davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
BOY DEPARTMENT
| HERE RANKS HIGH
Rock Island Sixteenth in United States
According to Annual Year
Book Published.

In going over the year book recent
ly published by the Young Mems
Christian Associations of America it
has been found that only 16 boys de-
partments in the country exceed that
of the local one in point of member
ship. All of these cities range in pop
ulation from $4,000 to 100000 Cit
les included are New York, Detroit,
ST. Louis and Philadelphia 1t might
be interesting to note that department
in Philadelphia, a city of 1,750,000, has
only membership of 563, or three
more than Rock Island. In point of
population of the cities Rock Island
leads all boys departments in the
country.
The bible classes and educational
| clubs in the local department are
holding their regular weekly meetings
with full attendance. Last month
nearly 800 boys attended bible classes
Plans are being made for the an
nual father and son banquet. This
year the banquet will be held in Feb.
ruary. A live program is being work.
ed up and large attendance is looked
| for. Last year there were 212 fathers
and sons in attendance. This veal
the department is getting ready t.
handle 400.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

talking is Robert Dollar, who op-
crates few small ships. A COM
putatlon was made as to the in
creased cost of operation of one of
the Dollar ships, and it shows
that the increase in the cost of the
operation of that ship, under the
provisions of the seamen's law,
would be about $4,000 year,
while the earning capacity of the
ship is upwards of 100000 per
year, which is an excess of its val
uation. l will not stal-d, and l do
not believe that the Greater Mo-
line committee will stand for, the
patriotism e? of the Robert Dol
lars, who, with an earning capac-
ity of upwards of one hundred per
cent on the value of their prop
erty because of a trivial increase in
the cost of operation, would have
the American congress restore
slave conditions to American ships
as a condition precedent to the
maintenance of the American flag
upon the sea. If that is the condi-
ton under which the American
flag must be maintained upon the
sea, better that it never floats from
the masthead of a ship, than it
cover and protect slavery.
Very truly yours,
CLYDE H. TAVENNER.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

lation could be secured. Does it
not appear reasonable to you and
to your committee that the men
who undertake the transportation
of passengers at sea should pro-
vide an efficient safeguard against
the danger of the sea?
Second, there is the provision
of the seamen's act which has to
do with the conditions of employ
ment of seamen. You may not
know, but until the enactment of
this law, the seamen employed on
American ships and upon the
ships Of all countries coming into
the ports of the United States
were subjected to the provisions of
law almost identical with the
fugitive slave law; that these men
were virtual slaves of sea mas
tiers; that they could not leave
their employment at will; that if
they would leave their employment
that the process of the United
States courts was used to arrest,
detain and put them back on board
ship and compel them to submit to
involuntary servitude. There may
be, but / do not know him, an en-
ployer in the city of Moline who
desires a mastery such as this
over his employees, but if there be
such l unhesitatingly say that
such man is without understand
ing of the fundamental reasons for
the government which we have
and which we honor. His opinion
is not entitled to consideration,
and | assure you that any man who
advocates the repeal of the pro-
visions Of the seamen's act which
abrogate slave conditions in the
American merchant marine and in
the ports of the United States will
get no consideration by me Of any
such views upon this subject.
dil Aoi ihCh duL lOi II ttuOul.
The provision of the seamen's act
abrogating slaves was enacted for
men. 1t was enacted for free
dom.
I have submitted to you facts
with respect to the ship building
and ship purchasing Of this coun-
try which demonstrates that the
seaman's act has not interferred
with the ship building and ship
owning interests Of this country.
want to submit one more fact and
that is that the seamen's act has
not increased unduly or unreason-
ably the cost Of operation of
American ships. Recently there
has been a great amount of talk
In the newspapers with respect to
the conditions upon the, Pacific
ocean. One of the men doing this
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

