davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
ANOTHER SONGsTER.

A good deal has been said about the
song birds this year, but there is one
early spring songster who so far has
not received favorable mention. And
yet he was out, according to various
exchanges received in this Office, be-
fore the last Of the ice was melted
from his winter-locked habitat, and
nightly his voice has been raised ever
since.
Reference is made to the chorister
of the newly thawed ponds. your
friend, though you may not know him
by name, Hyla Pickeringii. Hyla is
mottled brown mite scarcely an inch in
length. The marvel is that so tiny
singer can make so much noise.
Pickering's hyla is the most timid
OF frogs, and only the very persistent
searcher can gain glimpse Of him.
On the remote approach Of human
observer the tiny singer becomes silent
and slips to the invisible depths Of his
chosen pool. He is extremely canny
and wary. He really is not worth see
ing, anyway. But he is well worth
hearing.
Just now the peppers" are singing
all day and all night. They are never
weary. One Of Hyla's admirers de-
clares that night by an open window
IN a farm house is worth a dozen
nights in the city. In all nature there
is no such lullaby as that of the spring
hylas. 1t stays with the sleeper all
night, and influences his dreams And
It is still with him when, in the early
morning, he faces new day.
OF course there are people who do
not place this estimate on Hyla's song.
But there Is no accounting for some
tastes.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
WITH OTHER EDITORS

affairs. In their endeavors to win
out against each other in industrial
controversies both are likely to disre-
gard the interest Of the third party
the public. These remarks are
called forth by the possibility of trou-
bic between the railroad operators and
their employees as result of the pres
ent eight-hour controversy.
There is no doubt that both the
trainmen and the railroads are very
much In earnest in their convictions.
The men feel certain that to meet them
would mean serious financial troubles.
Argument of the points at issue is not
germane to this editorial. The serious
question from the impartial observer
standpoint is what would happen to
the public in the event that these diff
ferences lead to a general railroad
strike, 1t is idle to argue where the
responsibility for such an eventuality
might lie.
The public makes possible the great
A1i4i Snu S3 bIclllS. IL is the source DOtl
or the dividends Of the stockholders
and the "jobs" of the employees. Ger
tainly the public has vital interests at
stake in the peaceable settlement of the
questions at issue If there are agen-
cles of the government which can
bring about the arbitration of the
differences between the railroads and
the trainmen, those agencies should
be set at work at the proper time to
grapple with the matter. If there are
no such agencies, they should be
created forthwith. 1t is intolerable
that the country should suffer the cal
amlty Of a general railroad strike,
Public sentiment will practically die
tate the verdict in the long run, with
or without strike. Why should not
public sentiment be felt before the
dlfficulty reaches crisis2
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
SHAKESPEARE CELEBRA-
TON.

Nearly 1000 schools, representing
half as many separate communities,
have already arranged for a pageant
or dramatic performance in commem-
Grafton of the Booth anniversary Of
Shakespeare's death, according to fig
ures compiled by the bureau of edu
cation of the department of the in
terror. Although the actual anniver-
sary occurs this month, celebrations
are to be held throughout the year
Many elementary and secondary
schools will this year devote their en-
tire commencement program to a
Shakespeare pageant or play; and a
number Of the summer schools will
take advantage of the opportunity to
give outdoor performances of plays by
Shakespeare or about him.
In order to assist schools and COL
leges in planning celebrations, the
bureau of education, in cooperation
with the Drama League of America,
has issued a bulletin giving practical
suggestions as to the kinds of Celebra-
tions, types of performances, lists OF
dances and designs for simple cos
tuning for Shakespearean plays. The
bureau has distributed copies Of this
bulletin to all city school superin-
tendents. to principals of public and
private secondary schools, presidents
of colleges, normal schools and other
institutions; and arrangements have
been made to furnish copies at nom
inal cost to school teachers and pu-
pills.
The bulletin emphasizes the special
opportunity afforded by the Shakes
peare tercentenary to coordinate the
school work in literature, music and
art with such practical subjects as
shop work and physical education.
| Merely as q matter Of educational
policy" declares the bulletin, there
is urgent need for the influence which
the Shakespearean festivities will ex-
ert in the schools These festivals
are needed to give new tone and quail
ity to the literary, musical, dramatic
and recreational interests Of young
people-and, indeed, Of the public gen.
eral1v."
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
That Government Plant.

