davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun., 1919-06-08

Central America, the Mimosa pudica,
or sensitive plant, grows everywhere.
but here 1t is a curiosity. 1t looks
something like a tiny imitation OF the
common Towering locust. OLSON put
his finger on one of the branches
whereupon the branch. pivoting at It's
junction with the main stem, instantly
dropped and almost folded itself
against the stem, while each pair OF
outraged leaves curled and then closed
together. Each night the branches and
leaves OF the sensitive plant drop and
cuddle up to the stem. so that the
plant looks like a single bare stalk.
The sun., 1919-06-08

rail- automatically within the scope OF
one eXpertly informed committee, but
is divided among a number of COM
mittees, sometimes as many as six or
eight, each dealing with a fraction OF
the problem as presented and none
knowing or apparently caring what
happens to the thing involved as a
whole.
Situation a Disgrace.
This situation Is disgrace to the
intelligence and business acumen OF
the American people.
Similar practices would ruin any
private enterprise.
Nor does the lack OF coordination
and the presence OF inefficiency stop
there.
Not only do the Confessional
committees, speaking generally, fail to
correspond with the departments and
bureaus through whom and for whom
they must transact public business,
but the two houses OF Congress are not
organized efficiently to cooperate one
with the other. The committees OF the
House do not even correspond entirely
with those OF the Senate,
All these defects of orga nization
have brought about a situation in
which every item is dealt with piece
meal instead OF as a component part
OF whole, In which every appropria-
ton bill is subject TO vicious riders
thrust upon It by members of one
house or the other In their anxiety to
satisfy the pride or greed of their
home folks because votes will be re-
quired for reflections.
Public spirited legislative leaders are
greatly embarrassed and Inundated
by these conditions. Knowing the
grim and actual necessities of the
situation they are compelled to bar
gain with less high minded men In
order to secure the votes with which
to pass legislation absolutely essen
tial to the proper conduct OF the Gov
ernment's affairs.
Threats to vote against absolutely
necessary legislation not infrequently
in the history OF the American Con-
gress have secured from men of lofty
minds reluctant support for riders
which never should have been per-
mitted at all
The sun., 1919-06-08

tree, true hermaphrodite whose cup
like flower has both stamens and pis-
I'll, is likewise too delicate to withstand
the vagaries OF New York extramural
weather. Another OF Olsson's pets is
a coffee tree which stands at the edge
Of Jungle in the tropical house. 1t
gives a good yield OF berries, which do
not affect the coffee market. They are
planted for seed to grow more coffee
trees. This particular specimen has
won a gold medal four times in the
international flower show at the Grand
Central Palace.
In some parts OF the tropics. notably
The sun., 1919-06-08
D, THoREAU cRoNYN.

TN low red brick building tucked
against a ledge Of red sandstone
i at the rear of the Central Park
Conservatory sits a man making what
seems to be architects plans. In the
winter and early spring this draughts-
man prepares scores and scores OF
neat sketches drawn to a scale Of four
feet To the inch. He plots circles,
squares, diamonds, triangies. stars and
other fascinating figures. Then he
pencils Latin words all around them.
Now and then he makes blueprint Of
his handiwork. Sometimes he shakes
his gray head over 1t and be gins all
over again.
There comes day when he takes
the sketches out OF a drawer and sends
them over the city to men In overalls
who are working in the city's parks.
Up at the conservatory the draughts-
man is q draughtsman no longer. He
is moving here and there, with his hat
pushed back and his coat Off. superin-
tending the loading of motor trucks
with thousands Of plants in pots. At
ter a specially important truckload is
gone perhaps he walks over to the
subway and goes down town. to reap
pear in City Hall Park and quietly d.
rect further operations there.
Then the BIueprints Flower.
When his seasonal campaign is
ended the mysterious markings he
made on paper weeks and months
earlier have become glowing beds Of
beauty-the city's flower gardens.
Many persons pass them by without a
glance. Others stop to refresh them
selves with the freshness and matched
colors OF the beds. Botanix!ng school
children and plain kids lean over iron
ratings and see what they see. From
high, hot windows Industry peeps down
and goes back TO work with some
thing to think about besides work. II
The sun., 1919-06-08

