as prima facie evidence that
such voter is not a resident of the pre-
cinct in which he Is registered and his
name will be stricken from the list
1t will make it an oftense for any can
didatc to spend over fifty dollars IN
any city election. 1t will limit other
contributions from individuals to $40.
1t will make it an offense for corpor'
ations to contribute to campaign funds
in the city. 1t will make it unlawful
for any persons or committees to So
Ifcit and disbursc any slush fund with
ont making report of the same IN
writing under oath.
In other words. 1t will insure fair
election by the registered voters who
are actually entitled to vote. Does
anybody who wants fai reelection OBJ
ject to any such provisions?
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
ANOTHER DEMOCRATIC II
TRICK

Mr.. Shaver. it IS reported has told
some of the citizens of GAINESVILLE
that he will attempt to get Barnes.
willie cut loose from the City OF Fair.
mont II thoy will circulate and pre-
sent a petition asking that this be
DONE
Mr.. Shaver will have just three
votes for such a plan in the legisla'
turc, himself and his two stamp col
leagues. If the people OF GAINESVILLE
ere seeking relief we adyts them TO
take tn mattrr up with Republicans
who have very handsome majority
in both branches of the legislature.
Mr. Shaver knows he can get no
measure passed by the legislature,
hut he would like to make it appear
that he is trying to do something for
GAINESVILLE and put the blame for his
failure upon the Republican party.
The people of GAINESVILLE are no:
"Chumps" they are people Of intelli.
gcnce enough to see through Mr.. Cha
ver's little political trick. We know
this because OF them having told US.
Beware of entangling alliances with
Democratic politicians is our warning
to the people Of GAINESVILLE and the
City Of Fairmont. We have had our
experience with that in the present
city charter, they will neither be fair
nor stand by any promises or agrees
ment they make. They promised a
strictly non-partisan harter when
they had the balance OF power in the
senate and substituted rank farce.
in violation of the plain provisions OF
the charter, and with the gull knowI.
edge that they were violating SOL.
emn agreement that they had no in.
tentlon OF living up to when they
made It,
What GAINESVILLE and Falrmont
needs is some intelligent leadership
to lead them out of bondage, and we
believe the republicans of Fairmont
can furnish the plans and specifca.
tions for wholesome relief.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
TAE REEERENpuM.

=
Those gentlemen OF conservative
tendencies who have been frightened
cut Of their wits at the thought OF the
initiative and the referendum; who
feared that if those two propositions
were generally adopted the people
would vote into force all kinds Of
crazy and radical measures, have not
only taken heart from the result OF
the recent election but some OF them
are beginning to long for a reteren'
dun vote on measures recently Ell
noted by certain state legislatures In
the east. In Oregon the people voted
heavily against some twenty odd dras.
tic measures, aimed Mt corporations,
while in Missouri; as before noted,
they killed the Full Crew Law, pass
ed by the Legislature and signed by
the governor. by 10000 majority.
These results, some newspapers and
f.nanciers assert show a return OF
sanity on the part of the people.
The fact is the people" are always
sane. Some times the mass gets ex-
cited, angry and resentful. High f.
wandering. corporation crookedness
end railroad rebating in the past
aroused them and very properly and
righteously SO. Had the people not
become aroused there would have
been no reforms The people de.
manded and got, after hard fight
laws to regulate and control the rail.
Dads and other public service corpor-
ctions. Their grievances were so
many and SO Just they naturally were
slow to believe that railroad mana
gers and corporation officials were,
us rule, trying to obey the laws and
do business on the square, especially
when every little while some rotten
transaction like the New Haven Rail-
road situation was unearthed, But
the people, or most people, at least,
have recognized that enough is
enough, and are not only willing, but
anxious, that business shall have a
rest and chance to adjust ITSELF
They showed that in Missouri and
Oregon, states looked upon as wild
and woolly in their political tenden-
Giles.
The trouble now is not with the
people, the great American public
1t is with the politicians and office
holders and seekers who still think
they can obtain and maintain their
popularity by crusading against bust.
ness. From the Interstate Com.
merce Commission down to the mem.
her OF the state legislature can be
found many who misjudge the TEN.
per of the people they assume to rep
resent. A great many of these were
elected to stay at home at the recent
election. Many, others will find their
turn coming around In two years, un.
less they take heed OF the lessons Of
Oregon and Missouri, They will mako
u grieyous mistake II they think the
PEOPLE can be faxed and fooled for
long with buncombe. The fnaneiers
tried It and failed. The politicians
will fail as surely as they. /,
The people-the lmass-rare honest
and fair and they are; not easily hum,
,bugged, Had railroad managers and
big business men been open and hon.
est with the people in years g6netbyi
they would not have since been
sehssd from pillar 10 sppsG and back
en1siled by political mounte hanlsaS
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31