Chicago Journal: Those people who
like the Journal, dislike to see the fed
eral government entering new fields
Of industry, should understand that the
trusts, not the socialists, are RESPONSE
bic for such new ventures in govern
ment business.
Secretary Daniels has told the house
committee that American steel COM
panies cut their price on shells almost
in two to keep an English firm from
getting contract The ammunition
for which these companies had charged
S490 and $500 was offered at $315.
Moreover, the secretary says that even
now some steel companies are trying
to palm off inferior goods on the navy
department.
Obviously, a government dealing
with such manufacturers must have a
whip to make them behave. That whip
is furnished by a government plant
for making armor and naval supplies.
II 1t had not been for the greed and
lack Of patriotism of some American
corporations, the government Of the
United States never would have con-
sidered going into the armor plate
business.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

From a speech by Senator La Toilette
at Springfield, HID
Originally the public domain of the
United States amounted in round
numbers to 1,S0O,00O,O00 acres. Of this
amount nearly all of the original do
main available for agriculture and the
greater part of our mineral wealth
outside of Alska have been disposed of,
amounting in round numbers to more
than 700.0OO,000 acres.
Out of the ST. 900 900 acres disposed
of no individuals and corporations,
have been acquired through the exer-
else of the homestead right only no.
0,000 The railroads and other cor
porations had bestowed upon them by
congressional grants, without any re-
turn whatever to the government, in
round numbers 123,000,000 acres.
In addition to that, there has been
conferred upon the railroads by state
gronts land Heretofore granted by the
federal government to the several
states, increasing the total grantto the
railroads, in round numbers, to 300
100000 acres Of land, enough to make
the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
Historic knowledge.

Imagine the civilized world waking
up tomorrow morning with every trace
of historic knowledge and all men,
DRY Of what has occurred in the past
wiped completely out Of mind and plac-
ed beyond recovery. The world would
fall into confusion. There would be
no guidance for statesmen or for SCI
entists.
Every new problem would have to
be solved by the long and painful meth
cd of trial and error, There would be
no stimulus of pride. emulation ana
confidence springing from the recoIiec-
ton of mans past achievements. A
nation without history would be ike
man without memory.-New YORK
journal.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14

getting down Immediately to brass
lacks.
The railroad men may mean this, or
they may he staging a huge bluff, there
is no accounting at present, Their
last demand upon the railroads was
arhitrated and the arbitration board
did not see through the same eyes and
denied many things the employees
deemed just. Much depends in the
present case upon how deeply that last
defeat raukles.
There is at present a growing public
sentiment for a broader supervision
of railroad affairs by the federal gov
eminent. Already freight and pas
senger rates are under this restriction
and the reluctance Of shippers to pay
higher rates, combined with the de-
mands of the railroads for increased
revenues, is slowly driving home the
impression that other regulation is be-
coming imperative.
Undeniably inefficiency is contribut-
ing largely toward the railroads short
age of revenue. This was proved
when a single road, accepting Louis
Brandeiss suggestions, made. at the
western rate case hearings, saved over
$3.50 900 in a single year. But there
is another abuse which is contributing
no small share to the shortage and
that is the practice Of paying extrava-
giant salaries to high officers, many OF
whom are but figureheads whose as
sistants do the work
This is a field Of regulation in which
the federal government might well in
terfere, but having once attempted
such regulation, the commission that
might have it in charge would not he
allowed to stop until it had regulated
every salary on the railroad list.
Such federal control may be yet
afar off, or it may be just around the
corner. 1t is, however, a possibility
not to be sneered at, but one which
should be gravely considered in its pos
sible bearing on the present situation
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
Austin (Texas) Harpoon.