OLSON said that you might almost say
the Mimosa pudica has nervous sys-
TEN with rehexes like those OF a
human being, and that in his opinion
it was the closest Of any plant to the
line separating the animal and vege-
table Kingdoms.
Still another of his treasures Is the
antlered fern. a parasite which OLSON
properly calls the bullmoose fern. for
the shape and attitude of it's spreading
leaves are strangely like the horns OF
the trophy at Sycamore Hill.
While busy with one job the city's
gardeners are always getting ready
The sun., 1919-06-08

that's allowable. The comnuter and
his wife say. My wish could make
things grow like that" The man OF
the blueprints goes home to Astoria,
where he has no garden, but does have
a violin. which he exercises after sup
per. with his wife or daughter at the
piano.
His name is Carl C. OLSON, his
birthplace Sweden, his formal title
foreman gardener of the Park Depart
ment of Manhattan and Richmond.
He is the head gardener of the dozens
and dozens of parks comprising the
peoples landed estate. 1t Is OLSON
and his men who grow and tend the
plants, who set them out in beds in
the spring and summer and take then.
in again in the fall and mother them
in the winter until open planting time
comes again. Following the general
scheme laid down by the landscape
architect and the forester OF the Park
Department OLSON determines what
flowers and shrubs shall be placed here
and what there, with all their arrange
ments and contrasts.
II you see a combination that par
park from the Battery to The Bronx
the man to thank is OLSON, Of whom
probably you never heard before. He
has been gardening for the city twen-
ty-three years.
How Much More Is Hef
He is n practical fioriculturlst and
much more. How much more this re.
porter Is not qualified to say, but ne In
sure that man who knows exactly
why certain foliage can be grown In
Riverside Park that shrlnks and dies at
City Hall; who Is a thorough botanist
as we'll as an expert draughtsman and
analyst OF soils: who knows why the
mimosa pudica or sensitive plant re-
coils and folds up ITS branches and
leaves at the touch OF the human
hnger: who can and does write out q
workmens time sheet each day and
the payroll each week: who speaks
English, Swedish. French. German,
spanish and Italian; who In the way
pf reading likes Selma Lageriof, Schil-
er' Robert Burns and Shakespeare.
WHO can and Goes play the violin. and
2 VINO won't Confess, except under pres-
sure .that he can do any of these
The sun., 1919-06-08
CONTINUED from Preceding Paos.)

private or corporate business enter
prise?
We see at the very moment OF be-
ginning such an examination that
they are not adequate or comparable
with private methods.
NO private business enterprise,
large or small, whose management
pretended to competence or hoped for
continued existence. would commit
itself TO large expenditures without
knowing in advance where the money
to be spent was to come from; no
business conducted upon conservative
principles would permit any OF it's
separate departments to ooligate tho
business as whole to an increase of
plant or any other lavish expenditures
without the approval OF the general
manager or unless the responsible
head of the department concerned
knew that his expenditure would be
in complete accord with a general
plan OF operation, and, most important
Of all. that his expenditure would be
within the bounds either of available
receipts or available credits.
There Il No Rational Plan.
THE organization OF the United
States Government at the present mo-
ment follows no such rational plan.
In our Government not a single de-
partment, not a single bureau, not a
single Senator. not a single Congress
man-indeed, might say not a sin
gle President. knows in advance what
the United States as a whole Is being
committed to in the course of a year
or from what source and how the
expenses Of these commitments are to
be met.
"Not only Is there an entire lack of
cooperation between departments and
departmental bureaus looking TOWARD
the consideration OF the problem as a
whole. but the Federal Congress, the
national lawmaking and appropriating
body, Is not so organized that It has
committees corresponding TO those OF
all departments.
When any bureau or department
goes to Congress asking for money the
consideration of Its request does not
The sun., 1919-06-08

locked and Gardener OLSON and his
assistants distribute oyer the park
system load upon load Of ported plants
which keep the flower show going out
o. doors.
As Olsson walked with his guest be-
tween the ranks OF hot beds and cold
frames. where rich color famed amid
pools Of greenery. and through fra
grant aisles rooted with glass, he
stopped here and there to point out
something Of special interest
You see that coleus. yellow and
dark?" he said. TT won't do for City
Hall Park at all. Although It Is q ma
tive Of hot countries II cannot stand
the summer atmosphere downtown,
and loses It's leaves"
He led the way into the tropical
The sun., 1919-06-08

