davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1915-08-15

then a travelling salesman. AS the
originator of the pneumatic tool in
dustry in the United States and Eu-
rope, he made a fortune, and, retiring
from business. established country
home at Wheaton, ILL.,, and engaged in
farming and stock breeding. When
made a member of the commission he
was president of the Illinois Manufac-
turers' Association, machine COM
pany and a national bank.
The other commissioners are Will
liam J. Harris, Will H. Parry and
George Rublee. MIR. Parry. born in
Oregon and educated at Columbia Uni
versity, was once a newspaper man IN
Seattle. He has been a manufacturer
and a banker and is a republican. Mr..
Rublee, a progressive republican. forty
seven years old. was born in Wisconsin
and educated at Harvard. He was as
sociated for seven years in the prac-
tice of law with Victor Morawetz, the
Evening star., 1915-08-15

ternal affairs of the states. If disas
trous business conditions exist within
a state, only the legislature of that
state has power to correct them.
Coming specifically to the functions
of the trade commission, the law en-
powers it to Investigate "the organiza
ton, conduct and management of any
corporation, joint stock company or
corporate combination Except common
carriers) engaged in commerce among
the several states and with foreign ma
tons and ito gather such information
and data as will enable the President of
the United States to make recommends
tion to Congress for legislation for the
regulation Of such commerce"
The commission is now going from
city to city, east and west. holding con-
ferences with business men over the
foreign trade of the nation. BY and by
it will consider in detail combinations
and other conditions affecting the for
Evening star., 1915-08-15

the trade commission. ARE hereby de-
clared unlawful No authority has
been given the commission. and none
could be given, to scrutinize, supervise
or regulate commerce that is carried
on altogether within a state.
Many complaints have already been
made concerning cut-rate stores.
Grocers and druggists buying for cash
and selling for cash and doing a local
business in towns and cities are be-
yond the reach of the trade commission
because they are not engaged in inter-
state commerce. Interstate, so reads
the dictionary definition. means exist
ing or taking place between different
states: especially. carried on between
the states of the American Union, or by
persons in one state with persons in
another"
The United States Steel Corporation.
the American Tobacco Company and
the Standard Oil Company are engaged
in interstate commerce and can be
regulated by the trade commission;
cut rate stores cannot be, unless they
are selling to customers in and out
side of the state in which they are
located.
A misunderstanding of the law has
caused many business men to write
protesting letters to the commission.
Congress has no power over the in
Evening star., 1915-08-15

slaves to the iron hand of despotism.
Only on this hypothesis is it possible
to account for the readiness of the
German authorities to muzzle promi
nent and popular socialist like Karl
Liebknecht. Only because there is no
danger of a revolt of the four million
socialists is it possible for the govern
ment to suppress the Vorwarts and
the Volkszeitung. Only because, with
the coming of the war has disappeared
the last glimmer. for the present at
least, of true democracy in Germany.
is it possible to suspend wholesale in
various districts the constitutional
guarantees so hardly won by the peo-
Pile.
Although Greece is not yet fighting,
the little kingdom has not escaped the
stitutions in Europe into the discard
1t Is now more than a month since
the people declared overwhelmingly
against the present government and its
zelos, the popular ex-premier, who was
ousted by the king and his German
consort because he was on the point OF
entering the war on the side Of the
triple entente. Yet the defeated gov
ernment, in defiance of the people, re-
fuses to relinquish office. has induced
King Constantine to adjourn parlia-
ment and threatens a coup detat that
will entirely annul the effects of the
recent election.
1t is significant, too, that however
popular the war against Austria may
be among the Italian people, the meth
ods adopted in bringing it about are
not above reproach in the eyes of one
concerned for the triumph of repre-
sentative government. Despite the ul-
innate decision of the chamber and the
senate. it is generally admitted that
Salandra and his war cabinet carried
their policy through in the face of the
opposition Of two-thirds of the cham
Der and four-fifths of the senate.
Before the war Boris Tisza. premier
of Hungary. ruled with a firm hand;
since August last he has been absolute
dictator of not only Hungary. but of
Austria as we'll He it was who really
initiated the diplomatic moves that
were the immediate causes of the war.
In perhaps no other country has die
been SO drastic and so ruth
less Tisza has not hesitated to arrest
thousands of prominent men and wom-
en- suspected of opposition to his des-
potism.
Evening star., 1915-08-15