In the fine art of levying blackmail
and exacting tribute, the armor-plate
manufacturers Of the United States
have backed the "black hand" the
pirate and Mexican bandit entirely off
the boards, and reduced them to the
ranks of mere amateur chicken thieves
in comparison. After years of govern
ment protection from honest Competi-
ton, in which they acquired fortunes
so enormous that at least one of their
promoters has most feelingly and
withal emotionally confessed that he
has been unable to give away the vast
sum representing his share of the
profits of the business, these amiable
but thoroughly ungrateful infant in
dustries are convincingly illustrating
How sharper than a serpent's tooth
is an ungrateful child"
Investigation which developed that
the government had for years been
subjected to continuous systematic
robbery by armor-plate manufacturers
in the purchase of their product, re-
suited in the introduction of bill in
the senate by Senator Tillman and an
other IN the house of representatives
by Mr.. Tavenner providing for the
manufacture Of armor-plate by the
government to escape the robbery to
which it was being subjected. It was
then that the armor-plate steel trust,
composed Of the Bethlehem Steel COM
pany, the Carnegie Steel company, the
Midvale Steel company, and the Car
bon Steel company, forming a part of
an international company dominating
the steel industries Of all countries on
earth except Japan, launched the most
reasonable and impudent threat which
any lawless aggregation has ever en-
ployed to 1ntimidate those interfering
with their felonious activitiesA It
warned the United States that if the
bill providing for a government armor-
plate plant became a law, it would i'm
mediately add 5000 ton to the price
of its product, and eventually dis
mantle its plants. A senator estimates
that the addition of that amount to the
price of armor-plate required by the
naval building program outlined by
the administration means an added
cost Of S24 100000. In other words, and
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
In pneumonia and some other acute

In pneumonia and some other acute
Illnesses there is time, in most cases,
when the high fever disappears and
the patient experiences marked relief
from the symptoms he has been suf-
fering. This sudden disappearance OF
the fever is called the crisis. It Is
eagerly welcomed, and by no means a
fearful event. The word crisis, as
thus applied, is not the same az the
crisis of battle or some great move
ment. The crisis of pneumonia is fav-
orable in itself, always. 1t occurs at
any time from the third to the 18th
day
Why the crisis?
1t occurs in a few hours, perhaps
10 or Is hours-the temperature drops
from 103 or 104 degrees or higher
down to normal or two or three de-
grees below the normal, IS degrees. A
profuse sweat accompanies the fall in
temperature. All of this is a distinct
relief to patient and physician. There
is no particular reason why change
for the worse should be feared at or
near the time of the crisis. Indeed, If
the patient can weather his seizure
up to the crisis-that Is, if a crisis Is
his lucky lot-then he will in all prob
ability come through winner, pro-
viding he has not squandered his sub
stance in wrong living.
The crisis comes when the blood has
modified sufficient antidote or anti
toxin to overcome or neutralize the
poisons produced by the pneumococci
pneumonia germs which have in
vaded the lung. The critical sweat car
ries out tremendous quantity Of pois-
on. Hence, physicians endeavor to take
the hint and apply hot mustard foot
baths or other measures to maintain
or encourage sweating in the course OF
pneumonia and other illnesses caused
by the ubiquitous pneumococcus.
1t isn't the damage to the lung that
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
uST 4 STRAY IN TIE WIND.

tFrom the New York Evening World)
1t appears to be conceded that in
last Mondays presidential preference
primary in Michigan republican cleo
tors preferred Henry Ford. His esti-
mated majority of from $500 to $500
would indicate that more than $4,000
persons voted for him.
The long political experience of
United States Senator William Alden
Smith. seven times elected congress
man. failed to count with the 10000
against Henry Ford, who had no po-
litical experience and who according
to his own emphatic declaration, mas
no political ambitions. They chose
Henry Ford.
BY voting for Senator Smith they
could have voted for an ardent belieV-
er in preparedness, a militant advocate
of national defense. one who would
long ago have had an American army
Strengthening out the affairs of Mexico.
They turned to Henry Ford
No one can for a moment believe
that Henry Ford, the millionaire auto
mobile maker, was the Henry Ford
that appealed to them. That Henry
Ford they have known for years with
out feeling any impulse to start him
toward the White house.
No. 1t was the newer Henry Ford
Henry Ford. peace promoter; Henry
Ford, arch-enemy of war weapons;
Henry Ford, preacher Of peaceful in
dustry and brotherly love-for whom
the $4,000 cast their votes,
Michigan is not the United States.
Nevertheless, Michigan is a fact, and
the way its primaries went last Mon
day is another. Neither can it be over
looked by any one who honestly seeks
to understand the temper Of the coun-
try at the present time.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
THE TRUTH.