Under this plan all departments and
bureaus would be expected to submit
their fully itemized demands TO the
President, who in turn would lay them
for examination and coordination be-
fore the budget board which would
with care not only the Jus
tice OF the claims but also the sources
from which might be drawn with
which TO meet them, reviewing at the
same time which OF these revenues
properly could he expected to be
raised by taxation, direct or indirect,
which by the sale OF bonds and
whether and to what extent amortiza-
ton should take place. Thus income
and expenditure would be brought into
harmony. a very essential process, for
the accomplishment OF which the
present system makes no provision
whatsoever.
THE budget thus would be prepared
by experts charged with the duty 10
pare down the more unessential de-
mands until total expenditures are in
keeping with prospective income and
so that the budget as finally proposed
would mean something more than de-
mands animated by political exigency
or by ambitious chiefs acting with
slight regard either for the general
welfare OF the nation or the financial
burdens their expenditures impose
upon the individual citizen.
THE budget. thoroughly revised by
the budget stan. then would be sub
mitted to the President, who would
amend It If he wished to and then
would lend 1t on to Congress. when It
would become the subject OF wide pub
lie discussion.
Dealing with the budget.
Legislation creating the budget
staff or board would have, however, no
value whatever II Congress did not
simultaneously devise a proper plan
upon which TO deal with the budget as
submitted by the President.
THE ideal plan, 1t seems to me,
would be so TO change the legislative
machinery dealing with appropriations
that In each branch OF the national
legislature there should be one COM
mittee to which would be referred the
Presidents budget as a whole. That
would render simple and efficient our
The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
NOT A "PARLOR ANARCHIST"
Tribune Attorneys Trying To Prove
Ford One of Dangerous Kind.

Mount Clemens, Mich, May 21.-
Continuing his arguments on the brief
filed by Henry Ford to limit the testi-
mony in the million dollar libel suit
against the Chicago Tribune, Attorney
Lucking, for the plaintiff, today said
the, alleged offenses committed by
Ford against the government had
nothing to do with the fact that Ford
was libeIed.
He quoted many authorities to
strengthen his arguments and said that
it was not a case of what the writer
meant to say but the ideas his articles
conveyed to the public. rF
Attorney Stevenson for the defense,
who followed Lucking, said they were
not trying to prove that Ford was a
''parlor anarchist" but an unqualified
anarchist-"one of the most danger
Gus kind"
He is enc who by cunning propa-
ganda," Stevenson said, would try to
hamper the government and perhaps
incite the more violent type to COM
nit murder"
The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
WEATHER IN KANSAS
Cold and Rain Delay the Growth o.
Crops in State.

Cool weather, deficient sunshine,
and in the eastern nalf frequent and
fairly heavy rains delayed the growth
and development of all crops, except
wheat and grass, in Kansas and farm
work made very little progress on ac-
count of wet fields. Hail storms oc-
CURED in many scattered localities.
doing severe damage in some places.
The cool weather has been favor
able to wheat and its geenral condi-
ton continues very promising, but the
straw is rank-shoulder high in
places in the southwest portion and
three feet high in some fields as far
west as the middle of the state, and
there is an increasing tendency for it
to lodge, especially where the ground
is rich. This trouble is geenral over
the eastern half of the state, but it is
believed that a period of warm, sun
shiny weather would remedy a great
deal of it. Red rust is reported here
and there in the eastern third and fly
is doing some damage in the central
counties, but neither of these is wide
spread enough to be a serious matter
yet. In the extreme southeastern
counties most of the wheat is in head
and it is beginning to head notice
ably in tht south central portion, with
heads showing over the eastern two
thirds to the Nebraska line. In the
western third it is jointing generally
and nothing has occurred of late to
injure the outlook. Some is in the
boot inIthe southwestern counties.
Oats and barley are making very
satisfactory progress generally.
Corn planting has been greatly de-
layed by the rains. 1t is about all
done in the southeast and south CEN
tral counties, but not more than half
finished elsewhere, except in localities
where the rain was light Some is
coming up and a great deal of re-
planting is necessary in the eastern
third. Very little has been cultivated
Alfalfa looks fine generally, but it
is developing slowly. Cutting has
begun in the most southern counties
and with favorable weather will be
general elsewhere next week Pas
lures are fine in all parts.
Potatoes are making an excellent
growth and being cultivated where
the ground is dry. Strawberries need
sunshine and warmth. Picking has
begun in the southeast quarter and
the crop will be ready in the north
eastern counties in a week About a
tenth of the grain sorghums have
been planted in the southern counties.
s. d. FLORA. MeteoroIogist
The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
Changes Plan To Sell Army
Food Stores Abroad.
VIII Try To Find Markets in
This Country.
CONGRESS- WARS ON H. C. |
Rep. Fitzgerald's Resolution
Fights High Prices.
Housewives Approve His OppO-
sitiOn to War Dept.