of only one country or one set or pei
Iigerents. but is universal enough
among the warning nations to make IL
certain that the phenomenon is rep
resentative one. One would expect to
witness some such development of the
times in Germany, where Capitalization
in government is a fetish and where
the whole history of the country has
proved it's efficacy, or in Russia. the
last great bulwark Of absolutism. But,
astonishing as it may seem, it is equal
ly and increasingly true of England
and France.
So far as this war is concerned, the
people, as a whole. have been absolutely
ignored. In some of the countries 1t has
been possible to accomplish this deliber-
ate object more openly and ruthlessly
than in others But it is equally true of
all. Absolute power has been concen-
trated into the hands of few people.
Parliaments. supposedly the voices Of the
patient people. have been ignored, bullied
or suppressed. Elections, which might
have disturbed the reigning oligarchy or
have even voiced a popular dissatisfac-
ton with the wholesale slaughter and an
irresistible demand for peace upon some
reasonable basis, have been postponed
usages. Free speech is as dead as Queen
Anne. the liberty of the press. so hardly
won by past generations. has disappeared
over night. the Magma Charta has been
put into cold storage and some even
question whether it will ever again
come out.
Once in the war. Kitchener was made
war minister, with practically despotic
powers. Under the defense of the
realms orders. passed. not by parlia-
ment, but by the privy council. habeas
corpus was abolished. Magma Charta
was suspended and the war minister
assumed unlimited power over the life
and property of every Britisher. Un-
der the martial law proclaimed in
various districts and under the power
to proclaim such law in any district.
the military authorities had the right
to take a man from his bed, try him
by secret court-martial and have him
shot at sunrise. No one need be the
wiser while this was taking place and
no court in the land could interfere to
save the unfortunate offender. The
oligarchy that ruled the country was
accuser. Judge and jury of the press
and. for any offense which it saw fit,
Evening star., 1915-08-15
Special Correspondence of The star,

Special Correspondence of The Star.
LONDON. August ), 1915.
7S representative government fail
ure? Is the principle for which
our American forefathers fought
q and bled and laid down their pre-
cious lives false one? So the people
of Europe would Seem to believe If we
are to. judge by the course Of the gil
gantic struggle now being fought on
the continent
A year of the greatest war in the his
tory of the world has now passed. Bill
lions of dollars have been wasted,
hundreds of thousands. perhaps mil
lions. of lives have been sacrificed, the
future of practically half the world
political, commercial and moral COM
plexion of the whole world literally
will depend upon the outcome of the
tragedy now being enacted in Europe.
These are matters, one is justified in
believing. in which the common people.
the man and woman in the street, are
vitualy interested-big enough, i'm
portant enough. terrible enough, one
would say, to sweep into the scrapheap
what little remains of dictation, des-
potism and autocracy.
Yet what has been the actual results
after one year of Armageddon?
War was declared. is being fought
will probably be won and lost, If the
people do not awake very soon, with
out the consent of the common people
This is not the same thing as saying
that it Is being fought against their
wishes. although from many signs one
might feel justified in saying even that
But the supreme struggle is being
waged without any attempt being made
10 obtain the common peoples consent
On the contrary the whole tendency
since the early days of last August has
been toward absolutism and against
the ideals of government proclaimed by
Abraham acknowledgements of the
people. by the people, for the people,
and against principles supposedly es.
tablished for eternity by the French
revolution and the American war OF
independence.
This amazing development is not true
Evening star., 1915-08-15

But Federal Trade Commission Can
Also Rule With Stern Hand-Five Mem
bers Of Recently Organized Body Travel
From City to City, Meeting With Mer-
chants and Manufacturers and Telling
Them How to Get and Hold the Worlds
Markets. Government Precisely Informed
in Respect to Business.
Evening star., 1915-08-15