Senator Thomas J. Walsh of Mon
tana, member Of the senate sub-com-
mitee which Investigated charges
against Louis D. Brandeis, appointed
by President Wilson as associate JUS
tice of the supreme court, in his report
to the senate, bares the source of the
bitter opposition to Brandeis In the fol-
lowing Illuminating statement:
"The real crime Of which this man
is guilty is that he has exposed the in
EQUITIES Of men in high places in our
financial system.
HE has expressed views on social
justice'-to which vague term are re-
ferred movements and measures to OBJ
tain greater security, greater comfort
and better health for industrial work
ers, including safety devices, factory
inspection, sanitary provisions, rea-
sonable hours, the abolition Of child
labor, all of which threaten a reduc-
ton of dividends.
1T is easy for brilliant lawyer to
conduct himself so as to escape
calumny and villifcation. All he needs
to do is to drift with the tide If he
never assails the doer of evil who
stands high In the market place, he
will have no enemies or detractors
that he need heed.
THE man who never represents the
public or the impecunious citizen in
any great contest, but always the
cause Of corporate wealth, never has
these troubles. 1t Is always the other
fellow whose professional character is
little below par.
"Discouragements enough beset the
ambitious youth who resolutely sets
out upon the path of devotion to duty
and to the cause of justice, who strive
to render some real public service.
do not care to warn him to abandon
the hope Of reaching the summit OF
his profession by that route
at is said that it is to be regretted
that any such controversy as this In
which we are involved should arise
over a nomination Of a justice of the
supreme court. So it is But when il
| is said further that one might better
be chosen over whom no such bitter
contention would arise, I decline to
follow"
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
ARMOR-PLATE PIRATES

from more extended point of view,
this trust bandit openly and unblush-
ingly threatens to loot the government
treasury of $24,0O0,O0O as the price of
an attempt to escape from its fangs.
The threat means that this amount is
to be exacted from the government
pending the construction of it's plant
and while it is still at the mercy of
steel trust brigands, and that when the
government plant Is completed the
trust will dismantle its plants and
cease to supply its product at any
price.
Representative Tavenner has given
the public some surprising, and withal
entertaining, facts concerning the
methods adopted by the steel trust in
successfully looting the government in
the armor-plate trade. Among other
things, that the government has been
paying it $439 a ton for armor-plate
which the former could make for $500
a ton. It was also discovered that the
plate to Japan in competition with the
government plant of that nation, for
500 a ton less than its price to the
United States; thus gratuitously en-
tering into competition with the gov
eminent plant Of that country while
engaged in attempt to hold up the
United States for requiring it to do the
same in this country. 1t has likewise
been shown that while the steel trust
was selling armor-plate to the United
States for $40 ton, the product was
being readily sold by it to foreign gov
ernments for s249 ton.
In the contemplation of all things
which are calculated to jar the sensi-
bilfties Of honest men, the reasonable,
avaricious BLACK hand" threat of the
steel trust establishes a world record
for Grass impudence and criminal eff
frontery, having no counterpart in
commercial brigandage. While we
have been bOasting of our progress in
the amiable business of trust-busting.
and while expert political trust busters
are as thick as peanut politicians and
political colonies in Texas, 1t appears
that our patriots have so soldiered on
their jobs that the trusts are likely to
bust the government before it can bust
| the trusts.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
RAILROAD WAGE QUESTION