the purchase or the construction
of ships for the merchant marine
of the United States.
Within my experience with legis-
lative matters here in Washing
ton. have never known of piece
of legislation which has been so
misrepresented as the Seamen's
law. Prior to its enactment and
since it became a law, big ship
owners of this country have mis-
represented its provisions and
their effects to business men and
to bushes organizations. They
have, through the public press,
conducted propaganda against
this law and have misled those
who have failed to study the pro-
visions of the law, into believing
that the act was designed and is a
blow at American shipping. At the
same time that they have been
making this campaign of misrep-
resentation and have been trick
ing organizations composed of
men with good intentions, but with
little or no information with re-
Spect to the act, to take action in
opposition to it, they have been
chasing over the world buying
ships wherever they could and
bringing them under the American
flag. They have flooded the ship
yards of our own country with or
ders and crowded them to work
day and night to build new ships.
at the same time that they have
been representing to organizations
such as yours that the law meant
financial disaster and ruin to
them.
The fact of the matter is that
the seamen's act does two things.
1t provides greater safety for pas
sengers on boats at sea than was
formerly provided under the law
and the regulations. | rgeret to
say that the safety provisions Of
this law are not as adequate as
and the regulations. l regret to
law does not provide lifeboat
space for overy passenger on
board I regret that it does not
provide an adequate number of
efficient seamen to man every life
boat Such protection was con-
tanned in the original act as it pass
ed the senate. but unfortunately
under the pressure Of the shipown
ers was removed by the commit
tee in the house, and the amended
bill had to be accepted or no legis-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
DAVENPORT SALOONS
ENJOINED BY JUDGE

Judge NJ. F. Donegan, in the Scott
county district court, in Davenport TO-
day, signed the temporary injunction
against the three Davenport saloon.
keepers who started a contest againA
Iowa's dry laws. There was no COZ
test on the part of the defendants. Inc
fight will be made when the case comes
up for hearing on the permanent IL
junction later in this term. The de-
PENDANTS are John Hill. John Schnacs
and j. ]. Maven.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
CENTRALS TO TACKLE
DE WITT, IOWA, TEAM

The Rock Island Central basketball
quintet will journey TO De Witt, Iowa,
tomorrow afternoon where they will
meet the fast and highly reputed Moose
Independent five of that town in the
evening. The announcement of this
encounter has created much excite
ment in the nearby sections of De Witt
and record breaking crowd will no
doubt be present. The local five Is in
fine fettle for the game, although they
will be minus one of the star men.
Manager Smith has given his men
several strenuous practices during the
past week in preparation for the game
The Islanders will leave Davenport In
the afternoon at $3.50 over the Mil
waukee lines. The Centrals will pre-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

sent the following lineup. Dempsey,
Tabor and Smith, forwards; Kolls, CEN
ter; Gleason and Heimbeck, guards.
The locals will greatly miss the serv-
ices of Fay Reeves, captain of the
five, as he will play with Augustana
college in the evening. Manager
Smith is seeking games with all out
OF town teams. Games can be arrang-
ed by writing 500 Twenty-fourth street,
Rock Island.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
LOCAL MEN OPEN UP
ADVERTISING AGENCY

The Tri-City Publicity association is
a Rock Island enterprise just launched
with Offices in the Robinson building.
j. l.. Marshall and J. A. Smith, young
men with considerable experience in
the business, comprise the concern.
They will specialize in local and for
eign advertising features and will pre-
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
TAvENNER IS NOT
IN FAVOR CHANGE
Representative from This District Is
Opposed TO Amendments TO the
Seamen's Law.
WRITES VIEWS TO COMMITTEE
In Letter to o. F. Hildebrandt. Mo-
line, Declares Legislation Is Very
Important.