The commission can compel corpora
tions to supply reports, annual or pc
riodic, on such subjects as it may de-
sire information and to answer ques-
tions about their ownership, their busi-
ness methods and so forth. Likewise.
the commission can make public (ex-
cept lists of customers and trade Sc
crets) such portions of the information
obtained as it shall deem expedient in
the public interest"
A new law of Congress prohibits
Evening star., 1915-08-15

vented if sought to be employed. Aus
tralia has taken action in this direc-
ton. How the trade commission will
meet the situation is matter of the
future. At best, it will be a delicate
problem.
Evening star., 1915-08-15

Their expenses are paid when they
travel. The salary of their secretary
is $1,000. Each commissioner, besides.
has his own clerk. One hundred and
fifty men and women-econo omists, stat
isticians, lawyers, stenographers and
Evening star., 1915-08-15

E1HE business men of the United
States now have a stern but SYM
pathetic parent-a collective
q father. it might be said-to
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16
The Bout on the Floor

wv HEN the Tammany Hall
" tool Of the Jesuits pro,
posed his press muzzls
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16
No Place For Such Bill

TN THE first place general leg
islation of this character has
no place on an appropriation
bill, and is emphatically against
the rules of the House. Any
member, in fact, can knock out
such legislation by merely pro-
testing and raising a point of or
der. Luckily this was done in
this case, but it is not always
done, and may not be done when
this infamous, snake-in-the. grass
measure bobs up again, probably
under more favorable auspices.
1t will be remembered that last
year a similar piece Of legislation,
urged by the Roman Catholic
church, which is now and always
in politics as this case positively
demonstrates, was tackled on to
the Naval Appropriation Bill,
providing for the appointment of
chaplains, raising their rank and
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16

master general shaT make the
necessary rules and regulations
10 exclude such non-mAilable
matter from the mails"
Mr.. Fitzgerald did not state
that this measure was drafted for
the specific benefit Of The Men.
ace. Il wasn't necessary for him
TO do 80. But Mr.. Fitzgerald is
a Roman Catholic, a Knight Of
Columbus and a graduate OF
Manhattan College, one Of the
oldest Jesuit institutions in the
country.
Fitzgerald, though a compare.
lively young man, has been In
congress for about fifteen years,
looking after the interests Of the
"holy church" first, John J. Fitz.
gerald next and the interest OF
the honest Protestant people who
elected him last.
Not only that but he is chair.
man Of the appropriation com
mittee, one of the most important
committee assignments in the
House, and in a splendid position
to see that the Roman gang gets
the lions share Of the, hard
earned money Of the people, cir.
culating through the financial
channels of the government and
looked upon by these jesuitical
traitors as so much slush, TO be
divided with public pilferers in
keeping with their pull.
Were il possible TO ransack ev.
cry Jesuit college in America, or
herd the Roman clergy and hier.
arehy in a single corral, you
could hardly find a more sauve,
sleek, smooth individual than this
man Fitzgerald.
Nor could you find one who
could draft more innocent
looking or ingenious, and at the
same time more damnable and
diabolical, press muzzle measure
than this, TO say nothing Of the
cowardly craft and cunning by
which he attempted to sneak il
through as a "rider" without at,
tracing the attention Of his more
honorable colleagues. Fitzgerald
belongs in the class with the
"holy" Roman envelope thieves
in the Temple Building in st,
Louis, and could show them cards
and spades in tricks that are
dark and devious.
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16