There is but short time interven-
ing until the demands Of the four rail-
road brotherhoods upon their employ
ers will come sharply to issue. Having
submitted their desires TO the rail-
roads the employees have allowed I'M
til May ! for consideration and accept
ance. If the demands are refused, and
unless arbitration assumes the burden,
the employees will strike, and Will
thereby tnaugurate the greatest indus
trial calamity that could come TO this
country in time Of peace.
Having had their first say the en-
ployes have declared their earnestness
In their demands by announcing their
utter intention to ignore arbitration.
@Take it or leave IT," they have said,
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14

She was Alice Ringold. Between SIX
teen and twenty-six there Is not so
great a difference In ones appearance
as between twenty-siX and thirty six
At any rate, there was enough left OF
the girl had known for me to recog-
nize her. l stopped, lifted my hat and
spoke to her. She looked at me, and |
saw at once that she knew me.
Alice Ringold?" I asked.
YES; and you are Frank Tisdale"
singular that you should know me
after so many years absence"
mo more singular than that you
should know me-"
Il have been wondering what had
become Of you since my return to
America. I have been hunting you for
months"
She cast her eyes down just as she
did when she was little more than
child. She was going to the village.
and walked beside her. told her OF
the many times I had thought Of her
during my absence in the east and how
I had longed that fate should have
brought us together again.
With that slip Of paper In my pos
session I had all the boldness Of
grenadier. 1 made rapid progress
speaking more and more plainly in my
lovemaking as 1 advanced. When !
parted with her I told her l would see
her in the evening. and when tbs
evening came, having gone through the
preliminaries, proposed to her.
She said it was very sudden and
great surprise to her. smiled inward
" at this, thinking Of the paper had
found. However, after a little coyness
she yielded and accepted me, Just be-
fore l left her she said:
"Do you remember my brother
Frank"
Frank? I believe I do"
HE died soon after you left for
China. have never got over his loss"
Great heavens, 1t was her brother
she had loved all these years.
Nevertheless we are very happy.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
The Crisis.

makes the pneumonia patient 40 des-
perately I'll. We know that, because
the lung is still solid for days after
the crisis, days after the patient feels
and is so much better. Pneumonia ia
a disease that kills by poisoning III.
body. It must be treated in that light
In order to accomplish anything. In.
cal applications to the chest. excepting
for relief Of pain, are Of little valge
IL any.
Not only pneumonia, but bronchitis
quinsy, sore throat, and even "cole IN
the head, are often produced by ths
pneumococcus. One mans coryza or
sore throat germs cause another
mans pleurisy or pneumonia. That IL
why the much too common Cold
should be spatically isolated in every
instance.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.
What a Physician IA.

AS long as a healer doesn't give
drugs or "physic," he isn't physician,
and hence should not be compelled to
study medicine, writes a devotee.
Answer-Your dictionary is Il mis-
print. The word physician really
means a scientist, and drugs. or
"physic" take up Just about two per
cent Of the five years he spends &C
quiring his medical education. The
rest Of the time he studies diet. cleo
tricity, hydrotherapy, psychology, d.
agnosis, physiology, pathology, anat-
omy, hygiene, bacteriology, obstetrics,
surgery, massage and chemistry.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
GM0RlDS A Nd
DG S CO r ID S

"IF the newspapers don't stop this
sort Of thing, something will happen
in this town worth talking about said
Mayor Thompson of Chicago last week.
If we read the primary returns Of last
Tuesday Alright, Willum, it happened
last Tuesday.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14
Daily History Class-April IA.

1S6l-Fort Sumter taken possession OF
by Confederates Of Charleston.
The Federal garrison allowed TO
march out with flying colors.
lS65-President Abraham Lincoln as
Sassinated in Washington by john
Wilkes Booth
l9l5-Great Britain officially reported
the loss of 2,527 killed and 1924
wounded and missing in the fight
around Neuve Chapelle March 3
10 II.
Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-04-14

MRS. Modjeska admitted on the wit
ness stand that she loves her husband
and is ready to live with him again.
My position is the same as it has al
ways BEEN" she says. II am willing
to live with Mr. Modjeska as his wife"
Which occasions curiosity over what
her previous relation has been She
may have been his valet for all We
know.