In letter to o. F. Hildebrandt, sec
rotary to the Greater Moline commit
tee. in answer g one requesting GER
tain amendments to the LaFollette
Seamens law, Representative Clyde H.
Tavenner outlines his views on this
which he contends is one OF
the most important pieces of legisla'
ton ever enacted by congress.
Tayenner'S Letter.
Representative Tavenner's letter is
as follows:
Washington, Jan 4. 1916. o.
F. Hildebrandt. Secretary the
Greater Moline Committee, Moline,
Ill.-My Dear Mr.. Hildebrandt:
l am in receipt of your letter of
Dec. y. advising me of the action
of the Greater Moline committee.
asking that I assist in bringing
about amendments to the present
seamen's law, so as to render it
more favorable toward encourag-
ing American capital to invest in
the construction or purchase of
ships, to be operated under the
American flag.
In reply I have to say that I'M
der separate cover, l am sending
YOU a copy Of the seamen's law.
with the request that you point out
in that law what provisions, if any,
are working to the discourage
ment of the investment of capital
in the construction or purchase of
ships. and wherein the law needs
amendment TO bring about the re-
suits asked for in your letter and
in the action of the Greater Mo-
line committee.
In this connection l want to sub
nit these facts for your consider
alton. First, that the seamen's
law was passed by the United
States senate, Oct. %, 1913, that it
passed the house of representa-
tives substantially in its present
form upon Aug. q. 1914. that it be-
came a law upon March 4. 1915,
that long prior to the opening of
the present war. August, 1914
every ship owner. every ship
builder, every man who kept in
touch with the situation through
out this whole country knew that
legislation of the character en-
bodied in the seamen's act would
be enacted into law Notwith-
standing this fact, since August,
1914, there have been purchased
from foreign owners and are now
under the American flag. ships
which were formerly under the
flags of other nations to the num-
Der of 40 of a capacity of over
$4,000 tons. The addition of this
tonnage since August. 1914, is the
greatest acquisition that has ever
been made to the tonnage of the
American merchant marine in any
year. Second, that at the present
time there is building in the Amer
lean ship yards for the merchant
marine of the United States new
vessels which will add 761 900 ton
mage to the vessel capacity of this
country. that this activity in ship
building at this time represents
the greatest activity that has ever
existed in ship building at any one
time from the foundation of this
government
These two outstanding facts
seem to me to demonstrate that
there is nothing in the provisions
of the seamen's law TO discourage
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

Congressman William S. Howard OF
Georgia has introduced a resolution
In the lower house demanding con-
gressional probe Of the charge OF
Comptroller of the Treasury John
Shelton Williams that many Of the ma
tional banks of the country are charg-
ing usurious rates. In addition the
Howard resolution will call on the
comptroller to name the banks he
charges with usury.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

pare copy for local merchants. Mr.
Marshall has been employed on Rock
Island and Milwaukee newspapers, and
Mr.. Smith was connected with the ad-
vertising department of the Kansas
City Star.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07
You Can't Work with hand

or brain when the body is
poorly nourished. Get
warmth and strength for the
days work by eating for
breakfast Shredded Wheat
with hot milk. Contains all
the bodybuilding material IN
the whole wheat grain pre-
pared in a digestible form.
Its crisp goodness is a delight
to the palate and a life-giver
to tired brain and jaded stom-
ach. Made at Niagara
Falls, N. Y.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-01-07

We boldly assert that these gar
ments represent the maximum in SIS
values They embody better all wool
materials, better hand-tailoring and
better fashioning than is usual in SIS
garments. If you know Clothcraft,
you know why. 1t will be long time
before you will see their like again at
This has been Our strongest selling
medium priced line all season. They
are the patterns, fabrics and models
that our trade have seemed to prefer.
That is why we know they will make
strong impression on you. They
gained great popularity at SIS. You
bargain seekers ought to stampede
them at
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21

intensely popular. and asked him to
say to congress that as long as that
body was disposed to furnish school
books that the MorOs themselves
would furnish the schools and the
scholars. DattO Piang. one of the
powerful chieftains, has himself erect
ed two costly schOOlhOuses in Min
danao solely at his own expense. A
Moro doing anything of this sort in
oIden times would have been hanged
by his own people.
Baseball Has Helped.
Baseball has helped wonderfully
with the Moros, as it did with the
Filipinos, to cement affections for the
Americans. 1t is claimed by a learned
Filipino who recently toured Min
danao that in two decades the Wis
itor in Moroland will not be able, SO
far as dress and manners are con-
cerned. to distinguish Moro from a
Filipino. No American baseball fan
really knows what fun is until ne is
privileged to see hOtly contested
game of ball between FilipinOs and
Moros and gives an attentive ear to
the game vernacular as it is spoken
nv our wards in the excitement OF the
sport.
With the awakening to civilization
the Moro Is acquiring some chivalry
One of the sultans thought he had
reached the acme Of politeness when
he asked the popular daughter of one
of our ex-presidents, at the time WIS.,
iting his palace, to become No. 1 in
his harem. OF course, there was a
blushing declination, at which the
dusky ruler was probably chagrined.
| But the incident goes to illustrate that
| the American, as well as the Christian
Filiptno, is for the first time making
| himself ard his institutions accepta-
BILE to the remade Mohammedans OF
our farthest-fung frontier.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21
"she Mixed Up Tempting Eeveent Handed
Drank