Washington. May 21.-Markets are
to be found in the United States if
possible for the millions of pounds of
meat and millions OF cans of vegeta-
bles held by the war department, it
was learned today.
The department has roughly 200,-
900, 900 pounds of meat and 100000
partment statement was that there
were on hand 15.943, 500 pounds of
roast beef 72,787,50O pounds of
corned beef. 2o.s2o,oOo, pounds Of
pounds of bacon. Some of this since
has been sold.
In a recent statement it was said the
war department would try to find
markets abroad for the meat. Later it
was said this was merely a tentative
program.
Now, it was learned authoritatively,
the war department plans to sell as
much of the surplus food products as
possible in the United States.
Washington, May 21.-Representa-
tive Fitzgerald's resolution to force
foodstuffs out of storage is aimed
principally at the war departments s
announced plan of aiding the packers
in disposing of surplus meat stocks
without placing them onto the domes-
tic market. the congressman stated
today.
Fitzgeralds resolution is the first
indication that congress is hearing
from home on high prices. Other
resolutions are being prepared and
expected to be introduced soon.
Food Spelling Abroad?
prices of food in the country are
impossible Fitzgerald said today.
I'VE are sending vast stores of food
abroad and dispatches from Holland
say that American food cannot be sold
there because of the price. The Hol-
landers, according to reports I get,
simply will not buy. Much of this
food is lying on the quays spelling.
Meanwhile stocks of food in the
warehouses here are increasing. There
is more poultry in storage now than
ever before in history.
Raps War Department.
'In the face of these conditions,
the department enters into an agree
ment to help the packers dispose of
264, 100000 pounds of meat under an
prices at their present level
Il believe my resolution will be a
step toward ending these conditions
and turning prices back to normal"
The house agricultural committee, to
which Fitzgerald's resolution was re-
due to the fact that it has not yet
been formally organized.
Housewives Back Fitzgerald.
New York. May 21.-American n
housewives will back up Representa-
tive Fitzgerald, Massa chusetts, in his
| campaign in congress to bring down
the cost of living. according to Mrs.
Julian Heath, president of the Ma
tional Housewives league. She wired
| him today, pledging the support of
the Housewives league, which has
members all over the country.
Il believe the Republican majority
can bring down prices II it wants to-
said Mrs. Heath. Here is the G.. o.
| P.'s chance to make itself solid with
| the country"
The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
HEzA COL SL|CKER
Stafford Man Has No Use for
City "Defectives."
stias a Plan To Catch Robbers
"Right in the Act"
of COURSE HE ISN'T TELLIN'
But If Governor Is Interested,
a Then There's a Chance.
81 Can SIMPELEY Put an End
. to Game FORE EVER"
Of COURSE He ISN'T TELLIN'