THAT young slip of girl that vii,
fred was loony over has gave him the
gate" said the Manicure Lady. Poor
brother is heart broke. and the way
he is taking on you would think he
is waiting for the first rainy day
Ito hang himself"
He'd be awful boob to hang him.
self for little thing like that" said
the Head Barber. IF any slip of a
girl turned me down, would go out
and celebrate"
"That's what the old gent told him
last night" said the Manicure Lady.
but as father is always looking for
a alibi of any kind so he can go out
and celebrate his words didn't have
much weight with my brother. The
way he mopes around you would
think he is Bull Moose and that 1t
is the day after last election. There
amt no comforting him."
81 wouldn't try to comfort him. :
suggested the Head Barber. IF he IS
enough of sImp to take little thing
like that to heart, let him alone and
don't pay bit of attention to him
at all, unless you want to laugh at
him or kid him about IT. He won't
stay moping long If nobody pays the
least notice to him. In the first place
I'll bet he's putting on half of it."
"You don't know Wilfred, George"
said the Manicure Lady. "a barber
or almost any man OF the world might
laugh off thing like what happened
to him, but Wilfred is a poet, and
poets is more apt to take kick on
their shins kind of serious and sad
like. tried to tell him that the very
reason she turned him down showed
that she was selfish little mink. and
TINT a girl which would turn down Q
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31

ti second-lieutenant wnen the Franco
Frussian war broke out. After that
he served on ships in South America,
West Indies and European waters.
and in 1879 was made the command
CT Of a ship. the Zieten. By 1885 he
was commander of a flotilla. and ten
years later he reached the rank OF
rear.admiral. His elevation to the
post of secretary of state to the ad-
rirnlty came in 1898. Since then he
has been not only the foremost figure
IN the imperial German navy, but it
might almost be said that he has been
the creator OF that navy-with some
slight financial assistance from the
German taxpayers. The idea of con.
testing Brilania's rule of the waves
was originally Tirpitz's conception. 1t
appealed to his Imperial master, buS
the Kaiser gave Won Tirpitz free
hand in working out the plans he han
originated. Personally Won Tirpitz Is
commanding figure of man, stand
ing over six feet in his hosiery. He
wears a forked beard somewhat like
that affected by Daddy Neptune. He
is walking encyclopedia on noval
matters. and it has been declared that
Re knows the name, tonnage, arma-
ment, displacement and date of build
ing of every warship, not only in his
own navy, but in every navy Of the
world.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31

They brought their troubles on them
selves, and while many innocent ones
have been made to suffer many 9th
ers have gotten what they deserve
But the American people have agreed
to an armistice and II their generals
and colonies and captains, in Con
Cress, on commissions and in the
state legislatures do not stop hos
Titles the people will denote and
disgrace them.
The American people want peace,
Industrial peace and they want enter,
prise and industry to come from their
hiding places. and woe be unto him OF
them VINO stand in the way.-Hamp'
shire Review.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
WHO'S WHO IN rAE WAR.
Won TlRPlTz.

Grand Admiral Won Tirpitz, the
bearded giant who is the absolute
ruler OF the Kaiser's navy, is So years
old. He came of mtddle-class' fam
lily, and acquired tho won" of nobility
only after years Of service in the Ger
man navy. "Tlrpttz the Eternal his
.c,ountrymen call him, for, while chan
,cellorssof war, ministers and other i'm;
perIal officials have enjoyed a brief
period Of power and have then van.
iished, xthe Grand Admiral has re:
,1uained at the naval helm for more
lthans is, years, Tirpits was only Six.
teen when he Joined the Prpssisp
royal navy IIeS had risen 20 The sfSHks
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31

sures iair e1eetipne, Wien that is
zone there VIII he . unsted support
throgn behind Tie city ottictels that
viii insure cooperation and success:
we have had Que dirty dossl ot
lcompromise Sstth the polIt tctans who
sdomInate the Affairs F;airmo mt viii ~
3anybodg be SO blind as TO be led into
anothsrlt trap OF this kind? We hope
not. We know what we are talking
ssboqt when we say that no promise
Of agreements that might be made will
bs lived up to ifby any dirty political
tick it can be syaded.
The way to compromise is to get
right and go ahead. The following
Will be overwhelming. Why not let
the people of Fairmont have what
they want, at least once. and see II It
will not be better for the city and all
its people and all its business inter.
ssts
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
HEe HAwl

Governor Colquitt, of Texas. took
two columns OF the Cincinnati Sunday
Enquirer to write himself down as an
ass, an inexcusablc waste OF time and
space, as everybody already knew It.
-Parkersburg Sentinel.
According to the Senttnel's views
the governor is the symbol of the
Democratic party, but it is seldom
that an ass brays as intelligently az
Gov. Colquitt. The governor is evil
IDENTIFY replying to the hee haw! the
Democratic party is giving the PEG
pie.
The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-31
SWEET MTTv YpE.

OH WHO has not seen KITTY clydes
She lives At the foot Of the tiII
me aly little nook,
BY the babbling brook
That carries her fathe old mil.
sohi who does mot love Kitty Clyde
That sunny!eyed, checked lass
With a sweet dimpied chin.
That looks roguish as sin,
With always a smile as you pass.
Chorus
+ Sweet Kitty, dear Kitty,
My own sweet Kitty Clyde,
In a sly little nook
By the babbllng brook,
Lives my own sweet Kitty Clyde.
With a basket to put in her fish,
Every morning with line and a hook.
This sweet little lass,
Through the tall, heavy grass,
Steals along by the clear running
brook.
She throws her line into the stream,
And trips along the brook side.
Oh. how wish that were fish
To be caught by sweet Kitty Clyde.
How wish that ! were bee.
I'd not gather honey from flowers;
But would steal sip
From kitty's sweet lip
And make my own hive in her bowers.
Or If I were some little bird
would not build nests In the air;
But keep close by the side Of sweet
Kitty Clyde
And sleep in her soft, silken hair.