wv HEN the Tammany Hal
" tool Of the Jesuits pro,
posed his press muzzle
amendment, be II said TO the cred.
1t of the nation, there were a few
men on the floor of the House
with the necessary courage tc
oppose it. Congressman David f.
Finley, of South Carolina, re,
served the point of order on the
amendment which brought forth
the following rejoinder from
Fitzgerald, taken from the De.
cember 31st issue of the Congress.
sional Record:
Mr.. FITZGERALD. Mr.. Chairman
this amendment is designed to give 70
the Postmaster General authority which
apparently he does not possess at ths
present time. He discusses Ne question
Of obscene and scurrilous matter in III,
mails somewhat elaborately in his an
nual report, and calls attention 70 the
fact that considerable complaint ha,
been made Of publications eharaeteriIec
as obscene, indecent, and seurrilous il
their character.
The Postmaster General reviews th,
law and the decisions under certain pro
visions Of the criminal code. II hai
been held by the supreme Court Of tht
United States that an immoral and OBJ
scene publication 10 come within ID,
statute must be one which must incits
persons to obscene or immoral acts anC
az the same time tend 20 degrade publii
morals. IL has been pointed out, how
ever, that there are many matters Of I
vulgar, coarse, scurrilous, lewd, and out
rageously offensive character that do no
come within the provisions Of existing
laws and for which apparently there i
no remedy. The pending amendment il
- framed that il will not permit in
justice TO be done TO anyone, and yer
can hardly be objected TO as an i'm
proper exercise Of an executive depart
ment Of power which should properly b,
reposed in il. The proposed Legislation
requires the establishment Of two facts
One is that a person shall be engaged
or shall represent himself as engaged
in the business Of publishing immora
books, pamphlets, pictures, prints, en-
cravings. Autographs, photographs, o.
other publication, matter, OF thing Of Al
indecent, immoral, scurrilous, or hbeloui
character. Tho fact must be first estab
hshed to the satisfaction Of the Post
master General that a person is engage
IN such business, or represents himself
70 be engaged in such ebusinesS, ant
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16
Congressman John J. Fitzgerald, Of New York, Makes Cow
ardy Attempt to Attach an Outrageous Press Muzze
Amendment to the General POstOffce Appropriation Bill
The elimination of Romes Efforts to Destroy The
Menace Results in DastardB Attempt to Strike Down the
Liberty of the Whole American Press

increasing their salary. Il was
defeated in the House but became
a law as a result Of being tackled
on 10 the bill in the senate and
agreed TO in conference between
the bodies without even a roll
call or any other record vote.
AS a result Of this pet meas
ure Of Cardinal Gibbons, we have
priests with princely salaries on
nearly every batueship and sea.
going government vessel-the re.
suit of sneak-thief legislation
and dilstory tactics Of listless but
otherwise well meaning congress
men and senators 10 whom we pay
large salaries TO look after the
welfare of the nation.
The same identicaI thing is now
being attempted, prompted by
this same band Of political pirates
who cloak under the garb Of reli.
gion.
Here is a bill that would
abridge the freedom Of speech and
of the press. Contrary to the
constitution Of the United States
of course, but after the patriotic
press of the nation is silenced
what hope would we have Of get.
ting the damnable measure de,
clared unconstitutional and SCI
aside by the supreme COURT
Who would be left to take the
case TO the supreme court?
The publications left in the
field would have no interest in
the matter for the simple reason
that they would not be affected
And private individuals would
have a sweet time getting action
on that august, Romanized body
known as the supreme court.
The only sane thing-the only
safe thing-the only sure thing
for the American people TO do is
TO HIT THIS THING NOW
AND HIT 1T HARDl
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16
If YOU HAVEN'T TIME TO COMPOSE LETTER YOURSELF COPY
THE ONE THAT FOLLOWS AND MAIL TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN
AND SENATORS At WASHINGTON.
.............|..,
Washington, d. G.


Washington D. c.
Dear S- this method of protesting against
the amendment the Pooce Appropriation Bill proposed by
Congressman John Fitzgerald of New York December 3ls
which reads follows and which appeared the December
31st issue of the Congressional Record
established satisfaction Of the postmaster
that person engaged represents himself engaged in the
pamphlets
prints engnng Autographs photographs other Puhsatons matter
of hou character,
shall the opinion the sndeav9r 70 use the
hereby declared
letter. parcel book other thing sent or sought TO Be
behalf behalf
be and postmaster general
and regulations to exclude such non maaoe matter
rom the nails
Not only do protest against the adoption OF this amend
ment oppose that would way whatever
cura the freedom the press give the postmaster general
or any other individual the power to do so.
constitution of the United States specific on this point
and federal and of the various states
in my opinion, ample for all purposes.
Trusting you will give my wishes the proper eOndera
ton when matters of this kind your attention, am,
Yours very truly
(Sign your name here)
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16