or manners. She was rather short
and slight and her face, pale as mar
BILE, was lighted up by large, dark, in
telligent eyes, and she had masses of
beautiful black hair. Her voice was
soft, gentle and caressing, and all her
actions seemed to indicate an affec-
tionate. sensitive nature.
When she was tried for her crimes
and convicted, she looked so much like
a martyr that the jurors couldn't find
it in their hearts to assess the death
penalty, which was then the pre-
scribed punishment for murder, so she
was given 20 years. The canton legis-
lators then reasoned that it would be
unfair to bring any other murderer to
the gallows after permitting her to es-
cape. so they abolished capital punish
ment. So Marie did some good in the
world.
She began experimenting with poi
sons when a girl. She seemed to have
fascination for her. She always kept
in her room a medicine chest. and was
forever toying with it's little boxes and
bottles. One day her room mate, Ber-
the Berthet, complained of feeling ill.
The helpful Marie opened her medi-
cine chest and said: II know just
what to do for you, my dear" So she
mixed up tempting effervescent bev-
erage and handed it to Berthe, who
drank it eagerly, and few minutes
later was in paroXysm of pain. The
landlady heard her screams and sent
for Doctor Lambassy, who saved her
life.
When Berthe had told him of the
drink given her by Marie, the doctor
said: "You have escaped death by a
hairs breadth. The girl made mis-
take that would have been fatal had
there been any delay in sending for
me. She gave you belladonna."
That usually was the verdict when
ever Marie scored victim. 1t was
assumed that she had made a mistake.
It was impossible to believe that q
girl with such gentle, wistful face
could have administered poisons DELHI
erately.
For time Marie dispensed her poi
sons as occasion offered, but she want
ed larger opportunities, so she went
into training as q nurse. and, although
she did not finish her course, she had
no trouble in securing employment in
the desired capacity. Nature evident
" haG designed her for service in
the sick room, she was so quiet, so
gentle, so patient, her hands and voice
were so soothing. She went to nurse
Madame Chabloz, and promptly gave
her poison, which brought her to the
edge of the grave, but the madam was
q strong woman, and she rallied.
Madame Juvet Of Geneva conceived
the idea of establishing private hos
pital, and Marie applied for the posi-
ton Of head nurse.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21

danao. with the Sulu archipelago
the Mohammedan empire-is well
worth reconstruction, and it is per-
haps this fact which has made us so
persistent.
Largest Of Philippine Islands.
MindanaO itself is the largest island
by far in the entire Philippine arch-
pelago. 1t is about the size of our
own state Of Mississippi, and is big
ger than Indiana or Ohio. 1t would
make seven states like New Jersey,
and Is by far much larger than sew
eral of our Atlantic coast states COM
bined. To be precise, it has an area
of 1921 square miles.
In ancient times the MOros had lit.
tie, if any, business sense. They had
woeful lack Of the appreciation Of
money. To overcome their antiouated
ideas of trade we have established
markets for them in the leading towns
where they meet to buy and sell.
Some day Mindanao will be one Of
the leading countries of the world for
the production of rubber. The rubber
tree grows wild there in great pro.
fusion. Although the industry ia as
Yet undomesticated, exports from 8
single locality have reached nearly
100000 pounds in a year. The island
also produces much hemp, az well as
tapioca, cocoanuts and other tropical
fruits.
We have been successful in giving
railroads to that part of the philip.
pine archipelago occupied by the FIJI.
ipino, even though foreign capital had
to furnish the money, but we have
yet to lay the first steel rail in Min.
dana0, the greatest and richest az the
islands Of our insular frontier xor
neo, distant only a stones throw fror
Zamboanga, Mindanaos metronoHs i.
far ahead of Moroland in eyervth;ns
save natural wealth.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21
ST dorrt ask for salary, Salu 'i'e