= These gol durn city slickers amt no
good at catchin' bank robbers nohow.
Nv. z. Wane, route 3, box Sc, Stafford,
y Kan, has thought it all out. He is at
tthe service of the state. the govern
lnent or the corporate interests. He
catches 'em alive-catches them in the
act-to use his own words.
+. What is more this Mr.. Wane of Staf-
ford has a plan which will put crime
put of business for ever. He is now
keady to take on contracts and show
how simply and easily "a little old
sdried up chap. as Mr.. Wane describes
himself. can thwart the yeggs and
fcrooks. Mr. Wane has written to Gov
fernor Allen about his plan. In his let
ger he offers his services to the op-
pressed banking interests which have
fbeen the victims of ruthless stick-up
ffnen and safeblowers.
y He Is a Trapper.
~ when ever the Bankers ask you
tfor assistance to run down a bank
1tober," Wayne wrote Governor Allen,
you tell them that THAR is a little Old
VpTied chap out on Route 3, Box Sc
What can catch any bunch of Bank
itobers that ever wore Shoes, but l
i5Hfu catch them in the Act. I am a
1rapper, not a detective. if you men
apf means and Influence cair to put
q Stop to this kind of work Give me
-%sHdHce 10 snow you Wnat L car do. /
ewould Smile to See man or a dozen
sanen lock me in walt with my equip
t4nent. / can Simpeley put an End to
Che game For Ever. these clippings
Rre from the Beacon and are quite
4reekently scene in dayle paper"
II Having worked out the details of his
system Of catching them in the act"
MI. Wane doesn't take chances by
making public his method Of driving
4he bank robbers from the face of the
farth. With his letters Wane enclos-
ed clippings of accounts of bank rob-
beries in Detroit and an Oklahoma
stown. 1t would all be very simple, the
man on Route 3, Stafford, explained
10 the governor. if he were merely
given a chance to catch the robbers
IN the ac5. Wane is simply disgusted
with bankers who permit themselves
10 backed into a vault while the cash
Drawers are being tapped in broad
Naylight
y Kansas and the nation have given
the gosh dinged city fellers on the de-
tective statfs a chance to mai good
,NoW Mr.. Wane wants a chance to
demonstrate his method of bringing
she criminals to justice
The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-21
SNAP SHOTS

An HOME NEWS

Followers of eve"
The present style of women's waists
Too disaphanous. some call
But we're better off than Mother Eve
EGussie Morrow Gage.
JF. O'Hara won in suit in the district
court to replevin a check for $500 from j.
NJ. Watson. The check was lost, after it
to Watson. who cashed it. The finder fail
cd to indorse it to Watson.
A tentative course Of study for the To-
peka grade schools is being arranged by
various teachers under the supervision of
Superintendent Stout. Every afternoon the
teachers meet to discuss problems relating
to the various studies. and they are CO
operating to improve the course for next
year
After two hours deliberation Tuesday
afternoon the all-woman jury in the court
chargedp with disturbing the peace of Mrs.
Edith Cook, her neighbOr. Numerous wit
nesses were called by both sides and the
case was hotly contested. A majority of
the witnesses were women.
Pat" McCarty, who operated a rolling
kitchen under fire for the boys of Company
in Topeka a few hours today on his
way to Mayetta, Kan, where he will visit
his, sister. He lives in Kansas City. Mo,
and like most army cooks, doesn't want
to see the inside of a kitchen again.
The three Topeka lodges of the Degree of
Honor will entertain at the twentieth an
here June TO D. The meetings will be
held in the G. A. r. Memorial hall. Tenth
and Jackson streets. The delegates from
the three local lodges will be Mrs. John
RupLe. Mrs. II. NJ. Slaybaugh and j. d.
Hickman.
Twelve members of the w r. c. No. 81,
of Topeka, left Tuesday night for Wichita
to attend the thirty fifth annual encamp-
ment of the G. A II. They include Mrs.
Dora Candy. past president and candidate
department president of the Kansas w. II.
c.; Mrs. George Supple, president: Mrs
Florence Olmstead, patriotic instructor; !;
Mrs. Kate Payton. Mrs. Joanna Haskell
Mrs. Anna Lawhun. Mrs. Izzy Patterson,
Mrs. Sarah Garland. Mrs. Flora Sherer.
of Albuquerque and Mrs. Emma Bigly, of
W. II. c. No. "a, will also be present.
A blow in the back of the head did not
kill Juan Ramirez. the Mexican killed
Sunday in duel with Rafael Espinoza
according to a verdict rendered by a
theory that an ugly cut in the MeXican's
head had caused death was exploded by
the testimony of DIR. G. NJ. Hensley, who
death had been caused by the bullet
wounds. Several witnesses testified that
after the shooting a brother-in law of
while others testified that his former wife
struck him: The two brothers-in-law and
Marie Ramirez were released.
A suit to foreclose mortgage was filed
Bethesda General and Maternai Hospital
Porter. The mortgage held by Osborn
is the old Governor Osborn property at
900 Quincy street. which was a maternity
pital was erected the hospital ceased to
exist. At the time it went out of exist
board of directors and that's the reason
he Is made a party to the suit.