which he proposes IL almost
identical" with the Joker In the
Canadian law under which this
paper was barred from the Do
minion mails.
This Is conclusive again that
The Menace Is uppermost In his
mind, and knowing the success OF
this damnable law in Canada he
attempts 10 foist Il on the free
people Of America, and expects
them 10 swallow IL without pro-
test.
/ can promise him that they
will never do i'll
Fitzgerald wants a law that
will exclude any paper which
"arouses the resentment Of de-
cent men," and he claims that
Romanists and Knights Of Colum,,
bus and Jesuits are decentl -
At this juncture Congressman
Finley again interposed an inn
portant point, one that The Men
ace could not state more clearly
il IL tried. He said:
Mr.. FINLEY. Mr.. Chairman, the
proposition contained In the amendment
! offered by the gentleman from New
York is not in order where offered, and u
l. fairly objectionable from every stand
point. But he said something about the
merits Of IT, We have a Postmaster
General today. He is In Office now. He
will 20 out az some future time. Who
will be there years from now or 10
years from now we do not know. The
power that is proposed 10 be lodged
in the hands Of the Postmaster General
under that amendment should not be
lodged in the hands Of any one man in
all this country. [Applause.l IL should
not be left 70 tho decision Of any one
man, aud he an executive officer and APP
pointed by another man. SO this pro-
posed amendment, II you analyEe II,
means going back in a measure TO the
sodition laws, and we remember thai
tho execution Of those laws cost q great
political party its existence.
|, Now, / am not in favor Of scurrilouI
or obscene matter going through The
nails / am opposed 10 Il, but Isthirl
when we legislate hero for all the people
Of this country each and every indi.
vidual should have redress somewhere,
some place Of appeal. Under that
amendment an ipse dixit Of whomever
happens TO be Postmaster General At the
J time is absolutely conclusive Of what
is and what is not Questionable under
the proposed amendment. SO, In my
view there is law enough at present, and
? II the Postmaster General viii exercise
J 70 the full his discretion in the premises
as 90 what matter IL scurrilous and Ii.
, bclous and tends 20 incite or create a
disturbance Of the peace or good order
; tho law is ample. But assuming that Il
is not, yet here is a matter that Affects
free speech, 50 10 speak, in this country.
Free speech, TO my mind, does not mean
license, nor should Il mean that 20 any
fair-minded man. IL does not mean
|; license 10 abuse the law-not az all But
this proposed amendment, as proposed
by the gentleman from New York, has
not been considered or reported by any
, committee. 10 is a matter of the great.
. est importance. So the House should
uob 20 Nhhth NFVh W Faoe Nh bhNa'
question like this under the eircum
stances.
The meaning Of this state
ment is that with an honest mar
in the position of postmaster gen
eral-and we believe we have
such a man at this time-the
-~~~-~~~~~~~~---~--~~-~
CONTINUED on Page two Column %
The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1915-01-16
THE SHADOW
BY CHARLES DES.

Out of the husk Of the past we have lifted
Our hopes and have builded and guarded and saved
And found new strength in the ashes we sifted
To stihe the and stealth we have brayed
Yet through the years, fashioned our nation
Old shadows have followed to hamper and mar
Vhe freedom we seek for the generation;
To throttle the faith we have followed far
Jones superstitions have entered our portals
Rome hand is uplfted and waiting to clutch
ne things have needed and yearned for as mortals
And temples of learning logged by the touch
lat seeks to cucumber harrass and divide
The things have wresed from chaos and kings
peace cannot flourish with error beside.
Cloaked close in the cunning the Jesuit brings.
| of the husk of the past are lifting
IA people with courage to reckon with these
Peohorts of Rome, whose shadows shifting;
Whose searching for conquest has circed the seas
n must not fail while wrong is unrghted
Il Efor children of men have heritage here
IS fingers would crush and the nation is blighted
hat bends to her touch--men, the shadow is near