a., -. c,- for q salary" said the
WIN aa o;rI az have private
s''''''' , n1 iao,, mood the money. Ny
:, ,o do what good | can.
,'''''' '.',:'.1n;.o 70 rho sick and suffer
~ ..''''' ~
'"S. r,o+ ,roc cura she had
,, ,,.bon cha engaged
~, ,,,i.o, ,,.os ,nanpd and
''.l' WINS IN fpIl control. De-
'N"''' ,.;o,,in, manners, she
-, ;us, THO madame. as
nav 49, ctos took their orders
''i ,,,o Iu,.ot had two
van ,,,, hor aud =, Girl Marie
- 'H'' ~ .,, ford of them.
s'o'O' I'D - th, nother.
"uu o". veg ,., aoIioota and
"''' ''' ~ ta,,+ 20 bo cari-
an ''N, -, 49,, ,,.,,r o,,uc.d
"u''s SIM ,,;o+uros NJ
ioi ,"N ,,, ,,ouia cola so,na
He'iti' -H'"'i" -'i' .r;a+ onn+idenca
Vi ''i' ''' '"''''' l ,,orriod ovar
Iii"t "''' wac ,,s,, doo,,o,
-Na'''''iic '",'. ~, ,, Cot.
""ti'"A' saw.
III i'' V''''
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21

| poison. When Marie had finished her
campaign she and NJ. Juvet and Il
| couple of servants We're the only sur
vivors of the household.
Then Marie, still intent upon doing
good, went to nurse Madame Lee
nOir, and the madame'S funeral oc-
BY this time her reputation as death
| angel was beginning to attract atten-
ton, and she found it difficult to get
patients. The strange thing is that
nobody seemed to suspect her up to this
time. Time and again the doctors
had found indications of poisoning in
her suffering patients, and yet they
seemed unable to believe that Marie
could be anything but what she
seemed. 1t is this that makes the
story of her career remarkable. She
was careless to the point of reckless
ness. She would predict the early
death of people in perfect health, and
"AlSh ilCSC pSoplC Nltu hODpuy SSSuICu
to see anything strange in it. 1t
speaks much fer her iGgratiating man
ner that she could so long be "shak-
ing from out her condor wings invisi-
BILE VICE." and still avoid suspicion.
When at last she was arrested, 1t
was easy to secure the proofs Of her
crimes, and tie indictment against her
accused her of the murder Of nine per-
sons. Her attempts at murder were
too numerous for consideration.
She was an artist in crime. She
had none of the ordinary motives. 1t
was art for arts sake with her. She
never tried to profit by her horrid
deeds. She was willing to work for
nothing any time, if it would give her
a chance to remove somebody. She
was absolutely pitiless and enjoyed
the sufferings of her victims. Death
had such beautiful moments" she said,
when asked why she committed her
crimes. There is poetry in poison"
she remarked, upon another occasion.
She died in 1884, in her little white
cell, and to the last she retained her
weird beauty. Her marble white face.
with its beautiful dark eyes, haunted
the memories of the thousands who
journeyed to Geneva to see the
strangest criminal Of modern times.
The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1916-07-21
THE POETRY OF POISON.

The prison regulations at Geneva
are extremely liberal, so for many
years prior to 1884, hundreds of tour
lists from all over the world were per-
mitted to see and converse with Marie
Jeanneret, "the Swiss BrinvillierS.'
Marie's cell was a large, comfortable,
well-lighted room, and there she sat,
day after day, making lace and exult-
ing in the fact that her fame was
worldwide.
Having no conscience, and being in
capable of remOrse, Marie has been
described by the historians Of crime
as monster However abhorrent her
character may have been, there was
nothing repulsive in her appearance